♪
WELCOME BACK TO THIS SPECIAL
YEAR END EDITION OF "OFF THE
RECORD" WHAT HAPPENED IN 2017
AND WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN 2018 ON
THE PANEL CHUCK STOKES ZOE CLARK
ZACH GORCHOW 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
AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL
RESOURCES, MICHIGAN STATE
UNIVERSITY WANTS TO BE A TRUSTED
PARTNER IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
FOOD AND WHERE IT COMES FROM
INCLUDING ITS IMPACT ON OUR
HEALTH AND ON OUR PLANET LEARN
MORE AT FOOD.MSU.EDU.
AND NOW THIS EDITION OF "OFF THE
RECORD" WITH TIM SKUBICK.
WELL WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE
END OF THIS YEAR AND INTO THE
NEW YEAR WHAT WAS THE TOP STORY
CHUCK FOR THIS PAST ONE?
>> I WOULD SAY MICHIGAN ECONOMY
KEEPS HUMMING AND ME TOO WOMEN
IMPACTS MICHIGAN TOO.
>> THE ON GOING SCANDAL AT THE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AGENCY
MORE THAN 37,000 PEOPLE WRONGLY
ACCUSED OF FRAUD THE YEAR
STARTED WITH THE SNYDER
ADMINISTRATION SAYING NOTHING IS
REALLY WRONG AND ENDS WITH THEM
CALLING FOR A VICTIM
COMPENSATION FUND.
>> ALTHOUGH IT'S NATIONAL I'M
GOING TO JUST SAY THAT THE TRUMP
PRESIDENCY BECAUSE THE TENTICLES
GO INTO EVERY BIT OF POLITICS
LOOKING INTO 2018 ELECTIONS AND
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE
STATE.
>> I AGREE WITH ZOE AND ALSO SAY
THE MOST BORING STORY OF THE
YEAR BUT IT CONTINUES AND THAT
IS PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ENTITLEMENT
REFORM, MUNICIPAL SCHOOL AND
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE
THAT IS VERY HARD TO COVER, VERY
HARD TO APPRECIATE.
>> WE STARTED OUT THE YEAR WITH
TOM LEONARD WITH AN INCOME TAX
ROLL BACK.
IT WAS A BAD START, WASN'T IT
FOR MR. SPEAKER.
>> IT WAS JUST TO REFRESH
EVERYBODY'S MEMORY THERE WAS
THIS PEOPLE CALL IT INCOME TAX
CUT FEVER THE HOUSE RUSHED A
BILL TO THE FLOOR THAT FIRST
WOULD HAVE PHASED OUT THE INCOME
TAX OVER MANY, MANY YEARS THEN
EVENTUALLY THEY CHANGED IT TO
JUST REDUCE THE RATE TO 3.9% AND
WITHOUT REALLY DOING THE GROUND
WORK NECESSARILY TO GIVE BILL A
CHANCE THEY PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE
AND EVEN MORE ASTONISHINGLY
DECIDED TO HAVE IT BE A RECORDED
VOTE.
THE FIRST BIG VOTE OF THE
SPEAKERSHIP IT GOES TO DEFEAT
AND EXPOSED A LOT OF DIVISIONS
IN THE CAUCUS.
>> THE GANG OF 12.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY EVEN THOUGH
IN THE NEWS MEDIA AND THE
GENERAL PUBLIC IT WAS PERCEIVED
AS A HUGE EMBARRASSMENT TO
LEONARD.
I REALLY DON'T THINK IT DID HIM
ANY LASTING DAMAGE WHATSOEVER
AND I THINK HE FELT AND IN HIS
OWN MIND THAT HE HAD TO PUT THAT
VOTE UP ON THE BOARD BECAUSE HIS
CAUCUS WAS DEMANDING A ROLL CALL
VOTE AND HE DID IT AND I DON'T
REALLY THINK HE SUFFERED ANY
CONSEQUENCES.
>> IF THE CAUCUS SAID TO GO JUMP
IN THE LAKE WOULD HE GO JUMP IN
THE LAKE?
>> NO ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE
THEY WANTED A ROLL CALL, A LOT
OF PEOPLE IN THE CAUCUS WE WANT
A ROLL CALL.
>> GET THEM ON THE RECORD AND
EVEN IF WE LOSE IT WE WANT TO BE
ABLE TO POINT TO THAT ROLL CALL
AND HE DID IT.
>> I THINK THE ISSUE THOUGH IS
THAT HAD BEEN ONE ISOLATED EVENT
THAT MAYBE THAT IS HOW WE COULD
TAKE IT.
I THINK THE ISSUE OF AUTO NO
FAULT WHICH YOU BROUGHT UP
EARLIER BEFORE WE STARTED TAPING
AND ANOTHER ONE WHERE IT SEEMED
THE VOTE COUNTING WASN'T QUITE
THERE OR NOT AWARE OF WHAT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN PUT IT UP ON THE
BOARD AND SO I THINK IT AGAIN IF
THE INCOME TAX WAS ISOLATED AND
WE SAW IT ONCE AND WE SAW THE
MOVIE AT LEAST TWICE AND IT SORT
OF CONTINUED LEADERSHIP ON THE
BOARD AND HOLDING LAWMAKERS IN
THEIR SEATS TO VOTE WELL INTO
THE NIGHT.
>> THERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW
MINDSET AT WORK WHETHER IT'S ONE
OFF, ONE SESSION PHENOMENON THAT
IS NOT GOING TO LAST BEYOND 2018
WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT ALL THESE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN
USED TO HAVING VOTES PULLED OFF
THE BOARD NEVER PUT UP IF THE
VOTES WERE NOT THERE, THAT IS
THE WAY YOU DID THAT.
>> CLEAR THE BOARD, CLEAR THE
BOARD OR DON'T PUT IT TO A VOTE.
NOW IT'S LOOK DAMN THE TORPEDOS
FULL SPEED AHEAD.
>> HE SAID IT'S LEADERSHIP AND
OTHERS SAY IT'S NOT.
IT MAKES YOU WONDER KNOWING HE
HAS HIGHER POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS
NOW WAS HE DOING ALL THIS WITH
THAT MORE IN MIND OR WAS HE
DOING IT TO BE ABLE TO REALLY
AFFECT THE LEGISLATION AND GET
IT THROUGH OR DID HE JUST WANT
TO AS YOU SAID ONE GET PEOPLE ON
THE RECORD TWO ALSO PUSH TOPICS
THAT HAVE NOT DONE WELL, MAYBE
LAGGING FOR A LONG TIME OR BEEN
IGNORED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND
NOW HE CAN COME OUT AND HE CAN
RUN A CAMPAIGN ON I MAY NOT HAVE
GOTTEN IT DONE BUT I AT LEAST
RAISED THE CONSCIOUS.
>> I HAD THE GUTS TO DO IT.
>> AND THAT IS THE CRITICISM
AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
IN THE CAPITOL FOR A LONG TIME
IS THIS WAS ALL ABOUT HIS
CAMPAIGN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.
SHE WAS NOT OFFICIALLY A
CANDIDATE AT THAT POINT BUT
EVERYBODY KNEW HE WAS GOING TO
RUN AND YOU HAVE TO WIN THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION AT A STATE
CONVENTION WHICH IS A VERY
CONSERVATIVE AUDIENCE AND TO
BILL'S POINT I THINK IT ALSO
LIKE YOU SAID THE NEW MINDSET
INSTEAD OF 56 VOTES AS THE
MANTRA NOW THE NEW MANTRA IS WE
FOUGHT FOR THE CONSERVATIVE
ISSUE AND DID NOT PASS IT WHO
CARES WE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
>> YOU ASKED WHAT WAS THE STORY
OF THE YEAR AND YOU COULD SAY
WHAT WAS THE STORY OF THE DECADE
WHICH IS TERM LIMITS RIGHT AND
WHAT WE ARE SEEING HAS
CONSEQUENCES OF THEM AND THAT IS
THAT EVEN WHEN FOLKS ARE IN A
JOB THERE IS ALWAYS LOOKING
AHEAD AND SOME OF THE HOUSE
VOTES WERE SETTING DIFFICULT
VOTES UP SO THEY COULD THEN RUN
FOR SENATE BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S
ANOTHER ELECTION AND LOOKING FOR
ANOTHER JOB AFTER TERM LIMITS OR
BECAUSE YOU COULD ONLY RUN FOR
SO LONG AND TAKE THE VOTE SO
WHEN YOU RUN FOR THE NEXT JOB
YOU CAN SAY.
>> GO AHEAD CHUCK.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY GIVEN ALL
THE TURN OVER WE HAVE SEEN
POLITICALLY THIS YEAR WE MAYBE
DON'T NEED TERM LIMITS.
>> MAYBE A GOOD POINT, ONE OF
THE STORIES WE KICKED AROUND ARE
ALL OF THE PEOPLE GOING TO RUN
FOR GOVERNOR IN 2017 AND BAILED
AND HAVE A SHORT LIST HERE
MR. KILDEE, MR. -- MS. MILLER
AND HERE IS ONE I HAVE A CLIP
MARK BERNSTEIN.
THIS PANEL WAS ASKED TO EVALUATE
HIM GETTING IN AND HERE IT IS.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, OKAY?
TAKE A LOOK.
LET'S GO DOWN THE TABLE ON
BERNSTEIN IN OR OUT?
>> I THINK HE MAY BE IN.
>> I THINK HE IS PROBABLY GOING
TO GET IN.
>> I SAY 90% IN.
>> I SAY THE SAME.
>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S 90% IN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK ON THE SHOW.
>> OH, MY GOD.
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT AT HOME AND
LISTENING TO AUSTIN.
>> IF YOU WANT THE INSIDE STORY
HERE IT IS, HOW DID WE GET IT
WRONG?
>> I WILL SAY.
>> I THINK WE WERE RIGHT AT THE
TIME.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY AS MUCH
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DO A, YOU
KNOW, WE ALL BELIEVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS VERY
CLOSE TO MARK BERNSTEIN THAT
MADE US ALL BELIEVE THAT AT THAT
POINT HE WAS THAT CLOSE AND US
IN LIFE WE ALL MAKE DIFFERENT
DECISIONS.
I THINK MAYBE POSSIBLY IF YOU
ASKED HIMSELF ON THE DAY OF THE
TAPING HE MAY HAVE ALSO SAID 80,
90% WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE
EXCUSES HERE SOMEONE ELSE HELP
ME OUT.
>> GO DOWN WITH YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND I CERTAINLY OVERLOOKED WAS
THE CONSEQUENCES TO HIS FAMILY'S
LAW FIRM IF HE RAN.
>> YES.
>> THAT IS THE FAMILY'S LEGACY
AND WHILE I THINK ALL OF US WHO
COVER THINGS IN POLITICS THAT IS
OUR FOCUS.
WE GOT ALL CAUGHT UP IN HE IS
THINKING ABOUT IT, WELL WHY
WOULDN'T HE RUN, HE HAS THE
MONEY AND THE NAME ID BUT HIS
BROTHER ALREADY LEFT THE FIRM TO
BECOME A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.
HIS FATHER IS TOWARD THE END OF
HIS CAREER AND REALLY WOULD HAVE
LEFT ONLY HIS SISTER AND IT'S
MARK BERNSTEIN WHO IS THE FACE
OF THE FIRM IN THE
ADVERTISEMENTS AND THE
CONSEQUENCES OF HIM LEAVING AND
WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT I
THINK THAT WAS OVERLOOKED.
>> I BELIEVE.
>> PRESSURE FROM THE DAD.
>> NO.
>> IF I'M GONE WHO IS RUNNING
THE SHOW?
>> I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, HE IS
RELATIVELY YOUNG.
>> PLENTY OF TIME.
>> I DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE
LAST THAT WE HAVE HEARD AND
LET'S BE CLEAR HE ALREADY DOES
HAVE, YOU KNOW, REGION AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AND LIKE
HE DOESN'T HAVE A PLATFORM WHICH
TO JUMP AND ALSO HAS YOUNG KIDS.
>> ANOTHER ELEMENT I TALKED TO
HIM PRIVATELY ABOUT THIS
AFTERWARDS HE SAID IF I GOT
ELECTED I WOULD HAVE A
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE WHAT THE
HECK COULD I GET DONE AND THAT
IS A REASONABLE POINT OF VIEW
BUT YOU CAN FIND HOPEFULLY
COMMON GROUND.
>> REASONS A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
ANTICIPATING HE WOULD RUN IS
BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY THOUGHT HE
WOULD BE A GOOD GOVERNOR AND
THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY
TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND
WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT BETTER THAN SOME
OTHER POLITICAL FIGURES WE CAN
THINK OF.
>> AND IT GOES IN THE NARRATIVE
AGAIN OF A GROUP OF FOLKS
WONDERING OR NOT WHETHER
GRETCHEN WHITMER IS THE
STRONGEST CANDIDATE.
THERE WAS A CONTINUED
CONVERSATION WHEN KILDEE DECIDED
NOT TO RUN WOULD SOMEONE JUMP IN
AND MARK BERNSTEIN I BELIEVE
OWES ALL OF US A BEER.
>> I THINK THERE HAD TO BE SOME
BACK ROOM CONVERSATIONS WITHIN
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STRUCTURE
HERE TO SAY LOOK IT'S GOING TO
BE A WIDE OPEN RACE FOR GOVERNOR
NEXT TIME AROUND.
WE HAVE BEEN OUT OF THAT OFFICE
FOR EIGHT YEARS ONCE SNYDER'S
TERM IS FINISHED DO WE REALLY
NEED TO HAVE A BLOOD BATH IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
>> WHAT KIND OF YEAR DID
GOVERNOR SNYDER HAVE?
>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A VERY
GOOD YEAR.
I GUESS YOU CAN LOOK AT IT FROM
TWO STAND POINTS THE ECONOMY
CONTINUED TO GROW AND IT WAS
STRONG AND REALLY WHAT HE
FOCUSED ON SO HE IS FOCUSED ON
HIS ISSUES THE ECONOMY GROWING
TALENT THE WORKFORCE.
MEANWHILE HE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE
ANY MAJOR INITIATIVES THAT HE
WAS CHAMPIONING IN THE
LEGISLATURE SO THE LEGISLATURE
WAS SORT OF A DRIFT DOING ITS
OWN THING FORCING SOME THINGS
DOWN HIS THROAT HE WASN'T
THRILLED WITH AND HAD THE
UNEMPLOYMENT AGENCY SCANDAL THAT
JUST SPUN TOTALLY OUT OF
CONTROL.
HIS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECTOR NICK LIONS GETS CHARGED
IN THE FLINT WATER CRISIS, YOU
HAVE A SPECTER OF THE GOVERNOR
AND TOP AID ABOUT TESTIMONY
ABOUT WHAT HE KNEE ABOUT
LEGIONNAIRES UNDER OATH.
>> HE ALSO SUFFERED A BIG DEFEAT
AT THE END OF THE YEAR WITH THE
SUPREME COURT RULING.
>> YES, SIR.
>> WHICH HE FOUGHT ON THE ISSUE
OF 550 MILLION TO TEACHERS
RETURNED UNCONSTITUTIONALLY
TAKEN AWAY TO 2012.
I THINK IT WAS A VERY QUIET YEAR
FOR RICK SNYDER BUT ON THE OTHER
HAND IF YOU LOOK AT POLLS HIS
APPROVAL RATING, HIS JOB RATING
TICKED UP A LITTLE BIT DURING
THE YEAR SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WAS
ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE FLINT
WATER CRISIS WHICH REALLY DROVE
HIM DOWN.
>> I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF
THAT AND LOOK AT IT SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT GIVEN THE YEAR HE HAD
BEFORE COMING OFF OF ALL OF THE
SCANDALS I THINK PART OF IT WAS
CAN I JUST GET THROUGH THIS YEAR
WITHOUT ANOTHER MAJOR
CATASTROPHE AND I THINK BACK TO
THE OLD BILL CLINTON LINE IT'S
ABOUT THE ECONOMY STUPID AND THE
ECONOMY CONTINUES TO HUM ALONG
IN MICHIGAN, IT MADE
IMPROVEMENTS.
HIS APPROVAL RATING IMPROVED
SOME, NOT HUGELY BUT HE IS STILL
IN THE WATER BUT IT MADE MOVING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT
IS A BIG STEP GIVEN WHAT HE HAD
TO DEAL WITH THE LAST YEAR AND
YOU KEEP IN MIND HE STILL HAD TO
DEAL WITH A WHOLE LOT OF FLINT
AFTERMATH.
A LOT OF STUFF THAT DIDN'T MAKE
HEADLINES BUT STILL A LOT OF
ENERGY AND A LOT OF TIME THAT
HIS ADMINISTRATION HAD TO PUT
INTO FLINT.
>> BILL SCHUETTE WHO WOULD LIKE
HIS JOB NEXT CONTINUING TO MAKE
THE FLINT THE HEADLINE STORY.
>> MAJOR CITIES DID PRETTY DARN
WELL AND DETROIT IS HUMMING
ALONG AND DOWNTOWN, MIDTOWN ALL
KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS AND THE
DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS
TAKEN A DIFFERENT TURN INSTEAD
OF PEOPLE LEAVING THEY ARE
COMING BACK.
>> TO ADD TO THAT THE IDEA
MICHIGAN MAY REACH A POPULATION
OF 20 MILLION BY 2020 WHICH IS
SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR PUSHED
FOR MAKING MICHIGAN ANOTHER 10
MILLION POPULATION.
>> REACH IT AGAIN.
VERY TRUE.
>> HE WAS ENGAGED AND HE DIDN'T
IGNORE THE LEGISLATURE BUT WHAT
WAS HIS BIG CENTER PIECE FOR THE
YEAR TO WORK ON?
>> TEACHER PENSION REFORM
DICTATED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND
WHAT HE PUSHED HARD FOR THE
MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT LEGISLATION
HE DID NOT GET MOST OF WHAT HE
WANTED, HE IS TRYING TO PUT AN
UNDERSTANDABLY POSITIVE SPIN ON
IT AND THAT IS GREAT AND HAS
EVERY RIGHT TO SAY THAT BUT THE
LEGISLATURE QUICKLY MIXED WHAT
HE WAS REALLY GOING FOR THERE.
>> AT THE END OF THE YEAR HE DID
GET PATHWAYS THROUGH THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE AND GIVES HIM
MOMENTUM AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING
I THINK HE IS GOING TO EMPHASIZE
ON THE STATE OF THE STATE AND
PUT PRESSURE ON THE SENATE TO DO
THIS FOR EDUCATION.
>> HEADLINE FIVE, REFUSE TO GO
AWAY.
>> WHERE IS THIS THING HEADING.
>> PETITION DRIVE OUT THERE I
DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GO ANY
WHERE AND CONTINUE TO BE A STORY
AND COULD BLOWUP AT ANY TIME AND
SORRY FOR THE METAPHOR.
>> WE SAW SLIGHT CHANGES I WOULD
SAY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A TASK
FORCE THAT CAME OUT AND THEN AN
OKAY BETWEEN THE STATE AND
EMBRIDGE THING WE WILL SHUT IT
DOWN NOW IF THERE IS BAD WEATHER
AND FEELS LIKE IT'S THE LITTLE
ITTY-BITTY STEPS AND MEANWHILE
AS WE TALKED ABOUT ON THIS PANEL
BEFORE DRIP DRIP DRIP FROM
EMBRIDGE SAYING ONE THING AND
SOMETIMES WEEKS AND MONTHS LATER
WE FIND OUT STILL WHAT THEY ARE
SAYING IS A LITTLE BIT OF
CORROSION THE SIZE OF AN INCH IS
SUDDENLY THE SIZE OF A PLATE AND
OH, THIS IS NOT QUITE WHAT WE
THOUGHT IT WAS INITIALLY AND
DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS IT
SEEMS LIKE AND I THINK IT'S
ABSOLUTELY GOING IN A 2018
SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO
BECOME A PART OF THE
GUBERNATORIAL RACE, BILL
SCHUETTE TALKED ABOUT IT SAYING
EMBRIDGE LINE FIVE DAYS ARE
NUMBERED AND THAT IS GOING TO BE
A CONTINUED STORY IN THE NEW
YEAR.
>> FEELS LIKE A YEAR WHERE THE
ACTIVISTS WHO WANT THE PIPELINE
TO BE CLOSED GAINED THE MOMENTUM
AND STILL STRUGGLING TO GET
TRACTION BUT EMBRIDGE WITH A
LITANY OF DISCLOSURES THEY HAD
NOT BEEN STRAIGHT WITH THE
PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THE SITUATION
WAS NOW THE YEAR ENDS AND THEY
ARE UNDER HEAVY CRITICISM FROM
THE SNYDER ADMINISTRATION WHICH
HAS NOT BEEN VERY CRITICAL FOR
THEM AT THE START OF THE YEAR
AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE
MOMENTUM HAS REALLY TURNED ON
THIS AND SOME HUGE DECISIONS
AWAIT NEXT YEAR ON THE FATE OF
IT.
>> EMBRIDGE BECAME ITS OWN WORST
ENEMY WITH THE PUBLIC DISPUTE
WITH THE SNYDER ADMINISTRATION
DID NOT HELP THEM.
>> THE ETCHU STORY.
>> I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY OVER
AT THIS POINT.
IT DIDN'T TURN OUT TO BE THE
STORY THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT IT
MIGHT BE.
>> WHERE DID YOU THINK THAT WAS
HEADED?
>> I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS HEADED
ANYWHERE AND I SAID SO ON THIS
PROGRAM.
>> YOU DID.
>> MOST PEOPLE DISAGREED WITH ME
AND THEY SAID THIS THING COULD
GET WORSE AND IT'S BAD AND IT
HASN'T BEEN HANDLED WELL MAYBE
ALL OF THE ABOVE IS TRUE BUT
NOTHING REALLY CAME OF IT.
>> I THINK THIS WAS ANOTHER
STORY AND PUT A REMINDER THIS IS
THE DIRECTOR OF THE MICHIGAN
STATE POLICE WHO POSTED ON
FACEBOOK ON HER PRIVATE FACEBOOK
ACCOUNT SOME COMMENTS ABOUT FOLK
WHOSE WERE TAKING A KNEE IN
PROTEST THIS IS ANOTHER
INDICATION OF THE SNYDER
ADMINISTRATION KIND OF DRIP DRIP
DRIP OF NEWS THAT I CAN REMEMBER
WEEKS THAT WE WERE HERE TALKING
ABOUT IT.
>> A TWO-DAY STORY.
>> INSTEAD I WANT TO SAY IT WAS
WEEKS BECAUSE FIRST IT WAS WELL
WE ARE HAVING A PRIVATE
CONVERSATION WITH HER THEN IT
WAS SHE MET WITH THE BLACK
CAUCUS THEN SHE MET WITH OTHER
FOLKS AND IT WAS OKAY OR COMING
UP, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
WHAT TO DO NEXT AND NOW SHE IS
GOING TO TAKE THIS LEAVE AND IT
WAS JUST SORT OF ONE DAY AFTER
THE NEXT.
>> IN ALL FAIRNESS SNYDER DID
STAND BEHIND HER FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING.
>> FROM THE GET GO.
NEVER LEANED ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THE FLINT WATER INVESTIGATION
CONTINUED AND WE ARE MOVING INTO
THE THIRD YEAR, THIRD YEAR.
THIS COULD BLOWUP AGAIN IN THE
LAST YEAR OF THE SNYDER
ADMINISTRATION AND IT COULD GET
A LOT WORSE.
>> LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME I
INTERVIEWED BILL SCHUETTE AND I
SAID DO YOU THINK WE ARE CLOSER
TO THE END OF THE INVESTIGATION
THAN THE BEGINNING AND HE SAID
YES.
WELL IT'S NOW BEEN A FULL YEAR
SINCE THEN AND IT'S NOT OVER
BECAUSE IT IS A HUGE
INVESTIGATION AND IT'S A LITTLE
UNCLEAR YET WHERE THIS COULD YET
GO AS FAR AS ADDITIONAL PEOPLE
BEING CHARGED, YOU KNOW, THE
TRIAL PHASE NO ONE HAS BEEN EVEN
BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL.
>> PLEA DEALS.
>> 43 WITNESSES WHEN YOU HAVE 43
WITNESSES IN DISTRICT COURT
TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER IT
SHOULD BE BOUND OVER IT'S GOING
TO TAKE FOREVER, THE BIG DISPUTE
RIGHT NOW LEGALLY IS BILL
SCHUETTE HOPING TO RUN OUT THE
CLOCK AND MAYBE JUST HAVE THIS
THING DRIP ALL THE WAY THROUGH
2018 AND NOT REACH A CONCLUSION
BEFORE THE ELECTION OR LOOK IF
HE GETS A VERDICT BEFORE THE
ELECTION IT SHOULD BE A GOOD ONE
OR HE WILL END UP WITH A BIG
LIABILITY.
>> DO SOME OF THESE BIG
DEFENDANTS LIKE NICK LION HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR ARE
THEY ACTUALLY BOUND OVER FOR
TRIAL, THE HEARINGS TO DETERMINE
THAT ARE GOING ON AND ON AND ON
AND YOU KNOW YOU KNOW IS THERE
PROBABLE CAUSE THEY WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF
PEOPLE UNDER LEGIONNAIRESS THAT
CAN BE SOMETHING ONCE THE LOWER
COURT MAKES A DECISION HAS TO BE
RESOLVED BY THE SUPREME COURT.
>> ABSOLUTELY I AGREE YOU CAN GO
A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND NOT
SURE WHICH WAY IT'S GOING TO GO
BEFORE THE END OF THE SNYDER
ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW IT'S
ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ASTERISK
ON HIS RESUME WHETHER OR NOT
THAT ASTERISKS TURNS INTO AN
EXCLAMATION POINT IS THE
QUESTION AND IF HIS LEGACY WILL
BE DEFINED BY FLINT IS STILL THE
BIG QUESTION MARK.
IT MAY TURN OUT YEARS FROM NOW
IT WILL NOT BE BUT BY THE SAME
TOKEN IT COULD BLOWUP AS YOU
SAID RIGHT IN HIS FACE AND
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HE MAY HAVE
DONE DURING HIS EIGHT YEARS THAT
WAS POSITIVE GETS TOTALLY OVER
SHADOWED BY THIS.
>> THERE IS OF COURSE THE PEOPLE
OF FLINT WHO ARE LASTING EFFECTS
FROM LEAD POISONING I THINK THE
UNDER REPORTED STORIES IS JUST
HOW MUCH MONEY THIS IS COSTING
BOTH SIDES THAT WE ARE NOW IN
THE EIGHT FIGURES OF LEGAL COSTS
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TAXPAYERS I
THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
KIND OF GOES UNNOTICED,
TAXPAYERS ARE NOW PAYING FOR
BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT.
THEY ARE PAYING TO DEFEND THE
STATE AND THEY ARE ALSO PAYING
FOR THE SIDE WHO IS PROSECUTING
FOLKS OF THE STATE AND TAXPAYERS
HAVE SPENT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
AND THAT WILL CONTINUE ON THE
LITIGATION OVER THIS CRISIS.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THAT THOUGHT IS
NEEDED.
IT'S JUST A SORT OF ISSUE OF
WHOA, HERE IS ALL THE MONEY THAT
IS GOING TOWARDS PIPELINES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT AND ALL OF THE
COURT COSTS AND THAT IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TOO.
>> YOU MENTIONED MR. TRUMP I
HAVE SOME NUMBERS HERE WHICH
REALLY ARE A MICRO CAUSM OF
WHERE WE ARE IN MICHIGAN BERNIE
PORN ASKED IF THE PRESIDENT WAS
STABLE AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
AFRICAN/AMERICANS 69% UNSTABLE,
WHITE 50% STABLE, RACIAL DIVIDE
MEN AND WOMEN, MEN 56% IS COOL,
WOMEN 39%.
A GENDER GAP.
EDUCATION GAP YOU HAVE A COLLEGE
DEGREE 44 UNSTABLE AND LESS THAN
A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA 49% THINK
THE PRESIDENT IS DOING JUST
FINE.
IS THIS NOT A REFLECTION OF WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE ELECTION
REGARDING STABILITY?
>> THAT IS THE CLASSIC
POLARIZATION THAT WE SEE ALL
ACROSS AMERICA RIGHT NOW.
>> ALIVE AND WELL IN MICHIGAN.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND I THINK IT'S
REFLECTIVE OF THE ENTIRE NATION.
WE HAVE A VERY POLARIZED
COUNTRY, A VERY POLARIZED
POLITICAL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW, HOW
IT'S GOING TO SHAKE OUT IN 2020
ONLY ANYBODY CAN GUESS.
>> THAT IS WHAT I SAID THE TRUMP
STORY KIND OF WHY I THINK IT HAS
ITS TENTICLES IN EVERYTHING AND
HOW PEOPLE TREAT EACH OTHER AND
THE WILLINGNESS TO FIND
COMPROMISE HAS JUST IN THE PAST
YEAR BEEN A FASCINATING THING TO
WATCH BOTH IN MICHIGAN BUT
NATIONWIDE.
>> IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW I'M
RIGHT AND POLITICS IN THIS
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW I'M RIGHT YOU
ARE CRAZY THAT IS REALLY WHERE
THINGS ARE.
>> THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND.
>> NO AND A CASE THAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS SHAKEN UP THE SYSTEM
AND IS SUCCESSFUL ON THE
POLITICAL LEVEL BECAUSE HE IS
NOT YOUR NORMAL TYPE OF CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, YOU CAN ALSO
LOOK ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE AND
SAY HE WAS IN QUICK SAND UP
UNTIL HE FINALLY GOT A BILL
PASSED AT THE END OF THE YEAR
WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO SINK SO YOU
CAN LOOK AT IT AT SO MANY
DIFFERENT LEVELS.
>> WHAT IS THE LEAD STORY GOING
IN 2018 THE GOVERNOR WILL
DELIVER THE LAST STATE OF THE
STATE ON JANUARY THE 23, WHAT
ARE WE LOOKING FORWARD TO?
>> I DON'T THINK HE IS GOING TO
COME UP WITH ANY BOMB SHELL.
>> INFRASTRUCTURE,
INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOW THE NUMBER
ONE ISSUE IN THE STATE.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE
THOUGH BIG TIME IN THE STATE OF
THE STATES AND OTHERWISE.
THAT IS NOTHING REALLY KNEW.
I MEAN, YEAH, I THINK IT'S GREAT
IF HE CONCENTRATES ON IT AND BY
THE WAY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
AND THE CONGRESS CAN STILL GET
ON THAT ISSUE AND REMEMBER MANY
PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE ONE
OF THE TOP PRIORITIES.
>> BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND
THEY DIDN'T BUT THEY CAN COME
BACK TO THAT AND THEY CAN TIE
THAT IN.
>> AN HO-HUM FOR YOU.
>> ELECTION IS ELECTION AND RACE
FOR GOVERNOR SECRETARY OF STATE,
ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE ENTIRE
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, THE
ENTIRE STATE HOUSE, THE ENTIRE
STATE SENATE THE U.S. SENATE
SEAT.
>> IN OTHER WORDS THEY DO
NOTHING.
>> IT'S HUGE BUT THAT HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH SNYDER'S
STATE OF THE STATE OR THE ISSUES
BUT I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IS
GOING TO BE DOMINATING
EVERYTHING, THE ELECTIONS NEXT
YEAR.
>> YES, IF YOU LOOK ISN'T THIS
DEMOCRATIC WAVE REAL THAT SEEMS
TO BE BUILDING YOU LOOK AT THE
GENERIC BALLOT NUMBERS AROUND
THE COUNTRY IT'S EXTREMELY
LOPSIDED IN FAVOR OF THE
DEMOCRATS BUT WHEN IT GETS DOWN
TO IT AT THE MID TERMS DO THE
DEMOCRATS AND ALL THE ENTHUSIASM
MAINTAINED AND DOES IT RESOLVE
IN A BIG DEMOCRATIC WAVE ACROSS
THE NATION AND IN THE STATE OR
DOES IT NOT HAPPEN, DO THE
REPUBLICANS STAY IN CONTROL OF
STATE GOVERNMENT IN MICHIGAN AND
IF THAT DOES HAPPEN WHAT IS THE
FUTURE OF THE MICHIGAN
DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS IT STILL
GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE TWO
PARTY STATE BECAUSE IT WILL THEN
BASICALLY A FULL DECADE AT
REPUBLICAN DOMINANCE.
>> EVERYTHING WILL BE TALKING
ABOUT THE ELECTIONS ON MULTIPLE
LEVELS LOOK AT THE MICHIGAN
DELEGATION SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN WE
HAVE THREE WIDE OPEN
CONGRESSIONAL SEATS FOR VARIOUS
REASONS BUT I THINK SNYDER IS
GOING TO TALK ABOUT
INFRASTRUCTURE, I THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE ALL WATCHED IN OUR AREA
THAT 15 MILE SINKHOLE THAT
KANDIS MILLER WENT IN AND FIXED
OR CLEANED UP WHICHEVER TERM YOU
ARE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH THAT
INCONVENIENCED A WHOLE LOT OF
PEOPLE AND IMPACTED THEIR
EVERYDAY LIVES BUT I THINK ONE
THING THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING
ABOUT ENOUGH THAT OVER TIME THIS
ADMINISTRATION MAY BE KNOWN BEST
FOR AND THAT IS THAT GORDY-HOW
AND THE BRIDGE GOING ACROSS IF
HE GETS ALL THAT DONE YEARS FROM
NOW LOOK AT WHAT IT WILL DO IN
TERMS OF TRADE AND REVENUE AND
POTENTIAL THE INTERNATIONAL LINK
BETWEEN DETROIT AND CANADA IT
COULD BE A LOT OF MONEY, A LOT
OF TRADE.
>> HE DOES NOT LIKE THE TERM
LAME DUCK BUT THE LIMP WILL BE
MORE EVIDENT ON JANUARY 23 AND
WE WILL SEE WHAT HE SAYS.
THANK YOU GUYS.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY.
NEXT YEAR WE ARE BACK TO THE
REGULAR FORMAT SEE YOU THEN.
HAVE A GOOD ONE.
PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD IS
MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT
FROM TRUSCOTT-ROSSMAN,
MICHIGAN'S ONLY BIPARTISAN
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION FIRM
SERVING STATEWIDE AND
INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS FROM THEIR
OFFICES IN LANSING, DETROIT AND
GRAND RAPIDS AND SERVING THE
GREATER LANSING AREA SINCE 1941
PROVIDING SOLUTIONS AND CHOICES
FOR HOME COMFORT DURING ALL
MICHIGAN SEASONS HAGER FOX AND
BRYANT WHATEVER IT TAKES HAGER
FOX.COM.
AND BY MSU COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL
RESOURCES, MICHIGAN STATE
UNIVERSITY WANTS TO BE A TRUSTED
PARTNER IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
FOOD AND WHERE IT COMES FROM
INCLUDING ITS IMPACT ON OUR
HEALTH AND ON OUR PLANET, LEARN
MORE AT FOOD.MSU.EDU.
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.