 Good afternoon. Thank you for being here. My name is Wendy Knight. I'm the commissioner of tourism and marketing I had an opportunity to speak with a reporter yesterday from the Wall Street Journal Who said that Vermonters were insufferable because we take ourselves too seriously So in the interest of not taking myself too seriously I wanted to first acknowledge that this is a little intimidating being here with you guys like this I should feel a little bit more comfortable. I'm a former journalist, so I will warn you that I've been known to mispronounce names I can't even say the correct acronym for the agency that I work for what rolls out of my mouth is ACDC not ACCD So I forewarned you that I may make some mistakes here The Department of Tourism and Marketing is responsible for promoting Vermont as a tourism destination and bringing 13 million people into the state every year with an economic impact of 2.6 billion dollars Increasingly the marketing and content and writing expertise of the department including Vermont life is being tapped to help build and Grow the Think Vermont Economic Development initiative. So that's why we're here today to talk about tourism and the intersection of economic Development, I'm pleased that the governor was available to announce this exciting initiative. Hopefully I don't get your name Wrong while I introduce you. It's my honor and privilege to introduce Governor Phil Scott Well, thank you Wendy Thank You Commissioner Knight I'm pleased to announce today a new economic development tourism initiative launched this week It's called stay-to-stay weekends as you know for years on average We've lost six workers from our workforce every single day. We still have about 15,000 fewer workers than we did in 2009 That's why expanding our workforce is one of the top priorities of my administration So we must think outside the box about how to help more Vermonters and to the labor force and to attract more Working families and young professionals to Vermont And that's exactly what the Department of Tourism and Marketing did as it created this program for out-of-state visitors Who may be interested in living living full-time in Vermont? This unique lodging and networking package will be piloted piloted in three regions Rutland Brattleboro and Bennington, Manchester Over four separate weekends throughout the year the department is partnering with local chambers Young professional networks and regional development commissions on this initiative I'm pleased to have some of these partners here today Adam Grenold from the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp and Mary Cohen from the Rutland region regional Chamber of Commerce And I want to thank our additional partners as well Including the Rutland Young Professionals the Bennington County Industrial Court the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce and the Shires of Vermont Representing the Bennington in Manchester regions Thank you for your creative and innovative thinking and commitment to working with Commissioner Knight and the entire tourism and marketing team To launch this program Over the three-day state-of-state weekend out-of-state visitors will connect with employers entrepreneurs Potential neighbors and local officials so they can begin to see themselves as Vermonters Beginning on Friday evening guests will be welcomed at a reception hosted by a local chamber or young professional group Where they'll meet community leaders business owners young professionals as well as other visitors interested in moving to Vermont They'll spend the weekend exploring the region and its many attractions and on Monday They'll meet with employers who are hiring Take a drive or walking tour with a realtor a visit an incubator or co-working Space to meet with entrepreneurs and professionals These pre-arranged visits will help them learn about living and working here in Vermont No state is better position for economic development tourism than Vermont We have one of the most iconic brands known throughout the world 13 million people come to Vermont each year with many repeat visitors Because of their strong affinity for Vermont they represent an obvious audience for a targeted program to help people move So instead of just visiting they can live and work here We offer good jobs opportunities for local investment and a great place to live and raise a family State-of-state weekends is part of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development's work to attract new workers and businesses It will also be incorporated into our larger cross-agency effort to recruit and relocate people to Vermont called think for month move We believe this initiative will be an effective tool in the toolbox as we work to reverse our demographic trends It will show showcase our quality of life Micro-target people who have a known attraction to Vermont Incentivize them to move here and provide support and information from the Department of Labor Relocation agents to help them relocate We hope that the legislature will support think for month move this session So we can continue to encourage more people to visit Vermont and experience all the state has to offer I'll turn it back over to Mr. Knight Thank you governor as the governor mentioned we have two of our local partners with us today We're grateful that they could make a trip up Adam granol from the broader rural development credit corporation Yes, and Mary Cohen from the Rutland regional Chamber of Commerce Adam Hello, my name is Adam granol. I am the executive director of the broader world development credit corporation often known as BDCC We are the regional development corporation for Wyndham County. Our affiliate entity sevenths was first formed in 2011 Helps us develop our strategic priorities designed to improve the regional economy Together BDCC and sevenths work closely with the agency of Commerce and Community Development on all things economic development in our region Because of the regional research and strategic planning that we have been doing for several years We've been looking at the workforce challenge deeply In order to understand it and to develop strategies to mitigate existing challenges and future challenges In response, we developed the southern Vermont workforce center of excellence Which takes a systems approach to increasing the town pipeline improving retention of our young people and Increasing demand-driven solutions based on employers needs It's all about connecting people with opportunities here, and this is why we are so excited to partner with the state This administration is increasing the focus and investment on the needs to recruit and retain people We have great jobs great organizations that allow people a promising future here in Vermont But we need to connect people to those opportunities And that then have to tell that story and that's what think for mom and stay to stay are all about The news is full of stories about how competition for workers is tight around the country Think Vermont is about competing for those workers that we need here It's about leveraging all the unique assets that we have here in Vermont, which is not just our awesome quality of place It's the terrific organizations and companies that we can work for and grow It's a great place to start and grow a business And it's our communities and our people Stay to stay is helping connect us with people who can thrive here And it's helping them connect with jobs so they too can come to monitors and grow with us As we say in southern Vermont come to Vermont for a weekend become a rematcher for life Thank you for the opportunity to support this program The Rutland County community is very pleased to participate in the state-to-state pilot program It's innovative way fits perfectly into the Rutland County's regional marketing initiative and efforts to help reverse the population trend and Support employers in their quest for a robust workforce We are on board with the governor and the Vermont Department of Tourism and look forward to our region and other work regions working collaboratively with the state to address our economic development needs as Marketing efforts like the regional marketing initiative and think Vermont move get in gear to attract people to our region and our state We are well poised to welcome them We do have an iconic brand like the governor said and a great quality of life with outdoor assets Surrounding us if we match this with one of many with one of our many career opportunities offered throughout the state We have a home run an exciting component of the state-to-state program is the important role our logic partners play And converting our visitors to residents our large in partners are in the front line in our very Skilled at making our visitors feel welcome as we all work collaboratively to share the extraordinary assets of the state I truly believe our efforts will result in success Again the Rutland region appreciates the opportunity to participate in the state-to-state program and work with the very notable think Vermont move campaign Thank You Adam. Thank You Mary. We're going to open up to questions So how much money do you need from the legislature for the state-to-state? Yeah Let me explain that this pilot program is being launched in three communities with existing FY 18 funds We've allocated up to $50,000 in a paid media campaign. We expect that we're going to earn Achieve some earned media so we may not spend all 50,000 But this this pilot program is with FY 18 funding Okay, well the governor mentioned asking for this lecture. Well, this is for the think Vermont move Campaign that we had initiated We're still hopeful that we'll get that through in the budget in some respect It doesn't appear that it's included in what was passed out of the Appropriations committee in the house at this point, but we're still hopeful that they'll see the merits of this because I'm a demographic Friends and what the challenges that we're facing we need to do something different than we're doing today So that's why it's exciting to see this. This is more of a grassroots effort where people are working together Across different regions in order to see what works and then reflect on that. What makes you think people are going to want to participate in this? Well, I think it's been used in other areas. So I'm like when yeah So organically what we hear from our lodging partners in our industry hospitality partners is that when people come to state of Vermont They express a desire to want to live here full-time and often we see that when visitors come They do move here full-time so that we know it happens organically what we trying what we're trying to do with this program is Create a structured weekend around that that's built towards not the visitor that wants a ski vacation or a romantic Getaway, but that someone that actually is thinking about living here or would like to live here And that's why the elements of it pertain to what it would be like to live here So we already know that people express interest in living here And so this is designed to get them to come up kind of a toe in the water to see me to keep people Experience from what they go around with a realtor or they can meet with employers that are hiring they can check out an incubator space There's networking opportunities for them to connect with other People that are interested in living here Neighbors potentially entrepreneurs. So we're trying to create this effort and then when they go home There's that connection. So actually one of the inspirations from for this program was what Rutland's doing in Their community with their marketing initiative and they had had a great story that they shared with me when I went to visit About a couple who came to you should tell the story So we were having winterfest week in Rutland last year in February and there was it was a beautiful day We were having an ice sculpture contest in our main street park and there was a young couple that stopped by Investigating they had come to me to Vermont from New Jersey for the weekend and they were thinking about moving their family and friends All thought they were crazy, but they were really considering it. So they were coming up for the weekend They happened upon our ice sculpting contest and and started talking to somebody about the chance of moving And so immediately said oh go talk to the chamber. They're doing the whale sculpture over there so inevitably they came over and we started talking and and and Figuring out what their interests were They were spending that the that night actually was Saturday that evening in northern Vermont Exploring some of the areas there But what we did was got their name and we said what what kind of work do you do? What industry are you in and we started connecting the dots from them? And that's just one example And if we can make those connections and continue those conversations with people who are considering this I think we'll be successful and the state-to-state program fits right in with that How do you identify? potential targets Target visitors who might be interested in the extended stay and you know spending it It sounds a little you know odd to say you know come here and ski in the visitor factory So how do you how do you identify the people who might be most amenable to this right? So the way we're promoting it is we're using our social media channels. We have a consumer network that has over a hundred and fifty thousand Subscribers and Steve cook the deputy commissioner can talk a little bit about what we've been seeing so far just in the two days That we've launched the program What we're doing is we're focusing on industry and market segments that are Have key positions that we're working to try to fill here in Vermont and What our understanding is from what we've learned from people who've relocated to Vermont is they had some type of connection Initially with the state whether it was visiting as a vacation destination a family connection College experience here in the state. So we really feel that these are our most likely candidates. So we are Communicating directly to consumers who have some type of affiliation in Vermont, whether it be through University vacation Or a connection through visiting the state as a vacation And does the state cover any element of the lodging and Food costs that they'll incur while they're here is that on that? No, this is on their dime So we are inviting guests to come up and experience Vermont as they might as a Vermonter, but these are people who are going to pay for their Their trip here. The idea wasn't to subsidize people It's just to make it a package that would appeal to those people that are interested in living here We will have incentives for example when they leave on Monday We'll have incentives for them to return and to experience for monigan We have talked about again This is a pilot program. So we're working really closely with the local chambers and young professional networks to treat the program And we have talked about having some incentives And in the beginning so that would bring them up here in the first place We've talked about having some lodging discounts But we decided we needed to get the program running and then as we you know roll along to June or August or October then we can change change the incentives and change the program a little bit Do you have a target number? What will be ideal? So in our strategic plan that we have presented to the governor's office We are on the hook for recruiting and getting a thousand participants to come to the state of state weekend So that was the the strategic goal that we put out there I will also mention that in the department strategic goal We have a goal of increasing our average length of stay And we also have a goal of increasing our the revenue that comes from the rooms and meals tax So from our perspective a tourism perspective even if nobody Decides to live here. We are achieving our goals of Building awareness of Vermont as a place to live and grow not just to visit We are Expanding our average length to stay because this is a three-day weekend and then we're increasing our rooms and meals tax So from our perspective, there's no downside And are you gonna track those thousand people and see how many actually absolutely? So how far out will you need to track to know if this is a success from that perspective? I think that we talked about that we would look at it I mean we're going to be looking at it as it goes We you know as the pilot court it kind of progresses, but we would look that on a yearly basis So we would be able to look at their their tax filings And would you look at other parts of the state too you mentioned it's starting with Brattleboro Bennington Yes, but might northern Vermont be absolutely. Yeah, we've had a lot of interest from other communities Interested in participating both lodging properties and chambers and young professional networks And so the idea is to pilot this see how it works if it's successful And we get some additional funding then we can expand the program to some additional communities I mean our hope is that we would have you know a stay-to-stay weekend in every single County You know and we would have more than four weekends right now We've just started with four weekends But the idea is for there's no reason why you couldn't have them once a month for example in every single County But we need additional funding for that and we need to see how this actually works out. This is a strange question I know both of you have children who live out of state. Have you asked them? What would it take to get you to move back to Vermont? I Have asked my daughter many times a good opportunity job and again an affordable place to live I think that that those are two things They understand the quality of life. They'd love to come back at some point But they're still looking for that opportunity and and being able to find housing that they could afford My daughter hates the snow so she's never coming back Except to visit She comes back to visit but so Yep, April 6th through 9th June 1st through 4th August 10th through 13th and October I have to give you the 29th through 31st 26 it's on the website And I I can I can get that it's Vermont vacation calm slash stay to stay So not during leaf season We did it at the tail end of right after Columbus Day Yeah, we didn't think it we really wanted these weekends to be Weekends where one the lodging properties weren't necessarily packed with Visitors that want to just visit but also the idea is that we have to present Vermont in It's real form and so if people come up in April it might be spring It might be mud season it might be winter. So that's just Vermont So there was there was a no reluctance to try to make it in the the most beautiful times of the year here Gov. Are you on board with the gun legislation? Is there any other questions for any I'm a little bit confused about Sorry For the various programs they've been talked about because I understand that The BAA no longer includes money for the big think Vermont initiative And there's nothing in the 2019 budget and it's not clear to me whatever happened to Vermont life Can you explain where we are with all that stuff? There were a lot of moving pieces. Yeah, I can explain the think Vermont initiative Was in the BAA as we proposed and then they put a placeholder in And at this point in time the house it appears the house of appropriations has decided not to move forward with that initiative at this point but we're only halfway through the session and In the budget in Debated I believe this afternoon Through this week, and then we'll look if it isn't included we'll go to work in the Senate So is Vermont life-dead? No, I don't believe so. In fact, maybe Wendy could talk about this a little bit more But it's it's actually holding its own at this point, which is good news But we think that we could improve on that with this thing for Monta initiative sure But what about the three million dollar debt? Yeah, that's still there At this point in time there was no sufficient bids that came through that would have taken care of that debt So at this point we're again a treading water so to speak Trying to do whatever we can to make sure that doesn't cost the state anymore and and and hopefully Again be able to utilize that mechanism for this think Vermont initiative as well Well again until Until we can come up with a feasible plan to move forward We believe that this with this initiative with this investment and the utilization of Vermont life That we could actually start paying that back, but right now. It's not not feasible. So the Vermont life is now Within the Department of Tourism and Marketing. It wasn't Sent out to bid. I mean it wasn't we didn't have a licensing agreement We didn't accept one of the bids for a licensing agreement. So right now. We're operating it We have a new director of sales. We're operating it successfully. We have a Expectation that we will not run any more deficits So we will not contribute to the debt the larger effort is that if we can Invest the three point two million dollars in a think from out move initiative that we would be bringing more people here That would be increasing the rooms and meals tax revenue And then we would use a portion of that to reinvest into the think from out move and then to pay down Their Vermont life debt. So that's the the existing plan for the thing for how Vermont life fits into think from out move So it's a six million dollar cost then you need three million for think Vermont three million You're carrying in debt for Vermont life. Is that correct? The plan for Vermont life is to take a portion of that and pay down Maybe it's 30, you know $300,000 for ten years and that over a ten-year period Any other questions about Stay to stay Thank you very much So here good with the gondola Things it's my understanding that they're coming closer to agreement on two of the priority bills I think that's a if I have this rate 221 and 422 We'll see how that moves forward over the next few days, but it appears that they're coming to some agreement Something might pass out of the the Senate, I believe, but we'll see as well Yes, or yeah, S55 Will be appears that has moved out of committee or it is going to be If it hasn't already and then be debated on the on the floor this week. So That they've I think they've done some good work within that bill and we'll see how it works out through the house But if you remember, I mean it wasn't one of my priorities But at the same time when we had this discussion, I think was right here in this room It was a talk about whether I supported a ban on assault weapons And I had said I answered that I didn't think that was feasible that you could take up to 23 Dear hunting rifle or a 308 and and it's freely about and you can make it look Intimidating and so forth, but it's the same weapon in some respects But it's the magazine size. So I had said during with my action plan that it's something that should be discussed I still believe it should be discussed I honestly believe that it should be discussed on a national level because it's going to be very hard. I believe to to to try and Oversee in the state, but again if that's included in this bill will take a look and the details do matter on some of those provisions But I think they've they've listened to a lot of Vermonters in that one bill I mean, obviously, you'll take a look at any bill that they put in front of you Are you at this point inclined to support restrictions on magazine capacity? Well, yeah, again I'm the one that somewhat brought that up. So if if it makes it way through its way through as part of this bill and I can see myself supporting that but again details do matter Do you have any plans to participate in the March for our lives? I don't at this point in time. I've I've heard that it's going to be a fairly large participation I don't believe that I've been asked to to to come and speak or Anything of that nature. I do have a couple of other events to attend. We'll see what happens Well, I think their voices do matter and I think that that's important and I would I would say we'll see how many come But but it appears that they're going to be It's going to be a widely attended event And I think it's a good example of how you can make a difference if you if you get active and you Have your voices heard Release the list of bills that you say you'll oppose because of taxes or fees Included in that was s260 the Senate just passed s260 unanimously Are you going to veto that if it lands on your desk? Maybe you could remind me what that's the water quality It would create this Actually, I think a pair of study committees to come up with a long term funding mechanism if it includes a tax or fee And I'll pose it and I wanted to be very clear about that that I said this in the beginning of the session. I know that there was some criticism last year They didn't think that they I don't believe that I was clear enough So I've learned from that experience and decided to initiate this letter Clearly spelling out that I'm not supporting anything on the tax of feet Find another way that bill doesn't actually include a tax or fee it includes a Pathway to what might be a tax or fee proposal next year. Are you saying that you're not even willing to take that step? Well, again, I'm not familiar exactly with the with the details of the bill But if it includes a tax or fee that I would be opposed but you're okay with language that sets out a Study process to examine a funding mechanism Possibly if But again, I'd like to see the details That has been highlighted by my the staff is one that Has a tax or fee But haven't I mean you said we need to figure out the long-term study mechanism believe so. Yes Would it not make sense then to have a process to? cost again, I haven't looked at the bill but But we need to come up with a long-term funding mechanism I do believe that we can have organic growth if we Continue with initiatives like this where we get more people in That we have fewer people leaving the state fewer workers leaving our workforce Then we'll have organic growth. We'll have more general fund dollars as a result I mean you think about the amount of fewer workers in a workforce and what that represents The folks again that buy homes have families utilize services buy products and then pay taxes So if you have a thousand or two thousand fewer every single year that leads to a dramatic decline in revenue So if we can focus on these areas I believe that we'll have general fund dollars to do some of those to perform Some of the cleanup and some of those initiatives, so I I believe there's another way to do it And I think we're moving forward You say we need a long-term funding mechanism But then your office has released a list of bills that is opposed to these soul Legislature, right that would think about the long-term fee this year. No, it would not it would just design one I haven't I haven't looked at it But but again it was on the list of bills that I assume have a tax appeal But you in your letter that was presumably written by you signed by you You said you can't support that bill because quote it requires the design of a fee Okay Well again, I think we do need a long-term mechanism, but I also believe that where there are other avenues to to get to that I believe that senator lehi appeared in in the bill that he is He's offered that Vermont might make up fairly well as some phosphorus money and that I don't know if that will help in this regard But we need to leverage all the assets we can So governor do you support the design of a fee or not? Well, it depends on what the design is We just told you what it is. Yeah, what the bill says Well, no, I guess it depends on what the design of the fee You're talking about if the design Coming up with a design they're studying it right. Yes, right. So we're not talking about a fee in this bill or a tax Yes, or no No, you support the study So I know I don't support the study. Okay Are you really confident that a program like this one you just designed even if it gets to be If it has some success, but there's totally a test is going to bring in enough revenue No, not about this not this one program. No, I mean this think for not initiative Let's think for my move initiative even your other plans to try to recruit more people to come to the state has anybody as your office as your administration Statistical studies then what the likely Revenue consequences of this would be well I know that I know that the the revenue loss as a result of doing nothing as Deteriorated our revenue sources and it's led to the the problems that we face today And so doing nothing I don't believe it was an option and I believe that we need to think outside the box take another initiative As South Dakota did and so forth. So I think that we we have a good product to sell I believe we just need a mechanism to help Incorporate that you Said earlier this week you're going to have your commissioner of public safety look into these allegations of illegal behavior by the government official while you be bought business in China Most of the people who would have any direct knowledge of that have long since left the agency of commerce and community development Will his investigation involve Interviewing people who no longer work for the state of law. I believe what I'd ask our commissioner Anderson to do was to take a look and See if there was anything That it has been done previously was there an investigation done at that point in time if there was allegations at that point Did was there an investigation and if so, what were the details of that? If there was no investigation that he's able to find any evidence of What will your next step? Well, I'd like to hear what what? Russell buyer has to say apparently He is he appears to have what he thinks is credible evidence Regarding that and if so, I look forward for him to him to come forward with that Take a look. It's if there's any credible evidence That would lead us to believe that a state employee was involved in something like that then we should further the investigation At this point in time governor what define credible evidence, please something well again, I would I would Ask our commissioner who is a former u.s. Attorney I'm sure that he could define what he believes credible evidence would be and then take the proper steps And and if if there is something there then we should move forward so the reason I says because you know sometimes Government gets involved in investigations when Allegations are made by a whistleblower and they may or may not have evidence so I guess I don't understand You know when something comes up like this where there are allegations that could be credible why You're not taking any stuff for it or what? Well, I said we are committing why are you committing to an investigation period? I would like to see if there was an investigation done previously Again if there was allegations made and there was evidence before and this somebody came forward with us I would assume that there was some sort of investigation Let's get the details of that before we determine what our next that's so it's been three or four days Don't you know if there's been? I do not at this point in time I know that the commissure has been he's away today for instance. I in anticipation of this I wanted to find out if he'd find out anything, but I wasn't able to get in touch with him So what will you do if there were no what was not well again? I'd like him to review the folder and again as he as a former u.s. Attorney I believe that he would have the expertise to take a look at that and see whether anything is there worth pursuing Has anybody from the executive branch reached out to Russell Barr to see if they're he's willing to show what he has not Not to my knowledge and I believe Russell Barr had said that he was going to come forward with that himself, so I assume that will happen soon Is there any news from USCIS regarding the shutdown of the regional center? Have not heard anything back from them at this point in time and that was a few months ago But we have not heard anything back. We're still continuing We're not taking any new projects on this point and we'd like to wind down that operation I'd like to take another stab at the taxes and fees question because Not to go back and listen to the tape, but it seems like we come out of this more confused than we came in There are items on that list in that letter that do not call for a tax for fee This year and do not establish a tax or fee any time in the future they call for Development of a proposal But the proposal itself would be subject to the legislative approval and your signature at some future date if there is a proposal So it seems like you're moving the goalpost significantly here if you are opposing any bill that might eventually result in a tax They might be there may be another reason as well from my standpoint I might oppose something that sets up, let's say a carbon tax if there was a study done for a carbon tax I would oppose it I think it's a waste of I think it's a waste of resources I think it's a highly regressive tax It would impact many many Vermonters and specifically rule Vermont The s260 is the same thing only on water quality where they are calling for Studying a tax and coming back next year with a tax or fee possible possible over the funding mechanism next year, but s260 itself does not commit the state to collecting diamond I'm sure they can come up with a Some sort of formula for a tax without having a study to do so and imposing that they're pretty creative And I believe that at the same time I've committed to Following through on and we will fund a water quality. We're going to we made a commitment We're going to do that. We'll find the money and we'll move forward Your administration was statutorily required to develop a funding mechanism by November 15th of last year and fail to do so so I think it's a bit of a separation of powers issued there myself, but We we didn't believe that we weren't able to come to agreement on what that would be But we did we did put something forward. We said I said we could use capital fund dollars To do so we could we could make this this happen and we're committed to doing so following through on water quality Is there a plan or just a commitment? What about coverage code? Yeah, that's a very concerning issue for us as a state and particularly some of these rural communities I'm we've been in contact with our commissioner commissioner tyranny who's who's reaching out to other partners to see what we can do to try and bridge this gap Because obviously we want to make sure that these these communities still have cell service become accustomed to having cell service It's not as easy as I thought I thought that maybe Some organization could take over and just just performing the same duties But from a technical aspect, it's not that easy, but we're still working on it And we're hoping that we're going to have a solution I've been talking with legislators as well about working together and trying to figure out how we how we can accomplish this if you get any more thought to The 14 million dollars that hasn't been spoken for in the tobacco settlement how we might want to use that Well, I think they have a plan obviously trying to respect that the deal that was somewhat made The legislature had more authority over the the second 14 million So I'm respecting that they've they come up with I believe 10 million for unfunded liabilities And putting some other other way and utilizing some for uvm in the state colleges, I believe And you agree with that? Well, I think the senate will probably have a position as well I think in fairness this came about we're all fairly surprised by this I hadn't heard that there was a settlement that was imminent And I think this took all of us by surprise and and the house probably didn't have Quite as much time as they'd like to to address this But but putting this money aside as they did I think it's safe And then and they'll probably I would imagine that they will continue to to debate amongst themselves It's the what to do with it But the senate is having some time to reflect on that Go ahead and you've talked about this in the past, but these tariffs on aluminum and steel are set to go in fact tomorrow I'll need I'm sorry too. Yeah, I mean I still have my concerns as to what this will do In terms of retribution, particularly whether our friends the north We I desperately would like to see us come to a conclusion on some sort of agreement with NAFTA That I think that that would be a beneficial to our state and to the country For that matter and and I heard that the Last meeting that they had in montreal was productive They moved they're going to mexico city next and then then end up in washington So we'll watch in Mexico to see how how they if they're able to progress And then become Probably a little bit more active although we we've sent letters and so forth and voiced our concerns about NAFTA All along the process so Again, I have concerns about the tariff though There's a non-story about jpc developers recently about either predecessors staying in an apartment of dill curious I was wondering whether or not you think that That risks the client of the trust for the government whether you see any obligation to do something about it to address it in any way And more generally sort of the status of the state's lawsuit. Yeah In terms of In terms of I read that I hadn't heard that one before but it's obviously concerning. I think it's Maybe poor judgment in terms of Staying it's someone's facility like that, but that's that's just me and we'll we're moving forward on our On our court cases. We're both Defending one against us In in the loyal court But also progressing forward with our our litigation against Quarros and stanger you say it's concerning but not concerning enough to do anything Well, I'm not sure what to do about it to be honest with you. It looks like you may have violated the state's statute Yeah, I'm still not sure what to do about it in terms of whether there was a violation I I still believe that there is An active investigation going on by the u.s. Attorney Maybe that would be covered in that in that investigation, but I don't have any details about either Doesn't the state of interest in in going back and kind of setting things right in terms of any ethical gray areas That may have come up or even lines across during the eb 5 program I mean why not go back and try to figure out what actually happened? Well, we may It may lead to that We need to get the courts Court cases settled Both against us and and ours are prosecuting Stanger and quarrels and then we'll see where we go from there, but that could be years, right? I hope not, but but it could Thank you very much appreciate you coming in