♪

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.

♪