♪ >> WELCOME BACK, OUR GUEST THIS WEEK WANTED TO BE THE NEXT GOP PARTY CHAIR, BUT SCOTT GREENLEE FELL SHORT.

HE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HIS PARTY.

OUR NEW STORY, A DEMOCRATS TEN-YEAR WAIT IS OVER.

ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK IS ZACHARY GORCHOW, ALIST IS A BURR, AND CRAIG MAUGER.

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

PROSDUKS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MARTINWAYMEYER.COM.

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

>> ALYSSA, LET'S START WITH "RIGHT TO WORK."

>> YEAH, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT DEMOCRATS CAME OUT TO BAT WITH SAYING IN JANUARY THEY'RE GOING TO REPEAL IT AND THEY'RE MAKING GOOD ON THAT PROMISE.

I THINK THAT HEARING WHAT UNION WORKERS HAVE TO SAY, AND YOU KNOW SEEING THAT DEMOCRATS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT REPEALING THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD A HEARING, THEY HEARD BOTH SIDES, AND IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT TAKES YOU BACK TO OVER TEN YEARS AGO WHEN THIS LAW PASSED AND THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

THE HOUSE VOTED ON IT, PASSED IT, AND IT WILL GO TO THE SENATE WHERE ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW MY CONVERSATIONS WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BRINKS, IT IS SOMETHING THEY'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PASSING.

>> THEY'LL HAVE ALL OF THEIR 20 DUCKS THERE, WON'T THEY?

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THIS WEEK THEY HAVE TAKEN UP SO MANY MAJOR POLICY INITIATIVES.

IT'S A TASTE OF WHAT IS AHEAD.

THEY GOT OUT OF THE WAY STUFF THEY NEEDED REPUBLICANS ON TO DO.

SORE FUNDING, THE RETIREMENT TACK, THE EITC AND NOW THEY'RE ON TO THE DEMOCRATIC AGENDA THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE FOR 40 YEARS IN THE CAPITAL.

NOW WE'LL START SEEING MULTIPLE MAJOR POLICY INITIATIVES FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

I THINK EVERY WEEK THEY WILL BE ROLLING THESE OUT AND PUSHING THESE FORWARD AND THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE REPEAL OF RIGHT TO WORK, THEY TACKED ON THAT UNION DUES CAN BE AN INCOME TAX REDUCTION AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TOWN HERE.

>> YES, THERE IS A BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED THAT WILL BE A TAX CREDIT FOR UNION DUES, AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, UNIONS HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME TO HAVE ALLIES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND THIS IS A DOOZY OF A BILL.

IT WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IF THIS WERE TO PASS TO LET EVERYONE'S UNION DUE B.S.

A FULL TAX CREDIT.

SO IT IS -- THIS IS, AS CRAIG SAID, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

I THINK EVERYONE WAS WAITING FOR THE WAVE, THE LEGISLATURE GOT SLOWED DOWN A BIT IN FEBRUARY.

THERE WAS THE MSU SHOOTING THAT KNOCKED OUT SESSION FOR A WEEK.

A WINTER STORM KNOCKED OUT SESSION FOR A WEEK, AND THEN THERE WAS A FEELING AMONG DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURES AND THEIR BACKERS OUTSIDE OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE NEED TO GET GOING HERE.

WE SPENT A BUNCH OF TIME FRITTERING AROUND ON SOAR FUNDING, SOME SUPPLEMENTALS THAT ARE NOT REALLY WHAT WE CAME HERE TO DO AND WHY WE WANT TODAY HAVE THE MAJORITY AND WOW.

THIS WEEK THEY JUST UNCORKED ONE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.

AND THE WAVE FINALLY STARTED TO CREST AND IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

>> THERE IS CHATTER OF A POSSIBLE PETITION DRIVE TO UNDO WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DID, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

>> AT LEAST AN ATTEMPT AT IT.

I THINK THEY'RE FLOATING THE IDEA OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

THAT IS WHAT I HEARD FROM SOME OF THE OPPONENTS OF RIGHT TO WORK REPEAL.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO GATHER A LOT OF PETITION SIGNATURES AND THAT IS A MASSIVE CHALLENGE FOR SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE TO DO.

BUT IF THEY GET IT ON THE BALLOT IN 2024 THAT WOULD BE A MASSIVELY EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN ON BOTH SIDES.

A DOMINANT ISSUE.

BUT I WANT TO GET BACK TO WHAT ZACH SAID.

RIGHT TO WORK IS A HUGE SYMBOLIC VICTORY FOR THE UNIONS.

IT WILL HAVE A LOT OF RAMIFICATIONS, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS COULD DO OTHER THINGS THAT HELP THE UNIONS EVEN MORE.

TALKING ABOUT HOW MONEY IS TAKEN OUT OF PAYCHECKS FOR THEIR UNION DUES.

CAN YOU GET A TAX CREDIT FOR YOUR UNION DUES?

THESE MIGHT NOT GET THE ATTENTION BUT THEY COULD HAVE A LARGER IMPACT.

>> MY QUESTION IS WITH THE BALLOT DRIVE TO MAKE THIS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THEY TACKED ON $1 MILLION TO THIS BILL AND THEN A PREVAILING WAGE BILL, AS WELL.

SO IN THAT CASE, IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY MAKE THE LEGISLATION REFERENDUM PROOF, BUT IF A BALLOT DRIVE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE, MY QUESTION IS WHICH ONE WOULD THEN, I GUESS, TAKE PRECEDENT?

>> IF THE PETITION DRIVE, IF THEY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT IT'S ON THE BALLOT.

>> I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY WHY THEY'RE GOING WITH, AT LEAST TALKING ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

IT AVOIDS ONE OF THE MOST HYPOCRITICAL THINGS.

YOU KNOW, HYPOCRISY IS A DAILY CURRENCY BUT FOR THEM TO DEPLOY THE TACTIC THAT THEY INVENTED.

>> THEY VETOED LEGISLATION BEFORE WITH THE APPROPRIATION IN THERE.

>> THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ANY BILL WITH APPROPRIATIONS CANNOT BE PUT UP FOR REFERENDUM.

REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN THAT TO MEAN THAT IF WE PUT $5 IN A BILL WE CAN'T DO IT.

THE COURTS SAID THAT IS TRUE NAP IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DID TO MAKE THE RIGHT TO WORK BILL REFERENDUM PROOF.

THAT DOES NOT STOP A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH IS WHAT THE GROUPS ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING.

PUTTING IT IN THE CONSTITUTION, PROBABLY FOREVER.

>> AND THEY COULD THROW A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IN THERE.

RIGHT TO WORK, TOUCH ON PREVAILING WAGE.

THEY COULD PUT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ANTIUNION MEASURES IN ONE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> WHAT IS THE POLITICAL FALLOUT, IF ANY, FROM THEM DOING THIS TO THE REPUBLICANS?

I REMEMBER THEM SAYING I'LL WORK WITH YOU ON CORPORATE WELFARE, ARE THEY GOING TO BACK OFF?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT PUSHING BACK ON THIS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN THE LEGISLATION WAS FIRST BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, OVER TEN YEARS AGO IN THE SCHNEIDER ERA, THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE PUSHED THE BILL THROUGH AS WELL WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, HEARING.

YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HEARING FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

THE UNION WORKERS DEFINITELY CAME OUT IN FULL FORCE OPPOSING THE LEGISLATION, SO I THINK THAT SOME OF THOSE SAME FEELINGS ARE STILL COMING UP.

AND THEY'RE READY TO PUSH BACK AGAINST IT.

HOWEVER BEING IN THE MINORITY IT IS ONLY SO MUCH I THINK THEY CAN DO AT THIS POINT.

>> BASICALLY THEY HAVE IE.

>> AND YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS NW DO HAVE THE GOVERNOR HAS THE ANNUAL COMMITMENT OF 500 MILLION FOR AT LEAST A FEW YEARS TO SOAR, THE STRATEGIC OUT REACH.

THE DEMOCRATS WERE SO ANGRY AT THE TIME AND THEY WERE SO ANGRY THEY SAID WE'RE VOTING NO ON EVERYTHING.

I DON'T CARE IF IT IS A ZONING ISSUE.

AND THAT FADED.

>> EXCEPT WHEN IT CAME TO MONEY FOR MY DISTRICT.

>> AND THAT JUST DID NOT COME TO PASS.

>> THIS IS SABER RATTLING YOU THINK?

>> THEY CERTAINLY CAN USE IMMEDIATE EFFECT TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT ON SOME ISSUES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE YET.

>> THE GUN PACKAGE IS MOVING IN BOTH BODIES?

>> YEAH, AND THIS IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION.

WE HAVE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, A SAFE STORAGE STANDARD.

THE HOUSE VOTED ON THE BACKGROUND CHECKS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A RALLY AT THE CAPITAL.

THIS IS BECOMING ONE OF THE DEFINING ISSUES OF THE YEAR, AND THE QUESTION IS WILL THIS BE AN ISSUE THAT DRIVES VOTERS IN 2024.

REPUBLICANS ARE UNIFORMLY RIGHT NOW OPPOSING THESE BILLS.

THERE IS POLLING THAT SHOWS BROAD SUPPORT FOR THE BILLS.

WILL THAT COME BACK AND BITE THE REPUBLICANS DOWN THE ROAD?

>> DON'T YOU THINK SOME REPUBLICANS WILL POP YES ON THIS?

>> I THOUGHT THE BACKGROUND CHECK WAS THE ONE IF YOU WERE GOING TO VOTE YES ON ONE.

IN OUR POLLING.

88% OF PEOPLE SUPPORTED THE BACKGROUND CHECKS.

9% OPPOSED -- YOU CAN'T FIND PUBLIC POLICIES WITH THAT KIND OF ISSUES.

>> YEAH, ESPECIALLY IN MICHIGAN.

THEY APPEAR TO BE MAKING A DECISION THAT THIS IS FOR A SFLOET A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

IF THEY WERE TO VOTE FOR ANY GUN BILLS THEY'RE GOING TO GET A PRIMARY CHALLENGE AND HAVE THE NRA BREATHING DOWN THEIR NECKS.

EVEN DONNY STILL, THEY VOTED AGAINST THESE.

>> THE GUN GROUPS, THE NRA, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE POWER THEY ONCE HAVE.

THEY HAVE NOT PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE RECENTLY.

YOU HAVE THE STATE GOPs CURRENT CHAIRWOMAN PUSHING AGAINST THESE BILLS AND IT'S LIKE YOU'RE WALKING THIS MEMBERS OFF OF THE PLANK IN SOME WAYS.

>> IS THE ACE UP THE SLEEVE A THREAT OF RECALL AGAINST SOME OF THESE LAWMAKERS?

>> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I THINK THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL PRESSURE BECAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED ON MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES STATE UNIVERSITY'S CAMPUS LAST MONTH.

BEING THAT THE STUDENTS ARE SO CLOSE TO THE CAPITAL RIGHT UP THE STREET, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BREATHE DOWN LAWMAKERS NECKS AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT STICKS IN THEIR MINDS, THAT IT IS POLICY, THAT THEY CAN MAKE HAPPEN.

>> IF THEY WERE SCORING THIS ON THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING, THE PROGUN SAFETY SIDE WOULD WIN.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM THAT IS NOT WHERE THE BAT IS WON, IT'S INSIDE THE BUILDING WITH VOTES.

>> THERE IS A CLAMOUR FOR ACTION.

THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND INTRODUCED TO NO AVAIL FOR REPUBLICAN CONTROL FOR YEARS AND NOW THE DEMOCRATS CLEARLY HAVE THE VOTES.

IF THERE WAS REPUBLICANS OUT THERE THAT THOUGHT YEAH, THERE ARE A SMATTERING OF DEMOCRATS OUTSTATE WHERE THERE IS A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF GUN OWNERS, HERE IS WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TELLING.

JAMIE CHURCHES DOWN RIVER, THERE ARE A LOT OF GUN OWNERS DOWN RIVER.

YOU WILL FIND NRA STICKERS IN A LOT OF WINDOWS.

SHE GAVE AN EM PASSIONED -- YOU PUT TOGETHER A SHORT LIST OF EMOTIONAL IMPRESSIVE SPEECHES FROM THE HEART, AND THAT WILL GO ON THE LIST SAYING WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

>> SHE BASICALLY SAID I WAS A TEACHER AND I WOULD STILL BE A TEACHER TODAY IF THE CLIMATE IN THE SCHOOLS IS WHAT IT IS.

THEY WAITED A LONG TIME.

THE LBGT HAS PROTECTION FROM GETTING FIRED BUT COULD GET KICKED OUT OF THEIR APARTMENT.

>> YEAH, A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT GOT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

SOMETHING THAT THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR OVER A DECADE.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE STIMED THIS.

PROTECTIONS FOR THE LBGT COMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT GETTING THE COVERAGE THAT I THINK IT NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON.

THIS IS A REALLY HISTORIC AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENT.

>> AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS ON BOARD WITH THIS.

THEY'RE SAYING WE NEED TO BE DIVERSIFIED TO BRING YOUNG PEOPLE INTO OUR STATE, RIGHT?

> RIGHT, AND IT IS BUILDING OFF OF THE BACKS OF THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WHERE SHE SAID BIGOTRY IS BAD FOR BUSINESS.

AND OWNERS ARE MAKING THE CASE THAT WE WANT THE PROTECTIONS TO WORKERS CAN COME TO THE STATE, STAY IN THE STATE, TO BUILD BUSINESSES AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S CALL IN OUR GUESTS TODAY SCOTT GREENLEE WHO WANT TODAY BE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR.

COME ON IN, SCOTT.

♪ MR. GREENLEE, WITH SOMEONE ELSE RUNNING THE PARTY, WILL SHE RUN IT INTO THE DITCH?

>> I THINK IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL YOU.

>> WHAT DOES YOUR GUT TELL YOU?

>> MY GUT TELLS ME IT IS A CHALLENGE.

RAISING ENOUGH MONEY IN A YEAR, A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE STATE HOUSE BACK.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT ENEXPAND CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

RAISING THAT MONEY IN THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES IS DIFFICULT AND CURRENT THINK IS REALLY BAD.

>> THE CLASS THAT YOU KNOW IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL THEY OPEN THEIR CHECKBOOKS AND GIVE THEM TO THE NEW PARTY CHAIR?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY WILL.

I CERTAINLY HAD A NUMBER OF DONORS THAT WERE READY TO COME BACK IF I HAD BEEN ELECTED.

AND TALKING TO THEM NOW THEY'RE IN A WAIT AND SEE AND HESITANT MODE TO ENGAGE WITH THE PARTY.

>> GO AHEAD, ZACH.

I WAS GOING TO SAY YOU HAVE A CON TEN -- CONTINGENT OF DELEGATES THAT IS THE FURTHEST RIGHT.

IS IT TOOK TO MOVE SOME OF THE CONVENTION BASED DECISIONS OUT OF THE CONVENTION?

DO WE NEED TO NOMINATE ATTORNEY GENERAL?

SECRETARY OF STATE AT A PR PRIM INSTEAD?

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTIVELY PLANNING ON MOVING THAT FORWARD.

WHAT I HESITATE IS THAT WE CAN'T OVERREACT TO A CURRENT SITUATION TOO MUCH.

IF WE CHANGE THAT PROCESS TODAY HOW IS THAT SERVING US IN TEN YEARS OR 20 YEARS?

SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN BE PRISONER OF THE IN A MOMENT WITH REGARD TO POLICY, WITH REGARD TO RULES, WITH REGARD TO STRUCTURE.

WE NEED TO TAKE A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT HOW IT SERVED US OVER THE YEARS, HOW IT MAY HAVE POTENTIALLY, IN SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS GONE ASTRAY RECENTLY AND WHERE IT CAN BE IN FIVE OR TEN YEARS.

>> SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, I GUESS, WITH CURAMO NOW BEING THE HEAD OF THE MICHIGAN GOP PARTY, I THINK YOU RAN ON DIFFERENT IDEALS.

YOU NAMED YOURSELF AS BEING A MORE LOGICAL THINKER.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN GOING FORWARD?

>> I HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 35 YEARS.

THERE HAVE BEEN CHAIRED BEFORE THAT I DIDN'T SUPPORT OR DID SUPPORT.

I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

I BELIEVE IN OUR PLATFORM AND IDEALS AS A PARTY.

I THINK I RAN A CAMPAIGN AND EXPRESS THAT I WOULD BE LOGICAL AND NOT EMOTIONAL.

I WOULD STICK TO THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF THE PARTY WHICH IS RAISING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS NEEDED TO WIN AND STAYING OUT OF PRIMARIES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY TO GO DAY ONE.

I SAW CHRISTINA THIS WEEK AT THE CAPITAL.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HER, WE'RE FRIENDS, AND SHE WAS WORKING WITH LEGISLATURES ON DIFFERENT VOTES.

I THINK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE ENGAGED IN.

I WOULD HAVE LEFT THAT TO LEADER NESBIT AND HALL, AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE BLOCKING AND TACKLING AND THE DELEGATES DIDN'T WANT THAT THIS TME AROUND.

I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PARTY IN GENERAL AND I WILL BE ENGAGED AND ACTIVE IN '24 WORKING TO ELECT AS MANY CONSERVATIVES AND REPUBLICANS AS I CAN.

>> ON THAT POINT THAT YOU JUST MADE, THE VOTES IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.

WE SAW VOTES ON A LAW THAT BANS ABORTION IN THE CASES OF RAIP AND INCEST.

THESE GUN PROPOSALS, EXPANDING ELLIOTT LARSON, THESE ARE ALL THING THAT'S ARE WIDELY POPULAR WITH THE VOTING PUBLIC ACCORDING TO ALL OF THE POLLING THAT IS OUT THERE.

DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE STATE HAS LOST THE ABILITY TO TALK TO THESE VOTERS IN THE MIDDLE?

RACES IN MICHIGAN ARE WON BY CONVINCING INDEPENDENT VOTERS TO VOTE FOR YOU.

CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, CONTROL OF THE SENATE, GOVERNOR RACES, HOW DO YOU GET THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS TO VOTE FOR YOU?

IT APPEARS THAT THE STATE PARTY IS TRYING TO CONVINCE OFFICE HOLDERS TO TAKE POSITION THAT'S ARE KIND OF OUT OF STEP ACCORDING WITH THE POLLING OF THE VOTERS IN THE MIDDLE.

>> SURE, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ISSUES THAT PEOPLE OF THIS DAY AND ANYONE, THEY LOOK AT THE HEADLINE AND THEY SAY SURE, I'M FOR THIS OR AGAINST THAT, BUT THEY DON'T DO THE DEEP DIVE AND LOOK AT WHAT A LOT OF THESE POLICIES REALLY ARE DOING IN TERMS OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO EFFECT THE MIDDLE CLASS IN MICHIGAN.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO DEEP ER DIVES AND BE MORE CLEAR.

I THINK THAT MICHIGAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STATE, I HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1988, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STATE THAT SWUNG BACK AND FORTH.

CERTAINLY IF YOU TOOK A LOOK AT THIS YEAR IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO 2009.

WE WERE IN VERY BAD SHAPE.

WE WERE DOWN IN THE HOUSE.

WE HAD A MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, BUT BARELY.

WE DIDN'T CONTROL ANY OF THE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE DEMOCRATS OVERREACHED.

I THINK WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN A LOT OF WAYS RIGHT NOW ARE OVERREACHING.

THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH THE REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE NOT ENGAGING IN DEBATE FOR A LOT OF POLICY VOTING YOU'RE SEEING IN THE CAPITAL AND THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS GOING ON.

THAT WENT ON A DECADE PLUS AGO IN 2009-2010, AND THEN THE REPUBLICANS SWEPT IN.

I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS BY OVERREACHING AND ACTING IN THE MANNER THAT THEY ARE.

ALMOST SHUTTING DOWN THE REPUBLICANS SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SPEAK.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO RAM THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT AS QUICKLY AS WE IT AND I THINK THAT WILL WORK AGAINST THING LONG TERM.

>> HAVE YOU TALKED TO RON WEISER SINCE YOUR DEFEAT?

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT ARE YOU PLOTTING?

>> WE'RE NOT PLOTTING ANYTHING.

HE IS SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FRIENDS WITH.

WE WORKED CLOSELY.

WE HAD AN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL NOVEMBER IN 2010.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A COALITION TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND IGNORE THE HIERARCHY.

>> I'M CERTAINLY FOCUSED ON THE STATE HOUSE.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT BACK IN 2024.

IT'S NOT THE SEXIEST THING, IT'S NOT THE TOP OF THE TICKET, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF MICHIGAN.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL STATE REP AND STATE REP CLIENTS AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT I CAN TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A MAJORITY COMING OUT OF THE NOVEMBER '24 ELECTIONS.

>> DID HE SAY HE WILL HELP YOU IN THAT REGARD?

>> I THINK HE WILL BE GENEROUS.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT METHODS, BUT HE HAS BEEN A GENEROUS SUPPORTER FOR DECADES NOT JUST IN THE PARTY BUT INDIVIDUALLY TO CANDIDATES AS WELL.

>> IS IT FAIR TO SAY THERE IS A GROUP OF FUNDERS THAT ARE GOING TO IGNORE THE HIERARCHY AND TRY TO DO THIS ON THEIR OWN?

>> I HEARD THAT.

I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS, BUT I HEARD THERE IS MULTIPLE GROUPS THAT ARE TRYING TO FORM AND FIGURE IT OUT.

AND I THINK THOSE GROUPS HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IF THEY WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> YOU WOULD BE PART OF THAT MOVEMENT?

>> I WILL SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT ELECTS REPUBLICANS.

>> ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CHANGING PRECINCT DELEGATES?

THE REASON THE PARTY HAS BEEN NOMINATED PEOPLE LIKE CHRISTINA KARAMO AND ELECTING HER AS CHAIR?

>> I THINK MORE DELEGATES ARE BETTER.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF VACANCIES WE CAN FILL THAT WOULD BRING NEW GEOGRAPHICAL INTERESTS, BUT I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE DELEGATES.

I THINK THEY ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HEAR THE DESIRES OF THEIR VOTERS.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB IN GOING DOOR TO DOOR.

SO I'M NOT RUSHING TO REPLACE THE WAY THEY'RE ELECTED.

I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THEM AND OVERTIME WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE CLEAR FOR THESE OFFICES, ESPECIALLY COMING OFF OF THE CHAIR RACE.

THE INNER PARTY OFFICE OF WHAT THE CHAIR ACTUALLY NEEDS TO DO.

AND WE TALKED TO PEOPLE ONE ON ONE THAT ARE DELEGATES AND KIND OF GO OVER THAT AND THEY TEND TO GET IT.

I THINK THE BROADER HEADLINE, THE TWITTER THING THAT IS JUST SENT OUT, MOVES AWAY FOR THAT ROLE.

IT ENGAGES IN MORE EMOTIONAL THINGS.

WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR LEGISLATURES ACCOUNTABLE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THE STATE PARTY CHAIR WOULD HOLD A LEGISLATURE ACCOUNTABLE.

ANYBODY CAN RUN OR DECLARE WHATEVER PARTY THEY WANT.

SO BEING ABLE TO COME DOWN ON THEM OR ENFORCE THAT THEY HAVE TO VOTE A CERTAIN WAY, IT'S NOT THE JOB OF THE CHAIR AND THEY HAVE NO ENFORCEMENT THERE.

IT'S THE JOB OF THE PEOPLE THERE THAT VOTE AND SEND THAT REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR TO LANCING AND THEY HAVE TO ENFORCE AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WHO ARE THREE MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS THAT COULD WIN THIS RATE?

>> WHAT A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK NICKI SCHNEIDER IS ANNOUNCED.

THEE HAS THE BACKGROUND, SHE HAS OVER 1.6 MILLION VOTES IN THE STATE.

I THINK SHE IS A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO SPECULATE ON OTHER NAMES, LISA McCLAIN HAS BEEN FLOATED.

>> HAVE YOU TOLD HER TO RUN?

>> NO, THAT'S HER DECISION.

I WILL SUPPORT HER IN WHATEVER SHE CHOOSES TO DO, I THINK SHE WOULD BE A STRONG CANDIDATE BUT SHE HAS NOT MADE HER DECISION YET.

YOU ALSO HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT PETER MEYER.

A FORMER CONGRESSMAN IN THE GRASS ROOTS AREA.

HE HAS NOT BEEN AS CONSERVATIVE AS THEY WANT, BUT WHEN YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE FACT THAT INDEPENDENT AND MIDDLE OF THE ROAD VOTERS TEND TO DECIDE HOW THINGS GO, AND YOU LOOK AT HIS NAME ID, AND THE FACT THAT EVERYONE KNOWS HIS NAME, HE COULD BE A FORMIDABLE CANDIDTE AS WELL.

>> IS THERE A PATH FOR HIM THROUGH A PRIMARY?

>> I THINK THERE IS A PATH, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO SEE WHO ELSE IS IN THE RACE.

I THINK IF HE IS ONE ON ONE AGAINST SOMEBODY WHO IS VIEWED AS MORE CONSERVATIVE, HE WOULD HAVE A CHALLENGE.

BUT IN A MULTICANDIDATE FIELD I THINK HIS PATH COULD BE CLEAR.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO GET A PHONE CALL FROM BILL SCHUTE.

>> HE WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

>> YOU LEFT HIS NAME OFF OF THE LIST.

>> YOU SAID THREE?

HAD.

>> I'M NOT RANKING THEM IN TERMS OF HOW I THINK THEY COULD BE ELECTED, BUT BILL WOULD BE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR THAT OR THAT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

HE IS SOMEONE THAT DEMONSTRATED IN MICHIGAN ELECTABILITY OVER THE YEARS.

HE HAS TREMENDOUS NAME I.D., A GREAT SUCCESS RECORD WITH THE OFFICES THAT HE HAS BEEN IN, AND I THINK FRANKLY THERE IS BUYERS REMORSE THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T ENCOURAGE HIM STRONGER TO TAKE ANOTHER SHOT.

TOM IS A GUY THAT RAN A VERY TOUGH CONGRESSIONAL RACE.

HE IS ALSO VERY WELL KNOWN.

HE HAS A GOOD RECORD IN THE STATE HOUSE AND THE STATE SENATE, AND I THINK HE CAN BE FORMIDABLE FOR THE U.S. SENATE OR TO TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT THE U.S. CONGRESS SEAT THAT HE RAN IN BEFORE.

>> WHAT ABOUT WITH THE U.S. SENATE RACES, REPUBLICANS HAVE STRUGGLED FOR SO LONG.

ONE WIN, I THINK, SINCE THE EARLY 70s.

WHAT IS IT THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DO TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO FINALLY WIN AN OPEN U.S. SENATE SEAT?

>> IT WILL TAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND IT WILL TAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF UNITY.

NEITHER OF WHICH WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SO THE CANDIDATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO INSPIRE THAT.

THEY WILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY ALMOST ON THEIR OWN.

I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT THINGS ARE SHAKING OUT.

AND THEY WILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE STRADDLING DOWN THE MIDDLE WHERE THEY APPEAL TO THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE.

THE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR YOU TO TAKE 100 VOTES AND HAVE 100 BE CONSERVATIVE.

BUT ALSO BE ABLE TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROW.

>> WILL THE CURRENT PARTY CHAIR UNIFY THE PARTY?

>> I DON'T KNOW, IT IS TOO EARLY.

>> MY GUT TELLS ME THE ANSWER IS NO, BUT WE'LL SEE.

I WANT TO GIVE HER EVERY BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

>> EVERYBODY HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND, SEE YOU RIGHT HERE NEXT WEEK FOR MORE "OFF THE RECORD."

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