>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, THE STATE SENATE MOVES THEIR BUDGET FORWARD, A GAME CHANGER IN COLLEGE SPORTS, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN MAKES A STOP IN RALEIGH.

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 THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION, MORGAN JACKSON CHIEF POLITICAL STRATEGIST FOR GOVERNOR ROY COOPER, POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO NORTH HOUSE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

MITCH LET'S BEGIN WITH THE STATE SENATE'S BUDGET.

FILL US IN.

>> NOW THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE AGREED ON THEIR TOP LINE NUMBERS FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS WE'RE STARTING TO SEE DETAILS, LOTS OF DETAILS OF 427 PAGE BUDGET BILL FROM THE SENATE, AND IT HAS THE 25.7 BILLION DOLLARS - 25.7 BILLION IN GENERAL FUND SPENDING IN THE FIRST YEAR, 26.6 BILLION THE SECOND YEAR.

IT ALSO ALLOCATES ABOUT 5 BILLION DOLLARS FROM FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS.

THIS OF COURSE COMES AFTER PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THE DEBATE LEARNED THAT NORTH CAROLINA HAD ABOUT AN EXTRA 6 BILLION DOLLARS THAT WASN'T EXPECTED.

THE SENATE IS PUTTING FORWARD ITS PLANS SAID IT WAS EMPHASIZING A COUPLE OF THINGS: THE FIRST TAX CUTS THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ON TAX CUTS THE PERSONAL RATE WOULD DROP FROM 5.25% TODAY IMMEDIATELY TO 4.99% AND EVENTUALLY TO 3.99% WOULD PHASE OUT THE CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE BY 2028, ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE SIDE AS OPPOSED TO A PLAN TO PUT FORWARD A BOND PACKAGE, WHICH THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE, THE SENATE WANTS TO PUT MONEY INTO THE STATE CAPITAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND AND HAVE 3 BILLION DOLLARS AVAILABLE OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, 12 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS.

IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE BOND.

THERE'S ALSO MORE MONEY INTO THE SAVINGS RESERVE.

RAISES, 3% RAISES BASICALLY FOR ALMOST EVERYONE EXCEPT 7% RAISES FOR CORRECTION OFFICERS PLUS A BONUS OF $1500 OR $1000 DEPENDING ON YOUR SALARY LEVEL EXTRA BONUS FOR TEACHERS AND EVEN LARGER BONUS FOR PRINCIPALS, PLUS THE OTHER THING THIS IN HERE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LARGE BUDGET.

IT HAS A LOT OF POLICY ISSUES INCLUDING SOME THINGS WE KNOW THE GOVERNOR WON'T LIKE ABOUT THE REIGNING IN EMERGENCY POWERS, REINING IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ABILITY TO HAVE THESE WHAT ARE SOMETIMES CALLED COLLUSIVE LAWSUIT SETTLEMENTS, TAKING AWAY SOME INVESTIGATIVE POWERS FROM THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

SO A LOT OF STUFF IN THIS BUDGET, IT PASSED 32 TO 18 WITH 4 DEMOCRATS GOING ALONG WITH ALL THE REPUBLICANS.

>> MORGAN YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> SO I THINK IT'S ALWAYS HELPS TO REMEMBER THAT BUDGETS ARE ABOUT PRIORITIES.

IT'S ABOUT SETTING YOUR PRIORITIES.

NORTH CAROLINA HAS A HISTORIC AMOUNT OF MONEY, RIGHT NOW DUE TO FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S ONE TIME COVER MONEY DUE TO AS MITCH DISCUSSED, A LOT OF RECURRING REVENUE IN THE STATE THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND I THINK WE HAVE A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SERIOUS INVESTMENTS IN OUR FUTURE.

THE CHALLENGE WITH THIS BUDGET IS THAT INSTEAD OF TAKING THAT ROUTE, INSTEAD OF REALLY TAKING ON SOME HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND MAKING SOME CRITICAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE FOR YEARS 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY, THE STATE SENATE IS MORTGAGING OUR FUTURE BY GIVING 14 BILLION DOLLARS IN TAX CUTS.

>> YOU VIEW IT AS AN OPENING BID?

>> I HOPE IT'S AN OPENING BID BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY IF ITS A FINAL BID IT IS NOT GOING TO BE ACCEPTED.

BUT YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, 14 BILLION DOLLARS 14 BILLION WITH A "B" IN TAX CUTS OVER 75% OF THOSE GO TO PEOPLE WHO MAKE OVER $200,000 A YEAR IN BIG CORPORATIONS LIKE THAT'S A BAD PRIORITY.

WHERE ARE TEACHER PAY RAISES?

MITCH TALKED ABOUT THOSE.

A POINT A HALF?

THAT'S NOT EVEN COST OF LIVING.

>> NELSON, GET IN HERE.

>> WELL, THE SENATE DOESN'T PASS A BUDGET IT PASSES A BARGAINING POSITION, AND AFTER A DECADE OF NEGOTIATIONS, YOU KNOW REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL AND IT'S VERY EASY TO SEE WHERE THE PRIORITIES ARE.

OBVIOUSLY LOWER TAXES, SAVINGS, INFRASTRUCTURE, A LOT OF BASICS FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH WE'VE ENJOYED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OVER THE LAST DECADE THAT WE'VE BEEN IN CHARGE.

AND ALSO INTERNALLY WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY TOOK A LOT OF THE SMALLER FUNDING ISSUES OFF THE TABLE TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT EASIER TO NEGOTIATE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND THAT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED OF COURSE SENATOR BERGER KNOWS THE BUDGET VERY WELL, HE'S VERY WELL VERSED ON MY EDUCATION POLICY.

SPEAKER MOORE IS ALSO A VETERAN LEADER IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE ARRIVE IN CONFERENCE IN AUGUST WE'LL BE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER A BUDGET IN SHORT ORDER.

>> JOE WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> I THINK WHAT'S MOST INTERESTING TO ME AS MITCH ALLUDED TO, THE SENATE VERSION OF THE BUDGET BROUGHT FOUR DEMOCRATS ALONG.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF A SIMILAR NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO COME OVER TO THE REPUBLICAN POSITION ON THE HOUSE.

REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS LARGE ENOUGH TO OVERRIDE A GUBERNATORIAL VETO JUST ON A PARTY LINE VOTE.

IF THEY HOPE TO GET A BUDGET PASSED, THE REPUBLICANS NEED SOME DEMOCRATS WILLING TO STAND UP TO THE GOVERNOR IF THE GOVERNOR VETOES THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN GET SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR THE STATE.

>> OKAY WE NEED TO MOVE ON THERE WAS AN INTERESTING SUPREME COURT RULING ON COLLEGE SPORTS THIS WEEK.

FILL US IN.

>> YES, MARC.

3 ISSUES UNITE, WASHINGTON.

CHINA, BIG TECH AND THE NCAA, AND THIS WEEK IT WAS THE SUPREME COURT'S TURN TO TAKE THE NCAA TO SCHOOL.

IN A UNANIMOUS DECISION THE JUSTICES REALLY HAMMERED AWAY AT THE NCAA'S TREATMENT OF COLLEGE ATHLETES.

THIS CASE WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THOSE ATHLETES TO RECEIVE REALLY A VERY BROAD RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL RELATED BENEFITS, MAYBE EVEN RECRUITMENT BENEFITS.

ALL OF THE JUSTICES BASICALLY PILED ON THE NCAA'S HYPOCRISY.

FOR EXAMPLE, JUSTICE THOMAS POINTED OUT THAT IN 39 STATES IT'S THE COLLEGE COACH WHO'S ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST PAID STATE EMPLOYEE.

COLLEGE ATHLETICS OF THE NCAA, THEIR MEMBERS, IT'S A 19 BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR INDUSTRY AND THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ATHLETES REALLY ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 20% OF THAT.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

THE NCAA WILL EITHER REFORM ITSELF OR IT MAY FIND ITSELF OUT OF THE GAME IN THE FUTURE.

>> BIG-TIME COLLEGE SPORTS, DON'T YOU THINK JOE, IS REALLY JUST A FARM TEAM FOR THE PROS.

>> WELL IT'S BECOME THAT, YOU KNOW INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THE FAMOUS BASKETBALL COACH AT CAROLINA DEAN SMITH ONCE SAID OF COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, "IT'S LIKE THE FRONT PORCH OF A HOUSE."

THE MOST CONSPICUOUS PART BUT THE LEAST IMPORTANT STRUCTURALLY.

BUT IT HAS BECOME BIG BUSINESS AND THE CHALLENGES THE MULTIPLIERS OF MILLIONS NOW ARE BEING FELT IN THE POCKETBOOK OF COACHES EVEN THE HEAD OF THE NCAA MARK EMMERT MAKES 4 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OFF OF THIS.

THE CHALLENGE IS, AN INTERESTING ENOUGH, IN THE HISTORY WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN DISPUTES BETWEEN WHAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS STUDENT ATHLETES AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS IS OVER ISSUES OF WORKERS COMPENSATION, WHERE THE PLAYER ACTUALLY GETS HURT, IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SPORTING ENDEAVOR, THE QUESTION IS: WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT EXPENSE TO THAT INDIVIDUAL STUDENT ATHLETE?

I THINK THE TIME HAS LONG COME FOR US TO FIGURE OUT A WAY SOME SIGNIFICANT PART OF THIS MONEY COMES FROM TELEVISION RIGHTS THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE BIG BUCKS.

IT'S TIME FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO GET SOME OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT.

FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

DO YOU THINK MORGAN THESE KIDS WILL GET DIRECT PAYMENTS?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU KNOW AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M A SERIOUS ATHLETE.

[LAUGHTER AND CROSS TALK] ALL MY ELIGIBILITY IS OUT.

I'M REDSHIRTING FOR FOUR YEARS IN UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING SO I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GOING TO GET ME ANYTHING.

I THINK THE NELSON'S POINT AND JOE'S ARE VERY VALID, AND YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY IS OPEN THE DOOR FOR EDUCATIONAL SOME SORT OF INCENTIVE.

BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH THE NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS?

SO IN OCTOBER, I THINK IT WAS IN 2019 THE NCAA SAID THAT THEY CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY BECAUSE THESE SCHOOL'S MARKET THESE STAR ATHLETES AND MAKE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THE QUESTION IS: HOW MUCH IS YOUR NAME, YOUR IMAGE AND LIKENESS WORTH TO AN ATHLETE?

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A PATCHWORK A LOT OF STATES ARE STARTING THAT DISCUSSION NOW, AND YOU'VE SEEN SOME WALLS, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CALIFORNIA OTHERS THAT MAY COME ON THIS.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO STEP IN OR NCAA AND SET A 50 STATE GUIDELINE BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU'RE GOING TO INCENTIVIZE CERTAIN CONFERENCES, CERTAIN SCHOOLS AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO BE THOUGHT OUT HERE BUT WE'RE HEADED DOWN THE RIGHT ROAD FOR ATHLETES >> MITCH, ARE WE HEADED TOWARD TOWARDS THE END AMATEUR SPORTS?

>> WE COULD BE, IN MEAN IT CERTAINLY AMATEUR SPORTS HAS BEEN IN QUOTE, SCARE, QUOTES FOR A WHILE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN VERY FAR FROM THE OLD STANDARD AMATEUR.

TO ME THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS RULING IS NOT FOR THE SUPERSTAR WHO HAS TO PRETEND TO BE IN COLLEGE FOR A YEAR BEFORE GOING PRO.

THIS IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO GET INJURED AND NEVER HAVE A PRO CAREER OR THEY'RE IN A SMALLER SPORT AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ANY MONEY EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY ON THEIR SPORT.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT RULING FOR THEM.

>> OK WE NEED TO MOVE ON YOU WERE IN THE BUBBLE THIS WEEK WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HE WAS A RALEIGH TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> SO PRESIDENT BIDEN VISITS RALEIGH FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY AS PRESIDENT SINCE HIS INAUGURATION.

IT CERTAINLY WAS HIS FIRST VISIT.

WILL NOT BE HIS LAST.

I THINK THAT BIDEN AND HARRIS WILL BE HERE ENOUGH OF THE NEXT 3 YEARS THEY'LL BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR IN-STATE TUITION AT UNC BY 2024.

>> SO HE'S WORRIED ABOUT 2022.

>> HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO CARRYING NORTH CAROLINA IN 2024, BUT HE WAS HERE YESTERDAY TO PUSH VACCINES.

HE AND GOVERNOR COOPER MET WITH HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT GREEN ROAD COMMUNITY CENTER IN RALEIGH, THE BIG PUSH WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE IS NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A DANGEROUS DELTA VARIANT THAT IS OUT THERE BUT VACCINATIONS HAVE SLOWED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AS THE ECONOMY'S OPENED BACK UP AS PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE'VE GOT 55% OF 18 PLUS THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE YESTERDAY WAS GET OUT, GET VACCINATED, THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO DITCH THE MASK IT'S THE BEST WAY TO MOVE 40 KEEP OTHER FOLKS SAFE.

THEY ALSO MET WITH A LOT OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY THEY KICKED OFF A CANVAS.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT IS WE THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED, NOW THIS WILL FALL INTO 3 BUCKETS.

THERE IS THE GROUP THAT JUST HADN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO IT, HONESTLY THEY THEY'RE WORKING 2 JOBS, HADN'T BEEN A PRIORITY THERE'S THOSE THAT ARE VACCINE HESITANT, AND THEN THERE'S THE ANTI VAX, AND I THINK THESE COMMUNITY CANVASES ARE REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR RELUCTANCE AND WHAT CAN THEY DO TO GET THEM VACCINATED, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP.

THE LAST POINT I'LL MAKE IS NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN VERY SERIOUS ABOUT TRYING TO UP VACCINE NUMBERS.

THIS WEEK, THE FIRST DRAWING FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR CASH DRAWING AND ALSO THERE WAS A DRAWING FOR A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S UNDER 18 AND SO I EXPECT THEY'LL BE ANNOUNCED THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT THE GOAL IS TO INCENTIVIZE NORTH KILLING IS TO GET VACCINATED.

>> MITCH CASES ARE DOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> THEY ARE DOWN.

I THINK AS MORGAN MENTIONED, THE CONCERN AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED IS THE VARIOUS VARIANTS.

I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING PIECES OF THIS IS IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO TARGET THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VACCINATED WOULD YOU BRING IN JOE BIDEN?

IS THAT THE BEST MASCOT?

MY GUESS IS IF YOU'RE BROKE DOWN POLITICALLY THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VACCINATED THEY MIGHT BE MORE INCLINED TO LISTEN TO ANOTHER MESSENGER THAN JOE BIDEN ESPECIALLY FOR AN EVENT THAT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE A CAMPAIGN STOP.

WHY WAS JOSH STEIN THERE?

WHAT IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND POTENTIAL 2024 GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

-- >> HE'S PRO VACCINATION.

>> I'M SURE HE IS.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT HIS OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT ROLE IS THOUGH, SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS WORTHY OF THE PRESIDENT DOING, BUT I'M GUESSING THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VACCINATED LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, "IS THIS WHO I REALLY WANT TELLING ME TO GET VACCINATED?"

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

ARE PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION YOU THINK JOE?

>> WELL I THINK ANY NEWS IS GOOD NEWS IN THIS REGARD TO TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND WHOEVER THE MESSENGER IS I THINK MITCH MAKES A GOOD POINT RELATIVE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE POPULATION OF FOLKS THAT ARE NOT YET VACCINATED SO IT MADE HEADLINES AND IT MADE A CASE THAT THE IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET VACCINATED SO WE GET BACK TO NORMAL.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THIS HAS BECOME SUCH A HYPER POLITICAL ISSUE IN TERMS OF MASK IN TERMS OF VACCINE, THE TERMS OF THE WAY THE STATE HAS DEALT WITH THE COVID-19 SITUATION HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE MITCH WHO THE RIGHT MESSENGER WOULD BE AT THIS POINT.

IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE I THINK A CONSISTENT MESSAGE OVER AND OVER YOU NEED TO GET VACCINATED.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

>> THE POINT OF THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT WAS NOT VACCINATION.

THIS IS ABOUT CONTROL OF CONGRESS AND THE 2022 U.S. SENATE RACE.

DEMOCRATS BELIEVED THEY SHOULD HAVE WON THE LAST SENATE RACE EXCEPT THEIR CANDIDATE SELF-DESTRUCTED.

TRUMP HAS ALREADY PICKED HIS NOMINEE -- >> [MARC] STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAVE RUN OUT.

THAT'S RIGHT AND ALTHOUGH BIDEN HAS NOT CHOSEN SIDES IN THIS RACE, HIS GOAL IS GOING TO BUILD A CASE FOR THE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE AND OBVIOUSLY HIS HANDLING OF THE PANDEMIC IS HIS STRONGEST ISSUE PARTICULARLY WITH OLDER VOTERS.

AND THIS IS ABOUT HIS AGENDA.

NOT JUST ABOUT HIS REALLY REELECTION IN 2024, BUT HIS AGENDA IS GOING TO HINGE ON KEY SENATE RACES LIKE NORTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, WISCONSIN AND PENNSYLVANIA.

>> OKAY, I WANT TO CHANGE TOPICS ONE MORE TIME GET TO JOE HERE AND THAT IS A NEW CIVITAS POLL JUST CAME OUT OF THE FIELD.

>> YEAH, CIVITAS AND THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION NOW MERGED, CIVITAS CONTINUING TO BRAND ITS REGULAR POLLING OF THE PEOPLE OF STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

INTERESTING TAKE AWAY FOR ME, TOP LINE NUMBERS OF 56% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY FEEL THE COUNTRY'S ON THE WRONG TRACK, SO PEOPLE FEELING STILL PRETTY PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY GENERALLY SPEAKING.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE FOR BOTH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND GOVERNOR COOPER, PRETTY GOOD BIDEN JUST SLIGHTLY UNDER WATER HERE COOPER, JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE WATER, THE GENERIC BALLOTS FOR BOTH CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES SHOW PRETTY MUCH AN EVEN SPLIT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THE QUESTION I FOUND MOST INTERESTING THOUGH, HOW ARE YOU DOING BY COMPARISON WITH A YEAR AGO?

A 3RD OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY'RE WORSE OFF, AND WHEN ASKED THE QUESTION WHAT WOULD BE THE THING THAT COULD HELP MAKE YOUR SITUATION BETTER?

HALF OF THEM SAID TAX CUTS.

THE TAX CUTS.

THE NEXT ITEM THAT THEY CAME UP WITH WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

TAX CUTS CLEARLY ON THE MINDS OF PEOPLE DIVING DOWN INTO THE CROSS TABS, WHEN ASKED THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE TAX REDUCTIONS IN THE SENATE PROPOSED BUDGET EVEN PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY'RE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR THE LEGISLATURE, ALMOST 40% OF THEM SAID THEY SUPPORT THE TAX CUTS.

SO I THINK IT'S CLEAR TAX CUTS WILL BE A BIG ISSUE GOING INTO THE 2022 ELECTION.

>> INFLATION WAS AN ISSUE AND THAT POLL I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES THIS TIME COST OF GAS COST OF FOOD, DO AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I DO I THINK INFLATION IS A CHALLENGE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTRY'S GOT TO ADDRESS, AND KEEP IT'S EYE ON.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS LOVE A GOOD CIVITAS POLL, AND I THINK IT'S IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO MEAT IT, YOU CAN GET WHATEVER ANSWER YOU WANT AS LONG AS YOU ASK RIGHT QUESTION.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS A LITTLE CONCERNING ABOUT THIS POLL TO ME WAS WHEN YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, 'WOULD YOU LIKE A TAX CUT, OR DO YOU WANT THE STATE TO SPEND MORE MONEY?'

WHOSE IS GOING TO SAY THEY WANT THE STATE TO SPEND MORE MONEY?

[LAUGHTER] I THINK A MORE HONEST QUESTION WOULD BE 'WOULD YOU WANT TO INVEST IN EDUCATION WOULD YOU WANT TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE OR WOULD YOU WANT TAX CUTS TO GO TO CORPORATIONS, OF THE WEALTHY?'

I THINK YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT THE POLL NELSON?

>> WELL IT DOES SHOW THAT NORTH CAROLINA IS STILL RIGHT OF CENTER STATE AND ALSO THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NUMBER FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AS WELL IS THAT 92% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THAT CONSUMER PRICES HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAST YEAR WITH 60% SAYING THAT THEY HAD INCREASED A LOT.

INFLATION IS GOING TO BE A KEY ISSUE IN THE 2022 ELECTION.

ANOTHER QUESTION WAS ASKED 64% SAYING THAT THEY'RE PERSONALLY SPENDING MORE NOW ON CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES THAN THEY WERE A YEAR AGO.

SO INFLATION WAS A MAJOR FACTOR BACK IN THE 1980 ELECTION WHEN DEMOCRATS LOST 12 SENATE SEATS AND PRESIDENT CARTER LOST HIS REELECTION BID TO RONALD REAGAN.

>> MITCH THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION IN THAT POLL TOO AS WELL.

>> THERE WERE.

ONE KEY ITEM WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED YET IS THAT PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SCHOOLS BEING ON THE WRONG TRACK.

IT WAS ABOUT 55% OF THOSE SURVEYED BELIEVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM'S ON THE WRONG TRACK ONLY 26% THINK IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND WHEN THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT WHETHER SCHOOLS HAVE BECOME MORE POLITICAL IN RECENT YEARS, 65% SAID YES, ONLY 4% SAID NO.

THAT HAS TO BE A CONCERN FOR EVERYONE AND THAT THAT PEOPLE HAVE THIS IDEA THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE GETTING MORE POLITICAL AND THAT THEY'RE ON THE WRONG TRACK, AND GOING BACK TO WHAT MORGAN SAID SINCE MY BOSS IS RIGHT, THE POLL QUESTIONS, I'LL PUT IN YOUR REQUEST THAT THEY CHANGE GOVERNMENT SPENDING TO TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENTS.

[LAUGHTER] >> JOE WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> YOU KNOW, MITCH RAISES A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE PERSPECTIVE OF PEOPLE ON THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

INTERESTING IN THE CROSS TABS PEOPLE THAT HAVE KIDS IN SCHOOL RATED THEIR PERCEPTION OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE STATE BEING ON THE WRONG TRACK SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE POPULATION IN GENERAL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON EDUCATION BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE COME THROUGH WITH COVID-19 WE'LL SEE IF IT BECOMES AN ISSUE FOR PARENTS WITH KIDS.

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

>> MONDAY MARKED THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF NORTH CAROLINA'S CHARTER SCHOOL LAW, A LAW PASSED ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS BACK WHEN NORTH CAROLINA HAD A REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED STATE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED SENATE, THEY PASSED THAT LAW IN 1996.

ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY, THE GOT A LITTLE BIT LESS ATTENTION THAN THAT.

EARLIER IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAW THAT GOT RID OF AN ARTIFICIAL CAP ON CHARTER SCHOOLS WHICH HAS REALLY LED TO THE GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

WE NOW HAVE 200 OF THEM IN 65 COUNTIES, THEY SERVE 126,000 STUDENTS THAT'S ABOUT 8% OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOL POPULATION AND TO SHOW THAT THERE'S STILL A DEMAND THERE ABOUT 76,000 NAMES ON WAITING LISTS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

>> MORGAN UNDERREPORTED MY FRIEND.

>> WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE WORKFORCE AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE SORT OF CHANGES COMING OUT THE PANDEMIC WELL A PRUDENTIAL SURVEY OF THIS PAST WEEK OF THE AMERICAN WORKER CAME OUT AND SAID IT WAS VERY FAST AND 53% OF WORKERS IN AMERICA, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY WOULD CHANGE JOBS AND I DON'T JUST MEAN CHANGE JOBS CHANGE ENTIRE FIELDS.

THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST LOOKING FOR A PROMOTION OR MORE MONEY THEY WANT TO GET OUT OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY FAST AND YOU THINK ABOUT A LOT OF THESE FOLKS SPENT THE LAST YEAR IN THE PANDEMIC AND SAID AND REEVALUATING WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF LIFE AND WHETHER THIS IS THE RIGHT CAREER PATH.

AND SO YOU'RE SEEING REALLY KIND OF TRANSFORMATIONAL WORK FORCE A SHIFT TAKING PLACE THIS PROBABLY THE LARGEST WE'VE SEEN SINCE POST WORLD WAR 2.

ANOTHER STUDY THAT'S INTERESTING -- >> [MARC] THEY'RE NOT WEDDED TO 30 YEARS AT THE SAME JOB.

>> THAT'S RIGHT BUT NOT EVEN THE SAME - NOT EVEN THE SAME -- THEY WANT TO CHANGE INDUSTRY.

AND COMPLETELY REVAMP IT.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE FASCINATING STATISTICS IS TOO, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES LED TO A HUGE INCREASE IN SMALL BUSINESSES IS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE PANDEMIC HOW SO MANY TRAGICALLY BUSINESSES WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.

THE STATS CAME OUT THIS PAST WEEK SAID 130,000 SMALL BUSINESSES WENT OUT OF BUSINESS IS OVER THE PANDEMIC.

BUT OVER 200,000 NEW SMALL BUSINESS WERE CREATED.

A LOT OF THESE FOLKS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE LEAVING THEIR CAREER AND CREATING A SMALL SOME SORT OF SERVICW INDUSTRY TYPE OF BUSINESS.

IT'S GOING TO INTERESTING IN THE FUTURE.. >> JOE?

>> CREDIT SUISSE RELEASED A REPORT ON THE GROWTH OF MILLIONAIRES IN THIS WORLD.

5 MILLION MORE PEOPLE BECAME MILLIONAIRES NET WORTH OVER 56 MILLION MILLIONAIRES NOW ON THE PLANET.

ONE OF THE OBSERVATIONS THAT THEY MADE IN THE REPORT WAS THAT RISING HOME PRICES AND THE VALUE OF HOMES WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, BUT ALSO WAS THE TRANSFER OF WEALTH FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS A RESULT OF ALL OF THESE GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS DURING COVID-19 SO REST COMFORTABLY KNOWING THAT OVER 56 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD ARE WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE.

>> NELSON UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP SHORTAGE.

THAT'S A KNOWN.

WHAT'S LESS WELL KNOWN IS THAT THE MARKET IS REALLY DOMINATED BY 2 COMPANIES.

TSMC IN TAIWAN AND SAMSUNG in SOUTH KOREA.

THE U.S. USED TO NOT ONLY BE THE WORLD LEADER IN CHIP DESIGN, WE ALSO MANUFACTURED 37% OF THE WORLD'S SUPPLY NOW IT'S LIKE 10, 11%.

AND THAT WAS BEFORE WE OUTSOURCED PRODUCTION TO ASIA.

TURNS OUT THAT THE GLOBALIZATION OF THE ECONOMY COMES WITH RISK AND THESE FAR-FLUNG SUPPLY CHAINS HAVE A COST THAT WE ARE NOW PAYING FOR.

THE SENATE LAST WEEK ACTUALLY VOTED FOR THE BIPARTISAN U.S.

INNOVATION AND COMPETITION ACT.

>> U.S. SENATE >> U.S. SENATE.

250 BILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE INCLUDES 52 BILLION DOLLARS TO TO JUMP-START THE RESHORING OF THESE CHIP MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, NORTH CAROLINA POSSIBLY UP TOWARD A PERSON COUNTY HAS A POTENTIAL SITE FOR ONE OF THESE FACILITIES.

>> OK LET'S GO LIGHTNING ROUND.

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

MITCH?

>> WHO'S UP BRANDI LEVY YOU MIGHT KNOW HER AS THE CURSING CHEERLEADER.

SHE WON HER CASE IN THE SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK THE SUPREME COURT SAYING BY AN 8 TO ONE VOTE THAT HER SCHOOL COULD NOT SUSPEND HER FROM CHEERLEADING FOR A YEAR BECAUSE OF HER PROFANE RANT ON SNAPCHAT.

WHO'S DOWN, THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL NUMBERS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, THE TEACHERS UNION.

MEMBERSHIP DROPPED 2.4% LAST YEAR, IT'S NOW ABOUT 17,000 TEACHERS TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.

THERE ARE ALMOST 94,000 TEACHERS IN NORTH CAROLINA, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> MORGAN?

>> SO WHO'S UP THIS WEEK MEDICAL MARIJUANA USERS IN THE STATE SENATE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

REPUBLICANS AND STATE SENATE LEADER BILL RAVEN CAME OUT AND IS PUSHING FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH IS A CHANGE FROM THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS -- >> [MARC] IS THAT THE FIRST STEP TO LEGALIZATION?

>> YOU KNOW, SOME MIGHT CALL IT A GATEWAY DRUG.

[LAUGHTER] A GATEWAY LAW, SO WE'LL SEE.

WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK IS U.S. POSTMASTER GENERAL LOUIS DEJOY AS FOLKS KNOW HE'S BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE FBI FOR POTENTIAL STRAW DONATIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WELL, A BIG REPORT CAME OUT THIS WEEK MORE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED THAT OVER A $150,000 WE'RE GIVEN BY HIS EMPLOYEES TO PAT MCCRORY'S GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN, AND THOSE CONTRIBUTORS HAVE NEVER GIVEN A CONTRIBUTION PRIOR, HAD NOT GIVEN A CONTRIBUTION PRIOR OR A CONTRIBUTION SINCE TO ANYONE.

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

>> WHO'S UP, A POTENTIAL MILESTONE IN PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS BECKY HAMMON WHO IS CURRENTLY AN ASSISTANT COACH OF THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS IS UP FOR THE HEAD COACHING JOB OF THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS WOULD BECOME THE FIRST WOMAN COACH OF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM IN NORTH AMERICA FOR ALL OF THE 4 MAJOR SPORTS FRANCHISE ORGANIZATIONS SHE WOULD BE THE FIRST FEMALE COACH.

WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN MY OPINION.

DOWN, ALL OF THESE EFFORTS, WHAT I MIGHT CALL GIMMICKS TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINES LIKE PRIZES AND MONEY AND THAT SORT OF STUFF.

I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY REINFORCE THIS MESSAGE.

IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO GET BACK TO NORMAL FOR EVERYBODY TO GET A VACCINE.

>> NELSON WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK MY FRIEND?

>> WHO'S UP AFRICA.

COUNTRIES LIKE SPAIN, FRANCE, BRITAIN AND CHINA ARE COMPETING FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND INFLUENCE ON THE CONTINENT.

AND THIS COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE AFRICAN UNION IN JANUARY JUST STARTED OPERATION OF THEIR NEW AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA THAT'S 1.3 BILLION PEOPLE AND 3.4 TRILLION IN COMBINED GDP.

WHO'S DOWN THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT WEBSITES.

THE U.S. CONFISCATED 33 OF THEIR GOVERNMENT'S NEW SITES FOLLOWING CONTINUED FAILURE AT THE NUCLEAR TALKS.

IRAN'S NEW LEADER HAS SAID THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE OR SUPPORT FOR GETTING RID OF THEIR MILITIAS THAT THEY FINANCE ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST OR THE MISSILE DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND THEIR NEW LEADER SAID HE WILL NOT HAVE ANY IN DIRECT DISCUSSIONS FACE TO FACE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN CORRECT?

>> I THINK THAT'S QUITE RIGHT IBRAHIM ROZZI AND THE PERSON WHO REALLY CONTROLS IS THE SUPREME LEADER.

ALI KHAMENEI.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH.

>> JULY 1ST ARRIVES WITH NO NEW STATE BUDGET.

BUT THE HOUSE IS WORKING ON ITS PLAN.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT REDUCED, JUNE 30 IS A BIGREPORT FOR TED BUDD FOR PAT MCCRORY AND SHERI BEASLEY ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE THE LAST THING, I'LL SAY IS COLT JACKSON TURNS 12 NEXT WEEK, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!

LET ME ASK YOU THIS: HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE FIRST REPORTS?

>> I THINK FOR A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT FOR BUDD, IT'S A BIG DEAL.

I THINK TO SEE WHERE MCCRORY IS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT -- LISTEN POLLS DON'T MATTER, MONEY MATTERS RIGHT NOW.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS PIVOT ON CRIME ISSUES TO AVOID IT BECOMING AN ISSUE IN 2022.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> CONGRESS GOES HOME FOR THE JULY 4TH BREAK EMPTY HANDED.

>> SO NO DEAL ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> IT IS RUNNING INTO HEADWINDS WITH THE PROGRESSIVES WHO WANT TO SEE THEIR 6 TRILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE VOTED ON OR COMMITTED TO FIRST, >> OKAY GREAT JOB GENTS.

THAT'S IT FOR US.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

>> 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: ♪