>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK, GOVERNOR COOPER CALLS FOR NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REOPEN AND PRESIDENT BIDEN TURNS DOWN THE GOP'S COVID-19 PITCH.

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 CAROLINA JOURNAL, COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, DONNA KING.

ROBERT REIVES, MINORITY LEADER IN THE STATE HOUSE AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

ROBERT WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK.

WHAT TRANSPIRED?

>> WELL MORE COVID-19 DOMINATED EVERYTHING ABOUT SESSION THIS WEEK.

THE FIRST BILL WE VOTED ON WAS AN ACTUAL BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WAS A COVID BUDGET BILL AND IT RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

WE EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THAT THIS WEEKEND.

THE BILL MAKES NUMBER OF IMPORTANT TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS AND DEADLINE EXTENSIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE.

IT ALSO APPROPRIATES 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDS THAT NORTH CAROLINA RECEIVED FROM THE LAST FEDERAL COVID RELIEF BILL.

HERE'S WHERE THE MONEY IS MOSTLY TARGETED: 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING IS GOING TO GO TO K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS, 547 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WILL GO TO EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, 95 MILLION DOLLARS WILL GO INTO VACCINE PREPAREDNESS WHICH WE ALL ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

NEXT WEEK WE EXPECT THE SECOND BILL TO COME DOWN AND IN THAT BILL SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT SOME OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING ARE INCLUDED WILL BE HIGH SPEED INTERNET EXPANSION, SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANTS TO HELP BUSINESSES THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE PANDEMIC, BONUSES FOR TEACHERS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES THAT MISSED LAST YEAR'S PAY RAISES AND HAZARD PAY FOR FRONT-LINE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

GOVERNOR COOPER ANNOUNCED HIS PRIORITIES FOR THE SECOND BILL THIS WEEK AND THAT INCLUDED TEACHER BONUSES WHICH HE HOPES TO GET $2500 IN TEACHER BONUSES, $2000 FOR UNC AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES, $1500 FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES 30 MILLION DOLLARS FOR ADDITIONAL BROADBAND INVESTMENT AND 21 MILLION DOLLARS FOR SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.

>> NELSON, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR MY FRIEND.

>> WELL THANK YOU MARC.

IT WAS A SUPER STRONG START FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR WITH THIS BUDGET BILL, REALLY FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES IN NORTH CAROLINA, MAKING INVESTMENTS IN RURAL BROAD BAND, ALSO FREEING UP SOME FUNDS IN THE EXTRA CREDIT GRANT SO THE FAMILIES CAN ACCESS THOSE AND PROVIDING AS REPRESENTATIVE REIVES SAID CRITICAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS, MOVING THE VACCINATION PROCESS FORWARD AS WELL, AND THIS UPCOMING WEEK WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE IS A CONSENSUS REVENUE FORECAST, THAT SHOULD BE FAR BETTER THAN WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE LAST MAY, AND THEN ONCE WE GET THOSE NUMBERS IN WE'LL BEGIN TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE REQUESTS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE AND OTHER REQUESTS THAT REQUIRE STATE FUNDING.

BUT WE WOULD ALSO BE FUNDING THE BALANCE OF ABOUT 1.8 BILLION DOLLARS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET DOWN IN DECEMBER.

>> DONNA, WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT THIS WEEK?

>> I THINK I WAS HAPPIEST TO SEE THE EXTRA CREDIT GRANTS.

I THINK A LOT OF FAMILIES DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THEY CAN APPLY.

FOR STATE GRANTS OF ABOUT $335 TO HELP FUND THAT ONLINE EDUCATION, WHETHER YOUR CHILD, YOU NEED TO UPGRADE YOUR WI-FI IF YOU NEED ACCESS TO SUPPLIES, YOU MAY NEED TUTOR, OR SOME EXTRA HELP AROUND THE HOUSE WITH REMOTE SCHOOL THAT $335 CAN REALLY HELP FAMILIES MAKE ENDS MEET WHEN IT COMES TO THAT KIND OF THING, I WAS ALSO REALLY GLAD TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN BROADBAND.

I KNOW THAT MY FAMILY EVEN AS I SPEAK RIGHT NOW, I'VE GOT 3 KIDS ALL ON REMOTE SCHOOL, MY HUSBAND IS DOING ONLINE MEETINGS AND OF COURSE I'M JOINING YOU HERE.

OUR BROADBAND IS GETTING STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT, AND I THINK THAT'S HAPPENING TO A LOT OF FAMILIES AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN REMOTE AREAS WHERE MAYBE BROADBAND IS NOT AS ACCESSIBLE.

BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO SOLVE MOVING FORWARD WHETHER THEY'RE IN SCHOOL OR OUT OF SCHOOL.

>> MITCH PUT THIS IN CONTEXT PLEASE.

>> WELL IT WAS GREAT TO SEE UNANIMITY ON THIS FIRST MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION ON COVID-19 RELIEF, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT UNANIMITY IS GOING TO LAST.

REPRESENTATIVE REIVES MENTION THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT HIS PRIORITY OUT THERE OF HAVING BONUSES FOR TEACHERS AND ALSO UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME SUGGESTION LEAST SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THAT THIS IS THE TYPE OF ITEM THAT OUGHT TO BE PART OF THE GENERAL DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE PART OF A COVID RELIEF BILL.

>> WHERE THAT COME IN MITCH ABOUT 468 MILLION DOLLARS IN BONUSES?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY INVOLVED HERE AND IF YOU PUT THAT MONEY IN THE POT AND SAY IT'S GOING TO GO TO TEACHERS THAT MEANS IT CAN'T BE USED FOR OTHER PRIORITIES, EVEN EDUCATION PRIORITIES.

SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A TYPE OF THING THAT SHOULD BE PART OF A LARGER BUDGET CONTEXT, NOT PART OF THE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY RELIEF.

OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.

DONNA, THERE WAS SOME GREAT NEWS FOR STUDENTS AND FOR PARENTS THIS WEEK.

>> A LOT OF PARENTS AND KIDS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS WEEK GOVERNOR COOPER SENT A LETTER TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE URGING THEM TO ALL OFFER SOME IN SCHOOL LEARNING IN SCHOOL PUT KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, EVEN IF IT'S ON A HYBRID REMOTE FORMAT, IN WAKE COUNTY THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING ONE WEEK IN, 2 WEEKS OUT, BUT EITHER WAY IT GETS THOSE KIDS SITTING AT THEIR DESK IN THE CLASSROOM AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR REALLY A LOT OF KIDS HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM SINCE MARCH LAST YEAR.

SO THIS HAS BEEN LONG AWAITED OF COURSE THERE'S BEEN SOME OPPOSITION SOME FOLKS SAYING NO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL TEACHERS ARE VACCINATED BEFORE WE OPEN THOSE CLASSROOM DOORS, THE MOST VOCAL OPPONENTS IS THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.

THEY'VE SAID THAT WE WANT TO SEE VACCINES FOR ALL THE TEACHERS BEFORE WE OPEN THE DOORS, BUT OF COURSE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY MANDY COHEN SAID LOOK TEACHERS, OUR NEXT AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE GOING TO BE VACCINATED SOON AND AS AN ALTERNATIVE TEACHERS WHO HAVE RISK FACTORS FOR COVID COMPLICATIONS SHOULD BE OFFERED AS A LITTLE BIT MORE LESS EXPOSURE JOBS, MORE REMOTE EDUCATION, SO THAT THEY CAN STAY SAFE, THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO GET IN THERE AND DO THIS.

NOW, OF COURSE IS A NATIONWIDE TREND, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF FOLKS SAYING LOOK WE'VE GOT TO GET THESE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL, THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH.

AND THERE WAS A STUDY FROM UNC RECENTLY THAT SAID OUT OF A 100,000 STUDENTS THIS FALL, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THERE WERE ONLY 32 TRANSMISSIONS ON CAMPUS AND 0 TRANSMISSIONS FROM CHILD TO ADULT.

SO THAT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING NEWS THAT LEAD PAVE THE WAY FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> MITCH YOUR TAKE ON THIS PLAN.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S ALSO RESPONDING TO WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN SAYING THERE'S BEEN SOME RECENT POLLING THAT SHOWS THAT THE PEOPLE WERE NOT QUITE THAT SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE GOVERNOR COOPER HAS GONE ABOUT SCHOOL REOPENING.

LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTED HIS PLANS INITIALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC LAST SPRING, NOW THAT WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE ALMOST A YEAR INTO DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC PEOPLE ARE SAYING LOOK THE EVIDENCE IS SHOWING THAT KIDS ARE SAFE AT SCHOOL.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS WHETHER IT'S WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS OR BY THE END OF FEBRUARY BEGINNING OF MARCH, A LOT OF THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING IMPACTS IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE KIDS BEING OUT AND HAVING ONLY REMOTE LEARNING THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS THAT'S GOING TO BE A HEADACHE I THINK FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN DECIDING HOW TO FUND ALL THE REMEDIATION THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO TAKE PLACE.

>> NELSON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID WEIGH IN IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON BRINGING THESE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL THAN WITH LEGISLATION?

>> THEY DID THERE'S A BILL IN THE SENATE THAT HAS MOVED THROUGH THERE.

>> PUSHING FOR THE A OPTION MAKING IT MANDATORY FOR SCHOOLS TO REOPEN AND TO MITCH'S POINT, ON THE REMEDIATION, THE LEARNING LOSS THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED, SPEAKER MOORE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK A PLANNED TO USE SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND OTHER FUNDING THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO HAVE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND TO GO AHEAD AND BE THINKING THROUGH THAT WHAT THE PARAMETERS WOULD BE WHAT REQUIREMENTS ARE AND HAVE THAT AS AN OPTION ALL ACROSS THE STATE FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP FOR ALL THE LEARNING THAT THEY HAVE LOST.

>> DONNA WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS PLEASE.

>> I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT THAT'S THE CHALLENGE MOVING FORWARD.

CAN WE REALLY PUT ALL THAT TOOTHPASTE BACK IN THE TUBE.

THERE'S SO MANY KIDS WHO EITHER JUST NEVER SHOWED UP, NEVER ENROLLED FOR CLASS.

A LOT OF THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO NEED HELP, KIDS WHO REALLY STRUGGLE WITH BROADBAND ARE LEARNING ONLINE.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF REMEDIATION COMING AHEAD, BUT ONE OF THE REAL TAKE AWAY FROM THIS, IS I THINK IT'S GOTTEN A LOT OF FAMILIES A LOT OF PARENTS OFF THE BENCH WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE'RE LOOKING AT A NEW WAY.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING AT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT REALLY ENGAGING MORE IN THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IF NOTHING GOOD CAME OUT OF THIS THAT'S ONE THING A LOT OF PARENTS ARE REALLY IN THE THICK OF IT NOW.

>> OK I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS, MITCH TALK TO US ABOUT THE COVID RELIEF PACKAGE THAT'S WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS A PLAN THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 1.9 TRILLION DOLLARS AND YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT FROM THE OBAMA YEARS REPUBLICANS WERE OFTEN CRITICIZED FOR BEING OBSTRUCTIONISTS AND HAVING NO PLANS OF THEIR OWN.

BUT THIS TIME AROUND IT WAS A GROUP OF 10 SENATORS INCLUDING NORTH CAROLINA'S THOM TILLIS CAME UP WITH A PLAN SMALLER PLAN ABOUT 618 BILLION DOLLARS SO ABOUT A 3RD OF THE SIZE OF THE PACKAGE, THE PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS.

IT HAD MANY OF THE SAME EMERGENCY MEASURES THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS BUT IT LEFT OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SOMEWHAT CONSIDERED NOT TO BE NECESSARILY PART OF EMERGENCY RELIEF LIKE A $15 AN-HOUR MINIMUM WAGE OR ANOTHER BAILOUT OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT REALLY DON'T NEED THE HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE WAS A LONG MEETING EARLY IN THE WEEK BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THESE REPUBLICAN SENATORS BUT NO RESOLUTION THE PRESIDENT SAYING HE WASN'T ON BOARD WITH THEIR PLAN.

IF THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS TRY TO GO FORWARD WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PLAN IT WOULD REQUIRE THE PROCEDURAL MOVE CALLED RECONCILIATION BECAUSE THEY WOULD NEED THAT TO BE ABLE TO PASS THIS IN THE SENATE WITH ONLY 51 VOTES.

SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS FRONT.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THAT IT'S GOING BE TOUGH TO GET THINGS PASSED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

>> NELSON IS THERE'S A RISK OF TOO MUCH STIMULUS MY FRIEND?

I MEAN THIS INCREASES THE DEBT BY 6.5%.

JUST WITH A SIGNATURE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT MARC.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE 2ND QUARTER OF LAST YEAR YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST DEBT TO GDP RATIO IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY HIGHER THAN AT ANY TIME TOWARD THE END OF WORLD WAR 2 AND THAT IS A CONCERN THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND MOVING FORWARD, AND IT'S ALSO HOW YOU SPEND MONEY, SO FOR EXAMPLE WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

WE'VE YET TO DO AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE FAR MORE IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMY TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

THE LAGGING INDICATOR RIGHT NOW IS JOB GROWTH THAT'S BEEN VERY FLAT, THE NUMBERS ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY WERE ONLY AROUND 49,000 NEW JOBS CREATED IN JANUARY WE'RE SEEING A FLATTENING OUT OF JOB GROWTH AND CONGRESS REALLY NEEDS TO FOCUS ON THAT ISSUE.

>> ROBERT DO WE NEED A FEDERALIZED THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS THE IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES MY FRIEND?

>> I THINK RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT YOU GOT TO LOOK AT ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT REALLY THE OTHER PART ABOUT IT IS HOW DOES IT EFFECT THOSE EMPLOYEES AND I THINK THAT'S THE BALANCING ACT THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RAISING MINIMUM WAGE, OBVIOUSLY ANYTHING THAT INCREASES COSTS A BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE AGAINST GENERALLY, BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, WE HAVE MOVED THE MINIMUM WAGE IN SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE'RE AT A SITUATION NOW WHERE WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH UNEMPLOYMENT AND THEN NOT TO BEING ABLE TO GET ANY KIND OF WAGE INCREASES MAY BE PROBLEMATIC.

>> DONNA CRITICS SAY SOME OF THIS MONEY IS A BAILOUT FOR THE STATE'S THAT ARE MISMANAGED.

I THINK THERE'S 350 BILLION FOR THE STATES.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE CALLING THIS A BLUE STATE BAILOUT AS SOME STATES CALIFORNIA NEW YORK, ILLINOIS SOME STATES THAT REALLY HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT OVER THE YEARS.

SUDDENLY YOU'RE GOING TO GET THIS BAILOUT TO COVER THEIR COSTS BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A CRISIS LIKE THIS AND YOU DON'T HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND LIKE NORTH CAROLINA HAS THEN YOU REALLY RUN INTO PROBLEMS AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE OBJECTION TO THIS BLUE STATE BAILOUT THEY'RE CALLING IT, IS COMING FROM, BUT YOU KNOW IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT AS CONGRESS CONSIDERS THESE BILLS ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS.

ALSO IF WE BRING BACK THE DEDUCTION FOR THE SALT TAX THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL IF IF BIDEN REINSTATES BEING ABLE TO DEDUCT STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, THAT GIVES KIND OF A BLANK SLATE FOR STATES TO RAISE STATE AND LOCAL TAXES IN SOME OF THE STATES WILL SEE EVEN MORE NEW NEIGHBORS COMING DOWN TO PLACES LIKE NORTH CAROLINA.

>> CLOSE THIS OUT ABOUT 20 SECONDS WILL THIS BE DONE BY RECONCILIATION MITCH?

>> IT VERY WELL COULD BE MARC, AND I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT PIECES TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT IF THERE WERE NOT A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION WE MIGHT NOT EVEN SEE A PACKAGE OF LIKE THIS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE LAST COVID RELIEF BILL BECAME LAW ON DECEMBER 27TH NOT TOO LONG MORE THAN A MONTH AGO AND SO A LOT OF THAT MONEY THAT WAS APPROVED IN LATE DECEMBER HASN'T BEEN SPENT YET SO SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHY DO WE HAVE ANOTHER RELIEF BILL RIGHT NOW.

>> OKAY NELSON, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PUSH BACK - THE BIPARTISAN PUSH BACK ON SOME OF THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON ENERGY.

WESTERN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ARE ARE NOT LIKING WHAT THEY'RE SEEING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT MARC, SO OUT IN THE OLD PATCHES YOU MIGHT IMAGINE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS IN PLACES LIKE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MORATORIUM THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PLACED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER ON NEW LEASES OF OIL AND GAS RIGHTS ON PUBLIC LANDS AND IN PUBLIC WATER, SO THIS ALSO IMPACTS THE GULF OF MEXICO DRILLING AND THAT BRINGS IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS LIKE LOUISIANA AND OTHER GOVERNORS OUT IN THE WEST LIKE THE GOVERNORS IN COLORADO, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO IS A PARTICULARLY INTERESTING CASE WHERE THE DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR IS BEING PUSHED BETWEEN LOYALTY TO THE PARTY AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR BUDGET.

A 3RD OF NEW MEXICO'S BUDGET IS DERIVED FROM THE REVENUE FROM OIL AND GAS LEASES SO WELL OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OF THEIR STATE'S EDUCATION BUDGET COMES FROM THE REVENUE FROM OIL AND GAS.

YOU ALSO HAD THIS WEEK OF 4 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND TEXAS WHO JOINED WITH A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS OUT IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY TO TRY TO URGE BIDEN TO HAVE THIS MORATORIUM ONLY ON A TEMPORARY BASIS AND NOT MAKE IT UP A PERMANENT FEATURE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

CERTAINLY YOU CAN GROW SOLAR, YOU CAN GROW WIND, BUT IF YOU STATE YOUR REVENUES ARE FAR MORE ON THESE COMMODITIES LIKE OIL AND GAS.

>> ROBERT WHAT'S THE IMPACT AT THE PUMP TO THE CONSUMER TO THE AVERAGE FAMILY?

>> WELL I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE AN IMPACT MISSION AT THE PUMP BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE DEPENDENT ON OIL AND GAS THAT'S WHERE OUR WHOLE ECONOMY HAS BEEN GOING ON THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING ON FOR ENERGY SOURCES.

WHAT THE BALANCE IS AND WHAT I THINK THAT THIS IS ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IS HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE NEED TO REDUCE OUR CONSUMPTION OF THESE TYPE OF ALL AND GAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND FOSSIL FUELS AND HOW DO YOU THEN TURN AROUND AND GET TO THE CLEANER ENERGY THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME POINT IN TIME, AND I THINK ULTIMATELY THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT TENSION.

>> DONNA WEIGH IN HERE PLEASE.

>> OF COURSE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW OUR ECONOMY WILL MOVE FORWARD AND I THINK THIS IS PERHAPS A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

ACCORDING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE PRICES AT THE PUMP.

BETWEEN GAS PRICES AND INTEREST RATES THAT'S HOW YOU KEEP THE MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC OPERATING HAPPY AND TRUCKS MOVING AND KEEPING CRISIS DOWN AT THE GROCERY STORE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT LETTER A LOT OF THESE STATES ARE RELYING ON THAT LEASE MONEY TO FUND VERY NEEDED THINGS LIKE EDUCATION, SO THERE'S LOTS OF PIECES TO THAT AND IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THEY DIDN'T DIG DEEPLY ENOUGH TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE.

>> MITCH I SEE THAT THE OPEC COUNTRIES ARE ALREADY CUTTING CUTTING BACK ON PRODUCTION.

>> YEAH, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

FOR ME THE INTERESTING PIECE IS THE POLITICAL ANGLE.

BOTH MAJOR PARTIES OF COURSE ARE HAVING DEBATES ABOUT WHERE TO GO IN THE FUTURE AND THIS IS A CASE OF THE DEMOCRATS HAVING MODERATE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY DEMOCRATS VERSUS THE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS WHO SAY WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT INDUSTRY AT ALL WE WANT AN END TO THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A FIGHT AMONG SOME OF THE FOLKS WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> COMING RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

WHAT'S THE UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK?

>> WELL, THIS HAS TO DO WITH A CHANGE IN THE ASSUMED RATE OF RETURN AND ON INVESTMENTS IN THE STATE PENSION PLAN, A PLAN AND I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE'S EYES HAVE ALREADY GLAZED OVER BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PLAN THAT'S 116 BILLION DOLLARS, THE NINTH LARGEST AMONG THE STATES, THERE ARE 950,000 PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS AND RETIREES WHO DEPEND ON THESE PENSION INVESTMENTS, AND WHAT JUST HAPPENED IS THE ASSUMED RATE OF RETURN WENT DOWN FROM 7% TO 6 AND A HALF PERCENT IT'S THE 3RD TIME IN 4 YEARS AT THAT RATE IS LOWERED.

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

WELL, THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT THE STATE IS DEPENDENT ON HAVING THIS RATE OF RETURN TO DETERMINE WHAT AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDS TO GO INTO THAT FUND.

IF YOU HAVE A HIGH RATE OF RETURN OVER LEHIGH THAT MEANS THAT THE PENSION FUND TO CHASE RISKIER INVESTMENTS AND ALSO MEANS THE POTENTIAL FOR LONG-TERM FUNDING PROBLEMS.

NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THAT.

SO SEEING A MORE REASONABLE REALISTIC RATE OF RETURN IS BETTER.

>> DONNA, UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> SO UNDERREPORTED FOR ME WE'RE ALREADY SEEN APPROVAL RATINGS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FIRST, I GUESS MONTH, NOT EVEN MONTH OR SO HE'S RUNNING ABOUT 49%.

APPROVAL RATING IN ACCRA PACKED POLL AND ABOUT 16% OF PEOPLE ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THEY THINK JUST YET, BUT A 49% APPROVAL RATING FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> WAS THAT 39 OR 49, CORRECT ME ON THAT.

>> 49% APPROVAL RATING AND 16% UNSURE, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING I THINK THERE'S JUST SO MUCH ACTION COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS, LOTS OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND A LOT OF FOLKS WERE A LITTLE EITHER ALARMED OR ENCOURAGED DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU STOOD ON WHAT THEY SAW COMING OUT OF THOSE SIGNATURES, THE REAL QUESTION IS WHEN HE TRUSTS BUT SOME OF THOSE POLICIES THROUGH CAPITOL HILL HOW MUCH SUCCESS WILL HE HAVE, BECAUSE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND GETTING SOMETHING THROUGH A SPLIT CONGRESS ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

>> UNDERREPORTED ROBERT PLEASE.

>> UNDERREPORTED FOR ME IS GOING TO BE THAT THE CENSUS BUREAU ANNOUNCED THAT THE CENSUS WILL IN FACT BE DELAYED FOUR MONTHS, AND THE REASON THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IS BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO LAY A LOT OF THESE REDISTRICTING PLANS THAT YOU HAVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHICH OF COURSE IS GOING TO CHANGE THE BALANCE OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES AND CONGRESS.

24 STATES OVERALL PROBABLY WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.

YOU HAVE 2 STATES WHO ARE VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY WHO ACTUALLY HAVE ELECTIONS LEGISLATIVELY THIS YEAR WHO ARE PROBABLY GOING TO RUN ON OLD MAPS WHICH MEANS THEY'LL THEN HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND RUN ON SOME OTHER MAPS.

SIX STATES HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL REDISTRICTING DEADLINES, 5 HAS STATUTORY REDISTRICTING DEADLINES, 13 HAVE CONSTITUTIONS WHICH REQUIRE REDISTRICTING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

SO WHAT ARE FOLKS GOING TO DO?

>> GREAT CATCH.

UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

NELSON.

>> YES, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TREATMENT OF TRADITIONAL ALLIES HE SPOKE THIS WEEK AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AGAIN REAFFIRMING HIS DESIRE TO HAVE MULTILATERAL BETTER RELATIONS WITH ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD.

AND YET HE STARTED OUT IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF COURSE CANCELING THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE WITHOUT ANY CONSULTATION WITH THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT.

HE'S MADE MOVES ON THE BORDER.

THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO WITH RESPECT TO IMMIGRATION POLICY WITHOUT CONSULTING THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS HE SIGNED A BUY AMERICA FIRST EXECUTIVE ORDER.

THAT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION POLICIES AND GUIDELINES AND AGAIN WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH ALLIES AND THEN OF COURSE MOST CRITICALLY IN EAST ASIA, OUR ALLIES IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, AUSTRALIA, THE PHILIPPINES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TAIWAN ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT BIDEN WILL ACTUALLY DO HOW STRONG HE WILL BE IN PROTECTING DEMOCRACIES PARTICULARLY THE ONE MOST ENDANGERED RIGHT NOW TAIWAN.

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

MITCH?

>> WHAT'S UP IS THE ECONOMY AND THIS COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S 1.9 BILLION DOLLAR COVID-19 PLAN.

THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAYING IT NOW EXPECTS A RAPID RECOVERY WITH THE ECONOMY BEING BACK TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS BY PARTICIPATION RATE BACK TO THE PRE PANDEMIC LEVEL BY 2022.

SO THAT'S SOME GOOD NEWS.

WHAT'S DOWN CERTIFICATE OF NEED LAWS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS THIS IS A STATE GOVERNMENT PERMISSION SLIP FOR NEW HOSPITAL FACILITIES OR MAJOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

CRITICS OF THE TRYING TO GET RID OF THIS THING FOR A LONG TIME AND IN AN EVENT SCHEDULED BY MY EMPLOYER, THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION THIS WEEK, A BLUE CROSS EXECUTIVE SAID BLUE CROSS MIGHT BE READY TO SUPPORT REPEAL OF CERTIFICATE OF THE LAWS, NOW HE LATER WALKED BACK THOSE COMMENTS, BUT THAT COULD BE A POSITIVE SIGN FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GET RID OF WHAT WE SOMETIMES CALL A CON.

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

>> I AGREE WITH MITCH THE ECONOMY.

A STUDY SHOWS THAT JANUARY SAW A 58% GROWTH IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND THAT'S GREAT NEWS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC OF COURSE.

NOW REAL ESTATE AND MANUFACTURING THEY LEAD THAT REPORT, THEY HAD THE MOST CREDIT.

IN JANUARY, THE LOWEST WAS RESTAURANTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AS WE MIGHT EXPECT GIVEN THE NUMBER OF SHUTDOWNS BUT I THINK WHAT THIS REALLY IS LOW INTEREST RATES AND HOW RESILIENT AMERICAN BUSINESS CENTERS AND CONSUMERS ARE >> OKAY, WHO'S UP AND -- GO AHEAD >> MY DOWN, CARY SHOPPERS.

SO DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, CARY TOWN CENTER IT'S GOT A MALL THERE.

FOREVER IT OFFICIALLY CLOSED ITS DOORS LAST WEEKEND, BUT THERE ARE BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD.

OF COURSE NOW EPIC GAMES THERE IN CARY IS PURCHASING THAT MALL AND THEY'RE TURNING IN TO THEIR GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS.

>> OKAY WE'VE GOT TO MOVE WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN QUICKLY THIS WEEK ROBERT?

>> VACCINE PROVIDERS ARE UP THEY MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS RAMPING UP VACCINE DELIVERY WHAT'S DOWN IS VACCINATION SUPPLY.

WE NEED MORE SUPPLY.

WE GOT 100% OUT THERE SO JOHNSON JOHNSON LET'S HIT THE ROAD.

>> OK!

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

>> RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN IS UP WITH A 5 YEAR EXTENSION OF THE NEW START TREATY WITHOUT HAVING TO GIVE ANY CONCESSIONS TO THE UNITED STATES.

HE'S ALSO JAILED HIS TOP POLITICAL OPPONENT, ALEXI NAVALNY, AND HE HAS HAD SUCCESS WITH HIS VACCINE SPUTNIK 5. WHO IS DOWN, SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS.

THESE ARE THE CHIPS THAT RUN EVERYTHING FROM HAIRDRYERS AND SMART PHONES TO COMPUTERS TO CARS.

THE SHORTAGE OF THESE CHIPS IS GOING TO WEIGH ON THE ECONOMY WORLDWIDE, WE ALREADY SAW THIS WEEK OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ANNOUNCED CANCELING A NUMBER OF WORK SHIFTS AT THEIR PLANTS AND WORK SLOWDOWNS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF COMPUTER CHIPS.

>> OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH.

>> TRUMP IMPEACHMENT BLOCKS SIGNIFICANT ACTION ON OTHER CONGRESSIONAL BUSINESS.

>> HOW LONG DOES IT GO ON?

I HOPE IT DOESN'T GO ON VERY LONG, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WITH THE DEMOCRATS WHO CONTROL THE SENATE NOW THEY COULD MAKE IT LAST AS LONG AS THEY WANT.

HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, DONNA?

>> A COVID VACCINE WILL BE COMING TO YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY IN NORTH CAROLINA, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING NEXT WEEK AT WALGREENS IN NEIGHBORING SOUTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA.

CVS WILL BE CARRYING A COVID VACCINE.

>> SO YOU HAVE TO GO TO THEIR WEB SITES TO SIGN ON I THINK.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT JUST LIKE YOU DO WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

BUT OF COURSE HAVING IT THERE ON THE LOCAL CORNER PHARMACY IS GOING TO BE HUGE FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF VACCINATED PEOPLE.

>> ROBERT HEADLINE NEXT WEEK MY FRIEND.

>> GOVERNOR COOPER SIGNS BIPARTISAN COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE INTO LAW.

>> NELSON HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> IMPEACHMENT GAVEL TO GAVEL COVERAGE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE ROBERTS IS NOT PRESIDING THE CHIEF JUSTICE THAT THIS IS CONSTITUTIONAL?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE SUPREME COURT WOULD EVER ACTUALLY WEIGH INTO THAT QUESTION.

I THINK THAT THEY WANT TO LET THE POLITICAL BRANCHES SORT THIS OUT.

>> OK WE'VE GOT TO RUN, THAT'S IT FOR US GREAT JOB PANEL THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

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