♪

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 INDIANA REPEALED PREVAILING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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♪