THANKS FOR WATCHING OTR.

OUR GUEST IS FRESHMAN GOP REP. TOM KUNSE ON CHINESE INFLUENCE ON A PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS UP NORTH.

OUR LEAD STORY, A FORMER GOP SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS BEING CHARGED BY THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.. HIS NAME RICK JOHNSON.

ON THE OTR PANEL, KYLE MELINN, PAULA GARDNER, AND SIMON SCHUSTER.

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

PROWSKS OFF THE RECORD MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MARTIN WAYMIRE.

A FULL SERVICE STRATEGIC AGENCY PARTICIPATING WITH CLIENTS THROUGH DIGITAL MARKETING AND PUBLIC POLICY ENGAGEMENT.

LEARN MORE AT MARTINWAYMIRE.COM.

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

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WELCOME TO STUDIO C ON THIS FRIDAY MORNING.

A BUSY, BUSY MAJOR STORY IN TOWN THIS WEEK HAVING TO DO WITH THE FORMER SPEAKER.

HE'S IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.

NEVER BEFORE IN STATE HISTORY HAVE TWO FORMER SPEAKERS IN THE MICHIGAN HOUSE BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION AT THE SAME TIME FOR ALLEGED WRONG-DOING.

IN THE CASE OF FORMER SPEAKER LEE CHATFIELD ON THE LEFT, THAT PROBE IS STILL UNFOLDING.

HOWEVER IN THE CASE OF FORMER REPUBLICAN SPEAKER RICK JOHNSON, HE HAS ADMITTED GUILT AND HAS COPPED A PLEA WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR ACCEPTING PRESCRIBES WHEN HE CHAIRED A STATE COMMISSION.

THAT COMMISSION ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAD THE POWER TO UNWARD LUCRATIVE STATE LICENSES TO GROW THE EXPWEED MR. JOHNSON ADMITS HE ACCEPTED MONEY UNDER THE TABLE TO ASSIST PRIVATE APPLICANTS IN THAT PROCESS.

THE FEDERAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBE BEGAN IN 20 AND EVEN ENDED WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> AT THE HEART OF THIS CORRUPT SCHEME IS DEFENDANT RICK JOHNSON, WHO ACCEPTED MULTIPLE BRIBES WHILE SERVING AS CHAIR OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSING BOARD, AND TO BE CLEAR, JOHNSON ACCEPTED THESE PRESCRIBES CORRUPTLY.

WHICH IS TO SAY -- THESE BRIBES CORRUPTLY WHICH IS TO SAY THAT HE ACCEPTED THEM WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BRIBES WERE OFFERED TO INFLUENCE HIM OR REWARD HIM FOR ACTIONS THAT HE MIGHT TAKE.

>> Reporter: MR. JOHNSON WAS APPOINTED TOLL CHAIR THE PANEL BY RICK SNYDER AND FROM THAT POST FUNNELED VALUABLE INSIDE INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO BRIBED HIM AND THEN VOTED TO GET THEM THE LICENSES.

TWO LOBBYISTS AND A FOURTH PARTICIPATE HAVE ALSO AGREED A PLEA DEAL ADMITTING THEIR GUILT IN THIS SCHEME.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY SAYS THE JUDGE WILL DECIDE IF THE SPEAKER GOES TO PRISON FOR 10 YEARS AND PAY AS $250,000 FINE.

IN THE MEANTIME THE FBI CONTINUES ITS PROBE.

>> PUBLIC CORRUPTION IS A TOP CRIMINAL PRIORITY FOR THE FBI.

PUBLIC CORRUPTION ERODES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND UNDERMINES THE STRENGTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> Reporter: MR. JOHNSON, UNDER THE PLEA DEAL, AGREES RETURN $110,000, PAY ALL DESIGNS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE FBI HE AGREES TO SHARE ALL OF HIS INSIDE INFORMATION ON WHO ELSE WAS MIGHT HAVE BROKEN THE LAW.

RAISING THE SOBERING QUESTION IN THIS TOWN, WHO COULD BE NEXT.

>>> SO SIMON, WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU FINALLY HEARD IT STORY?

IT'S BEEN BUBBLING OVER IN THIS TOWN FOR A LONG TIME?

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

RUMORS HAVE SWIRLED FOR A LONG TIME ALONG WITH OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE BEING FACED BY STATE LEADERS, AS YOU POINTED OUT.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS SURPRISES A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT IT CERTAINLY -- I THINK THE CULMINATION OF IT AND THE BREADTH OF THE SCHEME AND HOW MUCH MONEY WAS EXCHANGED HERE IS CERTAINLY SURPRISING.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A MARIJUANA BOARD THAT WAS OVERSEEING A NEW INDUSTRY AT THE TIME.

I MEAN, WE HAD MEDICAL MARIJUANA THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, WITH ONCE UPON A TIME, FLAT-OUT ILLEGAL.

AND WE WERE LEGALIZING SOMETHING BRAND-NEW AT THIS.

THE ONLY COMPARISON WAS WHEN WE WERE CONTROLLING LIQUOR BACK IN THE 1930s AND EVEN BACK THEN WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CORRUPTION.

AND I THINK THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT WE HAD A STATE-APPOINTED BOARD THAT WAS NOT COMPENSATED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT LIKE THE LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION WHERE WE ACTUALLY GET A GOOD SALARY TO OVERSEE THIS WHOLE REGULATED PRODUCT.

THESE FOLKS WERE NOT PAID AT ALL, AND SO I THINK IT JUST KIND OF OPENED THE DOOR FOR THIS TYPE OF DROWNINGS HAPPEN WHERE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO BE MADE FROM THIS, FROM ALL OF THIS EXTRA WORK, COULD BE INFLUENCED AND TEMPTED BY BAD ACTORS WHO WANTED TO GET IN AT GROUND FLOOR AT THIS BUDDING INDUSTRY.

>> PAUL, THAT'S A KEY POINT HERE.

THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THAT WAS A POT OF GOLD READY TO BE HARVEST, RIGHT?

>> IT WAS.

I DID NOT COVER IT AT THE TIME, BUT WATCHING THIS WITH REAL INTEREST INTERNAL WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE INDUSTRY TODAY.

IT'S JUST GOING SIDEWAYS.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY SWIRLING AROUND AT ONE TIME.

BUT SOMETHING GOT OUT OF CONTROL ALSO ON THE BUSINESS SIDE IT.

>> THE QUESTION A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING, RICK JOHNSON WAS NOT LIVING HIGH ON THE HOG.

THIS IS A GENTLEMAN FROM LEROY, MICHIGAN WHO HAD A TREE FARM.

WHY?

>> I MEAN, THIS WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A GOLD RUSH.

PRIOR TO THIS MEDICAL MARIJUANA SYSTEM WAS INHERENTINGLY LIMITED BY SCALE.

YOU COULD ONLY HAVE 72 PLANTS AND NOT WORK IT AS A BUSINESS SO THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY MOVE THE INDUSTRY TOWARDS LEGITIMACY AND IF YOU WERE THE FIRST OUT OF THE GATE YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON WHO COULD SCALE SO THE PROFIT INCENTIVE WAS ENORMOUS.

>> AND WITH THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA HANGING OUT THERE IN THE FUTURE, YOU WERE ALSO ON THE GROUND FLOOR THE LAUNCHING BAD TO GET INTO THAT STUFF, AS WELL.

>> NOT ONLY THAT -- THE LAUNCHING PAD.

>> BUT THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY TO GET INTO THIS FIELD WERE ACTUALLY PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

YOU COULDN'T A FELON.

YOU HAD TO HAVE MONEY.

YOU HAD TO HAVE A FACILITY, YOU HAD TO SHOW YOU'RE ABLE TO GROW THIS STUFF.

IT WAS CHECK, CHECK, CHECK.

THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT, YOU THOUGHT, WELL, JEEZ, IF WE JUST GREASE THE WHEELS OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, MAYBE WE SKIP ALL THIS NONSENSE AND CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THE LICENSE AND GET GOING ON THIS QUICKER.

BECAUSE THE WHOLE PROCESS TOOK A LONG TIME.

I MEAN, IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET ONE OF THESE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSES.

IT WAS PAIN TO HAVE WATCH.

BUT AS SYSTEM SHOWED AND THIS PROVED, THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS SCHEME NEVER GOT LICENSE THAT THEY WANTED, THEY NEVER ACTUALLY GOT WHAT THEY PAID FOR, AND IT SHOWED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS SO ARDUOUS THAT NOT EVEN CORRUPTION WAS ABLE TO BREAK IT.

>> YOU KNOW WEIGH WONDER ABOUT IT, THOUGH, NOT AS A LANSING INSIDER, AS WE TALK ABOUT THE MONEY INVOLVED, IS $100,000 A LOT IN THIS CONTEXT?

>> IN COMPARISON TO THE PROFITS THAT I THINK PEOPLE WERE WAITING TO GET IN THE DOOR FIRST, I DON'T THINK IT'S A PARTICULARLY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I THINK THE COURT FINALLY STATED THAT BEING ABLE TO SECURE ONE OF THESE LICENSES IS WORTH WELL ABOVE $5,000 AND SORT OF BRIBES THAT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE DOCUMENTED IN THESE FILINGS.

AND SO THERE'S AN NORTH MUSS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE MADE HERE BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL POINT THAT THIS DRIVES HOME IS YOU CAN REQUIRE DISCLOSURE AND RICK JOHNSON HAD TO FILE DISCLOSURES BUT IF THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT OR OVERSIGHT OF THE DISCLOSURES, THEY DON'T MEAN A WHOLE LOT.

>> REFRESH MY MEMORY, WAS THERE NOT A CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE GOVERNOR SNYDER APPOINTING RICK JOHNSON TO THIS POST?

>> WA THERE ?ROAFERS NO.

WAS THERE QUESTION?

YEAH.

I THINK SO.

>> WASN'T HE ADVISED NOT TO DO IT.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE THERE WAS MONEY TO BE MADE.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN THE DOOR ON THIS INDUSTRY.

AND THERE WAS SOME QUESTION AS TO WHETHER RICK JOHNSON AS A LOBBYIST ALSO AT THE TIME TO HAVE HAD SOME FINGERS IN HIS POTS AND FINGERS IN DIFFERENT POTS.

BUT AGAIN, HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO.

UNDER THE RULES AS TO WHO IS APPOINTED TO THIS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BOARD, YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED HAVE ANY ASSOCIATION.

>> DIRECT OR INDIRECT.

>> AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS SHARING A MAILING ADDRESS WITH TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE MARIJUANA SCHEME, THE TWO LOBBYISTS IN THIS CASE, OBVIOUSLY THAT JUST RAISE QUESTIONS RIGHT ON ITS FACE.

>> SO THE QUESTION IS WHO'S NEXT?

THIS IS NOT OVER, THE INVESTIGATION.

>> WELL -- >> LET'S SPECULATE ON THIS, THEY MADE IN CLEAR IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU?

>> I THINK THAT IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO THE LOBBYING REPORTS OF SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED BECAUSE AT LEAST THEY'RE FORMALIZED CONNECTION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN HAVE -- YOU CAN WORK AND ADVOCATE FOR CLIENTS AND IF YOU DON'T REPORT IT, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY JUST BLUFFING AND RELYING ON THE STATE TO CHECK YOUR WORK.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S REALLY GONNA BE ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF IT.

LOOK, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR FIVE YEARS.

THE STATUTE OF LIMB TRACES ON THESE CASES IS FIVE YEARS.

THEY LEFT THINGS OPEN JUST IN CASE -- THEY SHOOK THE TREE YESTERDAY WITH SPEAKER JOHNSON AND THE OTHER THREE FELLAS AND THOUGHT IF ANYBODY ELSE CAN COME FORWARD, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CLOSE THE DOOR TO MORE CASES, BUT, SHOOT, IF THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING NELS FIVE YEARS BASED ON WHAT THEY, HAVE I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA FIND ANYTHING ELSE.

>> THERE'S A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATESES THAT YOU GET PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO SING, AND YOU GET THEM IN THE FOLD.

DO YOU A PLEA DEAL WITH THEM SO THEY WILL TALK, AND THEN YOU UNCOVER AND GO AFTER THE REALLY BAD GUYS, QUOTE/UNQUOTE AS A RESULT GETTING THESE PEOPLE -- SO YOU DON'T THINK THESE GUYS ARE HEADED THERE?

>> NO.

>> YOU DON'T?

>> NO, BECAUSE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT WOULD HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.

>> DO YOU THINK JOHNSON KNOWS SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW?

>> WELL, THEY'VE BEEN TALKING TO HIM FOR THREE YEARS.

IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYTHING THEN, WHY WOULD THEY GET ANYTHING NOW?

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SHIFT GEARS AND TALK ABOUT BIG RAPIDS.

HAD YOU A CHANCE TO GO UP THERE THIS WEEK.

LUCKY YOU.

WHY ARE PEOPLE SO UPSET?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION, TILL.

PEOPLE WERE PRETTY HAPPY WHEN THIS WAS ANNOUNCED IN OCTOBER.

>> THIS IS A BATTERY PLANT.

>> A BATTERY COMPONENT PLANT.

AND IT'S THE FIRST MEGA SITE THAT'S MOVED THIS FAR IN MICHIGAN, AND THAT'S A STATE OF POLICY GOAL OF THIS ADMINISTRATION AND IT KIND OF BLEEDS FROM THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

OR THE LAST LEGISLATURE, EVERYTHING.

AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS AT THE TIME.

AND SINCE THEN, THOUGH, MORE QUESTIONS, AND A LOT OF THAT IS COMING FROM THE FAR RIGHT FROM THE FORMER GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DIXON.

SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE CIRCULATING ABOUT THE TIES TO CHINA.

>> WHAT ARE THEY WORRIED ABOUT?

>> THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE COMPANY'S ULTIMATE TIES TO CHINA.

THE PARENT COMPANY OF THE COMPANY THAT IS DOING THIS IS TODAY TO CHINA, IS BASED IN CHINA AND THERE ARE SOME ISSUE THERE IS WITH BUSINESSES THAT ARE TODAY TO AND AFFILIATED WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

SO THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SORTS OF MICHIGAN RESOURCES WILL END UP ULTIMATELY SUPPORTING THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

LOTS OF THREADS TO GO DOWN THAT WAY.

BUT THE COMMUNITY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A GROWING DIVIDE OVER THIS.

MANY PEOPLE DO SUPPORT IT.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS JOBS.

SOME PEOPLE DO DISPUTE THAT, BUT BASICALLY THE PAY FOR THIS PLANT WOULD BE ROUGHLY THE AVERAGE MEDIAN WAGE FOR THIS COUNTY OR HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

IT'S -- PEOPLE ARE DIVIDE OVER THIS.

AND IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE ACRIMONYIOUS.

>> IS IT POSSIBLE THIS PROJECT COULD BE STOPPED?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK MANY PEOPLE ARE WONDERING.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE THIS?

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN, AGAIN, TIE TO THE EVOLUTION OF CONSERVATIVE POLITICS.

I MEAN, I THINK WITH THE RISE OF DONALD TRUMP WE HAD A CONVERSION FROM FREE PARADE REPUBLICANISM EMBRACE OPEN MARKETS TO ONE THAT'S MORE PROTECTIONIST.

IF YOU'RE A PUBLIC TRADING COMPANY IN CHINA IF YOU WANT TO GET LISTED ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CORPORATE CHARTER THE SAME THINGS THAT ARE RAISING ALARMS WHO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE LITTLE SUBPARAGRAPHS THAT SAY I NEED TO FURTHER THE GOALS AND SPIRIT OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY, WHICH IS RAISING THE ALARM BELLS IN SOME OF THESE CONSERVATIVE CIRCLES.

SO WE'RE -- >> NEXT STEP IS THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

THAT'S WHERE THE NEXT STEP IS BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON THIS STATE MONEY GOING TO THIS GOSHEN PROJECT, THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ALREADY HAS, THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IS THE SENATE.

THEY HAD A HEARING BEFORE WE WENT ON SPRING BREAK.

THEY DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION.

IT'S INTERESTING THOUGH TO SEE THE FLOP HERE.

YOU REMEMBER THE GRAND HOME DEBOSS CAMPAIGN.

IT WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

IT WAS THE REPUBLICAN WHO WAS TOO COZY WITH CHINA AND NOW IT'S THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO BRING JOBS TO A CERTAIN PART OF THE STATE, AND IT'S THE REPUBLICANS GOING AFTER THE DEMOCRATS.

IT'S JUST CONVENIENT POLITICS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT USING CHINA AS A POLITICAL HAMMER.

>> SO IF YOU'RE GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER ON THE WORRY SCALE, WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW FACING THAT VOTE IN THE SENATE?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK SHE'S WORRIED THAT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S GOTTA BE A LOT OF HAND-WRINGING AND QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS GOTTA AIR OUT BEFORE IT GETS PROVED.

BECAUSE, LOOK, IT WOULD LOOK BAD ON HER IF HER OWN LEGISLATURE NIXES HER OWN PROPOSAL.

>> THE QUESTION -- GO AHEAD.

>> AND ALSO WE DON'T KNOW.

I'VE ASK HEARD FOR A STATEMENT, I'M SURE OTHER REPORTERS HAVE ALSO, AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY, WE'VE ASKED HER FOR A STATEMENT.

AND WE'RE BASICALLY HEARING NOTHING.

ESSENTIAL CRICKETS.

YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING SOME INFORMATION BACK THAT'S BASICALLY NOT DIRECTED TO GOSHEN BUT KIND OF A GENERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WHO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT WHO WONDER WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS.

>> AND VERY QUICKLY, WE HAVE ANOTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEM DOWN IN MARSHAL, DON'T WE?

>> YEAH.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE CONTRAST WHEN GLENN YOUNGKIN REFUSES THE BATTERY PLANT, LICENSED TECHNOLOGY FROM CHINA AND GOSHEN BY COMPARISON THE TIES TO CHINESE ECONOMIC POWERS AND THE PARTY AS -- WHICH IS CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE CONSERVATIVES, IT'S SO MUCH GREATEST THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN MARSHAL.

>> OUR GUEST DOWN IN INDIANAPOLIS REPRESENTATIVE, GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO "OFF THE RECORD."

HOW YOU DOING?

APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO ZOOM IN.

>> BRIGHT HAVE YOU ON BOARD.

HAVE YOU CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS.

SHARE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, I SPEND MORE TIME ON THE GOSHEN PROJECT THAN ANYTHING ELSE AT MIND.

PAULA SAID IT BEST, THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

I WAS ALL FOR IT.

MY DISTRICT, I HAVE THE 100th DISTRICT, IS THE POOREST DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, MOST ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED, MAYBE THAT'S THE BETTER WAY TO SAY IT.

I WAS 100% FOR IT WHEN IT CAME OUT IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, AND NOTHING GOOD HAS COME SINCE THEN.

AND IT'S THE CONNECTIONS TO THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

SO THE 1st OF FEBRUARY I CHANGED POSITIONS ON IT.

SO MAYBE I COULD FLIP-FLOP BUT AS IT CAME OUT I SAID, NO, WE NEED TO DO THE REVIEW.

>> DO YOU THINK THE CHINESE PARTY WILL SET UP SHOP IN BIG RAPIDS?

>> NO, I DON'T.

>> WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

>> WILL THERE BE -- YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS THE JOYS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN HEAR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO HEAR.

EVERYTHING FROM 50 PEOPLE TO 11,000 PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM CHINA.

SO THERE ARE 53 CHINESE COMPANIES OPERATING IN MICHIGAN NOW.

I DIDN'T REALIZE NEXT YEAR WAS A CHINESE COMPANY.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A PRIVATE SECURITY FOR US.

WE'RE GONNA WIN THE CULTURAL WAR, WAR MIGHT BE -- I DON'T WANT TO EMBELLISH THIS.

I WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE FROM CHINA TO COME HERE AND SEE HOW GREAT OUR COUNTRY AND OUR LIFESTYLE IS AND AGAIN IN BACK TO CHINA AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAVE IT WRONG.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE IN CHARGE OF THIS.

THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT.

>> SO THE LAST I SHEDDER 25 TO 50 CHINESE WOULD -- THE LAST I HEARD IS 25 TO 50 CHINESE WOULD BE ON SITE.

BUT ALSO PROVIDING A PAYROLL WHO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BIG RAPIDS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH BIG COMPANIES ALL OVER MICHIGAN.

AND WHAT I STRUGGLE WITH, AS WE TALK ABOUT GOSHEN, WE'RE NOT CONNECTING THE DOTS AS TO ANY OTHER INTERACTIONAL FIRM AND HOW THEY'RE EMPLOYING AMERICANS HERE IN MICHIGAN.

HOW DO YOU RECOLLECT STILL HAS?

>> NO, YOU'RE -- THE REASON I WAS FOR THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE JOBS.

YEAH, WE NEED THE JOBS.

THAT'S WHY I WAS FOR IT.

YOU'RE RIGHT, IF WE WERE INVESTING IN A COMPANY THAT WAS GOING TO CHINA, THEN IT'S A SLAM DUNK.

THERE'S NO WAY, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS.

THE FACT THAT THEY'RE COMING HERE, CHINA IS COMING HERE.

THEY'RE GONNA MEET OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, THEY'RE GONNA LIVE BY OUR RULES, THIS IS A GOOD THING, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

>> ISN'T THIS A GLOBAL ECONOMY, THOUGH?

I MEAN, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE AMERICANS TRIED TO SET UP SHOP IN CHINA AND GOT THE SAME PUSHBACK?

WE'D BE PULLING OUR HAIR OUT.

THEY COULD SAY THE SAME THING WITH US.

>> FIRST OF ALL, KYLE GETS BEST DRESSED AWARD TODAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF A FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE CAN GIVE THAT OUT.

THAT IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE EASTER APPAREL WE HAVE ON SET.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> WE CAN'T.

SO TO FIND A U.S. COMPANY AND SAY GO TO CHINA, GET MONEY FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND DON'T FOLLOW THEIR RULES.

TELL THEM THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO ABIDE BY THIS.

SO YOU'RE RIGHT, WE LIVE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

WE'RE GOING TO LIVE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

THAT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE BUT WE ALREADY DON'T PLAY BY THE SAME RULES.

>> I'M CURIOUS, WHAT PIECE OF INFORMATION PARTICULARLY KIND OF PUSHED YOU OVER THE EDGE?

>> IT WAS 1,000-CUT.

NOT THAT I DON'T LIKING YOUR JACKET EITHER, BY THE WAY.

IT WAS 1,000 CUTS, BUT WHEN IT COMES OUT THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY AND THEY'RE A FULLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF GOSHEN BOILERPLATE INFORMATION THAT YOU MENTIONED.

SO, YOU KNOW, I DOIPT KNOW IF NEXT YEAR ALREADY HAS THIS OR NOT.

THIS JUST BECAME A, WOW, WAIT A MINUTE, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION COMING OUT BYLAWS, THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY.

BOY, THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE.

AND IT WASN'T A LIGHT SWITCH, IT WASN'T AN ON/OFF BUT WENT FROM, BOY, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS TO WITH WE NEED TO PUMP THE BRAKES.

>> DOES IT KEEP GETTING WORSE, THOUGH?

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S THIS GOSH YA MOMENT FROM FINDING THE BYLAWS THAT WE HAVE TO ASSUME OUR PRESENCE IN EVERY CHINESE COMPANY.

THAT'S HOW THEY DESPERATE HOW THEY OPERATED FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.

IF THAT'S HOW THEY HAVE TO OPERATE IN THEIR HOMELAND, YOU KNOW, WE SET UP OUR OWN REALISTS TOO.

BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A TRACK RECORD IN AMERICA, AND I'M WONDERING WHY DOES THAT THE NOT SWAY ANYTHING?

>> WELL, I MEAN, SO PICTURE, COULD YOU IMAGINE IF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SAID, ALL RIGHT, YOU NEED TO HAVE THIS IN YOUR PAPERWORK?

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN AN OUTCRY, LIKE, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DOT GOVERNMENT'S BIDDING.

SO I GUESS I DIDN'T REALLY FOLLOW THE QUESTION ON HOW -- I DON'T LIKING IT.

I DON'T LIKING THAT THIS COMPANY IS COMING HERE AND HAVE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO A FORMAL GOVERNMENT.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE LEGISLATION THAT BANS ANY PUBLICALLY TRADED AND CHINA COMPANY FROM DOING BUSINESS IN THE U.S. OR IS IT THAT THEY'RE ACCEPTING PUBLIC FUNDS THAT YOU TAKE ISSUE WITH?

>> BOTH.

YOU KNOW WHAT, AGAIN, I DON'T LIKING THAT LANSING IS PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS AND I HOPE WE GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT MARSHAL.

WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT.

I DON'T THINK LANSING SHOULD BE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT CORPORATE SUBSIDIES, CORPORATE WELFARE.

I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF A BAN.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE SHOULD OWN PROPERTY OVER THERE.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF RESPIROCITY.

HOWEVER YOU'RE GOING TO TREAT US WE'RE GOING TO TREAT YOU.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BAN COMPANIES, WE'RE GOING TO LIVE BY THE SAME RULES.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE BACKGROUND CHECK THAT PASSED THE HOUSE.

>> RED FLAGS COMING UP, I'M GOING TO VOTE NO UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES ON IT.

>> YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH LOCKING UP YOUR WEAPONS IF YOU HAVE A MINOR IN THE HOUSE?

>> SURE.

SO SAFE STORAGE LAW.

I OWN GUNS, I OWN GUNS.

LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE GUN CLUB.

IF A FIREARM OF MINE SHOWS UP MISSING RIGHT DOWN TO TODAY I'M GOING TO CALL THE SHERIFF AND SAY I'M MISSING A GUN.

IT MIGHT BE STOLEN.

I DON'T KNOW.

IF THIS LAW PASSES, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO, AND I END UP MISSING -- NOW, NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I LOST A GUN, LET'S BE CLEAR ON THAT -- I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.

I'M NOT GONNA SAY WOW I BROKE THE LAW BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THIS, COULD YOU GET ME IN TROUBLE?

SO I THINK RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP, YES, I HAVE CHILDREN THAT HAVE COME TO THE HOUSE AND WE ARE ALWAYS VERY IMEAFL THAT AND KEPT THEM OUT OF REACH, AND PART OF THIS IS EDUCATION.

WE TAUGHT OUR KIDS DON'T TOUCH IT.

A GUN'S ALWAYS LOADED.

DON'T POINT IT AT THINGS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SHOOT.

BE RESPECTFUL OF THE FIREARM, BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE SAVED THINKING.

THIS WAS A KNEE JERK REACTION OF MICHIGAN STATE AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE PREVENTED THAT TRAGEDY.

>> IS THERE ANY LAW THAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE PASSED TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE?

>> SO I'D LIKE TO START BY HE LET'S ENFORCE THE ONES WE HAVE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE NO PLEAD YES.

IF YOU VIOLATE A LAW WITH A FIREARM, YOU DON'T GET TO PLEAD DOWN.

AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT THE COURTS ARE BACKED UP AND IT'S GONNA BE A BUNCH OF EXTRA WORK.

THEN DEAL WITH IT.

WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT PROBLEM, TOO.

WHAT I'D LIKE THAT SAY IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO PLEA ANYTHING DOWN.

WHATEVER YOU GET CHARGED WITH, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET CHARGED WITH.

>> WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR PARTY CHAIR IF YOU HAD BEEN AT THE CONVENTION?

>> PARTY CHAIR, SO I LEFT -- UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, THERE WAS A MEMORIAL FOR A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY NEW CLAIRE COUNTY AND LEFT BEFORE IT WAS DONE.

I VOTED FOR SCOTT GREENY THE FIRST TIME AND DIDN'T VOTE A SECOND TIME.

>> WAS THIS A BAD PICK THAT THE CONVENTION CAME UP WITH?

>> SO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

WE HAVE TO DECIDE AS A PARTY DO WE WANT TO BE IN THE MAJORITY OR THROW BOMBS.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT.

SO I WAS -- TIM, OUR FIRST CONVERSATION, OR MR. SKUBICK -- OUR FIRST CONVERSATION WAS ON THE DESANTIS LETTER.

I HAD ENDORSED GOVERNOR DESANTIS I HOPE HE RUNS FOR PRESIDENT.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THIS IS A BAD PICK, BUT I THINK WE HAVE DECIDED -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S 30% REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

GREAT.

THERE'S 32, 35, PICK A NUMBER, REGISTERED DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

IT IS THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE THAT DETERMINE ELECTIONS.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO WIN ELECTIONS?

>> HASN'T THE CURRENT CHAIRWOMAN DEMONSTRATED THAT SHE DOES NOT APPEAL TO INDEPENDENT VOTERS IN.

>> YES, SHE HAS PROVEN THAT.

SO -- YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS WHERE -- I ALWAYS LIKE TO ASK PEOPLE, I ACTUALLY GOT CALLED A RHINO.

52 YEARS I'VE BEEN FAKING BEING A CONSERVATIVE.

I ALWAYS ASK PEOPLE, WHAT DO DEMOCRATS CALL THEIR RHINOS.

AND THEN THERE'S THIS AWKWARD SILENCE AND NO ANSWER.

THEY DON'T.

THEY LIVE BY RONALD REAGAN'S 11th COMMANDMENT, DON'T ATTACK YOUR OWN.

SO I THINK THE CHAIR WITH WOMAN -- NOW, HERE I'M PONTIFICATING ON WHAT SOMEONE'S THINKING, THIS IS DANGEROUS GROUND.

SHE HAS TO SHOW THAT SHE'S THE CONSERVATIVE AND SHE'S GOING TO DO THIS AND SHE'S GOING TO LEAD.

AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO SAY, I MADE A MISTAKE, DIDN'T WORD THAT CORRECTLY.

SHE'S MORE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING ATTACKED FROM THE RIGHT THAN THE LEFT.

THAT'S NOT HOW WE'RE GONNA WIN.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE?

>> I'M AGAINST IT.

IF WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW -- IT'S SIMPLISTIC.

WHEN WE SAY ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, THAT'S A SIMPLE ARGUMENT.

THERE IS A REASON THEY DIDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU EVER COME TO MICHIGAN AGAIN OR MAYBE YOU GET OFF THE PLANE IN GRAND RAPIDS, MAYBE YOU GET OFF THE LEAN IN DETROIT AND WAVE TO THE TARMAC AND GO BACK TO NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA.

THEY'RE GONNA MAKE THE DECISIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE POPULATION, MICHIGAN BASICALLY BECOMES IRRELEVANT RELEVANT.

>> BUT SOME WOULD SAY, THOUGH, AT LEAST THE PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA, PEOPLE IN NEW YORK WOULD BE ENERGIZED TO ACTUALLY VOTE.

YOU CAN GET CONSERVATIVES AND REPUBLICANS IN THOSE KEY DWRORS GO OUT AND SHOW UP IF THE WINNER OF THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE IN THE UNITED STATES ACTUALLY BECAME PRESIDENT.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

SO MY LITMUS TEST IS I HAVE TO JUSTIFY MY VOTE.

WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE GROCERY STORE IN CLAIRE, MICHIGAN.

BY THE WAY, SIMON, I WANT ONE OF THOSE COFFEE MUGS.

EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT WILL, I'M STILL ON THE LINE FOR A COFFEE MUG.

MY LITMUS TEST IS WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE GROCERY STORE I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND MY VOTE, AND I CAN'T GO THROUGH WHITBACK'S IGA AND SAY I KNOW WE VOTED FOR TIM SKUBICK, I KNOW THAT MICHIGAN VOTED FOR TIM SKUBICK, AND HE GOT, IT BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE THAT SIMON GETS OUR ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES BECAUSE OF NEW YORK.

SO NOW I'M NOT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF THE 100th DISTRICT.

I DON'T CARE HOW THE PEOPLE OF THE 100th DISTRICT VOTED.

WE'RE GOING TO BASE THIS HOW CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK VOTED SO MY JOB IS TO REPRESENT THE 100th DISTRICT.

AND IF WE DO THIS, HOW CAN I JUSTIFY IT, HOW CAN I TELL PEOPLE IN I KNOW HOW WE VOTED.

WE CLEARLY VOTED FOR TIM SKUBICK FOR PRESIDENT, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE THAT WAY.

>> AS A REPRESENTATIVE IN TOWN, WHAT HAS SHOCKED YOU MOST ABOUT THIS TOWN?

>> I AM AN OPTIMIST.

I LIKE HOW HELPFUL EVERYONE IS, AND NOT JUST -- I HAVE MY TECHNICAL ISSUES BUT WE CAN GO ACROSS THE AISLE, I'VE MADE SOME GOOD FRIENDS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, AND PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE, I CAN GO AND SAY -- I'LL NAME NAMES, A BASS IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE OUT OF DEARBORN, HEY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS BILL.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING DO HERE, WHAT'S YOUR GOAL, HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE THIS.

AND NEITHER PARTY HAS A LOCK ON ZEALOUSTRY, WE BOAST HAVE OUR PASSIONATE MEMBERS, I THINK 90% IN THE MIDDLE YOU CAN GO AND SAY HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS, WHAT ARE WE DOING, WHAT'S YOUR GOAL HERE.

AND PEOPLE ARE.

PEOPLE ARE HELPFUL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE THE CUP IS IN THE MAIL.

THANKS FOR SHOWING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

HAVE A GOOD TIME IN ANNAPOLIS.

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