♪
WELCOME BACK OUR GUEST THIS WEEK
IS REPUBLICAN CHAIR OF THE HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
REPRESENTATIVE GRAHAM FILLER,
OUR LEAD STORY THE GOVERNOR HAS
A 5.6 BILLION DOLLAR COVID
RELIEF PACKAGE IS IT D O A IN
THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE ON
THE OTR PANNING JONATHAN
OOSTING, CHUCK SHOWERS AND ZOE
CLARK.
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 A HEALTHY ECONOMY
LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN ROAD TO
TOP TEN.COM.
AND NOW THIS EDITION OF OFF THE
RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.
♪
♪
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WELCOME
BACK TO THIS ZOOM EDITION OF OFF
THE RECORD.
LET'S SAY GOOD MORNING TO OUR
PANEL ARE THE THREE OF YOU THERE
MAGICALLY THERE THEY ARE CHUCK
AND JONATHAN AND ZOE AND DO YOU
LIKE THE SNAP THERE AND NICE TO
HAVE YOU ON BOARD AND WHAT THE
GOVERNOR SAYS WE NEED MORE
VACCINES AND WE NEED SOME
REPUBLICAN VOTES FOR MY RELIEF
PACKAGE.
>> LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS HAVE
BEEN GRIPING FOR MONTHS ABOUT
ALL THE EMPTY BOOTHS AND
RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN THE
STATE AND BLAME THE GOVERNOR FOR
CLOSING INDOOR DRINKING AND
DINING SHE SAYS HOWEVER SHE IS
DOING IT TO ATTACK THE SPREAD OF
THE COVID VIRUS BUT WITH
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL
COVID AID FLOWING IN TO STATE
COFFERS THE REPUBLICANS SAY A
CHANCE TO GET THEIR WAY.
THEY ARE USING THAT MONEY AS A
WAY TO FORCE THE GOVERNOR TO
REOPEN BUSINESSES NOW.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM ALBERT WHO
CHAIRS THE HOUSE BUDGET
COMMITTEE SAYS HE AND THE SENATE
BUDGE IT CHAIR SENATOR STA MARK
AS WILL SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT
WHERE TO SPEND THAT MONEY.
AND THEY WILL LEAVE THE GOVERNOR
OUT OF THE PROCESS UNLESS SHE
REOPENS BUSINESSES NOW.
>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE POWER
OF THE PURSE.
I'M NOT GOING TO HAND THAT OVER
TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
I'M GOING TO WORK WITH MY
COUNTERPART SENATOR STAMOS IN
THE SENATE AND LOOK AT WAYS OF
MAKING SURE THIS MONEY GETS OUT
THERE.
>> THE GOVERNOR WHO DOES WANT A
VOICE IN HOW TO SPEND THOSE
COVID DOLLARS WARNED THE
REPUBLICANS NOT TO HOLD THE
COVID MONEY HOSTAGE.
>> WELL, I AM SURPRISED IN THAT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE
THAT THE LEGISLATURE THAT THERE
ARE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE
WHO WANT TO RESORT TO THREATS TO
OPEN UP RESTAURANTS.
IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS.
AND IT'S REALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
>> THE RUP LAWMAKER COUNTER THE
MONEY WILL BE SPENT AND NOT HELD
HOSTAGE WITH OR WITHOUT THE
GOVERNOR'S INPUT.
HE SAYS THAT IS UP TO HER.
>> IF SHE SAYS I'M NOT GOING TO
REOPEN ON YOUR SCHEDULE BY MY
SCHEDULE YOU WON'T TALK TO HER
ON SPENDING FAIR STATEMENT.
>> LET'S HOPE IT DOES NOT COME
TO THAT TIM.
>> WELL IS THAT A FAIR
STATEMENT?
>> TIM I'M GOING TO STICK TO MY
GUNS ON THIS AND STICK TO MY
STATEMENT SHE STARTS REOPENING
WE WILL START TALKING.
>> AND IF SHE DOESN'T YOU WON'T?
>> HOPEFULLY SHE GETS THE
MESSAGE.
>> THE UNANSWERED QUESTION IS
WHO IS GOING TO BLINK FIRST IN
THIS POLITICAL GAME OF CHICKEN
OVER THE AID THAT SO MANY FOLKS
IN MICHIGAN NEED.
JONATHAN THE QUESTION IS HOW
SERIOUS IS THE REPUBLICAN
STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
THERE TO NOT TALK TO HER ABOUT
SPENDING 5.6 BILLION DOLLARS
THAT IS HUGE IF IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN, RIGHT?
>> WELL LOOK SPENDING OTHER
PEOPLE'S MONEY, FEDERAL DOLLARS
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE AREAS THAT
THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND
REPUBLICAN LED LEGISLATURE HAVE
ACTUALLY GOTTEN ALONG ON.
YOU KNOW THEY HAVE COME TO
AGREEMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR ON
SEVERAL LARGE FEDERAL STIMULUS
SPENDING PACKAGES.
A LOT OF THIS MONEY IS JUST YOU
KNOW PASS THROUGH MONEY.
IT'S APPROVING DOLLARS SENT BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I DON'T THINK IN THE END THAT
THERE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT
CONTROVERSY OVER SPENDING THAT
YOU KNOW SOME DETAILS TO BE
NEGOTIATED BUT CERTAINLY THEY
ARE STARTING OUT ON A DIFFERENT
FOOT HERE IN THE NEW LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
AS I SAID THOSE LAST
NEGOTIATIONS, THE LAST SPENDING
PACKAGES HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED
AND THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT HER OWN
PLAN WITHOUT WELL WITHOUT
NEGOTIATING ANY WAY OR EVEN
TALKING TO SOME OF THE BUDGET
OFFICIALS ABOUT WHAT THAT PLAN
WAS GOING TO BE BEFORE IT
HAPPENED.
AND THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF
HARD FEELINGS A LOT OF HURT
FEELINGS, A LOT OF RESENTMENT
WITHIN THE G O P CAUCUS AND
PLAYING HARD BALL ON A NUMBER OF
FRONTS.
CHAIR ALBERT HAS ALREADY
SOFTENED HIS STANCE AND
INITIALLY SAID WE ARE NOT GOING
TO TALK TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT
SPENDING FEDERAL MONEY AT ALL
NOW HE SAYS THE LEGISLATURE WILL
FIGURE OUT ITS OWN PLAN TO SPEND
THAT MONEY SO THAT MONEY WILL
GET SPENT IT'S JUST A MAY MATTER
OF WORKING OUT THE DETAILS AND
YEAH THEY WILL HAVE TO SIT DOWN
AT SOME POINT AND TALK IT OUT.
>> TIM, I WOULD AGREE WITH
JONATHAN THIS IS GOING TO BE A
BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT OF
TUG OF WAR DEALING WITH POLICY,
DEALING WITH POWER, LEGISLATURE
REALIZES THEY HAVE THE POWER,
THE POWER OF THE PURSE BUT THEY
ALSO HAVE THE NUMBERS BOTH ON
THE SENATE SIDE AND ON THE HOUSE
SIDE.
SO THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET
WHAT THEY CAN, EXTRACT WHAT YOU
CAN OUT OF THIS.
AND TO REPRESENT THEIR MAIN CORE
CONSTITUENCY AND CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE SAY THE BUSINESSES ARE
HURTING REALLY BAD AND WANT TO
GET BACK TO MAKING A LIVING SO
THEY WILL USE WHAT THATKY WITH
THE GOVERNOR BUT HAVE TO BE VERY
CAREFUL WITH THIS BECAUSE WE ARE
HITTING RECORD NUMBER OF COVID
CASES A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE
DYING FROM COVID AND MONEY IS
NOW STARTING TO COME IN FROM
WASHINGTON.
I GUARANTY YOU THAT THERE WILL
BE MORE MONEY PROBABLY COMING IN
NOW THAT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION IS IN AND YOU
HAVE THE GOVERNOR HERE, YOU HAVE
SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, HOPING THAT
THIS NEW DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATION EVEN THOUGH THE
BIDEN SAYS I'LL BE
REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE
PEOPLE, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
OPEN UP THE PURSES.
THEY ARE MAKING COVID-19 THEIR
ABSOLUTE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
BUT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, JONATHAN
IS RIGHT.
THIS HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT BEEN
HAPPY WITH THIS GOVERNOR AND HER
POLICIES.
AND THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY
HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED AND AT
THE TABLE NEGOTIATING THESE
THINGS UP FRONT.
>> AND I THINK THE ONE THING
THOUGH TO KEEP IN MIND RIGHT IS
THIS IDEA OF WANTING BUSINESSES,
MANY OF WHICH ARE OPEN BUT WITH
ISSUES OF CAPACITY AND OF COURSE
THE ABILITY FOR HHS TO RESHUT
THEM DOWN.
BUT ONE OF THE NOTES THAT A LOT
OF REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT IS WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESS IS RESTAURANTS
AND ONE OF THE THINGS IN ALL
LIKELIHOOD LATER TODAY WE ARE
GOING TO HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR
WHO IT'S BELIEVED WILL CONTINUE
WITH THIS IDEA THAT RESTAURANTS
WILL BE ABLE TO BE OPEN TO SOME
CERTAIN EXTENT WITH RESTRICTIONS
BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1.
SO YOU SORT OF HAVE TO LOOK LIKE
WELL WHAT ARE YOU STAKING THOSE
NEGOTIATIONS ON?
AND LET'S SAY THE END OF
FEBRUARY OR EVEN MARCH HOPEFULLY
IT WON'T YOU KNOW COME TO THAT.
AND THAT MONEY WILL START
GETTING INTO FOLKS' POCKETBOOKS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT THE HOPE I THINK IS WITH
MORE VACCINATIONS, AS THE
WEATHER STARTS TO WARM UP, I
KNOW I'M BEING AN OPTIMIST HERE,
THAT THINGS DO START TO LOOK
BETTER.
SO WHAT DO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS
THEN LOOK LIKE IF THOSE THINGS
ALREADY HAVE BEEN OPENED AND WE
ARE SEEING MOVEMENT TOWARDS
GETTING BACK TO NORMAL WHATEVER
THAT NEW NORMAL LOOKS LIKE?
>> YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THE
TRADITION IS AT THE BEGINNING OF
A NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR NOT
EVERYBODY IS SINGING KUM-BY-YA
BUT THERE USUALLY IS A STATEMENT
THAT LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER.
I DID NOT HEAR ANY OF THAT SINCE
THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN BACK.
SHE CAN MAYBE CORRECT THAT IN
HER STATE OF THE STATE MESSAGE
NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT BUT IT DID
NOT START OUT ON A PLANE WHERE
WE ARE EQUAL.
YOU ARE RIGHT SHE INTRODUCED 5.6
MILLION DOLLAR PACK ONLY OUT OF
NO WHERE.
I ASSUME THE TWO CHAIRS THE
SENATE AND THE HOUSE BUDGET
COMMITTEE WERE NOT CONSULTED.
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IF
YOU ARE REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE
YOU GIVE THOSE PEOPLE A HEADS
UP, HEY, THIS IS COMING, I LOOK
FORWARD TO WALKING DOWN THE ROAD
WITH YOU TOGETHER.
DID ANYBODY HEAR ANY OF THAT?
LET'S JOIN HANDS AND GET THIS
PROBLEM DONE TOGETHER, DID
ANYBODY HERE THAT?
JONATHAN, DID YOU?
>> NO.
I MEAN THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL LEVEL OF
COURSE OF TRYING TO UNIFY AFTER
A VERY CONTENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
BUT HERE IN THE STATE, YEAH, WE
HAVEN'T HEARD AS MUCH OF THAT
YET.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE
BEGINNING THIS NEW TERM PRETTY
MUCH WHERE THEY LEFT OFF.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A NEW SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE JAESEAN WENTWORTH
BUT HE IS YOU KNOW NOT -- YOU
KNOW I MEAN HE HAS TALKED ABOUT
RESTORING PUBLIC TRUST IN
GOVERNMENT BY DOING SOME GOOD
GOVERNMENT REFORMS BUT HAS NOT
EXPLICITLY TALKED ABOUT HOW HE
WANTS TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR
WHITMER MOVING FORWARD AND VICE
VERSA.
I ASKED GOVERNOR WHITMER AT THE
END OF THE YEAR WHAT HER
RELATIONSHIP WAS WITH HIM AND
MIKE SHIRKEY WELL THEY ARE THE
LEGISLATURE I HAVE TO WORK WITH
THEM, WHATEVER.
SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE
LOT OF YOU KNOW FEEL GOOD
COMMENTS ABOUT THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS EITHER.
>> BY THE SAME TOKEN THE
QUADRANT MET A COUPLE TIMES AND
WITH EXCEPTION OF MR. SHIRKEY
MAYBE THEY ARE MELDING AND
COMING TOGETHER BUT WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATION AT THE
CAPITOL LAST SUNDAY AND WE HAD
THE ENTIRE MICHIGAN NATIONAL
GUARD OUT THERE AND THE STATE
POLICE AND WHAT HAPPENED?
>> NOT MUCH.
THANKFULLY.
I KNOW JONATHAN WAS ON THE
GROUND.
I HAD A SPACE ACTUALLY ABOUT IN
A BUILDING THAT OVER LOOKED THE
CAPITOL.
EIGHT FLOOR FLOORS UP SO I
COULD SEE THE TEAM AND HAD THREE
REPORTERS ON THE GROUND AND
THOSE THREE REPORTERS PLUS
JONATHAN AND MANY OTHER
REPORTERS AND THE NATIONAL GUARD
FAR OUT NUMBERED THE NUMBER OF
PROTESTERS.
THERE WERE A CONTINGENT OF WHITE
SUPREMACISTS WHO WERE THERE,
FOLKS WHO LIKE TO CALL
THEMSELVES THE BUGALOO BOYS WHO
WERE CARRYING GUNS AND ARMED AND
GAVE A STATEMENT.
BUT THANKFULLY AS I SAID LUCKILY
NOT MUCH.
I BELIEVE ONE HAD SAID MICHIGAN
RADIO RAN WAS DULL AND THANK
GOODNESS IT WAS AND I HAD TO
TAKE BACK BULLETPROOF VESTS TO
MY OFFICE AND I THINK IT'S A
PRETTY SAD INDICATION OF WHERE
WE ARE AS A COUNTRY WHEN IT
BECOMES THE NORM TO THROW THREE
OR FOUR BULLET PROOF VESTS IN
YOUR CAR AND DROP THEM OFF AND I
WAS GLAD TO DO IT.
>> DO YOU THINK THE WORST IS
OVER OR THE WORST IS YET TO COME
OR OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T KNOW?
>> OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T KNOW AND
AS JO SAID YOU HEARD ON A
NATIONAL FRONT THE MESSAGE OF
UNITY.
YOU KNOW I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS
DUG IN TO THE LINE THAT WE HAVE
SEEN AN UNCIVIL WAR.
LOOK, I THINK NO MATTER IF YOU
ARE AN AMERICAN WHATEVER SIDE
YOU FEEL AND YOU FEEL THE
TEMPERATURE AND THE HEAT YOU
OFTEN HEAR GOVERNOR WHITMER SAY
THAT SHE HAS ASKED HER
REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS TO BRING
DOWN THE HEAT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU HEARD JOE
BIDEN DO THE SAME.
LOOK, WE SAW SOMETHING WE HAD
NEVER SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY IN A
CENTURY AND MORE.
ON JANUARY 6TH.
INCLUDING SOME MICHIGANDERS THAT
I HOPE WE TALK ABOUT AS WELL ON
THIS PROGRAM.
WHO WERE THERE.
AND SO I CERTAINLY AM NOT GOING
TO PREDICT THE FUTURE BUT IT
DOES FEEL MAYBE IN THE LAST 48
HOURS THAT AT LEAST SOME
CITIZENS FEEL LIKE MAYBE WE
COULD BRING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN
A LITTLE BIT.
>> CHUCK LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT A
MAJOR NEWS STORE THE -- STORY
BY FORMER MAYOR OF DETROIT AND
APPARENTLY OUT OF THE SLAM.
>> HE IS AND GOT THE SENTENCE
COMMUTED.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE
FOR 28 YEARS.
HE SERVED 7 OF THOSE YEARS.
THE CATCH IS THAT HE DIDN'T GET
AN ABSOLUTE FULL PARDON BECAUSE
HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY BACK
MANY OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM
IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL CHARGES.
AND THAT DID NOT GET COMMUTED.
BUT I'M SURE HE IS RELIEVED TO
BE OUT.
TO BE ABLE TO SEE HIS FAMILY
MEMBERS AGAIN.
WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO NEXT NO
ONE KNOWS.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT WHILE
HE WAS IN THE PRISON THAT HE
STUDIED THE MINISTRY.
THAT HE COUNSELLED A LOT OF
PEOPLE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC
SPEAKING.
SO AND WE ALL KNOW THAT HE
CERTAINLY WAS PROFICIENT AT HOW
HE PRESENTED HIMSELF WHEN HE GOT
IN FRONT OF A PODIUM.
SO THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
I'M SURE HE LOST WHILE HE WAS
BEHIND BARS.
MAYBE HE WILL OPEN UP SOME TYPE
OF CHURCH OR MINISTRY OF SOME
TYPE.
WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
HE CANNOT RUN FOR ANY KIND OF
REELECTION STATEWIDE HERE IN
MICHIGAN UNTIL 2030.
BUT THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE HIM
FROM SEEKING A FEDERAL OFFICE.
HE COULD RUN FOR CONGRESS,
WHETHER IT'S FROM, YOU KNOW,
SOME OTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY
OR EVEN FROM THIS PARTICULAR
REGION.
WE DON'T KNOW IF POLITICS IS
EVEN IN HIS SCOPE.
WE DO ALL REMEMBER WHEN HE WENT
OFF TO PRISON HE SAID I'LL BE
BACK.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW IN WHAT FORM
HE WILL BE BACK.
>> QUICKLY CHUCK WHAT IS THE
TEMPERATURE IN DETROIT ON THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT?
>> I THINK IF YOU TALK TO MOST
DETROITERS THEY WILL SAY THAT
THE SENTENCE WAS TOO HARSH OR
FOR THE CRIME, THAT IT WAS TOO
LONG OF A PERIOD OF TIME TO BE
ABLE TO SERVE.
EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF DETROITERS
ARE STILL UNSETTLED BY THE TACT
THAT HE NEVER PRESENTED ANY TYPE
OF PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR THE
TAXPAYER MONEY THAT WAS MISS
SPENT AND MISS APPROPRIATED SO
THAT STILL BOTHERS PEOPLE.
I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME
PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF
DETROIT WHO FEEL LIKE, DO YOU
KNOW WHAT, HE SHOULD STILL BE
BEHIND BARS.
BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY
FEEL A LITTLE BETTER THAT EVEN
IF HE IS OUT THAT HE STILL HAS
TO REPAY A LOT OF FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP THAT WAS IMPENDED UPON
HIM SO WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND
SEE.
IF YOU TALK TO THE VAST MAJORITY
OF DETROITERS THEY ARE GLAD HE
IS NOT IN THERE FOR A FULL 28
YEARS, THAT HOPEFULLY HE HAS
LEARNED HIS LESSON.
AND THAT PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES
AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HE DOES
WITH THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
>> ALL RIGHT BEFORE WE CALL IN
OUR GUEST A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO
THE FORMER MAYOR I KNOW YOU
WATCH OFF THE RECORD CALL ME TO
GIVE ME THAT FIRST INTERVIEW
WHEN YOU DECIDE TO TALK TO THE
MEDIA, FAIR ENOUGH?
TWO CHANCES OF THAT SLIM AND
NONE.
LET'S CALL IN REPRESENTATIVE
GRAHAM FILLER OUT IN DEWITT AND
CONGRATULATIONS FOR GETTING YOUR
JOB BACK AT JUDICIARY CHAIR.
>> SKUBICK YOU OLD WAR HORSE I
MISSED YOUR MICROPHONE AMBUSHS.
I FEEL LIKE COVID RUINS
EVERYTHING.
YES, I'M THRILLED TO BE BACK AS
JUDICIARY CHAIR AND FELT WE
TURNED IT INTO A ROCK STAR
COMMITTEE IN 2019-2020 GOOD FOR
MICHIGAN AND A FAIR GOVERNMENT
SO THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD
AND THE HERE IS THE FIRST
QUESTION FROM JONATHAN.
>> REPRESENTATIVE I AM GOING TO
PUT YOU ON THE SPOT RIGHT AWAY
DO YOU BELIEVE THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION WAS STOLEN?
AND HOW DO YOU GOVERN MOVING
FORWARD WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE IN THIS STATE PROBABLY
YOUR DISTRICT IN THIS COUNTRY DO
BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT NOW
FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IN
HIS LAST MONTHS IN OFFICE?
>> NO.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE ELECTION WAS
STOLEN OR RIGGED.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS FRAUD.
AND FRAUD TO AN EXTENT THAT
WOULD SOMEHOW OVERTURN
MICHIGAN'S ELECTORATES AND FEEL
THERE IS REMARKABLE DAMAGE DONE
BY THE PRESIDENT POST ELECTION
IN CLAIMING TO MANY PEOPLE WHO
BELIEVED HIM THAT IT WAS RIGGED
SO I DO THINK WE NEED A RESET.
YOU CAN VOTE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL
ON POLICY.
ON DIRECTION OF A COUNTRY.
BUT AFTER AN ELECTION IS OVER,
SOME OF THOSE CLAIMS TURNED OUT
TO BE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SORT
OF CULMINATING IN THE STORMING
AND RIOTS OF THE CAPITOL SO I DO
THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESET
AND A PIVOT AND THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY GO BACK TO TALK ABOUT
GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY,
PRUDENT COMMON SENSE REFORMS.
AND BRING BACK SOME OF THOSE
VOTERS WHO WENT BIDEN AND THEN
FILLER BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDN'T
LIKE DONALD TRUMP PERSONALLY.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE VOTERS WHO
STILL BELIEVE THE ELECTION WAS
RIGGED?
HOW DO YOU REACH THEM?
>> I MEAN, I JUST SPEAK TRUTH TO
POWER ALL THE TIME.
WHICH IS SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S
OVER IT'S OVER.
AND WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO PUT IN
A GOOD CONSERVATIVE VISION OUT
THERE.
AND I MEAN ONE OF THESE GREAT
THINGS THAT REPUBLICAN PARTY DID
IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS
REALLY STRONG OUTREACH TO BLUE
COLLAR AND WORKING CLASS
FAMILIES.
AND I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT AND
WANT THEM WORKING AND WORKING AT
HIGH WAGES.
FOCUS ON THE SKILLED TRADES.
YOU KNOW LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT
ACTUAL THINGS THAT MOVE THEIR
LIVES IN A GOOD DIRECTION
INSTEAD OF SORT OF CONSPIRACY
THEORIES AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.
>> CHUCK.
>> REPRESENTATIVE FILLER, YOU
HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON A LOT
OF JUSTICE REFORMS HERE IN THE
STATE.
HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU BY SOME
OF THOSE GOVERNOR WHITMER'S
VETOES ESPECIALLY THE POCKET
VETO AS IT RELATED TO THE DUI
EXPUNGEMENT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO JUSTICE REFORMS HAVE BEEN ONE
OF THOSE GREAT FIELDS WHICH KIND
OF CUTS THROUGH THE PARTISAN BS
OUT THERE.
AND TO SEE A VETO OF A BILL THAT
PASSED 96-8 OUT OF THE HOUSE AND
32-5 OUT OF THE SENATE, A VETO
COMING TOWARDS A BILL THAT FIT
PERFECTLY IN AN EXPUNGEMENT
PACKAGE THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED
JUST TWO MONTHS BEFORE WAS
SHOCKING.
THE LACK OF INVOLVEMENT FROM THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS EVEN MORE
GALLING AND DID NOT SPEAK
NEGATIVELY AT ALL IN THE HOUSE
OR SENATE, NONE OF THE
DEPARTMENTS DID.
THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT
SOMETHING WOULD GET VETOED SO
THEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS
GOING TO BRING A LOT OF RELIEF
TO A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS, MOVE
PEOPLE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES.
ALL THE SAME THINGS THAT THE
GOVERNOR SPOKE ABOUT IN HER
PRESS CONFERENCE THAT JUST GETS
POCKET VETOED FOR NO REASON.
I THINK IT DOES SPEAK TO THE
FACT THIS IS A VERY POLITICAL
GOVERNOR.
PROBABLY THE MOST POLITICAL
GOVERNOR I DON'T KNOW SINCE THE
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
AND IF SHE FEELS THAT SHE IS
WINNING AND WINNING MEANS
WINNING ON A JOB APPROVAL LEVEL,
50.01% OF THE VOTE IN 2022, THEN
SHE DOESN'T FEEL ACCOUNTABLE TO
THE LEGISLATURE AND HOW MANY
PEOPLE YOU KNOW PAY ATTENTION TO
POCKET VETOES BESIDES THE
LANSING INSIDERS?
SO I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BY
THAT.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BRING THAT
BILL BACK AND HAVE BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT AGAIN.
>> QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
THE BILL HAS SUPPORT FROM
ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL.
IT ALSO HAS SUPPORT FROM SUPREME
COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BRIDGETT
MCCORMICK.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNOR
GAVE IN TO PRESSURE FROM MOTHERS
AGAINST DRUNK DRIVERS?
YOU KNOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
THEY DID.
A COUPLE REASONS WERE SORT OF
FLOATED YOU KNOW.
NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOT HAD IS
SOMETHING THEY SAID ABOUT SOME
BILLS IN LAME DUCK.
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DOESN'T
REALLY NEGOTIATE ON POLICY.
THEY DON'T REALLY GET INVOLVED.
I MEAN, IT'S -- I'VE SORT OF
BEGGED AND PLEADED JUST TELL ME
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A
MODIFICATION ON A BILL IN
JUDICIARY IF YOU HAVE SOME
ISSUES LET ME KNOW.
I'M A VERY ACTIVE TRANSPARENT
CHAIR LET ME KNOW.
AND I KNOW THE AG SUPPORTED THIS
BECAUSE I ROPE AN OP ED IN THE
DETROIT FREE PRESS WITH HER
BECAUSE IT'S A FAIRNESS ISSUE
AND IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
HERE.
BUT I GUESS AND THEY DIDN'T GIVE
A REASON.
THEY JUST SORT OF GIVE BROAD
STROKES WHICH I VIEW AS SORT OF
UNACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT LACKING
TRANSPARENCY SO I DO PUSH BACK
AGAINST THEM.
>> ZOE.
>> THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S GET BACK
TO THIS SESSION.
YOU WERE MEANT TO BE AT THE
CAPITOL THIS WEEK AND YOU WERE
NOT.
BECAUSE THE CAPITOL SESSION FOR
BOTH YOUR CHAMBER, THE STATE
HOUSE AND THE SENATE, WAS
CANCELLED BASICALLY.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH YOUR STAFF OVER AT YOUR
PLACE GETTING WORK DONE.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY THOUGH ABOUT
WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTRY WHEN
STATE REPS AND SENATORS CANNOT
WORK OUT OF THE CAPITOL DUE TO
THREATS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT?
I HEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT WANTING
TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE
HEARD DEMOCRATS SAY THE SAME,
HOW DO WE ACTUALLY DO THAT AND
WHAT CAN YOU DO THAT TO DO THAT
AMONGST YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE
STATE HOUSE?
>> SO THE FIRST THING I'LL SAY
IS YOU KNOW, ASKING THE STATE
LEGISLATURE OR THE GOVERNOR,
ANYBODY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE THREATS
OR FOR THE CRAZIES FOR THE
EXTREMES ON BOTH SIDES IS
SOMETHING WE JUST CAN'T DO.
HOWEVER, IN THIS.
>> YEAH BUT IF YOU HAVE
COLLEAGUES.
>> POST ELECTION I WOULD SAY
THAT SOME OF THE RHETORIC COMING
FROM THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE WAS
ABSOLUTELY UNHELPFUL TO THE
WHOLE PROCESS.
AND SO I DO PUSH BACK AGAINST
THAT RHETORIC THAT WAS OUT
THERE.
I IMAGINE A MUCH DIFFERENT
SITUATION IF POST ELECTION THE
PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD
SAID HEY I GAVE IT MY ALL.
YOU KNOW IT'S VERY CLOSE.
WE ARE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO
THE ELECTION BUT YOU KNOW I
WELCOME A PRESIDENT BIDEN IF HE
IS SHOWN TO BE THE WINNER WHEN
VOTES ARE COUNTED.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IMPACTS
THE BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE.
SO.
>> YEAH.
>> SO, YEAH.
>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT
MEMBERS OF YOUR OWN CAUCUS?
I THINK YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING
ABOUT, I'M TALKING AND MATT
MADICK AND HIS WIFE MISHON WHO
IS LIKELY GOING TO BE SORT OF
DEPUTY THE COCHAIR OF THE
MICHIGAN REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE
IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS TIME.
DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT
THAT SORT OF FACET OF YOUR PARTY
WHO DO BELIEVE AND DO CONTINUE
TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE
ELECTION WAS STOLEN, THE SO
CALLED STOP THIS DEAL, DO YOU
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR PARTY
WITH THEM AS PART OF IT?
>> KIND OF A BROAD QUESTION
BECAUSE EVERY PARTY HAS
INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF I MEAN
PEOPLE HARD LEFT OR HARD RIGHT
MODERATE WHATEVER SO I DON'T
THINK YOU KNOW TRASHING ONE
ELEMENT OF A PARTY IS REALLY
HELPFUL ELEMENT.
THEY GOT A LOT OF PRESS AND
PUBLICITY FOR GOING TO D.C. AND
AGAIN I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR
PROTESTING YOU KNOW OKAY, AN
AMERICAN THING, FREEDOM OF
SPEECH, RIOTING, TRYING TO TAKE
OVER THE U.S. CAPITOL COMPLETELY
WRONG.
AND IF THEY HAD DONE THAT I
THINK THAT'S YOU KNOW THAT
OBVIOUSLY SHOWS CRIMINAL INTENT.
AND SO YOU MOVE ON FROM THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG TENT,
IT'S A BIG PARTY.
SO I WON'T GO AFTER SPECIFIC
INDIVIDUALS IN THE PARTY.
BUT I WILL SPEAK BROADLY AGAINST
THAT RHETORIC THAT CAME FROM THE
PRESIDENT AFTER THE ELECTION.
I FOUND THAT VERY DAMAGING.
>> MR. FILLER, DO YOU THINK THE
U.S. SENATE SHOULD CONVICT HIM?
>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT DOES
NOW.
FOR THE COUNTRY.
AND SO YOU KNOW BRING UP THE
PROOF AND GO FROM THERE.
BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT ACTUALLY
ADDS ANYTHING POSITIVE TO WHERE
THIS COUNTRY IS GOING RIGHT NOW.
>> SO YOU WOULD NOT SUPPORT
CONVICTING THE FORMER PRESIDENT?
>> NO, I WOULD NOT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AND DID YOU EVER GO TO A TRUMP
RALLY?
WERE YOU THERE WITH HIM?
AND SUPPORTED HIM IN A PHYSICAL
WAY?
>> I'VE ACTUALLY NOT BEEN TO A
TRUMP RALLY.
>> ON PURPOSE TO SENT A MESSAGE?
>> NO.
I WOULD ATTEND RALLIES FOR A
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT WHEN MIKE
PENCE CAME IN TO -- FLEW INTO
LANSING I GREETED HIM THERE.
BUT I DID NOT ATTEND ONE.
>> BUT LET ME JUST -- I'M TRYING
TO GET INSIDE YOUR HEAD HERE
BECAUSE YOU SAID SOME VERY
CRITICAL THINGS ABOUT MR. TRUMP
HERE TODAY AND I KNOW YOU WON'T
TELL ME IF YOU VOTED FOR HIM OR
NOT BUT YOU CLEARLY DON'T WANT
HIM TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN,
FAIR STATEMENT?
>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO ONE OF THE ISSUES IS NO
MATTER HOW GOOD WE WERE IN
MICHIGAN OR EVEN AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL WHEN THEY WERE GETTING
THINGS DONE LIKE WORKING WITH
FARMERS AND REWRITING THE U.S.
TRADE AGREEMENT FOR AG, DOING
GOOD THINGS ON TAX CUTS, I THINK
THERE WAS A 2017 TAX PLAN I
SUPPORTED.
WE COULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT
THOSE THINGS.
AND EVEN THE TRUMP DONALD TRUMP
HIMSELF WOULD NOT SPEAK ABOUT
THOSE THINGS BECAUSE HE SEEMED
CAUGHT UP IN SORT OF PERSONAL
VENDETTAS AND A LOT OF TWEETING
SO I FEEL WHEN ALL THE GOOD
THINGS YOU DID AS A PRESIDENT OR
EVEN HERE IN MICHIGAN WHEN WE
WERE DOING GOOD THINGS WE
COULDN'T EVEN GET PUBLICITY ON I
BECAUSE HE JUST TOOK UP SO MUCH
AIR IN THE ROOM.
AND I REALLY WANT TO MOVE ON
FROM THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT WE ARE GOING TO DO
AN OVER TIME SEGMENT SO TAKE A
DEEP ARE BREATH AND WE WILL BE
BACK WITH REPRESENTATIVE FILLER
WITH COMMENTS AND THE CREDITS
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