
Feb. 4, 2022 - Correspondents Edition| OFF THE RECORD
Season 51 Episode 32 | 27m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
The panel discusses campaign finance, redistricting and 50 years of Off the Record.
The panel discusses campaign finance and redistricting, plus special video messages help mark 50 years of Off the Record. Panelists Yue Stella Yu, Jonathan Oosting and Chuck Stokes join senior capitol correspondent Tim Skubick to discuss the week in Michigan government and politics.
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Off the Record is a local public television program presented by WKAR
Support for Off the Record is provided by Bellwether Public Relations.

Feb. 4, 2022 - Correspondents Edition| OFF THE RECORD
Season 51 Episode 32 | 27m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
The panel discusses campaign finance and redistricting, plus special video messages help mark 50 years of Off the Record. Panelists Yue Stella Yu, Jonathan Oosting and Chuck Stokes join senior capitol correspondent Tim Skubick to discuss the week in Michigan government and politics.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> WELCOME BACK TO THIS CORRESPONDENT'S EDITION AND OFF THE RECORD.
OUR LEAD STORY THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS ARE IN.
ON THE OTR PANEL, CHUCK STOKE, STELLA AND JONATHAN.
SITTING WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE OUT, OFF THE RECORD ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MICHIGAN PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS HAVE CON,BUTEDDED TO THE PRODUCTION COSTS OF OFF THE RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK AND NOW THIS EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
WELCOME TO CHILL LIDDATION OF OFF THE RAILROADED AND HOPEFULLY YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE SNOW WE HAD THIS WEAK AS WINTER RAISED THELY HEAD.
WE HAVE WITH US A GREAT PANEL LIST JONATHAN AND CHUCK.
WELCOME TO T TO OFF OF THE RECORD.
BEFORE WE GE GEAN QUICK NOTE AND IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO TODAY WE SAINT STUDIO CRIN ANOTHER LOCATION AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THOSE ARE AND LOOK IT UP AND GOOGLE IT.
IS WHERE THE BRESLIN CENTER IS NOW AND IN STUDIO C THE FIRST GUEST WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND LATER ON, WE'LL HAVE REFLECTIONS ON 50 YEARS OF OTR AND LET'S GET INTO NEWS RIGHT NOW.
THE FINANCIAL REPORTS ISSUED BY THE REPUBLICANDATES DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AL OVER THE STATE AND WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AN INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST.
>> JAMES NEVER LABELED HIMSELF THE FRONTRUNNER IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR BUT THE STORY LINE SAID HE WAS.
THEN, BUT HIS OPPONENTS COULD NOW MAKE THE CASE BASED ON THE FINANCES HE MAY NOT BE THE GUY BET AND THE FORMER DETROIT POLICE CHIEF TO DATE HAS RAISED $2 BILLION THEN LAST QUARTER HE TOOK IN $608,000, HOWEVER HE SPENT $120,000 MORE THAN HE RAISED.
MEANWHILE, MILLIONAIRE FORMER CAR DEALER RAISED ONLY $4,900 BUT WROTE A CHECK TO HIMSELF FOR $2 MILLION FOR THE CAMPAIGN THEN NEWLY ANNOUNCED MILLIONAIRE CANDIDATE PERRY JOHNSON FROM OAKLAND COUNTY IS USING $1.5 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY TO LAUNCH A TV AD CALM PIN INCLUDING A COMMERCIAL IN THE VERY EXPENSIVE SUPER BOWL UPCOMING.
POLITICAL PUNDIT ADDS UP THE MONEY AND REACHES THIS CONCLUSION ABOUT MR. CRAIG.
>> CRAIG HAS LOSTED THAT ADVANTAGE HE HAD SIX MONTHS AGO AND IT IS KIND OF LIKE START FROM SCRATCH RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DICKSON RAISED $158,000 LAST QUARTER BUT OVERSPENT THE BUDGET BY $70,000 AND RECK CAN CANDIDATE RAISED $252,000 BUT OVERSPENT THE BUDGET BY $158 BOW THOUSAND.
ARE UNDER $1 MILLION LIKE DICKSON AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL TRILLION THE BEGINNING OF THE CALM PIN AND NEVER ABLE TO GET TRACTION THEN THERE IS CANDIDATE MIKE BROWN WHO RAISED $146,000 SO TOWBAR $120,000 OF HIS OWN MONEY THEN LESSER KNOWN CANDIDATE RAISED $15,000 AND RYAN KELLY TOOK IN $188,000.
AS FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER RAISED $2.5 MILLION AND HAS $9.9348 IN THE BANK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS THEN A LOT OF THEM.
WHAT DID YOU END UP WRITING ABOUT.
>> WELL, YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW WHITMER LEADS THE PACK IN TERMS OF FUND RAISING THEN A LOT OF ATTENTION PAID TO HOW SHE SPENDS THE FUNDS AND SO MOST SPENDING WENT TO THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND SO SHE WROTE A CHECK OF 3.5 MILLION TO THE PARTY THAT IS THE SIN GET LARGE TOAST THE PARTY COMMITTEE THIS QUARTER THEN MADE UP THE BULK OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS PERIOD.
SO THE NUMBERS ON THE SIDE IN THAT A LOT OF THESE ARE NOT RAISING ALOFT BUCKS WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON THIS AND CONTINUES TO GET A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION AND SERIOUS CANDIDATE AND LOOK AT THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS AS YOU MENTIONED LESS THAN $20,000 RAISED THE OTHERS SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES WERE VYING TO FILL THIS VACUUM THAT SEEMS TO BE CREATED BY JAMES CRAIG NOT TAKING OFF THE WAY FOLKS EXPECT HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE MUD AND MENTIONED SALDANO SPENDING MORE THAN THEY RAISED IN THE LAST PERIOD.
THAT IS NOT GOOD BECAUSE NEITHER HAVE PAID FOR TELEVISION AC ADS YET AND SPENDING MORE THAN THEY ARE RAISING WE DO KNOW THAT DICKSON GOT A LITTLE BOOST AND HELD A FUND-RAISER AT THE CLUB AND THE CLUB IN FLORIDA AND PECK THAT FUND-RAISER.
DID SAY AGE YOU PAY TO RENT SPACE FOR A FUND-RAISER WE DON'T KNOW BUT TRUMP OF COURSE IS STILL GOING TO LOOM LARGE OVER THE PRIMARY IF HE DOES IN FACT ENDORSE.
YOU HEARD OUR FRIEND DECLARE AND STEVE MITCHELL ADD HIS VOICE THAT IT PEARS THAT MR.
GRAYING CYGNUS IS IN LOR THE FRONTRUNNER.
THAT IS A FAIR ASSESSMENT DO YOU?
I I THINK IT IS A FAIR ASSESSMENT ONE BECAUSE SO MANY CANDIDATES IN THE RACE LIKE A KENTUCKY DERBY HORSE RACE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE NAME ON THE HORSES THEN THE FACT HE HAS NOT RAISED AS MUCH MONEY AS HE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE RAISED AND THE FACT HE SPENT MORE THAN HE RAISED WHICH RAISES THE QUESTIONS OF INTEGRITY IN THAT MAY BECOME SOMETHING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THEN YOU AS A RESULT CONSULT AND ON THE WEB SIDE OF THE STATE ANT GOTTEN BEHIND AND A BUSINESSMAN WHO JUMPED INTO THE RACE AND CALLED HIMSELF THE QUALITY GAH RU WHO IS GOING TO INTO THIS RACE AND MAYBE EVEN MORE AND THEN JOHN, YOU MADE THE POINT AND I THINK THE IS ACCURATE AND NONE HAVE EXCITED YET AND SO THAT IS WHY JOHNSON HAS JUMPED INTO THE RACE AND BUY ADD SO LOOK FOR THAT IN A WEEK AND A HALF OR SO FROM NOW AND A WEEK FROM SUNDAY AND HE IS GOING TO TAKE A PAGE FROM RICK SCHNIDER WHO DID THAT IN 2010 AND 2014 SO THERE IS A WHOLE LET SAID AND DONE HERE AND HAVE TO WEED THEMSELVES OUT AND SITTING WITH THE WAR CHEST FILLED WITH MICHIGAN GOLD ON THE SIDE AND $10 MILLION ALMOST.
I AM SURE HE IS HOT GOING TO CALL HIM MICHIGAN'S NERD BECAUSE I HEARD HE IS NO AT NURD BUT A LOT OF MONEY AND NO ONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS GUY.
I TRY FOD FIND HIS PHONE NUMBER AND MAYBE NOT THE GREAT REPORTER ARE WHICH THOUGHT I WAS WHICH I KNOW I AM NOT.
I CANNOT GET THE GY'S PHONE NUMBER.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MR. JOHNSON GUY?
I DON'T NOAH LOTTED ABOUT HIM EITHER.
JOIN THE CLUB THAT'S THE STORY LINE RIGHT.
I DO KNOW YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, HE WAS ONE OF THE LATEST CANDIDATES TO JOIN AND I THINK HIS FUND-RAISING PATTERN THAT SHOWS A PATTERN AMONG ALL REPUBLICAN RUNNERS RIGHT NOW IS LOTS OF THEM ARE REACHING TO THE OWN POCKETS LIKE YOU MENTIONED AND REPORTED RACING MORE THAN $2 MILLION, THE $2 MILLION THAT HE RAISED IT AND YOU LO WHERE ARE THROUGH HIS OWN BANG ACCOUNT BASICALLY AND PLEDGED TO FUNNEL $10 MILLION OF HIS OWN TO THE ACCOUNT THEN ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD INVESTIGATE $2.5 MILLION AND WE SAW SALDANO GIVE HIMSELF $2 5K THAT IS INTERESTING PATTERN GOING FORWARD AND INTERESTING TO SEE TO SEE HOW THEY RAISED THEIR FUNDS.
HERE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IN THE RACE AND COULD BE CUTTING INTO WHAT THEY ARE HOPING TO THE SIDE OF THE EQUATION HERE AND WHAT IS LEFT OF THE MODERATE BUT NOT A LOT BUT WHAT IS LEFT OF IT DO WE HAVE THESE TWO GUYS COMPETING FOR A SEGMENT TO WIN WHAT DID HE.
JONATHAN?
THAT IS POSSIBLE.
IT IS VERY POSSIBLE.
MAIN, BOTH OF THEM YOU KNOW TALKING ABOUT THE RICK SNYDER MODEL I RAN BUSINESS AND RUN A STATE GOVERNMENT YOU NO I MENTIONED YOU KNOW, THE STATE SHOULD HAVE USED THE MAIL SIS AND YOU KNOW FORMULAS THAT HE IS FAMILIAR WITH AS QUALITY TO HAVE A FUN COVERED UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD EARLIER FOR INSTANCE AND NEITHER HASAN EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT AND MEATER HAVE BEEN ACTIVE EITHER AND I MEAN YOU MENTIONED BEING UNKNOWN AND UNKNOWN AND REPUBLICAN CIRCLES THIS IS GNAT GUY WHO IS CUTTING CHECKS MEAN THE SCENES FAR LISTENING TIME AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THE FIRST CONTRIBUTION IN A LONG TIME WERE THE STATE AND CENTRAL FUND AND STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS IN APRIL BEFORE THAT I DON'T SEE ANY RECORD OF HIM BEING ACTIVE ON THE DONOR SIDE EITHER SO THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE CIR SIT FIRST OF ALL TO BUILD CONNECTION FORCE THE PRIMARY BUT THEN ALSO OF COURSE YOU KNOW BEING ABLE TO SPEND ON TELEVISION CAN BE A BIG BOOST.
AND IN YOUR NECK OF THE ROADS.
I HAVE HO BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO HIM OR FIND HIM YET BUT SHIRE WILL BE AUTOS CITY TO FIND IF HE KEEPS SPENDING THE TIE OF MONEY HE IS TALKING ABOUT SPENDING WHAT WE BOTT TO WATCH NOW IS WHAT TONE DOES IT TAKE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AS THEY GET CLOSER TO THE INVENTION IN APRIL TO THEY START TAKE EACH OTHER IN A WAY THAT HURTS WHOEVER EMERGES AS FRONTRUNNER SO IT BY THE TIME THEY GET THROUGH PRIMARY PROCESS THEY HAVE HURT THEMSELVES TO DO BATTLE.
THIS IS SHAPING UP AS SORT OF AN OUTSIDER'S WET ON QUOTE MILLIONAIRES RACE VERSUS WHAT I MER WHO OUT TOES HERSELF AS FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON AND BRINGING ABOUT THE FACT SHE HAS SMALLER DONATIONS FROM ALL 83 COUNTIES THEN VENTING THE AVERAGE MICHIGAN ANDER NOW THAT COULD PLAY FOR YOU OR AGAINST YOU.
WE HAVE TO SEA HOW IT EMERGES THEN JUST BECOMES WITH IT MER VERSUS WHATEVERS THE TOP CONTENDER ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE SO A WHOLE LOT SAID WITH ALL OF THIS AND WE HAVE TO WATCH IT AND IT IS TURNING OUT TO BE AND A LOT TO DO ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
THERE WAS ATTACK AD FROM ONE PACK CALLED STRONG MICHIGAN AND THE ADREDGED DISCRIM PROBLEMS THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE SO YOU ARE RIGHT.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH AND THE PEOPLE MENTIONED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND DID NOT AND WAS IN TOWN BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT VOUCHERS THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR HER.
NOT.
NO, IT NOW IT IS NEW.
YEAH.
SHE IS GETTING INVOLVED IN MICHIGAN POLITICS GAIN AFTER SERVING FOR YEARS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY 22 YEARS AGO SHE SPEARHEADED A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT FAILED TO AMEN THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO CREATE THE VOUCHERS THATS COULD HAVE ALLOWED STATE FUNDING TO FOLLOW SHUT STUDENTS AND INCLUDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THE NEW VERSION DOESN'T SHE IS BACK OUT ANDTIME AMID THE CONSTITUTION AND WORKS AROUND IT AND DONOR OR INDIVIDUALS OR CORPORATIONS COULD GIVE TO IN EXCHANGE REDUCE THE TAX BILL SOL THE MONEY NEVER GOES THE STATE DIRECTLY SO HELPING TO GET AROUND THE STATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON PUB MAKE FUNDING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS THEN NOT PLANNING TO PUT THIS PETITION BEFORE LIKE SHE DID 22 YEARS AGO THE PLAN HERE LIKE WE HAVE SEEN WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER REPUBLICAN PETITION DRIVES IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW IS TO SEND THIS TO LEGISLATURE BY IN THE OF THIS YEAR AND HAVE THE REPUBLICAN LEAD LED AND ENACT THIS INITIATIVE INTO LAW WITHOUT IT GOING TO THE PEOPLE AND WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AND REQUIRE 34.
>> WHY I WIST NOT NEARLY AS HIGH OF A HURDLE AS GETTING AND 10 MILLION THAT IS BACK UP AND DIFFERENT APPROACH AND SIMILAR GOAL.
>> WE CAN ASSUME THAT HE WANTS TO COME UP WITH MONEY SHE CAN DO THAT AND GIVE HER THAT END THAT QUESTION IS WILL PEOPLE SIGN OFF ON THIS AND DOES IT CAUSE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO GO HERE WE GO AGAIN.
WELL WITHOUT QEZ THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS APPROACH AND THEY ARE GOING TO PAINT THIS AS TRYING TO GO AROUND THE GO IN'S I HAVE TOWS WHICH JONATHAN MENTIONED A SECOND AGO AND IT GOES AGAINST WHAT THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND THE PEOPLE VOTED AGAINST A COUPLE OF YEARSALING WHEN IT CAME UP AND THEY SAID NO.
WE DON'T LIKE THIS.
EVEN THOUGH IT IS DRESSED IN DIFFERENT COSTUME SO YOU RUN THAT RISK.
THEY CAN USE IN THE NEXT ELECTION WHICH IS COMING RIGHT DOWN THE STRETCH HER TO SAY, OK, HERE WITH GY AGAIN THE DID AS HAVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE TRYING TO GO AROUND THE AVERAGE PEOPLE AND AND THE PUBLIC AND DOES THAT ANG STRONGER NUMBERS THAN THEY WOULD HAVE BEFORE SO IT COULD PLAY FOR AND YOU WORK AGAINST YOU.
>> STREAM, LET'S TALK ABOUT ISSUE YOU HAD WORKED ON THE REDISTRICTING THE SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK SENT A MAJOR SETBOOK THE BLACK CAUCUS TRYING TO GET MORE REPRESENTATION IN THE MAPS THEN THEY CAME UP WITH A GOOSE EGG, HOW COME?
>> SO I WAS NOT THER WHO FOLLOWED IT CLOSELY.
I THINK IT DOES REPRESENT A MAJOR BLOW BUT THAT IS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL LAWSUITS THAT HAVE FELLED AND INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT DEALS WITH THE OTHER LAWSUITS IN THE SYSTEM.
THEY MIGHT LOSE SOME SEATS BUT THE COURT SAID, BASICALLY, HAVE NOT PROVE TON US THIS IS A PROBLEM.
RIGHT.
THAT IS GOING TO BE TROUBLING BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT HOW THE MAPS ARE NOW AND THE SENATE SEATS YOU COULD WELL HAVE NEXT YEAR NO ONE VENG THE CITY OF DEE-DEE TROIT THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF DETROIT AND LOOK LIKE THE MAJORITY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION.
THIS US SOMETHING THEY SAID GOES AGAINST THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND AS PCT OF THAT AND GOING TO BE CHALLENGED AND STILL UNCERTAINLY BE A WHERE THIS YOUING TO END UP AND YOU HAVE EVERYBODY JUMPING AROUND TO WHAT THEY THINK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND BUT BY THE TIME ALL SAID AND DONE THEY MAY LOOK TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND MAY NOT HAVE THE REPRESENTATION THAT THEY HAD HAD.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS.
WHERE ARE WE HEADED.
BLT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF LAWSUIT OUT THERE AND CURIOUS WHETHER IT COMES BACK UP AFTER THE ELECTION CYCLE AND THESE MAPS ARE USED AND THE BLACK LAWMAKERS IN THE DETROIT CAUCUS FEAR THEY LOSE WHAT IF THAT DOES HAPPEN WELL THEY HAVE A STRONG ERICAS TO MAKE THIS ARGUMENT AGAIN IN A STATE OR FEDERAL COURT AND WHAT THE SUPREME COURT RULED THURSDAY NIGHT IS THAT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NOT DISTRICT BUILT WITH MAJORITY-MINORITY POPULATION, AS MANY, ALONE, DOES NOT PROVE THAT BLACK VOTERS WILL HAVE LESS ABILITY TO ELECT THE CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE AND THEY SAY THERE COULD BE CROSSOVER VOTING BY WHITE VOTERS IN THESE AND THAT THE PLAINTIFFSES WHO FILED THIS SUIT DID NOT TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT NOW WE DON'T KNOW AND IT IS GOING TO IN THE TAPE OF AN ELECTION TO SEE HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT MICHIGAN HAS 17 ACROSS CONS FROM THE NEW MAPS, ONLY HAVE ONE VOTING POPULATION WITH 50% OR MORE OF VOTERS WHOS ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS SO GOING TO BE IN TREEING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT AND SEE IF THESE MAPS SUR PRIV ARE VIVE AND OTHER CHALLENGES FROM DEMOCRATS AND AGAINST THE MAPS IN COURT.
THERE WERE THREE AND IT WAS INTERESTING ONE OF THE MORE LIBERAL OF THE COURT WHO SAID MAY WHERE ARE TY MAY HAVE GONE IT RAGE ON THE LAW BUT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS PREMATURE THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME THAT SOME OUTLEADERRED SOODERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN TO ADVICE THE COURT ON HOW TO MAKE THIS REALLY OBVIOUSLY IN THE MAJORITY SAID NO WE ARE SMART MUFF TO FIGURE THIS OUT IN ON OUR OWN.
RIGHT.
WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE IS WHAT DOES THE DEFINITION OF MAJORITY MEAN COMING OUT OF THESE CHALLENGES IT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WE HAVE ATTACHED TO THE DEFINITION OF MAJORITY AND TYPE OF DISTRICTS THEN PART OF THAT IS THE FACT THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE NO LONGER TRUST SEN CENTERED IN THE CITY OF DETROIT THAT THE SOUTHFIELD AND EVEN INTO MACOMB COUNTIES YOU HAVE THEM WEST BLAMEFIELD WHERE I LIVE AND YOU HAVE THEM ALL OVER NOW AND ONE SAYS WELL OK YOU CAN MAYBE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND WIN FANNED YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER AND TYPE AND GET ENOUGH WHITE VOTERS TO GO IN TO VOTE WITH YOU AS WELL AND THERE IS A LOT THIS IS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO SHAPE OUT AND WHAT THINK CORES RULE ON THIS.
GREAT.
LISTEN.
SELL IT WILLING AND CHUCK AND JONATHAN, GOING TO HAVE YOU TAKE A BREAK HERE IN TALK ABOUT THIS 50th ANNIVERSARY THING AND SO YOU CAN GO TO SLEEP HERE AND GO GET A DRINK OR WHATEVER YOU NEED DO, OK. NOW, AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS COMINGFUL TO THESTUDIO TODAY, THE REASON OFF THE RECORD LASTED FOR 50 YEARS AND FIVE ELEMENTS AT PLAY HERE THE FIRST IS THE AUDIENCE IF YOU FOLKS WERE NOT OUT THERE IN TV LAND THERE WOULD BE NO OFF THE RECORD AND THANK YOU FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO GIVE US A HALF-HOUR EVERY WEEK TO FIND OUT AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE GOAL OF COURSE IS TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN USE AND DECIDING YOU ARE GETTING FROM PEOPLE AND AUDIENCE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND YOU JUST HEARD AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN FIND OUT.
AND HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN AROUND NOT, NOT THIS TABLE BUT OTHER TABLES AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO GREATLY AND APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES AND I INDEBTED TO THEM BECAUSE NO OTR AND IF THERE ARE NOT REPORTERS AROUND THE TABLE.
POLITICIANS WHAT WOULD WE DO IF WE DIDN'T HAVE POLITICIANS TO BRING IN HERE AND TO ASK SNOTTY QUESTIONS TO TRY GET AT THE ESSENCE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN STATE GOVERNMENT THEN I THANK THEM DOPILY FOR HAVING UNDERSTANDING IT IS NOT ABOUT ALL POLITICS BUT GIVING A CHANCE TO COME ON AND TALK ABOUT POLICY OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHY THEY ARE DOING TO MAKE IT STRONGER BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE DM SY DOESN'T WORK AND THE PEOPLE HAVE GOOD INFORMATION ON TOY MAKE DECISION.
THEY HAVE GIVE IN THE GREEN FLIGHT DO OFF THE RAILROADED AND SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO BOB BE PAIGE AND THEY WERE THE PEOPLE I SAT IN THE ROOM 50 YEAR AGO AND SAID LET'S GO AND DO IT.
SO OUR THANKS TO OH FOR THE PEOPLE YOU WILL SEE RIGHT NOW SPEAKING OF POLITICIANS HERE IS FIVE OF THEM.
THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY OFF THE RECORD.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THEM.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO TIM SKUBICK, THE CAPITAL PRESS CORP, WKAR, MSU, OFF THE RECORD FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS LITTLE OLDER THAN THIS SHOW.
AND FESSARY FOR A STRONG DEMOCRACY AND YOU KEPT MY MIZ ANDERS INFORMED AND UP-TO-DATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE'S CAPITAL BUILDING AND WE ARE ALL THE BETTER FOR.
CONGRATULATIONS.
YUKON GLAT LACES, TIM, THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WKAR.
ALSO, WCMU.
ALL THE PUBLIC TELEVISION STAKESES IN OUR 50 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO BE DOING A OH SHOW.
I WAS THERE IN 1972 WHEN IT GOT STARTED AND SAID THIS SHOW WOULD SUCCEED AND AS MUCH CHANCE AS ME BEING ELECTED GOVERNOR.
WE BOTH MADE.
WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON SO MANY YEARS OF COVERING STATE POLITICS AND STATE GOVERNMENT AND WHAT HAPPEN IN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND SOMETIMES THE COURTS AND REQNTLY GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.
NOT ALWAYS.
BUZZ YOU HAD A GREAT RUN.
CONGRATULATIONS.
AND I THINK FOR MANY OF USES WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE SHOW AND WATCHED FROM BUY GING WE ARE IMPRESSED YOU STUCK WITH IT.
YOU PERFORMED VERY, VERY VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE AND SO YOU AND ALL THE JURNS WITH YOU.
THANK FOR DOING.
KEEP IT.
YOU KEEP GOING MAKE YOU CAN SQUEEZE OUT 10-2 YEARS?
TELL THAT BEST.
AND 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SOMETHING TO BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TIM WKAR FOR 50 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL TIME ONLY THE AIR.
NORTH CAROLINA YOU FOR POLITICAL AND PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSIONS THAT COULD BE DONE WITH CIVILITY.
THOUGHTFUL FORUMS THAT INVOLVE SY VUL TY OR MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
IT IS AMAZING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS.
NOW, I AM NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN FROM FOR ALL 50 YEARS BUT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IT THAT BEEN GREAT.
NOT ONLY THAT BUT I LOOK FORWARD FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME NOW THAT YOU ARE AT 50, LET'S GO FOR 100.
>> I WANT TO CONGRATULATE TIM SKUBICK.
WKAR, PUBLIC TELEVISION, MSU AND THE CAPITAL PRESS CORP FOR PROVIDING THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN WALL TY GURN ARE JOURNALISM AND GOOD GOVERNMENT FOR THE LAST FIVE DECADES.
IT IS QUITE A FEAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL WHEN HE STARTED THE SHOW BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE.
BUT WHAT IS TRUE IS OF OUR THE RECORDS THE ONE PLACE STATEWIDE IN MICHIGAN AND WHICH IS HELD OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE AND PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS WITH THE FACTS AND ISSUES INVOLVED WITH STATE GOVERNMENT.
SO IT HAS BEEN EQUALITY JOURNALISM.
QUALITY GOVERNMENT THAT YOU ALL CARED FOR.
WE SALUTE YOU FOR THAT.
THOSE ARE THE PRECIOUS PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY, SO TIM AND THE TEAM CONGRATULATIONS AND WE, YOU MANY, MANY MORE.
I WILL BE WATCHING.
SO WILL OUR FRIENDS SO BE KIND.
BE KIND.
THANKS.
>> HI, EVERYBODY.
JENNIFER GRANHOLM HERE.
WAIT.
OFF THE RECORD IS 50 YEARS OLD?
FOR 50 YEARS, TIM HAS BEEN PRYING AND POKING AND E-MAILING AND POLITICIAN OF ALL STRIPES?
HE HAS DONE THESE SORT OF UNWELCOMED ON THE JOB MEDIA TRAINING FOR ALL OF US AND HE HAS FOR ME MADE ME FURIOUS, HE HAS MADE ME THINK AND HE HAS MADE ME LAUGH.
HE HAS USED THE STAR QUALITY FROM OFF THE RECORD TO GET ALL L KINDS OF SCOOP INTERESTS THE BIG TO THE MY NEWS CALL AND HE HAS DONE IT WITH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM, OF COURSE, THE CAPITAL PRESS CORP, WKAR, MSU, THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC TV STATIONS THAT AIR OFF THE ROR ON THE STATE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK TIM COULD WOULD AGREE, THAT IS OFF THE RECORD HAS GIVEN MICHIGAN CITIZENS A WAY TO HEAR HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AND HOW THE EMPLOYEES THAT MICHIGAN CITIZENS HAS HIRED AND THE ELECTED POLITICIANS HOW THOSE ARE DOING ON THE JOB.
SO BRAVO TO OFF THE RECORD.
I TOAST YOU.
AROUND HERE TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS TO THE CITIZENS.
CONGRATULATIONS, OFF THE RECORD.
CONGRATULATIONS, TIM.
>> THANKS FOR THE GOVERNORS AND MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE WHO IS A GREAT SUPPORTER AND NOT RETIRING, TAKE THAT TO THE BANK.

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