Wisconsin and America are embroiled in hot-button times, with large numbers of hot-button issues leading to passionate reactions and stances.
New Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes dived into numerous hot-button issues with WTMJ's Gene Mueller in a one-on-one conversation.
Some of what they discussed included:
– The shooting death of Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Rittner.
After genuine lamenting of his passing, Barnes dived into the issues that he sees surrounding the case in “a city that I call home.”
“It goes back to a lot of the other issues, opportunity. Crime has long been a problem, whether it's the gun issue. The Attorney General called for universal background checks. We all have a role to play in making our community safer, making our streets safer. Access to illegal firearms, people who shouldn't be in possession, that's been something that's been ignored for way too long. Gun violence has been a pervasive issue.”
“Whether it's citizens losing their lives, or whether it's police officers losing their lives, it shouldn't happen.”
“It is a real challenge that is issued to them. A lot of money has been sent. The deal was signed. A lot of people (are) depending on it now at this point with the money that has gone in, the local incentives in Racine and Mount Pleasant, there needs to be some job creation. They didn't meet their needs in 2018. It is a real challenge for them to live up to their expectations.”
“We need them to live up to their commitment. That's what it comes back down to. We're tired of every week, something that's either being walked back, something that's altered, or something that they feel has been misinterpreted, or just changing the scope of their work completely as reports have indicated.”
“We have to make sure we have an entity in place. The shovels are already in the ground. We need them to do what they say they're going to do.”
“What has already been talked about is the reviewing of the air permits, also the water permits. There are a lot of other things that are under review at this moment.”
“We would love to see 13,000 jobs in this state. Who wouldn't?”
“We need them to do what they say they're going to do.”@TheOtherMandela 1-on-1 with @genemueller about the #Foxconn development's current issues, the shooting death of an MPD officer and whether Virginia's governor should step down https://t.co/RTplk1k4Pc pic.twitter.com/62PrFjhkKf
— 620wtmj (@620wtmj) February 8, 2019
(Photos: Getty Images)
– The revelations about Virginia governor Ralph Northam and his current blackface scandal
“Virginia is a very unfortunate situation. There is a lot going on. I can't even begin to process that.”
“Governor Evers has indicated that Governor Northam should step down. I don't see how (he) can govern. That's a logical step, but then what happens next is the question. That's a tough one.”
Lt. Governor Barnes also spoke about his historic achievement of being the first major executive branch elected official in Wisconsin history and what it can mean for the state's youth.
Listen to the full podcast above.