Transcripts For CSPAN Michigan 20240705 : vimarsana.com

More from the recent wall street journal ceo council summit, now with michigan governor gretchen whitmer, who talks about her agenda, including investments in advanced antifracturing, the Auto Industry and Abortion Access. This is under auto manufacturing, the Auto Industry, and Abortion Access. This is under 20 minutes. Governor, thank you for being with us. Gov. Whitmer thank you. Governors mansion controls the legislature in michigan, what have you accomplished with the majority . Gov. Whitmer i will back up for a second because this is the first time in 40 years that democrats have controlled both the house, the senate, as well as the governors office. As a household with republican father and democratic mother, when i was born, my father worked for a guy named romney, governor of sheehan, George Romney governor of michigan, George Romney, a different publican party, but i was raised in a bipartisan household. All the years i served in the legislature, i was in the minority, until the last election when we finally had not gerrymandered districts. We have a slim majority, a one seat majority in the house and senate. In the wake of the last election, when i met with the new majority, i shared with them, i do not want to hear anyone talking about a man yes, this is historic in michigans history but it is a one seat majority. It is an affirmation that our values are effective of that for those in michigan, and we have been pragmatic. Whether it is leading individuals on reproductive freedom, lgbtq rights, civil rights, voting rights, or making sure that michigan maintains its Competitive Edge through investments and are workforce and ensuring that we have Economic Development tools to compete with other states. I believe it has been a pragmatic agenda that we have led. I think it has contributed to michigan now competing for more economic investments as we look at how the globe, how competitive the world is right now, making sure that michigans leader and all of these things that i think our center of agenda that happened in the last 12 months. On economic investments, how are you going growing Semiconductor Jobs and how do you make it sustainable . Gov. Whitmer michigan being so heavy in advanced manufacturing and the Auto Industry in particular, in a lot of ways, with whirlpool, appliances, where we have so much unique manufacturing in michigan. Investments from the federal government has been a game changer. As we all know, during the pandemic, just obtaining masks when china was shut down, or when italy was shut down, it was very clear that we had to onshore these manufacturing. Maybe not advanced manufacturing but a great example of why it is important for our security, good paying jobs that we are doing this manufacturing here in the states. The chip backed i think has helped as we look to onshore supply chains. I have driven by so many lots outside of our auto factories where cars were piling up because they were waiting for chips. Now the whole world understands how many semi conductors are necessary to power a phone, much less an automobile. We look to companies of semiconductors, which creates a foundational element of a chip, that is built in michigan, kal created their Second Headquarters in michigan, and they are fighting with a highcaliber of talent and 21 of the world brushed surface water. Michigan offers unique assets, so we have been working to focus our effort in semiconductors. I have not yet landed a fab, i think that is something every governor would like to land, but these important components are currently expanding in michigan, and i think it is going to be a linchpin to our competitiveness going forward. You mentioned the Auto Industry. You have the bedrock in michigan. The United Auto Group has won games. Now there are layouts. Are you concerned that the automakers are looking to find savings by moving jobs out of michigan ultimately . Gov. Whitmer one of the things that has been important the last few months is i have kept an open, robust dialogue with the leadership of the big three, as well as suppliers. And worked hard to get to know the new head of the uaw, who came on to the scene last spring and had a very different strategy going into negotiations this past fall. September 14 was the day the strike started, and we felt it more heavily in michigan than other places, but i think we all felt it to some extent. The historic negotiation and contract uaw won is a victory for a lot of autoworkers. Also, i think, has put some unique pressure on the companies, and working with the leads of those companies, i think they have simply as a result of the contract, but as a result of what is going on in the economy, we are seeing continued investment in electric vehicles but the acceleration is not as quickly as some hoped. Because of a lot of the Politics Around evs, the adaption, the range anxiety. We know this is a global issue. But certainly i am not surprised that people are equal weighting the negotiations with that. It may or may not be related. These companies are some of the whitecollar jobs. I think they are changing and what they are anticipating, and that is why the reskilling of our workforce is so important. Building evs even if it is slower than projected requires a different set of skills. Skills for all people, especially autoworkers who need different skills. Are you concerned about the speed of the transition . You mentioned its going slower than some would like. You look at what is going on in europe with chinese electric vehicles dominating and timelines that european nations have set out, some of that is to be expected but weve got to move forward and be competitive. Weve got to ensure americans can purchase and that the average person can buy an electric vehicle and charge it. To think thats true of the uaw workers you know . The average american is pragmatic. I dont think it is monolithic as perhaps it was 50 years ago and democrats and republicans have to show they have a plan that is worthy of support. Look at what has happened with on ensuring and investments and skills and im confident that the agenda we have been leaning on his more aligned with what working people want and need to see. Opportunity, getting ahead, being able to afford a house in this country. I dont think anyone should be taken for granted and i dont think any one group is a monolith. It is about building out an agenda and vision. Why do you think recent polls are showing winning michigan . I will just say one year out or even a couple of months out from reelection a a lot of opponents were writing my political obituary. I am always trying to keep my ear to the ground and stay engaged with people as opposed to relying on someone elses methodology. The average person is confronting different pressures. Cost of groceries, gas, housing. That is why we work hard to put money into peoples pockets. People are smart enough to know one politician cannot control inflation but what they need to see is an Administration Working hard to put money in pockets and the Biden Administration has done that. They dont get credit necessarily yet but that is the challenge ahead because when you match up two agendas it will be clear that there is one thats focused on people and creating opportunity and senator vance was talking about retribution that is the agenda of the former president versus continuing to make sure we are growing good paying jobs and getting money in peoples pockets. Polling and interviews in michigan show that people are not feeling the economic recovery and theyre not giving biden much credit for the policies he has enacted. What does the president need to do to turn this around . The average person is struggling to put food on the table and not consuming all the news like we in this room are. They are not appreciating that the stability in the economy is a good thing if the grocery bills is eating more takehome pay than it was five or six years ago. But if you look at global inflation and being able to avoid an economic meltdown there is a powerful story thats got to be told. Youve got to respect people well enough not to tell them that they should feel good, that does not work. Youve got to demonstrate Different Things that have helped people get ahead and that is the challenge but the story is there, the facts are there and thats what we need to see more of them i will do everything i can. Youth signed a Reproductive Health act into law and provisions to protect Abortion Access in michigan. How should democrats be running on this issue in 2024 . We have to be blunt as we talk about fundamental rights that are at risk. Im 52 years old, my whole life i lived in a state where i never worried if i needed to access reproductive care because i could. In the last few years that absolutely became a real threat in michigan. We were poised to revert to a 1930 one law that criminalized abortion. Criminalized doctors, nurses, no exceptions for rape or incest. It became clear that in the wake of winning on this issue and other parts of the agenda we have expanded access in michigan. It is football season so we dont often say nice things about ohio but i was pleased to see the state of ohio boldly embraced reproductive freedom. One of the questions for the end of the Campaign Last cycle was are you talking too much about abortion . Shouldnt you be talking about the economy . I am a disciplined messenger and slow to boil. I said if you do not think abortion is about the economy you probably do not have a uterus. The most important profound economic decision a woman or her family will make in her lifetime is when and whether to bring a child into the world. Its an economic issue. As we look at this session, the nature of the pandemic, this is front and center for women, so i believe this will continue to be an important issue for voters from kansas to kentucky to ohio. She weve been learning that lesson over and over again and we will continue to it will continue to be important for the president to be candid and blunt in this moment because there are a lot of women and their families who are worried about whether the right will continue. What do you see in your political future . Can you roll out a president ial campaign one day . I ran for office not because i wanted to hold office. I ran because i care about people, love my state and i saw problems that were not being solved and i one to be part of the solution. When i left the legislature i had served 14 years in the minority the whole time and i thought i would go back to the private sector. I taught at university of michigan and michigan state. If i can bridge that divide i can bridge any. But when the flint water crisis became known was the moment i decided to run for governor. I will share that i love this job and im proud to be the governor of michigan. Ill keep my eyes on the ball for the next three years and i dont know what comes after that. Im not planning anything because i dont want to get distracted. Im going to do this as long as i can and hand michigan off to whoever follows me in as strong of an economic position as i can. I said i am never running for governor. I want to give the audience a chance. You made football references. One topic close to home, the wolverines are going to play alabama in the rose bowl. Michigan has a chance to win the championship. Was that justified . Fans were worried he might leave and go coach in the nfl. Michigan state university, the Football Program this year, i am a spartan but im the mother of two wolverines so i continue to bridge that gap. I wrote route for student athletes and not coaches. Does anyone in the audience have a question for the governor . It is a little hard for me to see. Any football questions or other . Im happy to ask another one going back to abortion. Are you worried that in michigan the issue might not be as motivating because of all the work youve done, people feel more secure and wont go out to the polls as much . Every candidate on the republican side of the aisle for president will sign a National Abortion ban. It tells you this issue is real, whether you are in a state that has protected abortion rights or not, that should be a reminder how precarious this moment is. Not just on abortion rights but voting rights, lgbtq rights. I think any right that stems from due process is very much at risk right now in this countrys and we cannot make assumptions. It will be a motivator for voters in michigan. One more bigger issue, what has the impact of the israel hamas war been in michigan . Congressman talib told us it is gotten worse. One of the things people have learned about michigan and that we in michigan have known and benefited from for a long time is missed again is a place people came to for a good check in the Auto Industry. We got the biggest arab American Population per capita. We have a robust Jewish Community and these communities have lived in harmony for decades. Theres a lot of pain in both communities and i think that it is very tense on the ground in michigan. That arab voters are not all palestinian or muslim voters but there is a sizable population that sees what is happening in gaza and feels unseen, unheard and is in a lot of pain. My job is governor, i cannot impact what is happening in israel and gaza but i care about the jewish and Arab Community in michigan and im working hard to keep the lines of communication open and recognize the pain people are in. Working hard to bring michiganders back to michigan and protect people who worship in mosques and synagogues alike, but it is a tense time. I know the congresswoman is genuine in her feelings. Ive talked with her a lot, i served with her in the legislature. I think that it is painful and hard on the ground in michigan on that issue, these two very important robust communities. Thank you for