♪ >> WELCOME BACK OUR GUEST IS THE FORMER HOUSE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER JASE BOLGER ON A PETITION DRIVE TO MODIFY THE STATE'S TERM LIMIT LAW.

SENDING THE GOVERNOR A TAX CUT.

WILL SHE SIGN IT OR LEAVE IT.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO STUDIO C AS ADVERTISED.

BILL BALENGER WAS GOING TO BE ON THE SHOW BUT HE'S UP NORTH, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE NEED TO GET BROADBAND UP NORTH.

BILL IS TAKING THE MORNING OFF AND WE HAVE ZOEY AND JIM.

NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

ZOEY, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE DID THEY SNOOKER THIS GOVERNOR, AND SENT HER A BILL SHE DIDN'T LIKE.

AND THE RESPONSE IS?

>> GAS, GAS.

>> SURPRISE, SURPRISE.

>> SHE'S GOING TO VETO IT.

>> SHE DOESN'T SAY THAT.

IN HER LETTER SHE DIDN'T SAY SHE WAS GOING TO VETO IT.

>> OKAY, DO YOU WANT TO PUT MONEY OHEN THAT THIS MORNING?

>> NO.

>> A FRIENDLY WAGER?

>> NOT IN THE LEAST.

>> LOOK, THESE ARE THE BEGINNING OPENING SHOTS OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE KNEW WERE COMING.

NONE OF THIS IS A SURPRISE.

WHAT MAY BE INTERESTING IN A SURPRISE WAS THE NUMBER OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO DID VOTE FOR SOME OF THESE TAX CUTS.

BUT IN HER LETTER THAT SHE WROTE THAT SHE SENT THEY'LL BE MEETING NEXT WEEK, AND SHE SAID LET'S HOPE THESE ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF SOME NEGOTIATIONS.

>> BUT JIM, HERE IS THE HARSH REALITY, IF SHE VETO THIS IS LEGISLATION, PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL SAY?

>> OH, THEY GOT THEIR TALKING POINTS FOR THE ELECTION YEAR AND THEY'RE GOING TO RUN WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE GOING TO EMPHASIZE WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT IT IS LESS GOVERNMENT, MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS VERSUS THIS GOVERNOR WHO WANTS TO SPEND MORE OF THEIR MONEY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO PAINT HER HOW SHE KNOWS HOW TO BETTER SPEND THEIR MONEY THAN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO DO THEIR OWN MONEY.

IT IS ALL ELECTION YEAR TALKING POINTS, BUT THIS IS ONLY ROUND ONE.

WE HAVE A LONG TIME TO GO IN THIS YEAR AHEAD.

>> IF SHE DOES VETO IT, THEN SHE HAS TO EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE THE REASONING BEHIND THIS, WE COULD LOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS, THIS IS UNFAIR TO THE POOR PEOPLE, AND ZOEY WHEN YOU EXPLAIN IN POLITICS DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM?

>> RIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE EXPLAINING YOU'RE LOSING.

OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT THE POSITION SHE WANTS TO BE IN, EXPLAINING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

BUT THE FACT IS THIS IS WHY SHE PUT OUT HER BUDGET.

THIS IS WHY THE RECOMMENDSTURE PUTS THEIRS OUT.

THIS IS NOT DIFFERENT THAN THE DAYS WE'VE SEEN IN PAST YEARS FROM THIS GOVERNOR.

THE LEADERSHIP AT THIS POINT IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SURPLUS, AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT.

THIS IS WHAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHRIS HARKINS, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING NOW.

ALL OF THIS UNFOLDING IN AN ELECTION YEAR AND A LOT OF THESE LAWMAKERS RUNNING FOR SENATE SEAT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION.

>> IS THIS A BASEBALL GAME AT THIS POINT?

>> IT'S THE LATTER AT THIS POINT.

THIS IS ONLY ROUND ONE.

IT'S A LONG YEAR AHEAD.

THIS IS A NEWS CYCLE FOR A FEW YEARS.

THEY'LL NEAT AND WE'LL GET MORE NEWS WHERE THEY'RE NEGOTIATING.

BOTH SIDES WILL CONTINUE TO POSTURE.

BOTH SIDES WILL PUT OUT POSSIBLE TRIAL BALLOONS POSITIONS, TALKING POINTS.

THIS WILL BE NEWS FOR A FEW DAYS.

IT WILL MOVE ON.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY DOWN HERE IN METRO DETROIT, ARE WATCHING WHAT IS GOING ON UP THERE THAT CLOSELY.

ONLY UNLESS THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM CLOSELY WITH SOME TIES.

REGULAR PEOPLE, NOT AT ALL.

>> ZOEY, WHAT IS THE SPOTS ABILITY THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL SAY TO THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR, WE HAVE SENT YOU OUR LAST BEST OFFER.

WE'RE NOT TALKING.

>> I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF THAT'S THE THE FINAL NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE SEE.

LOOK, NONE OF US ARE IN THE ROOM ABOUT WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BE, BUT WE'VE SEEN THIS AGAIN.

LIKE I SAID, WITH THIS GOVERNOR, WITH THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP BRINGS GAMESMANSHIP.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS ANYTHING LIKE '07, '09 WHERE WE SAW GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS BECAUSE THERE IS A PLETHORA OF MONEY.

CHAIRMAN ALBERT WAS ON THE SHOW A FEW WEEKS AGO, RIGHT?

HE BASICALLY GAVE OUT HIS NUMBER ON THE SHOW.

HE SAID HE WANTS $800 MILLION IN TAX CUTS AS A BARE MUM.

THIS IS $2.5 MILLION THEY'VE PASSED.

I THINK THERE IS ABSOLUTELY ROOM TO MANEUVER BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

>> I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE GOVERNOR TRIES TO RUN THE CLOCK AS LONG AS SHE CAN TO AVOID THE VETO PEN BEING TAKEN OFF THE DESK, PUT IN HER HAND AND PEN TO PAPER.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IN THE REPUBLICANS LET HER DANGLE OUT THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THEY GET SERIOUS AND START IN NEGOTIATIONS.

YOU'RE SMILING.

DID I GET THIS RIGHT?

>> LET'S BE VERY CLEAR, THE FISCAL YEAR DOES NOT START ON APRIL 1ST, OR MAY 1ST, OR JUNE 1ST.

WE HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST.

THAT'S SOME 38 DAYS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> YEAH, THIS WILL GET INTERESTING BEFORE IT GETS RESOLVED, THAT'S FOR SURE.

WE HAVE A NATIONAL STORY THAT I WANT OUR CORRESPONDENCE TO TALK ABOUT.

A NATIONAL SURVEY IS OUT AND HELP ME ON THE PRONUNCIATION.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE WHO PUT OUT THE POLL?

I CAN NEVER SAY IT.

I WISH THEY WOULD CHANGE THEIR NAME.

THEY HAVE POLLING DATA ON THE WAR AND IT'S IMPACT BACK HERE AND HOW PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.

>> OUR FORCES ARE NOT GOING TO EUROPE TO FIGHT UKRAINE.

>> ACCORDING TO A NATIONAL SURVEY, THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT, THAT AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE FIGHTING THE WAR IN UKRAINE BUT 20% DO FAVOR THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO SEND MILITARY INTO NATO COUNTRIES JUST IN CASE VLADIMIR PUTIN DECIDES TO INVADE THOSE NATO NATIONS.

>> TO DEFEND OUR NATO ALLIES IN THE EVENT PUTIN DECIDES TO KEEP MOVING WEST.

AS I MADE CRYSTAL CLEAR, THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES WILL PROTECT EVERY INCH OF TERRITORY WITH THE FULL FORCE OF OUR COLLECTIVE POWER, EVERY SINGLE INCH.

>> AND 70% OF THE CITIZENS SUPPORT THAT USE OF FORCE.

THE SURVEY ALSO ASKED IF MR. PUTIN IS STABLE OR UNSTABLE?

AND NOTE THE GENDER DIFFERENCE ON THESE FINDINGS.

MEN, 43% BELIEVE HE IS STABLE.

39% UNSTABLE.

WOMEN, 20% STABLE, 58% UNSTABLE.

DEMOCRATS, 21% STABLE, 63% UNSTABLE.

REPUBLICANS 32% STABLE, 54% UNSTABLE AND INDEPENDENTS, 36% STABLE, 63% UNSTABLE.

AND FINALLY, 66% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE MR. PUTIN WILL INVADE OTHER COUNTRIES.

JIM, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT GENDER DIFFERENCE ON THE STABILITY OF MR. PUTIN?

I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.

>> I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING, BUT I THINK THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE DAY-TO-DAY AS WE'RE TAPING THIS WE HEARD OVERNIGHT LINDSEY GRAHAM TWEET OUT THAT SOMEBODY IN RUSSIA NEEDS TO TAKE OUT PUTIN.

OF COURSE, HE'S ON THE MALE SIDE OF THIS, AND THE MINORITY.

BUT THAT'S A PRETTY STRONG POSITION FOR SOMEONE LIKE HIM, A NATIONAL REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ROLE TO TAKE.

ZOEY USED THIS GREAT PHRASE LAST YEAR IN ONE OF THESE BROADCASTS.

AND THAT IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

ALL OF THIS IS UNPREDICTABLE.

WE DON'T KNOW IF PUTIN DOES THIS AND WE DO THIS, WHERE DO THE MOVES ON THE CHESS BOARD, AND WHAT IS THE END GAME HERE OTHER THAN TAKING OUT PUTIN?

I THINK THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO CHANGE AS WE SEE THESE AWFUL, AWFUL HUMANITARIAN PICTURES OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THAT COUNTRY ALIVE.

>> ZOEY, I WAS JUST A ZOAR SURPRISED.

THIS COUNTRY HAS A HISTORY OF ISOLATIONISM.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING THERE IS A PARALLEL TO WORLD WAR II, BUT CLEARLY ISOLATIONISM IS NOT WHAT IS IN THE PEOPLE'S MINDS RIGHT NOW.

>> NO, TO THAT POINT IT TOOK A HORRIFIC ATTACK ON THE U.S. TO HAVEN'TLY BRING US INTO WORLD WAR II.

BUT BACK TO THE PRESENT MOMENT.

WE'RE WATCHING IS HISTORIC IN THE WAY WE'RE WATCHING IT IS HISTORIC.

WE'RE WATCHING WAR SOMETIMES IN REALTIME WITH TIKTOK VIDEOS, RIGHT?

WITH TWEETS FROM PEOPLE INSIDE METROTATIONS, IN BOMB SHELTERS.

IT IS I THINK RIPPING AMERICANS' HEARTS OUT BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO VISUALLY SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN REALTIME.

AND LET'S MAKE THAT PARALLEL WITH WORLD WAR II.

THE REPORTS WOULD SOMETIMES COME OUT A WEEK LATER, AND PEOPLE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO SEE THEM IN A THEATER.

RIGHT?

YOU WOULD GO AND WATCH THESE QUICK NEWS REELS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE WATCHING JUST THIS MORNING THIS NUCLEAR BOMB SHELTER BEING SHELLED BY RUSSIA.

TO SEE REACTION TO SEEING THIS CLEARLY IN REALTIME AND IT IS HORRIFIC.

>> WE HAD CHRIS HARKINS ON LAST WEEK AND THE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

IF THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GETS TO $5 A GALLON, STATE REVENUE WILL GO WHICH WAY?

>> UP WITH GAS TAX.

AND THE OTHER SIDE IS SHORTAGES OF SUPPLIES.

THERE ARE RAW MATERIALS THAT GO INTO THE AUTO INDUSTRY DOWN HERE IN METRO DETROIT.

THIS COULD EXACERBATE THE CHIP SHORTAGE, WHICH AFFECTS A LOT OF THINGS.

OTHER PRICES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF AS WELL.

HOW FAR DO WE ENGAGE PUTIN?

I THINK YOUR SURVEY IS CORRECT.

AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO GO IN AND FIGHT IN UKRAINE ON THE EDGES.

THAT'S FINE.

BUT THE OTHER CONCERN, THE AIR SPACE.

HE CAN'T FLY INTO THE AIR SPACE OF EUROPE.

IF HE DOES, AND ONE OF HIS PLANES GETS SHOT DOWN, THEN HE'S GOING TO USE THAT AS PROPAGANDA TO SAY SEE, I'M NOW IN A WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES.

WHERE DOES THIS GO?

IT'S CRAZY.

>> ZOEY, THIS BUDGET HAS IMPLICATIONS.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SITTING ON A SURPLUS, YOU CAN SEE THAT GOBBLED UP IF THIS THING DRAGS ON TOO LONG?

>> WELL, YES, OF COURSE.

WE'VE SEEN THE GOVERNOR COME OUT AND ASKING TO DEVEST IN DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS IN RUSSIAN COUNTRIES.

SURE.

THIS IS EARLY DAYS TO UNDERSTAND ECONOMICALLY WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE.

GAS PRICES, ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS.

WE'RE STILL, AS I SAID, WATCHING HISTORY PLAY OUT.

THE IDEA THAT SOME HOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BUDGET THIS $7 BILLION SURPLUS, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY IN UKRAINE IS DIFFICULT TO TRY TO THINK ABOUT AT THIS POINT.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO WATCH IT.

NOW LET'S WATCH THE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER JASE BOLGER, WHERE ARE YOU THIS MORNING, MR. BOLGER.

>> NORTON SHORES.

>> NORTON SHORES.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> IT'S GETTING TO BE SPRING.

IT CAN'T COME QUICK ENOUGH.

>> MR. SPEAKER, AFTER YOUR NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING YOU WANTED TO CHANGE THE TERM-LIMIT YEARS FROM 14 YEARS TO 12 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

YOUR FREQUENT FRIEND PATRICK ANDERSON WAS QUICK ON THE DRAW AND SAID YOU'RE WRONG.

HE COULD NOT SUPPORT THIS.

IF YOU COULD LOOK MR. ANDERSON IN THE EYE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HIM, SIR?

>> NOT ONLY IS HE WRONG, BUT HE IS A MISLEADING.

>> WHAT'S MISLEADING ABOUT IT?

>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO TELL YOU.

IN THE LEGISLATURE YOU HAVE CITIZENS WHO HAVE CONFLICT.

THEY'VE GOT A FIGHT, STRUGGLE, WITH A TAX COLLECTOR OR REGULATOR OR PERMITTER.

WHO DO THEY CALL?

THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE WHO THEN GOES TO ADVANCE THEIR CAUSE TO ARGUE THEIR POINT TO THE BUREAUCRACY.

PATRICK ANDERSON WAS NOT AN ELECTED BUREAUCRAT.

HE'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF A DEPARTMENT WHO HAS A COUPLE OF DOZEN PEOPLE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT A BUREAUCRAT WANTS TO MAINTAIN POWER IN THE BUREAUCRACY.

HOWEVER, THIS SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT WHO HAS MORE POWER IN GOVERNMENT, THE BUREAUCRACY OR ELECTED MEMBERS.

HE'S CERTAINLY THE GRANDFATHER, IF YOU WILL, OF TERM LIMITS BUT HE ALSO ADMITTED TO ME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THERE IS NO MAGIC IN SIX PLUS EIGHT EQUALING FOUR TEEN.

TIME I CHECKED TWELVE YEARS WAS LESS THAN FOURTEEN YEARS.

ONLY OFFERING PEOPLE MORE TIME IF THEY RUN FOR ANOTHER OFFICE, AS SOON AS THEY GET IN THE FIRST OFFICE THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT RUNNING FOR THEIR NEXT OFFICE.

THEY WANTED A TERM-LIMITED LEGISLATURE SO ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE TO RETURN HOME TO LIVE UNDER THE RULES THEY JUST PASSED, AND THEN THEY NEED TO DO THE JOB THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO.

>> COMMITTEE CHAIR IS NOT GOING TO BE A COMMITTEE CHAIR THEIR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

I WAS ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AFTER SERVING TWO YEARS IN THE STATE HOUSE.

MY TWO YEARS IN THE STATE HOUSE WAS IN THE MINORITY.

BEFORE THAT I SERVED TWO TERMS FOUR YEARS IN THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

IN THE COUNTY COMMISSION I WAS A MINORITY.

HERE'S THE POINT.

I WAS ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, NEVER HAVING CHAIRED A LEGISLATIVE BODY AT ANY LEVEL.

I CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM MORE EXPERIENCE.

BUT MORE EXPERIENCE DOESN'T MEAN MORE TIME.

WHAT MORE EXPERIENCE MEANS YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN AN ENORMOUS BOTTOM.

$74 BILLION, EMPLOYEES AND IMPACTING EVERY ASSESS IN THE STATE.

BUT THE KEY IS 12 YEARS IS NOT A CAREER.

YOU DON'T WANT A CAREER POLITICIAN.

IN A TIME PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND LIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

WHAT THIS DOES IS IT CHANGES THE REVOLVING DOOR AND REMOVES THE INCENTIVE TO RUN FOR ANOTHER OFFICE.

IT PROVIDES THE TERM LIMIT THAT PEOPLE DEMAND AND RIGHTFULLY WANT, BUT THEN ADDS THE STOPS.

IT ADDS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL FOCUSING ON THE JOB THAT THEY HAVE AND NOT THE NEXT JOB.

>> MISS CLARK.

>> YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU BECAME SPEAKER AFTER TWO YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

CAN YOU GIVE US A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

YOU SAID YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED MORE EXPERIENCE.

GIVE US A CHEER EXAMPLE OF AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN OFFICE THAT THIS WOULD FIX.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS IS NOT WORKING?

>> SURE, I THINK THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.

YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE QUESTION TO ASK OR WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION, YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE BUREAUCRAT IS HIDING THE PEANUT.

THEY'RE TELLING YOU AN ANSWER, THE WAY I DISCOVERED IT.

I PLAYED FOOTBALL GROWING UP.

WHEN YOU FIRST GET IN YOU UNDERSTAND THE PERSON ACROSS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE BUT AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF TIME YOU START TO SEE THE FIELD SLOW DOWN, YOU SEE THE QUARTERBACK AND THE PLAY DEVELOP.

MAYBE YOU GET UP TO THE PRESS BOX YOU CAN SEE MORE HAPPENING.

THE POINT IS SEEING MORE HAPPENING IN STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATION BENEFITS THE PEOPLE.

>> DO LAWMAKERS GET DUPED BY BUREAUCRATS AND LOBBYISTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYONE COMES IN WITH THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE.

THE SPEAKER OF MISSISSIPPI TOLD ME A THEORY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

AND THAT IS STANDS OUTSIDE OF WALMART AND TAKE THE FIRST 100 PEOPLE COMING OUT THE DOOR, THAT'S YOUR LEGISLATURE.

THAT'S YOUR HOUSE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WITH ALL DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DOCTOR, A LAWYER, A POLICE OFFICER, A BUSINESS OWNER, PEOPLE WITH WITH EXPERIENCE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM UNTIL YOU GET A LITTLE MORE EXPERIENCE WITH IT.

>> JAMES, I READ ONE OF YOU'RE TALKING POINTS, AND IT SAYS YOU WOULD FOSTER BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT WITH THEM JUST FOR A MINUTE.

YOU WOULD BE WITH THEM FOR AS LONG AS 12 YEARS.

THAT WOULD FOSTER BETTER GOVERNMENT, BETTER RELATIONS, AND SO ON.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE VOLATILITY AND POLITICAL EXTREMES PLAYING OUT IN LANSING AND EVERYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

HAVING SAID THAT, CAN'T THAT BE RESOLVED RIGHT NOW WHEN NEW LAWMAKERS COME IN AND THEY GO THROUGH ORIENTATION, AND BRIEFINGS, AND SO ON AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HANDLE YOURSELF HOWEVER YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET STUFF DONE, YOU NEED TO HAVE BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIPS ON AN ONGOING BASE, AND NOT BE SO POLARIZED.

CAN'T YOU RESOLVE IT THAT WAY?

>> LISTEN, TERMS LIMITS ISN'T THE BLAME-ALL, AND IT'S NOT THE CURE-ALL.

THE ADEQUATE OF INPUT MATTERS.

AND IN MY TIME WE DID THINGS AS CONTROVERSIAL AS RIGHT TO WORK.

BUT THEN WE DID THINGS AS STRONGLY BIPARTISAN AS BANKRUPTCY SETTLEMENT.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DISAGREE ON ONE ISSUE AN THEN COME BACK AND WORK TOGETHER ON ANOTHER ISSUE.

THE POINT I THINK IS TERM LIMITS IS GOOD.

I SUPPORTED TERM LIMITS AND I STILL DO, AND I THINK THIS STRENGTHENS TERM LIMITS.

>> FOLLOW UP, JIMMY?

>> YES, DID IS ARE READ IN THERE YOU'RE FOLDING INTO THIS MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES?

AND I'M SURE YOU'RE WATCHING WHAT IS PLAYING OUT WITH LEE CHATFIELD AND THE MENARDS.

THEIR HOUSE WAS RAIDED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

>> I CERTAINLY KNEW THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I HAVE NOT TALKED TO THEM IN SOME TIME, MANY MONTHS BUT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.

THIS HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

YES, FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE IS A KEY PART OF THIS, AND-- >> HOW FAR DOES THAT GO?

>> WHAT IT DOES IS IT REQUIRES ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DISCLOSE THEIR FINANCES IN THE SAME WAY THAT CONGRESS DOES.

MICHIGAN IS ONE OF TWO STATES THAT DON'T.

THE STATE DESERVE TO KNOW WHERE THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS STAND AND THAT THEY CAN AVOID ANY CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.

>> DOES--HOW DEEP IS YOUR CONCERN WITH MR. TRUMP PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN A NUMBER OF RACES NOT ONLY IN YOUR FORMER BODY OF THE LEGISLATURE, BUT IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT HIS ROLE THERE OR NOT?

>> I'M CONCERNED WHEN IT'S ABOUT ANY ONE PERSON AND NOT ABOUT THE BROADER PICTURE.

I'M CONCERNED WHEN IT IS ABOUT THE ELECTED OFFICIAL OR FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE.

SO THAT CONCERNS ME.

THIS IS SHAPING UP TO BE AN INCREDIBLE YEAR.

I WOULD SAY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO PEOPLE SAID THIS COULD BE BETTER THAN 2010.

I LAUGHED HAVING BEEN THERE IN 2010 WHEN WE TOOK THE MAJORITY.

I PICKED UP 20 SEATS IN THE HOUSE IN ONE NIGHT.

I THOUGHT THAT HAPPENS ONCE IN A GENERATION.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS QUICKLY.

SON OF A GUN, THIS COULD BE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR REPUBLICANS THAN 2010 WAS J WHAT IS YOUR CONCERN ABOUT MR. TRUMP?

>> TOO MANY TIMES HE MAKES IT ABOUT HIMSELF.

RIGHT NOW WE SHOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION.

WE NEED TO BE LOOKING FORWARD AND OFFERING A VISION AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE FACING TODAY.

WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

>> IS HE POINTING THE POLITICAL POOL?

>> I WOULDN'T ARGUE THAT.

I WOULD SAY THAT I DISAGREE ON THE FOCUS.

I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE FUTURE.

>> ZOEY?

>> SPEAKER, THIS PAST TUESDAY WE SAW SOME PRETTY FAR-TO-THE-RIGHT REPUBLICANS BE ELECTED, AT LEAST IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

I'M CURIOUS OF YOUR HONEST ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MICHIGAN LOOKS LIKE TODAY?

>> WELL, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING LIKE EMPOWERING PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO BE EMPOWERING PARENTS.

WE NEED TO BE EMPOWERING WORKERS.

WE NEED TO BE EMPOWERING FAMILIES.

WHAT I SAW IN THIS LAST TUESDAY WAS A MIX.

YOU SAW HARRIS WIN, FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY.

I WAS OVER IN KENT COUNTY, YOU SAW SPLIT OF THE VOTE.

YOU SAW REGAN WIN, BUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE ELECTORATE VOTED FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT LESSON TO LEARN THERE, IS THAT AS YOU GOT RACES, HOW ARE PEOPLE GOING TO DIVIDE UP THE ELECTORATE?

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DIVIDE UP THAT VOTE TOTAL AND WHO WINS FROM IT?

>> THAT IS THE ISSUE FROM YOUR PARTY.

YOU HAVE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE WON LIKE REGAN, WHO HAVE BEEN TWEETING THAT THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS A HOAX.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOUR REPUBLICAN PARTY?

EVEN IF IT SIMPLY THAT VOTES ARE BEING SPLIT, IF THESE ARE THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING IN GENERAL ELECTIONS?

>> WELL, I WHOLLY DISAGREE WITH HIM.

OUR CRANE IS A HORROR, AND PUTIN IS A MURDERER.

THERE ARE NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.

RASHEEDA TALIB DELIVERED TO THE UNION.

WE HAVE EXTREMES IN BOTH PARTIES.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE.

>> ISN'T THIS GOING TO TEST THAT?

TO SEE HOW WIDE THE SPLIT IS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MICHIGAN, AND YOUR ASSOCIATION ON THE WEST SIDE WITH THE DeVOSS, THEY CAN'T LIKE THIS ONGOING TRUMP INFLUENCE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT REGAN, AND HE SAID THE UKRAINE WAR WAS FAKE.

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE PANDEMIC WAS FAKE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE MIKOVSKY.

HE STILL WANTS TO DO A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

AS YOU LOOK AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTIES WHAT PERCENTAGE OF REPUBLICANS IN MICHIGAN BELIEVE IN THOSE TRUMP VALUES, IF YOU WILL, AND HOW MANY PERCENTAGE-WISE ARE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN VALUES WITH TRUMP OUT OF THE PICTURE?

>> HERE'S WHAT I THINK UNITES US.

WHAT UNITES US IS EMPOWERING POEM.

WHAT UNITES US IS THAT POWER SHOULD REST WITH PEOPLE AND NOT WITH GOVERNMENT.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM TO AGREE.

YES, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.

BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES WITHIN PARTIES.

THERE ARE DIFFERENCES ACROSS PARTIES.

THERE ARE DIFFERENCES WITHIN HOUSEHOLDS, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THOSE DIFFERENCES.

WE NEED TO SPEAK OUT WHEN SOMEBODY IS EVIL.

HOWEVER, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON WHAT IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THOSE WHO GET UP EVERY DAY, STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, WE NEED TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT IS STANDING IN THE WAY OF THEIR SUCCESS.

>> WHO IS YOUR CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

>> I HAVEN'T PICKED ONE YET.

>> YOU ARE A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

YOU JUST PUNTED ON ME.

[LAUGHING] >> I'M GOING TO WATCH.

>> HAVE YOU TALKED WITH CHIEF CRAIG.

>> I HAVE.

I'VE KNOWN HIM THE LONGEST.

I'VE TALKED TO ALMOST ALL THE CANDIDATES.

>> WILL YOU MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT OR WILL YOU SIT IT OUT?

>> I WOULD GUESS I'M PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT I'M A WAYS AWAY FROM THAT, THOUGH.

>> WHERE ARE YOU LEANING?

>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I'M WATCHING IT DEVELOP.

YOU WANT TO SEE WHO CAN PUT IT TOGETHER.

>> PROMISE TO CALL ME WHEN YOU DECIDE.

>> I PROMISE YOU'LL KNOW WHEN I DECIDE.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED YOU.

YOU OUGHT TO GO INTO POLITICS.

MR. SPEAKER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR PROGRAM.

ZOEY, JIM.

JOIN US RIGHT HERE FOR MORE OFF THE RECORD.

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