>> WELCOME BACK, OUR GUEST THIS WEEKEND IS THE INGHAM COUNTY CLERK AND CO-CHAIR OF MICHIGAN CLERKS ASSOCIATION LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, BARB BYRUM.

MICHIGAN SCHOOL KIDS WILL GET 8700 FROM THE STATE.

ON THE PANEL, LAUREN GIBBONS, JONATHAN OOSTING AND CHUCK STOKES IN THIS OFF THE RECORD.

>> BUSINESS PARTNERS HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE MICHIGAN THE TOP TEN STATE IN THE NATION FOR JOBS, PERSONAL INCOME AND A HEALTHY ECONOMY.

LEARN MORE ON THE WEBSITE.

AND NOW THIS EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WELCOME BACK FROM THE HOLIDAY, HOPE EVERYONE IS ENJOYING A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER, WE HAVE A GREAT PANEL, CHUCK, JONATHAN AND LAURA.

AND LAURA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE LO AND BE HOLD MET THE DEADLINE BY SENDING A BILLION DOLLAR SCHOOL AID PACKAGE TO THE GOVERNOR WHO WILL SIGN IT AND EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON THE 8700 BUCKS FOR EACH SCHOOL CHILD AND THIS IS A HISTORIC VOTE IS IT NOT?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT IS A 10 PERCENT BUMP FROM WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY AND ALSO CLOSES THE GAP FROM THE HIGHER FUNDED AND LOWER FUNDED DISTRICTS THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF LAWMAKERS AND SCHOOL GROUPS FOR QUITE SOMETIME SO THIS IS A BIG DECISION AND IT DOES APPEASE A LOT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO ARE HOPING TO HAVE CLARITY FROM THE LEGISLATURE PRIOR TO THEM SETTING THEIR BUDGETS WHICH IS A LITTLE SOONER THAN THE LEGISLATURE TECHNICALLY HAS TO.

SO THE EDUCATION BUDGET IS SETTLED.

THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE ABOUT OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT THE STATE WILL DO WITH FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY AND EXTRA REVENUE BUT THE SCHOOLS ARE A REALLY BIG KEY AND THAT WAS INDEED SETTLED YESTERDAY.

>> CHUCK, THEY TEACH US IN SCHOOL THE LEGISLATURE PROCESS IS SOMETIMES VERY SLOW.

TRY 1994 THAT THEY STARTED TO TRY TO CLOSE THE FUNDING GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND CLOSED DISTRICTS.

IT COULDN'T GET MUCH SLOWER BUT THIS IS A PLUS FOR EDUCATION AND THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN.

>> YEAH, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

I THINK LAUREN SUMMED IT UP REALLY WELL.

THIS STARTS TO REALLY CLOSE THAT GAP SIGNIFICANTLY.

BOTH SIDES HAVE WANTED IT FOR THEIR VARIOUS REASONS AND VARIOUS INTERESTS AND HATS OFF TO ALL SIDES, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENTS KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON AS THE MEA, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE PARENTS SAYING LOOK, WE WANT MICHIGAN TO BE A TOP TEN STATE.

WE AREN'T THERE YET BY MOST PEOPLE'S STANDARDS BUT YOU CAN'T GET THERE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROPER FUNDING THAT EVERYONE NEEDS.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS AS LAURA MENTIONED BECAUSE THEY CAN NOW SIT DOWN AND DO THEIR BUDGETS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO GUESS HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WILL GET AND THEY CAN ALLOCATE THINGS IN THE RIGHT WAY AND HOPEFULLY THAT TRICKLES DOWN IN TERMS OF THE SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION AND EDUCATION EVERYBODY NEEDS.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO SIGN IT BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A HUGE PART OF THE BUDGET, $17 BILLION, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER AREAS THAT STILL HAVE TO BE IRONED OUT.

BUT THEY GOT IT DONE ON TIME AND IT DOESN'T GO TO SOME OF THOSE SPIKES WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST THAT HAVE BEEN VERY PARTISAN AND NASTY.

>> JONATHAN, THE POTENTIAL FLY IN THE OINTMENT IS THEY ARE USING COVID MONEY TO CLOSE THE GAP AND THE QUESTION IS WILL THEY KEEP THAT GAP CLOSED AND WHEN I TALKED TO THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE, THEY SAID THEY WILL KEEP IT CLOSED WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS FOR SENATOR SCHMIDT IS THAT THE ECONOMY IS GROWING AND SO THERE COULD BE EXTRA REVENUE AND USUALLY IS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

POLITICALLY I THINK IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO WALK THIS BACK AT ANY POINT BUT YOU ARE CERTAINLY RIGHT, THE BUDGET IS NOT DONE, JUST THE EDUCATION PART IS DONE AND THEY DIDN'T MEET THE FULL BUDGET BUT IN ADDITION TO THE $17 MILLION THEY APPROVED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THEY ALSO ALREADY APPROVED $4.4 BILLION LAST WEEK IN FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDING THAT WILL HELP SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, PRAIRIE MEDIATION PROGRAMS, HELP STUDENTS CATCH UP FOR LEARNING LOSSES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND TAKE OTHER SAFETY MEASURES HEADING INTO NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

SO SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE FLUSH WITH CASH NEXT YEAR.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A LOT OF INVESTMENTS THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF, POTENTIALLY FOR YEARS, AND YOU KNOW SORT OF HAVE THE STATE ON A BETTER LEVEL HEADING INTO 2022 THAN WHEN AGAIN THIS DISCUSSION WILL COME UP ON HOW TO FUND A LOT OF THIS STUFF LONG-TERM.

>> LET'S GET INTO THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AN INTER-PARLOR GAME BETWEEN THE SENATE AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

A BRAND-NEW STORY LINE.

INSTEAD OF REPUBLICANS BEATING UP THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, THEY ARE AT ODDS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND I AM TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND CHAIR OF THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND THERE WAS A LITTLE GAME-PLAYING GOING ON LAST WEEK, WAS THERE NOT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY AND WE SAW THE HOUSE AND ADMINISTRATION WORK OUT A DEAL THAT WAS PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SENATE AGREED TO, BUT YES, THERE IS DEFINITELY TENSION TWO THOSE TWO.

AND I THINK THAT IS CONTRIBUTED TO PERHAPS BY THE IF A ACCIDENT WE DID NOT MEET A FULL BUDGET YESTERDAY AND INITIALLY THE HOUSE IS INTENDING TO DO A BASIC ACROSS THE BOARD BUDGET AND THEN A SUPPLEMENTAL COULD BE FIGURE OUT AT A LATER DATE TO MEET THE JULY 1ST STATUTORY DEADLINE.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THEY DID GET THE EDUCATION THROUGH.

THERE WAS ALSO STUMBLING THROUGH GETTING REVENUE SHARING THROUGH AND SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE ONGOING BUT YEAH, THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME TENSION THERE THAT MAY NOT HAVE NECESSARILY COME TO LIGHT BEFORE THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> WELL, JONATHAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THE SENATE DID TO THE HOUSE YESTERDAY AND THIS IS A LITTLE TWEAK TO GET YOUR ATTENTION, THEY PASSED THEIR BILL AND THEN ADJOURNED.

THE GENTLEMAN AND GENTLELADY COURTESY IS ONE HOUSE WILL WAIT FOR THE OTHER BODY.

THEY JUST GOT IN THEIR CARS AND DROVE HOME BASICALLY LEAVING THE HOUSE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO BUY THE SENATE PLAN AND THAT IS NOT THE KIND OF COURTESY THAT GREASES THE WHEELS.

IT KIND OF THROWS SAWDUST IN THE WHEELS, DOESN'T IT?

>> YEAH, IT IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK THE DEAL WOULD BE COMPLETE THIS WEEK.

OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE STUCK AROUND TO NEGOTIATE FURTHER.

THE HOUSE PRETTY MUCH DID THE SAME THING TO THE SENATE LAST WEEK, THEY SENT IT TO THE SENATE WITH ONE SESSION DAY LEFT IN THE YEAR AND SAID WELL YOU BASICALLY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PASS THIS AND THE SENATE DIDN'T PASS IT.

THE JULY 1 DEADLINE, YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR WHITMER AGREED TO THAT IN 2019 AFTER A DISASTEROUS BUDGET YEAR, THE YEAR THAT THE LEGISLATURE REVIEWS HER GAS TAX WHICH SHE DIDN'T LIKE AND WENT ON A VETO SPREE SO WE'RE NOT THERE YET, THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS.

THE JULY 1 DATE WAS SET IN STAT BUT LET ME SAY IT WAS A FARCE.

THERE ARE NO PENALTIES ATTACHED TO MISSING THE DEADLINE SO THEY DID SO WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE THIS WEEK AND THE REAL DEADLINE REMAINS AT THE START OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, OCTOBER 1, THAT IS IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION SO NOT A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM ON THAT ONE.

>> EVERYONE IS ON BREAKDOWN TILL JULY 15TH.

SO CHUCK, GIVE ME YOUR REACTION TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT A GUY NAMED MIKE COX MIGHT RUN FOR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> A BLAST FROM THE PAST.

>> THERE YOU GO.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, YOU KNOW, HE CERTAINLY MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF.

HE COMES FROM, YOU KNOW, THE DETROIT, WAYNE COUNTY AREA, SERVED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, SO YOU KNOW HE HAS RUN AND WON STATEWIDE BEFORE BUT BEEN OUT OF THE POLITICAL LOOP.

HE HAS BEEN PRACTICING CORPORATE LAW BUT HIS WIFE CERTAINLY MADE A NAME FOR HERSELF AS PARTY CHAIR YOU KNOW UP UNTIL THIS LAST ELECTION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A NAME OUT THERE.

I MEAN CLEARLY REPUBLICANS ARE FISHING, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE BEST COMBINATION TO GO UP AGAINST GOVERNOR WHITMER AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE THAT, ONE, CAN WIN THAT PRIMARY, AND THEN BE READY FOR THE GENERAL, AND TO GET SOMEONE THAT HAS NAME RECOGNITION CERTAINLY HELPS BUT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO NEED A REFRESHER COURSE, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN TERMS OF WHO IS MIKE COX.

>> JONATHAN, THE STORIES BEING REPORTED TODAY ARE THAT THERE HAS BEEN OUTREACH FROM SOME "TRUMP PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON D.C. "WHO CALLED MR. COX TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND ALSO FROM THE GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION REACHING OUT TO HIM.

HE OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT AHEAD A DECISION BUT THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS HE IS THE LEAD ATTORNEY ON THE MICHIGAN LAWSUIT OVER THE ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE OF Dr. ANDERSON AND HE CAN'T VERY WELL LEAVE THOSE CLIENTS HIGH AND DRY TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND THE OPTICS ON THAT WOULD BE UGLY.

SO IF THE CASE FINISHES QUICKER THAN WHAT HE EXPECTS, MAYBE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, HE CERTAINLY COULD GET INTO IT BUT WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT A COX CANDIDACY?

>> WELL, THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO TURN OVER A LOT OF LEAVES TO FIND MORE OF THE MAINSTREAM CANDIDATES THAN SOME OF THE CANDIDATES THEY HAVE SO FAR ANNOUNCED.

NOW, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CRAIG IS STARTING TO BUILD A CAMPAIGN STAFF AND ALL SIGNS POINT TO HIM RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND IF HE DOES, I DON'T THINK SOMEBODY LIKE MIKE COX WILL PROPOSE A SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO HIM.

MIKE COX OF COURSE FIRST RAN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2010 AND DID NOT WIN THE GOP NOMINATION.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN POLITICAL DRAMA, YOU KNOW, A COX CAMPAIGN WOULD CERTAINLY BRING IT.

RECALL THAT LAURA COX, AS SHE LEFT THE MICHIGAN REPUBLICAN PARTY BASICALLY SET FIRE TO IT ON HER WAY OUT THE DOOR.

SHE ACCUSED THE INCOMING CHAIR OF ESSENTIALLY HANGING OUT A CANDIDATE TO DROP OFF A PREVIOUS RACE AND MIKE COX WAS ON TV DEFENDING HER AND SPREADING THOSE SAME ALLEGATIONS SO IT WILL BE REALLY FASCINATING TO SEE WHETHER THE ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS WOULD BACK A MIKE COX CANDIDACY GIVEN THAT HE HAS OPENLY FEUDED WITH THE PARTY.

>> IF HE DOES GET ON, HE CERTAINLY HAS THE STOMACH TO TAKE ON THE FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE OF DETROIT BUT IT APPEARS THE ANOINTMENT IS A LITTLE MUSHY, ISN'T IT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF FACTORS TO BE DETERMINED AND I AGREE WITH JONATHAN, THAT HAVING HIM IN THE RACE WOULD REALLY CAUSE SOME DRAMA, I THINK.

AND I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY STILL HAS A LOT TO FIGURE OUT IN TERMS OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THE 2020 ELECTION CYCLE.

AS CHUCK MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MIKE COX HAS BEEN OUT OF THE GAME FOR A LONG TIME AND IT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IF HE DOES DECIDE TO LOOK SERIOUSLY INTO A CAMPAIGN, HE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS ON WHERE HE WANTS TO FALL ON CERTAIN ISSUES, LIKE THE ELECTION AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER HE THINKS THE PARTY SHOULD GO THE DIRECTION THAT TRUMP REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE FASCINATING BUT I THINK, YEAH, THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT OF TIME BEFORE THE 2022 ELECTION TO, YOU KNOW, SEE SOME DRAMA PLAY OUT HERE.

>> CHUCK, VERY QUICKLY BEFORE WE CALL IN OUR GUEST TODAY, THE GOVERNOR IS ANNOUNCING AS WE WENT FOR TAPING ON THURSDAY FOR THE HOLIDAY, AN OLD SAYING, IF THEY BUILD IT AND THEY DON'T COME, BRIBE THEM.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT APPEARS TO BE WHAT SHE IS TRYING TO DO, TAKING A PAGE FROM GOVERNOR DEWINE IN OHIO, OUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OVER THERE BUT IT HAS WORKED.

GOVERNORS ARE NOT ABASHED FROM TAKING A GOOD IDEA FROM ANYBODY THAT APPEARS TO BE WORKING, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY.

IN OHIO, IT HAS HELPED TO BOOST THE VACCINATION RATE AND SHE IS HOPING THAT IT WILL DO THE SAME THERE.

EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND GOVERNOR WHITMER, I AM SURE, IS GETTING MESSAGES FROM WASHINGTON AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYING LOOK, JULY 4TH IS AROUND THE CORNER, WE WANT TO HIT THE 70% OR GET AS CLOSE TO IT AS WE CAN AND IF IT WILL WORK, WE'RE AT, WHAT, ROUGHLY 61 PERCENT, STILL A WAYS AWAY FROM THE 70 PERCENT.

WILL IT MAKE PEOPLE DO IT?

SURE THEY WILL DO IT.

YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY MONEY IS, YOU KNOW, THE MOTHER OF ALL MILK, I GUESS, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PHRASE IT.

[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] >> YEAH.

>> WHAT IS THE CARROT TO GET PEOPLE UNDER THE TENTS TO GET SHOTS?

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DETAILS YET BUT SOUNDS LIKE $5 MILLION TOTAL MONEY WITH VARIOUS PRIZES BUILT AROUND $55,000 SO THIS IS NOT THE LOTTERY THAT OHIO OFFERED.

IT IS INTERESTING WHAT GOVERNOR WHITMER SAID MONTHS AGO WHEN OHIO STARTED DOING THIS, THAT STATE LAW PRECLUDED MICHIGAN FROM DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR.

WE'RE AWAITING DETAILS TODAY BUT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WILL BE A PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WITH OUTSIDE GROUPS AND FIRMS LIKE MEIJER AND THE UNITED WAY WHO MAY BE HELPING TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM A REALITY.

BUT CLEARLY, MICHIGAN IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE 70 PERCENT VACCINATION GOAL BY JULY 4TH.

WE HAVE BEEN AROUND 62 PERCENT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

SOMETHING LIKE 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AND NOT GOT TEN IT, WE'RE AVERAGING 45,000 PEOPLE A WEEK, DOWN FROM ABOUT 24,000 IN EARLY MAY.

SO THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NEVER GOING TO GET THE VACCINE AND POLLING HAS SHOWN THAT BUT THE HOPE HERE IS THAT THIS MOVES THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, MAYBE THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE OPEN TO IT AND FOR ONE REASON OR NOT HAVE NOT DECIDED TO GET THE SHOT AT THIS POINT.

>> LET'S CALL IN OUR GUEST TODAY, THING HAM COUNTY CLERK BARB BYRUM AND THEY ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO CHANGE THE LAWS, THEY CALL IT WILL REFORM, YOU CALL IT SUPPRESSION.

LET'S ASSUME THAT SHE STARTS A PETITION DRIVE.

ARE THERE CONVERSATIONS BEHIND THE SCENES FROM YOUR PEOPLE, NOT THE CLERKS ASSOCIATION BUT OTHERS, TO COUNTERACT THIS PETITION DRIVE AND THE BALLOT PROPOSAL?

FILL ME IN ON WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

NEVER DONE YOUR SHOW SO IT IS CERTAINLY AN HONOR.

I HAPPEN TO BE THE CO-CHAIR WITH TWO REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INITIATIVE THAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE GOVERNOR IS FORCED TO VETO THIS SUPPRESSION LEGISLATION, THIS IS JUST FROM ME WHO HAPPENS TO KNOW QUITE A LOT ABOUT ELECTION LAW.

SO I AM OF THE OPINION AND HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS IF THIS VOTER SUPPRESSION LAW IS GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN, SHE MAY OR MAY NOT SIGN BUT IF SHE VETOES IT, PEOPLE OF SIMILAR BELIEF AS ME ARE PREPARED TO APPOINT THIS WITH EDUCATION AND AN ON THE GROUND BATTLE BECAUSE VOTER SUPPRESSION IS NOT OKAY.

ELIMINATING PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO THE BALLOT IS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AND IT IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE HAS DECIDED TO GO THIS ROUTE, LIKE MANY OTHER STATES IN OUR NATION.

>> MADAM CLERK, CAN WE REPORT THERE IS A STRATEGY BEHIND THE SCENES TO COUNTERACT THE PETITION DRIVE TO DEFEAT IT?

>> I AM CONFIDENT THERE IS A STRATEGY.

I AM NOT IN THE ROOM OF WHERE THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE IN THAT REGARD BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE PREPARED TO TAKE ON THIS IN THE EVENT THERE IS A BALLOT INITIATIVE.

>> LAUREN?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I AM VERY CURIOUS TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW A MICHIGAN PROPOSAL COMPARES TO WHAT HAS BEEN DEBATED AND IN SOME CASES PASSED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT.

WE'RE SEEING STATES TAKE UP SIMILAR LEGISLATION.

WHERE DOES MICHIGAN FALL IN TERMS OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED?

>> SO WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IN MICHIGAN IS THE MOST EXTREME VOTER SUPPRESSION THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN ANY OTHER STATE IN OUR NATION.

THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY CLERKS HAVE COME OUT IN OPPOSITION OF MANY OF THE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES, THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL MAINLY BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE NEVER BOTHERED TO CONSULT ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS PRIOR TO INTRODUCING THIS LEGISLATION AND PASSING IT.

I RECALL RECENTLY WE RECEIVED A SUBSTITUTE BILL LESS THAN 12 HOURS BEFORE IT WAS IN COMMITTEE AND VOTED ON.

SO THE ASSOCIATION HAS COME OUT AND OPPOSING MOST OF THE BILLS MAINLY BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND SECURE.

WE KNOW HOW TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS EVEN MORE SECURE.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS FOCUSED ON THE BIG LIE AND USING THAT AS A REASON TO LEGISLATE DISENFRANCHISEMENT RATHER THAN WORKING WITH ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS EVEN MORE SAFE AND SECURE.

>> CHUCK?

>> MADAM CLERK, ONE PART OF THIS THAT SEEMS TO BE GETTING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ATTENTION IS THE SIGNATURE SIGNING ON THIS.

WHAT TROUBLES YOU MOST ABOUT THAT?

THE PROPONENTS OF IT SAY LOOK, WHAT IS DISCRIMINATORY ABOUT GOING IN AND SHOWING YOUR ID AND WRITING YOUR SIGNATURE DOWN?

>> SO RIGHT NOW, WHEN YOU ARE VOTING IN PERSON, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VOTING IN PERSON, YOU SHOW YOUR PHOTO ID.

MICHIGAN IS A PHOTO ID STATE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR ID, YOU SIGN A AFFIDAVIT THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE UNDER PERJURY.

THIS WILL ADD TO THAT A SIGNATURE AND TAKE AWAY THE SIGNATURE FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND PUTTING SIGNATURE VERIFICATION IN THE HANDS OF PRECINCT WORKERS, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT HAD TO MATCH OR CHECK SIGNATURES PRIOR AND WHAT WE ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO DO IS MAKE THE VOTING EXPERIENCE FOR ELECTION DAY VOTING EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED.

SO PAUSE NOW YOU HAVE A SUBJECTIVE REVIEW BY PRECINCT WORKERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD TO DO THAT PRIOR.

YOU ARE MAKING THE VOTER LONGER AND ULTIMATELY YOU WILL RECEIVE LINES IF THIS GOES INTO EFFECT AND THAT IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A SINGLE PARTICIPATE, WORKING TWO JOBS, NEED TO RUN IN REAL QUICK AND VOTE YOUR BALLOT, YOU WILL SEE THAT LINE AND SAY THIS ISN'T AN OPTION AND THAT IS ONE WAY YOU WILL DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS.

>> JONATHAN?

>> ONE OF THE BIG PIECES OF NEWS THIS WEEK IS WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THE SENATE DID NOT TAKE UP THE MODIFIED VOTER ID BILL THAT ADDS A SIGNATURE TO IT AND LOOKS LIKE IT MAY END UP TAKING THAT OUT.

SO THE STRICT PROPOSAL WITH NO OPTION OF AN AFFIDAVIT AS YOU MENTIONED, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?

REPUBLICANS WHO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT AND THEY ARE RIGHT THAT A LOT OF POLLING SHOWS THAT VOTERS IN MICHIGAN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY GENERALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING TO SHOW AN ID TO VOTE.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THAT?

>> YES, THANK YOU, JONATHAN.

SO THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS MICHIGAN IS ALREADY A PHOTO ID STATE.

WE ALREADY REQUIRE PHOTO ID.

IF SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE THEIR PHOTO ID, THEY SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT.

UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THEY SAY THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE TO HAVE A BALLOT.

IT REQUIRES PROVISIONAL BALLOTS IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR PHOTO ID WHICH THEY THEN HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE CITY OR TOWNSHIP CLERK TO PROVE THEIR IDENTITY SOMEHOW, A DRIVERS LICENSE, MICHIGAN ID.

BUT KEEP IN MIND MANY LOCAL CLERKS ARE NOT OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8-5.

SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RURAL VOTER IN THAT RURAL TOWNSHIP WHO JUST DIDN'T HAVE THEIR PHOTO ID FOR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE ON ELECTION DAY, NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS TO THEIR LOCAL CLERK'S OFFICE THAT IS OPEN JUST A FEW HOURS A WEEK AND THEY HAVE JUST COME OFF ELECTIONS SO THE CLERK MAY BE TAKING THE DAY OR DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION OFF.

SO IT IS DISENFRANCHISING THE RURAL OR CITY VOTER FROM PROVING THEIR IDENTITY BECAUSE THE CLERKS' OFFICE MAY NOT BE OPEN AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

IF YOU WANT TO SECURE THE VOTE, TALK TO THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS.

DO NOT PASS ENHANCED VOTER ID LEGISLATION.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST OPPRESSIVE VOTING LEGISLATION IN THE NATION.

>> YOU SAID IT WAS THE MOST EXTREME BUT CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE LANGUAGE WAS IN THE REPUBLICAN VERSION THAT WOULD ADD WATER TO PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE.

>> I THINK THAT IS NOT IN THERE QUITE HONESTLY BECAUSE THE ONE THEY HAVE INTRODUCED IS THE HERITAGE LEGISLATION SO MAYBE THAT SLIPPED THEIR MIND.

>> IS THERE ANY PART OF THIS PACKAGE THAT SAYS YES YOU GOT IT RIGHT?

>> I HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT SENATOR McBROOM CAME OUT WITH HIS REPORT AND YES, SEVEN MONTHS LATER, HE GOT IT RIGHT.

THE ELECTION WAS SAFE AND SECURE.

I DON'T PERSONALLY AGREE WITH HIS RECOMMENDATION.

I DO AGREE WITH HIS DECISION AND HIS -- THE OUTCOME OF THE REPORT, THAT YES, THEY GOT IT RIGHT.

THE ELECTION WAS SAFE AND SECURE.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY CLERKS AGREES WITH IS THE PREREGISTRATION.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR YEARS, ALLOWING COUNTY CLERKS TO MARK A VOTER WHO HAS PASSED AWAY, ALLOW US TO MARK THAT IN A QUALIFIED VOTER FILE, DEATH CERTIFICATES ARE FILED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK, WE'RE ONE OF THE FIRST TO KNOW AND THAT WOULD STREAMLINE AND MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT FOR VOTER ROLL MAINTENANCE.

>> DO YOU FIND IT INCONSISTENT THAT THE MICHIGAN VOTERS LAST TIME OUT VOTED 67 PERCENT FOR ELECTION REFORMS AND REPUBLICANS ARE BACK ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO UNDO THAT, ARE YOU WILLING TO SAY THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS INCONSISTENT.

I THINK IT IS JUST THE REPUBLICAN MANTRA.

THEY ARE DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS.

THEY DON'T CARE THAT WE AS VOTERS SUPPORTED NO RECENT HAS A -- NO RECENT ABSENTEE VOTING.

IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THEY HAVE COME IN AND INTRODUCED ALL THIS VOTER RESTRICTED LEGISLATION BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE FIELDING GOOD CANDIDATES AND HAVING GOOD IDEAS SO THEY ARE DECREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> MS. BYRUM, WHAT WILL YOU RUN FOR AFTER YOU ARE COUNTY CLERK?

>> YOU KNOW, IT JUST VERY FORTUNATE TO BE REELECTED AS COUNTY CLERK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OFF INGHAM COUNTY BUT ALSO STANDING UP FOR THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

>> SO YOU WANT TO RUN FOR CONGRESS?

>> I WANT TO FOCUS ON INGHAM COUNTY AND PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE BIG LIE.

>> YOU SOUND YOUR MOM.

>> WHICH IS A COMPLIMENT.

>> SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING ON THE PROGRAM, LAURA, JONATHAN, CHUCK, HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND EVERYBODY AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD.

>> PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE FOLLOWING.

LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN'S ROAD TO TOP TEN.COM.

FOR MORE OFF THE RECORD, VISIT WKAR.ORG.

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