So, Governor, here's the most important question.

How much sleep did you get last night?

Not a lot, but, you know, I'll sleep in 2027.

So as you look at this budget, what are you most proud of?

Well, we got it done.

You know, you look at what's going on at the federal government, you look a how hot political rhetoric is.

It was not easy.

You know, it was tough negotiations and a Republican House, a Democratic Senate and me you know, we were able to pull everyone together and hammer through our differences and I think come up with a budget that it's a damn good budget.

And I'm proud of that.

But it was not easy.

Are you most proud of the road piece?

I am.

I'm you know, I think that there are a lot of really good things, important things that are in this budget, but the elusive long term, sustained, dedicated funding for roads is something I've been working on the whole time as governor I worked on when I was a legislator.

So I'm pleased that that is a real investment that is reflected in this budget.

But the harsh reality i you're not fixing all the roads with that little piddly amount of money Governor some would say.

It'll be about $2 billion.

You know, with everything ramped up and coming in, that's about you know, it's a huge investment, a long overdue and it's the biggest one we've seen in a long time.

We need about 4 billion.

Yeah, sure, we need it.

We are always going to need more.

But we were falling behind at such a clip that we may never have recovered.

And this will mea our workers can stay on the job.

We won't lose all that expertise.

People won't have to move elsewhere to find this work.

It means that commutes can be safer and more predictable, and it means people will save money.

And finally, the local roads will start to get fixed, too.

And that's going to make a big difference for people.

So what part of the budget in the negotiations did you hold your nose and say, okay, I'm going to do this?

Well, you're going to have to figure that out.

Study the budget, you'll you'll figure it out.

Oh goodness.

I'm just teasing.

I'm just teasing.

You know.

I think.

Thank you for teasing.

I appreciate it.

I think holding my nos about the rhetoric surrounding the budge and the critics out there and, you know, just trying to turn a deaf ear to that and stay focused on what matters, you know?

Yes, state government will be a little bit smaller.

Yes.

Will be more efficient.

But no state employees are going to get laid off.

We're going to be able to continue to deliver the most crucial services for Michiganders.

So, you know, there are pieces of a negotiation when people with very different priorities come together.

That means everyone can boast something, but everyone says, oh, well, I wish I would have done that different if I didn't have to negotiate.

Well, what some of the critics say that you were awol Then the weren't paying attention to him.

They didn't see me sneaking in and out of the Capitol and having meeting after meeting after meeting with legislators, leaders.

So I've been working my tail off on this budget.

And I think the product show that we get a lot of important aspects of my agenda are reflected in this budget, and every one of us can say there's a win here.

And the most contentious issue, the one that keep you awake at night, what was that?

I think just trying to make sure people stayed at the table and that they don't What they wanted to walk away?

They didn't want to stay at the table?

Tim you know what?

Budgets, I've never seen a budget like this before, but I saw this budget die, a thousand deaths in the last week.

You know, there's always going to be things that people come back and say, well, I still want to do this or I want to do that when the deal's done, it' go time and everyone's going to got to do what we can to put the votes together.

And we were able to get it done.

So how are you going to get the state workers back in the state offic buildings did you commit to that You know, we we've got we have a plan to make sure that we've got very, I think, efficient an thoughtful occupancy policies.

And that's really will be th the linchpin to making sure that people are showing up in the way that I think Matt Hall contemplated, but in a way that doesn't really fundamentally impact services to people.

So I feel good about that solution.

Let me see if I can read through that answer, which was nicely bureaucratic but I didn't understand it.

Are you going to order peopl back to state offices, Governor?

Each department will have different policies, their own policies, and we will make sure that as we tighten up the state footprint, that every desk is filled five days a week.

And so it's up to eac department, some department see, Go ahead, Stay at home.

We don't want you down here.

Well, you know, Tim, there are so many state employee that don't have desks to house.

You don't think about that DNR officer who was on of the first people on the scene in Grand Blanc at the shooting and took down the suspect.

He didn't have a desk.

We don't want him to be in an office.

I understand.

So I feel like sometimes the the rhetoric is overly simplistic and paints a picture that's really not accurate.

You and me, I'm never at my desk.

You're hardly ever at a desk.

Our jobs require us to be out and about with people traveling the state, doing the work.

And so I think that's one of the misnomers.

I think that is sometimes frustrating because people walk away with a different impression than what the reality is.

Do the Republicans get any credit for changing the paradigm of how to do these budgets?

I can't remember any group of people saying, Skubick we went over every line in the budget.

Can you remember anybody saying that in past budget talks?

Oh, yeah.

I mean, you remember what was when Mark Shulman was chair to the house appropriations.

Yeah.

Yeah, that was like 15 years ago maybe.

And yeah, they were.

Do they all pass out that boo about zero based budgeting and.

Oh please don't.

It's cyclical.

You've been around long enough, Tim, to remember this is cyclical.

It's fine.

But I think I think the difference is there' going to be more transparency.

And that was something that was, I think, long overdue.

I think it's important.

And that's a that's a really good longer term policy change that will better serve the the public and the people.

The people up north.

Legislators are not happy that the bulk of your road money is going to southeast Michigan.

You've heard that, have you not?

They always say that, you know, there is a formula that the dollars will go through.

I'm always open to having conversation about if there are better way to ensure that there is equity.

But the vast majority of people and the vas majority roads that are traveled do happen to be where the population centers are.

Tim Kelly says that the meal program is a waste, that wealthy school districts don't need the money and that you should the school districts should have the option.

And I disagree, and that's why I fought to get it in the budget for the third year in a row.

It's been an important tool for families.

For kids.

One of the best things is going into a school district and talking with the people that are on the ground, with the kids who say that this has made a massive difference.

It's taken the stigma away from getting a free meal.

It means every child is eating.

You don't have children who are in class who are hungr or can't pay attention because because their bellies are growling.

So this has been a really important investment.

And and Senator Kelly or Representative Kelly and I just don't see don't see it the same way.

Did you get a chance to see any of the Tigers play Cleveland?

I didn't see one swing, bu I was damn glad for the result.

Governor, it's good to see you.

Thanks for talking.