[MUSIC PLAYING].

>> WELCOME BACK OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS ROBERT ALLISON FOR THE LEAGUE FOR CONSERVATIVE VOTERS.

BUSINESS FIRST THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE OVER MANDATORY SHOTS.

ON JORDAN HERMAN CHAD AND DAVID BOUCHER SITTING WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE OUT OFF THE RECORD.

>> PRODUCTION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING, BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MICHIGAN HAS A STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE MICHIGAN A TOP TEN STATE IN THE NATION FOR JOBS, PERSONAL INCOME, AND A HEALTHY ECONOMY, LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN'S ROAD TO TOP TEN .COM.

AND NOW THIS EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.

>> WELCOME BACK TO THIS LABOR DAY EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.

WHERE DID THIS SUMMER GO.

IT'S GONE AND THEN AFTER THIS WE GO TO MOTHBALLS.

LET'S SAY HELLO TO OUR PANEL DAVID CHAD AND JORDAN.

TRADITIONALLY IN OUR TOWN THE REPUBLICANS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ON THE SAME PAGE BUT TURNS OUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> MANY EMPLOYEES ARE FACED WITH THE DECISION TO TAKE A VACCINE CONTINUE WITH THEIR PAYCHECK AND THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSION OR BE FIRED.

THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

>> IT WAS A PRO VERSUS ANTI- VACCINE FORCES FACING OFF OF HER LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BLOCK MICHIGAN BUSINESSES FROM IMPOSING A MANDATORY SHOT POLICY ON ITS EMPLOYEES.

THIS LETTER LETTER OBTAINED BY SIX NEWS AT SEVEN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ACROSS THE STATE COMPLAINED COMPLAINED THAT THIS PROPOSED BAN ON THEIR FLEXIBILITY TO ORDER SHOTS IS QUOTE AND OVERREACH OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY WITHIN THE OPERATION OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

>> IT COMPLETELY REDUCES THE FLEXIBILITY THAT EMPLOYERS NEEDED TO OPERATE THE WAY THAT THEY NEED TO OPERATE TO GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES OR CUSTOMERS.

IT'S ONE MORE OBSTACLE THAT IS IMPEDES A BUSINESS' ABILITY TO ADAPT AND REACT ENVIRONMENT THAT WERE WORKING AND WITH THE THIS PANDEMIC.

>> THOSE WHO WANT TO REMOVE THIS POWER FROM BUSINESSES ARGUE IT'S ALL ABOUT CIVIL LIBERTIES.

KEY CONSIDERATION MUST ALSO BE GIVEN TO CIVIL LIBERTIES WHICH ARE THE BASIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS GUARANTEED TO INDIVIDUALS AS PROTECTION FROM ANY ARBITRARY ACTIONS OR OTHER INTERFERENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT WITH DUE PROCESS OF LAW.

>> BUT MR. BAKER COUNTERS THERE IS A STATE LAW THAT EMPLOYERS MUST PROTECT THEIR EMPLOYEES.

>> WE DO.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

>> THE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE CHAIRS THAT SHE WILL NOT MOVE THE BILL UNTIL THE VOTES ARE THERE TO DO IT AND THAT THIS READ IT APPEARS NOT TO BE THE CASE.

>> CHAD, YOU ARE A BUSINESS GUY AND HOW SERIOUS IS THE RIFT BETWEEN THE TRADITIONAL ALLIES WHICH NOW APPEARED TO BE TRADITIONAL ENEMIES?

>> I THINK THIS IS GROWING RIFT ON SEVERAL FRONTS WHETHER IT IS GAY AND LESBIAN TRANSGENDER RIGHTS OR COVID VACCINATIONS OR COVID RESTRICTIONS.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY A YEAR AGO WAS IN AND ALL OF THESE COVID RESTRICTIONS ARE GONE BUT AS TIME HAS GONE BY PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY REALIZE THIS VACCINE IS IT THAT THIS IS THE PROVEN METHOD THAT SCIENTIFICALLY TO REDUCE SERIOUS DISEASE AND DEATH AND ALSO REDUCE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND SO THEY BOUGHT INTO THE VACCINE AND THEY SEE IT AS THE PATHWAY TO STABILITY IN THEIR BUSINESS OPERATIONS PARTICULARLY QUICKEN LOANS IS NOW ROCKET COMPANIES.

AND THEY ARE SAYING EITHER YOU ARE VACCINATED OR YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT TO A WEEKLY TEST TO SEE IF YOU HAVE COVID 19 AND THAT IS AND CARRY METHOD THAT BUSINESSES ARE ADOPTING SO THEY CAN GET BACK INTO THEIR OFFICES.

REMEMBER THE FOUNDER LED HE HAS 3 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT AND HAS BEEN SITTING VACANT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AGAINST A HOLE LOT OF TENANTS WHO ALSO DEPEND UPON HIS 19,000 EMPLOYEES BEING IN THEIR SEATS AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO THE OFFICE AND NOT HAVE ANOTHER DISRUPTION THIS FALL LIKE WE SAW LAST FALL.

>> JORDAN, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS STORY IS BASICALLY THE REPUBLICANS ARE LEARNING ABOUT A FREE MARKET SYSTEM AND LETTING THE GOVERNMENT GET OUT OF THEIR LIVES TRYING TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR LIVES.

>> FOR SO LONG THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE REPUBLICANS HAS BEEN SYMBIOTIC THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEEDS REPUBLICANS TO HELP THEM CONTINUE TO HAVE A FREE OPERATION REPUBLICANS REQUIRED TO BUSINESSES BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE BIGGER BUSINESSES ARE DONORS FOR THESE CAMPAIGNS AND SO IT WILL BE A GAME OF WHO FLINCHES FIRST I THINK FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THEY HAVE MORE WRITING DUE TO THE FACT THAT FOR BUSINESSES PATRONS IF THEY DON'T LIKE SOMETHING THE -- THEY DO THEY CAN QUIT PAGE TURNING THEM WERE AS POOR LAWMAKERS YOU HAVE TO BE THERE WAY FOR THE NEXT ELECTION OR YOU HAVE TO RUN A RECALL CAMPAIGN WHICH IS VERY UNLIKELY PAIR FOR BUSINESSES THEY HAVE A LOT MORE WRITING ON STICKING TO THEIR GUNS AND THE >> THE QUESTION IS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS A CHOICE HERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT REPUBLICANS WHO DON'T SUPPORT US ON THESE ISSUES OR WE CAN FORGET ABOUT THE ISSUES AND WORRY ABOUT REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT I WILL GET ACROSS WORDS HERE WHICH IS MY QUESTION?

>> I CAN ARGUE WE HAVE BEEN A CROSSWORD FOR SOME TIME WE'VE SEEN A SPLIT BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND REPUBLICANS THAT CAME ALONG THE PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WE SAW THAT THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND HALI STEVENS AND THE DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER ENDORSED GARY PETERS AND THERE IS A SPLIT AMONG REPUBLICANS THEMSELVES THE TRADITIONAL ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD ON MANY ISSUES NOT JUST COVID WITH THE SO-CALLED TRUMP WING OF THE PARTY AND SO I THINK IT IS A QUESTION THAT BUSINESS BUT ALL SORTS OF TRADITIONALLY INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL ENTITIES ARE GRAPPLING WITH RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE CANDIDATES WHO MIGHT NOT BE IN LOCKSTEP WITH THIS BASE?

DO YOU CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICAL ACTION ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SUPPORTING IDEAS THAT YOU DON'T?

IT IS A QUESTION THAT EVERYONE REVOLVED IN THE SPHERE IS GRAPPLING WITH RIGHT NOW AND IT'S RELATIVELY COMMON AFTER YOU LOSE A NATIONAL ELECTION EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT AT A STATE LEVEL.

>> IF YOU'RE SITTING IN YOUR DEMOCRATIC LIVING ROOM THAT SOME DEMOCRATICS ARE THEY SAY BRING IT ON THEY ARE FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER AND THAT'S BETTER FOR US POLITICALLY.

>> THE DEMOCRATS ALSO HAVE TO EARN THE SUPPORT OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL.

CHAMBERS LIKE DETROI REGIONAL HAVE BEEN BIPARTISAN FOR A LONG TIME.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE EVER NOT EVER ENDORSED DEBBY'S REELECTION.

AS DAVE BOUCHER NOTED THEY DID BACK GARY PETERS OVER ONE OF THEIR OWN MEMBERS JON JAMES A BUSINESSMAN IN DETROIT BUT DEMOCRATS STILL HAVE TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY SHOW THAT THEY LINE UP WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS INTERESTS ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM.

IT'S NOT A SLAMDUNK BY ANY MEANS BUT YOU DO SEE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS INCREASINGLY TRYING TO BROKER DEALS THAT ARE MORE BIPARTISAN RATHER THAN WHAT WE SAW COMING BACK IN MAY 2011 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ERA WHEN PEOPLE CAME IN AND ALL THEY WANTED WITH BIG TAX BREAKS AND THEY GOT IT AND THEY GOT IN LOCKSTEP WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION FROM THERE ON BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND ALSO THEY HAVE BUSINESS GROUPS NOTING THERE IS A DEMOCRAT IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND OBVIOUSLY THEY STILL HAVE TO WORK TO GET IN THERE.

>> JORDAN LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PETITION DRIVE THAT STARTED THIS WEEK FROM THE REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO STILL CHANGE THE ELECTION SYSTEM AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

AND WHY ARE THEY DOING IT?

>> ONCE AGAIN I WAS NEEDED I APOLOGIZE.

THE PETITIONER IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF VOTING RIGHTS IT IS THAT SAME DRUMBEAT OF WERE TRYING TO USE THIS PETITION TO MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE AND HARDER TO CHEAT A LOT OF IT SURROUNDS THE IDEA OF VOTING IDS AND IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE IT NOT POSSESS A STATE ID OR NOT HAVE SOME SORT OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND I MEAN ONCE AGAIN IT IS STILL FOLLOWING THE POST 2020 DRUMBEAT THAT A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS CONTINUING TO CHAMPION THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH MICHIGAN'S ELECTION LAWS AND BROADER ELECTION LAWS ACROSS THE STATE AND THEY NEED TO BE FIXED AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT IT CAN BE FIXED BECAUSE MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE VOTING RIGHTS BILLS ARE IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW AND WILL CERTAINLY BE VETOED BY GRETCHEN WITMER.

>> THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS PETITION DRIVE IS A SIGNAL THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY WILL GET THIS TO THE LEGISLATURE BUT THEY THREW EVERYTHING IN THE KITCHEN SINK INTO THIS PROPOSAL OR IS IT MORE MEASURED?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CALL IT MORE MEASURED IN DEMOCRATS WOULD SAY IT'S NOT.

THEY HAVE COME EVEN SOME THIS IS INDICATION THAT REPUBLICANS THEY UNDERSTAND THE REALITY THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL VETO THESE CHANGES SO THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THIS SAME PROCEDURE WITH THEY WERE ABLE TO GATHER ENOUGH SIGNATURES AND PUT IT INITIATIVE LANGUAGE BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

THE BIG DRAW OF THIS MESSAGE THIS METHOD IS THAT IT'S VETOPROOF.

OBVIOUSLY THE REPUBLICANS AND OTHERS FEEL THAT THIS IS A BETTER AVENUE AND THE TIMING OF THIS IS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF IT CAN ACTUALLY GET OFF THE GROUND TO GET TO THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION IS DEBATABLE BUT CERTAINLY IT IS A METHOD THAT REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES FEEL IS NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT.

>> DIDN'T THE MICHIGAN VOTERS JUST SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE OF ELECTION REFORMS IN A 65 OR SO PERCENT SAID LET'S DO IT AND NOW COMES A PETITION DRIVE THAT SAYS LET'S UNDO IT?

>> YES JUSTIN 2018 ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTERS OF THE STATE SAID YES WE DO NOT WANT A REASON ABSENTEE VOTING WHERE ANYONE CAN VOTE ABSENTEE AND THEN WE SAW SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 60 PERCENT OF VOTERS IN 2020 VOTED ABSENTEE.

IT WAS ALMOST CORRESPONDENT WITH THE TURNOUT OF BECAUSE THIS HAS BECOME WILDLY POPULAR TO JUST BE ABLE TO VOTE BY MAIL.

THAT IS WHAT SOME OF THE BILL SEEKS TO TRY TO UNDO.

I WANT TO NOTE ALSO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS BACK IN APRIL THEY THOUGHT THAT A GROUP OF 37 CEOS AND CHAIRS OF MAJOR LARGE CORPORATIONS MICHIGAN WROTE THIS OPEN LETTER TO THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP SAYING DO NOT DO ANYTHING THAT REDUCES PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS PARTICULARLY AMONG HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES PARTICULARLY LIKE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME VOTERS AND THAT LETTER WAS SIGNED BY SOME PRETTY POWERFUL CEOS AND HEADS OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND GENERAL MOTORS AND THE ROCKET MORTGAGE AND ROGER PENSKE WHO IS NOT EXACTLY AFFILIATED WITH ANYTHING RELATED TO DEMOCRATS BUT SO THERE IS STRONG SUPPORT ALONG THE TITANS OF CORPORATE MICHIGAN TO KEEP ELECTION LAWS AS THEY ARE HERE >> LET'S PURSUE THAT WITH OUR GUEST AS A CALL IN ROBERT ALLISON FROM THE MICHIGAN LEAGUE FOR CONSERVATION VOTERS.

NOT CONSERVATIVE VOTERS.

BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE ON THE PROGRAM AND WELCOME TO OFF THE RECORD.

YOU GUYS ARE CLAIMING THIS IS BASICALLY GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS OF THE VOTERS.

WHAT PROOF DO YOU HAVE IT THAT THAT DOES THAT?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR VIEWERSHIP.

OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE.

THIS IS A MOMENT AND MICHIGAN'S HISTORY WHERE WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT MORE MICHIGANDERS THAN EVER ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE 2020 ELECTION DURING A PANDEMIC AND THEY DID IT SAFELY WITH THE HELP OF THEIR LOCAL CLERKS, WITH THE -- AS CHAD SAID, NO ABSENTEE EXCUSE ME NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE, AND AS WE KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE STATES' MOST SECURE ELECTIONS EVER.

THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN NOW BY BOTH PARTIES YOU KNOW CLERKS FROM BOTH PARTIES AND SENATE REPUBLICANS THEMSELVES.

INSTEAD OF PUTTING UP DELIBERATE BARRIERS TO VOTING AND MAKING IT HARDER TO VOTE WE SHOULD REALLY BE WORKING TO MAKE SURE EVERY MICHIGANDER HAS ACCESS TO THE BALLOT AND INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON REALLY LIES AND MISINFORMATION THAT ARE INTENDED IT TO FURTHER DIVIDE AS WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE BALLOT.

AS YOU SAID EARLIER MICHIGANDERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED IN 2018 BROAD EXPANSION OF OUR ACCESS TO THE BALLOT AND WE THINK THAT THEY WILL REJECTED THIS AS A BLATANT ATTEMPT OF VOTERS EXPRESSION -- SUPPRESSION.

>> WE SPOKE WITH PARTS OF THE PETITION DRIVE AND ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TOLD US THAT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT WE COULD HAVE THAT DONE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR BUT MIRACLES DO HAPPEN.

GIVEN WHAT WE SAW WITH THE UNLOCK UNLOCK MICHIGAN PETITION INITIATIVE WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT CIRCULATORS WERE MAY BE STRETCHING THE TRUTH AS TO WHAT THE PETITION DID OR THE FACT THAT THEY SOMEHOW MISLED INDIVIDUALS INTO SIGNING THE PETITION ARGUED ARE WORRIED THAT WE COULD SEE A DO OVER WITH THIS IF YOU ARE -- THIS SECURE MY VOTE?

>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS A RELENTLESS ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY AND WE SEE IT AGAIN WITH THIS.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME TO GET IT DONE THIS YEAR BUT THEY ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON MAKING THE IMPACT IN 23 AND 24 PICKED THE BIGGER QUESTION IS WHERE REFOCUSING ON THIS?

WHY ARE WE WASTING PEOPLE'S TIME AND ENERGY WHILE WE HAVE SUCH PRESSING ISSUES BEFORE THE STATE NAMELY RECOVERING FROM COVID AND GETTING OUR ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK AND GETTING HER KIDS TO SCHOOL SAFELY AND YES FOR US PROTECTING OUR DRINKING WATER AND CLEANING UP OUR AIR.

WE THINK MICHIGANDERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS NOT THESE DIVISIVE PARTISAN ISSUES LIKE THIS.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS NEEDS TO CHANGE?

OBVIOUSLY THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW THE UNLIKE MICHIGAN CREW WENT ABOUT CHANGING THE 1945 THEY FOLLOW THE LAW AND THEY WENT TO THE PROCESS THAT'S IN PLACE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DO SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE VOTERS THEY SUPPORTED.

DO YOU THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO THIS PROCESS?

IF THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S ONE THING THE LEGISLATURE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO LOOK AT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WITH THIS SECURE AND I VOTE PETITION THAT WAS JUST LAUNCHED IS AN IDEA THAT WE SAW THIS WEEK AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE COME OUT AND THE BUREAU OF ELECTION SAY DEFINITIVELY THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNT ITSELF CANNOT FUND OR BALLOT MEASURE WITHOUT THOSE RESOURCES IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HAT -- EXACTLY NOT ONLY WHETHER THEY CAN DO IT BUT ALSO ONCE THEY HAVE TO RAISE THE MONEY LEGITIMATELY AND NOT HIDDEN THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNT AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHO WILL BE ACTUALLY FUNDING THIS?

I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO THIS PETITION IN THIS CITIZEN INITIATIVE KIND OF MEASURE.

>> WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FOR YOUR GROUP THAT YOU WANT TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LEGISLATURE?

BEFORE THE FILING DEADLINE IN APRIL AND WE DON'T GET MUCH DONE IN LANSING AFTER THAT DURING ELECTION YEARS.

>> WE ABSENTLY THINK THERE IS A TREMENDOUS THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN MONEY THAT IS CURRENTLY SITTING THERE WAITING TO BE ALLOCATED IN LANSING AND ALSO THE MONEY THAT'S BEING DEBATED RIGHT NOW BOTH IN THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND IN CONGRESS AND THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT THAT'S ACTUALLY BEING HASHED OUT.

THERE'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR MICHIGAN TO ADDRESS WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL CRISIS RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS TOXIC CONTAMINATION IN OUR DRINKING WATER.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS ACROSS THE STATE WE HAVE TOXIC P LOSS AND THE LEAD AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE RIVERS AND LAKES ARE PRIMARY DRINKING WATER SOURCES ENDING UP IN A GROUNDWATER AND REALLY THREATENING PUBLIC HEALTH.

THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.

WATER HAS NEVER BEEN ONE.

WE DO A LOT OF PULLING ACROSS THE STATE AND WE SEE WHETHER IT'S DEMOCRATS INDEPENDENT OR REPUBLICAN THAT THIS RESONATES WITH PEOPLE.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DRIVES OUR ECONOMY AND THAT THIS IS OUR WAY OF LIFE IN MICHIGAN AND THEY REALLY WANT TO THE PROTECTION OF THE CLEANING OF THE DRINKING WATER AND WE HAVE THE BIGGEST CHANCE TO DO THAT MAY BE EVER WITH BOTH THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN MONEY AND THE MONEY THAT'S LIKELY TO COME DOWN FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

>> OF 72 PERCENT OF PEOPLE IN MICHIGAN SUPPORT VOTER ID HOW CAN YOU CALL THAT VOTER SUPPRESSION?

>> WE HAVE A VOTER ID LAW AND IT WORKS IF YOU GO TO THE POLLS RIGHT NOW AND YOU DON'T HAVE AN ID YOU GET A PROVISIONAL BALLOT AND YOU SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT WHERE YOU CAN BE PUNISHED UNDER PERJURY IF YOU SIGN IT.

I THINK MICHIGANDERS APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE STRICT ELECTION LAWS ARE READY WHEN IT COMES TO ID AND THAT THIS IS YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT HARDER AS CHAD SAID FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE STATE, FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, FOR ALL OVER THE STATE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT.

ARE TAKING THE ACTIONS AND MAKING IT HARDER.

>> WILL YOU BOONDOGGLE PEOPLE IF YOU TAKE IT OUT IN THE AND SAY DON'T SIGN THIS THING?

>> THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS WOULD ENGAGE IN.

TRADITIONALLY.

BUT WE DO BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A RIGOROUS DECLINE TO SIGN UP BY OTHERS IN THE STATE.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING GOOD IN THIS PROPOSAL AT ALL?

>> THERE IS NOT WE DON'T SEE IT AS NECESSARY.

WE HAVE HAD THE MOST SECURE ELECTION IN OUR HISTORY.

WE HAVE HAD MORE MICHIGANDERS THAN EVER PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION AND WE THINK THAT IT IS IT REALLY NOT ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUES THAT MICHIGANDERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

THAT'S RECOVERING FROM COVID, GETTING THE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL, AND WE BELIEVE CLEANING UP OUR DRINKING WATER >> DAVID.

>> YOU REFERENCED TOXIC CONTAMINATION EARLIER AND THERE WAS A BEING FULL OF COVID AND FULL OF MISINFORMATION LED BY SEE YOU IN THESE AND VACCINATION BILLS AND YOUR ORGANIZATION ENDORSED REPRESENTATIVE ALAN AND LAST ELECTION AND DO YOU AGREE WITH HER SENTIMENT ON VACCINE MANDATES?

OR IS THAT ENDORSEMENT YOU REGRET?

>> WE HAVE BEEN AS AN ORGANIZATION 100 PERCENT FOCUSED ON OUR ISSUES AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE MAKE ENDORSEMENTS BASED ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL STAND UP FOR CLEANING UP FOR AIR OUR LAND AND OUR WATER.

ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC HEALTH WE LIVED OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO ENDORSEMENTS AROUND THOSE AND WE THINK THAT THE FOLKS THAT WE ARE PROUD OF THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE IN THE LEGISLATURE AGAIN AROUND ADDRESSING THESE REALLY REALLY CRITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE THREATENING PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUTTING OUR KIDS AT RISK.

>> JORDAN.

>> GIVEN THE EXTREME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL COMING INTO THE STATE HOW DO YOU WANT TO SEE THIS EXPLICITLY SPENT AND HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AT MICHIGAN'S P FAUCET PROBLEMS ADDRESSED?

>> WE KNOW WE ARE BEING EXPOSED TO THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS VIA THE CURRENT CONTAMINATION AND WE ONLY HAVE A LITTLE PEEK INTO IT AT THIS POINT BUT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANS ARE A BIG SOURCE OF THESE TYPES OF CONTAMINANTS GOING INTO OUR RIVERS AND LAKES AND WE THINK THOSE COULD BE UPGRADED AND WE THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO INNOVATE IN OUR UNIVERSITIES AND REALLY INVEST IN TRYING TO HAVE THEM FIND THE SOLUTIONS TO HOW TO GET RID OF THIS FOREVER CHEMICAL BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE PROPER DISPOSAL METHOD OR CLEANUP METHOD AROUND.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IS ONE EXAMPLE THAT HAS BEEN REALLY INNOVATING AND TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS.

WE THINK MORE MONEY CAN GO IN THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

>> CHAD.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION -- WHERE DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION STAND ON REBUILDING THE DAMS IN MIDLAND GLAD TO LINDA COUNTY THAT WERE DESTROYED IN LAST YEAR'S FLOODING.

IN THE SENSE OF RESTORING WIXOM AND STANFORD LAKES TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY WERE AT.

DO I SUPPORT THAT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION CHAD.

I BE HONEST I KNOW THAT THE BOARD AND THE LEADERSHIP HAVE NOT HAD DEEP ENOUGH DISCUSSIONS TO COMMENT ON THIS BUT I WILL SAY THIS THAT YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THE KIND OF STORMS WE SAW THE SUMMER.

WE KNOW THAT.

YOU CAN ALMOST CALENDAR IT BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE THESE WILL GET WORSE AND THEY WILL GET MORE FREQUENT AND SO WE NEED CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE NEED TO REALLY BUILD THINGS WITH AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE AND WE KNOW THAT IN THE NEXT FIVE TO SIX YEARS LIKE I SAID IT WILL GET WORSE AND SO THE FLOODING AND THE DAMS BURSTING IN THE FLOODING WE SAW DOWN IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN OVER AND OVER AND THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS WHERE AGAIN WE THINK THERE IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW TO HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN MONEY WOULD SEEM BOTH SIDES BOTH REPUBLICAN AND THE SENATE, DEMOCRATS, IN BOTH CHAMBERS, AND THE GOVERNOR COME OUT WITH A DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROPOSALS AROUND THIS AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT ONCE THEY GET PAST THE BUDGET HERE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER THEY WILL MOVE RAPIDLY AND AGGRESSIVELY TOWARDS SOME OF THESE BIG INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS IN OCTOBER.

>> COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE DTE ENERGY AND CONSUMER ENERGY GIVING MONEY TO STATE LAWMAKERS?

>> THE QUESTION THAT WE KEEP ASKING AND THOUSANDS OF MICHIGANDERS ARE ASKING RIGHT NOW IS WHY DO WE PAY THE MOST FOR THE WORST SERVICE IN THE MIDWEST.

IT IS A PROVEN FACT.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT MICHIGANDERS SPEND MORE TIME OUT OF POWER THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION.

>> WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH CONTRIBUTIONS TO LAWMAKERS?

>> DT AND CONSUMERS ARE THE SECOND WORST IN THE NATION AT RESTORING POWER EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO STORMS.

WHAT WE'RE ARE SAYING IS, WE NEED REFORM IN THE SYSTEM.

SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AND THE VIEWERS WOULD BENEFIT GOING BACK AND READING NEWS THAT DETAILED $55 MILLION OF THE DTE AND CONSUMERS JUST IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE POURED INTO INFLUENCING LAWMAKERS POLITICAL AND POLITICAL AND CIVIC CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE BLOCKED SPECIAL TREATMENT FROM THE LEGISLATURE AS A RESULT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS.

TEN SECONDS AGO.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY THE QUESTION MICHIGANDERS SHOULD BE ASKING.

THE SYSTEM IS DEFTLY BROKEN.

WE NEED REAL REFORM.

IT CANNOT HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OVERSEEING AND REGULATING THIS TAKING THESE KINDS OF SUMS OF MONEY FROM THEM AND US BEING LEFT OUT OF THE COLD.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND OFF THE RECORD IT'S GOOD TO SEE US AND THANK YOU TO THIS A GREAT PANEL EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE QUIET AND PEACEFUL LABOR DAY WEEKEND WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.