>> JUST AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND CAFETERIA WORKERS DEMAND PAY AND RESPECT.

WHAT DOES THE LONG-AWAITED STATE BUDGET HAVE IN STORE, AND WHY IS VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS SLAMMED FOR DYSFUNCTION DESPITE ALL THE SUPPORT?

STAY WITH US.

♪ WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT HOW UNDERPAID OUR TEACHERS ARE.

WELL, IN RECENT WEEKS ANOTHER GROUP OF EMPLOYEES WORKERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE MADE CAPTURED PUBLIC AWARENESS.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND CAFETERIA WORKERS HAVE STAGED SICK OUTS, LEAVING HUNDREDS OF PARENTS SCRAMBLING TO GET THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL, AND GET MEALS TO CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

IT'S A SITUATION THAT IN WAKE COUNTY PROMPTED THE SCHOOL BOARD TO APPROVE A ONE TIME BONUS OF NEARLY $4,000, BUT IS IT ENOUGH?

HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT THE WORKER SHORTAGE PROBLEM IN OUR SCHOOLS IS COUNCILMAN-ELECT LEONARDO WILLIAMS OF WARD-3 IN DURHAM.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RECENT ELECTION, LEONARDO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME DEBORAH.

>> NOW IS THIS A WAKE COUNTY PROBLEM.

THE SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS, THE DISGRUNTLED, CAFETERIA WORKERS AND THOSE SHORTAGES.

>> YES, IT'S A WAKE COUNTY ISSUE JUST AS WELL AS THE DURHAM COUNTY ISSUE AND A NORTH CAROLINA ISSUE AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL FEDERAL ISSUE.

WE'RE FEELING THIS EVERYWHERE.

FOLKS ARE HAVING TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND SOME ARE GOING TO SCHOOL WHERE THEY'RE NOT EVEN HAVING SOMEONE TO SERVE THEM A MEAL.

IT'S A REALLY BIG ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NATIONWIDE.

>> WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT THE PANDEMIC THAT MANY ARE BLAMING FOR THIS STRESS, BUT ARE THERE OTHER STRESSORS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.

>> SO AS MANY FOLKS KNOW, I'M A FORMER EDUCATOR, A TWO-TIME TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

EDUCATION IS MY BACKGROUND.

IN THE INDUSTRY OF EDUCATION WE WERE STRESSED WELL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WE'RE HANGING ON.

THE PANDEMIC SIMPLY GAVE MANY EDUCATORS OR FOLKS IN THE EDUCATION INDUSTRY A MOMENT TO REASSESS THEMSELVES AND REASSESS THEIR VALUE AND WE'RE FEELING THE BRUNT OF THAT NOW.

>> WE KNOW THAT AS A RESULT OF THE SICK OUTS ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WAKE COUNTY DECIDED LET'S IMPLEMENT A PLAN OF IMMEDIACY.

WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME BONUSES AND TRY TO GET FOLKS SATISFIED IN THAT WAY AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE TO CALM A ONE PERCENT SALARY SUPPLEMENT.

ARE THOSE THE KINDS OF STRATEGIES THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES?

>> YOU KNOW, IN 2008, I WAS A TEACHER AND THAT'S WHEN OUR SALARIES WERE FROZEN, BUT THINGS STARTED, PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE OVER THE YEARS.

WELL EDUCATORS HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN 3 YEARS.

SO THE BUDGET WAS JUST PASSED, A 5% RAISE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT'S 5% OVER 5 YEARS BECAUSE THE 5% RAISE IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS.

SO THAT'S ONE PERCENT EACH YEAR.

WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS IN SOME CAPACITIES AND YOU KNOW CAFETERIA WORKERS, BUS DRIVERS WHO ELSE IS OUT THERE WHO YOU WOULD SAY IS UNDERPAID IN THE SYSTEM WHO WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS WHEN IT COMES TO PAY RAISES?

>> AS AN EDUCATOR IT TAKES THE ENTIRE STAFF IT TAKES THE WHOLE STAFF.

FROM OUR ACTUAL CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO TEACHER ASSISTANCE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF THE FOLKS YOU SEE WHEN YOU WALK IN THE FRONT OFFICE, EDUCATION AS AN INDUSTRY EDUCATION AS A PUBLIC ENTITY IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MAIN ENTITIES THAT HAVE YET TO EVOLVE WITH SOCIETY.

YOU'LL HEAR US CALL IT A SICK OUT BECAUSE IN NORTH CAROLINA IT'S STILL A RIGHT TO WORK STATE.

SO WE CAN'T PROTEST.

SO WHAT FOLKS ARE DOING NOW IS THEY'RE GETTING THE ATTENTION AND SOME OF THE STRATEGIES OF THE RAISES OR BONUSES THAT ARE COMING NOW, I BELIEVE THEY'RE JUST THE BEGINNING.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REASSESS HOW WE DO TEACHING AND LEARNING AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REASSESS HOW WE ACTUALLY VALUE AND COMPENSATE IN THIS INDUSTRY.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE EDUCATE?

AND WHO'S INVOLVED IN THAT SYSTEM?

>> SO FIRST OF ALL OUR EDUCATORS HAVE TO BE LEADERS IN THIS.

THEY HAVE TO ALSO BE LEADERS IN SOCIETY.

WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING AND LEARNING RATHER THAN JUST IN THE CLASSROOM.

FIRST OF ALL TEACHERS SHOULD FEEL LIBERATED IN THE CLASSROOM, NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THEY WANT TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM AND WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD OUR KINGDOMS.

YOU KNOW KINGDOM BUILDING IS A WAY THAT I LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY AND TEACHING AND LEARNING.

WE HAVE OVER 600 CHURCHES IN DURHAM WE SHOULD HAVE OVER 600 CLASSROOMS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL BUILDING.

600 COMMUNITY CENTERS.

ECOSYSTEMS.

SO WE HAVE TO DIVERSIFY THE LEARNING VENUE AND WE HAVE TO EXPAND THE FOLKS OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE EDUCATING OUR KIDS BE MORE I GUESS TOGETHER ON THIS ON THIS ON THIS PROCESS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EVOLVE AND REFORM HOW WE EDUCATE.

>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD YOU SAY IS THAT THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR ECONOMY AND OUR EDUCATION.

AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

HOW DO YOU CONNECT ALL THOSE 3 THINGS TOGETHER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO YOU KNOW, EVERYONE KNOWS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NEWS IN DURHAM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A SITUATION EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

BUT AS IT'S BEEN STATED, PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PREREQUISITE TO PROSPERITY EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN ORDER FOR US TO SOLVE THE CRIME EPIDEMIC IN DURHAM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ENGAGE OUR KIDS NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOLS IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ENGAGE THEM EARLIER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESSES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE CREATING CITYWIDE APPRENTICIAL PROGRAMS AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT A CAPACITY OF 400 SUMMER JOBS FOR YOUTH, WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES IN DURHAM THAT ARE READY TO BRING IN YOUTH.

WE HAVE UNIVERSITIES THAT CAN BRING THEM INTO LIFE SCIENCES, AND OTHER SKILL SET AREAS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THEIR INTERESTS BUT WE DO HAVE TO BE MORE EXPANSIVE AS A CITY, AND THIS CITY CAN ALSO HAVE A ROLE IN HOW WE EDUCATE OUR KIDS NOT JUST THE COUNTY, SO I'M LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN DO THIS MORE IN A COLLECTIVE.

>> CERTAINLY AND GOING BACK TO THE SITUATION WITH THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND THE CAFETERIA WORKERS AND THE DEMAND FOR PAY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY'RE BEING PAID AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THEIR DEMANDS?

ARE THEY ASKING FOR TOO MUCH?

THEY'RE PART TIME WORKERS.

SO YOU KNOW THE SYSTEM IS STRESSED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THEIR REQUEST?

>> YES, PART TIME IS THE ISSUE.

IT'S PART TIME.

WE CAN BE MORE CREATIVE.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS HISTORY IS GOING TO SORT OF REPEAT ITSELF.

I'M GOING TO DATE MYSELF HERE BUT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, DROVE THE SCHOOL BUS.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE GO BACK TO THAT BUT I KNOW FOR A LONG TIME EVEN RECENT, CAFETERIA WORKERS WERE ALSO BUS DRIVERS.

WE'RE CROSS UTILIZING OUR STAFF TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE AMOUNT OF HOURS.

AND IT COULD INCREASE THEIR PAY.

BUT MANY BUS DRIVERS WHEN I WAS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS GETTING $8.75 AN HOUR.

IN THIS DAY AND AGE YOU CANNOT LIVE ON THAT.

WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE RIGHT UNDER MIDDLE CLASS THAT CANNOT AFFORD A HOME.

WE HAVE PEOPLE IN MIDDLE CLASS THAT CAN'T AFFORD A HOME IN DURHAM, SO NOW WE HAVE AN ENTIRE PUBLIC ENTITY OF FOLKS WORKING IN A SPACE WHERE THEY HAVE NO CHANCE OF OWNING A HOME AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

SO WE NEED TO PAY MORE.

WE HAVE TO GET MORE CREATIVE IN HOW OUR TAX STRUCTURE IS IN NORTH CAROLINA TO ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO COMPENSATE EDUCATORS MORE.

>> COUNCILMAN ELECT LEONARDO WILLIAMS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

>> AFTER 2 AND A HALF YEARS, NORTH CAROLINA HAS A STATE BUDGET APPROVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE 29.5 BILLION DOLLAR MEASURE WILL NO DOUBT BE WELCOMED BY ALL 100 COUNTIES AS OUR STATE HAS BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT AN APPROVED BUDGET FOR MORE THAN 2 AND A HALF YEARS.

OF COURSE THERE WERE COMPROMISES MADE ON BOTH SIDES.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOOD BAD AND THE UGLY.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON OF ADVANCE CAROLINA AND HAROLD EUSTACHE OF THE FORSYTH COUNTY GOP.

SO PLEASED THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO JOIN US LET ME OPEN UP WITH YOU LA'MESHIA.

MANY ARE BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF NOW AND IT'S ABOUT TIME.

I MEAN WE JUST FINISHED TALKING IN THE PREVIOUS SEGMENT ABOUT THE STRESS ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION WORKERS AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THIS BUDGET MEANS FOR EDUCATION IN OUR STATE, ESPECIALLY.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE DEMOCRATS WERE PUSHING FOR.

>> SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT WE FINALLY HAVE A STATE BUDGET.

WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR 2 TO 3 YEARS, "WE NEED A STATE BUDGET, WE NEED A STATE BUDGET."

SO YOU KNOW WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE COMPROMISES THE DISCUSSIONS ACROSS THE AISLES AND SOME OF THOSE POSITIVE PROVISIONS, BIPARTISAN PROVISIONS HAS INCLUDED OVER THE COURSE THE NEXT FEW YEARS FUNDING TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, IT INCLUDES SEWAGE SYSTEMS, WATERWAY, SO WE HOPE THAT MEANS THAT REMEDIATION FOR MOLD AND MILDEW IN SCHOOLS CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF THAT LEAD PIPES, RIGHT PFAS IN THE PIPES CAN ACTUALLY BE REMEDIATED SO OUR CHILDREN AND STAFF AND TEACHERS HAVE CLEAN WATER.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE POSITIVE PROVISIONS BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING IS THAT THE STATE BUDGET STILL DOES MEET THE COURT ORDER THAT REQUIRED 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS FOR SCHOOLS.

IT'S ACTUALLY SHORT AROUND 7 TO 900 MILLION DOLLARS.

SO WHILE THERE IS FUNDING FOR EDUCATION AND IT'S NEEDED FUNDING, IS STILL THE BARE MINIMUM.

THAT'S KIND OF SOME OF THE CRITIQUE THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM STAFF AND TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ALIKE.

SO EVEN THOUGH TEACHERS ARE RECEIVING A 5.7% RAISE INCREASE, THE ISSUE IS THE INFLATION IS 5.9%.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GIVING TEACHERS FUNDING BUT WE'RE BEHIND BY 3 OR 4 PLUS YEARS OF GIVING THEM THIS AMOUNT.

THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN A DEFICIT.

THE PAY RAISES THAT OTHER STAFF WILL RECEIVE LIKE CAFETERIA WORKERS OUR BUS DRIVERS.

IT SAID THAT IT WILL BE $15 MINIMUM PER HOUR BUT THAT STILL WON'T TAKE EFFECT FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS WHICH MEANS INCREASING DEFICIT OVER TIME BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN A PANDEMIC AND WE'VE BEEN IN PANDEMIC BEFORE, BECAUSE AGAIN THIS IS THE FIRST STATE BUDGET WE'VE PASSED IN YEARS.

>> SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS FOR EDUCATION HAROLD WHAT WOULD YOU SHARE ABOUT THE GAINS FOR EDUCATION IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CONSERVATIVES MAY HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN?

>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT IN THE STATE BUDGET THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF NORTH CAROLINA CAN BE PROUD OF, PARTICULARLY I THINK IT'S GREAT THE FACT IT'S BIPARTISAN AND THE FACT THAT I THINK OUR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION WRITING THIS DID A GOOD JOB.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS IS THAT OF THIS BUDGET REALLY FOCUSES ON CHARTER SCHOOLS AND HELPS UPLIFT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND GIVE THEM THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC TO OPEN TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS SOLVENT, KEEP THEIR STUDENTS ACHIEVING.

STUDIES SHOW THAT STUDENTS AT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE DOING REALLY WELL.

THIS BUDGET ALSO EXPANDS FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, SO FAMILIES OF 4 MAKING UNDER $85,000 A YEAR WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, THAT'S MOST NORTH CAROLINIANS.

SO THAT'S REALLY A HUGE DEAL FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT LUNCH AT ALL FOR THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THIS BILL ALSO GIVES I THINK 150 MILLION DOLLARS OR SO OR EVEN MORE TO FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY.

ONE OF OUR GREAT HBCUs AND I THINK IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT UNIVERSITY TO GET THAT KIND OF MONEY THAT IT NEEDS AND REALLY IN THAT REGION BE SORT OF A PLACE THAT STUDENTS CAN GO GET A GREAT EDUCATION, SO THERE'S A LOT IN THIS BUDGET TO BE PROUD OF.

I KNOW THAT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH COVID, A LOT OF STUDENTS HAVE LEFT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THIS BUDGET TRIES TO NOT PUNISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS LEAVING, BUT ALSO HELPS GET VOUCHERS TO STUDENTS THAT WANT TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS SO THERE'S A LOT THERE.

>> WELL THE CHARTER SCHOOL MOVEMENT OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S RESISTANCE TO THAT IN TERMS OF JUST AS YOU SAID THE THE ACCUSATION THAT IT TAKES FUNDING AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE THAT THOSE DOLLARS DO FOLLOW THE CHILD BUT WHEN PARENTS ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEY FEEL LIKE THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS INDEED AN ALTERNATIVE.

LA'MESHIA ABOUT THAT FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND TRYING TO MAKE THAT AN ALTERNATIVE OR AN OPTION FOR FOR PARENTS WHO ARE NOT REALLY SATISFIED WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I WOULD SAY THAT THIS COULD BE SEEN CERTAINLY AS A BENEFIT.

THE INCREASED FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS HAROLD MENTIONED THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE INCREASES THAT WAS PUT WITHIN THIS BUDGET, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS NORTH CAROLINA HAS A 6.5 BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS DUE TO TAXES, OUR HARDWORKING ESSENTIAL WORKERS EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED 6.5 BILLION DOLLARS SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHOOSING BETWEEN THE OPTIONS THAT ALL FAMILIES.

WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE.

THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE.

THE STATE BUDGET HAS ACTUALLY CUT CORPORATE TAXES AND WILL COMPLETELY CUT CORPORATE TAXES BY 2030 THAT MEANS THAT LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES WILL BE PAYING MORE TAXES.

THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR AND MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASED HARDSHIP AND BURDEN FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WHO AGAIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHOICE, BUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT DO CHOOSE TO ACCESS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE HAVE 6.5 BILLION DOLLARS THAT CAN SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT CAN BE THE 1.7 BILLION DOLLAR COURT MANDATE TO ACTUALLY FULFILL THAT LEANDRO, TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD IS SUPPORTED AND EVERY FAMILY IS SUPPORTED NO MATTER THE CHOICE.

AND THAT'S THE POINT.

WHY ARE WE PITTING COMMUNITY AGAINST COMMUNITY WHEN WE HAVE THE MONEY TO SUPPORT ALL COMMUNITIES?

>> LET'S HOPE THAT THAT FUNDING ACTUALLY COMES THROUGH IT'S BEEN MANDATED AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

BUT ANOTHER CRITICAL AREA IS HEALTH CARE AND LET ME OPEN WITH YOU.

HAROLD ONCE AGAIN, MEDICAID EXPANSION WAS SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO MAKE HEADWAY FOR EDUCATION FUNDING.

DO YOU THINK THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S WILLINGNESS TO KIND OF COMPROMISE ON THIS?

IN SOME OF THOSE CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS THAT HELPED US TO ACTUALLY GET TO AN APPROVED ARE AGREED UPON STATE BUDGET.

>> I DO I THINK THAT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS HAD TO MAKE SOME SACRIFICES, AND SO THEY HAD TO MAKE SOME SACRIFICES WHEN IT CAME TO MEDICAID EXPANSION.

FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

THE ISSUE OF MEDICAID EXPANSIONS OF MEDICAID ARE ALREADY IN NORTH CAROLINA IS FOR OUR MOST NEEDY RESIDENTS OF OUR STATE, PEOPLE THAT ARE DISABLED, THE POOR THAT WE HAVE AND EXPANDING MEDICAID IS REALLY FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IS ABOUT THE ROAD TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.

I MEAN IT'S REALLY SAYING THAT LET'S EXPAND THIS SO THAT ALMOST EVERYONE QUALIFIES FOR MEDICAID AND THEN WHAT DO WE HAVE?

WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE ESSENTIALLY AND THAT'S NOT THE ROAD WE WANT TO GO DOWN.

SO I DO THINK EVEN WITH THAT BEING OUT OF THE BILL, THERE WAS A COMPROMISE OF HAVING A COMMITTEE NEXT YEAR TO LOOK INTO MEDICAID EXPANSION WHICH I THINK IT IS IF DONE RIGHT CAN REALLY BE BENEFICIAL TO THE STATE AND REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE ISSUES GOING TO BE OVERALL SO I YOU KNOW I DO THINK THERE'S SOME COMPROMISE DEBORAH, I'M GLAD IT GOT DONE.

>> I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GLAD IT GOT DONE LA, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THE THE COMPROMISE AND YOU KNOW KIND OF TABLING IN A WAY THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT MEDICAID EXPANSION.

>> SO AS ADVOCATES OF COMMUNITY ISSUE OF HEALTH CARE EXPANSION IS CRITICAL FOR US FOR OUR COMMUNITY SO OVER HALF A MILLION NORTH CAROLINIANS COULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND THAT IS MEDICAID EXPANSION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW THE IMPACT ON RURAL COMMUNITIES, WE'RE TALKING HEALTH SECURITIES.

WERE TALKING ABOUT INCREASED DISTANCES TO ACTUAL HOSPITALS, AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS 30% OF NORTH CAROLINA'S RURAL HOSPITALS ARE VULNERABLE FOR CLOSING DUE TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS.

SO NOT ONLY IS IT A HARDSHIP ON THE LEAST OF THESE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALREADY DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS OR COVERAGE THAT ALREADY DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION RURAL AND CERTAIN URBAN AREAS BECAUSE AGAIN LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN RURAL AREAS TO GET TO HOSPITALS NOW THERE ARE NO HOSPITALS.

THAT'S THE THREAT RIGHT?

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE DECREASE IN FUNDING AND LACK OF FUNDING THAT AGAIN THIS STATE BUDGET DIDN'T COVER.

SO IT'S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE HOSPITALS IN PLACE FOR INDIVIDUALS, AND HEALTH CARE OPTIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS THAT HOSPITAL IN THE EVENT THE HOSPITAL SURVIVES AGAIN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND BARRIERS.

AND HERE'S THE THING NORTH CAROLINA IS BEHIND.

39 OTHER STATES CHOSE TO EXPAND MEDICAID.

39.

AND SO AT THIS POINT TO TABLE IT AGAIN, PITTING COMMUNITY AGAINST COMMUNITY, IS UNACCEPTABLE.

IT'S ALWAYS TAKING AWAY, LET'S LOOK AT THE 6.5 BILLION DOLLARS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND HEALTH.

IT'S THE SAME FOLKS, THE SAME MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY RECEIVED A 15 DOLLAR AN HOUR INCREASE ON THE SAME COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE COVERAGE, SO IT'S CHOOSING JUST TO STILL PLACE NOW THAT "NEW" MINIMUM WAGE TO HEALTH CARE.

>> WELL, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THINGS CHANGE WITH AN APPROVED BUDGET AND FUNDING TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

LOOKING ON TO THE NATIONAL STAGE, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS DRAWING UNWANTED ATTENTION FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT HER OFFICE AND OPERATIONS ARE DYSFUNCTIONAL.

HAROLD WE HAVE SEEN REPORTS AND HEARD RUMORS EVER SINCE SHE TOOK OFFICE HOW MUCH OF THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE ADMINISTRATION LOOK WEAK AND WHICH OBSERVATIONS CAN THE PUBLIC REALLY RELY ON AS FACT?

>> I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE OBSERVATIONS AND REPORTS THAT HER OFFICE IS DYSFUNCTIONAL.

SHE'S JUST HAD A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR LEAVE, SHE'S HAD SEVERAL REPORTS, SERIOUS ISSUES IN HER STAFF OF FOLKS WANTING TO LEAVE AND EVEN INTERNALLY PEOPLE SAID IT COMES FROM THE TOP DOWN.

I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SEEN AND THE REASON THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS THE LOW APPROVAL RATING SHE HAS IS BECAUSE OF HER INEPTITUDE IN ORDER TO REALLY HANDLE HER STAFF AND TO HANDLE THE GREATER ISSUES THAT THIS COUNTRY FACES WHETHER IT BE AT THE BORDER OR OTHER ISSUES.

I MEAN I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THOSE IN HER PARTY THAT ARE GOING TO SAY WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE'S ATTACKED US ABOUT HER HUSBAND OR GENDER IT'S ABOUT OUR SKIN COLOR.

BUT WE SEE WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE LIKE LIKE OTHER POLITICIANS THAT ARE BLACK OR MAYBE REPUBLICAN THAT DON'T GET TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE I'M BLACK OR BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN THAT I'M ATTACKED IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A POLITICIAN.

IT'S BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN POLITICS, YOU GET ATTACKED.

AND SO SHE SHE DESERVES IT JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

>> WELL LA'MESHIA AS FAR AS DESERVING THIS ATTACK, YOU KNOW SO OFTEN IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WOMEN OF COLOR ARE IN THESE POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND THE ATTACKS COME AND CERTAINLY JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN OF COLOR DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB EXTREMELY WELL, BUT HOW MUCH OF THE CRITICISM IS ABOUT HER DYSFUNCTION THAT SHE MAY WELL BE DYSFUNCTIONAL AND HOW MUCH OF THE ULTRA CRITICISM I WOULD SAY COULD BE TIED TO SEXISM AND RACISM?

>> RIGHT SO LET'S TALK ABOUT REALLY BRIEFLY THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT.

SO NUMBER ONE IT'S TO RECEIVE ASSIGNMENTS AND TASKS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES VICE PRESIDENT IS NUMBER 2, SO THAT OFFICE RECEIVES ASSIGNMENTS AND TASKS.

THEY DON'T SET THE AGENDA.

THEY CARRY THE AGENDA.

THEY ALSO CARRY THE MESSAGE.

SO WHENEVER WE HEAR THE MESSAGE OF THE ADMINISTRATION BE IT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, AT A PRESS RELEASE.

THOSE STATEMENTS WERE PREAPPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION.

AND IT IS CARRIED FORTH BY THE VICE PRESIDENT.

NUMBER 2 THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT IS TO CARRY THE MESSAGE AND HISTORICALLY THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT WAS SO UNDEFINED, THAT EACH VICE PRESIDENT MADE ITS ROLE AND FUNCTION.

WELL, IT'S BEEN - NOW WE HAVE A HER - BUT HIS APPEARANCE AND THE PUBLIC THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK BY WHICH THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS REQUIRED TO CARRY ASIDE FROM BEING SUPPORT TO THE PRESIDENT.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS IN THIS YEAR IS THE DEFINING OF WHAT IS IT TO BE A VICE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN AND INDIAN DESCENT INDIVIDUAL.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DEFINE AFTER A HISTORIC WHAT ADMINISTRATION THAT WE SAW PREVIOUSLY AND THE DIVIDE IN THE COUNTRY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN ACTUALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE SEEING VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS DOESN'T HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE THAN THE PRESIDENT, GENERALLY VICE PRESIDENTS ARE CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY ARE PERCEIVED AS DOING SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT CAN'T DO OR CAN'T DO VERY WELL.

SO YOU HAVE 2 INDIVIDUALS IN OFFICE THAT DON'T HAVE GAPS OR DEFICITS AND THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ROLE IS NOT TO OVERSHADOW THE PRESIDENT.

SO A LOT OF TIMES WE HEAR THESE CRITICISMS THAT SHE'S NOT FRONT FACING ENOUGH.

NOT LOUD ENOUGH HER COMMUNICATION IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH, BUT IF WE ACTUALLY COMPARE IT TO THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT SHE HAS TO GUESS WHAT?

DWINDLE AND DIMINISH HER APPEARANCE AND HER VOCALIZATION IN PUBLIC BECAUSE THAT'S THE FUNCTION OF THE VICE PRESIDENT IS TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT.

ANY REPORTING OTHER THAN THAT OUTSIDE OF HER ROLE I'VE SEEN REPORTS THAT SAY MENTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW HISTORIC IT IS BASED ON HER RACE AND OR GENDER AND THAT THIS IS A WEIGHT FOR HER TO CARRY.

OKAY, THAT'S WHERE THE DISCREPANCY AND THE DISTRACTION COMES IN.

WE SHOULD BE EVALUATING HER JOB PERFORMANCE NOT INCLUDING HER GENDER AND RACE WHEN LOOKING AT THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT AND THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T QUITE REALIZE AND WHAT ALL OF THIS DISSENSION AND CRITICISM DOES IS INDEED UNDERMINE HER AUTHORITY AND HER POTENTIAL AUTHORITY SHOULD SHE WANT TO STEP INTO THAT POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESIDENT OR RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

SO HAROLD AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT POTENTIAL, HER ABILITY TO DO THAT, HOW PRODUCTIVE IS IT TO TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE DYSFUNCTION OF HER OFFICE AND I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THAT MUCH DYSFUNCTION WHEN YOU HAVE THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT AT THAT LEVEL.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE HAS THAT LEVEL OF DYSFUNCTION.

I DON'T.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO REASON THAT KAMALA HARRIS' APPROVAL RATING SHOULDN'T BE 55% OR 60%.

WE LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE CONDELEEZA RICE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THESE ISSUES WHO WASN'T ATTACKED AND SHE'S A BLACK WOMAN IN POSITION OF POWER, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO GET TO FALL BACK AND SAY WELL I'M CRITICIZED BECAUSE I'M A BLACK WOMAN IN POWER.

THAT'S NOT WHY KAMALA HARRIS IS BEING CRITICIZED.

>> [DEB] AND SHE HASN'T COME OUT AND SAID THAT.

>> AND SHE HASN'T.

YOU'RE RIGHT, SHE HASN'T.

BUT MY POINT IS THAT I DON'T THINK THAT SHE USED AS COVER, PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING HER USE IT AS COVER.

I THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT KAMALA HARRIS HAS JUST NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE IN THIS JOB, HAS HAD ISSUES AND THAT GO OUTSIDE OF HER AT THE BORDER THAT SHE HASN'T DONE A GOOD JOB AT AND I THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, THERE'S PLENTY OF CRITICISM TO GO AROUND.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WAS CERTAINLY DYSFUNCTIONAL SO IT DOESN'T JUSTIFY ADDITIONAL DYSFUNCTION, BUT THERE CERTAINLY IS PLENTY OF CRITICISM TO GO AROUND AND ALSO JUST SUPPORT AS WELL.

HAROLD EUSTACHE, LA WHITTINGTON THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

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