>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, GOVERNOR COOPER VETO'S A SCHOOL REOPENING BILL, THE FDA APPROVES JOHNSON AND JOHNSON'S ONE SHOT VACCINE, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STIMULUS PACKAGE MOVES TO THE SENATE.

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, THE DEMOCRATIC MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE.

AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISOR TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

DONNA WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF THE SCHOOL REOPENING BILL THIS WEEK.

>> YES, THE NORTH CAROLINA SENATE NARROWLY FAILED TO GET ENOUGH VOTES TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR COOPER'S VETO OF THIS BILL.

THE BILL WOULD HAVE REQUIRED SCHOOLS TO OPEN AT LEAST A HYBRID IN PERSON AND REMOTE AS LONG AS THEY WERE FOLLOWING THE STRONG SCHOOLS NC TOOL KIT THAT TOOL KIT IS A SET OF CRITERIA TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID THAT WERE OUTLINED DEVELOPED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

SO THE BILL GOT A MAJORITY OF SENATE VOTES TO OVERRIDE THE VETO, 29 TO 20, BUT THAT FELL SHORT OF THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY REQUIRED TO OVERRIDE IN THE SENATE AND THEN MOVE IT ON TO THE HOUSE.

NOW THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS ON MEMBERS TO SUSTAIN THAT VETO.

IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO 2 MEMBERS.

DEMOCRAT, BEN CLARK OF HOKE COUNTY DID NOT COME TO VOTE TO SUSTAIN HIS SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT DID NOT PASS PAUL LOWE, A DEMOCRAT FROM FORSYTH COUNTY.

HE CHANGED HIS VOTE INITIALLY SUPPORTING THE BELL AND THEN VOTING TO SUSTAIN THE VETO.

NOW THERE'S /\ BEEN A LOT OF POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM THIS.

THE GOVERNOR AND SUPPORTERS MAINTAINING THE VETO SAY THAT THEY DON'T THINK THE RESTRICTIONS GO FAR ENOUGH TO PROTECT PEOPLE IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL AND SUPPORTERS OF THIS HYBRID REOPENING, SAY "SHOW ME THE SCIENCE" WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT?

BECAUSE ABC COLLABORATIVE FOUND THAT OUT OF ALMOST 100,000 PEOPLE IN SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN OPEN AT FIRST SEMESTER THERE WERE 0 TRANSMISSIONS FROM CHILD TO ADULT.

BUT THE SCIENCE WE DO HAVE IS THAT EOG TESTS ARE SHOWING ABOUT 75% OF 3RD GRADERS FAILED THE EOG IN THE FALL AND THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT HALF OF KIDS AREN'T GOING TO PASS THEIR END OF GRADE TESTING SO FAR THIS YEAR SO THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE FELT FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> OK ROBERT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME MARC IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE OF WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2 DIFFERENT BILLS THAT WERE PRESENTED FOR THE SCHOOL REOPENING, THE BILLS ALMOST MIRROR EACH OTHER IN A DIFFERENT ONLY 3 DIFFERENT PARTS.

NUMBER ONE THE BIG ISSUE WAS WHETHER OR NOT EVERYBODY NEED TO GO INTO A PLAN A TYPE SITUATION.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR WAS AGAINST THAT NUMBER 2 WAS WHAT DO WE DO IF WE GET ANOTHER BREAKOUT CRISIS?

DOES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER TO SHUTDOWN OR DO WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR MAKE THAT DECISION?

AND NUMBER 3, WHETHER OR NOT LOCAL SCHOOLS HAVE TO HAVE THAT IDEA, AND I REALLY THINK THAT THIS WAS A UNFORTUNATE EXAMPLE OF US NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL SB 37 THERE WAS NOT ONE CHANGE MADE IN THAT DEAL FROM THE TIME THAT IT STARTED TO THE TIME IT WAS SENT TO GOVERNOR COOPER'S DESK.

AND I THINK THAT'S JUST UNREALISTIC WHEN YOU WANT TO PASS ANY KIND OF LEGISLATION.

BUT BOTH SIDES TRULY WANT TO GET SCHOOLS OPEN, BOTH SIDES FEEL LIKE THE SCHOOLS NEED TO HAVE KIDS BACK IN THEM.

I THINK THE BIG ISSUE WAS WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT PUTTING EVERYBODY BACK INTO PLAN A, WHICH IS EASIER IN SMALLER DISTRICTS, BUT HARDER IN LARGE DISTRICTS.

>> MITCH, WHERE IS THE PUBLIC ON THIS ISSUE?

ANY RECENT POLLS, MY FRIEND?

>> THE POLLING HAS SHOWED THAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO GET THE KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOLS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL POLLS THAT SHOW THAT.

OVERWHELMINGLY PARENTS AND VOTERS ARE IN FAVOR OF THAT.

TO ME AN INTERESTING PIECE OF THIS DEBATE IS THE FACT THAT WHILE YOU'VE HAD THAT POLITICAL FIGHT BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GOVERNOR COOPER, WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME ACTION THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN OPENING THE SCHOOLS.

MANDY COHEN AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PUTTING OUT NEW INFORMATION THAT SAYS IT'S SAFER AND SAFER TO OPEN THE SCHOOLS, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTING TO TELL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OPEN THE SCHOOLS.

SO WHILE THERE'S A FIGHT INVOLVING THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR, NOTHING NEW, THERE ACTUALLY IS SOME MOVEMENT TO GET THESE SCHOOLS OPEN AGAIN.

>> NELSON PUT THIS IN CONTEXT AND WRAP IT UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS PLEASE.

>> YES, MARC AS DONNA WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE MAJORITY OF THE 3RD GRADERS WHO TOOK THE BIG END OF GRADE READING SCORES SCORED AT THE LOWEST THIRD, AND ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT STUDENT FAILURE RATES, THOSE ARE UP IN COUNTIES 2 TO 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE COURSE FAILURE RATES IN 2019.

FOR SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT JUST LOOK AT THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THEY REOPENED THEIR SCHOOLS LAST SPRING THEY KEPT THEM OPEN DURING THIS WINTER, SPIKE IN CASES, SO, CERTAINLY CLOSING THE SCHOOLS, THESE STUDENTS MAY NEVER RECOVER SOME OF THE LEARNING THEY'VE LOST OVER THE LAST YEAR.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT I WANT TO MOVE UP TO SOME GOOD NEWS AND THAT'S THE VACCINATION FRONT ROBERT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS SOME GREAT NEWS THAT JOHNSON AND JOHNSON FINALLY GOT FDA APPROVAL.

AND JOHNSON AND JOHNSON'S VACCINE IS ONE SHOT VACCINE AND YOU'VE HEARD THE DIFFERENT RESULTS ABOUT HOW THE EFFECTIVENESS RATES LOOKS ON THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

THE GREAT NEWS IS AGAINST THE PRESENT STRAND OF THE VIRUS, JOHNSON & JOHNSON RANKS JUST AS HIGHLY AS PFIZER AND MODERNA.

THEIR TESTING ALSO INCLUDED NEW VARIANTS WHICH OF COURSE REDUCE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS RATE.

EVERYBODY'S EXCITED ABOUT IT AND WHAT WAS EVEN MORE EXCITING IS THAT WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN DID WAS BRINGING UP THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT WHICH ALLOWED MERCK, WHO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RIVALS OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON TO ACTUALLY TEAM UP WITH JOHNSON AND JOHNSON FOR PRODUCTION.

SO WHAT THAT DOES IN TERMS OF VACCINATIONS IS IT GETS US TO A POINT WHERE INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL JULY WHICH IS WHERE WE EXPECT TO BE WITH GETTING ADULTS VACCINATED, OR AT LEAST HAVING THE VACCINE OUT THERE FOR ADULTS, WE NOW ARE LOOKING AT A MAY DAY WHERE WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE PRODUCED FOR EVERY ADULT THAT WANTS TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

SO IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME IT'S GOOD TO SEE US GETTING BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE, AND ONCE YOU CAN GET ALL OF THESE ADULTS IN THE POSITION TO GET VACCINATED, THEN OF COURSE THAT MEANS WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AS A COUNTRY TRYING TO GET THINGS REOPENED TO GET BACK TO REGULAR LIFE.

NOW ANOTHER POINT OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IS INSTEAD OF NEEDING THE COLD STORAGE THAT YOU NEED FOR PFIZER AND MODERNA THE OTHER ADVANTAGE THAT HAS IT TAKES 3 MONTHS IN A REGULAR REFRIGERATED AREA.

>> OKAY NELSON I SEE THAT JOHN HOPKINS, THINKS WE MAY HAVE HERD IMMUNITY BY THE SPRING.

>> WE SHOULD AND BRINGING ON MERCK AS A MANUFACTURING PARTNER WITH J AND J, WHAT THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO BY MAY OR JUNE IS TO ENGAGE IN SOME VACCINE DIPLOMACY.

SO OUR FIRST FOCUS WILL OBVIOUSLY BE ON THE 170 MILLION PEOPLE IN CANADA AND MEXICO AND THEN WE CAN GO AROUND THE WORLD, HELPING FRIENDS LIKE AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA.

BIDEN COULD EVEN USE THIS POLITICALLY TO HELP VACCINATE THE PHILIPPINES AND COUNTRIES LIKE TAIWAN.

THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE HAVING TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VACCINATION PROGRAM SO WE COULD PICK AND CHOOSE COUNTRIES TO HELP THERE.

OF COURSE WHAT YOU SAW WITH THE UK WITH BREXIT HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH VACCINATION BUT THE UNITED STATES CAN USE THIS FOR THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR TO ENGAGE IN SOME SOFT POWER ACROSS THE WORLD.

>> STATES ARE OPENING UP.

I SEE TEXAS, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT IS GOING TO OPEN UP THEIR STATE BY MARCH 19TH I SEE.

>> IT'S A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN MANY STATES YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S NOT JUST IN RED STATES WHERE IN MONTHS PAST WHEN REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS TALKED ABOUT OPENING THINGS UP THEY FACED A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT BEING A WILD WEST AND NOT BEING CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

EVERYONE REALIZES THAT COVID-19 IS A MAJOR PROBLEM BUT WITH THE VACCINE COMING ON BOARD WITH PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THE PROPER BENEFITS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MOST PEOPLE SEEING AT LEAST SOME NEED FOR MASKS, MASK WEARING, THAT WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE GETTING BACK TO A MORE NORMAL IF NOT THE OLD NORMAL STATE.

>> DONNA CLOSE THIS OUT ABOUT 30 SECONDS PLEASE.

FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK THESE VACCINES AVAILABLE THE NEXT CHALLENGE WILL BE GETTING PEOPLE TO TAKE THEM.

THE POLL NUMBERS ARE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO.

ABOUT 60% OF PEOPLE SAY THEY WILL TAKE THE VACCINE WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM, THAT'S UP FROM ABOUT 40% BACK IN SEPTEMBER.

I THINK THERE'S A FULL ON CAMPAIGN THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT ITS EFFICACY AND SAFETY AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT DO IT MORE POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS TO BE ACCEPTED.

>> OK I WANT TO MOVE ON, MITCH LOOKS LIKE BIDEN'S COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE HAS SAILED THROUGH CONGRESS HAS MOVED TO THE SENATE LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE PASSED.

>> YEAH, IT CERTAINLY DOES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS 1.9 TRILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE, THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED IT EARLY SATURDAY, VERY CLOSE VOTE WAS 219 TO 212, TWO DEMOCRATS VOTING ALONG WITH ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS AGAINST IT, I'M SURE SOME WAGS WILL SAY THERE WAS BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION IT REALLY WAS A VOTE ALONG PARTY LINES.

THE PROCESS THAT'S BEING USED HERE IS SOMETHING CALLED BUDGET RECONCILIATION, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS ON WHAT COULD BE IN THERE.

THE REASON THEY'RE USING THAT PROCESS IS SO IT COULD PASS THROUGH THE SENATE ON A SIMPLE MAJORITY RATHER THAN HAVING TO GET THE 60 VOTES YOU WOULD NORMALLY NEED TO AVOID A FILIBUSTER.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THOUGH WITH USING BUDGET RECONCILIATION IS THAT SOME ITEMS AREN'T IN THE SENATE VERSION OF THE PACKAGE, THE MAIN ONE BEING A $15 GOVERNMENT MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE THAT HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF IT.

BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME MAJOR ELEMENTS THAT WERE IN THE HOUSE PLAN, $1400 STIMULUS CHECKS FOR MANY PEOPLE MAKING UP TO $75,000 FOR INDIVIDUALS, $150,000 FOR COUPLES.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT SOME MONEY IN THERE 20 BILLION OR SO FOR COVID VACCINES.

THE $400 A WEEK SUPPLEMENT FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PIECES, ESPECIALLY IN STATES THAT HAVE GOOD BUDGET SITUATIONS LIKE NORTH CAROLINA, THAT IS 350 BILLION DOLLARS FOR STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHICH SOME CRITICS CALL A BAILOUT FOR THE STATE GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE SPENT SO POORLY.

>> OKAY DONNA WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THIS BILL?

LOOKS TO ME LIKE ONLY 10% REALLY GOES TO COVID RELIEF.

>> YES.

SO YEAH, ONLY ABOUT 10% EVEN LESS THAN 10% ACTUALLY GOES TO ACTUAL COVID RELIEF, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S NOTABLE ABOUT THIS BILL VERSUS PRIOR STIMULUS BILLS IS THAT IT'S BEING SUPPORTED AS STRICTLY ALONG PARTISAN LINES.

REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL ARE NOT NOT SUPPORTING IT.

AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT THE PREVIOUS BILLS WERE.

THEY DEBATED THE DETAILS BUT FOR THE MOST PART BOTH PARTIES SUPPORTED PRIOR STIMULUS BILLS.

SO WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF A PARTY LINE ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE.

BUT DO WE EVEN NEED IT?

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION CONSUMER SPENDING WAS UP ABOUT 2 AND A HALF PERCENT IN JANUARY SO WE ARE SEEING RECOVERY WITHOUT A LOT OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF ECONOMISTS SAY THAT'S MUCH HEALTHIER WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING IS HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION NELSON.

THERE'S A TRILLION DOLLARS THAT HASN'T BEEN SPENT THE ECONOMY SEEMS TO BE ON A REBOUND.

DO WE REALLY NEED THIS PACKAGE YOU THINK?

>> WELL, IT'S STIMULUS THAT'S PROBABLY REALLY NOT GOING TO STIMULATE AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING IS WE'RE INCREASING THE NATIONAL DEBT, YOU KNOW THE CBO ESTIMATES THAT ON THE CURRENT TRAJECTORY, OUR NATIONAL DEBT WILL BE INCREASED BY 200% OVER ANNUAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY MID CENTURY AND TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE IF WE HAD MAINTAINED THE BALANCE BUDGET THAT WE HAD AT THE END OF THE 1990'S OUR ECONOMY WOULD BE 15 TRILLION DOLLARS, SOME 70% LARGER THAN IT IS TODAY.

AND WE WOULD HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THINGS LIKE THE BABY BOOMER RETIREMENT, NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, HEALTH CARE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PROGRAMS.

SO WE'RE SPENDING FUNDS FROM THE FUTURE.

>> ROBERT WHAT WOULD THIS DO, OR HOW WOULD IT HELP NORTH CAROLINA, YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO US LAST YEAR, AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE I WOULD SEE AS FAR AS STIMULUS, THE MONEY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET LAST YEAR IS WHAT ACTUALLY HELPED TO PUT US IN A BETTER ECONOMIC POSITION THIS YEAR ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE.

AND SO GETTING THIS MONEY IN WHATEVER SHAPE THAT WE CAN ALLOWS US TO STILL USE MONIES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN AND PUT THEM INTO DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON THE WHOLE TIME, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO NOW TAKING MONEY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND TRY TO PUT THEM IN AN EMERGENCY AREA.

SO ANY MONEY THAT WE CAN GET IN HELPS US GET THROUGH THIS BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING A REAL BIG HIT ON SMALL BUSINESSES, JOBS, THINGS OF THAT SORT.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO GET MONEY BACK IN THOSE SPOTS >> OK, MY VIEW IS, JUST OPEN UP THE ECONOMY THINGS WILL START ROLLING.

MITCH WHAT'S THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK?

>> WELL ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY BE PAYING ATTENTION TO IS SECOND AMENDMENT FANS SHOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTION THAT'S GOING ALONG IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THIS POINT A COUPLE OF MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION HAD BEEN FILED WITHIN THE PAST WEEK.

ONE OF THEM HOUSE BILL 197 WOULD MAKE NORTH CAROLINA THE LATEST AMONG A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES TO PERMIT CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY WHICH MEANS IF YOU CAN LEGALLY OWN A GUN THAN YOU CAN LEGALLY OWN IT AND CONCEAL IT, AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE A PERMIT FROM THE STATE, THERE ARE 18 STATES THAT HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY COUPLE OF OTHERS ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT IT, INDIANA TEXAS MIGHT BE LOOKING AT THIS AS WELL, NORTH CAROLINA COULD BE CONSIDERING THIS AS WELL.

IT'S AN INTERESTING THING.

THERE'S ANOTHER BILL HOUSE BILL 200 THAT WOULD HAVE A LIFETIME CONCEAL CARRY PERMIT, THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING AS WELL SAVE PEOPLE SOME MONEY FOR A $75 RENEWAL FEE.

>> DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> SO THIS TIME, I'M GONNA SAY HONG KONG.

GOING OVERSEAS A BIT.

HONG KONG ARRESTED 47 PRO DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS IN THE LAST WEEK AND THIS IS THE LATEST IN A LONG STRING OF CRACKDOWNS FROM THE GOVERNMENT THERE.

AMONG THE ARRESTS WHERE THEY WERE MADE FOR WAS TRYING TO HOLD WHAT THEY CALLED AN UNOFFICIAL PRIMARY, THIS IS A PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUP THAT'S TRYING TO GET THEIR VOICE HEARD IN THE GOVERNMENT THERE AND THEY'RE GETTING ARRESTED AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE PAYING ATTENTION TO, BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER THE UNITED STATES WILL LIKELY GET INVOLVED.

>> ROBERT UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> WELL WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK.

AND IT WAS HOUSE BILL 76 AND THAT WAS THE BILL THAT HAS BEEN CHAMPIONED BY JULIA HOWARD THEY'RE WORKING ON, REALLY TIMELY RIGHT NOW.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT JUMPS ON PREDATORY LENDING IN THE DEBT RECONCILIATIONS BASE WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DON'T EVER THINK ABOUT WE OBVIOUS TO KNOW ABOUT REGULAR PREDATORY LENDING.

BUT IN THE DEBT RECONCILIATIONS BASE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WE'RE COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC MORE PEOPLE ARE MORE IN DEBT, MORE PEOPLE ARE MORE IN NEED THE MONEY THIS IS SOME REALLY TIMELY LEGISLATION, SHE DID A GREAT JOB OF DOING A LOT TO GET STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED AND ULTIMATELY WAS ABLE TO PASS THE BILL WITHOUT ONE AMENDMENT WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SO THAT WAS GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK.

>> NELSON.

>> BIDEN'S OPTIONS WITH IRAN, EUROPEAN LEADERS OFFERED TO REVISIT THE JCPO WAY NUCLEAR AGREEMENT.

BIDEN ACCEPTED THE OFFER, IRAN REJECTED THE TALKS BECAUSE THEY REALLY HAVE NO LEVERAGE SO PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SOME OPTIONS.

HE COULD LIFT SOME SANCTIONS WHICH WOULD ANGER SOME REGIONAL ALLIES, HE COULD ALSO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON WITH SOME LIMITED MILITARY ACTIONS LIKE THE SYRIAN AIR STRIKES.

BUT UNLIKE PAST PRESIDENTS, BIDEN ALSO HAS THE OPTION TO SIMPLY WAIT AND DO NOTHING, BECAUSE TODAY, THE UNITED STATES ONLY IMPORTS LESS THAN 5% OF ITS CRUDE OIL FROM THE PERSIAN GULF WHILE COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA ARE UNDER REAL PRESSURE.

THEY IMPORT 45% OF THEIR CRUDE OIL FROM THE GULF.

>> NELSON I WANT TO COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU TALK ABOUT ELECTION REFORM.

THAT PASS THE HOUSE THIS WEEK IT WAS SWEEPING.

>> IT WAS.

THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE APPROVED HR ONE, THE 'FOR THE PEOPLE ACT' WHICH MAY BE MORE FOR THE LAWYER'S ACT IF IT WERE EVER TO PASS.

THIS BILL WOULD BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ELECTION CHANGE.

IN A GENERATION IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY NATIONALIZE THE ELECTIONS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE MAIL IN BALLOTS WOULD BE MANDATORY WITH NO SIGNATURES WITH NO WITNESSES, YOU WOULD HAVE UP TO 10 DAYS TO GET YOUR BALLOT IN AFTER THE ELECTION YOU COULD ACTUALLY PRINT YOUR OWN BALLOT.

WHICH IS AN INTERESTING OPTION TO HAVE.

PAID BALLOT HARVESTING WOULD ACTUALLY BE LEGAL UNDER THIS BILL, VOTER ID WOULD BE ELIMINATED, REDISTRICTING AUTHORITY WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE STATES, AND CANDIDATES WOULD RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDING.

AND THERE'S EVEN A FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE PROVISION THAT IS SO EGREGIOUS THAT THE ACLU HAS CALLED IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL SO THIS BILL WOULD REALLY BE A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT OF POWER FROM THE STATES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND UNLESS THE SENATE OVERRIDES THE FILIBUSTER REQUIREMENT, IT'S DOUBTFUL IT WOULD PASS IN THE SENATE.

>> I'M NOT SURE SCHUMER HAS THE VOTES BUT I ASKED YOU ACTUALLY SEE THAT THERE'S SAME DAY REGISTRATION, ROBERT, AND 16 YEAR OLDS WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE.

>> AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING IS GOING TO PASS IT'S NOT DISSIMILAR FROM THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IN THE HOUSE AND I THINK IT'S MORE OF A STATEMENT ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGNS, AND RIGHT NOW THE 2 MOST SIGNIFICANT POINTS I WOULD LOOK AT IT FROM THERE, ARE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING, RECOMMENDING THAT FOR STATES AND ALSO RECOMMENDING SOME CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, AND I THINK THOSE ARE 2 AREAS THAT EVERYBODY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE CAN AGREE THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET SOME LOOK AT.

>> DONNA YOUR TAKE ON THIS BILL?

>> I DO THINK I AGREE THAT I THINK THAT IT IS A STATEMENT MORE THAN REAL POLICY THAT THEY -- I'M SURE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IMPLEMENTED.

IT WOULD BE HARD PUSH TO DO SO.

THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT THE IDEA OF VOTER ID AND THE IDEA OF SHIFTING ALL THAT POWER TO JUST A FEW HANDS RATHER THAN 50 STATES IS ALARMING TO A LOT.

AND THE END THE ACLU CALLED THIS DANGEROUS.

>> MITCH IS THIS A FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF OUR ELECTION PROCESS?

>> IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS BILL AND TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA OR NOT, SHOULD CONSIDER IS, IF YOU LOOKED AT THE 2020 ELECTION AND THOUGHT IT WAS BAD, JUST THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD COMPLETE CONTROL OVER IT.

I THINK PEOPLE WOULD SHAKE THEIR HEADS AND SAY, 'NO IT'S BETTER THAT THE STATES TAKE CONTROL OF THIS PROCESS.'

SOME STATES WILL DO IT REALLY WELL, OTHER STATES WON'T.

BUT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE THING, YOU COULD BE CERTAIN THAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE CORRUPT.

>> WILL WE BE SEEING A LOT OF LAWSUITS, YOU THINK MITCH?

>> CERTAINLY!

IF WE SEE THIS BILL PASS THERE WOULD BE LAWSUITS EVEN WITHOUT THIS BILL PASSING, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALL KINDS OF ELECTION-RELATED LAWSUITS BECAUSE THE TYPES OF RULES THAT ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE FOR COVID AND PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE RULES THAT WERE IN PLACE FOR COVID-19 WILL WANT TO SEE THE SAME RULES IN PLACE IN PERPETUITY.

>> NELSON, IF THIS DID PASS IN 2022, HOW WOULD THIS REALLY IMPACT THE SWING STATES YOU THINK?

>> WELL CERTAINLY YOU COULD ARGUE IF THE ARGUMENT IS MADE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE VOTING.

I DO THINK, AS MITCH SAID, YOU WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL LAWSUITS OVER BALLOTS AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY A LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL BALLOT.

MOST OF THE ACT WOULD PROBABLY TIE IT UP FOR YEARS ON CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE CAREFUL WHAT THEY ASK FOR.

IF THEY ACTUALLY GET BROKEN UP MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM LIKE THEY HAVE IN EUROPE, THEY COULD FIND OUT THAT THE PARTS OF THEIR COALITION WOULD NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS COALESCE AND THE REPUBLICAN COALITION, ALTHOUGH SMALLER, IS ACTUALLY TIGHTER KNIT.

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

>> I THINK WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO IS THIS MORE OF A STATEMENT, MORE OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT SHOULD WE DO AT THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON WITH ELECTIONS AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF US HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT WHAT THE ELECTION PROCESS HAS LOOKED LIKE, BUT I THINK ONE THING WE ALL AGREE ON IS THAT THE MORE PEOPLE THAT VOTE, BETTER OFF WE ARE, THE MORE PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR.

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

>> MY WHO'S UP IS SENATOR KIRK DEVIERE, A DEMOCRAT FROM CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

HE WAS THE ONE SENATOR WHO INITIALLY VOTED ON THAT SCHOOL REOPENING BILL WHO STUCK BY HIS VOTE WHEN IT CAME UP FOR THE VETO OVERRIDE, MY WHO'S DOWN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

THERE'S A NEW REPORT FROM TREASURER DALE FOLWELL THAT SUGGESTS THAT THERE'S A MONEY PROBLEM THERE AND WE COULD RUN OUT OF THE MONEY FOR BORROWING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS WITHIN A FEW YEARS WHICH WOULD JEOPARDIZE THAT 3 BILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> DOT CONTINUES HAVE FINANCE PROBLEMS DON'T THEY?

>> IT REALLY HAS FOR A WHILE, AND WE SAW THAT THE STATE TREASURER JUST WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAD AT ONE POINT CALLED FOR THE CURRENT THEN CURRENT SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO LOSE HIS JOB BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

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

>> UP IS FRUSTRATION AMONG THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS NOW GONE MORE THAN 40 DAYS WITHOUT A PRESS CONFERENCE, EVEN CNN IS SAYING THAT HE'S BASICALLY INVISIBLE TO THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS THEY'RE REALLY GETTING ANTSY AND FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT.

>> DOWN I'VE GOT TO SAY NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS THEY WANT TO BE IN SCHOOL, IN PERSON, THEY'RE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING IN THERE AND ACTUALLY REPUBLICAN DEANNA BALLARD SAID WELL, THIS OPENS THE DOOR FOR MORE SCHOOL CHOICE.

THERE HAS BEEN ABOUT 60,000 NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND STUDENTS IN K 12 AS WELL, WHO HAVE LEFT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE MOVEMENT TOWARD A SCHOOL CHOICE BECAUSE OF THIS EVENT.

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

>> WHO'S UP, NORTH CAROLINA ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THEY'RE NOW IN LINE TO GO AHEAD AND GET THEIR COVID VACCINE, AND THAT'S TALKING ABOUT FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND ALL THOSE SORTS AND SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY FOR THEM, REALLY GLAD THAT GROUP HAS NOW COME UP.

WHO'S DOWN THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS AND THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A HISTORICALLY BAD WINTER STORM AND NOW THEIR MASK MANDATE HAS BEEN LIFTED THEY'RE 100% OPEN, SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE DOWN THERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE OTHER STATES OPENING UP, INCLUDING CONNECTICUT, A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S GOING TO OPEN UP THE WHOLE STATE BY MARCH 19TH ROBERT.

>> I WOULD SAY AGAIN THEY'RE NOT COMING OFF AN HISTORICALLY BAD WINTER STORM.

I THINK THERE'S A TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.

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

>> CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY IS UP.

COMPANIES LIKE EXXONMOBIL HAVE COMMITTED 3 BILLION DOLLARS TO CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY.

ELON MUSK, BILL GATES AND OTHERS ARE ALSO BETTING ON THIS TECHNOLOGY TO HELP REMOVE CARBON FROM THE AIR AND MAKE POWER PLANTS AND FACTORIES, MORE CARBON NEUTRAL IN THE FUTURE.

WHO'S DOWN?

GERMAN BANKS.

WITH NEGATIVE INTEREST RATES, BANKS IN GERMANY ARE ACTUALLY TURNING AWAY LARGE DEPOSITORS, DIRECTING THEM TO ONLINE OPTIONS AND BANKS IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND IT JUST SHOWS THAT EUROPE IS REALLY NOT RECOVERED FROM THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2007.

>> MITCH WHAT'S THE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> I HOPE REPRESENTATIVE REIVES AND HIS COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE PROVE ME WRONG.

BUT I'M GOING TO SAY AFTER UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THE LATEST COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE, LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR RETURN TO THEIR PARTISAN CORNERS.

>> SO YOU THINK BUSINESS AS USUAL DOWN AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

>> MY GUESS IS ONCE THEY HAVE UNITED ON THAT COVID-19 RELIEF THAT'S ABOUT THE LAST UNITY WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> I THINK A LOT OF STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY PLANNING TO REOPEN OR AT LEAST ELIMINATE THE MASK MANDATE NEAR WHERE YOU REQUIRE A MASK YOU STILL WEAR ONE IF YOU WANT TO, BUT YOU WOULD BE NOT REQUIRED.

ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS, CONNECTICUT, A LOT OF STATES ARE THROWING MASK TO THE WIND AND GETTING READY TO REOPEN.

>> I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE READY FOR IT IF WE CAN HAVE A VACCINE BY THE END OF MAY.

HEADLINE NEXT WEEK ROBERT.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK IS PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNS A 1.4 TRILLION DOLLAR COVID RELIEF PACKAGE IN WHAT HE CONSIDERS HIS FIRST LEGISLATIVE WIN.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK NELSON.

>> I'M WITH DONNA.

MORE STATES REOPENING.

>> OK THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING GREAT JOB PANEL.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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