Former GOP State Senate Leader Talks North Korea and Part-Time Legislature

“I really don’t know if you can honestly negotiate in a reasonable way” with North Korea, says Randy Richardville.

Jake Neher/WDET

With tensions rising with North Korea, the impending G20 Summit, and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley’s new part-time legislature initiative, this week has been full of news.

Randy Richardville, former Republican state Senate majority leader, joins Stephen Henderson on Detroit Today to discuss both North Korea and the idea of a part-time Legislature.

Richardville says we assume most countries have some form of common sense. However, he says North Korea is like something from a horror movie.

“I really don’t know if you can honestly negotiate in a reasonable way with a dictator who runs a country the way North Korea’s being run,” says Richardville.

He says it’s important that the United States negotiates from a position of strength.

When it comes to Calley and his proposal, Richardville says the lieutenant governor has worked hard for the past six and a half years and is impressed by his career so far. But, he says he doesn’t support the idea. He says legislators already spend too little time in Lansing getting to know the legislative process and the nuances of each issue.

Click on the audio play above to hear the full conversation.

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  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.