On the Record: Critiquing McCrory's State of the State address
STATE?
WELL, IT JUST MAY DEPEND ON WHO
YOU ASK.
TONIGHT, WE'RE ON THE RECORD
WITH TWO VERY DIFFERENT
ANSWERS.
>> IT'S TIME TO GO ON THE
RECORD WITH WRAL NEWS.
>> GOOD EVENING.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR PAT
McCRORY ADDRESSED THE STATEWIDE
TELEVISION AUDIENCE WITH HIS
FIRST STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
FOR 45 MINUTES, HE DISCUSSED
THE STATE'S PROBLEMS AND HIS
VISIONS FOR SOLUTIONS.
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS CAN BE
CORRECTED MORE EASILY THAN
OTHERS.
THAT'S OBVIOUS, AND SOME
LAWMAKERS DON'T VIEW SOME OF
THE ISSUES AS PROBLEMS.
TONIGHT, TWO PEOPLE WHOSE JOB
IT IS TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS IN
THE EXECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE AND
JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF STATE
GOVERNMENT.
FROM THE LEFT-LEANING GROUP, NC
POLICY WATCH, AND RIGHT
LEANING, BECKY GRAY.
SOMEONE WHO COVERED THE STATE
OF THE STATE, LAURA LESLIE.
MY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR
BEING HERE, BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN
THE DISCUSSION, LET'S GO BACK
TO THE SPEECH WITH THIS REPORT
FROM LAURA.
>> Reporter: A LOT OF THE BIG
PICTURE PRIORITIES McCRORY LAID
OUT WERE FROM HIS CAMPAIGN,
PROMOTING FRACKING AND DRILLING
AND OVERHAULING THE STATE'S TAX
SYSTEM TO HELP ATTRACT
BUSINESS.
>> WE CANNOT ACCEPT THE STATUS
QUO.
WE CANNOT LIVE OFF OF A BRAND
THAT NEEDS UPDATING AND MAJOR
REVAMPING TO NOT ONLY COMPETE
WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, BUT COMPETE
WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T SAY MUCH
ABOUT HOW HE WOULD PAY FOR HIS
NEW INITIATIVE.
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WON'T
INCLUDE MUCH, IF ANY, MONEY.
>> WE WANT TO REWARD OUR
TALENTED STATE EMPLOYEES, BUT
SEAT WARMERS MUST BE A THING OF
THE PAST [ APPLAUSE ]
>> Reporter: McCRORY DID MAKE A
FEW SPECIFIC REQUESTS.
HE WANTS LAWMAKERS TO RESURRECT
THE DRUG AND CUT BACK ON THE
LOTTERY'S ADVERTISING BUDGET
AND ALLOW SCHOOLS TO USE
LOTTERY MONEY FOR CLASSROOM
TECHNOLOGY.
>> THERE'S A POT OF MONEY ONLY
USED ON CERTAIN THINGS.
WHY NOT LET OVER 100 DISTRICTS
USE IT ON TECHNOLOGY AND
VIRTUAL LEARNING?
THIS IS THE FUTURE.
WE DON'T WE BE AHEAD OF THE
CURVE AS OPPOSED TO BEHIND THE
CURVE?
>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR
CLOSED BY ASKING LAWMAKERS OF
BOTH PARTIES TO WORK WITH HIM
TO CHANGE THE STATE FOR THE
BETTER.
>> NONE OF THIS CAN BE ABOUT
POLITICS, POWER, LEGACY, TURF,
OR WHO GETS THE CREDIT.
WHO CARES?
THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF
NORTH CAROLINA.
>> THAT WAS LAURA LESLIE
REPORTING.
GOVERNOR McCRORY DID LAY OUT
BIG PLANS, INCLUDING WAYS TO
ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO THE
STATE, WHICH INVOLVES
STREAMLINING THE STATE TAX
CODE.
SAID THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO BE
MORE SPECIFIC ON THE DETAILS
AND ANY CHANGES SHOULD BE FAIR.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS SO
VAGUE, I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT
POLICIES HE HAS IN MIND, BUT
THE ONE CERTAINTY IS WE CANNOT
RAISE TAXES ON HARD WORKING
TAXPAYERS IN NORTH CAROLINA TO
FUND CUTS FOR LARGE
CORPORATIONS AND THE WEALTHY.
>> YOU CAN SEE THE GOVERNOR'S
ENTIRE STATE OF THE STATE ON
OUR WEB SITE, AS WELL AS THE
ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE.
IT IS IN OUR VIDEO CENTRAL
SECTION.
LAURA?
>> WELL, I HAVE TO ASK, OF
COURSE, SORT OF WHAT I THOUGHT
OF THE SPEECH, BUT WHAT DID YOU
THINK OF THE SPEECH?
WHAT DID YOU THINK HE DID WELL
OR DIDN'T DO WELL?
BECKY, YOU GO FIRST.
>> I THOUGHT HE DID WELL IN
LAYING OUT HIS PLANS.
I DIDN'T THINK THERE WERE A LOT
OF SURPRISES.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMY,
EFFICIENCY, AND EDUCATION,
WHICH WERE BROADLY THE THINGS
HE TALKED ABOUT IN THE
CAMPAIGN.
I WAS SURPRISED HIM TO FOCUS ON
MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG
ADDICTION AND FIGHTING
ADDICTIONS AND SOME FOCUS ON
THAT.
THE TAX REFORM, HE DID TALK
ABOUT LOWERING THE PERSONAL
INCOME TAX AND THE CORPORATE
TAX.
AS WE GET INTO THE TAX REFORM
DISCUSSION, WE DIDN'T GET
SPECIFICS THERE.
BUT ANOTHER THING I LIKED ABOUT
EDUCATION WAS THE CAREER
TECHNICAL ASPECT OF THAT, THAT
I THINK IS LONG NEEDED TO BE
DONE.
CERTAINLY, A FOCUS OF HIS FIRST
BILL THAT HE SIGNED AS GOVERNOR
HAD TO DO WITH THAT AND THEN
ALSO, ALLOWING THE L.E.A.s, THE
LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SOME
FLEXIBILITY AS FAR AS SPENDING
WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE THE
LOTTERY PROCEEDS.
>> CHRIS?
>> I THOUGHT YOU SHOWED SOME OF
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE
STRENGTHS.
HIS ENDING WAS GOOD WHERE HE
TOLD FOLKS TO NOT PUT ON THE
CREDIT.
I THOUGHT HE DESERVES CREDIT
FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND A
REESTABLISHMENT OF THE DRUG
CORP.
WHICH BAFFLINGLY, REPUBLICANS
DREW AGAINST LAST YEAR.
USUALLY, THE STATE OF STATE
SPEECHES DO ONE OF TWO THINGS.
THERE'S A VISION AND WHERE
NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD GO WITH A
LOT OF FLOWERY LANGUAGE AND A
MESMERIZING SPEECH.
THAT'S NOT HIS STYLE.
WE DIDN'T SEE THAT OR DO WHAT
GOVERNOR MARTIN DID IS GO TO
THE 1985 SESSION AND SAY,
HERE'S THREE SPECIFIC THINGS I
WANT TO DO.
I WANT TO ELIMINATE THE
INTANGIBLES TAX, AND GOVERNOR
HUNT SAID I WANT TO DO SMART
START.
HERE'S HOW I WANT TO PAY FOR
THAT.
WE DIDN'T SEE THOSE SPECIFICS
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SENATOR
STEIN WAS REFERENCING.
WE SAW, AS YOU HAVE ACCURATELY
DESCRIBED, A RERUN OF HIS
CAMPAIGN SPEECH AND I
UNDERSTAND WE'D SEE THE THEMES,
BUT WE EVEN SAW THE SAME JOKES
ABOUT DMV AND COMPLAINING ABOUT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I SORT OF WAS HOPING WE WOULD
GET BEYOND THAT AND START
SEEING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
WHAT McCRORY WANTED TO
ACCOMPLISH AND ONE FINAL POINT,
I WAS HOPING THAT HE WOULD, NOT
FROM AN AID IDEOLOGY POINT OF
VIEW, I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE
AN AN AFFIRMATIVE STANCE TO BE
THE LEADER.
>> WHILE NOT MANY SPECIFICS,
THERE'S SPECIFICS COMING OUT OF
THIS LEGISLATURE QUICKLY AND
RAPIDLY SO FAR.
ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES FROM
POLICY WATCH DESCRIBED WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN THE FIRST FEW
WEEKS AS A WAR ON THE POOR.
IS THAT FAIR FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE?
>> I DON'T THINK SO AT ALL.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING
ANOTHER STAND WE HEARD IN THE
STATE OF THE STATE AND
CERTAINLY SEE IT COMING OUT OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS AN
EFFICIENCY GETTING GOVERNMENT
FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER, AS THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN OVER,
THEY'VE FOUND HUGE
INEFFICIENCIES, FRAUD, WASTE,
MISMANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT STATE
GOVERNMENT.
WE'VE SEEN IT IN VARIOUS
AGENCIES.
I THINK THE FOCUS IS GETTING
NORTH CAROLINA'S FISCAL HOUSE
IN ORDER AND GETTING THE
ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN, AND THE
BEST WAY TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO
WORK AND GET THEM OFF
UNEMPLOYMENT AND OFF DEPENDENCY
ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS IS GET
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND BECOME
SELF-SUFFICIENT SO THEY'RE NOT
DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT.
>> BUT AS THAT IS HAPPENING, IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM AND
NOT ABSTRACT, THERE'S PEOPLE
WITH LESS MONEY ON
UNEMPLOYMENT, THERE'S PEOPLE
THAT ARE GOING TO BE LOSING
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS.
THERE'S THINGS THAT EQUATE TO
REAL DOLLARS, NOT JUST BUDGET
LINES IN THE BUDGET.
>> TO THAT LINE, THE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, THERE
WAS A REPORT ON WRAL THAT YOU
ALL DID VERY WELL DONE BACK IN
MAY THAT TALKED ABOUT THE
BROKEN UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM HERE
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
15 YEARS, NORTH CAROLINA HAS
BEEN THE WORST ADMINISTERED
UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.
THE EARNED INCOME TAX PROGRAM,
30% OF THOSE CLAIMS FOR THOSE
CREDITS ARE FRAUDULENT.
>> THAT MEANS 70% AREN'T.
>> THAT'S TRUE, BUT IF WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THOSE
DOLLARS THE BEST THAT WE CAN
POSSIBLY SPEND, WE'VE GOT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THIS FRAUD AND
THIS MISMANAGEMENT IS UNDER
CONTROL.
>> BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK, ABOUT
A HALF MINUTE LEFT HERE, YOUR
DEFINITION OF WAR ON POOR.
LET'S TALK ABOUT 900,000 PEOPLE
WITH EARNED INCOME TRACKS.
PEOPLE DENIED MEDICAID COVERAGE
THROUGH LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS
THAT WON'T COST THE STATE A
DIME FOR THREE YEARS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE WHICH WE ARE NOW
GOING TO CUT OFF 170,000 PEOPLE
FROM EMERGENCY BENEFITS THROUGH
NO COST OF THE STATE, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY
THE WHOLE TAB AND PEOPLE
LOOKING FAR JOB, THE REPUBLICAN
FROM LINCOLN COUNTY WAS ON
UNEMPLOYMENT FOR 15 MONTHS
HIMSELF AS A PERSONAL APPOINTED
LEGISLATURE AND HOW HARD IT IS,
HOW DEMEANING IT IS, THERE JUST
AREN'T JOBS THERE.
YOU ADD UP ALL THESE THINGS,
AND THEY'VE DONE THIS IN TWO OR
THREE WEEKS.
WE HAVEN'T HAD TESTIMONY ABOUT
THE EFFECT ON PEOPLE.
THESE ARE RUSHED THROUGH A
COMMITTEE.
I THINK IT'S BEEN ASTOUNDING.
>> WOULD IT MATTER IF THERE'S
TESTIMONY?
>> I THINK THERE'S ON WHAT
MEDICAID EXPANSION MEANS AND
RICK SCOTT IN FLORIDA AND JOHN
IN OHIO AND JAN IN ARIZONA.
HARD RIGHT ALMOST TEA PARTY
GOVERNORS SAY IT'S BEST TO
EXPAND MEDICAID.
WE NEED MORE DISCUSSION INSTEAD
OF RUNNI?w?o<?=oq
>> THIS $4 MILLION SCRATCHOFF,
GOLD?
>> WE'VE ALL SEEN THESE.
GOVERNOR McCRORY CALLED FOR
THESE ADS TO POSSIBLY GO AWAY.
$2.6BILLION FOR TEACHER PAID
SCHOOL INSTRUCTION, PRE-K
SCHOLARSHIPS, CHANGE HOW THE
MONEY MIGHT BE SPENT.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM CULLEN
BROWDER ON THIS JUST A LITTLE
LATER IN THE PROGRAM.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET TO THE FULL
REPORT ON THAT, BUT I WANT TO
GO BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT BEFORE THE BREAK.
YOU HAD A QUESTION YOU WANTED
TO FOLLOW UP ON.
>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT
INEFFICIENCIES AND BROKEN
SYSTEMS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD A
LOT ABOUT AND I DON'T THINK
ANYBODY WOULD ARGUE THERE'S BIG
PROBLEMS IN THE MEDICAID
SYSTEM, THE UNEMPLOYMENT
SYSTEM, AND THE E.I.T.
SYSTEM, BUT THE DISCONNECT
PEOPLE HAVE IS, WHY CAN'T THOSE
PROBLEMS BE FIXED WITHOUT
CUTTING OFF WHAT THEY PROVIDE,
THE SAFETY NET THEY PROVIDE TO
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT?
>> I THINK THE BIG QUESTION IS
IF WE'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER
THESE PROGRAMS AND MAKE SURE
THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED
THOSE PROGRAMS RECEIVE THE
ADEQUATE SERVICES THEY NEED AND
THE MORAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT
WE HAVE AS A GOVERNMENT, THAT
IT HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT.
SO TO CONTINUE TO THROW MORE
MONEY INTO A BROKEN SYSTEM JUST
DOESN'T REALLY SENSE, AND
PARTICULARLY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
MORE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE POOR
PEOPLE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO
RECEIVE THE SERVICES, I THINK
THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH
ATTENTION PAID TO THE
TAXPAYERS, THE HARD WORKING
FAMILIES OF NORTH CAROLINA WHO
ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THOSE
SYSTEMS.
IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING
AT THINGS I THINK WE SEE UNDER
THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION AS THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO THOSE
TAXPAYERS WHO WERE PAYING INTO
THOSE PROGRAMS AND THERE'S A
REAL RESPONSIBILITY AS THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE TO
SPEND THAT MONEY WELL.
THERE IS GOING TO BE AN EFFORT,
I THINK THERE WILL BE A
CONTINUED EFFORT TO GET THIS
UNDER CONTROL AND THOSE WHO
REALLY NEED THE SERVICES ARE
GETTING THEM AND THOSE WHO
DON'T ARE NOT.
>> I WOULD LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT
GET THE INCOME TAX, IT DOES
REWARD WORK.
THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO REDUCE
AND THEN PHASE OUT A PROGRAM
THAT IS DESIGNED TO REWARD WORK
PEOPLE WORKING AS HARD AS THEY
CAN AN JUST CAN'T MAKE ENOUGH
MONEY TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO DO BOTH?
IS THERE A WAY TO SAY, LET'S
MAKE THESE THINGS?
LET'S RECRAFT THIS PART OF
STATE GOVERNMENT, LET'S BE MORE
EFFICIENT AT DOING IT WITHOUT
BEING BLACK AND WHITE, ALL OR
NOTHING.
>> THE PEOPLE AFFECTED
IMMEDIATELY CAN BE TAKE ABOUT
CAREEN CARE OF.
>> IT JUST DECOUPLES US FROM
THE CREDIBLE AND IT DOESN'T
CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
RECIPIENTS TODAY IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
IT DOESN'T REDUCE THE BENEFIT.
IT JUST DECOUPLES FROM THE
FEDERAL THAT WE HAVE.
THERE WAS A SUNSET IN, I
BELIEVE, JANUARY 2014, NONE OF
THAT HAS CHANGED.
SO MAYBE IT'S A WAY, YOU KNOW,
DAVID, REALLY TO YOUR POINT.
THIS PROGRAM IS NOT GOING AWAY
FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THAT WILL
GIVE THE LEGISLATURES AND
LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR A
CHANCE TO BRING THAT BACK TO
REASONABLE CONTROL.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A YEAR OF
WAITING TO WORK WITH.
I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY OF
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
170,000 PEOPLE.
THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT
ESTIMATES WILL LOSE THEIR
BENEFITS FROM JULY 1 UNTIL THE
END OF THE YEAR AND THAT CAN BE
PAID FOR.
I WANT TO GET BACK TO MEDICAID.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY
THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF MEDICAID
IS BROKEN.
NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAID
SPENDING WENT UP LOWER THAN ANY
OTHER RATE IN THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE
COMMUNITY CARE OF NORTH
CAROLINA, THE MODEL FOR THE
COUNTRY ON HOW TO CONTROL
MEDICAID COSTS.
THEY FOUND SEVERAL PROBLEMS,
SOME OF WHICH I THINK NEED TO
FIX AND SOME OF WHICH WERE THE
RESULT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TELLING GOVERNOR PERDUE'S
ADMINISTRATION AND A
REPUBLICAN, BY THE WAY, THE
SECRETARY, SAYING YOU HAVE TO
FIND THIS MUCH IN SAVINGS AND
DON'T CUT BENEFITS AND HOW MUCH
YOU PAY DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS.
HE TOLD THE LEGISLATOR SEVERAL
TIMES, SIMPLY CAN'T DO THAT AND
THE MEDICAID BUDGET IS
OVERBUDGETTED.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM.
TO SAY IT'S SO BROKEN TO NOT
GET 500,000 PEOPLE HEALTHCARE,
I'M BAFFLED BY THAT AND I THINK
OTHER REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS
AROUND THE COUNTRY BRINGING
AROUND IS ALSO BAFFLED.
>> I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY
THERE'S SOMETHING YOU AGREE ON
A MOMENT AGO.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
LOTTERY.
THIS REPORT FROM CULLEN BROWDER
ON WHY THE LOTTERY MAY NOT BE A
GAME CHANGER FOR SCHOOLS.
HERE'S CULLEN.
>> THIS $4 MILLION SCRATCHOFF
GAME.
GOLD?
>> Reporter: GOVERNOR McCRORY
IS NO FAN OF LOTTERY ADS LIKE
THIS.
>> I'M RECOMMENDING WE PURSUE
LEGISLATION TO REALLOCATE A
PORTION OF MONEY AWAY FROM THE
BLOATED AND FRANKLY ANNOYING
ADVERTISING AND LARGE
ADMINISTRATION COST OF THE
LOTTERY COMMISSION.
>> Reporter: ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS ARE ALREADY HALF OF WHAT
THE LAW ALLOWED.
THE LOTTERY SPENT $14.4 MILLION
TO ADVERTISED GAMES, LESS
CAPITA THAN COMPARABLE STATES.
>> ALMOST ALL IS FALSE AND
DECEPTIVE.
>> Reporter: NOT ONLY LESS ON
ADS, HE WANTS GAMES PORTRAYED
IN A LESS APPEALING MORE
TRUTHFUL WAY.
LOTTERY LEADERS SAY THEY WILL
FOLLOW WHATEVER LAWMAKERS
DECIDE, BUT THEY CONTEND ADS
AND SALES GENERALLY GO HAND IN
HAND.
TELLS US, QUOTE, OUR FEAR WOULD
BE THAT IF WE WERE REQUIRED TO
REDUCE ADS, IT WOULD REDUCE
SEAMS AND MONEY FOR EDUCATION.
BEYOND COMMERCIALS, THE
GOVERNOR ALSO HOPES TO CHANGE
HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.
>> THERE'S A POT OF MONEY RIGHT
NOW THAT CAN ONLY BE USED ON
CERTAIN THINGS.
WHY NOT LET THE DISTRICTS USE
THAT MONEY ON TECHNOLOGY AND
VIRTUAL LEARNING?
>> THAT WILL BE A DROP IN THE
BUCKET FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
WE REALLY NEED.
>> Reporter: STATE
SUPERINTENDENT WANTS IT, BUT
THE LOTTERY AND ITS ADS ARE NO
JACKPOT, GENERATING 4% OF THE
OVERALL PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET.
>> THAT WAS CULLEN BROWDER
REPORTING.
DID THE GOVERNOR OVERREACH?
MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S MUCH
ABOUT NOTHING.
I THINK THEY'RE VERY ANNOYING.
>> SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE STATE
-- IT'S ALMOST MINUSCULE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
BUT THIS STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS HAS BEEN HIS COMMENTS
ABOUT THE ADS, BUT IF YOU
LISTEN TO IT, IT'S THE BLOATED
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WITHIN THE
LOTTERY.
I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THE
LOTTERY.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO AWAY
WITH IT, I THINK IF WE'RE GOING
TO FUND IT, WE SHOULD USE
GENERAL FUNDS TO FUND THAT,
HAVING SAID THAT, I LIKE HE'S
TALKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF
THE BLOATED ADMINISTRATION.
GOING BACK, I THINK WE NEED TO
DO THAT AT EVERY LEVEL OF STATE
GOVERNMENT AND GIVING THE LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS FLEXIBILITY IN
HOW THEY SPEND THE MONEY FOR
TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AS A WAY TO
HAVE HIM INDICATED, JUNE
ATKINSON, I BELIEVE, AGREES
WITH HIM.
>> PROBABLY DIDN'T EXPECT ME TO
QUOTE SARAH PALIN, BUT TO PUT
LIPSTICK ON THIS LOTTERY PIG
FOR ME IS IRRELEVANT.
LITERALLY, WE'RE BASING HOW
MUCH MONEY WE HAVE TO SPEND ON
EDUCATION AND PRE-K ON THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
CONVINCING PEOPLE TO THROW OUR
MONEY AWAY AND THAT'S OUR
POLICY.
I THOUGHT THIS IS ONE OF THE
WORST THINGS NORTH CAROLINA HAS
DONE.
THAT BEING SAID, IF WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE THIS RIDICULOUS
LOTTERY, WE SHOULD NOT TRYING
TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO PLAY AND
GO FOR ONE-TIME EXPENSES, NOT
ONGOING.
WHERE THERE'S FUND, SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION OR SOMETHING ELSE.
WE JUST DON'T NEED TO BE BASING
ONGOING REVENUE ON THE BASIS OF
CONVINCING PEOPLE TO PLAY.
I THINK IT'S GOOD NEWS THAT
PEOPLE SAVE THEIR MONEY.
WE SHOULD RAISE MONEY FOR
SCHOOLS.
WE COULD ARGUE HOW MUCH THAT
IS, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT
HONESTLY AND FAIRLY, NOT THIS.
>> IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT THE
GOVERNOR MENTIONED THIS.
WE MAY SEE A DIFFERENT WAY OF
LOOKING AT THE LOTTERY THAN
WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
CHRIS, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE
WITH US.
I HOPE THE TWO OF YOU COME BACK
AS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WINDS DOWN.
MAYBE AFTER THIS IS OVER AND
LET'S DO A REPORT CARD OF WHAT
HAPPENS, WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN,
WHO BENEFITED, WHO DID NOT.
WHEN WE
>> WELCOME BACK.
JOINING US IS INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTER MARK BINKER.
BEFORE WE WENT TO BREAK, YOU
SAID THERE'S SOMETHING
PARTICULAR YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT.
>> MARK AND I DO THIS WRAP
EVERY NIGHT WHERE WE KIND OF
WRAP, WELL, WRAP UP WHAT'S
GOING ON IN THE DAY AND I FEEL
LIKE ALL WEEK, WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THE TOPLESS BAN
IN ASHVILLE, THE POSSUM DROP,
MEDICAL MARIJUANA --
>> METHAMPHETAMINES.
IT'S BEEN A BAD WEEK FOR DRUGS
AND POSSUMS.
>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
FEEDBACK THIS YEAR.
PEOPLE GO, WHAT ARE THEY DOING
DOWN THERE?
>> PEOPLE THINK IT'S THE
CRAZIES.
>> AND TO BE FAIR, THOSE ARE
SIDE SHOW ISSUES.
THEY'RE INTERESTING TO TALK
ABOUT.
THEY GET A LOT OF ATTENTION,
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THIS WEEK'S
SERIOUS TAX POLICIES GOING
THROUGH.
A MEDICAID BILL, THIS IS THE
DANGER OF THE LEGISLATURE.
YOU HAVE THESE EYE POPPING
ISSUES THAT GET ATTENTION AND
PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN.
>> LIKE THE BUDGET, THAT'S A
SLOW GRIND.
AND SO THIS IS AN IDEAL TIME
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE
ISSUES IN THE COMMITTEE, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S BEEN A
TRAIN OF THEM THAT MAKE PEOPLE
THINK, WELL, WHERE ARE THE
JOBS?
>> SOMETHING ELSE WE DIDN'T
HAVE TIME TO GET TO IN THE
PREVIOUS TWO SEGMENTS WHICH I
RECOMMEND, BUT PAYDAY LENDING
CAME BACK AND WE THOUGHT, WE,
MOST PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE,
THOUGHT THAT HAD BEEN DEALT
WITH, SET ASIDE AND THERE SEEMS
TO BE A LITTLE CRACK SOMEWHERE
THAT IS HAPPENING.
SOMEONE'S TRYING TO SLIP
THROUGH.
>> A BILL'S BEEN FILED BY JERRY
TILLMAN, A REPUBLICAN OUT OF
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
WHAT WE'RE TOLD ABOUT THE BILL
IS THERE IS SOME TALK ABOUT
MOVING THIS WEEK THAT APPEARS
NOT TO BE THE CASE AT THIS
POINT, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME
CONVERSATION WITH THE
REPUBLICANS ABOUT WHETHER THEY
WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD ON
WHETHER THEY WANT TO ALLOW THAT
COMMITTEE HEARING TO MOVE
FORWARD.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME
SENTIMENT FOR IT AND ALSO SOME
SENTIMENT WHERE REPUBLICANS IN
BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE SAY,
WE'VE TAKEN OUR LIPS OVER THIS
ISSUE, DO WE WANT TO GO AND DO
THAT AGAIN?
>> I THINK IT'S ILLUSTRIOUS TO
SEE THE LOBBYISTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE
MADE IN PAYDAY LENDING.
LIKE, 86% OF PEOPLE WHO TAKE
THEM OUT FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE
TO PAY THEM BACK IN THE AMOUNT
OF TIME THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.
OF COURSE, THEY'RE GOING TO
SPEND MONEY TO GET IT
RELEGALLIZED HERE.
>> PAYDAY LENDING IS NOT THE
ONLY, WE'LL SEE CAR TITLE LOANS
AND SIMILAR THINGS COME UP AS
THE WEEK GOES ON.
>> ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT HERE.
AT THE END OF THE WEEK, HERE WE
ARE.
ANYTIME THERE'S A MAJORITY IN
POWER, THE OTHER SIDE IS
PUSHING BACK.
A MEMO, A REPORT LEAKED THIS
WEEK THAT MADE ITS WAY TO YOU
FROM THE DEMOCRATS, FROM THE
LIBERALS.
>> FROM PROGRESSIVE GROUPS AND
YOU KNOW, IT WAS SORT OF A
STRATEGY MEMO MEANT TO
ILLUSTRATE, HERE'S HOW WE CAN
ATTACK THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND
SENATE LEADERSHIP.
I TALKED TO A REPUBLICAN
STRATEGIST WHO SAID, THE ONLY
THING IS THEY LET IT OUT IN THE
OPEN BUT DEMOCRATS PROBABLY
FEEL THIS IS EXACTLY THE
STRATEGY EMPLOYED BY
REPUBLICANS FOUR TO FIVE YEARS
AGO.
WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO
SEE IT NOW.
>> THERE'S NOTHING NEW AS FAR
AS THE DESIRE OF THE STRATEGY.
MAYBE SOME STRATEGIC MOVES.
>> WE'RE A SOUTHERN STATE.
THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS WE DON'T
SAY OUT LOUD.
>> UNLESS YOU'RE IN POLITICS.
>> WE HAVE A POSSUM DROP!
>> THIS MEMO TALKS ABOUT THINGS
OUT LOUD IN TEMPLES OF
POLITICAL POSTURE THAT YOU
DON'T TYPICALLY SEE PEOPLE --
>> GOT TO STOP YOU, BUT GO TO
THE WRAP.
IT'S THERE NIGHTLY, FOUR NIGHTS
A WEEK.
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