♪

WELCOME BACK.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS SENATOR

JEREMY MOSS WHO WANTS MORE

TRANSPARENCY IN STATE

GOVERNMENT.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE

HOUSE COME TO A DEAL THE

GOVERNOR IS LOOKING AT AND

MS. WHITMER SAYS NO TO BEING

VICE PRESIDENT ON THE PANEL IS

KYLE MELINN, LAUREN GIBBONS AND

RICK PLUTA.

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 VAN GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS

WITH NEARLY THREE DECADES OF

EXPERIENCE PROVIDING STRATEGIC

COUNSEL TO LEADERS IN THE

PUBLIC, PHILANTHROPIC, AND

PRIVATE SECTORS.

VAN GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS

SPECIALIZES IN DIGITAL

COMMUNICATIONS, ISSUE

MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

AND REPRESENTATION MANAGEMENT

SERVICES FOR COMMUNITIES,

ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS ACROSS

THE MIDWEST.

INFORMATION AT VANGUARD-PA.COM.

AND NOW THIS EDITION OF OFF THE

RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.

♪

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WELCOME

TO OFF THE RECORD.

WELL, THIS IS AN INTERESTING

STORY.

WE SHOW UP ON THE HOUSE FLOOR

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND THE

SPEAKER AND THE DEMOCRATIC

LEADERS SAY WE GOT A DEAL IN THE

K-12 BUDGET TELL US.

>> THAT WAS PRETTY UNEXPECTED

AND VERY INTERESTING THE HOUSE

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE

APPARENTLY COME TOGETHER, WE ARE

GOING TO SEE MORE DETAILS A

LITTLE BIT LATER THIS MORNING.

>> WE ARE TAPING ON THURSDAY.

>> YES SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE

DETAILS AND WHAT THEY ENDED UP

COMING TO A CONCLUSION ON BUT

IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE NO

WHERE IN THIS TALK WAS GOVERNOR

WHITMER SO WE HAVE A BIPARTISAN

DEAL BUT APPARENTLY NOT ONE THE

GOVERNOR IS ON BOARD WITH.

>> I'M HERE HOPING THAT SOME OF

YOU GUYS CAN EXPLAIN IT TO ME

BECAUSE.

>> AS TO WHERE SHE WAS?

SHE SAID SHE WAS NOT PART OF THE

NEGOTIATIONS SO WHAT ARE THESE

GUYS SUPPOSED TO DO?

>> WE ARE ALL TRYING TO AND

AGAIN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG I

THINK WE ARE ALL TRYING TO

FIGURE OUT WHAT THE END GAME IS

HERE OR AND IF, IN FACT, THERE

IS ONE.

>> WELL I THINK THE HOUSE

DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO GET

WHATEVER THEY CAN OUT OF THE

BUDGET AND BECAUSE THEY DON'T

HAVE THE KIND OF LEVERAGE LET'S

SAY THE SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE

THE SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE A TOOL

THEY CAN USE TO HOLD UP THE

BUDGETS ON THE FLOOR.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A FILIBUSTER

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BUT NOT BAD

MEDIA EFFECT AND NOT GET INTO

IT.

>> IT'S A VOTE THAT REQUIRES

SUPER MAJORITIES AND THAT IS

WHERE THE LEVERAGE COMES IN.

>> IN ORDER TO SEND A FINISHED

BUDGET TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK

THAT TAKES EFFECT NOW THEY NEED

FOUR DEMOCRATS TO DECIDE WITH

THE REPUBLICANS TO DO THAT.

>> THE SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE

LEVERAGE AND HAVE BEEN

NEGOTIATING GETTING THINGS IN

THE BUDGET ALONG THE WAY THE

HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOTHING AND

THEY CAN SHOVE A BUDGET BY THE

HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND THEY CAN'T

DO SQUAT ABOUT IT SO THEY DECIDE

TO ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE AND PUT

THEIR NEGOTIATIONS OUT IN THE

PUBLIC AND SAY LOOK WE GOT

SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED AND THIS

IS WHAT WE GOT ACCOMPLISHED.

I THINK THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING WITH

THE GOVERNOR ON THAT AND ARE

OPENING THEMSELVES UP TO GETTING

RUN OVER MAYBE LATER IN THE

PROCESS.

>> DON'T YOU THINK THEY AT LEAST

GAVE HER A HEADS UP THIS WAS

COMING?

>> YEAH, WELL YEAH THEY GAVE HER

A HEADS UP.

>> AND BASICALLY GO AHEAD AND DO

IT.

>> WELL.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL EVERY GOVERNOR IS

CONSEQUENTIAL BECAUSE ANY BILL

HAS TO GET A GOVERNOR'S

SIGNATURE, BUT THE QUESTION --

THE ISSUE THERE IS HOW

CONSEQUENTIAL A GOVERNOR WILL BE

BECAUSE THIS HAS BECOME A GAME

OF BUDGET CHICKEN AS WE GET

CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE OCTOBER

1ST DEADLINE TO GET THIS DONE

BECAUSE THAT IS THE START OF THE

STATE'S FISCAL YEAR.

>> LET'S POINT OUT OKAY THEY PUT

30 MILLION IN FOR SPECIAL ED SHE

WAS AT 120 MILLION SO THAT IS A

PRETTY GOOD GAP AND DID CLOSE

THE SPENDING GAP BETWEEN THE

HAVE AND HAVE NOT AND THAT IS

GOOD AND STARTED 10,000 UNDER

DANNY DEGREE AND OTHERS SO THAT

IS A MOVEMENT AND WHY NOT SEND

HER THAT.

>> I THINK IT REALLY FLIPPED THE

SCRIPT ON WE WERE ALL TALKING

ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THE

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE

GOVERNOR AND THE REPUBLICAN

LEADERS AND NOW THE HOUSE

DEMOCRATS HAVE REALLY INSERTED

THEMSELVES INTO THIS

CONVERSATION SAYING WE ARE A

PLAYER, YOU NEED US TO GET

DEMOCRATIC VALUES IN THIS BUDGET

AND SO YOU KNOW IT IS KIND OF A

POWER MOVE AT THIS POINT TO SAY,

HEY, YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE NOT

GOING TO COME TO THE NEGOTIATING

TABLE WE ARE.

>> AND THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE

HERE TOO TIM I DON'T KNOW IF THE

HOUSE DEMOCRATS REALLY ARE

SEEING THIS BUDGET THROUGH THE

LENS OF THE GOVERNOR AND WHAT

SHE IS LOOKING AT.

FROM WHAT I WAS ABLE TO GATHER

YESTERDAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR

THEY SUSPECT WHAT THE GOVERNOR

IS DOING IS HIDING IN THE WEEDS

AND WAKING FOR THE REPUBLICANS

TO GIVE HER A BUDGET SO SHE CAN

GO LINE ITEM THE HECK OUT OF IT

AND KILL A BUNCH OF REPUBLICAN

THINGS AND DRIVE THEM BACK TO

THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

AND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS DON'T

KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO

ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE AND IF

THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET

ANYTHING OUT OF THAT PROCESS,

THEY ARE SKEPTICAL AND THINK

GRANHOLM TRIED THAT BACK IN 09

AND IT DID NOT WORK OUT WELL,

THE REPUBLICANS JUST LOOKED AT

THEIR LINE ITEMS AND WERE LIKE

WHATEVER AND THEN JUST MOVED ON.

SO THEY ARE SAYING HEY LOOK IF

WE CAN GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT

NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND

DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE

WE WILL GET OUT OF THE STRATEGY

SHE IS GOING FOR.

>> SOMETIMES THE BEST DEAL IS

THE LEAST WORST DEAL.

>> SHOULD WE BE WRITING THAT

DOWN?

[ LAUGHTER ]

ARE YOU GOING FOR QUOTE OF THE

DAY.

>> WE PAUSED SO WE COULD LET

THAT SOAK IN.

>> IT WAS PROFOUND.

>> IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW,

EVERY LEADER IN THIS AND EVERY

CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE

HAS TO SAY WHERE THEY HAVE

LEVERAGE AND UNDERSTAND WHERE

THEY DON'T AND THE BIG QUESTION

MARK HANGING OVER ALL OF THAT IS

WHAT WILL GRETCHEN WHITMER DO

WHAT WILL GRETCHEN WHITMER

ACCEPT.

>> DON'T YOU THINK LEE CHATFIELD

THE SPEAKER LOVED IT HAVING THE

DEMOCRATIC LEADER STANDING NEXT

TO HIM JUST 35 FEET AWAY FROM

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE MAYBE A

LITTLE MORE AND NOT SAYING HERE

YOU GO GOVERNOR.

>> SHE HAD A QUOTE SAYING SHE

WANTED A BUDGET BEFORE THE

WEEKEND AND I WAS LIKE WHOA.

>> THIS HAS TURNED INTO A VERY

INTERESTING BUDGET NEGOTIATION

NOBODY IS PREDICTING A SHUT DOWN

AND I DON'T THINK WE WILL HAVE

ONE, DO WE STILL ALL AGREE ON

THAT ONE?

>> I DON'T THINK WE WILL GET A

SHUT DOWN WITH THE UAW STRIKE

GOING ON THERE IS ALREADY PEOPLE

OUT OF WORK, FOR GOVERNOR

WHITMER TO SAY 38,000 STATE

EMPLOYEES MANY OF WHOM ARE UNION

EMPLOYEES.

>> SOME U AW MEMBERS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO SHOW

UP FOR WORK I DON'T THINK SHE

WILL DO THAT ESPECIALLY OVER A

TAX INCREASE.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD

LOOK GOOD COMING OUT AT THIS

JUNCTURE AND RECOGNIZE IT'S NOT

SOMETHING THAT MAKES A LOT OF

POLITICAL SENSE AT THIS POINT

ESPECIALLY AS YOU SAID WITH THE

UAW STRIKE THERE IS A LOT OF

PEOPLE OUT OF WORK, IT'S JUST

NOT A GOOD LOOK.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT LOOKING AT

THE GOVERNOR AND HER POSSIBILITY

OF BEING INTERESTED IN VICE

PRESIDENT, TAKE A LOOK.

GIVE ME A ONE WORD REACTION TO

GRETCHEN WHITMER CANDIDATE FOR

VICE PRESIDENT IT'S HAPPENING TO

GRETCHEN GOVERNOR WHITMER LIKE

ALL THE OTHER GOVERNORS BEFORE

HER INCLUDING SOPHIE WILLIAMS

GEORGE ROMNEY BILL MILLIKEN

BLANCHARD ENGLER AND JENNIFER

GRANHOLM AND SNYDER ALL OF THE

MICHIGAN GOVERNORS WERE

MENTIONED FOR POSSIBLE POSITIONS

IN A PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION

AND FOLLOWING HER APPEARANCE AT

THE DETROIT DEMOCRATIC

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE RECENTLY

GOVERNOR WHITMER'S NAME ENTERED

THE CONVERSATION FOR WHAT ELSE?

VICE PRESIDENT.

WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO THAT

ORIGINAL QUESTION GIVE ME A ONE

WORD REACTION TO GRETCHEN

WHITMER CANDIDATE FOR VICE

PRESIDENT.

>> NO.

>> GIVE ME ANOTHER WORD.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, ALL THE

SPECULATION IS SUCH A

DISTRACTION FROM ALL THE STUFF

I'M REALLY TRYING TO GET DONE

AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO ENGAGE

IN IT.

>> HOW FIRM IS THAT NO IF

DRAFTED WILL YOU NOT RUN, FIF

ELECTED WILL YOU NOT SERVE

GOVERNOR DO YOU WANT TO TALK

ABOUT THIS?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET

TIM.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID NO BUT IN

THE HYPER ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA

WORLD WE LIVE IN THERE ARE THOSE

WHO WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER,

IN FACT, THE REPUBLICANS ARE

ALREADY CRITICIZING HER FOR

TRYING TO POLISH HER NATIONAL

IMAGE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE

PROBLEMS BACK HOME.

SO ONE MORE DEFINITIVE QUESTION

TO HER AND AN ANSWER FROM HER.

SAY YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE VICE

PRESIDENT.

>> TIM I DO NOT WANT TO BE A

VICE PRESIDENT.

>> OKAY THAT PUTS THAT TO REST

DOESN'T IT?

>> I AM GRATEFUL TO BE THE 49TH

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF

MICHIGAN, I'M DETERMINED TO SEE

THROUGH ALL OF THE AGENDA ITEMS

THAT I'VE LISTED AND I'M GOING

TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE

FIX THE ROADS ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> SO THE SPECULATION MAY

CONTINUE BUT THE GOVERNOR

MAKINGS IT CLEAR SHE IS NOT

INTERESTED IN VICE PRESIDENT.

SO KYLE WHY WERE YOU LAUGHING

DURING THAT PIECE?

>> I LOVED WATCHING HOW SHE

WANTED TO MANEUVER AROUND YOUR

ANSWERS NEVER REALLY SLAMMING

THE DOOR SHUT BUT TRYING TO MAKE

IT LOOK REALLY CLEAR THAT THAT'S

NOT WHAT SHE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT

NOW.

>> WAIT A MINUTE WHEN SHE SAYS I

DO NOT, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?

>> SHE HANDLED THE QUESTION,

QUESTIONS EXACTLY THE WAY THAT

SHE SHOULD HAVE AND PARTLY

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU

SLAM THE DOOR SHUT ON

SPECULATION BY OTHER PEOPLE,

ONE.

AND, TWO, IF FOR SOME REASON SHE

IS TAPPED FOR THE POSITION THEN

SHE CAN SAY, LOOK, I WAS VERY

HAPPY BEING THE GOVERNOR OF

MICHIGAN BUT MY PARTY CALLED AND

I FELT AN OBLIGATION TO SERVE.

>> I DIDN'T WANT THIS POSITION

BUT THIS POSITION NEEDS, THIS

COUNTRY NEEDS ME RIGHT NOW AND I

AM COMPELLED TO SERVE.

>> WELL YOU KNOW.

>> PUT SENSE INTO THIS.

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE EARLY

FOR SOMEONE TO COME FORWARD AND

SAY I WANT TO BE VICE PRESIDENT

SO I THINK THE NO ANSWER IS

PRETTY EXPECTED AT THIS POINT

AND YOU KNOW AS YOU MENTIONED IN

YOUR PIECE, EVERY MICHIGAN

GOVERNOR AT SOME POINT HAS KIND

OF BEEN THROWN INTO THE

SPECULATION.

IT'S YOU KNOW A PART OF BEING A

DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN

GOVERNOR DEPENDING WHO IS

LOOKING FOR A CANDIDATE.

>> SWING STATE WITH AN EMBLEM

ECONOMY AND A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER

OF ELECTORAL VOTES THE

SPECULATION IS MAGNETIC.

>> IF YOU HAVE A FEMALE AND MALE

ON THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND JOE

BIDEN CALLS HER UP AND NEEDS THE

MIDWEST CONNECTION SHE IS

YOUNGER AND REPRESENTS THE STATE

AND DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE RECORD

AS GOVERNOR BUT GOOD ENOUGH AS

FAR AS THE VAPING GOES.

YOU KNOW IT'S A STATE ON THE

REBOUND, I THINK IT MAKES A LOT

OF SENSE, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY

HER NAME IS BEING MENTIONED.

>> ON THE VAPING SHE SHOWED SHE

HAS SKILLS AND CAN ANNOUNCE SHE

IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE EMERGENCY

RULES BEFORE SHE ANNOUNCES THE

EMERGENCY RULES AND I'M SURE

THAT AFTER THIS THERE WILL BE

THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY HAVE

BEEN ANNOUNCED.

>> LET'S CONTRAST HER HANDING

THE VP THING TO MR. SNYDER DO

YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE DID HE

NEVER PUT IT TO REST AND TOLD ME

AFTERWARDS PRIVATELY I WANTED TO

CONTINUE THE SPECULATION BECAUSE

EVERY TIME THEY ASK ME I COULD

TELL THE MICHIGAN STORY.

SO HE DELIBERATELY LET THE RUMOR

AND THE SPECULATION GO FORWARD.

SHE IS TRYING TO -- I TAKE HER

AT HER WORD, IT IS A DISTRACTION

OKAY AND IT DOES FORCE YOU TO

TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE BALL AND

SHE SAID LOOK I'M WILLING TO

WORK FOR THE TICKET, I HAVE NO

PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL, BUT

YOU KNOW SHE IS FROM MICHIGAN, I

THINK.

>> THERE IS A BUDGET CONTROVERSY

LINGERING OUT THERE AND

SOMETHING LIKE A GOVERNMENT SHUT

DOWN OR A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT

SHUT DOWN DOESN'T EXACTLY BURISH

YOUR CREDENTIALS FOR A NATIONAL

TICKET.

>> SHE HAS NOT SHUNNED THE

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AND BROKE THE

VAPING STUFF IN "THE WASHINGTON

POST."

>> MORE FUEL TO THIS FIRE THAT

SHE IS POSITIONING HERSELF FOR

SOMETHING.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT, SO IT'S NOT AS

THOUGH SHE IS IGNORING THE

NATIONAL PRESENCE, SHE HAS BEEN

FEATURED IN SOME NATIONAL

ARTICLES ABOUT THE MIDWEST TREND

AND IT'S SO I DON'T THINK THAT

SHE IS YOU KNOW SHUNNING THE

SPOTLIGHT NECESSARILY, BUT,

YEAH, I THINK SHE PROBABLY DOES

VIEW ANY SPECULATION FOR A

HIGHER TICKET AT THIS POINT TO

BE A DISTRACTION FROM THE BUDGET

FOR EXAMPLE.

>> YES ESPECIALLY IN THIS

CLIMATE.

>> ANYBODY WHO IS ANNOUNCING OR

POSITIONING OR SAYING THEY WANT

TO RUN FOR VICE PRESIDENT WILL

NOT BE VICE PRESIDENT.

THEY WILL NOT BE ALL RIGHT WE

CAN JUST SAY THAT SO SHE CAN SAY

IN SEPTEMBER LOOK I DON'T WANT

TO BE VICE PRESIDENT BUT IF

SOMEBODY CALLS IN APRIL AND SAYS

WE WANT TO INTERVIEW YOU FOR

VICE PRESIDENT BECAUSE WE THINK

WE NEED YOU TO PREVENT DONALD

TRUMP FROM GETTING A SECOND TERM

SHE WON'T SAY NO TO THAT.

>> ON THE ONE HAND THERE IS

LITTLE TO LOSE BY STOKING THAT

SPECULATION.

THERE IS ONE CRITICAL THING TO

LOSE WHICH IS IF SHE BECOMES A

SYMBOL WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC

COALITION THAT ALSO MAKES HER A

BIGGER TARGET FOR THE REPUBLICAN

PARTY AT THE SAME TIME THAT SHE

IS TRYING TO GET A LOT OF STUFF

DONE IN A TRICKY PERIOD.

>> THEY ALREADY STARTED

SNIPERING AT HER AND DID THE

TODAY SHOW AND LEFT THE BUDGET

NEGOTIATIONS AND THE REPUBLICANS

PUT THE STORY OUT AND DOES PUT

HER IN A TENABLE POSITION LOOK

AT MR. SNYDER HAD IT RIGHT AND

SAYS PEOPLE HIRED ME TO BE

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE IN HIS

FIRST YEAR HE DIDN'T DO ANY

NATIONAL TV SHOWS IF YOU RECALL,

DIDN'T DO "MEET THE PRESS,"

DIDN'T DO "FACE THE NATION" AND

DID NOT DO IT ON PURPOSE BECAUSE

HE SAID THEY HIRED ME TO RUN

MICHIGAN.

>> HE UNDERSTOOD THE PERILS OF

THAT.

>> THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO

THE ISLAND WHY ARE THEY GOING

THERE?

>> BUY ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND

WHEN IT'S NOT AN ELECTION THEY

GO IN SEPTEMBER AND BRING UP

SOME SPEAKERS USUALLY A GOOD

OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE

LOOKING FOR RUNNING FOR OFFICE

IN THE NEXT YEAR TO MEET AND

GREET, TO FUND RAISE, GET THEIR

NAME OUT THERE.

>> MESSAGING.

>> THIS YEAR WE DON'T HAVE A LOT

OF THAT.

THE U.S. SENATE RACE ALREADY

LOOKS KIND OF SEWED UP AND JOHN

JAMES AND QUESTIONS ON

CONGRESSIONAL SIDE WHO IS

RUNNING FOR DIFFERENT OFFICES

AND MIKE PENCE COMING UP, THE

VOOIS PRESIDENT AND SARAH

HUCKABEE SANDERS WILL BE UP

THERE AS WELL THE MINORITY

LEADER FROM THE U.S. HOUSE

MCCARTHY WILL BE THERE AS WELL

SO THERE WILL BE SOME SPEAKERS

BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME

KIND OF ENERGY AS LET'S SAY LAST

YEAR OR IN 2017 WHEN WE HAD THAT

COMPETITIVE GUBERNATORIAL

PRIMARY.

>> THEY ARE PRETTY HEAVY ON THE

KEY NOTES THIS YEAR WITH AS MIKE

PENCE AND SOME OF THOSE NATIONAL

NAMES COMING TO MICHIGAN WHICH

IS SIGNIFICANT BUT, YEAH, IN

TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE BIG RACES

WE KIND OF KNOW WHO IS GOING TO

BE RUNNING FOR A LOT OF THOSE AT

THIS POINT.

>> WELL, IT'S RAMPING UP FOR

TRYING TO KEEP MICHIGAN.

>> RIGHT.

>> IN THE CLUB COLUMN.

>> 2020 IS THE BIG FOCUS HERE.

>> GOING TO THE GRAND HOTEL

BEFORE IT CHANGES OVER TO A

HOLIDAY INN JUNIOR OR WHAT?

I MEAN WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.

THAT STORY HAS RAISED SOME

CONCERN ON THE ISLAND.

>> WELL IT HAS RAISED SOME

CONCERN AND I THINK YOU HAVE

DONE SOME REPORTING ON THIS TIM

GOOD REPORTING ABOUT CONCERNS

ABOUT THE PHILANTHROPY IT HAS

REIGNED ON THE ISLAND WITH

DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND SO FORTH

AND WILL THEY BE AS ENGAGED IN

THE COMMUNITY AS THE FAMILY HAS

BEEN ENGAGED WITH A BIG

CORPORATE ENTITY COMING OUT OF

COLORADO WILL THEY BE AS

CONNECTED THE HOPE IS THAT WILL

BE BUT WHEN YOU CHECK IN WITH A

HIGHER UP THE ANSWER IS NOT

ALWAYS YES.

>> THE MUSSER FAMILY AND

INDEPENDENT OWNERSHIP OF THE

GRAND HOTEL IS PART OF THE

LEGEND OF THE GRAND HOTEL.

/└> LET'S SEE DO WE PUT THE

CHOCOLATES ON THE PILLOW OR NOT,

THAT SORT OF STUFF.

>> I'M JUST WONDERING IF THE

WALL PAPER WILL CHANGE AT ALL IF

THERE IS ANY UPDATES THERE.

>> STAY TUNED LET'S CALL IN OUR

GUEST SENATOR JEREMY MOSS.

DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR JEREMY

MOSS IS IN HIS FIRST TERM IN THE

STATE SENATE.

PRIOR TO THAT HE SERVED IN THE

HOUSE FROM OAKLAND COUNTY...FROM

2014 TO 2018. HE HOLDS A

JOURNALISM DEGREE FROM MSU, IS A

MEMBER OF THE NAACP AND WORKED

WITH THE MAYOR OF SOUTHFIELD AND

TWO FORMER HOUSE MEMBERS BEFORE

GOING THERE HIMSELF.

>> IF YOU ASK I'M NOT INTERESTED

IN BEING VICE PRESIDENT.

>> OKAY I DON'T THINK WE HAD IT

ON THE LIST BUT IF YOU WOULD

LIKE US TO ASK KYLE HAS

SOMETHING DIFFERENT I THINK.

>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE SENATOR

WHEN YOU STARTED IN THE

LEGISLATURE YOU ESTABLISHED A

VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

TIME ANOTHER FRESHMAN BY THE

NAME OF LEE CHATFIELD AND YOU

GUYS WERE BUDDY BUDDY.

>> DOING WELL FOR HIMSELF THESE

DAYS.

>> GREAT AND SPEAKER OF THE

HOUSE YOU ARE IN THE SENATE HAVE

YOU GUYS MAINTAINED THE

CONNECTION, DO YOU STILL FEEL

THERE IS A BIPARTISAN SPIRIT

WITH HIM IN THAT POSITION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE DIFFERENCE NOW IS THAT I'M

SERVING IN ONE CHAMBER AND HE IS

IN THE OTHER BUT WE STILL TALK

TO ONE ANOTHER ESPECIALLY ABOUT

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE

LEGISLATURE AND JUST GOES TO

SHOW YOU YOU CAN LOOK AT THE

BICKERING IN THE HEADLINES BUT

WE GET ALONG WITH ONE ANOTHER

AND ABLE TO WORK WITH ONE

ANOTHER AND GOES TO THE BIG

QUESTION I DON'T THINK WE WILL

HEAD TO A BUDGET AND GOVERNMENT

SHUT DOWN BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING

TO ONE ANOTHER.

THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING TO THE

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND YOU KNOW

PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND LEE

COMMUNICATE ALL THE TIME ABOUT

WHAT'S GOING ON IN LANSING AND

SO THERE IS A CAMARADERIE THERE.

>> WHAT WERE THE OPTICS

YESTERDAY OF THE DEMOCRATIC

LEADER SPEAKER DOING A DEAL AND

THE GOVERNMENT NEAR BEING ON THE

OUZ L -- OUTSIDE AND LOOKING IN?

>> LOOK AT THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

>> THIS IS A NON-STORY.

>> THIS IS A NON-STORY.

>> WHY?

>> THE GOVERNOR IS INVOLVED IN

THE DISCUSSIONS AND HAS BEEN

CALLING LEADERS INTO HER OFFICE

AND I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD

SHE MIGHT HAVE EMPOWERED THEM TO

NEGOTIATE ON THEIR OWN AND COME

TO HER WHEN THEY HAVE BROKERED A

FINAL DEAL.

>> DID SHE TELL YOU TO SAY THAT?

>> SHE DID NOT TELL ME TO SAY

THAT.

>> TENSION BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE

DEMOCRATS AND THE GOVERNOR?

>> NOT A LOT OF TENSION.

>> NOT A LOT BUT THERE IS SOME.

>> WELL YOU KNOW I THINK

NATURALLY YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING

TO HAVE GROWING PAINS JUST

NATURALLY SPEAKING, BUT AT THE

END OF THE DAY I'M REALLY

EXCITED THAT WE HAVE A

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AFTER EIGHT

YEARS UNDER REPUBLICAN CONTROL

AND MY FIRST FOUR YEARS UNDER

REPUBLICAN CONTROL AND WE HAVE

SOMEBODY WHO GOES TO BAT FOR OUR

VALUES EVERY SINGLE DAY AND TOW

TO TOW WITH THE REPUBLICAN

LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND

SENATE SO I'M HAPPY SHE IS AT

THE TABLE BECAUSE IT WILL BE

MORE OF THE SAME DEMOCRATS SHUT

OUT OF THE DISCUSSION AS WE HAVE

BEEN FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND

I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD HAVE

SEEN A REPUBLICAN SPEAKER AND A

DEMOCRATIC LEADER COME TOGETHER

ON ANYTHING IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

>> WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE CONCLUDE

FROM THE DEMOCRATIC AND

REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE HOUSE

GETTING READY TO SEND HER

BUDGETS AND BASICALLY DARING HER

TO LINE ITEM VETO OR ALTOGETHER

VETO BILLS.

>> I THINK THAT IS PART OF

GOVERNING AND PART OF THE

PROCESS.

>> IT'S A LITTLE UNIQUE.

>> IT IS A LITTLE UNIQUE WE ARE

IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT SO FOR THE

LAST EIGHT YEARS YOU KNOW I LOVE

HOW RICK SNYDER SAID I HAD A

BUDGET ON TIME EVERY ONE OF

THESE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT IS

REALLY EASY TO DO WHEN ONE PARTY

IS AT THE TABLE SO THE GOVERNOR

YIELDS HER POWER, THIS LINE ITEM

VETO POWER TO INSERT HERSELF

INTO THE BUDGET.

SHE CAN'T PUT THINGS IN THE

BUDGET BUT SHE CAN CERTAINLY

TAKE THINGS OUT OF THE BUDGET

THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH

SUPPLEMENTALS AFTERWARDS SO THIS

IS PART OF THE PROCESS SO I

DON'T SEE THIS AS SOME SORT OF

FRICTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR

AND THE LEGISLATURE AND

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, THIS

IS PART OF GOVERNING AND IT'S

GOING TO LEAD US TO GETTING A

BUDGET DONE ON TIME I HOPE.

>> YOU SAID SOMETHING VERY

INTERESTING SO DO YOU KNOW

SOMETHING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR

PLANNING VETOES AND THEN SENDING

SUPPLEMENTALS TO THE LEGISLATURE

LATER, IS THAT THE STRATEGY?

>> I THINK THAT HAS BEEN IN

DISCUSSION.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE

STRATEGY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO

HAPPEN.

WE SIT HERE YOU KNOW JUST ABOUT

A DOZEN DAYS BEFORE THE BUDGET

DEADLINE AND I'VE HEARD ALL

SCENARIOS FLOATED OUT THERE.

AND SO WE WILL SEE WHERE WE END

UP IN A FINAL PRODUCT.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS HER POWER

AS GOVERNOR TO INSERT HERSELF IN

THIS BUDGET.

>> IF THEY PUT 500 MILLION INTO

THE BUDGET FOR ROADS WILL YOU

VOTE YES ON THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T

KNOW WHAT THE FINAL M-DOT BUDGET

IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> IT'S A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.

>> IT'S NOT A SIMPLE QUESTION,

TIM.

>> YOU'RE A JOURNALIST YOU

UNDERSTAND SIMPLICITY.

>> AND YOU HAVE NOT ASKED A

SIMPLE QUESTION.

YOU HAVE 500 MILLION WHEN WE

SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT 2.5

BILLION.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> AND MY SOUTH FIELD FOLKS BACK

HOME WILL TELL YOU IT COSTS TO

PAVE ONE LANE OF ROAD FOR ONE

MILE.

>> SENATOR.

>> A MILLION DOLLARS.

>> I GOT THAT IF QUESTION IS IF

THERE IS 500 MILLION IN FOR THE

ROADS WILL YOU VOTE FOR IT?

>> IT'S INSUFFICIENT TIM.

>> YOU ARE VOTING NOW.

>> 500 MILLION IS INSUFFICIENT

AND SLOW OUR DECLINE SO IF

REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IS TELLING

ME 500 MILLION SOLVES THE

PROBLEM FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

>> THAT IS NOT AN ANSWER.

>> YOU ARE SAYING IT'S

COMPLICATED.

>> NO, I DIDN'T.

>> ACTUALLY YOU JUST DID.

>> WITH LONG-TERM ROAD FUNDING

APPARENTLY OFF THE TABLE UNTIL

THE BUDGETS ARE DONE WHAT IS THE

BEST CASE SCENARIO ON ROADS.

>> GO BACK TO THE NEGOTIATION

TABLE ON OCTOBER 1ST AND TALK

HOW WE DIDN'T PUT ROAD FUNDING

IN THE FINAL BUDGET BECAUSE

REPUBLICANS WERE NOT WILLING TO

NEGOTIATE ON ROAD FUNDING SO I

DON'T THINK THAT -- THE PERSON

WHO SITS IN THEIR LIVING ROOM

AND WATCHES THIS PROGRAM I DON'T

THINK THINKS YOU KNOW OH, I WISH

WE HAD OUR ROADS FIXED BY

SEPTEMBER 30 THEY HAVE BEEN

WISHING FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS

OUR ROADS HAVE BEEN BETTER AND

WE THE TACKLE WITH THIS WITHOUT

A SEPTEMBER 30 DEADLINE LOOM

OVER US.

>> YOU WOULD PREFER NOT TO SEE

ADDITIONAL ROAD FUNDING UNTIL

THE LARGER PLAN IS IN PLACE.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN

DOING THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND

IT HASN'T WORKED.

LAST YEAR HOUSE AND SENATE

REPUBLICANS CROWED THEY PUT 175

MILLION INTO ROADS AND SO YOU

KNOW IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR

THE ROADS THAT ARE CRUMBLING IN

MY DISTRICT AND SO THAT'S THE

BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT I DON'T

WANT TO GET INTO THIS HALF BAKED

MEASURES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING

FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT

HAVEN'T SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

WE NEED A DEDICATED, NEW REVENU

STREAM TO GO TOWARDS ROADS.

500 MILLION IN THE BUDGET AIN'T

GOING TO DO IT.

>> YOU MIGHT NOT.

>> GAS TAX INCREASE WILL DO IT

WHY HAVE YOU NOT INTRODUCED A

BILL TO INCREASE THE GAS TAX 45

CENTS YOUR GOVERNOR ASKED?

>> IT WAS BAKED IN THE

GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND THOUGHT

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST

PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW TO ACTUALLY

SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT I'M ONE OF

THOSE PEOPLE THAT IN MAY OF 2015

WANTED THE BUMPER STICKER THAT

SAID DON'T BLAME ME I VOTED FOR

PROPOSAL ONE.

I'M ONE OF A VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO

WOULD SAY THAT.

>> 120%.

>> FOUR YEARS LATER I HAD COFFEE

IN SOUTHFIELD AND SAID I'M

WILLING TO TAKE UNPOPULAR

STANCES AND I KNOW MOST OF THE

PEOPLE IN ROOM VOTED AGAINST IT

BUT THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST

REALISTIC WAY TO GET ROAD

FUNDING AND ONE GUY IN THE BACK

GOES I VOTED FOR IT SO AT LEAST

I HAD HIM.

>> YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE IT BUT YOU

MIGHT NOT LIKE IT BUT WOULD YOU

VTE FOR A STOP GAP BUDGET IF

THAT IS THE ONLY OPTION FOR

KEEPING THINGS GOING COME

OCTOBER 1ST?

>> EXPAND ON THAT.

>> CONTINUATION BUDGET.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY -- I DON'T

THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE,

I DON'T THINK WE WILL GET TO A

POINT WE WILL HAVE TO DO A

CONTINUATION BUDGET.

>> SO ONE PENNY SALES TAX HIKE

YOU WOULD LIKE THAT.

>> PUTTING IT UP TO THE VOTERS

TO DECIDE YES SO THE PROBLEM

WITH THAT PROP ONE CAMPAIGN

THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS THEY

WERE TALKING ABOUT AND LOOK TO

MY SOUTHFIELD CITY COUNCIL DAYS

WE HAD A ROAD FUNDING CRISIS AS

A COUNCIL COUNSEL MEMBER I PUT

99 INTO ROADS OVER 11 YEARS BIG

CHUNK OF MONEY BIG INVESTMENT

VOTERS SUPPORTED IT BECAUSE WE

TOLD THEM IT WAS GOING TO FIX

THE ROADS AND IN SOUTHFIELD WE

GOT MORE ROAD CONSTRUCTION THAN

ANY OTHER CITY IN OAKLAND COUNTY

SO IT'S ABOUT TRUST AND WHEN WE

SAY WE ARE GOING TO DEDICATE

YOUR TAXES TOWARDS ROAD FUNDING

IT GOES TOWARDS ROAD FUNDING SO

IF VOTERS REALLY BELIEVE THE GAS

TAX IS GOING TO GO TOWARDS ROADS

AND INCREASE THE SALES TAX TO

KIND OF BACKFILL THAT WHICH WAS

PROP ONE THEN THEY WILL SUPPORT

IT.

THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT FOUR

YEARS AGO.

>> SO YOU WOULD THEN INTRODUCE A

GAS TAX INCREASE IF THAT MEANT

THAT MAYBE IT STARTS DISCUSSIONS

ON MAYBE ONE OF THESE PROPOSAL

ONE TYPE THINGS WHERE YOU COULD

VOTE FOR THIS OR YOU CAN VOTE

FOR A ONE PENNY SALES TAX

INCREASE EITHER WAY IT WOULD GO

TO THE ROADS.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING I CAN PITCH

TO VOTERS IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE

HAVE TO MAKE A REVENUE

GENERATING SYSTEM THAT GOES

TOWARDS ROADS BECAUSE DOING

NOTHING IS LITERALLY MAKING OUR

ROADS CRUMBLE SO THE BIGGEST

PROBLEM IS THAT YOU KNOW THE

GOVERNOR SAYS 45 CENTS IS GOING

TO RAISE 2.5 BILLION.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LESS NEXT

YEAR, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LESS

THE NEXT YEAR, I TALKED TO A

FISCAL ANALYST WHO HAS KIND OF

BEEN WATCHING SOME OF THIS STUFF

FROM AFFAIR AND IF GOVERNOR

SNYDER HAD TEN CENT INCREASE WE

WOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT 45

CENTS THIS YEAR SO IT'S NOT

GOING TO BE A PROBLEM THAT GOES

AWAY.

THE ROADS ARE NOT GOING TO FIX

THEMSELVES SO WE GOT TO FIGURE

OUT WHAT IS THAT REVENUE STREAM,

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AND HOW

DO WE GET IT TO ROADS AND 500

MILLION ONCE AIN'T GOING TO DO

IT TIM.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> GO AHEAD I WAS GOING TO PIVOT

TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IF

THIS GOES TO THE BALLOT ROAD

FUNDING GOES TO THE BALLOT HOW

DOES HAVING STATEWIDE ELECTIONS,

FEDERAL OFFICES, PRESIDENTIAL

ELECTION ON THE BALLOT

COMPLICATE THAT SALES JOB THAT

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT PEOPLE

WILL BE COMING OUT AND VOTING

AND IN MY STANCE BACK IN THAT

2015 ROAD FUNDING PROPOSAL IS IF

WE SAID PROPOSAL ONE FIXES THE

ROADS IF THAT WAS THE SLOGAN

INSTEAD OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS

THAT WAS PUT OUT THERE WE WOULD

HAVE VOTED FOR IT AS A STATE.

>> SENATOR, I HAVE TO INTERRUPT

WILL YOU STAY FOR OVER TIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU THE FIRST

QUESTION, IS THAT A DEAL.

>> YES.

>> THERE YOU GO STAY TUNED WKAR

WITH OVER TIME WITH SENATOR MOSS

AND LOOK AT THE CLOSED CREDITS.

PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD BY

A GRANT FROM VAN GUARD PUBLIC

AFFAIRS WITH NEARLY THREE

DECADES OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING

STRATEGIC COUNSEL TO LEADERS

IN THE PUBLIC, FOR PRIVATE AND

GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIZES

IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, ISSUE

MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND

REPUTATIONS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

FOR COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS

AND LEADERS ACROSS THE MIDWEST,

INFORMATION AT VAN GUARD-PA.COM.

FOR MORE OFF THE RECORD VISIT

WKAR.ORG

AND MICHIGAN PUBLIC TELEVISION

STATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO

PRODUCTION COSTS OF OFF THE

RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.

♪