Here & Now

Here and Now for Aug. 11, 2016

ANNOUNCER:

THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR “HERE AND NOW” 2016 WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION COVERAGE. FUNDING FOR “HERE AND NOW” IS PROVIDED IN PART BY FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

MIKE PENCE:

DONALD TRUMP BELIEVES IN THE BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND HE WILL UNLEASH THE FULL STRENGTH OF THIS ECONOMY BY GETTING WASHINGTON OFF OUR BACKS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

REPUBLICAN V.P. NOMINEE MIKE PENCE MAKES HIS CASE IN LA CROSSE. I’M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON “HERE AND NOW” THE VERY LATEST POLL NUMBERS ON THE PENCE-TRUMP TICKET VERSUS CLINTON-KAINE. MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLLSTER CHARLES FRANKLIN IS HERE. SO TOO IS UW SYSTEM PRESIDENT RAY CROSS WHO WILL PREVIEW THE BUDGET THAT HEADS TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS NEXT WEEK. STATE SENATOR STEVE NASS JOINS US LATER TO FORESHADOW AN EXTENSION OF A STATE-IMPOSED TUITION FREEZE FOR THE UW SYSTEM. BUT FIRST, A RUNDOWN OF TUESDAY’S ELECTION RESULTS. A PRIMARY ACCORDING TO STATE ELECTION OFFICIALS THAT SAW ABOUT A 13% TURNOUT. FOLLOWING A PRIMARY ELECTION THE DIE IS CAST FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS ACROSS THE STATE. SOME PRIMARIES DETERMINED THE OFFICE HOLDER IN SELECT RACES. IN WISCONSIN’S U.S. SENATE RACE DEMOCRATIC FORMER U.S. SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD EASILY WON THE PRIMARY RACE WITH 90% OF THE VOTE PITTING HIM IN THE GENERAL AGAINST INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN SENATOR RON JOHNSON. LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE PHIL ANDERSON IS ALSO ON THE BALLOT. IN THE MUCH WATCHED RACE IN THE OPEN 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPUBLICAN MIKE GALLAGHER DEFEATED TWO GOP CHALLENGERS CAPTURING 74% OF THE VOTE TO MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. HE WILL FACE DEMOCRAT TOM NELSON TO REPLACE REID RIBBLE, A REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN WHO IS NOT SEEKING REELECTION. IN A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN THE 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN OVERWHELMINGLY DEFEATED HIS PRIMARY CHALLENGER AND NOW FACES DEMOCRAT RYAN SOLON IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. IN THE 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE BEAT FORMER STATE SENATOR GARY GEORGE 85% TO HIS 15% AND IS REELECTED FOR ANOTHER TWO-YEAR TERM WITH NO REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER IN THE GENERAL. MILWAUKEE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN CHISHOLM TARGETED FOR DEFEAT OVER HIS PROSECUTION OF THE JOHN DOE CASES EASILY WON HIS PRIMARY CONTEST AND WITH NO GENERAL ELECTION CHALLENGER IS REELECTED AS D.A. THERE. LIKEWISE IN DANE COUNTY

SITTING DISTRICT ATTORNEY ISMAEL OZANNE DEFEATED A CHALLENGER FROM INSIDE HIS OFFICE AND KEEPS HIS POSITION WITH NO GENERAL ELECTION CHALLENGER. IN THE OPEN SEAT FOR THE 18th SENATE DISTRICT DEMOCRAT MARK HARRIS, THE WINNEBAGO COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WILL FACE REPUBLICAN DAN FEYEN THIS FALL. MILWAUKEE STATE SENATOR DEMOCRAT LENA TAYLOR WON REELECTION WITH 61% OF THE VOTE AND HAS NO GOP CHALLENGER IN THE GENERAL. AND DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE LATONYA JOHNSON WILL BE SWORN IN IS AS STATE SENATOR FROM MILWAUKEE BEATING HER PRIMARY CHALLENGERS IN AN UNCONTESTED GENERAL ELECTION RACE. REMEMBER YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AT WISCONSINVOTE.ORG. AND FOR THE THIRD WEEK IN A ROW REPUBLICAN V.P. CANDIDATE MIKE PENCE WAS DISPATCHED TO WISCONSIN TO RALLY THE VOTE.

MIKE PENCE:

I PROMISE YOU, WHEN DONALD TRUMP BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WE WILL REBUILD OUR MILITARY. WE WILL RESTORE AMERICA’S STRENGTH IN THE WORLD. WE WILL REBUILD OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR ALLIES AND WE WILL CONFRONT AND DESTROY THOSE WHO THREATEN OUR PEOPLE AND OUR FREEDOM AT THEIR SOURCE.

[APPLAUSE]

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THE TRUMP-PENCE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES ITS PUSH IN WISCONSIN DESPITE NEW STATEWIDE POLL NUMBERS SHOWING HILLARY CLINTON WAY AHEAD OF DONALD TRUMP. THIS WEEKS MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL POLL SHOWS TRUMP TRAILING CLINTON BY 15 POINTS AMONG LIKELY WISCONSIN VOTERS. THE POLL’S DIRECTOR CHARLES FRANKLIN IS HERE WITH ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

GOOD TO BE BACK.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LET’S LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND YOU ARE POLLING AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS. CLINTON IS UP ON TRUMP 46 TO 36%. A 10-POINT LEAD AND AMONG LIKELY VOTERS THERE’S THAT 15-POINT SPREAD. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THESE RESULTS IN PARTICULAR?

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

YOU SHOULD REALIZE THAT THESE POLLS COME AFTER THE CONVENTIONS AND PARTICULARLY AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. AND THEN FOLLOWED BY A WEEK OF ONE OF THE WORST WEEKS THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HAS HAD IN TERMS OF MESSAGING. TO PUT IT A LITTLE BIT IN PERSPECTIVE, 15 POINTS NOW IN THIS POLL OBAMA WON THE STATE BY 14 IN 2008. SO THIS PUTS IT IN THAT CATEGORY. AND IN 2008, OBAMA WON THE COUNTRY BY SEVEN. RIGHT NOW CLINTON’S POLLING AVERAGE IS 7.8 POINT LEAD. SO WE REALLY ARE LOOKING BOTH AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL AT THE 2008 LEVEL. BUT AFTER A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AND A TOUGH WEEK FOR TRUMP.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

DO THESE RESULTS OF YOURS REFLECT WHAT’S HAPPENING NATIONALLY IN THE POLLS?

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

I THINK THEY DO IMPLICITLY. WISCONSIN IS USUALLY A BIT MORE DEMOCRATIC THAN THE COUNTRY. BUT IT VARIES IN HOW MUCH MORE OR LESS. BUT WE TEND TO TRACK THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

MEANWHILE DONALD TRUMP DOESN’T SEEM WANT TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER IN WISCONSIN. HE IS BACK HERE NEXT TUESDAY AGAIN. AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT TACTIC ON HIS PART COMING BACK HERE?

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

I THINK ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO KNOW WHAT THE CAMPAIGNS ARE THINKING IS WATCH WHERE THEY GO. YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY MORE TELEVISION ADVERTISING BUT THERE’S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME A CANDIDATE CAN SPEND ANYWHERE DURING THE CAMPAIGN. SO FOR HIM TO MAKE A SECOND VISIT, FOR PENCE TO BE HERE AGAIN AND NOW AGAIN, WE’RE REALLY SEEING THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO INVEST THAT MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITY, THE CANDIDATE’S TIME IN, WORKING HERE. WE’LL SEE IF IT PAYS OFF FOR THEM AS THEY GO AHEAD, BUT THEY ARE CLEARLY COMMITTED TO WISCONSIN.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LET’S LOOK AT THE U.S. SENATE RACE. AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS DEMOCRAT RUSS FEINGOLD IS POLLING AT 49%. REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT RON JOHNSON’S 43%. HOW HAS THAT TRACKED?

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

THAT’S A 6 POINT MARGIN WITH REGISTERED VOTERS. THAT WAS 7 POINTS A MONTH AGO. BUT IT’S A BIGGER MARGIN AS WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN THE LIKELY VOTER SET. I THINK WHAT YOU’RE SEEING IS LIKELY VOTERS — BUT IT THE OTHER WAY, DEMOCRATS ARE MORE MOTIVATED RIGHT NOW AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE WITH LIKELY VOTERS. AND THAT’S HELPING BOOST BOTH THE PRESIDENTIAL AND THE SENATE MARGINS WITH LIKELYS. BUT LIKELIHOOD OF VOTING CAN FLUCTUATE OVER THE COURSE OF WEEKS, LET ALONE THE MONTH, TWO MONTHS, ALMOST THREE THAT WE HAVE UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

IN TERMS OF THE RESULTS IN THAT U.S. SENATE RACE, I SAW JOHNSON’S CAMPAIGN RESPONDING TO THE NUMBERS EXPLAINING THAT HE IS AN OUTSIDER. I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS CASTING YOURSELF AS SO OUTSIDE THAT 30% OF THE VOTERS AT THIS POINT DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE WHICH IS THE CASE WITH RON JOHNSON.

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

THIS IS THE THING THE JOHNSON CAMPAIGN HAS NEEDED TO ADDRESS FOR A WHILE. THAT NON-RECOGNITION, THAT 30 OR 31% IS DOWN FROM 36 ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SO THERE HAS BEEN MAKING SOME PROGRESS. BUT RUSS FEINGOLD’S AT ABOUT 20% WHO DON’T HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT HIM. SO THERE IS STILL A GAP INCLUDING A GAP WITH JOHNSON AND FEINGOLD ON THAT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AS FOR FAVORABILITY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, STILL HIGH WITH TRUMP AT 65%, CLINTON AT 53% BUT HERS HAVE DROPPED.

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

HERS HAVE DROPPED A LITTLE BIT. WE DID SEE MOTION IN HER DIRECTION FOLLOWING THE CONVENTIONS WHEREAS FOR HIM IT ACTUALLY TICKED DOWN JUST A POINT OR SO IN FAVORABLE RATING. I THINK WHAT THAT SHOWS IS THERE IS SOME ROOM TO MOVE THESE TWO CANDIDATES A BIT ON THIS. BUT THEY BOTH REMAIN NET NEGATIVE IN FAVORABILITY IN TERMS OF NATIONAL POLLING, THE LEAST WELL LIKED CANDIDATE SINCE THE 70s AT LEAST.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ACCORDING TO OUR POLL TOO, AT LITTLE BIT DEEPER INSIDE. DONALD TRUMP ALSO IS SUPER HIGH UNFAVORABLE IN THE 70 TO 75% RANGE WITH WOMEN, YOUNG VOTERS, COLLEGE EDUCATED AND THEN PEOPLE WHO MAKE UNDER $40,000. NOT TO MENTION, OF COURSE, THE KIND OF SKY HIGH UNFAVORABLE WITH AFRICAN-AMERICANS, 90% OR SOMETHING. HOW DOES A CANDIDATE DO WITHOUT ALL OF THESE GROUPS OF VOTERS?

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

THIS IS PART OF THE REASON WHY HE IS BEHIND BY 10 POINTS WITH REGISTERED AND 15 WITH LIKELY IS MANY OF THE CONSTITUENCIES THAT HE SHOULD BE DOING WELL WITH AS A REPUBLICAN, HE IS NOT DOING AS WELL AS MITT ROMNEY DID. AND SO THAT’S AN AREA WHERE HE REALLY DOES NEED TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AS FOR PARTY UNITY, 79% OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT TRUMP WHILE 90% SUPPORT CLINTON. HOW DOES THE TRUMP NUMBER COMPARE TO ANY PREVIOUS CANDIDATE?

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

TYPICALLY WE’D SEE PEOPLE IN THE 90s AT THIS POINT. ROMNEY 92. OBAMA WAS AT 96 FOUR YEARS AGO. IT ALSO SHOWS UP REGIONALLY. RIGHT NOW HILLARY CLINTON IS WINNING THE MILWAUKEE SUBURBAN COUNTIES BY TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS. NOW IT’S UNLIKELY THAT SUSTAINS ITSELF. THAT’S PHENOMENAL. THIS IS THE MOST REPUBLICAN AREA OF THE STATE. THE NEVER TRUMP FOLKS ARE STRONG. BUT RON JOHNSON IS WINNING THAT AREA. SO IT IS NOT AN ABANDONMENT OF THE PARTY. IT’S AN ABANDONMENT OF THE CANDIDATE. AND A QUESTION FROM NOW TO NOVEMBER IS CAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY COME HOME TO DONALD TRUMP OR ARE THEY SPLIT BETWEEN THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND DOWN BALLOT RACES.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LET’S TAKE A LOOK FINALLY AT THE APPROVAL OF GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER’S JOB PERFORMANCE. HE APPEARS TO BE VERY STILL UNDER WATER. WHAT PULLS UP APPROVAL RATINGS FOR GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER?

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR HIM IS THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON IN A WAY RIGHT NOW FOR HIM. THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT IN SESSION. THE BUDGET DOESN’T COME OUT UNTIL FEBRUARY. HE IS TRAVELING THE STATE HOLDING EVENTS. BUT THOSE ARE SMALL AFFAIRS COMPARED TO RUNNING A CAMPAIGN. AND WHERE WE DID SEE HIM TICK UP IS WHEN HE WAS MOST VISIBLE JUST BEFORE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. ONLY TO THEN SEE HIM DROP BACK A LITTLE BIT. I WOULD LOOK FOR LATE IN THE YEAR AND AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET CYCLE AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AT THAT POINT ANY GOVERNOR EMERGES FRONT AND CENTER. AND WE’LL SEE THEN WHETHER HE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OR WHETHER HE SUFFERS FROM IT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ALL RIGHT. CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

CHARLES FRANKLIN:

THANK YOU.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

CHARLES FRANKLIN’S NEXT STATEWIDE POLL WILL BE IN THREE WEEKS. MORE LEGAL TWISTS THIS WEEK FOR THE STATE’S VOTER I.D. LAWS. MIDWEEK, AN APPEALS COURT STAYED A FEDERAL RULING THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED VOTERS WITH NO STATE ID TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. NOW THOSE VOTERS WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAST THEIR VOTES BY SIGNING AN AFFIDAVIT SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO OBTAIN STATE IDENTIFICATION. ON THURSDAY A FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE DENIED THE STATE’S REQUEST TO RESTORE CERTAIN ELECTIONS LAWS INCLUDING WISCONSIN’S RESTRICTIONS ON EARLY VOTING HOURS. JUDGE JAMES PETERSON DID DECIDE WITH THE STATE ON ONE MATTER. HE REMOVED HIS ORDER FOR THE STATE TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE HOW I.D.s CAN BE OBTAINED BY THOSE WHO LACK THEM BY THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. THE UW SYSTEM BUDGET REQUEST GOES BEFORE THE BOARD OF REGENTS NEXT WEEK. IT CALLS FOR A $42.5 MILLION FUNDING INCREASE OVER THE TWO YEARS COVERING 2017-2019. IT ALSO SEEKS AN END TO THE TUITION FREEZE WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2013. GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER WANTS TO CONTINUE THE FREEZE. TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM UW SYSTEM PRESIDENT RAY CROSS. BEFORE WE BEGIN WE SHOULD NOTE THAT WPT IS PART OF THE UW SYSTEM AND RAY CROSS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

RAY CROSS:

THANKS. GLAD TO BE HERE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

YOUR BUDGET DOESN’T ASK FOR $88 MILLION IN COST TO CONTINUE FUNDING. IN THAT WAY A $42.5 MILLION ASK REALLY CONSTITUTES A BUDGET CUT, ISN’T THAT RIGHT?

RAY CROSS:

WELL, ACTUALLY IT DOESN’T. A $42.5 MILLION REQUEST CAME ABOUT THROUGH EFFORTS WORKING WITH AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE. WHAT DOES THE STATE NEED? WHAT DO THEY WANT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN? AND HOW DO WE BETTER SERVE THAT AND MEET THOSE NEEDS? THIS REQUEST IS TARGETED TO FOUR FOCAL POINTS THAT, IN FACT, HELP ADDRESS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN AND THE BUSINESSES OF WISCONSIN TOLD US THEY NEEDED. SO I THINK IT’S IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THAT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT DO THEY NEED AND WHAT DO THEY WANT?

RAY CROSS:

SOME OF THE THINGS THEY NEED INCLUDE AFFORDABILITY. HOW DO WE MAKE TUITION AND THE COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABLE? AND THE ARGUMENT OVER TUITION IS ONLY ONE PART OF THAT. THERE ARE FIVE KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO THE COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TUITION BEING ONE OF THOSE. STATE GPR OR STATE SUPPORT BEING ANOTHER. AND BY THE WAY, STATE GPR SUPPORT COMING TO THE UNIVERSITY RIGHT NOW IS THE LOWEST IT’S EVER BEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE SYSTEM WHEN ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION. THE THIRD FACTOR IS FINANCIAL AID. WE HAVE REQUESTED AN INCREASE IN FINANCIAL AID WHICH WILL BE PART OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD BUDGET. ANOTHER IS IN FACT COST ACTUALLY TO DELIVER THAT. UNIVERSITY IS WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE ITS COSTS ARE UNDER CONTROL AND WE’RE REALLOCATING THOSE RESOURCES TO THE CLASSROOM. FINALLY, IT’S TIME TO A DEGREE. THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FACTOR IN THE COST TO ATTEND A UNIVERSITY. IF YOU CHARGE AN EXTRA $200 A YEAR FOR TUITION. THAT’S $800 IN A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD. IF YOU STAY AN EXTRA SEMESTER, THAT COULD BE AN EXTRA $5,000.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO HOW IS THAT MESSAGE BEING RECEIVED BY THE LEGISLATORS AND BUDGET WRITERS?

RAY CROSS:

ACTUALLY QUITE WELL. THAT MESSAGE IS BEING RECEIVED QUITE WELL. NO ONE WANTS TO GET A BILL FOR AN EXTRA $200 ON THEIR TUITION TICKET. NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THIS IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN JUST TUITION. AND THE UNIVERSITY NEEDS TO EXERT ENERGY TO REDUCE THAT TIME TO GET A DEGREE

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LAST WEEK YOU PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING CONTINUED BUDGET CUTS AND FROZEN TUITION CANNOT BE SUSTAINED. WHY NOT? WHAT HAVE BUDGET CUTS AND ZERO TUITION INCREASES MEANT FOR THE UNIVERSITY?

RAY CROSS:

THE UNIVERSITY HAS ABSORBED $362 MILLION IN STATE REDUCTIONS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THAT’S A SIZEABLE REDUCTION. THOSE DIDN’T JUST BEGIN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. WE’VE HAD PREVIOUS CUTS. HOWEVER, WE’VE ALSO INCREASED TUITION PRIOR TO THAT. BUT IN THE LAST THREE, NOW FOUR YEARS, WE’VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. SO IT’S TIME TO INVEST IN THE UNIVERSITY. AND THAT’S BEEN MY MESSAGE. OF COURSE, THE CUTS HAVE RESULTED IN 1100 FEWER EMPLOYEES, THEREABOUTS. THINGS — FEWER CLASSES AND THAT ULTIMATELY IMPACTS TIME TO DEGREE

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

PEOPLE SAY YOU’VE GOT THE MONEY. YOU CAN JUST MOVE IT AROUND AND MAKE THIS WORK.

RAY CROSS:

I WISH IT WERE THAT EASY. IT ISN’T. I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY. WHAT WE’RE DOING, WHERE WE CAN MOVE IT AROUND, WE ARE. AND THAT EFFORT IS PART OF WHAT WE CALL OUR CORE AGENDA, OUR REFORM AGENDA.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT TUITION INCREASE IS THE UW REQUESTING OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD OF REGENTS REQUEST?

RAY CROSS:

WELL, RATHER THAN SAYING A TUITION INCREASE, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. IT’S TIME TO DO THAT NOW. WE’VE ABSORBED THESE CUTS. IT’S TIME TO CHANGE COURSE AND INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THE STATE. AS IT RELATES TO TUITION, OR STATE GPR, STATE CONTRIBUTION, IT IS TIME TO INVEST. THE SOURCE OF THAT MAY NOT BE AS BIG A QUESTION AS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT’S TIME TO INVEST. SECONDLY, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE DECISION TO SET TUITION NEEDS TO BE IN THE HANDS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO IF THE UNIVERSITY DOESN’T GET A TUITION INCREASE, WILL YOU REQUEST MORE STATE FUNDS TO OFFSET THAT?

RAY CROSS:

WELL, THAT CONVERSATION IS ONGOING. THIS BUDGET REQUEST OF 42.5 IS A REASONABLE REQUEST. IT IS AN EFFORT TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE, OR PLAN FOR, AN OFFSET IN TUITION. IT IS DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS WE THINK WE NEED. THE ITEMS WE THINK WE NEED TO FUND. IT DOES HANDCUFF THE UNIVERSITY IN TERMS OF ITS CAPABILITY TO DO THINGS. WE NEED AN INVESTMENT. THIS IS A MINIMAL INVESTMENT. IT IS NOT OUR FINAL ASK. EXCUSE ME, IT IS NOT OUR INITIAL ASK AND WE’RE GOING TO NEGOTIATE DOWN. THIS IS OUR FINAL ASK. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

NOW WE ASKED THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE IF THE TUITION FREEZE WOULD BE FOR THE FIRST YEAR ONLY AND THEY RESPONDED HE HAS CALLED FOR EXTENDING THE HISTORIC TUITION FREEZE. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT A ONE YEAR ONLY FREEZE?

RAY CROSS:

THE PRESS HAS REPORTED THAT IT’S FOR TWO YEARS. HE HAS TOLD US THAT HE HAS MADE UP HIS MIND — I SHOULDN’T SAY HE’S MADE UP HIS MIND — HE IS COMMITTED TO FREEZING TUITION AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST YEAR, FREDERICA. AND THAT HE IS INTERESTED IN OPTIONS AND HE’S FLEXIBLE ABOUT THE SECOND YEAR. HE WANTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO AND WHAT PROPOSALS WE HAVE. OUR RESPONSE IS LET’S HAVE THE BOARD MAKE THAT DECISION, GOVERNOR, AND THAT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATION.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO MAKE INCREASED FUNDING CONTINGENT ON PERFORMANCE INCLUDING APPARENTLY TRACKING A NUMBER OF STUDENTS, GRADUATION RATES, STUDENT LOANS AND GRADUATE EMPLOYERS. HOW MUCH OF THAT ARE YOU ALREADY DOING?

RAY CROSS:

A WHOLE LOT OF IT. WE HAVE OVER 57 ACCOUNTABILITY METRICS. WE POST THEM ON OUR WEB PAGE. YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEB PAGE AND SCROLL DOWN AND FIND OUR ACCOUNTABILITY METRICS. WE DO THAT VERY WELL. IN FACT, WE’RE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE REPORTERS OF ACCOUNTABILITY METRICS IN THE UNITED STATES. SO WE WELCOME THAT. WE’RE NOT AFRAID OF THAT. WE AREN’T CONCERNED ABOUT IT. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP ANY PERFORMANCE-BASED MODEL METRICS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN A FASHION THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER STATES WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THIS ALREADY DO.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

PRESIDENT RAY CROSS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

RAY CROSS:

THANKS FREDERICA.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THE UW BUDGET BATTLE TAKES PLACE AT BOTH ENDS OF STATE STREET IN MADISON. UP AT THE STATE CAPITOL END REPUBLICANS ARE CLEARING THE WAY TO EXTEND THE UW TUITION FREEZE. REPUBLICANS LIKE STATE SENATOR STEVE NASS, THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE UNIVERSITIES AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES COMMITTEE. HE JOINS US NOW FROM WHITEWATER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

STEVE NASS:

YOU’RE WELCOME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHY DO YOU WANT TO EXTEND THE TUITION FREEZE IN PLACE NOW SINCE 2013?

STEVE NASS:

IT’S BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT TO STUDENTS. THE AVERAGE STUDENT HAS SAVED ABOUT $6300. AND IF WE LOOK AT THE COMPREHENSIVE CAMPUSES IN GENERAL AND RIGHT HERE IN WHITEWATER, THAT’S ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OR ACTUALLY 75% OR SO OF THE COST OF A YEAR OF TUITION. SO IT’S A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. DEBT CONTINUES TO CLIMB. DEBT RIGHT NOW IS — EXCEEDS $1.3 TRILLION AND IS EXPECTED TO CLIMB TO $1.6 TRILLION BY 2020. THE AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN COMING OFF THE CAMPUS WITH A DEGREE IS ABOUT $30,000. THAT WOULD HAVE GONE HIGHER HAD WE NOT HAD THE FREEZE. OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FREEZE THAT HAS GONE ON, PRIOR TO THAT THE 10 YEARS PRECEDING THE FREEZE, TUITION WENT UP 118%. SO IT HAS BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT. THE MONEY IS THERE. THE UNIVERSITY I WOULD ARGUE HAS NOT CUT TO THE BONE. SO WE CAN — IN FACT, INSTRUCTIONAL PART OF THE FUNDING THAT THE TAXPAYERS AND THE STUDENTS PROVIDE, THAT PORTION OF FUNDING ACTUALLY WENT UP IN THE YEAR WE JUST ENDED BY $29 MILLION. WE CAN DO IT. WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU JUST SPOKE TO PRIOR YEARS WHERE TUITION WENT UP TRIPLE DIGITS. BUT WHY SHOULD THE CURRENT UW ADMINISTRATION KIND OF BE PUNISHED FOR TUITION HIKES AND RESERVES OF THE PAST?

STEVE NASS:

I DON’T SEE ANY INDICATION THAT IT WOULD CHANGE. WE DO HAVE A NEW LEADER, RAY CROSS. I LIKE RAY. WE HAVE SOME DISAGREEMENTS, OF COURSE, BUT GENERALLY HAVE BEEN VERY CIVIL ON THOSE. WHEN WE LOOK AT 118%, THE HISTORY, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY. WE HAVE A FEW MEMBERS THAT ARE NEW TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS. I HOPE THERE WILL BE SOME BACKBONE THERE. I’M NOT SURE. AND SO I CANNOT TAKE A CHANCE AND JACK UP TUITION. ALLOW IT TO GO UP ON THE BACKS OF THE STUDENTS AND HOPE THAT THE BOARD OF REGENTS WILL HOLD THE LINE AT A 1 OR 2% TUITION INCREASE ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS TALK NOW OF AN INCREASE IN SALARIES. 1 AND 2% IS NOT GOING TO DO IT. YOU CAN’T RIDE ON HOPE. WE’VE GOTTA JUST DO ANOTHER FREEZE. THE MONEY IS THERE. IN FACT, OUTSIDE OF THE TUITION MONEY, IN ADDITION TO THAT THERE IS ABOUT $6.2 BILLION THAT THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM HAS IN ALL FUNDS. WHEN YOU SET ASIDE THE $2.5 BILLION IN TUITION AND FEES AND WHAT THE TAXPAYERS PROVIDE, OUT OF THE REMAINING THERE IS PROBABLY ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS THERE THAT THEY CAN SHIFT AROUND. THEY WILL ARGUE WE CAN’T DO THAT. IT’S ALREADY DEDICATED FOR OTHER SPENDING AND PROJECTS. YES, YOU CAN SHIFT IT. YOU CAN. MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES SHIFT THEIR BUDGETS AROUND. BUSINESSES SHIFT THEIR BUDGETS AROUND. THE UNIVERSITY CAN, TOO.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT BUDGET CUTS AND TUITION FREEZES RESULT IN STUDENTS POTENTIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO GET INTO CLASSES. THERE ARE FEWER COURSE OFFERINGS AND THEN THEY DON’T GRADUATE ON TIME WHICH COSTS MORE, LIKE A WHOLE OTHER YEAR OR TWO OF TUITION COMPARED TO, SAY, A 2% TUITION HIKE WHICH WOULD BE ROUGHLY $200 A YEAR?

STEVE NASS:

THAT’S BEEN ATTEMPTED IN THE PAST, TOO. IT’S MORE LIP RECEIVES AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED. I ASKED WHERE THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM HAS CUT AND SAVED MONEY. AND I’M STILL WAITING ON THAT. I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR TWO YEARS TO GET THAT ANSWER. I’VE HEARD THAT RHETORIC BEFORE THAT WE NEED MORE MONEY BECAUSE THE STUDENTS NEED MORE CLASSES. SINCE PROBABLY 2002 THE SYSTEM HAS SAID TO THE LEGISLATURE, WE’RE GOING TO GET STUDENTS OUT IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS. WE’RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT, TOO. SO THOSE ARE JUST ARGUMENTS THAT THEY THROW OUT THERE, THE RED HERRINGS, THE SKY IS GOING TO FALL. THEY NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT STUDENTS THAT ARE GETTING INTO DEGREES THAT THEY CAN GET A JOB ON THE OTHER END. TOO MANY STUDENTS ARE COMING TO COLLEGE AND THEN WHEN THEY EXIT COLLEGE WITH A DEGREE AND ONLY HALF OF THEM ROUGHLY DO AT THE COMPREHENSIVES. THEY SIT THERE WITH A DEGREE THEY CAN’T USE OUT IN THE REAL WORLD. THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS NEED TO LOOK AT THE DEGREES THAT STUDENTS ARE OBTAINING AND ARE THEY GOING TO BE WORTHWHILE OUT IN THE REAL WORLD. WE HAVE QUITE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS GOING ON ON CAMPUSES AND WHAT’S GOING ON OUT IN THE REAL WORLD. THEY NEED — THE DEGREES, THE CLASSES AND ALL OF THAT, I’VE TALKED TO SYSTEM — THE SYSTEM PRESIDENT AND OTHER PAST PRESIDENTS ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS ON ELECTIVES. THERE ARE STILL ELECTIVES OUT THERE THAT SEEM QUITE FRANKLY SILLY TO ME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LIKE WHAT?

STEVE NASS:

WELL, WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL BUT SOME OF THOSE ARE STILL AROUND, YOU CAN ELECT TO TAKE ARCHERY OR BOWLING OR DANCE. WHO THE HECK NEEDS TO DO THAT? THAT JUST COSTS MORE MONEY. THE UNIVERSITY IS ABLE TO RING THE REGISTER ON THE STUDENTS. IT TAKES THEM LONGER TO GET OUT. THERE ARE CLASSES OUT THERE WHERE THEY NEED TO REVIEW HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE TAKING THEM. NOW IF THEY’RE REQUIRED FOR SAY BUSINESS OR ACCOUNTING OR WHATEVER IT MAY, SO BE IT. BUT ON THE ELECTIVES WHERE YOU DON’T HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS TAKING THE ELECTIVES, DUMP THE CLASS, DUMP IT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LET ME JUST ASK YOU THIS. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE UNIVERSITY — THE UW BUDGET REQUEST FOR $42.5 MILLION MINUS THE COSTS TO CONTINUE? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT ASK?

STEVE NASS:

FIRST OF ALL, FINALLY, THE COST TO CONTINUE IS GETTING OUT THERE BECAUSE I HAVE STARTED THAT DRUMBEAT. THEY HAVE BEEN DISINGENUOUS WHEN THEY STARTED THE REQUEST FOR $42.5 BILLION BY NOT TELLING THE PUBLIC THEY DID NOT HAVE TO GIVE BACK THAT $50 MILLION. THEIR BUDGET IS STARTING WITH $50 MILLION MORE THAN IT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE. $42.5 WOULD BE THE NEW REQUEST AND 1 TO 2% TUITION INCREASE IS ANOTHER 17%. THEY HAVE TO JUSTIFY IT QUITE FRANKLY. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE. THERE WAS A BRIEFING YESTERDAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL. IT WAS ON THURSDAY, THURSDAY AT NOON AT THE STATE CAPITOL. AND THE ONE SIGNIFICANT THING THAT WAS POINTED OUT BY RAY CROSS IS THE COMPARISONS OF OUR CAMPUSES AND TUITION WITH OTHER CAMPUSES IN THE COUNTRY AND NEIGHBORING AND SO FORTH. SO WHAT THAT UNDERSCORED IS. “OH LOOK WHERE WE ARE. WE NEED TO RAISE TUITION.” JUSTIFY IT. THAT’S WHAT I’VE ALWAYS ASKED, JUST JUSTIFY IT. I REALLY QUITE FRANKLY DON’T CARE HOW WE RANK AMONG OTHER CAMPUSES. THAT’S NOT A JUSTIFICATION TO JACK TUITION UP ON OUR STUDENTS JUST BECAUSE WE CAN. JUSTIFY IT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE SENATOR STEVE NASS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

STEVE NASS:

YOU’RE WELCOME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THAT’S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. I’M FREDERICA FREYBERG. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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