>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP ON FRONT ROW, GOVERNOR COOPER SIGNS THE STATE BUDGET.

OSHA SUSPENDS THE BIDEN VACCINE MANDATE AND WHAT'S NEXT IN THE LEANDRO CASE?

NEXT.

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING] A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: ♪ >> WELCOME BACK JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION, JAY CHAUDHURI DEMOCRATIC WHIP IN THE SENATE, DONNA KING, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CAROLINA JOURNAL.

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

NELSON LET'S BEGIN WITH THE NEW STATE BUDGET.

>> WELL MARC AS YOU REMEMBER FROM LAST WEEK MY HEADLINE WAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES BUDGET WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN MAJORITY WELL, 41 TO 7 IN THE SENATE 104 TO 10 IN THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE BEFORE SUNDOWN.

SO IT IS TRULY A ONCE IN A GENERATION BUDGET NEVER HAS NORTH CAROLINA INVESTED MORE MONEY IN EDUCATION, NEVER HAS THE STATE INVESTED MORE IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN OUR PEOPLE IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE STATE HAS NEVER ACTUALLY SAVED MORE THAN IT IS IN THIS BUDGET FOR THE FUTURE AND RETURN MORE TO HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS AND FAMILIES SO BASICALLY EVERYONE BENEFITS, STATE RETIREES, NEWBORN MOMS.

FIRST RESPONDERS CARE WORKERS CHILDREN, THE DISABLED, SMALL BUSINESSES WORKING PEOPLE.

THIS IS TRULY AN HISTORIC BUDGET ABOUT CHANGED LIVES AND BUILDING STRONGER FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

THIS IS ONE THAT WILL HAVE TREMENDOUS BENEFITS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> SENATOR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> YEAH, SO I THINK NELSON'S RIGHT.

ONE THING I WOULD ADD IS IT'S A BIPARTISAN BUDGET, BUT TO BE CLEAR DEMOCRATS DROVE A LOT OF THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET ON 2 FRONTS.

ONE IS YET A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN THAT ALLOCATED 7.1 BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDS, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, AND SECONDLY, SENATE DEMOCRATS AND GOVERNOR COOPER PUSH FOR ANOTHER BILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENTS IN THE BUDGET.

SO THAT BEING SAID THERE ARE SOME LONG-TERM CONCERNS WITH THE BUDGET, I MEAN ONE, IS IT DOES LIMIT GOVERNOR COOPER'S EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY AND PROHIBITS THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL FROM SETTLING LAWSUITS, BUT PERHAPS THE MOST PROBLEMATIC ASPECT OF THE BUDGET IS THAT IT PHASES OUT CORPORATE INCOME TAX STARTING IN 2024 THAT COULD REALLY SHORT CHANGE PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE ARE ISSUES IN THE OUT YEARS AND I SUSPECT WITH THE LIMITING OF THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S AUTHORITY WILL SEE LAWSUITS FILED IMMEDIATELY.

>> DONNA WHAT WAS LEFT ON THE TABLE?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT NEITHER SIDE GOT EVERYTHING THEY WANTED, AMONG THEM WAS ON MEDICAID EXPANSION IS NOT INCLUDED IN IT, WHICH IS SOMETHING GOVERNOR COOPER AND DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT I THINK THEY DID GET A STUDY COMMITTEE THAT IS CHARGED WITH PRODUCING A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TALKING ABOUT A BILL ABOUT STUDYING INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED, THE RESTRICTIONS OR THE LIMITING THE GOVERNOR'S POWER DOESN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2023.

AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS IN THERE THAT I KNOW THAT THAT REPUBLICANS REALLY FELT STRONGLY ABOUT AMONG THEM IS PHASING OUT EVENTUALLY PHASING OUT THROUGH 2031, CORPORATE INCOME TAX AND CONTINUING TO GROW OUR ECONOMY, BRING COMPANIES HERE.

THE BIGGEST THING I REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS THE INVESTMENT OF ONE TIME DOLLARS INTO ONE TIME EXPENSES THINGS LIKE CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR SCHOOLS THAT ARE LONG OVERDUE.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE HAD A BUDGET SINCE 2018 2019 BECAUSE GOVERNOR COOPER HASN'T SIGNED ONE AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT WE GET OUT THERE THERE ARE EXPENSES THAT NEED TO BE COVERED, THEIR NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE FINALLY HAVE SOME FUNDING TO DO IT.

>> MITCH DID THE GOVERNOR DO THIS RELUCTANTLY?

>> WELL CERTAINLY.

YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS WAS A STRATEGIC RETREAT BY GOVERNOR COOPER, BECAUSE BASICALLY LAWMAKERS CAME UP WITH A PLAN THEN THEY NEGOTIATED WITH GOVERNOR COOPER BUT AT SOME POINT THEY JUST SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME UP WITH A DEAL.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON A BUDGET AND THERE WERE ENOUGH DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS WHO WERE WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

THEN GOVERNOR COOPER HAD TO DECIDE AM I GOING TO JOIN THE TRAIN OR WATCH IT PASS ME BY.

I THINK HE BASICALLY HAD A STRATEGIC RETREAT HERE AND SAID, LET ME SIGN THIS, AND TRY TO SPIN IT AS A WIN RATHER THAN SEE THAT IT WAS A LOSS BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THERE HE WOULD NEVER GO ALONG WITH.

THE EMERGENCY POWERS ISSUE, ENDING COLLUSIVE LAWSUIT SETTLEMENTS, ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS AND SCHOOL CHOICE.

THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS IN THERE THAT POLICY WISE GOVERNOR COOPER WOULD NEVER GO ALONG WITH, BUT HE DECIDED HE DID NOT WANT TO BE JUST THE ONE PERSON WHO WAS NOT PART OF THIS.

>> OKAY I WANT TO MOVE ON.

DONNA, IT LOOKS LIKE BIDEN'S MANDATES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND CORPORATIONS IS ON HOLD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

OSHA HAS SUSPENDED IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S VACCINE MANDATE WHICH WOULD APPLY TO ALL COMPANIES WITH A 100 EMPLOYEES OR MORE.

THIS CAME AFTER A 3 JUDGE PANEL STOPPED IT, SAID, 'DO NOT CONTINUE WITH 'THIS MANDATE UNTIL WE GET ANOTHER COURT IN THIS CASE, THE 6TH DISTRICT COURT TO RULE ON IT.

IT CAME FROM A LAWSUIT FROM THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION, AMERICAN TRUCKERS ASSOCIATION A FEW FOLKS WHO WOULD REALLY BE IMPACTED THEIR INDUSTRY BE IMPACTED PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW WITH SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS AND INFLATION AND ALL THESE THINGS LABOR SHORTAGES, THEY ALL SAID, 'YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO US RIGHT NOW THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK.'

ON THE OTHER SIDE LABOR UNIONS ARE PUSHING TO MAKE THE MANDATE BROADER TO APPLY TO COMPANIES WITH LESS THAN A 100 EMPLOYEES.

IN GENERAL, WHAT THEY'RE FINDING IS THAT THIS COURT THIS 3 JUDGE PANEL SAID THAT IT WAS STAGGER STAGGERINGLY OVERLY BROAD.

IT WAS FATALLY FLAWED AND REALLY RAISED SOME CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS.

>> MITCH WILL THIS BE A BOOST TO THE ECONOMY?

PEOPLE'LL GO BACK TO WORK NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY HELPFUL THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS VACCINE MANDATE GOING INTO EFFECT AT THIS POINT.

TO ME THE MOST INTERESTING PART ABOUT THIS STORY AT THIS POINT IS THE FACT THAT IT'S A PING PONG BALL LOTTERY DECIDED WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO IN TERMS OF ITS NEXT LEGAL STAGE BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGES FILED IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CIRCUITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SO THEY HAD TO DECIDE WHICH CIRCUIT IS GOING TO TO DEAL WITH THIS.

IF YOU ARE ON THE POLITICAL LEFT, YOU WANTED THE 9TH DISTRICT, THE 9TH CIRCUIT.

IF YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT ONE OF THE 5TH AND THE 6TH CIRCUIT.

WELL THE PING PONG BALL CAME UP 6 SO FOR FOLKS WHO FOLLOW THESE COURTS VERY CLOSELY, THEY THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THE VACCINE MANDATE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION AT THIS POINT.

>> NELSON, THIS DOESN'T APPLY THOUGH TO CERTAIN AREAS, I MEAN STILL LIKE THE TSA AND ALL THAT HAVE TO HAVE HAVE THE VACCINE MANDATE CORRECT?

>> WELL THAT'S RIGHT, [BOTH TALKING] >> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S NOT EVENLY APPLIED AND REALLY WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO BE LASER-FOCUSED IN ON IS ACCELERATING THE APPROVAL OF THE ANTIVIRAL PILLS THAT PFIZER'S WORKED ON,THAT MERCK HAS WORKED ON, THE BRITISH HAVE ALREADY APPROVED MERCK'S MEDICATION, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER COVID WAVE THIS WINTER JUST LIKE THEY'RE HAVING IN EUROPE NOW, SO BUT THE COURTS ARE BEING VERY CLEAR.

IF YOUR GOVERNMENT A BUSINESS AN INSTITUTION, YOU CAN REQUIRE VACCINATION, BUT YOU CAN'T BOOTSTRAP.

IF YOU WANT A NATIONWIDE MANDATE, CONGRESS HAS TO PASS A LAW.

SO I THINK THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN VERY CONSISTENT, LEFT MAY NOT BE HAPPY, THE RIGHT MAY NOT BE HAPPY, BUT THEY ARE THE ONLY FEDERAL BRANCH RIGHT NOW WHO IS TRYING TO GET THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT BACK WITHIN ITS CONSTITUTIONAL BOUNDS AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP US LONG TERM AFTER THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

>> THIS VACCINE MANDATES FOR LIKE AIRLINE EMPLOYEES AND TSA EMPLOYEES COULD IMPACT HOLIDAY TRAVEL.

>> I MEAN IT COULD AND WE'VE SEEN SOME EVIDENCE OF THAT, BUT I THINK IF YOU ALSO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WITH VACCINE MANDATES IF THERE'S SOME HESITANCY ULTIMATELY SEE EMPLOYEES FALL IN PLACE AND TAKE ON THE MANDATE.

I WOULD SAY THERE ARE REALLY 2 PARTS OF THIS WITH THE VACCINE MANDATE, THERE'S A LEGAL ISSUE THAT MITCH TALKED ABOUT AND THE FACT THAT NOW THE 6TH CIRCUIT'S GOING TO REVIEW THIS.

I THINK IT'S DESTINED TO GO TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

AND SECONDLY, THERE'S THE REAL POLITICAL CHALLENGE TO THIS, BECAUSE I THINK, I MEAN LET'S BE HONEST IF YOU LOOK AT SELF IDENTIFIED COUNTIES THAT VOTED FOR TRUMP, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO SUPPORT VACCINE MANDATES THAN THOSE THAT VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN AND SO I THINK WE HAVE A REAL POLITICAL ISSUE ON OUR HANDS, BUT I YOU KNOW I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU CONTINUE TO FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ADVICE, WE NEED TO HAVE THE MANDATE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION MARC.

I THINK THAT'S STILL THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO JUMP-START THE ECONOMY, AND AS NELSON MENTIONED, WE'RE SEEING A WAVE IN EUROPE THAT COULD COME TO THE UNITED STATES AND SO I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WE PROTECT OUR FOLKS.

>> IF THEY WANT ONE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL CONGRESS SHOULD PASS IT.

THEY SHOULD DO THEIR JOB.

YOU CAN'T HAVE AN AUTHORITARIAN PRESIDENT RIGHT?

>> OKAY, I WANT TO MOVE ON COME RIGHT BACK TO JAY AND TALK ABOUT THE LEANDRO CASE.

WHAT'S NEXT?

>> SO JUST AS QUICK BACKGROUND, THE SO-CALLED LEANDRO CASE STARTED BACK IN 1994 WHEN FAMILIES FROM LOW WEALTH, 5 LOW WEALTH DISTRICTS SUED SAYING THAT THEIR KIDS TO NOT HAVE THE SAME EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LOW WEALTH DISTRICTS THAN THEY DID IN HIGH WEALTH DISTRICTS.

THE SUPREME COURT ULTIMATELY FOUND THAT EVERY CHILD IS ENTITLED TO A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION.

AS PART OF THE LEANDRO LITIGATION, THERE WAS A CONSULTANT THAT WAS HIRED THAT MADE RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE STATE TO FILL THAT GAP.

ULTIMATELY THAT STUDY RECOMMENDED THAT THERE BE 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS FUNDED IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS FOR FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT INCLUDED PROVIDING ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, EDUCATION, TEACHER PAY RAISES AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR LOW WEALTH SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK - LAST WEEK JUDGE LEE SAID HE HAD ORDERED AND DIRECTED >> [MARC]COUNTY JUDGE RIGHT?

>> HE'S A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE.

HE DIRECTED THAT THE STATE TRANSFER 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP REACTED QUITE HARSHLY CALLING JUDGE LEE A ROGUE AND SAYING THAT HE IS UNHINGED, BUT I THINK WE'VE ENTERED INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY FOR SURE, AND I THINK THERE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ASK AS WE GO FORWARD.

ONE IS WHO WOULD APPEAL THE DECISION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE STATE'S NOT IN A POSITION TO APPEAL THAT DECISION.

I THINK IF LEGISLATORS WANT TO APPEAL THE DECISION THEY WILL ARGUE IT'S A VIOLATION OF SEPARATION OF POWERS WE CAN SEE SEPARATE LITIGATION THERE.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE STATE OFFICIALS AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO I THINK THAT YOU GOT TREASURER FOLWELL WHO IS A REPUBLICAN MAY FOLLOW THE JUDGE'S ORDER, THEN LASTLY AND MAYBE NELSON CAN SHED SOME INSIGHT.

I MEAN CERTAINLY THERE SEEM TO BE RUMORS ABOUT IMPEACHING JUDGE LEE TOO ARGUING THAT HE'S EXCEEDED HIS HIS AUTHORITY AND THE LAST IMPEACHMENT WE HAD WAS WITH WILLIAM HOLDEN BACK IN THE 1870.

>> DONNA, AG STEIN SIGNED OFF ON THIS TOO, SAID IT WAS CONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SO THE ARGUMENT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH STEIN CAME UP WITH IS THAT THE CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN, YOU KNOW BACK IN 1868 AND SOMEHOW THOSE FRAMERS KNEW HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING TO COST THIS YEAR TO FUND A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION.

SO THE THE PREMISE IS THAT NO ONE DISAGREES THAT EVERYONE THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION, IT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHO CONTROLS IT, HOW IT'S SHAPED AND WHETHER THE CURRENT BUREAUCRACY THAT WE HAVE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, JUST GIVING MORE AND MORE AND MORE FUNDING.

BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT IS A JUDGE CONSTITUTIONALLY ALLOWED TO OPEN THE COFFERS OF... >> [MARC] APPROPRIATE MONEY.

>> ...TO APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR THE STATE WHEN THAT ROLE CONSTITUTIONALLY FALLS TO THE LEGISLATURE?

>> NELSON YOUR THOUGHTS AND BY THE WAY WASN'T SOME OF THIS MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE BUDGET?

>> WELL OVER 60% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS SPENT ON EDUCATION.

SO THIS BIENNIAL BUDGET THAT'S WELL OVER 32 BILLION DOLLARS WITH ANOTHER 731 MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE APPROPRIATED FEDERAL FUNDS, AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE THE BILLIONS IN CAPITAL.

A TEACHER IN A LOW WEALTH COUNTY, THAT'S ABOUT 95 OF THE COUNTIES, MAKING UNDER $75,000 RIGHT NOW WILL RECEIVE A 6.7% RAISE AND $2800 IN BONUSES.

THERE'S FUNDING FOR SCHOOL SAFETY GRANTS SAFETY TRAINING, ANOTHER 115 SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS FOR AROUND THE STATE, 884 MILLION DOLLARS PLUS A NEW FEDERAL STATE MONEY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND THAT INCLUDES TEACHER TRAINING AND RETENTION AND I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SAY 145 LEGISLATORS VOTED FOR THIS EDUCATION BUDGET ONLY 18 AGAINST.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT, THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SPOKEN, AND TRUST THE JUDGE WILL LISTEN.

>> [MARC CHUCKLES] MITCH?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT JUDGE LEE'S ORDERS THAT HE STAYING IT FOR 30 DAYS WHICH GIVES SOME OF THESE OTHER LEGAL ISSUES TIME TO PLAY OUT AND SENATOR CHAUDHRI ALREADY MENTIONED THAT WE'VE GOT SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

THAT COULD BE THE IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE LEE BUT HE'S ALREADY PUT FORWARD THE ORDER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE.

THEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY PERHAPS FOR LEADERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SUE OVER THIS SAYING, 'LOOK WE'RE THE ONES WHO 'CONTROL THE PURSE YOU CAN'T TRANSFER THIS MONEY,' OR WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT NO ONE REALLY DOES ANYTHING AND TREASURER FOLWELL, OR CONTROLLER, LINDA COMBS WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO SUE THEM WHEN THEY DON'T DO WHAT THE JUDGE ORDERED.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD STILL PLAY OUT WITH THIS.

>> OKAY I WANT TO MOVE ON AND TALK ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS SEEMS TO BE BUBBLING UP IN WASHINGTON AND AROUND STATE CAPITOLS.

>> THIS REALLY STARTED GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHEN SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN AND PARENTS STARTED TO GET A BETTER INKLING OF WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS, WHAT THEIR KIDS WERE BEING TAUGHT, SOME HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE TYPE OF INSTRUCTION, THEN THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT SCHOOLS, NOT REOPENING OR IF THEY WERE REOPENING IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF MASK REQUIREMENT AND NOW POTENTIALLY SOME VACCINE MANDATES, SO YOU HAD ALL OF THAT PERCOLATING THEN IT REALLY HAD AN IMPACT OVER THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE WHEN TERRY MCAULIFFE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE SAID PARENTS SHOULD REALLY BE TELLING THE SCHOOLS HOW TO TEACH THEIR KIDS, THAT COST THEM AND PROBABLY WAS THE AND PROBABLY WAS A A BIG FACTOR IN YOUNGKIN WINNING THEN YOU LEARN THAT BECAUSE OF ANGRY PARENTS AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS THAT THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION ASKED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE PARENTS AS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS AND THEY ACTUALLY TOOK HIM UP ON IT AND STARTED DOING THAT, SO ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING PLUS CONCERNS ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE SCHOOLS AND NOW THAT'S INFLUENCING THINGS WHETHER THE THEORY IS ACTUALLY IN THERE OR NOT.

SO THIS IS ALL BEEN PERCOLATING AND NOW WE'VE SEEN THERE WAS A BIG RALLY ON CAPITOL HILL SAYING THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT A CO PARENT, YOU'VE SEEN THIS PROPOSAL FROM MISSOURI.

SENATOR REPUBLICAN JOSH HAWLEY, HAS A PARENTAL BILL OF RIGHTS SO THAT PARENTS WOULD KNOW WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT, WHO'S TEACHING THEM AND WHICH ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLS ARE GETTING SCHOOL CONTRACTS.

THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

>> WE HAVE ANYTHING SIMILAR IN NORTH CAROLINA TO THE PARENTAL BILL OF RIGHTS?

>> YES, THE HOUSE PASSED 7.55 ACADEMIC TRANSPARENCY BACK IN MAY UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A LONG PARTY LINES BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THEN IS IT JUST TALKING ABOUT IS PARENTS MOVEMENT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I MEAN WE LAMENT ALL THE TIME THAT PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS ARE ROOTED IN THE HOMES, SO IT'S REALLY SORT OF HYPOCRISY TO SAY TO THESE PARENTS WHO WANT TO BE ENGAGED TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING IN SCHOOLS THAT NO YOU CANNOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE MATERIALS.

IT'S THE WRONG WAY TO GO.

WE'RE SEEING REACTION TO THAT THESE PARENTS ARE ALSO TAXPAYERS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GREATER DEMOCRACY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING AWAY FROM BATTLING AGAINST AUTHORITARIANISM THAT'S WHAT WE SAY, WELL THAT NEEDS TO APPLY TO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND HAVING PARENTS FULLY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS.

>> DONNA, APPARENTLY THE FBI IS TAGGING THESE PARENTS.

>> WELL THERE IS MORE INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CREATED A HASHTAG CALLED ED OFFICIALS, I THINK, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO THAT THEY CAN TRACK PARENTS TALKING ABOUT THIS ONLINE AND THAT IS REALLY DISTURBING AS A PARENT MYSELF.

BUT YOU KNOW WE'RE FINDING THAT THEY WERE USING TACTICS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY USE TO TRACK DOMESTIC TERRORISTS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THEY'RE REALLY TAKING A LOT OF HEAT FOR IT, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING EMERGING IS REPUBLICANS GRABBING ON TO THIS FOR TRACTION FOR 2022.

>> [MARC] GOOD POINT.

>> I THINK THAT THEY'RE SEEING THIS SORT REALLY MOVED PARENTS TO VOTE PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WOULD CONSIDER THEMSELVES UNAFFILIATED OR MODERATE AND THAT'S REALLY FERTILE GROUND FOR BOTH PARTIES AND YOU CAN'T GET BETWEEN MAMA BEAR AND HER CUB AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF OFFICIALS ARE SEEING THAT THAT IS REAL AUTONOMY FOR PARENTS AND IT'S A LIBERTY ISSUE THAT REPUBLICANS CAN GET THEIR HEAD AROUND.

>> JAY IS THE KEY TRANSPARENCY IN CURRICULUM?

>> IT COULD BE TRANSPARENCY IN CURRICULUM.

I MEAN LOOK I AGREE THAT I THINK A PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT WILL BE A KEY ISSUE GOING INTO 2022.

VIRGINIA HAS SHOWN US THAT BUT I WAS REPUBLICANS TRADITIONALLY HAVEN'T OWNED THE EDUCATION ISSUE.

>> THEY HAVEN'T.

>> ARE THEY CUTTING INTO DEMOCRATIC TERRITORY?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN THEY HAVE AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLING IN VIRGINIA, THEY HAVE OWNED THE EDUCATION ISSUE, BUT I WOULD SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I'D SAY ONE, THERE ARE A LOT OF EXISTING PARENTAL RIGHTS THAT EXIST ALREADY.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS PROBLEMATIC IN VIRGINIA FOR EXAMPLE WAS HIS PUSH TO BAN BELOVED A PULITZER PRIZE WINNING BOOK BY TONI MORRISON THAT'S PART OF THE AMERICAN CANON, AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AUTHORITARIANISM, YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT BOOK BANNING, AND SO I THINK I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND A BALANCE AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO EMPOWER PARENTS.

>> OKAY, WE NEED TO WRAP, LET'S GO TO MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY THE WEEK MITCH.

>> THE INK IS BARELY DRY ON THE NEW ELECTION MAPS IN NORTH CAROLINA, BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER LAWSUIT, THE 3RD BY MY COUNT THAT'S CHALLENGING THEM.

>> [MARC] YOU SHOULD GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

[ALL CHUCKLING] >> EXACTLY BIG BUSINESS FOR REDISTRICTING LAWYERS RIGHT NOW.

THIS ONE COMES FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS.

THEY'RE CHALLENGING ALL THE MAPS.

THE STATE HOUSE MAPS, STATE SENATE CONGRESSIONAL MAP, THEY'RE CHALLENGING RACIAL GERRYMANDERING AS PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING THE SUIT OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE MAPS SAYING LOOK THERE'S FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL THAT, HERE'S A WAY YOU COULD DO IT IN A WAY THAT WOULD NOT VIOLATE THESE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES.

AMONG THE PLAINTIFFS VERY INTERESTING LONGTIME STATE REPRESENTATIVE MICKEY MICHAUX OF DURHAM, SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO START PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR SCORE CARD BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE 3 LAWSUITS CHALLENGING THE MAPS AND I SUSPECT THERE MIGHT BE MORE.

>> JAY.

>> THE ATLANTIC THIS WEEK AN ARTICLE CALLED THE HOME IS A FUTURE OF TRAVEL.

I LOVE THIS ARTICLE BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED AFTER THE PANDEMIC WITH THERE'S A GREAT CONVERGENCE OF MIXING TRAVEL AND LEISURE AND WORK TOGETHER.

JUST A COUPLE OF STATISTICS FROM THE ARTICLE FROM AIR BNB, TODAY, 20% OF AIR BNB LONG STAYS ARE 28 DAYS OR LONGER AND NOW MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS ARE THE NOW FASTEST GROWING DAYS OF THE WEEK.

SO WITH ZOOM, WITH REMOTE WORK.

WE SEE PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER ANCHORED IN ONE PLACE.

I THINK IT ALSO ADDRESSES A LOT OF INTERESTING PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES THAT MIGHT NEED TO ADDRESS IN THE FUTURE.

>> DONNA.

>> THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

SO GOING INTO YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON LIQUOR IS GONNA BE HARDER AND HARDER TO GET IT SEEMS LIKE.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS LIQUOR AVAILABLE, BUT THE WAREHOUSE IN NORTH CAROLINA IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT TO THE STORES GETTING IT TO THE RESTAURANTS AND THIS WEEK.

THAT WAREHOUSE THAT HAS THE CONTRACT WITH NORTH CAROLINA SAID THEY WERE NOT COMING TO TESTIFY AND EXPLAIN TO LAWMAKERS WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

YEAH.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

>> [JAY] IS THIS FROM EXPERIENCE?

[LAUGHTER] >> [DONNA] I'M TELLING YOU.

[LOTS OF LAUGHTER AND COMMENTS] >> [MARC] NELSON?

>> THE RISK OF STAGFLATION OF THE TERM NORMALLY REFERS TO RISING PRICES AT A TIME OF SLOWING GROWTH AND HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT LIKE WE SAW IN THE 60'S 70'S.

TODAY, WE'RE EXPERIENCING INFLATION AT A 30 YEAR HIGH.

THE PRODUCTIVITY RATE WAS DOWN 5% IN THE 3RD QUARTER A 40 YEAR LOW, CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS NOW AT A 10 YEAR LOW, AND TOTAL EMPLOYMENT HAS YET TO RECOVER TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT THAT WOULD BE TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH STAGFLATION IN THIS CASE, WORKERS ARE SIMPLY NOT COMING BACK TO THE JOB.

AND BABY BOOMERS ARE ACCELERATING THEIR MASS RETIREMENT, SO IF LABOR PARTICIPATION REMAINS LOW, INFLATION REMAINS HIGH, IN 2022, WE COULD EXPERIENCE A NEW VERSION OF STAGFLATION.

DIDN'T WORK OUT VERY WELL FOR FORD OR CARTER.

>> HOW DOES SPENDING OUT OF WASHINGTON IMPACT, THAT MASSIVE SPENDING THAT'S HAPPENING, AND YOU THINK THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED, I THINK WAS PASSED THIS MORNING, THE HOUSE WILL PASS THROUGH THE SENATE?

>> THEY WILL GET SOME VERSION OF IT, I KNOW THAT MANCHIN IS THE PRINCIPAL OR THE ONE STANDING IN THE WAY SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HE'S WILLING TO DO.

BUT THERE AGAIN THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE FLOODING JUST LIKE THE FED IS RIGHT NOW YOU'RE FLOODING THE ECONOMY WITH MONEY AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT TAKING SOME OF THE CAPITAL OUT WHILE THE BABY BOOMERS ARE RETIRING IN THE CAPITAL MARKETS THAT'S REALLY NOT A GOOD RECIPE LONG-TERM.

>> OK LET'S GO LIGHTNING ROUND MITCH.

>> WELL WHO'S UP, WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA POLITICIANS WHO WOULD LIKE TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

WE HAVE THAT SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM INCUMBENT CONGRESSMAN MADISON CAWTHORN THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN IN THE FAR WESTERN DISTRICT BUT WILL INSTEAD RUN IN THE DISTRICT NEXT DOOR.

THAT MAKES THAT NEW 14TH DISTRICT, AN OPEN SEAT.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT MICHELE WOODHOUSE WHO IS THE DISTRICT REPUBLICAN CHAIR IS GOING TO PLAN TO RUN, BUT OTHERS ARE LIKELY TO GET INVOLVED, INCLUDING POTENTIALLY SOME STATE SENATORS WHO'VE BEEN DOUBLE BUNKED IN THE STATE SENATE MAP.

WHO'S DOWN, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE THE NEXT HOUSE SPEAKER WHEN MADISON CAWTHORN MOVED THAT MEANT THAT HOUSE SPEAKER TIM MOORE IS NOT GOING TO RUN FOR CONGRESS, WANTS TO RUN FOR A RECORD BREAKING TERM AS SPEAKER THAT MEANS ALL OF HIS LIEUTENANTS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTED TO BE HOUSE SPEAKER WILL HAVE TO WAIT.

>> OKAY WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN JAY.

>> WELL WHO'S UP, BIPARTISANSHIP IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER IN THE SHOW PASSED A BIPARTISAN BUDGET AFTER A 3 YEAR STALEMATE AND WE'VE SEEN BIPARTISANSHIP NOW ON THE BUDGET AND ON THE CLEAN ENERGY BILL.

>> SEND THE FORMULA TO WASHINGTON.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S RIGHT!

AND SPEAKING OF WHICH ON WHO'S DOWN, I'D SAY REPRESENTATIVE PAUL GOSAR.

THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON WEDNESDAY VOTED TO CENSOR HIM.

AFTER HE POSTED A VIDEO ON TWITTER DEPICTING ATTACKS ON BOTH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO CORTEZ.

HE'S THE SECOND MEMBER OF CONGRESS NOW THAT'S BEEN STRIPPED OF HIS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT.

>> DONNA WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN?

>> UP FOR SURE FEDERAL SPENDING BUT ALSO TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY A LAST-MINUTE AD IN THE BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION THAT FACED A HOUSE VOTE.

AND IT INCREASED THE -- OF THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX FROM FROM $10,000 TO $80,000 THAT GIVES A HUGE TAX CUT TO FAMILIES EARNING BETWEEN $500,000 AND 1 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH IS REALLY NOT WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RAN ON SO A LOT OF FOLKS ARE FACING THAT.

DOWN, DOJ MORE DISTURBING INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF TACTICS THEY USED TO INVESTIGATE PARENTS WHO ARE DEMONSTRATING AT SCHOOL BOARDS >> NELSON?

>> WHO'S UP MEDICAID PART B MONTHLY PREMIUMS.

SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT PREMIUMS ARE GOING UP 14.5% JANUARY.

FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY INCREASE FOR 2022 MEDICAID COPAYS ARE GOING UP AS WELL, WHO'S DOWN, U.S. FOREIGN POLICY.

BIDEN'S 0-2 IN SUMMITS WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA HE FAILED TO REVIVE THE IRAN TREATY.

THEIR WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN WAS A DISASTER, THE CLIMATE CONFERENCE WAS A FAILURE.

AND NOW WE'RE ON BAD TERMS WITH OUR 2 MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERS, CANADA AND MEXICO.

>> ARE YOU HEARING THERE'S GOING TO BE INTERIM DEAL?

I HEARD TODAY THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INTERIM DEAL WITH IRAN.

>> WELL THAT IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PUMPING ADDITIONAL MONEY BACK INTO THAT REGIME BECAUSE YOU GET MORE TERRORISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHEN YOU DO THAT.

>> IS THAT HOW THEY'RE USING THE CARROT AND STICK WITH CASH?

>> THAT CASH SPEAKS IN EVERY CONTINENT.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK MITCH.

>> FINAL BRIEFS ARE DUE IN THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CONTROVERSY JUST BEFORE THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

>> JAY.

>> AMERICANS SPEND THANKSGIVING PAY MORE FOR THEIR TURKEY AND STUFFING AND SPENDING MORE MONEY FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING.

>> DONNA?

>> I HOPE THAT IS THE CASE.

A BIG SNOWSTORM COULD ACTUALLY SLOW SOME HOLIDAY TRAVEL.

SO A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE HOPING TO GET BACK HOME FOR THANKSGIVING, MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019 MAY GET SNOWED IN IT'S GOING TO REALLY TAKE THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY AND PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

>> HOLIDAY TRAVEL IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TOO, RIGHT?

>> MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE BUT I THINK FOLKS ARE WILLING TO DO IT AT THIS POINT AFTER 2 YEARS OF COVID PANDEMIC.

>> NELSON HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> WELL REMEMBER THE MASTERCARD ADS, COST OF THANKSGIVING DINNER UP 14%, TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, PRICELESS.

>> ANY PLANS?

>> WE'RE GOING TO STAY HOME, WE'RE GOING TO STAY IN RALEIGH THIS YEAR AND ENJOY PUTTING UP OUR CHRISTMAS TREE A LITTLE EARLY.

>> OK, JAY ANY PLANS?

>> WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO HOP IN THE CAR DRIVE UP TO NEW YORK TO SEE MY IN-LAWS ALWAYS GET THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, IT'S A GREAT DRIVE.

>> OKAY, GREAT JOB PANEL, THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

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