>> WELCOME BACK.
"OFF THE RECORD" STARTS
HAVE RICK PLU TAF AND CHAD
LIVENGOOD ALONG WITH PAUL EGAN.
HERE IS THE RUN DOWN, RIGHT TO
WORK IS MOVING AND THE GOVERNOR
SO ON BOARD.
LATER ON, SCOTT HAGERSTROM FROM
THE MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY WILL BE
ON BOARD.
ALL THIS AND MORE COMING UP
RIGHT NOW, "OFF THE RECORD."
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>> NOW THIS EDITION OF "OFF THE
RECORD" WITH TIM SKUBICK.
>> Tim: THANKS.
WELCOME TO THIS EDITION, RIGHT
TO WORK, HERE IS WHAT WAS GOING
ON IN OUR TOWN YESTERDAY.
>> THE GOVERNOR CONCLUDED THE
ISSUE WOULD NOT GO AWAY SO WHY
NOT CONFRONT IT.
>> THIS IS ABOUT TAKING CARE OF
HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN
ABOUT HOW THEY FREELY WHO THEY
ASSOCIATE WITH.
I DON'T VIEW THIS AS AGAINST THE
UNIONS.
>> TELL THAT TO THESE
DEMONSTRATORS.
MANY HE CONTENDS HE IS NOT UNION
BUSTING.
>> THAT IS NOT THE GOAL.
THIS IS ABOUT THE WORKERS.
>> TELL THAT TO PRESIDENT BOB
KING.
>> THE RIGHT WING FORCES IN
MICHIGAN, THEY ARE TRYING TO
TAKE POWER AWAY FROM WORKING
FAMILIES.
THEY WANT WORKING FAMILIES THAT
HAVE LOWER INCOME AND LESS
SECURITY.
THIS IS ABOUT PARTISANSHIP AND
NOT ABOUT BRINGING THE STATES
TOGETHER.
>> MEANWHILE, THE STATE
DEMOCRATIC LEADER WANTS TO
WITHHOLD FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR THE
BRIDGE AND MASS TRANSIT PROJECT
IN DETROIT IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS
THE BILL.
>> WE ARE REACHING OUT.
WE ARE HOPING WHEN PRESIDENT
OBAMA COMES TO MICHIGAN THIS
WILL BE ON HIS RADAR SCREEN.
HE IS GOING TO SAY MICHIGAN
DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE
MIDDLE-CLASS, WHY SHOULD WE BE
BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE
SURE THE GOVERNOR IS ABLE TO
DELIVER ON HIS PROMISES.
>>> LET'S BEGIN WITH THIS STORY.
WHY DID THE GOVERNOR DO WHAT HE
DID?
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE
FROM CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS,
BUSINESS GROUPS AND MEMBERS OF
HIS OWN PARTY.
HE SAID, LET'S NOT THIS LINGER
ON FOR TOO MUCH LONGER.
LET'S DO THIS NOW.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE HE RECOGNIZED
THIS HAD REACHED CRITICAL MASS.
HE WAS GOING TO BE FACED WITH A
PRETTY STARK CHOICE, EITHER
SIGNING OR VOTING A BILL SO STEP
IN AND GET THE BEST HE COULD AND
MAKE A DECISION.
>> Tim: WHAT DEAL DID HE GET?
>> HE WANTED COOPERATION WITH
REPUBLICANS FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION.
>> HE SAYS HE IS NOT A HORSE
TRADER.
I'M ON THE RECORD, I AM NOT A
HORSE TRADER?
>> HE THOUGHT HE WAS NEGOTIATING
WITH THE UNIONS ON THIS.
ALTHOUGH AGAIN, IT'S NOT
ENTIRELY CLEAR WHAT THEY CAN
CONCEIVABLY GIVEN UP.
HE SAID YESTERDAY THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT UNIONS COULD HAVE
POUT TABLE THAT COULD HAVE
STOPPED THIS.
>> THE UNIONS SAID THEY PUT ON
THE TABLE EVERYTHING THEY COULD.
WHEN THEY PUT IT ON TABLE, IF
YOU DON'T LIKE IT TELL US WHAT
YOU WANT.
THEY NEVER GOT A RESPONSE BACK
FROM THE GOVERNOR.
TAKE THIS TO RICHARDVILLE AND
NEVER GOT BEYOND IT?
>> WE'RE HEARING CONFLICTING
STORIES, HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS
TRANSPIRED THAT THE UNIONS
DIDN'T COME ACROSS.
THEY DIDN'T COME ACROSS WITH
ENOUGH.
UNIONS SAYING WHAT DO YOU WANT.
THEY KNEW THE DAY AFTER THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION THEY WERE
GOING TO HAVE TO START TRADING
STUFF.
THEY WERE GOING TO AVOID THIS.
>> SNYDER NEEDED BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT WAS REGIONAL TRANSIT
AUTHORITY.
HE COULD DO EVERYTHING ELSE JUST
WITH REPUBLICANS.
IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS
MUCH LEFT.
>> Tim: AS I ASKED, WHY DID IT
TAKE THREE YEARS TO GET HERE?
>> THERE IS TWO SCHOOLS OF
THOUGHT ON THAT.
THE CYNICAL VIEW THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT HE WAS OKAY WITH
AND HE PLAYED DOWN THE SUPPORT.
>> BUT THERE IS A VIDEO FROM THE
CAMPAIGN WHERE CANDIDATE SNYDER
SAID THAT IF IT WAS PUT IN FRONT
OF HIM HE WOULD SIGN IT.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO THERE IS THAT SCHOOL OF
THOUGHT.
>> AND THE OTHER VIEW IS WHAT
THE GOVERNOR SAYS HIMSELF IS
THAT HE FELT THERE WERE OTHER
PRIORITIES EVEN AS RECENTLY
YESTERDAY, HE SAID IF IT WAS
TOTALLY UP TO HIM HE WOULDN'T
BRING IT UP AT THIS TIME.
IF IT CAME TO BE AN ISSUE, IT
WAS PUT ON THE TABLE WHETHER HE
WANTED IT OR NOT.
HE TOOK A POSITION HE DOES
BELIEVE IN THERE SHOULD BE
FREEDOM FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE.
>> I GOT THIS STORY ABSOLUTELY
WRONG.
I READ THIS GUY THE WRONG WAY.
I THOUGHT HE WAS BUYING TIME TO
WAIT THIS OUT.
THE LONGER WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT
I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
WHEN HE SAID IT'S NOW NOT ON MY
AGENDA, I SAID HERE IT GOES.
I GOT THAT WRONG.
>> YOU WEREN'T ALONE IN THAT.
YOU WEREN'T ALONE IN THAT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WONDERING IF THIS WAS TAP DANCE
TO GET ALL THE WAY THROUGH LAME
DUCK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS OR IF
THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE GOING
ON.
AND WAS THIS JUST A CHANCE TO
MAKE LABOR TWIST IN THE BREEZE
FOR HAVING PUSHED PROPOSAL 2.
>> HE'S NOT A VINDICTIVE GUY?
>> HE IS NOT, BUT LIKE WHAT
HAPPENED TODAY HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
HE SAID HE WARNED THEM IF THEY
WENT AHEAD WITH PROPOSAL 2, TO
COME UP AND IT MIGHT BE RIGHT TO
WORK.
IN FACT THAT IS WHAT HE SAID.
HE WAS NOT WRONG.
>> THE GOVERNOR SAID LOOK AT THE
POLITICAL REALITY.
THERE IS NO BETTER TIME FOR ME
STRATEGIC STANDPOINT THAN TO DO
THIS IN LAME DUCK AND DO IT WITH
A 64-MEMBER MAJORITY AND GO TO
59 AND SIX REPUBLICANS IN THE
HOUSE THAT VOTED AGAINST IT.
THOSE SIX WOULD VOTE IT AGAINST
IT NEXT MONTH.
THEN IT WOULD BE THREE VOTES.
THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PASS
THE BILL NEXT SESSION.
>> ONE OF THE REASONS IT WAS
INTENSE THEY SAW THIS AS LAST
MOMENT TO GET THIS DONE.
ALL THE PEOPLE RETIRING GOING
OUT THE DOOR WHO COULD CAST THE
VOTE.
>> THAT IS WHY IT IS INTERESTING
IN TERMS OF THE ARGUMENTS.
IT'S HARD TO ARGUMENT AGAINST
FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND GOVERNMENT
MAKES THE ARGUMENT WELL.
UNIONS HAVE TO MAKE A BETTER
CASE THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB
AND LET PEOPLE DECIDE ON MERITS.
SOME MIGHT ASK SHOULDN'T THE
SAME ARGUMENT APPLY TO THE
LEGISLATION.
IF THESE BILLS ARE SO GOOD, WHY
NOT GIVE THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO
REALLY HAVE A LOOK AT THEM.
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE DONE SO
QUICKLY AND GAVE THE POLITICAL
ANSWER.
>> MORE BOLGER SAYS THIS IS NOT
A NEW ISSUE.
I BROUGHT IT UP TWO YEARS AGO.
IT'S BEEN ON THE TABLE.
>> WHY DO WE HOLD HEARINGS AT
ALL?
>> Tim: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
IF YOU GOT THE VOTES YOU RUN THE
STUFF.
WOULD THE HEARINGS HAVE MADE ANY
DIFFERENCE IN THIS DEBATE?
>> NO, IT WOULD HAVE DRAGGED IT
ON FOR A COUPLE MORE DAYS.
IT COULD HAVE MADE A COUPLE
HOUSE REPUBLICANS A LITTLE MORE
SKITTISH ABOUT VOTING FOR IT.
>> I THINK HEARINGS WHERE PEOPLE
ARE MAKING ARGUMENTS TRYING TO
FIND SOMETHING NEW, IT COULD
CONCEIVABLY DELAYED THIS INTO
THE NEXT SESSION.
>> Tim: WHAT IS NEXT FOR LABOR?
WHAT DO THEY DO?
>> REMEMBER FOR A LONG TIME.
>> ARE THEY GOING TO SHOW UP
AGAIN... WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO
DO?
>> WHAT THEY DID THIS WEEK TIMES
TWO.
YEAH, THERE IS 2,000 TO 3,000
PEOPLE THERE WILL BE DOUBLE THAT
ON TUESDAY.
>>> WE ASSUME THEY LOSE, DO THEY
DO RECALLS OR PETITION DRIVE OR
WAIT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION
CYCLE?
>> THEY SAY A RECALL OF GOVERNOR
SNYDER IS PROBABLY IMPRACTICAL.
>> THEY CAN TAKE LAWMAKERS ONE
BY ONE DOWN IF THEY WANT TO.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS
BEEN PUT OUT THERE, RIGHT NOW
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MARGIN IN
THE NEXT LEGISLATURE THAT THE
PROSPECTS FOR THE DEMOCRATS
TAKING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OR
SENATE APPEAR PRETTY DIM, BUT IF
YOU CAN FIND A COUPLE VULNERABLE
REPUBLICANS ESPECIALLY IN THE
SENATE AND DO A REPEAT OF THE
1982 RECALLS THEN ALL OF A
SUDDEN THINGS THAT SEEM TO BE
REALLY CHALLENGING IN 2014 LOOK
WITHIN REACH.
>> THE OTHER ISSUE THAT HURT
SOMEBODY RIGHT NOW IS LABOR IS
ON ITS HEELS.
THEY SPENT MILLIONS ON PROPOSAL
2 AND LOST.
THERE ARE UNION MEMBERS THAT ARE
QUESTIONING THE DECISION TO GO
AHEAD WITH PROPOSAL 2.
THEY ARE QUESTIONING WHAT WAS
THE POINT OF NEGOTIATIONS.
THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF WEEKS WHERE EVERYBODY
WAS TOLD TO KEEP THEIR HEADS
DOWN AND KEEP QUIET.
NOW, THEY GOT WHAT THEY FEARED.
IT'S NOT IN THE BEST POSITION TO
FIGHT A BATTLE AGAINST STATE
LAWMAKERS.
>> ONE THING THEY DO A BALLOT
INITIATIVE OF LAW AT 8% OF THE
VOTE TO GATHER SIGNATURES
BECAUSE THIS RIGHT TO WORK BILL.
>> WILL BE A REFERENDUM.
>> BUT THAT IS NOT OUT OF THE
REALM OF POSSIBILITIES BUT THEY
WOULD HAVE TO PUT AN INITIATIVE
ON THE BALLOT THAT WOULD NEED A
YES VOTE.
REFERENDUM THEY COULD PUT THIS
LAW ON THE BALLOTED AND GET YOU
TO VOTE NO.
>>> LET'S EXTEND THIS.
RIGHT TO WORK STATE OR NOT RIGHT
TO WORK STATE.
MICHIGAN IS POSTER CHILD OF THE
LABOR MOVEMENT.
IT WAS BORN HERE.
IF THEY CAN DO IT IN MICHIGAN,
CAN'T THEY DO IT IN KANSAS?
IN MISSOURI?
IT'S A NATIONAL MOVEMENT NOW
BECAUSE IT HAPPENED IN MICHIGAN.
>> THE SYMBOLIC VALUE IS LARGE
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THAT BECAUSE
IT WILL BE 24th STATE.
THAT PUTS THE RIGHT TO WORK
MOVEMENT CLOSE TO HALFWAY.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE
ANGLE, GETTING THE PRESIDENT
INVOLVED.
WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT?
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN
AGAINST RIGHT TO WORK LAWS AND
REITERATED NOW A NEW WRINKLE THE
DEMOCRATS LOBBYING FOR WHITE
RAIL OF WOODROW AVENUE AND EVEN
THE GOVERNOR'S BRIDGE.
I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING
THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD TRY TO
DERAIL A PROJECT THAT WOULD PUT
ORGANIZED LABOR TO WORK.
>> Tim: THAT IS THE ONLY
LEVERAGE THEY HAVE TO GET A VOTE
OUT OF THIS GUY.
DO WE AGREE OR NOT?
>> HE MAY NOT WANT THE BRIDGE
THAT BAD AT THIS POINT.
>> Tim: THE GOVERNOR?
>> LAST TIME I CHECKED....
>> THE OTHER THING TO A LOT OF
THE REPUBLICAN SUPPORTERS OF
THIS WAS SAYING THIS REALLY
HAPPENED INDEPENDENT OF PROPOSAL
2.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
DO BELIEVE THAT?
>> CERTAINLY NOT FOR SOME
PEOPLE.
>> CLEARLY THERE IS SOME LINKAGE
THERE.
>> THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN
REGARDLESS OF PROPOSAL 2.
THAT IS WHAT THE LABOR GUYS WILL
TELL YOU.
IT WAS TEED UP.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
LOOKING AT THIS.
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
PROPOSAL 2 BEING A SWEEPING
VISTA OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY
REPEALING ALL KINDS OF THINGS
HAD BEEN A SIMPLE ONE SENTENCE
THOU SHALT NOT MESS WITH
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS.
>> OR RIGHT TO WORK.
DON'T MESS WITH IT.
YOU WERE GOING TO SAY, WHAT
ABOUT THE ACTIVITY OF MORE DID
HE VOSS AND MORE RISER?
>> VERY QUIETLY.
THAT DID YOU THREAT REPUBLICANS
WITH RECALLS.
>> I SAW YOUR COLUMN.
IT WAS INTERESTING THAT DICK
DEVOSS SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THE
TIME WAS RIGHT TO WORK.
HE IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE
THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDING THE TV
ADS ON THIS.
HE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT PUT
THIS ISSUE IN FRONT OF THE
GOVERNOR IN A WAY THAT MADE IT
HARD....
>> IT'S THE INCIDENTS BETWEEN A
CANDIDATE AND BEING SOMEONE WHO
IS JUST....
>> IN FAIRNESS TO HIM BECAUSE
PEOPLE WOULD EXPLAIN CHANGE OF
HEART WAS PROPOSAL 2.
THAT SAID, THAT WAS THE STRAW
THAT BROKE MR. DE VOGS S'S BACK?
>> THEY THOUGHT PROPOSAL 2 WAS
REFERENDUM ON RIGHT TO WORK.
>> EVEN THOUGH WE NEVER HAD
DEBATE ON PROPOSAL 2 CAMPAIGN.
>>> LET'S CALL IN SCOTT AT THIS
POINT.
>> SCOTT HAGERSTROM FROM THE
MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF AMERICANS
FOR PROSPERITY L HE SPENT 15
YEARS IN THE PROCESS AND FIVE
AND A HALF YEARS TO A STATE
REPRESENTATIVE.
HE HAS BEEN WITH THIS
ORGANIZATION FOR THE LAST FOUR
AND A HALF YEARS.
>> WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM, SIR.
PAUL HAS THE FIRST QUESTION.
>> WHAT STATE IS GOLD STANDARD
IN TERMS OF PUBLIC POLICY AS YOU
ADVANCE YOUR AGENDA, WHAT STATE
WOULD YOU POINTED THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SEE MICHIGAN BECOME THE
MORE LIKE?
>> IN TERMS OF JOBS AND LIMITED
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC IT WILL
BE, PROBABLY TEXAS IS RIGHT UP
THERE.
NO INCOME TAX, TRITE WORK STATE.
THERE IS A LOT OF JOB GROWTH
THERE.
ANOTHER STATE WE ARE LOOKING IS
INDIANA.
THEY ADDED 43,000 JOBS SINCE
PASSING.
WE WANT AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
THERE IS JOBS COMING TO MICHIGAN
AND INCOMES ARE GROWING.
NOT THE ENVIRONMENT FROM 2001 TO
2010 WHERE WE LOST POPULATION.
IN 1960s WE WERE ECONOMIC
POWERHOUSE.
WE HAVE OVER 9% UNEMPLOYMENT.
AND GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS ARE COMMITTED TO
RETURNING MICHIGAN TO ECONOMIC
PROMINENCE.
WE DON'T AGREE ON EVERY ISSUE.
I THINK THEY ARE COMMITTED TO
THOSE VALUES.
WE WANT TO MOVE MICHIGAN
FORWARD.
>> WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT
THAT PERIOD, IT WAS A PERIOD
WHEN THE UNION MOVEMENT WAS VERY
STRONG.
THAT THE CLOTHES SHOP WAS A
REALITY IT WAS THERE -- CLOSED
SHOP WAS A REALITY.
HOW DOES IT HELP RESTORE IT?
>> AS THE PROBLEM NOW.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD ECONOMY.
WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE AND
WE'RE LOSING JOBS AND LOSING
POPULATION.
ALL OF US KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE
HAD TO LEAVE THE STATE OR
CONSIDER LEAVING THE STATE FOR
GOOD EMPLOYMENT.
TIMES ARE CHANGING.
>> GIVING PEOPLE NOT TO JOIN THE
UNION WILL HAVE THEM STAY HERE?
>> WHEN WE LOOK AT COMPANIES AND
WHERE THEY WANT TO INVEST THEIR
DOLLARS THEY SPECIFICALLY RULED
OUT STATES, SINCE THE END OF THE
RECESSION....
>> Tim: THIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS
THEY ARE NOT HUNTING FOR JOBS IN
OTHER STATES.
WHAT DO THEY THINK ABOUT
MICHIGAN IS IRRELEVANT.
>> I THINK THAT IS MISTAKEN.
THEY ARE GARDENING TO GROW JOBS
HERE AND BRING NEW JOBS AND NEW
INVESTMENT.
>> AND A POLICE OFFICER IN
DETROIT OR FIREFIGHTER IN GRAND
RAPIDS BE EXEMPTED?
>> THERE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT
CONSTITUTION, THEY ARE
PROHIBITED FROM STRIKING UNDER
PA-12.
THEY ARE CONCERNED N WITHIN
LEGISLATIVE CIRCLES ABOUT PA-12.
WE CAN LIVE WITH POLICE AND FIRE
EXCEPTIONS.
THERE MAY BE A DUE PROCESS
QUESTION THERE AND WE'LL SEE IF
THERE IS A LAWSUIT.
>> Tim: YOU HAVE BEEN CRITICAL
OF THIS GOVERNOR.
WHERE ARE YOU ON GOVERNOR SNYDER
TODAY?
>> BASED ON THE STATEMENT
YESTERDAY, VERY, VERY PLEASED.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE ON
EVERY ISSUE.
WE DON'T AGREE ON EVERY ISSUE.
WE WANT ECONOMIC LIBERTY BUT I
THINK ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE,
IF I COULD HAVE TWO THINGS TO
PUT US FORWARD ECONOMICALLY AND
BRING JOBS, IT WOULD BE PASSING
RIGHT TO WORK LEGISLATION AND
EVENTUAL LIMITATION OF THE STATE
INCOME TAX.
WE ARE COMPETING WITH NINE
STATES THAT HAVE NO INCOME TAX.
>> Tim: IS THAT NEXT ON THE
AGENDA?
>> THAT HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA
FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE.
>> IF THE RIGHT TO WORK
LEGISLATION IS PASSED, WHAT
IMPACT WILL IT HAVE ON THE
POLITICAL POWER OF THE UNIONS
AND AS A MAJOR FUND-RAISER OF
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF UNION
PROTESTORS THERE YESTERDAY.
THE THING FOR THEM NOTHING HAS
TO CHANGE.
THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BELONG TO A
UNION AND CONTINUE TO
COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN AND IF THEY
MAKE A GOOD SERVICE, PEOPLE WILL
CONTINUE TO PAY DUES AND
CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR INCOME
BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO EARN THAT.
THEY WON'T HAVE A CAPTIVE
AUDIENCE AND REQUIRED TO PAY
UNION DUES.
>> DO YOU EXPECT THE LAW WILL
HAVE AN AFFECT ON MEMBERSHIP IN
MICHIGAN?
>> POLLING SHOWS THAT SOME WOULD
DROP THEIR MEMBERSHIP BUT THE
UNIONS HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED
THEIR MEMBERSHIP.
THEY KNEW THEY WERE COLLECTING
THE MONEY NO MATTER WHAT THEY
DID.
THEY WILL HAVE TO OFFER ON
OFFERING SERVICES AND BE A GOOD
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WORKERS.
IF THEY DO THAT, I DON'T THINK
UNION MEMBERSHIP WILL DROP AT
ALL.
>> HOW ARE YOU PREPARED TO HELP
REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED WITH YOU
WHO MAY BECOME THE TARGETS OF
POLITICAL ACTION, EITHER RECALLS
OR MAYBE SOME AGGRESSIVE
ACTIVITY IN 2014?
>> SURE.
WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN
ELECTIONS OR SUPPORTING
CANDIDATES.
HOWEVER, WE WILL GO THROUGHOUT
THE STATE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE WINNING THE
HEARTS AND MINDS OF MICHIGAN
RESIDENTS AND WE WILL EDUCATE
THEM ABOUT THIS LAW AND BENEFITS
THAT WILL OCCUR TO MICHIGAN AND
TO OUR ECONOMY.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
>> IS THAT IN YOUR GAME PLAN
RIGHT NOW?
IS THERE ADVERTISING EFFORT THAT
WILL BE LAUNCHED?
>> THERE NO BUDGET, THERE IS NO
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.
IT'S GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND
TOUGHER, TOWN TO TOWN.
>> Tim: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR
MONEY FROM?
>> WE HAVE OVER 3,000 DONORS.
>> Tim: OUTSIDE MICHIGAN MONEY?
>> VERY, VERY LITTLE.
>> Tim: SO YOU DON'T HAVE A
BENEFACTOR SENDING YOU MONEY?
>> I DON'T, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> EDDIE MOUR OON ONE OF YOUR
DONORS?
>> WE DON'T DISCUSS OUR DONORS
AND OUR DONORS ARE FREE TO
DISCLOSE THEMSELVES BUT WE DON'T
DO THAT.
>> Tim: WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT?
>> WE DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE
MAKE A PROMISE WE WON'T, DONORS
ARE OUR MEMBERS AND THEY FALL
UNDER THE MEMBERSHIP.
>> Tim: ARE YOU GOING TO COME
BACK WITH THE BALLOT PROPOSAL ON
TAX INCREASES AGAIN?
>> THAT WASN'T OUR BALLOT
PROPOSAL BUT WE DID SUPPORT IT.
I CONGRATULATE THE GOVERNOR.
THEY DID VERY GOOD JOB.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ON THE
BALLOT IN THE FUTURE BUT THAT IS
NOT A PRIORITY AT THIS TIME.
>> WHAT IS YOUR NEXT PRIORITY?
>> TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR
LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
>> Tim: WHAT WOULD LIMIT
GOVERNMENT IN YOUR MIND?
>> THE INCOME TAX, THE INCOME
TAX.
LIKE I SAID WE COMPETE WITH NINE
STATES.
>> HOW WOULD YOU REPLACE THAT
REVENUE?
>> THROUGH ECONOMIC GROWTH.
I THINK WE CAN STILL DO A LOT OF
CUTTING IN GOVERN.
>> IF YOU TOOK AWAY COUPLE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, IT WOULD BE
ECONOMIC GROWTH TO REPLACE THAT
MONEY.
HOW LONG, YOUR LIFETIME?
>> WE COULD CUT IT BY .1% FOR
NEXT TEN YEARS.
WE NEED, THERE ARE NINE OTHER
STATES THAT DO IT.
WE COULD HAVE A HIGHER SALES
TAX.
>> WHERE DOES SERVICE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE FIT INTO THE
PROSPERITY AGENDA AMERICANS FOR
PROSPERITY?
>> INFRASTRUCTURE IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE THE FIFTH HIGHEST TAX ON
GASOLINE IN THE COUNTRY.
SO CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO COME UP
WITH SOLUTIONS.
WE BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE
MORE MONEY PUT INTO THE ROADS.
WE BELIEVE IT NEED TO COME FROM
THE MONEY THAT IS ALREADY
COLLECTED.
>> Tim: THE GOVERNOR IS WRONG
WHEN HE SAYS HE NEEDS $1.4
BILLION IN NEW REVENUE?
>> HE NEEDS IT FROM THE PUBLIC
BUT TAKE IT FROM OTHER AREAS OF
THE GOVERNMENT.
>> Tim: SO HE NEEDS TO CLOSE
SOME DEPARTMENTS DOWN AND PUT IT
INTO ROADS?
>> WE DO NEED TO BE MORE
EFFICIENT.
>> WHERE?
WHAT WOULD BE THE SORT OF
THINGS?
>> MacKINAC STUDY HAS A GREAT
STUDY THEY DID, STATE AND LOCAL
AND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
CONTRIBUTED THE SAME AMOUNT THAT
PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS TO HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR HEALTH CARE
AND TO THEIR BENEFIT PACKAGE.
THAT WOULD BE A $5.7 BILLION
SAVINGS.
MAYBE AS THE BIT OVERSTATED BUT
IF WE TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF THAT
MONEY AND REQUIRED PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKERS AND CONTRIBUTE THE SAME
TO THEIR PENSIONS AND TO THEIR
HEALTHCARE, IT WOULD BE ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU COULD
REDUCE INCOME TAX AND REALLY PUT
MICHIGAN ON THE PATH TO ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
>> 20% OF THE PREMIUM HEALTHCARE
HOW MUCH DO YOU CONTRIBUTE TO
YOUR HEALTHCARE?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
THEY ONLY PROVIDE HEALTH CARE
FOR MYSELF AND I HAVE HEALTH
SAVING ACCOUNT.
THEY DON'T PROVIDE FOR MY
FAMILY.
STATE GOVERNMENT WORKERS I THINK
IT IS PROVIDED FOR THEM AND
THEIR FAMILY.
>> Tim: SO YOU ARE ASKING FOR
NEW REVENUE BUT IF HE DOES, YOU
ARE GOING TO HAVE A FIGHT ON HIS
HANDS WITH YOU GUYS?
>> WE WILL OPPOSE IT.
>> Tim: TAKE HIM TO THE MAT ON
THIS ONE?
>> WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE
PROPOSAL IS.
>> DO YOU COME TO AN
ACCOMMODATION ON THE NEW BRIDGE?
>> WE BELIEVE THERE WILL BE NEW
BRIDGE.
WE BELIEVE WHAT THEY DID, GO TO
CONGRESS AND GET A FRANCHISE AND
TO A PRIVATE COMPANIES.
LET'S NOT USE FEDERAL MONEY.
>> Tim: THAT IS NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN?
>> THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> Tim: THANK YOU, SIR.
OUR THANKS TO PAUL, RICK AND
CHAD.
DON'T FORGET OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
AND DON'T FORGET WE'RE ON
TWITTER AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT
WEEK ON "OFF THE RECORD."
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