>>>WORKING ON A ROADS DEAL,
THE UPROAR OVER ELECTORAL
COLLEGE VOTE CHANGES, THE IMPACT
OF THE PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION
ORDER, AND NOLAN MAKES A
CAMEO ON LATE NIGHT TV.
STAY PUT, MIWEEK
STARTS RIGHT NOW!
>>>HI AND WELCOME TO MIWEEK,
I'M CHRISTY MCDONALD.
HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING
ALL OF THAT SNOW AND COLD.
AND NOW THAT WE GOT THAT
COMPLAINING OUT OF THE WAY
LET'S COMPLAIN ABOUT TWO
OTHER THINGS - ROADS AND TAXES.
THE TWO COMBINED
IN LANSING THIS PAST WEEK.
WE'LL LOOK AT THE SENATE
BILL TO RAISE THE GAS TAX
TO FIX THE ROADS, AND
IF THIS IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION.
>>>PLUS, ONE LAWMAKER'S FIGHT TO
CHANGE HOW ELECTORAL COLLEGE
VOTES ARE COUNTED IN MICHIGAN.
WE'D BE ONE OF THE ONLY STATES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DO THIS.
ALSO THE IMPACT OF PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
ON IMMIGRATION REFORM.
>>>AND THE DAILY SHOW TAKES ON
WATER SHUT OFFS IN DETROIT WITH
THE HELP OF NOLAN FINLEY.
YOU'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENED.
THAT'S ALL COMING UP ON MIWEEK.
>>>BUT LET'S START
WITH THOSE ROADS.
>>LAST THURSDAY THE SENATE
PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD RAISE
THE GAS TAX ON THE WHOLESALE
PRICE OF GASOLINE.
AND THAT PERCENTAGE
WOULD INCREASE
OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
FROM 9.5% TO 15.5%.
AT CURRENT RATES WE'D LOOK AT
A 25 CENT INCREASE IN APRIL
AND 40 CENTS 4 YEARS FROM NOW.
THIS WOULD MAKE MICHIGAN
HAVE THE HIGHEST GAS
TAX IN THE COUNTRY.
BUT WOULD RAISE ANYWHERE FROM
$750 MILLION TO $1.5 BILLION.
STATE HOUSE MEMBERS ARE
ALREADY STUDYING THE BILL.
AND WE'LL START OUR DISCUSSION
THERE WITH OUR MIWEEK
CONTRIBUTORS NOLAN FINLEY
OF THE DETROIT NEWS AND
STEPHEN HENDERSON OF
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, AND CHEERS.
HOW ABOUT THAT?
WELL, THEY COULD BE WORTH --
PERHAPS WE'LL HAVE
TO MAKE THAT A PLEDGE DRIVE.
>> WRITE A BIG CHECK, WE STICK A
JOHN DENVER RIGHTS IN THERE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> WE HAVE A WAREHOUSE
OF THOSE, SEND THEM TO YOU.
>> WITH THE GREAT WEATHER THAT
WE'VE HAD THIS WEEK, IT
BRINGS US TO THINKING OF
OUR ROADS AGAIN, THE SENATE
IS ONE STEP AHEAD OF US.
LAST WEEK THEY BRING UP
THE IDEA OF HAVING A GAS TAX,
WHERE ARE WE?
>> IT'S A BIG STEP.
IT'S SAYING WE DO NEED MORE
MONEY, THIS IS ONE WAY TO GET
IT, I'M NOT SURE IT'S A BEST
WAY TO GET IT, AND OTHER THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED,
CHARGING THE BIG GIANT TRUCKS
THAT GO THROUGH OUR ROADS,
AND THIS WILL BE A HIGH TAX.
THERE'LL BE PUSH BACK AGAINST
THAT, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT COMES UP, WE'RE PAYING THIS
MUCH TAX, ARE WE GETTING ALL OF
OUR VALUE OUT OF THAT?
THERE'S STILL QUESTION OF HOW
MUCH WE PAY FOR ROADS AS IT IS,
AND THE CONDITION OF THEM.
BUT THIS IS A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, AND WE'LL SEE
WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.
>> I WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT LAST
WEEK WITH GAS PRICES LOW, THIS
LOW, IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO
TACK ON AN EXTRA 15, 17 CENTS.
>> YOU CAN'T COUNT ON GAS PRICES
STAYING THIS LOW FOREVER.
>> LET'S HOPE THE CHANGE THEY'RE
MAKING LEVELS IT OUT A LITTLE BIT.
I GOT HAMMERED, I QUESTION IF
THIS WILL GO THROUGH THE HOUSE,
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO TRUST
AMONGST THE VOTERS, AND
RESIDENTS OF MICHIGAN THAT THE
MONEY THEY'RE SPENDING THAT
THEY'RE GETTING THE VALUE OF IT.
I THINK THEY NEED TO DO A REALLY
GOOD EXPLANATION OR SELLING JOB
BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS.
I DON'T SEE THE REPRESENTATIVES
BITING, WE HAVE TO ANSWER THE
TRUCK RIGHTS AND TELL PEOPLE
WHY THE SALES TAX ON GASOLINE,
AND YOU HAVE TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WITH THE FIFTH HIGHEST GAS
TAX IN THE COUNTRY,
WHY ISN'T THERE ENOUGH MONEY?
YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS A
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE HERE
THAT TAKES ON EVERYTHING FROM
PREVAILING WAGE TO WHAT WE DO
WITH THE SALES TAX DOLLARS.
>> ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS IS,
YOU HAVE STATES AROUND US,
THAT SPEND LESS AND
GET BETTER RESULTS.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY
KNOWS, OR NO ONE IN
MICHIGAN KNOWS, AND AT
SOME POINT, LEGISLATURES,
AND THE GOVERNOR WILL BE CALLED
ON TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
ARE WE GETTING WHAT WE CAN GET
OUT OF THE MONEY WE'RE SPENDING?
EVERYONE AGREES IT'S NOT ENOUGH,
WE DO NEED MORE, BUT YOU HAVE TO
MAKE SURE WHEN WE FIX I-75
AND CLOSE IT DOWN FOR SIX
MONTHS, A YEAR LATER,
THERE AREN'T GIANT
POTHOLES IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN
TELLING ME ALL WEEK,
YOU HAVE TO IMPROVE STANDARDS.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OUR
STANDARDS ARE DIFFERENT,
OR THE WEIGHTS,
-- YOU HAVE TO GET
APPROVAL OF THIS
AND EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE.
AS MUCH AS PEOPLE HATE THE
ROADS, THEY HATE THE IDEA OF
PAYING MORE TAXES A LOT MORE.
>> IS THIS SENATE BILL A
CONVERSATION STARTER?
IS A SALES TAX A SALES TAX,
THAT OUT OF THE QUESTION?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT ANYTHING
IS OUT OF THE QUESTION, IT IS A
CONVERSATION STARTER N SOME WAYS
IT PUTS A CONCRETE IDEA IN THE
HOUSE FOR THEM TO DEBATE OR PASS
THE SAME WAY OR CHANGE AND SEND
BACK, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE
FINAL VERSION THAT WE'LL SEE.
PARTIALLY THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.
YOU DO THIS, YOU STILL
HAVE TO RAISE SOME
MORE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE.
RAISE THE REGISTRATION FEES OR
INCREASE THE TOLL THAT YOU'RE
PUTTING ON THE TRUCKS,
IT'S GOT TO BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE.
>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE
NEED FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS NOW,
THE GOVERNOR IS PITCHING IT,
AND STILL HASN'T SOLD
IT OR MADE THE CASE.
THE TIRE BILLS AND CAR
REPAIR BILLS ARE HIGH
BECAUSE OF THE POTHOLES, OUR JOB
COMPETITIVENESS IS LOW BECAUSE
OF THEM, THAT'S ALL RIGHT, BUT
HE HASN'T TAKEN HEAD ON THE
OBJECTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO
RAISE MORE REVENUE FOR ROADS.
HE HAS VERY LITTLE TIME TO
DO IT, I DON'T THINK
THE NEW LEGISLATURE --
>> THAT'S WHAT I
WAS GOING TO SAY.
PERHAPS, WE CAN'T GET DONE IN
LAME DUCK, NOW THIS STARTS THE
CONVERSATION, THESE ARE THE
INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE NEED,
THAT TAKES A LONG TIME AND LEADS
PEOPLE THE FRUSTRATION OF,
WE KNOW THE ROADS ARE BAD,
WHY IS THIS A CONVERSATION
STARTER IN NOVEMBER?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE COULD GET
DONE, NOBODY WANTED TO DEAL WITH
IT IN THE SPRING, BECAUSE THERE
WAS AN ELECTION COMING UP.
I'LL GET A PUSH BACK AT THE
BALLOT BOX IF I RAISE THE TAXES.
THAT'S THE POISONOUS
ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT.
PEOPLE SAY, I WANT THIS TO BE
BETTER, SCHOOLS AND ROADS TO BE
BETTER, BUT THEY WON'T SAY, THEY
WILL MAY MORE TO DO THAT.
AND IT DOES PUT THE POLITICIANS
IN AN ODD POSITION, THEY'RE
TRYING TO ADDRESS THE THINGS
THAT PEOPLE THINK ARE IMPORTANT.
>> PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THEIR
MONEY IS SPENT EFFICIENTLY.
>> THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, THE
PEOPLE HAVE TOTAL MISTRUST OF
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING,
AND HOW THEY'RE RUNNING IT,
THAT RAISES A LARGER TOPIC.
>> IT IS, AND SOME OF IT
IS LEGITIMATE, AND
SOME IS VERY CYNICAL.
THE IDEA, THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
OUGHT TO WORK FOR PENNIES, WHICH
IS ABSURD, AND NO HEALTH CARE
AND NO RETIREMENT, YOU KNOW, I
DON'T WANT SOMEBODY LIKE
THAT TEACHING MY
CHILD IN A CLASSROOM.
THERE'S AN IDEA WE CAN GET
PRISTINE ROADS FOR NO MONEY,
WE HAVEN'T RAISED THE
GAS TAX SINCE THE LATE 90S.
>> EVERY DAY PEOPLE ARE READING
STORIES OF WASTE HERE AND THERE.
AND SOMEONE POCKETED THIS
AMOUNT OF MY MONEY AND
THAT BUILD UP THE MISTRUST.
THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE
STATES, DO A MUCH BETTER JOB OF
SPENDING THE TAXPAYER MONEY,
THEY'RE CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES
A LOT OF DAMAGE WITH
ITS CAVALIER ATTITUDE
AS TO HOW IT SPEND OUR MONEY.
>> TURNING TO ANOTHER ISSUE --
THE LAME DUCK SESSION THAT IS
CAUSING SOME HEATED DEBATE,
HOW MICHIGAN AWARDS ITS
ELECTORAL VOTES IN
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THE BILL WOULD GIVE THE
WINNER OF THE POPULAR VOTE
AT LEAST 9 OF THE 16 VOTES.
AND THEY'D GET AN ADDITIONAL
VOTE FOR EVERY 1.5% OVER 50% OF
THE VOTE THEY RECEIVED.
THE REST OF THE VOTES WOULD GO
TO THE SECOND PLACE FINISHER.
SUPPORTERS SAY THIS WOULD MAKE
MICHIGAN MORE RELEVANT IN
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
CRITICS SAY THIS TRIES TO STACK
THE DECK FOR REPUBLICANS, AND
WE'D BE ONLY THE THIRD STATE
THAT DOESN'T DO WINNER TAKE ALL.
THIS WAS WEEKS AGO,
WE DID A PROJECTION,
AND THIS TOPIC IS UP THERE.
WHY IS THIS
COMING UP NUMBER ONE?
AND EXPLAIN WHY.
>> PART OF IT, THE REPUBLICANS,
HAVE DECIDED THERE'S NO SECRET
THAT'S A PARTY WHO'S BASE IS
GETTING OLDER AND DYING, AND
DEMOCRATS ARE GROWING THEIR BASE
THROUGH IMMIGRANTS AND NEW VOTERS.
THIS IS A WAY TO TILT THE SCALE
A BIT, IS THAT THE CONCENTRATION
OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS, HURTS
THEM IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
ONE THING I DON'T WANT TO BE
DOING IS DEFENDING THE ELECTORAL
COLLEGE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY
OF IT, IT'S NOT DEFENSABLE.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE A
POPULAR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT?
AT THE SAME TIME, THIS KIND
OF CHANGE, WHICH IS
CYNICALLY DRIVEN - IT'S
HARDER AND HARDER FOR THEM TO
WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
THE WAY WE DO IT, YOU CAN'T --
IT CAN'T BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
>> IT DIDN'T LOOK FRAYED
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
I'D AGREE, THIS IS NOT A LAME
DUCK SESSION ISSUE, THIS IS AN
ISSUE THAT GETS CONSIDERABLE
DEBATE AND BE WEIGHED FOR ITS
IMPACT, YOU DON'T CHANGE THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN THE LAME
DUCK SESSION, AND YOU DON'T DO
SO TO GIVE ONE PARTY OR THE
OTHER THE ADVANTAGE.
ONE IDEA FLOATED IS THE THESE
VOTES ARE AWARDED BY THE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
I DO THINK THERE'S MERIT AS
STEVE SAID IN AWARDING YOUR
ELECTORAL VOTES BY
THE POPULAR VOTE.
IF YOU'RE IN A SOLID
BLUE OR RED STATE --
>> BLUE OR RED.
>> YOU GET TIRED OF COMING OUT
TO THE POLLS, AND I THINK IT
WOULD FORCE THE CANDIDATES TO
BROADEN THEIR CAMPAIGN, SO
THEY'RE NOT CONCENTRATED IN
SEVEN EIGHTS, AND IN THE END,
TWO OR THREE STATES.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE IT A WIDE
CAMPAIGN, AND GET BETTER
CANDIDATES AND BETTER CAMPAIGN.
IT'S A DISCUSSION,
BUT NOT IN THE LAME DUCK.
>> IT'S INTERESTING, WHEN
DEFENDING IT IS MAKING
MICHIGAN MORE RELEVANT,
AND YOU SPOKE TO THE FACT OF
MAKING OUR VOTES RELEVANT,
THAT'S A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
>> IT WON'T MAKE US MORE
RELEVANT, YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU
HAVE SO FEW STATES THAT HAVE
DONE IT, IT'LL MAKE US LESS
APPEALING TO THE CANDIDATE,
YOU CAN'T GET THE NUMBER OF
VOTES THAT YOU USED TO.
EVERYBODY DID IT THIS WAY,
IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT
AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG
WITH DOING IT IN THEORY.
IF EVERY STATE WAS DOING IT THIS
WAY, IT MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE
THAN THE WAY WE DO IT NOW THE
WINNER TAKE ALL SYSTEM.
THE PROBLEM IS TYING TO THIS
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTING
PROCESS, WHICH IS SO FRAUGHT
WITH PARTISAN ADVANTAGE,
IN EVERY STATE.
>> I DON'T THINK THE CURRENT
PROPOSAL DOES IT, THERE'S
COMPLEX -- YOU DO IT,
KEEP IT SIMPLE.
YOU GET 45% OF
THE VOTE IN MICHIGAN.
AND JUST KEEP IT
AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.
YOU MAKE IT COMPLEX, AND VOTERS
LOSE TRUST IN THE SYSTEM.
>> SO THIS WILL GO ANYWHERE?
SOMEWHERE, NOWHERE?
>> THE RISK HERE IS IF THEY
BRING THIS UP, YOU LESSEN THE
CHANCE OF GETTING ANYTHING ELSE
DONE IN LAME DUCK THAT YOU
NEED TO DO, NAMELY ROADS.
>> THE LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE
IS NOT THRILLED ABOUT THIS.
I THINK IT'LL HAVE
A HARD TIME GETTING OUT.
>>>PRESIDENT OBAMA IS ANNOUNCING
HE WILL USE HIS EXECUTIVE
AUTHORITY TO OFFER CLOSE
TO 5 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS TEMPORARY
PROTECTION FROM DEPORTATION.
THE ORDER WOULD COVER SOME
PARENTS OF US CITIZENS AND
LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
IT'S ESTIMATED THERE ARE
150,000 UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS HERE IN MICHIGAN.
WHILE MANY PEOPLE CAN AGREE THE
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM HAS SERIOUS
FLAWS, REPUBLICANS ARE
FURIOUS WITH THE PRESIDENT'S
DECISION TO DO THIS
THROUGH EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.
SOMETHING EVEN THE PRESIDENT
SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER TO
DO LAST YEAR.
FIRST OFF, EXEUCTIVE
AUTHORITY HAS BEEN USED BY
OTHER PRESIDENTS, REPUBLICANS
AS WELL, REGARDING IMMIGRATION.
WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT?
>> IT'LL BE FOR THE COURTS
TO DECIDE WHETHER HE
HAS THIS AUTHORITY OR NOT.
IT'S CERTAINLY A LARGER USE OF
EXECUTIVE POWER THAN HAS BEEN
DONE IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION.
BUT THE LAST TWO PRESIDENTS HAVE
SO EXPANDED THE POWER OF THAT
OFFICE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES, IS
SOMETHING THAT CONGRESS SHOULD
BE WORRIED ABOUT, AS WE KNOW,
YOU CHANGE RULES, THEY STAY
CHANGED WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE
MINORITY OR THE MAJORITY.
THE TONE OF THIS,
IS THE BIGGER ISSUE.
THE POST ELECTION TONE THE
PRESIDENT HAS STRUCK, HEY, IN
YOUR FACE, I'LL GET MY AGENDA
DONE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT,
I'LL VEER HARD TO THE LEFT.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, AND
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE
RESPONDED WELL TO IT, IF BOTH
LEADERS AND THE PRESIDENT SAID,
HERE WE ARE, VOTERS REJECTED
YOUR AGENDA THEY EXPECT US TO
NOT GO HARD RIGHT AND VOTERS
WANT TO GET THINGS DONE,
LET'S WORK ON A FEW
THINGS WE CAN AGREE ON.
IN TWO YEARS, IF THEY DON'T,
THEY'LL THROW THE REPUBLICANS.
>> BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE
IMMIGRATION ISSUE, WHICH
IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT,
LET'S TALK STEPHEN OF THE FACT THE PRESIDENT
IS GOING AHEAD WITH THIS,
COULD THIS LEAD WITH A
SKIRMISH WITH THE REPUBLICANS?
>> I'D BE SHOCKED IF WE SAW A
GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN, THAT
WOULD BE POLITICAL SUICIDE FOR
REPUBLICANS, THEY'D BE BLAMED
FOR IT, AND WE'D BE ON THE
ROAD FOR A DIFFERENT
2016 THAN THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE
BREADTH OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER
WITH THIS PRESIDENT AND THE
PREVIOUS PRESIDENT, HAVE
APPROPRIATED FOR THEMSELVES,
AND I THINK THERE IS A
SHOW DOWN COMING.
AT SOME POINT ABOUT THAT.
THE CONSTITUTION DOES
GIVE THE PRESIDENT A LOT OF
LATITUDE OVER CERTAIN AREAS,
I THINK WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREDIBLE CREEP IN THOSE
AREAS OVER TIME, AND THIS
IS A PRETTY BIG INFRINGEMENT
I THINK ON THE PROCESS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS THE
PRESIDENT WHO TRIED TO MOVE
THIS ISSUE THROUGH FOR THREE
YEARS AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE,
YOU CAN'T GET CONGRESS
TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT.
FIRST IT WAS LEAD ON THIS, AND
HE TRIED TO DO THAT AND THEY
DIDN'T WANT TO DO WHO HE
WANTED TO DO, AND HE SAID,
I'LL STAY OUT OF IT, AND LET
CONGRESS DO IT ON THEIR OWN.
TOUGH IMMIGRATION BILL
THROUGH THE SENATE,
THE HOUSE WON'T TAKE IT UP.
I THINK AT SOME POINT,
HE'S LIKE, AND THEN
THEY'RE BLAMING HIM AND SAYING,
NOW YOU'RE NOT LEADING.
>> THE CONSTITUTION BUILDS IN
BETWEEN THE VARIOUS BRANCHES,
AND YOU CAN'T ALLOW
THE FRUSTRATIONS TO
MAKE YOU SAY I'M GOING TO IGNORE THE CONSTITUTION.
I DISAGREE.
HE'S COMPLETELY UNWILLING,
YOU'LL SEE A HARD LEFT TURN,
WE'VE SEEN IT ALREADY, FOCUSED
SO EARLY ON WITH CLIMATE CHANGE,
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MIDDLE
GROUND THAT HE SEES HERE, IT'LL
BE PUSH PUSH PUSH TO THE LEFT
AND I THINK HE DAMAGES THE
DEMOCRATS CHANCES IN 2016.
>> IS WHAT HE'S DOING IN
IMMIGRATION REFORM, IN
PROTECTING THE 5 MILLION
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THE
COUNTRY, IS THIS THE RIGHT STUFF
WE SHOULD BE DOING?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION, IT'S NOT
ABOUT AMNESTY, AND PUTTING
PEOPLE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,
THIS IS ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE WHO
ARE ALREADY WORKING FRANKLY, THE
LEGAL INFRASTRUCTURE THEY NEED
TO PAY TAXES, TO BE A PART OF
THE SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO TO
BEING OUTSIDE OF IT.
THIS IS FRUSTRATING
ABOUT THIS CONGRESS.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
FOR THREE YEARS AND COULDN'T
COME UP WITH THIS AS A SOLUTION.
I DON'T THINK
THERE'S A GOOD REASON.
>> WE HAVE -- A LOT OF NEW
MEMBERS, WHO WERE ELECTED
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
WERE FRUSTRATED.
AND WHY NOT GET THEM TIME
TO GET IN PLACE AND TAKE
REASONABLE POLICY TO THEM,
AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
RATHER THAN, YOU PASS
IT OR I WON'T SIGN IT.
I DON'T THINK HE'S GIVEN THE NEW
CONGRESS, AND IT WILL BE A NEW
CONGRESS, I DON'T THINK HE'S
GIVEN THAT CONGRESS
A CHANCE TO WORK WITH HIM.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW IT
IMPACTS MICHIGAN, THAT WE HAVE
150,000 UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE STATE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS TRIED TO
CAPITALIZE ON IT AS WELL.
>> THE GOVERNOR IS ON
BOARD WITH THE CHANGES.
HE'S RIGHT, THIS IS A BIG PART
OF MOVING THE ECONOMY AHEAD.
IF YOU WERE TO AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL, FACTOR IN SOME SORT OF
EXPANSION OF IMMIGRATION AND
LEGALIZATION OF THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE HERE, ESTIMATED THAT WE
WOULD ADD ALMOST TWO
POINT TO THE GDP EACH YEAR.
WE ARE LOCKING AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF THE POPULATION OUT OF
THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY,
THAT COULD BE JUST BECAUSE
WE DON'T LIKE THEM OR
LIKE THE WAY THEY CAME HERE.
>> IT'S THE LATTER, THE FACT
THAT THE LEGAL ASPECT OF IT,
AND WE DO HAVE A RESPECT
FOR LAW IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND AN UNDERSTANDING, THAT WE
CAN'T SHOW UP IN ENGLAND AND
PLANT OURSELVES, EVERY OTHER
COUNTRY ENFORCES THEIR IMMIGRATION
RULES AND BORDERS, THERE'S
NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
I QUESTION THE URGENCY,
THESE 5 MILLION AREN'T IN
DANGER OF BEING DEPORTED,
WE HAVEN'T BEEN DEPORTING THEM.
THERE'S TIME TO WORK WITH
CONGRESS ON REASONABLE REFORM,
THAT INCLUDES FOR VISAS
FOR HIGH SKILLED IMMIGRANTS,
TAKE A COMMON GROUND HERE.
>> LAST WORD?
>> I THINK THIS IS PRELUDE TO
SOME -- I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN IS
PUSHING IT ON THIS SMALL STEP
WILL LOOSEN UP THE ISSUE IN THE
NEW CONGRESS AND GET THEM TO
DEAL WITH THE VISA ISSUE, THE
AMNESTY ISSUE, THAT'S HANGING
OUTS THERE, AND NOT NECESSARILY
IN FAVOR OF OF THE PROCESS HERE,
THAT'S A PROBLEM,
BUT THIS WILL I HOPE
MOVE US FORWARD ON IMMIGRATION.
>>>AND FINALLY, NOLAN MADE A
NATIONAL TV CAMEO ON " THE DAILY
SHOW" THIS WEEK IN A STORY ABOUT
THE DETROIT WATER SHUT OFFS.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> WHY PICK ON DETROIT?
>> WHO HAVE YOU HEARD
ASK FOR FREE WATER?
>> YOU HAVE THE FOLKS OUT THERE,
SAYING DETROIT SHOULDN'T BE
CHARGING PEOPLE FOR WATER.
>> WHO ASKS FOR FREE WATER?
>> YOU DON'T PAY YOUR BILLS.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT AREN'T PAYING,
DON'T WANT FREE WATER,
THEY WANT A PAYMENT PLAN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> BY FRAMING SAYING, PEOPLE
WANT FREE WATER, WHICH NO ONE
IS SAYING, ARE YOU MISLEADING
THIS ARGUMENT RIGHT NOW?
>> IN WHAT SENSE?
>> THE FIRST THING, NOLAN SAYS
IS THEY MAKE ME LOOK BALD.
I WANT TO ASK YOU OF THE
PROCESS, I'M A HUGE DAILY SHOW
FAN, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS?
>> 90 MINUTES.
AND YOU KNEW ALL ALONG THEY WERE
LOOKING FOR THE GOTCHA MOMENT.
ANYTHING RATIONAL OR SENSIBLE,
WOULD GO OUT THE WINDOW.
AND ALL THE WHILE, TRYING
TO GET ME TO TAKE A
BOTTLE OF WATER AND DRINK IT.
I WAS NOT DRINKING IT ON TV.
>> ARE YOU SURPRISED HE
KEPT HIS COOL SO WELL?
>> I WAS AGAINST
DOING THE INTERVIEW.
IT'S A SET UP, A SHOW THAT LOVES
TO GET SOMEBODY LIKE NOLAN
IN THE STRAIGHT MAN POSITION
AND MAKE FUN OF HIM.
>> IT WAS INTERESTING, I WAS
WATCHING THIS, THEY'RE PUTTING
HIM IN THE ROLE OF DEFENDING THE
CITY AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
>> THAT WAS A
PLACE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE.
I SPENT 40 MINUTES
TALKING ABOUT THE MANY THE WAYS
CITY SCREWED UP THE PROCESS.
THAT WON'T GET ON EITHER.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU
DON'T SUPPORT FREE WATER.
>> AND BY THE WAY,
YOU DON'T GET THAT.
>> THIS WHOLE -- AND THE CITY
WOULDN'T GO ON, AND I THINK THEY
USED ME BY DEFAULT, AND I DO
THINK THE CITY HAS A CASE HERE,
THEY HAVE TO COLLECT A
WATER BILL, THEY HAVE HE
TO COLLECT THE TAX BILLS.
THAT'S THE BASIC POINT, PEOPLE
HAVE TO START PAYING THE BILLS.
>> THE REASON THAT THOSE OF US
WHO DO PAY BILLS TO THE CITY
ARE PAYING SO MUCH, IS
BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE AREN'T.
>> I MADE THAT POINT 15 TIMES.
>> YOU DON'T PAY, YOUR NEIGHBORS
PAY, AND THAT'S NOT FAIR
>>>THAT'LL DO IT FOR MIWEEK,
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
FIND US AT MIWEEK.ORG AND
ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
I'M CHRISTY MCDONALD.
FOR ALL OF US AT DETROIT PUBLIC
TV, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
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