♪
WELCOME BACK TO THIS ZOOM
EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD WITH
JOHN WALSH THE CEO OF THE
MICHIGAN MANUFACTURERS
ASSOCIATION AND A FORMER STATE
BUDGET DIRECTOR OUR LEAD STORY
THE GOVERNOR SAYS STAY HOME
UNTIL MAY 28 AND AUTO WORKERS GO
BACK TO WORK MAY 18 ON THE OTR
PANEL CHUCK STOKES, ZOE CLARK
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 THE
FOLLOWING, BUSINESS LEADERS FOR
MICHIGAN HAS A STRATEGIC PLAN TO
MAKE MICHIGAN A TOP TEN STATE IN
THE NATION FOR JOBS PERSONAL
INCOME AND HEALTHY ECONOMY LEARN
MORE AT MICHIGAN'S ROAD TO TOP
TEN.COM.
AND NOW THIS EDITION OF OFF THE
RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH WELCOME
TO ANOTHER EDITION OF OFF THE
RECORD.
A ZOOM EDITION AS WE TACKLE THIS
VIRUS PROBLEM AND THE GOVERNOR
ANNOUNCED ZOE YOU THOUGHT YOU
COULD GO OUT AFTER MAY 15 BUT
HAVE TO STAY HOME UNTIL MAY 28
HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WILL PLAY
OUT?
>> LOOK ANYONE PAYING CLOSE
ATTENTION TO THIS PANDEMIC
SHOULD NOT BE SHOCKED THESE
ORDERS CONTINUE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID FROM THE
VERY BEGINNING THAT SHE IS
WATCHING THE DATA AND WATCHING
THE FACTS AND SPEAKING WITH
SCIENTISTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO
EXTEND IF SHE FEELS SHE NEEDS
TO.
AGAIN THOUGH THAT IS GOING TO
RUFFLE THE FEATHERS OF
PARTICULARLY REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS WHO CONTINUE TO SAY
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT
GETTING A SAY IN THIS.
BUT AGAIN ANYONE WHO IS SHOCKED
THAT THIS IS CONTINUING I AM
SHOCKED THAT THEY ARE SHOCKED.
>> MR. BALLENGER, WHAT DO YOU
THINK?
>> WELL, I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT
FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE
COMPLYING WITH THE STAY AT HOME
MEASURE BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
OWN ESTIMATE.
IT'S MAYBE DOWN TO AS MUCH AS
ONLY 50%.
AND IF THAT IS THE CASE AND IT'S
DROPPING AND FEWER AND FEWER
PEOPLE ARE COMPLYING IT HAS LESS
PRACTICAL IMPACT THAN IT WOULD
OBVIOUSLY IF IT WAS BEING
ADHERED TO AS THE GOVERNOR
HOPES.
>> LOOK AT I'M NOT A
PSYCHOLOGIST BUT I PLAY ONE ON
TV.
I THINK WE ARE GETTING TO THE
POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
SAY YOU KNOW I THINK I'VE HAD
ENOUGH OF THIS HUMAN NATURE
BEING WHAT IT IS CHUCK AM I ON
TO SOMETHING THERE, OR NOT?
>> WELL, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT.
PEOPLE ARE THINKING THAT.
BUT THEY ARE IN BETWEEN BECAUSE
THOSE WHO REALLY HAVE SUPPORTED
THE GOVERNOR IN THE PAST ARE
SIDING WITH HER AND SAYING,
LOOK, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WHEN
WE GET BACK TO WORK, BECAUSE
EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET BACK TO
WORK AND EVERYONE WANTS TO START
THEIR CITIES UP AGAIN.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT'S SAFE AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE
ANY REBOUND IN THIS VIRUS.
BY THE SAME TOKEN YOU LOOK AT
THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
FOR MICHIGAN, THEY ARE SAYING
ONE OUT OF EVERY SEVEN
BUSINESSES WON'T SURVIVE THIS
COVID-19.
PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DEATH IN
TWO DIFFERENT WAYS, YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL DEATH AND
PEOPLE BEING IN HARM'S WAY IN
TERMS OF THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH
BUT YOU ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT
BUSINESSES DYING AT THE SAME
TOKEN.
SO IT BECOMES THAT VERY DELICATE
BALANCE BETWEEN, OKAY, BACK TO
WORK BUT BACK TO WORK AT WHAT
COST?
AND HOW MUCH DEATH ARE WE
WILLING TO TOLERATE HERE?
THE GOVERNOR IS USING ALL THE
TOOLS IN HER TOOL BOX AND ALL OF
HER POWER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
THE LEGISLATURE IS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE FENCE SAY YOU ARE
NOT INCLUDING US AND WE ARE PART
OF THIS GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE
AND WE WANT SOME SAY SO AND YOU
ARE ABDY KHORRAMIANING LIKE A
ZAHARATOS AND TAKING YOU TO
COURT AND THE COURTS WILL HAVE
TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT.
>> SHE EARNED POINTS FOR OPENING
UP THE MANUFACTURING SECTION AND
GOOD NEWS THE BIG THREE WOULD BE
GOING BACK TO WORK BUT ONLY 25%
CAPACITY.
BUT ZOE WILL THIS CALM NOW THE
CRIES FROM THE REPUBLICANS WE
NEED TO DO MORE OR ARE THEY
GOING TO GIVE HER CUT HER SOME
SLACK ON THIS DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE FAR FROM
ANYTHING SHE DOES, CALMING
CRIES, I MEAN WE SAW PRESS
RELEASES YESTERDAY AFTER SHE DID
MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAY
11TH, THAT THIS WAS SOMEHOW
CAVING ON HER PART BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICANS HAD BROUGHT THIS
LAWSUIT AGAINST HER POWERS AND
SO THAT THIS DECISION WAS AGAIN
I THINK THE WORD CAVING WAS WHAT
WAS USED.
LOOK, I MEAN IT IS OPENING UP
THE ECONOMY, SOME 20%.
IT SOUNDS LIKE.
WE WILL TALK WITH OUR GUEST.
THE HEAD OF THE MANUFACTURING
ASSOCIATION IN MICHIGAN ABOUT
WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS GOING TO
MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY.
BUT IT DOES FEEL LIKE THERE ARE
THESE REALLY SIGNIFICANT LINES
THAT ARE DRAWN IN THE SAND RIGHT
NOW.
AND IT FEELS ALMOST LIKE THERE
IS VERY LITTLE THAT EITHER SIDE
COULD DO TO GET THE OTHER ONE ON
BOARD AND ON TO THE TABLE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S A SAD
PREDICAMENT TO BE IN A GLOBAL
PANDEMIC.
>> BILLY, WHAT ABOUT THE BIG
THREE GOING BACK TO WORK, GOOD
NEWS?
>> IF YOU WANT MY COMMENTS.
>> YES.
>> YEAH.
OBVIOUSLY.
THE BIG THREE GOING BACK TO WORK
IS HUGE.
AND THE SOONER WE CAN GET BIG
MANUFACTURING BACK TO WORK THE
BETTER.
I'LL JUST POINT OUT I THINK THE
GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO SHOW SHE
IS REASONABLE.
YOU MAY NOTICE SHE PUT IN SOME
WEASEL WORDS IN HER LANGUAGE ON
BARRING PEOPLE FROM ASSEMBLY IN
CHURCH.
WELL THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED
AGAINST HER BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS
CLAIMING THEIR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN
VIOLATED, SEPARATION OF CHURCH
AND STATE, TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE
IN CHURCH AND SHE HAS ALREADY
MADE ADJUSTMENT BASICALLY SAYING
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN FORCE
YOU WILL BE ARRESTED IF YOU GO
TO CHURCH.
SO I MEAN, I THINK SHE IS TRYING
TO AMEND EVERYTHING.
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE NAME OF
THE EXTENSION IS NOW SAFER AT
HOME.
EVERYTHING IS BEING KIND OF FINE
TUNED ON THE FLY BY THE
GOVERNOR.
PART OF THIS I THINK IS TO
ADDRESS THE LAWSUITS AGAINST HER
IN COURT AND THE ARGUMENTS THAT
WILL BE MADE BY HER OPPONENTS.
AND THE OTHER IS JUST PRACTICAL.
SO YOU GIVE HER CREDIT FOR THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT LET'S TALK ABOUT
THOSE LAWSUITS.
HERE IS WHAT THE TWO REPUBLICAN
LEADERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT, QUOTE,
OUR GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER SAYS
SHE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DECLARE
A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE
MIDST OF THIS VIRUS AND DOES NOT
NEED LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE IT BUT
THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER AND
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER
STRONGLY DISAGREE ARGUING THAT
HER UNILATERAL ACTION IS LEAVING
SOMEBODY OUT OF THE PROCESS.
THE CITIZENS.
>> WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO
TAKE THIS AS FAR UP AS WE NEED
TO GO TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE
OF OUR STATE HAVE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE AND THAT OUR CONSTITUTION
IS BEING FOLLOWED.
>> SENATOR SHIRKEY REMINDS THE
GOVERNOR THE LEGISLATURE IS PART
OF THE PROCESS AND ALL HE WANTS
IS FOR HER TO TAKE HIS EXTENDED
HAND AND WORK WITH THE
REPUBLICANS ON THIS VIRUS
CHALLENGE.
>> WE'VE CONTINUED TO OFFER AN
OPEN HAND TO OUR GOVERNOR.
AND A TRUE SPIRIT OF
COOPERATION.
>> CONTENDS THE GOVERNOR CLOSED
THE CURTAIN AND IS MAKING HER
DECISIONS BEHIND THOSE CURTAINS
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS
LOOKING IN.
>> THAT CURTAIN HAS BEEN CLOSED
FOR A LONG TIME.
AND THE MORE DETAILED OUR
QUESTIONS BECOME IT SEEMS LIKE
THE TIGHTER THE CURTAIN BECOMES.
>> SO YOU DO THINK RIGHT NOW SHE
HAS FROZEN YOU OUT?
>> TIM I DON'T KNOW HOW
DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ANY
MORE THAN YOU DO.
>> TIM I THINK OUR CONSTITUTION
IS NO LONGER BEING FOLLOWED.
>> THE HOUSE LEADER DISCLOSES
THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE
TWO REPUBLICAN LEADERS AND
QUADRANT LEADERS ALL ALONG.
>> WE CONTINUE TO HAVE QUADRANT
CALLS DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND
HAS KEPT HER PROMISE TO KEEP THE
LINES OVER CONVERSATION OPEN SO
IT'S VERY DISINGENUOUS TO SAY
THERE IS NOT SOME COLLABORATION
GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
>> MR. SHIRKEY CALLED THE
GOVERNOR A DICTATOR AND HE AND
THE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER WILL FIND
OUT IF THE COURTS AGREE.
ALL RIGHT CHUCK WHAT DO YOU MAKE
OF ALL THIS MY FRIEND?
>> IT'S A GRAND MESS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL
BATTLE THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON
HERE.
THIS IS A CLEAR, YOU KNOW,
BATTLE BETWEEN POWERS OF
GOVERNMENT.
ANY TIME YOU'RE IN THE
LEGISLATURE AND YOU ARE DEALING
WITH THE GOVERNOR YOU ARE SAYING
HEY THEY HAVE TOO MUCH POWER AND
WE NEED TO BE A PART OF THE
PROCESS.
BUT THEN WHEN YOU BECOME
GOVERNOR AS GOVERNOR WHITMER HAS
NOW BECOME GOVERNOR AND MOVED
FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SHE IS DOING
SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT WE
SAW WITH SNYDER AND EVERY OTHER
GOVERNOR THAT HAS BEEN IN THAT
POSITION YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE
UP ANY OF THAT POWER THAT YOU
HAVE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
WE HAVE THIS CONFLICT BETWEEN
THE 1945 LAW AND THE 1976 LAW.
IRONICALLY THE 76 LAW WAS
SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR MILLIKEN
ASKED FOR WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR
AND THE LONGEST SERVING AND
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AT THAT
POINT SO THIS IS COMING TO RUSE
SO IT HAS TO BE SORTED OUT AND
WE NEED MORE CLARIFICATION IN
THIS.
BUT FOR THAT AVERAGE PERSON AT
HOME IN THE MIDST OF PEOPLE
DYING, IN THE MIDST OF THIS
MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THE
RECESSION THAT WE SEE GOING ON
AND THE FINANCIAL STRESS, THAT
AVERAGE PERSON IS KIND OF
LOOKING AT THIS AND SAYING YOU
KNOW THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE
CAPTAIN IN THE CREW ON THE
TITANIC DECIDING TO SIT DOWN AND
PLAY A GAME OF CHESS INSTEAD OF
ALL TEAMING UP TOGETHER COMING
UP, WITH A GREAT PLAN, THROWING
LIFE JACKETS AND LIFE BOATS TO
EVERYBODY IN THE MIDST OF THIS
DISASTER.
>> EVERYBODY LOOK AT BILL THE
GOVERNOR CONTINUES ACCUSES THESE
REPUBLICANS ARE QUOTE PLAYING
POLITICAL GAMES BUT SHE HAS
NEVER TOLD US WHAT IS THE
POLITICAL GAIN.
CAN YOU TELL ME IF SHE IS RIGHT,
WHAT ARE THE REPUBLICANS TRYING
TO DO TO HER BESIDES TAKE AWAY
HER POWER, WHAT IS THE HIDDEN
POLITICAL AGENDA?
>> THE GOVERNOR CLAIMS THE
REPUBLICANS ARE PETTY LITTLE
ANKLE BITER'S WHILE SHE IS
DEALING WITH A PANDEMIC.
LOOK, TIM, THIS GETS DOWN TO THE
QUESTION OF ARE THE REPUBLICANS
AND THE LEGISLATURE GOING TO PUT
THEIR PETITIONS WHERE THEIR
MOUTHS ARE AND FRANKLY I THINK
THAT IS THEIR BEST CHANCE OF
SUCCESS.
IF THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH POWER
BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM BY
THE GOVERNOR, THEY CAN MOUNT AN
INITIATIVE PETITION DRIVE TO
360,000 SIGNATURES, RUBBER STAMP
IT IN THE LEGISLATURE, HOUSE AND
SENATE.
THEY HAVE THE MAJORITY.
DOES NOT REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR'S
SIGNATURE OR VETO.
AND THEY COULD WIPE OUT THE 1976
AND/OR 1945 LAWS.
BECAUSE IF THEY WAIT FOR THE
COURT TO SOLVE THIS, I'M NOT
CONVINCED AT ALL, IT'S NOT GOING
TO HAPPEN.
ANY COURT, ANY COURT OF LAW OF
ALL THESE COURTS THAT HAVE SUITS
IN FRONT OF THEM RIGHT NOW ARE
GOING TO SOLVE THIS IN THE SHORT
TERM.
MAYBE IN THE LONG-TERM.
THERE WILL BE SOME RESOLUTION.
BUT THAT WILL BE LONG AFTER THE
PANDEMIC IS PASSED.
>> BUT BILL.
>> ZOE.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY.
>> ZOE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> NO, NO, GO AHEAD Z.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WHAT BILL
IS TALKING ABOUT JUST TO PUT IT
IN A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT IS
THAT SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
SHIRKEY ON MONDAY SAID HIS TOP
PRIORITY DURING ALL OF THIS OR
RIGHT AFTER IS CREATING A
PETITION INITIATIVE AS BILL SAID
WHICH WOULD NEED MORE THAN
350,000 SIGNATURES BASICALLY TO
RECALL THE POWERS THAT THIS
GOVERNOR HAS.
AND I THINK WHY WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THAT NOW IS WHAT YOU ARE
HEARING IS A LOT OF LEGAL
SCHOLARS SAYING LOOK WE HEAR, WE
SEE THIS LAWSUIT BUT ARE SAYING
THEY WOULD RATHER BE ON THE
GOVERNOR'S SIDE OF THIS LEGAL
ISSUE AT THIS POINT.
>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
IN TOWN WHO ARE SAYING, YEAH,
THEY WANT TO TAKE THIS STUFF TO
COURT BUT THE REAL HIDDEN AGENDA
IS THEY ARE CARRYING THE FLAG
FOR THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
WE ARE HERE.
WE ARE FIGHTING THIS GOVERNOR.
WE ARE STANDING UP FOR YOU.
WE WANT TO GET YOUR VOICE AT THE
TABLE.
THIS PLAYS VERY WELL BACK IN THE
DISTRICTS THAT REPUBLICANS ARE
RUNNING IN THIS YEAR SO RATHER
THAN JUST ROLLING OVER AND LET
THE GOVERNOR ROLLOVER THEM, THEY
ARE TRYING TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE
HEY WE ARE IN HERE FIGHTING FOR
YOU GUYS, WE ARE HERE FIGHTING
FOR YOU.
ANYBODY BELIEVE THAT IS GOING
ON?
>> WELL, THAT IS TRUE WHAT YOU
SAID, TIM.
BUT THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN
THAT.
I MEAN I THINK A LOT OF THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THAT
INCLUDES BY THE WAY SOME
DEMOCRATS ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE
SITUATION.
SO THERE IS A LOT MORE GOING ON
THAN JUST PLAYING THE BASE OF
THE PARTY BUT THEY OUGHT TO PUT
THEIR PETITIONS WHERE THEIR
MOUTHS ARE.
>> AND YOU KNOW WE SHOULD ALSO
POINT OUT THAT THIS IS NOT JUST
A FIGHT BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE GOVERNOR.
WE ALSO HAVE LAWSUITS INVOLVED
HERE FROM A RELIGIOUS STANDPOINT
AND ONE OF THEM IS THE SPEAKER'S
FATHER, RUSTY CHATFIELD WHO IS A
MINISTER.
HE IS SUING ALONG WITH KEITH
BUTLER OF WORD OF FAITH DOWN
HERE IN THE DETROIT AREA.
AND YOU HAVE CONGRESSMAN
MITCHELL SO YOU GOT A LOT OF
LAWSUITS GOING ON A LOT OF
DIFFERENT LEVELS STATE AND IN
FEDERAL COURT.
>> NOW I THOUGHT THE SPEAKER HAD
A GREAT LINE THE OTHER DAY HE
SAID THEY TRIED TO GET HIS
MOTHER TO JOIN THE LAWSUIT BUT
APPARENTLY SHE IS A DEMOCRAT MY
WORDS, NOT HIS.
AND PROBABLY IS NOT.
LET'S CALL IN OUR GUEST THE HEAD
OF THE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
JOHN WALSH WELCOME TO OFF THE
RECORD AND IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
ON BOARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH TIM GLAD TO
BE HERE.
>> LET'S HAVE CHUCK HAVE THE
FIRST SHOT HERE ALL RIGHT.
>> MR. PRESIDENT OF THE
MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION FOR
MICHIGAN LET ME READ YOU
SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID IN
JANUARY OF 2015 WHEN YOU JUST
TOOK OFFICE.
YOU SAID NO OTHER STATE LIVES
AND BREATHES MANUFACTURING LIKE
MICHIGAN AND I EXPECT THE
INDUSTRY'S NEXT CHAPTER TO BE
EVEN BRIGHTER AS WE CONTINUE TO
INNOVATE, INVEST AND CREATE
JOBS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THAT
STATEMENT BACK NOW THAT ARE YOU
IN ZOOM MEETINGS ABOUT YOUR
MEMBERSHIP AND YOU HAVE
UNEMPLOYMENT SKY HIGH?
>> YEAH.
NO I WON'T TAKE IT BACK, CHUCK.
IT'S STILL TRUE FOR THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN.
WE ARE A BIG PART OF THE STATE.
NOW AS I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER,
TAKING OVER A TRADE ASSOCIATION
AND HAVING ABOUT HALF OF THE
MEMBERS IMPACTED BY THE
CORONAVIRUS AND THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER WAS A TOUGH ONE.
BUT WHAT I WATCHED WERE
MANUFACTURERS STANDING UP TO THE
CHALLENGE.
DIVERTING THEIR RESOURCES FROM
WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN MAKING
AND CREATING PPE.
SHOWING THAT STRENGTH AND
DEXTERITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE
ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.
OF COURSE WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT
MANUFACTURING IS TO BE ABLE TO
GO BACK TO WORK.
OVER THE NEXT WEEK.
BUT WHAT I SEE IN THE FUTURE IS
THIS MOVEMENT TO POSSIBLY START
ON SHORING MANUFACTURING AGAIN
AND I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I
CAN WITH OUR ASSOCIATION AND OUR
MEMBERS TO BRING IT RIGHT HERE
TO MICHIGAN.
>> ZOE.
>> GO AHEAD, ZOE, I'M SORRY.
>> JOHN, TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT
YOU THINK THIS WILL HAVE.
WE HAVE HEARD DIRE DIRE NUMBERS
WHETHER IT'S FROM UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE BEING INCREDIBLY HIGH, THE
NUMBER OF FOLKS FILING FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT.
MANUFACTURING NOW THE NUMBER HAS
BEEN 20% AS OF MONDAY WITH THIS
OPENING OF THE ECONOMY.
WILL THIS HAVE SMALL RIPPLE
EFFECTS, WILL IT BE BIG WAVES,
WHAT CAN THIS DO FOR THE STATE
OF MICHIGAN WITH THIS REOPENING?
>> I GUESS I WILL START AS A
SMALL WAVE BUT IT WILL BECOME A
BIG ONE FAIRLY QUICKLY ONCE IT
RAMPS UP.
SO FOLKS WILL BE CALLING BACK
EMPLOYEES GRADUALLY TO GET THE
SUPPLY SYSTEM AND CHAIN
OPERATING AND MOVING FORWARD.
WE ESTIMATE THAT PROBABLY ABOUT
HALF OF OUR STATE'S
MANUFACTURERS HAVE AN IMPACTED
BY EITHER COVID-19 OR THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER.
THAT REPRESENTS JUST ABOUT
300,000 MAYBE A LITTLE MORE
300,000 EMPLOYEES.
WHEN THEY BACK AT WORK EARNING
GOOD WAGES FEELING CONFIDENT IN
THE WORKPLACE SAFE AND CONFIDENT
AND THEN CONFIDENT IN SPENDING
MONEY IT'S GOING TO DRIVE OUR
STATE ECONOMY AND CERTAINLY HAS
AN IMPACT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IF
NOT THE WORLD.
>> BILL?
>> JOHN WALSH, YOU ARE AMONG
OTHER THINGS A FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE.
YOU'RE A FORMER STATE
LEGISLATURE.
I'M ASKING YOU WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE CHANCES ARE OF YOUR FORMER
COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE
PREVAILING IN COURT AGAINST THE
GOVERNOR?
AND DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE A
CASE?
>> WELL, I'M ALSO A LAWYER,
BILL.
SO I'LL NEVER TRY TO SECOND
GUESS A COURT AHEAD OF TIME BUT
I WILL TELL YOU I THINK THERE
ARE VERY IMPORTANT
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES HERE.
IT'S A BATTLE BETWEEN
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY AND
EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.
WE HAVE TWO LAWS THAT ARE IN
CONFLICT.
YOU HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL
ISSUES OF REPRESENTATION FOR ALL
THE VOTERS THROUGH THE HOUSE AND
SENATE AND OF COURSE THE
GOVERNOR.
AND THE COURT SYSTEM TO LOOK AT
IT.
I REALLY CAN'T CALL IT -- MY GUT
FEELING IS THERE IS PROBABLY
SOME ROOM FOR THE GOVERNOR AND
FOR LEGISLATURE TO MOVE TO BE
COOPERATIVE AND THE COURT WILL
SUPPORT THAT.
BUT THAT TAKES TIME.
IN THE MEANTIME, MY HOPE AS A
CITIZEN LET ALONE ON BEHALF OF
US THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR
DIALOG.
I'VE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY
DEMOCRACY IS LOUD AND MESSY.
AND WHEN IT ISN'T THAT'S WHEN I
START TO GET WORRIED AS A
CITIZEN.
BUT I THINK TO YOUR QUESTION
SPECIFICALLY I THINK THE COURT
HAS REASON TO TAKE A VERY, VERY
CLOSE LOOK AT THIS.
THAT SHARING OF POWER BETWEEN
THE TWO BRANCHES.
>> MR. WALSH SHOULD THE REST OF
THE ECONOMY BE OPENED RIGHT NOW?
>> I THINK THERE IS
OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT SAFETY.
NOT SO MUCH ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS
BUT SAFETY.
LOOK AT THE FUNCTIONS.
CAN A MANUFACTURING MOVE FORWARD
SAFELY WE THINK SO.
CAN AN OFFICE ENVIRONMENT MOVE
SAFELY.
I THINK SO.
YOU CAN USE THE SAME SOCIAL
DISTANCING, STAGGERED START
TIMES, PPE, AND CLEANING.
THE TOUGHER SPOT IS GOING TO BE
THE RESTAURANTS AND MOVIE
THEATRES WHERE PEOPLE GATHER
TOGETHER.
AND AS THEY START TO THINK
WITHIN THEIR OWN ASSOCIATIONS
AND AS INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES HOW
TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT,
THAT IS THE TRIGGER.
IT'S WHEN WILL YOUR EMPLOYEES
AND CUSTOMERS FEEL CONFIDENT IN
RETURNING.
SO TIM I DID NOT ANSWER DIRECTLY
BECAUSE THERE IS A SUBTLETY TO
IT.
I WOULD LIGHT IT TO MOVE
QUICKLY.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
MOTIVATED TO KEEP THEIR
CUSTOMERS, EMPLOYEES SAFE.
THAT IS A HUGE MOTIVATOR.
AND OF COURSE THE REGULATORY
AUTHORITIES ARE GOING TO PUT IN
SOME RULES.
SO FAR I THINK REASONABLE.
TO GIVE THAT ADDITIONAL
ASSURANCE AS WELL.
>> BUT DO YOU AGREE WITH THE
GOVERNOR THAT WE NEED TO GO
SLOWER THAN FASTER SO THAT THERE
IS NOT A SECOND WAVE?
ARE YOU ON BOARD WITH THAT?
>> YOU KNOW, I MIGHT HAVE SOME
DIFFERENCES IN PACE AND TIMING
BUT THE GOVERNOR AND HER TEAM
PROBABLY HAVE MORE INFORMATION
THAN I DO.
WITH REGARD TO THE SPREAD OF THE
DISEASE.
AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON
OUR SOCIETY.
BUT AS I LOOK AT BUSINESSES AND
MY FOCUS OBVIOUSLY IS
MANUFACTURING, OUR MEMBERS
JUMPED UP AND SAID ALL RIGHT HOW
DO WE MAKE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
AS I TALKED TO PEOPLE MORE
ANECDOTALLY IN OTHER BUSINESSES
THEY ARE DOING THE SAME AND I
TAKE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE FROM
FOLKS HAVING SAFETY FIRST AND
MOVING FORWARD.
SO YES I'D LIKE IT TO BE A
LITTLE BIT FASTER BUT WE DO HAVE
TO BE CAREFUL.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT BALANCE.
>> MR. STOKES?
>> QUESTION FOR YOU.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT LAWSUITS ASIDE AND ALL OF
THIS LEGAL BATTLE ASIDE WHEN YOU
GET TO THIS POINT THEN SOME HAVE
SUGGESTED, AND I THINK FORMER
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRIAN CALLEY
RECENTLY SAID WHEN YOU GET TO
THIS POINT THEN YOU ARE STARTING
TO ERODE THE PUBLIC TRUST NO
MATTER WHO WINS THE LEGAL
BATTLE.
YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD ALL
SORTS OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS
IN THE LEGISLATURE, IN THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND IN
CORPORATE AMERICA.
AND YOU'RE KNOWN AS A KEY
STRATEGIC PLANNER.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, IF YOU
LOOK BACK AND SAY OKAY WHAT IS
THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT PERHAPS
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
SHOULD HAVE USED THAT WASN'T
USED SO THAT WE ARE NOT ERODING
THE PUBLIC TRUST IN ALL OF THIS?
>> YOU KNOW THAT IS A REALLY
TOUGH QUESTION, CHUCK.
THIS PANDEMIC WAS THRUST UPON US
IN REALLY SHORT ORDER.
AND THERE WAS ONLY SO MUCH
INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
FOLKS DIGESTED IT AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE, MADE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT DECISIONS HERE IN THE
STATE OF MICHIGAN AND ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES AND HAD DRAMATIC
IMPACT.
AT THIS POINT I THINK WHAT WOULD
BE HELPFUL FOR PUBLIC TRUST IS A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
INFORMATION THAT THE DECISIONS
ARE BEING MADE ON.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT MAKING IT
UNDERSTANDABLE.
THE REPORTING ON IT FROM MEDIA
IS VARIED BECAUSE THERE ARE SO
MANY SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR OUR CITIZENS
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS CORRECT,
WHAT IS NOT, IT CHANGES
CONSTANTLY.
I LOOKED AT SIX DIFFERENT
STUDIES ON THE USE OF MASKS
ALONE WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF
THEIR PUBLICATION.
SO TRYING TO FIND A WAY FOR THE
GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURES FOR THE
MEDIA TO STREAM LINE MIGHT BE
THE WRONG WORD BUT TO GET A
BETTER GIVE A BETTER SENSE TO
THE FOLKS THAT THERE IS
INFORMATION THAT'S BEING
STUDIED.
IF IT'S FOUND TO BE WRONG LATER
THAT IS OKAY.
OWN IT.
AND SAY LOOK WE MADE SOME
DECISIONS BASED ON THE BEST
INFORMATION TO US AVAILABLE TO
US AND IT'S CHANGED.
THIS IS RAPIDLY GOING.
I THINK PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND
THAT.
SO IT'S COMMUNICATION.
TRYING TO MAKE IT AS UNABLE AS
POSSIBLE.
AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR
PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES.
>> ZOE WE HAVE THREE MINUTES
LEFT AND WE ARE GOING TO DO AN
OVER TIME SEGMENT SO DON'T
ANYBODY RUN AWAY GO AHEAD Z.
SOUNDS GOOD AND JOHN YOU
YOURSELF WERE A LEGISLATURE AND
WORKED IN THE LEGISLATURE WHERE
OF COURSE GUNS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
FOR A LONG TIME AND REALLY KIND
OF BECAME THE HEADLINE LAST WEEK
DURING THE PROTEST.
THERE WERE PHOTOS AND TWEETS OF
LAWMAKERS WHO SAID THEY WERE
WEARING BULLETPROOF VESTS
BECAUSE THEY WERE SCARED OR
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.
I'M WONDERING ABOUT YOU HAVING
YOU KNOW HAD A DESK IN ONE OF
THOSE CHAMBERS YOUR THOUGHTS
ABOUT GUNS AND WHAT YOU SAW LAST
WEEK AS GUN OR PROTESTERS CAME
INTO THE CAPITOL?
>> I CAN TELL YOU ZOE AS A
MEMBER ON DAYS WHEN OPEN CARRY
SUPPORTERS WOULD APPEAR ON THE
CAPITOL COMPLEX I NEVER DID FEAR
FOR MY SAFETY.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO LAST WEEK
BECAUSE I WAS NOT THERE.
I SAW THE SAME PICTURES YOU DID.
SOME DON'T LOOK GOOD BUT I NEVER
DID FEEL THREATENED OR UNSAFE.
I THINK IT MUDDLES THE MESSAGE.
PEOPLE WERE THERE TO TALK A BIT
ABOUT THEIR CONCERN WITH THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER, THE IMPACT ON
THEIR PERSONAL RIGHTS, THEIR
BUSINESS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
AND THE FOCUS BECOMES SOMETHING
DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THAT.
I'LL DEPEND EVERY SINGLE
PERSON'S RIGHT TO PROTEST.
IT'S JUST A SIGNIFICANT PART OF
OUR DEMOCRACY.
BUT I JUST FRANKLY I JUST DON'T
UNDERSTAND CARRYING THE GUNS
INTO THE CAPITOL I'M NOT SURE
THE POINT THAT IS BEING MADE
THERE AND TAKES AWAY FROM THE
MORE IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
SAFETY, I CAN TELL YOU I ALWAYS
FELT SAFE.
THE SERGEANT AT ARMS, THE POLICE
IS THERE, PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS
WELL MANNERED BUT IT HAS BEEN
SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I'VE SERVED.
>> SO WOULD YOU BAN THEM?
>> THAT IS A LOADED QUESTION,
TIM.
I WOULDN'T.
IT'S PERMISSIBLE UNDER LAW.
BUT IT'S STILL TROUBLING.
THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT ANSWER
FOR ME TO GIVE YOU.
OPEN CARRY IS ALLOWED IN
MICHIGAN.
THERE HAS NOT BENNY INCIDENT
THAT I'M AWARE OF AGAIN I WAS
NOT THERE LAST WEEK BUT AT THIS
PRESENT TIME I THINK IT REQUIRES
A WHOLISTIC AND DO YOU TAKE A
LOOK AT CONCEALED WEAPONS AND A
VARIETY OF DECISIONS THAT OUGHT
TO TAKE PLACE.
PERHAPS NOT RIGHT NOW BUT PRETTY
QUICKLY ABOUT WHAT TO DO MOVING
FORWARD.
>> BILL, IF YOU GOT A QUICK
QUESTION HERE IS THE PLACE TO
ASK IT.
>> HOW MUCH ANXIETY IN THE
WORKFORCE AND THE MANUFACTURING
SECTOR IS THERE ABOUT GOING BACK
TO WORK?
HOW DOES IT RELATE TO THE FACT
THEY COULD BE SAFE AT HOME
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
AND NOT NEED TO GO TO WORK?
>> THERE IS SOME ANXIETY IN OUR
MEMBERSHIP WHEN THEY START TO
CALL FOLKS BACK BECAUSE OF THE
FEDERAL EXTRA 600 PER WEEK.
WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME
METHODOLOGIES WITH LEO WITH JEFF
DONAFRIO AND AS WELL AS MEMBERS
TO FIND A WAY TO GET PEOPLE BACK
THAT WILL BE MORE ECONOMICALLY
BALANCED AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT
MONTH OR SO.
THAT THAT FEDERAL BENEFIT
CONTINUES.
BUT THERE IS SOME CONCERN.
TO COUNTER THAT AT LEAST ON THE
SAFETY PERSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS ARE
ALREADY COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR
EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE MEASURES
THAT WILL BE IN PLACE TO ASSURE
THEIR SAFETY.
THEY CAN CONTROL THAT.
THE ECONOMIC PIECE, THE FEDERAL
STIMULUS, THAT'S A BIT OUT OF
THEIR CONTROL.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE AS AN
ASSOCIATION WORKING WITH THE
STATE TO TRY AND FIND ANOTHER
ANSWER TO THAT.
>> GOOD MR. WALSH SIT TIGHT WE
ARE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK
FOR CLOSED CREDITS EVERYBODY
ELSE GO TO WKAR.ORG FOR A
CONVERSATION WITH THE HEAD OF
THE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
WITH MR. CLARK, MR. STOKES AND
MR. BALLENGER SEE YOU ON THE
OTHER SIDE.
MADE IN PART BY BUSINESS LEADERS
OF MICHIGAN TO MAKE MICHIGAN THE
TOP TEN STATE IN THE MICHIGAN
LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN'S ROAD TO
TOP TEN.COM.
FOR MORE OFF THE RECORD VISIT
WKAR.ORG.
MICHIGAN PUBLIC TELEVISION
STATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE
PRODUCTION COSTS OF OFF THE
RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.
♪