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

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND WE GOT

TO GET OUT OF "OFF THE RECORD".