WELCOME BACK.
OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATIC LEADER TIM GREIMEL
OUR LEAD STORY BOTH PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES IN OUR STATE TALKING
ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
ON THE OTR PANEL CHAD LIVE GOOD
ROCHELLE RILEY 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 BI-PARTISAN,
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS FIRM,
SERVING STATE-WIDE, 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
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL
RESOURCES.
TACKLING THE WORLD'S BIGGEST
PROBLEMS RELATED TO FOOD, ENERGY
AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
WITH 20 MAJORS, 17 MINORS AND 12
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, THE
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND
NATURAL RESOURCES PROVIDES
STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXCEL."
AND NOW THIS EDITION OF OFF
RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUSY WEEK
AND ROCHELLE CAN ANYBODY
REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE HAD
THE TWO MAJOR PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES THIS THE STATE AT THE
SAME WEEK?
I THINK IT'S THE PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATE OVER AT THE WHORTON
CENTER AND HAD THEM BOTH IN TIME
1992.
>> 92.
>> AND ALL THREE.
>> ANYWAY THEY ARE BOTH THIS
TOWN, WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT
THEIR ECONOMIC PLANS?
>> NOT MUCH.
I THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS
THE MOST SANE WE HAVE SEEN HIM
AND GOT A SENSE HE IS ABLE TO
HAVE A PLAN BUT DID ALL OF THAT
GREAT PERFORMANCE AND DID IT
DESPITE 14 PROTESTERS BEING
REMOVED AND THEN AT THE END AND
HE SAID I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU MY
PLAN SOON AND I THOUGHT WELL HE
DID OFFER SOME SUGGESTIONS BUT
THERE WASN'T A PLAN SO I THINK
THAT WHAT HE DID WAS WHAT HIS
HANDERS NEEDED FOR HIM TO DO AND
LOOK LIKE SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT
CONSTANT SAYING THINGS LIKE HE
SAID HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN BUT NOT
A PLAN.
>> BIGGER DYNAMICS HERE TRUMP
BUILD THE SPEECH AS A BIG
ECONOMIC SPEECH AND ALL THE
SUDDEN HILLARY CLINTON SCHEDULED
A BIG SPEECH IN MICHIGAN AS WELL
SO THE REPUBLICANS THOUGHT
HILLARY CLINTON WAS CHASING
DONALD TRUMP IN MICHIGAN AND
LIKED THAT TO KEEP THEIR CHANCES
ALIVE HERE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
HAVE SOME POLLING DONE RECENTLY
WHERE HILLARY CLINTON IS LEADING
BY NINE POINTS AND IT'S LOOKING
MORE LIKE A NORMAL YEAR FOR
BARACK OBAMA WON BY 11 POINTS IN
THE LAST ELECTION SO YOU KNOW
DONALD TRUMP CAME IN AND TALKED
ABOUT HIS TAX PLAN AND TALKED
ABOUT TAKING THE INCOME TAX
BRACKETS FROM 7-3 AND CUTTING
THE CORPORATE INCOME TAX ON 35
TO 15% AND GETTING RID OF ESTATE
TAX WHICH HILLARY CLINTON WENT
ON THE ATTACK IN WARREN AND SAID
IF DONALD TRUMP IS WORTH 10
MILLION IF YOU GET RID OF THE
TAX YOU WILL GIVE THE TRUMP KIDS
A 4 BILLION TAX CUT AND MORE
INTERESTING SHE STARTED LAYING
OUT WAYS WE COULD SPEND THE
TRUMP TAXES WHEN DONALD TRUMP IS
GONE AND DEAD WHICH I FOUND WAS
KIND OF INTERESTING DAYS AFTER
DONALD TRUMP WAS MAKING
ILLUSIONS OF HILLARY CLINTON
BEING ASSASSINATED AS PRESIDENT.
>> SOMEONE DISAGREE WITH THAT.
>> WELL I MEAN THE DONALD TRUMP
WAS TAKING IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW
YOU MIGHT STOP HER FROM POINTING
LIBERAL JUDGES WHO ARE ANTIGUN
WITH THE COURT.
>> WHAT STRUCK ME IS I PUT
MYSELF IN THE SHOES OF GOVERNOR
SNYDER WHO HAD TO LOOK AT BOTH
SPEECHES AND SAID TO HIMSELF
MR. TRUMP SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE
COLUMN BACK OF DETROIT, SHE ON
THE OTHER HAND WAS VERY
SNYDER-ESQUE DID YOU CATCH THAT?
>> YEAH, I THINK THE ATMOSPHERE
OF IT AND ROCHELLE ALLUDED TO
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKED UPON
FAVORABLY BY SNYDER AND TRUMP
GOT THROUGH THE SPEECH WITHOUT
GOING MANIC AND DOING SOMETHING
OUTRAGEOUS IS SIGNIFICANT AND I
THINK THE OVER ALL CONTOURS OF
WHAT TRUMP SAID SNYDER WOULD
HAVE AGREED WITH, A COUPLE OF
WRINKLES CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE
FOR HEDGE FUND MANAGERS AND
CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT THAT IS
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS REALLY
NEW.
>> LOOK BACK NOW TO LOWER THE
THRESHOLD AND MORE PEOPLE.
>> AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT
FOREVER THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF
WAYS TO DO IT AND TAKE AN ACT OF
CONGRESS.
>> MY POINT IS HE NEVER MADE A
REFERENCE TO THE COME BACK OF
DETROIT.
>> TO HE DIDN'T.
>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
POSITIVE.
>> HE DID EVERYTHING BAD WITH
RESPECT TO DETROIT.
HE WAS PAJORITIVE AND SAID
DETROIT IS A FAILURE AND MADE
THE CLAIM HE MADE CONSTANTLY
THAT DEMOCRATIC POLITICS RUINED
OUR BIG CITIES AND THIS IS WHAT
HE HAS BEEN SAYING ALL YEAR LONG
AND ALL HE DID WAS BRING IT IN
DETROIT AND SAID IT THERE AND
SHOWED HIM TO BE A LITTLE TONE
DEAF.
>> MAYBE HE DOESN'T GET THE FREE
PRESS AND THE DETROIT NEWS AND
MAYBE HE MISSED THAT.
>> BY TELEVISION AND DOESN'T GET
ANY PAPERS.
>> THERE YOU GO, WHAT ABOUT
THIS?
>> WELL I MEAN THE THING IS HE
TRASHES DETROIT AND RUNNING THE
GROUND BY DEMOCRATS AND THIS IS
A POPULAR NOTION AND
CONSERVATIVE CIRCLES AND WANT TO
HEAR THAT, THAT IS SORT OF THE
RED MEAT THAT HE WANTS TO LINK
NAFTA SPECIFICALLY AND TRADE
POLICIES AS PART OF THE
DESTRUCTION OF DETROIT AND
BECAUSE NAFTA AND TRADE POLICIES
ARE ESSENTIALLY A BIG WEIGHT ON
HILLARY CLINTON'S SHOULDERS AND
SHE DISTANCED HERSELF.
>> WALKING BACK.
>> MADE IT VERY CLEAR YESTERDAY
IN THE STRONGEST WORDS YET SHE
WILL CONTINUE TO POSE A TRANS
PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP TPP UNDER
ALL CIRCUMSTANCES AS PRESIDENT,
AFTER THE ELECTION AND THE
BELIEF IS THEY ARE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT HOW THEY BOTH DON'T LIKE
IT AND PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE
REPUBLICAN CONGRESS ARE GOING TO
PUSH IT THROUGH IN A LAME DUCK
SESSION SO YOU KNOW THEY WERE
TRYING TO HAVE DIFFERENT THEMES
BUT IT WAS INTERESTING SHE WAS
SOUNDER SNYDER ESQUE AND THE
STATE AND THAT IS RIGHT OUT OF
THE SNYDER PLAY BOOK AND SO AND
DONALD TRUMP ACTED LIKE THERE
WASN'T A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO
HAD BEEN WORKING MOST OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO FIX
DETROIT.
>> HE COULD HAVE SAID REPUBLICAN
BUSINESSMAN HELPS TO TURN THE
ECONOMY AROUND.
>> WE WILL DO THE SAME IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
>> MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE SEGUE.
YEAH AND HE DIDN'T.
>> HE DOESN'T DO THAT TO PEOPLE
WHO HAVEN'T SPOKEN KINDLY OF HIM
OR ENDORSED HIM.
>> THE GOVERNOR HASN'T SAID
SQUAT ABOUT THIS GUY.
>> THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
>> SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR
RIGHT NOW AND NEITHER CAMPAIGN
WANTS TO MENTION BUT WANT TO SAY
A QUICK WORD ABOUT PLANS AND
IDEAS AND NOT BEING FACETIOUS
SAYING HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT A
PLAN, NEITHER HE OR HILLARY
CLINTON HAS GONE PAST IDEAS.
IT'S FINE TO HAVE IDEAS AND YOU
MENTIONED SEVERAL OF THEM HE
TALKED ABOUT BUT PLANS ARE HOW
YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE THEM WORK.
WHEN YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO
ROLL BACK OBAMACARE AND NOT SURE
HOW YOU MAKE SURE 10 MILLION
PEOPLE GET HEALTH INSURANCE AND
NOT PAYING FOR THEM IN EMERGENCY
ROOMS I LIKE HE HAS FINALLY
MOVED FROM JUST SAYING ANYTHING
TO SAYING THESE ARE SOME THINGS
THAT SHOULD HAPPEN AND NOT
SAYING HOW THEY COULD HAPPEN,
THAT IS WHERE THE PLAN COMES IN.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS MISSING
FROM ALL SPEECHES AND WE CAN
TALK ABOUT THIS UNTIL THE COWS
COME HOME THERE SHOULD BE A
CAVEAT IN EVERY SPEECH AND ALL
OF THIS IS DEPENDENT ON GETTING
THIS THROUGH BOYS AND GIRLS THE
CONGRESS.
>> DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T THINK
THERE IS A CONGRESS AND HILLARY
CLINTON THINKS SHE IS GOING TO
OWN IT.
>> NEITHER OF THEM ARE
DICTATORS.
>> MEDIA SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB
OF FOCUSING ON THAT ISSUE AND
THEY DON'T.
THEY CONSTANTLY PRESENT THE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AS AUTO
CRATS AND WHAT IS NOT TRUE.
>> STRAIGHT PARTY LINE TICKET
AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON A
DECISION IF WHETHER OR NOT THAT
IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHERE ARE WE
ON THAT?
>> THEY ASKED THE 6TH CIRCUIT
COURT OF APPEARS TO MAKE AN
EMERGENCY RULING ON TRYING TO
HALT THE JUDGE DRAIN'S DECISION
IN FEDERAL COURT DOWN IN DETROIT
TO BLOCK THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE NEW LAW WHICH ENDS A STRAY
PARTY VOTING, THIS IS A PRETTY
CRITICAL ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS AND
DOWN BALLOTS BECAUSE THE
STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING HAS AT
TIMES FAVORED DEMOCRATS WHERE
PEOPLE CHECK OFF AND WANTED TO
VOTE ALL DEMOCRAT AND MAYBE
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE
RACE AND TURN THEIR BALLOT IN SO
REPUBLICANS TOOK THIS AWAY LAST
DECEMBER AND AT THE TIME
DEMOCRATS SAID IT IS A MOOD TO
INOCCUR LATE THEMSELVES FROM
DONALD TRUMP A POTENTIAL
ELECTORAL DISASTER.
>> PART OF THE ARGUMENT ROCHELLE
IT DENIES AND HAVE LONG LINES IN
DETROIT AND PEOPLE WILL NOT STAY
IN LONG LINES AND SAY YEA AND
THAT IS AN ARGUMENT.
>> ARGUMENT FOR BOTH SIDES HOW
DARE THE GOVERNMENT TELL PEOPLE
HOW TO VOTE.
ON THE ONE HAND YOU HAVE PEOPLE
WHO ARE INDEPENDENT WHO WANT TO
VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS AND ON THE OTHER HAND
YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEY
WANT TO VOTE STRAIGHT PARTY
TICKET.
I THINK THE IDEA THAT YOU HAVE
TO GOVERN IT IS SOMETHING THAT
WILL COME BACK AND HAUNT YOU.
>> YES BUT THE REPUBLICANS SAID
LOOK WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS
FORCE THE ELECTORATE TO BE
INTELLIGENT ABOUT THIS AND NOT
JUST VOTE STRAIGHT AND LOOK AT
CANDIDATES AND GO BACK AND
FORTH.
NOT INTELLIGENT AND DOING THAT
JUST BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO VOTE
FOR THEIR PARTY.
>> REMEMBER, THE REPUBLICANS GOT
RID OF THIS LAW BACK IN 2001 AND
MARK BREWER DEMOCRATIC STATE
PARTY CHAIRMAN AT THAT TEAM GOT
A PETITION DRIVE AND THE PEOPLE
SAID WE WANT STRAIGHT VOTING
BACK SO THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY
SPOKEN THIS 15 YEARS AGO.
>> BUT IT'S JUST THE PEOPLE.
>> IT'S NOT JUST TRUMP, IT'S NOT
JUST TRUMP.
I MEAN THEY WANTED TO DO THIS
ANYWAY.
AND LOOK I'LL JUST SAY THIS
ROCHELLE 40 STATES DO NOT ALLOW
STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING, WE ARE
ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT DUE
AND ALL THE REPUBLICANS HAD TO
DO IS SAY LOOK WE ARE JOINING
THE VAST MAJORITY OF STATES THAT
DON'T ALLOW IT AND I AGREE WITH
YOU YOU CAN SAY THE PEOPLE
CLEARLY SAID AS THEY DID IN A
REFERENDUM THIS 2001 THEY WANT
TO KEEP IT.
>> I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
THE OPTION IF YOU WANT TO VOTE
STRAIGHT PARTY YOU CAN IF YOU
WANT TO VOTE ON BOTH SIDES YOU
CAN DO IT, THERE IS NOTHING
WORSE THAN FORCING PEOPLE EITHER
WAY.
THE DIFFERENCE FROM 15 YEARS AGO
IS THEY ADDED APPROPRIATION FROM
THE BILL AND INOCULATED FROM
BEING REPEALED BY VOTERS.
>> AND OF COURSE WHAT ARE THEY
CLAIMING?
THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT IS GOING
TO GO TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST
TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NOT LONG
LINES.
>> CLAIMING.
>> WHAT THEY DID WITH EMERGENCY
MANAGERS IF YOU DON'T WANT THE
PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED FIND A WAY
TO INOCCUR LATE IT.
>> AND REPUBLICAN CLERKS HAVE
SAID THEY THINK THIS IS GOING TO
CAUSE VOTER CONFUSION.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 40
STATES?
>> LOOK IN BERRIEN COUNTY THE
CLERK DOWN THERE HAS BOUGHT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE.
>> BOUGHT 100% OF THE BALLOT OF
REGISTERED BALLOTS AND BOUGHT
BALLOTS FOR EVERY REGISTERED
VOTER ANTICIPATING THEY WILL
THROW A BUNCH OF SPOILED BALLOTS
OUT AND WHAT THE ELECTIONS
RECORD BROUGHT UP THERE ARE
ICONS OF THE PARTIES ON TOP OF
THE BALLOT AND THEY THINK THEY
WILL CIRCLE THE DONKEY OR THE
ELEPHANT AND SPOIL THEIR BALLOT
AND CAUSE BACKUPS AND CONFUSION
AT THE POLL.
>> THE CLOCK IS TICKING
SEPTEMBER 9 IS THE DROP DEAD
DATE.
>> GOT TO BE DONE FAST ONE WAY
OR THE OTHER.
THEN YOU ARE TALKING OVER SEA
BALLOTING AND ALSO TALKED TO
CHRIS THOMAS AND SAID DO YOU
KNOW WHAT IF THE COURT RULES ON
OCTOBER 1 WE WILL FIND A WAY TO
DO IT.
>> THEY WILL HAVE TO DO IT.
>> IT WILL BE A MESSAGE I THINK
WE WILL HEAR A DECISION HERE
WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
HOUSE CONTROL, LET'S LOOK
QUICKLY DO THE DS HAVE A SHOT AT
TAKING BACK CONTROL OF THE
HOUSE?
>> SURE.
>> THEY DO?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> LET'S SEE IF MR. GREIMEL
AGREES PLEASE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE TIM GREIMEL IS
THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER AND
NOW IN HIS THIRD TERM FROM
OAKLAND COUNTY, A FORMER COUNTY
COMMISSION AND A CIVIL RIGHTS
ATTORNEY BEFORE ENTERING THE
HOUSE.
HE HOLDS A D A&M A AND LAW
DEGREE FROM U OF M AND CURRENTLY
BATTLING THE REPUBLICANS TO
REGAIN CONTROL OF THE MICHIGAN
HOUSE.
MR. GREIMEL WHAT DID YOU PLAY IN
FOOTBALL WHAT POSITION?
NO SOCCER YOU WERE A SOCCER
PLAYER.
>> YEAH.
>> WERE YOU GOOD?
>> I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
[LAUGHTER]
I WAS, YEAH, PLAYED FORWARD,
STRIKER.
>> REPRESENTATIVE WHAT IS THE
PATHWAY FORWARD FOR YOU TO AND
THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS TO WIN
CONTROL GAIN THE SEATS THAT YOU
NEED AND PRESUMABLY MAKE YOU THE
SPEAKER IN THE NEXT SECTION?
>> A LOT OF FACTORS IN OUR FAVOR
IN THIS ELECTION AND IN
PARTICULAR MOST OF THE TARGETED
SEATS ARE OPEN SEATS, THE
REPUBLICANS WHO CAME IN THE 2010
WAIVE YEAR ARE TERM LIMITED OUT
OF OFFICE, IT'S EASIER TO RUN AN
OPEN SEAT THAN AGAINST AN
INCUMBENT.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WE
KNOW IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
DEMOCRATIC TURN OUT IS
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HIGHER
BUT HIGHER THAN A GUBERNATORIAL
YEAR AND PERHAPS MOST
IMPORTANTLY WE HAVE CANDIDATES
WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD WHO HAVE
DEEP ROOTS IN COMMUNITIES AND
OUT THERE KNOCKING ON DOORS AND
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO REALLY
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DAMAGED
REPUBLICAN BRAND IN THIS STATE.
THE REPUBLICAN BRAND IN MICHIGAN
HAS BEEN BADLY DAMAGED BOTH
BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP'S
CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENCY AND
ALSO BECAUSE OF THE FAILURES OF
THE SNYDER ADMINISTRATION
WHETHER IT'S THE FLINT TRAGEDY,
WHETHER IT'S THE NEGLECT OF
VETERANS AT THE STATE OWNED
GRAND RAPIDS VETERANS HOME,
WHETHER IT'S THE FAILURE OF THE
STATE CREATED EDUCATIONAL
ACHIEVEMENT AUTHORITY IN
DETROIT.
WE HAVE SEEN FAILURE AFTER
FAILURE IN THE SNYDER
ADMINISTRATION.
PEOPLE ARE FED UP.
THEY WANT CHANGE AND THEY WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING
OUR STATE IN A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION AND FED UP WITH A
PARTY CONTROL IN LANSING.
>> HOW DO YOU USE THOSE ISSUES
THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN
LANSING AND ALSO JUST THE DONALD
TRUMP CANDIDACY HOW DO YOU USE
THAT AGAINST A NEW CANDIDATE WHO
IS RUNNING FOR THE FIRST TIME AS
A REPUBLICAN AND IN ONE OF THESE
SEATS WHY SHOULD THEY BE
TARNISHED BY WHAT HAPPENED TO
RICK SNYDER IN THIS LEGISLATURE?
.
WE HAVE SEEN THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY AND THE STATE HOUSE
HAVE FAILED TO REALLY HOLD
GOVERNOR SNYDER ACCOUNTABLE SO
THEY HAVE FAILED TO PUSH FOR
GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE
LEGISLATIVE BRAND AND IN THE
GOVERNORSHIP, WE ARE ONE OF ONLY
TWO STATES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
THAT DOESN'T APPLY THE FREEDOM
OF INFORMATION ACT TO THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> DO YOU THINK THE AVERAGE
VOTER AT HOME GOES TO BED AT
NIGHT OH, MY GOD WE DON'T HAVE
FOIA FOR THE GOVERNOR.
>> AVERAGE VOTER SAYS WE NEED
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
AND THAT THE FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION ACT IS A KEY
COMPONENT TO THAT AND PEOPLE
HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT IS DOING AND IN
MICHIGAN BECAUSE WE PUT ROAD
BLACKS UP IT ALLOWS THE
GOVERNMENT TO GET AWAY WITH
THINGS LIKE NEGLECTING PEOPLE IN
FLINT AND NEGLECTS STUDENTS IN
DETROIT AND NEGLECTS VETS IN
GRAND RAPIDS AND NEED IT TO
SHINE ON STATE GOVERNMENT AND I
THINK THE VOTERS CARE ABOUT
THAT.
>> MR. GREIMEL IF YOU GET
CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OBVIOUSLY
WHAT YOU CAN DO IS THROW A
MONKEY WRENCH IN AN ATTEMPT BY A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OR
REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE TO
PASS STUFF YOU DON'T LIKE BUT
REALISTICALLY WHAT COULD YOU
REALLY BY YOURSELF EXPECT TO BE
ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHEN YOU'VE
GOT THE TWO OTHER LEGS OF THE
STOOL AGAINST YOU?
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY
WOULD BE AGAINST US ON A NUMBER
OF ISSUES.
>> LIKE WHAT?
.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAST YEAR
FOR EXAMPLE, BILL, AND YOU LOOK
AT THE ROADS ISSUE, IF YOU LOOK
AT THE DETROIT EDUCATION
COMMISSION ISSUE AND THE DETROIT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ISSUE, TIME AND
TIME AGAIN HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE
BEEN IN AGREEMENT WITH THE
GOVERNOR, HAVE BEEN IN AGREEMENT
WITH SENATE REPUBLICANS ABOUT
THE NEED TO COME UP AND PASS
RESPONSIBLE POLICY.
IT'S BEEN THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN MUCH MORE
RIGHT WING THAN THE SENATE
REPUBLICANS OR THE GOVERNOR AND
HAVE STOOD IN THE WAY OF A LOT
OF COMMON SENSE POLICIES.
>> IF YOU WERE SPEAKER WOULD YOU
GO BACK AND FIX THE DETROIT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEGISLATION TO
ADD THE EDUCATION COMMISSION?
>> I THINK THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
I'VE BEEN ON RECORD SAYING THAT
BEFORE AND THE GOVERNOR HAS AS
WELL BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE AN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR
CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HIGH PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOLS
SHOULD BE CONTINUED TO PERFORM
AND PROLIFERATE IN THE CITY OF
DETROIT BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LOW
PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOLS
FAILING STUDENTS WE NEED TO PUT
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES IN PLACE
AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT
CONTINUING TO GROW AND THEY ARE
NOT CREATING DUPLICATE FAILURES
IN THE CITY OF DETROIT AND ARE
JUST GOING TO FAIL DETROIT
SCHOOL CHILDREN.
ASK MY THREE QUESTIONS THE FIRST
HAS TO DO WITH EDUCATION BECAUSE
THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT HAS
ALREADY EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR
MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOR MORE
FUNDING BECAUSE MICHIGAN SCHOOLS
AND MICHIGAN STUDENTS ARE NOT
GETTING WHAT THEY NEED AND
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD A
LEGISLATURE THAT JUST PAYS LIP
SERVICE TO WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR
EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN, HOW WOULD
THAT BE DIFFERENT UNDER A
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE?
.
>> WELL, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH
YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND TWO THINGS
NUMBER ONE WE FINALLY HAVE AN
ADEQUACY STUDY OF FUNDING OF
EDUCATION AND NEED TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE QUICKLY I'M MING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT STUDY.
THERE CERTAINLY ARE VERY WELL
FUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE
STATE OF MICHIGAN BUT THERE ARE
FAR TOO MANY UNDER FUNDED SCHOOL
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN.
WE NEED TO BRING THAT FUNDING UP
TO THE ADEQUATE LEVEL IDENTIFIED
IN THAT STUDY.
NUMBER TWO WE DO NEED MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SCHOOLS AND
NEED MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
CHARTER SCHOOLS ANY SCHOOL THAT
IS RECEIVING TAXPAYER MONEY
NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
RESULTS IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> SORRY THE SECOND QUESTION IS
A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION THAT CHAD
ASKED WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MY
SAME QUESTION HOW DO YOU
CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT DONALD
TRUMP AND RICK SNYDER ARE
REPRESENTATIVES OF A PARTY THAT
QUITE FRANKLY HAVE GOP MEMBERS
WHO ARE SANE AND HAVE NOT
POISONED WATER IN FLINT AND A
BIG JUMP THAT DEMOCRATS CAN DO
BETTER OR SOMEONE CAN DO BETTER
THAN THESE TWO GENTLEMAN, IS
THAT A STRATEGY AND HOW DO YOU
ACTUALLY DO THAT?
>> THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE
ALREADY DONE IT THEMSELVES.
CERTAINLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE
RELIGION PURPOSE TIED THEMSELVES
TO GOVERNOR SNYDER, THEY
CONTINUE TO DO SO IN A NUMBER OF
WAYS.
WHEN IT COMES TO DONALD TRUMP
SOME OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
ENDORSE DONALD TRUMP EVEN IN THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND NOW HAVE
IN MANY INSTANCES COME OUT AND
ENDORSED HIM IN THE GENERAL
ELECTION, HAVE STOOD WITH HIM AT
RALLIES AND ARE OPENLY
ASSOCIATING THEMSELVES WITH HIM
SO CERTAINLY SOME REPUBLICANS
HAVE DISTANCED THEMSELVES FROM
TRUMP BUT MOST HAVE NOT.
AND I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT I
THINK WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF
THE PROBLEMS WE'VE SEEN IN THE
SNYDER ADMINISTRATION WE'VE SEEN
HOUSE REPUBLICANS NOT ONLY NOT
STAND UP AND OPPOSE THE
PROBLEMS, NOT ONLY FAIL TO HOLD
THE GOVERNOR ACCOUNTABLE BUT WE
HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THEM FURTHER
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE
SEEN.
THE CASE IN POINT IS THE FACT
THAT SNYDER IS USING STATE
TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PAY A
CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR
HIMSELF AND HIS ADMINISTRATION
IN THE FLINT WATER TRAGEDY AND
DOING THAT BASED ON THE BUDGET
THAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASSED.
WE CALLED TIME AND TIME AGAIN
AND OFFERED AMENDMENTS TO
PREVENT THAT BUDGET FROM BEING
USED TO FUND THAT ATTORNEY AND
THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAID THEY
ARE OKAY WITH TAXPAYERS FUNDING
THE ATTORNEY, THE CRIMINAL
DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR RICK
SNYDER, THAT IS WRONG.
>> IS HILLARY CLINTON AN ASSET
FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN
MICHIGAN?
>> WELL I THINK IT'S PRETTY
CLEAR THAT BOTH HILLARY CLINTON
AND DONALD TRUMP HAVE
SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVES EMPLOYING
PUBLIC PERCEPTION.
I DO THINK AT THE SAME TIME ONE
OF THE CANDIDATES AND IN
PARTICULAR HAVE COMPLETELY GONE
BEYOND THE PAIL IN TERMS OF HIS
PUBLIC RHETORIC, IN TERMS OF HIS
PERSONA AND DONALD TRUMP
DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN
HE DOES NOT HAVE THE TEMPERMENT
OR THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL
STABILITY TO BE THE COMMANDER IN
CHIEF
>> MENTAL.
>> THAT IS RIGHT AND AS A
RESULT.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS THAT HE
REALLY FLIES OFF THE HANDLE AND
HAS SHOWN PERSONALITY AND MOOD
SWINGS THAT FRANKLY ARE
DANGEROUS AND I THINK BECAUSE OF
THAT DANGEROUS TEMPERMENT WE SEE
HILLARY CLINTON OPENING UP A
VERY LARGE LEAD IN MICHIGAN AND
DEPENDING ON THE POLLS IT'S
ANYWHERE FROM 9-11 POINTS.
>> AREN'T YOU ARE ATTORNEY?
YOU ARE NOT A PSYCHIATRIST, ARE
YOU?
>> I THINK ANY FAIR OBSERVER
CHAD WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
SOMEBODY LIKE DONALD TRUMP WHO
HAS CALLED MEXICANS RACIST AND
KICKED BABIES OUT OF HIS RALLIED
AND COZIED UP TO RUSSIAN
DICTATOR VLADIMIR PUTIN AND
VIOLENCE SHOULD BE USED AGAINST
A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND
MOST RECENTLY MADE THE WILD
ACCUSATION THAT OBAMA AND
CLINTON SOMEHOW CREATED I.S.I.S.
AND TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO
IS COMPLETELY BEYOND THE PAIL OF
COMMON DECENCY, COMMON SENSE AND
RATIONALITY.
>> WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT THERE
WAS LEAD IN THE WATER IN FLINT?
>> WELL I FOUND OUT WHEN IT
BECAME PUBLIC IN THE MEDIA AND
YOU KNOW I THINK MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES ESPECIALLY FROM THE
CITY OF FLINT HAD BEEN
EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
TO GOVERNOR SNYDER AND TO THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE GOING
BACK TO JANUARY OF 2015 AND
GETTING WARMED UP.
>> WHY DIDN'T THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATS BASED ON THE LETTER
AND OTHER FLINT PEOPLE WHY
DIDN'T YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING?
>> WELL WE WERE.
>> WHAT DID YOU DO?
>> WE TALKED PUBLICALLY ABOUT
GETTING DOWN TO THE WATER
RESULTS AND WE WERE THE ONES
DOING THAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
WEREN'T, SNYDER WASN'T.
SNYDER WAS GETTING REQUESTS FROM
HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO WERE TALKING
PUBLICALLY ABOUT THIS GOING
PUBLIC SAYING THERE IS SOMETHING
TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THE WATER IN
FRONT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PRIVY TO THE
TEST RESULTS BUT THERE IS
SOMETHING NOT RIGHT ABOUT WATER
THAT IS DISCOLORED AND NEARLY
OPAQUE IN SOME INSTANCES AND
ASKING PUBLICALLY FOR THIS TO BE
FULLY INVESTIGATED AND FIXED AND
THEY WERE CALLING ON THE
GOVERNOR AND ON THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL TO DO SOMETHING AND I
THINK OF MY COLLEAGUES SHELDON
KNEELY AND PHELPS AND ANICK
REPRESENT FLINT AND GOING BACK
NOW OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO
WERE SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT
THIS AND THE REALITY IS IT
WASN'T UNTIL THE NATIONAL MEDIA,
THE NATIONAL MEDIA STARTED
REALLY HOLDING THIS
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE THAT
WE SAW SOME MOVEMENT FINALLY IN
A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
>> DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH THE GOVERNOR?
.
>> I DID NOT HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH THE GOVERNOR.
>> WHY NOT?
>> BECAUSE THE STATE
LEGISLATURES FROM FLINT WERE
HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE GOVERNOR AND WERE GETTING
BLOWN OFF.
>> BUT YOU ARE THE LEADER.
>> GETTING BLOWN OFF AT SOME
POINT WHY DIDN'T SOME OF THEIR
COLLEAGUES STEP IN TO GO AND
HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS
WELL?
>> I WILL SAY THIS I DID HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR
AS PART OVER A QUADRANT MEETING
TALKING ABOUT CONNECTING THE
FLINT WATER SYSTEM TO THE
DETROIT WATER SYSTEM.
>> WHEN WAS THIS FALL OF LAST
YEAR?
>> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN YES
SUMMERISH OR FALL LAST YEAR.
LOOK THE GOVERNOR IN THE EYE AND
SAY YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ON
THIS FLINT WATER.
>> BOTH URGING HIM TO DO THAT
BOTH URGING AND BY WE BOTH ME
AND THE SENATOR AND OBVIOUSLY
THE LEGISLATORS CLOSEST TO THE
ISSUE, THE LEGISLATORS FROM
FLINT WERE SOUNDING THE ALARM
PUBLICALLY.
>> AND THE DEMOCRAT HANDS ARE
CLEAN ON THIS ISSUE.
>> THEY ARE.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR
THAT LEGISLATURES FROM FLINT AND
CONGRESSMAN DAN KILBY DID THIS
PRIVATELY AND PUBLICALLY AND
GETTING BLOWN OFF AS THE
ADMINISTRATION BLEW OFF
RESIDENTS IN FLINT.
>> GOVERNOR SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF THE WATER
UNTIL OCTOBER 15 THAT IS A
YES-OR-NO QUESTION?
>> TOP MEMBERS OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION KNEW GOING BACK
TO EARLY 2015 AND EVEN LATE 2014
WE HAVE E-MAIL TRAFFIC THAT
CLEARLY SHOWS THAT HIS CHIEF OF
STAFF AND OTHERS EITHER HE KNEW
AND IS LYING ABOUT NOT KNOWING
OR IF EVERYBODY AROUND HIM NOW
AND HE DIDN'T HE IS THE FAILURE
OF LEADERSHIP.
MR. GREIMEL WE TICKED THE TOP OF
THE THING WILL YOU STAY FOR AN
OVER TIME SEGMENT?
>> BRIEFLY SURE.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.
NO WE APPRECIATE YOU STAYING.
>> OF COURSE.
>> SO GOOD NIGHT TO YOU GUYS AND
GO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, COME
BACK AT WKAR.COM AND MORE OF
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