HI I'M MARK ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, POLICE REFORM STALLS IN THE U.S. SENATE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SEEKS TO EXPAND THE ENFORCEMENT ARM OF THE IRS AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR A DEAL ON NORTH CAROLINA'S BUDGET 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 MARK ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION ROBERT REIVES THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE HOUSE, ASHER HILDEBRAND WITH THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AT DUKE AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

MITCH IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IT STALLED ONCE AGAIN.

POLICE REFORM IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> TUESDAY MARKED THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD SET THAT ANNIVERSARY AS SORT OF A TARGET DATE FOR FINAL CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT, A MEASURE THAT HAS MADE IT THROUGH THE U.S. HOUSE BUT WOULD REQUIRE SOME REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE SENATE.

AND AT THIS POINT THERE HAS YET TO BE A FINAL DEAL RESOLVED AMONG THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND THOSE ON THE HOUSE WHO WOULD HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH THAT AS WELL.

IF YOU LOVE REMEMBER, THIS IS A HAD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAN CHOKE HOLDS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL BAN THE TYPE OF HOLDS THAT WERE USED ON GEORGE FLOYD BY MINNEAPOLIS POLICE BUT ALSO IN THE NO KNOCK SEARCH WARRANTS.

IF LOCAL DEPARTMENTS WANTED TO GET FEDERAL FUNDING, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO BY THE SAME RULES, IT WOULD ALSO MAKE IT EASIER TO CHARGE A POLICE OFFICER IN - >> [MARC] QUALIFIED IMMUNITY?

>> QUALIFIED IMMUNITY ACTUALLY ENDS UP BEING THE BIG STICKING POINT.

>> THAT'S THE DEAL BREAKER RIGHT NOW?

>> THE NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW ARE BEING LED BY REPRESENTATIVE KAREN BASS OF CALIFORNIA, SENATORS CORY BOOKER OF NEW JERSEY AND TIM SCOTT, A REPUBLICAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE BIG STICKING POINT SEEMS TO BE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP PROTECT POLICE FROM CIVIL LAWSUITS.

THE QUESTION IS THAT SCOTT ANOTHER SAY THEY WOULD BE IN LINE FOR A COMPROMISE.

BUT THE ACTIVISTS WHO ARE PUSHING THIS BILL REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY CHANGE IN THE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY PIECE.

>> NELSON, SOMEHOW QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IMPACT RECRUITMENT RETIREMENT IN A POLICE FORCE.

>> IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT I WOULD WANT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER OR CORRECTIONAL OFFICER OR EVEN A DOCTOR OR A NURSE OR A RIDE INSPECTOR FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WITHOUT QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

THE PRINCIPAL DOES NOT PROTECT YOU FROM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AS WE'VE SEEN OR FROM CIVIL SUITS IF YOUR ACTIONS CLEARLY VIOLATE ESTABLISHED CIVIL LIBERTIES.

NOW LAST SUMMER, THERE WERE 8 QUALIFIED IMMUNITY CASES THAT WERE BROUGHT BEFORE AS POTENTIAL CASES THAT WERE BROUGHT APPEAL TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

U.S. SUPREME COURT DENIED HEARING ALL 8 OF THOSE CASES.

THERE WAS A DISSENT, HOWEVER, IN ONE OF THOSE CASES.

JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS WROTE THAT HE BELIEVES THAT THE JUDICIALLY CREATED STANDARD EXCEEDS FEDERAL LAW AND HE'S OF COURSE SUPPORTED IN THAT NOT ONLY GROUPS LIKE THE NAACP BUT ALSO THE CATO INSTITUTE.

>> ROBERT, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, LOCALLY CAN OR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES CAN REFORM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T THEY?

>> LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK WHAT THE FEDERAL INPUT IS, IS THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT SEEN THE PROGRESS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE AT SOME OF THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND SO THEREFORE THAT'S HOW WE'VE ALWAYS SET POLICY IS BY STARTING AT FEDERAL LEVEL SAYING THESE ARE THINGS WE WANT YOU TO DO AND TRY AND SEE IF WE CAN HELP ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THOSE THINGS LET ME ASK YOU ASHER, IS DEFUNDING THE POLICE MOVEMENT LOSING STEAM, YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SAY THAT THE MOVEMENT IS LOSING STEAM, I THINK AS OTHERS -- >> [MARC] HAS IT WORKED?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S EVEN THE DEFUNDING THE POLICE MOVEMENT.

I THINK A YEAR AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER, THE NEED FOR POLICE REFORM THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE ABOUT POLICE REFORM IS AS STRONG AS IT'S EVER BEEN, AND YOU'VE SEEN THAT NOT JUST IN THE SOUL SEARCHING THAT OUR NATION HAS DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR, BUT ALSO IN THE VERY MOVING TRIBUTES.

WE SAW THIS WEEK.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HOSTED THE FLOYD FAMILY AT THE WHITE HOUSE ETCETERA.

LET'S BE CLEAR IT IS THE REASON WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LEGISLATION ALREADY ACTED IS BECAUSE THE FILIBUSTER STILL EXISTS AT THE SENATE.

WITHOUT THE FILIBUSTER THIS WOULD BE LAW BY NOW.

THAT SAID, NEGOTIATORS ARE STILL EXPRESSING OPTIMISM THAT A COMPROMISE IS POSSIBLE AND WE'LL SEE IF WE GET THERE.

>> MITCH, WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS.

>> I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATION TAKING PLACE IS A POSITIVE SIGN AS ASH OR ALLUDED TO THIS BILL WOULD GO THROUGH IF THE DEMOCRATS WERE ALLOWED TO JUST VOTED THROUGH ON A PARTY LINE BASIS BUT IN THE SENATE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED AT LEAST 10 REPUBLICANS TO GET PAST THE FILIBUSTER.

AND THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE GIVES YOU SOME HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME FINAL DEAL.

>> GREAT CONVERSATION.

NELSON I WANT CHANGE TOPICS.

IT LOOKS LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO EXPAND THE ENFORCEMENT ARM OF THE IRS.

>> JUST WHAT EVERY TAXPAYER WANTED TO HEAR THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE IRS.

THE CLAIM OF COURSE IS THAT IF YOU SPEND 80 BILLION DOLLARS TO HIRE 87,000 MORE AGENTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NET 77 700 BILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL TAXES OVER 10 YEARS.

WHAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION IS THAT IT WILL PROVIDE UNPARALLELED ACCESS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE'S BANK ACCOUNTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT'S NOT THE WEALTHY THAT THEY ARE AFTER WHAT THEY REALLY AFTER A SMALL BUSINESS PASSED THROUGH INCOME.

SO THAT'S PARTNERSHIPS THAT LLC'S, THAT'S S-CORPS.

THEY'RE THE MOM AND POP BUSINESSES, THE SOLE PROPRIETOR SHIPS SO HARASSING MORE AMERICANS WILL ONLY NET A REVENUE GAIN DURING THAT TIME OF LESS THAN 2%.

SO THIS IS A HUGE POWER MOVE.

CERTAINLY I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE OPPOSED AND IF YOU WANT BETTER COMPLIANCE SIMPLIFY THE TAX CODE.

>> ROBERT IS THERE A DANGER OF OVERREACH?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS THE DANGER OF OVERREACH.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE DANGER OF OVERREACH BECAUSE AGAIN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS HIRING MORE AGENTS AND ALLOWING THEM TO ENFORCE BETTER BECAUSE REALITY IS YOU KNOW IN MY EXPERIENCE THE SMALL BUSINESSES AREN'T THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY WHAT PEOPLE CALL TAX DODGERS.

YOU SEE THAT TAX DODGING IS REALLY AT THE WEALTHIEST LEVEL, AND I THINK THAT HAVING AGENTS THAT CAN REALLY COMPARE TO WHAT THEY HAVE IS WHAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR SO THAT WHEN YOU'RE AUDITING SOMEBODY LIKE A JEFF BESOS THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT YOU KNOW WHAT TAXES SHOULD BE PAID AND AGAIN THIS IS JUST MONEY THAT'S ALREADY OWED.

THIS ISN'T GOING OUT LOOKING FOR NEW MONEY.

THIS IS SAYING WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE MONEY THAT'S ALREADY OWED AFTER LOSING 18,000 EMPLOYEES ALREADY, THEY NEED SOMETHING.

>> MITCH, BUT THE IRS HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST POLITICALLY CORRECT?

>> IT CERTAINLY HAS I THINK RICHARD NIXON TALKED ABOUT HAVING AN AUDIT EVERY YEAR AFTER HE HAD BEEN SURFING AS VP.

AND IT WAS USED AGAINST CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PAST TOO.

>> IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN AND I THINK THE OPTICS FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN LOOK BAD ON THIS.

NO ONE LIKES THE IRS.

NO ONE WANTS TO THINK ABOUT THE IRS HAVING MORE POWERS.

SO IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THESE FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING HIRED ARE LOOKING AT THE SMALL COMPANIES AND THE MOM AND POPS AND NOT JUST THE BIG GUYS AND THE BESOS'S OF THE WORLD.

I THINK THAT WILL BE BAD FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> ULTIMATELY YOU THINK ASHER THIS LEGISLATION WILL GET THROUGH?

>> I THINK YOU'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN ENFORCEMENT AT THE IRS FUNDED THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS IT MIGHT NOT BE TO THE LEVEL THAT BIDEN IS PROPOSING, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE TO ME IF WE WANT PEOPLE TO PAY THE TAXES THEY OWE WE NEED TO ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS AND AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, THIS IS NOT ABOUT EVEN RAISING TAX RATES, THIS IS SIMPLY ABOUT ASKING VERY WEALTHIEST TO PAY TAXES THEY ALREADY OWE AND IF YOU DON'T EARN MORE THAN $400,000 AND CHEAT ON YOUR TAXES, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> NELSON, YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> NO, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE AFTER IS ARE AFTER PASS THROUGH INCOME IN THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.

WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO IS THEY WANT TO TAX THAT NOT AT THE INDIVIDUAL RATE, THEY WANT TO SEE THOSE FUNDS TAXED AT THE CORPORATE RATE.

SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON SMALL BUSINESSES MOM AND POPS AND THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IN THE LEGISLATION AND THAT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN UNDERREPORTED >> FINAL THOUGHTS.

MITCH.

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH DEBATE ALL THE WAY AROUND.

PEOPLE WANT THOSE WHO OWE TAXES TO PAY WHAT THEY OWE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT IN THIS BILL THAT IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

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

MISTER LEADER FILL US IN.

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING WEEK I THINK THAT SOME OF THE RECENT NEWS WAS REALLY AMAZING ABOUT THE BUDGET, BUT I WOULD START WITH THE GOOD NEWS THAT WE HAD AND HOUSE, AND WE CONTINUED OUR BIPARTISAN PUSH IN TRYING TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED AND PASSED A 750 BILLION DOLLAR - 750 MILLION DOLLAR BROADBAND EXPANSION, THAT WAS UNANIMOUS, I TELL YOU AGAIN, PROCESS.

DEAN ARP HEADED THIS UP, DEAN DID A GOOD JOB OF LETTING T HIS THING SIT SO WE CAN ALL GET A CHANCE TO LOOK TO TALK AND IT REALLY PUSHES THE INFRASTRUCTURE PART OF COOPER'S PLAN TO TRY TO GET BROADBAND THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ITS REALLY GONNA HELP RURAL AREAS OF SOME OF THESE REMOTE AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS BECAUSE THAT'S AN UNDER DISCUSSED PART IS THE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS THAT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE.

THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK OF COURSE THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS FROM SOME FOLKS THAT NELSON WORKS WITH THAT MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO BUCK TRADITION AND WE MIGHT NOT BE GOING THROUGH THE SENATE WHO WOULD TRADITIONALLY BE STARTING THE BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR.

BUT IT MIGHT HAVE TO START IN THE HOUSE WE MAY HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND WRITE OUR OWN BUDGET OF COURSE I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT SEE IF WE CAN GET A GOOD BUDGET TOGETHER.

>> MITCH WILL WE SEE A DEAL THIS YEAR BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ON BOTH SIDES?

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

AS WAS ALREADY MENTIONED THE SENATE NORMALLY WOULD WRITE A BUDGET SENT TO THE HOUSE THEY WRITE THEIR OWN BUDGET, THEN YOU COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE PLAN, BUT THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF WORK SO FAR ON THE SENATE SIDE OF PUTTING TOGETHER BUDGET PLAN AND THE MAIN REASON IS THAT A LOT OF THIS PROCESS START AFTER THE HOUSE AND SENATE DECIDE THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE HAVE AGREED ON THAT YET.

THE HOUSE WANTS TO SPEND MORE THAN THE SENATE DOES AND SO BOTH SIDES ARE SAYING WELL WAS IT A 5% INCREASE FIRE SIDE 5% ON THE HOUSE SIDE IN THE SENATE SAYING WELL THAT'S THAT'S MUCH TOO LARGE BASED ON WHAT WE'VE DONE TRADITIONALLY SINCE REPUBLICANS TOOK CONTROL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND I THINK UNTIL THEY COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT ON A NUMBER IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO SEE THEM HAVE ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT ON A FINAL DEAL.

>> ASHER WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING?

>> WELL THE SENATE MIGHT NOT BE WRITING A BUDGET, ONE THING IT DID DO THIS WEEK IN THE SENATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY A BILL TO ALLOW SOME MUNICIPALITIES TO POSTPONE THEIR 2021 ELECTIONS TO 2022 AS A RESULT OF THE DELAY IN CENSUS DATA THIS WOULD APPLY TO CITIES LIKE RALEIGH AND CHARLOTTE WHERE VOTERS VOTE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE DISTRICT THEY LIVE IN, NOT TO OTHER CITIES LIKE DURHAM WHERE A ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ELECTED CITYWIDE THIS IS THE FIRST REALLY KNOWLEDGMENT BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE DELAY IN CENSUS DATA IS GOING TO DISRUPT OUR REGULAR ELECTION SCHEDULE SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT MOVED THE SCHEDULE FOR THE FILING OR PRIMARY FOR THE 2022 ELECTION DESPITE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS >> [MARC] SO IT PUTS LOCAL CANDIDATES ON HOLD.

>> PUTS LOCAL CANDIDATES ON HOLD, BUT FOR 2022 PUTS A WHOLE LOT OF OTHERS ON HOLD TOO.

WAITING TIL THE LAST MINUTE TO DO IT IS PROBABLY GOOD NEWS IF YOU'RE ALREADY SERVED THERE.

IF YOU'RE A PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE TRYING TO GET ORGANIZED FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO RUN IT'S A LOT HARDER TO DO WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> GOOD POINT.

WEIGH IN HERE NELSON.

>> WELL I DO THINK ON THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

THE SENATE HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS ON THEIR BUDGET IT MAY JUST NOT LOOK LIKE IT IN PUBLIC.

>> ANYTHIING YOU'D LIKE TO DISCLOSE?

[LAUGHTER] THE HOUSE WE ARE SORT OF BEGINNING OUR PROCESS THIS WEEK BUT IT'S THE TYPICAL DANCE THAT YOU SEE BETWEEN THE 2 CHAMBERS.

BUT I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE A A BUDGET AT THE END OF THE DAY SOME TIME AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THE WAY OUR STRUCTURE WORKS NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION YOU CAN MOVE IN ALREADY INTO THE NEXT YEAR WITH A BUDGET AND WITH THE EXISTING BUDGET.

AND OF COURSE REMEMBER WE HAVE 5.7 BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO APPROPRIATE, SO THEY'LL BE QUITE A LOT OF MONEY BILLS FLYING AROUND THIS YEAR.

>> CLOSE THIS OUT IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS MY FRIEND.

>> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS I AGREE WITH NELSON THAT THIS IS SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL DANCES DO SEE, BUT WE ARE MOVING LATER INTO THE PROCESS AND SO I THINK ALL OF US THAT WERE HOPING TO GET OUT OF HERE BY JULY 1ST IS STARTING TO THINK THAT MAYBE GOT TO PUT OFF OUR SUMMER PLANS.

>> SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE TIL AUGUST OR SO, YOU THINK MITCH?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE.

I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY DECIDE TO TRY TO FINISH UP BUSINESS AND THEN GO HOME AND THEY COME BACK FOR REDISTRICTING OR WILL THEY STRETCH IT OUT TO THE REDISTRICTING WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN THE FALL.

WE DON'T NEED TO TALK A LOT ABOUT IT.

BUT ANOTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT WAS A SENATE TAX REFORM PACKAGE WHICH IS CREATING QUITE A BIT OF INTEREST.

>> GREAT JOB.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ASHER.

THE GOVERNOR SHOULD PROPOSING GOOD NEWS FOR GRADUATING SENIORS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> THAT'S RIGHT ON MONDAY GOVERNOR COOPER UNVEILED HIS PLAN TO SPEND ABOUT 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL RECOVERY FUNDING, PANDEMIC RECOVERY FUNDING THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY EDUCATION RELIEF PROGRAM.

IT'S THE SECOND TRANCHE OF FUNDING THAT NORTH CAROLINA HAS RECEIVED THROUGH THE PROGRAM ON TOP OF ABOUT A 100 MILLION LAST FALL.

THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING OF A LITTLE OVER 30 MILLION WOULD GO TOWARD THE LONGLEAF COMMITMENT PROGRAM WHICH WILL PROVIDE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FROM LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES WITH UP TO $2800 IN GRANTS TO COVER TUITION AND FEES AT OUR STATE'S 58 COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

THE GOVERNOR SEES THIS AS A DOWN PAYMENT TOWARD A MORE ROBUST TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT HE'S PROPOSED AS PART OF HIS BROADER PLAN FOR SPENDING NORTH CAROLINA'S AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING, BUT THAT REQUIRES LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL.

IN ADDITION TO THAT 12.5 MILLION WILL GO TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO HELP STUDENTS WHO HAD THEIR EDUCATION DISRUPTED BY THE PANDEMIC COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION AND THE REST WILL GO TOWARD MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY INITIATIVES.

BRIEFLY TO PUT IT IN A BROADER CONTEXT, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT THAT THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC RECOVERY IS IS HAVE RESPONSES HAVING ACROSS ALL KINDS OF AREAS OF POLICY, YOU KNOW THE IDEA OF A TUITION-FREE PROMISE PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT ABOUT 18 STATES HAVE IMPLEMENTED, IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A WHILE IN NORTH CAROLINA, IT HAS SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BUT UNTIL NOW THE FUNDING HASN'T BEEN THERE THIS IS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD REALIZING THAT GOAL.

>> MITCH PETER HANS PRESIDENT OF THE UNC SYSTEM WAS VERY BULLISH ON THIS.

>> YEAH I THINK HE IS LOOKING AT THIS AS A WAY TO HELP GET PEOPLE INTO HIGHER EDUCATION.

HE HAS BEEN, BEFORE HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNC SYSTEM, THE PRESIDENT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

SO HE LOOKS AT ALL OF THE THAT SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THINKS WOULD BE GOOD TO GET MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BE THERE.

ANOTHER INTERESTING NOTE ABOUT THIS IS AS ASHER MENTIONED THIS IS MONEY THAT CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT REALLY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR BASICALLY APPROPRIATING MONEY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS TYPICALLY A LEGISLATIVE ITEM.

I THINK IT SHOWS THAT THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEM WITH BOTH THIS PROGRAM AND THE WAY THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING ABOUT IT.

>> ROBERT.

>> BEST INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE ARE IN OUR PEOPLE.

REASON PEOPLE COME TO NORTH CAROLINA IS BECAUSE OF OUR INVESTMENTS IN OUR PEOPLE, INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, THIS FURTHERS THIS ALONG AND I'M PROUD THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING THAT.

>> IS THIS PROGRAM NELSON, SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM?

>> WELL THAT'S A QUESTION BECAUSE YOU HAVE A RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE STARTED WITH ALL THESE FEDERAL FUNDS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS GOING TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE COMMITMENTS THAT ARE MADE LONG-TERM.

I REMEMBER YEARS AGO WHEN BILL CLINTON SAID YOU KNOW 100,000 COPS ON THE STREET, A DIFFERENT ERA AT THE TIME, BUT THOSE FUNDS ONLY LASTED FOR A CERTAIN TIME AND THEN FOR THAT COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE, THE BURDEN DID FALL TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHICH PROGRAMS IT CHOOSES TO TO FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD BEYOND THE 3 YEARS OR SO THAT THESE FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

>> WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT A MINUTE ASHER.

>> I JUST THINK YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL POT OF MONEY THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

THERE'S MAJOR MONEY THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED BOTH THROUGH THE RESCUE PLAN WHICH HAS BEEN ENACTED AND THROUGH THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN FOR SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THROUGH THE AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNIVERSAL PRE K AND SO NOT ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO BE ENACTED INTO LAW.

OF COURSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE SUSTAINABLE.

BUT IN 1, 1, HAS THE FEELING THAT THIS IS THIS CRISIS HAS CREATED A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS AND PENT UP DEMAND WHICH IS THE WORKFORCE, CORRECT WILL SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS CENTRAL TO OUR WORKFORCE HAS ANYTHING IN YOU KNOW WHETHER IT IS WITH ALL THE NEW BUSINESSES COMING IN THE DEMAND FOR WORKERS IS ITS HUGE ARE THE ROOF AND WHETHER IT'S SUSTAINABLE FROM A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE IS ONE QUESTION BUT IN TERMS OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN THE LONG RUN, THIS IS AS GOOD AN INVESTMENT AS WE CAN MAKE.

>> OK I WANT TO GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY THE WEEK MITCH.

>> MINE FITS IN WITH THIS DISCUSSION OF THE FACT THAT ALL OF THIS FEDERAL MONEY IS FLOWING INTO NORTH CAROLINA, BOTH OF THE STATE'S US SENATORS RICHARD BURR AND THOM TILLIS HAVE NOW URGED THAT NORTH CAROLINA STOP RECEIVING THE EXPANDED FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS HURTING THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GET ENOUGH WORKERS TO REOPEN.

THEY CALL THIS A REAL AND SERIOUS THREAT TO THE STATE'S RECOVERY.

IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT A RECENT QUINNIPIAC POLL OF THE NATIONAL SCENE SHOWED THAT 54% OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY SUPPORT TURNING OFF THE SPIGOT ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS YOU MIGHT NOT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THERE'S A PARTISAN EDGE TO THIS 89% OF REPUBLICANS ARE IN FAVOR OF TURNING OFF THE SPIGOT ONLY 32% OF DEMOCRATS.

>> ROBERT UNDERREPORTED MY FRIEND.

>> CHIPMUNKS!

>> [MARC] ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO!

>> CHIPMUNKS ARE SHOWING UP IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH NEVER HAPPENS IT NEVER HAPPENS TO THE POINT THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE COMMISSION IS ASKING PEOPLE TO TAKE PICTURES IF THEY'RE SEEING SHIPMENTS IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

SO DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS BUT IT'S A FASCINATING STORY.

NONE OF OUR PANELISTS HAVE BEEN SEEN IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA HAVE THEY?

JUST KIDDING.

OK. >> REALLY HARD TO TOP THAT -- >> UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> -- BUT ON WEDNESDAY, FACEBOOK RELEASED A REPORT ON ITS EFFORTS TO DISRUPT THIS INFORMATION OPERATIONS BY FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC ACTORS IDENTIFYING OVER A 150 OPERATIONS IN 50 COUNTRIES SINCE 2017 AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE ARE A LOT MORE THAT WENT UNDETECTED.

THE HEADLINE FROM THE REPORT IS STARK, BUT UNSURPRISING, THE LEADING PURVEYOR OF DIS-INFORMATION GLOBALLY IS STILL RUSSIA, THE LEADING TARGET OF DIS-INFORMATION GLOBALLY GLOBALLY IS STILL THE UNITED STATES.

BUT THE REPORT ALSO DESCRIBES HOW ACTORS IN OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING INTELLIGENCE SERVICES, POLITICAL FIGURES, SHADY PRIVATE COMPANIES HAVE TRIED TO IMPORT THE TACTICS USED BY RUSSIA IN 2016 INTO THEIR OWN DOMESTIC SETTINGS.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT IS THAT FOREIGN EFFORTS TO DISRUPT OUR 2020 ELECTION FACEBOOK FOUND WERE NOT AS SUCCESSFUL AS IN 2016.

>> IT REALLY IMPACTED THE OUTCOME DIDN'T IT?

NO EVIDENCE THAT IT IMPACTED THE OUTCOME IN 2020, BUT THE BAD NEWS IS THAT DOMESTIC DISINFORMATION EFFORTS HAVE GROWN CONSIDERABLY OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS, IN FACT, FACEBOOK FOUND THAT THEY WERE BOTH MORE IMPACTFUL AND HARDER TO DETECT THEN FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND THEY'RE INCREASINGLY INTERTWINED WITH THE OPERATIONS OF MAJOR CANDIDATES.

IN FACT, ONE OF THEM, A FIRM CALLED RALLY FORGE HIRED AN ARMY OF TEENAGERS TO SOW DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION FOUND TO BE AFFILIATED WITH THE PRO TRUMP SUPER PAC, TURNING POINT USA.

SO IT'S GOOD NEWS THAT SOCIAL PLATFORMS ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY AND POLICING IT.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S REALLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

>> YOU'D EXPECT IT OF RUSSIA.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE COLD WAR RIGHT?

IT'S JUST MORE SOCIAL MEDIA DRIVEN NOW.

>> A LOT OF TACTICS WE'VE SEEN BEFORE THAT HAVE MIGRATED ONLINE AND OF COURSE LEADING THE NEWS TODAY ON NEWS OF A NEW RUSSIAN HACK OF USAID'S COMPUTER PROGRAM NEWS OF OF UKRAINE MEDDLING IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

SO THIS PROBLEM'S NOT GOING AWAY.

>> NELSON.

>> BIDEN'S PUSH FOR A GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX.

IT'S DESIGNED TO COURSE UNDERCUT THE OFFSHORING IMPACT OF HIS CORPORATE TAX INCREASES.

THE ADMINISTRATION IS NEGOTIATING WITH THE G 7 THE G 20 AND THE 38 NATIONS AND THE OECD TO ENFORCE A GLOBAL MINIMUM CORPORATE TAX RATE OF AT LEAST 15% THEY WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE MORE.

THE NET EFFECT IS TO ESSENTIALLY BAIL OUT HIGHER TAX COUNTRIES AT THE EXPENSE OF NATIONS THAT USED TO HAVE A LOWER TAX RATE CORPORATE TAX RATE OR NO CORPORATE TAXES.

IRELAND HUNGARY, THE PROMISE.

AND IF IT'S ENACTED IT WOULD REALLY SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THE IRS AND ACCESS.

INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS BANK ACCOUNTS ON AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL.

THE CONFLUENCE OF THESE INITIATIVES IS IS QUITE CONCERNING.

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

>> MY WHO'S UP IS PAMELA CASHWELL WHO HAD HER CONFIRMATION HEARING IN THE SENATE THIS WEEK TO BE THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION.

VERY INTERESTING THAT SHE WILL BE THE FIRST AMERICAN INDIAN WOMAN TO SERVE IN A GOVERNOR'S CABINET AND IN THAT ROLE ACTUALLY OVERSEE THAT THE COUNCIL THAT DEALS WITH WITH THE AMERICAN INDIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

MY WHOSE DOWN THE CONSTITUTION AND GREEN PARTIES.

THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO SUBMIT THE PETITION SIGNATURES THEY NEED TO STAY ON THE NORTH CAROLINA BALLOT, THEY NEED ABOUT 14,000 SIGNATURES BY JUNE 12.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL THERE THERE ARE RULES ABOUT HOW YOU COULD BE ON THE BALLOT AND YOU HAVE TO GET A CERTAIN NUMBER OF VOTES TO REMAIN ON THE BALLOT.

SO THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY GETS ENOUGH VOTES TO MAINTAIN ITS SPOT, THE CONSTITUTIONAL GREEN PARTIES HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH VOTES SO THEY HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS THEN.

OF GETTING GETTING THE SIGNATURES.

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

>> UP THIS WEEK'S PRESIDENT BIDEN.

IS APPROVAL RATING IS GOING TO 62% IN LIGHT OF HOW HE SHEPHERDED US THROUGH THE END OF THIS PANDEMIC AND WHO'S DOWN OR WHAT'S DOWN THE VACCINATIONS.

THEY REACHED A PLATEAU AND WE'LL JUST UNDER HALF OF ADULTS FULLY VACCINATED, IT MAKES A LOT OF US CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR TRYING TO GET TO HERD IMMUNITY.

>> BUT SOME PEOPLE THINK WE ARE GOING TO HERD IMMUNITY RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN THERE ARE SOME WHO SUGGEST THAT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE'VE HAD BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAD COVID THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE SOME ANTIBODIES THAT ARE PROTECTING YOU, AND THE NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS THAT TOGETHER WE'RE PROBABLY AT HEARD IMMUNITY, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A SCIENTIFIC DEBATE THAT WILL PROBABLY LAST LONGER THAN THE PANDEMIC.

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

>> UP AT LEAST EVER SO SLIGHTLY CHANCES THAT SENATE DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON WILL AMEND THE SENATE RULES TO REFORM THE FILIBUSTER MAKE IT EASIER FOR LEGISLATION TO COME TO THE FLOOR.

IF AS IS WIDELY EXPECTED -- >> [MARC] BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.

>> AS IS WIDELY EXPECTED REPUBLICANS CHOOSE TO FILIBUSTER TODAY, THE BILL CREATING A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE JANUARY 6 ATTACKS.

DOWN INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC NORMS AFTER THE PRESIDENT OF BELARUS ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO HIJACKED A CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT TO CAPTURE A DOMESTIC POLITICAL OPPONENT, AS ANNE APPLEBAUM WRITES IN THE ATLANTIC THIS WEEK, THIS SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT OTHER DICTATORS ARE GOING TO BE TEMPTED TO FOLLOW.

>> GREAT CATCH WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> WHO'S UP, ETHIOPIA.

THEY AWARDED A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR 5G CONTRACT TO A U.S.

BACKED CONSORTIUM LED BY THE UK'S OF VITA PHONE GROUP.

THEY BEAT OUT A CHINESE BACK BID INVOLVING HUAWEI SO ETHIOPIA CHOSE THE U.S'S 'FRIENDS AND FAMILY PLAN' I THINK THAT'S WISE ON THEY'RE PART.

WHO'S DOWN IS THE WUHAN INSTITUTE OF VIROLOGY.

18 PROMINENT BIOLOGIST, INCLUDING UNC'S DR RALPH BARIC, THE WORLD'S FOREMOST CORONAVIRUS RESEARCHER ARE CALLING FOR A TRANSPARENT INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE SOURCE OF THE SARS COVID 2 VIRUS AND THAT LAB SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE.

>> AND BY THE WAY PRESIDENT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ALL OVER THAT TOO CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION FROM THE WORLD WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

>> YEAH, THE CALLS ARE GROWING AND CHINA IS STILL REFUSING TO COOPERATE.

>> OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH.

>> WITH ONE MONTH LEFT IN CURRENT BUDGET YEAR, TIME'S RUNNING SHORT FOR A DEAL BY JULY 1ST.

>> ROBERT HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO START TO HEAT UP DURING THE SUMMER BECAUSE WE WILL BE IN OUR BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK ASHER.

>> WITH APOLOGIES BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE, NEGOTIATIONS WITH SENATE REPUBLICANS RUN OUT OF GAS, INCREASING PRESSURE ON DEMOCRATS TO TAKE THE FAST LANE TOWARD ENACTING A PARTISAN BILL.

>> REPUBLICANS WANT TO USE THE 700 BILLION DOLLARS OF UNSPENT COVID MONEY CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT AND IT'S PUTTING CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION IN A REAL BIND BECAUSE THAT WOULD COME OUT OF STATE AND LOCAL COFFERS.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> INFLATION FEARS GROW.

>> OKAY, GREAT JOB PANEL.

THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

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