Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Live across the Great Lake State. You're connected to Michigan's
most engaging and influential radio and television program, Michigan's Big
Show starring Michael Patrick Shields, presented by Blue Cross, Blue
Shield Michigan and Blue Care Network.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm producer and creative director Tony Cuthberts.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Now in the shadow of the Capitol Dome and Lancing.
He's heard from the beaches of Lake Michigan, to the
halls of power and behind closed doors. Here's Michigan's Michael
Patrick Shields. Michael Patrick Shields, You're either a Broadway star
or a serial killer.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I'm kind of a big d l Bill Curtis, Well,
you are a big so you Stay classy, Michael.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Michael Patrick Shields is on the air.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Good morning world, Stay classy. Representative Steve Cara from Three Rivers,
the Republican who's on our radio stage for the first
time here in twenty twenty six Western Michigan University graduate
and we appreciate your time this morning. Welcome to the airwaves.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Good morning, good to be on.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
You have been very creative on social media lately and
very entertaining, I might say too, and thought provoking at
the same time, which is nice to have a spoonful
of sugar with the medicine.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I might say, yes, I like to try to teach
through satire and I'm finding some new ways of doing
it and it's been good in getting a message out there.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
So if you want to see and hear what I'm
talking about, find Steve Kara, the state represented Kara, State
Representative on social media and you can laugh along at
home too, and you can probably be provoked into some
level of action politically by what he's doing. And I noticed,
in fact, just the other day the governor just yesterday
(01:54):
decided to do her own social media and she was
at the auto show and it sounds like this.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Thanks Grutching. So we are here at the Troit Auto Show,
downtown Detroit, the best auto show in North America. It's
an exciting time to come down and check it out.
Be safe on those roads, it's a little hazardous out there.
And now I'm going to kick it over to big
grutch on the show floor. Thanks Gretchen. Thanks Gretchen. I'm
here on the floor. It's so exciting. Vibes are immaculate,
(02:22):
and I'm out here by GM. They're rampant up for Catilest.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Anyway, the point of it is that you can hear
she's tossing it from Gretchen to Gretchen and trying to
have some fun with it and so forth. And I
guess that's the modern era of politics. Have you seen
that clip and what do you think of her? I
don't know if you'd call it satire. Schmaltz maybe is
more what it is.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, no, I had not seen that one, but she
was doing similar with the football with Barry Sanders, tossing
the ball back and forth, and so I interjected myself
into that conversation, and I thought it made it for
some pretty good material.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
You did that with some crafty editing where you were
inserted into the all and that's what that's been getting
my attention. So I've been eager to speak to you
about this approach that you call satire, and it certainly is.
But I would say you are, well, you've got a
burr in your saddle about the governor. It seems she
(03:19):
seems to be the focus of your clips.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Why, well, she gives well, she gives me a lot
of good material to work with, unfortunately, but that's that's
just how it goes, and you know there's going to
be some other stuff coming out soon where there will
be some other people featured in some of my content.
But just just trying to make a difference, and sometimes
(03:42):
it's easier to get people's attention if you get to
the point of some facts while also giving a little
bit of humor along the way.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Well, we only have a few more months to go
with this governor. But what has happened so far and
the way she governs now you seem to take particular
issue with Can you tell us why.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
My biggest issue and difference, i'd say is regarding corporate giveaways.
She likes to take money from the hardworking people of
Michigan and give it to the politically connected. I was
very grateful to see the results from twenty twenty five
that there was no new legislative directed corporate handouts zero
dollars in twenty twenty five. That was fantastic, and that's
(04:25):
thanks to Republican leadership, the work that we've done in committee,
and hopefully that continues. But we definitely have come to
breaks and I think that the people of Michigan need
tax relief, not more money taken from them for the
publically connected.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Another form of tax relief you've been connected with is
the idea that if you don't have children in public schools,
you should get a break on your property taxes.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yes, that's correct. In Michigan, we spend on average twenty
one thousand, six hundred and twenty nine dollars per government
educated That is a whole like of a lot of
money compared to private schools, which range between fifty two
hundred typically to ninety five hundred on the high end.
Certainly there are private schools that are more expensive, but
(05:13):
like Milton Freeman says, the government does things at twice
the cost of the private sector. In the case of
government education, it's over twice that amount.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
This proposal, as I'm reading, would exempt seventy two percent
of Michigan households from the portion of property tax that
supports the government school system. That's a pretty big number
and a pretty big financial loss for funding the schools,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yes, that is about seven billion dollars less in money
that the schools would get. Not sure how many students
would still use the government schools, but it would still
add up to sixteen thousand dollars on average per government
educated child once it's fully phased in over five years,
which is still substantially more than the private schools get.
(06:00):
So twenty two billion dollars in funding compared to the
twenty nine billion dollars they're currently getting, and that's far
more money than the private schools are using. I think
we need to find ways to use the money that
we have better and not continue to throw more money
at a failing system as it continues to fail worse
and worse.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
That's really what the proposal is about, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
I mean, everybody would still be contributing through sales tax
and income tax regardless of whether or not they're using
government education. They play the lottery, synd taxes, there's all
kinds of different revenue streams that help to fund government education.
This would just give some much needed property tax relief
to the seventy two percent of households in Michigan who
(06:44):
are not using the government schools. It makes that portion simple.
If you use the government school you pay the property tax.
If you don't use it, you don't pay the property
property tax, but you still chip in with all the
other forms of taxation.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
You could make the argument that if you live in Michigan,
you are benefiting from educated children, even if they're not
your own.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
People will make that argument, and I also will make
that argument because that doesn't simply mean that government is
the one doing the education. There's a lot of very
intelligent people who come out of the private education or
out of homeschooling, and so we benefit off of the
good education in other ways. We put that up to
what we're getting in government schools these days. I want
(07:30):
a good education, and it's not convinced government education is
doing the best we can do.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Catholic schools, I suppose, should be added to that list
as well of options. But the government doesn't want you
sending your kids to any of those schools, not even
charter schools. Correct, at least not this administration.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
It seems like they don't want you to. I mean,
of course they get more funding for the government schools
and for their teachers' unions and squandering money on inefficient
ways instead of focusing on reading, writing, and arithmetic. But
my focus is on better education, not necessarily government education.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Well, thank you very much for the call. A happy
new year to you, and you have a very strong
gift for getting attention to issues that are important to you,
sometimes in very controversial ways, but nevertheless that's the modern
era of media and governing. Steve kra from West Michigan
(08:28):
with Michael Patrick Shields three Rivers. That's where he's from.
It's Michael Patrick with you business leaders from Michigan. Says
the next governor ought to focus on education no matter
who the governor is. The workforce and business fundamentals too.
More to come, Michael Patrick Shields. Don't forget too. Oakland
(08:50):
University is waiting for you with degree and certificate programs
and you can learn more about education there at Oakland
dot edu.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
Bringing a happy and healthy new year with Wycoff Wellness
and Saved. Save twenty percent all January on our quality
supplements in the office or online at Wycoff Wellness dot com.
Save twenty percent on all treatments including ubi ozone, intervenous confusions,
callon hydrotherapy, kalation, snotherapy and more. Get on your pathway
(09:20):
to wellness with our help. The why Coff Wellness Functional
Medicine approach will find the root cause of your cronic
health concerns such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, hormone, the balance
and weight save on our GLP one weight loss program
and get your first eight weeks of name brand medication
for free this month. Call five one seven three three
three seven two seven zero and make your appointment at
(09:43):
our East Lansing office today. Begin this year with a
new outlook and let us help improve your health and
wellness naturally. Learn more at Wycoff Wellness dot com or
call five to one seven three three three seventy two
seventy Wycoff Wellness. Our results can change your life.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
Looking for your next sunny getaway, whether it's to your
favorite theme park, relaxing beach time, a golf trip, or
just feeling the sun on your face. Breeze Airways as
you covered with convenient, non stop flights from Lansing's Capital
Region International Airport to sunny Orlando and Fort Myers. Travel
with these by visiting Flybreeze dot com or by downloading
(10:23):
the Breeze app Fly Lancing on Breeze Airways seriously nice.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
We're always upgrading phones, cars, tech, but what about the
energy systems we all rely on.
Speaker 7 (10:36):
That's exactly what Enbridge is doing, investing in the energy
systems that help keep energy reliable and affordable for Michigan
families and businesses today and tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
So it's about keeping Michigan's energy moving exactly.
Speaker 7 (10:50):
Smart investments help keep energy secure and affordable for everyone.
Learn more at enbridge dot com. Slash Michigan Enbridge Tomorrow
is on al
Live across the Great Lake State. You're connected to Michigan's
most engaging and influential radio and television program, Michigan's Big
Show starring Michael Patrick Shields, presented by Blue Cross, Blue
Shield Michigan and Blue Care Network.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm producer and creative director Tony Cuthberts.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Now in the shadow of the Capitol Dome and Lancing.
He's heard from the beaches of Lake Michigan, to the
halls of power and behind closed doors. Here's Michigan's Michael
Patrick Shields. Michael Patrick Shields, You're either a Broadway star
or a serial killer.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I'm kind of a big d l Bill Curtis, Well,
you are a big so you Stay classy, Michael.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Michael Patrick Shields is on the air.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Good morning world, Stay classy. Representative Steve Cara from Three Rivers,
the Republican who's on our radio stage for the first
time here in twenty twenty six Western Michigan University graduate
and we appreciate your time this morning. Welcome to the airwaves.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Good morning, good to be on.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
You have been very creative on social media lately and
very entertaining, I might say too, and thought provoking at
the same time, which is nice to have a spoonful
of sugar with the medicine.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I might say, yes, I like to try to teach
through satire and I'm finding some new ways of doing
it and it's been good in getting a message out there.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
So if you want to see and hear what I'm
talking about, find Steve Kara, the state represented Kara, State
Representative on social media and you can laugh along at
home too, and you can probably be provoked into some
level of action politically by what he's doing. And I noticed,
in fact, just the other day the governor just yesterday
(01:54):
decided to do her own social media and she was
at the auto show and it sounds like this.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Thanks Grutching. So we are here at the Troit Auto Show,
downtown Detroit, the best auto show in North America. It's
an exciting time to come down and check it out.
Be safe on those roads, it's a little hazardous out there.
And now I'm going to kick it over to big
grutch on the show floor. Thanks Gretchen. Thanks Gretchen. I'm
here on the floor. It's so exciting. Vibes are immaculate,
(02:22):
and I'm out here by GM. They're rampant up for Catilest.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Anyway, the point of it is that you can hear
she's tossing it from Gretchen to Gretchen and trying to
have some fun with it and so forth. And I
guess that's the modern era of politics. Have you seen
that clip and what do you think of her? I
don't know if you'd call it satire. Schmaltz maybe is
more what it is.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, no, I had not seen that one, but she
was doing similar with the football with Barry Sanders, tossing
the ball back and forth, and so I interjected myself
into that conversation, and I thought it made it for
some pretty good material.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
You did that with some crafty editing where you were
inserted into the all and that's what that's been getting
my attention. So I've been eager to speak to you
about this approach that you call satire, and it certainly is.
But I would say you are, well, you've got a
burr in your saddle about the governor. It seems she
(03:19):
seems to be the focus of your clips.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Why, well, she gives well, she gives me a lot
of good material to work with, unfortunately, but that's that's
just how it goes, and you know there's going to
be some other stuff coming out soon where there will
be some other people featured in some of my content.
But just just trying to make a difference, and sometimes
(03:42):
it's easier to get people's attention if you get to
the point of some facts while also giving a little
bit of humor along the way.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Well, we only have a few more months to go
with this governor. But what has happened so far and
the way she governs now you seem to take particular
issue with Can you tell us why.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
My biggest issue and difference, i'd say is regarding corporate giveaways.
She likes to take money from the hardworking people of
Michigan and give it to the politically connected. I was
very grateful to see the results from twenty twenty five
that there was no new legislative directed corporate handouts zero
dollars in twenty twenty five. That was fantastic, and that's
(04:25):
thanks to Republican leadership, the work that we've done in committee,
and hopefully that continues. But we definitely have come to
breaks and I think that the people of Michigan need
tax relief, not more money taken from them for the
publically connected.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Another form of tax relief you've been connected with is
the idea that if you don't have children in public schools,
you should get a break on your property taxes.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yes, that's correct. In Michigan, we spend on average twenty
one thousand, six hundred and twenty nine dollars per government
educated That is a whole like of a lot of
money compared to private schools, which range between fifty two
hundred typically to ninety five hundred on the high end.
Certainly there are private schools that are more expensive, but
(05:13):
like Milton Freeman says, the government does things at twice
the cost of the private sector. In the case of
government education, it's over twice that amount.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
This proposal, as I'm reading, would exempt seventy two percent
of Michigan households from the portion of property tax that
supports the government school system. That's a pretty big number
and a pretty big financial loss for funding the schools,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yes, that is about seven billion dollars less in money
that the schools would get. Not sure how many students
would still use the government schools, but it would still
add up to sixteen thousand dollars on average per government
educated child once it's fully phased in over five years,
which is still substantially more than the private schools get.
(06:00):
So twenty two billion dollars in funding compared to the
twenty nine billion dollars they're currently getting, and that's far
more money than the private schools are using. I think
we need to find ways to use the money that
we have better and not continue to throw more money
at a failing system as it continues to fail worse
and worse.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
That's really what the proposal is about, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
I mean, everybody would still be contributing through sales tax
and income tax regardless of whether or not they're using
government education. They play the lottery, synd taxes, there's all
kinds of different revenue streams that help to fund government education.
This would just give some much needed property tax relief
to the seventy two percent of households in Michigan who
(06:44):
are not using the government schools. It makes that portion simple.
If you use the government school you pay the property tax.
If you don't use it, you don't pay the property
property tax, but you still chip in with all the
other forms of taxation.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
You could make the argument that if you live in Michigan,
you are benefiting from educated children, even if they're not
your own.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
People will make that argument, and I also will make
that argument because that doesn't simply mean that government is
the one doing the education. There's a lot of very
intelligent people who come out of the private education or
out of homeschooling, and so we benefit off of the
good education in other ways. We put that up to
what we're getting in government schools these days. I want
(07:30):
a good education, and it's not convinced government education is
doing the best we can do.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Catholic schools, I suppose, should be added to that list
as well of options. But the government doesn't want you
sending your kids to any of those schools, not even
charter schools. Correct, at least not this administration.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
It seems like they don't want you to. I mean,
of course they get more funding for the government schools
and for their teachers' unions and squandering money on inefficient
ways instead of focusing on reading, writing, and arithmetic. But
my focus is on better education, not necessarily government education.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Well, thank you very much for the call. A happy
new year to you, and you have a very strong
gift for getting attention to issues that are important to you,
sometimes in very controversial ways, but nevertheless that's the modern
era of media and governing. Steve kra from West Michigan
(08:28):
with Michael Patrick Shields three Rivers. That's where he's from.
It's Michael Patrick with you business leaders from Michigan. Says
the next governor ought to focus on education no matter
who the governor is. The workforce and business fundamentals too.
More to come, Michael Patrick Shields. Don't forget too. Oakland
(08:50):
University is waiting for you with degree and certificate programs
and you can learn more about education there at Oakland
dot edu.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
Bringing a happy and healthy new year with Wycoff Wellness
and Saved. Save twenty percent all January on our quality
supplements in the office or online at Wycoff Wellness dot com.
Save twenty percent on all treatments including ubi ozone, intervenous confusions,
callon hydrotherapy, kalation, snotherapy and more. Get on your pathway
(09:20):
to wellness with our help. The why Coff Wellness Functional
Medicine approach will find the root cause of your cronic
health concerns such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, hormone, the balance
and weight save on our GLP one weight loss program
and get your first eight weeks of name brand medication
for free this month. Call five one seven three three
three seven two seven zero and make your appointment at
(09:43):
our East Lansing office today. Begin this year with a
new outlook and let us help improve your health and
wellness naturally. Learn more at Wycoff Wellness dot com or
call five to one seven three three three seventy two
seventy Wycoff Wellness. Our results can change your life.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
Looking for your next sunny getaway, whether it's to your
favorite theme park, relaxing beach time, a golf trip, or
just feeling the sun on your face. Breeze Airways as
you covered with convenient, non stop flights from Lansing's Capital
Region International Airport to sunny Orlando and Fort Myers. Travel
with these by visiting Flybreeze dot com or by downloading
(10:23):
the Breeze app Fly Lancing on Breeze Airways seriously nice.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
We're always upgrading phones, cars, tech, but what about the
energy systems we all rely on.
Speaker 7 (10:36):
That's exactly what Enbridge is doing, investing in the energy
systems that help keep energy reliable and affordable for Michigan
families and businesses today and tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
So it's about keeping Michigan's energy moving exactly.
Speaker 7 (10:50):
Smart investments help keep energy secure and affordable for everyone.
Learn more at enbridge dot com. Slash Michigan Enbridge Tomorrow
is on al
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