Welcome back to Flashpoint.
Our conversation now continues h
top North Carolina Senator Phil Berger.
I want to talk about school vouchers.
The The bill passed both
the House and Senate,
now working out budget issues.
I believe critics argue that tht
there's not a lot of accountability in
in some of these private or char
schools and unlike public schoo,
they can turn away students
for for random reasons.
What do you say to those critics that say,
even if they believe in in these vouchers,
that there needs to be more accountability
if we're going to send public sl
students to some of these schoo?
Yeah. So I I believe that the bt
accountability is the accountaby
that comes with parental
involvement and that parents are
in a better position than anybo,
better position than than
a a bureaucrat somewhere,
better position than a school
Superintendent somewhere to know
what's best for that parent's c.
And so while I'm sympathetic tod
we're looking at options to to,.
Require at least have administered some
tests that are nationally normed even in
the private schools that receive vouchers.
I don't think that's necessary to have the
kind of accountability that that we need.
Remember, we we currently have a
situation as far as the traditil
public schools where many people
just trapped based on the fact t
they live at a particular address and.
Not everybody.
In fact,
most people don't have the wherewithal
to sell their house or to move from one
place to another if their child is in
a school or is assigned to a sc,
that does not meet that child's
that child's needs.
And so wealthy people have
always had the the ability to.
Opt out of the traditional publc
system to put their child in the school
that best fits their child's ne,
and I think that's something that every
parent should have the right to.
A lot of folks talk about public
schools failing, and I spoke toa
group of teachers this past wee.
It does feel like sometimes
the our teachers are sometimes
being set up for failure.
Now I know the teachers union is
probably not one of your favorite groups,
but I mean for the average
public school teacher out there,
do you feel like the state has their back?
So I think the the state is supportive.
The state legislature clearly
is supportive of teachers in
the traditional public schools.
I I do think that in many instances the
administrative control of the pc
schools makes decisions that mae
the schools less safe for teach,
make the schools less.
Able to have the kind of envirot
we're learning can take place aI
think many teachers recognize t.
And while we want to make sure t
we pay our teachers a an appropriate,
fair and competitive wage,
we also need to do a better jobf
making sure that the environment that
teachers in the public schools e
working in is one that is safe for them,
conducive to learning and an
environment that children.
The current Senate bill would ban any
healthcare professional in the state from
providing any gender affirming medical
care to anybody under the age o.
These interventions are very rae
and leading medical groups suppt
them when they are necessary.
But all that aside,
you just said parents know best when it
comes to their kids and not bureaucrats.
Couldn't you make that exact sae
argument when it comes to parenf
transgender kids looking to get the medical
care they feel like their kids ?
So the question is how absolute
do you want that that to be?
Do you do you want parents to have the
absolute right to make any deci,
even if it harms the child?
I I think we've,
we've got a long history of
recognizing that in some instan.
The parents are not making good decisions.
In some instances,
parents make destructive decisi.
In some instances,
parents abuse their children.
And so all we're trying to do here is say
that if you have a minor that you will not.
Have surgery on a minor that
changes that minor sex from male
to female or female to to male.
That you will not have the the
administration of drugs that
have the effect of impairing and
inhibiting the natural growth
and development of a child.
Now once once a child gets to
be 18 if they make a decision.
Reach the age of majority.
They have the appropriate matury
to make those kinds of decision.
Adults can make those sorts of decisions.
But to to make that decision for
a child that has that kind of
permanent impact on their physil
and mental health is something t
that we don't think is approprie
and we think needs to be stoppe.
I would still make the case that
that your word here, bureaucrat.
Know better in certain circumsts
than parents but not but not in others.
But I I will.
I will not belabor the point.
There one more question on the
trans community and the athlete.
The Senate voted 31 to 17 to ban
trans girls from playing sports,
sports teams that align with thr
gender identity.
And admittedly,
I think when you talk to anybody
about this this is a difficult
topic that that that doesn't hae
a clear solution that happened
that makes all groups happy.
But I mean.
Have have you spoken with membes
of the trans community about the
right way to address this issue,
Trying to find some sort of
good faith compromise here?
So there's there's division in
in our society about this issue.
I've talked with female athlete.
Who are very concerned about whether or
not there's fairness in women's sports,
if a biological male is allowed
to compete in events that invole
speed or strength or size and ad
and so I think if we want to ha.
Competitive women's athletics.
If we want to have women's athls
where biological females have the ability
to compete on a level playing f,
then we cannot allow men to
compete against them.
And make no mistake about it,
a transgender female is a biological male.
And and it's just not fair. I
want to talk about what's been accomplished
when it comes to that 12 week abortion ban.
Do you expect that there'll be further
restrictions down the road thatt
Republicans want to pass in Ral?
There are no further restrictions that
I'm aware of that that are going to move
forward in this General Assembly. Obviously,
we have an election every two y.
I don't know what the makeup of the General
Assembly will be after the next election,
but I certainly don't see amongy
members the the number of people who would
be necessary in order to pass a bill that.
Makes further changes as far
as those laws are concerned.
Your colleague over the house to more
involved in a bit of a scandal right now.
I'm not going to ask you to weigh in on
your colleagues scandal because I know
you don't want to but the the we
alienation of affection thing has come up.
Do you think that's an antiquated law
on the books that should be cha.
I have been supportive of keepig
the alienation of affections and
criminal conversation towards.
In our law, I believe that
they are things that protect,
or at least recognize,
the sanctity of a marriage.
And I don't see a need to make that change.
The GOP a couple of weeks ago
century and your your old colle,
Tom Tillis, do you agree with that move?
I've never been in favor of wha,
for all practical purposes would
be a circular firing squad.
I I I think we we advertise the Republican
Party and I believe it is as a big tent.
And I think what that means is t
there are going to be times that
elected officials may not agree
with with some members of the p.
I just think that's that's part
of what a healthy party would b.
And if I had been a delegate
at the convention,
I would not have voted in favor of that.
A final question, I know you had
appeared at A at an event for Mk
Robinson when he announced for governor.
Are you planning to to formally endorse
him and support him in in the primary?
I'm. I'm not prepared to make
an endorsement at this time.
I have told anyone who asked thI
think Lieutenant Governor Robinn
would make a very good governor.
I think he's got,
he's got the right talents
and the right philosophical,
philosophical leanings to be
a very good governor for the
state of North Carolina.
Senate President Phil Berger.
Senator, thanks for coming on ad
we appreciate your time. Sure.
Thank you. All right. Take care.
Where is the money investigation
coming up after the break?