♪
WELCOME BACK OUR GUEST THIS WEEK
IS JOSH HOVEY ONE OF THE LEADERS
OF THE COALITION SEEKING TO
LEGALIZE POT.
OUR LEAD STORY LAWMAKERS KILLED
THE PREVAILING WAGE AND THEY
DECIDE TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE
THE POT ISSUE.
ON THE OTR PANEL JONATHAN
OOSTING KATHY GRAY 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 A
GRANT FROM TRUSCOTT-ROSSMAN
MICHIGAN'S ONLY BIPARTISAN
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION FIRM
SERVING STATEWIDE 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 HEATING AND AIR
CONDITIONINGER FOX AND BRYANT
WHATEVER IT TAKES HAGER FOX.COM
AND BY MSU 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.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
WELCOME BACK TO OUR PROGRAM NICE
TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD A BUSY NEWS
WEEK INCLUDING GETTING RID OF
THE PREVAILING WAGE THING THE
UNIONS DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
IT WAS FREE ICE CREAM DAY AT THE
STATE CAPITOL BUT THERE WAS SOME
MORE SERIOUS STUFF GOING ON
STATE TROOPER CARS WERE PARKED
OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL WHILE DOZENS
OF TROOPERS WERE STATIONED
INSIDE AS LAWMAKERS PREPARED TO
REPAIL THE PREVAILING WAGE OVER
THE OBJECTIONS ON ORGANIZED
LABOR A LOCAL STATE SENATOR TOOK
EXCEPTION TO THE TROOPERS BEING
THERE.
>> WE HAVE OPEN CARRY DAY IN
THIS BUILDING AND THERE IS NOT A
TROOPER TO BE SEEN BUT ALL THE
SUDDEN WORKING MEN AND WELCOME
HERE AND TRY TO STEAL YOUR WAGES
AND BENEFITS AND THEY SHOW UP
ALL OVER THE PLACE.
>> UNION MEMBERS ARGUE THEIR
PAYCHECKS WILL BE CUT IF
PREVAILING WAGES ARE ELIMINATED.
>> INDIANA REPEALED PREVAILING
WAGE IN 2015 AVERAGE WORKER WAGE
DECREASE 8.5%.
8.5%.
LOWEST PAID WORKERS ON THIS
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS UP TO 15%.
>> THE COKE LOBBYIST IS ABOUT
SAVING TAX COLORS ON
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE
FORCED TO PAY THOSE HIGHER
WAGES.
>> WE NEED TO ALLOW SMALL
COMPANIES WE NEED TO ALLOW
GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
THE LOWEST QUALIFIED BIDDER AND
NOT FORCE ARTIFICIAL PERIMETERS
ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO
DRIVE THE COST UP.
>> THE GOVERNOR CONTENDS IN
ORDER TO ATTRACT MORE SKILLED
WORKERS THE PREVAILING WAGE
SHOULD REMAIN BUT ONLY A HANDFUL
OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AGREED
WITH HIM AND THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE WAS NOT LOBBYING TO KILL
THIS LEGISLATIVE EFFORT.
>> AFTER OVER AN HOUR OF
RESPECTFUL DEBATE THE TWO SIDES
VOTED AND THE HOUSE VOTED 56-53
TO REPEAL THE WAGE.
>> MAJORITY SERVING HAVING VOTED
THERE FOR THE INITIATIVE IS
ADOPTED.
[ SCREAMS ]
CRIED FOUL THE LABOR MEMBERS
OBJECTED BUT ALL FOR NAUGHT THE
PREVAILING WAGE BASED ON THE
SENATE APPROVAL EARLIER TODAY
AND THE HOUSE PASSAGE THIS
AFTERNOON IS NOW DEAD.
>> JONATHAN WHY DID REPUBLICANS
WANT TO DO THIS?
>> WELL, THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING
FOR THREE YEARS TO DO THIS AND
THE SENATE ACTUALLY PASSED THIS
IN 2015 SENATOR ME, KHOF HAS
BEEN PUSHING IT AND REITERATED
ON YOUR OPENING IS TAXPAYERS
HAVE TO PAY ARTIFICIALLY HIGH
WAGES ON CERTAIN GOVERNMENT
PROJECTS LIKE SCHOOLS, LIKE
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND YOU
KNOW IT'S A FREE MARKET
PRINCIPLE THAT SHOULDN'T
ARTIFICIALLY SET WAGES.
>> I THINK YOU SAW THE BEGINNING
OF THE 2018 ELECTION CYCLE
OFFICIALLY START THERE BECAUSE
THIS IS A MESSAGE FOR BOTH OF
THEM TO USE THE REPUBLICANS CAN
INTO BACK AND SAY WE ARE SAVING
TAXPAYER MONEY AND DEMOCRATS
TRYING TO REVEAL TO THE SKILLED
TRADE WORKERSS WHO MAYBE VOTED
FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 2016 LOOK
THE REPUBLICANS CUT YOUR WAGES.
>> SOME OF THE UNIONS ENDORSE
FOR INSTANCE RICK SNYDER IN 2010
THE REPUBLICAN THE CARPENTERS
UNION ENDORSED SNYDER AND NOW IS
BACKING GRETCHEN WHITMER AND
PREVAILING WAGE IS A BIG ISSUE.
>> I KEEP LOOKING BACK OF RIGHT
TO WORK AND HAPPENED IN LAME
DUCK 2012 BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF
THE SAME SORT OF FEELINGS AND
YOU KNOW YOU SAW IT ON SOME OF
THE VIDEO BUT I DON'T THINK YOU
CAN EXPLAIN ENOUGH HOW TENSE
CERTAIN PARTS I SHOULD SAY I WAS
NOT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR BUT
WATCHING THE VIDEO LATER I MEAN
SHOUTS AND YELLING FROM BOTH THE
GALLERY AND THEN ISSUES ABOUT
WHETHER THINGS WERE GOING TO
HAPPEN THROUGH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
IT GOT BAD ON THE HOUSE FLOOR,
YOU WERE THERE, I THINK IT'S
FAIR TO SAY THAT THE TENSION WAS
SUPER SUPER HIGH.
>> IT WAS FIERCE OPPOSITION.
>> YEAH.
>> THE DEMOCRATS WERE STANDING
ON THE FLOOR YELLING SHAME,
SHAME, SHAME.
AND DEMOCRATIC STAFFER GOT FIRED
BECAUSE HE TRIED TO REMOVE THE
BILL FROM A REPUBLICAN CLERK'S
HANDS BEFORE IT GOT TAKEN OUT.
>> PREVAILING WAGE ISSUE AND THE
LONG RUNNING ISSUE OF THE
PROCEDURAL THING WHERE THE
CONSTITUTION REQUIRES YOU HAVE
TWO THIRDS MAJORITY TO GIVE A
BILL IMMEDIATE EFFECT
REPUBLICANS SAY WELL IN THE
PERSON WHO IS IN THE CHAIR CAN
DECIDE WHAT TWO THIRDS MAJORITY
SOUNDS LIKE.
CLEARLY THERE WAS NOT TWO THIRDS
MAJORITY.
>> THIS IS ABOUT THE MEDICAID
WORK REQUIREMENT SO THEM ALL
HAPPENING WITHIN MINUTES AND
MINUTES OF EACH OTHER IT JUST
ROSE THE TENSION AND YOU SAW
DEMOCRATS DOING EXACTLY WHAT I
THINK YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING
OF ELECTION 2018 WHICH IS ONE
BREATH THERE YOU KNOW TAKING
AWAY PREVAILING WAGE AND THE
OTHER ADDING THESE WORK
REQUIREMENTS HOW DOES THAT FEEL
DEAR MICHIGAN WORKER AND IT WAS
INTENSE.
>> IS THERE ANY LANGUAGE IN THE
REPEAL HERE THAT SAYS IF YOU'RE
A COMPANY AND YOU NOW HAVE A
SAVINGS ON SALARIES THAT THAT
WILL RESULT THIS A LOWER COST
FOR THE PROJECT ITSELF?
>> NO AND DEMOCRATS POINTED THAT
OUT REPEATEDLY THERE IS NO GEAR
AND KEY THIS WILL.
>> THE COMPANY COULD SIMPLY
POCKET THE SAVINGS AND SALARIES
AND INCREASE THEIR PROFITS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I WAS SURPRISED THAT UNIONS
DID NOT PLAY THE TRUMP CARD MORE
AND SIMPLY TO SAY TO THE
REPRESENTATIVES YOU HAVE VOTERS
IN YOUR DISTRICT WHO VOTED FOR
DONALD TRUMP.
>> UH-HUH.
>> OKAY WHO IS FOR THE WORKING
GUY AND HERE YOU ARE DOING THIS
TO THE WORKING FOLKS, YES, NO?
>> ABSOLUTELY BUT I THINK THAT
HAS BEEN ALL ALONG THIS TENSION
WITHIN AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WANT TO CALL THEM DEMOCRATIC
TRUMP VOTERS OR HOWEVER YOU WANT
TO TALK TO THEM BUT IN MICHIGAN
RIGHT NOW AND THAT HAS TO DO
WITH YOU KNOW THE TARIFF RIGHT
AND STEEL AND THINGS LIKE THAT
THAT THERE ARE PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY NAFTA THERE ARE PARTS OF
THE COUNTRY THAT FOLKS WHO VOTED
FOR DONALD TRUMP AND NOW DONALD
TRUMP IS DOING WELL OKAY WHAT
ABOUT THIS OR THIS OR THIS AND
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN SOME WORKERS
THAT SOME OF THE POLICIES AND
SAID AMERICA FIRST MIGHT NOT
ACTUALLY BE HELPFUL TO THE
WORKERS.
>> ALREADY PREDICTING THIS WILL
HELP THEM IN 2018, THAT SAID
THEY PREDICTED THAT WITH RIGHT
TO WORK EITHER.
>> YES.
>> ZERO.
>> EXACTLY.
>> TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S
LACK OF INVOLVEMENT IN THIS
THING THE EXECUTIVE HERE IS AN
ISSUE HE HAD SAID WE NEED
SKILLED TRADE WORKERS, WE NEED
THE PREVAILING WAGE THIS IS PART
OF MY MARSHAL PLAN, THIS IS PART
OF MY WHOLE AGENDA AND IT WAS
CRICKETS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION
ON LOBBYING THESE GUYS.
>> I THINK PART OF THAT HAS TO
DO WITH BRIAN CALLEY WHO THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO IS
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR WHO
SUPPORTED REPEALING THE
PREVAILING WAGE AND I GOVERNOR
RICK SNYDER IS SUPPORTING CALLEY
FOR GOVERNOR AND SO I THINK THAT
THERE WAS THAT WAS PART OF THE
TENSION TOO.
>> AND ALSO LOOK WHEN HAVE YOU
SEEN GOVERNOR SNYDER GET
INVOLVED IN A FIGHT THAT HE
ISN'T DRAWN INTO?
THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL
MECHANISM THAT THESE GROUPS USE
TO GO AROUND THE GOVERNOR.
>> YES.
>> HE HAD NO SAY.
>> RIGHT.
>> HE COULDN'T VETO THE BILL, HE
CERTAINLY COULD HAVE LOBBIED ON
IT.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN HIM JUMP INTO
A FIGHT.
>> WHAT JONATHAN SAID IS EXACTLY
RIGHT BASICALLY THEY
CIRCUMVENTED HIM BECAUSE THEY
KNEW THAT HE WAS FOR IT AND HERE
LAWMAKERS AND WHAT IS HE GOING
TO DO REPUBLICANS WERE LIKELY
GOING TO PASS IT, HAVE WE SEEN
THIS GOVERNOR LOBBY THINGS OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN
ABSOLUTELY NOT AND THIS WAS A
BIG, BIG I THINK SORT OF NICE TO
THE HEART OF SOME MODERATES WHO
STILL EVEN BELIEVED IN SNYDER
DURING RIGHT TO WORK WHICH IT'S
NOT ON MY AGENDA I DON'T WANT TO
DEAL WITH IT BUT WHEN IT CAME TO
HIM YOU FIND IT.
>> WE SAW THE SAME THING A
COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH ABORTION
INSURANCE BILL AND RIGHT TO LIFE
DID A PETITION TO GO AROUND THE
GOVERNOR HE WAS FAIRLY QUIET.
>> HE HAD LEVERAGE SITTING IN
HIS BACK POCKET THE STATE BUDGET
WAS GOING THROUGH AT THE SAME
TIME THAT THIS WAS GOING THROUGH
WHAT YOU DO IS YOU CALL IN SOME
GUYS WHO HAVE 100 MILLION IN THE
BUDGET FOR THE SPECIAL PROJECT
AND LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND SAY
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT PROJECT IS
DEAD UNLESS I GET YOUR VOICE OR
YOUR VOTE ON THIS LEGISLATION.
>> YEAH BUT THE GOVERNOR ALREADY
HAD TO NEGOTIATE WHAT HE WANTED
TO GET INTO THE BUDGET AS A LAME
DUCK GOVERNOR THERE IS NO
GUARANTY FOR INSTANCE HIS
MARSHAL PLAN FOR TALENT WOULD BE
FULLY FUNDED IN THE BUDGET BUT
IT IS AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO ROCK
THE BOAT.
>> IT'S DONE NOW WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE PETITION DRIVE THE
ORGANIZED LABOR WAS DOING TO PUT
THIS BACK IN?
>> THAT'S PART OF THE
CALCULATION THAT THE UNIONS
DECIDED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING
TO DO THAT, THEY WERE INSTEAD
GOING TO TRY TO CONVINCE ENOUGH
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS NOT TO VOTE
FOR IT.
>> OR THE COURTS TO DO IT.
>> WHOA HAVEN'T THEY LOOKED AT
THE JUDICIARY RECENTLY?
>> IT WAS A FAIL.
>> ALL RIGHT MEDICAID, GET A JOB
OR LOSE YOUR HEALTHCARE
BENEFITS.
>> YEAH THAT'S RIGHT GOVERNOR
SNYDER YESTERDAY ESSENTIALLY
ENDORSED MEDICAID WORK
REQUIREMENT RULE THAT WOULD
APPLY NOW ONLY TO THE HEALTHY
MICHIGAN POPULATION WHICH IS HIS
SORT OF FLAG SHIP MEDICAID
EXPANSION PROGRAM.
HE WAS OPPOSED TO THIS WHEN IT
PASSED THE SENATE THE FIRST TIME
BUT IT WAS SCALED BACK A LITTLE
BIT AT THE HOUSE, PROVED
YESTERDAY FINALLY IN FINAL FORM
BY THE SENATE AND SENT TO HIM
AND THE GOVERNOR MADE CLEAR HE
IS GOING TO SIGN IT.
>> WE HAD SENATOR MIKE SHIRKEY
ON THE SHOW A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
AND SAID WE ARE WORKING WITH
SNYDER HE HAD GONE TO D.C. AND
AS JONATHAN SAYS THERE WERE SOME
EXEMPTIONS THAT WERE ADDED, THE
NUMBER OF HOURS DECREASED ENOUGH
SO THAT THEY GOT SNYDER ON THE
BOARD.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
GONE WHERE NEWS SERVICE WHO
REPORTED LAST NIGHT AND DID NOT
KNOW UNTIL THEY REPORTED IT SO
WITHIN THE BEEN THOUGH IT SAYS
IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
DOESN'T OKAY THIS WAIVER RIGHT
THAT THIS IS ALL BECAUSE THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS OKAY AND
THREE OTHER STATES ALTHOUGH SOME
ARE IN COURT BUT IF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T OKAY THE
WAIVER HEALTHY MICHIGAN GOES
AWAY.
>> WHOA.
>> THAT'S TRUE THE DETROIT NEWS.
>> DETROIT NEWS.
>> I'M SURE THE FREE PRESS WILL
HAVE IT AS WELL.
>> EVERYONE GETS THE CREDIT.
>> THAT IS A POISON PILL.
>> TOTAL.
>> YEAH AND FOR GOVERNOR SNYDER
WHO PUSHED SO HARD FOR HEALTHY
MICHIGAN AGAIN SO MANY
REPUBLICAN OBSTACLES TO THEN GO
OH, WE HOPE THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS THEIR STUFF
TOGETHER IS FASCINATING.
>> HE CAN'T SAY MY BUDDY IN THE
WHITE HOUSE WILL TAKE CARE OF US
BOYS AND GIRLS.
>> LET'S ALL REMEMBER THAT TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION INVITED STATES TO
SET WORK REQUIREMENTS.
>> I WOULD NOT TAKE THAT TO THE
BANK.
>> MUCH THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE
THEIR STUFF TOGETHER ENOUGH I
FIND THAT FASCINATING THEY WERE
OKAY WITH THAT IN THE BILL.
>> IS THIS A CAMPAIGN ISSUE NOW
THAT OURS GO BACK AND PEOPLE ON
WELFARE GET A JOB REELECT ME
PLEASE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S A BIG ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES
AND FOR THE DEMOCRATS TOO SAYING
LOOK AT THEY ARE TAKING AWARE
YOUR HEALTHCARE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT THAT THEY
WANT YOU TO HAVE A JOB BUT A LOT
OF THESE PEOPLE ALREADY ARE
WORKING.
AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING SORRY,
YOU KNOW, WE ARE TAKING AWAY
YOUR HEALTHCARE AND ONE QUOTE
THAT I REMEMBER I THINK IT WAS
FROM REPRESENTATIVE RAVE THIS IS
A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM IT'S NOT A
JOBS PROGRAM.
>> JUST REMEMBER KIDS DOES IT
ACTUALLY TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 2020
SO AGAIN A LOT OF THE
LEGISLATORS THAT JUST VOTED FOR
IT WILL BE GONE BY THE TIME THEY
ACTUALLY POTENTIALLY HAVE TO
KICK PEOPLE OFF.
>> QUICKLY THEY PUNTED ON POT
HOW COME?
>> PUNTED ON POT BECAUSE THERE
SIMPLY WERE NOT ENOUGH VOTES IN
THE HOUSE AND HAS GONE BACK AND
FORTH IF THERE WERE ENOUGH VOTES
IN THE SENATE THE IDEA IS THE
HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS
WOULD PASS IT SO THAT IT WASN'T
ON THE BALLOT AND DON'T WORRY
ABOUT TURN OUT AND IN LAKE DUCK
AMEND IT.
>> LOVE AFFAIR WITH
ARLAN-MEEKHOF IF THEY DON'T DO
IT IT WOULD BE QUOTE A LACK OF
LEADERSHIP.
>> COLLOSAL ANOTHER RUNG OF THIS
RELATIONSHIP THAT IS NONE TO
LOVELY.
>> IF THEY WERE MARRIED THEY
WOULD BE IN COUNSELING.
>> YEAH.
SEPARATE COUCHES AT LEAST.
>> UNDER LINE THE EFFECT THAT
TOM LEONARD IS RUNNING FOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL MEEKHOF THINKS
HE IS PLAYING POLITICS AND IS
NOT RUNNING FOR ANYTHING ELSE
RIGHT NOW AND DOESN'T HAVE THOSE
CONSIDERATIONS.
>> LET'S EXPLORE THE POT ISSUE
WITH OUR GUEST COME ON IN JOSH.
♪
JOSH HOVEY IS A SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT FOR THE
TRUSCOTT-ROSSMAN PR FIRM WHICH
IS AN UNDER WRITER OF THIS
BROADCAST.
HE PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN THE
OFFICE OF LANSING MAYOR VIRG
BERNERO AND A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER BA FROM MSU AND A
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC RELATIONS
SOCIETY OF AMERICA WELCOME BACK
TO THE PROGRAM.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> LOOK AT THE POT THING KATHY.
>> NOW THE LEGISLATURE HAS
DECIDED NOT TO ACT ON IT IT'S UP
TO THE PROAND ANTIFORCES TO DO
THAT WHAT'S YOUR NEXT STEP, ARE
YOU OUT THERE RAISING MONEY?
WHAT IS THE CAMPAIGN GOING TO
LOOK LIKE?
>> I MEAN WE ARE BUILDING OUT
OUR CAMPAIGN TEAM, WE ARE GOING
TO BE INVESTING HEAVILY IN
RESEARCH TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SPEAKING TO EXACTLY THE RIGHT
VOTERS AND OBVIOUSLY A HUGE
ELECTION YEAR AND WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE SPENDING OUR
RESOURCES AS EFFICIENTLY AS
POSSIBLE BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE
IS GOING TO SPEND A TON OF MONEY
AS WELL AND THERE IS ONLY SO
MANY ADVERTISING DOLLARS TO GO
BY.
>> I MEAN JUST THE OPPOSITION
WILL BE BUT TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU
SAY THE RIGHT VOTERS WHO ARE THE
RIGHT VOTERS WHO ARE YOU LOOKING
TO?
>> I MEAN IT'S INTERESTING
BECAUSE 60% OF MICHIGAN VOTERS
AGREE THAT MARIJUANA PROHIBITION
TO USE A TERM EARLIER HAS BEEN A
COLLOSAL FAILURE SO YOU KNOW WE
ACTUALLY HAVE A REALLY GREAT
SUPPORT AMONG DEMOCRATS
OBVIOUSLY BUT REPUBLICAN VOTERS
MORE AND MORE UNDERSTAND THAT
PROHIBITION, WASTE TAXPAYER
RESOURCES ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE
CAN BE REDIRECTING THOSE TO
FIGHT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND
CRIME AND STOP CLOGGING UP
COURTS AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM SO
WE REALLY HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF
SUPPORT ACROSS BOTH DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS BUT WE WANT TO
FIND OUT YOU KNOW SPECIFICALLY
WHO IS IN THE MIDDLE AND WHAT IS
IT THAT THEY NEED TO HEAR
BECAUSE THE FACT IS OUR
INITIATIVE IS MIRRORS THE 2016
LEGISLATION AS CLOSELY AS WE
POSSIBLY COULD.
THAT LEGISLATURE PASSED WITH
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT SO WE HAVE A
GOOD MODEL WE ARE USING, THERE
IS STRICT REGULATIONS IN PLACE
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW
CITIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO
GOVERN HOW BUSINESSES OPERATE,
THAT WE HAVE A LICENSING SYSTEM
THAT MODELS THE MEDICAL
MARIJUANA LAW THAT WAS PASSED SO
WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO
PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR AND WHAT ARE
THEY CONCERNED ABOUT AND MAKE
SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE
CONCERNS.
>> ARE YOU CONCEDING THE SENIOR
CITIZEN VOTE?
>> NO.
>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER
STATES IS USAGE OF MARIJUANA IS
FLAT IN STATES THAT LEGALIZED
EXCEPT FOR AMONG THE BABY
BOOMERS.
THERE IS ACTUALLY INCREASE IN
THEIR USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA
AND SO LIKE I THINK YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS NOT A SCARY THING,
THIS IS NOT THE REEFER MADNESS
HYSTERIA.
>> YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE
A SENIOR CITIZEN VOTING PROBLEM?
>> NOT AS BAD AS PEOPLE THINK.
I THINK WHAT WE HAVE IS A
ELECTORATE THAT PROHIBITION
FAILED LIKE ALCOHOL AND WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND I
THINK WHEN THEY GET THE FACTS
ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
AND STRICT REGULATIONS WE HAVE
IN PLACE THEY WILL VOTE YES.
>> YOUR PROPOSAL DOES SORT OF
MIRROR THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
LAWS PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO BUT
DISTINCTIONS FOR INSTANCE THIS
WOULD ALLOW UP TO 12 PLANTS
GROWN IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S HOME,
12 PLANTS, I'VE NEVER GROWN
MARIJUANA BUT THAT SOUNDS LIKE A
LOT OF MARIJUANA.
I MEAN WHO WOULD NEED TO GROW 12
PLANTS FOR PERSONAL USE?
>> THAT IS THE SAME PLANT LIMIT
WE HAVE UNDER MICHIGAN MEDICAL
MARIJUANA LAW BUT OURS IS PER
HOUSEHOLD AND EVERY CARD HOLDER
HAS THE RIGHT UNDER MEDICAL
MARIJUANA TO GROW SO OURS LIMITS
AT PER HOUSEHOLD NO MATTER HOW
MANY ARE IN THE HOUSE UNDER
MEDICAL MARIJUANA THERE IS NO
HOUSEHOLD CAP SO YOU KNOW WE
DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO
HAVE VARYING POSSESSION LIMITS
BASED ON MED CALL OR ADULT USE
MARIJUANA WE DON'T WANT TO
CREATE THAT KIND OF CONFUSION
AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE
PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN SO WE
MIRRORED THE POSSESSION LIMITS,
THE HOME GROW LIMITS VERY
CLOSELY AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE BEING AS CONSISTENT
AS WE POSSIBLY COULD.
>> PROBLEMS WITH
AFRICAN/AMERICAN CHURCHES ON
THIS ISSUE?
>> THERE SOME CONCERN BUT AT THE
SAME TIME WHO IS IT THAT HAS
BEEN TARGETED BY THE WAR ON
DRUGS AND MARIJUANA PROHIBITION,
OVERWHELMINGLY IT'S MINORITIES
WHO ARE PUT IN JAIL AND PUT
THROUGH OUR LEGAL SYSTEM NOT
WHITE FOLKS.
>> WILL YOU BE WORKING WITH ANY
OF THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE
RUNNING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE WHO
ARE DEMOCRATS HAVE YOU GOTTEN
LET'S SAY A DEBBIE STAB NOW WHO
WILL BE ON THE BALLOT, ADA THAT
NESSLE LIKELY ON THE BALLOT DO
YOU HAVE FOLKS LINED UP WHO WILL
HELP A NAME RIGHT A FACE THAT
VOTERS KNOW TO HELP YOU PUSH
THIS?
>> WE ARE WORKING ON BUILDING
OUT A BROAD COALITION OF SUPPORT
AND WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT ALL
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR
GOVERNOR HAVE COME OUT AND SAID
THAT MARIJUANA SHOULD BE
LEGALIZED.
WE ARE WORKING NOW TO MAKE SURE
WE REACH OUT TO ALL THE FOLK
WHOSE ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT
INFORMATION AND THEY CAN MAKE
DECISIONS TO HOPEFULLY ENDORSED.
>> HAVE YOU DONE FOCUS GROUPS UP
TO THIS POINT?
>> WE HAVE NOT DONE A LOT OF
RESEARCH UP TO THIS POINT WE
HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE
APPROVAL PROCESS AND GETTING ON
THE BALLOT THE NEXT STEP IN THE
CAMPAIGN IS TO DO THE RESEARCH
AND FOCUS GROUPS AND ALL THOSE
THINGS.
>> ARE YOU WILLING TO SAY IF YOU
DON'T GET MILLENNIALS YOU WILL
LOSE?
>> NO I DON'T THINK SO.
>> YOU'RE NOT CRITICAL TO THE
OUTCOME HERE?
>> EVERYONE IS CRITICAL TO THE
OUTCOME I'M NOT WILLING TO SAY
IF WE DON'T GET MILLENNIALS WE
LOSE I'M WILLING TO SAY THEY ARE
OBVIOUSLY A KEY ELECTORATE AND
DO POLL VERY WELL AMONG FOLKS
WHO WANT IT LEGALIZED SO WE WILL
BE ABSOLUTELY ENGAGING THEM BUT
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE
ENGAGING.
>> HOME SMOKING POT ON ELECTION
DAY YOU COULD LOSE.
>> ANYONE WHO IS HOME SMOKING
POT ON ELECTION DAY IS NOT DOING
US A FAVOR.
WE NEED EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND
VOTE.
>> JOSH, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY
MICHIGAN COULD BE THE ONLY STATE
IN THE COUNTRY WITH A MARIJUANA
LEGALIZATION ON THE BALLOT THIS
FALL.
HOW EXPENSIVE DO YOU THINK THIS
RACE IS GOING TO GET AND HOW
MUCH ARE YOU TARGETING THAT YOU
NEED TO RAISE FOR A SUCCESSFUL
CAMPAIGN?
>> IT'S HARD TO SAY AT THIS
POINT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
ELSE IS GOING TO BE ON THE
BALLOT.
THERE COULD BE A VOTE ON
EVERYTHING EFFORT, THERE COULD
BE -- WE I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY
TO SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE NEED
FROM A COUPLE MILLION TO SEVERAL
MILLION.
WE ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY, BUT OUR
GOAL AT LEAST IS TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DOUBLE OUR
OPPOSITION AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAN OUT SPEND AND GET THE FACTS
OUT AND WE KNOW WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE DEBATE THERE IS A
LOT OF MISS INFORMATION OUT
THERE A LOT OF FOLKS SAYING
WHATEVER THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD
TO GET VOTES TO PASS AND AMEND
OUR INITIATIVE AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE FACTS ARE OUT
THERE BECAUSE OUR RESEARCH SHOWS
THAT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE INITIATIVE
THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE
YES.
>> OPPOSITION SAYS THE EXACT
OPPOSITE THEY SAY THE POLLS THAT
YOU SEE IN 60% SUPPORT ARE JUST
GENERAL MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
BUT WHEN YOU TELL THEM UNIT YOU
COULD BUY GUMMY BEARS AN AT POT
SHOP THAT SUPPORT LIMITS.
>> THAT'S THEY ARE USING
FABRICATIONS ON THEIR OWN POLLS
BECAUSE THE EDIBLES THAT WOULD
BE ALLOWED WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
TARGETED TO KIDS FOR ONE.
THEIR OWN RESEARCH AND
OPPOSITION THAT THEY PUT OUT
ACTUALLY SHOWS THAT OPPOSITION
TO OUR INITIATIVE DECLINES AS
PEOPLE GET MORE INFORMATION,
THAT'S THE RESEARCH THAT THEY
PUSHED OUT ON THEIR OWN.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
MONETARY STRUCTURE BECAUSE THAT
IS THE TAX STRUCTURE THAT WOULD
LEAD TO MONEY WHAT ARE YOU
PREDICTING LET'S SAY THAT IT
PASSES IN THE FIRST YEAR THAT
THIS STATE WOULD COME AWAY WITH
IT BECAUSE OF TAXES AND THEN.
>> SO WE ARE GOING TO BE
CONDUCTING ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY
AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT
INFORMATION TO SHARE HOPEFULLY
IN ANOTHER COUPLE MONTHS.
BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT
MICHIGAN IS THE SECOND LARGEST
MEDICAL MARIJUANA MARKET IN THE
COUNTRY GIVEN WHAT COLORADO,
WASHINGTON, OTHER STATES WHO
HAVE GONE BEFORE US RAISED
THROUGH TAX REVENUE AND
COMPARING THOSE STATES TO OUR
POPULATION SIZE.
WE THINK WHEN THE MARKET IS UP
AND RUNNING WE CAN RAISE ROUGHLY
200 MILLION EVERY SINGLE YEAR
FOR OUR ROADS, OUR SCHOOLS AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT
WE CAN FIX ALL OF OUR ROAD
PROBLEMS WITH THIS INITIATIVE
AND SCHOOL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FUNDING BUT 200 MILLION IS A LOT
OF NEW REVENUE THE STATE IS NOT
GENERATING NOW.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE
ENTREPRENEURS TO CONTROL THE
MONOPOLY RATHER THAN A FREE
MARKET?
>> THAT WAS THE OPPOSITION YOU
SAW TO OUR INITIATIVE OR THE
ADOPT AND AMEND FOLKS AND THE
LEGISLATURE.
I THINK THERE WAS A VERY STRONG
GROUP OF REPUBLICAN DONORS WHO
WANT TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY
BUT THEY WANT TO DO SO UNDER
MUCH MORE MONOPOLY SYSTEM.
>> I ASKED SENATOR ME, --
MEEKHOF AND HE SAID NO.
>> NOBODY REACHED OUT TO US AND
SAID THESE ARE THE AMENDMENTS WE
WANT TO SEE TO YOUR INITIATIVE.
PEOPLE HAD KIND OF COME THROUGH
AND THERE IS SOME BACKDOOR
CONVERSATIONS BUT THERE WAS NO
INITIAL DISCUSSIONS THESE ARE
THE AMENDMENTS WE WANT TO SAY
PASS AND NO GUARANTEES PUT IN
PLACE THOSE WERE THE AMENDMENTS
THAT WOULD BE MADE AND YOU KNOW
AMONG THE DEMOCRATS AND THE
LEGISLATURE THERE IS AND REALLY
AMONG OUR STAKEHOLDERS THERE IS
NOT A LOT OF TRUST IN LANSING TO
FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT THEY
COMMIT TO DOING SO WE ARE HAPPY
TO SEE OUR INITIATIVE ON THE
BALLOT.
WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY WELL
WORDED AND THAT WHEN THE VOTERS
HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT IT
WILL PASS IN NOVEMBER.
>> ONE OF THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
AND THE PROPOSAL IS WHO GETS TO
LICENSE THE BUSINESSES.
IT'S A POLITICALLY APPOINTED
BOARD FOR MEDICAL MARUEEN IT'S
LARA UNDER YOUR PROPOSAL WAS
THAT ONE OF THE MAIN STICKING
POINTS WITH THE FOLKS IN THE
SENATE WHO WANTED TO GET THIS
THROUGH?
>> WE HEARD THAT WAS ONE OF THE
ISSUES THEY WANTED TO INCLUDE IS
POLITICALLY APPOINTED BOARD AND
WE DON'T SEE ANOTHER NEED FOR
ANOTHER LAYER OF GOVERNMENT TO
COME IN AND REGULAR MARIJUANA
BUSINESSES THE STATE REGULATES
IN EVERY INDUSTRY AND GOOD AT
WHAT THEY DO AND KNOW HOW TO DO
IT SO TO ADD ANOTHER LAYER OF
POLITICALLY APPOINTED INFLUENCE
ON TO MARIJUANA BUSINESSES I
THINK IS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH
MARIJUANA OR WITH MEDICAL
MARIJUANA IT COMPLICATES THE
PROCESS, THERE IS A LOT OF A
SITUATION OF CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS
AN IMPROVEMENT TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA
RIGHT NOW.
>> HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO OTHER
FOLKS, ORGANIZATIONS, CAMPAIGNS
WHO WORKED TO LEGALIZE IT IN
OTHER STATES TO GET STRATEGIC
ADVICE AND WHAT ARE THEY TELLING
YOU?
>> WE ARE AND THE MARIJUANA
POLICY PROJECT IS ONE OF OUR KEY
DONORS AND COALITION MEMBERS FOR
THE CAMPAIGN AND THEY HAVE
WORKED IN NEARLY EVERY STATE
THAT IS LEGALIZED AND HAVE
HELPED MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> THERE IS A PLAY BOOK.
>> THEY HAVE A PLAY BOOK AND
THEY WORKED AGAINST A LOT OF THE
OPPOSITION GROUPS THAT WE ARE
EXPECTING TO COME OUT AGAINST US
SO WE KNOW PRETTY WELL WHAT'S
GOING TO BE SAID AGAINST US.
>> WHAT WILL BE THE HARSHIST
THING THEY WILL SAY?
>> CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING UNDER
THE INFLUENCE, A LOT OF CONCERN
ABOUT WHAT CAN BUSINESSES BAN
THEIR EMPLOYEES FROM USING BOTH
OF WHICH WE INCLUDE IN OUR
INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE THE SAME STRICT LAWS OF
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE NOW
THAT WOULD BE UNDER OUR
INITIATIVE IF IT PASSES.
>> POLICE SAY THEY HAVE NO WAY
TO TEST IT OUT ON THE ROADS.
>> THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IS
DOING A PILOT TEST RIGHT NOW ON
THE ROADS FOR A MOUTH SWAB THAT
WILL COME TO FRUITION AND HAVE
GOOD RESULTS BECAUSE WE DO NEED
TO HAVE BETTER TESTING THAT IS A
WHOLE OTHER REASON WHY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO
REMOVE MARIJUANA FROM THE
FEDERAL ONE AND IT'S SAFER AND
LESS ADDICTIVE THAN ALCOHOL OR
TOBACCO.
>> YOU GET MORE INSTATE MONEY
THAN OUT OF STATE MONEY TO PITCH
THIS OR YOU ARE HOPING.
>> WE DON'T CARE WHERE THE MONEY
COMES FROM WE NEED RESOURCES TO
DO OUR INITIATIVE.
>> CARPET BEGGARS COMING IN TO
CONTROL MICHIGAN POLITICS.
>> NO.
THE FACT IS THERE IS A LOT OF
INTEREST IN LEGALIZING MARIJUANA
WHETHER IT COMES FROM NATIONAL
OR IN STATE WE ARE HAPPY.
>> MR. HOVEY GOOD TO SEE YOU
THANKS FOR BEING ON THE PANEL
AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE
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♪