>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, THE CONTROVERSY OVER PROPOSED CHANGES TO NORTH CAROLINA'S ELECTION LAWS.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SPIKES, AND NORTH CAROLINA'S GROWING FOSTER CARE CRISIS.

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, DONNA KING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CAROLINA JOURNAL, JAY CHAUDHURI THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP IN THE STATE SENATE, POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

JAY, WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH THE CHANGES TO NORTH CAROLINA'S ELECTION LAW, ACTUALLY THE PROPOSED CHANGES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT SO EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE SENATE PASSED 3 ELECTION LAWS.

THE MOST NOTEWORTHY LAW WAS CALLED THE ELECTION DAY INTEGRITY ACT IN THAT BILL REQUIRES THAT A MAIL IN-BALLOT BE SUBMITTED OR RECEIVED BY 7.30 ON ELECTION DAY.

NOW REPUBLICANS ARGUED THAT THAT WE SHOULD PASS SUCH A BILL BECAUSE ONE VOTERS NEED TO KNOW THE RESULT OF ELECTIONS AND BY HAVING THOSE BALLOTS SUBMITTED EARLIER WE CAN FIND OUT THE THE RESULT OF ELECTIONS THAT BUILDS MORE BETTER CONFIDENCE AND SECOND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE 28 OTHER STATES THAT HAVE A SIMILAR BILL IN PLACE, INCLUDING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S STATE OF DELAWARE.

DEMOCRATS ARGUED THAT IF WE HAD THAT SAME BILL IN PLACE IN 2020, WE WOULD HAVE TO THROW AWAY ALMOST 13,000 MAIL IN BALLOTS, AND SECONDLY.

THEY SAID THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME KIND OF DEADLINE FOR VOTERS TO GO TO THE POLLS VERSUS VOTERS THAT ARE MAILING IN BALLOTS.

>> MAKE THE REPUBLICAN CASE NELSON.

>> WELL THOSE 3 SENATE BILLS ARE JUST COMMON SENSE AND OTHER BILLS THAT WERE ALSO IN THAT GROUP PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR GETTING A PHOTO ID AND MADE OTHER CHANGES THAT YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS.

YOU KNOW THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL PASSED LAST YEAR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, A FEDERAL JUDGE UPHELD THAT BUT THEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WENT AROUND AND MADE A SETTLEMENT WITH THE OPPONENTS THAT NEGATED THAT LAW.

ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES THAT I HEAR ABOUT IS VOTER ID AND THERE IS VERY GOOD NEWS IN DECEMBER, THE 4TH US CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS REINSTATED NORTH CAROLINA'S VOTER ID LAW REBUKING A LOWER COURT SAYING THAT THEY REVERSED BECAUSE FUNDAMENTAL LEGAL AREA ARROWS THAT PERMEATES THE OPINION.

SO THE TRUTH IS THE RULES APPLY TO EVERYONE EQUALLY AND NO REGISTERED VOTER IN NORTH CAROLINA IS GOING TO BE PREVENTED FROM VOTING.

IS VOTER ID A DEAL BREAKER YOU THINK ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE?

>> WELL, IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION FOR DEMOCRATS BUT THE TRUTH IS I THINK WE'VE BECOME SO ACCUSTOMED TO UTILIZING IDENTIFICATION FOR SO MANY PURPOSES NOW, PROBABLY IF WE WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE AN APPROPRIATE FORM OF ID, AT LEAST IT WILL SATISFY THAT ONE ASPECT OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

THERE IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN I THINK THE PART OF SOME AMERICANS NOW ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY FOR WHATEVER REASON WHETHER IT'S HACKING BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

IN UNITED STATES WE DO HAVE SOME HISTORY OF TRYING TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE THROUGH WHAT WERE CONSIDERED AT THE TIME LEGAL MEANS, AND SO PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE DUBIOUS ABOUT THE PROCESS.

I THINK WE NEED TO GET THIS STRAIGHT.

SO THAT PEOPLE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEIR VOTE COUNTS AND THAT THEY DO TURN OUT AND CAST A BALLOT.

>> DONNA, THERE'S A TIMELINE ON MAIL-IN BALLOTS, RIGHT?

>> THERE IS, AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE IT MAKES IT CLOSE OF BUSINESS ABOUT 7, 00:30PM, IN THE EVENING ON ELECTION DAY, AND CURRENTLY IN THE PAST ELECTION, THERE'S A THREE-DAY, YOU COULD GET THERE UP TO 3 DAYS AFTER ELECTION DAY, AND OF COURSE YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 14,000 VOTES THAT CAME IN BETWEEN ELECTION DAY THE 3 DAYS BUT THAT WAS THE DEADLINE.

IF THE DEADLINE IS ELECTION DAY PEOPLE WILL SEND THEM EARLIER AND FOLKS IN THE MEDIA PEOPLE LIKE US EVERYONE ON FACEBOOK THEY'RE GOING TO SAY GET IT IN THE MAIL RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK THAT MOVING THE DEADLINE TO ELECTION DAY IS A REASONABLE TECHNIQUE TO REALLY BOOST CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM AND I KNOW A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THIS IS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP, BUT SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED LONG BEFORE DONALD TRUMP, AND THESE ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN CROPPING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THEN WE HAVE A SOLUTION -- >> >> SOME OF THESE CHANGES WERE MADE BECAUSE OF COVID RIGHT JAY?

>> WELL, THE GOOD THAT THE TEMPORARY CHANGES TO ALLOW FOR BALLOTS TO COME IN 9 DAYS AFTER WERE TEMPORARILY MADE TO CHANGE AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE CURRENT LAW THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE MORE THAN A DECADE AGO.

THE OTHER ARGUMENT AGAINST WHY WE SHOULDN'T CHANGE THE LAW IS THAT IT TAKES TIME FOR VOTERS TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR AND ADVOCATES BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOT TO PROBABLY SPEND AROUND 2 MILLION DOLLARS JUST TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATING THEM ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT TO MOVE THE BALLOT FOR WHEN TO ELECTION DAY IS THE DEADLINE.

>> OKAY, WE NEED TO MOVE ON.

LET'S TALK ABOUT INFLATION IS AT A 13 YEAR HIGH NELSON.

>> YES, INFLATION CONTINUES TO RISE RAPIDLY IN MAY, THERE WAS A 5% YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE AS YOU SAID, A 13 YEAR HIGH.

THIS WEEK, THE FED RAISED ITS INFLATION FORECAST FROM 2.4% FOR THIS YEAR TO 3.4%.

THE FED ALSO CONTINUED TO SAY THAT THIS IS TRANSITORY BUT IT ALSO BEGAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LONGER-RANGE INFLATIONARY RISK MOVING UP THE TIMETABLE FOR RAISING INTEREST RATES FROM 2024 TO 2023.

AND THE FED IS ALSO CONTINUING TO BUY AT A RATE OF A 120 BILLION DOLLARS A MONTH.

ASSETS THAT DAMPENS INFLATION BUT AT SOME POINT THE POLICY HAS TO STOP, THEY HAVE TO START UNWINDING THAT THE REAL PROBLEM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING BACK INTO THE LABOR MARKET SO, BABY BOOMERS -- >> TOO MUCH MONEY CHASING TOO FEW JOBS?

>> I THINK THAT IS TRUE, AND BABY BOOMERS HAVE ACCELERATED THEIR RETIREMENT YOU HAVE SOME BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ACTUALLY CLOSING FOR A LACK OF WORKERS.

SO AS YOU SAY MARC, FLOODING THE ECONOMY WITH TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD POLICY.

>> DONNA IS INFLATION ATTACKS ON FAMILIES BUDGETS?

>> FOR SURE.

I THINK SO.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS ONE DISRUPTIONS OF SUPPLY CHAIN OF COURSE 3 COVID AND THEN OF COURSE PETROLEUM, THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY WAS DISRUPTED WHICH IMPACTED, THE LUMBER MARKETS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE DRIVING UP PRICES EVEN IF IT'S TEMPORARY, IT'S STILL A TEMPORARY STRAIN ON AMERICAN FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS AND THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, BUT IT'S NOT JUST FINANCIAL, IT'S ALSO POLITICAL.

OUR LARGEST CPI INCREASE WAS IN THE 80'S OR SO, ABOUT 14% AND THAT USHERED IN RONALD REAGAN.

SO YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO SEE AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE VOTE THEIR POCKETBOOKS AND REGARDLESS OF WHY, THE CONSUMER PRICES ARE A HUGE DRIVER OF THAT.

>> YOU KNOW THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE I SAW A POLL I THINK YOU SENT IT TO ME JOE, THAT MONOMOUTH POLL IT SAID HAS 71% OF AMERICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SPENDING AND INFLATION IN BIDEN'S POLICIES.

>> I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN SUCH A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE RELIEF EFFORT.

>> PEOPLE ARE DOWN A LITTLE SKITTISH ABOUT THE CONTINUED SPENDING THAT CONGRESS SEEMS TO BE CAUGHT UP IN THE CYCLE OF ALWAYS WANTING TO DO SOMETHING MORE BY DISTRIBUTING MONEY AND WHAT NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE PROBLEM IS IT'S CREATING A LITTLE LOPSIDEDNESS IN THE JOB MARKET THAT'S NOT THE ENTIRE REASON WHY PEOPLE ARE NOT RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE AS THEY WOULD OTHERWISE, BUT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT REASON BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY SOME REALIZATION THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY BACK THAT WE'RE SPENDING IT'S INFUSED A LOT OF HYPER DRIVE IN THE ECONOMY.

BUT AT SOME POINT THE BILL COMES DUE.

>> JAY, INFLATION REALLY HITS FOLKS ON FIXED INCOME DOESN'T IT?

>> I MEAN ABSOLUTELY IT DOES, BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THERE'S A BELIEF BY A NUMBER OF ECONOMISTS THAT THE INFLATION IS GOING TO FADE AWAY AT SOME POINT.

IT'S TEMPORARY, AND I THINK THE SECOND POINT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IS WHERE IS INFLATION TAKING PLACE?

ONE IS FROM USING NEW CARS, THAT COMES FROM THE SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE IN SEMICONDUCTORS WHICH I THINK THAT THE BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING DILIGENTLY ON ADDRESSING.

AND SECONDLY IT'S COMING FROM AIRLINE TICKETS BECAUSE A LOT OF FAMILIES -- >> BUT GAS AND FOOD PRICES ARE UP JAY.

>> WELL THEY ARE, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY COMMODITIES AND LUMBER ARE UP AS WELL AND THAT'S PARTLY A RESULT OF THE TARIFFS THAT HAVE BEEN ERECTED BY DONALD TRUMP.

>> CLOSE OUT ABOUT 40 SECONDS NELSON.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THIS INFLATION IS TRANSITORY.

I THINK THAT IT HAS LONGER LEGS TO IT, WILL NOT LAST FOREVER, BUT THE IT'S LIKE THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

THESE ARE NOT JUST MOMENTARY MATTERS.

THESE ARE SUPPLY CHAINS THAT ARE WORLDWIDE AN ORIENTATION THE BACKUPS THAT WE'VE SEEN THE CHANGES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, THE FED NEEDS TO BE ACTING MORE AGGRESSIVELY.

THEY AS I SAY THEY HAVE ALREADY RAISED THEIR INFLATION EXPECTATION JUST FROM MARCH TO HERE IN JUNE FROM 2.4% TO 3.4% ANNUALLY EXPECT THAT TO GO HIGHER.

>> OKAY, I WANT TO CHANGE TOPICS TO A DISTURBING STORY, DONNA ABOUT THE GROWING CRISIS IN FOSTER CARE.

>> WE ARE SEEING THAT AND OF COURSE THERE'S BEEN A CRISIS FOR A WHILE AND PROSECUTOR IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT I THINK THAT THE SHUTDOWNS FROM THE PANDEMIC HAVE REALLY EXACERBATED AN EXISTING PROBLEM AND SHINING A REAL LIGHT ON SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

ONE YOU HAVE TO SAY SPEAK TO THE RESILIENCE OF THESE FAMILIES THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN NORTH CAROLINA WHO HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS SERVICE DURING AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIME BUT THE SHUTDOWN ORDERS THAT HAPPENED IN MARCH LAST YEAR FROM GOVERNOR COOPER'S OFFICE ENDED VISITATIONS WITH FAMILIES, IT DELAYED COURT HEARINGS, IT DID A TREMENDOUS DISSERVICE TO THE KIDS WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE AND THEIR FOSTER PARENTS, THEN ON TOP OF THAT YOU HAVE A 100 COUNTIES WITH A 100 DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND THEY'RE NOT COMMUNICATING.

WELL, THEY'RE NOT COMMUNICATING AS WELL WITH DHHS AS THEY COULD BE AND ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE SNOWBALLED INTO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE MORE THAN 10, 11,000 KIDS IN FOSTER CARE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND A LOT OF THEM ARE HAVING TO HAVING DIFFICULTY ONE ENDING UP IN A IN A STABLE HOME, THEIR FOSTER PARENTS ARE TRYING TO INCREASE THE CONNECTIONS TO THEIR BIRTH PARENTS AND THOSE FOSTER PARENTS ARE ALSO AT A DISADVANTAGE, AND THEN IT'S EXACERBATED AGAIN BY THE INCREASING OPIOID CRISIS THAT WE'RE SEEING, THAT IS ALSO -- >> SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

>> THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE WHICH ACCELERATED DRAMATICALLY DURING SHUTDOWNS AND SO WHEN YOU ADD THAT PLUS KIDS NOT BEING REPORTED TO THE SYSTEM AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IT'S CREATED THIS PERFECT STORM OF A REAL CRISIS, THE FLOOD OF FENTINEL IS A BIG PROBLEM I THINK, BUT LET ME ASK YOU NELSON, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH DATA ON THESE AT RISK KIDS?

>> WELL, WE DON'T, AND AS DONNA WAS TALKING ABOUT THE NC FAST SYSTEM HAS CHRONIC ISSUES WITH IT THAT YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE DATA BETWEEN COUNTY DSSs, AND WE'VE HAD SOME HORRENDOUS CASES.

WE'VE HAD A HORRENDOUS CASE OVER IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, A FEW YEARS AGO DOWN IN UNION COUNTY, A NUMBER OF COUNTIES WHERE WE'VE SEEN SOME VERY EGREGIOUS CASES, IN 2017 WE PASSED RYLAN'S LAW TO TRY TO CREATE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY TO PUT MORE RESOURCES AND REGIONAL APPROACH TO OUR DSSs.

WE HAVE ADDITIONAL REFORMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS YEAR, THE SENATE HAS A BILL SENATE BILL 6.93 TO EXPEDITE CHILD SAFETY AND PERMANENCY, IN THAT IS THE NOW THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES HOTLINE, THAT'S ONE OF THE REFORMS THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE RESOURCES IN THIS AREA AND WE NEED TO HAVE A GREATER STATEWIDE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS ALSO WORKING ON A STATEWIDE FOSTER CARE PLAN, BUT THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT SYSTEMS TO PUT TOGETHER.

>> JAY WEIGH IN HERE, MY FRIEND.

>> WELL I THINK NELSON AND DONNA ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND I THINK ONE THING WE'RE SEEING WITH THE FOSTER CARE CRISIS AND I THINK THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY IN I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE, REPRESENTATIVE DAVID WILLIS WHO IS A REPUBLICAN WHO WAS VERY DEVOTED TO THE ISSUES OF CHILDREN HAS INTRODUCED A FOSTER -- >> THE STATE HAS ENTERED A CITY MATCH AS WELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT THEY HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS THAT FOCUS ON A FOSTER BILL OF RIGHTS.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THEY ARE TRYING TO TACKLE WAS THE ISSUE THAT'S BEEN RAISED IN THIS DISCUSSION IS THAT UNIFORMITY ON THE 100 COUNTIES THAT MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR PARENTS TO NAVIGATE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND THE SECOND ASPECT OF THAT BILL WAS THAT THEY ACTUALLY GIVE PARENTS A LITTLE BIT MORE SAY THAN WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO HELP NAVIGATE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, I MEAN RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FOSTER CARE SYSTEM THAT A PARENT HAS TO GET PERMISSION TO TAKE THEIR CHILD TO THE BEACH AND THAT DOESN'T REALLY PROVIDE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR THOSE PARENTS TO PROVIDE A STABLE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

>> JOE PUT THIS IN CONTEXT MY FRIEND, >> THIS ISN'T JUST A PROBLEM WITH KIDS IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM I WAS FORTUNATE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF AN ORGANIZATION IN WAKE COUNTY CALLED THE HOPE CENTER THAT HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING THE TRANSITION OUT OF FOSTER CARE.

KIDS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SYSTEM ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS, THEY'RE FAR MORE LIKELY TO HAVE DIFFICULTY AND NEED OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE, INFRASTRUCTURE, UNEMPLOYMENT, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

THE HOPE CENTER WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TO FIND VOCATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS A BIG ISSUE FOR A LOT OF THESE KIDS.

THE TRAUMA OF THE SITUATION THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH HAS TO BE ADJUDICATED.

BUT TO MAKE THESE VERY RESILIENT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO'VE GONE THROUGH A TERRIBLE SITUATION, NOT OF THEIR OWN MAKING SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT ADULTS IS CRITICAL AND MAKING SURE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WORKS IS THE FIRST STEP TO THAT.

>> GREAT WRAP.

I'M COMING RIGHT BACK TO THE GOVERNOR EXTENDED THE MASK MANDATE IN SOME SETTINGS.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> GOVERNOR COOPER ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK HE WAS EXTENDING UNTIL THE END OF JULY, THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE ORDER WE'VE BEEN UNDER SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR SAYING THAT HE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO ABIDE BY THE CDC GUIDELINES THAT MASKS WOULD STILL BE WORN IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, MOST NOTABLY SCHOOLS AND I THINK THERE'S SOME KERFUFFLE THAT'S ARISING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE ORDER BUT THE GOVERNOR SAID WE ARE FAR FROM READY TO DECLARE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED THAT THERE'S STILL SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

NORTH CAROLINA TRAILING THE NATION BY LITTLE BIT WE'RE A LITTLE OVER 50% INNOCULATED, A LITTLE OVER 62%, THE NATIONAL FIGURE.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT THIS IS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE TO DRAW DOWN CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDS TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

THE LEGISLATURE I THINK IS BRISTLING A LITTLE AGAINST THIS BILL MOVING THROUGH THE HOUSE THAT WOULD LIMIT THE GOVERNOR'S ABILITY UNDER THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO 7 DAYS UNLESS THE REST OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE AGREES OR LESS THAN 30 DAYS IF THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T AGREE.

WE'RE ABOUT TO GET INTO THE HEART OF HURRICANE SEASON WHERE DISASTER DECLARATIONS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR COULD COME TO SOME UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THOSE KINDS OF ORDERS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF NATURAL DISASTERS TO0.

>> DONNA THERE'S BEEN SOME PUSHBACK.

>> FOR SURE.

I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING IS THAT YOU HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAMPS, YOU NAME IT.

I THINK ONE THING WE'RE SEEING IS SOMETIMES WE GET SO FAR IN THE WEEDS THAT WE FORGET TO STEP BACK AND LOOK, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THIS EXPANSION AND MANDATE ARE CHILDREN WHO ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BECOME INFECTED AND EVEN IF THEY DO GET INFECTED MUCH LESS LIKELY TO TO SUFFER SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FROM COVID AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE PEOPLE, WE HAVE MORE THAN 80% OF THE HIGHEST RISK PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE VACCINATED.

SO WE'RE RUNNING DOWN THIS PATH WHERE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE DOING IT JUST TO BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN FEDERAL MONEY AND THE IDEA OF SENDING MY KIDS TO CAMP AND SCHOOL IN THE FALL WEARING A MASK, SO THAT WE CAN DRAW MORE FEDERAL MONEY, I'M NOT SURE I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT.

>> JAY.

>> WELL I THINK GOVERNOR COOPER'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN EXTENDING THE EMERGENCY ORDER BECAUSE IT DOES ALLOW US TO DRAW DOWN FEDERAL FUNDING, I MEAN WE'RE STILL AT 51% WE NEED TO GET TO 70%.

THOSE DOLLARS ALLOW FOR MORE RESOURCES TO BE PROVIDED TO GET MORE FOLKS VACCINATED, IT ALSO PROVIDES A DELIVERY TO FOOD BANKS.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE HAVE KIDS UNDER 12 THAT HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AND THAT REALLY IS A NEXT FRONT.

I MEAN I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR US TO EQUATE THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE PANDEMIC TO ACHIEVING VICTORY, WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

>> DO KIDS UNDER 12 NEED TO BE VACCINATED NELSON?

>> WELL I THINK WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE ON THAT.

THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR THOSE CHILDREN, THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND IT NEEDS TO BE VOLUNTARY FOR PARENTS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS GET VACCINATED, GET THE MASK, OFF LET'S GET BACK TO WORK.

THE EMERGENCY IS OVER AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET BACK TO OUR LIVES.

>> WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS MY FRIEND.

>> I DO THINK THAT THIS REPRESENTS A REAL MOMENT FOR GOVERNOR COOPER.

RELATIVELY SPEAKING BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF THE DEALING, THERE'S BEEN SOME FRICTION WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON SOME OF THIS.

BUT THE NUMBERS ARE ALL GOOD WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AT THIS POINT IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF PEOPLE'S FATIGUE IN HAVING TO BE UNDER THESE MANDATES, BUT I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF THIS GOES BEYOND THE END OF JULY.

>> YOU KNOW I WAS GOING TO WRAP IT UP, BUT I WANT TO GET DONNA'S LAST THOUGHTS.

>> OK, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M I'M LIVING THIS EVERY DAY AND I KNOW YOU ARE TOO, AND THE MASK MANDATE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS CHANGED THE COURSE OF MY CHILDREN'S LIVES.

YOU CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE ITS IMPACT ON HOW THEY'RE APPROACHING HIGH SCHOOL HOW THEY'RE APPROACHING COLLEGE THE LEVEL OF DEPRESSION AMONG TEENAGERS AND IT'S NOT JUST WEARING A MASK, IT IS THE CONTROL OVER THEIR PERSONAL PRIVATE AND ACADEMIC LIVES THAT YOU CANNOT PUT A FEDERAL DOLLARS NUMBER ON IT.

>> I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON DONNA.

OK LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK.

>> SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD BIT OF GOOD NEWS, ESPECIALLY FOR STATE RETIREES, TEACHERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ANYBODY WHO HAS A STATE PENSION.

THAT PENSION HAS GROWN THE EQUITY PORTFOLIO IS ACTUALLY UP 40% IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING AT STATE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT AND OF COURSE WE NOW HAVE A PENSION PLAN VALUED AT A 121 BILLION DOLLARS SO IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE FISCAL HEALTH OF OUR STATE.

>> GREAT FISCAL MANAGEMENT BY DALE FOLWELL, YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I DO, TREASURER FOLWELL REALLY FOCUSED ON REDUCING FEES AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE LIKE JOE, I MEAN I THINK HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB.

>> UNDERREPORTED PLEASE MY FRIEND.

>> YEAH SO UNDER REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK IS THAT THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER ISSUED A REPORT THIS WEEK THAT FOUND THAT ONE OUT OF 3 ELECTION OFFICIALS FEEL UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THEIR JOB AND ONE IN 5 LISTED THREATS AS BEING RELATED TO THEIR JOB.

THIS IS A REAL ISSUE BECAUSE IF OUR ELECTION OFFICIALS DON'T FEEL SAFE, IT'S HARD TO ADMINISTER AN ELECTION AND PART OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTED FRANKLY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE PRESSURE THAT HE PUT ON GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE TO FIND MORE VOTES TO WIN THE GEORGIA ELECTION.

BUT IT'S ALSO FROM A NUMBER OF STATE LEGISLATURES THAT ARE PUTTING PRESSURES ON ELECTION OFFICIALS.

THE REPORT REALLY UNDERSCORES THE FACT THAT IF WE CAN'T GET OUR ELECTION OFFICIALS TO CARRY OUT AN ELECTION THAT REALLY PUTS OUR DEMOCRACY AT RISK, THE BRENNAN CENTER OF THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER MAKE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING PROVIDING MORE SAFETY AND PERSONNEL EQUIPMENT AND PASSING APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THOSE ELECTION WORKERS AND OFFICIALS.

>> JOE UNDERREPORTED PLEASE?

THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION BY THE WAY.

>> YEAH, CHINA PUT 3 ASTRONAUTS INTO THEIR OWN SPACE STATION, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPACE STATION NOW.

THEY LANDED A PROBE ON MARS, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROBE ON MARS, CHINA CONTINUES TO BE GROWING IN TERMS OF THE NEXUS BETWEEN WHAT AMERICA'S ROLE IN A FUTURE 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY WORLD IS AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT IT HAS WITH CHINA, AND I JUST READ THIS MORNING IN THE CHINESE PROVINCE OF GUANGDONG THERE'S A HUGE PORT WHERE THEY EXPORT A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF CARGO CONTAINERS CONTAINING MATERIALS COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.

THEY'RE SAYING NOW THAT IT MAY BE DISRUPTING THE HOLIDAY SEASON SHOPPING IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THE SLOWDOWN OF SHIPPING THIS ONE PORT IN CHINA.

AT SOME POINT WE'VE GOT TO RECONCILE THIS.

THERE'S SIGNIFICANT TRADE ISSUES WITH CHINA, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE BUT THEY'RE REALLY IS A SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL DISTINCTION THAT WILL ALWAYS SEPARATE THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND.

THEIR THREATS TO TAIWAN, A NUMBER OF MILITARY AIRCRAFT FLYING OVER THAT ISLAND THIS WEEK, STRONG PROVOCATIONS TO THE UNITED STATES, WE NEED TO RESOLVE THIS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS COUNTRY.

>> AND THE EUROPEAN UNION IS ACTUALLY EXPANDING TRADE WITH CHINA AREN'T THEY NELSON?

>> WELL THEY ARE AND YOU KNOW COMING OUT OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TRIP EUROPEAN POWERS GOT ALL THE ASSURANCES THEY WANTED ON CLIMATE, OF CONTINUED GLOBAL MILITARY AND TRADE SECURITY FROM THE UNITED STATES, BUT THEY HEDGED THEIR BETS, MOST NOTABLY ON NOT BACKING UKRAINE'S ADMISSION TO NATO AND WORDS, BUT NO ACTION ON CHINA'S GENOCIDE OF THE UIGHURS FOR EXAMPLE, REPRESSION IN HONG KONG THAT IS GOING ON AS WE SPEAK.

STONEWALLING ON THE VIRUS INVESTIGATION.

THE UK AND JAPAN ARE REALLY THE ONLY G7 COUNTRIES ARE FULLY ON BOARD WITH THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW, BIDEN ALSO HAD HIS SUMMIT WITH PUTIN THAT DELIVERED NO CONSEQUENCES FOR RUSSIAN BEHAVIOR, SO COUNTRIES HAVE NO PERMANENT FRIENDS OR ENEMIES ONLY PERMANENT INTERESTS, EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE U.S.

INTERESTS.

THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T KNOW OURSELVES.

>> SO THAT YOUR UNDERREPORTED?

>> THAT'S MY UNDERREPORTED.

>> OK, LET'S GO TO THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

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

>> OKAY SO UP I'VE GOT TO SAY NORTH CAROLINA'S TAX SURPLUS TAX COLLECTIONS SURPLUS ABOUT 6 BILLION DOLLARS CAROLINA JOURNAL ALSO REPORTED.

>> ARE WE GETTING A TAX REBATE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW I'M GONNA KEEP CHECKING MY MAILBOX FOR SURE.

[ALL LAUGHING] IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK HAS SENT A LOT OF THE LAWMAKERS OF COURSE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO TALK MORE ABOUT HOW TO EXPAND A TAX RELIEF AND REFORM PLAN.

IT AFFECTS THE BUDGET, AND NOT A TERRIBLE PROBLEM TO HAVE, A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY IN THE COFFERS, BUT CERTAINLY I KNOW TAXPAYERS, AFTER A YEAR LIKE THIS ARE GOING TO BE CHECKING THE BOX.

>> IS THAT THE BIG DEBATE COMING UP?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THAT OVER THE NEXT WEEK TO 10 DAYS, BUT OF COURSE THEY'VE GOT OF SUPER FULL DOCKET I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY BUSY.

MY DOWN IS HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID, NORTH CAROLINA HAS NOW HIT UNDER THE 500 MARK WE'VE ONLY GOT 400 AS OF YESTERDAY 495 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID WHICH IS OUTSTANDING NEWS.

>> GREAT NEWS.

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK, JAY.

>> WHO'S UP, JUNETEENTH.

I MEAN TODAY IS THE 12TH FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN THE 244TH YEAR OF OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ONLY CREATED 11 FEDERAL HOLIDAYS, WE CREATED THE 12TH THIS WEEK, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE WHAT CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT CAN DO WHEN THEY PUT THEIR MIND TO SOMETHING.

THE LAST TIME WE HAD A FEDERAL HOLIDAY WAS WHEN WE CREATED THE HOLIDAY FOR DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING IN 1983.

>> OK, DOWN?

>> AND WHO'S DOWN, BIG TECH.

IN A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THAT LINA KHAN WHO WAS CONFIRMED BY THE U.S. SENATE TO SERVE ON THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WOULD BE PROMOTED AS THE CHAIR OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.

SHE IS ONLY 32 YEARS OLD, SHE'S GOT A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO RESHAPE THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULAR AGAINST BIG TECH AS A COLUMBIA LAW PROFESSOR, SHE'S WRITTEN ACADEMIC WRITINGS THAT HAVE ARGUED TO BREAK UP AMAZON INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLATFORMS, SO WHO'S DOWN IT'S GOING TO BE COMPANIES LIKE GOOGLE, FACEBOOK AND APPLE.

>> AND BECAUSE BIG TECH IS PRIMARILY ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS OF JOE BIDEN, ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

>> WELL I -- >> THEY DON'T GIVE MUCH MONEY TO REPUBLICANS RIGHT?

WELL, I THINK THE ISSUE OF ANY TRUST IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHY -- >> IT'S SURPRISING THAT THAT HE WOULD PUT HER IN, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THERE'S ALSO SUPPORT BY PROGRESSIVES THAT LOOKING AT BREAKING UP TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND THINK THEY HAVE TOO MUCH POWER.

>> GREAT POINT.

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

>> INTERESTING ENOUGH RELATED TO THIS JP MORGAN PUT OUT A REPORT THAT SAID IT LOOKS LIKE NEXT YEAR AMAZON WILL SURPASS WALMART IS THE LARGEST RETAILER IN THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF GROSS VOLUME OF MERCHANDISE.

SO EVENTUALLY I GUESS AMAZON WILL COME TO DOMINATE EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF RETAIL HERE I WAS THINKING THE INTERNET WAS JUST A FAD APPARENTLY IT'S TAKEN ON.

WHO'S DOWN -- >> YOU'RE ALWAYS SLOW TO CATCH.

>> MARC, I'M SLOW IN MANY REGARDS.

WHO'S DOWN, HOPEFULLY NOT DOWN, THE FIRST EVER WOODEN SATELLITE.

FOUR SQUARE INCHES SET UP BY OF COMPANY OUT OF NEW ZEALAND.

THEY'RE GOING TO SEE IF IT CAN WITHSTAND THE RIGORS OF SPACE OF COURSE WOOD, UP UNTIL THIS YEAR, WAS A FAR CHEAPER, MATERIAL TO USE THAN THE OTHER STUFF THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE SATELLITES OUT OF.

IT'S VERY SMALL BUT IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF EVENTUALLY WE CAN PUT LOTS OF PLYWOOD KIND OF CONSTRUCTED SATELLITES UP IN THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH.

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

>> WHO'S UP?

LOUISIANA, FEDERAL JUDGE TERRY DOUGHTY.

WHO THIS WEEK ISSUED A NATIONAL INJUNCTION AGAINST BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH HALTED LEASES OF OIL AND GAS RIGHTS ON FEDERAL LANDS AND WATERS.

HE SAID THAT STATES WOULD BE HARMED BY THE LOSS OF REVENUE AND THE ORDER LACKED CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY.

WHO'S DOWN?

RACE-BASED BENEFITS IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

2 FEDERAL JUDGES AND THE 6TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAVE ISSUED PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIONS ALSO AGAINST USING RACE OR GENDER PREFERENCES TO ADDRESS PAST DISCRIMINATION PRACTICES IN FARM PROGRAMS AND SBA LOANS.

>> BUT BIDEN DID GET A WIN ON OBAMACARE THIS WEEK.

>> HE GOT A HUGE WIN ON OBAMA CARE IN A VERY VERY NARROW RULING AND I REALLY DON'T EXPECT THE ISSUE TO COME BACK.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> I'M GOING TO SAY THAT NC STATE IS GOING TO BE THE CINDERELLA OF OMAHA HOPEFULLY.

NC STATE MY WOLF PACK IS GOING TO BE IN THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES OVER THE WEEKEND.

WE'RE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED.

>> JAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> SENATE REPUBLICANS ROLLOUT THEIR BUDGET BY KEEPING SPENDING LOW WITH NO SIGNIFICANT PAY INCREASES FOR TEACHERS.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, JOE.

>> BIDEN HAS TO PIVOT FROM SUCCESSFUL SUMMIT WITH PUTIN TO DEAL WITH ISSUES LIKE CHINA, NORTH KOREA, VENEZUELA, THE MIDDLE EAST, IRAN, IT GOES ON AND ON.

>> RECONCILIATION YOU THINK ON THE BUDGET?

>> THEY HAVE ONE OPPORTUNITY ACCORDING TO THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN SO THEY'RE GOING TO CHOOSE WISELY HOW THEY WANT TO USE THAT.

>> HEADLINE MY REAL QUICK.

>> WTI HITs $75 A BARREL.

>> GREAT JOB PANEL.

THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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