>> ON THE NEXT FLASH POINT, REPRESENTATIVE HALEY STEVENS
FROM EVERYTHING FROM IMPEACHMENT
TO THE POLITICAL ADS ALREADY
AIRING.
REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING
COMPANY
COMPANY >> HER STANCES FROM IMPEACHMENT
TO GUN LAWS IS MAKING HALEY
STEVENS THE TARGET OF IRE AND
ADS NOW.
ADS NOW. SHE’S HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT ALL.
AND THAT IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY
SETS UP A CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH
TODAY IS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13TH,
2019.
2019. >> JASON: I’M JASON COLTHORP.
DEVIN HAS THE DAY OFF.
283 DAYS SINCE THE 116th
CONGRESS WAS SWORN IN AND YET,
THERE ARE ALREADY ADS ON THE AIR
ATTACKING TWO LOCAL CONGRESS
WOMEN AND ALSO ADS AIRING THAT
SUPPORTS THEM.
SUPPORTS THEM. IT ADDS UP TO THE FACT THAT
ELECTION SEASON KEEPS GETTING
EARLIER AND EARLIER.
WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT WITH ONE
OF SAID CONGRESS WOMEN HALEY
STEVENS AND THE IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRY WHETHER SHE’S IN FAVOR
AFTER FLOOR VOTE WHICH IS WHAT
REPUBLICANS WANT AND WHAT SHE
HAS TO SAY TO HER CONSTITUENTS
WHO SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT IS
DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND IF THEY DON’T THINK SO THEY
WILL BE VOTED OUT.
WHAT IS ANOTHER ROLLERCOASTER
WEEK IN WASHINGTON, SUBPOENAS,
MOVED TO WHITE HOUSE REFUSEALS
AND NOW ARRESTS OF PEOPLE
CONNECTED TO THE PRESIDENT’S
PERSONAL LAWYER.
PERSONAL LAWYER. JUDGING BY THE PRESIDENT’S RALLY
THIS WEEK THOUGH, HE’S NOT
WORRIED ABOUT IT.
SHOULD HE BE?
WE’LL GET OUR PANEL’S THOUGHTS
ON THAT AS WELL AS THE SITUATION
IN LANSING AS THE GOVERNOR TRIES
TO NEGOTIATE BACK MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS SHE LINE ITEM VETOED
AWAY.
AWAY. LOTS TO TALK ABOUT.
LET’S GET STARTED THIS MORNING
ON FLASH POINT.
♪
♪ >> SHE’S BEEN IN OFFICE FEWER
THAN TEN MONTHS, BUT WHAT A BUSY
TEN MONTHS THEY’VE BEEN.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE FROM
THE 11TH DISTRICT HALEY STEVENS
IS MY FIRST GUEST THIS MORNING.
WELCOME HERE.
WELCOME HERE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> JASON: YOU WERE ONE OF THE
THE LAST DEMOCRATS TO JUMP ON
THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND WHY?
>> LISTEN, THIS IS A
HEARTBREAKING AND SOMBER MOMENT
IN OUR COUNTRY.
NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD TAKE
LIGHTLY.
LIGHTLY. I WAS RELUCTANTLY GIVEN TO AN
INQUIRY BASED ON WHAT IT MEANS.
FRANKLY WHAT WE’VE SEEN FROM THE
PRESIDENT IS ABUSE OF POWER AND
ENDANGERING OUR SECURITY AND WE
NEED TO GET THE FACTS AND PUT
THE RULE OF LAW FIRST.
>> JASON: AND I HEARD YOU SAY
FACTS FIRST, DOES THAT MEAN YOU
DON’T WANT TO SEE A FLOOR VOTE
LIKE THE PRESIDENT AND
REPUBLICANS CALL FOR?
>> NOTHING IN OUR CONSTITUTION
REQUIRES A FLOOR VOTE.
WE’VE CERTAINLY BEEN RUNNING THE
INQUIRY THROUGH TRANSPARENCY AND
PRESS CONFERENCES AND WE WANT TO
SEE THE WHISTLEBLOWER COME IN
AND TESTIFY, BUT I THINK HOW
WE’RE DOING THIS IS THE RIGHT
APPROACH FOR RIGHT NOW.
>> JASON: YOU’VE BEEN HOME FOR A
LITTLE WHILE TALKING TO
CONSTITUENTS CLEARLY THERE ARE A
LOT OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN THEIR
DISTRICT WHEN THEY PUSH BACK ON
THIS AND SAY THIS IS NOT WHAT
YOU SHOULD BE DOING?
>> WELL, LOOK, EVERYONE WANTS
THOSE IN ELECTED OFFICE TO
SUCCEED BECAUSE THEIR SUCCESS IS
OUR SUCCESS, BUT WE ALSO WANT
THE RULE OF LAW AND SO I’VE ALSO
PUT A PREMIUM ON TRANSPARENCY.
I’VE HAD ALMOST 20 DOWN HALLS
AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS,
COFFEE HOURS, OFFICE HOURS SINCE
I’VE BEEN INTO OFFICE AND I’M
HEARING FROM PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES
OF THE AISLE, THOSE LIKE ME WHO
WERE RELUCTANT TO CALL FOR
INQUIRY.
INQUIRY. THOSE STICKING BY THE PRESIDENT.
I’M HEARING THEIR CONCERNS AND
MAKING THE CASE AS WELL AS
TALKING ABOUT THINGS WE CAME TO
CONGRESS TO GET DONE.
WE PUSH FOR IT AND THE GREAT
BILLS OF LOWERING THE COSTS ON
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND LOWERING
THE OVERALL COST OF HEALTH CARE.
I’M A CHAMPION FOR OUR
MANUFACTURING ECONOMY.
MANUFACTURING ECONOMY. I’VE ALSO MET WITH DOZENS AND
DOZENS OF SMALL AND MID-SIZED
MANUFACTURERS, OUR TRAINING
CENTERS AND HAVE EVEN PASSED A
COUPLE OF GREAT BILLS ON THAT
FRONT.
FRONT. >> JASON: DO YOU WORRY ALL OF
THOSE ISSUES, AS IMPORTANT AS
THEY ARE, SEEM TO FLOAT INTO THE
BACKGROUND NOW WHEN IT’S ALL
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT AND
IMPEACHMENT?
IMPEACHMENT? >> I’D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO TUNE INTO THE WORK IN
CONGRESS, I’M ON THE SCIENCE
COMMITTEE AND GET TO HOLD A
GAVEL ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AND
WE’RE BRINGING TO HEARING TO
SMART CITIES AND HOSTING THAT IN
LIVONIA, THE BREAD AND BUTTER
WORK OF CONGRESS.
MAYBE IT’S NOT FLASHING EVERY
MINUTE IN YOUR TWITTER FEED, BUT
IT’S MOVING THE NEEDLE AROUND
OUR FUTURE EXCESS TIFF--
COMPETITIVENESS AND THAT’S GOING
TO TRANSFORM AN ECONOMY LIKE
OURS.
OURS. >> JASON: YOU MENTIONED THE OATH
OF OFFICE AND SIGN ON FOR THE
INQUIRY AND YOU HAVE TO BE ALL
IN AND ARE YOU WORRIED?
IS IT WORTH IT IF IT COSTS YOU
YOUR REELECTION?
YOUR REELECTION? >> THIS IS NOT POLITICAL FOR ME.
TRULY.
TRULY. I’M THERE WITH A VOTING CARD ON
BEHALF OF OUR DISTRICT AND
PASSING LEGISLATION THAT’S
IMPERATIVE TO OUR NATIONAL
AGENDA AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO
AS AN AGENDA, BUT WE REALLY
CAN’T BE DIVIDED ON THE RULE OF
LAW.
LAW. WE CAN’T BE DIVIDED ON ABUSES OF
POWER AND THINGS ENDANGERING OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
NATIONAL SECURITY. WHILE IT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT I
RAN ON AND NOT SOMETHING I LOOK
ON AS A PLEASANT ACTIVITY.
I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD DO BOTH
AND THAT’S WHY MY CRITICAL ROLE
ON THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE AND ON
EDUCATION AND LABOR, I’M STILL
STANDING UP AND DELIVERING FOR
MICHIGANDERS.
MICHIGANDERS. >> YOU ARE.
AS A FRESHMAN LAWMAKER, DID IT
CATCH YOU OFF GUARD WHEN THERE’S
A NEW ATTACK AD OUT AGAINST YOU,
I’M SURE YOU’VE SEEN IT ACCUSING
YOU OF ALIGNING WITH RADICAL
SOCIALISTS AND SUPPORTING THE
INQUIRY WHEN YOU SHOULD BE
PUTTING PETTY POLICIES ASIDE TO
GET TO WORK.
IS THAT A FAIR CRITICISM?
>> I TELL EVERYBODY, SHUT OUT
THE NOISE AND LISTEN TO WHAT HAS
BEEN DONE.
BEEN DONE. I PASS ADD PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL BILL, THE
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING LEADERSHIP ACT, ANOTHER BILL I
PASSED WITH TWO CONGRESSMEN FROM
OHIO AND THAT’S THE ONLY TIME--
IN TERMS OF THE DELIVERY AGENDA,
I’M PROUD OF WHAT I’VE BEEN ABLE
TO ACCOMPLISH THUS FAR IN
CONGRESS AND I’M CERTAINLY NOT
STOPPING.
STOPPING. >> JASON: YOU JUMPED INTO THE
GUN DEBATE AND THIS WAS, I THINK
THIS SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE
YOU WOULD HOLD A TOWN HALL AT A
GUN RANGE TO TALK ABOUT GUN
SAFETY AND GUNS PERIOD.
AND IT GOT PRETTY CONTENTIOUS.
HOW DID THAT--
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE
IDEA TO DO THAT?
IT SEEMED A LITTLE RISKY.
>> WILL ISSEN, THIS IS AN ISSUE
THAT PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT
ON BOTH SIDES.
CERTAINLY WE RESPECT THE SECOND
AMENDMENT AND THE GREAT SPORT OF
HUNTING AND RIVALRY AND THE
TRADITIONS WE HAVE HERE IN
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. IN FACT THE LOCATION WE WERE AT
REMINDED ME WHERE I WENT TO
SUMMER CAMP.
SUMMER CAMP. I GREW UP DOING TOES THINGS.
SO WE WERE THERE TO TALK ABOUT
GUN SAFETY AND ALSO, YOU KNOW,
SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT
WE’VE PUT INTO PLACE, THAT
90-SOME PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC WANTS TO SEE WITH JUST
THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, THE
UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND
WE PASSED IT THROUGH THE HOUSE
AND IT’S SITTING ON MITCH
MCCONNELL’S PAST AND SAVE LIVES
AND CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES.
LET’S MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE LYING
ON THOSE WITH THE BACKGROUND
CHECKS AND LYING AND TRYING AND
TEAS ANOTHER BIPARTISAN BILL
THAT I’M WORKING ON AND MY
CONSTITUENTS KNOW, I’M THERE FOR
THEM AND I’M CERTAINLY GOING TO
BE DOING THE RIGHT THING TO GET
THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR THE SAFETY
THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR
SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> JASON: IS IT EASY TO DO THAT
WHEN THE CONVERSATION ITSELF IS
SO DIFFICULT.
SO DIFFICULT. EVEN AT THE TOWN HALL.
IT ENDS UP PEOPLE SHOUTING AT
EACH OTHER.
EACH OTHER. CAN WE EVEN HAVE A CIVILIZED
CONVERSATION ABOUT GUNS
ANYWHERE, ABOUT ANYTHING,
REALLY?
REALLY? >> ONE OF THE BEST THINGS, YOU
KNOW, THAT I THINK IS TO COME
OUT OF THE DIE LOGS THAT WE HAVE
AND OUR CONSTITUENTS IS I HAD A
WOMAN COME UP TO ME, SHE WAS AT
THAT TOWN HALL AND SHE SAID I’M
A GUN OWNER AND I THINK SHE
MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
CLUB, I’M NOT SURE, BUT YOU
KNOW, I WANT THIS COMMON SENSE
GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION.
THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS THAT
HAVE CONTINUED, YOU KNOW, COMING
OUT OF THAT AND YOU KNOW, IT’S
PART OF THE--
I’VE HEARD FROM SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND I SAID, HEY,
YEAH, WE’RE GOING TO KEEP
WORKING TOWARDS GETTING THESE
BILLS PASSED AND WE’VE GONE OVER
AND TRIED TO TALK TO SENATOR
MCCONNELL AND ASK WHY THERE’S
THIS STOP GAP RIGHT NOW, IN OUR
CONGRESS.
CONGRESS. THIS IS NOT HOW OUR FOUNDERS
INTENDED THIS, RIGHT?
OUR FOUNDERS DIDN’T INTEND TO
SEND, YOU KNOW, 435 PEOPLE TO
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
100 TO THE SENATE JUST FOR US TO
STALL.
STALL. IT’S NOT LEGISLATING THROUGH THE
LENS OF I, WE’RE THERE FOR THE
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. I’M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE
TRENCHES WITH MY CONSTITUENTS
HEARING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING
ON THEIR MIND.
>> JASON: LET ME GET YOUR TAKE
ON A COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE I
LET YOU GO.
AS WE TAPE THIS, THE GM-UAW
STRIKE CONTINUES.
STRIKE CONTINUES. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY’RE MAKING
HEADWAY.
HEADWAY. AS SOMEBODY ON THE AUTO BAILOUT
OBAMA TEAM, WHAT DO YOU THINK
THAT THE UAW AND GM EACH NEED TO
DO TO END THIS?
>> I TRY NOT TO INTERJECT IN THE
DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT OF EITHER
ENTERPRISE.
ENTERPRISE. I’LL SAY SOMETHING, AS SOMEBODY
WHO CARES PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE
VALUE OF WORK, OUR BEST IN CLASS
M MICHIGAN, SELLING PRODUCT TO
98% OF THE CONSUMERS WHO LIVE
OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTRY’S
BORDERS, THAT’S SO IMPORTANT,
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT WORK IS ACTUALLY VALUED AND
THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’RE
HEARING FROM THE WORKERS HERE.
>> JASON: LET ME ASK YOU
TARIFFS.
TARIFFS. THIS TRADE WAR WORTH IT?
>> WHAT WE KNOW WE WANT TO GET
TOUGH ON CHINA AND WE DON’T WANT
TO GO IT ALONE.
UNILATERAL TAKE ON CHINA AT THE
EXPENSE OF OUR CONSUMERS AND
MANUFACTURERS, IT’S COSTING ALL
OF US.
OF US. AND I’M TALKING TO MANY WHO SAY
MY MARGINS ARE TOO TIGHT AND I
MIGHT BE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.
THAT’S NOT RIGHT FOR MICHIGAN’
ECONOMY.
ECONOMY. >> JASON: HALEY STEVENS, THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE’LL BE BACK WITH THE ROUND
TABLE ON THIS SUNDAY.
STAY WITH US.