>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, PRESIDENT BIDEN LOOKS TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL BENCH, NATIONWIDE NEW CASES OF COVID-19 DROPPED DRAMATICALLY AND WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK.

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: ITS FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH CAROLINA JOURNAL, COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, DONNA KING, ROBERT REIVES THE DEMOCRATIC MINORITY LEADER IN THE STATE HOUSE AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, MITCH, WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE FEDERAL BENCH.

>> ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND ONE OF THE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS THAT JOE BIDEN NOT DONALD TRUMP WILL BE APPOINTING JUDGES TO FILL JUDICIAL VACANCIES THROUGHOUT THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS.

LET'S STEP BACK AND REMEMBER THAT WHEN DONALD TRUMP ENTERED THE WHITE HOUSE HE HAD WELL OVER 100 JUDICIAL VACANCIES AND BY THE TIME HE LEFT OFFICE HE HAD ENDED UP APPOINTING MORE THAN 230 JUDGES TO THE FEDERAL COURTS, INCLUDING 54 JUDGES TO THOSE IMPORTANT US CIRCUIT COURTS OF APPEAL AND 3 OF COURSE JUSTICES ON THE NINE-MEMBER U.S. SUPREME COURT.

JOE BIDEN FACES A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

ABOUT HALF AS MANY VACANCIES WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE, ALTHOUGH SINCE THAT TIME, A NUMBER OF PRIMARILY DEMOCRATIC APPOINTED JUDGES HAVE DECIDED TO RETIRE SO THAT THEY WOULD THEIR REPLACEMENT WILL BE APPOINTED BY A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT RATHER THAN A REPUBLICAN.

THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME SUGGESTION THAT OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS THERE COULD BE AT LEAST SOME GENTLE PRESSURE FOR US SUPREME COURT JUSTICE STEVEN BRIAR TO RETIRE SO HE WOULD BE REPLACED BY A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT AS WELL.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE AT THIS POINT, DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE LAST SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION WHICH WAS DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY PACKING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT WITH MORE APPOINTEES MORE MEMBERS THAN THE CURRENT NINE-MEMBER MEMBERSHIP.

AT THAT TIME CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN DID NOT GO ALONG WITH THAT PLAN BUT DID SAY HE WOULD SET UP A NEW COMMISSION TO LOOK AT THE COURTS HE IS GOING FORWARD WITH THAT PLAN NOW IT'S BEING BILLED AS A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION BUT THE CO-CHAIRS OF THAT GROUP ARE A BIDEN CAMPAIGN LEGAL ADVISOR AND A FORMER OBAMA JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

>> ROBERT THE COMMISSION IS LOOKING AT TERM LIMITS FOR FEDERAL JUDGES, CORRECT?

>> YES, THEY ARE AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE UNDER DISCUSSED STORIES THAT YOU'VE GOT GOING ON WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BENCH.

I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH MITCH THAT OF COURSE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE COMING UP, BUT THE TERM LIMIT ISSUE I THINK IS PROBABLY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE EVEN MORE RELEVANT.

THAN WHETHER OR NOT THERE'LL BE COURT PACKING BECAUSE THESE ARE LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS AND THAT'S WHY EACH PRESIDENT MAKES SUCH AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE JUDICIARY JUST BY MAKING THESE APPOINTMENTS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT MAYBE IT'S TIME TO REVIEW THAT.

>> WHAT IMPACT NELSON COULD THIS HAVE ON VOTER ID OR PERHAPS REDISTRICTING?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S THE POINT.

FOLKS WHO WANT TO PACK THE COURT WANT TO IMPACT THE POLICY DECISIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT.

THE SUPREME COURT COULD INITIATE THE MOST IMPORTANT JUDICIAL REFORM BY ESTABLISHING A RULE THAT ENDS THESE NATIONAL INJUNCTIONS BY FEDERAL JUDGES.

SO FOR ALL THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY ONE UNELECTED FEDERAL JUDGE SITTING IN HAWAI'I CAN HALT ANY EXECUTIVE ORDER OF A PRESIDENT OR AN ACTION OF THEIR EXECUTIVE AGENCY.

55 WERE ISSUED AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ALREADY HAS ONE THAT'S BEEN ISSUED AGAINST HIM STOPPING PART OF HIS IMMIGRATION POLICY.

>> DONNA WHAT IMPACT COULD THIS HAVE SAY ON BIG TECH OR ON FREE SPEECH?

>> COULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.

ONE IF WE DID IMPLEMENT TERM LIMITS ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THAT THESE JUDGES WOULD HAVE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THEIR NEXT TERM.

THAT THEY WOULD BE BURNED WITH THE IDEA OF BEING APPOINTED IT WOULD TURN MORE POLITICAL.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE REALLY ALSO SEEING IS THAT THIS MOVE IS GETTING STARTED EARLY BECAUSE IN 2022, 34 SENATE SEATS ARE UP FOR REELECTION WHICH MEANS GETTING SOME OF THESE APPOINTEES CONFIRMED THROUGH THE SENATE MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE AFTER 22 SHOULD REPUBLICANS GAIN CONTROL OF THE SENATE.

>> MITCH YOU THINK THAT REPUBLICANS WILL TRY TO SLOW WALK SOME OF THIS IN THE SENATE?

>> OH I'M CERTAIN THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT MITCH MCCONNELL HAS ON HIS PLATE AS THE REPUBLICAN LEADER IS TRY TO SLOW WALK ALMOST ANYTHING THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO DO, IT'S SOMETHING HE HAS DONE WHEN REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN IN THE MINORITY IN THE PAST AND IT'S A ROLE THAT HE'S ACCUSTOMED TO.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS AT THIS POINT IS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS FEWER VACANCIES THAN PRESIDENT TRUMP DID SO IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT AT LEAST IN A FIRST TERM HE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT AS TRUMP DID.

>> OK I WANT TO MOVE ON.

DONNA ROUTE REALLY GOOD NEWS ON COVID-19 CASES NATIONWIDE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE DROPPING DRAMATICALLY.

>> THEY ARE AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY GOOD NEWS.

PEOPLE ARE WATCHING, THOSE NUMBERS WE'RE WATCHING THE PERCENTAGE OF POSITIVES OF COURSE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS FROM COVID-19.

SO THIS WEEK WE FELL BELOW A 100,000 NEW CASES.

AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE WE HAD SOME RECORD HIGHS IN FALL THIS IS GREAT NEWS.

OF COURSE VACCINATIONS ARE ROLLING OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT 10% HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, BUT RIGHT NOW OUR NEW POSITIVES PERCENTAGE IS AT ITS LOWEST RATE SINCE BEFORE THANKSGIVING.

THAT IS REALLY GOOD NEWS AND HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA NORTH CAROLINA IS REALLY STEPPING UP THE VACCINATION PROCESS AFTER BEING BEHIND IN THE FIRST PART OF THIS PROCESS, A LOT OF THESE MASS VACCINATION EVENTS LIKE THE ONES AT PNC THEY HAVE ACCELERATED THE VACCINATION PROCESS AS WELL, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10% OF NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE NOW VACCINATED AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BUT WITH THE DROP IN POSITIVES COMBINED WITH THE VACCINE IT'S STARTING TO FEEL LIKE MAYBE THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

>> ROBERT ARE SOME MINORITY COMMUNITIES BEEN UNDERSERVED?

I SAW THAT ONLY I THINK 5% HAVE BEEN VACCINATED NATIONWIDE.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT MARC AND IT'S REALLY AN INTERESTING STUDY THAT'S GOING ON AT THIS POINT IN TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE VARIOUS REASONS THAT COME UP, BUT WHAT I THOUGHT ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING DISCUSSIONS IS SOMETHING I HAD A CHANCE TO WITNESS PERSONALLY, IS JUST EVEN THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE VACCINATIONS ARE BEING HELD AND HOW MUCH WE DON'T THINK ABOUT HOW THAT IMPACTS WHO'S GETTING VACCINATED SO IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT'S ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN, IT'S NOT THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED, BUT IT'S JUST THE ABILITY TO REACH THE VACCINATION SITES AND I THINK WITH THAT RECOGNITION A LOT OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ARE TRYING TO NOW TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND PUT VACCINATION SITES IN A TIME WISE AND ALSO LOCATION WISE AND BETTER PLACES FOR MINORITIES.

>> NELSON I SAW A GALLUP SAID 2 THIRDS OF AMERICANS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

>> WELL, THEY'RE NOT.

THE ISSUE IN NORTH CAROLINA IS DISTRIBUTION OF THE AVAILABLE VACCINES.

SO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN HEARING FROM A RANGE OF PROVIDERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, CITIZENS THEMSELVES WHO AS A REPRESENTATIVE REIVES SAID ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THEIR PLAN AND THEIR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND OF COURSE IN FAIRNESS WE RECEIVED ONLY AROUND A 150 TO 200,000 DOSES A WEEK HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE HAVE 10 MILLION PEOPLE TO VACCINATE CERTAINLY NOT ENOUGH AND WE NEED RAPID FEDERAL APPROVAL OF THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE MORE PROGRESS.

>> MITCH IS THE BUREAUCRACY GETTING IN THE WAY?

IS THERE TOO MUCH BUREAUCRACY?

SHOULD IT JUST BE ON A FIRST SERVE BASIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S EXACTLY ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, BUT CERTAINLY THE BUREAUCRACY IS PLAYING A ROLE.

NELSON POINTED OUT ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES IS SUPPLY.

YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE SUPPLY OF THIS VACCINE.

BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT HELPING BY MAKING AN OVERLY COMPLICATED LIST OF RESTRICTIONS OF WHO GETS THE VACCINE WHEN AND THEN CHANGING THEM.

WE SAW JUST IN THE PAST WEEK THAT GOVERNOR COOPER CHANGE THE RULES SO THAT THE TEACHERS WOULD HAVE EARLIER ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

BUT THAT CHANGED THE SYSTEM THAT WAS IN PLACE AND CAUSED MORE CONFUSION AND COMPLICATION FOR EVERYONE.

>> DONNA I SEE PFIZER'S COMING OUT WITH A ONE SHOT VACCINATION.

>> THAT IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF THIS IS NOT JUST GETTING ONE SHOT IN THE ARM, YOU GOT TO GET 2 SHOTS IN THE ARM 3 WEEKS APART, SO IF PEOPLE GO TOO LONG OR THEY DON'T GET THAT FIRST SHOT IT CAN REALLY COMPLICATE MATTERS BUT SOMETHING ELSE IS COMPLICATING MATTERS OF COURSE, EVERYONE IS TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ON THIS IS ON YOUR THERE'S LINE JUMPING.

A LOT OF FOLKS WHO MAYBE AREN'T REALLY QUALIFIED TO GET THE SHOT OR FIGURING OUT A WAY TO GET IT AND I THINK THAT THAT'S MORE COMPOUNDED BY THE CONFUSION OVER WHO GETS IT WHEN, AND IT'S PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, OR DON'T HAVE TIME TO SIT ON THE PHONE AND WAIT FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR A LONG TIME CAN'T GET ON.

IT'S REALLY COMPLICATING THE PROCESS.

>> OK I WANT TO TURN TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK.

ROBERT FILL US IN.

>> WELL LAST WEEK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COVID-19 AND ABOUT GET MONEYS OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES THIS WEEK, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE SUBJECT AGAIN AND THE SUBJECT WAS GETTING STUDENTS BACK INTO SCHOOL.

THE GOOD NEWS WAS EVERYBODY AGREED THAT WE NEED TO GET STUDENTS BACK INTO SCHOOL AND GET THEM BACK INTO SCHOOL NOW.

THE BAD NEWS IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SCIENCE WAS TELLING US ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT SAFELY.

I THINK YOU HAVE THE BILL THAT WAS PRESENTED WAS SP 37 AND THAT BILL PRESUPPOSES THAT IT'S GOOD AT THIS POINT TIME, OR SAFE RATHER, TO BE ABLE TO SEND 6 THROUGH 12 GRADERS BACK IN PLAN A.

AND THAT WAS THE FOCUS.

I THINK THEN THAT THE PUSHBACK THAT YOU HEARD IS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE GUIDANCE ALSO THAT SAYS THAT IT'S NOT SAFE TO SEND THEM BACK, AND REALLY FOR FOLKS THAT ARE LISTENING WHAT THE BIG DIFFERENCES IS, IS THAT PLAN B BASICALLY SAYS YOU'VE GOT TO ENFORCE 6 FEET SOCIAL DISTANCING, PLAN A SAYS YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ENFORCE 6 FEET SOCIAL DISTANCING THAT YOU COULD HAVE SMALLER DISTANCES THAN THAT, AND WHAT HAS OCCURRED IS THAT DURING THIS TIME, WE'VE HAD ANOTHER VARIANT HIT NORTH CAROLINA, UNFORTUNATELY WE KNEW IT WAS COMING, THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT, WHICH HAS BEEN PART OF WHAT HELD UP THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON TRIALS AS A RESULT OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION.

>> IF THIS BILL GETS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK WILL SIGN IT?

>> I THINK THAT IF THE BILL GETS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK CHANGED, BECAUSE IT IS NOW IN CONFERENCE IT WENT FROM THE SENATE VOTE AND THEN THEY HAD A CHANGE IN THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE REJECTED THE CHANGE IN THE HOUSE AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME THEY WERE IN CONFERENCE.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BILL'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I THINK REPRESENTATIVE DOLLAR AND I WILL BOTH AGREE THAT SOMETIMES WE SEE BILLS GOING TO CONFERENCE AND THEY COME OUT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SUBJECT.

>> NELSON LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

I SAW THAT THERE ARE - I RECOGNIZE OR SAW THIS THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION WANTS MORE STIMULUS.

THEY'VE BEEN HARD HIT.

>> WELL, THEY HAVE BEEN THEY MADE A REQUEST OF SOME 300 MILLION DOLLARS TO ADDRESS THEIR CLOSURES TO ADDRESS ESSENTIALLY GOING OUT OF BUSINESS FOR A NUMBER OF FOLKS AND IT'S NOT JUST THE MOM AND POPS IT'S ALSO SOME OF THE LARGER CHAINS THAT ARE NOW AT RISK OF GOING OUT AND TO THAT POINT, THE STATE DID RECEIVE ITS REVENUE FORECAST THIS WEEK.

WE ARE UP 17.6% IN REVENUES OVER THE ESTIMATE LAST YEAR THAT'S 4.1 BILLION DOLLARS.

GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE AT ABOUT A 3.1 TO 4.1 PERCENT PACE OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS PLUS THE ESTIMATES FOR THE FEDERAL STIMULUS ARE LOOKING LIKE ABOUT 5.3 BILLION FOR THE STATE AND ABOUT 3.8 BILLION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SO WE CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT MONEY IN THE STATE TO ADDRESS AT LEAST SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

>> DONNA, WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT THIS WEEK?

>> EXACTLY WHAT NELSON WAS SAYING THAT 4 BILLION DOLLARS IN MORE REVENUE THAN WE WERE EXPECTING IS REALLY GOING TO HELP FIRM UP SOME OF THOSE BUDGET ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN HIT WITH DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND I WILL SAY SOME BUDGET MANAGEMENT HAS SEEN US THROUGH SOME PRETTY RAINY DAYS HURRICANES TO PANDEMICS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE A BUDGET THAT GETS SIGNED THIS YEAR AND WE CAN REALLY GET THE STATE MOVING AGAIN BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

>> MITCH PUT THIS IN CONTEXT MY FRIEND.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOUR EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WOULD SIGN THIS BILL.

WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE BILL THAT PASSED IN THE OPENING DAYS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WAS ABOUT THE INITIAL ROUND OF COVID RELIEF HAD UNANIMOUS SUPPORT THIS TIME AROUND THE VOTE ON REOPENING THE SCHOOLS WAS LARGELY ALONG PARTY LINES BUT THERE WERE ENOUGH DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED WITH THE REPUBLICANS THAT IF THEY STUCK WITH THE REPUBLICANS ON ANY TYPE OF VETO VOTE, A VETO WOULD BE OVERWRITTEN, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THIS BECOMES THE FIRST BILL WHERE THAT IS A POINT OF DIVISION AMONG DEMOCRATS.

>> YOU THINK THEY'RE FEELING THE POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM PARENTS?

>> I'M SURE THEY'RE ALL FEELING THE POLITICAL PRESSURE FOR PARENTS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR COOPER, BUT THERE IS AS REPRESENTATIVE REIVES TALKED ABOUT SOME CLEAR DIVISION ABOUT WHAT IS CONSIDERED SAFE IN SENDING THE KIDS BACK.

>> OK I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS.

NELSON THE CBO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE HAD AN INTERESTING REPORT ON A MINIMUM WAGE.

FILL US IN.

>> YES SIR MARC.

SO THERE WAS REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF RAISING THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.

CURRENTLY IT'S AT 7 AND A QUARTER AN HOUR.

THE CBO CONCLUDED THAT MORE THAN DOUBLING THE RATE WOULD ADD OVER 70 BILLION DOLLARS TO THE NATIONAL DEBT OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

AND WHILE IT WOULD RAISE SOME 900,000 AMERICAN WORKERS OUT OF POVERTY THAT WOULD BE AT THE COST OF 1.4 MILLION JOBS, SO WORKERS LOSING THEIR JOBS IN ORDER TO PAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S RAISE AND SO WORKERS WOULD ACTUALLY BE A NET LOSER IN THIS ACCORDING TO THE CBO ESPECIALLY ENTRY LEVEL WORKERS AND THEY ALSO ESTIMATED THAT THE COST TO BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS WOULD BE UPWARDS OF 333 BILLION DOLLARS.

SO YOU KNOW IT'S IT SOUNDS GOOD ON PAPER, BUT IT'S SIMPLY BASICALLY PUTTING PETER OUT OF WORK IN ORDER TO PAY PAUL.

>> MITCH, DOES A ONE SIZE FIT ALL MINIMUM WAGE WORK FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T.

I'M GONNA PUT ON MY WONKY POLICY HAT AND TELL YOU THAT THE THAT THE REAL MINIMUM WAGE WHENEVER THERE'S A GOVERNMENT MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE IS 0 BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SOME PEOPLE HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET A JOB IF THE EMPLOYER IS FORCED TO PAY US A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND WHAT WE SEE HERE WITH THIS THAT PUSHED AT THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE IS THAT YOU'RE BASICALLY TRYING TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A MUCH SMALLER FEDERAL MANDATE WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE TO COPE WITH A MUCH LARGER MANDATE.

MANY BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY'VE BEEN STRUGGLING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

EITHER THE BUSINESS WILL HAVE TO SHUT DOWN OR IT WILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO OPERATE WITH FAR FEWER WORKERS WHICH NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO SEE AT THIS POINT.

>> YOU KNOW, ROBERT MITCH HAS A VERY GOOD POINT.

SHOULD WE BE RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.

DURING A PANDEMIC WITH RESTAURANTS, BUSINESSES HURTING SO MUCH?

>> WELL MARC I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT IN THE SENSE OF IS THIS THE CORRECT TIMING AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALSO THE SENATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE ITS TIMING WISE DO WE WANT TO HAVE THIS TIED TO THE PANDEMIC PACKAGE, BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE.

WHAT I WOULD NOTE ABOUT THE CBO REPORT IS THAT REPORT IS TAKEN IN A VACUUM AND THAT IS NOT A CRITICISM THAT IS JUST A FACT.

SO WHAT THAT PRESUPPOSES IS THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES IS THE MINIMUM WAGE GOES UP AND IT DOES NOT PRESUPPOSES THAT GOVERNMENT THEN STEPS IN AND TRIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE THE SCALES THAT PEOPLE DON'T LOSE THEIR JOBS AND SO THAT THERE ARE OTHER EXPENSES THAT REDUCED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS BALANCE OUT AND WE DON'T SEE THE JOB LOSS OR THE DEBT INCREASE.

>> DONNA, WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE ON CHILDCARE?

WOULD IT INCREASE THE COST OF CHILDCARE FOR FAMILIES?

>> I THINK IT COULD BECAUSE THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT HAVE A PER-HEAD STAFF PER HEAD REQUIREMENT OF SOME OF THESE CHILD CARE FOLKS SO THEY CAN'T REDUCE THEIR STAFFS AS EASILY, SO THE COST WOULD THEN BE MOVED ON TO PARENTS.

THE OTHERS COMPANIES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS LARGELY ARE RESTAURANTS, WHO OF COURSE, WE KNOW HAVE BEEN BATTERED COMPLETELY IN THE PANDEMIC BUT YOU KNOW THEY'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO THEIR FAVOR.

IN SOME RESTAURANTS WE'VE GOTTEN USED TO NO HUMAN CONTACT, SO ORDERING MIGHT BE THROUGH YOUR PHONE INSTEAD OF THROUGH A WAITRESS BUSING YOUR OWN TABLE, CHANCES ARE YOUR FOOD PRICES WOULD ALSO GO UP TO SOME DEGREE.

BUT YOU KNOW A LOT OF LARGE COMPANIES WILL FIND WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK IF THEY HAVE TO.

BUT THE ONES WHO'LL REALLY BE HURT ARE THE SMALL RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS.

>> NELSON CLOSE THIS OUT ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

WRAP IT UP.

>> TO REPRESENTATIVE REIVES POINT, IF WE'RE GOING TO RELY MORE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO MAKE UP FOR RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT'S JUST GOING TO SHOOT THE NATIONAL DEBT EVEN FARTHER UP AND WE HAVE A HUGE GAP RIGHT NOW BETWEEN DEBT AND THE AND THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF THE UNITED STATES DANGEROUSLY SO.

>> GREAT CONVERSATION, LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> NORTH CAROLINA HAS HAD A DEBATE IN RECENT WEEKS ABOUT SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS IN A CONTROVERSY INVOLVING THOSE STANDARDS, BUT NORTH CAROLINA IS NOT ALONE IN DEALING WITH THIS TYPE OF ISSUE.

NEXT WEEK A COMMITTEE OF THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT IS CALLED CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING AND LEADING.

IT'S A SET OF STANDARDS THAT HAS GENERATED SOME CONTROVERSY THERE.

THE INITIAL VERSION OF THIS SAID THAT TEACHERS WITHIN THE ILLINOIS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPRESENT PROGRESSIVE VIEW POINTS.

NOW THE WORD PROGRESSIVE WAS LATER CHANGED TO BE INCLUSIVE.

BUT STILL SOME CRITICS ARE WORRIED THAT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO EDUCATE KIDS THESE STANDARDS WOULD LEAD TO INDOCTRINATION AND PROPAGANDA.

SO NORTH CAROLINA IS NOT ALONE IN LOOKING AT SOME KEY CONCERNS ABOUT EDUCATION STANDARDS.

>> DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> SO NORTH CAROLINA GOT A STEP CLOSER TO IMPLEMENTING VOTER ID THIS WEEK, THE 4TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS DECIDED NOT TO REVISIT A THREE-JUDGE PANEL THAT OK'D VOTER ID TO MOVE FORWARD.

SOME OPPONENTS OF VOTER ID ASKED BEFORE THE APPEALS COURT TO PLEASE REVIEW THIS, THEY SAID NO.

NOW DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS OVER.

THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE SOME LEGAL WRANGLING AHEAD OF IT BUT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE HOPING THAT VOTER ID WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE 2022 ELECTIONS.

BUT AS YOU REMEMBER NORTH CAROLINA VOTERS APPROVED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN 2018 TO IMPLEMENT VOTER ID AND IT'S KIND OF BEEN TIED UP IN COURT SINCE THEN.

>> ROBERT UNDERREPORTED PLEASE MY FRIEND.

>> IN LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT COURTS IN COURT PACKING AND THE FEDERAL BENCH, WHAT HAS BEEN MISSED IS THE FACT THAT THIS POINT IN TIME OF EVERY ADMINISTRATION EVERY PRESIDENT ALL OF THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS ARE NOW STEPPING DOWN.

AND SO THESE US ATTORNEYS WILL NOW HAVE TO BE REAPPOINTED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE WITH OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW POTENTIAL CORRUPTION CASES, THINGS OF THAT SORT, THESE POSITIONS ARE GOING TO BE NOT ONLY IMPORTANT BUT PROBABLY MORE HIGH PROFILE THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN IN OUR HISTORY.

>> THAT'S TRADITIONAL RIGHT THAT THEY STEPPED DOWN.

>> YES ABSOLUTELY.

HAPPENS EVERY TIME.

>> NELSON UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> THE SOARING MURDER RATE IN US CITIES IN 2020, WE SAW AN HISTORICAL INCREASE IN THE MURDER RATE.

36.7%.

SO WHILE PROPERTY CRIMES WERE DOWN LAST YEAR VIOLENT CRIMES SOARED IN CHICAGO.

THE MURDER RATE WAS UP 50% WITH 750 MURDERS.

LA UP 30% NEW YORK UP 40%.

CERTAINLY THE CAUSES INCLUDE THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE, JOB LOSS, FAMILY STRESS, SOCIAL UNREST, DISTRUST OF THE POLICE, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS NOT BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE ON A FACE TO FACE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE LARGEST CITIES.

CHARLOTTE'S MURDER RATE WAS UP 19.5% IN GREENSBORO UP 29%.

SO THIS IS ACTUALLY A NATIONAL CRISIS THAT POLICYMAKERS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

>> ARE POLICE HAVING TROUBLE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, RECRUITING?

>> THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS RECRUITING, THEY'RE HAVING HEALTH PROBLEMS, NOT JUST THE PANDEMIC BUT THE STRESS, YOU HAVE A LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CUTTING THEIR BUDGETS AT A TIME WHEN THEY NEED MORE TRAINING THEY NEED MORE ASSISTANCE SO THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN DO THEIR JOB AND YOU'RE SEEING THAT AS PART OF THE IMPACT ON THIS RISE OF VIOLENT CRIME IN AMERICA.

>> AND NO BAIL, NO CASH BAIL.

I THINK THAT'S IMPACTING IT AS WELL, ISN'T IT?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A RANGE OF POLICIES THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS AND THAT'S WHERE STATE AND NATIONAL LEADERS NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS NOW.

THIS IS A STARTLING DEVELOPMENT IN 2020, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT A RANGE OF POLICIES THAT WE MAY NEED TO ALTER ROLL BACK AND MAYBE NEW POLICIES TO PUT IN PLACE.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK MITCH?

>> MY WHO'S UP SHERRY LYNN WOMACK WHO IS A LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, A LONGTIME REPUBLICAN ACTIVIST, 30 YEAR PLUS MILITARY VETERAN, SHE HAD BEEN TARGETED FOR CRITICISM AND EVEN POTENTIALLY REMOVAL FROM HER JOB FROM THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE SHE WENT TO WASHINGTON D C ON JANUARY 6TH AND TOOK PART IN THE RALLY THAT INVOLVED PRESIDENT TRUMP, SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THE ACTIVITY AT THE CAPITOL, THE MOB ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL, WAS IN FACT GONE FROM THAT AREA BY THE TIME THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE.

BUT THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD VOTED THIS WEEK UNANIMOUSLY NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION AGAINST HER, SAID SHE HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING TO VIOLATE BOARD POLICY.

MY WHO'S DOWN, STATE SENATOR JEFF JACKSON DEMOCRAT FROM MECKLENBURG COUNTY ONE OF THE EARLY CANDIDATES FOR THE DEMOCRATS NOMINATION FOR THE 2022 U.S. SENATE RACE, HE'S NOT DOWN BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE KNOCKING HIM NO ONE SHOCKED THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO TIE HIM TO CAL CUNNINGHAM BY CALLING AND CAL JUNIOR.

THE REASON HE'S DOWN TO ME IS BECAUSE SOME DEMOCRATIC PUNDITS AND ACTIVISTS ARE SAYING THAT JEFF JACKSON SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING.

THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A WHITE MALE WHOSE RELYING ON HIS MILITARY RECORD TO RUN THIS TIME AROUND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PERSON OF COLOR FOR THE SEAT, THERE COULD BE SOME INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS ON THAT RACE.

WE HEAR THAT POTENTIALLY FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE SHERRI BEASLEY MIGHT ENTER THE RACE.

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

QUICKLY.

>> SO UP WAS THE PUBLIC OPINION ON LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA ELON RELEASED A POLL THIS WEEK THAT FOUND ABOUT 50% OF PEOPLE SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF RECREATIONAL LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA ABOUT 70% SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.

SO THAT REPORT COMING OUT OF ELON UNIVERSITY THIS WEEK.

MY DOWN, RATINGS FOR THE SUPER BOWL.

THEY WERE AT THEIR LOWEST POINT LOWEST RATINGS FOR ANY SUPER BOWL SINCE 2007.

AND WHEN YOU CAN'T GO TO BARS RESTAURANTS, AND WHATEVER YOU'D THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE SITTING HOME WATCHING IT.

TURNS OUT THEY WERE NOT >> ROBERT WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK PLEASE MY FRIEND QUICKLY?

>> UP, MICHAEL REAGAN FORMER NCDQ SECRETARY HAS MOVED THAT MUCH CLOSER TO BEING HEAD THE EPA AND EVERYBODY'S PROUD AND HAPPY FOR HIM, DOWN, ARE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LAWYERS DURING THIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, AND MAINLY, THE PROBLEM THAT'S COMING UP IS THAT IF THE MISCUES THEY HAD AT THE START OF THE WEEK I THINK IT'S ALSO MAKING PEOPLE FOCUS ON THIS TRIAL IN THE WRONG WAYS.

>> YOU THINK IT WOULD BE ACQUITTED OR HE'LL BE CONVICTED?

>> IF I COULD PREDICT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL I'D BE ON NATIONAL BOARD RIGHT NOW.

>> LOOK FOR HIM THIS INTERIM.

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK NELSON?

>> YES MARC ILLEGAL BORDER, CROSSINGS IN TEN CITIES SINCE THE ELECTION WE'VE SEEN A SURGE OF OVER 50% OF BORDER ENCOUNTERS WITH AROUND 3500 ADULTS NOW CROSSING PER DAY AND 300 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS HAVING TO REOPEN THE SAME HOLDING FACILITIES THEY CRITICIZED UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.

IN TERMS OF WHO'S DOWN, JACK MA THE CHARISMATIC CHINESE BILLIONAIRE ENTREPRENEUR WHOSE THING BAD ABOUT PRESIDENT XI AND NOW HE HASN'T BEEN SEEN IN MONTHS, AND HIS BUSINESSES ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM.

>> MITCH HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> COOPER LOCKDOWN ORDERS HEAD BACK TO COURT.

THERE'S A CASE INVOLVING A POPULAR GREENVILLE BAR.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> BIDEN'S FIRST TOWN HALL GETS SNOWED OUT IN MILWAUKEE, THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG STORM COMING THAT WAY AND HE IS EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERING HIS VERY FIRST TOWN HALL NEXT WEEK.

>> ROBERT HEADLINE NEXT WEEK MY FRIEND.

>> VACCINATION NUMBERS RISE WITH AN EVEN LARGER INCREASE COMING SOON.

>> MORE HERD IMMUNITY, YOU THINK?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, I SAW THAT'S WHAT FAUCI SAID AND HE ALSO SAID THAT BY APRIL WE WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE VACCINATIONS WHEN YOU WANT.

OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

QUICKLY, NELSON.

>> MORE SCHOOLS, RETURN TO IN PERSON LEARNING AHEAD OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION.

>> GREAT JOB PANEL.

THAT'S IT FOR US.

UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE GOT TO RUN 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: ♪