WELCOME BACK OUR GUEST THIS WEEK
IS DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS PERSON
DAN KILDEE FROM GENESEE COUNTY
THE LEAD STORY IS A TAX BREAK
FOR A COMPANY IN WEST MICHIGAN
AND THE GOVERNOR IS NOT TOO
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT AND WE
HAVE CHAD LIVE GOOD AND JONATHAN
OOSTING AND BILL BALLENGER AND
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 BI-PARTISAN,
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS FIRM,
SERVING STATE-WIDE, 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 AND BRYANT, WHATEVER
IT TAKES.
HAGER FOX.COM."
"AND BY MSU COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL
RESOURCES.
TACKLING THE WORLD'S BIGGEST
PROBLEMS RELATED TO FOOD, ENERGY
AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
WITH 20 MAJORS, 17 MINORS AND 12
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, THE
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND
NATURAL RESOURCES PROVIDES
STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXCEL."
AND NOW THIS EDITION OF "OFF THE
RECORD" WITH TIM SKUBICK.
>> WELCOME BACK TO OTR, BUSY
WEEK IN TOWN THIS WEEK AND THE
GOVERNOR IS NOT TOO HAPPY THERE
IS APPARENTLY GOING TO BE A TAX
BREAK FOR A COMPANY THAT WANTS
TO COME TO GR WHAT IS GOING ON?
>> HE IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE
COMPANY COMING IN AND IT'S A
SWITCH DATA CENTER, IT'S A BIG
IT FIRM IN NEVADA THAT WANTS TO
BUILD A FACILITY IN THE
STEELCASE BUILDING AND
REQUESTING TAX BREAK LEGISLATION
TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE TO OTHER
STATES BECAUSE THEY CAN GO
ANYWHERE, I THINK THAT IS A REAL
REALITY IN THIS SITUATION BUT
THE GOVERNOR IS CONCERNED ABOUT
THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL, IT HAS
BEEN EXPANDED BY THE GOP
LEGISLATURE TO INCLUDE ALL DATA
CENTERS IN THE STATE AND THERE
ARE SEVERAL HERE.
THEY SAY THAT IS A WATER-BASED
TAX POLICY AND LOOKS LESS LIKE
AN INCENTIVE AND THE GOVERNOR IS
A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
BUDGET EFFECTS THEY COULD HAVE
AND ALSO WANTS SOME GUARANTEES
THAT THE PROMISES THIS COMPANY
IS MAKING ABOUT THE JOBS THEY
ARE GOING TO CREATE ARE ACTUALLY
YOU KNOW THEY ARE HELD TO THOSE
GUARANTEES.
>> I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR WASN'T
A HUNTER.
>> LOOKS LIKE WINNERS AND LOSERS
PROPOSITION NOW AND DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE WE ARE HANDING ONE COMPANY
A BIG GIFT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
ESSENTIALLY.
BUT YEAH THIS IS SPARKED A NEW
DEBATE HERE WITHOUT MEGA TAX
CREDITS WHICH THEY USED TO BE
ABLE TO HAND OUT FOR COMPANIES
COMING TO THE STATE OR COMPANIES
TO RETAIN THEM IN THE STATE, YOU
KNOW, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THE
MONEY OR THE VEHICLE TO DO BIG
DEALS.
THEY HAD THIS 160 MILLION SOME
ODD POT OF MONEY THAT THEY USE
FOR SMALL DEALS, THIS GATHERING,
A GARDENING THAT GOVERNOR SNYDER
TALKED ABOUT.
>> THE G WORD.
>> BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
MONEY, A POT OF MONEY SITTING
AROUND LIKE SOME STATES DO TO
ESSENTIALLY BUY JOBS.
SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY AN EFFORT
TO ESSENTIALLY EXEMPT FOR THE
PURCHASES OF COMPUTER SERVERS
AND FOR THE PERSONAL PROPERTY
TAX FOR AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY NOW.
>> BASICALLY THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR SAID
LET'S SLOW THIS PUPPY DOWN AND
TREAT IT AS A PILOT PROJECT AND
SAID GOVERNOR LET'S NOT, RIGHT?
>> MORE OR LESS.
I THINK EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN
SAID IS TRUE BUT YOU KNOW THIS
IS REALLY ONE OF THESE CASES WE
ARE LOOKING FOR BY PARTISANSHIP
AND WE HAVE IT BECAUSE IT SPLIT
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND A LOT
OF REPUBLICANS THINK IT'S A BAD
MOVE AND MOVES AWAY FROM THE
REPUBLICAN PHILOSOPHY ON
TAXATION.
WE SHOULD BE BROADLY BASED AND
WHERE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T GET
INVOLVED.
>> AND THE FREE MARKET.
>> FREE MARKET AND EVERYTHING
ELSE AND ACTUALLY SURPRISINGLY
MANY DEMOCRATS SUPPORT THIS
PARTICULAR MOVE SIMPLY BECAUSE
IT IS SUCH A HUGE BONANZA
ECONOMIC WIND FALL SEEMINGLY.
>> THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT.
>> ALL PROMOTE THIS STUFF.
>> I KNOW.
5 MILLION JOBS.
>> SOME OF THESE PHILOSOPHICAL
DEBATE CREATED STRANGE BED
FELLOWS WITH THE MICHIGAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PEOPLE
LIKE REBECCA WARREN MAKING THE
SAME ARGUMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR
AND GOP MAJORITY MOVING FORWARD
WITH THE BILLS AND IT RAISES BIG
QUESTIONS AS CHAD WAS SAYING
ABOUT THE TAX POLICY IN THE
STATE THAT YOU KNOW AND HOW YOU
RESPOND TO WHAT IS AN EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY I THINK EVERYONE
AGREES.
>> I WOULD EXPECT A LOT OF PHONE
CALLS ARE GOING TO BE COMING TO
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC STATE
REPRESENTATIVES THIS WEEKEND WHO
ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE HAS LIKENED THIS TO
BATTERY TAX CREDITS THAT HAS
GRANHOLM LOSS DECADES WRITTEN
ALL OVER IT.
AND FILM AND WE JUST DESTROYED
THE FILM INCENTIVES AND THE
MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SAYS YOU ARE DOING THE SAME
THING SO OBVIOUSLY SOME SENATORS
DID NOT BLINK AN EYE WHEN THEY
DID THIS BUT THERE MAY BE SOME
FIRST, SECOND TERM REPUBLICANS
WHO FEAR PRIMARIES THIS COULD BE
USED AGAINST THEM.
>> HAD THE SPECTER OF
ADMINISTRATION ON ONE HAND
BUYING DOWN TAX CREDITS AND
MAKING IT BETTER FOR THE STATE
AND ON THE OTHER HAND THEY SAY
LET'S DIP IN THE KITTY AND WENT
20 MILLION TO 250 MILLION.
>> DEPENDS HOW YOU CALCULATE IT
AND HAS FIELD OF DREAMS WRITTEN
ALL OVER IT, IF YOU BUILD IT
THEY WILL COME.
MAYBE THERE IS NO ASSURANCE, NO
ONE FROM SWITCH SIGNED AN
AFFIDAVIT SAYING IF YOU GIVE US
THIS TAX BREAK WE WILL COME SO
THEY COULD DO THIS AND THEN
SWITCH COULD FIND SOME OTHER
STATE THAT UPS THE BID AND THEY
COULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> THAT IS GOOD NEWS, TIM,
LEGISLATURE COME BACK JUST
REPEAL THE LAW.
>> THEY COULD.
THEY PROMISED.
>> THEY MAY PUT SOME KIND OF
LANGUAGE IN IT IF IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN.
>> WHAT IS WRONG WITH PUTTING IN
SPECIFIC LANGUAGE SAYING YOU
WILL CREATE WITHIN A FRAMEWORK
THIS MANY JOBS.
>> IT'S A PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE
BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE AN
ABATEMENT AS OPPOSED TO JUST A
BROAD TAX POLICY AND REPUBLICANS
DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE
DOING A SPECIAL CARVE OUT EVEN
THOUGH REALLY THEY WOULDN'T BE
DISCUSSING THIS AT ALL IF IT
WEREN'T FOR THIS.
>> WOULD WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE
IF THIS WAS A PLANT COMING TO
FARMINGTON HILLS RATHER THAN THE
WEST SIDE OF THE STATE.
>> THERE IS THAT TOO.
>> BECAUSE THERE ARE REPUBLICANS
OVER THERE.
>> EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE DIVIDE
AND CONTROVERSY THAT ENTERS INTO
IT AND I THINK THAT IS LESS A
FACTOR THAN THE THINGS.
>> THIS IS COMING TO DETROIT
WOULD WE ALL BE IN THE SAME
CONTEXT, I'M NOT SO SURE.
BUT I THINK MAYBE WHAT THE
GOVERNOR ALSO SEES IS HE HAS GOT
SOME PRIORITIES OF HIS THAT ARE
NOT GOING ANYWHERE THIS CALENDAR
YEAR AND HE SEES THIS THING
COMING IN AND STEAM ROLLING US
LESS THAN A-MONTH-OLD.
>> SUCKING THE AIR OUT OF THE
ROOM.
>> SEVEN MONTHS TRYING TO GET A
BILL FOR DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> WORKING ON IT AND MAYBE HE
OUGHT TO LINK THAT TO THIS BUT
HE DOESN'T DO THAT SORRY.
STRAIGHT PARTY LINE TICKET
VOTING AND NO REASON ABSENTEE
WHAT IS GOING ON THERE BILLY?
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO GET RID OF STRAIGHT TICKET
VOTING FOR YEARS.
IN FACT, THEY GOT RID OF IT 14
YEARS AGO AND MARK AND THE
DEMOCRATS GOT A REFERENDUM ON IT
AND THE VOTERS SAID WE WANT TO
KEEP STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING AND
THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT OFF
THE BALLOT AND COUNTY CLERKS
SAID THIS IS GOING TO CREATE
LINES AND IT'S GOING TO BE
TERRIBLE.
THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY STATES
ACTUALLY THAT ALLOW STRAIGHT
TICKET VOTING SO IT'S NOT AS
THOUGH THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED
MOVE BY A STATE WITH STRAIGHT
VICTIM VOTING AND GET RID OF IT
SO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOW SAID
OKAY LET'S CREATE NO REASON
ABSENTEE VOTING WHICH IS
SOMETHING THE DEMOCRATS HAVE
ALWAYS WANTED.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO THE REPUBLICANS ARE
ARGUING WE WILL MAKEUP FOR ANY
EXTRA LINES THAT MIGHT BE
CREATED BY GETTING RID OF
STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING.
>> WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE?
>> IT'S A POLITICAL POWER PLAY
BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> TO DO WHAT?
>> TO GET RID OF STRAIGHT TICKET
VOTING.
>> BECAUSE?
>> BECAUSE IT PRODUCES A HIGHER
DEMOCRATIC TURN OUT, EVERY STUDY
HAS SHOWN AND DEMONSTRATES.
>> IT IS CLOSE AND LISTEN I WAS
SURPRISED.
>> DEPENDS WHERE IT IS.
>> IT'S ABOUT DUMB TICKET VOTING
AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE
SCHOOL BOARD AND PEOPLE MIGHT
NOT GET TO THAT POINT AND IF YOU
HAVE MORE STRAIGHT TICKET VOTERS
LIKE A CITY OF DETROIT AND EVERY
ONE IS VOTING.
>> MORE IMPACT ON THE TICKET BUT
IT ACTUALLY IS BETTER FOR THE
DEMOCRATS.
>> REPUBLICANS SAY THEY WANT
VOTERS TO STUDY THE CANDIDATES.
>> EVIDENCE THE VOTERS WANT TO
BE STUDYING SCHOOL BOARD
CANDIDATES AT THIS POINT BUT,
YEAH, THERE IS I MEAN LOOK LAST
YEAR IN 2014, 80% OF MARK
SHOWERS WERE STRAIGHT PARTY
TICKET VOTING AND IT'S LIKE 30%
OR SOME AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
FOR RICK SNYDER IN ALL OF WAYNE
COUNTY.
THEY KNOW THERE IS A STRATEGIC
ADVANTAGE FOR DEMOCRATS AND
ESPECIALLY FOR THE BASE.
>> MARTY MULLENBURG THE
REPUBLICAN SPONSOR GOT 47% OF
VOTE FROM GUESS WHAT STRAIGHT
TICKET VOTING.
>> THAT IS IN TROY AND IN HIS
DISTRICT BUT THE POINT IS.
>> WAIT A SECOND IF I HAVE THAT
MUCH DO I WANT TO TURN THAT
AWAY?
>> FOR THE REST OF THE STATE,
YES, IF IT HELPS THE REPUBLICANS
AND THE REST OF THE STATE
OVERALL MARTY WOULD WIN IN THAT
DISTRICT ANY WAY, STRAIGHT PARTY
VOTING OR NOT.
BY THE WAY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
ARE NOT PARTISAN RACES FOR WHAT
IT'S WORTH.
>> STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
>> STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE.
>> ABOUT TRYING TO WIN THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BOARD OF
REGENTS REPUBLICAN CONTROL.
>> FOR THE REPUBLICANS IT IS
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTROL THE
BOARDS.
>> FORMER DEMOCRATIC CHAIR SAYS
THIS IS ALL ABOUT SUPPRESSING
THE VOTE BY REPUBLICANS TO HURT
DEMOCRATS AND YOU TAKE THIS AND
TAKE THE INABILITY QUOTE HE SAYS
TO RECALL PEOPLE, THE 180 DAY
WINDOW TO GATHER SIGNATURES FOR
PETITION DRIVES AND THE AVERAGE
JOE THE STREET CANNOT DO THAT.
>> SUPPRESSION MEANS KEEPING
PEOPLE FROM VOTING WHO MIGHT
OTHERWISE VOTE OKAY AND JUST
CHANGING THEIR BEHAVIOR IS
ANOTHER SO THE REPUBLICANS ARE
ARGUING LOOK PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE
SMART ENOUGH TO GO IN AND STUDY
WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE AND GO
DOWN.
>> MOST STATES DO THAT.
THAT IS WHAT MOST STATES IN THE
COUNTRY DO.
MICHIGAN HAS BEEN UNIQUE.
SO THE REPUBLICANS SAY LET'S BE
LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
>> ONE THING AND NO REASON
ABSENTEE VOTING AND NOT A FULL
REASON ABSENTEE IT'S NO REASON
IN PERSON.
>> YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP.
>> YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP TO YOUR
CLERK'S OFFICE AND VOTE IN
PERSON.
NOT EVEN CAN GET A BALLOT BY
MAIL.
>> YOU HAVE TO APPLY OR THE
BALLOT.
>> WELL YEAH BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT
BEING -- IT'S BASICALLY EARLY
VOTING IN PERSON WHICH MOST
CLERKS SUPPORT ALTHOUGH IF IT
REALLY CATCHES ON YOU WILL HAVE
EARLY LINES AND THEN THERE MIGHT
BE SOME.
>> WHAT IS WRONG WITH SENDING
OUT THROUGH THE MAIL AN ABSENTEE
BALLOT?
>> THEY DO THAT RIGHT NOW FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> THE REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO
MAKE IT TOO EASY AND WANT NO
REASON ABSENTEE VOTING AS A STOP
TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR ARGUMENT
TO GET RID OF STRAIGHT TICKET
VOTING BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO
MAKE IT SO EASY THAT ALL YOU
HAVE TO DO IS SHOW UP ON
ELECTION DAY AND SAY, HEY, I'M
VOTING.
>> THE ABSENTEE BILL IT'S NOT
GOING TO BOOST VOTING NUMBERS BY
A HUGE MARGIN.
IT'S NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY
CHANGE THE LENGTH OF MINDS IN
CERTAIN PRECINCTS WHICH IS WHAT
THE ARGUMENT THAT IS BEING MADE.
BUT YOU KNOW I THINK THIS WHOLE
DEBATE IS YOU KNOW ABOUT WELL IT
TOUCHES ON A BUNCH OF POLITICAL
ISSUES AND DELVES ARE ABLE TO
BRING UP THIS STUFF ABOUT LONG
LINES BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE AN
EFFECT IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS AND
IT FITS THE NARRATIVE WHICH IS
ALSO POLITICAL THAT THE GOP IS
TRYING TO SUPPRESS VOTING.
THAT IS A REAL NARRATIVE AND IT
DOES BENEFIT THE GOP.
>> THAT IS THE STORY AND THEY
ARE STICKING TO IT SO WHAT DOES
THE GOVERNOR DO ABOUT IT AND HE
IS NOT STRANGELY SILENT.
>> HE WILL SIGN IT.
>> SIGN IT, DO YOU AGREE?
>> PROBABLY.
>> DPS HOW COME HE CAN'T GET A
BILL INTRODUCED?
>> EVERYONE THINKS THEY NEED TO
WRITE A CHECK FOR 715 MILLION,
THAT IS ONE COMPONENT OF IT.
THE LARGER ISSUE WHEN YOU TALK
TO LAWMAKERS IS THERE IS NO
TRUST AMONG BOTH SIDES.
DEMOCRATS DON'T TRUST LANSING.
THE LANSING HAS BEEN IN CHARGE
FOR SIX YEARS OF EMERGENCY
MANAGERS, FOUR OF THEM NOW AND
REPUBLICANS ARE DISTRUSTFUL OF
ALL THESE OTHER ATTEMPTS AND
THEY DON'T REALLY TRUST THAT
WRITING A CHECK AND CREATING A
NEW DEBT FREE DETROIT PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IS NECESSARILY GOING TO
GET THE JOB AND NECESSARILY
GOING TO INCREASE THE LEARNING
AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS AMONG
DETROIT STUDENTS SO THEY ARE
KIND OF BURROWED IN THEIR CAMP
AND THINK CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE
THE SOLUTION OR DON'T LIKE WHAT
THEY SEE AND SEE INCIDENTS LIKE
THIS WEEK WHEN A BUNCH OF
DETROIT TEACHERS STAGE A PROTEST
AND CAUSED THREE SCHOOLS TO BE
CLOSED AND WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN
MARCH OR MAY WHENEVER THE
GOVERNOR INTRODUCED HIS BILL OR
INTRODUCED HIS PROPOSAL THEY
CAME TO LANSING AND PROTEST IN
FRONT OF THE CAPITOL AND CAUSED
NINE SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED.
SO THERE IS NO SYMPATHY FROM
SOME REPUBLICANS WHEN THEY SEE
THESE TEACHER UNIONS STAGING
THESE PROTESTS IN PROTEST OF A
GOVERNOR WHO IS TRYING TO BAIL
OUT THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> IT'S NOT JUST BOTH SIDES
HERE, I WAS TALKING TO JEFF
HANSON WHO IS GOING TO BE THE
LEAD ON THE SENATE WHEN IT GETS
INTRODUCED AND DEALING WITH
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND
THE GOVERNOR AND MIKE DUGGAN AND
DPS AND DEALING WITH THE CHARTER
COMMUNITY TO THERE IS A TON OF
INTEREST HERE THAT ALL WANT TO
SEE DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE
BILLS AND SIMPLY FIGURING OUT
WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO
LOOK LIKE IS A PROCESS OF TYING
TO SATISFY EVERYONE WITHOUT
ALTERNATING THEM.
>> DEALING WITH POST JOHN ENGLER
BECAUSE HE ELIMINATED THE SCHOOL
BOARD UNILATERALLY AND IMPOSED A
STATE APPOINTED BOARD WHICH MANY
PEOPLE SAID DID NOT WORK AND THE
MEMORY IS LONG IN DETROIT ON
THAT.
>> HE IS DEALING WITH ALSO BIG
BUSINESS INTERESTS IN DETROIT
THAT SAY THE CITY'S TURN AROUND
IS DOING GREAT BUT IF WE DON'T
FIND A WAY TO GET FAMILIES TO
STAY IN THIS CITY IT'S GOING TO
CONTINUE TO BLEED.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES
WHERE EVERYBODY SAYS YES WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING, RIGHT, AND JUST
CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT
AND ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT
BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
>> I WAS TALKING TO HANSON
YESTERDAY AND HE SAYS LIKE ROADS
THEY HAVE COME ON AN AGREEMENT
ON 715 MILLION NUMBER THE
QUESTION IS WHERE THAT WILL COME
FROM BASICALLY.
>> LET'S CALL IN OUR GUEST AND
DAN KILDEE THE CONGRESS PERSON.
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS PERSON DAN
KILDEE IS IN HIS SECOND TERM IN
WASHINGTON, HE HAS SERVED IN A
VARIETY OF GENESEE COUNTY POSTS
INCLUDING TREASURER, THE BOARD
OF COMMISSION AND BOARD OF
EDUCATION AND RAN THE FIRST LAND
BANK AND WORKED EIGHT YEARS AT A
CHILDREN'S REHAB CENTER AND
INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR
IN 2018.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD TO BE BACK AND YOU GOT
THE FIRST ONE.
>> CONGRESSMAN FOR THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN
LEADING A FIGHT IN CONGRESS TO
GET RAND TO RELEASE A FLINT MAN
WHO HAS BEEN IN PRISON IN IRAN
FOR I THINK THREE YEARS NOW.
WHAT ASSURANCES DO YOU SEE THAT
IRAN WILL EVER DO THIS AND ALSO
GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THE NUCLEAR
ARMS AGREEMENT, WHY SHOULD WE
BELIEVE IRAN'S AWARD HERE ON
ANYTHING?
>> WE SHOULDN'T TAKE THEIR WORD
AND THAT IS WHY THE AGREEMENT
WAS SO IMPORTANT.
THE AGREEMENT ALLOWS US TO MAKE
SURE AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT 15
YEARS THAT IRAN DOES NOT POSSES
A NUCLEAR WEAPON.
THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT MAKE THEM
A GOOD ACTOR IN THE GLOBAL
STAGE.
IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE
AGREEMENT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT
WOULD INCLUDE THE FREEDOM OF
THESE AMERICANS AND THAT IS KIND
OF AN IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE.
WE WOULDN'T WANT TO TRADE
FREEDOM OF INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR
SOMETHING THAT MAKES THE WORLD A
LESS SAFE PLACE.
WE HAVE NO ASSURANCE WE WILL BE
ABLE TO GET A MIRROR IN THE
OTHER AMERICAN'S HOME AND WE
PRESS FOR IT EVERYDAY BUT WE NOW
HAVE SOMETHING WE DIDN'T HAVE
PREVIOUSLY, DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT ON
THIS QUESTION.
I MET WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
ZARIF MYSELF SO WHILE IT'S HARD
TO MEASURE PROGRESS THAT DOESN'T
INCLUDE HIS FREEDOM WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT WHERE WE WERE A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN AMIR
WAS FACING A DEATH SENTENCE AND
THERE WAS THOUGH DIRECT
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE U.S.
AND IRAN AND WHERE WE ARE NOW
WHERE HE IS NO LONGER FACING A
DEATH SENTENCE, SERVING A
TEN-YEAR TERM FOR SOMETHING HE
IS NOT GUILTY OF BUT WE CAN
ACTUALLY WORK TO TRY TO FREE HIM
IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION BUT WE STILL HAVE A
LONG WAY TO GO AND OBVIOUSLY I
WON'T BE SATISFIED UNTIL HE IS
HOME.
>> IS GOVERNOR SNYDER RIGHT IN
RUNNING THE ADMINISTRATION IN
WASHINGTON TO CREATE THIS BY
PARTISAN GROUP TO LOOK AT THE
VETTING PROCESS OF REFUGEES?
>> NO, LOOK, THE REFUGEES ARE
VICTIMS OF TERROR, THE IDEA THAT
WE SOMEHOW NOW HAVE CONFLATED
THEM WITH TERROR IS A POLITICAL
GESTURE THAT HAS NO PLACE IN THE
CONVERSATION.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE
VETTING PROCESS AND HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE SYRIAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY IN FLINT TO TALK ABOUT
RESETTLEMENT.
IN FACT, I WAS ENTHUSIASTIC WHEN
THE GOVERNOR INITIATED THE
EFFORT TO RESETTLE AND I THINK
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SHOW ME
THAT THE PROCESS ITSELF IS NOT
EXHAUSTED.
IT TAKES 18-24 MONTHS TO GET A
PERSON THROUGH THAT PROCESS
WHEREAS JUST THE PASSPORT HELD
BY A PERSON OF SYRIAN DECENT WHO
MAY BE A FRENCH OR BELGIAN
PERSON.
>> THE VETTING PROCESS IS
WORKING.
>> IT WORKS BUT THE VISA WAIVER
PROGRAM AND THE PRESIDENT IS
ADDRESSING THIS A VISA WAIVER
PROGRAM TO ALLOW A PERSON WITH
AN OMINOUS BACKGROUND WHO
HAPPENS TO POSSES A EUROPEAN
PASSPORT TO SIMPLY GET ON A
PLANE IN PARIS AND BE IN NEW
YORK.
OUR BILL, THE BILL THE DEMOCRATS
TRIED TO NEGOTIATE WITH SPEAKER
RYAN THEY SET US ASIDE WOULD
HAVE DEALT WITH THAT PROBLEM.
IT WAS UNIVERSALLY UNDERSTOOD IN
WASHINGTON BY PEOPLE ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE QUESTION THAT THE
REASON FOR THE LEGISLATION TO
SORT OF SLOW DOWN OR HALT THE
PROCESS OF SYRIAN REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT WAS ENTIRELY
POLITICAL.
I MEAN I TALKED TO FOLKS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE AND SAY I
CAN'T GO HOME AND EXPLAIN WHY I
VOTED AGAINST OR FOR THIS
PARTICULAR LEGISLATION.
IT WAS ENTIRELY POLITICAL.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY DANGEROUS
PLACE FOR US TO GO AS A COUNTRY
WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE WHO ARE
SEEKING SHELTER FROM THE UNITED
STATES WHO DON'T HAPPEN TO LOOK
LIKE A LOT OF AMERICANS PERHAPS,
MAYBE THAT IS THE ISSUE, SOMEHOW
ALL THE SUDDEN BEING THE PROBLEM
WHEN WE ARE SORT OF RIGHTFULLY
SAD OVER THE VICTIM'S OF
VIOLENCE THAT WE SAW IN PARIS,
IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING,
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING
REFUGE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE
VICTIMS OF TERROR.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO FIGHT
TERROR WE ALSO HAVE TO BE
WILLING TO SAY THAT WE WILL HELP
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING
REFUGE.
>> THEY WILL SAY ARE YOU THAT
NAIVE PEOPLE WOULDN'T TRY TO
SNEAK IN UNDER THE COVER.
>> I'M NOT NAIVE AT ALL BUT
UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
AND IF IT TAKES 18-24 MONTHS AND
IT TAKES LET ME JUST PUT IT THIS
WAY 23,000 PEOPLE APPLIED FOR
REFUGE STATUS FOR ASYLUM.
ONLY 7,000 OF THEM QUALIFIED FOR
US TO EVEN LOOK AT THEM IN A VET
NUMBER ONLY 2000 MADE IT
THROUGH, 98% OF THEM ARE WOMEN,
CHILDREN AND ELDERLY.
ONLY A COUPLE PERCENT ARE
MILITARY-AGE MALES WHICH IS THE
OBVIOUS PROFILE THAT MORE ALIGNS
WITH I.S.I.S. OR OTHER
TERRORISTS AND THE PROCESS OF
ACTUALLY FINDING OUT WHO THESE
PEOPLE ARE IT'S PRETTY
EXHAUSTIVE.
THE PROBLEM IS IT'S ALL TIED UP
NOW IN IMMIGRATION QUESTION
WHERE WE SEE CANDIDATES FOR
PRESIDENT, THE LEADING CANDIDATE
FOR PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, I
CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST SAID THAT
BUT THAT IS THE REALITY, FUELING
HIS CAMPAIGN ON FEAR, ON ANGER
AND QUITE FRANKLY ON IGNORANCE
AND TAKING THIS ISSUE AND
RUNNING WITH IT.
IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE FOR
US TO BE.
>> CONGRESSMAN, YOU COME FROM
FLINT, YOU WERE BORN AND BROUGHT
UP THERE, IT'S THE MOST DEN
GRATED CITY OR ONE OF THEM IN
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, MOST CRIME,
MOST VIOLENT, MOST POVERTY, WHAT
DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE IN
WASHINGTON, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT
FLINT AND ITS PROSPECTS FOR THE
FUTURE?
>> IT'S INTERESTING YOU ASKED, I
RAISED IT AT THE WHITE HOUSE
YESTERDAY.
FLINT IS A LOT LIKE A LOT OF
OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
NORTHEAST AND MIDWEST, CITIES
THAT HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN LEFT
BEHIND.
WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT THESE
PLACES, THESE OLDER INDUSTRIAL
COMMUNITIES THEY HAVE FAILED IN
MANY WAYS BECAUSE OF BAD POLICY
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BAD POLICY
AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT WE CAN'T
EXPECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
THE COMMUNITY TO OVERCOME POLICY
THAT IS REALLY BEEN -- HAS
RELOCATED WEALTH AND ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY OUT OF THE COMMUNITIES
AND EXPECT THEM TO FIX THE
PROBLEM.
>> YOU LEFT OUT THE LOCAL
PEOPLE, YOU SAID STATE AND
FEDERAL.
>> STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY FOR
SURE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF
THE RELOCATION OF WEALTH AND
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OUT OF OLDER
COMMUNITIES, REGIONAL PLAYERS
CERTAINLY PLAY A ROLE AND
CLEARLY THERE HAVE BEEN LOCAL
MUNICIPAL DECISIONS THAT
EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM BUT THE
PROBLEM IS THIS WHEN WE GO TO
LOOK A THE SOLUTION FOR A PLACE
LIKE FLINT IT SEEMS LIKE THE WAY
POLICY APPROACHES US IS THAT
IT'S ENTIRELY INCUMBENT UPON THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE TO SOLVE A
PROBLEM THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTED TO IN
CREATING, THAT THE STATE
GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTED TO, THAT
THE COUNTIES, THE REGIONAL
GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY WAS INVOLVED
IN CREATING.
>> TALKING ABOUT THAT WHAT ABOUT
THE WATER PROBLEM IN FLINT?
BY THE WAY HAVE YOU DRUNK ANY
FLINT WATER IN THE LAST 18
MONTHS?
>> I DO AND WE HAVE A FILTER.
IT'S A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.
IT IS A FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT.
I THINK IT SPEAKS TO A COUPLE OF
THINGS, ONE, THE FACT THAT WE
HAVE NOT INVESTED IN
INFRASTRUCTURE GENERALLY IN
THESE OLDER PLACES IS A SHAME
BECAUSE WE -- THEY DON'T HAVE
THE TOOLS TO COMPETE IN THE 21ST
CENTURY ECONOMY AS LONG AS THEY
ARE STUCK WITH AGING ROADS,
BRIDGES, WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS
BUT I THINK THIS ISSUE REALLY
SPEAKS TO A LARGER PROBLEM.
TO LOOK AT A CITY LIKE FLINT AND
THINK THAT ITS SOLE PROBLEM IS
ITS BALANCE SHEET AND ALL WE
NEED TO DO IS FIX THE BALANCE
SHEET IS WHAT LED TO THE
DECISION THAT SAID OH, WOW, THIS
FLINT RIVER WATER IS A LOT
CHEAPER SO LET'S USE THAT.
NOT THINKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
AS A SOCIETY.
BUT THINKING ABOUT IT AS A
CORPORATION WHERE YOU CAN SORT
OF SLASH THE COSTS AND THINGS
ARE BETTER.
WELL WHAT THIS PROVES IS THAT
BALANCE SHEET APPROACH, THAT
SORT OF BEAN COUNTER APPROACH TO
COMMUNITIES HAS CONSEQUENCES.
AND IN THIS CASE THE CONSEQUENCE
IS THAT ABOUT 7,000 CHILDREN
UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF LEAD
IN THEIR WATER WHICH WILL HAVE A
PERMANENT EFFECT ON THE
TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES.
>> SO YOU THINK FLINT SHOULD
HAVE STAYED HOOKED UP TO DETROIT
WATER UNTIL THE PIPELINE BUILT
TO LAKE HURON GOES INTO EFFECT
NEXT YEAR INSTEAD OF SWITCHING
DURING THE 18 MONTHS TO THE
FLINT RIVER TO SAVE MONEY.
>> SURE AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT
COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND, IN
FACT, IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE
AT THE TIME THE DECISION WAS
MADE THE STATE OF MICHIGAN HAD
PRETTY MUCH TOTAL CONTROL OVER
THE CITY OF FLINT AND THE CITY
OF DETROIT AND COULD HAVE MADE
THAT DECISION WITHOUT MUCH
DIFFICULTY.
WHAT IS MORE TROUBLING IS THERE
WAS ALMOST NO SCIENCE APPLIED TO
THE QUESTION IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IT WOULD HAVE MADE MORE SENSE TO
CONTINUE TO USE THE DETROIT
WATER UNTIL THE LINE WAS
COMPLETE.
BUT ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT
IF A DECISION IS BEING MADE TO
GO FROM THE COLDEST, DEEPEST,
FRESHEST WATER SURFACE WATER ON
THE PLANET TO THE FLINT RIVER
THAT A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENTIFIC
INQUIRY INTO WHAT THAT CHANGE
WOULD MEAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN
ORDER.
>> NONE WAS DONE, WE HAVE TEN
SECONDS, WANT TO RUN FOR
GOVERNOR?
>> I WILL THINK ABOUT THAT AFTER
THE NEXT ELECTION AND IT'S IN
THE BACK OF MY MIND BUT DON'T
SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING
ABOUT IT?
>> TODAY?
>> I WOULD STAY IN CONGRESS AND
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