>> THIS IS NC SPIN, AN
UNREHEARSED DISCUSSION
ON ISSUES OF INTEREST TO
NORTH CAROLINIANS.
NOW HERE'S YOUR
MODERATOR, TOM CAMPBELL.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE ON WELCOME
TO NC SPIN, I'M BRAD CRONE
SITTING IN THIS WEEK FOR
TOM CAMPBELL WHO'S ON VACATION.
ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY
EDITION, WE LOOK AT THE
GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT THE
RISING TOLL OF STUDENT DEBT;
LOCAL EFFORTS TO
POLICE THE POLICE AND WE
PREVIEW THE MAJOR
CAMPAIGNS DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW.
JOINING US ON THE
PANEL THIS WEEK ARE:
BECKI GRAY, WITH THE
JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION,
JOHN HOOD, SYNDICATED
COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR,
ROB SCHOFIELD, WITH
NC POLICY WATCH,
AND HOWARD LEE, FORMER
STATE SENATOR.
THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND,
EVERYONE AT NC SPIN WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND
PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR
LIVES IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.
AND TO SAY THANK YOU TO
THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE
SACRIFICED SO MUCH.
NORTH CAROLINA HAS GIVEN
MANY WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND
SACRIFICED SO WE
MIGHT LIVE IN PEACE.
THIS WEEKEND OUR HEARTS
ARE HEAVY
WITH PRIDE AND GRATITUDE.
WE BEGIN OUR UNINTERRUPTED
DEBATE AFTER THESE BRIEF
MESSAGES FROM OUR UNDERWRITERS.
- [ANNOUNCER] THEY'RE
UP BEFORE DAWN,
AND WORK LATE INTO THE NIGHT.
THEY BELIEVE IN
HARD WORK, FAMILY,
AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.
THEY STAND UP FOR
THEIR COMMUNITIES
WHEN OTHERS WALK AWAY.
THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE WHO
JUST WANT A FAIR SHAKE.
THEY ARE FARMERS.
AT NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU,
WE ARE PROUD TO STAND
WITH OUR FARMERS.
- [ANNOUNCER] TODAY'S TOOLS
MAKE YOU A REAL DIYER,
AND AS A MEMBER OF AN
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE,
YOU HAVE LOTS OF VALUABLE TOOLS
TO HELP YOU DO IT YOURSELF
IN CONTROLLING YOUR HOME
ENERGY USE AND BUDGET,
LEAVING YOU FREE TO BE DAD.
>> PARTNERS FOR INNOVATION IN
HEALTH CARE.
WE ARE SUPPORTING COMMON SENSE
SOLUTIONS
FOR NORTH CAROLINA'S HEALTH CARE
DELIVERY SYSTEM.
PROMOTING ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY,
QUALITY CARE, AND INNOVATION.
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT PIHC.INFO
>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING
PROVIDED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA
ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS.
FAMILY PHYSICIANS, YOUR TRUSTED
HEALTHCARE ADVISOR FOR LIFE.
LET'S GET STARTED.
CAMPAIGN 2020 IS TAKING
SHAPE WITH BOTH PARTIES
WORKING TO RECRUIT
CANDIDATES AND PUT
TOGETHER A SLATE FOR NEXT
YEAR'S GENERAL ELECTION.
ONE OF THE MOST
INTERESTING RACES SO FAR
IS THE US SENATE WHERE
INCUMBENT THOM TILLIS IS
FACING A CREDIBLE PRIMARY
CHALLENGER AND THE
DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO FIND A CANDIDATE.
QUESTION 1 TO BECKI -
HOW SERIOUS SHOULD SEN. TILLIS
TAKE THE GARLAND
TUCKER CAMPAIGN?
>> ANY CANDIDATE INCUMBENT
SHOULD TAKE A CHALLENGE VERY
SERIOUSLY AND I DON'T THINK
THIS IS ANY DIFFERENT AT ALL.
ON SENATOR TILLIS HAS A
RECORD TO RUN ON AND ON WE'LL
BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT THAT
THINK THE SENATOR TILLIS
SHOULD LOOK AT THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE VOTERS
KNOW WHAT HE'S DONE HAS A LONG
RECORD NOT JUST IN THE US
SENATE, BUT ALSO IN THE NORTH
CAROLINA HOUSE DON'T FORGET HE
WAS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
I THINK TO EXPECT THAT HE WOULD
NOT HAVE A CHALLENGER FOR THIS
FIRST TIME THAT HE'S LOOKING
FOR REELECTION WOULD HAVE BEEN
TOTALLY UNREALISTIC AND I THINK
COMPETITION IS GOOD. I THINK
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOTERS
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
CANDIDATES MAKES THE WHOLE
PROCESS RICHER AND SO I'M
EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
>> JOHN IS THIS A PHILOSOPHICAL
FIGHT WITH
THE RIGHT WING SAYING WE DON'T
REALLY LIKE THOM TILLIS WE SEE
HIM AS A MODERATE AND CENTRIST
AND WILL TILLIS EVER BE ABLE
TO PLACATE THE ULTRA
CONSERVATIVES?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT PEOPLE
WANT TO PUT THE TILLIS PRIMARY
WITH GARLAND TUCKER AND PERHAPS
OTHERS WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW
IN A STRICTLY IT A LOGICAL BOX
I THINK IT'S HARD TO DO THAT IF
YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
GARLAND TUCKER ANNOUNCED,
OF COURSE TUCKER LIKE A LOT OF
CONSERVATIVES HAD EXPRESSED
CONCERNS ABOUT TRUMP DURING
THAT 2015 2016 PERIOD, TILLIS
SUPPORTERS TYPICALLY PEOPLE IN
CONGRESS, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK
FOR PEOPLE IN CONGRESS WENT IN
AND PULLED THOSE THINGS AND
CALLED GARLAND TUCKER AND OUT
OF TOUCH LIBERAL WHO IS AGAINST
DONALD TRUMP NOW THAT IS NOT
THE KIND OF RHETORIC WE WOULD
TYPICALLY SEE IN A MODERATE
VERSUS CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY CIRCA 1980 OR SOMETHING
IT JUST A DIFFERENT THING.
BOTH SIDES ARE CLAIMING TO BE
CLOSER TO TRUMP THAN THE OTHER,
I THINK IT'S HARD TO JAM THAT
INTO ANY IDEOLOGICAL BOX.
>> I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT
THE YOUNG PERSON WHO WROTE THAT
PRESS RELEASE ABOUT GARLAND
TUCKER BEING LIBERAL AND CARTER
BEING OUT OF TOUCH. CARTER HAS
FORGOTTEN MORE ABOUT NORTH
CAROLINA POLITICS THAN THEY WILL
EVER REALLY KNOW.
ROB, LET'S LOOK AT THE DEMOCRAT
SIDE.
YOU HAVE JANET COWELL BEING
COURTED BY THE DSCC
ERIC MANSFIELD A FORMER
STATE SENATOR PHYSICIAN OUT OF
FAYETTEVILLE HERE IN RALEIGH,
STATE SENATOR ERICA SMITH HELD
A CAMPAIGN KICKOFF LAST WEEK.
FORMER STATE SENATOR CAL
CUNNINGHAM IS RUNNING FOR
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BUT IS
BEING HEAVILY COURTED BY THE
DSCC. THEY CONTEND THAT THERE
AS POLLING DATA THAT CAL
CUNNINGHAM WOULD PERFORM VERY
WELL IN A MATCHUP AGAINST THOM
TILLIS WHERE'S THE DEMOCRATIC
SLATE RIGHT NOW.
>> WELL I THINK IT'S A VERY
COMPETITIVE GROUP. I MEAN THE
REALITY IS THAT TILLIS HIMSELF
DIDN'T ANNOUNCE FOR 2014 UNTIL
ABOUT THIS TIME IN 2013, SO
IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT IT'S
NOT CLARIFIED THAT IT'S A IT'S
A GROUP OF VERY STRONG
CANDIDATES, I HAVE TO MAKE A
DISCLOSURE THAT ERIC MANSFIELD
DOCUMENT STILL SERVES ON THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
PARENT ORGANIZATION OF NC
POLICY WATCH BUT I CAN SAY THAT
THEY'RE ALL VERY COMPETITIVE.
STRONG CANDIDATES. TILLIS IS
NUMBERS ARE HAVE BEEN AROUND
LOW 30'S EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN
ELECTED, HE'S A VERY
VULNERABLE. KENNEDY WON A VERY
NARROW ELECTION VICTORY OVER
KAY HAGAN IN 24 TO REMEMBER
THAT WAS THE WHOLE BOWL, LOOK
SUPPOSE A CRISIS THAT CAME AT
THE LAST MINUTE THAT MAY HAVE
TIPPED IN HIS FAVOR SO HE'S GOT
A HE'S GOT A TOUGH ROAD TO HOPE
WHOEVER THE DEMOCRATS
>> WOULD YOU SAY JANET COWELL
AND CAL CUNNINGHAM
WOULD BE THE TOP 2
FAVORITES FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE?
>> I THINK IT'S EXPECTED THAT
THAT BOTH
WILL HAVE A LOT OF
SUCCESS RAISING MONEY,
I THINK THERE
ARE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE A
VERY DIVERSE TICKET.
THE DEMOCRATS PUT FORTH A
CANDIDATE OF COLOR FOR SOME HIGH
OFFICE AND I THINK THAT IS
GOING TO BE AN ISSUE AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T
UNDERESTIMATE
ERICA SMITH EITHER.
>> HOWARD LEE IN THE SCHEME OF
NATIONAL POLITICS IN STATE
POLITICS ACROSS THE STATE.
HOW DO YOU SEE 2020 DEVELOP IN
THE US SENATE RACE, IT'S GOING
TO BE SOMETHING LIKE WE SAW IN
1984 WITH THE HELMS HOT RACE
OR IN 1990 WITH THE GAP HELMS
RACE WILL IT BE A A NATIONAL
STAGE RACE.
>> I THINK NORTH CAROLINA
CERTAINLY
HAS POSITIONED ITSELF TO GET
A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION
THAT REASON BEING THAT ALL
STATE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE MORE
BALANCED AND MORE CLOSE TO A
PURPLE STATE, THE MANY OF THOSE
AND THEREFORE PEOPLE WILL BE
LOOKING TO US TO HOPE FOR MOOD
BRING SOME BALANCE INTO THIS
INTO THIS PROCESS I THINK TOM
HAS REALLY MR. WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW A LEVEL OF
STRAIGHT AS HE BEFORE AND I
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN HIM BE
MORE AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF
PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THE
PEOPLE, BUT I THINK IS GOING TO
BE NOT GET A LOT OF NATIONAL
ATTENTION.
>> BECKI ANOTHER RACE PEOPLE
ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO ACROSS
THE STATE IS DEVELOPING
PRIMARY IN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY FOR GOVERNOR THERE'S TALK
THAT STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOLLY
GRANGE FROM WILMINGTON IS
PLANNING TO MOUNT A CHALLENGE
AGAINST INCUMBENT LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR DAN FAR.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY
SECRET, SHE'S LOOKING AT THAT
RACE, I SPOKE TO HER LAST
WEEK I DON'T THINK SHE'S MADE A
DECISION FOR SURE, BUT YOU KNOW
AGAIN FOR THE SHOULD NOT COME
AS A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY WHEN
YOU LOOK ACROSS THE HORIZON AT
THE RISING STARS IN BOTH
PARTIES MEAN YOU JUST MENTIONED
SOME OF THESE FOLKS THAT MAY
GET INTO THE DEMOCRATIC RACE
FOR THE US SENATE RICE ON YOU
KNOW WE SEE THIS HOLLY GRANGE
IS A GREAT CANDIDATE. SHE WAS
ONE OF THE FEW WOMEN THAT HAVE
BEEN THROUGH WEST POINT SHE'S A
VETERAN SHE'S REPRESENTED HER
DISTRICT REALLY WELL WITH SOME
REAL CONTROVERSY LYCIAN OF THE
GEN X AND FILM CREDITS AND LOTS
OF THINGS LIKE THAT YOU KNOW
THAT SHE WOULD WANT TO OR LOOK
TO A HIGHER AND YOU KNOW A
STATEWIDE RACE SHOULDN'T BE A
SURPRISE TO ANYBODY.
>> ROB, ON THE DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENTIAL SIDE 23 CANDIDATES
AND COUNTING RIGHT NOW MAYBE
24.
IS BIDEN FRONT RUNNER STATUS
IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
DOUBT THAT HE'S WAY AHEAD.
SANDERS AND YOU HAVE THAT
OPERATE NAME RECOGNITION.
IT'S POSSIBLE, I COULD SEE A
COUPLE OF ONE OR 2 PEOPLE
EMERGING FROM THE PACK AND MY
GOSH WHAT A SCRUM I THINK AT
THIS POINT BIDEN HAS A
WELLSPRING OF SUPPORT. HE'S IS
NAME RECOGNITION IS HIGH.
HE HAS THE CONNECTION TO OBAMA
I THINK YOU'LL UNLESS SOMETHING
DRAMATIC CHANGES HE'S GOING TO
HAVE A REAL LEG UP.
>> AS THESE CAMPAIGNS AND
UNFOLD IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE
AN INTERESTING SUMMER.
LET'S SHIFT
TO ANOTHER TOPIC.
LAST WEEK BILLIONAIRE INVESTOR
ROBERT SMITH TOLD STUDENTS AT
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE IN ATLANTA
THAT HIS FOUNDATION WAS WIPING
OUT THEIR STUDENT LOANS.
THAT'S A $40 MILLION ACT OF
GENEROSITY.
REMINDS US THAT THE
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
CONSTITUTION PROMISES STUDENTS
AN AFFORDABLE TUITION TO OUR
SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITH
GRADUATION IS OVER THE STAR
REALITY SETS IN AND OUT OF
STUDENTS PAY BACK THEIR DEBT.
QUESTION ONE TO HOWARD LEE
SENATOR IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE
REALLY PUTTING IT TO THE NEXT
GENERATION WHEN WE SETTLED IN
WITH SUCH DEBT TO PAY FOR
COLLEGE.
WHAT'S THE ANSWER?
>> WELL, I
CERTAINLY THINK ONE OPTION IS
FOR STUDENTS NOT TO THINK THEY
HAVE TO GO TO THE CADILLAC
COLLEGES OF THEY CAN BEGIN
THEIR EDUCATION AT A NOON
COLLEGE WAS A LOT CHEAPER, IT
CERTAINLY WON'T REQUIRE THE
MARKET TO OF OF THEIR LIVES, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PUT A HECK
OF A LOT MORE EMPHASIS ON
ENCOURAGING STUDENTS ALSO TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THEY CAN WORK
WHILE THEY GO TO SCHOOL SOME OF
US DID DO THAT AND OF COURSE OF
NOT HAVE TO BORROW MONEY TO PAY
THE TUITION. SO I THINK THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS THAT
ARE AVAILABLE BUT SOMEHOW
STUDENTS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO
BE IN THE TOP INSTITUTIONS AND
IN SO DOING IT'S GOING TO COST
A LOT.
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. DON
CURTIS WILL ATTEST TO WORK FULL
TIME AT WPTF WHILE GOING TO NC
STATE, MY TUITION WAS $365 A
SEMESTER IN THE EARLY 80'S,
ROB, HOW DO THE CHILDREN HOW TO
THE MILLENNIALS DEAL WITH THIS
RISING COST OF COLLEGE
EDUCATION?
>> MY TUITION WAS $100.
A TRIMESTER AT UCLA
BACK IN THE LATE 70'S AND EARLY
1980'S. I MEAN THAT BESPEAKS
THE FACT THAT WE'VE JUST
INVESTED IN HIGH THEIR
EDUCATION, WE'RE NOT MAKING IT
AS AFFORDABLE AS IT SHOULD BE
OUR CONSTITUTION SAYS IS FREE
AS PRACTICABLE I MEAN I THINK
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
ISSUE THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE
THAT A LOT OF THESE LOANS THAT
KIDS HAVE GOTTEN THEMSELVES
INTO NOT EVERYBODY'S GOT A LOW
COST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
GUARANTEE LONG LOT OF KIDS GET
INTO HIGH INTEREST CREDIT
CARDS, PREDATORY LOANS AND LOAN
SERVICERS WHO WORK ON BEHALF OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFTEN
EMPLOYED PREDATORY TACTICS, I
MEAN THIS IS A HUGE CRISIS IN
OUR COUNTRY AND I THINK THAT'S
ONE OF THE REASON THE
CANDIDATES THAT ARE PUSHING THE
IDEA OF AFFORDABLE FREE PUBLIC
HIGHER EDUCATION AS THEY HAVE
IN WESTERN EUROPE IN SO MANY
COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO BE MET
WITH A LOT OF SUPPORT I THINK
IT'S THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO
GO.
>> JOHN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
FOR US MAGAZINE SAYS THE
AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN DEBT IN
THE STATE AND WORK ON US 26,000
$614 THE AVERAGE NATIONAL
AVERAGE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE
33,310 THAT'S A MONTHLY LOAN
PAYMENT OF $393 A MONTH.
>> YEAH, THAT THESE ARE LARGE
NUMBERS TO WISH A NORTH
CAROLINA HAS INCREASED
SUBSTANTIALLY OVER TIME IT IS
STILL VERY LOW BY NATIONAL
STANDARDS, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
GENEROUSLY FUNDED UNIVERSITY
SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY. IT
CONTINUES TO BE SO I THINK THAT
THE THE FOCUS ON WHICH GROUP OF
PEOPLE PAYS THE BILL SHOULD THE
TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE PARENTS AND
THEIR IN THEIR STATE SHOULD BE
STUDENTS LATER LIFE PAY BACK
LOANS THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
QUESTION IT'S NOT THE MOST
BORING QUESTION. MOST IMPORTANT
QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE COST OF
EDUCATION, NOT WHO PAYS IT
THAT'S THE PRICE QUESTION AND I
THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE
FOCUSING ON IS DELIVERING AID
AND HOWARD WAS TALK ABOUT THIS
IN THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY
COLLEGE VERSUS A FOUR-YEAR
SCHOOL TO START WITH BUT IT
GOES BEYOND THAT JUST DIFFERENT
WAYS TO DELIVER THE SERVICES SO
THEY ARE MORE AFFORDABLE SIMPLY
SHIFTING THIS TIME BILL AROUND
IS NOT THE ANSWER.
>> BECKI, COLLEGE DEBTS, A
NATIONAL ISSUE ON THE ECONOMY
FRONT ONLY ECONOMIC FRONT.
A 1.5 $7 TRILLION 5.1 MILLION
BORROWERS AND ONE 3RD OF THOSE
LOANS RIGHT NOW ARE PASS TO 60
DAYS.
>> YEAH, I MEAN THIS IS A IT'S
A NORTH CAROLINA PROBLEM AND
IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM IS YOU
DESCRIBE I READ THAT UM STUDENT
LOAN IS SECOND ONLY TO MORTGAGE
LINES. I THINK NOW SO IT'S A
BIG DEAL. BUT THE THING THAT I
THINK IS MISSING IN THIS
DISCUSSION IN MANY DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT THIS IS HIM FRED, YOU
INTRODUCED THIS IS THE WE HAVE
SADDLED THE STUDENTS WITH THIS
DEBT WE HAVEN'T SETTLED IN THE
BODY WITH DEBT. THOSE PEOPLE
HAVE MADE DECISIONS STATEMENTS
THEIR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW
WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES THINK
THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
PIECE OF THIS AND NOW LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO MAKE COLLEGE MORE
AFFORDABLE LIKE WE'VE DONE IN
NORTH CAROLINA AND I THINK
WE'VE DONE A FABULOUS JOB WITH
OUR NORTH CAROLINA PROMISE
WHERE TUITION IS $500 AT 3 OF
OUR UNIVERSITIES MAKING
COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS AN OPTION
TO BEGIN STUDENTS STOP AND THEN
THE OTHER THING THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY IS GOING TO REQUIRE
FINANCIAL LITERACY AS PART OF
THE CURRICULUM IN NORTH
CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOLS, JOHN IT
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SAID
THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
WALKING INTO.
>> VALUE IS REALLY IMPORTANT
YOU'RE CORRECT. THEY MADE THE
CONSUMER MADE THE DECISION ON
WHAT CHOICE THEY WERE GOING TO
PROCEED WITH.
PROTESTERS WERE OUTSIDE THE
EXECUTIVE MANSION IN RALEIGH
THIS WEEK DEMANDING THE
GOVERNOR GET INVOLVED IN RECENT
POLICE SHOOTING INCIDENTS IN
CHARLOTTE AND RALEIGH LAST WEEK
CITIZEN STORM AROUND THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING SHUTTING IT
DOWN DEMANDING A CITIZEN REVIEW
PANEL IN CHARLOTTE WBTV HAD TO
SUE THE CITY TO GET ACCESS TO A
VIDEO OF A POLICE SHOOTING.
EARLIER IN THE MONTH WE'RE
HEARING MORE AND MORE CALLS FOR
CITIZEN REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT
PANELS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
WILL WE POLICE THE POLICE?
QUESTION ONE TO ROB, WHY DO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OPPOSE HAVING
A CITIZEN POLICE OVERSIGHT
PANEL.
>> WELL, I MEAN THERE WAS A
STORY IN RALEIGH NEWS AND
OBSERVER THIS WEEK THAT
HIGHLIGHTED WHY THEY DON'T LIKE
THE IDEA OF OVERSIGHT, IT'S
IT'S NATURAL WHO WANTS TO HAVE
SOMEBODY LOOKING OVER YOUR
SHOULDER SECOND GUESSING THE
WORK YOU DO ESPECIALLY IN SUCH
AN IMPORT AREA, BUT THE REALITY
IS THAT WE HAVE TO THIS IS AN
AREA IN WHICH I MEAN PEOPLE ARE
MAKING LIFE AND DEATH
DECISIONS, WE KNOW THAT YOUNG
MEN PARTICULARLY YOUNG MEN OF
COLOR ARE BEING KILLED IN THE
STATE IN THIS COUNTRY AND ITS
UNDERSTANDABLE THAT COMMUNITIES
FEEL WRONGED AND THEY WANT TO
HAVE AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE
HECK'S GOING ON WE KNOW THAT
THERE ARE CITIZEN REVIEW PANELS
FOR MAYBE 200 POLICE
DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY,
NOT VERY MANY OF THE THOUSANDS
THAT THERE ARE AND HAVE BEEN
MIXED REVIEWS AS TO HOW
SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE SOME PEOPLE
SAY WE BE DO WE DO BETTER WITH
AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR
GENERAL IN SOME INSTANCES THAN
HAVING A POLITICAL BODY BUT THE
BOTTOM LINE IS WE'VE. IF WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL
POLICING THE POLICE HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO GET ALONG WITH THE
COMMUNITY THEY HAVE TO HAVE
FAITH IN EACH OTHER IS NOT TO
BE AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP
AND THESE KINDS OF PANELS CAN
PLAY A ROLE IN MAKING THAT
HAPPEN.
>> JOHN IN NASH COUNTY, THE
SHERIFF DOWN THERE KEYSTONE'S
ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER CITIZEN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND HAS BEEN
VERY SUCCESSFUL.
CAN WE REPLICATE THAT MODEL?
>> I THINK YOU CAN REPLICATE IT
IF
YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION
WHAT ROB WAS GETTING AT
REGARDING THE THE DIFFERENT
PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT MODELS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE SIMPLY
COULDN'T CONCLUDE FOR WHAT WE
KNOW RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AT LEAST THAT THESE
REVIEW COMMISSIONS NECESSARILY
MAKE THINGS BETTER SOMETIMES
THEY DO SOMETIMES MAKE THEM
WORSE BECAUSE IT CREATES
ADDITIONAL ACRIMONY MAKES IT
HARDER FOR THE RELATIONSHIPS TO
BE DEVELOPED. I THINK WHAT'S
HAPPENED IN ASHE COUNTY IS A
MORE CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH
WHERE YOU REALLY ARE INVOLVING
THE COMMUNITY. BUT YOU'RE NOT
SUGGESTING THAT POLICE OFFICERS
ARE GOING TO BE A TREATED IN A
WAY THAT THEY WOULD FEEL IS
GROSSLY UNFAIR THAT'S NOT GOING
TO HELP ANYBODY BECAUSE POLICE
OFFICERS WALK INTO HARM'S WAY
RIGHT ROUTINELY. AND OF COURSE
THAT WHEN THEY MAKE MISTAKES
HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT ON
THE WHOLE WE HAVE THEIR BACK
THEY WERE NOT THAT THAT POLICE
OFFICERS ARE IN A SITUATION
WHERE THEY ARE SO SCARED OF
WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN THAT THEY
ACTUALLY PUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AT
RISK WHICH IS A REAL DANGER.
>> HOWARD, WHAT ROLE DOES THE
GOVERNOR PLAY IN
THIS THERE WERE PEOPLE OUTSIDE
OF THE MOUNTAIN
TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK
JUST RAISE AND
ALL TYPES OF SAND.
WE NEED TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR'S
VOICE HERE?
>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE THAT
THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THIS IS A
LOCAL DECISION BASICALLY IT'S A
WOMAN ON THE COMMUNITY TO ADOPT
THUS THIS PROCESS. I WAS
HEARING ABOUT THE CITIZEN
REVIEW COMMISSIONS WHEN I WAS
MAYOR OF CHAPEL HILL 50 YEARS
AGO, SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW BUT
THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS
PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN SET UP
THE CITIZEN REVIEW COMMISSION
AND THEN THAT THAT SOLVES THE
PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE
PROBLEM CITIZENS HAVE TO TAKE
SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM
SALES. ON THE OTHER HAND
POLICEMEN ARE BEING KILLED
EVERY DAY BY PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND MANY OF THE
CITIZEN KNOW WHO THESE THREATS
AWE AND THEY WANT TO SAY TO TRY
TO BRING YOU TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE POLICE. THE PANEL I JUST
THINK THAT THOUGH WE SEE THESE
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS AND THINK THAT
THIS WOULD BE THE ANSWER TO ALL
OF OUR PROBLEMS AND THAT'S NOT
THE CASE.
>> BECKI IS THERE ANY ROOM
FOR COMPROMISE HERE CAN WE GET
THE MIDDLE GROUND.
>> THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE
A MINUTE SENATOR LEE YOU JUST
SPOKE ABOUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S
GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF
COMPROMISE. THERE'S GOT TO BE
SOME SORT OF MUTUAL TRUST ME IF
THERE'S A CORE FUNCTION OF
GOVERNMENT THAT I THINK WE CAN
ALL AGREE ON IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY
IS THAT CITIZENS HAVE TO HAVE
THE CONFIDENCE IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
HAS TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IN
ORDER TO GO INTO THOSE
DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND DO
THEIR JOB SO I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A
COMPROMISE BECAUSE IT'S IN
EVERYBODY'S BEST INTEREST TO DO
WHAT WE DO DON'T WANT TO HAVE
AS YOU ALLUDED TO SENATOR LEE
IS A CHILLING EFFECT OF WHERE
POLICE OFFICERS WOULD NOT GO
INTO THOSE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS
WHERE WE NEED FOR THEM TO BE TO
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE
COMMUNITIES AND AT THE SAME
TIME WE WANT THE CITIZENS TO
HAVE A VOICE AND THANKS SO
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A
COMPROMISE ON THIS, BUT I THINK
IT COMES BACK TO LEADERSHIP AND
THAT'S WHY I THINK WE NEED TO
LOOK AT WHO IS SERVING AN THE
POLICE CHIEF ROLES WHO ARE
SERVING AS SHERIFFS ACROSS THE
COUNTY ARE ACROSS THE STATE AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU MENTIONED
THE GOVERNOR I THINK ALL LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT NEED TO BE
INVOLVED IN THIS.
>> ROB HOW IMPORTANT IS IT GOING
TO BE DEESCALATION IN THE
TRAINING - WHEN WE WERE TRAINING
YOUNG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
DEESCALATION IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, I
MEAN IT'S A IT'S AN INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT JOB WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT IT THE AND THE REALITY IS
THAT IT WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY
WITH EVERYBODY HAVING A PHONE
EVERYBODY HAVING A CAMERA
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN
SECOND AND 3RD LOOK JUST LIKE
SPORTS WHERE REFEREES DON'T
WANT TO HAVE SECOND LOOKS AT
THEIR CALLS AND GAMES. BUT THE
REALITY WE'RE NOT GOING GET
AWAY FROM THAT SO THERE'S GOING
TO HAVE TO BE OVERSIGHT AND
YES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
TEACH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS, THE REALITY OF
GETTING ALONG WITH THE
COMMUNITY. IT MAKES THEIR OF
THEIR MAKE THEM SAFER MAKES THE
COMMUNITY SAFER, IT'S A
DIFFICULT TASK TO PULL OFF.
>> SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO FOLLOW FOR SURE.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
USUALLY SIGNIFIES THE
START OF THE PEAK SEASON FOR
TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN NORTH
CAROLINA. OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
AND MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS ARE
CLARIANT FOR THOSE SEEKING REST
AND REFUGE. TRAVEL AND TOURISM
IN NORTH CAROLINA IS BIG
BUSINESS. IN 2017 MISTER SPENT
NEARLY $24 BILLION THAT $65
MILLION A DAY WITH ONE IN 50
RESIDENTS EMPLOYED DIRECTLY BY
TRAVEL AND TOURISM QUESTION ONE
THAT JOHN CLEARLY NORTH
CAROLINA HAS A SUCCESSFUL
RECORD. WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT
CAN WE IMPROVE WHERE WE HAVE.
>> NATURAL RESOURCES ASSETS
THAT WOULD BE HARD TO MESS UP
THOUGH SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T
MESS TO ONE OF THINGS IS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS I
LOOKED INTO THE DATA ABOUT
TRAVEL AND TOURISM OF COURSE
NORTH CHINA'S NOT THAT
DIFFERENT FROM MOST STATES WERE
TRAVEL AND TOURISM IS NUMBER
ONE NUMBER TO ANOTHER 3 BECAUSE
OF HOW BROADLY THE CATEGORIES
TO FIND BUT ONE OF THE THINGS
NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICALLY
DEAD. AND I THINK IT IN THE
LAST NUMBER OF YEARS HAS GOTTEN
BACK INTO THE HABIT. HE'S
FOCUSING ON ROAD ACCESS.
SOME OF THE TRANSFER SOME OF
THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY
IS REALLY A DEPENDABLE HOW FAST
CAN PEOPLE GET SOMEWHERE AND
THEY SENT THAT WE'VE BEEN
ADDING LANES RECENTLY WOULD
HAVE SOME BYPASSES AROUND SOME
THE MAJOR CITIES THAT DOES
FACILITATE THE KIND OF TRAVEL
AND TOURISM THAT IS
PARTICULARLY DEPENDENT UPON
AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC.
>> THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM TAX
REVENUE MEANS OF $512 SAVINGS
PER FAMILY IN THE STATE OF
NORTH CAROLINA CAN WE GO OUT
THE INDUSTRY AND EVEN SAY MORE.
>> OH ABSOLUTELY I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT THE STATE HAVE A
ROLE IN THIS IN PROMOTING
TOURISM ON IF YOU HAVEN'T GO TO
VISIT IN SEE WEBSITE. THERE'S
UP JUST A WEALTH OF INFORMATION
ON THERE. OUR TOURISM DOLLARS
HAVE INCREASED EVERY YEAR FROM
ABOUT OWN HAVE PROBABLY AS LONG
AS THEY'VE BEEN KEEPING RECORDS
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASKED
THE PROGRAM EVALUATION DIVISION
TO LOOK AT THAT TO DO A STUDY
OF COMMERCE AND THE PRODUCT
PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE
HAVE AND THE PD REPORT CAME
BACK WITH A COUPLE INTERESTING
THINGS ONE ON 2 WOMEN AT SOME
OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST AND
THE TOURISM OFFICE IS THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WERE
DUPLICATED IN MANY CASES,
YOU KNOW YOU COULD USE THOSE
DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND
THEN INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THE
FARM BILL THIS YEAR THAT IS
JUST BEGINNING TO GET SOME
ATTENTION IN THE SENATE WOULD
ADD SPORTING SHOOTING SPORTS ON
SPORTS. UNLIKE THANKS VISHING
HUNTING AS PART OF AGRIBUSINESS
AND FOCUSING ON THAT AS WELL
WHICH I THINK THAT WHEN YOU
LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY IN A
LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO DO THOSE
KIND OF ACTIVITIES. I CARVE
TROUT STREAMS WILL COMPETE WITH
ANY IN THE COUNTRY WANT TO MAKE
USE OF IT.
>> ROB NATURAL RESOURCE,
AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TRAVEL
AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.
>> WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT
THIS ISSUE WITHOUT TALKING
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
THAT OUR STATE IS IN THE MIDST
OF SUMMER BEACHES ARE GOING TO
BE UNDER WATER AND A FEW
DECADES, I MEAN THIS IS A THIS
IS AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS WE
FACE ENVIRONMENTALLY IT'S IT'S
PREPOSTEROUS TO TALK ABOUT OUR
BEACHES ARE MOUNTAINS THE
DEFORESTATION THAT'S GOING ON
THERE TALK ABOUT THE POISONING
OF OUR WATERS IN THE STATE
THAT'S GOING ON WE'VE GOT TO
GET A FOCUS ON THAT OR THERE
ISN'T GOING TO BE A TRAVEL AND
TOURISM INDUSTRY..
>> SENATOR YOU REALLY - A
SECRETARY BACK IN JIM
HUNT'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION
REALLY PUT OUR STATE PARKS ON
THE MAP.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND I THINK ONE
THING WE CAN BE VERY PROUD OF
IS THAT WE DO HAVE A GREAT
VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE TO COME AND ENJOY OF THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
TRAVELING HERE THIS MORNING ON
INTERSTATE 40 I DIDN'T FEEL WE
HAVE A SHORTAGE OF TOURISM GOES
IN THE 5TH IN TRAFFIC WAS
REALLY A HORRENDOUS BUT I THINK
THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT LOOK AT
ALL OF THE RESOURCES. WE HAVE
THAT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO
COME AND VISIT AND SEE, BUT I
THINK ROB IS CORRECT AS WELL WE
DO REALLY NEED TO BE VIGILANT.
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT I
HAD THAT PROBLEM WHEN I WAS
SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES
TRYING TO PROTECT MANY OF THE
STREAMS BECAUSE WE WOULD
DUMPING POISON INTO THE INTO
THE WATERS. I THINK THE STATE
HAS SHOWN REMARKABLE PROGRESS
IN TRYING TO TACKLE THE
PROBLEM.
>> AND JUST THIS WEEK WE HAD
NEWS REPORTS ABOUT CONCERNS
ABOUT SOME OF THE FISHERIES IN
THE NEUSE RIVER. CLEARLY,
37 MILLION TRAVELERS ON THE
ROADS THIS WEEKEND. SO IT'S
GOING TO BE A BUSY TRAVEL AND
TOURISM WEEKEND FOR SURE WE'RE
ON PEOPLE TO BE SAFE OUT THERE
ON THE ROADS. NOW IT'S TIME FOR
THE SHOW TO FOR OUR PANELISTS
TO TELL
US SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW
I'LL START WITH SENATOR LEE.
>> WELL, 50 YEARS AGO, I GOT
ELECTED. MAYOR OF CHAPEL HILL
WHICH WAS A PROUD MOMENT MY
LIFE, BUT I'M THE POINT I WANT
TO MAKE IS THAT I WAS INVITED
BACK MY ALMA MATER ONE OF THOSE
CHEAP COLLEGES IN SOUTH
GEORGIA. AND THEY HONORED ME
WITH NAMING ARE OWED HIM OUT ON
A AND I'VE NEVER SEEN MY NAME
ON A ROAD SIGN BEFORE. THAT WAS
QUITE GRATIFYING..
>> CONGRATULATIONS. JOHN, TELL
US SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW..
>> THE MOST RECENT CIVITAS
POLL ASKED A COUPLE OF
INTERESTING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
LONG-RUNNING ROBERT MULLER
INVESTIGATION ON THE ONE HAND
MOST NORTH CAROLINA VOTERS,
A PLURALITY AT LEAST. WORD SAYS
SHOWED APPROVAL OF ROBERT
MUELLER'S PERFORMANCE ISN'T
ABOUT COUNCIL ROLE, BUT ALSO
PROUD IN NORTH CAROLINA NORTH
CAROLINIANS THINK THAT IT GOT
TOO MUCH ATTENTION THAT THE
ISSUE HAS GOTTEN TOO MUCH NEWS
MEDIA COVERAGE OF LAST 2 YEARS.
THAT'S INTERESTING
JUXTAPOSITION OF OF BELIEFS,
BUT I THINK NOT NECESSARILY
INCONSISTENT.
>> ROB TELL US SOMETHING WE
DON'T KNOW.
>> IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
10'S OF THOUSANDS OF
OF NORTH CAROLINA VETERANS
DESPITE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
BENEFITS FOR MOST VETERANS,
BUT 10'S OF THOUSANDS ARE STILL
IN THE COVERAGE GAP IF WE WOULD
EXPAND MEDICAID COVERAGE IN THE
STATE HAS BEEN DONE IN 30 PLUS
STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY THEY
AND THEIR FAMILIES COULD GET
HEALTH CARE AND THEY HAD MUCH
BETTER RESULTS FOR VETERANS IN
THESE OTHER STATES WHERE
THEY'VE TAKEN THAT STEP IT'S
SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO DO IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
>> BECKI?
>> A BILL MOVING
THROUGH THE SENATE THIS WEEK IS
THE REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF
2019 WHEN REPUBLICANS TOOK
OVER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN
2011 SENATOR BERGER INTRODUCED
THE REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF
2011 AND SAID THERE WOULD BE
ONE EVERY SINGLE YEAR UNTIL
REGULATIONS WERE OFF THE BACKS
OF GOVERNMENT AND OUR
GOVERNMENT WAS OFF THE BACKS OF
BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE ACROSS
NORTH CAROLINA HE'S MADE GOOD
ON THAT AND THIS LATEST BILL
CAME UP REGULATIONS HAVE A COST
AND GETTING RID OF THEM AND
LOOSENING THOSE IS
THE THING TO DO.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
ONE CLOSING COMMENT, WE WOULD
LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SYMPATHIES
TO THE FAMILIES OF LONGTIME
ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF LINDY
PENDERGRASS AND FORMER DUNN
MAYOR IN HARNETT COUNTY
COMMISSIONER,
ABE ELMORE WHO
BOTH PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK
BOTH MEN
TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ALWAYS
LOYAL TO THE STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA, WE EXTEND HEARTFELT,
THANKS FOR THEIR SERVICE.
WELL YOU'VE HEARD OUR SPIN ON
THE ISSUES OF THE DAY TO STAY
INFORMED ALL DURING THE WEEK TO
SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE WEEKLY
NEWSLETTER.
TO GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK AND
READ TOM'S WEEKLY COLUMN VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT NCSPIN.COM
NC SPIN ON FACEBOOK.
JOIN US NEXT WEEK WHEN WE'LL
HAVE MORE BALANCED DEBATE FOR
THE OLD NORTH STATE.
THEN, STAY INFORMED, AND WATCH
OUT FOR THE SPIN.
♪
- [ANNOUNCER] THEY'RE
UP BEFORE DAWN,
AND WORK LATE INTO THE NIGHT.
THEY BELIEVE IN
HARD WORK, FAMILY,
AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.
THEY STAND UP FOR
THEIR COMMUNITIES
WHEN OTHERS WALK AWAY.
THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE WHO
JUST WANT A FAIR SHAKE.
THEY ARE FARMERS.
AT NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU,
WE ARE PROUD TO STAND
WITH OUR FARMERS.
- [ANNOUNCER] TODAY'S TOOLS
MAKE YOU A REAL DIYER,
AND AS A MEMBER OF AN
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE,
YOU HAVE LOTS OF VALUABLE TOOLS
TO HELP YOU DO IT YOURSELF
IN CONTROLLING YOUR HOME
ENERGY USE AND BUDGET,
LEAVING YOU FREE TO BE DAD.
>> PARTNERS FOR INNOVATION IN
HEALTH CARE.
WE ARE SUPPORTING COMMON SENSE
SOLUTIONS
FOR NORTH CAROLINA'S HEALTH CARE
DELIVERY SYSTEM.
PROMOTING ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY,
QUALITY CARE, AND INNOVATION.
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT PIHC.INFO
>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING
PROVIDED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA
ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS.
FAMILY PHYSICIANS, YOUR TRUSTED
HEALTHCARE ADVISOR FOR LIFE.
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WHO SUPPORT THE UNC-TV NETWORK.