>>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO CHAT BOX, I'M JOANNA, DAVID IS OFF THIS WEEK.

LATER IN THE PROGRAM WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT JUNETEENTH AND WHAT THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY MEANS AND THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY IN THIS COUNTRY BUT FIRST, IT'S 2021 AND NEW JERSEY IS PIONEERING THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO PROTECT WOMEN AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT BECAUSE UNTIL NOW THERE ON HASN'T BEEN A SYSTEM TO HOLD MEN IN THAT ARENA FOR BAD BEHAVIOR.

JOINED NOW BY A GROUP FORMED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE IN TRENTON, COFOUNDER OF THE NON-EVASIVE NON-PROFIT OF LIFT OUR VOICES A WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

I'M GOING TO ASK WHAT IS THE GROUP ACCOMPLISHED IN THE YEAR SINCE IT'S BEEN FORRED.

>> THANK YOU.

GREAT QUESTION.

WE'VE HAD A LONG, DAUNTING TASK AHEAD OF US IN TERMS OF FORMING AND PUTTING TOGETHER HELPFUL POLICIES IN THE STATE.

THIS PAST YEAR IS HEROING FOR US.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR FROM WONDERFUL STORIES FROM REALLY GREAT WOMEN WHO HAVE PUT FORWARD THEIR TRUTH AND JOURNEYS AT ALL LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IN NEW JERSEY AND BP WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SOMEWHAT OF A BASIS FOR POLICY FOR WHAT'S TO COME IN THE FUTURE.

OUR WORK IS JUST GETTING STARTED BUT WE'VE REALLY BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY BY THE WONDERFUL WOMEN WHO HAVE COME FORWARD TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND JOURNEYS WITH US.

>> JUST THIS WEEK SENATOR WINEBERG WHO LED THE CHARGE AND THIS WORK GROUP TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF TONIGHT TOXICITY, HAD A HEARING TO TALK ABOUT TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION SHE'S PUT FORWARD.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAINING PIECE, WHAT WERE THE AMENDMENTS AGREED ON.

>> SURE.

WELL, THIS BILL HAS BEEN A WORK OFF OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST YEAR AND THE AMENDMENTS SPEAK TO NEEDING TO REFORM THE TRAINING, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND EDUCATION OF VOLUNTEERS NOT JUST PARTICIPANT IN CAMPAIGNS BUT ALSO THOSE RUNNING THE PROGRAMS.

THE AMENDMENTS CLARIFY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND PLAY TO NOSE SE -- THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR NUMBER OF DAYS.

SO WE'RE TRUEING TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF THE FOLKS PARTS OF THE MECHANISM OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING, THOSE KIND OF NETWORKS.

>> YOU HAD A LONG CAREER IN TRENTON AND THE CULTURE AND LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE BETTER, DESCRIBE HOW IT LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN TODAY AND HOW DIFFERENTLY WOMEN ARE ENGAGED TODAY.

>> WELL, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT 25 YEARS AGO NOBODY MADE YOU SIGN AN NTA ON A CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT WAS TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE TO HARASS WOMEN AND TREAT THEM POORLY BECAUSE NOBODY THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT.

TODAY PEOPLE DO MAKE YOU SIGN MDA'S BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING ON CAMPAIGNS THE IS INAPPROPRIATE AND INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING TO FIX IT POLITICIANS PUT DOCUMENTS IN FRONT OF WOMEN SAYING SIGN THIS NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT AND YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THAT WAY YOU REALLY PROTECT THE PREDATORS, THE BAD ACTORS AT THE EXPENSE OF WOMEN.

THAT DRIVES YOUNG WOMEN OUT OF THE BUSINESS.

WHAT DO WE HAVE AS A RESULT, POLITICS MADE BY MEN FOR MEN BECAUSE WOMEN JUST DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS BUSINESS ANY MORE.

SO THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER IN SO FAR AS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN A WAY THEY DIDN'T A VERY LONG TIME AGO.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY'VE COME UP WITH NEW AND DIFFERENT MECHANISMS TO TRY TO COVER THE PROBLEM UP RATHER THAN TO REALLY TACKLE AND SOLVE IT.

THAT'S WHAT OUR GROUP IS ABOUT, GIVING WOMEN THE SPACE TO COME FORWARD AND UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

THERE ARE WOMEN, VERY POWERFUL WOMEN LIKE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, LIKE SENATOR WINEBERG AND OTHER POTENTIALLY MILLENNIAL WOMEN WHO ARE THERE FOR THEM, STAND BY THEM, AND WON'T LET ANYONE ELSE STRING THEM OUT ALL ALONG WITHOUT ANY KIND OF SUPPORT.

>> BEYOND THAT CAMARADERIE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE'S NOW GOING TO BE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO GOVERN, ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE PREVIOUS TO THIS THERE WAS NO GOVERNING BODY OVER CAMPAIGNS SO VERY WISELY SENATOR HAS CHOSEN ELECT, THE ELECTION LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION, TO OVERSEE THIS.

THERE ARE INHERENT CHALLENGES IN HERE.

JULIE, QUICKLY TALK ABOUT THE KEY AMENDMENT THAT WOULD CREATE A ADVISORY COUNSEL TO ELEC.

>> THE ADVISORY COUNCIL WILL BE COMPRISED OF PEOPLE FROM THE FIELD OF WOMEN'S SURVIVOR GROUPS.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A BUNCH OF MEN PICKING THEIR BUDDIES TO PUT THEM IN AN ADVISORY GROUP.

THE REASON WE'RE SO INSISTENT ON ELEC BEING THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIVE BODY IS TOO OFTEN CAMPAIGNS HIRE CAMPAIGN ATTORNEYS THAT ARE BEHOLDEN 20 THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER TO DO THESE INVESTIGATION THAT'S ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A WHITE WASH AND GIVES THEM EXCUSES TO SAY LOOK THERE WAS NO ROCK WRONGDOING FOUND OF COURSE THAT WAS A WHITE WASH FROM THE BEGINNING.

WHAT ELEC WILL DO WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR WILL ESTABLISH INVESTIGATION THAT WILL INVESTIGATE QUICKLY.

ELEC IS UNDER STAFFED AND UNDERFUNDED WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUES DOESN'T TACKLE THE ISSUES UNTIL LONG AFTER CAMPAIGNS ARE OVER, WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE, THESE WILL BE INVESTIGATED WITHIN 60 DAYS.

THERE'S WRONG-DOING ON A CAMPAIGN THAT PERSON WILL BE EXPOSED AND HOPEFULLY REMOVED SO THAT WOMEN, AND OTHERS, OF THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY, PEOPLE OF COLOR, OTHERS WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY DISENFRANCHISED DON'T HAVE TO WORK WITH THAT KIND OF PREDATOR.

WE DON'T KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD A YEAR OR TWO LONG AFTER CAMPAIGNS ARE OVER.

THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

OTHERWISE YOU HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WILL CONTINUE TO JUST KICK CANS DOWN THE ROAD AND/OR ALLOW CAMPAIGNS TO INTERNALLY INVESTIGATE, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG THING TO DO, NO INTERNAL INVESTIGATION HAS DONE ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT THE PEOPLE PAYING THEIR BILLS WANT THEM TO DO, VERY OFTEN THOSE ARE THE PREDATORS >> SO, HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT IS NOT ALL OLDER, WHITE MEN, AND HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THIS EFFORT EVEN AS SENATOR WEINBERG IS IN CHARGE HOW DO YOU HOLD EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABILLE >> I THINK THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT PLAGUES ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND ALL WOMEN OF ALL AGES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT NOW AND HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.

FIRST OF ALL, JUST DELVING INTO THIS TO BEGIN WITH IS A BIG ENOUGH STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AGAIN, WE'RE JUST BRINGING TO LIGHT THAT THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.

IN TERMS OF INSURING MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ARE REPRESENTING THE FOLKS THEY'RE 3R0E TECHNOSTRUCTURALING -- PROTECTING, I THINK THE AMENDMENTS REFLECT POSITIVE CHANGE IN TERMS OF REPRESENTATION.

WE HAVE WOMEN FROM THE SENATE FOR AMERICAN WOMEN IN POLITICS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND OTHER WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS.

N AACP, AND CENTER FOR WOMEN IN WORK AS WOMEN.

HAVING THESE ESTABLISHED ARMS INVOLVED 234 IN THESE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES WILL BE A LOT MORE INFORMED AND SUSTAINABLE FOR CHANGE.

YOU HAVE WOMEN MAKING DECISIONS FOR WOMEN.

AS JEWELY JUST POINTED OUT, THAT HAS BEEN THE MAJOR ISSUE MISSING FROM POLITICS ALL THIS TIME.ULI HAS BEEN THE MAJOR ISSUE MISSING FROM POLITICS ALL THIS TIME.

>> QUICKLY, JULIE, LAST WEEK WE SAW PRIMARIES, THERE ALREADY LESS THAN A THIRD OF WOMEN IN ALL OF NEW JERSEY'S LEGISLATIVE SEATS AND YET SOME WOMEN WHO RAN LOST THEIR SEATS TO MEN IN THE PRIMARIES, IS THIS ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE CULTURE JUST HASN'T CHANGED YET IN TRENTON, ARE YOU DISCOURAGED TO SEE THOSE RESULTS?

>> I'M DISCOURAGING THAT THERE WILL BE FEWER WOMEN IN THE L LEGISLATE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT, THAT'S WHY THIS WORKING GROUP CAME TOGETHER BECAUSE THE PROBLEM HAS TO BE SOLVED BY OUTSIDERS NOT THOSE SITTING IN THE LEGISLATURE SO WE NEED TO CREATE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN TO BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS, UNTIL WE CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT TODAY, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, YOU WILL NEVER SEE WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT IN POLITICS BECAUSE BEFORE THEY HANG OUT IN ONE OR TWO CAMPAIGNS THEY FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO, I DON'T BLAME THEM, IT'S THE WILD WEST OF UNREGULATED AWFUL BEHAVIOR A LOT OF TIMES.

>> IT WAS THE WILD WEST, RIGHT, JULIE.

>> UNTIL WE CHANGE IT.

>> YEAH.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR INSIGHT.

>>> THIS WEEKEND IS JUNETEENTH, IT'S A COMMEMORATION OF SLAVERY OFFICIALLY ENDING IN THE UNITED STATES.

JUST THIS WEEK CONGRESS MARKED JUNE 19th AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY NOW TALKING TO CHAIR FOR PEOPLE FOR PROGRESS WHAT IT MEANS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS RACISM AND EQUALITY IN THIS COUNTRY.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, LARRY.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

JUST LET'S SET THE STAGE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNE 19, 1865.

>> WELL, IT WAS ON JUNE 19, 1865 WHEN THE UNION GENERAL GRAINGER RODE INTO TEXAS, WHICH WAS A SLAVE STATE, AND ANNOUNCED THAT THOSE ENSLAVED AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE NOW FREE.

AND FROM 18 -- WELL, OF COURSE, THERE WAS CELEBRATION AT THAT TIME WHEN HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT BUT FORMAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY BEGAN AS EARLY AS 1866.

AND FOR SEVERAL DECADES IT WAS ACTUALLY CALLED JUBILEE DAY, IT WAS THE CELEBRATION OF THE END OF SLAVERY, THE UNITED STATES SENATE VOTED TO END SLAVERY IN 1864, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED IN JANUARY 1865.

GENERAL GRANGER CAME INTO TEXAS.

AND TEXAS WASN'T THAT THE ENSLAVED PEOPLE THERE WERE THE LAST TO HEAR ABOUT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WHICH HAD BEEN ISSUED TWO YEARS EARLIER, IT WAS THAT THE CONFEDERATE GENERALS IN TEXAS REFUSED TO SURRENDER AND THE SLAVES MASTERS REFUSED TO EMANCIPATE THEIR SLAVES.

SO IT TOOK SOME TIME.

AS A RESULT, UNION FORCES CAME IN.

REMEMBER IT TOO CLOS REMEMBER, IT TOOK A CIVIL WAR TO END SLAVERY IN THIS COUNTRY AND THAT BECAME A DAY OF CELEBRATION.

FORMERLY CHATLE SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES DID NOT END THE RATIFICATION OF THE 13th AMENDMENT BY CONGRESS IN DECEMBER OF 1865, BUT THE PRELIMINARY VOTES HAD TAKEN PLACE IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE BY THE TIME GRANGER RODE INTO TEXAS.

SO AS I SAID, FOR SEVERAL DECADES PEOPLE CALLED IT JUBILEE DAY.

IN THE 1890s PEOPLE STARTED CALLING IT JUNETEENTH.

IT WAS A MAJOR CELEBRATION UNTIL THE 1930s, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTHWEST.

IN THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES.

AND INTO THE 20th CENTURY I CAN REMEMBER AS EARLY AS THE 1990s.

PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY STARTED HAVING JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS.

AND NOW WE SEE THAT THE -- >> -- LARRY, IT'S BEEN A FIGHT TO GET THIS TO BE A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

AND EVEN IN TEXAS, THERE HAVE BEEN LEGISLATE BIPARTISAN PUSHING TO MAKE THIS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

LAST YEAR WE SAW PUSH BACK FROM SOME REPUBLICAN WHO'S REALLY FOUGHT AND WERE ABLE TO STOP THIS MOVING FORWARD AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

HOW DO YOU FEEL SEEING IT MOVE FORWARD THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, I'M AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, I AM A DESCENDENT OF THOSE WHO WERE ENSLAVED IN THIS COUNTRY, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THE UNITED STATES IS FINALLY COMING TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD HAVE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY TO COMMEMORATE, NOT TO CELEBRATE, BUT TO COMMEMORATE THE END OF CENTURIES OF SLAVERY.

BUT I HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS.

WHILE ON ONE HAND I'M GLAD THAT THE BILL FINALLY PASSED BOTH HOUSES.

I'M CONFLICTED BECAUSE ON ONE HAND, FINDS IT WAY TO PASS THE BILL FOR A HOLIDAY BUT IT CAN'T FIND ITS WAY TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS.

IT CAN'T FIND ITS WAY TO DO THE THING THAT REALLY NEED TO BE DONE TO BRING ABOUT EQUALITY IN THIS COUNTRY.

NOT JUST EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW, BUT TO CORRECT THE INEQUITIES IN TERMS OF WEALTH AND INCOME AND SO FORTH.

I THINK THE BEST WAY TO CELEBRATE THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY IS FOR PEOPLE TO DEMAND REPARATION FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF THOSE WHO WERE ENSLAVED IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, LET'S SAY, IN CONGRESS, EVEN JUST GETTING THELE HOLIDAY DESIGNATED WAS A CONTENTIOUS ISSUES.

>> YES.

>> I'M WONDERING IF, I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY SEE INSTANCES WHERE, AS YOU SAID, VOTING RIGHTS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, THEY'RE BEING RESTRICTED, BUT DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE'S BEEN ANY KIND OF SHIFT, ANY KIND OF MOMENTUM COMING OFF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, WE'RE A YEAR PAST GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH, YOU WERE JUST AT AN UNVEILING OF A GEORGE FLOYD STATUE THIS WEEK, DO YOU FEEL THERE'S ANY MOMENTUM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO MOVE MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION FORWARD?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT IN PEOPLE'S THINKING ON THIS ISSUE.

I DEFINITELY THINK THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN A POPULAR OPINION ABOUT THE ISSUE OF POLICE BRUTALITY.

I THINK MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE AS A RESULT OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND OTHERS WILL AT LEAST ADMIT THAT POLICE BRUTALITY EXISTS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY LEGISLATION PASSED BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE GEORGE FLOYD ACCOUNTABILITY AND POLICING BILL PASSED.

THAT HASN'T BEEN PASSED.

QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T THINK ANY MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION IS GOING TO BE PASSED IN THE SENATE UNTIL THE FILIBUSTER IS BROUGHT TO AN END.

BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY IS USING THE FILIBUSTER AS IT HAS BEEN USED HISTORICALLY TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF RACIAL INEQUALITY AND RACIAL OPPRESSION IN THIS COUNTRY.

IN FACT THE FILIBUSTER STARTED AS A MEANS TO STOP ANTI-SLAVERY LEGISLATION FROM MOVING THROUGH CONGRESS AND THE FILIBUSTER WAS USED TO SLOW DOWN AND TEMPT TO STOP CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION FROM MOVING THROUGH THE CONGRESS AND HERE WE ARE TODAY IN THE 21st CENTURY AND THE FILIBUSTER IS STILL BEING USED BY THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY TO STOP AND SLOW DOWN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD, IN FACT, ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF RACIAL EQUITY AND EQUALITY IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> THANK YOU AND I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO DELVE INTO A LOT OF THE ISSUES.

>> I DO TOO.

>> THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH TIME.

WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK, THANK YOU, LARRY.

>>> A YEAR AGO THE STATE'S FISCAL REALITY WAS GRIM WITH A PENSION HOLE STILL LOOMING AND THE STATE FACING IMMEASURABLE COST FROM A PANDEMIC RAVAGING LIVES AND THE ECONOMY.

THIS YEAR HE -- NEW JERSEY IS FLUSH WITH CASH, $11 BILLION WITH A B WINDFALL HERE TO TALK WITH US FORMER DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM RICH >> THANK YOU, GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> RICH, HOW IS THAT NEW JERSEY FINDS ITSELF THIS YEAR WITH A WINDFALL THAT'S ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE ANNUAL PROPOSED BUDGET?

>> YEAH, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT NEW JERSEY IS A WASH WITH CASH.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE'S A BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR HE HAD A USE OF $4.1 BILLION IN THE BONDS RIGHT, SO THAT'S FINE, CAN STILL ARGUE MADE A BIG MISTAKE, DIDN'T NEED TO DO THAT, THAT IS BUILT INTO THE CURRENT BILL.

AROUND AS THE MONTHS HAVE GONE BY WE'VE FOUND OUT NEW ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR WERE UNDER STATED BY $4 BILLION.

AND THE PROJECTED ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR WERE UNDER STATED BY $1.1 BILLION.

AND LO-AND-BEHOLD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW GOING TO PROVIDE THE STATE WITH ANOTHER 6$6.5 BILLION.

YOU ROLL ALL THAT TOGETHER AND A LOT OF THAT WAS UNANTICIPATED, SOME OF IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN KNOWN, AND SOME OF THE ACTIONS, LIKE THE BOND SALE WERE INAPPROPRIATE.

BUT IN ANY CASE WE NOW HAVE ALL OF THIS MONEY.

AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE USE IT?

HOW BEST TO USE IT?

AND THAT'S THE QUESTION EVERYONE VESTED IN ARE THINKING ABOUT AT THE MOMENT.

I HAVE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ABOUT IT.

IN GENERAL, MY OVERALL FEELING IS THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S A TON OF CRITICISM RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THE BUDGET DECISIONS ARE HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH REALLY THE GOVERNOR, SENATE PRESIDENT AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, THREE WHITE MEN, I MIGHT ADD, AND THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THERE'S OUTCRY FROM REPUBLICANS AND FROM PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC SAYING WE NEED A VOICE IN THIS.

WHAT ARE THE INHERENT PROBLEMS NOT HAVING THAT PUBLIC DISCOURSE?

AND WHERE SHOULD THESE MONIES GO?

>> ANY TIME HISTORICALLY WE'VE ALWAYS HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS, BECAUSE THERE'S INPUT NECESSARY FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, FROM NON-PROFIT GROUPS HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNICATION.

WITHOUT THIS INPUT WE'LL HAVE DECISIONS MADE PRINCIPLEY DRIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR, PERHAPS WITH CONSENT BY THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY'LL HAVE TO PASS AN APPROPRIATION BILL, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE CITIZENS.

AND WE'VE NEVER HAD THIS LARGE SUM.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEEDS OUT THERE.

HAVING SAID THAT, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF HOW WE PROGRAM THAT INTO THE BUDGET.

IT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO DUMP UP OF THAT MONEY INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

WHAT'S THAT MEAN FOR THE OUT YEARS?

SO AMONG OTHER THINGS, WHAT THE EXECUTIVES SHOULD DO, AND THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD DEMAND IT, ASK THE GOVERNOR TO PREPARE A CURRENT SERVICES BUDGET PROJECT.

HERE'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NEXT YEAR AND WHAT'S THE IMPACT FOR NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS FROM REVENUE AND FROM BUDGET POINTS OF VIEW.

BECAUSE IF THIS MONEY IS SPENT INAPPROPRIATELY OR ON PROGRAMS BUILT INTO NEXT AND FUTURE-YEAR BUDGETS WITHOUT THE REVENUE, BECAUSE SOME OF THIS REVENUE IS GOING TO DISAPPEAR, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BOND SALE OF $4 BILLION -- NOT GOING -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> -- SORRY.

>> -- RTHE RUG GETS PULLED UNDER THEM IN THE LONG TERM QUICKLY DO YOU THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A TAX REFUND FOR INDIVIDUALS THIS YEAR.

SOMETHING BOTH SIDES HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

>> WELL, I SEE THAT ALREADY IN THE BUDGET THERE'S $320 MILLION.

ALREADY BUILT INTO THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED.

THE IDEA IS TO, LET'S SEE, $500 FOR INCOMES UP TO PEOPLE WITH $150,000 OF INCOME.

I THINK PERSONALLY THAT IS A MISTAKE.

THAT MONEY COULD BE USED A LOT MORE CREATIVELY THAN TO GIVE REBATES BACK TO PEOPLE MAKING UP TO $150,000.

SO -- SOME PEOPLE WANT MORE.

I THINK THERE'S OTHER NEEDS THROUGHOUT THAT NEED TO BE ADDR ADDRESSED.

>> YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT'S CORRECT, SOME PEOPLE WANT MORE.

IT SEEMS EVERYONE WANTS MORE.

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TO GO AROUND.

A LOT OF TOUGH DECISIONS TO BE MADE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANKS TO ALL OF MY GUESTS FOR JOINING ME, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET MORE CHAT BOX AND BUSINESS FEED AND SPOTLIGHT NEWS, BE SURE TO TUN IN AGAIN NEXT WEEK, AND FOR THE ENTIRE CREW HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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