>> WELCOME BACK.

THE CHAIR OF A NEW LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE DOING A DEEP DIVE INTO SCHOOL GUN VIOLENCE IS THOUGH GUEST THIS WEEK, REPRESENTATIVE LUKE MEERMAN.

OUR LEAD STORY, COVID SETTING ALL SORTS OF RECORDS, ALL OF THEM BAD.

ON THE OTR PANEL, SERGIO MARTINEZ BELTRAN, DAVE BOUCHER AND KYLE MELINN.

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

ANNOUNCER: MICHIGAN PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO PRODUCTION COSTS OF OFF THE RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.

NOW?

THE EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE HAVE A DISCLAIMER.

WE MADE A MISTAKE IN THE LAST TEN MINUTES OR SO.

WE MENTIONED ON THIS PROGRAM THAT THE EMBATTLED SOMETIMES STATE SENATOR FROM THE U.P.

COULD NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

INDEED, HE IS.

WE APOLOGIZE FORGETTING THAT WRONG.

FROM IN THIS POINT ON, WE'LL BE PERFECT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, RIGHT, ZOOS WELCOME TO OUR PANELISTS DAVID KYLE.

SERGIO, NICE TO HAVE YOU ONBOARD.

WHAT IS NOT NICE ARE THE COVID NUMBERS IN.

WE HAVE LEARNED THIS WEEK IT HAS NEVER BEEN THIS BAD.

THE COVID GERM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN MICHIGAN WITH THE.

BEFORE HE CASES REACHING RECORD PEAKS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR NEW CASES, OUR WEEKLY CASES PER 100,000.

WE ARE NOW AT A POINT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF WEEKLY CASES WE EVER HAD.

129,937 WEEKLY CASES IN MY.

THAT IS CASES PER WEEK.

AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, HEALTH OFFICIALS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE COVID TEST RESULTS AT AT ABOUT OPINION% AND MICHIGAN IS NOW AT 3 OPINION%.

THIS IS A NUMBER WE HAVE NOT SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PAN DIG WHERE TESTS WERE VERY LIMITED.

ON TOP OF THAT.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE SETTING NEW RECORDS, TOO.

THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE SEEN DURING THIS SURGE HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN AT EARLIER TIMES OF THE PAN PANDEMIC.

MICHIGAN HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT THAT WHILE CASES ARE EXPLODING AT THE MOMENT.

IF THE DATA IS CORRECT, BE THE WORST IS YET TO COME.

THIS CHART SHOWS THE OPTIMISTIC WORST-CASE SCENARIOS FOR THE FUTURE OF COVID, UNFORTUNATELY, ALL THE PESSIMISTIC NUMBERS APPEAR TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE COMING.

WHAM WE ARE EXPECTING IS A VERY SHARP AND FAST PEAK, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR MOST PESSIMISTIC MODEL, WE ARE LOOKING AT 200,000 PIECES PER WEEK IN MICHIGAN.

THE MOLD PROJECTS 8,000 HOSPITALIZATIONS EVENTUALLY AND THEN ON THE COVID DEATH FRONT -- THE MOST OPTIMISTIC CURVES ARE SHOWING US FOLLOWING A SIMILAR TRAJECTORY TO THE ONE WE HAVE BEEN ON AND HOWEVER, THE MOST PES MISSION TICK SHOWS A VERY STEEP INCREASE IN DEBTS.

GIVE THAN DISCOURAGE DATA, THERE IS AN END IN SIGHT?

IF MORE FOLKS GET VACCINATED IF MORE FOLKS MASK UP AND MORE FOLKS STAY AWAY FROM MORE FOUL GS THEY SAY THE ANSWER IS YES.

BUT THERE IS SA BUT.

THEY ARE SHOWING WE WILL LIKELY PEAK BETWEEN THE END OF JANUARY TO EARLY FEBRUARY.

THEN AFTER THAT, THINGS WILL START COMING DOWN AND PHYSICIAN WE DON'T USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE, WE CAN EXPECT THOSE PEACES TO BE AT THOSE REALLY WORST-CASE SCENARIO THAT IS SHOWED YOU.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE ON COVID IN MICHIGAN, IT WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DAVID, I FIND A SILVER LINING IN THOSE NUMBINGERS.

>> WELL, AT LEAST, WE KNOW SOME INFORMATION AT THIS POINT, RIGHT?

THAT WE HAD PRESS CONFERENCE THE STATE.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN A MINUTE FROM THE STATE AS YOU NOTED THIS IS AS BAD AS THEY HAVE BEEN.

WE ARE YEARS INTO THIS PANDEMIC, AND I PANE, I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS IDEA, THERE WAS LEGISLATION THAT SENATE REPUBLICANS PUT OUT.

MOST OF THEM VOTED LAST YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE CLOSED DOWN RESTAURANTS THEN INDOOR BUSINESSES AND IF THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE WAS AROUND 15% FOR SEVEN DAYS AND AT 33% RIGHT NOW.

SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR.

SO THIS IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE STATE, THEN, ALSO, WORTH NOTING WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY NEW MANDATES OR STATEWIDE REGGING LATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS THEN AGAIN, THE WHITMER ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO RELY ON THIS THAT WE THOUGH THE TOOLS THAT WILL HELP PRESENT THIS THAT IS MASKING THEN WE ARE HOPING AND TRUSTING AND PLEADING THAT MICHIGAN RESIDENTS WILL ACTUALLY USE THOSE TOOLS.

>> SER GIRO, THAT IS WRIST LUNG THROUGH THE GRAVEYARD, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

I DO THAT I WHAT WE STARTED SEEING IS THAT THE WHITMER ADMINISTRATION IS NO LONGER NECESSARILY TALKING DIRECTLY TO THOSE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED THEN TALKING TO THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED, RATING.

WE ARE TALKING NOW WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING BACK AND WEARING OUR MASKS ESPECIALLY WELL FITTED MASKS THE K-9 5 MASKS TO BE SPECIFIC, THEN, ALSO, HEARING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION BLAMING, YOU KNOW, IN A WAY THAT VACCINATED FOR THESE SURGE IN HOSPITAL CASES, SO I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING, TOO, IS THE ADMINISTRATION CHANGING THEIR BET A LITTLE BIT, TALKING TO MORE TO THOSE WHO ARE, THOSE WITH BELIEVE IN MASKS AND BELIEVE IN GETTING VACCINATE AND BOOSTED.

KYLE, THE QUESTION IS?

CAN WE HANG TON THE END OF JANUARY AND THE FIRST PART OF FEBRUARY FOR THE NUMBERS TO COME DOWN THIS THAT IS A HUGE IF AS WELL, SINT IT?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW.

THIS IS OUR BEST GUESS RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS HEALTH OFFICIAL BEST GUESS THAT THINGS WILL CONTINUE ON THIS PATH UNTIL LATE JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY.

YOU KNOW FRESH THERE IS A SILVER LINING IN THIS, TIM, AT LAST THE DEATH NUMBERS , DUE TO COVID, ARE NOT RISING AT THE SAME RATE AS THE CASE NUMB BERTS.

IT DOES APPEAR THAT THIS VARIANT OF COVID IS NOT AS STRONG AS THE FIRST ONE HIT WITH.

AT THAT POINT IT IS UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND I THINK EVERYONE, AS FAR AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS JUST LET GO AND SAY YOU BE INIF YOU HAVE GO IN VACCINATE THEN TAKEN CARE OF YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, IT IS UP TO YOU AT THIS POINT AND EVERYBODY SEEMS LIABILITY ITS GOING TO GET OHCO INDIVIDUAL.

THAT IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO GET COVID.

IF YOU TOOK THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS TO GET YOURSELF PROTECTED, THEN, YOU ARE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN MAYBE SOMEBODY WHO HAS NOT.

AS FAR AS WHAT STATE GOVERNMENT CAN DOT DO AT THIS POINT.

I THINK GOVERNOR WHITMER AND ADMINISTRATION AND FEEL LIKE WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN DO AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO BACK TO CLOSE THINGS DOWN, IN FACT, L TRYING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT SCHOOLS DON'T GO ON-LINE AND, AGAIN, THEY REALLY, THEY ARE STRESSING THAT, BE THAT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TAKE PRECAUTIONS NEEDED, SO WE DON'T HAVE BEEN TO HAVE REMOTE LEARNING GAIN.

>> DAVID, AM I READING THE DATA CORRECT, THIS IT IS A SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN MAJOR PROBLEM.

THE HUGE COMMUNITY SPREAD WE ARE SEEING AS WE MOVE FURTHER UTSTATE, IT IS NOT QUITE AS BAD.

DID I MISINTERPRET THAT DATA.

I THINK,OVERALL.

AS WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH MANY POINTS HEF PAN DEM, YEAH.

THE WORST SPREAD.

THE MOST CASES ARE IN METRO DETROIT.

WE THE MOST PEOPLE IN MICHIGAN LIVE IN METRO DETROIT BUT SEEING ISSUES ALL OVER THIS STATE AND IN MUSKEGON, WEST MY NAY HOSPITALS, AGAIN, GOING TO A TENT OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL IN THE WINTER TO TREAT PATIENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE THAT MANY PEOPLE COMING IN WHO NEED TREATMENT.

WE KNOW THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HOSPITAL RECENTLY REPORTED THEY HAD TO DEA DEE LAY MORE THAN 200 SURGERIES SO THEY COULD FREE UP BEDS IN ANN A CORE.

I KNOW, WE KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF NUMBERS IN THE WAYNE COUNTY AREA AND THE PROBLEM ELSEWHERE.

AND WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED EVERYWHERE AS ISSUE AND THE AMOUNT OF CLOSE PERSONAL CONTACT, OBVIOUSLY, MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE URBAN SEATING THAN A RORAL SETTING.

THIS IS A PROBLEM EVER.

WE SEEING IT IS BAD IN DETROIT IN THE DETROIT REGION.

THAT WAS NATIONAL DATA OUT THAT WEEK THAT SAID 57% PEOPLE SAY WE ARE NOW MORE SOCIAL DISTANCING NOW THAN WE DID BEFORE.

THE OMICRON SEEMS TO BE MODIFIER FOR SOME BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT FOR ALL.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF COVID, AGAIN, I THINK IT IS REAL, RATING?

FOR ALMOST AL YEAR WE HAVE BEEN QUARANTINING AND ISOLATION AND TRYING TO DO ALL THE THINGS THEN, NOW, MANY PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, BOOSTED, THEN GAIN, THEY ARE READY TO GO OUT, THEN WE HAVE THE OMICRON THAT WE KNOW, SPREADS VERY EASILY, AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THE RILING THINGS, RIGHT SHALL, THIS WHOLE TIME.

THINK IT IS, IT IS BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION IN A WAY BUT I THINK WHAT WE HEARD DOCTORS SAY, AGAIN, IS THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL GET OMICRON, WHAT MATTERS HERE THAT THE VACCINATION STATUS AND YOU ARE VACCINATE THEN YOU ARE BOOSTS THEN NOT PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING THE VIRUS AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO REDUCE THE SY SEVERITY OF THE ILLNESS.

THAT MEANS YOU MAY NOT EBB UP IN THE HOSPITAL, RIGHT.

WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING WITH THE VACCINATED IN THE STATE.

>> KYLE, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF MY TV PRODUCERS AND HE HAS GOT TWO KIDS AND A WHICH HAVE, ALL FOUR OF THEM HAD.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT?

GIST LIKE A LOUSY WINTER COLD, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW HOW TO LIVE WITH, BUT STILL SIT IS COVID.

THERE ARE LONG POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS TO JUST GETTING IT, RIGHT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD.

THEN, I HI YOU ARE RIGHT, TIM.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID AT THIS POINT.

THEN, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GET IT AT SOME POINT.

FOLKS HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN HEALTH FOR THEIR OWN WELL-BEING THEN JUST BECOMES A PERSONAL DECISION AT THIS POINT, AND WE HAVE GOT THE DIRECTIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OURSELVES, BUT THINK I, EVEN THE GOVERNOR REALIZE THANKS THE END IT IS UP TO YOURSELF AND HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO PROTECT YOUR OWN HEALTH.

ALL RIGHT.

DAVID, ANOTHER STORY ON THE NEWS RUN DOWN ON THE OTR THIS WEEK WHICH REFUSES TO GAS AWAY AS THE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR FOR ALLEGEDLY UNDERCOUNTING AND NUMBER OF COVID DEATHS IN LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES THEN A STRONG PUSHBACK FROM THE ADMINISTRATION SAYING THAT THE AUDITOR GENERAL SIMPLY GOT IT WRONG AND THIS WAS NOT AN AUDIT.

WAS A REPORT AND NUMBERS WERE INACCURATE.

WHO IS RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

SOME TO TAKE A STEP BACK REALLY QUICKLY.

WE HAVE KNOWN FOR MONTH THAT'S THE AUDITOR GENERAL HAS BEEN LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF COVID TEST DEATHS IN GENERAL.

PARTICULARLY, COVID DE DEATHS IN LONG TERM CARE WHICH IS A BROAD UMBRELLA TERM AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THEIR REPORT YET, BUT AS YOU NOETHED, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAME OUT STRONGLY WEEK SAYING THEY HAVE SEEN FINDINGS THEN THEY BELIEVE THIS AUDIT REPORT IS GOING TO ALLEGE THAT THE STATE UNDER COUNTED THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AT LONG TERM CARE AS MUCH AS 30% NOW IT IS WORTH NOTING, THIS IS A CRITICAL POINT, THAT NO ONE IS ALLEGING THE STATE COMPLETELY MITS THESE COVID DEATHS THESE DEATHS ARE STILL INCLUDED IN THE.

TOTAL NUMBER OF COVID TESTS THE DEA QUESTION IS WHETHER THE STATE UNDERCOUNTED DEATH SPACE OFCLY CLASSIFIED AS DEATHS UNDER LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES.

THE AUDITOR GENERAL'S OFFICE IS IN CLAUDEING DEATHS FROM FACILITYS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE DON'T CLASSIFY AS LONG TERM CARE AND THERE ARE FA SILL FA SULLIES THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT AND THERE ARE AGAIN DON'T MEET THE FEDERAL DEFINITIONS THEN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DATA THAT THE AUDITOR GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS USED IN ORTER TO CLASSIFY SOMETHING AS A COVID DEATH.

THERE IS QUESTIONS ABOUT OVERCOUNTING, THERE IS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE DEATHS OF PEOPLE WHO DIED AFTER LEAVING LONG TERM CARE FACILITY BUT THEN AGAIN HEARING THIS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WHICH HAS BEEN ON HIGH ALERT FROM BEGINNING ARGUE IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING WHERE ON WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTING AND INTERESTING TO SEE THIS REPORT AND THE AUDITOR GENERAL'S OFFICE IS SET TO RELEASE IT PUBLY DO EVERYONE MONDAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, THE HEALTH DIR RGOR ELIZABETH SAID SOME NOT EXACTLY COMPLIMENTARY THINGS ABOUT STEVE JOHNSON AND REPUBLICAN CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE BASICALLY ACCUSING HIM OF PLAYING POLITICS WITH THESE NUMBERS AND ASKING THE AUDITOR GENERAL TO DO A REPORT BASED ON NUMBER THAT'S THE STATE IS NOT USING AND DATA THAT THE DEFINITIONS ARE WRONG.

LOOK AT REMARKS THAT IS VERY RARE FOR A STATE BUREAUCRAT TO TAKE ON A SITTING LAWMAKER OF EITHER PARTY.

>> YEAH.

THINK THAT, IT IS JUST A SIGNAL HOWSER OSLY THE ADMINISTRATION REALIZES THIS DATA COULD BE, AS FAR AS PUB PUBLIC RELATIONS HIT TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, THEN GOVERNOR WHETHER IT MER DIRECTLY AS WE HEAD TO THE ELECTION YEAR.

AND, I THINK, WHAT THEY WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, THIS IS A DIFFERENCE OF DEFINITIONS.

THIS IS NOT THE STATE INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO UNDERCOUNT COVID DEATHS TO MISLEAD PEOPLE TO THINK THAT THEY MESSED UP WHEN THEY GAVE THE GO AHEAD TO LET COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS BACK IN THE NURSING HOMES BACK WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED, SHOOT, NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO NOW, THEN, AND SO, THIS IS ISSUE OF PERCEPTION WHAT IS THIS IS.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO CLASSIFY A NURSING HOME?

YOU WANT TO CLARIFY IT HOW THE GOVERNMENT CLASSIFIES IT OR CLASSIFY HOW YOU THINK OF IT AS A LONG TERM CARE OR NURSING THEM TOES THAT YOU THE QUESTION HERE.

AND WHAT THE LAY PEOPLE WOULD THINK IS A NURSING HOME IN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT THINKS IS A NURSING HOME ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND WHEN THE BUREAUCRATS GET TO COUNT SOMETHING THEY COUNT IT ONE WAY.

YOU BEAKS THINGS TO BE COUNTED SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS WHERE THE DISCONNECT IS.

THEN, WHEN THERE IS POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT COULD BE MADE FROM THIS, THEN, YOU WILL SEE BOTH SIDES TRYING AND ONE SIDE, ONE SIDE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

WHERE THE GOVERNMENT, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO BACK GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS A HARD POSITION TO TRY TO HAVE TO DEFEND AND SO, THAT IS WHY THE DIRECTOR IS DOING THE BEST YOU CAN.

KYLE, ON A FAIRNESS YOU DID SPEAK TO REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON LAST NIGHT WHEN YOU SHARED HER REMARKS ABOUT HYMENAEAL SAID WHAT?

>> HE SAID THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS LYING USING CHARACTER ATTACKS TO DISTRACT FROM THEIR DEADLY DECISION TO ALLOW COVID PATIENCE BACK TO NURSING HOMES EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE.

THEN, HE SAID THAT THE AUDITOR GENERAL CORRECTED OR CORRECTLY COUNTED ALL THE NURSING HOME DEATHS THEN HE WAS UP HAULED THE DIRECTOR ATTEMPTING TO SMEAR THEM BECAUSE OF THE DEADLY DECISION.

>> AND SON WE GO YOU WANT TO PUT THE RIB BEEN ON THIS ONE.

WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS QUARTERBACKING LYNN 30 SECONDS.

YOU KNOW, MY COMMENTS HERE THAT IT IS DEA SIRRED THAT WE HAVE STILL NOT SEEN THE REPORT THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS COME OUT TO DO DAMAGE CONTROL BEFORE WE HAVE SEEN THE REPORT RIGHT?

WE HAVE BOTH SIDES GOING AGAINST EACH OTHER, THEN, WE DON'T HAVE A REPORT OUT YET.

THINK THAT IS THE DESIRE.

IT MAKES ME ANGRY.

1:00.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL SEA SEE WHAT THE REPORT SAYS TONIGHT NEXT WEEK AND WELCOME OUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW FROM WEST MICHIGAN.

HE SOMEBODY ASKED ME, ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE NRA?

>> I AM NOT.

>> IF YOU HAD BEEN THE NRA MEMBER?

WOULD YOU BE CHAIRING THIS COMMITTEE?

>> I THINK THAT PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE WERE LOOKED AT TO SEE WHO WAS PRAGMATIC AND ABLE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND BECAUSE KIND OF LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE AND IF THEY HAVE BEEN PROVE PROVE TON DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE CAREER, THAT IS, THINK, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PERIMETERS FOR WHY THEY WERE FICKED ANOTHER COMMITTEE.

AND TO BE CLEAR, IT IS A CO CHAIR POSITION WITH REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, PICK UP THE QUESTIONING, PLEASE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING FOR WITH THIS THEY WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

>> YEAH.

KYLE, THAT IS, I THINK, EVERYONE IS THINKING THAT, ALL RIGHT, NOW AS YOU WATCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING AND IN THE SCHOOL OF OXFORD AND JUST DEVASTATES, YOU YOU KNOW, IT WEIGHS ON YOU EVERY DAY THAT YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING TO KNEE HAPPENED HERE IN CHICAGO AND SO, FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE COMMITTEE AND, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP, AND EVERYBODY IS!

IN THE HOUSE GENERALLY, INTO THE SENATE AS WELL, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, A COULD BE DONE IN I THINK, FOR ME, ARE WITH A ONE OF THE REASONS I AM THERE BECAUSE THE MENTAL HEALTH FOCUS I HAD FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES, SO FOR ME, THATTITION A FOCUS, BUT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ARE DIGGING INTO.

KYLE, FOLLOW-UP?

>> BUT, IN PARTICULAR, THOUGH, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 3:00 AND ANY TYPE OF GUN REFORM, OR GUN REFORM, AND I MEAN THAT IS POSSIBLE THIS COULD COME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU GUYS RECOMMEND SOME TYPE OF TIGHTENING ON LESTRICTIONS ON THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO CARRY FIREARMS.

>> SO I THINK, A THE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO DO IS GET THINGS DONE THAT CAN GET DONE.

I THINK, BE THAT IS ONE OF THENG THISES THAT WOULD BE HARD TO GET DONE, I HAVE PERSONAL OPINIONS WITH B THAT.

AS CHAIR I DON'T WANT TO DIVE TOO DEEP INTO THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED ABOUT THE IDEA THAT WHILE YOU CAN'T DO, WHAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER THING ABOUTS.

ARE THING THAT'S THE WHOLE LEGISLATURE CAN GET AROUND THE THING THAT'S THE GOVERNOR CAN SIGN THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT THEN, PAIN OF, FOR ME, BACK MENTAL HEALTH WORLD.

MANY KIDS ARE REALLY SUFFERING AND CAN WE FIND THEM?

CAN WE HELP THEM BEFORE THIS OH COURSE INTO THERE IS TO WORK BE DONE AS WELL FOR INCIDENT, NOW, WHO IS IN THAT ROOM DECIDING WHAT IS GOING TO HAP BEN WITH THAT YOUNG PERSON IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND A SCHOOL RESOURCER?

AND THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS A TAX FORCE IF WE GET THE BEST PRACTICES OUT THERE AND GIVE THE SCHOOL RESOURCE I THINK WE CAN MAKE REAL PROGRESS.

SERGIO?

>> , I AM CURIOUS.

YOU SAID THERE MAY BE THING THAT'S THE WHOLE LEGISLATURE MAYBE IN FAVOR OF AND PUSH THE GOVERNOR MAY SIGN.

WHAM ARE SOME THINGS?

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT ITS AN ELECTION YEAR.

THEN, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT POLITICALLY, BOTH SIDES ARE CONSIDERING, SO WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU COULD BE LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC THAT YOU THINK MIGHT HAVE REAL CHANCE HERE?

>> YEAH.

NO.

THANKS AGAIN.

SO WE ARE JUST STARTING AND DON'T WANT TO PRESENT WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE DOING AND I COULD TELL YOU WHAT I AM INTERESTED AND BEEN DOING.

AN LOW HANGING FRUIT AND AND THEN, THEN, ATALKED ABOUT AS WELL, THAT AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST PRACTICES AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE INTERVIEWING PEOPLE FROM OXFORD, AND AND I TALKED TO FAMILY MEMBERS THAT LOST STUDENTS DOWN IN PARKLAND, FLORIDA, AND TALKING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THENCE SO WE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION TO GATHER, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE IS ALSO TECHNOLOGY,AN APP ON THE PHONE THERE IS ALERT THAT TEACHER HAS AND ALERT THE WHOLE SYSTEM THEN A LOT MORE INFORMATION SHARING THAT COULD GO ON.

WHEN DOES LAW ENFORCEMENT GET INVOLVED I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LOW HAJJING FRUIT THAT I THINK WE CAN GETTING TURE ON.

FOLLOW-UPS FOR YOU?

>> A WAY FROM A MINOR AND IT IS NOT ILLEGAL IN MICHIGAN AND I AM JUST CURIOUS IF YOU THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD TACKLE POTENTIALLY CRAFTING A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADULTS TO KEEP THOSE GUNS SAFE.

IN A LOCK BOX.

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE COMMITTEE IN THAT PARTICULAR REGARD?

AND I THINK IS LIABILITY THERE AND AS A GUN OWNER ALREADY TODAY IF YOU DON'T SECURE THAT WEAPON IN SOMETHING THAT DOES HAPPEN WITH IT.

>> DAVID,.

>> AND IN LIGHT OF THE SHOOTING THE LEGISLATURE ALLOCATED MONEY IN THEORY FOR SCHOOL SAFETY GRANTS THE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES COULD APLAY AND HELP IMPROVE SECURITY IN THE BUILDING AND THE GRANT PROGRAM WAS ENDED BY THE LEGISLATURE DURING THE PANDEMIC WHY SHOULD MICHIGAN RESIDENTS EXPECT THE LEGISLATURE TO DO ANYTHING TO HAVE ANY SORT OF LASTING CHANGE GIVEN WE HAD MANY SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN THE PAST DECADE AND THEN AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN CONCRETE LASTING CHANGE IN MICHIGAN.

LE.

>> THERE HAS BEEN ALLOT OF HEARTENING GOING ON.

EVERYBODY CAN SEE THIS AS WE WALK TO THE SCHOOL THERE.

THE DOOR YOU HAVE TO GO IN, YOU TALK TO THE SECRETARY BEFORE THEY OPEN THAT NEXT DOOR LET YOU INTO THE BUILDING.

THAT HELPS FOR OUTSIDE THREATS BUT DOESN'T HELP FOR INSIDE THREATS.

SO TO ME, THAT IS WHERE I THINK OUR FOCUS IS ON SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW DO WE GET THAT SUPPORT THERE AND FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS, THERE IS SOME GOOD REPORTS THROUGHOUT NOW TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY NEED TO BE IN SCHOOLS THEN HOW MANILE SOCIAL WORKERS NEED TO BE IN SCHOOLS THESE ARENGS THIS WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET THAT HELP TO THOSE STUDENTS EARLIER.

1:00 1:00.

>> DAVID?

>> HAVE YOU HAD RECEIVED INSURANCES FROM LEADERSHIP, THAT, YOU KNOW, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR PROVISIONS THAT YOUR COMMITTEE PUTS FORWARD WILL GET A LOT OF ATTENTION OR WILL GET THINKPORT OF LEADERSHIP?

>> YEAH.

THINK, JUST THE LEADERSHIP PUTTING US TOGETHER FRANKLY SPEAKER WENTWORTH SHOWS A REAL INITIATIVE INTERESTS, ALSO, BEING CASTS WITH FINING SOME THINGS THAT COULD GET DONE VERY QUICKLY, THEN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THEN MAYBE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY NOT THE COMMITTEE IS DONE BY THEN, BUT WE CAN FIND THINGS THAT ARE REALLY LOW HAJJING FRUIT THAT YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN GET BEHIND SOMEWHAT EASILY AND SO I THINK THAT IS A TASKS THAT IS DIRECTION FROM LEADERSHIP TODAY THAT WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING ON THE TABLE SOON AND I HEAR A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL?

ARE WE GOING TO SURREAL CHANGE?

I BELIEVE SO.

ARE WE GOING TO -- THIS IS EVER GOING TO BE OVER?

THIS ATTACK THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH TOWARD SCHOOL SAFETY AND FORGIVE ME FOR USING THAT BOARD?

IF THIS IS NEVER GOING TO END.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GO AND TRY MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFER AND IN A AM VERY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT AND I AM PASSIONATE ABOUTING THAT AND A DAIRY FARMER BACK HERE IN COOPERSVILLE AREA, THEN FOR ME COMING HERE IS ABOUT GET THINGS DONE THEN I AM INTERESTED IN GETTING SOMETHING DONE HERE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY, THE LAST THING YOU WANT THIS TASK FORCE TO GET INTO IS A NASTY BACK AND FORTH OVER GUN CONTROL.

BECAUSE THAT WILL MEAN YOU WILL DO SOMETHING.

THAT IS YOUR FEAR Z YOU A GO THE PROCESS, SIR?

AS YOU GO INTO THIS PROCESS, FIRE?

WELL, YEAH.

I THINK THERE IS WIDE VARIETIES ON THE OPINION EVEN ON THE COMMITTEE.

LIKE SAID, WE CAN WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

WE GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER, NIN PUBLIC, IN GENERAL, THERE IS WIDE VARIETIES OF OPINIONS IN GUN CONTROL IS ONE OF THOSE VERY HARD THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

1:00 AND BUT AGAIN, OUTSIDE OF THAT DISCUSSION, THE GUN CONTROL, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN AGREE ON AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK, LETS TAKE ABOUT A COUPLE.

SENATOR WANTS WITH YOU TO LIMIT THE SIZE OF MAGAZINES.

YOU CAN ONLY PUT X NUMBER OF BULLETS IN?

WOULD YOU SUPPORT THAT?

>> I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T SUPPORT THAT.

BUT WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT A!

ON ASSAULT WEAPONS?

>> NO, I WOULDN'T SUPPORT THAT.

>> WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING TO ALMOST LET THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE GNS?

GUNS?

>> AGAIN, I CAN ONLY ANSWER FROM WHERE I AM AT.

I CANNOT ANSWER FOR THE WHOLE COMMITTEE.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW?

WHERE THE LEADERSHIP IS AT.

>> SO ANSWER FOR YOURSELF THEN, PLEASE.

>> TRY THE QUESTION AGAIN.

>> ANYTHING THAT WOULD LIMIT PEOPLE FROM BUYING WEAPONS?

>> THE FALK ARE TAKING SO MUCH TIME, REPRESENTATIVE, TELLS THE STORY HERE.

THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

IF YOU GUYS GET -- LEGISLATURES GET REALLY DEEP IN THE WEEDS ON THE KIND OF ISSUES I AM RAISING RIGHT HERE, YOUR FEAR IS YOU WILL GET NOTHING DONE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IS KIND OF WHAT GOVERNMENT IS MADE UP OF.

IT IS MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY BACKGROUNDS.

WE ARE THERE, SENT BY THE PEOPLE, AND GOVERNMENT IS OFTEN LOOKED AT AS EFFECTIVE, BUT WHAT IS THE OPTION, US WHAT THE ALTERNATIVE?

YOU KNOW?

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAVE THIS IS A PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO DO HARD THINGS AND, YES, SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY WE DON'T GET HARD THINGS DONE, BUT IF THERE IS NOT SUPPORT ACROSS THE LEGISLATURE.

IT ITS NOT GOING TO GET DONE.

THAT IS WHAT DEMOCRACY IS?

>> KYLE?

>> WELL, JUST CHANGING SUBJECTS HERE.

THERE US A LOT OF CARVING UP THAT WAS DONE THROUGH THE REDENS STRICTING PROCESS, THEN, IN OTTAWA COUNTY.

THERE YOU GOT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THERE WITH DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER.

THEN, HOW DO YOU THINK THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION DID.

HASES THIS EXPERIMENT BEEN SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN YOUR MIND.

>> I THINK THAT A IS A STRONG WORD TO SAY FAILURE.

HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED MY OWN COUNTY, WOOT HAS THREE CONGRESSMAN REP REPRESENTING IT.

THEN SO, SO, I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT HAS WORKED WELL FOR THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT AND THE HOUSE SEAT I AM GOING TO RUNNING FOR THE 89, I THINK, IT WORKED WELL FOR.

THEN THE 88th SEAT LOST IMPORTANT COMMUNITY AND PIN JENISON BUT IT GAINED ALSO AN IMPORTANT COMMITTEE UP NORTH IN MUSKEGON SO I LIKE THE SYSTEM WE HAD AND DISFIND SEIZE THIS INDEPENDENT COMMISSION BUT IT IS WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR.

>> REPRESENTATIVE VERY QUICKLY THUS HE SORT OF TENTATIVE DEED LYNNE FOR GIVING SOMETHING TO LAW KNEE, LOOK ON THIS ISSUE VIS-A-VIS THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THIS COMMITTEE?

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I AM LOOKING AT SOMETHING WITHIN WEEKS THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN CAN GRAB TON AND THE COMMITTEE CONTINUING ON FOR MONTHS AFTER THIS CONTINUING TO DIG.

THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD LUCK.

WELL AND WATCHING AND KEEP US IN THE LOOP, RIGHT?

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALSO THANKS TO THE GREAT PANEL, GREET HAVE YOU BACK ONBOARD IN THE NEW YEAR FOR OFF THE RECORD.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE AGAIN.

ANNOUNCE FOR MORE OFF THE RECORD, VISIT WKAR.ORG.

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