♪
WELCOME BACK THE OTR GUEST THIS
WEEK IS FORMER REPRESENTATIVE
DAVE AGAMA PART TO PASS A PART
TIME LEGISLATURE PROBLEMS WITH
PIPELINE FIVE AND 7 GROUPS READY
TO PROTEST ON THE CAPITOL STEPS
ON THE OTR PANEL ZACHARY GORCHOW
ZOE CLARK 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 BIPARTISAN
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS FIRM
SERVING STATE INTERNATIONAL AND
NATIONAL OFFICES FROM THEIR
OFFICES IN LANSING DETROIT AND
GRAND RAPIDS
TRUSCOTT-ROSSMAN.COM HAGER FOX
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
SERVING THE GREATER LANSING AREA
SINCE 1941 PROVIDING SOLUTIONS
AND CHOICES FOR HOME COMFORT
DURING ALL MICHIGAN SEASONS
HAGER FOX AND BRYANT.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 THE
HEALTH AND PLANET LEARN MORE AT
MSU.EDU AND NOW THIS EDITION OF
"OFF THE RECORD" WITH TIM
SKUBICK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
WELCOME BACK TO "OFF THE RECORD"
AND WE ARE RECORDING HERE ON
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17TH BREAKING
NEWS FRED UPTON IS NOT RUNNING
FOR THE U.S. SENATE.
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WELL THAT IS A VERY GOOD
QUESTION.
>> ARE YOU SURPRISED?
>> NO.
HAS THIS HAPPENED A MONTH AND A
HALF AGO I WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY
SURPRISED.
PRIOR TO THE MACKINAC CONFERENCE
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD IN MID
SEPTEMBER ALL THE SIGNALS FROM
REPUBLICANS AND SORT OF INNER
WORKINGS OF THE PARTY IS FRED
UPTON IS GETTING IN THE RACE
IT'S IMMINENT HE HAD A PRESENCE
ON THE ISLAND UNLIKE ANY I HAVE
SEEN HIM HAVE BEFORE AND MAKING
THE ROUNDS AT EVENTS OUTSIDE OF
HIS DISTRICT IN SOUTHWEST
MICHIGAN THEN NOTHING HAPPENED
AND HE DIDN'T GET IN THE RACE
AND TIME KEPT GOING ON AND ON
AND YOU SAW THINGS HAPPENING
LIKE STEVE BANNON GOING OUT AND
RECRUITING THE MOST
UNESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES YOU
CAN FIND TO STOP ESTABLISHMENT
CANDIDS AND NOT JUST STOP THEM
BUT DISRATE THEM IN REPUBLICAN
PRIMARIES FRED UPTON IS AN
ESTABLISHED REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE.
THE ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW
DOESN'T LOOK GREAT FOR
REPUBLICANS HEADING INTO 2018.
IT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE
CHALLENGING TO BEAT DEBBIE STAB
NOW IF IT GOES SOUTH AND FRED
UPTON SAID REELECTION IS THE
BETTER BET.
>> ZACHARY PUT IT PERFECTLY
THREE MONTHS AGO IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN A MUCH MORE OF A SHOCKER
HEARING FROM FOLKS HE WAS CLOSE
TO 90% SURE HE WAS GOING TO BE
IN IT AND REMINDS ME OF DAN
KILDEE THIS YEAR ASSUMING HE WAS
GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND
SORT OF GOT TO BE JANUARY AND
SHOULDN'T HE ANNOUNCE AND
FEBRUARY AND IT WAS LIKE HUM AND
MARCH THEN WHEN HE FINALLY DID
YEAH THAT KIND OF MAKES SENSE
AND SORT OF WHERE WE ARE AT NOW
BUT IT IS GOING TO BE VERY
INTERESTING FOR THE FIELD GOING
FORWARD NOW YOU KNOW WILL THERE
BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF
ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE THAT
JUMPS IN OR IS THE FIELD SET.
>> I NEVER THOUGHT HE WOULD RUN.
HE FLIRTED WITH IT 20 YEARS AGO.
HE HAS FLIRTED WITH IT.
>> A LOT OF STUFF SEVERAL TIMES
BEFORE STATEWIDE OFFICE.
>> ONE THING IS INTERESTING IN
CONNECTION WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT
HE SAYS HE WILL RUN FOR
REELECTION TO THE HOUSE.
WELL A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT YOU
KNOW HE DECIDED IT'S TIME TO GET
OUT OF THE HOUSE.
>> KEY LEADS ARE STARTING TO
LINE UP A LITTLE BIT AGAINST HIM
IN THE DISTRICT AND COMING AFTER
HIM.
>> WELL THAT AND PLUS THE FACT
HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR SO LONG HE
HAS LOST HIS PRIME COMMITTEE
CHAIRMANSHIP BECAUSE OF THE TERM
LIMIT FACTOR.
>> IT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD
WILLIAM.
>> IT DOES BUT MY POINT IS HE IS
RUNNING AGAIN AND NOT GOING TO
RETIRE.
HE IS NOT SAYING I HAVE TAKEN
ONE LOOK AT THE SENATE NO I'M
NOT GOING TO DO IT I'M OUT OF
HERE NO HE SAYS I'M GOING TO
CONTINUE ON SO I THOUGHT THAT
WAS INTERESTING BUT I NEVER
REALLY THOUGHT HE WOULD RUN.
>> ALL RIGHT ENOUGH OF FRED
UPTON AND HE IS HISTORY, RIGHT
LET'S TALK ABOUT PIPELINE FIVE,
THIS STORY REFUSES TO GO AWAY
BILLY AND THE GOVERNOR STRONG
LANGUAGE THIS WEEK DOESN'T LIKE
WHAT IS GOING ON HOW COME?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY IT'S YOU KNOW
AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S A POTENTIAL DISASTER OF
CATASTROPHIC PROPORTIONS.
>> RAW STEEL IS NOW EXPOSED.
>> HEARD OF EMBRIDGE ENERGY AND
DON'T WANT TO SAY CHANGE THE
TUNE AND SAY ONE THING AND WEEKS
OR MONTHS LATER IT SEEMS TO BE
WORSE AND THERE IS A SENSE OF
SORT OF IMPENDING LOOK EITHER
TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON GIVE US
THE FACTS OR YOU KNOW LET'S
FIGURE SOMETHING ELSE OUT AND
THE IRWAS INITIALLY THEY SAID
THEY WERE INCHES OF PIPELINE
CORROSION AND NOW THERE ARE
SURPRISES THAT ARE MUCH BIGGER.
>> PUBLIC RELATIONS AND
MESSAGING HAS BEEN INEPT FROM
THE BEGINNING AND CONTINUES TO
BE THAT WAY AND THE WAY THINGS
ARE GOING SOMETHING SERIOUS
COULD HAPPEN COMING FROM THE
STATE WHETHER IT'S THE GOVERNOR
OR BILL SCHUETTE OR SOMEBODY
ELSE THIS NEXT YEAR.
>> WHAT POINT DOES THE GOVERNOR
AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DECIDE
THAT WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH?
IT'S GONE FROM BEING WORKING
WITH EMBRIDGE AND MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS SAFE AND CLEARLY
ARE UP SET WITH THEM AND FEEL
THEY ARE MISLED AND NOBODY IS
GOING IN COURT.
>> NOBODY SAID PULL THE TRIGGER
AND SHUT IT DOWN.
>> THERE IS AN EASEMENT THAT THE
STATE OF MICHIGAN GRANTED
EMBRIDGE IN 1953 TO PUT THE
PIPELINE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
STRAITS OF MACKINAC AND THEY ARE
IN VIOLATION OF THAT EASEMENT
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
ANCHOR SUPPORTS.
>> THEY ARE SEEKING PERMITS IN
ORDER TO CORRECT IT.
>> THEY ARE BUT I'M JUST SAYING
THEY HAVE GROUNDS TO GO INTO
COURT IF THEY WANTED TO TO TRY
TO STOP THIS.
BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET
AND YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE NOW
THE CRITICS OF EMBRIDGE ARE
SAYING WAIT A MINUTE IT'S GREAT
THAT YOU ARE NOW WHERE WE WERE
IN TERMS OF BEING CRITICAL AND
WORRIED ABOUT THE DANGERS BUT
YOU ARE THE ONES WITH THE ACTUAL
POWER TO DO SOMETHING SO THE
QUESTION IS WHEN DO THEY DECIDE
OKAY WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH WE
HAVE TO DO MORE.
>> THE COMPANY SAID WE REPAIRED
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AND WE MADE
A RUN AT THAT AND DOING WELL AND
BASICALLY SAYING WE ARE ON TOP
OF THIS BUT PEOPLE ARE
INCREASINGLY SAYING WE ARE NOT
SO SURE.
>> DANIEL OF THE DETROIT NEWS
WROTE A COLUMN FOR MICHIGAN
RADIO MY OUT LET THIS PAST
WEEKEND WHERE HE CALLED IT
TRUMPONIAN FOR THEM TO KEEP
SAYING ONE THING AND DOING
ANOTHER OR NOT QUITE FULLY
GIVING ALL OF THE FACTS AT ONCE.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS HE
IS TALKING ABOUT IS THIS IDEA
THAT BUSINESSES ARE STARTING TO
COME OUT PATRICK ANDERSON OF
EAST LANSING CONSULTING FIRM
SAYING BUSINESS NEEDS TO START
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST QUOTE
UNQUOTE THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS
WHO ARE INTERRUPTING PUBLIC
MEETINGS AND SUCH BUT THAT THIS
ACTUALLY COULD HAVE REALLY HUGE
ECONOMIC FACTORS ON THE STATE
AND IT'S BUSINESS GET IN FRONT
OF IT AS WELL.
>> EMBRIDGE LOST PUBLIC
RELATIONS BATTLE ON THIS AND IT
WAS NOT SOMETHING THEY WERE
FATED TO LOSE.
I RECALL A SHOW WE DID A YEAR
AGO, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND
WENT AROUND THE TABLE, ASKED
SHOULD PEOPLE THINK THAT THE
LINE FIVE IS AN IMMINENT THREAT
AND WE SLUGGED OUR SHOULDERS AND
NO REASON THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT
THEY MANAGED TO TRIP OVER
THEMSELVES AS WELL AS YOU KNOW
NOT GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION
OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND NOW THEY
HAVE LOST CREDIBILITY AND THEY
ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY
HAVE DUG A BIG HOLE FOR
THEMSELVES AND YOU KNOW THEY HAD
THIS BRIEFING THIS WEEK FOR
REPORTERS WHERE THEY SAID WELL
WE WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON WHERE
THINGS ARE.
NO WHERE IN THIS BRIEFING DID
THEY SAY THERE WERE DOZENS OF
CODING GAPS ON THE PIPELINE.
WELL, LATER IN THE DAY THE STATE
COMES OUT AND SAYS EMBRIDGE
INFORMED US TODAY THAT THERE ARE
DOZENS OF CODING GAPS THERE ARE
48 LOCATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
CHECKED BY DIVERS SO FAR AND
MAJORITY AND WE DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY HOW MANY HAD GAPS WHERE
THE COATING WASN'T THERE AND IT
WAS BARE STEEL WOULDN'T THAT BE
THE THING IF YOU WANT
CREDIBILITY WOULDN'T YOU CALL A
NEWS CONFERENCE BRING EVERYBODY
IN AND SAY LOOK THIS IS WHAT WE
FOUND AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE
DOING ABOUT IT AND WE ARE ON IT
BUT WHEN YOU OMIT THIS KIND OF
STUFF THAT IS WHAT REALLY
DAMAGES YOUR CREDIBILITY.
>> LOOMING ALL OF THIS OF COURSE
IS WHAT IS THE END GAME IF LINE
FIVE IS EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN.
>> ATTORNEY GENERAL HIS DAYS ARE
NUMBERED.
>> WELL OKAY.
>> HOW MANY DAYS MR. ATTORNEY
GENERAL?
>> THAT IS ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO
DECIDE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN
IF THERE IS NO MORE LINE FIVE.
I HATE TO BE POLITICAL ABOUT IT
BUT THE CURRENT CLIMATE IN AN
ELECTION YEAR DO YOU WANT A
BREAK DOWN OF PIPELINE FIVE ON
YOUR RESUME AS YOU ARE RUNNING
FOR GOVERNOR?
>> WELL OBVIOUSLY NO.
NO OBVIOUSLY SO THAT IS WHY I'M
SAYING IN THIS NEXT YEAR COMING
PARTICULARLY FROM SCHUETTE THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WILL BE
RUNNING THERE COULD BE SOME
ACTION OF REALLY SPECIFIC AND
CONCRETE SORT THAT COULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THIS WHOLE ESPAID.
>> WHAT I FIND INTERESTING YOU
ARE BRINGING UP POLITICS AND
CONTINUE DOWN THE THREAD WHEN
YOU GO UP NORTH AND DRIVING
THERE THERE ARE YARD SIGNS THAT
ARE PRO-TRUMP YARD SIGNS AND
SHUT DOWN LINE FIVE IN THE SAME
LAWN AND I THINK THAT'S JUST THE
SORT OF FASCINATING DYNAMIC
WHERE IT REALLY DOES FEEL
SOMETHING THAT BOTH REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS CAN AGREE ON BUT
WHAT IS NEXT.
>> MONDAY THE MARIJUANA PEOPLE
SAY THEY HAVE ENOUGH NAMES TO
PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND WHAT IS
THE IMPLICATION OF THAT VICE
VISIT THE ELECTION WILLIAM.
>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO DRAW A
BIG TURN OUT PROBABLY FROM THE
LEFT BUT MAYBE MORE ACROSS THE
BOARD THAN MOST PEOPLE THINK, I
THINK IT'S GOING TO PASS IF IT
GETS ON THE BALLOT.
AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
FIVE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
HAVE ALREADY COME OUT AND
ENDORSED THIS.
WELL, ONE REPUBLICAN AND THE
REST WERE DEMOCRATS.
>> WHO IS THE REPUBLICAN?
>> A MINOR CANDIDATE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NOT A MAJOR ONE.
BUT THE POINT IS CAN YOU IMAGINE
FIVE, 10, 15 YEARS AGO THESE
PEOPLE COMING OUT AND OBVIOUS
IT'S PHENOMENAL EVERYTHING IS
MOVING VERY FAST IN THE
DIRECTION OF A YES VOTE ON THIS
WHICH YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT
POSSIBLE JUST A COUPLE YEARS
AGO.
>> BILL IS CORRECT IN
YIPSILANTE AND FOR LEGALIZATION
OF MARIJUANA AND TEN YEARS
EARLIER IT WAS THE MEDICAL
MARIJUANA PROPOSAL THAT IS SORT
OF CREATED A LOT OF CONFUSION IN
THE STATE I THINK IT'S FAIR TO
SAY BUT NO NOW THEY HAVE THESE
SIGNATURES APPARENTLY IT LOOKS
LIKE THEY HAVE DEALT WITH
EVERYTHING AND THERE WAS SOME
MONEY ISSUES POSSIBLY 30,000 BUT
NOW THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION IS COMING
IN AND HELPING TAKE CARE OF
THAT.
>> OPPOSITION DO THE CHIEFS OF
POLICE AND THE MIKE BUCHARDS OF
THE WORLD NOW LAUNCH AN EFFORT
TO KILL THIS?
>> THERE WILL BE AN ORGANIZED
OPPOSITION LAUNCHED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
WILL THEY BE MORE SUCCESSFUL
THAN THEY WERE AGAINST MEDICAL
MARIJUANA, THIS INVOLVES
RECREATION USE.
>> THIS IS DIFFERENT.
>> NOT THE SYMPATHETIC PATIENT
SAYING YOU KNOW I'M IN AGONY AND
PAIN AND THIS HELPS ME THIS IS
RECREATION USE AND YOU KNOW THE
IDEA THAT WE PEOPLE WHO USE
MARIJUANA SHOULDN'T BE PUT
THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
I THINK BILL IS PROBABLY RIGHT
THAT THE ODDS START OUT IN FAVOR
OF THIS AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A
LOCK BUT YOU KNOW THERE WILL
NEED TO BE SOME MONEY SPENT ON
THE YES SIDE BECAUSE THERE WILL
BE A NO CAMPAIGN WAGE AND AS WE
ALWAYS SAY THE NO CAMPAIGN
ALWAYS START OUT WITH AN EDGE.
>> HEARING A LOT ABOUT COLORADO
AND WASHINGTON AND WHAT HAS
HAPPENED OUT THERE.
>> ALSO FOLKS ON THE PRO SIDE
SAYING THIS IS GOING TO HELP THE
STATE BUDGET AND SEE ALL THE
DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS FOR AND
AGAINST IT ALMOST DON'T HAVE TO
DEAL WITH THE IDEA OF MARIJUANA
BUT ECONOMIC ISSUES AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
INTERESTING TO WATCH 2018 AND WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING OF COURSE
ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING
PREVAILING WAGE AND WE HAVE
LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA AND
WHAT THE BALLOT IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE IN 2018.
IT WAS 2012 WHEN WE HAD SORT OF
BALLOT PALOOZA AND SIX QUESTIONS
WILL WE GET CLOSE TO THAT AND
WHAT WILL IT DO FOR TURN OUT
BILL.
>> QUICKLY WE ARE HEARING THE
SENATE ORGANIZED LABOR GROUPS
RESERVED TIME ON CAPITOL LAWN
AND THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO
TRY TO TAKE AWAY RETIREMENT
HEALTHCARE BENEFITS OF RETIREES.
>> MUNICIPAL AND GOVERNMENT
WORKERS.
>> FIREFIGHTERS, COPS CIVIL
SERVANTS.
>> SO FORTH.
>> IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A
FRAMEWORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT
TOGETHER OF A PROPOSAL THAT THE
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE INTERESTED
IN MOVING IT, ALMOST MOVED
BEFORE THE BREAK BUT.
>> IT ALMOST MOVED A YEAR AGO
REMEMBER DURING LAME DUCK AND
THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE COPS
CAME OUT.
>> IT HAS BEEN ABOUT A YEAR'S
WORK OF WORKGROUP ON IT WITH ALL
THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED AND
APPEARS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS POLICE AND FIRE ARE NOT
HAPPY WITH THE PRODUCT THAT HAS
COME OUT BECAUSE IT INCLUDES A
PROVISION THAT COULD LEAD TO
EFFECTIVELY THE STATE COMING IN
AND FORCING CHANGES, CURBS IN
PENSION BENEFITS.
>> IT'S A FIVE PERSON PANEL AT
STEP FIVE OF THE PROCESS THAT IF
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LOCAL
FOLKS RETIREES DON'T WORKOUT
THEY CAN IMPOSE A SETTLEMENT AND
THAT IS WHAT GOT EVERYBODY UP IN
ARMS.
>> AND I THINK WE ARE ALL
ENVISIONING TOO IT WAS EXACTLY
FIVE YEARS AGO COME THIS
DECEMBER THAT RIGHT TO WORK WAS
PASSED SO IF WE ARE THINKING OF
FOLKS OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITOL IT
WOULD BE AN INTERESTING FIVE
YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
>> SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND LET'S
CALL IN DAVE AGAMA AND TALK
ABOUT THE PART TIME LEGISLATURE.
DAVE AGAMA IS A FORMER MEMBER OF
THE MICHIGAN HOUSE ELECTED IN
2007 THE WEST MICHIGAN REPRESENT
IS A FORMER COMMERCIAL AIRLINE
PILOT AND BUSINESS CONSULTANT
AND HOLDS AN UNDER GRADUATE FROM
CALVIN COLLEGE AND MASTERS FROM
CENTRAL MICHIGAN HE IS NOW PART
OF THE EFFORT TO PASS A PART
TIME LEGISLATURE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MAN.
>> FIRST QUESTION.
>> YOU ARE PARTLY PART OF THE
PART TIME LEGISLATURE PUSH
INITIATIVE AND YET YOU WERE PART
OF THE LEGISLATURE AT ONE POINT
TELL ME WHY YOU THINK IT NEEDS
TO GO PART TIME WHEN YOU
YOURSELF TOOK PART IN A FULL
TIME LEGISLATURE.
>> LET'S GO BACK WHEN I FIRST
GOT ELECTED IN THE LEGISLATURE I
PUT IN THE BILL FOR PART TIME
LEGISLATURE SITTING NEXT TO ME
WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CALLEY
HE MYSELF MCMILLAN I THINK
JUSTIN AMASH WERE THE ONLY FOUR
THAT SIGNED ON THE BILL AND WENT
NO WHERE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN
LANSING WANT A FULL TIME
LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THAT IS
THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND THINK ABOUT
THIS A MOMENT WHEN YOU FIRST GET
IN THE FIRST MONTH YOU ARE
ALLOWED TO PUT TEN BILLS IN YOU
HAVE 110 REPRESENTATIVES, YOU
GET 38 SENATORS.
IF THEY ALL PUT 10 IN THAT IS
1400 ROUGHLY 80 BILLS THAT COULD
BE PUT IN THE FIRST MONTH.
EVERY MONTH THERE AFTER THEY
HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT FIVE
BILLS IN AND MULTIPLY THAT ALL
OUT FIVE BILLS TIMES 148 TIMES
11 MONTHS AND POSSIBILITY OF
9,000 BILLS BEING PUT IN THAT IS
THE PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN OVER
REGULATED OVER TAXED OVER
EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE HAVE A
FULL TIME LEGISLATURE, MICHIGAN,
PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, AND
CALIFORNIA ALL HAVE HARD CORE
FULL TIME LEGISLATURES.
NOW I REALIZE THAT LIVENGOOD WAS
IN IT FOR MISSOURI AND GOOD
REASON IT DIDN'T WORK AND IF IT
DID NOT WORK WHY DID THEY
CONTINUE TO HAVE A PART TIME
LEGISLATURE BECAUSE IT DOES
WORK.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO BE ON THE
BALLOT?
>> ON THE BALLOT.
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW?
>> WE ARE HALFWAY RIGHT NOW AND
HAD 90,000 AND HAD 150,000 LEFT
AFTER THEY JUST ANNOUNCED POWER
AND SINCE THEN MUCH MONEY HAS
COME IN.
>> WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT.
>> WHY?
>> PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIVEN MONEY
AND 501C4 WANT THEIR NAMES OUT
OF IT IT'S LEGAL.
>> OH, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY LEGAL
NO ONE IS NOT SAYING IT'S NOT
LEGAL BUT FOR AN AVERAGE CITIZEN
WHO YOU KNOW MIGHT SAY YES DO
YOU KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE
LAWMAKERS NEED TO WORK PART TIME
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM WHO ARE
SAYING WELL WHO IS FUNDING THIS
WHO IS BEHIND IT AND YOU SAY YOU
DON'T NEED TO KNOW THAT DON'T
WORRY YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEAD.
>> I GOT IN IT IN THE LAST TWO,
THREE WEEKS AND ASK BRIAN CALLEY
WITH THIS.
HE IS NOT CONNECTED WITH IT AND
NOT TALKING.
>> HE KIND OF BAILED OUT.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEHIND
IT.
>> I DON'T CARE BECAUSE IN MY
OPINION IS I HAVE BEEN AFTER
THIS FOR TEN YEARS AND I THINK
IT'S SO NECESSARY.
I WAS A MILITARY OFFICER.
I WAS A FIGHTER PILOT AND AN
AIRLINE PILOT SENIOR CAPTAIN
WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES WHAT I
LEARNED WHEN I GOT THERE I'M
GOING TO GET TO LANSING AND DEAL
WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY
SMART AND KNOW WHAT THEY ARE
DOING AND I DISCOVERED THEY ARE
NOT SMART AND A LOT OF THEM
DON'T HAVE DEGREES AND MEEKHOFF
IS ONE AND CAN'T LOOK AT A
BUDGET WHAT IS REQUIRED BY OUR
STATE CONSTITUTION?
>> PASS A BUDGET.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK ON THE
BUDGET?
25%.
WHAT IS THE OTHER 75% DO FOR 365
DAYS A YEAR TAXES FINES FEES
REGIONS REGULATIONS AND SO
FORTH.
>> YOU KNOW WE HAD A PART TIME
LEGISLATURE FOR 130 yEARS AND
YOU COULD HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN IN OTHER WORDS THERE IS
NOTHING THAT MANDATES THAT WE
HAVE A FULL TIME LEGISLATURE,
THE LEGISLATURE WILL CORRECT
ITSELF.
>> THEY WON'T.
>> WHY NOT?
>> THEY LOVE THE JOB.
>> ALL YOU LOVE THE FULL TIME
JOB.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE
WHO ARE THERE THAT LOVE IT OR
DON'T LOVE IT BUT LET'S FACE IT
MOST OF THE PEOPLE IT'S THE BEST
JOB THEY EVER HAD.
I WAS A RETIRED AIRLINE PILOT
AND RETIRED COLONEL IN THE
AIRFORCE AND DIDN'T NEED THE JOB
THAT IS THE KIND OF PEOPLE I
WANT IN THE POSITIONS SOMEBODY
LIKE YOU WITH GRAY HAIR ON THEIR
HEAD WITH A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
CAN GET IN THAT POSITION AND
VOTE TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN A
YOUNG PERSON THAT GETS INTO THAT
DOESN'T HAVE LIFE EXPERIENCE SO
I'M JUST SAYING I KNOW IT'S
NECESSARY, I'VE BEEN THERE AND I
WAS CAUCUS CHAIR AND KNOWS WHAT
GOES ON AND SHOOK MY HEAD THIS
IS CRAZY AND NEVER FORGET THE
FIRST TIME ON THE FLOOR WITH OUR
FIRST VOTE WITH LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR SITTING NEXT TO ME, WE
HAD A VOTE.
AND THERE WERE 109 YES VOTES AND
ONE NO VOTE AGE LIMIT AND ALL
LOOKED AT ME WHAT IS THIS GUY
THINKING THIS IS A DUMB BILL,
WHY ARE WE EVEN VOTING ON THIS
BILL BECAUSE BUSINESSES CAN
FIGURE THIS OUT ON THEIR OWN WE
DON'T HAVE TO TELL THEM HOW TO
DO IT THEN I KEPT A LIST FOR A
LONG TIME OF DUMB BILLS.
I WISH I WOULD HAVE KEPT THAT
LIST.
I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE.
THIS IS HOW STUPID IT CAN GET IN
LANSING AND THIS IS WHY THEY
HAVE TOO MUCH TIME IN LANSING.
THE BILL WAS PUT ON BY COLEMAN
YOUNG THE THIRD THAT PEOPLE
WORKING ON THE ROAD FOR EVERY 10
PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PORTA
POTTY AND WE HAVE TO MANDATE
PORTA POTTIES AND I LOOKED ON
THE HOUSE FLOOR THERE ARE SOME
WOMEN THERE BUT WE HAVE THREE
TOILETS IN THE BACK FOR THE MEN
AND WE NEED SOME PORTA POTTIES
ON THE HOUSE FLOOR BECAUSE THERE
IS MORE THAN TEN FOR A PORTA
POTTY AND BILLS ARE UNNECESSARY
AND QUITE FRANKLY NOT IN SESSION
BUSINESS IS SAFEST.
>> DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM CALLED
THE CLEAN MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN AND
CLEANUP GOVERNMENT AND NOBODY
KNOWS WHO IS FUNDING IT HOW DO
YOU EXPLAIN THAT HOW IS IT
CLEANING UP GOVERNMENT WHEN YOU
HAVE UNKNOWN FUNDERS PAYING FOR
A CHANGE?
>> WHAT IS A 501C4 FOR?
YOU CAN FIGURE THAT OUT ON YOUR
OWN.
FOR ME I KNOW IT'S NECESSARY
BEEN THERE DONE IT.
>> ON THE BILLS YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT GRANTED THERE ARE
THOUSANDS OF BILLS INTRODUCED
BUT THERE IS ONLY ABOUT ONLY
RELATIVE TERM MAYBE 800 PUBLIC
ACTS EVERY TWO YEARS AND MAY
HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
BILLS AND 148 PEOPLE WHO MAKE
THE DECISION THEY ARE ELECTED IS
THIS GOOD OR BAD.
>> BAD.
>> IF THEY DECIDE IT'S GOOD
POLICY HOW DO YOU SAY THAT IS A
BAD THING?
>> FIRST OF ALL LET'S GO BACK
FOR EVERY BILL THAT PASSES THE
LEGISLATURE SERVICE BUREAU AND
GO TO COMMITTEE IT COSTS A HALF
A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT IS JUST ROUGHLY WHAT IT
COSTS SO YOU LOOK AT ALL THESE
BILLS THAT ARE PUT IN AND YOU
LOOK AT THE STATES THAT ARE PART
TIME THEY PUT IN LESS BILLS.
THEY DO.
LOOK AT TEXAS THEY MEET EVERY
OTHER YEAR, THEY HAVE AN ECONOMY
BIGGER THAN A LOT OF THE
COUNTRIES.
>> LET'S DO NUMBERS TOM MCMILLAN
COCHAIRING SAID YOU HAVE 180,000
NAMES IS THAT CORRECT.
>> MORE THAN HALF.
>> YOU NEED ANOTHER 180,000
NAMES BY MID JANUARY SO IN OTHER
WORDS.
>> NO WE DON'T NEED IT BY MID
JANUARY.
>> WHAT IS THE NEW DATE?
>> IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH WE CAN
DO APRIL OR MAY AND PUT IT IN
JUNE.
>> DID YOU MOVE THE CLOCK DOWN.
>> 180 WINDOW.
>> I UNDERSTAND AS YOU MOVE THE
WINDOW YOU LOSE NAMES ON THE
OTHER END.
>> YOU DO HOWEVER AND AGAIN I'M
NOT AUTHORIZED TO TELL YOU WHAT
WE ARE ABOUT TO DO BUT YOU WILL
KNOW IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS
SOMETHING THAT WILL BE VERY
EFFECTIVE TO GET NAMES IF WE
DISCOVER WE ARE GETTING A WHOLE
BUNCH OF NEW NAMES HERE IN THE
NEXT TWO THREE MONTHS WE WILL
BACK OFF.
>> YOU WILL PICK UP THE PACE.
>> YES.
>> GET SIGNATURES MUST FASTER.
>> WHAT IS THE REASON THAT FOLKS
WHO MAY BE FRUSTRATED WITH
LANSING OR BELIEVE THAT THERE
SHOULD BE FEWER BILLS BUT ARE
NOT FOR A PART TIME LEGISLATURE
IS THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN A
LOT OF FOLKS SAY IT WOULD KEEP
PEOPLE WHO HAVE FULL TIME JOBS
OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE LIKE A
TEACHER RIGHT FOR THAT PERSON
THEY CAN'T JUST LEAVE THREE
MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR OUT OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR AND COME UP TO
LANSING.
IS THERE CONCERN FOR YOU OR
SOMEONE WHO IS SIGNING ON TO
THIS PETITION YOU ARE BASICALLY
SAYING ONLY A CERTAIN GROUP OF
PEOPLE MAYBE INDEPENDENTLY
WEALTHY WHO DON'T HAVE FULL TIME
JOBS OR ARE ABLE TO BE BUSINESS
OPENERS AND THEY CAN SET THEIR
OWN SCHEDULES ARE THEY THE ONLY
ONES THAT CAN SUDDENLY BECOME
LAWMAKERS BECAUSE IT WORKS WITH
THEIR SCHEDULE BUT A CAR
MECHANIC AND WANTED TO RUN HE
CAN'T LEAVE HIS JOB FOR THREE
MONTHS AT A TIME.
>> THE LEGISLATURE CAN DECIDE
HOW TO DO IT HOW THEY WISH TO
AND IF THEY START JANUARY 15 AND
GO TO APRIL 15, 90 DAYS IN BY
THE WAY HOW MANY DAYS ARE THEY
IN SESSION NOW?
FOLKS IF YOU ARE LISTENING THEY
ARE ONLY IN 85-95 DAYS ON
AVERAGE AND YOU HAVE PART TIME
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND
OFF FOR DEER HUNTING SEASON AND
OFF FOR CHRISTMAS AND BENEFITS
AND 75 A DAY FOR EVERY DAY THEY
ARE NOT IN SESSION AND CAN
WRITE-OFF INCOME TAX AND DON'T
TALK ABOUT THAT THAT IS FRIDAY,
SATURDAY, SUNDAY MONDAY.
>> SUCH A HOT SHOT IDEA HOW COME
PARTS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
ARE LOATHE TO SUPPORT IT.
>> CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TOLD NORM
AND I GOT HIM INVOLVED WITH IT I
APPROACHED HIM AND SAID WE ARE
NOT GOING TO GET INVOLVED WITH
IT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SEE HOW
WE CAN PASS IT NOW WE ARE CLOSE
TO PASSING IT THEY ARE AGAINST
IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT IT
PASSED, WHY BECAUSE LOBBYING
WOULD BE LESS EFFECTIVE AND
QUITE FRANKLY YOU PEOPLE SITTING
HERE ARE A LITTLE PREJUDICE ON
THIS ISSUE I WOULD SAY BECAUSE
IF THEY ARE ONLY IN SESSION
JANUARY, FEBRUARY MARCH OR 90
DAYS WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO
DO THE OTHER 90 DAYS.
>> BUREAUCRACY.
>> PLENTY OF STORIES IN LANSING
THAT DO NOT HAVE TO DO WITH THE
LAWMAKER.
>> MANY PEOPLE ARE TALKING.
>> BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAYING
THIS IS A BAD IDEA.
>> WHICH BUSINESS COMMUNITY SOME
BUSINESSES LOVE THE IDEA OF A
PART TIME LEGISLATURE.
>> I SUPPORT CALLEY FOR PUTTING
IT IN AND I'M NOT SUPPORTING HIM
FOR GOVERNOR.
>> HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING FOR
SIGNATURE.
>> BETWEEN 1-2 BUT WE HAVE 9,000
PEOPLE AND GRASS ROOTS BESIDES
THAT AND DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
PRESENTLY TO COVER THAT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE IS IT FAIR TO
ASSUME YOU'RE NOT A FAN OF THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH ISSUING
ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND
REGULATIONS AND SO FORTH?
>> IT'S FAIR FOR ME TO SAY I
THINK IT'S A FALSE ASSUMPTION
WHEN YOU SAY THAT THE EXECUTIVE
WILL HAVE MORE POWER.
IN FACT, THE MARGARET FERGUSON
FROM THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY
POLITICAL SCIENCE DID A STUDY ON
THAT AND SAID IT'S THE OPPOSITE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE FULL
TIME LEGISLATURE TWO OR THREE
PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF POWER TO
DECIDE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO,
ONE THE GOVERNOR CANNOT SIGN IT
IN LAW UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE
MAKES THE LAW BECAUSE HE DOESN'T
HAVE AUTHORITY TO MAKE LAW AND
HE BASICALLY SAID WHEN OR SHE
BASICALLY SAID WHEN THOSE PEOPLE
ARE IN SESSION ALL THE TIME THE
GOVERNOR HAS MORE POWER TO SWAY
THEIR VOTES BY TWISTING ARMS NOW
YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO
ESPECIALLY YOU TIM YOU KNOW THE
POWER OF THE SPEAKER AND YOU
SERVE AT THE POWER OF THE
SPEAKER I USED TO SAY REALLY I
SERVE AT THE POWER OF THE 95,000
PEOPLE THAT ELECTED ME NOT THE
SPEAKER THE SPEAKER CAN TAKE
YOUR CHAIR AWAY AND GIVE YOU
NOTHING BUT A COMPUTER AND TAKE
YOUR STAFF AWAY I HIRE MY OWN
STAFF.
WHAT HAPPENS FOR EXAMPLE LIKE
COLBECK WHEN MEEKHOFF TOOK
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AWAY AND
THREATENING TO TAKE AWAY HIS
OFFICE PEOPLE YOU ARE BASICALLY
TAKEN AWAY HE HAS THE POWER TO
TAKE AWAY THE PEOPLE FROM 95,000
PEOPLE IN THE CASE OF A SENATOR
MANY MORE THEIR LEGISLATURE THEY
PUT IN OFFICE FROM DOING THEIR
JOB.
MY POINT WHEN I WAS THERE THE
HOUSE SPEAKER AND SENATE LEADER
HAVE TOO MUCH POWER AND HAS TO
BE REDUCED IN THE FUTURE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE DO YOU LIVE IN
SENATOR MEEKHOFF'S DISTRICT NOW?
>> NO.
>> WHICH DISTRICT DO YOU LIVE
IN, WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO BE
PART OF THE SENATE YOU COULD
REALLY BE FIGHTING THIS FIGHT ON
THE INSIDE.
>> IF THIS GOES PART TIME I
MIGHT VERY WELL DO SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
>> ARE YOU GETTING PAID TO BE
PART OF THIS?
>> THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE OF
MINE SINCE 2007 WHEN I GOT IN
THERE AND SAT DOWN AND SAW THE
INCOMPETENCE WITHIN THIS BRANCH
I THOUGHT THIS IS WHY WE ARE IN
TROUBLE EXCESSIVE LAW TAXES
FINES FEES RULES AND REGULATIONS
THESE PEOPLE ARE PUTTING OUT
DAILY.
>> CONFIDENT THIS WILL BE ON THE
BALLOT.
>> CONFIDENT IT WILL BE ON THE
BALLOT AND CONFIDENT IF IT GETS
ON THE BALLOT IT'S GOING TO PASS
PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH WHAT THEY
SEE IN LANSING WE SAID NO.
>> GOT TO GET OUT.
>> THANK YOU SIR GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN NEXT WEEK CORRESPONDENCE
EDITION AND LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR
AND U.S. SENATE RACE AND
EVERYTHING SEE YOU THEN.
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♪