[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," IS INTEGRAL TIME AS THE GENERALS OF THE.

SHOULD TAXPAYERS PAY FOR LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS IN RHODE ISLAND?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US WITH THE ANALYSIS, BROWN UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, WENDY SCHILLER.

ATTORNEY AND LEGAL ANALYST, LOU PULNER.

AND BILL BARTHOLOMEW, THE HOST OF THE BARTHOLOMEWTOWN PODCAST.

WITH A PROJECTED MID-JUNE ADJOURNMENT FORONCE THE BUDGET IS SET, THE END WILL BE NEAR.

THAT MEANS A HEAD FULL OF KEY ISSUES WILL BE VOTED ON OR DIE IN COMMITTEE AS THE BARTERING IN CHAMBERS HAPPENS.

THE LATEST THING WAS LAST NIGHT.

WE ARE TAKEN ON A FRIDAY MORNING.

THE QUALITY IN ABORTION ACT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, NARROWLY PASSED IN A SENATE COMMITTEE.

I REMEMBER HAVING THIS DISCUSSION WHEN THE CODIFIED.

WE WERE ON THIS SET WITH BRANDON BELL TALKING ABOUT CODIFYING ABORTION.

I AM WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS LATEST STEP?

WENDY: I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED AT THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION.

ROSARIO SORT OF MOVING THE BALL FORWARD, HE HAS BEEN HESITANT IN THE PAST.

THERE IS ACCOMMODATION OF ISSUES.

ONE IS MEDICAID, THE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR LOW, -- FOR LOW INCOME AND THEN STATE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS KIND OF COVERAGE.

MARRYING THEM TOGETHER MAKES THIS POLITICALLY MORE PALATABLE, EASIER TO SELL THAN JUST DOING IT FOR PEOPLE ON MEDICAID.

JIM: THE OPPONENTS WHERE I DON'’T WANT MY TAX MONEY GOING FOR SOMETHING THIS MORALLY A PROBLEM.

WENDY: THIS IS THE ARGUMENT SINCE 1978, SINCE THE HYDE AMENDMENT SAYING NO FEDERAL DOLLARS COULD BE SPENT TOWARDS THE TERMINATION OF PREGNANCIES.

IF YOU ARE STATE EMPLOYEES, YOU ARE PAYING TAXES, TOO.

WHEN IT SAYS MY TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THERE ARE MAC -- THERE ARE TAXPAYERS -- SOME WOULD GET MEDICAID ARE VERY POOR THEY ARE ALSO PAYING TAXES.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THIS ALSO PAY TAXES.

>> THE DUBS CASE OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE RESERVED ALL OF THIS TO THE STATES.

THAT WAS A GOOD CASE.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL.

THE PLAN WAS TO LEAVE IT WITH THE STATES AND DO AS WE DEEM APPROPRIATE.

UNFORTUNATELY, ARGO ONE SECTION TWO OF THE CONSTITUTION -- OF THE RHODE ISLAND CONSTITUTION SAYS NOTHING IN THIS SECTION COULD BE CONSTRUED ANY RIGHT LEADING TO ABORTION OR THE FUNDING THEREOF WHICH VISIT TO ME AND ANYONE WHO READS THAT SAYING THIS IS NOT GOING TO FLY.

JIM: HOW DO YOU SCORE THAT?

WENDY: IF YOU HAVE CODIFIED ROE V. WADE IN RHODE ISLAND, YOU HAVE ALREADY VIOLATED THAT PROVISION.

I THINK THAT SHIP HAS SAILED.

>> DON'’T THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO AMEND THAT BEFORE THIS BILL CAN BE LEGAL?

WENDY: I HAVE NOT HEARD OF A CHALLENGE TO THE EARLIER LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

YOU HAVE TO CHALLENGE IT IN RHODE ISLAND COURT BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO DISTRACT ON THE CODIFICATION OF ROE V. WADE.

JIM: THIS IS THE BACK END OF THE ORIGINAL?

YOU THINK IT IS THE POISONOUS FRUITS OF THE FINE?

>> I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY ARE FINDING IT IS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

JIM: THAT IS AN INTERESTING ARGUMENT.

WE WILL SEE IF ANYONE GOES FORWARD WITH THAT TYPE OF MOVEMENT.

THIS WAS A CAMPAIGN PROMISE FOR GOVERNOR MCKEE.

IT WAS SOMETHING HE OUTLINED AS SOON AS THE DOBBS DECISION CAME DOWN.

AND THERE WAS PRESSURE ON EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL TO MAKE SURE THIS GOT THROUGH.

PRESIDENT HER ZERO -- PRESIDENT RUGGIERO SAID THIS WAS A PRACTICAL THING TO HAVE EVERYONE UNDER THE SAME INSURANCE PROTECTION.

THEY WOULD CALL HIM A PRO-LIFE TRADER.

IT IS THE SAME THING AND THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION GOT WHAT THEY WANTED.

THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY, SOMETHING AS SMART CONSERVATIVE LAWYER MIGHT INVESTIGATE PUTTING A COMPLAINT IN.

>> THE SENATE COMMITTEE WAS WHERE THE DRAMA WAS.

THEY WOUND UP PASSING IT 7-6 AND THEY NEEDED THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE MAJORITY LEADER.

?

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE THAT THEY GOT THE WORD IT MIGHT BE CLOSE.

THEY SAID LET'’S SHOW UP TO PUT IT THROUGH.

WENDY: THIS IS A DEEPLY DIVISIVE ISSUE.

RHODE ISLAND IS A MAJORITY IDENTIFIED CATHOLIC STATE AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE IN GENERAL WITH FUNDING THE TERMINATION OF A PREGNANCY.

IF YOU ASK THEM TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER IN CASE OF RAPE OR MOTHER, THEN THEY WILL SAY MAY BE AN EMERGENCY WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT.

I THINK IT IS ABORTION BY DEMAND OR BY CHOICE, BUT MOST ABORTIONS ARE NOT THAT.

MOST ABORTIONS ARE MARRIED WOMEN WHO ARE CHOOSING FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY.

THE EXPENSES OF A COMPLICATED PREGNANCY, ENDANGERING THE LIFE OF A MOTHER, YOU THINK THIS REALLY MATTERS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO PAY THOSE BILLS.

I DON'’T THINK YOU COULD HAVE DONE THAT.

JUST IN THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF EMERGENCY SPENDING AND NOT EXTENDED TO EVERY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE.

JIM: THEY HAD THE BIG BILL SIGNING CEREMONY WHICH THEY DO, BUT THIS WAS WITHIN HOURS.

PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING.

>> DID ANASTASIA WILLIAMS GET A PEN?

JIM: [LAUGHTER] I DON'’T THINK SHE WAS INVITED.

THEY CRAMMED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THERE.

I UNDERSTAND THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON BUT THIS IS A BIT OF A TIN EAR FOR THOSE WHO OPPOSE ON MORAL STANDARDS.

>> I WAS ALL IN FAVOR OF THESE ISSUES BEING DECIDED BY THE STATES, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT IS WHY I WAS NOT TROUBLED BY THE DOBBS DECISION.

THE ONLY ISSUE I HAVE IS THE STATE FUNDING.

JIM: NORTH CAROLINA JUST PAST -- THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER STORY ABOUT A STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO FLIPPED FROM DEMOCRAT TO HER PUBLICAN AND GAVE THEM A SUPER MAJORITY TO BE ABLE TO OVERRIDE A VETO.

THEY PASSED 12 WEEK BAND.

NOTE: IT WAS THE STATE WERE A LOT MORE RED STATES WERE COMING TO.

I WONDER HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT IF YOU KEEP YOUR THINGS -- KEEP YOUR EYE ON THINGS NATIONALLY.

ABORTION WAS A BIGGER DEAL IN THE MIDTERMS LAST YEAR.

WENDY: NORTH CAROLINA, PEOPLE SAY IT IS SWING STATE BUT THE LEGISLATURE HAS REMAINED REPUBLICAN FOR SOME TIME.

THAT IS STILL A PURPLE STATE.

ANOTHER CONSTITUENCY, WOMEN IN GENERAL.

I THINK SUBURBAN WOMEN GOT OUT THE DOOR IN 2022 AND SET A STOP RESTRICTING THIS, STOP DOING THESE.

SOUTH CAROLINA IS ON THE BRINK OR JUST PAST THE SIX WEEK.

MOST WOMEN DON'’T KNOW THEY ARE PREGNANT BY SIX WEEKS.

THAT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO KNOW AND CONFIRM.

IT IS ESSENTIALLY BANNING ABORTION ALTOGETHER.

WOMEN IN THOSE STATES WILL BE MOBILIZED IN 2024.

>> IT IS ANOTHER ISSUE FURTHER DIVIDING THE COUNTRY.

WE SEE ANOTHER SET OF RULES, REGULATIONS, MORAL CODE, SO TO SPEAK, IN PLACE LIKE FLORIDA AS WE DO IN NEW ENGLAND.

100 YEARS FROM NOW, WILL THIS BE ONE OF THE SEEDS PLANTED FOR -- I DON'’T KNOW IF THE COUNTRY WILL FALL APART, BUT IT WILL LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT.

LOU: I AGREE WITH THE PROFESSOR, I THINK SIX WEEKS IS A LITTLE SHORTSIGHTED.

I AM NOT A WOMAN, BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOU ARE PREGNANT FOR WELL AFTER SIX WEEKS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS BEYOND THE PALE.

WENDY: THE FEDERAL COURTS HAVE PUSHED THOSE ASIDE.

THEY HAVE PUT INJUNCTIONS AGAINST SIX WEEKS BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE PRINCIPAL THEY WANT TO SUPPORT.

LOU: DOESN'’T THE EXISTENCE OF THE ABORTION PILL KIND.

OF TWEAK THAT SIX WEEKS THE WENDY: KIND OF TWEAK THAT SIX WEEKS -- KIND OF TWEAK THAT SIX WEEKS?

WENDY: THE ABORTION PILL IS COMMERCIAL NOW.

IT IS COMING ACROSS AS.

A MORNING-AFTER PILL THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WAYS OF DOING A MEDICAL ABORTION.

THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE.

THIS IS PEOPLE MAKE A MISTAKE AND WANTED TO MAKE A FIX BEFORE THE EMBRYO FORMS.

APPEAL COURT JUDGES ARE BUILDING ON USING THAT AS A MEANS OF ABORTION.

TWO THIRDS OF ALL ABORTIONS ARE DONE BY BILL.

LATER IN THE TERM OF THE PREGNANCY.

THAT IS GETTING COMPLICATED BECAUSE THE PRO-LIFE PEOPLE ARE ASKING TO STRIKE DOWN THE FDA'’S AUTHORITY TO ISSUE THAT AND THAT UNDERMINES THE FDA'’S AUTHORITY ACROSS THE BOARD WHICH CAUSES ALSO THE PROBLEMS.

JIM: THAT PILL HAS BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME.

WENDY: THE SUPREME COURT SEEMS TO HAVE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

THEY SAY WE ARE NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS IN THIS TERM.

JIM: THE OTHER BIG ISSUE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE SPEAKER HAS A WHOLE PILE.

OF PACKAGES.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

ONE THING THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE WAS SAM BELL, WHO IS WAY TO THE RIGHT, THEY AGREE ON SOMETHING.

WHAT IS AT THE AGREE ON?

BILL: THEY DON'’T LIKE THAT THERE IS LANGUAGE THAT SUGGESTS THAT EMINENT DOMAIN -- DEPARTMENT CAN BUY EMINENT DOMAIN -- JIM: THOSE WORDS SENT PEOPLE'’S HAIR ON FIRE.

BILL: THE IDEA THAT STEFEN PRYOR IS GOING TO ROLL UP IN A STATE SUV, LOOK AROUND, AND SAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT BUILDING AND 15 MINUTES LATER IT WILL BE GONE -- LOOK AT THE EFFORTS TO EXPAND ROADWAYS AND WHAT COMES WITH EMINENT DOMAIN.

LOU: HOW ABOUT THE AIRPORT?

IT TOOK DECADES TO TAKE THOSE HOUSES.

BILL: I THINK IT IS AN OVERSTATED THING.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE ISSUES OF US VERSUS THEM.

US IS THE PROGRESSIVE FLANK AND THE CONSERVATIVES, THEM IS THE PERCEIVED DEMOCRATIC MACHINE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE SCENARIOS -- JIM: THEY CAME TOGETHER.

LOU: AND THEY HAVE DONE THIS ON -- BILL: AND THEY HAVE DONE THIS ON OTHER ISSUES IN THE PAST.

IT REALLY APPLIES HERE IN RHODE ISLAND WERE PROGRESSIVES AND REPUBLICANS HAVE MORE IN COMMON WHEN IT COMES TO PUSHING A BOULDER OF THE HILL.

JIM: THE UNDERLYING IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE -- AND THIS CAME UP LAST SESSION -- COULD THE -- SHOULD THE STATE BE ABLE TO CHANGE ZONING CODES?

LOU: IT IS NOT JUST ESTATE PROPERTIES, THEY ARE SAYING EVERY CITY IN TOWN IS GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS LEAD UNLESS THEY CAN SHOW THERE WERE SOME ENVIRONMENT PROTECTIONS BEING VIOLATED.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THIS WAS A BIPARTISAN VOTE.

HE WAS 69-2 WHICH MEANS SEVEN REPUBLICANS JOINED IN.

I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STATE TELLING CITIES AND TOWNS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO WITH THEIR BUILDINGS AS OPPOSED TO JUST ESTATE BUILDINGS.

THE ISSUE OF EMINENT DOMAIN, I THINK IT IS A REAL ISSUE.

IT IS LIKE ALL OF THESE FEEL-GOOD THINGS, IT IS ALL GOING TO BE CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS JUST LIKE THE TOLLS AND THE BRIDGES.

IT IS ALL GOOD IN THEORY.

JIM: THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LINEUP BEHIND THE ABORTION CASE.

LOU: ABSOLUTELY.

WENDY: THE OPTICS OF TAKING PEOPLE'’S HOUSES TO BUILD HOUSING IS NOT GREAT.

IF IT IS OCCUPIED BUILDINGS -- IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT BUILDINGS OWNED BY A FAMILY OR BUSINESS BUT IS NOT OCCUPIED, YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT THIS IS IN PUBLIC GOOD.

YOU CAN COMPENSATE THOSE PEOPLE.

IF SOMEONE IS LIVING IN THEIR HOUSE AND YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM TO BUILD HOUSING, I DON'’T KNOW HOW YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO PEOPLE.

WENDY: I THINK THIS IS -- LOU: I THINK THIS IS AIMED AT BUILDINGS LIKE THE OLD APEX WHICH WAS SHUT DOWN AND LEFT EMPTY FOREVER BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE NOT GETTING FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THAT PROPERTY.

THAT COULD BE SUBJECT TO EMINENT DOMAIN.

WENDY: OR TO MAKE THEMSELVES.

-- TO MAKE THEMSELVES.

JIM: MEMORIAL HOSPITAL COMES TO MIND AS WELL.

ALL OF THOSE BUILDINGS HAVE WATER, SEWER, YOU ARE NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

ANOTHER THING THAT SENT PEOPLE'’S HAIR ON FIRE WAS THAT EVERY MUSICOLOGY -- EVERY MUNICIPALITY WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT BUILDINGS NOT BEING USED ON A REGISTRY AND THAT SET PEOPLE OFF.

THEY BACK OFF OF THAT.

-- THEY BACKED OFF OF THAT.

THEY SAID IT HAD TO START SOMEWHERE.

THE GOVERNMENT HAD AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON 1400 MORE UNITS.

WE KNOW $200 BILLION IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

WENDY: YOU WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU ARE DOING THAT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE STATE, YOU WANT A WORKFORCE, YOU WANT TO KEEP FAMILIES HERE.

YOU WANT TO KEEP RHODE ISLAND THRIVING.

HOUSING PRICES IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE ARE REALLY "A NUMBERS -- ARE REALLY "BOSTON NUMBERS."

THINKING ABOUT FUTURE INVESTMENT, YOU WANT TO SAY WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE FIVE TO 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

WE WANT TO BE A PLACE PEOPLE COME AND LIVE.

LOU: LIKE CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK, MORE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THAN STAYING THERE.

WE ARE NOT AN ATTRACTIVE STATE FOR A WORK ENVIRONMENT.

WENDY: WE ARE NOT AS BAD AS THE OUTFLOW FOR CALIFORNIA.

LOU: WE DON'’T HAVE THAT MANY BUSINESSES.

WENDY: NEW YORK HAD THE PANDEMIC AND NEW YORK CITY HAS A HUGE PROBLEM BETWEEN -- JIM: COMICAL.

WENDY: IT IS NOT DOING AS WELL AS IT USED TO.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS.

THEY ARE ABOUT TO TRANSFORM COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INTO HOUSING BECAUSE THEY DON'’T HAVE ANY CHOICE.

LOU: THEY HAVE THEIR WORST COMMERCIAL BUILDING CRISIS IN THEIR HISTORY.

WENDY: AND THOSE THROUGH STAGE COMPANIES LEVERAGE.

THEY BORROW AT LOW INTEREST RATES.

JIM: ANOTHER BILL THAT MAY HAVE FLOWN UNDER THE RADAR IS FREE TAXPAYER-FUNDED, FREE SCHOOL LUNCH.

WHAT CAUGHT MY INTEREST, AND YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT THIS THIS WEEK, WHAT WAS CURIOUS WAS THERE NOT QUITE SURE HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST.

ANYWHERE FROM 22 BILLION DOLLARS TO $39 MILLION.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE FED STEPPED IN WITH MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS AND NOW THEY ARE BACKING OFF.

THIS IS FOR BREAKFAST OR LUNCH FOR EVERYBODY WHETHER YOU WANTED OR NEEDED.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

OTHERS SAY THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING BECAUSE A HUNGRY KID IS NOT GOING TO LEARN.

BILL: THERE IS A SCHEDULE THAT OUTLINES HER CHILD, THE INCOME THRESHOLD PER WHICH SOMEONE QUALIFIES FOR THE FREE LUNCH AND FREE BREAKFAST PROGRAM.

THIS WOULD DO AWAY WITH THAT AND GIVE IT TO EVERYBODY.

ONE CONCERN I HAVE A THAT APPLIES ACROSS THE BOARD IS HEALTHY FOOD.

WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE AMOUNT OF PROCESSED FOOD, THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE PEOPLE EAT IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

MAY BE THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO IS TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF THE MEAL THE LOW INCOME STUDENT GETS FOR FREE RATHER THAN GIVEN AWAY TO EVERYBODY WHEN YOU HAVE A HIGH INCOME FAMILY THAT CAN PROVIDE A MORE HIGH-QUALITY LUNCH.

EVEN AT THAT EVEN IF AT THE END OF THE YEAR -- END OF THE DAY THE KIDDUSH IS GOING TO EAT THE -- LOU: THAT WAS MICHELLE OBAMA'’S THING.

SHE WANTED KIDS TO EAT HEALTHIER LUNCHES.

UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOU PUT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ON THE TRAY, IT IS GOING IN THE DUMPSTER.

JIM: WHEN OUR KIDS WERE IN FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE, THIS WAS A BIG DEAL.

MY KIDS WERE GETTING CHICKEN TORTELLINI.

SOME OTHER KID IS GETTING A BOLOGNA SANDWICH.

ONE DAY A WEEK I WOULD SAY, YOU GUYS CAN PICK HOT LUNCHES.

THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.

SOMETIMES ALEX WANTED THURSDAY AND KAREN WANTED MONDAY.

CAMERON CAME HOME ONE DAY AND SAID TO THEY HAVE RUINED HOT LUNCH.

HE SAID THE PIZZA DIPPERS ARE MADE OUT OF WHEAT.

THEY.

WERE TRYING TO BE HEALTHY.

HE DID NOT WANT HOT LUNCH AGAIN.

WENDY: I KNOW THIS IS FROM A WILD BACK, THE PURCHASING MECHANISM FOR FOOD FOR LUNCHES USED TO BE A CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED DEAL BETWEEN THE DAIRY PRODUCERS IN SOME STATES.

I HAVE EXCESS MILK, EXCESS CHEESE.

OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WOULD SAY WE WILL SUPPORT THIS IF YOU MANDATE AND THEY FROM OUR FARMERS WITH THIS FEDERAL SUBSIDY.

I DON'’T KNOW HOW THE PURCHASING WORKS, BUT THE IDEA WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT $39 MILLION OUT OF A $13 BILLION BUDGET TO FEED CHILDREN IS A RIDICULOUS CONVERSATION.

GIVE THEM FREE BREAKFAST, GIVE THEM FREE LUNCH FOR $39 MILLION OUT OF $13 BILLION.

JIM: MAY THAT IS WHY OUR BUDGET IS 14 MILLION -- $14 BILLION.

WENDY: I DON'’T THINK IT IS $14 BILLION BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO FEED CHILDREN AT SCHOOLS.

JIM: AND LITTLE BIT HERE, A LITTLE BIT THERE.

WENDY: WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FEEDING CHILDREN?

JIM: YOU KNOW WHAT IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK?

SUBSIDIES AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE.

WENDY: ONLY -- JIM: IF YOU COULD DO ONE OR THE OTHER -- WENDY: FEED CHILDREN.

JIM: LUNCHES THAT MAY BE GOING INTO THE -- WENDY: HERE IS MY QUESTION ABOUT HOW WE PURCHASE FOOD FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES.

IS THERE AN INFLATED COST?

IS THERE A DEAL WITH DAIRY OR WHEAT PRODUCERS?

I WOULD RATHER SPEND THE $39 BILLION ON FEEDING CHILDREN SO THEY ARE NOT OSTRACIZED OR STIGMATIZED.

THAT STICKS WITH YOU FOR LIFE.

LET'’S EQUALIZE ACCESS TO FOOD.

JIM: YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE FACING THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE REAL WORLD?

WENDY: DO YOU HAVE TO VISIT WHEN YOU ARE SEVEN YEARS OLD?

JIM: GIVE THEM THE LUNCH IF THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT AND BACKFILLED IT.

PUT A PULL OF MONEY AND SAY IF THEY CANNOT PAY FOR IT, WE WILL PAY FOR IT.

LOU: THAT WAS NOT A PROBLEM FOR A WHILE WHEN PARENTS COULD NOT PAY.

WENDY: WHY WE DO NOT WANT TO INVEST IN CHILDREN AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ENERGY TO LEARN THROUGHOUT THE DAY?

BILL: THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT WE SHOULD ABOLISH THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

YOU HAVE THESE GIANT CONGLOMERATES.

THERE ARE EXPERIMENTS HAPPENING NOT RELATED TO THE SCHOOLS BUT THERE IS A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR AVERSIVE -- WHERE UNDERSERVED KIDS ARE GROWING THEIR OWN FOODS, WORKING WITH LOCAL PURVEYORS, WORKING WITH FARMERS MARKETS TO ESSENTIALLY DELIVER FOOD TO UNDERSERVED PORTIONS OF THE POPULATION.

HANDS-ON AND RECONSTRUCTED RE-THINK SCHOOL LUNCHES.

LOOK AT OTHER COUNTRIES AND WHAT THEY SERVE.

IT COULD BE A LOCAL DEAL WHERE IF WE ARE GOING TO SPEND BIG MONEY, MAYBE IT IS TIME TO RETHINK USING LOCALLY SERVICED -- LOCALLY SOURCED FOODS.

WENDY: AND USE ROAD ON COLLEGE JOHNSON AND WALES AND THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO GO INTO CULINARY AND AGRICULTURE AND TEACH KIDS HOW TO DO THIS.

THAT WOULD BE A GOOD USE OF MONEY AS WELL.

PATRICK MONAHAN, I LIKE TO QUOTE HIM, HE USED TO SAY A CHILD CANNOT LEARN IF THEY'’RE GOING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY.

AND OF STORY.

-- END OF STORY.

JIM: ONE THING THAT IS STARTING TO ROLL OUT, THE GOVERNOR SAID BY 2035 HE WAS TO SEE ALL GASOLINE POWERED ENGINES, THE SALE OF THEM, BANNED IN RHODE ISLAND.

THIS HAS ROLLED AROUND FOR A WEEK.

I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK WITH A WEEK'’S RETROSPECTIVE.

BILL: I GOT AN EDUCATION WITH PAUL, OUR RESIDENT CARD EXPERT.

I GOT TO TEST DRIVE A GENESIS ELECTRIC LUXURY VEHICLE.

JIM: DID YOU JUST KEEP GOING IN NEW HAVEN?

BILL: MAY AS WELL HAVE.

I ALSO LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE MECHANICAL SIDE OF THESE PRODUCTS AND ABOUT THE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR HYBRID VEHICLES.

IT IS NOT AS IF NO GASOLINE WILL BE ALLOWED AS OF 2035.

NICE VEHICLE, $80,000 TO BUY IT.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO CHARGE IT?

JIM: WHAT IS THE RANGE?

BILL: 300 TO 400 MILES.

JIM: THE RANGE ANXIETY IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

WENDY: YOU ARE GOING TO BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS BUT I THINK WE ARE OVERUSING THE TERM BAN IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND I THINK AMERICANS DON'’T LIKE THE WORD BAN.

BOOK BAN, AUTOMATIC RIFLE BAN.

LOU: DISHWASHER BAN.

WENDY: I DID NOT HEAR THAT ONE.

LOU: YOU HAVE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER IT USES.

WENDY: POLITICALLY, IT HAS BECOME TOO POPULAR WITH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT AND IT SCARES PEOPLE.

IT SAYS I AM GOING TO RESTRICT YOUR CHOICES.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE MUCH AND I WAS SURPRISED.

LOU: IN THE LAST YEAR, FIVE GRADES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE HACKED AND SHUT DOWN.

WE HAVE A POROUS SYSTEM IN AMERICA.

ALL IT TAKES IS ONE HUGE HACK AND THE WHOLE COUNTRY SHUTS DOWN.

I WILL GO ALONG WITH THE HYBRIDS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE GAS IN THERE, BUT DO NOT SAY NO MORE COMBUSTIBLE ENGINES.

JIM: 12 YEARS IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

WHAT IF YOU ARE IN AN APARTMENT?

WENDY: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PUT MONEY IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACT TO BOOST.

IT IS CLEANER POWER, IT IS STILL POWER.

JIM: YOU WOULD RATHER USE THE CARET THAN THE STICK -- CAROTROT RATHER THAN THE STICK?

WENDY: GIVE THEM FREE CHARGING STATIONS.

YOU WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO CHARGE.

LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU ARE TO STAND THERE FOR AN HOUR AND CHARGE?

NO.

WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE.

JIM: WENDY, AVERAGE OR KUDO?

WENDY: YOU KNOW ME.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE KUDOS.

I AM GOING TO DO SOME THING SURPRISING.

I AM GOING TO SAY KUDO TO WASHINGTON FOR AT LEAST TRYING TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT THE DEBT CEILING LIMIT.

MCCARTHY GOT A PACKAGE TO THE HOUSE.

DEMOCRATS WANT TO TAKE THAT PACKAGE BUT HE GOT THE PACKAGE THROUGH.

THEY ARE NONTHREATENING TO HAVE AN ECONOMY CRUMBLE.

WHETHER THEY COME OUT WITH AN AGREEMENT, WE WILL WAIT AND SEE.

KUDOS TO THEM FOR DOING IT.

IT IS LIKE STARTING A PAPER THREE DAYS BEFORE THE DEADLINE AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE STARTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE.

JIM: I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT SOME NATIONAL STUFF.

BUILT?

-- BILL?

BILL: STOP ASSESSING THE AMOUNT REALLY SITUATION -- THE MATT RALEY SITUATION WHERE HE WAS CAUGHT WITH CRACK COCAINE AND HIS CAR.

IT HAS BEEN WIDELY DISSEMINATED.

ABC SIX, ONE OF THE THREE LOCAL TV STATIONS HERE, SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE, KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, AND APPROACHED HIS MOM JUST HOURS AFTER HER SON WAS FOUND PASSED OUT IN A VEHICLE WITH A CRACK PIPE IN HIS HAND, WATCHING ANY SEMBLANCE OF AN ORGANIZED LIFE COLLAPSE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS CLICK BAIT JOURNALISM.

THEY SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED AND WE SHOULD DO BETTER AS MEDIA STORYTELLERS, BETTER THAT HARASSING SOMEONE'’S MOM.

JIM: YOU GET THE LAST MINUTE.

LOU: THERE WAS A RESOLUTION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON THAT PASSED 413-2 TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE OUR FATHER POLICE OFFICERS.

FOR TWO WHO VOTED AGAINST IT, TWO MEMBERS OF THE PROGRESSIVE SQUAD.

THEY SAID NO, THEY WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

THEY HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT THAT.

CORI BUSH HAD A $60,000 IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR FOR PRIVATE SECURITY FOR HERSELF.

THE PRIVATE SECURITY SHE HIRED SHE QUIETLY MARRIED HIM AFTER HE GOT FOR $60,000.

I THINK THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS.

JIM: WOW.

WE HAVE SOME NATIONAL ISSUES TO GET TO.

LET US DO THIS, WE ARE GOING TO GO ONLINE AND DO AN EXTRA SEGMENT.

IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, GO TO RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY WHERE WE WILL DO NINE OR 10 MINUTES ON NATIONAL.

IF YOU CANNOT JOIN US, LET US BID FAREWELL TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW, LOU PULNER, AND WENDY SCHILLER.

WE ARE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND MAYBE YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST.

TAKE US WITH YOU AS YOU GO.

STICK WITH US FOR EXTRA.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.