THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR HERE AND NOW 2022 ELECTION COVERAGE.

THE NEWLY RELEASED NATION'S REPORT CARD RENEWS WISCONSIN'S REPUTATION IN RACIAL DISPARITIES.

EARLY VOTING BEGAN THIS WEEK AS ELECTION DAY RAPIDLY DRAWS NEAR.

TURNOUT BASED ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION COULD DETERMINE THE NEXT GOVERNOR.

AND LEGISLATION VETOED UNDER EVERS THAT WOULD LIKELY PASS UNDER A MICHELS' ADMINISTRATION.

>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON HERE AND NOW.

ZAC SCHULTZ LOOKS AT THE IMPACT OF ABORTION LAW ON THE MIDTERMS.

PLUS, WHAT POSSIBLE ELECTION OUTCOMES WILL MEAN FOR STATE GOP LEGISLATION.

AND THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION RESPONDS TO A BLEAK REPORT CARD FOR BLACK STUDENTS.

IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR OCTOBER 28.

FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM.

AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> DURING MIDTERM ELECTIONS, VICTORY OFTEN COMES DOWN TO ONE THING: WHICH PARTY DOES A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THEIR VOTERS TO THE POLLS.

OR TURN OUT.

THIS FALL, DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING THE ISSUE OF ABORTION WILL NOT ONLY ENERGIZE THEIR BASE, BUT PULL IN SWING VOTERS WHO MAY HAVE VOTED REPUBLICAN IN THE PAST.

WHEN ROE V. WADE WAS STILL THE LAW OF THE LAND.

"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ HAS THE STORY.

[CHANTING] WHEN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE VS WADE, THEY OVERTURNED THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR WOMEN TO SEEK AN ABORTION.

BUT THEY ALSO OVERTURNED DECADES OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM ON JUST HOW MUCH THE ISSUE OF ABORTION CAN IMPACT AN ELECTION.

[CHANTING] >> IT WAS THIS KIND OF CRAZY JAW-DROPPING MOMENT OF, LIKE, OH, MY GOD,THEY DID IT.

>> AMAYA BARKER IS A VOLUNTEER FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES OF WISCONSIN.

THE ORGANIZING ARM OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

SHE SAYS THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE SURGE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED.

>> I'VE SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE BEING LIKE, WOW, I ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW ABOUT THIS.

SARAH BERNDSEN SIGNED UP, AND HER FIRST EVENT WAS THE BAYVIEW BASH IN MILWAUKEE, WHERE THE POINT WAS TO REMIND PEOPLE PLANNED PARENTHOOD WAS STILL OPEN PROVIDING HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

JUST NOT ABORTIONS.

>> IT'S BEEN A REALLY POSITIVE REACTION.

WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE COMING UP REALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT WE'RE OUT HERE PROVIDING INFORMATION.

WHILE THEIR STAND DIDN'T ADVOCATE FOR ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATES.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY WAS NEXT DOOR.

AND ABORTION RIGHTS WERE FRONT AND CENTER.

>> FOR MANY, MANY VOTERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN ACROSS THE STATE, IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS GALVANIZED A LEVEL OF KIND OF POLITICAL OUTRAGE AND COMMITMENT TO CHANGE THAT WILL RESHAPE THIS ELECTION THIS FALL.

BEN WIKLER IS THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN.

HE THINKS ABORTION WILL SWING VOTES EVERYWHERE, NOT JUST MILWAUKEE AND MADISON.

IF YOU KNOCK ON DOORS IN RURAL WISCONSIN, IN SUBURBS, IN CITIES ALIKE, THERE ARE PEOPLE EVEN WHO VOTED REPUBLICAN BEFORE WHO THINK THIS IS MUCH TOO FAR.

I WAS VERY SHOCKED BY THE JUST THE SHEER RESPONSE THAT PEOPLE HAD IN THIS AREA.

JESSA MICHIE IS A DIGITAL ORGANIZER FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES BASED IN STEVENS POINT IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

SHE SAYS THEY WERE OVERWHELMED AT FIRST BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE, THIS REALLY ACTIVATED A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WERE BRAND NEW TO IT.

THE FOCUS NOW IS TRANSLATING THAT ENERGY INTO TURNOUT.

WE'RE VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON VOTING.

GETTING OUT THE VOTE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT IN WISCONSIN.

>> THESE ARE OUR MATERIALS.

AS, SEE, THIS IS FOCUSING N OUR CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES ISN'T THE ONLY GROUP TALKING ABOUT ABORTION WITH VOTERS.

>>GRACIE SKOGMAN IS THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE >> THE GOAL IS THAT WE CAN GO TO ANY VOTER, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY STAND, AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE ULTIMATELY WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO SUPPORT PRO-LIFE CANDIDATES.

SKOGMAN SAYS THE CASE THAT OVERTURNED ROE, DOBBS VS JACKSON, WAS A VICTORY.

BUT NOT THE END OF THE DEBATE.

>> WE'VE WE'VE SEEN THAT PEOPLE ARE, OF COURSE, ARE REJOICING AND HAPPY, BUT THEN THEY THINK THAT IT'S TIME TO GO HOME AND STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS.

BUT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.

SHE SAYS IT CAN BE A DELICATE CONVERSATION.

I WENT EARLIER THIS WEEK AND PEOPLE WERE NOT SO RECEPTIVE.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL AND POLARIZING ISSUE RIGHT ON ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE WOULD LIKE TO SHIFT THE CONVERSATION TO WHAT COMES NEXT.

SPECIFICALLY, WHETHER A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE WILL PROVIDE STATE FUNDING TO PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS.

THE NON-PROFITS THAT OFTEN OPEN UP ACROSS THE STREET FROM ABORTION CLINICS AND COUNSEL PREGNANT WOMEN AWAY FROM ABORTION.

>> I THINK OUR BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IS ON THE UNIFYING ISSUE OF PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS, HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

THESE ARE BIPARTISAN ISSUES.

>> JESSA MICHIE SAYS VOTERS AREN'T QUITE READY TO MOVE ON.

>> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT PEOPLE STILL HAVE MORE TO SAY AND A LOT MORE FEELINGS ABOUT LOSING THAT ACCESS TO CARE.

I DON'T THINK THAT FOLKS ARE READY TO MOVE ON AT ALL.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE MORE ANGRY ABOUT THIS AND MORE ENERGIZED THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

>> HE SAID IT'S, QUOTE, NOT UNREASONABLE FOR THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO MANDATE RAPE VICTIMS TO GIVE BIRTH.

>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IS HOPING TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT ENERGY.

HE'S BEEN RUNNING ADS HITTING HIS OPPONENT, REPUBLICAN TIM MICHELS, ON ABORTION.

>> TIM MICHELS IS WAY TOO RADICAL FOR WISCONSIN.

>> DO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE RACE?

YES.

LOOK AT WHERE MY OPPONENT IS ON THIS AND ON THAT ISSUE.

SO DO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A FACTOR?

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ATTACK THAT'S OUT THERE ON REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HAS TO DO WITH DOBBS.

>> PAUL FARROW IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN.

HE SAYS THE EVERS ADS ARE OVER THE TOP.

I THINK OUR CONVERSATION OF MAKING SURE THE HEALTH OF THE WOMAN AND HEALTH OF THE CHILD IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, IS KIND OF TAMPERING DOWN WHAT THE LEFT IS SAYING, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE WOMEN LEFT AND RIGHT.

>> GOVERNOR EVERS AND THE LEFT HAVE SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MISCHARACTERIZING MY POSITION, CALLING ME A RADICAL.

I AM PRO-LIFE AND I MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR THAT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHO THE REAL RADICAL IS.

THE REAL RADICAL IS GOVERNOR EVERS.

>> TIM MICHELS DID NOT AGREE TO AN INTERVIEW FOR THIS STORY, BUT HAS HAD TROUBLE BEING CONSISTENT IN HIS POSITION ON ABORTION.

WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF ROE-V-WADE, WISCONSIN REVERTED BACK TO AN 1849 LAW ON ABORTION THAT ONLY PROVIDES EXCEPTIONS IF TWO DOCTORS FEEL IT IS NEEDED TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.

MICHELS ORIGINALLY CAMPAIGNED ON HIS SUPPORT FOR THAT LAW.

BUT HAS SINCE SAID HE WOULD SUPPORT A BILL THAT PROVIDES EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

>> I'VE SAID IF A BILL IS PUT BEFORE ME FROM THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS A DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE, AND IT HAS AN EXCEPTION IN IT FOR RAPE AND INCEST, THAT I WOULD SIGN THAT BILL.

A FEW DAYS LATER, MICHELS ADDED ANOTHER CHANGE.

>> I WILL NEVER ARREST A DOCTOR, AS THEY'RE SAYING.

I'M A REASONABLE GUY.

>> HOWEVER, UNDER THE 1849 LAW, DOCTORS PROVIDING AN ABORTION CAN BE ARRESTED, AND HIS CAMPAIGN HAD TO CLARIFY THAT MICHELS JUST WOULDN'T BE THE ONE DOING THE ARRESTING.

SAYING, "“THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS SHOULD ENFORCE ALL LAWS.

THE GOVERNOR IS AN EXECUTIVE.

HE'S NOT A DA OR BEAT COP ARRESTING ANYONE.

"” >> EVERS DOESN'T BUY IT.

>> THERE'S NO WAY I BELIEVE IT AND NO WAY PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS HARD CORE SOMETHING THAT'S PART OF YOUR INSIDE POSITION THAT RAPE OR INCEST IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD EXCLUDE FROM THIS LAW.

NEVER.

THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ME BECAUSE OF MY CONVICTIONS.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE NEXT DAY YOU SAY, WELL, I GUESS I DON'T HAVE ANY CONVICTIONS.

MICHIE SAYS MICHELS IS MUDDYING THE WATER.

>> THAT'S THE INTENTION, I THINK, IN A LOT OF CASES IS TO JUST SORT OF MUDDLE THE ISSUE AND CONFUSE PEOPLE.

>> HOWEVER, GRACIE SKOGMAN IS CLEAR ON WHERE WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE STANDS.

>> OUR POSITION IS WE ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF ADDING A RAPE AND INCEST EXCEPTION.

MY ONLY CONCERN IS, LET'S SAY THERE'S A RAPE CASE.

EVEN IF THEIR VOTERS AT THE DOORS HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION.

>> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ, FOR HERE AND NOW.

IN THE HEAT RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, QUESTIONS REPEATEDLY CAME UP DURING A DEBATE THURSDAY REFERENCING PBS WISCONSIN REPORT ON THE CANDIDATES THAT TOUCHED ON THE MATTER.

MR. TONY SAID ON VIDEO SAYING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS HE SHOULD CONSIDER IS ALLOW DCIALTION A's ACROSS COUNTY LINES.

IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL WHAT YOU SAY ATTERS.

WE DON'T GET TO WALK IT BACK WEEKS LATER BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL MAKE POLICY DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT YOU SAY.

>> THE FULL CON TENGHT WAS ASKED ABOUT DA's WOULDN'T PROSECUTOR CERTAIN.

WE HAVE THAT ALLOW A D'TO PROSECUTOR IN AN ADJOINING COUNTY IF THE DA RECHES TO PROSECUTE.

I USE IT AS AN ANALOGY TO SAY ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE DA's REFUSING TO PROSECUTE AND THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION.

I NEVER EXPRESSLY ADVOCATED.

REPORTERS PROVIDE THE FULL QUESTION AND ANSWER AT ISSUE WHICH CAN YOU CAN FIND BY GOING TO PBS WISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN CLICKING ON THE NEWS PAGE.

>> ON THE MATTER OF EDUCATION, THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR HAVE VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO HELP LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR K-12 STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN.

REPUBLICAN TIM MICHELS WANTS TO EXPAND PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE TO ALL STUDENTS.

DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS WANTS TO PUMP AN EXTRA 2 BILLION DOLLARS INTO EDUCATION FUNDING.

RELATEDLY, WHAT'S CALLED THE NATION'S REPORT CARD THIS FALL SHOWED OVERALL WISCONSIN STUDENTS HELD STEADY IN MATH AND READING WHILE NATION-WIDE PANDEMIC DECLINES WERE WORSE.

BUT THE GRIM HEADLINE FROM THE REPORT FOR THIS STATE: ONCE AGAIN, WISCONSIN LEADS THE NATION IN TEST SCORE GAPS BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK STUDENTS.

>> IN A PULL-OUT FROM THE REPORT CARD FOR 8TH GRADE MATH: IN 2022, BLACK STUDENTS HAD AN AVERAGE SCORE THAT WAS 53 POINTS LOWER THAN FOR WHITE STUDENTS.

NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT, IT SAID, FROM 2003.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING AND WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT?

WE TURN TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND ITS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, ABIGAIL SWETZ.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> EVENING, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IN THE YOUNGER GRADES.

>> FOURTH GRADE MATH GAPS SHOWED BLACK STUDENTS AVERAGE SCORES WERE 48 POINTS LOWER THAN FOR WHITE STUDENTS.

WITH READING SCORES 40 POINTS LOWER.

HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?

IT'S THE RIGHT QUESTION TO ASK.

IT'S WHERE WE NEED TO PUT OUR FOCUS UNDERS RESOURCES.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GAPS, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEM AS AN ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

I'M GLAD WE ARE STOP USING THAT PHRASE.

WHAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT ARE WHAT ARE THE INPUTS.

WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT NOT ALL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE IT ACCESS.

THAT'S WHY WE SHOULD BE AND WE ARE CALLING IT AN OPPORTUNITY IT GAP WHICH IS WHY WHAT WE CAN DO IS PRI THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES IN WAYS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO IN THE PAST.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE MOST IN THAT IS WHAT CAN WE DO IN OUR BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS WHO NEED RESOURCES THE MOST ARE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE GETTING THEM.

THERE IS DISCUSSION AMONG SOME EXPERTS THAT THESE STANDARDIZED TESTS ARE BIASED IN FAVOR OF WHITE STUDENTS.

WRITTEN BY WHITE PEOPLE.

ARE THEY NOT POSSIBLY CAPTURING THE TRUE SKILLS AND POTENTIAL OF BLACK STUDENTS?

I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE CAPTAINURING THE TRUE POTENTIAL OF THE STUDENTS.

YOU HAVE TO REALIZE NO ONE TEST CAN GO DO THAT.

NO ONE ANYTHING CAN DO THAT.

THE SCORES ARE AN IMPORTANT WINDOWS BUT ONLY ONE WINDOWS INTO UNDERSTANDING WHERE OUR STUDENTS REALLY AT IN WISCONSIN.

WHERE ARE EACH STUDENT, WHERE IS EACH STUDENTS AT, BLACK STUDENTS, WHITE STUDENTS, ANY STUDENTS.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS A PROBLEM POTENTIALLY WITH A CERTAIN STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT, IT'S WHY IT'S HELPFUL THAT TEACHERS ARE EVERY DAY COLLECTING DATA IN THE CLASSROOMS.

COMPREHENSION CHECKS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING AND DISCUSSIONS.

WHEN YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, YOU GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE IS THE STUDENTS AT AND HOW CAN WE GROW THEM FURTHER.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE SO THANKFUL WE ARE ABLE TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE FIELD AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE PAY ATTENTION A LOT TO THOSE OTHER DATA POINTS AS WELL.

THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE MADE IT WORSE, BUT THIS IS A DECADES-LONG GAP WHERE THE NEEDLE HAS NOT MOVED.

WHAT MUST BE DONE?

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

IT'S INCREDIBLY UNFORTUNATE.

IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE BEFORE.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE NOW.

IT'S WHY WE NEED FOCUSED INVESTMENT TO TRY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

ONE OF THE PLACES WE ARE SEEING THE MOST STRUGGLE, IN ADDITION TO THIS GAP WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING BEFORE ARE STRUGGLING EVEN MORE NOW.

STILL LOWER SCORES, WE SAW THE STEEPEST DECLINE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WE ARE TRYING TO REALLY INCREASE OUR REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING BUS WE THINK NOT ALL STUDENTS IN THAT CATEGORY ARE SPECIAL ED STUDENTS.

BUT IT'S A WAY TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDS DESIGNED TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GET REALLY, REALLY DO IMPACT WHERE WE NEED THEM TO IMPACT.

CLEARLY GENERATIONS OF BLACK STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ALL OF WISCONSIN?

IT'S THE RIGHT QUESTION AGAIN.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR STUDENTS ARE SO INTERCONNECTED.

WE SAY ALL THE TIME THE STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE.

THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE.

THAT'S TRUE WHETHER WE PREPARE THEM WELL OR NOT.

SO WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO PREPARE THEM WELL.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE LOOKING AT WHEN WE SAY OPPORTUNITY GAP, WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE IS THE REPRESENTATION GAD?

WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY OUR PIPELINE TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE REFLECTED IN THE LEADERS IN THEIR CLASSROOM AND THE CURRICULUM AHEAD OF THEM.

THERE IS ONLY A MINUTE LEFT.

AS TO OVERALL SCORES, THEY MAY NOT HAVE SLIPPED OVER THE PANDEMIC LIKE OTHER STATES, BUT ACROSS GRADES ONLY ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS TESTING PROFICIENT IS WELL BELOW.

WHERE SHOULD WISCONSIN BE?

WE SHOULD BE NOT SATISFIED WHERE WE ARE.

WE ARE ON A JOURNEY.

IN TERMS OF RECOVERY JOURNEY, BUT EVEN IF WE WERE FURTHER THAN WE ARE TODAY, WE WOULD WANT TO KEEP GROWING.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS KIND OF JOURNEY IS NOT LINEAR.

IT REQUIRES A WHOLE LOT OF WORK AND THAT'S THE KIND OF WORKER WITH COMMITTED TO DOING HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

ABIGAIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN.

WHAT KINDS OF ISSUES ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT HEADING INTO THE MILLION DOLLAR TERM ELECTIONS?

WE SPANNED OUT ACROSS THE STATE IN LATE SEPTEMBER TO FINDS OUT.

AS CAMPAIGNS ARE PUTTING FOCUS ON CRIME AND GUN CONTROL, WE FOUND THE SPECTER OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS WEIGHS ON STUDENTS' MINDS AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAY.

>> IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I THINK NOW JUST IS.

AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING HAPPENING.

>> EVERY SINGLE DAY WE WALK IN THE SCHOOL, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT LITTLE PART IN YOUR MIND THAT'S LIKE, IS TODAY GOING TO BE THE DAY?

AM I GOING TO BE ON THE NEWS?

>> I HAVE, LIKE, SIBLINGS IN A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.

AND IT'S NERVE-RACKING KNOWING THAT PEOPLE WOULD PUT KIDS THAT YOUNG IN HARM'S WAY.

AND IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT.

>> I THINK ABOUT THAT A LOT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOREVER.

BUT, LIKE, IT'S -- I FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN MORE BROADCASTED, ESPECIALLY THESE DAYS.

I'M LIKE ALWAYS THINKING LIKE, OKAY, WHERE'S THE CLOSEST EXIT?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS THAT LITTLE THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND THAT WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND WE HAD A SCARE LIKE THAT LAST YEAR HERE, AND MOST OF THE KIDS STAYED AWAY FROM SCHOOL IN FEAR OF THE FACT THAT THAT IGHT HAPPEN TO US.

>> I KNOW HERE AND THERE WE'VE TALKED -- SCHOOLS HAVE TALKED ABOUT LIKE BIGGER SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK IT WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO OR LAST WEEK THERE WAS A THREAT ON THE SCHOOL AND I ENDED UP STAYING HOME BECAUSE I HONESTLY FEARED THAT I -- IT COULD HAVE BEEN REAL.

>> SCHOOL SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL TO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO CLASS FEARING FOR YOUR LIFE.

YOU SHOULDN'T.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

>> OUR THANKS TO THE PBS WISCONSIN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HELP GATHERING THOSE STUDENT INTERVIEWS.

THEY WERE CONDUCTED AT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING AT TWO PBS NEWSHOUR STUDENT REPORTING LABS SCHOOLS.

AND NOW, WE TURN TO A POSSIBILITY THAT'S RARE IN POLITICAL HISTORY.

THAT WOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE SUPER-MAJORITY IN WISCONSIN.

WHILE REPUBLICANS HAVE STRONG MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE STRIVING FOR EVEN GREATER CONTROL.

TO MAKE THEIR LEGISLATION VETO-PROOF.

HERE & NOW'S STEVEN POTTER BREAKS DOWN HOW REPUBLICANS CAN ACHIEVE A SUPER-MAJORITY IN THIS FAST FACTS REPORT.

SENATE BILL 210.

>> OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS HAS VETOED A RECORD-SETTING 146 BILLS SENT TO HIM BY THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATE LEGISLATURE.

THESE VETOES INCLUDED BILLS REGARDING EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATION AND VOTING RESTRICTIONS TO PANDEMIC POLICIES AND NEW STATE WELFARE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT GOVERNOR EVERS' ABILITY TO VETO, OR STOP, THE LEGISLATION HE DISAGREES WITH COULD SOON COME TO AN END.

THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF REPUBLICANS ACHIEVE WHAT'S CALLED A '‘SUPERMAJORITY,' WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO OVERRIDE A GOVERNOR'S VETO.

TO DO THIS, REPUBLICANS WOULD NEED TO WIN ELECTIONS IN TWO-THIRDS OF THE SEATS IN BOTH THE STATE SENATE AND STATE ASSEMBLY.

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, REPUBLICANS HAVE A 61 TO 38 MAJORITY OVER DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY.

THEY WOULD NEED TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE SEATS FROM DEMOCRATS IN THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION TO ACHIEVE A 66-SEAT SUPERMAJORITY IN THAT CHAMBER.

IN THE STATE SENATE, REPUBLICANS CURRENTLY HAVE A 21 TO 12 MAJORITY OVER DEMOCRATS.

TO EARN A TWO-THIRDS SUPERMAJORITY THERE, REPUBLICANS WOULD NEED TO FLIP ONLY ONE SEAT.

IN ORDER TO OVERRIDE A GOVERNOR'S VETO, BOTH THE STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY MUST VOTE TO DO SO.

ONE CHAMBER CANNOT OVERRIDE A VETO ALONE.

IN THE EVENT THAT REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER TIM MICHELS WINS THE GOVERNOR'S ELECTION ON NOV. 8, OVERRIDING A VETO WILL PROVE LIKELY UNNECESSARY AS REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER ALL LAWMAKING BODIES OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

THE LAST TIME ONE POLITICAL PARTY HAD A TWO-THIRDS SUPERMAJORITY IN BOTH THE STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY WAS IN 1977 AND THE CONTROLLING PARTY WAS DEMOCRATS.

AND THE LAST TIME A VETO WAS OVERRIDDEN WAS PART OF THE STATE BUDGET BILL IN 1985.

FOR HERE & NOW, I'M STEVEN POTTER.

>> AS YOU JUST HEARD, IF REPUBLICANS WIN A VETO-PROOF MAJORITY AND DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS WINS RE-ELECTION, HIS DAYS OF EASILY OVERTURNING BILLS WOULD BE OVER.

BUT IF REPUBLICAN TIM MICHELS WINS THE ELECTION, WHAT BILLS THAT EVERS VETOED WOULD LIKELY BECOME LAW?

TO LOOK AT THESE POSSIBLE ELECTION OUTCOMES, WE TURN TO SHAWN JOHNSON, CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF FOR WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> OKAY, SO HOW DOES GOVERNOR TONY EVERS' VETO RECORD STACK UP IN HISTORY?

IT TURNS OUT, OVER A TWO-YEAR SESSION.

EVER SINCE WISCONSIN HAS BEEN A STATE.

NO GOVERNOR HAS VETOED NOR BILLS THAN HE HAS.

126.

THE NEXT CLOSEST IS 90s.

EVERS HAS IT BY A MILE.

IF YOU ARE THINKING THEY ARE NOT GETTING ALONG TOO WELL.

YOU ARE FACTUALLY, OBJECTIVELY CORRECT.

IN HIS 126 VETOES IN A SINGLE IT COVERED EVERYTHING FROM ELECTION LAW CHANGES, COVID BILLS, K-12 LAW CHANGES, LEGISLATION ON GUNS, ABORTION, AND CHILD LABOR LAWS.

WHICH STAND OUT HEADING INTO THE ELECTION?

IF YOU ASK WHICH STANDS OUT IN TERMS OF THE CAMPAIGN WE ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD SAY NOT VERY MANY OF THEM.

REALLY.

IT FEELS LIKE THE CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING ON THEMES THAT YOU SEE FROM REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS EVERYWHERE.

TIM MICHELS IS RUNNING AGAINST EVERS AS, TALKING ABOUT HIS PAROLE COMMISSION.

EVERS IS TALKING ABOUT TIM MIKE ELLS ON ABORTION GOING BACK TO 2004.

THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THEY WERE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT THESE VETOES.

THAT SAID, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT STUFF IN THERE.

THERE IS AROUND 20 BILTZ THAT REPUBLICANS PASSED RELATED TO ELECTION LAW CHANGES, INCLUDING THEN ON PRIVATE PLANTS TO HELP RUN ELECTIONS.

THERE ARE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO EDUCATION IN WISCONSIN.

PROPOSED IN THESE BILLS.

INCLUDING ONE THAT WOULD LIFT ALL CAPS ON THE PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM, NO MORE ENROLLMENT CAPS OR LIMITS TO THE PROGRAM.

THAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE TO WISCONSIN LAW.

SO THERE IS A LOT IN THERE IN ALL OF THESE BILLS.

SOME OF IT IS GETTING TALKS ABOUT, JUST NOT AS MUCH AS THE LARGER THEMES.

DO THESE BILLS THAT ARE VETOED REPRESENT A BLUEPRINT FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> IN A WAY, I THINK THEY DO.

WE MENTIONED IT'S REFERRED TO AS THE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL CHOICE PLAN.

HISTORICALLY IN WISCONSIN, THE SCHOOL CHOICE LOBBY IS KIND OF MOVED INCREMENTALLY.

RAISE THE INCOME LIMITATIONS FOR THE CHOICE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT THIS SESSION.

A LITTLE BIT THIS SESSION.

EXPANDS IT TO RECEIVE, THEN STATE-WIDE.

KIND OF STEP BY STEP.

THIS IS LIKE EVERYTHING HERE.

AND I THINK BYPASSING IT, GETTING THE LEGISLATURE ON RECORD TO SUPPORT THIS BILL, EVEN IF THEY KNEW THE GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO VETO IT.

THEY MAY HAVE TIM MIKE ELLS TALKING ABOUT IT.

EVERYBODY IS ON THE RECORD IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS SAYING "LET'S DO THIS."

IT DOES SET A BLUEPRINT FOR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SHOULD TIM MICHELS WIN TO STAKE SWEEPING STEPS QUICKLY.

>> WHAT ELSE WILL BE FIRST OUT OF THE BLOCKS?

I THINK THE ELECTION BILLS WOULD BE COMING PRETTY FAST.

BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN BASE SAYS THEY WANT THEM.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT THERE IS PROBABLY NOT ALL THE CHANGES REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION LAW.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A PUSH TO POSSIBLY ELIMINATE THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION.

THERE A WHOLE BUNCH THAT REPUBLICANS TALKED ABOUT IN THEIR PRIMARY COMPLAIN THAT THE BASE WANTS.

WE HAVE AN ELECTION IN 2024 THAT WILL BE CLOSE HERE IN WISCONSIN.

>> WITH ALL OF THESE BILLS CONCEIVABLY COME BACK OR IS SOME OF IT REPUBLICANS TRYING TO DRAW THE VETO TO MESSAGE THE BASE?

I THINK WHAT YOU JUST SAID THERE IS A VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY FOR SOME OF THEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER.

THIS WEAPON HAD A TALK LIKE THIS IN 2010.

WHEN WE HAD A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR WHO VETOED REPUBLICAN BILLS.

SUDDENLY REPUBLICANS HAD ALL THE POWER.

WE WENT THROUGH A LIST OF WHAT MIGHT THEY PASS.

THEY DID PASS SOME OF THAT STUFF THAT THEY SENT TO GET VETOED.

BUT NOT ALL OF IT.

THERE WAS OTHER STUFF THAT WAS NOT ON THE LIST.

I DON'T KNOW, SO I DON'T THINK YOU CAN LOOK TELL VETO LIST AND SAY THAT'S EVERYTHING THEY WILL DO NEXT YEAR.

THERE ARE SOME BILLS ON THERE, FOR EXAMPLE ONE THAT WOULD EXEMPT ALL GUNS MADE IN WISCONSIN FROM ANY FEDERAL FIREARM LAWS.

IT WOULD PROHIBIT FEDERAL BANS ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

THAT'S PRETTY BROAD STUFF.

THEY MIGHT MASS IT AGAIN.

BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> IT DOES SUFFICE TO SAY IT POINTS TO HIGH STAKES IN THIS ELECTION, FOR SURE.

SHAWN JOHNSON MUCH >> NEXT WEEK, ZAC SCHULTZ IS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

FOR MORE ON THE STATE-WIDE RACES AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

ALSO, TURN TO WISCONSIN VOTE.ORG FOR UP-TO-DATE ELECTION COVERAGE AND INFORMATION.

INCLUDING REAL-TIME RESULTS ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

[♪] FUNDING FOR 'HERE & NOW' IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.