>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, PRESIDENT BIDEN ORDERS A STUDY ON EXPANDING THE SUPREME COURT, WE'LL GET THE LATEST FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TEACHER PAY IN NORTH CAROLINA IS SECOND BEST IN THE SOUTHEAST.

NEXT.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION.

DONNA KING, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CAROLINA JOURNAL.

NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND ASHLEY HILDEBRAND WITH THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY.

MITCH WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH BIDEN'S COMMISSION ON THE SUPREME COURT MY FRIEND.

>> SINCE 1869 THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS HAD 9 MEMBERS 9 JUSTICES AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY SERIOUS TALK ABOUT CHANGING THAT NUMBER SITS PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT'S ILL FATED COURT PACKING PLAN BACK DURING THE NEW DEAL ERA.

BUT THIS IDEA OF ADDING JUSTICES TO THE SUPREME COURT REALLY TOOK HOLD WHEN AMY CONEY BARRETT REPLACED RUTH BADER GINSBURG ON THE SUPREME COURT GIVING CONSERVATIVES EITHER 6, 3, OR 5, 4, MAJORITY DEPENDING ON HOW YOU COUNT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS.

NOW CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN, DURING THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DIDN'T COMMIT TO THIS IDEA OF COURT PACKING BUT HE WOULD SAY THAT HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT NOW PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SET UP BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, A 36 MEMBER COMMISSION THAT'S GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO KEY SUPREME COURT ISSUES, AMONG THEM THE POTENTIAL OF ADDING SEATS ALSO PLACING TERM LIMITS ON WHAT IS NOW A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT.

THIS GROUP IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE 6 MONTHS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE, HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEN COME OUT WITH A REPORT, MEANWHILE, SOME DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE WAITING THEY'VE ALREADY PUT FORWARD A BILL THAT WOULD ADD 4 NEW JUSTICES TO THE SUPREME COURT PRESUMABLY GIVING PROGRESSIVES A CHANCE TO COUNTERACT THE CONSERVATIVE LEADERS ON THE SUPREME COURT NOW.

>> NELSON IN THE PAST THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID WHEN HE WAS A SENATOR THIS IS A BONEHEAD IDEA I THINK HE SAID THAT 1983.

>> THAT'S RIGHT HE WAS COMMENTING ON PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S RIGHT TO PACK THE SUPREME COURT.

HE DID SAY WAS A BONEHEAD IDEA, AND HE FURTHER WENT ON TO SAY IT WAS A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE MISTAKE TO MAKE AND IT PUT IN QUESTION FOR AN ENTIRE GENERATION THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BODY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.

JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBERG BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY AND ON OCCASIONS BEFORE THAT SPOKE OUT AGAINST COURT PACKING.

YOU RECENTLY HAD JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR AND JUSTICE GORSUCH TALKING ABOUT THAT WE SHOULD NOT MAKE POLITICAL DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THEN LAST WEEK IN A SPEECH AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL JUSTICE STEVEN BRIAR ARGUED THAT EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON SUPREME COURT WOULD ERODE PUBLIC TRUST AND QUOTE THE COURT IS GUIDED BY LEGAL PRINCIPLE, NOT POLITICS.

AND YOU'VE EVEN HAD FORMER MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID COME OUT AND SAY THAT IT WAS A VERY QUESTIONABLE IDEA.

THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM ARE SPEAKING UP NOW AND CALLING FOR CAUTION IN TERMS OF EXPANDING THE COURT.

>> ASHER WILL PELOSI SPEAKER PELOSI BRING THIS LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION?

>> AS OF NOW, SHE'S EXPRESSED A PRETTY COOL ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT.

BUT BOTH HER AND THE SENATE LEADER AND THE PRESIDENT WANT MORE INFORMATION WANT MORE FACTS AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS COMMISSION WOULD DO.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE PARTISAN COMPOSITION OF THE COURT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF THE COURT AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THE LAST 3 NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN HANDLED, PUBLIC TRUST IN THE INSTITUTION IS ALREADY DAMAGED.

AND THE VIEWS OF THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT ARE INCREASINGLY OUT OF STEP WITH THE VIEWS OF THE MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

AND SO THIS IS AN IDEA THAT MERITS DISCUSSION BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW DON'T EXPECT IT ON THE FLOOR, ANYTIME SOON.

>> DONNA DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

AND WHEN PEOPLE PUT COMMISSIONS TOGETHER ISN'T IT WHERE IDEA GOES TO DIE?

>> WELL OFTEN IT DOES, SOMETIMES IT'S YOU KNOW, A NOD TO THEIR BASE TO TRY AND SAY LOOK, I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

BUT YOU ALSO GOT TO LOOK AT THIS MISSION AND HOPE THAT THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR A VARIETY OF OPINIONS AND LOTS OF IDEAS BUT THE 2 CHAIRS OF IT.

BOTH WORKED FOR THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

ONE WAS WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL ONE WAS DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SO THE IDEA THAT THEY MIGHT BE BRINGING IN A WIDE RANGE OF IDEAS AND THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER MAY NOT REALLY BE HAPPENING.

BUT I ALSO THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS NOT UP TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, THIS IS UP TO THE SENATE HE'S GONNA REALLY FACE A HUGE FIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A WIDE CONSENSUS OF APPROVAL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> OK I WANT TO CHANGE TOPIC AND MOVE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK NELSON.

>> YES MARC NORMALLY THE WEEK OF APRIL 15TH IS TAX WEEK THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MAY 17TH AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MOVED LEGISLATION THIS WEEK TO FORGIVE ANY INTEREST THAT WOULD BE OWED ABOUT TAX FILERS FOR THAT ADDITIONAL MONTH AWAY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE HOUSE PASSED HB 334, AND THAT WAS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO FORGO TAXING FORGIVEN BUSINESS LOANS FROM THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM SO THIS WOULD SAVE OVER 200,000 BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES MOSTLY IN NORTH CAROLINA, SOME 400 MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE TAXES.

YOU ALSO SAW ACTION THIS WEEK ON HB 32.

THE EQUITY IN OPPORTUNITY ACT WHICH REFORMS THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO LOW-INCOME STUDENTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE SCHOOLS OF THEIR CHOICE.

AND ONE OF THE BILL THAT PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND WILL BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR IS THE WOUNDED HEROES DAY.

APRIL THE 24TH WILL BE DESIGNATED ANNUALLY AS WOUNDED HEROES DAY HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE BRAVELY SERVED AND SACRIFICED FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> DONNA, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THIS WEEK?

>> SO ONE THING THAT REALLY GOT MY ATTENTION THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY SENATORS RAVEN, DANIEL AND NEWTON FILED TAX NIGHT TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS.

THIS WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REALLY PUT IN IT WOULD CODIFY THAT FISCAL RESTRAINT THAT FISCAL MANAGEMENT STYLE PLAN THAT STRATEGY THAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST 10 YEARS SINCE REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WHEN REPUBLICANS TOOK CONTROL THEY REALLY PUSHED THIS IDEA OF LOWER TAXES, RESTRAIN SPENDING, BUILDING UP A RAINY DAY FUND AND THAT STRATEGY HAS REALLY GOTTEN US THROUGH A COUPLE OF HURRICANES AND A PANDEMIC.

SO I THINK WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IS THE 2020 WAS A REAL WAKE-UP CALL, AND THEY WANT TO SEE THAT STRATEGY BECOME FINANCIAL STRATEGY BECOME THE WAY THAT NORTH CAROLINA OPERATES FAR INTO THE FUTURE NO MATTER WHETHER REPUBLICANS ARE IN OFFICE OR WHETHER DEMOCRATS CONTROL.

THIS TAXPAYER, BILL OF RIGHTS WOULD REQUIRE ANY TAX INCREASE TO GO BEFORE A PUBLIC VOTE ABOUT 30 STATES ALREADY HAVE THIS COLORADO INSTITUTED IT ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO.

SO I'LL BE REALLY CURIOUS TO SEE THE KIND OF SUPPORT IT GETS.

>> ASHER WEIGH IN HERE PLEASE.

>> THE THING I'M FOLLOWING THIS WEEK IS NOT ACTUALLY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BUT DOWN THE STREET WHERE THE IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION FOR THE VOTER ID REQUIREMENT THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2018 IS BACK IN COURT.

THIS HAS BEEN NOW NEARLY A DECADE RIDE IN THE COURTS FOR THIS QUESTION OF VOTER ID.

I THOUGHT THE PLAINTIFFS MADE A COMPELLING CASE THAT THE LATEST IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS, BUT THAT'S UP TO THE JUDGES TO DECIDE ULTIMATELY.

>> MITCH PUT THIS IN CONTEXT PLEASE.

>> WELL THE TAXPAYER, BILL OF RIGHTS IS A BIG DEAL.

IT LOST SOME OF ITS TIMING WISE GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE TAX BILLS HAVE BEEN DELAYED APRIL 15TH WAS THE DAY WAS FILE WHICH WITH THE DAY PEOPLE WOULD NORMALLY BE FOUGHT FOLLOWING TAX ISSUES.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S OF INTEREST WE TALKED ON THIS PROGRAM BEFORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM EVALUATION DIVISION BEING SHUT DOWN AND LEGISLATORS TAKING MORE OF A HANDS ON OVERSIGHT ROLE.

THEY'VE STARTED THAT THIS WEEK TAKING A LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATION THAT RUNS HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IN NORTH CAROLINA, >> OK, DONNA, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING IS THIS MOVEMENT TOWARD EVERYBODY TRYING TO REALLY WEIGHING AND CONSIDERING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE BUDGET CYCLE.

I THINK EVERYBODY STARTED WATCHING IT.

WE OF COURSE AND GOVERNOR COOPER COME THROUGH WITH HIS BUDGET PRIORITIES AND THEY'RE HOPING EVERYBODY CAN COME TO THE TABLE.

BUT YOU KNOW IT WILL IT WILL BE A SESSION THAT WILL LAST INTO JULY AND THEN OF COURSE THIS FALL WE HAVE REDISTRICTING.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF EXCITEMENT GOING ON IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> I'M COMING RIGHT BACK TO YOU, LET'S TALK ABOUT TEACHER PAY IN NORTH CAROLINA, SOME GOOD NEWS ON THAT FRONT.

>> IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR A LOT OF TEACHERS.

THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION CAME OUT WITH THEIR DATA THAT SAID THAT THE AVERAGE TEACHER PAY IS JUST OVER $53,000 A YEAR.

NOW OF COURSE AND SOME TEACHERS MAY SAY WELL I'M NOT MAKING THAT BUT WHAT THAT REALLY IS THE SHIP A BASE FROM THE STATE, AND THEN THERE'S COUNTY SUPPLEMENTS ONLY ABOUT 4 COUNTIES DON'T HAVE A COUNTY SUPPLEMENT FOR EXAMPLE WAKE COUNTY WHERE THE CAPITAL IS, THERE'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST COUNTY SUPPLEMENTS ABOUT HALF OF THE TEACHERS IN WAKE COUNTY MAKE THAT AVERAGE.

SO THAT IS GOOD NEWS PUTS NORTH CAROLINA SECONDS IN THE SOUTHEAST, ABOUT 29TH, 30TH IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT THERE'S BEEN A HUGE PUSH OVER THE LAST SAY 5 OR 6 YEARS BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO RAISE THAT TEACHER PAY IT'S BEEN RAISED ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF $10,000, THE AVERAGE TEACHER PAY GREW ABOUT $10,000 OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS.

NOW WHETHER WE GOT ANOTHER BATTLE COMING UP IS HARD TO SAY GOVERNOR COOPER, OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T GET A RAISE LAST YEAR BECAUSE HE VETOED THE BUDGET THE STATE BUDGET, SO NOW HE WANTS A 10% RAISE FOR TEACHERS, NOT SURE THAT WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO WE MAY BE HEADED TOWARD ANOTHER STANDOFF ABOUT THAT AND I KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING IT CLOSELY, BUT SO ARE PARENTS.

KIDS BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A YEAR NOW AND THEY'RE REALLY STRUGGLING.

SO YOU KNOW THIS IS AN ODD TIME TO BE TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH COMPENSATION.

>> NELSON, WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD OF A 10% PAY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE OFFER THAT THEY HAD ON THE TABLE TO OVERRIDE THE VETO LAST TIME WHICH WAS 4.9% INCREASE PLUS A $1000 BONUS FOR TEACHERS AND I DO THINK THAT FOLKS NEED TO COME TO THE TABLE.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT DONNA WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE IN TERMS OF RESPONSIBILITY, IN NORTH CAROLINA WE CONTROLLED OUR SPENDING, WE'VE BEEN PRUDENT, AND THAT WAY WE NEVER HAD TO FURLOUGH ANY TEACHERS IN NORTH CAROLINA, UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER STATES LAST YEAR.

AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO YOU KNOW MAKE SURE THAT WE HELD THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HARMLESS IN TERMS OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PRUDENT WE'VE BEEN MOVING A TEACHER PAY UP WE'RE JUST BEHIND GEORGIA, WE'RE LOOKING TO CATCH THEM AND THAT'S CERTAINLY A GOAL OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> MITCH DOES INCREASE TEACHER EQUATE TO RESULTS IN THE CLASSROOM, YOU THINK?

>> DOESN'T NECESSARILY.

NOW ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THE CLASSROOM TEACHER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF EDUCATING THE STUDENTS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON TEACHER PAY AND ENSURING THAT THE GOOD TEACHERS ARE GETTING PAY RAISES THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN FOCUSING MORE ATTENTION ON TRYING TO GET INCREASED PAY TO THE TEACHERS WHO ARE EFFECTIVE AND NOT JUST ACROSS THE BOARD RAISES WHICH HAS BEEN THE STANDARD IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS NEW NUMBER THAT COMES OUT IS THAT IT PUTS THE IDEA OF TEACHER PAY IN CONTEXT.

EVERYONE SAYS, YES, TEACHERS SHOULD BE PAID MORE, BUT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TEACHERS ARE BEING PAID WHAT YOU SEE WHAT AN AVERAGE TEACHERS BEING PAID IT GIVES YOU A BETTER SENSE OF JUST HOW MUCH IT MAKES SENSE TO GIVE THEM MORE MONEY.

>> ASHER, THOUGHTS MY FRIEND.

>> BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOW BACK UP TO SECOND IN THE SOUTHEAST SOUNDS GREAT.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE 29TH OVERALL IN THE COUNTRY DESPITE HAVING THE 9TH LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEM SOUNDS A LITTLE LESS GREAT AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE 19TH IN THE COUNTRY 20 YEARS AGO SOUNDS LESS GREAT STILL SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE TOO CYNICAL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE ANY PROGRESS IS GOOD PROGRESS.

BUT YOU KIND OF WISH WE HAD TO DOUG SUCH A DEEP HOLE TO GET OUT OF IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> DONNA WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS.

>> NO, I DO AGREE AND WE WERE SURE WE REALLY HAD SOME STRUGGLING ECONOMIC TIMES BACK IN THE RECESSION.

WE ENDED UP HAVING TO FURLOUGH TEACHERS AND I THINK THAT WAS A LOT OF THE REASON WHY THERE WAS SUCH A DIG TO COME BACK TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW.

YOU KNOW WITH WITH TOTAL COMPENSATION AND PENSION BENEFITS ALL THOSE THINGS, BEING IN THE CLASSROOM IS AN INVALUABLE ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT HAS TO BE TREASURED AND HAS TO BE COMPENSATED AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF FOLKS AND PARENTS ARE WATCHING AND I KNOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY I FOCUSED ON IT AS WELL.

>> OKAY ASTRA SAW OUR STORY AND OF COURSE IS PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA.

HE WANTS TO INVEST HEAVILY IN HIGH SPEED RAIL, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN IN NORTH CAROLINA MY FRIEND?

>> WELL IT COULD MEAN A LOT TO NORTH CAROLINA, ALTHOUGH I WAS I MUST SAY THAT ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING THINGS TO ME ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S HIGH SPEED RAIL PLAN IS THAT THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT DOESN'T EVEN USE THE TERM.

THERE'S ABOUT 12,000 WORDS IN THE PROPOSAL AND THEY DON'T MENTION THAT.

I THINK THAT REFLECTS SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WHICH MADE HIGH SPEED RAIL A CENTERPIECE OF THE RECOVERY ACT AND FACE SOMETHING OF A POLITICAL BACKLASH.

THIS TIME AROUND THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR RAIL ABOUT 80 BILLION DOLLARS PLUS ANOTHER 85 BILLION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND HIGH-SPEED RAIL WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME OF THAT MONEY BUT WOULD ALSO GO TO A LOT OF NOT VERY SEXY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR EXISTING RAIL SYSTEM AND THAT COULD BE REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR NORTH CAROLINA.

WE CAN SEE THE RALEIGH TO RICHMOND CORRIDOR COMPLETED WHICH WOULD KNOCK AN HOUR AND A HALF OFF OF THE TRAVEL TIME TO DC AND CONNECT THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE NORTHEAST RAIL CORRIDOR.

WE CAN SEE ACCORDING TO AMTRAK A NEW RAIL LINE WEST ASHEVILLE IN EAST TO WILMINGTON.

WE COULD SEE EXPANSION OF COMMUTER RAIL LIKE THE SYSTEM PLAN FOR THE TRIANGLE AND SO THERE ONE REASON WE SHOULD BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THESE IMPROVEMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA IS THAT CONGRESSMAN DAVID PRICE WHO CHAIRS THE TRANSPORTATION -- >> AND YOUR FORMER BOSS, >> MY FORMER BOSS WHO CHAIRS THE TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN REALLY CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE DISCUSSIONS, HE WAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEK WITH A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO TRY TO CHART A PATH FORWARD FOR IT SO I'M FEELING PRETTY OPTIMISTIC.

>> MITCH, WHAT DO CRITICS SAY ABOUT PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN HIGH SPEED RAIL.

>> WELL, IT'S ONE OF THE SIMILAR STATEMENTS THAT THEY WOULD MAKE ABOUT INVESTMENT OF PASSENGER RAIL AT ALL AND THAT IS YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT A BUNCH OF MONEY INTO A 19TH CENTURY TECHNOLOGY THAT ISN'T REALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.

THE PASSENGER RAIL HAS ALL KINDS OF BUILT-IN LIMITATIONS, MAINLY THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY GET PEOPLE FROM WHERE THEY ARE TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO IN A CONVENIENT WAY.

YOU HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE TO CATCH THE TRAIN.

THEN WHAT YOU GET TO WHERE THAT RAIN ENDS UP YOU'VE GOT TO GET FROM THERE TO WHERE YOU ACTUALLY REALLY WANT TO GO.

IT WOULD BE BETTER TO TRY TO INVEST IN SOME SOLUTIONS THAT REALLY MAKE SENSE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.

WE'VE SEEN MAJOR ADVANCES IN THINGS LIKE UBER AND LYFT AND FINDING WAYS TO GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER AND IN A WAY THAT'S TAKES MUCH LESS MONEY THAT SPENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON SOMETHING THAT WAS BEST USED IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

>> MITCH TO -- I MEAN NOT MITCH NELSON, TO MITCH'S POINT, IS IT A WISE INVESTMENT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS YOU THINK?

>> THESE PROJECTS ARE MAMMOTH, SO THE 80 BILLION DOLLARS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING ABOUT YOU JUST LOOK AT THE CALIFORNIA PROJECT WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO CONNECT LA AND SAN FRANCISCO.

IT STARTED OUT AT 33 BILLION DOLLARS.

THE ESTIMATE IS NOW OVER A 100 BILLION DOLLARS AND THEIR OWN LEGISLATIVE ANALYSTS ARE SAYING THAT THE PROJECT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE SUBSIDIZED IN TERMS OF ITS OPERATIONS.

I MEAN MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE AND I ACTUALLY SERVED ON THE VIRGINIA NORTH CAROLINA HAS BE REAL COMPACT.

SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS LIKE THE S LINE OF RICHMOND TO RALEIGH AND THE SPEED ZONE THAT WOULD NOT BE BULLET TRAIN SPEEDS, IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE 85 MILES AN HOUR WHICH WOULD BE NICE BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE COST FACTORS THERE AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE UNITED STATES HAS THE LOWEST POPULATION DENSITY OF ANY OF THE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL COUNTRY, SO THE ACELA WORKS IN THE NORTHEAST, POSSIBLY CALIFORNIA, BUT YOU SEE THE OVER BUDGET THERE AND THE TEXAS CENTRAL PROJECT WHICH IS A PRIVATE PROJECT FROM HOUSTON TO DALLAS IS ALSO HAVING COST GO UP AND QUESTIONS ABOUT EMINENT DOMAIN.

>> DONNA FINAL THOUGHTS IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS PLEASE.

>> SURE WELL, I MEAN I'VE TAKEN THAT RALEIGH TO CHARLOTTE TRAIN TO CATCH A GAME AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S A LOT OF FUN, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT I SEE THE DEMAND FOR SOMETHING LIKE RALEIGH TO RICHMOND BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE CHANGING TRAINS, AND YOU'RE GOING RALEIGH TO WASHINGTON, THERE'S NOT A DEMAND FOR THIS, DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DEMAND FOR THIS AND I THINK GENERALLY A FREE MARKET ECONOMY WORKS.

IF IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT OF RESOURCES, THEN PRIVATE INDUSTRY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED A LONG TIME AGO.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY THE WEEK MITCH.

>> FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY NOW NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THE SCHOOL FUNDING LAWSUIT WITH THE SHORTHAND NAME LEANDRO.

THERE'S NOTHING NEW OR UNDERREPORTED ABOUT THAT.

IN RECENT YEARS THERE HAS BEEN AN ATTEMPT AMONG THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE AND THE STATE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION NOW THE COOPER ADMINISTRATION'S EDUCATION FOLKS TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF DEAL.

THEY HIRED A SAN FRANCISCO CONSULTANT THAT CAME UP WITH THIS PLAN THAT SAID HEY TO MEET THIS CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION AS TO TERM, BELIE THE COURTS YOU HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER 8 BILLION DOLLARS OVER 8 YEARS.

EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT THE JUDGE IN THE CASE, DAVID LEE WOULD COME IN AND SAY YES, THIS MAKES SENSE.

I'M GOING TO ORDER THIS, BUT THE MOST UNDERREPORTED PART OF THE STORY IS JUDGE DAVID LEE SAYS HE'S NOT GOING TO ORDER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SPEND THE MONEY.

IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THE PLAINTIFFS DON'T REALLY GET WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT WILL REALLY HAPPEN WITH THIS 8 BILLION DOLLARS STUDY IS THAT IT WILL GO INTO THE DISCUSSION LIKE EVERY OTHER PIECE OF THE BUDGET DEBATE.

>> DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> YES, SO THIS WEEKEND.

AUDIT SOME STATE AUDITOR BETH WOODS' OFFICE SAID THAT THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LOST TRACK OF ABOUT ONE ABOUT 12 BILLION DOLLARS IN MEDICAID PAYOUTS.

LOOKED AT YOU KNOW, LOTS AN LOTS OF CASES AND THEY SAID THAT IN A LOT OF THE CASES THAT THEY LOOKED AT THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE DONE A LOT OF BACKGROUND CHECKS DONE ON QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MEDICAID PAY OUT.

THE REPORT BLAMED THE GOVERNOR'S DHHS DEPARTMENT SAYING IT LACKED OVERSIGHT AND WHAT IT CALLED SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE.

NOW MEDICAID OF COURSE AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO EXPAND IT, AND THIS AUDIT REALLY SHOWS THAT THERE MAY BE SOME HOLES IN THE SYSTEM THAT NEED TO BE PATCHED BEFORE IT'S ADDRESSED.

>> OKAY NELSON UNDERREPORTED PLEASE MY FRIEND.

>> VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS SAID IN THE FUTURE THERE WILL BE WARS FOUGHT OVER WATER AND MARC THE FUTURE IS NOW THE RUSSIAN UKRAINIAN MILITARY BUILDUP IS DRIVEN IN LARGE MEASURE ABOUT ONGOING DISPUTE BETWEEN KIEV CUTTING OFF WATER TO THE CRIMEA.

IN ETHIOPIA, WE'RE ALSO SEEING A DISPUTE BETWEEN G EGYPT AND THE SUDAN OVER A MEGA DAM, THE GREAT RENAISSANCE DAM THAT'S BEING BUILT ON THE BLUE NILE WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THEIR DOWNSTREAM AGRICULTURE AND CHINA OF COURSE IS USING CONTROL OF WATER FROM THE TIBETAN PLATEAU, THE WATER TOWER OF ASIA.

REALLY AS POLITICAL LEVERAGE ON A DOZEN MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS, CRITICAL TO COUNTRIES FROM PAKISTAN AND INDIA ALL THE WAY OVER TO VIETNAM.

>> ASHER UNDERREPORTED MY FRIEND.

>> ON WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON, THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVED HR 40 WHICH WOULD CREATE A STUDY COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO THE IDEA OF REPARATIONS FOR THE DESCENDANTS OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE BILL'S 30 YEAR HISTORY THAT IT'S CLEARED COMMITTEE WHETHER IT RECEIVES A FLOOR VOTE IS UNCERTAIN, BUT IT DOES REFLECT A PRETTY BIG SEA CHANGE IN PUBLIC VIEWS ON REPARATIONS STILL ONLY ABOUT 35% SUPPORTED ACCORDING TO A MORNING CONSULT POLL FROM LAST MONTH.

BUT THAT NUMBER WAS IN THE LOW SINGLE DIGITS, 20 YEARS AGO AND YOU'VE HAD A NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES FROM ASHEVILLE IN DURHAM TO NEW YORK CITY LOOKING AT REPARATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

SO IT'S BEEN JUST INTERESTING TO WATCH THIS IDEA MOVE CLOSER TO THE MAINSTREAM.

EVEN IF WE SHOULDN'T EXPECT A FINAL LEGISLATION ON THE FLOOR QUITE YET.

>> WHO ARE THE ADVOCATES QUICKLY IN THE HOUSE PUSHING THIS?

>> THE MAIN SPONSOR IS SHEILA JACKSON LEE OF TEXAS, BUT FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS THE IDEA OF JOHN CONYERS, THE FORMER REPRESENTATIVE FROM MICHIGAN WHO IS ADVOCATING FOR IT, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ALSO SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF THE STUDY COMMISSION AS WELL.

>> OKAY, MITCH LET'S GO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY THE WEEK MY FRIEND.

WHO ALWAYS DONE THE UNDERREPORTED STORIES I THINK MORE FOR WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN AT THIS POINT.

YEAH, OK SO SO WHO'S UP THIS WEEK.

THE NUMBER OF HIGH-PROFILE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING FOR NORTH CAROLINA'S 2022 US SENATE SEAT, FORMER GOVERNOR PAT MCCRORY USED HIS CHARLOTTE RADIO STATION TO SAY HE IS IN THE RACE, AND WE HEAR THAT CONGRESSMAN TED BUDD AND ALSO MAYBE EVEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK ROBINSON ARE GOING TO RUN FOR THAT SEAT, SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH, MY WHO'S DOWN OR ONLINE IMPERSONATORS NOW, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT DO IMPRESSIONS OR PEOPLE WHO DO PARODY ACCOUNTS, BUT PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY GO ONLINE AND TRY TO IMPERSONATE YOU FOR SOME SORT OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TRY TO USE YOUR IDENTITY.

THE HOUSE HAS PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE THIS A FELONY THE VOTE WAS 118 TO 0.

>> IS MCCRORY THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE IN THE RACE, YOU THINK ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

>> I WOULD THINK HE WOULD BE THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE CERTAINLY AND HE WILL HAVE A LOT OF NAME RECOGNITION IF REALLY A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN THIS RACE, THAT COULD HELP HIM.

>> DONNA WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> SO I WOULD SAY UP IS THE NUMBER OF DRUG CARTELS IN NORTH CAROLINA, LOCAL SHERIFFS LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE SAYING THAT THEY'RE SEEING AN INCREASED NUMBER PARTICULARLY DURING COVID AND THEY SAY THAT NORTH CAROLINA IS REALLY RIPE FOR SOME OF THIS TRAFFICKING ACTIVITY, THEY SAY THEIR HIGHWAY SYSTEMS AND TRUCKING SYSTEMS.

WE HAVE THE MARKET IN IN LARGE CITIES AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.

THEY THINK THEY'RE ONLY GETTING ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF THE DRUG ACTIVITY IN NORTH CAROLINA DOWN RISK PERCEPTION OF THE COVID VACCINE.

THE STATE RELEASED PUBLIC OPINION AND NOW ABOUT 63% OF PEOPLE SAY THEY NO LONGER FEAR A COVID VACCINE AND THAT'S A DRAMATIC CHANGE FROM LAST MONTH.

>> OKAY NELSON WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK QUICKLY.

>> UP AND OUT PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT HE IS MODIFYING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICY OF ENDING AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR BY REMOVING U.S.

TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN, BEGINNING MAY 1ST THEN CONCLUDING THE WITHDRAWAL ON SEPTEMBER 11TH AND OF COURSE IN THOSE LAST 20 YEARS WE'VE HAD OVER 23,000 US CASUALTIES IN THAT WAR.

WHO'S DOWN, NEW YORK CITY.

NOT ONLY THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF COVID-19 BUT ALSO SOARING CRIME RATES AND ALSO NOW HIGHER TAXES IN NEW YORK CITY THAT ARE DRIVING HIGH EARNERS AND BUSINESSES TO STATES LIKE FLORIDA WITH NO INCOME TAX.

>> ASHER WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK.

MY FRIEND?

>> MY DOWN IS THE COUNTERPOINT TO MITCH'S AND THAT IS US SENATE CANDIDATE MARK WALKER WHO WAS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN IN THE RACE, REALLY HOPING TO HAVE SOME EARLY MOMENTUM.

HE'S NOW GOT A CROWDED FIELD THAT INCLUDES SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN AMONG NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS.

MY UP IS CONSUMER SPENDING UP 10% IN MARCH IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE LATEST ROUND OF PANDEMIC RELIEF CHECKS AND FURTHER PROOF THAT THE ECONOMY IS NOW STARTING TO HEAT UP AGAIN.

>> OKAY, MITCH HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> EARTH DAY BRINGS NEW PLEAS FOR CLIMATE PLANS THAT COULD GUT THE U.S. AND NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIES.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF MOVEMENT ON THIS TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS, WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE WATCHING IT PRETTY CLOSELY.

>> NELSON HEADLINE NEXT WEEK MY FRIEND.

>> SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE PASSES BIPARTISAN STRATEGIC COMPETITION ACT OF 2021 TARGETING CHINA.

>> CHINA IS REALLY BECOMING A FOCUS NOW ISN'T?

IT'S A BIPARTISAN FOCUS ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS A STRONG BIPARTISAN FOCUS AND YOU ALSO SAW SOME HIGH LEVEL DELEGATION FROM BIDEN GOING TO TAIWAN THIS WEEK AS WELL.

>> QUICKLY AND ASHER HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> IT WAS GOING TO BE US SURPASSES 200 MILLION COVID DOSES ADMINISTERED BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE TODAY.

SO THAT'S NOW OBSOLETE.

>> OKAY, GREAT JOB PANEL THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: ♪