♪
WELCOME BACK OUR GUEST THIS WEEK
IS SCOTT GREENLY HEADING A
COALITION OPPOSED TO LEGALIZED
POT, OUR LEAD STORY LAWMAKERS
LEAVE TOWN AND FINISH THE BUDGET
WHO ARE THE WINNERS AND THE
LOSERS ON THE OTR PANEL KYLE AND
EMILY AND BILL BALLENGER SIT IN
WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE OUT
"OFF THE RECORD."
PRODUCTION OF "OFF THE RECORD"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A
GRANT FROM TRUSCOTT-ROSSMAN
MICHIGAN'S ONLY BIPARTISAN
COMMUNICATION FIRM SERVING
STATEWIDE NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS FROM THEIR
OFFICES IN LANSING, DETROIT AND
GRAND RAPIDS,
TRUSCOTT-ROSSMAN.COM HAGER FOX
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
COMPANY SERVING THE GREATER
LANSING AREA SINCE 1941
PROVIDING SOLUTIONS AND CHOICES
FOR HOME COMFORT DURING ALL
MICHIGAN SEASONS, HAGER FOX AND
BRYANT WHATEVER IT TAKES HAGER
FOX.COM AND BY MSU COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL
RESOURCES.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WANTS
TO BE A TRUSTED PARTNER IN
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FOOD AND
WHERE IT COMES FROM INCLUDING
ITS IMPACT ON OUR HEALTH AND ON
OUR PLANET LEARN MORE AT
FOOD.MSU.EDU AND NOW THIS
EDITION OF "OFF THE RECORD" WITH
TIM SKUBICK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH WELCOME
BACK TO "OFF THE RECORD" AND
FINISHED THE BUDGET AND LEFT
DODGE.
>> GOODNESS GRACIOUS AND WE MISS
THEM ALREADY DON'T WE LET'S LOOK
AT WHAT THEY DID ON THE BUDGET
RICK SNYDER PRESENTED ON
FEBRUARY 8, 125 DAYS LATER
LAWMAKERS PUT THE FINISHING
TOUCHES ON 55 BILLION OF YOUR
TAX DOLLARS MAKING IT EIGHT
YEARS IN A ROW THE BUDGET HAS
BEEN FINISHED BEFORE THE OCTOBER
FIRST DEADLINE HERE ARE
HIGHLIGHTS THE STATE WILL SPEND
7800 ON EVERY SCHOOL KID THAT IS
4.6% INCREASE AND A GAP BETWEEN
RICH AND POOR DISTRICTS.
>> 7800'S A SMALL FEE TO ME,
SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO ARE
GETTING 13,000.
>> Reporter: LAWMAKERS VOTED
425 MILLION FOR ROAD REPAIRS BUT
DEMOCRATS ARE STILL COMPLAINING.
>> 500 MILLION BUCKS IS PRETTY
GOOD BUT NOT ENOUGH.
>> TAXPAYERS WILL PAY 155 NEW
STATE TROOPERS HIGHER EDUCATION
IS GETTING A 2% BOOST IN STATE
SUPPORT WHICH RESTORES THE 15%
CUT THEY TOOK WHEN GOVERNOR
SNYDER WAS FIRST ELECTED EVERY
SCHOOL GETS THAT WITH THE
EXCEPTION WAYNE STATE AND THE
CITY'S REVENUE SHARING UP 5.8
MILLION THE PURE MICHIGAN AD
CAMPAIGN GETTING 36 MILLION BUMP
THE BUDGET DID HAVE STRONG
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BUT NOT
EVERYONE WAS HAPPY.
[ CHANTING ]
THE PROTESTERS FEEL THE
LEGISLATURE HAS FORGOTTEN THEM.
>> WE HAVE TO TELL OUR
CONSTITUENTS ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY NO EVERYTHING IS NOT
OKAY AND FEEL WE ARE BACK H THE
WATER CRISIS ALL OVER AGAIN.
>> Reporter: GOVERNOR SNYDER IS
PLEASED THERE IS A BILLION IN
THE RAINY DAY FUND AND THERE WAS
LESS WHEN HE WAS ELECTED AND
THEY WILL BE ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL ADDRESSING ASSIGNMENT
NUMBER TWO GETTING ELECTED EMILY
WHEN YOU WROTE THE STORY WHAT
WAS YOUR LEAD?
>> PEOPLE ACROSS MICHIGAN HAVE
BEEN HITTING POT HOLES AND HAVE
SOME HOPE IT MAY HELP ALLEVIATE
THAT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IN TOTALITY
THEY DID 175 MILLION
SUPPLEMENTAL A COUPLE MONTHS AGO
THEY PUT 300 MILLION FROM NEXT
YEAR'S BUDGET INTO ROADS AND
THERE IS THIS 30 mILLION IN KIND
OF SMALLER REALLY SPECIFIC
PROJECTS THAT THEY STUCK IN
ANOTHER SUPPLEMENTAL SO YOU KNOW
IN TOTALITY THAT IS A LOT MORE
MONEY THAN WE THOUGHT WOULD BE
GOING TOWARDS ROADS THIS YEAR.
>> IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO
IN THE BUDGET WHEN EXTRA MONEY
IS AROUND THEY JUST LOVE THAT
DON'T WE.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE HAD HERE
REVENUES ARE DOING BETTER THAN
EXPECTED AND HAD 500 MORE TO
PLAY WITH AND LAWMAKERS HAVE
CONTINUOUSLY UNDER RICK SNYDER
AND STARTING WITH JENNIFER
GRANHOLM USED THE SCHOOL AID
FUND THAT POT OF MONEY THAT WAS
CREATED WHEN WE PASSED PROPOSAL
A THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO
DIRECTLY K-12 SCHOOLS BUT IN
RECENT YEARS THE LAWMAKERS AND
SNYDER USED MONEY IN THE BETTER
THAN EXPECTED INCREASES IN THERE
TO PAY FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES,
HIGHER EDUCATION AND THAT
ALLEVIATED A LOT OF STRESS ON
THE GENERAL FUND SO THE GENERAL
FUND IS 10 BILLION THAT REALLY
HASN'T CHANGED SINCE SNYDER HAS
TAKEN OFFICE AND THEY HAVE USED
THIS GROWING SCHOOL AID FUND TO
HELP WHICH IS SOMETHING THE
DEMOCRATS GRUMBLED ABOUT AND
REPUBLICANS GRUMBLE ABOUT TOO.
>> 900 AND PRETTY SOON WE ARE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT REAL MONEY
HERE.
>> ONE OTHER FASCET TO THE MONEY
IS DECREASE DEPEND SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS AND THEY PUT IT IN THE
SENATE BASICALLY THE ECONOMY IS
GOOD MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING AND
NOT AS MANY PEOPLE RELYING ON
PROGRAMS LIKE FOOD OR CASH
ASSISTANCE.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF IT
BILLY?
>> NOT TO BE NEGATIVE YOU HIT
ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE
POSITIVE ACHIEVEMENTS BUT THEY
DIDN'T FINALLY PASS THE NASSAR
PACKAGE THE BILLS ON THE LARRY
NASSAR SCANDAL AND PASSED BOTH
CHAMBERS BUT THE SENATE STILL
HAS TO DO A LOT OF WORK, AUTO
INSURANCE RATE REFORM WAS
UNFINISHED WHEN WE THINK OF ALL
THE HOT AIR WE EXPENDED DEBATING
THESE TWO ISSUES IT'S AMAZING
NOTHING HAPPENED FINALLY BEFORE
THEY LEAVE FOR THREE MONTHS ON
THESE TWO ISSUES AND THIS OTHER
STUFF CAME UP.
>> TWO OF THE NASSAR BILLS
SIGNED.
>> THE HOUSE PACKAGE IS STILL ON
HOLD IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE
GUYS WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT
AND SOME SAY IT'S A PAY BACK.
THE OTHER THING WAS TAX CUTS
REMEMBER WE STARTED THE YEAR
WITH TAX CUTS.
>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE
PROBLEMATIC I KNOW THE HOUSE IS
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THEM AND
SOUND REAL GOOD AND DONALD TRUMP
HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO TAX CUTS TO
HIS POLITICAL ADVANTAGE BUT IN
MICHIGAN YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET EVERY YEAR IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT YOU CAN JUST RACK UP
MORE DEBT WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN
GOOD AT DOING BUT IN MICHIGAN
SINCE YOU GOT TO HAVE A BALANCED
BUDGET THE GOVERNOR SAID WE JUST
DON'T HAVE THE MONEY LONG-TERM
TO PAY FOR TAX CUTS AND, IN
FACT, LOOKING LONG-TERM THERE IS
GOING TO BE A CRUNCH ON THE
BUDGET BECAUSE OF INCREASED
MONEY FROM GENERAL FUND GOING TO
TAKE CARE OF ROADS AND THEN ALSO
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE TAX
CUTS FOR THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
COMING ON LINE PRETTY SOON AS
WELL AND NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR
TAX CUTS.
>> IT'S INTERESTING WHEN WE TOOK
THE FAMOUS VOTE WHEN LEONARD PUT
EVERYBODY'S NUMBERS UP ON THE
BOARD WAY BACK IN JANUARY OF
LAST YEAR WE ARE TALKING 18
MONTHS AGO, THAT WENT DOWN IN
FLAMES, IT'S LIKE AFTER THAT
WELL OKAY FORGET TAX CUTS LET'S
START SPENDING THE MONEY AND THE
MONEY ACTUALLY CAME IN YOU KNOW
EVEN BETTER THAN THEY THOUGHT IT
WOULD.
>> WE HAVE COMMERCIALS ON THE
AIR AND GRETCHEN WHITMER THE
FIRST SPOT ON THE AIR AND THE
COKE BROTHERS EXPLAIN WHY THE
COKE BROTHERS ARE PLAYING IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY?
>> THEY ARE NEGATIVE ADS AGAINST
GRETCHEN WHITMER AND CONVINCED
SHE WILL BE THE NOMINEE AND
TRYING TO TAKE HER DOWN AND
DEFINE HER BEFORE SHE HAS A
CHANCE TO EVEN GET TRACTION AS A
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE ASSUMING SHE
WINS THE PRIMARY.
>> A TWO FOR THEM, IF THEY DON'T
MAKE HER LOSE THEY SOFTENED HER
UP FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION AND
SHE HAS HER COMMERCIALS OUT AND
YOU THOUGHT WHAT?
>> YOU KNOW I THINK THAT IT'S A
LITTLE LATE FOR HER JUST BECAUSE
SHRI HAS BEEN OUT THERE SO
PROMPTLY AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT
STARTING WITH THE SUPERBOWL YOU
KNOW JUST MAN THE STREET FOR MY
FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND HEARD
ABOUT THE COMMERCIALS AND
WHITMER'S ARE STARTING TO
REGISTER.
>> A BIT OF HISTORY HERE.
>> A LOT OF TIME AND I THINK THE
MODEL AND IT WAS A DIFFERENT
ELECTION, 2000 GENERAL ELECTION
DEBBIE STAB NOW HAD NO WHERE
NEAR AS MONEY AS SPENCER ABRAHAM
AND HOARDED IT AND PEOPLE WERE
CRITICIZING HER SUMMER AND FALL
LONG GET TON TUBE, NOBODY KNOWS
WHO ARE YOU ARE YOU ARE WAY
BEHIND IN THE POLLS AND SAVED IT
TO THE END AND MUCH LATER THAN
WHITMER IS RIGHT NOW AND SHE
SPENT IT AND SHE WON.
>> SAME THING WITH DICK DEVOS HE
WAS OUT SPENDING JENNIFER AND
PEOPLE KEPT SAYING WHEN ARE YOU
GOING UP AND WHEN SHE WENT IT IT
CHANGED, WILL IT CHANGED?
>> I THINK THEY ARE COUNTING ON
IT TAKE A LOOK AT THE POLLING
THAT HAS BEEN DONE WITH SHRI AND
GRETCHEN AND SHRI'S NAME IS MUCH
HIGHER AND I THINK THE WHITMER
CAMP IS SAYING WHEN OUR ID GETS
UP TO SHRI WE WILL MOVE UP AND
GET 5, 10, 15% WHAT SHE DOESN'T
WANT TO DO IS BLOW THROUGH ALL
HER MONEY RIGHT NOW IN THE
PRIMARY IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO
THEN SHE GETS THE GENERAL
ELECTION AND HER CUPBOARDS ARE
BARE AND THAT IS THE LAST THING
AND WANTS TO SAVE THE MONEY IN
THE END, IF SHE WINS THE PRIMARY
BY 3, 4, 5 PERCENTAGE POINTS
WHICH I DOUBT WOULD HAPPEN BUT
LET'S SAY SHE DOES WHO CARES A
WIN IS A WIN YOU MOVE ON.
SHE DOESN'T NEED TO EMPTY THE
WALLET RIGHT NOW SO SHE CAN GET
A 20 POINT OVER SHRI.
>> SHRI CONTINUES TO BE A PAIN
IN HER SIDE.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
GROUPS THAT ARE CHIPPING AWAY AT
HIM WITH NEGATIVE THINGS THAT
HAVE HAPPENED LIKE THE GROSS
POINT DEMOCRATS JUST ISSUED AN
ANTIENDORSEMENT SAYING HE IS
UNSUITABLE VOTE FOR ANYBODY BUT
SHRI AND DRIP DRIP DRIP A LOT OF
THIS STUFF IS HAPPENING AND I
THINK EVERYTHING THAT KYLE AND
EMILY SAY IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AS
SOON AS SHE GETS UP GETS HER
MESSAGE OUT THERE, BRINGS HER
NAME ID UP SHE HAS GOT THE
GROUND TROOPS AND THE
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT IN PLACE
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
>> WHAT IF SHRI GOES NEGATIVE
AGAINST HER AND FOUND OUT THEY
DID THE OPPOSITION RESEARCH AND
LOOKED AT HER RECORD AND SHE
DOESN'T HAVE EXECUTIVE
EXPERIENCE AND MISSED A LOT OF
VOTES WHAT IF THEY GO NEGATIVE
NOW SHE HAS THE COKE BROTHERS
AND SHRI GOING AT HER NEGATIVE
DOES SHE HAVE TO WASTE MONEY TO
RESPOND TO THAT STUFF IS THAT A
PROBLEM?
>> I DON'T THINK NEGATIVE IS
CONGRUENT WITH SHRI'S BRAND.
>> HE DID SAY LAST NIGHT HE
QUOTE HAD NO PLANS AT THIS TIME
TO DO NEGATIVE ADS.
>> YOU DID SEE HIM GO AGAINST
ABDUL FILING WITH THE SECRETARY
OF STATE FILING THAT COMPLAINT
BUT EVEN THAT SEEMED OUT OF
CHARACTER FOR HIM, HE IS A
BEAMING POSITIVE ENERGY AND YOU
KNOW I THINK THAT NEGATIVE.
>> OPPOSITE OPPOSITION RESEARCH
IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE IT.
>> I THINK HE MAY VERY WELL USE
IT BUT HOW DOES HE USE IT.
>> IF IT'S CLOSE WHY NOT.
>> AND LOOK I MEAN AGAIN HE IS A
VERY POSITIVE GUY, I AGREE WITH
EMILY HE CAN DO IT IN A WAY THAT
CAN BE FUNNY OR IT WOULD BE
LIGHT.
IT WOULDN'T BE YOU KNOW HEAVY
AND MEAN SPIRITED OR WHATEVER.
>> HAVE A DRIBBLE THAT IS NOT
ATTACHED TO YOUR NAME THE
NEGATIVE PIECE ON SHRI A
NATIONAL STORY ABOUT HIM IN
RELATION TO SOME BEAGLES, IT WAS
HARD STRING PULLING, NOBODY
KNOWS WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
>> THAT IS A POTENTIAL ISSUE
ISN'T IT.
>> I AGREE.
>> PEOPLE LOVE THEIR BEAGLES.
>> A LOT OF BEAGLE LOVERS IN THE
STATE.
>> THAT IS SHRI'S ACHILLES HEEL
AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO A
COUPLE THINGS FIRST OF ALL 1996
OR 98 REMEMBER LARRY OWEN WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC
NOMINEE AND EVERYBODY THOUGHT HE
WILL GET IT TAKEN CARE OF AND
WHO CAME IN WITH MONEY GEOFFREY
FIEGER AND WON THE NOMINATION
AND KICK IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT PERSON IS GOING TO WIN
WHICH I THINK SHRI IS COUNTING
ON AND ABOUT HIM GOING NEGATIVE
RICK SNYDER NEVER WENT NEGATIVE
AND HE HAS NEVER LOST SO I WOULD
JUST SAY THAT JUST BECAUSE SHRI
HAS THAT NEGATIVE INFORMATION I
DON'T KNOW IF HE NECESSARILY
FEELS LIKE HE HAS TO PLAY IT OR
NOT, I KNOW HE MAY FEEL LIKE HE
HAS TO BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HE
HAS TO OR NOT.
>> DEPENDS WHAT THEY ARE
WHISPERING IN HIS EAR BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS THE POLITICAL
CONSULTANTS COME IN DO YOU WANT
TO WIN THE THING AND THE NICE
GUY WHO FINISHED SECOND OR DO
YOU WANT TO TAKE THE GLOVES OFF
WHEN I TALKED TO HIM LAST NIGHT
HE WAS VERY SAYING LOOK I JUST
WANT TO GET PEOPLE TO KNOW ME ET
CETERA ET CETERA ET CETERA SO WE
WILL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT, IT
WILL BE INTERESTING THOUGH AND
IT COULD GET CLOSER I THINK.
>> YEAH IT COULD.
>> ALL RIGHT JOHN ENGLER MADE
ANOTHER MISTAKE OR NO?
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT JOHN ENGLER
WAS GOVERNOR DURING A TIME WHEN
WE DIDN'T FOIA FOR E-MAILS.
THINK ABOUT IT.
THE GOVERNOR IS NOT SUBJECT TO
PLAY BUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS
HIM IN THE MIDST OF WHAT HE WAS
BROUGHT IN MICHIGAN STATE TO DO
WHICH WAS TO SETTLE THE LARRY
NASSAR SITUATION FINANCIALLY FOR
THE STATE OR FOR MICHIGAN STATE
UNIVERSITY AND GET OUT OF THERE,
PROVIDE COVER FOR THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES AND GET OUT OF THERE SO
HIS FRANK TALK WITH HIS STAFFER
LONG TIME CONFIDENT CAROL ABOUT
WHAT THE SURVIVORS' PLANS ARE
AND WHETHER THE TRIAL LOADERS
ARE BRINGING DOWN THE MERRY ROAD
AND GETTING RICH IN THE PROCESS
AND RACHEL'S NAME OUT THERE.
>> ONE OF THE SURVIVORS ALLEGING
SHE MAY GET A QUOTE QUICK BACK
FROM THE ATTORNEYS.
>> SO IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME
ENGLER WOULD HAVE THOSE THOUGHTS
AND MAYBE PUT THEM IN AN E-MAIL
BUT OF COURSE IN 2015 WHEN
EVERYONE IS FOIAING AT MICHIGAN
STATE UNIVERSITY IT WAS A
MISTAKE ON HIS PART TO HAVE THAT
OUT THERE AND WILL GET TOUGH
CRITICISM FOR IT.
>> HE MADE A MISTAKE EARLY ON
AND INVITED ONE OF THE SURVIVORS
MOTHER INTO HIS OFFICE AND SAID
OKAY WHAT WOULD YOU ACCEPT AS
YOU KNOW A GOOD SETTLEMENT VERY
BAD IDEA THAT BACK FIRED AND
BLEW UP AND GOT BAD PUBLICITY ON
THAT AND SHOULD NOT ALLOW THEM
TO COME IN THE OFFICE AND SENDS
AN E-MAIL AND OTHER STUFF OUT
THERE THAT CAN BE FOIA AND
PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IF HE
DIDN'T KNOW IT AND HE HAS MADE
AMATEUR MISTAKES.
>> UNFORCED ERRORS.
>> UNFORCED ERRORS AND DIDN'T
HAVE TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT
AND REALLY UNDER CUT THE
REPUTATION HE IS BUILDING
OTHERWISE AS TO MAYBE DOING A
FAIRLY GOOD JOB.
>> WHAT DOES THE BOARD DO?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHY ENGLER IS
WRITING ALL OF THIS DOWN AT THIS
POINT, THE BOARD DOESN'T HAVE
ANY MORE POLITICAL CAPITA THAN
HE DOES.
THERE IS A SENSE I THINK ABOUT
ENGLER AND THE BOARD ABOUT WHAT
THEY'RE DOING BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE
PUBLIC I'M THEY HAVE A TRUST
ISSUE CAMPUS WIDE AND STATEWIDE
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY TRUST
EACH OTHER.
>> CALL IN THE GUEST AND TALK
ABOUT POT.
SCOTT GREENLY HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN
MICHIGAN POLITICS SINCE 1987 HE
WAS A VOLUNTEER WORKER FOR A
VARIETY OF POLITICIANS AND SPENT
THREE YEARS AS A CONSTITUENT
RELATIONS PERSON FOR ATTORNEY
GENERAL BILL SCHUETTE AND WORKED
AT MEDC AND RAN FOR REPUBLICAN
CHAIR IN 2014 CURRENTLY
PRESIDENT OF AN ANTIPOT
COALITION HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE
MICHIGAN.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM GOOD TO
SEE YOU AND KYLE HAS THE FIRST
QUESTION.
>> SO IT LOOKS LIKE LEGALIZED
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA WILL BE
ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT WHAT KIND
OF NO CAMPAIGN CAN WE EXPECT IS
GOING TO BE MOUNTED AGAINST
THIS?
>> I THINK IT'S BAD FOR MICHIGAN
FROM OUR COMMITTEE'S PERSPECTIVE
AND A LOT OF CITIZEN'S
PERSPECTIVE ON A NUMBER OF
FRONTS AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES,
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT IT IS DEFINITELY
ACCEPTABLE TO CHILDREN EVEN
THOUGH THEY SAY OH, IT WON'T BE
SOLD TO ANYBODY UNDER 21 WE KNOW
HOW IT WORKS AND HAVE BEEN DOWN
THE ROAD THE MONEY PROJECTED ON
THE OTHER SIDE 200 MILLION OF
REVENUE COMPARED TO 57 BILLION
BUDGET THAT WAS JUST PASSED AND
THAT IS BY THE WAY A GROSS
NUMBER THE 200 MILLION THAT IS
PROJECTED THAT IS NOT GOING TO
COME IN AT LEAST IN STATES LIKE
COLORADO AT THE LEVELS THAT IT'S
PROJECTED AND OBVIOUSLY THERE IS
A LOT OF BUSINESS CHALLENGES
WITH REGARD TO THE FACT THAT
BUSINESSES WILL STILL BE ABLE TO
DRUG TEST AND A LOT OF
INDUSTRIES WILL WANT THEM TO, WE
DON'T WANT OUR TRANSPORTATION
PEOPLE OUR MEDICAL WORKERS HEAVY
MACHINE WORKERS IMPAIRED IN THE
LEAST AND EVERYBODY AGREES
DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH IT DOES
IMPAIR YOU AT LEAST SOMEWHAT.
>> TALK ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
THOUGH.
>> SURE.
>> WHAT KIND OF OPPOSITION DO
YOU SEE BEING MOUNTED AGAINST
IT, IS THERE GOING TO BE
COMMERCIALS, IS THERE GOING TO
BE MONEY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT WILL BE A STANDARD CAMPAIGN
OPERATION.
WE WILL DO VOTER EDUCATION AND
FIND THE RIGHT VOTERS AND PEOPLE
WHO ARE LIKELY TO VOTE AND
OBVIOUSLY GO BEYOND THAT BECAUSE
THERE IS A FEEL ALTHOUGH IT HAS
NOT BEEN DOCUMENTED OR SHOWN IN
OTHER STATES THAT HAS MARIJUANA
ON THE BALLOT BUT THERE IS A
FEEL IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE
VOTING DEMOGRAPHIC IN MICHIGAN
AND BE PREPARED AND CONTACT
VOTERS IN EVERY TRADITIONAL AND
NONTRADITIONAL WAY WE CAN TO
KNOW THE CHALLENGES IT BRINGS.
>> WHO IS IN YOUR COALITION?
>> A LARGE AMOUNT OF FOLKS A LOT
OF BUSINESS LEADERS A LOT OF
FAITH BASED LEADERS OBVIOUSLY
THE WHOLE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
GROUP SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOLKS AND
DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES OF
MARIJUANA ON A DAILY BASIS AND
OTHER DRUGS THAT IT LEADS TO SO
WE HAVE A PRETTY BROAD BASE AND
FAIRLY NONPARTISAN THIS IS NOT
THE PARTISAN ISSUE THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE IT OUT TO
BE.
I'VE BEEN A REPUBLICAN FOR A
LONG TIME.
I KNOW A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THAT
ARE ACTUALLY OKAY WITH
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BY THE
SAME TOKEN ACROSS THE AISLE I
KNOW A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THAT ARE
NOT HEADED UP BY CONGRESSMAN
PATRICK KENNEDY THE KENNEDY
FAMILY ON A NATIONAL LEVEL FOR
ONE OF OUR NATIONAL PARTNERS.
>> CAN YOU NAME SOME OF THE
GROUPS IN YOUR COALITION.
>> MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GRAND RAPIDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
HAVE COME OUT AGAINST IT AND
OTHER SMALLER CHAMBERS A COUPLE
BIG CHAMBERS HAVE NOT SPOKE TO
THE ISSUE YET.
>> LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU GOT THE
SHERIFFS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION,
PROSECUTORS.
>> YES.
>> WILL YOU GIVE US A LIST OF
ALL OF THOSE GROUPS AT SOME
POINT?
>> SURE OH, YEAH AT THE RIGHT
TIME.
>> AT THE RIGHT TIME.
LIKE ANY CAMPAIGN WE WILL ROLL
STUFF OUT.
>> HOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW?
>> SORRY WE ARE ON OUR OWN TIME
SCHEDULE BUT WE WILL ROLL THINGS
OUT THIS IS A FALL QUESTION NOT
AN AUGUST QUESTION SO THERE ARE
TWO MAJOR THINGS PEOPLE ARE
CONFUSED ABOUT ONE IS IT ON THE
BALLOT AND THE BOARD OF
CANVASSERS DO DOES NOT HAVE THE
100 WORD LANGUAGE APPROVED YET
AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS ON THE
BALLOT OTHER THAN THE ISSUE
ITSELF WILL BE AND THE SECOND
BIG CONFUSION IS PEOPLE ARE
OFTEN GETTING THIS CONFUSED WITH
THE MEDICAL STUFF THAT WE HAVE
AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS HAS NO IMPACT ON THE
MEDICAL PROGRAMS IN MICHIGAN.
>> WOULD YOU RATHER BE ON THE
BALLOT ALONE AS AN ISSUE OR WITH
OTHER ISSUES ON THE BALLOT WITH
YOU?
THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS FIVE
IN NOVEMBER.
>> GREAT QUESTION.
I SEE BENEFITS TO BOTH.
I MEAN IF THERE ARE A LOT OF
BALLOT ISSUES HISTORICALLY IN
MICHIGAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD A
TENDENCY TO SAY ROLL IT OVER
THERE IS A LOT GOING ON HERE WE
ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHAT IS
GOING ON WE ARE JUST GOING TO
VOTE A LOT OF NO BUT I THINK THE
MORE ATTENTION THAT THIS ISSUE
GETS THE MORE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES
AND OF ALL DEMOGRAPHICS START TO
PAUSE AND THINK I DON'T KNOW IF
THIS IS A GOOD IDEA AFTER ALL.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND IN
COLORADO AND WASHINGTON OTHER
STATES THAT HAVE THIS IN PLACE
WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE AND
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF IT THAT GIVE
YOU PAUSE HERE IN MICHIGAN?
>> SURE AGAIN THERE IS A LOT OF
THEM FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT
THAT ARE NEGATIVE THERE IS THE
FACT THAT THE NUMBERS DON'T COME
IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD.
THERE IS THE FACT THAT ANYBODY
CAN FIND STATS ON EITHER SIDE OF
THE GATE WAY ISSUE BUT WHEN YOU
USE YOUR COMMON SENSE HAT AND
PUT IT ON NOT MANY 30, 35,
40-YEAR-OLD DRUG FREE PEOPLE
WAKE UP AND SAY TODAY SEEMS LIKE
A GOOD DAY TO GO ON A COCAINE
BENDER AND I DON'T KNOW WITH
HARDER DRUGS THAT DID NOT START
WITH MARIJUANA IT'S ABSOLUTELY A
GATE WAY DRUG AND PEOPLE DIDN'T
GO FURTHER BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW
SOMEBODY WHO STARTED THERE AND
THE WHOLE DRUNK DRIVING THING
AND STAYS IN YOUR SYSTEM 20-30
dAYS IF SOMEONE USES ON JUNE ONE
AND RANDOMLY TESTED ON JUNE 20
IT'S LIKELY TO BE IN THE SYSTEM
AND WITH REGARD TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT WILL MONITOR DRUNK
DRIVING AND WITH MORE DRUGS
THERE WILL BE MORE INSTANCES OF
DRUNK DRIVING.
>> THE POLLING IT LOOKS LIKE
MICHIGAN IS AGAINST YOU AND MAY
HAVE A HUMP TO OVERCOME DO YOU
THINK THE POLLING IS ON POINT AT
THIS POINT OR DO YOU THINK IT'S
A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF
CONVINCING YOU WILL HAVE TO DO.
>> YOU ARE RIGHT ON BOTH ANGLES
FIRST I DON'T THINK IT'S NEAR
THE 60-62% THAT OUR OPPONENTS
SAY IT IS AND WHEN YOU DO POLLS
AND YOU KNOW THIS YOU ARE PROS
YOU LOOK AT SAMPLE SIZES AND HOW
THE QUESTIONS ARE ASKED THINGS
LIKE THAT.
WE DID A POLL EARLY IN MAY AND
WE FOUND THAT IT WAS A VERY
EXTENSIVE POLL AND GOT 800
RESPONDED STATEWIDE A PRETTY
GOOD AND THE FIRM WE USED AND WE
DIDN'T DO THE POLL IS THE ONLY
FIRM IN THE STATE THAT GOT THE
2016 PRESIDENTIAL CORRECT SO
THEY ARE GOOD AT POLLING.
>> WHAT WAS THE NUMBER.
>> 48%.
>> 48%.
>> CORRECT.
>> UNDER TWO UNDER 50.
>> YOU SAW JOSH FROM LAST WEEK
AND WHEN YOU WATCHED HIM YOU
WENT AND SAID TO YOURSELF.
>> I SAID TO MYSELF HE HAS A
STORY TO TELL, HE IS GOING TO EX
CENTUATE AND TELL YOU THERE IS
200 MILLION AND THIS IS GOING TO
BE GREAT FOR THE ROADS AND OUR
SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE IN MUCH
BETTER SHAPE BUT IN MICHIGAN WE
KNOW BETTER WE HAD THE LOTTERY
AND WHEN THE LOTTERY WAS PASSED
ALL THE MONEY WILL GO TO THE
SCHOOLS AND IT'S GOING TO BE
GREAT BECAUSE WE WILL NEVER NEED
TO FUND THEM AGAIN AND THINGS
WILL BE FANTASTIC IN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS NOW YEARS LATER WE ARE
LOOKING AT ANOTHER THING THAT
ISN'T LEGAL FEDERALLY BY THE WAY
AND THE LAST TIME I CHECKED
MICHIGAN IS PART OF THE UNITED
STATES STILL AND LOOKING AT
ANOTHER THING TO GET 200 MILLION
MAYBE PROJECTED GROSS OUT OF A
57 BILLION BUDGET PART OF WHICH
IS GOING TO BE EAR MARKED FOR
THE SCHOOLS.
>> TALK ABOUT VOTING GO AHEAD
EMILY.
>> A MONTH AGO YOU WERE PROTHE
LEGISLATURE.
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> YOU DID NOT SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> NO WE DO NOT SUPPORT
LEGALIZATION IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR
FORM.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE GROUPS OF
COURSE WORKING AGAINST THIS
BALLOT PROPOSAL AND ONE OF THOSE
GROUPS WAS IN FAVOR BUT OUR
GROUP HAS BEEN COMPLETELY
AGAINST FROM DAY ONE AND WILL
REMAIN SO.
>> ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO WORK
WITH THOSE OTHER GROUPS?
>> YES WE ARE ALLOWED TO FROM A
CAMPAIGN STANDPOINT AND WILL AND
HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AS
WELL AS FOLKS IN THE VARIOUS
CHAMBERS AND WILL SEE A BROAD
BASE OF COALITION WORKING
AGAINST THIS.
>> YOU CAN POOL TOGETHER FOR AN
AD BUY IF YOU WANTED TO.
>> WE COULD.
>> TALK ABOUT VOTING BLOCKS DO
YOU CONCEDE MILLENNIALS WILL
VOTE YES?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> IS THAT JUST A WISH?
>> NO, NO I MEAN WE HAVE DONE
SOME FOCUS GROUPS AND TALKED TO
SOME PEOPLE ON CAMPUSES I WOULD
SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOUR
CAMPUS STUDENTS THAT GET OUT AND
VOTE REMEMBER THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
WILL BE IN FAVOR BUT I THINK
THERE WILL BE A SURPRISINGLY
LARGE NUMBER THAT ARE AGAINST.
>> HOW DO YOU GET PAST THIS IDEA
THAT ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA ONE
IS REGULATED AND LEGAL THE OTHER
IS NOT WHAT IS REALLY THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?
>> WELL THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY TWO
DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES AND TALKED
HOW LONG IT STAYS IN YOUR SYSTEM
SO IF THE FIVE OF US MEET FOR A
BEER AND WATCH THE TIGER GAME
TONIGHT WHICH BY THE TIME I'M
FINE FOR MY SCHEDULE IS OPEN WE
GO HOPE AND DRINK A BOTTLE OF
WATER AND GET UP IN THE MORNING
THE ALCOHOL IS OUT OF OUR
SYSTEM.
MARIJUANA IT DOESN'T WORK THAT
WAY, IT STAYS IN YOUR SYSTEM FOR
15, 20, 25 DAYS DEPENDING ON THE
INDIVIDUAL AND OPENS AGAIN ALL
THESE CHALLENGES WITH WORKFORCE
DRUG ENFORCEMENT, ALL THESE
CHALLENGES WITH ROADSIDE
TESTING, IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT TYPES OF
SUBSTANCES.
KYLE YOU KNOW YOU CAN ALSO FIND
STATS THAT WILL TELL YOU
ANYTHING YOU WANT TOLD AND I'VE
SEEN STATS WHERE MARIJUANA IS A
LOT WORSE AND MORE ADDICTIVE
THAN ALCOHOL AND I'VE SEEN THE
VICE VERSA SO I'M TRYING TO KEEP
PEOPLE JUST FOCUSED ON THE
MARIJUANA PIECE OF THIS AND THE
RECREATIONAL PIECE AND BY THE
WAY JUST BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE
IN SOME PEOPLE'S OPINION AS BAD
AS SOMETHING ELSE IT DOESN'T
MEAN WE SHOULD JUMP INTO IT.
>> WE TRIED TO PROHIBIT
CHALLENGE AND THAT WAS A FAILURE
AT WHAT POINT DON'T WE REACH A
POINT WE CANNOT RESIST THE
LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA ANY
LONGER AND IT'S JUST GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO IT'S
ILLEGAL FEDERALLY AND FROM
SESSIONS AND TALK WHAT TO DO ON
A FEDERAL LEVEL BUT IT'S
CURRENTLY AGAINST AND SCHEDULED
AS SUCH AND MICHIGAN SHOULD NOT
START PICKING AND CHOOSING WHAT
LAWS WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW.
>> FROM PUBLIC OPINION
STANDPOINT I THINK WE GET OUR
MESSAGE OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND
MORE PEOPLE I TALK TO THE MORE
PEOPLE OUR ORGANIZATION TALKS TO
THE LESS EXCITEMENT THERE IS
ABOUT MARIJUANA.
>> LET'S SAY IT GETS ON THE
BALLOT AND PASSES THEN HOW DOES
THAT INTERFACE WITH THE FEDERAL
STATUTE GOING FORWARD DO YOU SEE
YOUR GROUP AND OTHERS CONTINUING
TO FIGHT MARIJUANA USE HERE IN
MICHIGAN SAYING HEY, IT'S A
FEDERAL CRIME, WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION AND I THINK THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS FRANKLY GOTTEN
ITSELF IN TROUBLE BY IGNORING
ENFORCEMENT IN MANY STATES AND
PEOPLE COME UP AND SAY WELL IN
COLORADO YOU KNOW IT'S LEGAL AND
PEOPLE ARE USING IT AND THERE AS
BEEN NO CONSEQUENCES.
I THINK THERE IS GOING TO COME A
TIME IN THE COURTS AT SOME POINT
AND MAYBE SOONER THAN LATER
WHERE THIS IS REALLY LOOKED AT
AND WE HAVE TO DECIDE IF WE ARE
A REAL RULE OF SOCIETY OR PICK
AND CHOOSE THE LAWS WE WANTS TO
FOLLOW.
>> THANK YOU SIR YOU GUYS WILL
WIN THIS ONE.
>> WE WILL.
>> LET'S SEE IF YOU DO
APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AND HAVE A NICE
WEEKEND AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK
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