@NCCapitol
On the Record, Jan 9: 2021 Legislative preview session
Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie sits down with state lawmakers and Statehouse Reporter Travis Fain to preview the session to discuss challenges the coronavirus pandemic has brought the state in addition to the usual business of the session.
-- >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE RECORD. I'M LAURA LESLIE. IT HAS BEEN A VIOLENT, TURBULENT AND UGLY WEEK IN AMERICAN POLITICS. THE U.S. CAPITAL WAS RATED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BRITISH OCCUPIED IT IN 1914. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE ENGAGED IN THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER AT THE VERY CORE OF A FREE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. AT THE TIME THEY HAD TO DON GAS MASK HI UNDER BINGES AND BE EVACUATED AS RIOTERS BEAT DOWN THE DOORS BROKE WINDOWS AND STALKED THE HALLS. MOST OF THEM WERE ALLOWED TO SIMPLY WALK OUT, CARING WHAT THEY HAD TAKEN. IT WAS THE KIND OF THING YOU WOULD EXPECT OUT OF A BANANA REPUBLIC. AUTHORITIES IN DC SAID THEY ARE PURSUING ALL LIENS AGAINST THE RIOTERS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP THURSDAY NIGHT ISSUED A STATEMENT DENOUNCING THE RIOTS AS INAPPROPRIATE. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE ALL MEANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HEAL AND MOVE ON. BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE HAS TO BE DONE REGARDLESS. THAT'S WHAT NORTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO BE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO. IT IS THE START OF A NEW TWO- YEAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO. NOT JUST THE BUSINESS OF A NORMAL YEAR LIKE THE BUDGET BUT ALSO COVERT RELIEF. VACCINATIONS, ECONOMICS AND UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. CATCHING UP ON EDUCATIONAL GAPS . ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT US. IN ADDITION TO THE USUAL BUSINESS. WE HAVE THREE GUESTS TONIGHT TO HELP US PREPARE THE SESSION. REPRESENTATIVE JASON SAME, WELCOME TO THE SHOW. IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU. REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT REES THE NEW MEMBER OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MINORITY WELCOME. AND LEE LILLY GOVERNOR ROY COOPER'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR WITH STATE LAWMAKERS. THINKING FOR JOINING US. BEFORE WE GET STARTED THIS EVENING I WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO SAY SOMETHING IF THEY WANTED TO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL. AND MAYBE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT CHANGES YOU THINK THIS MIGHT MAKE. AND HOW THIS NEXT SESSION GOES FORWARD HERE IN RALEIGH. I WILL JUST SAY, PROTESTING IS PART OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. WE ARE USED TO IT. WHATEVER SITE YOU MAY BE ON, LEFT, RIGHT, MIDDLE, IT DOESN'T MATTER. PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST THEIR GOVERNMENT, THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE. WE HAVE SEEN IN RALEIGH ON EVERY OCCASION FROM DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. AND THAT IS OKAY, THAT IS WHAT WE EXPECT. WHEN FOLKS VIOLATE THE PROTOCOLS THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE BY CIVILIZED SOCIETY, THESE ARE THE RULES WE EXPECTED TO ABIDE BY. WHEN THEY DO THOSE THINGS, WHOEVER THEY ARE, THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED, THEY SHOULD BE TOLD THAT THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, THAT IS NOT THE WAY WE OPERATE. AND SO, WHAT WE SAW THIS WEEK AND IN OTHER INSTANCES IN OUR SOCIETY ARE THINGS WE JUST CANNOT TOLERATE. I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL PURSUE THOSE WHO HAVE VIOLATED THE LAW. THEY SHOULD AND THEY SHOULD BE DEALT WITH. FOR THOSE, BUT MANY MANY THOUSANDS THIS WEEK AND WEEKS BEFORE, ON OTHER ISSUES, OTHER TOPICS PROTESTED PEACEFULLY, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE THERE, THEY SHOULD BE THERE AND SHOULD BE VOCALIZING WHAT THEY LIKE AND DON'T LIKE ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT. IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT I THINK WE DO MOVE ON. FORTUNATELY IN RALEIGH, AS WE OPERATE BETWEEN DIFFERENT SIDES AND DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW, WE WILL MOVE ON AND MOVE PAST THAT. BUT FOR THIS WEEK, IT IS A SHADOW OVER WHAT WILL BE NEXT. WHICH WILL BE THE TRANSFER OF POWER AS YOU MENTIONED. WITH REPRESENTATIVE REES, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? >> I AGREE WITH THOSE SENTIMENTS AND I WOULD JUST SAY FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS ON THE BASIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY. WE HAVE THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD. WHAT I HOPE IS ALL ELECTED TO OFFICIALS, ALL ACTIONS MATTER. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO AS ELECTED OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO BUILD THE FAITH THE PEOPLE, THE VOTERS AND CONSTITUENTS HAVE IN OUR GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE TO WATCH, WHATEVER DISAGREEMENTS WE HAVE, WHATEVER WE BELIEVE, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN AFFECT PEOPLE'S FAITH IN THE SYSTEM. AND I HOPE THAT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THIS WEEK IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR WORDS HAVE TREMENDOUS POWER. WHOEVER WE ARE. AND SO LET'S MAKE SURE TO USE THOSE WORDS WISELY. HOPEFULLY LESS DEMONIZATION OF EACH SIDE FROM THIS POINT ON. BUT AGAIN, THE BASES OF OUR DEMOCRACY IS THE ELECTION. >> LEE, ANYTHING YOU WANT AT QUESTION MARK >> YES I WILL SAY THE GOVERNOR HAS OFFERED STATEMENTS ON THIS ALREADY. AND I AM JOINING HIM AND SAYING THIS IS A DISTURBING SCENE IN WASHINGTON IN THE CAPITAL. THE LAWLESS ATTACK AGAINST OUR DEMOCRACY. BUT WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS OF THE STATE A WEEK HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO TRY AND SOLVE. SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE AND DO OUR PART TO TRY AND PULL LEADERS TOGETHER TO COME TO SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS WHAT CONFRONTS EVERYTHING NOT CAROLINIANS. HE WAS ON THAT NOTE, I WILL START WITH YOU ONLY. GOVERNOR COOPER, BEING INAUGURATED BY THE TIME THIS PROGRAM AIRS SATURDAY EVENING HE WILL ALREADY HAVE BEEN SWORN IN FOR HIS SECOND TERM. A COUPLE OF HIS TOP PRIORITIES, WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AND THEN I WILL ASK OUR LEGISLATORS AS WELL. WAS ABSOLUTELY, WE START OFF SAYING THE GOVERNOR IS EXCITED TO HAVE A SECOND TERM AND TO BE WORKING WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. TO ADDRESS EXTRAORDINARY PROBLEMS BEGINNING WITH COVID- 19 RESPONSE TO RECOVERY. WE HAVE THE VACCINE NOW. IT IS GOING OUT INTO THE PUBLIC . WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT GO EVEN FASTER THAT WE HAVE ALREADY GONE. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO TESTING. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS. WE ARE GOING TO MEET RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR THAT. WE APPRECIATE WE HAVE ANOTHER FEDERAL SUPPORT PACKAGE THAT IS NOT AS FLEXIBLE AS THE ONE THAT CAME BEFORE. BUT IT WILL WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THE DOLLARS GET TO KNOW CAROLINIANS AS FAST AS WE CAN. AS ALWAYS, ANYTHING DISASTER EXPOSES PROBLEMS. WE KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HAIRCARE ACCESS HEALTHCARE ACCESS. OUR HEALTH SERVICES SECRETARY IS PART OF A COVERAGE CAL TO DIG BEING RUN. COMING TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON HEALTHCARE ACCESS. WE KNOW WE CAN FIND SOMETHING TO MOVE FORWARD THERE. INDENT EDUCATION REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR. EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATOR PAY, WHERE WE KNOW TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL HAVE WORKED HARDER IN THIS LAST YEAR THAN THEY EVER HAD TO TRY TO KEEP OUR KIDS EDUCATED IN THE MOST DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT. THEY DESERVE MORE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT IF COVID IS STILL IN STATE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. SO WE WILL WORK WITH THE LEGISLATORS TO FIND SOLUTIONS LIKE WE HAVE DONE BEFORE >> WE ARE RUNNING UP ON THE BREAK BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU THE TOP PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE FOR THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE IS COMING SESSION. >> TOP OF MINE IS GOING TO BE HOW WE DEAL WITH THE VIRUS. IT WAS LAST SESSION AND IT WILL BE THE SESSION. WE DO HAVE ANOTHER AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS COME OUR WAY. WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON HOW BEST TO SPEND IT IN THE STATE. AND TO GET OUR ECONOMY BACK AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A PRIMARY FOCUS. MY CAUCUS AND PROBABLY ROBERTS CAUCUS ALSO, WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AS SAFELY AS WE CAN. I GET KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL AS SAFELY AS WE CAN. THAT IS GOING TO BE TOP OF MIND. WE DID IT IN AND BIPARTISAN FASHION LAST SESSION AND I THINK WE CAN AGAIN THIS WELL. DOESN'T MEAN WE WILL HAVE DISAGREEMENTS BUT I THINK WE CAN WORK PAST THIS. >> PRESENTED A REES, WITH THE DEMOCRATIC MINORITY IN THE HOUSE IS LIKELY TO BE PUSHING FOR THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS ASKING. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS NECESSARILY DIFFERENT BUT WE HAVE THE SAME FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND EDUCATION AND WHAT IT MEANS. IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. JUST AS JASON HAS SAID, A BIG PROBLEM WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE FOUR YEARS IS THE ECONOMIC RESULTS THAT CAME FROM THIS VIRUS. SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY. >> GREAT GENTLEMEN, THIS BRINGS US TO OUR FIRST BREAK SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. WE WILL BE BACK AFTER A SHORT BREAK WITH WHAT ELSE WE CAN STAY TUNED. WORKING WELCOME BACK TO ON THE RECORD I'M LAURA LESLIE. JOINING US TONIGHT REPRESENTATIVE JASON SAME, AND OTHERS TALKING ABOUT PRIORITIES IN THIS COMING SESSION. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IN THIS NEXT YOU MUST IS THE BUDGET. SOMETHING THE STATE HAS NOT HAD SINCE 2018. THERE HAS BEEN A STALEMATE OVER THIS. AND A LOT OF THIS HAD TO DO WITH THE INTENTIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S DESIRE TO EXPAND MEDICAID AND LAWMAKERS REFUSAL TO CONSIDER EXTENDING MEDICAID. IT GOT TO THE STAGNANT POINT I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE THIS YEAR? AND I WILL START WITH YOU. >> THE THING IS, WE HAVE HAD DISAGREEMENTS. BUT IT HAS NOT PREVENTED THE STATE. WE HAVE A BASE BUDGET. THE THINGS THAT WE DO AGREE UPON, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT HAS NOT LEFT US IN A PLACE WHERE WE ARE FALLING BEHIND. WE MAY NOT BE DOING AS MUCH AS ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER WANTS TO DO. BUT STILL LEAVING US AT A PLACE THAT MOVES US FORWARD. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO REMEMBER. IT MAY BE NEWSWORTHY AND HEADLINE WORTHY WHEN WE SAY WE DID NOT GET A BUDGET. WE WERE STILL PASSING A NUMBER OF SPENDING BILLS. WE ARE SPENDING MONEY ON PRIORITIES. WE ARE DOING THINGS. NO ONE LEAVES 100% HAPPY BUT WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD SO THAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT SESSION WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT MAKEUP IN THE HOUSE. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT MAKEUP IN THE SENATE AS FAR AS PERSONALITIES AND WHO IS THEY ARE. MANY TIMES IT IS ABOUT PERSONALITIES AND WHO CAN WORK WELL WITH THE OTHER SIDE. SO I THINK WE WILL SEE HOW THAT DEVELOPS. IT IS A FRESH NEW START. ALWAYS SAY THIS TO FOLKS AT HOME WHO MIGHT HAVE VOTED FOR ME AND DIDN'T GO FOR THE OTHER PERSON. I THINK MOST PEOPLE COME TO ELECTED OFFICE WITH AN HONEST OUTLOOK ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE WILL NOT BE DISAGREEMENTS BUT I DO THINK FOLKS WANT TO GET THE SOLUTIONS AND HOW WE GET THERE. SOME OF THE OLD FIVE, THAT WAS LAST SESSION. WE WILL MOVE INTO A NEW SESSION AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BUT I ALWAYS RAIN HOPEFUL ON WHAT WE CAN ENCOMPASS. >> PRESENTED A REES YOUR THOUGHTS? >> I THINK THE SAME THING. I THINK ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT DID COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, IF YOU CAN SAY THERE'S ANYTHING GOOD THAT CAME OUT, WAS WE BECAME NIMBLE. WE HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER. I THINK EVERYBODY ENJOYED THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP THAT WE DEVELOPED DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD STUFF DONE IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION. I NOTED ON EARLIER DISCUSSIONS HOW WE LOOK AT THE HEALTH COMMITTEES AT A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMITTEES THAT HAD A DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN CHAIR. WE MOVED THE LEGISLATION AND WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO AGREEMENTS AND MOVE THINGS QUICKLY. I THINK WE WILL SEE THE THING WITH THAT. I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BUDGET THIS YEAR. DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES POLITICALLY AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO GET A BUDGET. >> LEE, I HAVE TO KNOW THE BALANCE OF POWER IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THE GOVERNORS MARGIN OF SAFETY AGAINST A VETO OVERRIDE IS A LITTLE SMALLER IN THE HOUSE AND IT WAS IN THE LAST SESSION. DO YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE COMPROMISE COMING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION? OR IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO STICK BY THE HE HAS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS? >> THE GOVERNOR'S PASSION IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HIM. I WOULD EXPECT THE SAME FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS. BUT THAT SHOULD NOT CHANGE WHERE WE ARE GOING IN COMPROMISE. I THINK THIS ELECTION IS UP WHERE NORTH CAROLINIANS PREFERRED THIS TIME A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. BUT I DON'T THINK IT MEANS WE HAVE DIVIDED GOALS. MAYBE JUST DIFFERENT MEANS TO GET THERE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ORIENTED AROUND TRYING TO FIND SOME OF THE MEANS TO MEET THE SHARED GOAL. THE FIRST TIME A GOVERNOR HAD A VETO WHERE THE CAUCUSES AND THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS IN HOUSE AND SENATE WITH SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN THE VETO. WE HAD TO GET USED TO WHAT THAT MEANT. WE HAVE DONE THAT FOR TWO YEARS. I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ABOUT WHAT WE DO HAVE IN COMMON. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT, THINK ABOUT BUDGETING ON SOMETHING LIKE RULE BROADBAND EXPANSION WHICH WAS ALREADY IMPORTANT IN THE STATE BUT BECAME EVEN MORE SO DURING THE PANDEMIC IS LET THE KIDS TRYING TO DO ONLINE LEARNING FROM SOME OF THE FAR REACHES OF THE STATE. AND WE GOT THE LEADERS IN THE HOUSE ON THE SEGMENT. THEY CAME UP WITH THE GREAT RENT PROGRAM WHICH WE HAVE NOW DONE SEVERAL TIMES OVER TO DELIVER BROADBAND ACROSS THE STATE. BUT WE HAVE TO DO ANOTHER A LOT MORE. AND WHERE I HOPE WE CAN DO SOME THINGS ON IS GENERAL -- ANYWHERE FROM WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO RURAL BROADBAND TAKEN FROM RELATIVELY SMALL CHUNKS OF MONEY TO A REALLY BIG INVESTMENT TO GET IT TO WHERE IT IS NEEDED. WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER. WE THINK THAT EXIST IF THEY CAN AGREE ON SOME OF THE MEANS WE WILL GET TO A COMMON GOAL. >> I WILL START WITH PRESENTED A BREEZE. I HEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT BROADBAND AND EDUCATION. WE ARE LOOKING AT MASSIVE EDUCATION GAPS. A LOT OF KIDS HAVE FALLEN BEHIND. WHAT ARE YOUR CAUCUSES IN YOUR RESPECTIVE PRIORITIES TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM. REVISITED A REASON TO START. >> WE WANT TO EXPAND BROADBAND. REALLY THE BROADBAND ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HAVE ROBUST DEBATE. WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE KNOW THE INVESTMENT WE HAVE TO MAKE AND IT IS A MATTER OF THE CAUCUSES COMING TOGETHER AND DECIDING TO DO IT THIS TIME. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO EDUCATION. YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE BROADBAND. THINK OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO TO STOP THIS GAP FROM GROWING LARGER, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BROADBAND IN NORTH CAROLINA. >>> >>> WE ARE BACK ON THE RECORD TONIGHT WITH TRAVIS. YOU WERE LISTENING TO THAT CONVERSATION WE HAD. WHAT STRUCK YOU AS THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT YOU HEARD IN A CONVERSATION >> IT WAS SOMETHING THAT LEE SAID WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO HIM, THAT WAS THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR STAFF. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS THEY HAVE EACH OTHER OUT ON WHAT THE VTOL MEANS. AND HOW THAT IS BETTER UNDERSTOOD AND IT MIGHT CHANGE THINGS. ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS WE HAVE ABOUT THE SESSION AND THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AS GOVERNOR COOPER'S TERM IS WHAT IS GOING TO CHANGE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OFF THE STATUS QUO WHERE THERE ARE THIS BACK IN FLOW THING. CAN ANYTHING GET THEM? THERE IS AN INTERESTING HIT HIT TO WHITE MUD BE DONE. >>> WE HAVE FEDERAL MONEY COMING OUR WAY. I'M NOT SURE HOW SOON THAT WILL BE HITTING THE STATE COFFERS. >> A LOT OF IT WAS DEDICATED TO SPECIFIC THINGS. SO IT IS MORE LIKE A TWEAK HERE AND A TURN THEY ARE. BUT THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING THINGS IN THE SENATE TO DO MORE CREDIT GRANTS. THAT WAS THE MONEY THE PARENTS GOT LAST YEAR. A LOT OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE DID NOT GET IT. HE DOES NOT KNOW TO APPLY FOR A PEER THAT HAS BEEN TALK BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND LAWMAKERS ON THAT. THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS. >> WE WILL BE LOOKING OUT FOR THAT. I KNOW A LOT OF PARENTS WILL TOO. TRAVIS THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS. WE WILL BE HEARING FROM YOU A LOT IN THIS UPCOMING SESSION. WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALSO. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE NICE DISCUSSION YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER OR EMAIL US YOUR COMMENTS QUESTIONS OR CRITICISMS ON THE RECORD AT WRAL.COM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.