>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> I, TONY EVERS, SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR HIS SECOND TERM.

A NEW STATE LEGISLATURE PREPARES FOR BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

AND THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STRUGGLES TO MOVE FORWARD ON A VOTE FOR SPEAKER.

I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FILLING IN FOR FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IS HERE, SHARING HIS PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION.

AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS HOPES TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON TAX CUTS.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW," FOR JANUAR.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> TUESDAY MARKED THE START OF THE NEW TWO-YEAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND KICKED OFF WITH THE INAUGURATION OF TONY EVERS AND THE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

[APPLAUSE] >> I'M TONY EVERS, AND YES I AM JAZZED AS HELL TO BE SWORN IN AGAIN AS THE 46TH GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN.

[APPLAUSE] >> DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, LOOKING TO SET A NEW TONE FOR HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR.

HE FRAMED HIS WIN IN NOVEMBER AS A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY, NOT JUST DEMOCRATS.

>> WISCONSIN REJECTED A RHETORIC BORN OUT OF APATHY AND ANIMOSITY TOWARDS OUR NEIGHBOR, AND WISCONSIN REJECTED A RETURN TO THE BITTER POLITICS OF RESENTMENT.

>> HE USED HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS TO LAY OUT HOW VOTERS EXPECT A RETURN TO BIPARTISANSHIP AND COMPROMISE, WITH A DEMOCRATIC POINT OF VIEW.

>> PEOPLE VOTED BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE, AS I DO, THAT WHEN WE DELIVER TAX RELIEF, IT SHOULD BE TARGETED TO THE MIDDLE CLASS TO GIVE WORKING FAMILIES A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM IN THEIR FAMILY BUDGET, NOT TO GIVE BIG BREAKS TO MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES.

>> AFTER THE CEREMONY IN THE ROTUNDA, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WERE SWORN IN.

WITH REPUBLICANS IN COMMANDING CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS.

>> SO HELP ME GOD.

>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS ALSO SPOKE ABOUT COMPROMISE.

>> SO IF YOU COME FROM THE FAR LEFT OR THE FAR RIGHT, PLEASE ALWAYS REMEMBER IN THIS INSTITUTION, THE MIDDLE 90% OF THE BODY IS WHERE THINGS GET DONE, NOT ON THE FRINGE.

>> HE, TOO, SPOKE ABOUT TAX REFORM, FROM A REPUBLICAN POINT OF VIEW.

>> WHEN I LOOK AT OUR TAX CLIMATE, I SEE THAT ALL AROUND US ARE FLAT TAXES.

IN IOWA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS.

>> GOVERNOR EVERS PREVIEWED THE NEXT TWO YEARS WHEN HE SAID THE INAUGURAL CALLED FOR A PARTY, BUT THE REAL WORK WAS YET TO COME.

>> WISCONSIN, WE LOVE YOU.

LET'S POLKA TONIGHT, AND GET TO WORK TOMORROW.

>> IF TUESDAY NIGHT WAS ABOUT DANCING THE POLKA, IT HAS BEEN ABOUT TOURING THE STATE SINCE THEN.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> HI, ZAC.

>> GOVERNOR, YOU'VE CRISSCROSSED WISCONSIN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

WHAT DO THOSE VISITS CONNECT TO THE WORK OF DEALING WITH THE LEGISLATURE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS IN TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ABSOLUTEL HAS A LOT TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, FUNDING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE THINGS.

SO WE LEARNED A LOT, EVEN -- YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT SEEMINGLY ARE SMALL BUT WE TALKED WITH A LOT OF STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS AND HOW THAT WORKS.

EVERYTHING I DO, AND I'M GOING OUT AND ABOUT, THE STATE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH LEGISLATION.

>> WE SPOKE WITH SPEAKER VOS LAST MONTH AND HE SAID THAT MORE MONEY IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO SOLVING SOME OF THE KNOWLEDGE GAPS THAT OCCURRED DURING COVID.

DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

>> WELL, MONEY DOES PLAY A ROLE, CLEARLY.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS GOING TO REFERENDA EVERY SINGLE ELECTION, AND TWO THINGS HAPPEN THERE.

ONE IS THAT MOST OF THEM PASS, AND THAT RAISES PROPERTY TAXES SO THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.

AND SECOND OF ALL, THERE'S 20 TO 30% THAT DON'T PASS EVERY TIME, AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS CREATES A SU SYSTEM OF HAVES AND HAVE-N. THAT IS A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.

SO YES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT EVERY OPTION TO HAVE KIDS LEARN IN A BETTER WAY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS RESOURCES.

>> NOW BOTH ON ELECTION NIGHT AND DURING YOUR INAUGURAL ADDRESS, YOU CONNECTED YOUR VICTORY WITH A VOTE TO SAVE DEMOCRACY.

IS YOUR WIN ENOUGH TO DO THAT, OR DO WE NEED MORE LEGISLATION TO AVOID WHAT YOU CALLED, QUOTE, A TRAJECTORY BENT TOWARD PERMANENTLY UNDERMINING THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE?

>> WELL, OUR ELECTION AND THE WAY IT WAS RUN AND OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING WENT FINE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN THAT'S HEAD OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION, THEY CERTIFIED THE ELECTION.

SO I THINK THINGS WENT WELL.

NOW, DO I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT COULD BE BETTER?

FRANKLY, I WOULD BE -- I'D LIKE TO HAVE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION SO THAT PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE TO VOTE.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GIVE THOSE LOCAL CLERKS THE ABILITY TO PROCESS SOME OF THOSE EARLY VOTING THINGS BEFOREHAND SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING.

BUT THE SYSTEM IS STRONG, AND BASICALLY, YES, DO I THINK THAT THAT ELECTION AND THE WAY IT WAS RUN HELPED PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT DEMOCRACY IS?

AND FRANKLY, HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN STRONG.

I MEAN, IN WISCONSIN, SO MUCH OF THE HARD WORK, 90% OR MORE, HAPPENS LOCALLY.

AND HAPPENS BY REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, YOU KNOW, THE CLERKS, THE LOCAL CLERKS.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT DO ALL THE HARD WORK.

IT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS IN MADISON.

AND SO WE NEED TO REAFFIRM OUR SUPPORT FOR THAT AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> NOW, YOU'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN LEMAHIEU LAST MONTH, THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME FOR THOSE.

DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE A REGULAR THING GOING FORWARD?

>> YEAH, I DO.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EVERY WEDNESDAY AT NOON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YEAH, I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MEETING WITH THEM.

OBVIOUSLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, THAT MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT.

SO YES, I THOUGHT BOTH MEETINGS WENT WELL.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT, AND THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE -- YOU KNOW, THAT I KNOW AND I THINK THEY KNOW TOO, THERE'S BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR.

>> NOW IN YOUR FIRST TWO BUDGETS, THE NEGOTIATIONS APPEARED FROM THE OUTSIDE TO CONSIST OF REPUBLICANS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW FAR THEY COULD GO BEFORE YOU WOULD VETO THE ENTIRE BILL.

DO YOU EXPECT THIS PROCESS TO LOOK DIFFERENT?

>> IT WILL BE DIFFERENT IN THAT THINGS LIKE SHARED REVENUE, HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FIXING THE ROADS AND BROADBAND, THINGS LIKE THAT, ABSOLUTELY THERE IS COMMON GROUND TO BE HELD.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL SEE.

YOU KNOW, WE MAY BE IN POSITIONS WHERE WE FIGHT ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS AND I ANTICIPATE WE WILL.

WHETHER THOSE THINGS WILL BE ENOUGH FOR ME TO VETO A BILL -- A BUDGET OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME.

>> NOW, WE'RE FINALLY STARTING TO SEE SOME OF GOVERNOR WALKER'S APPOINTEES TO SOME OF THOSE STATE BOARDS STEP DOWN AFTER OVERSTAYING THEIR TERMS, SPECIFICALLY ON THE DNR BOARD.

IN THE FUTURE, WOULD YOU EXPECT TO RUN NAMES PAST SENATE MAJORITY LEMAHIEU IN ORDER TO SEE IF HE LIKES THEM OFF THE BAT OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO ANNOUNCE THEM COLD?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE ANNOUNCE PEOPLE THAT WE FEEL WILL BE OKAY WITH SENATOR LEMAHIEU, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT HE SAID EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GIVEN AN UP AND DOWN VOTE.

AND THEY'RE ALL GOOD PEOPLE.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO REASON WHY NOT TO.

AND THE FACT THAT -- THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WAITED, A HANDFUL WAITED UNTIL THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR TO GET OUT, I FIND THAT, YOU KNOW, REFRESHING THAT THEY'D COME TO THAT CONCLUSION, BUT THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO.

>> YOU RECENTLY ANNOUNCED YOUR NEW SELECTION FOR DNR SECRETARY, ADAM PAYNE, JUST SO HAPPENS HE'S THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FROM SENATOR LEMAHIEU'S HOME COUNTY OF SHEBOYGAN.

WAS THAT A COINCIDENCE OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK WILL HELP SPEED THE CONFIRMATION?

>> WELL, IT WAS A COINCIDENCE.

I'D KNOWN ADAM FOR A LONG TIME, I'M FROM SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, I KNOW HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB THERE, I KNOW THAT HIS BACKGROUND IS ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, HIS FATHER WAS I THINK A PROFESSOR AT STEVENS POINT IN THE AREA OF -- YOU KNOW, NATURAL RESOURCES.

SO IT WAS JUST A NATURAL.

IF IT HELPS THAT HE'S FROM SHEBOYGAN COUNTY AND SO IS SENATOR LEMAHIEU, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHY WE CHOSE HIM.

>> SWITCHING TO THE TOPIC OF THE SUPREME COURT ELECTION THAT'S COMING UP, IT SEEMS LIKE ANY NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE OTHER MAJOR TOPIC OF ABORTION WILL BE TIED DIRECTLY TO TH THE OUTCOMEF THAT ELECTION, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ROOM FOR COMPROMISE UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE COURT ON THAT ISSUE.

>> I WOULD SAY SO.

I WOULD IMAGINE WE WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO SOME CONCLUSION TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE WERE BEFORE ROE V. WADE LEGISLATIVELY, SO THAT'S WHY WE FILED A LAWSUIT.

I THINK THE LAWSUIT IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND IT'S LIKELY TO END UP IN THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.

>> WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE IF VOTERS APPROACHED THAT SUPREME COURT ELECTION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF ABORTION RIGHTS?

>> OF COURSE.

YEAH.

IT IS A BIG DEAL IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

MOST PEOPLE IN THE STATE DO BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THAT DECISION-MAKING LEFT UP TO THEM.

AND SO YES, IF THAT'S THE WAY IT PLAYS OUT, THAT'S THE WAY IT PLAYS OUT.

BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

IT WAS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN, MY CAMPAIGN, AND I BELIEVE WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THOSE RIGHTS.

>> NOW, INCLUDING IN THE TOPIC OF AWORG ABORTION, THE FDA RECEA ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD BE EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE SO-CALLED ABORTION PILL BUT THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN WISCONSIN, BOTH DUE TO THE 1849 LAW AND MORE RECENT LEGISLATION.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE TO GET SORTED OUT WAY DOWN THE ROAD AS TO WHETHER PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT?

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WILL BE DEALT WITH BY THE LEGISLATURE, BUT WE'LL SEE.

I MEAN, CERTAINLY IF THERE'S THINGS THAT LEGISLATIVELY CAN HAPPEN THAT ALLOW WOMEN TO UTILIZE THIS PHARMACEUTICAL, I THINK WE SHOULD, BUT I'M GUESSING THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE DOWN THE ROAD.

>> ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BROUGHT UP IS THE USE OF TIK TOK ON STATE DEVICES.

WE'VE SEEN OTHER STATES BAN THEM.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE LEANING TOWARDS?

>> YEAH, I MADE A DECISION TO DO THAT.

IN FACT, I'LL BE ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDERLY NEXT WEEK TO BAN THAT.

>> HOW COME, AND IS THE USE OF TIK TOK ON STATE DEVICES?

>> NOT VERY.

I MEAN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, IT'S RELATIVELY A SMALL NUMBER, I'D SAY PROBABLY LESS THAN 30 ALL TOTAL, ALL STATE EMPLOYEES, SO IT'S NOT A MAJORITY BY ANY STRETCH.

SO IT'S NOT PERVASIVE, BUT WE FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN IN THE SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT USE IT, THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE USING IT.

>> DOES THAT FALL UNDER THE LARGER PURVIEW OF JUST ELECTRONIC SECURITY?

BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD OTHER EXPERTS SAY WELL, TIK TOK IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA DEVICES YOU DOWNLOAD ON TO A PHONE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS WITH FBI AND ALSO WISCONSIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS THAT ARE REALLY INTO, YOU KNOW, THE NITTY GRITTY OF THAT, AND WE'LL FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE JUST LIKE WE DID WITH TIK TOK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOVERNOR EVERS, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANKS, ZAC.

>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS SAYS HE, TOO, IS HOPING TO IMPROVE LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR.

WE SPOKE WITH HIM RECENTLY ABOUT THE BUDGET AND HIS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

>> MR. SPEAKER, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE HERE.

THANKS, ZAC.

>> GIVE ME YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF THE 2022 ELECTIONS AND WHAT ARE YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE RESULTS?

>> I WOULD SAY FIRST OF ALL, IT SEEMED TO GO ALONG BETTER THAN IT DID BEFORE.

I THINK WE HAD LESS CONCERNS WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT OCCURRED IN 2020.

I THINK IT STILL SHOWS THAT THERE WERE ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH.

I STILL WOULD PREFER THAT WE HAD THE MONDAY BILL ASSEMBLY -- I THINK WE HAD SOME CHANGES TO THE WAY THAT WE DID DIFFERENT ELECTION LAWS THAT SHOULD HAVE BECOME LAW.

I THINK THOSE ISSUES ARE STILL OUT THERE.

BUT I THINK WE'VE ALSO REALIZED THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PASSION AROUND ELECTIONS.

ON BOTH SIDES IN WISCONSIN.

EVERYTHING IS SO CLOSE.

SO I WISH WE WOULD FOCUS MORE ON TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS CONFIDENCE FROM THE VERY FAR RIGHT TO THE VERY FAR LEFT, INSTEAD OF JUST HOPING THAT OUR SIDE WINS AND THAT THE OTHER SIDE JUST HAS TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> DO YOU THINK THE FACT THAT THERE WAS KIND OF A SPLIT ELECTION WITH RON JOHNSON AND TONY EVERS WINNING GIVES PEOPLE CONFIDENCE?

LIKE THERE'S NO WAY IT COULD BE RIGGED IF THAT HAPPENED?

>> I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

LIKE I SAY, I STILL BELIEVE THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD KIND OF TRY TO GENERATE MORE OF A CONSENSUS THIS TIME AROUND, WE'RE HEADING INTO WHAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A CONTENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

I DON'T THINK WE JUST THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND AND OVERHAUL EVERYTHING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE ARE LEGITIMATELY BRINGING UP.

I HOPE WE CAN HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

>> MILITARY B BALLOTS KIND OF CE UP AT THE VERY END, THERE'S NOT VERY ME MANY BUT DOES THAT NEEDO BE LOOKED AT?

>> THERE'S A WAY IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME SECURITY AROUND PEOPLE WHO VOTE USING A MILITARY SITUATION AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN LODI OR BURLINGTON, I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO HAVE US DO THAT.

MY GOAL IS ALWAYS TO HAVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF VOTES CAST THAT ARE LEGAL AND PROPER.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE SECOND PART THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON.

YEAH, I WANT TO HAVE MASSIVE TURNOUT IN WISCONSIN LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE BUT NOT DO IT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FINAL RESULTS BECAUSE SOMEBODY COULD, YOU KNOW, WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS ILLEGALLY, WHETHER IT HAPPENS A LOT OR NOT, NOBODY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO WORRY THAT IT DOES.

>> ARE THERE ANY NON-BUDGET ISSUES THAT YOU THINK THAT THE ASSEMBLY WILL LOOK TO ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY I WHEN THE SESSION STARTS?

>> BOY, THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING TO GO ON.

A LOT OF IT IS THE BUDGET.

THAT'S PRIMARILY THE THING.

BUT AS I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THE TOPICS WE CAN LOOK AT, I FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE WAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE WORKS IS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO KIND OF HIT THE RESET BUTTON WITH EVERY SWEARING IN CEREMONY THAT WE HAVE TWO YEARS -- EVERY TWO YEARS, SO PART OF ME LOOKS AND SAYS, OKAY, THE PAST IS THE PAST, WE'VE GOT TO LOOK IF HE FUTURE.

SO NUMBER ONE, I THINK WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH LEARNING LOSS.

WE NOW SEE THAT TWO OUT OF THREE KIDS SINCE 2019 ARE DOING WORSE ON STANDARDIZED TESTS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE ADEQUATE LEVEL OF MATH OR READING FOR THEIR GRADE LEVEL.

THAT'S WRONG.

WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT.

WE ALSO KNOW WITH THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT CAME IN, MORE MONEY ISN'T THE SIMPLE ANSWER, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEX ISSUES.

SO I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WE COULD FOCUS ON.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT GOVERNOR EVERS VETOED OUR LEGISLATION TO INCREASE LITERACY AND LEARNING, HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND GET THAT THROUGH.

SECOND THING IS WE KNOW WE HAVE A DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE REAL ISSUES IN WISCONSIN WITH A GRAYING POPULATION AND WE NEED TO DO MORE TO KEEP PEOPLE HERE IN WISCONSIN.

IMWHEN I LOOK AT OUR TAX CLIMATE AND SEE WE HAVE A FLAT TAX IN IOWA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, A REPUBLICAN STATE, A DEMOCRAT STATE AND NEWLY TURNED DEMOCRAT STATE, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR TAX BURDEN.

IT'S NOT ABOUT REWARDING WEALTH EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

IT'S ABOUT SAYING IF YOU HAVE A RETIRED COUPLE AND THEY DECIDE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND SIX MONTHS AND A DAY, IT CERTAINLY SHOULD BE WISCONSIN, NOT FLORIDA, TEXAS, ARIZONA, 1 TENNESSEE, ALL PLACES SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER TO RETIRE.

WE'VE GOT TO FIX THAT.

AND THE LAST THING THAT I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS MORE INNOVATION.

UNDER THE BEST CASE SCENARIO, RIGHT NOW, WE SEE NOT NET IN MIGRATION, WE HAVE TO KEEP MORE COLLEGE GRADUATES AND PART OF THE INNOVATION HAS TO BE ALL THROUGH STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

I THINK FOR THE MOST PART IN WISCONSIN, WE DO EVERYTHING THE WAY THAT WE DID 20 AND 30 YEARS AGO.

AND RATHER THAN INNOVATING, WE JUST ADD MORE TO THE TOP OF THE PILE.

SO I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO USE OUR BUDGET AND OUR OPPORTUNITY TO LEGISLATE TO FOCUS ON INNOVATING AND BEING IN A PLACE WHERE NEW IDEAS THRIVE.

YOU KNOW, WE USED TO BE THE INVENTION CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY, ERVEG FROM MALTED MILK TO GARBAGE DISPOSALS WERE INVENTED IN WISCONSIN.

WE'VE BEEN LESS INNOVATIVE IN GOVERNMENT AND I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

>> MOVING TO THE BUDGETS, OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST FOCUS, TAX CUTS ARE THE BIGGEST PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS.

ARE YOU GOING TO PASS A BUDGET WITH A FLAT TAX OR IS THAT STILL NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS AS TO WHETHER THAT HAPPENS?

>> I ALWAYS START BY SAYING I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY ABSOLUTE BOTTOM LINES AT THIS POINT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

I TALKED ABOUT THE LEARNING LOSS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN WISCONSIN AMONG ALMOST EVERY GRADE LEVEL.

WELL, WE NEED TO EDUCATE AND DIFFERENTIATE WISCONSIN FROM OTHER PLACES.

SO I WANT MORE SCHOOL CHOICE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN ONLY A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

IT COULD MEAN WHY DO WE HAVE IT DIFFICULT BETWEEN TWO PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

WHY DO WE GET TO HAVE PARENTS NOT BE THE PRIMARY DECIDERS AND BUREAUCRATS INSTEAD?

I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I KNOW GOVERNOR EVERS CARES ABOUT EDUCATION, SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD FIND COMMON GROUND ON.

I WOULD SAY IN MY MIND, YES, WE NEED TO HAVE TAX REFORM.

I'VE TRIED TO BE GENEROUS IN SAYING THAT, LOOK, GOVERNOR EVERS SIGNED THE LAST BUDGET WHERE WE HAD NOWHERE NEAR THE SURPLUS WE HAD NOW WITH $3.4 BILLION IN TAX CUTS, I CAN'T IMAGINE UNDER ANY SCENARIO WE HAVE LESS THAN THAT, WE SHOULD HAVE MORE, BUT I HAVEN'T DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND SAYING IT MUST BE DONE AT THIS LEVEL OR THIS WAY BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE ONLY BOTTOM LINE I HAVE IS WE ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE SURPLUS OR NEW REVENUES TO GROW THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT.

RIGHT?

INNOVATE, MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR PRIORITIES FUNDED, BUT TO CREATE NEW BU BUREAUCRACES, TO CREATE W MONSTROSITIES TO PAY FOR LATER ON, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> TODAY MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE THE JANUARY 6TH INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL.

TO DATE, MORE THAN 950 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE STORMING OF THE CAPITOL AND THE ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION.

ALL 8 OF WISCONSIN'S MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WERE THERE THAT DAY.

7 OF THEM INSIDE THE BUILDING.

THE 8TH MEMBER IS REPUBLICAN DEREK VAN ORDEN, WHO WAS NOT IN CONGRESS THEN.

HE ATTENDED THE RALLY OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL BUT CLAIMS HE DID NOT ENTER THE BUILDING OR PARTICIPATE IN THE VIOLENCE THAT DAY.

VAN ORDEN WAS ELECTED THIS FALL TO REPRESENT WISCONSIN'S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

HOWEVER, HE STILL HASN'T BEEN SWORN IN TO OFFICE BECAUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO AGREE ON WHO TO ELECT AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

REPUBLICAN KEVIN MCCARTHY HAS FAILED IN MORE THAN A DOZEN VOTES SINCE TUESDAY WITH A SMALL GROUP OF HOLDOUTS PREVENTING HIM FROM GETTING A MAJORITY.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS A SPEAKER WASN'T CHOSEN ON THE FIRST BALLOT, AND THIS MARKS THE MOST VOTES SINCE 1860 WHEN 44 VOTES WERE NEEDED.

THE RECORD, BY THE WAY, WAS SET IN 1856, WHEN IT TOOK 133 ROUNDS OF VOTING TO ELECT A SPEAKER.

UNLESS YOU'RE NEW TO WISCONSIN, YOU'VE SEEN THE SNOWPLOWS OUT THIS WINTER.

NOT ONLY CLEANING THE ROADS BUT LAYING DOWN SALT.

WHILE THIS MAKES IT SAFER FOR DRIVERS IT'S BECOMING A PROBLEM FOR OUR STATE'S FRESHWATER BODIES.

>> ONE THING WE'RE SEEING IN A LOT OF URBAN AREAS IN WISCONSIN IS INCREASING IS A LI SALINITY R LAKES AND RIVERS.

THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE HISTORICALLY WE WERE BLESSED WITH A LOT OF FRESHWATER IN WISCONSIN.

OFTEN WE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, IN OUR WATER BODIES, THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR AQUATIC ORGANISMS IN FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS.

IT ALSO CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR HUMANS IF THAT'S THE DRINKING WATER SOURCE, WE'RE SEEING INCREASE IN SALINITY IN LAKES, WE'RE LIKELY ALSO SEEING IT IN GROUNDWATER, SO THIS KIND OF GOES BENEATH THE SURFACE.

EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE, ALL THIS CAN BE WASHED INTO OUR WATERS EVENTUALLY.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IMPACT AND MITIGATION, WE TURN TO ELLISON MADISON, PROGRAM MANAGER AT WISCONSIN SALT WISE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WHAT IS SALT WISE AND WHO ARE YOU WORKING WITH?

>> IT ACTUALLY BEGAN IN THE MADISON AREA WITH THE CITY OF MADISON, DANE COUNTY, MADISON DANE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE WATER UTILITY, SEEING SALT CONCENTRATIONS INCREASE IN OUR LAKES, OUR STREAM AND OUR DRINKING WATER.

SO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER AND SAID WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, AND INITIALLY THE GOAL WAS REACH OUT TO SOME OF THE BIGGEST USERS OF SALT, THE CITIES, DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY THEMSELVES AND THEY STARTED TO TRAIN OPERATORS, ANYBODY WHO'S PUTTING SALT DOWN ON BEST PRACTICES.

AND THEN FROM THERE, SALT-WISE KIND OF GREW BECAUSE SOME OF THE OPERATORS WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, THEY'RE PUTTING DOWN A LOT OF SALT ON PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS, THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND, AND THEN ALSO THE AUDIENCE OF JUST THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAME UP, RIGHT, LIKE IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE MIGHT WANT TO KIND OF CALIBRATE IN AND CONSIDER SALT USE, NOT JUST THAT MORE ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE GETS OUT TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE MAKING CHANGES AT THE MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, STATE LEVEL.

>> SO WHAT'S THE TRADEOFF HERE BETWEEN MAKING ROADS SAFE AND KEEPING OUR GROUNDWATER SAFE?

>> SO ACTUALLY I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE I REALLY -- WITH SALT-WISE, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS KIND OF BREAK APART THAT DICHOTOMY OF WE'RE EITHER SAFE OR WE HAVE PURE FRESHWATER GOING FORWARD.

BECAUSE REALLY A LOT OF THE BEST PRACTICES THAT THE SALT-WISE PARTNERSHIP ENCOURAGES ARE PRACTICES THAT DO NOT REDUCE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE ON OUR ROADS.

SO THINGS LIKE CALIBRATING YOUR SALT SPREADERS SO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH SALT IS BEING PUT DOWN AND YOU CAN REALLY MAKE PRECISE APPLICATIONS BASED ON ROAD TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER TRENDS.

ALSO USING LIQUID BRINES.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THOSE LINES ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE A STORM, SOMETIMES ON MUNICIPAL STREETS AS WELL.

THOSE WORK TO PUT DOWN A VERY, VERY THIN LAYER OF SALT.

I LIKE TO DESCRIBE IT LIKE PUTTING PAM SPRAY MAYBE, COOKING SPRAY, ON YOUR SKILL ET BEFORE YOU COOK.

SO IF YOU CAN PREVENT THAT BOND FROM FORMING BETWEEN SNOW AND THE PAVEMENT, WHEN THE PLOW COMES, THE SNOW COMES UP SO MUCH MORE READILY, THEY USE A LOT LESS SALT AFTERWARDS, RIGHT?

I THINK YOU PROBABLY SOMETIMES PUT SOME FOOD ON RIGHT BEFORE OILING THAT SKILL ET AND THEN YOU'RE SCRAPING AND SCRAPING AFTERWARDS.

SO SOME OF THESE PRACTICES, USING LIQUID BRINES, CALIBRATING EQUIPMENT, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY REDUCE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE, THEY DON'T MAKE THE PAVEMENT LESS SAFE.

SOMETIMES WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT SAFER BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF LIQUID JUST WORKING SO MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN SOLID ROCK SALT.

SO IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF SAFE, AGAIN, OR, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST ADOPTING THOSE BEST PRACTICES.

>> SO CLIMATE CHANGE IS A BIG FACTOR HERE.

IT'S CHANGING WHAT OUR WINTERS LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF SIZE OF STORMS, WHEN SNOW RUNS OFF.

DOES THAT CHANGE THE FORMULAS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING FOR YEARS ABOUT HOW TO LAY DOWN SALT?

>> YEAH, SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY USED FORMULAS IN THE PAST.

WE'VE KIND OF JUST THOUGHT SALT IS GOOD, SOME IS GOOD, MORE IS BETTER, LET'S CRANK IT UP, PUT THE SALT DOWN, RIGHT?

SO WE'RE SEEING THOSE CONVERSATIONS START TO CHANGE.

PART OF IT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT OF THIS ISSUE, RIGHT, REALLY SEEING SALT CONCENTRATIONS INCREASE IN OUR FRESHWATER, BUT ANOTHER PIECE OF IT IS THE GROWING COST OF SALT ITSELF, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT SALT IS SUPER CORROSIVE, RIGHT?

I THINK A LOT OF US SEE THAT MAYBE ON OUR PERSONAL VEHICLES, BUT SALT ALSO REALLY PREMATURELY AGES ROADS AND BRIDGES, AND SO WE'RE PAYING A LOT MORE FOR SALT THESE DAYS AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE COST OF THAT.

SO I THINK THAT THIS WORK IS REALLY JUST STARTING TO HAVE APPLICATORS, THOSE BIGGEST APPLICATORS ARE SEEING IT FIRST, KIND OF HOW DO WE DIAL IN AND RIGHT-SIZE OUR SALT USE AS THE CLIMATE CONTINUES TO CHANGE AND WE HAVE MORE MAYBE SNOW EVENT FOLLOWED BY WARM SPELLS WITH RAIN, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THAT IF THERE'S ANY EXTRA SALT THAT'S BEEN PUT DOWN ON PAVEMENT, IT'S JUST WASHING AWAY, RIGHT?

INTO OUR STREAMS.

>> SO FOR INDIVIDUALS -- JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT, WHAT SHOULD THEY THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY SALT THEIR SIDEWALK OR THEIR STEPS?

>> THANK YOU.

SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SHOVEL, SCATTER, SWITCH, AND THEN SWEEP.

SO FIRST SHOVEL, GET OUT THERE AND MOVE AS MUCH SNOW AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY MOVE KIND OF MANUALLY OR MECHANICALLY WITH A SNOWBLOWER.

SO SHOVEL, SCATTER.

IF YOU DO NEED TO USE SALT, JUST APPLY IT AS NEEDED, BECAUSE EVERY TEASPOON OF SALT -- 5 GALLONS OF WATER.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT EXTRA SALT LEFT OVER YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE SWEEPING THAT UP AND USING LESS THE NEXT TIME.

THE SWITCH COMES IN AT COLDER TEMPERATURES.

IF YOU DROP BELOW -- IF THE TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, SALT IS NOT EFFECTIVE ANYMORE SO WE NEED TO SWITCH AND USE SAND FOR TRACTION OR A DIFFERENT DE-ICER.

>> THAT IS ALL WE HAVE, ALLISON MADISON, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT WAS A DELIGHT TO BE ON.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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