1 00:00:02,235 --> 00:00:04,704 NORTH CAROLINA CHANNEL IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FINANCIAL 2 00:00:04,804 --> 00:00:06,906 CONTRIBUTIONS OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU, WHO SUPPORT THE UNC-TV 3 00:00:07,007 --> 00:00:08,942 NETWORK. 4 00:00:10,877 --> 00:00:13,780 (patriotic orchestral music) 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:35,969 ♪ 6 00:00:40,974 --> 00:00:50,984 (room chatter) 7 00:01:51,111 --> 00:02:01,187 (room chatter) 8 00:03:01,314 --> 00:03:11,324 (room chatter) 9 00:04:11,451 --> 00:04:21,461 (room chatter) 10 00:05:21,587 --> 00:05:31,597 (room chatter) 11 00:06:31,724 --> 00:06:41,734 (room chatter) 12 00:07:13,366 --> 00:07:16,369 [bangs gavel] 13 00:07:21,374 --> 00:07:31,384 (room chatter) 14 00:07:56,776 --> 00:07:58,678 >> WELCOME, EVERYBODY. 15 00:07:58,778 --> 00:08:04,450 THIS BEING THE TIME AND PLACE ESTABLISHED BY GENERAL STATUTE 16 00:08:04,550 --> 00:08:09,422 120-11.1 FOR THE CONVENING OF THE 2017 SESSION OF THE GENERAL 17 00:08:09,522 --> 00:08:12,892 ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA, THE SENATE WILL BE IN ORDER. 18 00:08:12,992 --> 00:08:16,195 THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS OF THE 2015 SESSION WILL CLEAR THE AISLES 19 00:08:16,295 --> 00:08:18,097 AND CLOSE THE DOORS. 20 00:08:18,197 --> 00:08:21,200 SENATORS-ELECT AND GUESTS, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. 21 00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:24,036 THE CHAIR TAKES GREAT PLEASURE IN EXTENDING COURTESIES OF THE 22 00:08:24,136 --> 00:08:27,173 FLOOR TO THE FAMILIES AND GUESTS OF OUR SENATORS AND OUR 23 00:08:27,273 --> 00:08:29,275 SENATORS-ELECT. 24 00:08:29,375 --> 00:08:32,612 COURTESIES OF THE GALLERY ARE EXTENDED TO ALL VISITORS PRESENT 25 00:08:32,712 --> 00:08:36,516 TOY, AND WE INVITE YOU TO RETURN AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. 26 00:08:36,616 --> 00:08:41,220 AND A VERY SPECIAL COURTESY IS EXTENDED TO MY FAMILY, MY WIFE, 27 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,557 ALICE, AND TWO OF MY CHILDREN, JAKE AND OLIVIA. 28 00:08:44,657 --> 00:08:46,893 THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY. 29 00:08:46,993 --> 00:08:51,697 AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND SENATORS-ELECT AND GUESTS 30 00:08:51,797 --> 00:08:54,367 TO PLEASE SILENCE ALL OF YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING THESE 31 00:08:54,467 --> 00:08:56,802 PROCEEDINGS. 32 00:08:56,903 --> 00:09:03,242 THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS IS RECOGNIZED. 33 00:09:03,342 --> 00:09:10,416 >> MR. PRESIDENT, THE HONORABLE MARK MARTIN, CHIEF JUSTICE OF 34 00:09:10,516 --> 00:09:18,724 THE NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT AND THE HONORABLE PHILIP BERGER 35 00:09:18,824 --> 00:09:24,730 ARE AT THE DOOR AND AWAIT YOUR DIRECTION. 36 00:09:24,830 --> 00:09:26,132 >> PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR. 37 00:09:26,232 --> 00:09:30,870 ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS WILL PLEASE STAND. 38 00:09:30,970 --> 00:09:38,511 [APPLAUSE] 39 00:09:46,819 --> 00:09:54,360 >> CHIEF JUSTICE MARTIN AND JUDGE BERGER, THE SENATE 40 00:09:54,460 --> 00:09:56,395 WELCOMES YOU INTO ITS CHAMBER. 41 00:09:56,495 --> 00:09:59,999 WE'RE HAPPEN TO EXTEND COURTESIES OF THE FLOOR TO YOU. 42 00:10:00,099 --> 00:10:01,500 SERGEANT-AT-ARMS IS RECOGNIZED. 43 00:10:01,601 --> 00:10:06,505 >> MR. PRESIDENT, MISS EMILY BERGER AND HER FATHER, KEVIN 44 00:10:06,606 --> 00:10:09,208 BERGER, ARE AT THE DOOR AND AWAIT YOUR DIRECTION. 45 00:10:09,308 --> 00:10:11,844 >> SERGEANT-AT-ARMS WILL OPEN THE DOORS AND ESCORT MISS EMILY 46 00:10:11,944 --> 00:10:20,620 BERGER AND HER FATHER, KEVIN, TO THE WELL OF THE CHAMBER. 47 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:30,930 [APPLAUSE] 48 00:10:34,533 --> 00:10:39,238 >> WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER, MISS BERGER. 49 00:10:39,338 --> 00:10:43,909 WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE CEREMONIES TODAY. 50 00:10:44,010 --> 00:10:47,513 ALL SENATORS-ELECT AND GUESTS IN THE CHAMBER AND GALLERY, YOU'RE 51 00:10:47,613 --> 00:10:50,750 ALREADY STANDING, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRAYER. 52 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:54,654 LEADING US IN PRAYER AS WE BEGIN IN 2017 SESSION OF THE NORTH 53 00:10:54,754 --> 00:10:57,823 CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS MR. KENNY JONES OF CAPITAL 54 00:10:57,923 --> 00:11:04,997 COMMUNITY CHURCH. 55 00:11:05,097 --> 00:11:07,900 >> BOW YOUR HEADS AND LETS PRAY. 56 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:12,304 DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUFFICIENT GRACE AND 57 00:11:12,405 --> 00:11:14,173 ALLOWING US TO BE PART OF THIS DAY. 58 00:11:14,273 --> 00:11:17,410 WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE STRENGTH AND KNOWLEDGE YOU PROVIDE FOR 59 00:11:17,510 --> 00:11:21,414 EACH OF US IN ORDER FOR OUR LORDS TO BE FULL OF YOUR GLORY. 60 00:11:21,514 --> 00:11:23,315 WE PLEAD FOR YOUR MIGHTY HAND. 61 00:11:23,416 --> 00:11:27,520 I PRAY FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE SENATE BODY AS THEY EMBARK ON A 62 00:11:27,620 --> 00:11:30,890 NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR AND HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR HELP BY GIVING YOUR 63 00:11:30,990 --> 00:11:33,325 WISDOM AND GUIDANCE ON ALL MATTERS REGARDING LEGISLATION 64 00:11:33,426 --> 00:11:37,229 FOR NORTH CAROLINA. 65 00:11:37,329 --> 00:11:40,066 FATHER, YOUR WORDS SAYS IN PROVERBS IF YOU CALL OUT FOR 66 00:11:40,166 --> 00:11:42,768 INSIGHT AND RAISE YOUR VOICE FOR UNDERSTANDING, IF YOU SEEK IT 67 00:11:42,868 --> 00:11:46,839 LIKE SILVER AND SEARCH FOR IT AS FOR HIDDEN TREASURES, THEN 68 00:11:46,939 --> 00:11:48,274 YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD. 69 00:11:48,374 --> 00:11:50,810 AND, FATHER, WE ALSO KNOW ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD AND WE 70 00:11:50,910 --> 00:11:53,646 ASK THAT YOU GIVE IT UPON EACH MEMBER TO KNOW WISDOM AND 71 00:11:53,746 --> 00:11:59,552 INSTRUCTION, TO UNDERSTAND WORDS OF INSIGHT, TO RECEIVE 72 00:11:59,652 --> 00:12:07,660 INSTRUCTION AND WISE DEALING RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUSTICE. 73 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,297 SERVE HUMBLY AND REMEMBER YOUR FAVOR AND ALLOW THEM TO BE 74 00:12:11,397 --> 00:12:13,099 MEMBERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA SENATE. 75 00:12:13,199 --> 00:12:15,634 FATHER, I DO PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES. 76 00:12:15,735 --> 00:12:18,270 THEY WILL HAVE THE STRENGTH, LOVE AND PROTECTION AS THEY 77 00:12:18,370 --> 00:12:19,939 SERVE ALONGSIDE. 78 00:12:20,039 --> 00:12:22,208 WE PRAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON JESUS' NAME. 79 00:12:22,308 --> 00:12:25,811 AMEN. 80 00:12:25,911 --> 00:12:27,947 >> SERGEANT-AT-ARMS IS RECOGNIZED. 81 00:12:28,047 --> 00:12:35,721 >> MR. PRESIDENT, THE ARMY JUNIOR ROTC COLOR GUARD OF JOHN 82 00:12:35,821 --> 00:12:39,158 MOTLEY MOREHEAD HIGH SCHOOL FROM EDEN, NORTH CAROLINA, IS AT THE 83 00:12:39,258 --> 00:12:44,730 DOOR TO PRESENT THE COLORS AND AWAITS YOUR INSTRUCTION. 84 00:12:44,830 --> 00:12:50,669 >> SERGEANT-AT-ARMS WILL OPEN THE DOORS FOR THE ARMY JUNIOR 85 00:12:50,770 --> 00:12:56,108 ROTC CADETS FROM JOHN MOTLEY MOREHEAD HIGH SCHOOL IN EDEN, 86 00:12:56,208 --> 00:13:07,753 NORTH CAROLINA. 87 00:13:07,853 --> 00:13:10,923 >> [OFF MICROPHONE] 88 00:13:11,023 --> 00:13:16,729 >> PERMISSION IS GRANTED. 89 00:13:36,315 --> 00:13:38,751 >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF 90 00:13:38,851 --> 00:13:42,655 AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION 91 00:13:42,755 --> 00:13:59,505 UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 92 00:14:31,136 --> 00:14:38,477 ♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE ♪ ♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ 93 00:14:38,577 --> 00:14:44,316 ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST 94 00:14:44,416 --> 00:14:51,423 GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT 95 00:14:51,523 --> 00:15:00,733 STARS ♪ ♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ 96 00:15:00,833 --> 00:15:10,409 ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED ♪ ♪ WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ 97 00:15:10,509 --> 00:15:19,652 ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE ♪ ♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ 98 00:15:19,752 --> 00:15:25,658 ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪ ♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL 99 00:15:25,758 --> 00:15:30,930 THERE ♪ ♪ O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED 100 00:15:31,030 --> 00:15:48,380 BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ FOR THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ 101 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:55,788 ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪♪♪ 102 00:15:56,889 --> 00:16:04,697 [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] 103 00:16:13,105 --> 00:16:15,240 >> EMILY, THAT WAS WONDERFUL! 104 00:16:15,341 --> 00:16:17,242 EMILY'S 8 YEARS OLD, EVERYBODY. 105 00:16:17,343 --> 00:16:19,378 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, EMILY. 106 00:16:19,478 --> 00:16:21,914 COLOR GUARD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WELL AND BEING 107 00:16:22,014 --> 00:16:23,182 PART OF THIS CEREMONY. 108 00:16:23,282 --> 00:16:26,652 THE COLOR GUARD IS DISMISSED, AND MISS EMILY BERGER IS 109 00:16:26,752 --> 00:16:31,924 DISMISSED AS WELL. 110 00:16:45,237 --> 00:16:54,246 YOU MAY BE SEATED. 111 00:16:54,346 --> 00:16:57,116 THE CLERK WILL NOW READ THE CERTIFICATION OF ELECTIONS 112 00:16:57,216 --> 00:16:59,918 RECEIVED FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE HONORABLE ELAINE 113 00:17:00,019 --> 00:17:03,722 MARSHALL, AND CALL THE ROLL OF THE SENATORS-ELECT BY DISTRICT. 114 00:17:03,822 --> 00:17:07,960 WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE ANSWER PRESENT AND REMAIN 115 00:17:08,060 --> 00:17:10,029 STANDING. 116 00:17:10,129 --> 00:17:14,967 THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. 117 00:17:15,067 --> 00:17:18,437 >> THE 2017 NORTH CAROLINA SENATE, I, ELAINE MARSHALL, 118 00:17:18,537 --> 00:17:21,140 SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, DO HERE BY 119 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,778 CERTIFY THAT THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS MET FRIDAY, THE 9th 120 00:17:25,878 --> 00:17:31,717 DAY OF DECEMBER, A.D., 2016, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 123 OF 121 00:17:31,817 --> 00:17:35,087 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY STATUTES OF NORTH CAROLINA AT WHICH TIME THE 122 00:17:35,187 --> 00:17:37,556 BOARD DID OPEN AND JUDICIALLY DETERMINE THE RETURNS OF VOTES 123 00:17:37,656 --> 00:17:41,493 CAST IN THE ELECTION HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, 2016. 124 00:17:41,593 --> 00:17:45,597 AND CERTIFIED TO ME THE PERSONS DULY ELECTED AS MEMBERS OF THE 125 00:17:45,697 --> 00:17:49,635 SENATE FROM THE VARIOUS SENATE DISTRICTS COMPRISING OF MORE 126 00:17:49,735 --> 00:17:54,807 THAN ONE COUNTY AND ALL OTHERS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED TO ME IN THE 127 00:17:54,907 --> 00:17:58,143 ABSTRACT OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AS HAVING THE HIGHEST 128 00:17:58,243 --> 00:18:01,780 NUMBER OF VOTES CAST IN THE ELECTIONS IN DISTRICTS COMPOSED 129 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:07,152 OF ONE COUNTY ONLY FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 2017 TO WITH 130 00:18:07,252 --> 00:18:09,621 IT: FIRST, BILL COOK. 131 00:18:09,721 --> 00:18:13,225 >> PRESENT. 132 00:18:13,325 --> 00:18:16,061 >> 2nd, NORMAN SANDERSON. 133 00:18:16,161 --> 00:18:19,331 >> PRESENT. 134 00:18:19,431 --> 00:18:21,800 >> 3rd, ERICA SMITH-INGRAM. 135 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:23,001 >> PRESENT. 136 00:18:23,102 --> 00:18:25,871 >> 4th, ANGELA R. BRYANT. 137 00:18:25,971 --> 00:18:26,438 >> PRESENT. 138 00:18:26,538 --> 00:18:28,474 >> 5th, DON DAVIS. 139 00:18:28,574 --> 00:18:29,274 >> PRESENT. 140 00:18:29,374 --> 00:18:30,943 >> 6th, HARRY BROWN. 141 00:18:31,043 --> 00:18:32,644 >> PRESENT. 142 00:18:32,744 --> 00:18:34,847 >> 7th, LOUIS M. PATE JR. 143 00:18:34,947 --> 00:18:35,747 >> PRESENT. 144 00:18:35,848 --> 00:18:38,917 >> 8 THEIR, BILL RABON. 145 00:18:39,017 --> 00:18:40,652 >> PRESENT. 146 00:18:40,752 --> 00:18:42,988 >> 9 THEIR, MICHAEL LEE. 147 00:18:43,088 --> 00:18:43,856 >> PRESENT. 148 00:18:43,956 --> 00:18:45,791 >> 10th, BRENT JACKSON. 149 00:18:45,891 --> 00:18:49,528 >> PRESENT. 150 00:18:49,628 --> 00:18:52,764 >> 11th, RICK HORNER. 151 00:18:52,865 --> 00:18:53,665 >> PRESENT. 152 00:18:53,765 --> 00:18:54,967 >> 12th, RONALD RABIN. 153 00:18:55,067 --> 00:18:58,270 >> PRESENT. 154 00:18:58,370 --> 00:19:02,875 >> 13th, DANNY EARL J.R. BRITT. 155 00:19:02,975 --> 00:19:03,442 >> PRESENT. 156 00:19:03,542 --> 00:19:04,977 >> 14th, DAN BLUE. 157 00:19:05,077 --> 00:19:06,678 >> PRESENT. 158 00:19:06,778 --> 00:19:08,714 >> 15th, JOHN ALEXANDER. 159 00:19:08,814 --> 00:19:09,915 >> PRESENT. 160 00:19:10,015 --> 00:19:12,151 >> 16th, JAY CHAUDHURI. 161 00:19:12,251 --> 00:19:13,919 >> PRESENT. 162 00:19:14,019 --> 00:19:16,054 >> 17th, TAMARA BARRINGER. 163 00:19:16,155 --> 00:19:18,323 >> PRESENT. 164 00:19:18,423 --> 00:19:19,725 >> 18th, CHAD BAREFOOT. 165 00:19:19,825 --> 00:19:22,027 >> PRESENT. 166 00:19:22,127 --> 00:19:24,796 >> 19th, WESLEY MEREDITH. 167 00:19:24,897 --> 00:19:25,597 >> PRESENT. 168 00:19:25,697 --> 00:19:28,200 >> 20th, FLOYD B. McKISSICK, JR. 169 00:19:28,300 --> 00:19:30,068 >> PRESENT. 170 00:19:30,169 --> 00:19:32,571 >> 21st, BEN CLARK. 171 00:19:32,671 --> 00:19:33,172 >> PRESENT. 172 00:19:33,272 --> 00:19:35,207 >> 22nd, MIKE WOODARD. 173 00:19:35,307 --> 00:19:36,842 >> PRESENT. 174 00:19:36,942 --> 00:19:40,746 >> 23rd, VALERIE P. FOUSHEE. 175 00:19:40,846 --> 00:19:41,780 >> PRESENT. 176 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:43,849 >> 24th, RICK GUNN. 177 00:19:43,949 --> 00:19:44,883 >> PRESENT. 178 00:19:44,983 --> 00:19:47,853 >> 25th, TOM McINNIS. 179 00:19:47,953 --> 00:19:49,188 >> PRESENT. 180 00:19:49,288 --> 00:19:56,261 >> 26th, PHILIP B. PHIL BERGER. 181 00:19:56,361 --> 00:19:57,196 >> PRESENT. 182 00:19:57,296 --> 00:20:00,499 >> 27th, TRUDY WADE. 183 00:20:00,599 --> 00:20:01,567 >> PRESENT. 184 00:20:01,667 --> 00:20:04,636 >> 28th, GLADYS A. ROBINSON. 185 00:20:04,736 --> 00:20:05,337 >> PRESENT. 186 00:20:05,437 --> 00:20:08,774 >> 29th, JERRY W. TILLMAN. 187 00:20:08,874 --> 00:20:11,543 >> PRESENT. 188 00:20:11,643 --> 00:20:15,414 >> 30th, SHIRLEY BLACKBURN RANDLEMAN. 189 00:20:15,514 --> 00:20:16,081 >> PRESENT. 190 00:20:16,181 --> 00:20:21,653 >> 31st, JOYCE KRAWIEC. 191 00:20:21,753 --> 00:20:22,287 >> PRESENT. 192 00:20:22,387 --> 00:20:26,725 >> 32nd, PAUL LOWE JR. 193 00:20:26,825 --> 00:20:28,560 >> PRESENT. 194 00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:30,862 >> 33rd, CATHY DUN. 195 00:20:30,963 --> 00:20:31,863 >> PRESENT. 196 00:20:31,964 --> 00:20:33,732 >> 34th, ANDREW BROCK. 197 00:20:33,832 --> 00:20:34,366 >> PRESENT. 198 00:20:34,466 --> 00:20:40,839 >> 35th TOMMY TUCKER. 199 00:20:40,939 --> 00:20:42,107 >> PRESENT. 200 00:20:42,207 --> 00:20:43,942 >> 36th, PAUL NEWTON. 201 00:20:44,042 --> 00:20:44,543 >> PRESENT. 202 00:20:44,643 --> 00:20:46,511 >> 37th JEFF JACKSON. 203 00:20:46,612 --> 00:20:47,179 >> PRESENT. 204 00:20:47,279 --> 00:20:48,714 >> 38th DOLE D.M. FORD. 205 00:20:48,814 --> 00:20:49,314 >> PRESENT. 206 00:20:49,414 --> 00:20:51,416 >> 39th DAN BISHOP. 207 00:20:51,516 --> 00:20:52,317 >> PRESENT. 208 00:20:52,417 --> 00:20:54,152 >> 40th, JOYCE WADDELL. 209 00:20:54,253 --> 00:20:54,753 >> PRESENT. 210 00:20:54,853 --> 00:20:56,188 >> 41st, JEFF TARTE. 211 00:20:56,288 --> 00:20:56,788 >> PRESENT. 212 00:20:56,888 --> 00:20:58,590 >> 42nd, ANDY WELLS. 213 00:20:58,690 --> 00:20:59,291 >> PRESENT. 214 00:20:59,391 --> 00:21:03,895 >> 43rd, KATHY HARRINGTON. 215 00:21:03,996 --> 00:21:04,529 >> PRESENT. 216 00:21:04,630 --> 00:21:07,466 >> 44th, DAVID L. CURTIS. 217 00:21:07,566 --> 00:21:08,233 >> PRESENT. 218 00:21:08,333 --> 00:21:11,670 >> 45th, DEANNA BALLARD. 219 00:21:11,770 --> 00:21:12,671 >> PRESENT. 220 00:21:12,771 --> 00:21:15,240 >> 46th, WARREN DANIEL. 221 00:21:15,340 --> 00:21:16,241 >> PRESENT. 222 00:21:16,341 --> 00:21:19,378 >> 47th, RALPH HISE. 223 00:21:19,478 --> 00:21:20,279 >> PRESENT. 224 00:21:20,379 --> 00:21:22,748 >> 48th, CHUCK EDWARDS. 225 00:21:22,848 --> 00:21:23,382 >> PRESENT. 226 00:21:23,482 --> 00:21:27,452 >> 49th, TERRY VAN DUYN. 227 00:21:27,552 --> 00:21:28,353 >> PRESENT. 228 00:21:28,453 --> 00:21:29,288 >> 50th, JIM DAVIS. 229 00:21:29,388 --> 00:21:31,456 >> PRESENT. 230 00:21:31,556 --> 00:21:41,900 >> IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE AFFIXED MY HAND AND AFFIXED MY 231 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:46,271 OFFICIAL SEAL, ELAINE MARSHALL, SECRETARY OF STATE. 232 00:21:46,371 --> 00:21:49,241 >> SENATORS-ELECT, YOU WILL FIND YOUR HOLY BOOK ON YOUR DESK. 233 00:21:49,341 --> 00:21:51,743 SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE YOUR PERSONAL VOLUME. 234 00:21:51,843 --> 00:21:55,480 AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR WILL INVITE YOUR SPOUSE OR GUEST TO 235 00:21:55,580 --> 00:22:02,754 STAND WITH YOU AS YOU TAKE YOUR OATH OF OFFICE. 236 00:22:02,854 --> 00:22:06,191 THE OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE ADMINISTERED TO THE 237 00:22:06,291 --> 00:22:09,561 SENATORS-ELECT BY THE HONORABLE MARK MARTIN, CHIEF JUSTICE OF 238 00:22:09,661 --> 00:22:13,632 THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA. 239 00:22:13,732 --> 00:22:16,735 >> PLEASE PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON YOUR BIBLE AND RAISE YOUR 240 00:22:16,835 --> 00:22:18,470 RIGHT HAND. 241 00:22:18,570 --> 00:22:22,741 DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE 242 00:22:22,841 --> 00:22:26,945 CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND DO YOU 243 00:22:27,045 --> 00:22:30,749 SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL 244 00:22:30,849 --> 00:22:35,320 AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO 245 00:22:35,420 --> 00:22:37,389 THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND AUTHORITIES WHICH ARE OR MAY BE 246 00:22:37,489 --> 00:22:42,928 ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF, AND THAT YOU WILL 247 00:22:43,028 --> 00:22:50,869 ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN THE CONSTITUTION OF SAID STATE 248 00:22:50,969 --> 00:22:53,572 NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 249 00:22:53,672 --> 00:22:56,742 STATES TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR ABILITY, AND DO YOU 250 00:22:56,842 --> 00:23:02,681 SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT YOU WILL DISCHARGE YOUR DUTIES 251 00:23:02,781 --> 00:23:08,754 OF YOUR OFFICE AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NORTH 252 00:23:08,854 --> 00:23:13,892 CAROLINA TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, SO HELP YOU GOD. 253 00:23:13,992 --> 00:23:18,330 >> [CHORUS OF I DO'S] 254 00:23:18,430 --> 00:23:19,231 >> CONGRATULATIONS. 255 00:23:19,331 --> 00:23:23,268 [APPLAUSE] 256 00:23:31,877 --> 00:23:33,979 >> CONGRATULATIONS, SENATORS, YOU CAN BE SEATED ALONG WITH 257 00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:35,247 YOUR GUESTS. 258 00:23:35,347 --> 00:23:39,584 50 SENATORS BEING PRESENT, HAVING TAKEN THE OATH OF OFFICE, 259 00:23:39,684 --> 00:23:42,454 I DECLARE A QUORUM PRESENT AND QUALIFIED. 260 00:23:42,554 --> 00:23:45,857 THE SENATE WILL NOW PROCEED WITH THE ELECTION OF A PRESIDENT PRO 261 00:23:45,957 --> 00:23:48,693 TEM AS ESTABLISHED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA 262 00:23:48,794 --> 00:23:52,197 WHO SHALL SERVE UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF OFFICE 263 00:23:52,297 --> 00:23:53,532 AS SENATOR. 264 00:23:53,632 --> 00:23:57,602 THE CHAIR DECLARES NOMINATIONS ARE IN ORDER FOR THE OFFICE OF 265 00:23:57,702 --> 00:24:00,071 PRESIDENT PRO TEM FOR THE 2017 SENATOR. 266 00:24:00,172 --> 00:24:02,140 SENATOR BROWN, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 267 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,109 >> TO MAKE A NOMINATION. 268 00:24:04,209 --> 00:24:05,777 >> SENATOR BROWN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 269 00:24:05,877 --> 00:24:08,280 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 270 00:24:08,380 --> 00:24:10,849 MEMBERS, SENATOR PHIL BERGER HAS BEEN THE PRO TEM OF THE SENATE 271 00:24:10,949 --> 00:24:12,250 FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS. 272 00:24:12,350 --> 00:24:17,589 HE HAS SERVED THIS BODY FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS. 273 00:24:17,689 --> 00:24:20,892 SENATOR BERGER HAS SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY, I THINK, WITH 274 00:24:20,992 --> 00:24:22,260 DISTINCTION AND HONOR. 275 00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:26,198 I THINK HE HAS SERVED IN A WAY THAT HE HAS ALLOWED FULL DEBATE 276 00:24:26,298 --> 00:24:28,667 ON THE SENATE FLOOR. 277 00:24:28,767 --> 00:24:35,307 I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER BEEN A TIME THAT -- SINCE SENATOR 278 00:24:35,407 --> 00:24:36,408 BERGER'S CALLED THE QUESTION. 279 00:24:36,508 --> 00:24:38,610 HE'S ALLOWED FULL DEBATE EACH AND EVERY TIME. 280 00:24:38,710 --> 00:24:43,682 SENATOR BERGER, AS YOU CAN TELL, HAS A GREAT FAMIY. 281 00:24:43,782 --> 00:24:46,318 HE'S AN ESTABLISHED ATTORNEY IN EDEN, NORTH CAROLINA. 282 00:24:46,418 --> 00:24:48,119 HE'S A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE. 283 00:24:48,220 --> 00:24:52,724 AND HE HAS SERVED, I THINK, THIS BODY WITH DISTINCTION AND HONOR. 284 00:24:52,824 --> 00:24:58,630 AND HAVING SAID THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I NOMINATE PHIL 285 00:24:58,730 --> 00:25:07,606 BERGER TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE 2017 SENATE. 286 00:25:07,706 --> 00:25:09,975 >> SENATOR RABON, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 287 00:25:10,075 --> 00:25:13,879 >> MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S A GREAT HONOR THAT I RISE TO SECOND THE 288 00:25:13,979 --> 00:25:16,314 NOMINATION OF SENATOR PHIL BERGER AS PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF 289 00:25:16,414 --> 00:25:22,554 THE 2017 NORTH CAROLINA SENATE. 290 00:25:22,654 --> 00:25:24,456 SENATOR BROWN PRETTY WELL SUMMED IT UP. 291 00:25:24,556 --> 00:25:28,426 I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THAT I HAVE ENJOYED AND 292 00:25:28,527 --> 00:25:32,364 WE HAVE ALL ENJOYED THE LEADERSHIP OF SENATOR BERGER, 293 00:25:32,464 --> 00:25:34,432 AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING THAT LEADERSHIP INTO THE 294 00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:38,203 SUNLIGHT OF THE NEXT BIENNIUM. 295 00:25:38,303 --> 00:25:43,041 AND I WOULD FURTHER MOVE THAT THE NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND 296 00:25:43,141 --> 00:25:48,513 ACCEPTED BY ACCLAMATION. 297 00:25:48,613 --> 00:25:50,248 >> FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 298 00:25:50,348 --> 00:25:51,550 >> TO SECOND THE MOTION. 299 00:25:51,650 --> 00:25:54,553 >> SENATOR TUCKER SECONDS THE MOTION. 300 00:25:54,653 --> 00:25:59,057 THE MOTION IS THAT NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND THE NOMINATION OF 301 00:25:59,157 --> 00:26:03,028 SENATOR PHIL BERGER AS PRESIDENT PRO TEM BE ACCEPTED BY 302 00:26:03,128 --> 00:26:03,929 ACCLAMATION. 303 00:26:04,029 --> 00:26:04,863 IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? 304 00:26:04,963 --> 00:26:09,501 IF NOT, THOSE IN FAVOR WILL SAY AYE. 305 00:26:09,601 --> 00:26:10,035 OPPOSED NO. 306 00:26:10,135 --> 00:26:12,604 THE AYES HAVE IT. 307 00:26:12,704 --> 00:26:17,075 THE CHAIR DECLARES SENATOR PHIL BERGER UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED TO 308 00:26:17,175 --> 00:26:22,447 THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE 2017 SENATE. 309 00:26:22,547 --> 00:26:25,317 SENATOR BROWN, SENATOR BLUE, SENATOR TUCKER, AND SENATOR 310 00:26:25,417 --> 00:26:33,725 RANDLEMAN ARE APPOINTED AS A COMMITTEE TO ESCORT PHIL BERGER 311 00:26:33,825 --> 00:26:43,435 TO THE WELL OF THE SENATE TO RECEIVE HIS OATH OF OFFICE. 312 00:26:51,743 --> 00:27:11,196 [APPLAUSE] 313 00:27:12,130 --> 00:27:14,799 >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 314 00:27:14,899 --> 00:27:19,971 >> MR. PRESIDENT, WE PRESENT PRESIDENT PRO TEM-ELECT OF 2017 315 00:27:20,071 --> 00:27:20,805 SESSION, SENATOR PHIL BERGER. 316 00:27:20,905 --> 00:27:31,483 [APPLAUSE] 317 00:27:31,583 --> 00:27:32,917 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR BROWN. 318 00:27:33,018 --> 00:27:35,553 THE ESCORT COMMITTEE MAY RETURN TO THEIR SEATS. 319 00:27:35,654 --> 00:27:41,059 THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS MAY ESCORT SENATOR BERGER'S WIFE PAT TO 320 00:27:41,159 --> 00:27:49,934 STAND WITH THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM-ELECT. 321 00:27:50,035 --> 00:27:52,871 THE HONORABLE PHILIP BERGER JR., JUDGE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA 322 00:27:52,971 --> 00:28:07,385 COURT OF APPEALS, WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH. 323 00:28:07,485 --> 00:28:10,588 >> DO YOU, PHIL BERGER, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE 324 00:28:10,689 --> 00:28:16,094 CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES SO HELP YOU GOD? 325 00:28:16,194 --> 00:28:20,065 DO YOU SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL 326 00:28:20,165 --> 00:28:25,370 AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THE 327 00:28:25,470 --> 00:28:26,771 CONSTITUTIONAL POWER WHICH MAY BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE 328 00:28:26,871 --> 00:28:28,807 GOVERNMENT THEREOF AND WILL YOU ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN 329 00:28:28,907 --> 00:28:34,646 AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF SAID STATE NOT 330 00:28:34,746 --> 00:28:35,947 INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 331 00:28:36,047 --> 00:28:39,317 STATES TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY? 332 00:28:39,417 --> 00:28:42,987 DO YOU SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY 333 00:28:43,088 --> 00:28:47,158 DISCHARGE YOUR DUTIES AS PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE 334 00:28:47,258 --> 00:28:51,129 2017 GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE BEST OF YOUR SKILL AND ABILITY, 335 00:28:51,229 --> 00:28:51,896 SO HELP YOU GOD? 336 00:28:51,996 --> 00:28:53,565 >> I DO, SO HELP ME GOD. 337 00:28:53,665 --> 00:29:08,179 [APPLAUSE] 338 00:29:11,149 --> 00:29:12,684 >> CONGRATULATIONS, SENATOR BERGER. 339 00:29:12,784 --> 00:29:15,420 THE CHAIR HAS THE GREAT HONOR OF RECOGNIZING YOU TO ADDRESS THE 340 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:21,292 SENATE AND OUR GUESTS. 341 00:29:21,392 --> 00:29:26,197 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND GUESTS, PLEASE BE SEATED. 342 00:29:36,608 --> 00:29:39,778 >> THEY REALLY GRAB YOU AND PULL YOU OUT THE BACK WAY AND YOU 343 00:29:39,878 --> 00:29:42,914 DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT EVERYTHING TURNS OUT OKAY UNTIL 344 00:29:43,014 --> 00:29:44,382 THEY OPEN THE DOORS. 345 00:29:44,482 --> 00:29:48,019 SO I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS FOR THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE 346 00:29:48,119 --> 00:29:53,057 PLACED IN ME, AND I CAN PROMISE YOU I WILL DO THE BEST JOB THAT 347 00:29:53,158 --> 00:29:56,394 I CAN. 348 00:29:56,494 --> 00:30:02,367 AS FORMER SENATOR APODACA WOULD SAY, THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS AND 349 00:30:02,467 --> 00:30:03,735 THE BAD NEWS. 350 00:30:03,835 --> 00:30:07,472 I THANK EVERYONE IN THE CHAMBER FOR THE WARM WELCOME, AND I'M 351 00:30:07,572 --> 00:30:10,508 LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE 352 00:30:10,608 --> 00:30:14,679 NORTH CAROLINA SENATE IN THE UPCOMING SESSION AND OVER THE 353 00:30:14,779 --> 00:30:16,381 NEXT TWO YEARS. 354 00:30:16,481 --> 00:30:20,251 I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE 355 00:30:20,351 --> 00:30:23,888 WITH US TODAY, AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THEIR NAMES SEVERAL 356 00:30:23,988 --> 00:30:24,422 TIMES. 357 00:30:24,522 --> 00:30:25,456 FIRST, MY FAMILY. 358 00:30:25,557 --> 00:30:28,159 MY WIFE, PAT, MY SONS, PHIL JR. 359 00:30:28,259 --> 00:30:35,300 AND KEVIN, MY DAUGHTER ASHLEY, KEVIN'S WIFE AMBER, ASHLEY'S 360 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:41,139 HUSBAND JOSH, AND MY GRANDCHILDREN, PHILIP III, WIL, 361 00:30:41,239 --> 00:30:45,677 JACKSON, AND EMILY. 362 00:30:45,777 --> 00:30:51,316 EMILY JUST MADE ME SO PROUD WHEN SHE SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. 363 00:30:51,416 --> 00:30:57,956 AND I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE ME THAT MOMENT TO FAVOR THAT. 364 00:30:58,056 --> 00:31:00,058 SO THANK YOU, EMILY. 365 00:31:00,158 --> 00:31:03,428 THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY AND I KNOW FOR EVERYBODY 366 00:31:03,528 --> 00:31:08,900 IN THIS CHAMBER, FOR YOUR FAMILY, IS A CRITICAL PART OF 367 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,502 OUR ABILITY TO DO WHAT WE DO HERE IN THE NORTH CAROLINA 368 00:31:11,603 --> 00:31:12,837 SENATE. 369 00:31:12,937 --> 00:31:15,540 I WANT TO THANK NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE MARK 370 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,343 MARTIN FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE CEREMONY, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR 371 00:31:18,443 --> 00:31:21,479 DAN FOREST, THANK YOU FOR PRESIDING AND FOR WHAT YOU DO 372 00:31:21,579 --> 00:31:26,150 FOR US EVERY DAY IN HELPING US WITH THE DEBATE AND MOVING 373 00:31:26,251 --> 00:31:27,352 THINGS ALONG. 374 00:31:27,452 --> 00:31:36,561 AND I WANT TO THANK THE ARMY JROTC. 375 00:31:36,661 --> 00:31:40,098 THEY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS CEREMONY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 376 00:31:40,198 --> 00:31:41,432 FOR US. 377 00:31:41,532 --> 00:31:44,002 IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE THEM HERE AND TO REALLY SEE THE YOUNG 378 00:31:44,102 --> 00:31:49,073 PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE COMING ALONG THAT ONE DAY WILL BE TAKING THE 379 00:31:49,173 --> 00:31:52,710 PLACE OF US OLDER FOLKS HERE IN THE CHAMBER. 380 00:31:52,810 --> 00:31:57,315 TODAY IS A DAY TO CELEBRATE THE CALL TO PUBLIC SERVICE. 381 00:31:57,415 --> 00:32:05,023 AFTER REVIEWING YOUR PLATFORM, AFTER LISTENING TO WHAT YOU HAVE 382 00:32:05,123 --> 00:32:09,494 TO SAY, AFTER ASKING YOU ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS, MILLIONS OF 383 00:32:09,594 --> 00:32:12,931 PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA WENT TO THE POLLS THIS PAST NOVEMBER AND 384 00:32:13,031 --> 00:32:16,234 ELECTED THE MEMBERS OF THIS CHAMBER TO REPRESENT THEIR 385 00:32:16,334 --> 00:32:20,471 COMMUNITIES AND TO BE THEIR VOICE IN STATE GOVERNMENT. 386 00:32:20,571 --> 00:32:23,608 WITH THAT COMES TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY. 387 00:32:23,708 --> 00:32:28,579 AND WITH THAT COMES A DUTY TO WORK HARD AND REMAIN FOCUSED ON 388 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:31,149 FULFILLING THE PROMISES THAT YOU MADE. 389 00:32:31,249 --> 00:32:33,818 AND, BOY, I CAN TELL YOU, YOU ARE GOING TO WORK HARD TH 390 00:32:33,918 --> 00:32:36,020 SESSION. 391 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:40,925 WHILE WE ARE TECHNICALLY A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE, YOU ALL 392 00:32:41,025 --> 00:32:44,696 KNOW, OR IF YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU WILL FIND OUT, THAT THERE IS 393 00:32:44,796 --> 00:32:47,298 NOTHING PART-TIME ABOUT BEING A STATE SENATOR. 394 00:32:47,398 --> 00:32:50,034 IT WILL REQUIRE A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO PUT THE BEST 395 00:32:50,134 --> 00:32:54,405 INTERESTS OF YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR COMMUNITY, AND YOUR STATE 396 00:32:54,505 --> 00:32:58,076 ABOVE YOURSELF. 397 00:32:58,176 --> 00:33:00,111 YOU WILL DEVOTE LONG, SOMETIMES DIFFICULT HOURS AT THE 398 00:33:00,211 --> 00:33:05,216 LEGISLATURE MOST DAYS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, AWAY FROM 399 00:33:05,316 --> 00:33:08,319 YOUR FAMILIES, AWAY FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND AWAY FROM THE 400 00:33:08,419 --> 00:33:10,221 COMFORTS OF YOUR HOME. 401 00:33:10,321 --> 00:33:14,525 FOR MOST OF YOU, YOU WILL SOMEHOW HAVE TO FIND TIME TO 402 00:33:14,625 --> 00:33:18,696 FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS OF YOUR REGULAR FULL-TIME JOB IN ORDER 403 00:33:18,796 --> 00:33:20,898 TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY. 404 00:33:20,999 --> 00:33:25,403 AND WHEN YOU FINALLY REACH THE END OF YOUR WORKWEEK HERE, YOU 405 00:33:25,503 --> 00:33:29,107 WILL LIKELY SPEND YOUR WEEKENDS ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES 406 00:33:29,207 --> 00:33:32,744 AND ATTENDING CIVIC EVENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT. 407 00:33:32,844 --> 00:33:37,482 THERE WILL BE LITTLE TO NO TIME FOR REST. 408 00:33:37,582 --> 00:33:39,617 LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE 409 00:33:39,717 --> 00:33:44,822 ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE, TO THE FAMILIES OF OUR MEMBERS, WHETHER 410 00:33:44,922 --> 00:33:48,393 YOU'RE ON THE FLOOR OR WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE GALLERY. 411 00:33:48,493 --> 00:33:51,596 THE SACRIFICES YOU MAKE IN SHARING YOUR LOVED ONES FOR 412 00:33:51,696 --> 00:33:54,866 COUNTLESS HOURS EVERY WEEK DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. 413 00:33:54,966 --> 00:33:58,403 WITHOUT A STRONG SUPPORT NETWORK AT HOME, OUR MEMBERS SIMPLY 414 00:33:58,503 --> 00:34:01,506 COULD NOT DO WHAT THEY DO. 415 00:34:01,606 --> 00:34:07,545 THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. 416 00:34:07,645 --> 00:34:10,848 THERE'S NO QUESTION IT TAKES A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE, A 417 00:34:10,948 --> 00:34:15,787 SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO DEFINE 418 00:34:15,887 --> 00:34:19,257 SPECIAL, TO SIGN UP FOR THIS JOB. 419 00:34:19,357 --> 00:34:23,795 IT'S WORTH IT IN THE END, HOWEVER, AND LET ME SHARE MY 420 00:34:23,895 --> 00:34:28,366 PERSPECTIVE AS TO WHY IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, 421 00:34:28,466 --> 00:34:31,436 PARTICULARLY THE PERSONAL CHALLENGES, SO MANY CONTINUE TO 422 00:34:31,536 --> 00:34:33,971 SIGN UP FOR THIS WORK. 423 00:34:34,072 --> 00:34:37,809 WE COME BACK BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE FRUITS OF OUR EFFORTS. 424 00:34:37,909 --> 00:34:41,279 WE KNOW WHAT IS DONE HERE CAN MAKE A POSITIVE AND MEANINGFUL 425 00:34:41,379 --> 00:34:46,284 DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR FEDERAL -- SORRY -- OF OUR 426 00:34:46,384 --> 00:34:48,119 FELLOW NORTH CAROLINIANS. 427 00:34:48,219 --> 00:34:52,290 JUST SIX SHORT YEARS AGO, OUR STATE FACED A DOUBLE-DIGIT 428 00:34:52,390 --> 00:34:54,959 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, FIFTH HIGHEST IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. 429 00:34:55,059 --> 00:34:58,629 NOW, DUE IN LARGE PART TO DIFFICULT DECISIONS MADE BY THE 430 00:34:58,729 --> 00:35:01,666 LEGISLATURE, OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS FALLEN IN HALF. 431 00:35:01,766 --> 00:35:07,371 AND NORTH CAROLINA IS CREATING JOBS FASTER THAN OTHER STATES. 432 00:35:07,472 --> 00:35:11,142 NORTH CAROLINA ONCE STRUGGLED WITH STAGNANT JOB GROWTH, 433 00:35:11,242 --> 00:35:14,612 DECLINING FAMILY INCOMES. 434 00:35:14,712 --> 00:35:19,150 NOW A THRIVING ECONOMY HAS GENERATED MORE THAN 450,000 NEW 435 00:35:19,250 --> 00:35:20,351 JOBS. 436 00:35:20,451 --> 00:35:22,887 THE NUMBER OF WORKING NORTH CAROLINIANS HAS SOARED TO 437 00:35:22,987 --> 00:35:24,188 HISTORIC HIGHS. 438 00:35:24,288 --> 00:35:27,258 AND MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS JUMPED BY 439 00:35:27,358 --> 00:35:29,160 CLOSE TO $10,000 PER HOUSEHOLD. 440 00:35:29,260 --> 00:35:34,432 OUR STATE AND ITS PRIVATE SECTOR ECONOMIC ENGINE WAS ONCE 441 00:35:34,532 --> 00:35:37,902 BURDENED WITH THE HIGHEST TAXES IN THE SOUTHEAST AND ONE OF THE 442 00:35:38,002 --> 00:35:40,037 WORST TAX CLIMATES IN THE NATION. 443 00:35:40,138 --> 00:35:43,741 NOW, AS A RESULT OF OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TAX CUTS 444 00:35:43,841 --> 00:35:49,347 AND TAX REFORM, NORTH CAROLINA BUSINESSES AND CITIZENS PAID 445 00:35:49,447 --> 00:35:51,382 BILLIONS OF DOLLARS LESS IN TAXES. 446 00:35:51,482 --> 00:35:55,019 OUR STATE NOW BOASTS THE BEST TAX CLIMATE IN THE REGION AND 447 00:35:55,119 --> 00:35:58,222 THE 11th BEST TAX CLIMATE IN THE NATION. 448 00:35:58,322 --> 00:36:03,561 BUT THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE. 449 00:36:03,661 --> 00:36:08,099 WE WERE ONCE WEIGHED DOWN BY RECORD BUDGET DEFICITS AND 450 00:36:08,199 --> 00:36:10,368 BILLIONS OF DEBT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 451 00:36:10,468 --> 00:36:13,671 NOW BALANCED BUDGETS AND CONTROLLED SPENDING ALONG WITH A 452 00:36:13,771 --> 00:36:17,141 GROWING ECONOMY HAVE YIELDED CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF BUDGET 453 00:36:17,241 --> 00:36:18,342 SURPLUSES. 454 00:36:18,442 --> 00:36:19,076 OUR DEBT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PAID IN 455 00:36:19,177 --> 00:36:21,379 FULL. 456 00:36:21,479 --> 00:36:23,447 PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE ONCE STRUGGLING WITH DECLINING STATE 457 00:36:23,548 --> 00:36:24,949 SUPPORT. 458 00:36:25,049 --> 00:36:29,420 THOUSANDS OF STATE-FUNDED TEACHERS POSITIONS WERE 459 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:30,454 ELIMINATED. 460 00:36:30,555 --> 00:36:32,790 TEACHERS WERE FURLOUGH AND THEIR PAY FROZEN. 461 00:36:32,890 --> 00:36:38,262 NOW STATE FUNDING FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS REACHED RECORD 462 00:36:38,362 --> 00:36:39,630 LEVELS. 463 00:36:39,730 --> 00:36:42,667 AVERAGE TEACHER PAY HAS CLIMBED ABOVE $50,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME 464 00:36:42,767 --> 00:36:44,001 IN STATE HISTORY. 465 00:36:44,101 --> 00:36:48,906 WHEN WE ASSUMED THE MAJORITY IN JANUARY OF 2011, OUR STATE'S 466 00:36:49,006 --> 00:36:50,341 RAINY DAY FUND WAS DEPLETED. 467 00:36:50,441 --> 00:36:53,978 NOW AS WE SAW WITH THE SWIFT RESPONSE TO RECENT NATURAL 468 00:36:54,078 --> 00:36:57,615 DISASTERS, WE ARE WELL PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES AND DOWNTURNS 469 00:36:57,715 --> 00:37:01,686 WITH MORE THAN $1.5 BILLION IN THE STATE'S SAVINGS RESERVE. 470 00:37:01,786 --> 00:37:06,123 THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT DUE TO HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE OF 471 00:37:06,224 --> 00:37:09,727 PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THIS BUILDING AND THEIR SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES, 472 00:37:09,827 --> 00:37:12,530 OUR STATE HAS MADE A DRAMATIC TURNAROUND. 473 00:37:12,630 --> 00:37:16,133 IT'S WORKING TOWARD THE KINDS OF POSITIVE CHANGE THAT HELP MAKE 474 00:37:16,234 --> 00:37:20,171 NORTH CAROLINA THE BEST STATE TO BUILD A BUSINESS AND THE BEST 475 00:37:20,271 --> 00:37:25,876 STATE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY. 476 00:37:25,977 --> 00:37:28,879 THAT IS SOMETHING THAT BRINGS SO MANY PEOPLE BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR 477 00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:31,048 YEAR. 478 00:37:31,148 --> 00:37:33,651 AND EVEN THOUGH OUR ROLES DIFFER -- SORRY. 479 00:37:33,751 --> 00:37:36,220 EVEN THOUGH OUR ROLE OFFERS THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO 480 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:40,458 IMPLEMENT BROAD POLICY CHANGES THAT AFFECT MILLIONS, SOMETIMES 481 00:37:40,558 --> 00:37:44,195 THE MOST REWARDING PART OF THE JOB IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP 482 00:37:44,295 --> 00:37:45,696 JUST ONE PERSON. 483 00:37:45,796 --> 00:37:49,533 TO PROVIDE CONSTITUENT SERVICE AND HELP OUR NEIGHBORS -- HELP 484 00:37:49,634 --> 00:37:54,171 OUR NEIGHBORS SOLVE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS ONE AT A TIME. 485 00:37:54,272 --> 00:37:57,008 BY HELPING CHILDREN GET TO THE RIGHT SCHOOLS OR EDUCATIONAL 486 00:37:57,108 --> 00:37:59,877 PROGRAMS TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. 487 00:37:59,977 --> 00:38:03,414 BY HELPING SICK CONSTITUENTS CONTACT THE PROPER OFFICIALS TO 488 00:38:03,514 --> 00:38:04,815 OBTAIN THE CARE THEY NEED. 489 00:38:04,915 --> 00:38:08,252 BY HELPING FAMILIES PURSUING AN ADOPTION CUT THROUGH GOVERNMENT 490 00:38:08,352 --> 00:38:09,453 RED TAPE. 491 00:38:09,553 --> 00:38:11,822 BY HELPING PEOPLE RESOLVE DRAINAGE AND OTHER PROBLEMS 492 00:38:11,922 --> 00:38:14,592 RESULTING FROM ROAD WORK ON OR NEAR THEIR PROPERTIES. 493 00:38:14,692 --> 00:38:18,195 AND BY EXPEDITING ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH 494 00:38:18,296 --> 00:38:21,866 V.A. ISSUES, PASSPORTS AND OTHER NEEDS. 495 00:38:21,966 --> 00:38:24,135 PERHAPS THERE'S NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEMS WE CAN 496 00:38:24,235 --> 00:38:27,605 SOLVE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER THAN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE 497 00:38:27,705 --> 00:38:32,910 MATTHEW. 498 00:38:33,010 --> 00:38:38,249 SENATOR FORD AND SENATOR SMITH-INGRAM, JUST TO NAME A 499 00:38:38,349 --> 00:38:44,955 COUPLE, I COMMEND YOUR EFFORTS TO OFFER MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO 500 00:38:45,056 --> 00:38:48,159 THOSE AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS. 501 00:38:48,259 --> 00:38:51,696 WHAT MANY DON'T REALIZE, THE LION'S SHARE OF WHAT WE WORK ON 502 00:38:51,796 --> 00:38:53,631 IN THESE HALLS IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL. 503 00:38:53,731 --> 00:38:56,400 MOST LAWS PASS WITH OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 504 00:38:56,500 --> 00:39:00,638 NO MATTER WHAT OUR POLITICAL PARTY, WE'RE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE 505 00:39:00,738 --> 00:39:04,342 WANT TO HELP OUR STATE THRIVE, AND FOR OUR CITIZENS TO REACH 506 00:39:04,442 --> 00:39:05,910 THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. 507 00:39:06,010 --> 00:39:09,447 IT'S DISHEARTENING THAT SOME ONLY WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT 508 00:39:09,547 --> 00:39:12,750 DIVIDES US, WHAT DRAWS IN THE MOST CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, 509 00:39:12,850 --> 00:39:18,122 WHAT ATTRACTS THE MOST FREE PRESS ATTENTION, WHAT IS 510 00:39:18,222 --> 00:39:21,726 SENSATIONAL ENOUGH TO SELL THE MOST NEWSPAPER AND TELEVISION 511 00:39:21,826 --> 00:39:22,993 ADVERTISEMENTS. 512 00:39:23,094 --> 00:39:25,963 MEMBERS, AS WE CONSIDER THE TASK AHEAD AT THE START OF THIS 513 00:39:26,063 --> 00:39:28,566 SESSION, LET US REMEMBER ALL THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE 514 00:39:28,666 --> 00:39:29,934 WORK TOGETHER. 515 00:39:30,034 --> 00:39:33,738 AND LET US REMEMBER THAT ALL -- ALL THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED AS WE 516 00:39:33,838 --> 00:39:37,341 CONTINUE DOWN THIS NEW PATH FOR OUR STATE AND LABOR TO FULFILL 517 00:39:37,441 --> 00:39:40,444 THE PROMISES WE MADE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. 518 00:39:40,544 --> 00:39:43,047 IN THE COMING SESSION, WE'LL MAINTAIN THE BUDGETING AND 519 00:39:43,147 --> 00:39:47,251 SPENDING DISCIPLINE AND THE COMMITMENT TO PRO-GROWTH TAX 520 00:39:47,351 --> 00:39:51,088 POLICIES THAT HAVE HELPED RETURN OUR STATE TO GOOD FISCAL HEALTH. 521 00:39:51,188 --> 00:39:55,960 LET ME BE CLEAR -- WE WILL NOT UNDER ANY 522 00:39:56,060 --> 00:39:58,095 CIRCUMSTANCES RETURN TO THE FAILED TAX AND SPEND POLICIES IN 523 00:39:58,195 --> 00:40:00,865 THE PAST THAT GAVE US THE MESS THAT WE HAD IN 2011. 524 00:40:00,965 --> 00:40:04,201 WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON 525 00:40:04,301 --> 00:40:08,339 FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND OTHER JOB CREATORS, HELPING THEM 526 00:40:08,439 --> 00:40:10,474 KEEP MORE OF THEIR OWN MONEY. 527 00:40:10,574 --> 00:40:14,178 WE'LL CONTINUE EFFORTS TO REFORM AND IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR 528 00:40:14,278 --> 00:40:16,680 OUR STUDENTS AND HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO RAISING AVERAGE 529 00:40:16,781 --> 00:40:19,950 TEACHER PAY TO $55,000 OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. 530 00:40:20,050 --> 00:40:22,420 WE'LL REMAIN FOCUSED ON PROVIDING A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR 531 00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:27,324 OUR CHILDREN AND HELPING BUILD A CAPABLE WORKFORCE THAT WILL 532 00:40:27,425 --> 00:40:29,560 ATTRACT BUSINESS TO THIS STATE. 533 00:40:29,660 --> 00:40:33,931 WE'LL DO EVEN MORE TO SIMPLIFY OUTDATED JOB-KILLING RULES AND 534 00:40:34,031 --> 00:40:36,867 REGULATIONS AND FOSTER A BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE WITH THE GOAL 535 00:40:36,967 --> 00:40:40,971 OF SUSTAINING NORTH CAROLINA'S STRONG JOB GROWTH AND WE'LL 536 00:40:41,071 --> 00:40:43,374 CONTINUE BUILDING STATE RESERVES TO MAKE SURE THAT NORTH CAROLINA 537 00:40:43,474 --> 00:40:45,810 IS WELL PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE. 538 00:40:45,910 --> 00:40:47,645 I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC 539 00:40:47,745 --> 00:40:53,818 SERVICE AND TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, MAY WE ENJOY A 540 00:40:53,918 --> 00:40:55,219 COLLEGIAL AND PRODUCTIVE SESSION. 541 00:40:55,319 --> 00:40:58,322 MAY WE COME TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE AND LASTING CHANGE AND 542 00:40:58,422 --> 00:41:00,558 MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS BODY AND THE PEOPLE OF NORTH 543 00:41:00,658 --> 00:41:00,991 CAROLINA. 544 00:41:01,091 --> 00:41:04,528 THANK YOU. 545 00:41:05,696 --> 00:41:24,014 [APPLAUSE] 546 00:41:25,749 --> 00:41:26,617 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR BERGER. 547 00:41:26,717 --> 00:41:32,122 CONGRATULATIONS. 548 00:41:32,223 --> 00:41:35,292 THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE ADOPTION OF RULES OF 549 00:41:35,392 --> 00:41:38,696 PROCEDURE BY WHICH THIS BODY SHOULD GOVERN ITSELF. 550 00:41:38,796 --> 00:41:40,965 SENATOR RABIN IS RECOGNIZED. 551 00:41:41,065 --> 00:41:42,900 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS. 552 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:47,104 I'VE BEEN GIVEN -- I'VE GIVEN A DRAFT OF THE 2017 PERMANENT 553 00:41:47,204 --> 00:41:49,240 SENATE RULES TO THE SENATE CLERK FOR FILING. 554 00:41:49,340 --> 00:41:53,811 THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE STATE SENATE RESOLUTION NUMBER 1. 555 00:41:53,911 --> 00:41:58,282 I MOVE THE SENATE -- I MOVE THAT SENATE RESOLUTION 1 BE BROUGHT 556 00:41:58,382 --> 00:42:00,718 BEFORE THE SENATE FOR INTRODUCTION AND IMMEDIATE 557 00:42:00,818 --> 00:42:03,053 CONSIDERATION BY THE BODY. 558 00:42:03,153 --> 00:42:07,725 >> INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION, THE CLERK WILL READ. 559 00:42:07,825 --> 00:42:09,793 >> SENATE RESOLUTION 1. 560 00:42:09,894 --> 00:42:13,664 A SENATE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE PERMANENT RULES OF THE SESSION 561 00:42:13,764 --> 00:42:18,469 FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE 2017 GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 562 00:42:18,569 --> 00:42:25,142 >> SECOND READING OF SENATE RESOLUTION 1. 563 00:42:25,242 --> 00:42:28,879 >>> SENATOR RABIN IS RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE RESOLUTION. 564 00:42:28,979 --> 00:42:30,214 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 565 00:42:30,314 --> 00:42:32,483 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO EVERY SESSION 566 00:42:32,583 --> 00:42:36,987 WHEN WE BRING THE RULES OF THE SENATE INTO CONFIRMATION WITH 567 00:42:37,087 --> 00:42:40,991 THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE MADE THE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE MADE AND 568 00:42:41,091 --> 00:42:43,260 THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE GOING FORWARD. 569 00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:50,968 THESE RULES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND STUDIED BY ALL OF YOU, AND I 570 00:42:51,068 --> 00:42:53,437 WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE TEST-DRIVE OF WHAT THEY ARE. 571 00:42:53,537 --> 00:42:56,540 RULE 2 IS THE CONVENING HOUR. 572 00:42:56,640 --> 00:43:00,044 WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE HOUR AT WHICH WE CONVENE THAT YEAR. 573 00:43:00,144 --> 00:43:04,048 WE WILL STILL BE GOING IN ON MONDAY NIGHTS AT 7:00, BUT WE'LL 574 00:43:04,148 --> 00:43:08,552 BE CONVENING ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AT 4:00 P.M. 575 00:43:08,652 --> 00:43:15,326 WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPANDED THE TIME THAT WE PLAN 576 00:43:15,426 --> 00:43:16,860 TO HOLD OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS. 577 00:43:16,961 --> 00:43:20,631 HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AND 578 00:43:20,731 --> 00:43:25,269 HASHED OUT IN COMMITTEES, AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER WILL 579 00:43:25,369 --> 00:43:32,076 HAVE A CHANCE TO PUT IN INPUT AND TO SCRUB THOSE BEFORE THEY 580 00:43:32,176 --> 00:43:35,346 LEAVE THE COMMITTEE AND COME TO THE FLOOR. 581 00:43:35,446 --> 00:43:38,048 RULE 32 MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU. 582 00:43:38,148 --> 00:43:43,687 THAT IS A CHANGE IN OUR LIST OF STANDING SELECT COMMITTEES AND 583 00:43:43,787 --> 00:43:44,855 REGULAR COMMITTEES. 584 00:43:44,955 --> 00:43:47,491 AS YOU'LL SEE, THERE ARE FEWER COMMITTEES THIS TIME. 585 00:43:47,591 --> 00:43:53,697 WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME WORKING 586 00:43:53,797 --> 00:43:57,101 ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEES AND THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE. 587 00:43:57,201 --> 00:44:02,806 THERE AGAIN, THAT GOES BACK TO THE PREVIOUS RULE ON WHY WE ARE 588 00:44:02,906 --> 00:44:05,876 CHANGING OUR CONVENING HOURS. 589 00:44:05,976 --> 00:44:10,881 PLEASE NOTE THAT PENSIONS HAS BEEN ADDED UNDER APPROPRIATIONS 590 00:44:10,981 --> 00:44:11,915 AND BUDGET. 591 00:44:12,016 --> 00:44:15,352 WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PENSION COMMITTEE. 592 00:44:15,452 --> 00:44:22,793 AND SO WE HAVE MELDED THAT INTO OUR WITH THE BASE BUDGET. 593 00:44:22,893 --> 00:44:26,664 I WANT TO BRING YOU -- OR MAKE SURE THAT I BRING TO YOUR 594 00:44:26,764 --> 00:44:28,699 ATTENTION THE DATES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US AS WE MOVE 595 00:44:28,799 --> 00:44:31,602 THROUGH THE SESSION. 596 00:44:31,702 --> 00:44:34,705 AND THAT OUR LOCAL BILL DRAFTING REQUESTS MUST BE IN BY MARCH THE 597 00:44:34,805 --> 00:44:36,573 7th. 598 00:44:36,674 --> 00:44:37,975 AND FILED BY MARCH 15th. 599 00:44:38,075 --> 00:44:43,547 PUBLIC BILL REQUESTS MUST BE IN BILL DRAFTING BY MARCH 17th AND 600 00:44:43,647 --> 00:44:46,917 FILED BY MARCH 30th. 601 00:44:47,017 --> 00:44:48,485 CROSSOVER DEADLINE IS APRIL 27th. 602 00:44:48,585 --> 00:44:52,523 WE HAVE TALKED WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE OTHER CHAMBER, AND WE 603 00:44:52,623 --> 00:44:57,528 HAVE AGREED ON THOSE DATES. 604 00:44:57,628 --> 00:45:00,030 AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OTHER RULE CHANGES, I 605 00:45:00,130 --> 00:45:01,999 WILL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THOSE AT THIS TIME. 606 00:45:02,099 --> 00:45:05,369 THEY ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND I THINK UNDERSTANDABLE BY 607 00:45:05,469 --> 00:45:08,672 EVERYONE. 608 00:45:08,772 --> 00:45:15,646 >> DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? 609 00:45:15,746 --> 00:45:18,816 HEARING NONE, QUESTION BEFORE THE SENATE IS THE ADOPTION OF 610 00:45:18,916 --> 00:45:20,184 SENATE RESOLUTION 1. 611 00:45:20,284 --> 00:45:23,520 ALL IN FAVOR OF THE ADOPTION OF SENATE RESOLUTION 1 WILL VOTE 612 00:45:23,620 --> 00:45:24,121 AYE. 613 00:45:24,221 --> 00:45:25,289 OPPOSE THE VOTE, NO. 614 00:45:25,389 --> 00:45:28,058 10 SECONDS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THE VOTING. 615 00:45:28,158 --> 00:45:39,603 THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE. 616 00:45:39,703 --> 00:45:43,474 >> 50 HAVING VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND 0 IN THE 617 00:45:43,574 --> 00:45:47,077 NEGATIVE, SENATE RESOLUTION 1, THE RULES OF THE 2017 SENATE, 618 00:45:47,177 --> 00:45:50,481 ARE ADOPTED. 619 00:45:50,581 --> 00:45:53,951 NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ELECTION OF OTHER OFFICERS. 620 00:45:54,051 --> 00:45:57,688 SENATE RULE 65 ESTABLISHES THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT 621 00:45:57,788 --> 00:45:59,022 PRO TEM. 622 00:45:59,123 --> 00:46:02,693 NOMINATIONS ARE NOW IN ORDER FOR THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEM FOR 623 00:46:02,793 --> 00:46:04,595 THE 2017 SENATE. 624 00:46:04,695 --> 00:46:06,563 SENATOR COOK, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 625 00:46:06,663 --> 00:46:08,098 >> TO MAKE A NO, MA'AM MAKINGS. 626 00:46:08,198 --> 00:46:09,600 >> SENATOR COOK, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 627 00:46:09,700 --> 00:46:10,868 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 628 00:46:10,968 --> 00:46:16,774 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR TO NOMINATE 629 00:46:16,874 --> 00:46:22,946 SENATOR LOUIS PATE FOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE. 630 00:46:23,046 --> 00:46:25,382 SENATOR LOUIS PATE HAS A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF 631 00:46:25,482 --> 00:46:29,586 PUBLIC SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY, STATE, AND COUNTRY. 632 00:46:29,686 --> 00:46:33,490 HE SERVED 20 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND RETIRED AS 633 00:46:33,590 --> 00:46:36,393 A MAJOR IN 1982. 634 00:46:36,493 --> 00:46:41,231 IN VIETNAM, HE NAVIGATED B-52s AND LATER F-111s. 635 00:46:41,331 --> 00:46:47,604 HE SERVED HIS COMMUNITY AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND LAR AS THE 636 00:46:47,704 --> 00:46:51,041 MAYOR OF MOUNT OLIVE, NORTH CAROLINA. 637 00:46:51,141 --> 00:46:53,977 HE SERVED THE NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE FOR THE 11th DISTRICT 638 00:46:54,077 --> 00:46:59,917 BEGINNING IN 1995 AND SERVED SEVERAL SESSIONS, ENDING IN 639 00:47:00,017 --> 00:47:03,086 2008. 640 00:47:03,187 --> 00:47:07,090 LOUIS HAS SERVED IN THE SENATE SINCE 2010. 641 00:47:07,191 --> 00:47:10,194 LIKE ME, HE SERVED IN THE HOUSE FIRST. 642 00:47:10,294 --> 00:47:13,430 HOWEVER, UNLIKE ME, AFTER SEVERAL TERMS THERE, HE HAS 643 00:47:13,530 --> 00:47:14,565 FULLY RECOVERED FROM THE EXPERIENCE. 644 00:47:14,665 --> 00:47:20,170 [LAUGHTER] 645 00:47:20,270 --> 00:47:25,976 SENATOR PATE HAS SERVED IN THE SENATE -- EXCUSE ME. 646 00:47:26,076 --> 00:47:31,849 SENATE PATE HAS SAVED AS A DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT PRO 647 00:47:31,949 --> 00:47:32,916 TEMPORE SINCE 2013. 648 00:47:33,016 --> 00:47:35,485 HE'S THE FATHER OF THREE, GRANDFATHER OF NINE. 649 00:47:35,586 --> 00:47:39,590 HE IS JOINED TODAY BY HIS WIFE, JOYCE, AND MANY OTHER FAMILY 650 00:47:39,690 --> 00:47:40,757 MEMBERS. 651 00:47:40,858 --> 00:47:43,227 TO SAY LOUIS HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY IN THE WORLD OF 652 00:47:43,327 --> 00:47:46,530 PUBLIC SERVICE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. 653 00:47:46,630 --> 00:47:50,467 HIS LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES OF STEADFAST HONESTY, INTEGRITY, 654 00:47:50,567 --> 00:47:54,071 CONSENSUS BUILDING AND THE ABILITY TO TRANSFORM A VISION 655 00:47:54,171 --> 00:47:58,809 INTO REALITY IS SIMPLY WHAT LOUIS HAS BEEN DOING HIS ENTIRE 656 00:47:58,909 --> 00:48:00,711 LIFE. 657 00:48:00,811 --> 00:48:06,583 IT IS MY HONOR AND DISTINCT PRIVILEGE TO NOMINATE MY FRIEND, 658 00:48:06,683 --> 00:48:13,090 LOUIS M. PATE, TO SERVE AS THE SENATE'S DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO 659 00:48:13,190 --> 00:48:15,926 TEMPORE FOR THE 2017 SESSION. 660 00:48:16,026 --> 00:48:18,362 >> SENATOR TUCKER, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 661 00:48:18,462 --> 00:48:22,599 >> MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE TO SECOND THE NOMINATION OF SENATOR 662 00:48:22,699 --> 00:48:27,938 LOUIS PATE AS DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE SENATE. 663 00:48:28,038 --> 00:48:31,575 SENATOR PATE HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF MINE EVER SINCE I GOT HERE. 664 00:48:31,675 --> 00:48:36,613 SENATOR PATE IS A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND RESERVED CALM. 665 00:48:36,713 --> 00:48:40,684 HE OFTEN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE HIS FORMER RANK AS 666 00:48:40,784 --> 00:48:43,120 MAJOR IN THE AIR FORCE WHEN HE LOOKS AT ME IN A COMMITTEE 667 00:48:43,220 --> 00:48:47,624 MEETING AND SAYS, TOMMY, BE QUIET. 668 00:48:47,724 --> 00:48:51,228 SIR, I FURTHER MOVE THAT THE NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND THAT 669 00:48:51,328 --> 00:48:53,597 SENATOR PATE'S NOMINATION BE ACCEPTED BY ACCLAMATION. 670 00:48:53,697 --> 00:48:55,232 THANK YOU, SIR. 671 00:48:55,332 --> 00:48:56,533 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. 672 00:48:56,633 --> 00:49:01,271 THE MOTION IS THE NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND THE NOMINATION OF 673 00:49:01,371 --> 00:49:06,977 SENATOR LOUIS PATE FOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE 2017 674 00:49:07,077 --> 00:49:09,446 SENATE BE APPROVED BY ACCLAMATION. 675 00:49:09,546 --> 00:49:11,915 THOSE IN FAVOR WILL SAY AYE. 676 00:49:12,015 --> 00:49:12,449 OPPOSED NO. 677 00:49:12,549 --> 00:49:14,251 THE AYES HAVE IT. 678 00:49:14,351 --> 00:49:20,457 THE CHAIR DECLARES SENATOR PATE UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED TO THE 679 00:49:20,557 --> 00:49:23,160 OFFICE OF DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEM. 680 00:49:23,260 --> 00:49:28,198 SENATOR COOK, SENATOR TOOKER, SENATOR TILLMAN AND SENATOR HISE 681 00:49:28,298 --> 00:49:33,937 ARE ASSIGNED TO ESCORT LOUIS PATE TO THE WELL OF THE SENATE 682 00:49:34,037 --> 00:49:37,307 TO RECEIVE THE OATH OF OFFICE. 683 00:49:58,095 --> 00:50:21,251 [APPLAUSE] 684 00:50:21,351 --> 00:50:23,954 >> SENATOR COOK, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 685 00:50:24,054 --> 00:50:28,759 >> MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO 686 00:50:28,859 --> 00:50:33,163 PRESENT TO YOU THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE-ELECT OF 687 00:50:33,263 --> 00:50:38,402 THE 2017 SESSION, LOUIS M. PATE. 688 00:50:38,502 --> 00:50:48,779 [APPLAUSE] 689 00:50:48,879 --> 00:50:51,148 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR COOK. 690 00:50:51,248 --> 00:50:54,584 THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS IS DIRECTED TO ESCORT MRS. JOYCE PATE, THE 691 00:50:54,684 --> 00:50:58,388 WIFE OF DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEM-ELECT TO THE WELL OF THE 692 00:50:58,488 --> 00:51:17,474 SENATE, CHIEF JUSTICE MARTIN WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH. 693 00:51:17,574 --> 00:51:21,111 >> DO YOU, LOUIS PATE, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE 694 00:51:21,211 --> 00:51:24,381 CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES SO HELP ME GOD? 695 00:51:24,481 --> 00:51:28,385 DO YOU SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL 696 00:51:28,485 --> 00:51:32,656 AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO 697 00:51:32,756 --> 00:51:36,526 THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND AUTHORITY THAT ARE OR MAY BE 698 00:51:36,626 --> 00:51:39,963 ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF, AND WILL YOU SUPPORT, 699 00:51:40,063 --> 00:51:42,966 MAINTAIN AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF SAID 700 00:51:43,066 --> 00:51:44,701 STATE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 701 00:51:44,801 --> 00:51:49,072 STATES TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY? 702 00:51:49,172 --> 00:51:53,343 AND DO YOU SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL 703 00:51:53,443 --> 00:51:56,079 FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE YOUR DUTIES AS DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE 704 00:51:56,179 --> 00:52:00,851 OF THE 2017 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA TO 705 00:52:00,951 --> 00:52:04,821 THE BEST OF YOUR SKILL AND ABILITY, SO HELP YOU GOD. 706 00:52:04,921 --> 00:52:06,323 >> SO HELP ME GOD. 707 00:52:06,423 --> 00:52:08,158 >> CONGRATULATIONS. 708 00:52:08,258 --> 00:52:23,707 [APPLAUSE] 709 00:52:26,109 --> 00:52:27,511 >> CONGRATULATIONS, SENATOR PATE. 710 00:52:27,611 --> 00:52:29,379 YOU HAVE THE FLOOR TO ADDRESS THE SENATE. 711 00:52:29,479 --> 00:52:31,214 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 712 00:52:31,314 --> 00:52:35,418 IT'S AN HONOR TO BE SELECTED FOR THIS JOB. 713 00:52:35,519 --> 00:52:38,855 AS YOU SAW, WE HAD THREE OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN HERE. 714 00:52:38,955 --> 00:52:41,525 WE DIDN'T HAVE ROOM FOR THE REST OF THEM BECAUSE WE COULDN'T 715 00:52:41,625 --> 00:52:42,626 FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PARK THE BUS. 716 00:52:42,726 --> 00:52:44,027 [LAUGHTER] 717 00:52:44,127 --> 00:52:48,298 BUT, AT ANY RATE, IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO CONTINUE IN THIS -- IN 718 00:52:48,398 --> 00:52:52,602 THIS SENATE, AND I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. 719 00:52:52,702 --> 00:52:55,505 WE LOOK FORWARD TO ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS 720 00:52:55,605 --> 00:52:57,707 AND GETTING TO WORK. 721 00:52:57,807 --> 00:53:05,649 AND AS I SAID THE OTHER DAY, I'D JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE WITHOUT 722 00:53:05,749 --> 00:53:07,217 A PARACHUTE TO FOLLOW SENATOR BERGER. 723 00:53:07,317 --> 00:53:12,022 HE LEADS THE WAY, AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM AT THE HEM. 724 00:53:12,122 --> 00:53:13,523 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 725 00:53:13,623 --> 00:53:14,724 AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VOTE TODAY. 726 00:53:14,824 --> 00:53:22,499 [APPLAUSE] 727 00:53:24,401 --> 00:53:25,835 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR PATE. 728 00:53:25,936 --> 00:53:28,838 AND CONGRATULATIONS. 729 00:53:28,939 --> 00:53:32,509 THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA DIRECTS THE SENATE TO 730 00:53:32,609 --> 00:53:34,211 ELECT ITS OTHER OFFICERS. 731 00:53:34,311 --> 00:53:37,914 THE GENERAL STATUTES DEFINE THEM TO BE A PRINCIPAL CLERK, A 732 00:53:38,014 --> 00:53:40,450 READING CLERK, AND A SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. 733 00:53:40,550 --> 00:53:43,920 THE CHAIR NOW DECLARES NOMINATIONS ARE IN ORDER FOR THE 734 00:53:44,020 --> 00:53:52,229 OFFICE OF PRINCIPAL CLERK OF THE 2017 SENATE. 735 00:53:52,329 --> 00:53:53,630 SENATOR RABON IS RECOGNIZED. 736 00:53:53,730 --> 00:53:56,800 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 737 00:53:56,900 --> 00:54:02,906 MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE TO NOMINATE SARAH LANG FOR THE 738 00:54:03,006 --> 00:54:07,410 OFFICE OF SENATE PRINCIPAL CLERK FOR THE 2017 SESSION. 739 00:54:07,510 --> 00:54:09,613 SARAH HAS SERVED US WELL FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS. 740 00:54:09,713 --> 00:54:10,680 WE ALL KNOW HER. 741 00:54:10,780 --> 00:54:11,982 WE'VE ALL WORKED WITH HER. 742 00:54:12,082 --> 00:54:16,786 WE HAVE FOUND THAT SHE IS A DILIGENT WORKER HERE BEFORE WE 743 00:54:16,886 --> 00:54:21,625 GET HERE, HERE AFTER WE LEAVE, AND SHE HAS SUFFERED ALL OF US 744 00:54:21,725 --> 00:54:23,393 AND DONE A GREAT JOB. 745 00:54:23,493 --> 00:54:28,765 I HOPE YOU ALL JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING HER HARD WORK AND 746 00:54:28,865 --> 00:54:32,202 VOTING FOR HER TO SERVE TWO MORE YEARS. 747 00:54:32,302 --> 00:54:34,004 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR RABON. 748 00:54:34,104 --> 00:54:36,906 SENATOR HARRINGTON, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 749 00:54:37,007 --> 00:54:38,174 >> TO SECOND THE NOMINATION. 750 00:54:38,275 --> 00:54:39,943 >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SENATOR. 751 00:54:40,043 --> 00:54:41,278 >> THANK YOU. 752 00:54:41,378 --> 00:54:43,980 SHE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB FOR US, AND ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME 753 00:54:44,080 --> 00:54:45,248 THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE. 754 00:54:45,348 --> 00:54:50,920 I ECHO SENATOR RABON'S REMARKS AND SAY THAT SHE IS IN HER 755 00:54:51,021 --> 00:54:54,457 OFFICE ARE ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THINGS RUN SO SMOOTHLY 756 00:54:54,557 --> 00:54:55,692 IN THE SENATE. 757 00:54:55,792 --> 00:54:59,095 I MOVE THAT THE NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND SARAH LANG'S 758 00:54:59,195 --> 00:55:01,231 NOMINATION BE ACCEPTED BY ACCLAMATION. 759 00:55:01,331 --> 00:55:03,366 >> THE MOTION IS THAT THE NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND THE 760 00:55:03,466 --> 00:55:05,802 NOMINATION OF SARAH LANG FOR THE PRINCIPAL CLERK OF THE SENATE 761 00:55:05,902 --> 00:55:09,572 FOR THE 2017 SESSION BE ACCEPTED BY ACCLAMATION. 762 00:55:09,673 --> 00:55:12,108 DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? 763 00:55:12,208 --> 00:55:15,578 IF NOT, THOSE IN FAVOR WILL SAY AYE. 764 00:55:15,679 --> 00:55:16,913 OPPOSED NO. 765 00:55:17,013 --> 00:55:18,248 THE AYES HAVE IT. 766 00:55:18,348 --> 00:55:21,618 AND THE CHAIR DECLARES SARAH LANG UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED TO THE 767 00:55:21,718 --> 00:55:25,922 OFFICE OF PRINCIPAL CLERK OF THE SENATE FOR THE 2017 SESSION. 768 00:55:26,022 --> 00:55:29,492 THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS WILL ESCORT THE PRINCIPAL CLERK-ELECT TO THE 769 00:55:29,592 --> 00:55:32,195 WELL OF THE SENATE WHERE CHIEF JUSTICE MARTIN WILL ADMINISTER 770 00:55:32,295 --> 00:55:35,465 THE OATH OF OFFICE. 771 00:55:35,565 --> 00:55:38,468 THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS MAY ALSO ESCORT JACKIE LANG TO THE WELL 772 00:55:38,568 --> 00:55:43,540 OF THE SENATE TO STAND WITH HER DAUGHTER. 773 00:55:58,722 --> 00:56:01,057 >> PLEASE PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE, RAISE YOUR RIGHT 774 00:56:01,157 --> 00:56:02,392 HAND. 775 00:56:02,492 --> 00:56:05,762 DO YOU, SARAH LANG, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE 776 00:56:05,862 --> 00:56:09,766 CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES SO HELP YOU GOD? 777 00:56:09,866 --> 00:56:14,270 DO YOU SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL 778 00:56:14,371 --> 00:56:18,641 AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO 779 00:56:18,742 --> 00:56:22,412 THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND AUTHORITIES WHICH ARE OR MAY BE 780 00:56:22,512 --> 00:56:23,980 ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF? 781 00:56:24,080 --> 00:56:26,950 WILL YOU ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN AND DEFEND THE 782 00:56:27,050 --> 00:56:30,587 CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS OF SAID STATE, NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE 783 00:56:30,687 --> 00:56:32,522 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE BEST OF YOUR 784 00:56:32,622 --> 00:56:33,957 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY? 785 00:56:34,057 --> 00:56:37,594 AND DO YOU SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL 786 00:56:37,694 --> 00:56:42,932 FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE YOUR DUTIES AS PRINCIPAL CLERK OF THE SENATE 787 00:56:43,032 --> 00:56:49,139 OF THE 2017 GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE BEST OF YOUR SKILL AND 788 00:56:49,239 --> 00:56:55,912 ABILITY SO HELP YOU GOD? 789 00:56:56,012 --> 00:56:56,513 >> I DO. 790 00:56:56,613 --> 00:56:59,416 >> CONGRATULATIONS. 791 00:56:59,516 --> 00:57:08,725 [APPLAUSE] 792 00:57:11,528 --> 00:57:13,163 >> CONGRATULATIONS, MADAM CLERK. 793 00:57:13,263 --> 00:57:18,868 PLEASE ASSUME YOUR SEAT. 794 00:57:18,968 --> 00:57:26,276 NOMINATIONS ARE NOW IN ORDER FOR THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS OF THE 2017 795 00:57:26,376 --> 00:57:27,043 SENATE. 796 00:57:27,143 --> 00:57:27,911 SENATOR TILLMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 797 00:57:28,011 --> 00:57:29,312 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 798 00:57:29,412 --> 00:57:34,717 I RISE TO NOMINATE PHIL KING TO BE OUR SERGEANT-AT-ARMS FOR THE 799 00:57:34,818 --> 00:57:36,453 COMING '17 SESSION. 800 00:57:36,553 --> 00:57:40,390 PHIL HAS SERVED US EXTREMELY WELL DURING THE PAST THREE 801 00:57:40,490 --> 00:57:42,759 SESSIONS. 802 00:57:42,859 --> 00:57:46,529 HE TOLD ME TO MOVE ONE TIME, AND I DID BECAUSE I KNEW HE WAS A 803 00:57:46,629 --> 00:57:50,300 NAVY SEAL. 804 00:57:50,400 --> 00:57:54,871 LEWIS, YOU ARE A MAJOR PILOT, BUT HE WAS A NAVY SEAL. 805 00:57:54,971 --> 00:57:57,440 AND HE'S EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL IN ALL OF HIS DUTIES, AND HE'S A 806 00:57:57,540 --> 00:57:59,909 GENTLEMAN. 807 00:58:00,009 --> 00:58:03,446 AND I WITHOUT HESITATION RECOMMEND PHIL KING TO SERVE AS 808 00:58:03,546 --> 00:58:06,616 OUR SERGEANT-AT-ARMS FOR THE '17 SESSION. 809 00:58:06,716 --> 00:58:09,686 >> SENATOR RABON IS RECOGNIZED. 810 00:58:09,786 --> 00:58:12,288 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 811 00:58:12,388 --> 00:58:17,927 I RISE TO SECOND THE NOMINATION OF PHIL KING AS SERGEANT-AT-ARMS 812 00:58:18,027 --> 00:58:20,530 AND TO MAKE A MOTION. 813 00:58:20,630 --> 00:58:22,999 I'VE KNOWN PHIL FOR 40 YEARS. 814 00:58:23,099 --> 00:58:27,770 IT WAS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION ACTUALLY OF SENATOR RUCHO THAT 815 00:58:27,871 --> 00:58:31,808 HE WAS ORIGINALLY CHOSEN FOR THE JOB THAT HE NOW SERVES US IN. 816 00:58:31,908 --> 00:58:36,112 BUT HE HAS BEEN A FINE MAN AND A FINE FRIEND, AND HE HAS SERVED 817 00:58:36,212 --> 00:58:38,448 US WELL. 818 00:58:38,548 --> 00:58:43,186 AND, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, I WOULD FURTHER MOVE THAT THE 819 00:58:43,286 --> 00:58:45,989 NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND THAT SENATOR BERGER'S NOMINATION BE 820 00:58:46,089 --> 00:58:51,961 ACCEPTED BY ACCLAMATION. 821 00:58:52,061 --> 00:58:55,598 >> THE MOTION IS THE NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND THE NOMINATION OF 822 00:58:55,698 --> 00:58:57,300 PHIL LIP KING AS SERGEANT-AT-ARMS OF THE 2017 823 00:58:57,400 --> 00:59:00,169 SENATE BE ACCEPTED BY ACCLAMATION. 824 00:59:00,270 --> 00:59:02,338 IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? 825 00:59:02,438 --> 00:59:05,441 IF NOT, THOSE IN FAVOR WILL SAY AYE. 826 00:59:05,542 --> 00:59:05,975 OPPOSED NO. 827 00:59:06,075 --> 00:59:07,277 THE AYES HAVE IT. 828 00:59:07,377 --> 00:59:11,848 AND THE CHAIR DECLARES PHIL KING UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED TO THE 829 00:59:11,948 --> 00:59:15,051 OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS OF THE SENATE FOR THE 2017 830 00:59:15,151 --> 00:59:16,386 SESSION. 831 00:59:16,486 --> 00:59:17,720 THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS-ELECT WILL GO TO THE WELL OF THE SENATE 832 00:59:17,820 --> 00:59:21,991 WILL CHIEF JUSTICE MARTIN WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE 833 00:59:22,091 --> 00:59:28,464 AND ASSISTANT SERGEANT-AT-ARMS WILL ESCORT CAROL KING TO THE 834 00:59:28,565 --> 00:59:37,073 WELL OF THE SENATE TO STAND WITH HER HUSBAND. 835 00:59:41,010 --> 00:59:43,846 >> PLEASE PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE AND RAISE YOUR 836 00:59:43,947 --> 00:59:45,214 RIGHT. 837 00:59:45,315 --> 00:59:49,419 DO YOU, PHILLIP KING, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE 838 00:59:49,519 --> 00:59:52,589 CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, SO HELP YOU GOD. 839 00:59:52,689 --> 00:59:56,693 DO YOU SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL 840 00:59:56,793 --> 01:00:00,430 AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO 841 01:00:00,530 --> 01:00:02,799 THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND AUTHORITIES WHICH ARE OR MAY BE 842 01:00:02,899 --> 01:00:05,969 ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF? 843 01:00:06,069 --> 01:00:10,607 AND WILL YOU ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN AND DEFEND THE 844 01:00:10,707 --> 01:00:13,977 CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS OF SAID STATE, NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE 845 01:00:14,077 --> 01:00:16,279 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE BEST OF YOUR 846 01:00:16,379 --> 01:00:17,647 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY? 847 01:00:17,747 --> 01:00:20,917 AND DO YOU SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL 848 01:00:21,017 --> 01:00:23,987 FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE YOUR DUTIES AS SERGEANT-AT-ARMS OF THE 849 01:00:24,087 --> 01:00:30,026 SENATE OF THE 2017 GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE BEST OF YOUR 850 01:00:30,126 --> 01:00:32,061 SKILL AND ABILITY, SO HELP YOU GOD? 851 01:00:32,161 --> 01:00:33,496 >> I DO, SO HELP ME GOD. 852 01:00:33,596 --> 01:00:36,432 >> CONGRATULATIONS. 853 01:00:37,500 --> 01:00:54,150 [APPLAUSE] 854 01:00:54,250 --> 01:00:55,418 >> CONGRATULATIONS, MR. KING. 855 01:00:55,518 --> 01:01:02,892 AND YOU MAY ASSUME YOUR SEAT. 856 01:01:02,992 --> 01:01:04,494 MESSAGE FROM THE MAJORITY CAUCUS. 857 01:01:04,594 --> 01:01:10,066 THE CLERK WILL READ. 858 01:01:10,166 --> 01:01:11,801 >> JANUARY 10, 2017. 859 01:01:11,901 --> 01:01:16,639 THE HONORABLE DAN FOREST, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, ROOM 860 01:01:16,739 --> 01:01:20,076 2104, RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA, 27601. 861 01:01:20,176 --> 01:01:22,879 DEAR PRESIDENT FOREST, THIS IS TO ADVISE YOU THAT THE SENATE 862 01:01:22,979 --> 01:01:27,183 REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MET ON DECEMBER 3rd, 2016, WITH 33 863 01:01:27,283 --> 01:01:30,953 MEMBERS PRESENT AND NOMINATED FOLLOWING OFFICERS FOR THE 2017 864 01:01:31,054 --> 01:01:36,025 SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 865 01:01:36,125 --> 01:01:41,464 PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, PHIL BERGER, DEPUTY PRESIDENT PRO TEM 866 01:01:41,564 --> 01:01:46,602 FOR, LEWIS PATE, HARRY BROWN, WHIP, JERRY TILLMAN, SENATE 867 01:01:46,703 --> 01:01:50,473 MAJORITY WHIP, SENATOR WESLEY MEREDITH, REPUBLICAN JOINT 868 01:01:50,573 --> 01:01:55,411 CAUCUS LEADER, SENATOR NORMAN SANDERSON, PRINCIPAL CLERK, MISS 869 01:01:55,511 --> 01:02:01,818 SARAH LANG, SERGEANT-AT-ARMS, MR. PHILLIP KING. 870 01:02:01,918 --> 01:02:10,593 SINCERELY, SENATOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BROWN. 871 01:02:10,693 --> 01:02:16,499 >> PLEASE STAND, SENATOR BROWN, SENATOR TILLMAN, STANDARD NORM 872 01:02:16,599 --> 01:02:17,400 SANDERSON, JOINT CAUCUS LEADER. 873 01:02:17,500 --> 01:02:17,834 CONGRATULATIONS. 874 01:02:17,934 --> 01:02:28,511 [APPLAUSE] 875 01:02:28,611 --> 01:02:29,912 MESSAGE FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS. 876 01:02:30,012 --> 01:02:32,715 THE CLERK WILL READ. 877 01:02:32,815 --> 01:02:34,383 >> DECEMBER 13, 2016. 878 01:02:34,484 --> 01:02:38,554 THE HONORABLE DAN FOREST, LEGISLATIVE BUILDING, ROOM 2104, 879 01:02:38,654 --> 01:02:40,857 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA. 880 01:02:40,957 --> 01:02:42,191 27601. 881 01:02:42,291 --> 01:02:44,060 DEAR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOREST, THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS MET 882 01:02:44,160 --> 01:02:48,297 ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016, AND ELECTED THE FOLLOWING 883 01:02:48,397 --> 01:02:52,235 OFFICERS FOR THE 2017-18 LEGISLATIVE TERM. 884 01:02:52,335 --> 01:02:57,473 SENATOR DANIEL T. BLUE JR. OF WAKE COUNTY, MINORITY LEADER, 885 01:02:57,573 --> 01:03:04,380 SENATOR TERRY VAN DUYN, MINORITY WHIP, SENATOR ROBERT BEN CLARK 886 01:03:04,480 --> 01:03:07,550 III OF HOKE COUNTY, CAUCUS SECRETARY. 887 01:03:07,650 --> 01:03:10,820 ROBERT B. CLARK III, SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS SECRETARY. 888 01:03:10,920 --> 01:03:13,790 >> CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE FOLLOWING LEADERS AND ASK THEM 889 01:03:13,890 --> 01:03:16,592 TO STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. 890 01:03:16,692 --> 01:03:19,562 SENATOR DAN BLUE, MINORITY LEADER. 891 01:03:19,662 --> 01:03:24,967 SENATOR TERRY VAN DUYN, MINORITY WHIP. 892 01:03:25,067 --> 01:03:26,269 SENATOR BEN COOK, MINORITY CAUCUS SECRETARY. 893 01:03:26,369 --> 01:03:27,336 CONGRATULATIONS. 894 01:03:27,436 --> 01:03:33,476 [APPLAUSE] 895 01:03:35,144 --> 01:03:37,547 >> SENATOR RABON, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 896 01:03:37,647 --> 01:03:39,215 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 897 01:03:39,315 --> 01:03:40,183 A MOTION. 898 01:03:40,283 --> 01:03:41,584 >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR YOUR MOTION. 899 01:03:41,684 --> 01:03:42,952 >> THANK YOU. 900 01:03:43,052 --> 01:03:45,988 HAVING VOTED WITH THE PREVAILING SIDE IN THE ELECTION OF SENATOR 901 01:03:46,088 --> 01:03:49,125 PHIL BERGER AS PRESIDENT PRO TEM, I MOVE TO RECONSIDER THE 902 01:03:49,225 --> 01:03:53,429 VOTE ELECTING SENATE BERGER AND FURTHER MOVE THAT MY MOTION TO 903 01:03:53,529 --> 01:03:55,598 RECONSIDER BE LAID UPON THE TABLE. 904 01:03:55,698 --> 01:03:58,100 >> SENATOR TUCKER, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 905 01:03:58,201 --> 01:03:59,101 >> MOTION, PLEASE. 906 01:03:59,202 --> 01:04:01,237 >> SENATOR, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? 907 01:04:01,337 --> 01:04:03,105 >> MOTION TO LAY ON THE TABLE. 908 01:04:03,206 --> 01:04:04,874 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR TUCKER. 909 01:04:04,974 --> 01:04:08,811 >> THIS IS A NON-DEBATABLE MOTION AND WILL GO STRAIGHT TO A 910 01:04:08,911 --> 01:04:10,413 VOTE. 911 01:04:10,513 --> 01:04:14,517 THE QUESTION BEFORE THE BODY IS A MOTION TO TABLE THE MOTION TO 912 01:04:14,617 --> 01:04:18,221 RECONSIDER THE VOTE FOR PRESIDENT PRO TEM. 913 01:04:18,321 --> 01:04:20,523 10 SECONDS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THE VOTING. 914 01:04:20,623 --> 01:04:24,260 AND THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE. 915 01:04:31,567 --> 01:04:33,870 DONE. 916 01:04:33,970 --> 01:04:35,838 SMITH-INGRAM, AYE. 917 01:04:35,938 --> 01:04:40,243 50 HAVING VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND 0 IN THE 918 01:04:40,343 --> 01:04:42,712 NEGATIVE, THE MOTION HAS BEEN TABLED. 919 01:04:42,812 --> 01:04:45,848 SENATOR RABON IS RECOGNIZED. 920 01:04:45,948 --> 01:04:47,583 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 921 01:04:47,683 --> 01:04:54,657 I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO THE END THAT SENATE JOINT 922 01:04:54,757 --> 01:04:56,726 RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 WAS JUST FILED -- OOPS, I GOT THE WRONG 923 01:04:56,826 --> 01:04:58,861 ONE. 924 01:04:58,961 --> 01:04:59,295 NOPE. 925 01:04:59,395 --> 01:05:00,696 I'M RIGHT. 926 01:05:00,796 --> 01:05:04,600 I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO THE END OF JOINT RESOLUTION 927 01:05:04,700 --> 01:05:07,470 NUMBER 2, WHICH HAS JUST BEEN FILED, BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE 928 01:05:07,570 --> 01:05:10,039 SENATE FOR FIRST READING AND IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. 929 01:05:10,139 --> 01:05:14,777 I FURTHER MOVE THAT UPON ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION, THE 930 01:05:14,877 --> 01:05:19,148 RESOLUTION BE SENT TO THE HOUSE BY SPECIAL MESSENGER. 931 01:05:19,248 --> 01:05:22,251 >> WITHOUT OB JEKS, SO ORDERED. 932 01:05:22,351 --> 01:05:25,721 >> MY SENATOR RABON, SENATOR JOINT RESOLUTION 2. 933 01:05:25,821 --> 01:05:29,992 A JOINT RESOLUTION ADJOURNING THE 2017 REGULAR SESSION OF THE 934 01:05:30,092 --> 01:05:34,664 GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO A DATE CERTAIN AS PROVIDED BY LAW. 935 01:05:34,764 --> 01:05:37,566 >> SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION ON A SECOND READING. 936 01:05:37,667 --> 01:05:40,336 >> ADJOURN ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION. 937 01:05:40,436 --> 01:05:43,205 >> SENATOR RABON IS RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE RESOLUTION. 938 01:05:43,306 --> 01:05:44,540 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 939 01:05:44,640 --> 01:05:48,577 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS JUST A JOINT -- A RESOLUTION FOR 940 01:05:48,678 --> 01:05:54,317 US TO ADJOURN TODAY TO A DAY CERTAIN AND TO RECONVENE ON 941 01:05:54,417 --> 01:05:56,452 JANUARY 25th TO OPEN THE SENATE AGAIN FOR BUSINESS. 942 01:05:56,552 --> 01:05:58,955 THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 943 01:05:59,055 --> 01:06:01,924 >> ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? 944 01:06:02,024 --> 01:06:04,560 HEARING NONE, QUESTION BEFORE THE SENATE IS THE PASSAGE OF 945 01:06:04,660 --> 01:06:07,163 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2 ON ITS SECOND READING. 946 01:06:07,263 --> 01:06:09,332 ALL IN FAVOR WILL VOTE AYE. 947 01:06:09,432 --> 01:06:10,599 OPPOSED WILL VOTE NO. 948 01:06:10,700 --> 01:06:12,768 10 SECONDS ALLOWED FOR THE VOTING AND THE CLERK WILL RECORD 949 01:06:12,868 --> 01:06:15,604 THE VOTE. 950 01:06:24,280 --> 01:06:29,452 50 HAVING VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, SENATE JOINT 951 01:06:29,552 --> 01:06:32,989 RESOLUTION 2 HAS PASSED IT'S SECOND READING AND WILL BE READ 952 01:06:33,089 --> 01:06:34,623 A THIRD TIME. 953 01:06:34,724 --> 01:06:36,993 ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? 954 01:06:37,093 --> 01:06:41,063 HEARING NONE, QUESTION BEFORE THE BODY IS THE PASSAGE OF 955 01:06:41,163 --> 01:06:45,668 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2 ON ITS THIRD READING. 956 01:06:45,768 --> 01:06:46,969 IT PASSES THIRD READING. 957 01:06:47,069 --> 01:06:53,642 IT WILL BE SENT TO THE HOUSE VIA SPECIAL MESSAGE. 958 01:06:53,743 --> 01:06:57,546 I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WELCOME TO 959 01:06:57,646 --> 01:06:59,582 EVERYBODY, TO FAMILY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW 960 01:06:59,682 --> 01:07:03,019 MEMBERS THAT JOIN US HERE IN THE SENATE CHAMBER TODAY AND SAY 961 01:07:03,119 --> 01:07:07,957 THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU'RE GETTING READY TO 962 01:07:08,057 --> 01:07:09,325 UNDERTAKE. 963 01:07:09,425 --> 01:07:12,094 IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA AS 964 01:07:12,194 --> 01:07:14,597 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, AND I LOOK FORWARD 965 01:07:14,697 --> 01:07:17,967 WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION TO THE NEXT FOUR. 966 01:07:18,067 --> 01:07:21,303 AS EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER KNOWS, SERVICE IS SACRIFICE AND 967 01:07:21,404 --> 01:07:23,973 THE GREATEST SACRIFICE, AS SENATOR BERGER MENTIONED, COMES 968 01:07:24,073 --> 01:07:26,876 FROM THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE THAT ARE SERVING. 969 01:07:26,976 --> 01:07:29,979 SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AGAIN THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ALLOW 970 01:07:30,079 --> 01:07:33,816 US TO DO THIS JOB WE DO EVERY DAY, AND ESPECIALLY TO MY FAMILY 971 01:07:33,916 --> 01:07:39,321 FAMILY FAMILY, AND ESPECIALLY TO MY 972 01:07:39,422 --> 01:07:41,157 WIFE ALICE. 973 01:07:41,257 --> 01:07:44,460 THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU SERVE AND FOR THE SPIRIT WITH WHICH 974 01:07:44,560 --> 01:07:45,828 YOU DO IT. 975 01:07:45,928 --> 01:07:50,366 AS A FORMER ARCHITECT, I SPENT MY FORMATIVE YEARS LEARNING THE 976 01:07:50,466 --> 01:07:52,735 ART AND SCIENCE OF CREATING BUILDINGS. 977 01:07:52,835 --> 01:07:53,636 ARCHITECTURE IS AN ART. 978 01:07:53,736 --> 01:07:54,370 IT'S A SCIENCE. 979 01:07:54,470 --> 01:07:55,571 IT'S A TECHNOLOGY. 980 01:07:55,671 --> 01:07:57,206 IT'S MATH AND ANTHROPOLOGY. 981 01:07:57,306 --> 01:07:58,874 SOCIOLOGY. 982 01:07:58,974 --> 01:08:00,142 GEOGRAPHY. 983 01:08:00,242 --> 01:08:02,912 AND IT'S A VERY COMPLEX PROFESSION. 984 01:08:03,012 --> 01:08:06,482 MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, THAT THEY SPEND THE MAJORITY OF 985 01:08:06,582 --> 01:08:11,020 THEIR LIVES LIVING AND WORKING IN BOXES CREATED BY ARCHITECTS. 986 01:08:11,120 --> 01:08:15,257 ARCHITECTURE IMPACTS OUR LIVES IN SO MANY WAYS IT HAS JUST 987 01:08:15,357 --> 01:08:17,693 PLAIN BECOME UBIQUITOUS TO OUR EVERYDAY LIFE. 988 01:08:17,793 --> 01:08:21,864 YOU REALLY CAN'T AVOID THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE. 989 01:08:21,964 --> 01:08:26,135 YOU MAY BE ABLE TO AVOID A BAD TV SHOW OR A BAD MOVIE. 990 01:08:26,235 --> 01:08:28,270 YOU CAN EVEN PUT DOWN A BAD BOOK. 991 01:08:28,370 --> 01:08:32,141 BUT THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE ENDURES FOR GENERATIONS, AND IT 992 01:08:32,241 --> 01:08:36,078 IS A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD. 993 01:08:36,178 --> 01:08:40,950 AS AN ARCHITECT, I HAD TO LEARN THE ART OF BEING A DESIGNER, A 994 01:08:41,050 --> 01:08:43,986 PLANNER, A CONSENSUS BUILDER, AND THE ONE WHO PAINTS THE 995 01:08:44,086 --> 01:08:45,421 ENVISIONED FUTURE FOR A CLIENT. 996 01:08:45,521 --> 01:08:48,557 THE DEMANDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WERE OFTEN OVERWHELMING. 997 01:08:48,657 --> 01:08:52,595 BUT THE FACT IS ARCHITECTS ARE CREATORS OF CULTURE. 998 01:08:52,695 --> 01:08:57,566 AND I HAVE OBSERVED SO MANY PARALLELS BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE 999 01:08:57,666 --> 01:09:00,836 AND THE WORK THAT WE ALL DO HERE IN THIS CHAMBER, THE WORK OF 1000 01:09:00,936 --> 01:09:02,538 POLITICS. 1001 01:09:02,638 --> 01:09:05,941 WHILE POLITICS IS SO OFTEN DOWNSTREAM OF CULTURE, IT DOES 1002 01:09:06,041 --> 01:09:14,617 IMPACT GENERATIONS, PLANNING, DESIGNING, CREATING, CONSENSUS 1003 01:09:14,717 --> 01:09:17,019 BUILDING, TOOLS NEEDED IN OUR DAILY LIVES HERE IN RALEIGH. 1004 01:09:17,119 --> 01:09:19,355 WE ARE THE ARCHITECTS OF POLITICAL CULTURE IN NORTH 1005 01:09:19,455 --> 01:09:22,324 CAROLINA. 1006 01:09:22,424 --> 01:09:25,861 AND WITH THAT COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY AND A DEMAND FOR 1007 01:09:25,961 --> 01:09:27,129 THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP. 1008 01:09:27,229 --> 01:09:34,970 OUR LEADERSHIP DEMANDS VISION, DESIGN, PLANNING, AND MOST 1009 01:09:35,070 --> 01:09:38,107 CERTAINLY CLEAR EXECUTION. 1010 01:09:38,207 --> 01:09:42,611 EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT IS THE METAPHORICALLY BUILDING WE'RE 1011 01:09:42,711 --> 01:09:46,015 CREATING THROUGH POLICY IS THE SOLID FOUNDATION IT RESTS UPON. 1012 01:09:46,115 --> 01:09:49,552 THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN FOUNDATION BUILDING YEARS. 1013 01:09:49,652 --> 01:09:55,191 THEY HAVE BEEN TOILSOME YEARS, YEARS WITHOUT MUCH RECOGNITION 1014 01:09:55,291 --> 01:09:57,293 FOR THE HARD WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. 1015 01:09:57,393 --> 01:10:00,596 YET YOU CREATED A SOLID FOUNDATION UPON WHICH A NEW AND 1016 01:10:00,696 --> 01:10:04,967 VISIONED FUTURE FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CAN BE BUILT. 1017 01:10:05,067 --> 01:10:06,569 REDESIGNING THE TAX INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR STATE SO 1018 01:10:06,669 --> 01:10:10,005 THAT MIDDLE CLASS HAS MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS. 1019 01:10:10,105 --> 01:10:13,876 AND SO THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CAN CREATE NEW JOBS. 1020 01:10:13,976 --> 01:10:16,579 REDESIGNING EDUCATION FUNDING TO RAISE TEACHER COMPENSATION TO 1021 01:10:16,679 --> 01:10:19,481 THE HIGHEST LEVEL SO THAT TEACHERS CAN BEGIN TO FEEL 1022 01:10:19,582 --> 01:10:22,351 VALUED FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO, AND SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT 1023 01:10:22,451 --> 01:10:24,486 AND RETAIN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TEACHERS IN THE 1024 01:10:24,587 --> 01:10:26,288 NATION. 1025 01:10:26,388 --> 01:10:28,624 REDESIGNING ROAD CONSTRUCTION FORMULAS SO THAT MORE RURAL 1026 01:10:28,724 --> 01:10:34,196 AREAS AND SMALL TOWNS ARE CONNECTED TO OUR GROWING CITIES. 1027 01:10:34,296 --> 01:10:36,832 REDESIGNING GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY SO MORE PEOPLE FEELS 1028 01:10:36,932 --> 01:10:39,201 LIKE GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR THEM AND SO THAT WE HAVE MORE MONEY 1029 01:10:39,301 --> 01:10:43,706 IN OUR RAINY DAY FUND FOR A RAINY DAY. 1030 01:10:43,806 --> 01:10:46,609 REDESIGNING EDUCATION FOR OUR DIGITAL WORLD SO THAT WE WILL BE 1031 01:10:46,709 --> 01:10:51,347 THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO HAVE EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM 1032 01:10:51,447 --> 01:10:53,282 CONNECTED TO HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND AND SO THAT EVERY 1033 01:10:53,382 --> 01:10:55,084 STUDENT IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS ACCESS TO AN EXCELLENT 1034 01:10:55,184 --> 01:10:58,654 EDUCATION. 1035 01:10:58,754 --> 01:11:01,257 REDESIGNING HIGHER EDUCATION SO THAT STUDENTS CAN SAVE MONEY BY 1036 01:11:01,357 --> 01:11:04,827 STARTING AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THEN SEAMLESSLY ENTER A 1037 01:11:04,927 --> 01:11:07,663 FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL AND SO THAT STUDENTS THAT NEED IT THE MOST 1038 01:11:07,763 --> 01:11:12,768 CAN ACCESS A $500 UNIVERSITY TUITION FOR THE FIRST TIME. 1039 01:11:12,868 --> 01:11:15,738 AND THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE FOUNDATION THAT YOU 1040 01:11:15,838 --> 01:11:18,507 CREATED OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. 1041 01:11:18,607 --> 01:11:20,943 BUT IT IS A VERY SOLID FOUNDATION. 1042 01:11:21,043 --> 01:11:23,279 AND IT CAN BE BUILT UPON. 1043 01:11:23,379 --> 01:11:26,649 SO HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THE TASK? 1044 01:11:26,749 --> 01:11:29,251 WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY. 1045 01:11:29,351 --> 01:11:33,555 WE ALL KNOW HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO. 1046 01:11:33,656 --> 01:11:39,628 BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE ALL CONSIDER WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. 1047 01:11:39,728 --> 01:11:48,737 I OFTEN THINK ABOUT WHATTIO HAHN SEBASTIAN BACH REPLIED WHEN 1048 01:11:48,837 --> 01:11:49,905 ASKED WHY HE WROTE MUSIC. 1049 01:11:50,005 --> 01:11:54,410 HE SAID FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE GOOD OF MAN. 1050 01:11:54,510 --> 01:11:58,113 WHAT IF ALL OF OUR LIVES WERE THAT NOBLE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD 1051 01:11:58,213 --> 01:12:00,816 AND FOR THE GOOD OF MAN? 1052 01:12:00,916 --> 01:12:08,123 AN ENVISIONED FUTURE SHOULD BE A NOBLE PURSUIT OF THE WISE AND 1053 01:12:08,223 --> 01:12:12,194 MUST INCLUDE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THOSE WHO 1054 01:12:12,294 --> 01:12:15,864 FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND, THOSE WHO CAN'T RUN THE RACE 1055 01:12:15,964 --> 01:12:18,100 BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF THE GATE. 1056 01:12:18,200 --> 01:12:21,270 THEY LOOK TO US FOR HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY BUT RELY ON US TO DO 1057 01:12:21,370 --> 01:12:22,204 THE RIGHT THING. 1058 01:12:22,304 --> 01:12:23,872 AND THERE IS STILL MUCH TO DO. 1059 01:12:23,972 --> 01:12:26,875 THERE IS STILL MUCH GOOD TO BE DONE IN OUR STATE. 1060 01:12:26,975 --> 01:12:29,111 THERE IS STILL GREAT NEED JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THIS 1061 01:12:29,211 --> 01:12:30,312 BUILDING. 1062 01:12:30,412 --> 01:12:32,915 THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND 1063 01:12:33,015 --> 01:12:34,616 PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. 1064 01:12:34,717 --> 01:12:36,985 THERE ARE WIDOWS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED A HELPING 1065 01:12:37,086 --> 01:12:38,187 HAND. 1066 01:12:38,287 --> 01:12:39,922 THERE ARE ORPHANS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED A MOTHER 1067 01:12:40,022 --> 01:12:41,323 AND A FATHER. 1068 01:12:41,423 --> 01:12:43,425 THERE ARE UNBORN CHILDREN THAT NEED TO HAVE THE HOPE OF A FULL 1069 01:12:43,525 --> 01:12:44,526 LIFE. 1070 01:12:44,626 --> 01:12:46,829 THERE ARE PRISONERS THAT NEED A SECOND CHANCE. 1071 01:12:46,929 --> 01:12:49,198 THERE ARE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT NEED TO FIND 1072 01:12:49,298 --> 01:12:50,466 FREEDOM. 1073 01:12:50,566 --> 01:12:52,668 THERE ARE IMMIGRANTS THAT NEED HELP ASSIMILATING INTO OUR 1074 01:12:52,768 --> 01:12:53,969 COMMUNITIES. 1075 01:12:54,069 --> 01:12:57,106 THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT ARE STILL LOST IN EDUCATION SYSTEM 1076 01:12:57,206 --> 01:12:59,575 THAT DOES NOT WORK FOR THEM AND THEIR FUTURE, AND THERE ARE 1077 01:12:59,675 --> 01:13:02,411 PARENTS WHO DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO A 1078 01:13:02,511 --> 01:13:03,746 FAILING SCHOOL. 1079 01:13:03,846 --> 01:13:05,748 THERE ARE RACE RELATIONS THAT STILL NEED TO BE RECONCILED IN 1080 01:13:05,848 --> 01:13:07,516 OUR STATE AND IN OUR NATION. 1081 01:13:07,616 --> 01:13:11,420 AND THERE IS STILL MUCH GOOD TO BE DONE, AND WE ARE THE 1082 01:13:11,520 --> 01:13:13,489 ARCHITECTS OF THAT ENVISIONED FUTURE. 1083 01:13:13,589 --> 01:13:18,994 BUT THESE ARE NOT MERELY THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF 1084 01:13:19,094 --> 01:13:21,130 GOVERNMENT, MUCH LESS THIS BODY. 1085 01:13:21,230 --> 01:13:25,601 THESE ARE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A COMMUNITY, 1086 01:13:25,701 --> 01:13:30,506 OF ITS LEADERS, OF FAMILY AND THE CHURCH. 1087 01:13:30,606 --> 01:13:32,875 AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF 1088 01:13:32,975 --> 01:13:38,180 YOU AS WE DO OUR PART TO DESIGN A BETTER NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE 1089 01:13:38,280 --> 01:13:39,448 MOST VULNERABLE. 1090 01:13:39,548 --> 01:13:41,817 I LOOK FORWARD TO FIGHTING FOR EVERY FAMILY IN OUR STATE, 1091 01:13:41,917 --> 01:13:43,519 WHETHER THEY VOTED FOR ME OR NOT. 1092 01:13:43,619 --> 01:13:47,489 IMAGINE THE FUTURE THAT CAN BE CREATED FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN 1093 01:13:47,589 --> 01:13:50,726 LEFT BEHIND WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER. 1094 01:13:50,826 --> 01:13:53,562 I AM SURE YOU ALL AGREE THAT WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST STATE IN 1095 01:13:53,662 --> 01:13:54,797 AMERICA. 1096 01:13:54,897 --> 01:13:56,665 WE HAVE THE BEST CLIMATE. 1097 01:13:56,765 --> 01:14:00,469 WE HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES, THE BEST GEOGRAPHY, THE 1098 01:14:00,569 --> 01:14:02,805 PRETTIEST MOUNTAINS AND BEACHES, THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR RAISING 1099 01:14:02,905 --> 01:14:07,309 A FAMILY AND GETTING A JOB, THE BEST RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES, THE 1100 01:14:07,409 --> 01:14:13,048 MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES, AND THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. 1101 01:14:13,148 --> 01:14:16,285 I BELIEVE OUR BRIGHTEST DAYS ARE STILL AHEAD, AND I BELIEVE WE 1102 01:14:16,385 --> 01:14:18,921 CAN DO OUR PART TO CREATE HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL NORTH 1103 01:14:19,021 --> 01:14:20,422 CAROLINIANS. 1104 01:14:20,522 --> 01:14:23,859 I BELIEVE WE CAN INNOVATE MORE AND FASTER THAN ANY OTHER STATE 1105 01:14:23,959 --> 01:14:25,761 IN THE NATION. 1106 01:14:25,861 --> 01:14:29,498 I BELIEVE WE CAN ACCOMPLISH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IF WE DON'T CARE 1107 01:14:29,598 --> 01:14:30,766 WHO GETS THE CREDIT. 1108 01:14:30,866 --> 01:14:35,771 SO THAT MEANS WE MUST WORK TOGETHER FOR THIS BRIGHT FUTURE, 1109 01:14:35,871 --> 01:14:38,140 AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT FOUR 1110 01:14:38,240 --> 01:14:41,376 YEARS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. 1111 01:14:41,477 --> 01:14:45,481 I PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE AND BLESS 1112 01:14:45,581 --> 01:14:46,682 YOUR EFFORTS. 1113 01:14:46,782 --> 01:14:50,452 AND I PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NORTH 1114 01:14:50,552 --> 01:14:53,155 CAROLINA, AND I PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF 1115 01:14:53,255 --> 01:14:54,723 AMERICA ONE MORE TIME. 1116 01:14:54,823 --> 01:14:56,558 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY. 1117 01:14:56,658 --> 01:15:01,530 [APPLAUSE] 1118 01:15:16,912 --> 01:15:20,482 >> THANK YOU. 1119 01:15:20,582 --> 01:15:24,119 NOW, SENATORS, HAVING RECEIVED YOUR OATH OF OFFICE, ADOPTED 1120 01:15:24,219 --> 01:15:27,956 RULES OF PROCEDURE, AND ELECTED YOUR OFFICERS, THE CHAIR DIRECTS 1121 01:15:28,056 --> 01:15:31,426 THE PRINCIPAL CLERK TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF 1122 01:15:31,527 --> 01:15:34,329 REPRESENTATIVES INFORMING THAT HONORABLE BODY THAT THE SENATE 1123 01:15:34,429 --> 01:15:38,300 OF THE 2017 GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS ORGANIZED AND READY TO PROCEED 1124 01:15:38,400 --> 01:15:41,203 WITH PUBLIC BUSINESS. 1125 01:15:41,303 --> 01:15:44,239 DO WE HAVE ANY NOTICES OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? 1126 01:15:44,339 --> 01:15:48,710 SENATOR HISE, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 1127 01:15:48,810 --> 01:15:53,448 >> I WOULD MOVE THAT THE WORDS SPOKEN TODAY BE SPREAD UPON THE 1128 01:15:53,549 --> 01:15:55,017 JOURNAL. 1129 01:15:55,117 --> 01:15:57,052 >> SENATOR BRYANT, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 1130 01:15:57,152 --> 01:16:00,789 >> I AM PLEASED TO REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE THAT THE 1131 01:16:00,889 --> 01:16:04,593 NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS IS ORGANIZED FOR THE 2017 1132 01:16:04,693 --> 01:16:17,439 2017-18 BY -- BIENNIUM, AND IT IS BRYANT, SECOND VICE CHAIR 1133 01:16:17,539 --> 01:16:23,412 FROM THE SENATE, SENATOR ERICA SMITH-INGRAM, SECRETARY FROM THE 1134 01:16:23,512 --> 01:16:29,985 HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE JEAN FARMER-BUTTERFIELD, ROSA GILL, 1135 01:16:30,085 --> 01:16:34,723 SENATOR DON DAVIS, CHAPLAIN FROM THE SENATE, SENATOR JOE S. 1136 01:16:34,823 --> 01:16:38,560 WADDELL, SERGEANT-AT-ARMS FROM THE HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT 1137 01:16:38,660 --> 01:16:38,994 REIVES. 1138 01:16:39,094 --> 01:16:42,230 THANK YOU. 1139 01:16:42,331 --> 01:16:43,899 >> ANY FURTHER NOTICES? 1140 01:16:43,999 --> 01:16:47,135 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 1141 01:16:47,235 --> 01:16:49,538 JUST FOR A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. 1142 01:16:49,638 --> 01:16:50,806 >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 1143 01:16:50,906 --> 01:16:52,608 >> MEMBERS, GUESTS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MISSING SOMEONE HERE 1144 01:16:52,708 --> 01:16:56,111 TODAY. 1145 01:16:56,211 --> 01:17:01,350 AND OUR CAUCUS HAS ELECTED HIM SHOULD HE HAVE BEEN WELL AND HAD 1146 01:17:01,450 --> 01:17:03,285 NOT PASSED ON. 1147 01:17:03,385 --> 01:17:06,455 SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS, I 1148 01:17:06,555 --> 01:17:10,993 THINK IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT WE ADJOURN TODAY, AND I MAKE THAT 1149 01:17:11,093 --> 01:17:15,931 AS A MOTION IN MEMORY OF OUR READING CLERK, MR. LEE SETTLE. 1150 01:17:16,031 --> 01:17:21,136 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. 1151 01:17:21,236 --> 01:17:25,807 SENATOR TILLMAN, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 1152 01:17:25,907 --> 01:17:27,876 >> A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. 1153 01:17:27,976 --> 01:17:29,111 >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 1154 01:17:29,211 --> 01:17:31,179 >> LEE SETTLE -- MANY OF YOU DIDN'T KNOW LEE VERY WELL. 1155 01:17:31,279 --> 01:17:36,752 I MET LEE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS BEGINNING IN THE EARLY 1156 01:17:36,852 --> 01:17:42,190 STAGES OF THE REPUBLICAN MEN'S CLUB IN MOORE COUNTY. 1157 01:17:42,290 --> 01:17:44,426 HE WAS ONE OF THEIR FIRST CHAIRS. 1158 01:17:44,526 --> 01:17:46,895 NOT THE FIRST, BUT ONE OF. 1159 01:17:46,995 --> 01:17:52,901 AND HE GOT THE CLUB ORGANIZED WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK, AND I 1160 01:17:53,001 --> 01:17:57,105 WAS ACTIVE IN RANDOLPH COUNTY AND GOT TO KNOW HIM WELL AND WAS 1161 01:17:57,205 --> 01:18:00,575 INVITED MANY TIMES DOWN TO MEET WITH THEM, AND WE HAD LEE BACK 1162 01:18:00,676 --> 01:18:03,245 UP TO THE RANDOLPH COUNTY. 1163 01:18:03,345 --> 01:18:07,315 BUT HE WAS A QUIET TYPE GUY WHO HAD A LOT OF INFLUENCE. 1164 01:18:07,416 --> 01:18:10,786 A LOT OF INFLUENCE IN MOORE COUNTY. 1165 01:18:10,886 --> 01:18:16,725 AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT HE WAS A GREAT TRENCH 1166 01:18:16,825 --> 01:18:22,397 WORKER, NEVER OUT FRONT WITH THE RAH, RAH, RAH STUFF, BUT LEE WAS 1167 01:18:22,497 --> 01:18:27,235 A GENTLEMAN AND WELL-RESPECTED, AND WE WILL MISS -- I MISS LEE. 1168 01:18:27,335 --> 01:18:30,372 LEE AND SENATOR BLAKE'S LAST YEAR OR TWO HERE, MAYBE LAST 1169 01:18:30,472 --> 01:18:33,141 THREE YEARS, HIS HEALTH WAS FAILING, AND LEE BROUGHT HIM 1170 01:18:33,241 --> 01:18:39,748 HERE EVERY TIME, TOOK HIM HOME EVERY NIGHT ALL DURING THE 1171 01:18:39,848 --> 01:18:40,916 SESSION. 1172 01:18:41,016 --> 01:18:43,285 HE ALSO TOOK HIM TO OTHER MEETINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. 1173 01:18:43,385 --> 01:18:46,521 HE BROUGHT HIM TO RANDOLPH COUNTY TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT 1174 01:18:46,621 --> 01:18:50,392 TIMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. 1175 01:18:50,492 --> 01:18:54,162 SO YOU DON'T FIND PEOPLE EVERY DAY WITH THOSE QUALITIES. 1176 01:18:54,262 --> 01:18:57,265 AND I JUST -- SENATOR JACKSON, THANK YOU FOR TRIGGERING MY MIND 1177 01:18:57,365 --> 01:18:59,601 TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT LEE, BECAUSE I'D BEEN PLANNING AND 1178 01:18:59,701 --> 01:19:04,940 WANTING TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE LEFT RIGHT AT THE END, SORT OF 1179 01:19:05,040 --> 01:19:08,810 THE BEGINNING OF THIS SESSION, SO I DON'T WANT US TO FORGET LEE 1180 01:19:08,910 --> 01:19:11,646 SETTLE, WHO IS A GREAT VOICE IN MOORE COUNTY, AND I SAY THAT 1181 01:19:11,747 --> 01:19:18,253 CLUB NOW IS AS STRONG AS IT IS AND THE LARGEST IN THE STATE. 1182 01:19:18,353 --> 01:19:20,756 IT WAS A LOT TO DO WITH LEE SETTLE IN THE EARLY DAYS. 1183 01:19:20,856 --> 01:19:23,458 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR. 1184 01:19:23,558 --> 01:19:26,795 SENATOR BRYANT, YOUR LIGHT IS ON. 1185 01:19:26,895 --> 01:19:29,164 FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 1186 01:19:29,264 --> 01:19:31,666 >> A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. 1187 01:19:31,767 --> 01:19:35,036 >> I TOO WANT TO SPEAK OF A FEW WORDS IN MEMORY OF MR. LEE 1188 01:19:35,137 --> 01:19:36,304 SETTLE. 1189 01:19:36,404 --> 01:19:41,143 HE WAS A MAJESTIC AND GRAND GENTLEMAN AND WAS ALWAYS SO 1190 01:19:41,243 --> 01:19:44,212 KIND-HEARTED, AND I PERSONALLY APPRECIATE HOW SUPPORTIVE HE WAS 1191 01:19:44,312 --> 01:19:47,482 OF ME EVEN THOUGH WE WERE OF DIFFERENT PARTIES. 1192 01:19:47,582 --> 01:19:53,522 HE WAS ALWAYS SO SYMPATHETIC OF OUR -- YOU KNOW, OF OUR -- THE 1193 01:19:53,622 --> 01:19:56,424 DIFFICULT CHALLENGES WE FACE HERE ON THE BACK ROW, AND I 1194 01:19:56,525 --> 01:20:00,996 ALWAYS APPRECIATED HIM FOR THAT, AND JUST THE ROLE MODEL HE WAS 1195 01:20:01,096 --> 01:20:02,397 OF SUCH A GRAND GENTLEMAN. 1196 01:20:02,497 --> 01:20:05,967 I WAS SO PROUD TO HAVE HIM HERE AND WANT TO HONOR HIM BY MAKING 1197 01:20:06,067 --> 01:20:06,401 THESE REMARKS. 1198 01:20:06,501 --> 01:20:07,903 THANK YOU. 1199 01:20:08,003 --> 01:20:09,070 >> THANK YOU, SENATOR BRYANT. 1200 01:20:09,171 --> 01:20:13,809 DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER NOTICES OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? 1201 01:20:13,909 --> 01:20:18,680 WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE SENATE -- SENATOR 1202 01:20:18,780 --> 01:20:20,282 TILLMAN, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 1203 01:20:20,382 --> 01:20:23,051 >> I KNOW I'VE TALKED TOO MUCH. 1204 01:20:23,151 --> 01:20:24,920 AND I AM SORRY. 1205 01:20:25,020 --> 01:20:27,556 >> FOR WHAT PURPOSE? 1206 01:20:27,656 --> 01:20:29,691 >> A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. 1207 01:20:29,791 --> 01:20:30,492 >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SENATOR. 1208 01:20:30,592 --> 01:20:32,127 >> THANK YOU, SIR. 1209 01:20:32,227 --> 01:20:33,962 I WAS TALKING TO SENATOR BLUE A WHILE AGO. 1210 01:20:34,062 --> 01:20:37,599 THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST OPENINGS WE'VE HAD. 1211 01:20:37,699 --> 01:20:41,436 I SEE A LOT OF WILLINGNESS TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE. 1212 01:20:41,536 --> 01:20:45,373 AND I'VE EXPRESSED THAT, AND I THINK OUR LEADER, SENATOR 1213 01:20:45,473 --> 01:20:48,710 BERGER, HAS EXPRESSED THAT, THAT WE CAN DO MANY THINGS TOGETHER. 1214 01:20:48,810 --> 01:20:54,149 WE DON'T ARGUE OVER THAT MANY ISSUES ANYWAY. 1215 01:20:54,249 --> 01:20:57,352 AND I KNOW SENATOR BLUE HAS THINGS THAT HE'S GOT THAT HE 1216 01:20:57,452 --> 01:20:59,287 WOULD LIKE FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER ON, AND I JUST THINK 1217 01:20:59,387 --> 01:21:03,491 THAT WE OUGHT TO THROW THE OLIVE BRANCH OUT AND FIGHT OVER THE 1218 01:21:03,592 --> 01:21:07,329 FEW THINGS WE FIGHT OVER, WHICH WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND 1219 01:21:07,429 --> 01:21:17,138 ALL THE REST OF THEM HAVE PEACE, HARMONY AND GOOD WILL TO ALL. 1220 01:21:17,239 --> 01:21:19,507 >> IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE SENATE? 1221 01:21:19,608 --> 01:21:24,546 IF NOT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SENATOR BERGER FOR A MOTION. 1222 01:21:24,646 --> 01:21:25,847 >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 1223 01:21:25,947 --> 01:21:29,851 I MOVE THAT THE SENATE DO NOW ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF A FINE 1224 01:21:29,951 --> 01:21:37,325 GENTLEMAN, LEE SETTLE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SENATE JOINT 1225 01:21:37,425 --> 01:21:43,131 RESOLUTION 2 AND SUBSEQUENT RECEIPT OF HOUSE MESSAGES, TO 1226 01:21:43,231 --> 01:21:46,534 RECONVENE ON JANUARY 25, 2017. 1227 01:21:46,635 --> 01:21:51,373 >> IN ACCORDANCE WITH SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2, SUBJECT TO 1228 01:21:51,473 --> 01:21:58,280 THE STIPULATIONS STATED BY MR. BERGER AND THE MEMORY OF LEE 1229 01:21:58,380 --> 01:22:00,615 SETTLE, ALL IN FAVOR WILL SAY AYE. 1230 01:22:00,715 --> 01:22:01,149 OPPOSED NO. 1231 01:22:01,249 --> 01:22:02,951 THE AYES HAVE IT. 1232 01:22:03,051 --> 01:22:05,020 AND THE SENATE STANDS ADJOURNED. 1233 01:22:05,120 --> 01:22:08,456 [GAVEL] 1234 01:22:11,459 --> 01:22:16,464 (room chatter) 1235 01:22:33,381 --> 01:22:35,216 NORTH CAROLINA CHANNEL IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FINANCIAL 1236 01:22:35,317 --> 01:22:39,788 CONTRIBUTIONS OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU, WHO SUPPORT THE UNC-TV 1237 01:22:39,888 --> 01:22:40,889 NETWORK