>>> THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN.

OUR GUEST IS A VETERAN REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

PHIL GREEN WILL EXPLAIN HIS VOTE ON THE NEW STATE BUDGET.

WHAT'S THE FALLOUT FROM THE BUDGET IN THE MICHIGAN ELECTOR ELECTORATE.

CLARA AND LAURA WILL BE SITTING WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE-OUT OFF-THE-RECORD.

>> PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD IS MADE BY?

MARTIN WAYMIRE, A FULL SERVICE COMMUNICATION AGENCY PARTNERING WITH CLIENTS, DIGITAL MARKETING, AND PUBLIC POLICY.

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THIS EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NICE TO HAVE YOU.

WE HAD A WEEK TO DIGEST WHAT THEY DID LAST WEEK, LAUREN.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S NOTABLE THEY GOT THE BUDGET DONE BEFORE SUMMER BREAK.

A LOT OF SCHOOLS AND OBSERVERS WERE WATCHING AND WAITING TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

>> THEY WERE ALWAYS GOING TO DO THAT.

>> I THINK, IN THE LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE PET PROJECTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN IN THERE.

QUIET A BIT OF THEM AROUND THE STATE.

THERE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN CONSERNATION.

THERE WERE SOME THAT CROSSED OVER AS WELL.

A LOT OF PARTISAN OPPOSITION TO THE BUDGET.

OVERALL, THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, HEY, WE DID A LOT OF THE THINGS WE PROMISED WE'D DO.

PUT MONEY INTO SCHOOLS, INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER.

THERE IS A LOT THEY ARE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT.

THERE IS OTHER CHATTER.

>> WHY DO WE MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT POOR SPENDING IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT GRINDS OUT PORK.

>> YOU WILL FIND THIS IN EVERY BUDGET.

THESE PROJECTS THEY ARE TRYING TO PURSUE TO BRING BACK MONEY TO THEIR DISTRICTS.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO.

>> TRUE.

>> HOW DO THEY MAKE THIS DECISION.

HOW DO THEY CHOSE THIS PARK IN THIS TOWNSHIP GETS $500,000 BUT THIS PARK DOESN'T.

THIS IS GETTING COVERAGE.

WHEN THEY DROP A BILLION DOLLARS THIS WAY IT RAISES QUESTIONS.

ANYONE CAN GET A BUDGET PASSED IF YOU TURN ON THE CHUCK E. CHEESE CASH MACHINE.

OH, YOU NEED A BUDGET FOR SOMETHING.

THIS IS A STRATEGY THEY USE.

IT DESERVES TO BE SPOTLIGHTED.

>> I'M NOT SAYING IT SHOULDN'T BUT DR. WILSON ARE WE SURPRISED?

YOU GO TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW ON APPROPRIATION AND SAY STICK IN 75 MILLION FOR THIS.

OH, BY THE WAY, I WANT SOMETHING IN RETURN.

WELCOME TO LANSING.

>> WHAT WILL THEY DO WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THIS TYPE OF MONEY.

THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THIS TYPE OF MONEY.

AFTER THIS BUDGET THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE IT NEXT TIME.

>> THAT'S THE HIDDEN STORY IN THE BUDGET.

I HOPE THEY ENJOYED THIS ONE.

WHEN THEY COME BACK ALL OF THE FEDERAL MONEY IS GONE.

THERE WILL BE CUTS.

>> YEAH, THIS SORT OF POLITICAL CALCULUS WILL BE PROBLEMATIC FUNDAMENTALLY.

WHEN IT COMES TO EVALUATING THE PROJECTS IT WILL TAKE TIME TO UNDERSTAND HOW DOES THIS GET IN THE BUDGET?

WHO WAS BEHIND THEM?

DO THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT OR PRIVATE INTEREST.

>> IT'S A GREAT POINT.

THEY HAD THIS ONE TIME MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

DID THEY MAKIN' MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT WILL CHANGE MICHIGAN GOING FORWARD.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO WATCH.

HEY, YOU SHOULD HAVE INVESTED FROM A MAJOR TRANSIT PROJECT.

THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.

THEY SPREAD THE MONEY OUT ACROSS THESE SMALLER PROJECTS.

>> MAJOR PROJECTS ARE LONG-TERM.

IF IT DOESN'T GET DONE IN MY TERM I'M NOT REALLY FOR LONG PROJECTS.

THE LADY THAT REPLACES ME WILL GET CREDIT LATER ON.

>> ONE MAJOR THING IS ONE TIME PROJECTS ARE NOT CONSIDERED ONE TIME PROJECTS.

IF THEY GET THE ONE TIME FUNDING THEY WILL FIGHT FOR MONEY LATER ON AND THEY WILL TRY AGAIN.

THIS IS A GREAT POINT.

THIS WILL CONTINUE BEING CONTENTIOUS TOPIC.

NEXT YEARS BUDGET WILL BE WAY MORE CONTENTIOUS BECAUSE THEY SPENT MOST OF THE MONEY.

MOST OF THE SURPLUS IS GONE.

IT WILL NEVER BE A SITUATION LIKE THIS AGAIN.

>> THE FORMER GOVERNOR HAD AN INFAMOUS LINE.

HE CALLED THE LEGISLATURE AS A BRUNCH OF DRUNKEN SAILOR.

MIKE ROGERS DECIDED HE WON'T RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERLINE POLITICAL STORIES ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD SAY FOR THE MICHIGAN REPUBLICAN PARTY.

MIKE ROGERS IS AN ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN.

HE'S VERY CLOSE TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS CLASHED WITH PREVIOUSLY.

HERE HE IS, DIRECTLY STEPPING HIMSELF INTO THE SPOTLIGHT OF POSSIBLY RUNNING FOR MICHIGAN SENATE SEAT.

COULD HE DO IT?

IS HE A VIABLE CANDIDATE?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> HE COULD BUT THE THING IS CAN YOU GET THE NOMINATION?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I'M HEARING THERE ARE A LOT OF WELL KNOWN OLD GAR MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS REPUBLICANS SURROUNDING MIKE ROBERTS.

YOU HAVE PETER MEYER OUT THERE.

A YOUNG UP-AND-COMING REPUBLICAN THAT WOULD LIKE TO RUN FOR THE SEAT.

IF MIKE ROGERS RUNS CAN BOTH OF THEM RUN FOR THE SEAT.

HOW DOES HIS BID EFFECT JOHN TUTTLE THAT'S CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR THE SEAT.

IT'S WILD.

>> THEY WANT TUTTLE.

>> YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M TOLD.

THE NATIONAL REPUBLICANS WANT JOHN TUTTLE BECAUSE HE CAN SELF FUND HIS BID WHEN MIKE ROGERS CANNOT.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE GONE FROM NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE BUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE LOOKING AROUND AT THIS.

>> WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG?

WE HAD A GOVERNORRAL ELECTION LAST YEAR AND A TON OF REPUBLICANS JUMPING IN THAT RACE.

WHY HAS IT TAKEN THIS LONG TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS.

>> MR. ROGERS WAS ON THE MISSION TO GET IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

HE HASN'T SAID NO YET.

WHEN WE HAD HIM ON THE SHOW I HADN'T SAID NO.

FROM A LOGICAL STANDPOINT THE U.S. SENATE IS MORE DOABLE THAN BECOMING PRESIDENT.

>> IT'S AN EASIER JOB.

HE'S KNOWN IN MICHIGAN.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT CASE NATIONALLY.

THERE IS A -- YEAH, THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING CLASH OF IDEOLOGY GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A GREAT POINT.

THE FUNDING MUST BE A FACTOR.

THEY WON'T GET IT FROM THE MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS.

THE STATE PARTY HASN'T BEEN FUNDRAISING ENOUGH TO CHALLENGE A LIST AND LONG BEEN CONSIDERED.

WHO CAN APPEAL TO A BROAD SPECTRUM OF REPUBLICANS.

>> HOW DOES THE MIKE ROGER APPEALS TO A TRUMP VOTER IN MICHIGAN WHO IS RUNNING THIS PARTY NOW?

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION I'M SURE MIKE ROGERS DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

IF YOU GO TO THE STATE COMMITTEE HAPPENING IN WEEKEND ON SATURDAY.

HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE KNOW WHO MIKE ROGERS IS OR HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH HIM.

THE PARTY HAS CHANGED SO DRASTICALLY.

THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE TROUBLE FIELDING THE CANDIDATES.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT'S MY PATH TO THE NOMINATION.

IT'S THROUGH A DARK WOODS AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE THE WAY-OUT.

>> THE ULTIMATE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT WING AND TRUMP WING AND DUKE IT OUT.

>> TRUMP'S WING WILL WIN THAT.

YOU SEE THAT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RACE.

YOU HAVE CANDIDATES TRYING TO GET IN THERE.

TRUMP IS STILL POLLING WITH THE CONTENDERLESS.

THE IDEA WAS YOU HAVE MULTIPLE TRUMP CANDIDATE AND ONE ANTI-TRUMP CANDIDATE AND MAYBE THERE IS A PATH FOR THE ANTI-TRUMP CANDIDATE.

NOW YOU HAVE MULTIPLE ANTI-TRUMP CANDIDATES IN THE RACE.

>> HE LOST HIS GLAMOR INTO GETTING CANDIDATES ELECTED.

IS THAT NOT THE HOPE THAT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE?

>> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS CAN LOOK BACK ONE YEAR AND SEE WHAT THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENTS MEANT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION RACE.

YOU ARE RIGHT ON THAT.

IF HE COMES OUT AND ENDORSES A CANDIDATE IT'S A MAJOR POINT IN A PRIMARY RACE.

>> THE PRIMARY IS SUPER KEY HERE.

CERTAINLY A CANDIDATE THAT'S CLOSER TO TRUMP WILL HAVE MORE APPEAL IN THE PRIMARY.

ONCE YOU GET TO THE GENERAL ELECTION CYCLE THAT'S WHERE REPUBLICANS HAVE STRUGGLED.

THEY NEED TO APPEAL TO INDEP INDEPENDENCE.

CERTAINLY SHE'S THE FRONT RUNNER RIGHT NOW.

SHE'S PROVEN HERSELF TO BE ABLE TO APPEAL TO THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

I DON'T KNOW, SOMEONE COMING FROM THE MORE HARD LINE CONSERVATIVE STANCE PLAYED WELL.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS FOR JUST A SECOND.

ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT A GUY NAME HILL HARPER TO GET IN THE RACE?

>> I THINK SO.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SMOOTH THE PATH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

ALL SIGNS HE'S GETTING IN THE RACE.

PEOPLE ARE UNDERESTIMATING HOW CLOSE AND COMPETITIVE A RACE THIS COULD BE.

SOMEONE PULLED THIS VIDEO UP IN A FEW MONTHS I COULD BE INCREDIBLY WRONG.

>> WE KEEP THE TAPES.

>> IT SEEMS TO BE SOME INDIGESTION THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT IS PICKING CANDIDATES AND SAYING THIS IS THE PERSON THAT'S THE NOMINEE.

THIS IS WHY THERE ARE PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR VOTERS TO DECIDE.

THERE ARE MANY VOTERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE DETROIT CANDIDATES GET A CHANCE AT THE MAJOR RACES AND RUN.

I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME HOPE FOR HIM.

>> THE GOVERNOR IS GETTING A TON OF NATIONAL ATTENTION.

IT'S A GREAT STORY.

>> I THINK SO.

MICHIGAN STRUGGLED DEALING WITH POPULATION STAGNATION.

WE HAVE SEEN POPULATION LOSS IN THE STATE THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN.

HER SOLUTION IS CREATING A COMMISSION AND IT'S SKEWS OLDER.

SHE STILL HASN'T PICKED THE UNDER 25 PERSON THAT WILL SERVE ON THE COMEMATION.

THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF FLAK.

>> HOW DID THEY GET THIS SO WRONG?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK -- >> IT'S AN ERROR.

>> PROBABLY THE PEOPLE LINING UP TO DO IT WERE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWN IN POLITICS AND HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE.

MAYBE IN THIS INSTANCE IT'S NOT THE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE THAT MATTER BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT LEAVING OR LOOKING FOR JOBS OR TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK.

THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE SEARCHING GOING ON.

MORE SOUL-SEARCHING TO FIGURE OUT WHO MIGHT BE BEST TO BEST ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

>> GETTING IT WRONG IS OPENING YOURSELF UP TO CRITICISM.

YOU TRY TO PROTECT THAT FROM HAPPENING AND THEY FAILED ON THIS FRONT.

>> THEY PUT REPUBLICANS ON THE PANEL.

THEY ARE TRYING TO APPEASE THE REPUBLICANS.

DEMOCRATS ARE MAD BECAUSE YOU PUT THE OLDER PEOPLE ON THE PANEL.

THE GUYS FROM THE U.P.

ARE MAD BECAUSE NO ONE IS ON THERE YET.

>> WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM THAT'S PERSISTING IN MICHIGAN.

HERE WE HAVE A PANEL OF A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE ROOM TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS FOR MANY YEARS.

HERE, WE'LL GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE TO KNOCK AROUND THE BALL AND FIGURE THIS OUT.

THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ON THE PANEL WHOSE NAMES I RECOGNIZED I WAS SURPRISED BY IT.

>> SHE HAS 16 SPOTS TO FILL.

SHE WILL BACKFILL THEM BUT WHY NOT DO THIS FROM THE BEGINNING.

TALK TO THOSE WHO LEFT THE STATE.

GET THEM ON THE PANEL.

THIS IS WHY CHICAGO HAS MORE POP THAN YOU NAME THIS PLACE.

>> GET PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FROM MICHIGAN WHO MOVED HERE TO SERVE ON THE PANEL.

I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE FOLKS GREW UP AND STAYED IN MICHIGAN.

THE IDEA IS WE WANT TO BRING PEOPLE FROM OUT OF THE STATE TO COME HERE.

>> IT'S A WAY TO SPEND MORE MONEY.

>> WHY AREN'T THERE MORE YOUNGER PEOPLE ON THE PANEL?

THAT'S WHO WE HAVE TO ATTRACT.

WHERE ARE THEY?

ALL OVER THE PLACE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING A NAME FOR THEMSELVES.

WHY AREN'T THEY ON THIS.

>> LET'S TURN THE PAGE AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW PHIL GREEN WHO IS ONE OF THE RANKING REPUBLICANS ON HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS.

HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> RIGHT NOW, MY NEW DISTRICT, I HAVE A TOTAL OF TWO HIGH SCHOOLS.

>> THE SUPERINTENDENTS MIGHT CALL YOU AND SAY HOW COME YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR $9,700 FOR MY PUPILS, SIR?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AS WE LOOK AT BUDGETS WE CAN LOOK AT THE PROCESS, WE CAN LOOK AT THE PORK, OR THE POLICIES.

AS WE LOOK AT THE EDUCATION BUDGET ONE INDIVIDUAL DID A TON OF RESEARCH AND FOUND, WHEN HE STOPPED, OVER $120 MILLION IN PORK PROJECTS IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET FOR THINGS SUCH AS POOLS IN SCHOOLS.

SO, THAT $120 MILLION COULD PROBABLY BE BROKEN DOWN TO $500 PER STUDENT IN THE FOUNDATION ALLOWANCE.

OKAY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

WHY ARE WE WASTING OUR EDUCATION DOLLARS ON POOLS OR OTHER PET PROJECTS THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR RURAL SCHOOLS?

WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM IN RURAL MICHIGAN.

WE ARE WATCHING DOWN STATE AND WE ARE WATCHING THESE OTHER AREAS CONSISTENCY PLAY GAMES WITH OUR EDUCATION DOLLARS THAT'S NOT GETTING TO OUR RURAL AREAS.

>> YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN $9,700 FOR EVERY PEW PAL.

>> WE DID GET $9,300 FOR EVERY PUPIL.

>> NO THANKS TO YOU, YOU VOTED NO.

YOU ARE TAKING CREDIT FOR IT.

>> THE LEGISLATURE PASSED IT.

MY REASON FOR VOTING NO WAS SIMPLY WE LOOKED AT THE POLICY ISSUES AND THE PORK THAT WAS IN THERE AND SAID, HOW COME WE CAN'T LEAVE THE EDUCATION DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION.

>> LAUREN.

>> HOW WOULD YOU HAVE DONE THE BUDGET PROCESS DIFFERENTLY, REPRESENTATIVE?

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT PROCESS, THIS IS MY FIFTHFIFTH BUD GIT BUDGET WORKIG ON IT.

TWO WERE DOMINATED BY COVID-19.

IT WAS VERY SKEWED FOR ME.

ONE THING THAT WAS FLUSTERING WAS HOW DIFFERENT THE FINAL BUDGET LOOKED FROM THE FIRST THREE BUDGET.

FROM THE EXSEC REC.

WE WERE GIVEN TWO HOURS TO REVIEW THE WHOLE M MONSTER OF A BUDGET.

WE LOOKED AT THE POLICY STUFF AND NOT ABLE TO HAVE ANY TYPE OF DISCUSSION ON POLICY.

SO, WE LOOK AT WHAT THINGS COULD WE DO DIFFERENT.

I THINK HAVING A MUCH MORE OPEN PROCESS.

REMEMBERING THAT THE DEMOCRATS WHEN IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE BY LESS THAN 1,000 VOTES.

YET, THEY ARE TREATING IT AS IF WE ARE A SUPER MINORITY.

SO, HAVING OPEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND MAKING IT SO THERE IS A BACK AND FORTH AS TO PRIORITIES.

AS WELL, THE POLICY IN THE BUDGET.

WE JUST FOUND OUT, I BELIEVE IN THE FREE PRESS OR DETROIT NEWS, ONE OF THE TWO I READ.

WE HAD A BUNCH OF MONEY SET ASIDE FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

YET, BECAUSE, NO ONE WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND SEE IT OR MAKE AN AMENDMENT, TWO WORDS WERE LEFT OUT.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THOSE AMBULANCE SERVICES WON'T GET BADE WHAT WE DESIRED FOR THEM.

THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO HAVE POLICY DISCUSSIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE WORDING IS CORRECT BEFORE WE ACTUALLY ARE HANDED 1,060 PAGEBUDGET TWO HOHOURS BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.

>> YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND REPUBLICANS TREATED LIKE A SUPER MINORITY.

AS YOU LOOK TO 2024 DO REPUBLICANS NEED A FUNCTIONAL MICHIGAN GOP TO FLIP THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, ANY ADVANTAGE WE COULD GET WOULD BE GREAT.

SO, OBVIOUSLY, WE WANTED AS MUCH POSITIVE MOMENTUM MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

HAVING A FUNCTIONAL GOP WOULD BE A VERY POSITIVE THING.

SO, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR GOP AND IN ON THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE SURE WE ROLL IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

>> WHAT'S THE WINNING MESSAGE TO HOUSE REPUBLICANS AS THEY LOOK TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE CHAMBER NEXT YEAR.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT YOU THINK CANDIDATES WILL RUN ON?

>> I THINK, WE'LL BE RUNNING ON LOOK AT THE STUFF THAT'S BEEN DONE.

LOOK AT THE RADICAL AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN PUSHED.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GIVE 100% UNFETTERED POWER TO ONE PARTY.

LOOKING AT THE BUDGET.

LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE EAGLE BUDGET WHERE IT WAS ALMOST DOUBLED.

WE PUT -- ACROSS THE BUDGET 649 NEW EMPLOYEES.

IT WAS A SPENDING SPREE.

ONE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED IT CHRISTMAS IN JULY.

AT SOME POINT WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK IN LIKE IN 2010, 2011 AND BE ADULTS IN THE ROOM AND GET THE BUDGET UNDER CONTROL.

ANOTHER THING AGAIN WITH THE EAGLE BUDGET WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE C CARBON OFFSETS AND MONITORING AND HOW WILL THAT EFECT EVERYDAY MICHIGANERS AND KEEP UTILITY BILLS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF BECAUSE OF POLICIES ENACTED.

>> DID REPUBLICANS GET IN ANY PORK IN THE BILL?

>> UM, I'M NOT 100% SURE ABOUT THAT.

I'LL GUESS THERE IS PROBABLY SOME MONEY FOR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE REGION.

I KNOW IT WAS HEAVILY PORK LAIDEN SOUTH OF I-69.

IF YOU DRAW THAT LINE SOUTH OF I-69.

DETROIT, MAYBE INTO SSAGINAW.

IN THE RED AREAS THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DESIGNATED DOLLARS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE LIGHTENER SAID SHE WAS TREATED WELL BY THE DEMOCRATIC CHAIR OF HOUSE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE.

SHE DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING FOR YOUR CAUCUS BUT GOT ENOUGH TO SAY THIS WAS A GOOD DEAL.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU DISAGREE.

>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH CHAIR MORRIS ON THE DHHS BUDGET.

WE DID A GREAT JOB WORKING AT THE BEGINNING.

ONCE IT CAME DOWN TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS I WAS WAS MOVED OFF TO A DIFFERENT ROOM.

I WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE ROOM ONCE WE STARTED TO TALK THE BUDGET.

CHAIR LIGHTENERS TAKE, GREAT, I'M GLAD SHE HAD A GREAT OPEN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHAIR.

IZE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT REPRESENTATIVE LIGHTENER GOT TO GET THE POLICY WHERE IT WAS CLOSER TO THE REPUBLICAN PRIORITIES.

MISIMY ISSUES WAS WITH THE POLICY STUFF THAT WAS ADDED AFTERWARDS.

WE GOT THE FINAL BUDGET AND WE ARE NOT SEEN PREVIOUSLY IS NOW PUSHED DOWN OUR THROATS.

>> HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN THE BUDGET WHEN YOU CONTROLLED THE HOUSE.

THEY ADDED HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF PORK DOLLARS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

HOW DO HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE ANY HIGHER GROUND TO QUESTION THE BUDGET ON THIS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT GOES BACK TO YOUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSION AT THE VERY BEGINNING.

HOW BROKE IS THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE TO BUY PEOPLE'S VOTES TO GET IT.

WE CAN'T DEAL WITH POLICY AND GET POLICY RIGHT ANY MORE.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR YOUR DISTRICT SO I GET YOU TO VOTE FOR IT.

I THINK OUR WAY OF DOING BUSINESS AND I'LL SAY ONE THINGSs THING.

THE WAYOVER DOING BUSINESS SINCE TERM LIMITS CAME IN.

LET'S THROW MONEY AT THEM IS A BROKEN SYSTEM.

>> HOW DEEP IS THE DIVISION WITHIN THE HOUSE OF REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. HALL?

>> I DON'T THINK -- WHEN YOU ASK THE PHRASE DEEP, I DON'T -- I SEE THE 5, 6, 7, 8 PEOPLE OPPOSED AT THE BEGINNING AND STILL OPPOSED.

IT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH.

>> THERE IS NOTICE NOTICE -- NOT DISRUPTION WITHIN THE CAUCUS.

>> WE CAN DO OUR JOBS.

THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORE TOP DOWN HEAVY APPROACH THAN WHAT REPRESENTATIVE HALL HAS DONE.

HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB BALANCING OUR JOB OF ALLOWING US TO BE REPRESENTATIVES.

>> CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT MORE SOME REPRESENTATIVES ARE HOPING REPRESENTATIVE HALL WOULD DO?

>> I THINK THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE HIM TO BE HEAVY HANDED AND TAKE CAUCUS POSITIONS REQUIRING THEM TO VOTE IN CERTAIN WAYS.

THEY WOULD WANT REPRESENTATIVE HALL TO JUST SAY, WE ARE REPUBLICANS, THIS IS HOW WE WILL VOTE.

REPRESENTATIVE HALL SAID NO, YOU ARE EACH ELECTED AND ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUR DISTRICT.

YOU WILL VOTE HOW YOU SEE FIT.

WE WON'T BULLY YOU INTO VOTING A CERTAIN WAY BUT ALLOW YOU TO DO YOUR JOB.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE VOTES YOU HAVE MADE.

YOU VOTED AGAINST FUNDING FOR THE BATTERY PLANT PROJECTS.

IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY YOU ALSO VOTED TO CREATE THE FUNDING.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT FUND IS NO LONGER LIVING UP TO IT'S USAGE?

>> LET ME DELINEATE.

YES, I VOTED FOR THE FUNDING.

I HAD DIVERTGETNNT VOTE.

INSIDE THE TRANSFER WAS MONEY DIRECTED TO GO TO WHAT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BUT COMMONLY THOUGHT OF AS THE CHINESE PLANT.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, I SPLIT FROM MY CAUCUS.

I THINK, AS YOU LOOK AT VOTES YOU WERE TO SEE THAT I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO BE AS THOUGHTFUL AS POSSIBLE.

>> WHO IS YOUR CANDIDATE FOR THE YOURSELF SENATE?

>> I THINK IT'S STILL PRETTY EARLY.

I LIKE, BECAUSE I KNOW HIM I LIKE CONGRESSMAN ROGERS.

I THINK, HE'S VERY ARTICULATE AND BEEN THROUGH THE POLITICAL BATTLE.

HE KNOWS HOW TO RAISE MONEY AND PROVEN TRACK RECORD.

THOSE ARE THREE MAJOR THINGS WE MUST LOOK AT WHEN WE LOOK AT CANDIDATES AND ESPECIALLY FOR HIGHER OFFICE HAVE THEY BEEN THROUGH THE BATTLE AND HAVE THEY BEEN THROUGH A CRUELING CAMPAIGN AND DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ABLE TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND MAKE MAJOR BLUNDERS.

>> QUICK QUESTION, DONALD TRUMP A YAY OR NAY FOR THE PARTY?

>> IT'S YET TO BE DETERMINED.

>> THAT WAS A PUNT?

>> CAN HE CAN CALL IT THAT.

>> WHAT DO I OWE YOU FOR THE PLUG?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A NICE WEEK AND SEE YOU FOR MORE OFF-THE-RECORD NEXT WEEK.

>> OFF THE RECORD WAS MADE BY MARTIN WAYMIRE.

LEARN MORE ON THEIR WEBSITE.

FOR MORE OFF THE RECORD VISIT WKAR WKAR.ORG.