CNN "Newsroom" - Interview with Gretchen Whitmer

Interview

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JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she may start loosening some restrictions while still extending the state's overall stay at home orders. She says new data appeared to show a downward trend in new cases in Michigan, though that before nearly 1,300 new cases were reported yesterday. She says reopening the state has to be done very carefully.

And Governor Whitmer joins me now.

Governor, thanks so much for taking the time this morning.

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): Glad to be with you.

SCIUTTO: So let's begin there with that question, you say the data you received in last week has shown you it's time to re-evaluate the stay at home order. Where do you stand now? Could you be ready to announce as soon as tomorrow reopening some businesses?

WHITMER: Well, I think it's important that as we are navigating steps in this global pandemic, something none of us ever anticipated and certainly none of us have ever confronted, that we are continually assessing the data, understanding what the testing is telling us, understanding our testing capabilities, making sure that our hospitals have the kind of PPE that they need.

You know, being a novel virus, there's no vaccine, there's no cure, it's highly contagious and so we've got to get this right.

I've heard governors across the country on both sides of the aisle say it's not going to be like flipping a light switch. We're not just going to go back to pre-Covid-19 posture. We've got to be strategic and thoughtful. And so every day we're getting more data. Every day we're learning more about this virus. I've got one of the most aggressive orders in the country and so to start to release maybe a few things that are, you know, pose very little risk, I think it's appropriate to keep doing that assessment and we may have some announcements in the -- in the coming days. SCIUTTO: OK. Give us an example of some of those few things that you

would feel comfortable with reopening under restrictions first.

WHITMER: Well, as we are grading every part of our economy, we're assessing risk, asking questions like, is it public facing? Does the majority of the work happen indoors or outdoors? Does it require more than one person using a set of instruments or machinery. All of these are -- so these are three of many questions that we're asking to assess risk inherent in different sectors of our economy.

Now, having one of the more aggressive measures in the country, we are watching other states. So perhaps we can make some changes in the coming days. But I don't want to announce it on the show because I -- we're -- we're -- everything's not finalized, but it's coming.

SCIUTTO: OK. I got it. We'll be -- we'll be watching for that.

Let's talk about the economic damage here. I don't have to remind you of this. And this is happening in states across the country. But your state's been hit particularly hard. Twenty-two percent of workers now out of a job and applying for unemployment insurance.

Given that health experts expect subsequent waves of this in the fall, perhaps in the spring next year, I wonder if you and your state are preparing for long-term joblessness, for people who have -- who are now out of work.

WHITMER: Well, from what we know is that the worst thing we can do is to not be smart about re-engaging and bring on a second wave of Covid- 19. As hard as this economic crisis is on us, we know that a second one would be absolutely devastating. And so that's why as we re- engage, we're going to be really smart about it.

I'll also say, we know that a lot of people are struggling. There's no question. We talked to business owners who spent a lifetime building up their small business and now they're not sure if they're going to make it. It's -- it is heart-wrenching.

But I've also talked to so many Michiganders who have lost a loved one to Covid-19, who are afraid to go back to work. And so, for the health of our business climate, for the health of our people, we've really got to get this right and be data driven, listen to the science, and be smart.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Understood.

On the question of politics, you say on the prospect of being the vice presidential candidate under Joe Biden in the fall, that you'd be willing and honored to serve.

I wonder, given the challenges that Michigan is still facing, with the outbreak, but also the economic damage from this, can Michigan spare its governor if you were chosen and were out on the campaign trail instead of home -- back home in the office doing the job of governor?

WHITMER: I'll be very frank with you. The job that I want is the one that I have. I worked for two years to become the governor of the state of Michigan. And while it's been challenging, and there have been some tough days, there's no place I'd rather be than right here in my home state, making decisions that are saving people's lives.

[09:35:00]

I think it's -- it's -- it's the honor of my lifetime to be here. I am honored to be included in a bigger conversation, but that's not something that I'm promoting. It's not something that I'm spending energy on. Every ounce of energy I have is going into protecting people in Michigan, making sure that we're smart about how we reopen our economy and -- and defeating Covid-19 and enlisting every support I can get in that fight. We can't have politics divide us right now. We have to be united against a virus that is indiscriminative.

SCIUTTO: If asked, would you turn down the job?

WHITMER: You know what, I think Joe Biden would be a phenomenal president. I have -- am a big fan of his. I am a big supporter of his. And I'm going to continue to support him in any way that -- that I can be helpful.

SCIUTTO: Final question, before we go. You recently canceled, as you know, a no bid state contract that was awarded to two firms linked to state and Democratic consultants. Was awarding that contract a mistake?

WHITMER: So, my department of health and human services, so they are not political, they went with a firm that they thought were the best positioned to help in terms of the contact tracing. They didn't go through the appropriate process through our state emergency operations center. I got wind of it and I -- I killed the contract. It is now going through the appropriate process. We will have a new vendor and we will make sure we get this right.

I can't afford to have anyone be suspect of what we're trying to do to protect public health. And that's why I killed the contract.

SCIUTTO: Understood.

Michigan Governor Whitmer, we wish you and the people of Michigan the best of luck as you go through this.

WHITMER: Thank you.

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