>> WELCOME BACK.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS STATE SENATOR WINNIE BRINKS ON A POSSIBLE DEMOCRATIC TAKEOVER OF THE MICHIGAN SENATE.

OUR LEAD STORY, WHAT'S NEW IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR?

LOGS OF STUFF.

ON THE OTR PANEL, CRAIG MAUGER, LAUREN GIBBONS AND JIM KIERTZNER.

SIT IN WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE, OUT, OFF THE RECORD.

♪ PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: TIM: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELCOME TO STUDIO C ON THIS FRIDAY MORNING IN BUSY EAST LANSING.

LET'S START WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THE GOVERNOR PICKED UP SOME REPUBLICANS BUT TUDOR DIXON APPEARED TO ENTER A SA NEW PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN WHICH IT IS MORE PUBLIC.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

TUDEAR DIXON IS HOPING THE RESET STARTING ON TUESDAY DAY WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF $1 BILLION PROPOSAL TO FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL CHANGE THE TIDE.

THEY BEEN QUIET.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING PUBLIC EVENTS.

THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO RUN ADS HERE THEY ARE.

EARNED MEDIA.

GOING AROUND THE STATE.

HOLDING SMALL PRESS CONFERENCES.

TALKING ABOUT POLICY CHANGE SHE'S WANTS TO HAVE.

WILL THAT BE OF THIS TO COMBAT INCUMBENT GOVERNOR HAS MORE THAN $10 MILLION TO SPEND ON ADVERTISEMENTS YOU CANNOT TURN YOUR TV ON RIGHT NOW WITHOUT SEEING ONE OF THEM.

YEAH.

I THINK THIS IS AN EFFORT TO KIND OF ADDRESS THE FUND-RAISING GAP IN LOU OF GETTING MORE FUND ARE A RAISING OR POTENTIALLY FINDING NEW RESOURCES THAT HAVE NOT THUS FAR APPEARED.

YEAH.

TALKING ABOUT POLICY, GETTING HER IDEAS OUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT THE DIXON CAN CAMPAIGN CAN DO TO AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, GET HER INTRODUCED TO VOTERS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE IS INTERESTED IN ACCOMPLISHING OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, GETTING WHITMER OUT OF OFFICE, RIGHT?

LIKE YOU KNOW, STARTING WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND LIKELY SEE OTHER POLICY POSITIONS ROLLED OUT IN THE COMING WEEKS THEN SO, YEAH.

IT IS EVENTUALLY JUST TRYING TO OVERCOME ARE THIS MASSIVE FUND-RAISING GAP.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE RUDE.

SO FAR, YOU ARE NOT IMPRESSED?

ODD NO.

SHE DID THE FIRST EVENT OVER IN GRAND RAPIDS AND DOING ANOTHER ONE IN METRO DETROIT.

YOU KNOW WHAT DETROIT TV MEDIA IS?

SHE MIGHT GET A VOICE OVER AND SOUNDBITE THE ANCHOR.

I DOUBT THEY WOULD PUT A REPORTER ON IT AND DO MUCH LARGER STORY, A LARGER PACK SAGE REPORT TWO MINUTES SORE.

IT IS STILL PRETTY SMALL.

>> , THE QUESTION IS: WHERE WAS THE CAMPAIGN FOR SIX WEEKSES?

WHY WERE THEY NOT DOING IT FROM THE OPENING BELL?

>> PEOPLE ARE ASKING IN TOWN.

S WHERE THE STRATEGY, RIGHT?

>> THAT QUESTION HAS NOT BEEN ANSWERED.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING F FOR THE FIRST MONTH AFTER THE PRIMARY WHERE YOU COULD HAVE BEEN DOING THESE THINGS?

THE OTHER QUESTION THAT REMAINS UNANSWERED IS.

IT IS ANY NATIONAL GROUP ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE GOING TO COME HOOL THE STIT AND SUPPORT HER CAMPAIGN?

WHAT IS HAN PENG IS, INCREDIBLY STRANGE, THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION APPEARS TO BE SPENDING MONEY IN ALL OF THESE OTHER SWING STATES.

THEY ARE QUIET IN MICHIGAN.

FOLLOW THE MONEY IS WHAT THEY SAY FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.

S THAT YOU ONE OF THEM.

I TELLS YOU WHAT STATES THE GROUPS VIEW UNPLAY AND WHICH ONCE THEY DON'T VIEW IN PLAY.

>> THINK THAT GOES FOR ENTIRE REPUBLICAN STATEWIDE TICKET, RIGHT IT?

IS A SIMILAR TO RIDGE THE TERN GENERAL'S RACE AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WAYS ARE WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACES OR EVEN IN SOME OF THOSE REALLY COMPETITIVE STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS YOU KNOW?

I THINK IT DOES REALLY SAY A LOT AT THIS POINT AND WE ARE MID-SEPTEMBER AND AND IT DOES REALLY SAY A LOT ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND WHAT REPUBLICAN FUND-RAISERS ARE INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN.

>> I HAVE VARIOUS POLITICAL SCIENTISTS WHO FILLS IN THAT CHAIR WHEN YOU ARE GONE.

CHUCK STOKES FROM CHANNEL 7.

DY A SYSTEM RY A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THIS.

HE RERATED THAT, IF TUTOR DIXON IS NOT POLLING CLOSE ENOUGH TO GRETCHEN WHITMER THE NATIONAL MONEY AND THE DONORS ARE NOT COMING IN.

THEN I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING I THINK IS A GOOD CLEAR STRATEGY MOVE ON HER PART.

LOOK.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE HAVE BOUNCING THIS ABORTION SHISH AND NOT ADDRESSED THAT AND INDIRECTLY BY GOING AFTER THE SOCCER MOMS ON THE CRIME ISSUE, SEX CRIMES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THE POLLING DATA SUGGESTS WOMEN ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

THINK HER HIDDEN HOPE IS BY TALKING ABOUT THIS STUFF.

I WILL GET THAT FEMALE VOTE AND TRUMP THE ABORTION ISSUE WHICH IS ALSO OUT THERE.

THAT WHAT IS GOING ON?

IS INCREDIBLE BET THEY TRYING MAKE HERE.

WE CAN CHANGE THE CONVERSATIONS THERE IS A LITED RAL TIDAL WAVE OF POLITICAL FORCE COMING IN ON THIS ABORTION ISSUE.

FROM BOTH SIDES THERE IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TV ADS.

YEAH.

YEAH.

ON THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND THE BALL GAME FOR THE GROUPS AND RIGHT TO LIFE OF MICHIGAN THIS IS THE BALL GAME.

WITH WHETHER IT GETS APPROVED OR NOT.

TUDOR DIXONS TRYING TO HOLD THE SMALL EVENTS TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION THEN I THINK EVENTUALLY SHE IS GOING TO LOOKABLE THE CALM ARE AND DIRECTLY ADDRESS WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT THIS ISSUE NOW AND STAND K BY.

SHE STATED REPEATEDLY NOW THE LINE IS THE GOVERNOR CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

>> YEAH.

CERTAINLY THE ABORTION ISSUE GOING TO BE THE DEFINING ISSUE OF THIS CAMPAIGN, RIGHT?

WE HAVE, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE SEEN ALL THE INTERESTS, ALL OF THE YOU KNOW THE GROUPS ARE COMING OUT AND THEY PREVENTING A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU KNOW?

EVER SINCE THIS SUMMER THIS IS, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THING ON THE MINDS OF VOTERS REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY STAND AND THIS THIS BALLOT PROPOSAL OFFERS THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN DIRECTLY AND IT IS, WE HAVE SEEN LITTLE BIT OF PRECEDENT AND KANSAS FOR EXAMPLE.

IN THE, THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW ABORTION AND ABORTION RIGHTS QUESTIONS IMPACT THE REST OF THE POLITICAL FIELD.

WE HAVE GOT ALMOST EVERYTHING UP FOR GRABS RIGHT NOW HERE IN MICHIGAN AND THAT IS, THAT MACE JOR FACTOR THAT ALL OF THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TO COME TO TERMS?

WHAT HAPPENS NOW WITH THE GOVERNOR HE GETTING THE ENDORSEMENT OF 150 REPUBLICAN NAME WE RECOGNIZE BUT THE HOUSE IS NOT ON THERE.

PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT?

IT DUNDEE SIDE THIS SELECTION BUT LIKE MOM'S CHICKEN SOUP.

YEAH.

IT BRINGS IN SOME MIDDLE VOTERS FOR HER.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE GONE TO THAT EVENT AND I WOULD HAVE, I WOULD HAVE QUESTIONED A FEW OF THEM THEN SAID, OK. ARE HERE SUPPORTING HER.

BUT TELL ME WHAT YOU AGREE WITH HER AND TELL ME WHAT YOU DISAGREE HER AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SIGHTFUL TO ME.

I DIDN'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY.

BUT DON'T YOU THINK, THAT WOULD BE INFORMATIVE.

>> WELL, YES.

BUT CLEARLY.

THEY ARE ENDORSING HER BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE DIXON CANDIDACY.

OK. LOOK.

JENNIFER GRANHOLM DL THE SAME THING AND JIM BLANCHARD DID THE SAME THING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IS NOT SURPRISING THEY ARE ENDORSING TO BE HONEST.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT TRULY REPUBLICANS THEY ARE PENTS.

MAIN, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY AND THERE IS NO ONE IN THAT GROUP THAT I LOOKED AT THE LIST AND SAID SAM INCREDIBLY SURPRISE BY THIS.

I WAS SURPRISE BY THE ROTHWELL'S.

YES I WAS.

JOHN ENGLER HAS ENDORSED TUDEAR DIXON SAN SHARON WAS THE GOVERNOR'S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF.

MR. WHAT IS HIS NAME?

>> DOUG?

>> YEAH.

DOUG.

CAN'T REMEMBER THE FIRST NAME.

THE GOVERNOR SEA NADC GUY.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW?

IT WAS LIST OF THE USUAL SUSPECTS.

>> YEAH.

BILL IS WHAT SURPRISING.

THE GUY?

>> THE GROUND FLOOR.

>> HE WAS.

YOU CAN'T UNDERSTANDED IT, RICK SYNDER'S TOP DONOR.

HE WAS THE CHAIR OF SOMEONE 1078 OF THE DAM PAIN EFFORTS THEN ALSO ALREADY GIVEN TO GRETCHEN WHITMER AND HELD A FUND-RAISER FOR HER SO WE KNEW THAT IN SOME WAYS ALREADY.

AS YOU POINTED OUT THESE ARE NOT NAMES THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THIS LANSING WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO POLITICS GENERALLY THEN NOT LOOKING THAT LIST AND BEING LIKE, WOW.

THIS IS SOMEBODY I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR YEARS.

YOU KNOW?

THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THE AVERAGE VOTER, BUT IT IS, IT IS A STATEMENT FROM THE WHITMER CAMPAIGN.

THIS, THIS IS HER SAYING, I CAN HAVE SOME BIPARTISAN APPEAL AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY SEEN SIMILAR SIMILAR EFFORTS COME OUT OF THE DIXON CAMPAIGN TO SAY.

TO SAY.

YEAH.

YEAH.

I DOUBT THAT.

I DOUBT THAT.

I DOUBT THAT AT THIS POINT.

SO YEAH.

IT IS EFFORT BY THE WHITMORE CAMPAIGN TO SAY HAVE A LITTLE APPEAL HERE YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU COULD CONSIDER VOTING FOR ME IF YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

>> HAS DISMISSED IT AS THE GOVERNMENT CROWD IN LANSING THE USUAL SUSPECT SORE OF THING.

I WANT TO GO DOOR TO ABORTION PORT POINT IF YOU DON'T DEFINE YOURSELF, IN CLUEING ON IMPORTANT ISSUE LIKE SAY BORTION, THEN, THE OTHER SIDE WILL DO IT FOR YOU.

THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING ABOUT W THESE ADS HAMPERING IT.

HAMMERING IT.

YOU SHALL THE AD.

I AM ONE OF THESE ADS AND DEFINING THINK IT.

>> DO YOU THINK SHE CAN STAND BY THIS SHALL ANSWER SHE IS GIVING NOW THE GOVERNOR CANNOT DO ANYTHING ON ABORTION.

THAT DOESN'T FLY DO YOU THINK?

THE GOVERNOR DOES HAVE POWER.

EVERY GOVERNOR HAS USED IT BECAUSE RIGHT TO LIFE ENDS UP ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BE A HAS VETO PEN AND DECIDE ISSUE SO MAYBE SHE IS JUST REFERRING SHE CAN NOT DEAL WITH THIS BALLOT PROPOSAL BUT ON THE OTHER OVERALL ABORTION ISSUE CLEARLY GOVERNORS DO HAVE A ROLL IN THAT.

MY WHOLE POINT NOW.

IT IS A MOOT POINT, TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT IS ON THE BALLOT.

ALL RIGHT.

WAS THIS TOWN SURPRISED THE CHIEF JUSTICE DECIDED TO HANG IT UP.

WERE YOU YOU POORED BY THIS LAUREN?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

CAME OUT OF LEFT FEED.

YEAH.

NO I.

IT IS EARLY INER CURRENT TERM.

>> SURE.

>> EIGHT YEARS.

SHE IS SERVING OUT TWO.

YEAH.

YEAH.

SO IT WAS YOU KNOW, WHEN SAW THE NEWS WAYS SURPRISED THEN AS I THINK WE'LL GET NOT A LITTLE BIT.

IT DID SEEM AS THOUGH SHE HAD A PRETTY GOOD JOB OPPORTUNITY WORKING FOR HER AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

AND SO, SO IT IS, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING AND IT WILL BE A MAJOR SHIFT IN THE COURT AND YOU KNOW, SHE HAS HAD A LOT OF MAJOR INITIATIVES COME OUT AND THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE HOW MUCH MORE DIGITIZED THE COURT IS NOW AND DURING HER TENURE AND THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WATCH COURT HEARINGS FROM THE COMPUTER SCREEN.

SHE DID A POSITIVE THING FOR THE COURT.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

THAT CAN'T BE OVERSTATED RIGHT.

THAT IS A BIG CHANGE THAT LIKE YOU KNOW, NORMAL PEOPLE WILL NOTICE THEN AT THE SAME TIME.

THEN, THEN.

SHE HAD A LOT OF IMPACTS ON THESE MAJOR DECISION EVEN RECENTLY WITH THE ABORTION ISSUE AND LETTING THAT GO TO THE BALLOT AND ORDERING THE BOARD OF STATE TO TAKE THAT UP.

SO, IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG HOLE FOR DEMOCRATS TO FILL HERE.

SO WHITMER IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN A LOT OF PRESSURE AND LOOKS AT THIS LISTS TO SEE WHO TO REPLACE HER WITH.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF BUZZ IN METRO DETROIT, IT IS LIKELY GOING TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN.

>> LIKELY?

>> OK. WHAT IS BIGGER THAN LIKELY.

>> PLUCK ARE LIKELY PLUS.

>> OK. [LAUGHTER] >> AND THE TIMING OF THIS WAS ANSWERED FOR ME THIS MORNING WHEN I HEARD HER ON WJR WITH PAUL W DID AN EXTEND INTERVIEW AND TALKING ABOUT THE NEW JOB.

IS NONPROFIT.

AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION THIS IS A HUGE JOB A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR HER PROBABLY LIFE CHANGING MONEY AND ABSOLUTLEY AND IT IS A BIG ORGANIZATION SHE SAID THEY HAVE MORE THAN 20 OFFICE IN THE URNS AND ONE IN SINGAPORE AND GOING TO HEAD THIS OPERATION AND A GREAT FOR THEM BUT I AM SURE IT IS LUCRATIVE.

IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE, EXPERIENCE COMES TO THIS TOWN.

AN ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE THE MORE EXPENSED ON THE STATES HIGHER COURT THE BET ARE THE COURT IS M. SHE NOW IT IS BUYING.

I ASKED HER.

YES.

YES.

HER WHOLE PROMISE HERE IS TO DIVERSIFY THE COURT AND PEOPLE HAVE TO STEP ASIDE SAN PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU WERE THESE JOBS AND SHE IS WILLING TO DO THAT ON THE SIDE OF DIVERSITY THEN MAKING THE COURT IN THE LONG RUN A BETTER COURT HER ARGUE.

SHE HAS BEEN A POLITICAL FORCE ON THE COURT TRYING TO UNITE REPUBLICAN NOMINATED JUSTICE AND DEMOCRATIC NOMINATED JUSTICE NO ONE CAN DENY.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE.

DO BE WANT SUE ROOM COURT JUSTICES NEGOTIATING THEIR NEXT JOB WHILE STILL ON THE CASES?

I DN WANT TO RECK PIE THAT POINT?

>> YEAH.

BUT IS THAT, YOU ARE SAG THAT IS ETHICAL SURE?

THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER DOES THIS SET A PRECEDENT WHOS THE NEXT JUSTICE THAT LEAVE FORCE A JOB AND STILL REALLY WHILE THIS IS GOING ON.

AM NOT SAYING IT IS WRONG OR RIGHT BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DISCUSSED.

>> WELL, THIS, THAT DOES GIVE THE GOVERNOR AN OPPORTUNITY AND HER SENATE CONSENT.

RIGHT?

SHE CAN DO THIS ON HER OWN.

YES.

WE WILL HEAR IT.

LOOK.

THE ONE CRITICISM IT WAS, IS THAT THE CHIEF JUST IS WHO IS TIMING THIS SO THE GOVERNOR COULD MAKE THE APPOINTMENT AND ASKED HER THAT QUESTION.

LOOK.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THIS RY AND COULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IF I KNOW THE GOVERNOR WAS IN THE TIMING WAS NOT IN ANYWAY POLITICALLYMOTED VATED.

THAT IS RESPONSE.

ONE POINT PONT ON THAT.

SHE HAS SCENE TWO YEAR TERMS AS CHIEF JUSTICE.

SHE HAS DONE THAT AFTER THAT AND SEE WHAT NOT THE CHIEFS.

SHE SAID THAT DIDN'T BOTH HER AND WOULD BE OK SO NOT LEAVING BECAUSE OF.

I AM US BAWL THE JOB AND THE DOE RAY ME WHICH MEANS MONEY.

YOU GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

TALK ABOUT MACHINE NU AND VOTES BY CALLING IN THE GUESTS SENATOR BRINKS FROM THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE.

SENATOR, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

KNOW ARE YOU HAVE HAVE BEEN BUSY KNOCKING ON DOORS BUT THIS QUESTION.

ARE YOU WITHIN TWO ORAL THREE VOTES OF TAKING CONTROL OF THE MICHIGAN SENATE?

>> I THINK WE ARE DEFINITELY IN THE FAVORED CAUCUS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE DEMOCRATIC THE MICHIGAN SENATE AND WE ARE FEELING SO GOOD ABOUT OUR CANDIDATES ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT AND THEY ARE WORK HARD.

THE MOMENTUM IS WITH US.

>> BUT MAY QUESTION WAS.

ARE YOU WITHIN TWO OR THREE VOTES OF GETTING TO 19 WHICH WOULD GIVE YOU A TIE WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND YOU CAN CONTROL.

THAT IS YOUR SENSE.

WELL, WELL, YOU KNOW.

OBVIOUSLY.

THAT IS UP TO THE VOTERS, TIM.

WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

AM FEELING INCREDIBLY CONFIDENT.

WE HAVE STRONG CANDIDATE THE ENTIRE TOP TEN IS IN CREDIBLY STRONG SO ARE WE WITHIN THAT AND WELL BEYOND IT.

CLOSER TO TWO OR THREE SLOAT HAS YES.

YES.

I THINK WE WIN WITH MORE THAN THAT.

>> WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL RACES?

WE ARE WATCHING ONE DOWN IN METRO DETROIT.

PAMELA HORNBURGER THE 12th DISTRICT.

THERE IS A RAZOR THIN EDGE ANOTHER REPUBLICANS THERE.

LESS THAN ONE PERCENT.

HOW CRITICAL IS THAT ONE AND IS THAT ONE OF THE ONES THAT YOU ARE DEVOTING A LOT OF TIME AND RESOURCES?

>> YEAH.

WE ARE ALL IN FOR KEVIN.

HE IS DOING FANTASTIC JOB.

HEAS A GREAT NAME THERE.

VERY LIKABLE.

INCREDIBLY LONG FAMILY HISTORY THERE THEN ALL POS SIVE TO WE FEEL GREAT ABOUT KEF VOIN ON THE LIST BUT YOU NO I.

IF YOU HAD TO.

IF WE HAVE TO CHOOSE, IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE.

WE GOT INCREDIBLY STRONG CANDIDATES WE GOT KLEINFIELD LA GRAND, SABO, KI COG ON.

BUT WE ARE FEELING REALLY GREAT.

THEY ARE ALL DOING FANTASTIC.

FUND-RAISING NUMBERS ARE GREAT.

DOOR KNOCKING NUMBS ARE GREAT AND ENTHUSIASM WHICH IS.

OBVIOUSLY REDISTRICTING REALLY CHANGED THE GAME HERE FOR SENATE DEMOCRAT AND DOES MEAN A LOT OF NEW TERRITORY FOR SOME MUCH THESE CANDIDATES YOU KNOW.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR SENATE IN THIS MORE COME GETTIVE MAP OVERALL BUT POTENTIALLY REACHING OUT TO VOTER THEY HAVE NOT HAD TOO MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH?

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE OF GERRYMANDER K IN THE PAST THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE HERE IN KENT COUNTY.

WE HAVE GOT FOUR COMPETITIVE HOUSE SEATS WE GOT COMPETITIVE SENATE SEAT SO WORKING HARD TO GET THROUGHOUT AND LAYER THAT WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES THEN, WE ARE FEELING GREAT OUR CONTACT RATES AND WITH OUR AND RESPONDING REALLY WELL.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT THERE ARE VALUABLE AND CHANGED THE GAME HER AND PEOPLE REX PITTED ABOUT IT.

1:00 SENATOR IF DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL ON ELECTION DAY.

CAN YOU TELL VOTERS WHAT THREE POLICIES ARE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE UP AND REFUSING TO TAKE UP RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

YEAH.

SURE.

THE RIGHTS TO FREEDOM WILL BE NAR THE TOP OF THE LIST OF COURSE AND HEARING THAT ON THE DOORS FROM VOTERS AND IN QUANTITIES THAT IT IS REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE AND IN AREAS WHERE THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO RESONATE IN THE PASTS SO THAT IS A HUGE ONE.

THEN I THINK WE WILL SEE EFFORTS TO TRY MAKE SURE WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT NONSENSE REFORMS FOR GUN VIOLENCE.

WE ARE HEARING THAT AS WELL.

PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO SEE SOME REASONABLE CONVERSATION AND REASONABLE BILLS PUT FORWARD THEN PLENTY OF THEM AND SOME WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT SO TWO BIG THINGS THEN I THINK PEOPLE ARE ALSO INTERESTED UNSEEING WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM INTERNALS OF HOW WE SPEND THIS NEXT AMOUNT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ALL YEAR LONG AT THE EDGE OFS TAX RELIEF FOR FOLKS THEN I THINK WE CAN PASS SOMETHING LIKE THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES THAT WOULD BE TOP OF THE LIST AS WELL.

YOU KNOW THIS THE SENIOR PENSION TAX AS WELL.

THOSE WOULD BE WAYS WE CAN GET DOLLARS TO THE HANDS OFABLE TOES WHO NEED THEM THE MOST SO YOU KNOW.

JUST TOP OF MIND THE THREE THAT COME UP.

OK. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO REPUBLICAN CRITICISM THAT DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER TAX RELIEF TO MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS THEN YOUR GOVERNOR AND THE PEOPLE GOT ZIPPO.

YEAH.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS, THERE ARE PARTNERS IN ANY NEGOTIATING AND THE REPUBLICANS KEEP TOSSING THINGS ON THE DESK THAT ARE NOT NEGOTIATED THEN EXPECTING HER TO SIGN THEM UNREALCALLY THEN SO CRITICIZING HER WHEN SHE DOES NOT.

IT IS A MESSAGE AND THEY PUT FORTH AIN'T IS NOT A REAL NEGOTIATING SO WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY SERIOUS ABOUT NEGOTIATING AND AND, I THINK THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN DO THAT.

YOU CANNOT BLOW UP THE WHOLE BUDGET BAY CUTTING EVERY TAX LIKE SOME REPUBLICAN WAS LOVE TO DO.

I KNOW.

THEY TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR TEN YEARS AND KEPT US UP MANY HOURS LATE AT NIGHT TRYING TO DO SO OVER THE LAST DECADE.

SO THOSE FOLKS ARE STILL THERE.

ASKING FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNNEGOTIATED AND UNREASONABLE THAT WOULD HARM THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN AND SO, IF WE WANT TO HAVE A REAL TAX CUT THAT REALLY HELPS PEOPLE WHO NEED THE MOST THEY HAVE TO SIT DOWN TO HAVE A HONEST CONVERSATION THE GOVERNOR AND WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND AS FOR YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS NOT DELIVERING THAT AND I WOULD ASK TO YOU HAVE THE GAVE WHOLE IS SETTING THE AGAIN DID IT IS THEM IN THE LEGISLATURE.

DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE NOT FAILING ON THAT SCORE REPUBLICANS I HEAR YOUR ENTHUSIASM ANTI-ED TO THE ABORTION ISSUE.

BUT ARE YOU PREPARED TODAY TO PREDICT THAT YOU WILL GET THE TRIFECTA BACK AND THE GOVERNANCE THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE BACK WE HAVE NOT HAD IT SINCE RICK NEEDER WAS GIVE IN TAN THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED BOTH CHAMBERS ARE YOU PREPARED TO MAKE THAT PREDICTIONED THIS WELL YOU KNOW, VOTERS ARE THE ONES WHO GET TO DECIDE AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DON'T THIS BUSINESS PREDECKS ARE DANGEROUS GAME.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR CANDIDATES AND I AM OF COURSE FOCUSED ON THE SENATE AND THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

ALSO LOOKING AT ALL THE HOUSE RACES IN DIDN'T COUNTY AND ANY INDICATION OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING STATEWIDE FOR THE HOUSE, THEY HAVE A FANTASTIC CHANCE AS WELL.

SO JUST FEELING VERY CONFIDENT.

>> SO SENATOR DO YOU HAVE THE VOTE TO BE THE NEW MAJORITY LAD FIR WIN CONTROL?

I CERTAINLY DO.

AND WE GET MAJOR CITY TO BEGIN WITH AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT I HAVE THE SKILLS AND THE EXPERIENCE AND THE TEMPERAMENT TO LEAD THIS CAUCUS AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A FANTASTIC CAUCUS AND EXCITED ABOUT THE ROSS PECK OF BAG THE LEADER.

DO YOU HAVE OTHER TWO LADIES WHO WANT THIS JOB AND ASK THEM TO BACK OUT IF YOU GOT THE VOTES.

ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS I WILL SAY THAT.

WE WILL NOT STOP AT THAT.

>> NICE DRY.

NICE DRY.

WHAT IS THE CONVERSATION ABOUT?

>> THE CONVERSATIONS IS ABOUT FIRST AND FOREMOSTS ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CAUCUS AND ABOUT WINNING MAJORITY WE YOU KNOW, TIM, TIM, I HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE IN OUR CAUCUS AND WE ARE HAVING A CORDIAL COMPETITION HERE NOR.

I BELIEVE WE ARE THE CAUSE CUSS THAT HAS THAT HAS DARE I SAY THAT.

THE MOST ADULTS IN THE ROOM.

THEN WE ARE VERY FUNCTIONAL CAUCUS AND COMPARED TO THE OTHERS.

SO I AM VERY OPT MISS TAKE THIS WELL BE A ABLE COME TO A RESOLUTION WITHOUT CAUSING TOO MUCH CONFLICT IN TURNLY.

SO THAT IS ALL YOU WILL GET FROM ME ON THAT ONE.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I HAVE NEVER BEEN ONE TO GIVE UP.

TRY ONE MORE TIME.

THE FACT YOU ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS MEANS YOU WOULD LIKE TO AVOID A THREE-WAY RACE IF ATE AT ALL POSSIBLE CAN I REPORT THAT FAIR ZY.

>> SURE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW PRESIDENT?

THREE WAY RACE YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IT IS THREE WAY RACE WOULD BE BAD FOR ME AND IT IS, WITH IT IS, IT IS CERTAINLY A CONVERSATION THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I WANT TO SEE LEASHED SHIP AND A LOT TO OFFER AND SEE PEOPLE WHO LEARNED FROM WATCHING LEADERS IN THE PAST BOTH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICANS AND IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND I HAVE GOT TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DOING THAT.

I GOT A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS THAT REALLY OF TO BROKE IN THE TABLE IN MY LAST FRM IN THE OFFICE AND SO, SO I AM, I AM REALLY ENGAGED TIN CONVERSATION AND WE ARE HAVING REALLY SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT COULD LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT'S THE BEST LEADERSHIP FOR THE CAUCUS THAT WE'LL HAVE AND HOW DO WE GET MAJOR TIN A RETAIN MAJORITY AND THIS ELECTION SETS THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT DECADE WITH THESE LINES.

SO IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND THAT CAN DELIVER FOR THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE COME BACK 3:00 AGAIN IN FOUR YEARS.

>> SENATE IF YOU ARE, WITH WILL YOU VOW RIGHT NOW TO MAKE THE BUDGET PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT.

WE YOU $1 BILLION HAND OUT AND SECRETLY.

WILL YOU MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT.

IF PROPOSAL ONE PASSES WILL YOU PROMISE THE VOTERS NOW YOU WILL PROVIDE REBUST FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FROM LAWMAKERS NOT PROVIDE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE.

SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THERE.

YES.

AND YOU KNOW, I GUESS THE SHORT SIMPLE ANSWER.

I AM A BIG BELIEVER IN TRANSPARENCY.

THE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TOWNLIER STAN WHAT IS GOING ON.

IT IS THEIR MONEY.

AND WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS FOR SURE, WITH COVID, A LOT OF THINGS BY NA TESS NECESSITY WITH WERE DONE WITHOUT US IN THE SAME ROOM.

HOWEVER I DO THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS A DOWNSIDE THAT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM HAVING ACTUAL COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON WHAT IS GOING TO THE BUDGET.

AM ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND I HAVE BEEN FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND IN THE THE SENATE AND WE HAD VERY FEW MEETS WE HAD SOUND PRESENT TAGSES THEN WE GET ASKED TO VET ON THIS MAMMOTH DOCUMENT THAT IS 4% OF THE STATE'S BUDGET SO IT IS NOT THE BEST PROCESS SO WE WILL BE EXAMINING THAT.

IF WE WERE IN CHARGE AND I KNOW THAT IS PRIORITY FOR THE CAUCUS MEMBERS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN VOCAL BILLION THAT.

SO WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPLY PROCESS.

THINK IT IS VALID POINT.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE, IT SHOULD BE MEANINGFUL.

WE HAVE AMONG THE WORST ETHICS IN INTEGRITY RULES OF ANY STATE IN THE SENATE.

I KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW THAT.

YOU HEARD IT YOU KNOW, ONE MILLION TIMES US FROM.

REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN COMPLEMENTALLY UNLISTEN TO DO AAGE THING ABOUT THAT AND PROBABLY ABUSED THAT FOR THEIR ADVANTAGE IN WAYS WE CANNOT EVEN KNOW.

SO WE NEED TO DO BETTER AND THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MY CAUCUS IS COMMITTED TO THAT AND I THINK THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN WILL RESPOND TO THAT AND SEE HOW THEY VOTE ON PROPOSAL ONE BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE IS GOOD FORT THAT WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE KNOCK ON DOORS.

OBS WILL YOU THE CURRENT SEATS UNDER THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS ARE COMPETITIVE BUT A LOT OF CONCERN PERSONSLY IN METRO DETROIT THAT THESE THAT THESE MORE COMPETITIVE SEATS ULT MALTLY DISENFRANCHISE BLACK VOTERS.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THOSE CONCERNS AND IF YOU ARE CHOSE TON LEAD THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WOULD YOU COMMIT TO ELEVATING AND MAKING SURE THERE IS MORE DIVERSE VARSITY IN THE CAU US?

I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS THE FIRST CAUCUS AEITHER WAY.

THAT AM I BURNED THAT?

YEAH.

THE THAT IS SOMETHING WE MED TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND.

VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR A VERY GOOD REASON AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS PROPER REPRESENTATION BUT I WILL SAY THAT.

YOU KNOW WE CAN ONLY WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT THE VOTERS SEND US.

WITH THE LINES THAT ARE DRAWN BY SOMEONE ELSE.

SO WE ARE GOING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT DETROIT HAS GOOD REPRESENTATION AND THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE OVER THERE AND WE ARE ALSO GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS DIVERSITY REPRESENTED.

SENATOR, SORRY I DO HAVE TO INTERRUPT.

KEEP US POSTED IN HOW YOU ARE DOING.

THANK FOR DOING OFF THE RECORD.

GOOD TO HE SUE.

ALSO THANKS TO JAM MY WHO IS LEAVING AFTER 50 YEARS I AM GOING TO MISS YOU AROUND BUT WELL VEIL BACK.

>> PLEASE DO.

NEED THE WORK.

THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS?

SEE YOU NEXT WEEKS.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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