♪ WELCOME BACK OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS REPUBLICAN CHAIR OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE GRAHAM FILLER, OUR LEAD STORY THE GOVERNOR HAS A 5.6 BILLION DOLLAR COVID RELIEF PACKAGE IS IT D O A IN THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE ON THE OTR PANNING JONATHAN OOSTING, CHUCK SHOWERS AND ZOE CLARK.

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

PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE FOLLOWING, BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MICHIGAN HAS A STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE MICHIGAN A TOP TEN STATE IN THE NATION FOR JOBS, PERSONAL INCOME AND A HEALTHY ECONOMY LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN ROAD TO TOP TEN.COM.

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

♪ ♪ THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WELCOME BACK TO THIS ZOOM EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.

LET'S SAY GOOD MORNING TO OUR PANEL ARE THE THREE OF YOU THERE MAGICALLY THERE THEY ARE CHUCK AND JONATHAN AND ZOE AND DO YOU LIKE THE SNAP THERE AND NICE TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD AND WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS WE NEED MORE VACCINES AND WE NEED SOME REPUBLICAN VOTES FOR MY RELIEF PACKAGE.

>> LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN GRIPING FOR MONTHS ABOUT ALL THE EMPTY BOOTHS AND RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN THE STATE AND BLAME THE GOVERNOR FOR CLOSING INDOOR DRINKING AND DINING SHE SAYS HOWEVER SHE IS DOING IT TO ATTACK THE SPREAD OF THE COVID VIRUS BUT WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL COVID AID FLOWING IN TO STATE COFFERS THE REPUBLICANS SAY A CHANCE TO GET THEIR WAY.

THEY ARE USING THAT MONEY AS A WAY TO FORCE THE GOVERNOR TO REOPEN BUSINESSES NOW.

REPRESENTATIVE TOM ALBERT WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE SAYS HE AND THE SENATE BUDGE IT CHAIR SENATOR STA MARK AS WILL SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT WHERE TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

AND THEY WILL LEAVE THE GOVERNOR OUT OF THE PROCESS UNLESS SHE REOPENS BUSINESSES NOW.

>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE POWER OF THE PURSE.

I'M NOT GOING TO HAND THAT OVER TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

I'M GOING TO WORK WITH MY COUNTERPART SENATOR STAMOS IN THE SENATE AND LOOK AT WAYS OF MAKING SURE THIS MONEY GETS OUT THERE.

>> THE GOVERNOR WHO DOES WANT A VOICE IN HOW TO SPEND THOSE COVID DOLLARS WARNED THE REPUBLICANS NOT TO HOLD THE COVID MONEY HOSTAGE.

>> WELL, I AM SURPRISED IN THAT.

I THINK IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE LEGISLATURE THAT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO WANT TO RESORT TO THREATS TO OPEN UP RESTAURANTS.

IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS.

AND IT'S REALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

>> THE RUP LAWMAKER COUNTER THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT AND NOT HELD HOSTAGE WITH OR WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR'S INPUT.

HE SAYS THAT IS UP TO HER.

>> IF SHE SAYS I'M NOT GOING TO REOPEN ON YOUR SCHEDULE BY MY SCHEDULE YOU WON'T TALK TO HER ON SPENDING FAIR STATEMENT.

>> LET'S HOPE IT DOES NOT COME TO THAT TIM.

>> WELL IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT?

>> TIM I'M GOING TO STICK TO MY GUNS ON THIS AND STICK TO MY STATEMENT SHE STARTS REOPENING WE WILL START TALKING.

>> AND IF SHE DOESN'T YOU WON'T?

>> HOPEFULLY SHE GETS THE MESSAGE.

>> THE UNANSWERED QUESTION IS WHO IS GOING TO BLINK FIRST IN THIS POLITICAL GAME OF CHICKEN OVER THE AID THAT SO MANY FOLKS IN MICHIGAN NEED.

JONATHAN THE QUESTION IS HOW SERIOUS IS THE REPUBLICAN STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIRPERSON THERE TO NOT TALK TO HER ABOUT SPENDING 5.6 BILLION DOLLARS THAT IS HUGE IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, RIGHT?

>> WELL LOOK SPENDING OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, FEDERAL DOLLARS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE AREAS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN LED LEGISLATURE HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN ALONG ON.

YOU KNOW THEY HAVE COME TO AGREEMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR ON SEVERAL LARGE FEDERAL STIMULUS SPENDING PACKAGES.

A LOT OF THIS MONEY IS JUST YOU KNOW PASS THROUGH MONEY.

IT'S APPROVING DOLLARS SENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T THINK IN THE END THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT CONTROVERSY OVER SPENDING THAT YOU KNOW SOME DETAILS TO BE NEGOTIATED BUT CERTAINLY THEY ARE STARTING OUT ON A DIFFERENT FOOT HERE IN THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AS I SAID THOSE LAST NEGOTIATIONS, THE LAST SPENDING PACKAGES HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED AND THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT HER OWN PLAN WITHOUT WELL WITHOUT NEGOTIATING ANY WAY OR EVEN TALKING TO SOME OF THE BUDGET OFFICIALS ABOUT WHAT THAT PLAN WAS GOING TO BE BEFORE IT HAPPENED.

AND THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF HARD FEELINGS A LOT OF HURT FEELINGS, A LOT OF RESENTMENT WITHIN THE G O P CAUCUS AND PLAYING HARD BALL ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS.

CHAIR ALBERT HAS ALREADY SOFTENED HIS STANCE AND INITIALLY SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO TALK TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT SPENDING FEDERAL MONEY AT ALL NOW HE SAYS THE LEGISLATURE WILL FIGURE OUT ITS OWN PLAN TO SPEND THAT MONEY SO THAT MONEY WILL GET SPENT IT'S JUST A MAY MATTER OF WORKING OUT THE DETAILS AND YEAH THEY WILL HAVE TO SIT DOWN AT SOME POINT AND TALK IT OUT.

>> TIM, I WOULD AGREE WITH JONATHAN THIS IS GOING TO BE A BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT OF TUG OF WAR DEALING WITH POLICY, DEALING WITH POWER, LEGISLATURE REALIZES THEY HAVE THE POWER, THE POWER OF THE PURSE BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE NUMBERS BOTH ON THE SENATE SIDE AND ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET WHAT THEY CAN, EXTRACT WHAT YOU CAN OUT OF THIS.

AND TO REPRESENT THEIR MAIN CORE CONSTITUENCY AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAY THE BUSINESSES ARE HURTING REALLY BAD AND WANT TO GET BACK TO MAKING A LIVING SO THEY WILL USE WHAT THATKY WITH THE GOVERNOR BUT HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS BECAUSE WE ARE HITTING RECORD NUMBER OF COVID CASES A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING FROM COVID AND MONEY IS NOW STARTING TO COME IN FROM WASHINGTON.

I GUARANTY YOU THAT THERE WILL BE MORE MONEY PROBABLY COMING IN NOW THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS IN AND YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR HERE, YOU HAVE SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, HOPING THAT THIS NEW DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION EVEN THOUGH THE BIDEN SAYS I'LL BE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE PEOPLE, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO OPEN UP THE PURSES.

THEY ARE MAKING COVID-19 THEIR ABSOLUTE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

BUT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, JONATHAN IS RIGHT.

THIS HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH THIS GOVERNOR AND HER POLICIES.

AND THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED AND AT THE TABLE NEGOTIATING THESE THINGS UP FRONT.

>> AND I THINK THE ONE THING THOUGH TO KEEP IN MIND RIGHT IS THIS IDEA OF WANTING BUSINESSES, MANY OF WHICH ARE OPEN BUT WITH ISSUES OF CAPACITY AND OF COURSE THE ABILITY FOR HHS TO RESHUT THEM DOWN.

BUT ONE OF THE NOTES THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS IS RESTAURANTS AND ONE OF THE THINGS IN ALL LIKELIHOOD LATER TODAY WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR WHO IT'S BELIEVED WILL CONTINUE WITH THIS IDEA THAT RESTAURANTS WILL BE ABLE TO BE OPEN TO SOME CERTAIN EXTENT WITH RESTRICTIONS BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1.

SO YOU SORT OF HAVE TO LOOK LIKE WELL WHAT ARE YOU STAKING THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ON?

AND LET'S SAY THE END OF FEBRUARY OR EVEN MARCH HOPEFULLY IT WON'T YOU KNOW COME TO THAT.

AND THAT MONEY WILL START GETTING INTO FOLKS' POCKETBOOKS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT THE HOPE I THINK IS WITH MORE VACCINATIONS, AS THE WEATHER STARTS TO WARM UP, I KNOW I'M BEING AN OPTIMIST HERE, THAT THINGS DO START TO LOOK BETTER.

SO WHAT DO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS THEN LOOK LIKE IF THOSE THINGS ALREADY HAVE BEEN OPENED AND WE ARE SEEING MOVEMENT TOWARDS GETTING BACK TO NORMAL WHATEVER THAT NEW NORMAL LOOKS LIKE?

>> YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THE TRADITION IS AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR NOT EVERYBODY IS SINGING KUM-BY-YA BUT THERE USUALLY IS A STATEMENT THAT LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER.

I DID NOT HEAR ANY OF THAT SINCE THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN BACK.

SHE CAN MAYBE CORRECT THAT IN HER STATE OF THE STATE MESSAGE NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT BUT IT DID NOT START OUT ON A PLANE WHERE WE ARE EQUAL.

YOU ARE RIGHT SHE INTRODUCED 5.6 MILLION DOLLAR PACK ONLY OUT OF NO WHERE.

I ASSUME THE TWO CHAIRS THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE WERE NOT CONSULTED.

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IF YOU ARE REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE YOU GIVE THOSE PEOPLE A HEADS UP, HEY, THIS IS COMING, I LOOK FORWARD TO WALKING DOWN THE ROAD WITH YOU TOGETHER.

DID ANYBODY HEAR ANY OF THAT?

LET'S JOIN HANDS AND GET THIS PROBLEM DONE TOGETHER, DID ANYBODY HERE THAT?

JONATHAN, DID YOU?

>> NO.

I MEAN THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL LEVEL OF COURSE OF TRYING TO UNIFY AFTER A VERY CONTENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

BUT HERE IN THE STATE, YEAH, WE HAVEN'T HEARD AS MUCH OF THAT YET.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE BEGINNING THIS NEW TERM PRETTY MUCH WHERE THEY LEFT OFF.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JAESEAN WENTWORTH BUT HE IS YOU KNOW NOT -- YOU KNOW I MEAN HE HAS TALKED ABOUT RESTORING PUBLIC TRUST IN GOVERNMENT BY DOING SOME GOOD GOVERNMENT REFORMS BUT HAS NOT EXPLICITLY TALKED ABOUT HOW HE WANTS TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR WHITMER MOVING FORWARD AND VICE VERSA.

I ASKED GOVERNOR WHITMER AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHAT HER RELATIONSHIP WAS WITH HIM AND MIKE SHIRKEY WELL THEY ARE THE LEGISLATURE I HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM, WHATEVER.

SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF YOU KNOW FEEL GOOD COMMENTS ABOUT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS EITHER.

>> BY THE SAME TOKEN THE QUADRANT MET A COUPLE TIMES AND WITH EXCEPTION OF MR. SHIRKEY MAYBE THEY ARE MELDING AND COMING TOGETHER BUT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATION AT THE CAPITOL LAST SUNDAY AND WE HAD THE ENTIRE MICHIGAN NATIONAL GUARD OUT THERE AND THE STATE POLICE AND WHAT HAPPENED?

>> NOT MUCH.

THANKFULLY.

I KNOW JONATHAN WAS ON THE GROUND.

I HAD A SPACE ACTUALLY ABOUT IN A BUILDING THAT OVER LOOKED THE CAPITOL.

EIGHT FLOOR FLOORS UP SO I COULD SEE THE TEAM AND HAD THREE REPORTERS ON THE GROUND AND THOSE THREE REPORTERS PLUS JONATHAN AND MANY OTHER REPORTERS AND THE NATIONAL GUARD FAR OUT NUMBERED THE NUMBER OF PROTESTERS.

THERE WERE A CONTINGENT OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS WHO WERE THERE, FOLKS WHO LIKE TO CALL THEMSELVES THE BUGALOO BOYS WHO WERE CARRYING GUNS AND ARMED AND GAVE A STATEMENT.

BUT THANKFULLY AS I SAID LUCKILY NOT MUCH.

I BELIEVE ONE HAD SAID MICHIGAN RADIO RAN WAS DULL AND THANK GOODNESS IT WAS AND I HAD TO TAKE BACK BULLETPROOF VESTS TO MY OFFICE AND I THINK IT'S A PRETTY SAD INDICATION OF WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTRY WHEN IT BECOMES THE NORM TO THROW THREE OR FOUR BULLET PROOF VESTS IN YOUR CAR AND DROP THEM OFF AND I WAS GLAD TO DO IT.

>> DO YOU THINK THE WORST IS OVER OR THE WORST IS YET TO COME OR OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T KNOW?

>> OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T KNOW AND AS JO SAID YOU HEARD ON A NATIONAL FRONT THE MESSAGE OF UNITY.

YOU KNOW I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS DUG IN TO THE LINE THAT WE HAVE SEEN AN UNCIVIL WAR.

LOOK, I THINK NO MATTER IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN WHATEVER SIDE YOU FEEL AND YOU FEEL THE TEMPERATURE AND THE HEAT YOU OFTEN HEAR GOVERNOR WHITMER SAY THAT SHE HAS ASKED HER REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS TO BRING DOWN THE HEAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU HEARD JOE BIDEN DO THE SAME.

LOOK, WE SAW SOMETHING WE HAD NEVER SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY IN A CENTURY AND MORE.

ON JANUARY 6TH.

INCLUDING SOME MICHIGANDERS THAT I HOPE WE TALK ABOUT AS WELL ON THIS PROGRAM.

WHO WERE THERE.

AND SO I CERTAINLY AM NOT GOING TO PREDICT THE FUTURE BUT IT DOES FEEL MAYBE IN THE LAST 48 HOURS THAT AT LEAST SOME CITIZENS FEEL LIKE MAYBE WE COULD BRING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> CHUCK LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT A MAJOR NEWS STORE THE -- STORY BY FORMER MAYOR OF DETROIT AND APPARENTLY OUT OF THE SLAM.

>> HE IS AND GOT THE SENTENCE COMMUTED.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE FOR 28 YEARS.

HE SERVED 7 OF THOSE YEARS.

THE CATCH IS THAT HE DIDN'T GET AN ABSOLUTE FULL PARDON BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY BACK MANY OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL CHARGES.

AND THAT DID NOT GET COMMUTED.

BUT I'M SURE HE IS RELIEVED TO BE OUT.

TO BE ABLE TO SEE HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AGAIN.

WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO NEXT NO ONE KNOWS.

IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS IN THE PRISON THAT HE STUDIED THE MINISTRY.

THAT HE COUNSELLED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

SO AND WE ALL KNOW THAT HE CERTAINLY WAS PROFICIENT AT HOW HE PRESENTED HIMSELF WHEN HE GOT IN FRONT OF A PODIUM.

SO THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE HE LOST WHILE HE WAS BEHIND BARS.

MAYBE HE WILL OPEN UP SOME TYPE OF CHURCH OR MINISTRY OF SOME TYPE.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

HE CANNOT RUN FOR ANY KIND OF REELECTION STATEWIDE HERE IN MICHIGAN UNTIL 2030.

BUT THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE HIM FROM SEEKING A FEDERAL OFFICE.

HE COULD RUN FOR CONGRESS, WHETHER IT'S FROM, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY OR EVEN FROM THIS PARTICULAR REGION.

WE DON'T KNOW IF POLITICS IS EVEN IN HIS SCOPE.

WE DO ALL REMEMBER WHEN HE WENT OFF TO PRISON HE SAID I'LL BE BACK.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW IN WHAT FORM HE WILL BE BACK.

>> QUICKLY CHUCK WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE IN DETROIT ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT?

>> I THINK IF YOU TALK TO MOST DETROITERS THEY WILL SAY THAT THE SENTENCE WAS TOO HARSH OR FOR THE CRIME, THAT IT WAS TOO LONG OF A PERIOD OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO SERVE.

EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF DETROITERS ARE STILL UNSETTLED BY THE TACT THAT HE NEVER PRESENTED ANY TYPE OF PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR THE TAXPAYER MONEY THAT WAS MISS SPENT AND MISS APPROPRIATED SO THAT STILL BOTHERS PEOPLE.

I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF DETROIT WHO FEEL LIKE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT, HE SHOULD STILL BE BEHIND BARS.

BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY FEEL A LITTLE BETTER THAT EVEN IF HE IS OUT THAT HE STILL HAS TO REPAY A LOT OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT WAS IMPENDED UPON HIM SO WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

IF YOU TALK TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF DETROITERS THEY ARE GLAD HE IS NOT IN THERE FOR A FULL 28 YEARS, THAT HOPEFULLY HE HAS LEARNED HIS LESSON.

AND THAT PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HE DOES WITH THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

>> ALL RIGHT BEFORE WE CALL IN OUR GUEST A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO THE FORMER MAYOR I KNOW YOU WATCH OFF THE RECORD CALL ME TO GIVE ME THAT FIRST INTERVIEW WHEN YOU DECIDE TO TALK TO THE MEDIA, FAIR ENOUGH?

TWO CHANCES OF THAT SLIM AND NONE.

LET'S CALL IN REPRESENTATIVE GRAHAM FILLER OUT IN DEWITT AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR GETTING YOUR JOB BACK AT JUDICIARY CHAIR.

>> SKUBICK YOU OLD WAR HORSE I MISSED YOUR MICROPHONE AMBUSHS.

I FEEL LIKE COVID RUINS EVERYTHING.

YES, I'M THRILLED TO BE BACK AS JUDICIARY CHAIR AND FELT WE TURNED IT INTO A ROCK STAR COMMITTEE IN 2019-2020 GOOD FOR MICHIGAN AND A FAIR GOVERNMENT SO THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD AND THE HERE IS THE FIRST QUESTION FROM JONATHAN.

>> REPRESENTATIVE I AM GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT RIGHT AWAY DO YOU BELIEVE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS STOLEN?

AND HOW DO YOU GOVERN MOVING FORWARD WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE PROBABLY YOUR DISTRICT IN THIS COUNTRY DO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT NOW FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IN HIS LAST MONTHS IN OFFICE?

>> NO.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN OR RIGGED.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS FRAUD.

AND FRAUD TO AN EXTENT THAT WOULD SOMEHOW OVERTURN MICHIGAN'S ELECTORATES AND FEEL THERE IS REMARKABLE DAMAGE DONE BY THE PRESIDENT POST ELECTION IN CLAIMING TO MANY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED HIM THAT IT WAS RIGGED SO I DO THINK WE NEED A RESET.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL ON POLICY.

ON DIRECTION OF A COUNTRY.

BUT AFTER AN ELECTION IS OVER, SOME OF THOSE CLAIMS TURNED OUT TO BE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SORT OF CULMINATING IN THE STORMING AND RIOTS OF THE CAPITOL SO I DO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESET AND A PIVOT AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GO BACK TO TALK ABOUT GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY, PRUDENT COMMON SENSE REFORMS.

AND BRING BACK SOME OF THOSE VOTERS WHO WENT BIDEN AND THEN FILLER BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDN'T LIKE DONALD TRUMP PERSONALLY.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE VOTERS WHO STILL BELIEVE THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED?

HOW DO YOU REACH THEM?

>> I MEAN, I JUST SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER ALL THE TIME.

WHICH IS SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S OVER IT'S OVER.

AND WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO PUT IN A GOOD CONSERVATIVE VISION OUT THERE.

AND I MEAN ONE OF THESE GREAT THINGS THAT REPUBLICAN PARTY DID IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS REALLY STRONG OUTREACH TO BLUE COLLAR AND WORKING CLASS FAMILIES.

AND I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT AND WANT THEM WORKING AND WORKING AT HIGH WAGES.

FOCUS ON THE SKILLED TRADES.

YOU KNOW LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT ACTUAL THINGS THAT MOVE THEIR LIVES IN A GOOD DIRECTION INSTEAD OF SORT OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> CHUCK.

>> REPRESENTATIVE FILLER, YOU HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON A LOT OF JUSTICE REFORMS HERE IN THE STATE.

HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU BY SOME OF THOSE GOVERNOR WHITMER'S VETOES ESPECIALLY THE POCKET VETO AS IT RELATED TO THE DUI EXPUNGEMENT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO JUSTICE REFORMS HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE GREAT FIELDS WHICH KIND OF CUTS THROUGH THE PARTISAN BS OUT THERE.

AND TO SEE A VETO OF A BILL THAT PASSED 96-8 OUT OF THE HOUSE AND 32-5 OUT OF THE SENATE, A VETO COMING TOWARDS A BILL THAT FIT PERFECTLY IN AN EXPUNGEMENT PACKAGE THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED JUST TWO MONTHS BEFORE WAS SHOCKING.

THE LACK OF INVOLVEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS EVEN MORE GALLING AND DID NOT SPEAK NEGATIVELY AT ALL IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE, NONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS DID.

THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WOULD GET VETOED SO THEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BRING A LOT OF RELIEF TO A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS, MOVE PEOPLE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES.

ALL THE SAME THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR SPOKE ABOUT IN HER PRESS CONFERENCE THAT JUST GETS POCKET VETOED FOR NO REASON.

I THINK IT DOES SPEAK TO THE FACT THIS IS A VERY POLITICAL GOVERNOR.

PROBABLY THE MOST POLITICAL GOVERNOR I DON'T KNOW SINCE THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

AND IF SHE FEELS THAT SHE IS WINNING AND WINNING MEANS WINNING ON A JOB APPROVAL LEVEL, 50.01% OF THE VOTE IN 2022, THEN SHE DOESN'T FEEL ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW PAY ATTENTION TO POCKET VETOES BESIDES THE LANSING INSIDERS?

SO I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THAT.

WE ARE EXCITED TO BRING THAT BILL BACK AND HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AGAIN.

>> QUICK FOLLOW-UP.

THE BILL HAS SUPPORT FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL.

IT ALSO HAS SUPPORT FROM SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BRIDGETT MCCORMICK.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNOR GAVE IN TO PRESSURE FROM MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVERS?

YOU KNOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY DID.

A COUPLE REASONS WERE SORT OF FLOATED YOU KNOW.

NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOT HAD IS SOMETHING THEY SAID ABOUT SOME BILLS IN LAME DUCK.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DOESN'T REALLY NEGOTIATE ON POLICY.

THEY DON'T REALLY GET INVOLVED.

I MEAN, IT'S -- I'VE SORT OF BEGGED AND PLEADED JUST TELL ME IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MODIFICATION ON A BILL IN JUDICIARY IF YOU HAVE SOME ISSUES LET ME KNOW.

I'M A VERY ACTIVE TRANSPARENT CHAIR LET ME KNOW.

AND I KNOW THE AG SUPPORTED THIS BECAUSE I ROPE AN OP ED IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS WITH HER BECAUSE IT'S A FAIRNESS ISSUE AND IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

BUT I GUESS AND THEY DIDN'T GIVE A REASON.

THEY JUST SORT OF GIVE BROAD STROKES WHICH I VIEW AS SORT OF UNACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT LACKING TRANSPARENCY SO I DO PUSH BACK AGAINST THEM.

>> ZOE.

>> THANK YOU.

REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S GET BACK TO THIS SESSION.

YOU WERE MEANT TO BE AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK AND YOU WERE NOT.

BECAUSE THE CAPITOL SESSION FOR BOTH YOUR CHAMBER, THE STATE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, WAS CANCELLED BASICALLY.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF OVER AT YOUR PLACE GETTING WORK DONE.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY THOUGH ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTRY WHEN STATE REPS AND SENATORS CANNOT WORK OUT OF THE CAPITOL DUE TO THREATS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT?

I HEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE HEARD DEMOCRATS SAY THE SAME, HOW DO WE ACTUALLY DO THAT AND WHAT CAN YOU DO THAT TO DO THAT AMONGST YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE STATE HOUSE?

>> SO THE FIRST THING I'LL SAY IS YOU KNOW, ASKING THE STATE LEGISLATURE OR THE GOVERNOR, ANYBODY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE THREATS OR FOR THE CRAZIES FOR THE EXTREMES ON BOTH SIDES IS SOMETHING WE JUST CAN'T DO.

HOWEVER, IN THIS.

>> YEAH BUT IF YOU HAVE COLLEAGUES.

>> POST ELECTION I WOULD SAY THAT SOME OF THE RHETORIC COMING FROM THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE WAS ABSOLUTELY UNHELPFUL TO THE WHOLE PROCESS.

AND SO I DO PUSH BACK AGAINST THAT RHETORIC THAT WAS OUT THERE.

I IMAGINE A MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION IF POST ELECTION THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD SAID HEY I GAVE IT MY ALL.

YOU KNOW IT'S VERY CLOSE.

WE ARE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE ELECTION BUT YOU KNOW I WELCOME A PRESIDENT BIDEN IF HE IS SHOWN TO BE THE WINNER WHEN VOTES ARE COUNTED.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IMPACTS THE BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE.

SO.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, YEAH.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT MEMBERS OF YOUR OWN CAUCUS?

I THINK YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT, I'M TALKING AND MATT MADICK AND HIS WIFE MISHON WHO IS LIKELY GOING TO BE SORT OF DEPUTY THE COCHAIR OF THE MICHIGAN REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS TIME.

DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THAT SORT OF FACET OF YOUR PARTY WHO DO BELIEVE AND DO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, THE SO CALLED STOP THIS DEAL, DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR PARTY WITH THEM AS PART OF IT?

>> KIND OF A BROAD QUESTION BECAUSE EVERY PARTY HAS INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF I MEAN PEOPLE HARD LEFT OR HARD RIGHT MODERATE WHATEVER SO I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW TRASHING ONE ELEMENT OF A PARTY IS REALLY HELPFUL ELEMENT.

THEY GOT A LOT OF PRESS AND PUBLICITY FOR GOING TO D.C. AND AGAIN I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR PROTESTING YOU KNOW OKAY, AN AMERICAN THING, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, RIOTING, TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE U.S. CAPITOL COMPLETELY WRONG.

AND IF THEY HAD DONE THAT I THINK THAT'S YOU KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY SHOWS CRIMINAL INTENT.

AND SO YOU MOVE ON FROM THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG TENT, IT'S A BIG PARTY.

SO I WON'T GO AFTER SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS IN THE PARTY.

BUT I WILL SPEAK BROADLY AGAINST THAT RHETORIC THAT CAME FROM THE PRESIDENT AFTER THE ELECTION.

I FOUND THAT VERY DAMAGING.

>> MR. FILLER, DO YOU THINK THE U.S. SENATE SHOULD CONVICT HIM?

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT DOES NOW.

FOR THE COUNTRY.

AND SO YOU KNOW BRING UP THE PROOF AND GO FROM THERE.

BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT ACTUALLY ADDS ANYTHING POSITIVE TO WHERE THIS COUNTRY IS GOING RIGHT NOW.

>> SO YOU WOULD NOT SUPPORT CONVICTING THE FORMER PRESIDENT?

>> NO, I WOULD NOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND DID YOU EVER GO TO A TRUMP RALLY?

WERE YOU THERE WITH HIM?

AND SUPPORTED HIM IN A PHYSICAL WAY?

>> I'VE ACTUALLY NOT BEEN TO A TRUMP RALLY.

>> ON PURPOSE TO SENT A MESSAGE?

>> NO.

I WOULD ATTEND RALLIES FOR A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT WHEN MIKE PENCE CAME IN TO -- FLEW INTO LANSING I GREETED HIM THERE.

BUT I DID NOT ATTEND ONE.

>> BUT LET ME JUST -- I'M TRYING TO GET INSIDE YOUR HEAD HERE BECAUSE YOU SAID SOME VERY CRITICAL THINGS ABOUT MR. TRUMP HERE TODAY AND I KNOW YOU WON'T TELL ME IF YOU VOTED FOR HIM OR NOT BUT YOU CLEARLY DON'T WANT HIM TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN, FAIR STATEMENT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

SO ONE OF THE ISSUES IS NO MATTER HOW GOOD WE WERE IN MICHIGAN OR EVEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN THEY WERE GETTING THINGS DONE LIKE WORKING WITH FARMERS AND REWRITING THE U.S. TRADE AGREEMENT FOR AG, DOING GOOD THINGS ON TAX CUTS, I THINK THERE WAS A 2017 TAX PLAN I SUPPORTED.

WE COULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

AND EVEN THE TRUMP DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF WOULD NOT SPEAK ABOUT THOSE THINGS BECAUSE HE SEEMED CAUGHT UP IN SORT OF PERSONAL VENDETTAS AND A LOT OF TWEETING SO I FEEL WHEN ALL THE GOOD THINGS YOU DID AS A PRESIDENT OR EVEN HERE IN MICHIGAN WHEN WE WERE DOING GOOD THINGS WE COULDN'T EVEN GET PUBLICITY ON I BECAUSE HE JUST TOOK UP SO MUCH AIR IN THE ROOM.

AND I REALLY WANT TO MOVE ON FROM THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT WE ARE GOING TO DO AN OVER TIME SEGMENT SO TAKE A DEEP ARE BREATH AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH REPRESENTATIVE FILLER WITH COMMENTS AND THE CREDITS AND GO TO WKAR.ORG FOR MORE OF OUR CONVERSATION.

PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE FOLLOWING, BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MICHIGAN HAS A STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE MICHIGAN A TOP TEN STATE IN THE NATION FOR JOBS, PERSONAL INCOME AND A HEALTHY ECONOMY LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN ROAD TO TOP TEN.COM.

FOR MORE OFF THE RECORD VISIT WKAR.ORG MICHIGAN PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PRODUCTION COSTS OF OFF THE RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.