>> WELCOME BACK.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS WORKING ON TAX CUTS.

HE IS GOP REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW BEELER FROM PORT HURON.

OUR LEAD STORY, FALLOUT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE.

ON THE OTR PANEL, SIMON SCHUSTER CLARA HENDRICKSON AND RICK PLUTA.

SIT IN WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE OUT, "OFF THE RECORD."

ANNOUNCER: PRODUCTION OF "OFF THE RECORD" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MARTIN WAY PLAYER, A FULL SERVICE AGENCY PARTNERING WITH CLIENTS THROUGH PUBLIC RELATIONS, GIG TALL MARKETING AND PUBLIC POLICY ENGAGEMENT.

LEARN MORE AT MARTIN WAYMIRE.COM.

AND NOW, THIS EDITION OF "OFF THE RECORD" WITH TIM SKUBICK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELCOME TO "OFF THE RECORD," STUDIO C, FRIDAY MORNING, STATE OF THE STATE IN THE CAN.

THE LEAD WAS -- >> I THINK CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

>> BERG, BAD FOR BUSINESS.

>> DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE.

TIM: YEAH.

THAT LINE DIDN'T GET A LOT OF APPLAUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

I SAW SOME APPLAUSE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE THERE.

BUT CERTAINLY NOT AS MUCH AS THE OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THE OTHER PITCHES.

TIM: IT IS INTERESTING THAT YOU PUT THAT LINE IN BECAUSE YOU WILL HEAR THAT LINE.

ROLL THEM.

>> TO BE SURE GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER WAS ALL BUSINESS LAST NIGHT PAUSING HEAR TO SHAKE HANDS WITH THE NEW SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER.

SHE WILL NEED HIS HELP ON THE ISSUES DONE THE ROAD BUT ALSO TO BE SURE THERE WAS LEC TRIS CONTINUE THE ROOM WITH PLENTY OF HIGH FIVES FROM JUBILANT DEMOCRATS WHO WERE GEEKED TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AT THE PODIUM AND DEMCALLY CONTROLLED HOUSE AND SENATE IN FRONT OF HER AND THE FIRST TIME THAT HAPPENED IN SOME FOUR YEARS THE GOVERNOR WAS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT PASSING GUN SAFETY MEASURES THEN BROUGHT THE DEMOCRATS TO THEIR FEET WITH THE LOUDEST APPLAUSE LINE OF THE NIGHT LASTING ALMOST 30 SECONDS.

>> THE TIME FOR ONLY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS IS OVER.

[APPLAUSE] TIM: THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT STAND SHE WAS ALSO VERY SERIOUSES ABOUT PROTECTING INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS FOR EVERYONE.

AND PLEDGED TO GO AFTER JOBS IN OTHER STATES THAT DON'T AGREE THAT POLICY, AND THEN SHE LOOKED IN THE CALM ARE AND SAID THIS -- >> I AM LOOKING AT YOU OHIO AND NORTH DAKOTA.

TIM: AGAIN THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT APPLAUD, WHICH BROUGHT THISSED A IN THERE THE GOVERNOR IF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I FIGURED OHIO SHAME WOULD GIVE EVERYONE UP.

SHE TOOK ANOTHER SWIPE AT THE REPUBLICANS FOR NOT STANDING REGARDING HER PROPOSAL FOR DAYCARE FOR EVERY MICHIGAN FOUR-YEAR-OLD.

>> I KNOW WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES HERE BUT I SURE HOPE WE CAN GET AROUND SUPPORTING FOUR-YEAR-OLD IS A CROSS MICHIGAN.

TIM: ON A LIGHTER MOTE, MSU BASKETBALL COACH TOM IZZO GOT NOT ONE BUT TWO SHOUT UT INTERESTS THE GOVERNOR AND NOTED MSU HAS THE NUMBER ONE SUPPLY CHAIN PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY AND THEN A SORT OF HALFHEARTED I GUESS I HAVE TO DO THIS SORT OF THING SHE ASSAY LOOT THE OTHER GUYS DONE THE ROAD.

TIM: OR THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN UNDERONE RANKED UNDERGRAD BUSINESS PROGRAM.

SHE URGED THE STATE TOT SHOW THE WORLD -- WE ARE MICHIGANDERS AND NOTHING IS GOING TO GET IN OUR WAY.

TIM: NOTHING GETTING IN HER WAY.

FROM TIME TO TIME, THAT LOYAL OPPOSITION.

SOME FUNNY STUFF THERE YOU.

OH, YEAH, CERTAINLY.

THINK THIS IS RETAIL POLITICS 101 AND CAN SHOW SHE IS REAL RES SENSE ON CALM ARE AND GOING TO FLEX THAT WHEN SHE HAS THESE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES?

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> WHICH PART?

FIRST OF ALL, THE FIRST TIME IN A COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE CAPITAL WHICH HAS THAT PERSONAL FEEL THAT YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET WHEN YOU SHALL DOING, YOU KNOW, A REMOTE ADDRESS.

>> YEAH.

TIM: NOT QUITE THE SAME AMBIENCE.

SHE IS A FUNNY PERSON.

SHE WAS ABLE TO DELIVER SOME LINES IN A WAY THAT WORKED BETTER IN PERSON THAN IT DID REMOTELY.

>> WELL, THINK, PART OF WHAT SHE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE SPEECH WAS HER SETTING THE TONE FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL TERM IN OFFICE.

NOW AMID THIS MAJOR POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION IN LANSING WHERE YOU HAVE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES AND SHE SORT OF POISED HER NEXT TERM AS YOU KNOW WANNING TO GET SOME BIPARTISAN COOPERATION, BUT KIND OF UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THE THINGS SHE KNOWS DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO ALONE WHETHER IT IS EX PACK THE CIVIL RIGHTS AC, GUN SAFETY MEASURES, AND TAKING THE STATE'S ABORTION BAN OFF THE BOOKINGS.

TIM: LOOK.

THREE AUDIENCES WATCHING.

THERE WERE THREE AUDIENCE SHE'S WAS SPEAKING TO LAST NIGHT AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AUDIENCE THEN THE LEGISLATURE PARTICULARLY THE REPUBLICANS AND HER BASE TOOK HER AWHILE TO FINALLY GET TO THE BASE WHEN SHE GOT AROUND TO THE GUN ISSUE.

>> YEAH.

CERTAINLY.

THINK THINK THIS WAS REALLY A STORY THAT SHE HAS BEEN TELLING FOR LISTENING TIME.

>> SHE USED THAT LINE BEFORE BY THE WAY.

THE PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS IS NOT WOG AND DO SOMETHING ELSE AND USED IT BEFORE BUT EFFECTIVE LINE.

OF COURSE.

I THINK CERTAINLY, THIS IS SOMETHING SHE CAN REALLY HONE IN ON BUT I THINK BY LEADING OFF WELL THE RETIREMENT TAX AND THE EXPANSION THEN I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE FIRST TIME IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN THE GOVERNOR NAME A BIG TICKET POLICY ITEM IN A STATE OF THE STATE AND HAVE THOSE POLICY ITEMS PASS THE CHAMBERS THE NEXT DAY.

TIM: IT IS MAZE THING.

>> YOU MAN THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

TIM: YEAH.

TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS BUT GIVE THEM CREDIT.

THEY DID SOUTH CAROLINA THE FIRST WEEK OF BEING BACK.

YEAH IT IS A CLASSIC WHITMER STACKING OF AN ADDRESS LIKE THAT WHERE YOU TOW, YOU START OUT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, MAKE MICHIGAN GREAT.

WE GOT GRIT.

FOLLOWED BY THE YOU KNOW, THE BIPARTISAN STUFF.

THAT YOU KNOW, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THEM THEN SLIPPING IN THERE BUT WE ARE DEMOCRATS AND YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, BE THAT WE WANT.

WHICH GETS TO YOU THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT BUY BY THE WAY HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT JUST MORE OF IT ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE AISLE THAN THE REPUBLICAN AND THEN, I KNOW, GETTING TO ABORTION RIGHTS THEN GETTING TO EXPANDING THE STATE'S CIVIL RIGHTS LAW TO COVER LGBQT.

IT WAS IMPORTANT SHE LEAD OFF WITH SOMETHING SHE CAN GET AGREEMENT ON, RIGHT?

>> SURE.

BUY DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO SEE SO MUCH AGREEMENT ON THE RETIREMENT TAX SIDE OF THE EQUATION AS RICK MENTIONED WE HAD BIPART SUPPORT FOR EX PALLING THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT THEN I THINK SEVEN REPUBLICAN VOTES IN THE IT?

AND OVERWHELMING REPUBLICAN SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE SO THAT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO GET TOT 30% OF SOME OF THE STATE CREDIT AND, I THINK, THAT WILL PROBABLY PASS EASILY WHITMER AND WILL SIGN THAT AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE RETIREMENT TAX A LOT OF DETAILS NEED TO BE WORKED WUT THE KEY POINT BEING WHETHER TO RESTORE FULL PENSION EXEMPTIONS FOR THE STATE INCOME TAX.

>> SUZANNE: WANT TO GO BACK TO THE GUN ISSUE FOR A SECOND.

WILL SHE GET ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS ONBOARD ON THE GUN ISSUE.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

TIM: DON'T YOU THINK THAT IS IN QUESTION?

>> I WOULD CERTAINLY SAY IT IS.

WE ARE LEADING OFF NOW WITH BIPARTISAN ISSUES THAT HAVE A WIDE SUPPORT AS SHE NOTE AND RAZOR THIN MARGINS THEY ARE IN THE HONEYMOON PHASE NOW AND REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF DEMOCRATS MOVE IN LOCK STEP ON THAT ISSUE THEN IF THERE IS ANY PUBLIC SPLITTING THEY KEPT THAT BEHIND THE CUR CURTAIN THIS US FAR AND TRYING TO ROW JECT UNITY THUS FAR IN THIS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE BYPRODUCTS AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS LEFT BY REDISTRICTING OVERALL WHICH IS ARE WE GOING TO SEE A RETURN TO THE MODERATE DEMOCRAT AND WHAT THE SWING DEMOCRAT AND THE SWING REPUBLICANS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED COVERING THE CAPITAL IN YOU KNOW, THE 1980'S LIKE, TIM WHO STARTED COVERING THE CAPITAL IN THE 1880'S, UM, THERE WERE.

TIM: I WILL HANDLE THE HUMOR, OK?

>> NO, YOU WON'T.

TIM: YEAH, YOU SEEN IT.

>> DOING THE BEST YOU CAN, I KNOW.

YOU KNOW, BY MOST OF THE CONVENTIONAL METRICS THAT THE MOST LIBERAL REPUBLICAN WAS MORE LIBERAL THAN THE MOST CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT, AND, AND, VICE VERSA, THEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE RESURRECTION OF, YOU KNOW, YOU CALL THE CROSSOVER CAUCUS ON ISSUE.

WELL, YOU ARE IN A SWING DISTRICT AND THINK LONG AND HARD AND NORTH OF CLARE AND YOU GOT TOT -- YOU KNOW, GUNS ARE POPULAR UP THERE.

>> YEAH.

THINK RICK MAKES EXCELLENT POINT THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS THAT THEY SET UP A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD URGED THEM DRAW COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY DID ACROSS THE BARD THEY TRIED TO DRAW A MAP AND COMPETITIVE OVERALL WHICH MEANS WE VERY SAFE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS AND, A LOT OF COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS THEN SO YOU, YOU KIND OF HAVE THE STAGE SET UP FOR FIGHTS HERE WHERE IT IS GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR SOME DEMOCRATS AND WHO HAILLE FROM THE SWING DISTRICTS TO TAKE THE TOUGH VOTES THEN GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER FROM DEMOCRATS WHO DON'T HAVE ANY FEAR OF WINNING RE-ELECTION.

>> WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS ESPECIALLY IN BUDGET DEBATES BUT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO PUT UP AMENDMENT AFTER AMENDMENT AFTER AMENDMENT TRYING TO FORCE DEMOCRATS INTO THE DIFFICULT VOTES.

>> POSITION.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY IN POLITICS IT IS ALL ABOUT ME GETTING REELECTED GOVERNOR AND COME.

UNLESS SHE OFFERS THEM THE WORLD AND A LOT OF HORSE TRAINING GOING ON IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS THEN MAYBE MORE WITH DEMOCRATS HAN REPUBLICANS.

>> YEAH.

IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON.

OF COURSE THEY ARE MOVING IN BROADLY POPULAR PROPOSALS BUT THESE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS AND SAW NO REFERENCE OF REPEALING RIGHT TO WORK AND THE POPULAR PROPOSAL AS WELL AND HAPPENING MUCH FURTHER DOWN THE LOAN AND A LOT LESS ATTENTION IS BEING PAID THEN, NO REFERENCE DOESN'T MEAN YOU KNOW, THERE WON'T BE A VOTE ON IT.

BECAUSE I ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THAT AND SAID THAT, MY POSITION ON THIS IS WELL-KNOWN AND THAN YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS POSITION ON THIS IS WELL-KNOWN AND, THE QUESTION IS, WHEN IS THAT BILL GOING TO COME UP AND I SUSPECT IT WILL BE WITHOUT A LOT OF WARNING.

TIM: THE UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL THING SEEMED LIKE A NO-BRAINER YET THE REPUBLICANS SAT THERE, YOU KNOW?

>> I WAS LITTLE SURPRISED BY THAT MYSELF.

WHAT I THINK IS MOST INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, SHE IS TAKING SOMETHING THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

THERE IS ALREADY STATE-FUNDED PRESCHOOL, BUT TARGETED TO KIDS WHO ARE AT RITE LOOK OF LOW EDUCATION AND INCOME RIMENTS SO WANTS TO LIFT THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE IT AT UNIVERSAL PROGRAM.

I SPOKE TO DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC EXPERTS ABOUT THE IMPACT IT COULD HAVE.

THEY SAY IT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF AABILITY TRAG FOAM THE STATE.

NOT A LOT OF STATES HAVE UNIVERSAL REK AND LEARNED THIS WEAK THAT MICHIGAN HAS THE LOWEST SHARES OF WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE IN THE STATE WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO THIS COULD REALLY YOU KNOW SHALL BE SOMETHING SHE CAN MAKE A MARQUIS PROPOSAL.

TIM: THIS IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY.

>> CERTAINLY.

THE THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY UNFINISHED BUSINESS THOUGH GOAL WAS TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSE PRE-K FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS BY THE END OF THE FIRST TIME AND BRINGING THIS UP AND SAYING I COULDN'T GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THE FIRST TIME SO MORE THAN WILLING TO TAKE IT OFF THE SECOND TIME AROUND WHEN I HAVE YOU KNOW, LEGISLATURE THAT IS MORE WILLING TO GET ONBOARD.

>> TALK ABOUT A, YOU HO HE, POLICY THAT EVEN, EVEN PHYSICIAN IT IS SEEN, IT IS DEEMED PARTISAN IN LANSING, THEN THAT ONCE IT IS ADOPTED WILL WIND UP BEING HELPFUL AND POPULAR NORTH OF CLARE.

TIM: ALL RIGHT.

GOES ROAD TO TRY TO SELL THIS THING AND GOVERNORS WANT TO GET THE PUBLIC BEHIND THEM, THE QUESTION IS: IS THE PUBLIC?

>> THAT IS HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS.

TIM: IS THAT HOW IT IS?

LET MERITED THIS DOWN.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

BUT THE PUN BLICK IS NOT ENGAGED AS WE ARE SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE ARE PEOPLE DONE THE ROAD AND TO GET THEIR ATTENTION AND TO GET THEM FOCUSED IS A CHALLENGE, IN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE.

SURE.

I MEAN, THINK I, ANYTHING THAT REDUCES COSTS FOR PEOPLE CHILD CARE COSTS ARE HIGH AND YOU KNOW, IT HIT FAMILY BUDGETS PRETTY HARD AND THAT IS A KEY SELLING POINT HERE THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW IS THIS GOING TO GET FUNDED THEN OF COURSE THE PROBLEM OF MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY ROLL THIS THING OUT AND MICHIGAN HAS A TEACHER SHORTAGE RIGHT NOW IS THERE A WORK FORCE THAT WILL BE WITH IN FLIES ACTUALLY SUPPORT THIS FOUR YEAR FROM NOW.

ONE WILL BE TAX CUTS AT THIS POINT LET'S CALL IN A GENTLEMEN WHOS THE BACKERS OF MAJOR TAX CUTS THE REPUBLICAN FROM PORT HURON THEN, THEN, LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE IN A BLIZZARD UP IN MARQUETTE, REPRESENTATIVE, WHERE ARE YOU, MAN?

IT APPEARS TO BE EVERYWHERE IN MICHIGAN RIGHT NOW.

NOW.

I AM DOWN RIVER IN MOBILE STUDIO.

TIM: ALL RIGHT.

REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S DO IT CHASE HERE.

THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT THAT LINE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THES PART OF THE PROGRAM ABOUT BIGOTRY AND INDIRECTLY AND AIMED AT TWO STATES WHY DID THE REPUBLICANS NOT RESPOND TO THAT LINE WHY DIDN'T YOU STAND UP.

>> CAN YOU GIVE ME THAT QUESTION ONE MORE TIME?

>> SURE.

THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T RESPOND TON THAT AT ALL.

>> YEAH.

AS I RECALL THAT LINE, IT WAS HE IN THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF ABORTION AND IF TY HEARD THE GOVERNOR CORRECTLY, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE A CHILD IN THE WOMB AT NINE MONTHS SHOUP BE KILL AND HOLD TRADITIONALLY YIELD MARRIAGE AND MAKES YOU A BIG GOTS THAT THE DIFFERENT MESSAGE THAT WITHIN WE THREADER THE GOVERNOR DURING THE MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING SO I DON'T THINK IS FAIR TO CALL MASS MAJORITY OF TRADITIONALLY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

TIM: WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA THAT BUSINESS IS ONBOARD WITH THE G KAG ELLIOT LARSON.

>> I WILL STEAL FROM COLLEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE WHO CALLED THE IDEA WE WOULD ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO THE STATE BY THINK PROSPECT OF BOEING ABLE TO MURDER CHILDREN FOOLISH.

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH HIM.

I THINK IT IS REMARKABLE THAT IS OUR PLAN AND ENTICING BUSINESSES AND WORKERS HERE WE'RE THE PROSPECT OF BEING ABLE TO KILL UNBORN CHILDREN?

>>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE SORT OF TAX PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE.

IT STRIKES ME THAT REPUBLICANS BASICALLY WANT TO UNDO WHAT THEY DID LAST DECADE DURING THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN EITC WAS CUT AND THE RETIREMENT TAX WAS CHANGED THEN, I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS MOTIVATING YOU AND THE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE'S DESIRE TO TOUCH WHAT THE PREDECESSORS DID TEN YEARS AGO?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE POLICIES THAT WERE PASSED A HAT TIME.

BUT I WHAT I I WOULD SAY THE RECK REPUBLICANS LACK FOR TAX CUTS IS BROAD AND FAIR.

SO THAT IS OUR GOAL OF THE RETIREMENT TAX.

THAT WHERE WE HAVE TAKEN SHORE YOU WAS THE DEMOCRAT'S PLAN TO UNFAIRLY CUT TAXES ON PUBLIC PENSIONS ONLY.

WE PROPOSED A MUCH MORE EQUITABLE PLAN.

THEN I THINK ITS A GOOD WAY.

YOU NO KNOW?

IT IS GOVERNOR MENTIONED IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY REAGAN HIMSELF SO, IT IS, IT IS A GOOD WAY TO HELP FOLKS AT THE BOTT THEM TO INCOME BRACKET TO WORK THE WHICH OUT FROM WORKING FAMILIES THEN THAT IS THE NAME SO THERE HAS BEEN PRETTY WIDESPREAD BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON THAT OF COURSE REPRESENTATIVE SCHUETTE PRODUCED THE PLAN AND GOODED TO SEE THE DEMOCRATS ARE MOVE OUR PLAN IN THEIR DID DIRECTION, THAT WAS A BILL WE VOTED ON LAST NIGHT THAT TOOK A LOT OF THOUGHTS INTO CONSIDERATION.

SO WE WERE PLEASED WITH IT LANKED.

OBVIOUSLY MOST OF US WERE NOT PLEASED WITH THE RETIREMENT TAX LANDED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THERE.

NY SAID THAT IN THE SPEECH.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

IT IS NOT FAIR THE WAY THEY ARE DOING THAT.

WE SHOULD POINT OUT YOU WERE IN THE MILD OF THE OCEAN BECAUSE YOU WERE SERVING IN THE NAVY AFTER GRADUATING INDIANAPOLIS.

>> WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU HEARD THAT YOU COULD GET BEHIND?

>> YEAH.

I THINK INTRASTRUCTURE FUNDING IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS WIDESPREAD BIPARTISANPORT FOR.

I SEE IT IN MY OWN DISTRICT.

HEAR FROM IT THE COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE WHERE IT IS DRINKING WATER, FLOOD REDUCTION IN MIDLAND OR SIMPLE ROADS RIGHT.

ROADS AND BRIDGES THERE IS ALWAYSPORT FOR THAT PROVIDED THAT IT IS PAID FOR AND PAID FOR IT IS ECONOMICALLY RESPONSIBLE, OF COURSE.

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE WORKED ON A LOT LAST YEAR AND EXCUSE ME, LAST TERM, THEN, I WOULD SAY, THAT, ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE TEACHER SHORTAGE WE HAD BIPARTISAN WORK GROUPS AND TRIED TO REGRET THOSE ISSUE THEN ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LOT OF SUPPORT BEHIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THOSE TWOS ISSUES.

>> SHE SAID ON RECORD THAT SHE IS NICKED THE IDEA OF ANOTHER GAS TAX INCREASE.

DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED MECHANISM TO BRING IN THE REAL FUNDING?

>> IT IS A TRICKY QUESTION.

THAT IS ONGOING DISCUSSION.

HOW DO WE MAINTAIN SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR THE WORLD AND FOLKS ARE NOT BUYING GASOLINE?

WELL, THINK IT IS A COMPLICATED QUESTION.

WE ARE SITTING ON TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BUDGET SURPLUS AND NOW THAT CAN BE USED FOR ONE-TIME SPENDING PROJECTS LOOK I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE ALL GOT TO COME TO THE TABLE ON AND WILLING TO HAVE THE ANSWER FOR IT.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE READY TO COME TOLL THE TABLE AND DEVELOP CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT DON'T INVOLVE RAISING TAXES BUT USING ALREADY GENERATED REVENUE TO SIMPLY MAINTAIN THE ROADS.

TIM: WELL YOU KNOW THE ROAD BUILDING LOBBY WANTS YOU TO RAISE THE USER FEES ON OWNERS DOWN THE ROAD.

ARE YOU WILLING TO VOTE YES ON THAT?

>> I SAID I NEVER VOTED TO IN CREASE FEES OR TAXES.

THINK ARE OTHER WAYS.

THE STATE BUDGET HAS BALLOONED TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST DECADE AND MORE AND YET OUR POPULATION HAS NOT GROWN?

I DON'T THINK THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ARE MUCH THAT BETTER AND MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN FINDING THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS LIKE THAT THAT DON'T ALLOW RAIDING THE POCKETBOOKS OF MICHIGAN EARNS.

THOSE ARE PROBABLY OUT THERE.

TIM: DO YOU THINK IT IS FAIR THAT OWNERS ARE NOT PAYING THE GAS TAX AND NOT PAYING AS MUCH TO THE STATE TILL AS REGULAR DRIVE DERS IN DON'T YOU THIS YOU THINK THERE IS A FAIR ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED?

SURE.

THINK ANYONE USING THE ROADS NEEDS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE AND THINK I THERE IS PROBABLY EQUITABLE WAY TO DO THAT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE USING THE ROAD THE SAME AMOUNT WHETHER YOU ARE DRIVING INTERNAL COMBUSTIONIAN OR ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND GOING TO RAISE THE FEE SOMEWHERE IT HAS GOT TO BE BROUGHT DOWN SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAKES LEDGE CALL SENSE.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN YOU?

GIVE ONE HAN.

THEN YOU GIVE THE MONEY BACK IN THAT LOSS?

>> WELL, BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ON THE RADIO ROADS THE SAME.

POPULATION IS NOT GROWING.

STOP THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE TALKING TO USE THE ROADS SHOULD REMAIN CONSTANT.

I WANT TO SEE INCREASE.

WANT A TAX INCREASE.

I DON'T WANT THE STATE TO GAIN MORE MONEY.

WE SHOULD HAVE THE BUDGET THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE ROADS AND SHOULD BE GATHERED IN EQUITABLE WAY BASED ON WHO IS USING THE ROADS.

THAT IS WHAT I AM PROPOSING.

>> ARE YOU SAYING THE ROAD MONEY FOR TICKING AND MAINTAINING THE ROADS SHOW REMAIN CONSTANT?

BECAUSE THE CONSENSUS PAYERS TO WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THAT RIGHT NOW UNDER THE EXISTING FUNDING SYSTEM?

>> YEAH.

AM MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS THAT DON'T INVOLVE MORE MONEY THAT DON'T TAKE POLITICIANS VERY LOMING TO SAY THE WORDS WE NEED MORE MONEY BUT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF DATING AND TAKES RESEARCH AND TAKES ASKING HARD QUESTIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE ROADS ARE DEGRADING AT A RAPID PACE AND WHAT ARE OTHER STATES DOING DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE THE ROADS LAST LONGER AND A WHOLE HOST OF SOLUTIONS THAT INCREASING THE REVENUE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE ROADS WHY DON'T WE GATHER LOW HANGING FRUIT FIRST AND ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS THEN LOOK WHAT WE CAN DO TO IM ROV THE STRUCK A TURE BEFORE WE RAISE TAXES.

>> I WANT TOP GO BACK TO PENSIONS.

I HEARD THIS ARGUMENT THAT FULLY EX TEMPTING PENSIONS FOR PUBLIC PENSIONS WOULD HELP RECRUIT MORE FOLKS TO BE TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS, WELL, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> YEAH.

OF COURSE THEY WILL.

IT IS UNFAIR.

THE IDEA WE WOULD, THAT WE WOULD ALLOW PUB PUBLIC TO NOT PAY A TAX ON THE REQUIREMENT INCOME WHILE IF YOU WORK FOR YEARS AT DETROIT EDISON OR THE UAW WITH YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A DIFFERENT TAX?

I NEXT,ED THIS TO THE FLOOR SPEECH LAST NIGHT AND WE LEFT TO BREAK THE LIMIT ON THE HIGHWAY AND OF COURSE NOT.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TREAT THEM DIFFERENT ELEMENT NY IS IT REQUIREMENT TOOL?

OF COURSE.

NOW WE HAVE THE GOVERNMENT COMPETING UNFAIRLY TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

TALK TO ANY SMALL BUSINESS OWN NERN STATE THEY WILL TELL THE SAM THING.

DON'T KNOW WHY THE WEE GIVE THE GOVERNMENT A LEG UP ON RECRUITING WHEREVER ONE IS STRUGGLING TO FIND WORKERS.

>> I WAS SERIOUS.

HE SPONTED TO THE IDEA OF FAIRNESS AS YOU TOUCHED UPON AS WELL BUT BASED ON UPON AGE, THE IDEA THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, BELIEVED THATLE OTHER FOLKS ON THEIR INCOME SHOULD PAY THAT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT STATEMENT?

>> IF YOU LUNCHING ON FIXED INCOME YOU HAVE LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO IN CREASE THE EARNINGS AND EXPENSES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO UP AS INFLATION WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS DRAMATICALLY INCREASING THE COSTS BUT IT DOES MAKE SOME STONES ALLOW TO DEDUCT CERTAIN AMOUNT INTERESTS THE TAXES BECAUSE LIVING ON THE FIXED INCOME AND DON'T HAVE BEEN THE OPPORTUNITY TON INCREASE THEIR EARNINGS ONE THING THE REPUBLICAN PLAN ADD WAS TIP LATION FOR SENIORS WHO ARE WORKING AND CONTINUING TO WORK TO SUPPLEMENT THE RETIREMENT AGE COULD ALSO DEDECT THAT AS MORE SIMPLE APPROACH THE RETIREMENT TAX THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DEP CRATIC PLAN.

WHAT WILL DO YOU ON THE FIRST DAY THIS 53 DEMOCRATS SHOWP ON THE HOUSING FLOOR WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH TO CONTROL WHY YOU ARE SMILING.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

>> THAT IS ABOVE MY PAY GRADE.

NO.

NO.

NO.

NICE TRY THROW.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

>> WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

>> WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH ANYONE WHO WILL LEP US DO THAT.

JOE KNOWS HE HAS FRACTURED CAUCUS, I SO I THINK HE IS WELL AWARE.

DO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN HE WAKES UP AND REALIZE NEEDSES TO TREAT US A LITTLE BIT MORE FAIRLY AND UNDERSTAND ONE VOTE MAJORITY EVENTUALLY THEN, AND SO, I THINK CCCAT FORLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE MICHIGAN COMPETITIVE THE SAME IS TRUE FOR HER TO SITED.

ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU WOULD NOT BE PART OF A CUE TO TAKE OVER THE HOUSE IF THERE ARE ONLY 5 DEMOCRATS ON THE FLOOR.

WOULD YOU NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT?

>> THAT IS ABOVE THE PAY GRADE.

ALL I CAN TELL YOU, DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE FOLLOWING THE LEADS AND HE HAS DONE AND GREAT JOB IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE TERM TO LEAD US THROUGH SITUATIONS, AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

BY THE SAME TOKEN YOU WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE SPEAKER WHEN HE CUT IN LINE AND PRESENTED YOU FROM GETTING THE FIRST BILL, RIGHT?

>> I THOUGHT WHEN I GOT THE STATE CAPITOL THAT WITH END BUT CLEARLY IT DID NOT.

TIM: DID YOU CALL THE SPACK EAR KINDERGARTEN?

>> I SAID KID NER GUARD DRNERS CUT IN LINE.

>> THAT IS WHAT YOU THINK, RIGHT?

>> PROOF IN THE PUDDING.

WE ALL SAW THAT.

>> WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE FIRST SO BADLY?

>> , THINK THINK REREPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR A LONG TIME.

I AM TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO CUT TAXES AND IN A SITUATION NOW WITH THE BUDGET SURPLUS WHERE THAT IS POSSIBLE.

SO WE ARE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THE VERSION OF THE RETIREMENT TAX AND WE WANTED TO SHOW THAT REPUBLICANS ARE HERE.

WE ARE HERE TO GOVERNMENT WE ARE READY TO GO ON DAY ONE.

THEN, THEN WE WANTED TO INTRODOINGS THE FIRST BILL TOLL DO THAT AND DIDN'T END UP HAPPENING BUT STILL HERE TO WORK AND STILL EXCITED AND STILL EAGER AND ORGANIZED THEN READY TO GO.

>> SITTING ON A RECORD YOU KNOW, MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR SURPLUS AT THE MOMENT AND AWAIT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUD GOT AREGET RECOMMENDATION.

IT IS IT GOING TO PRESENT HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE DIVVIED UP AND CARE TO EXPLAIN ANY OF THOSE PRIORITIES.

YOU NEVER KNOW WE GO INTO A GREAT DEAL OF DEPTH I THINK OUR PRIORITIES REMAIN KEEPING MICHIGAN COMPETITIVE.

AND CULTING TAXES AND THEN THE $9 BILLION THEY CAN GO A LONG WAY TO DO ALL OF THOSE.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR THE UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL STUFF?

>> YOU KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO IN STI TOOT A PROGRAM LIKE THAT YOU GOT TOT SHOW ME HOW TO PAY FOR IT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES THEN A PERMANENT LONG-TERM GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T SOUND EXPENSIVE TO ME, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROPOSAL FOR HOW IT IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR AND HOW IT WILL BE IMPLIED THEN AS WAS MENTIONEDIER THE SHOW, WHO IS GOING TO FILL THE CLASSROOMS WE ARE HAVING TEACHER SHORTAGE AS IT IS.

THEN SHALL THINK THERE IS A LOT OF SPAF SIBS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT THEN I WILL HOLD OFF ON ANSWERING UNTIL I SEE IT.

>> REPRESENTATIVES THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING ON THE PROGRAM AND HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME AND HAVE A NICE PEACEFUL WEEKEND, SIR.

THANKS.

THANKS FOR THE GREAT PANEL.

CLARE WELCOME TO "OFF THE RECORD."

THANKS FOR HAVING YOU ONBOARD.

SEE YOU YOU NEXT WEEK FOR OTR.

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