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. >> HAPPY SUNDAY, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON
"FLASHPOINT."
I'M BEN THOMPSON.
JOINING ME TODAY STATE
REPRESENTATIVE IS COME
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, CHAZ
BEASLEY, DAN BARRY, AND STATE
SENATOR NATASHA MARCUS.
THANK YOU ALL THREE.
I LIKE WHEN YOU THREE COME ON.
I LIKE WHEN EVERYBODY COMES ON.
JUST LIKE RIGHT NOW.
I ENJOY HAVING ALL THREE OF YOU
FOR SURE.
WE'RE INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR,
BUT NORTH CAROLINA DOESN'T HAVE
A BUDGET.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THE GOVERNOR
VETOED THE BUDGET PROPOSAL ON
JUNE 28th.
TO OVERRIDE A VETO HAS YET TO
TAKE PLACE.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE WAITING
UNTIL THEY HAVE THE NUMBERS TO
OVERRIDE IT.
THEY NEED AT LEAST EIGHT
DEMOCRATS TO COME TO THEIR
SIDE.
MEDICARE ERROR EXPANSION IS NO
BIG SURPRISE HERE, THE BIG
STICKING POINT.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE PASSED
STOP GAP MEASURES TO MAKE SURE
SOME FEDERAL FUNDING CONTINUES.
WE DON'T ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE
BUDGET ON THIS SHOW.
IT DOESN'T MAKE THE MOST
SEXIEST OF TOPICS TO BEGIN
WITH.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO
REPRESENTED US IN RALEIGH.
SO, LET US KNOW WHERE DO THINGS
STAND, WHICHEVER ONE WANTS TO
START?
>> GO AHEAD, CHAZ.
IN THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
GO AHEAD.
>> IT IS.
EVERY YEAR, IT SWITCHES PLACES,
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT WE ON THE
DEMOCRAT SICKED OF THE AISLE
HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO VOTE ON
THIS VETO OVERRIDE FOR THE LAST
FEW WEEKS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING MORE
DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE DOING
ENOUGH.
JUST BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE
GETTING MORE DOESN'T MEAN
THEY'RE MEETING THE NEEDS.
JUST BECAUSE WE'RE DOING MORE
IN HEALTHCARE DOESN'T MEAN
THEY'RE BEING MET IN TERMS OF
THEIR NEEDS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
BUDGET THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF
EVERYBODY AND NOT JUST A SMALL
GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
RUNNING THE SHOW IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
SO, I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE
OF NORTH CAROLINA DESERVE FOR
US TO HAVE A VOTE ON THIS VETO
OVERRIDE SO THAT WE CAN START
REAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
GOVERNOR WHO HAS A RIGHT UNDER
THE CONSTITUTION TO VETO THE
BUDGET AND WHO HAS PROPOSED A
COMPROMISE THAT WE BELIEVE THE
PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA NEED
TO HEAR.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE TWO
SIDES ARE TALKING AT THIS
POINT, IT SEEMS.
AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR AND
BURR.
>> ALL OF THE COMMUNICATION WE
RECEIVE IS SENATOR BURGER HAS
ASKED TO HAVE A MEETING.
HE WON'T HAVE IT.
ASKED FOR A DEBATE TO DEBATE
THE ISSUE.
THEY WON'T HAVE IT.
THERE IS A STALEMATE.
WHAT I FIND SO INTERESTING IS
THAT GOVERNOR COOPER BROUGHT IN
SOME AT-RISK DEMOCRATS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BREAK AND VOTE
TO LEAVE RIDE AND INTRODUCED
THEM TO THEIR PRIMARY OPPONENTS
AT A COCKTAIL RECEPTION LAST
WEEK.
SO, HE'S PLAYING REALLY
HARDBALL TO MAKE SURE HIS
OVERRIDE STANDS.
ALL OF THIS IS TO GIVE
HEALTHCARE COVERAGE TO ILLEGAL
ALIENS HELD HOSTAGE, THE
FUNDING FOR TEACHERS, FUNDING
FOR RELIEF HURRICANES AND IT'S
A TRAUMATIC SWAG.
NOT SEXY OR FRONT PAGE IN THE
NEWSPAPER.
>> I BET YOU DON'T FEEL THE
SAME WAY.
>> NOT AT ALL.
SPEAKER MOORE SENT OUT AN E-
MAIL STUNNING IN THE IGNORANCE
THIS WEEK IN REACTION TO WHAT
OUR PARTY, OUR GOVERNOR WHO I
SENT IN THIS VETO SAID WHICH,
IS THE FAILURE TO EXPAND
MEDICAID UNDER THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT OF NORTH CAROLINA, I
BELIEVE, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
BIGGEST, THE BIGGEST POLICY
BLUNDER IN OUR STATE IN AT
LEAST THE LAST 10 YEARS.
THEY'RE NOT ILLEGAL ALIENS.
YOU MISUNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE
ASKING FOR.
WE'RE ASKING FOR AFFORDABLE
HEALTHCARE TO BE EXPANDED TO
PEOPLE WORKING.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE ASKED THEM
TO DO AND THEY MAKE TOO MUCH
MONEY TO MAKE.
>> CALLING IT A GAP.
>> EXACTLY.
>> NOT ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR
SUBSIDIES.
WE HAVE A HALF MILLION PEOPLE
STUCK THERE WHO ARE WORKING
JOBS EVERY DAY TRYING TO
SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES IN THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR 9
YEARS NOW AND SAID TO THEM, WE
OFFER YOU NOTHING.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
AND HOSPITALS ARE SUFFERING.
REAL HOSPITALS ARE CLOSING.
OUR HOSPITALS HERE IN CHARLOTTE
ARE BEGGING TO EXPAND MEDICAID.
IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO
ECONOMICALLY.
IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO
MORALLY, AND WE'RE, THE
REPUBLICANS WILL NOT EVEN TALK
ABOUT IT.
IN FACT, THE E-MAIL THAT I
MENTIONED FROM SPEAKER MOORE
SHOWS THE THAT HE DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE ASKING
FOR.
HE IS SAYING THAT THE
GOVERNOR'S INSISTING MEDICAID
FOR ALL.
THAT IS NEVER WHAT WE ASKED
FOR.
MEDICAID FOR ALL IS DIFFERENT
THAN EXPANDING UNDER THE
AFFORDABLE ACT.
>> WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE
SPEAKER MOORE ON THE PROGRAM
THIS WEEK AND COULDN'T MAKE IT
THIS TIME.
WE HOPE TO HAVE HIM BACK AT
THIS POINT.
WHAT DO YOU DISGREAT WITH WHAT
SHE SAID.
DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THE NUMBER
IN THE GAP?
DO YOU DISAGREE IN PHILOSOPHY?
WHAT DO YOU DISAGREE WITH IN.
>> TWO PIECES TO THIS.
ONE IS FROM A PURE POLITICAL
POLICY PERSPECTIVE, THE
REPUBLICANS TOLD THE GOVERNOR
TO GET A BUDGET DONE.
WE'RE PREPARED TO COME BACK TO
THE TABLE AND MEET THE QUESTION
AND FILL THAT GAP.
THAT IS WHAT IT REALLY IS.
IT'S MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AT
RISK.
I AM NOT DISAGREEING THERE IS A
HEALTHCARE ISSUE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND WE HAVE HAD THAT
CONVERSATION FOR MONTHS.
BUT WE'RE PUTTING AT RISK ALL
OF THE OTHER COMPONENTS FOR A
POLICY AGENDA BY THE GOVERNOR.
>> IS IT WORTH IT?
ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS AT RISK
FOR THE TIME BE SOMETHING.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO PUSH BACK
AGAINST THAT VERY V HARD.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT EXCLUDES
A LOT OF THE THINGS IN THE
CURRENT VERSION OF THE BUDGET
FROM BEING IN A COMPROMISED
BUDGET.
SO MUCH SO, THE GOVERNOR
HIMSELF ADDED THE COMPONENTS AS
A PART OF THE COMPROMISE INTO
HIS BUDGET.
I THINK THAT TALKING POINT
DOESN'T FLY.
THE SECOND PIECE WE HAVE TO
KEEP IN MIND IS THAT THE BEST
WAY TO START NEGOTIATIONS IS TO
USE THE PROCESS SET FORTH BY
THE NORTH CAROLINA
CONSTITUTION.
THERE IS A VETO, A VETO
OVERRIDE, AND ONCE THE VOTE
DOES, IN FACT, FAIL, THEN YOU
COME TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET.
SO, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO
REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT
PLACING BLAME.
THIS IS ABOUT BLASEING THE
NEEDS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS
FIRST AND GETTING A BUDGET DONE
BY EVERYONE BACKING AWAY FROM
THE CORNERS AND COMING TO A
REAL TABLE AND HAVING A REAL
NEGOTIATION.
>> AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THAT OFFER HAS BEEN MADE AND
THE GOVERNOR REFUSED TO DO IT.
>> THE CONSTITUTION SETS FORTH
A CLEAR PROCESS.
WE'RE READY TO VOTE ON THE VETO
OVERRIDE.
IT'S BEEN ON THE CALENDAR FOR
BEAKS NOW.
LET'S HAVE THE VOTE AND HAVE A
REAL NEGOTIATION.
THAT IS THE PROCESS.
>> AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFERED A
COMPROMISE.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMPROMISE
FROM THE REPUBLICANS.
I THINK THEY FORGOT HOW TO
NEGOTIATE AFTER SO MANY YEARS.
>> PROBABLY.
>> AND THEY FORGOT WHAT IT WAS
LIKE.
>> AND LET ME SWITCH TO
POLITICAL ACTIONS.
AGAIN, NOT ONLY TOPICS, BUT
THIS PAST WEEK, WHAT IN THE
WORLD IS GOING ON OUT THERE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTH
CAROLINA BOARD OF ELECTIONS
RESIGNED THIS WEEK AFTER
OPENING UP A STATEWIDE
CONFERENCE FOR HUNDREDS OF
ELECTS OFFICIALS WITH RATHER
CRASH JOKE.
HIS RESIGNATION MEANS THE BOARD
WILL HAVE THE FOURTH CHAIR
SINCE EARLY LAST DECEMBER.
SPEAK OF THE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS, MEMBERS ARE WORKING
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TYPE OF
VOTING EQUIPMENT TO USE FOR
ELECTIONS.
MONDAY, THEY VOTED 3-2 TO HOLD
THE MEETING NEXT MONTH TO
CHANGE THE STATE REQUIREMENTS.
HE HAD TO WAIT 15 DAYS TO
CHANGE THE RULES THERE.
THE LANGUAGE PROPOSED FOR
CONSIDERATION WOULD HAVE SHOT
DOWN NEWER EQUIPMENT W FROM A
VENDOR USING TOUCH-SCREEN
VOTING BUT PRODUCES THE PAPER
BALLOT WITH A BAR CODE.
IT DOESN'T SHOW YOU WHAT YOU
DID BUT SHOWS A BAR CODE.
THAT IS A STICKING POINT FOR A
LOT OF FOLKS O. THURSDAY, THE
BOARD SPLIT 2-2 ALONG PARTY
LINES, REGARDING WHAT TYPE OF
VOTING MACHINES ARE ACCEPTABLE
IN THE FUTURE.
A LOT OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE
RESIGNATION, AND THIS HAS TO
HAPPEN.
WE HAVE TO PICK OUT THE
REQUEST.
THIS YEAR.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE HAVE COUNTIES ACROSS THE
STATE SAYING CAN WE MAKE A
DECISION, FOLKS?
THE PRIMARIES ARE COMING.
WE NEED TO BE READY ARRESTED
THE TRUMP-STYLE OF OUR
VULNERABILITIES ARE NOT GOING
TO PROTECT US.
IT'S CRITICAL TO HAVE THE RIGHT
VOTING MACHINES TO COUNT EVERY
VOTE ACCURATELY.
AND SOUNDS LIKE THE PROPOSAL
THEY WILL VOTE ON IN A FEW WEEK
SINCE FOR HUMAN READABLE PAPER
BALLOTS THAT YOU CAN AUDIT
LATER.
YES.
LATER. YES. I SUPPORT THAT PLAN AND WOULD
HOPE THE PARTISANSHIP CAN FALL
AWAY.
WE CAN GET IT DONE AND QUICKLY
FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.
>> THE THING THEY'RE TALKING
ABOUT WOULD PRODUCE A BAR CODE.
>> AND THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR
VOTE.
>> GOT YOU.
>> AND WE WANT TO TALK