Welcome back to Flashpoint.
We are now just under a year away from the
2024 primaries here in North Carolina.
Everything from state races to e
presidential contest will be on that ballot,
and that includes the race for governor.
The race quickly taking shape wh
the state Treasurer now throwing
his hat in the Republican prima,
joining us now state Treasurer and Republican
gubernatorial candidate Dale Falwell.
Treasurer, welcome back to Flashpoint.
Well, it's great to be back with you.
I'm joining you from Rainbow Las
here in Clayton, NC just another
example of one of our great smal
businesses across our state.
I think this might be a first fr
flash point that we've had a gut
join us from a bowling alley,
but it's first time for everyth.
I I appreciate it.
So I tells you've been an
elected official here in North
Carolina going back a long time.
Why the governor's race? Why no?
Well, I'm applying for the job e
the next governor of North Caroa
because I think people simply wt
somebody to speak to them like adults.
And what they say is make makes common
sense as the keeper of the public person,
as a legislator,
I've been completely focused on saving lives,
saving minds and saving money.
And just to remind your viewerst
the Governor of North Carolina e
root word of governors to gover.
And it's not just about cutting ribbons,
but the governor of North Carolina is the
CEO of the largest business in the state,
in charge of employing the most people,
buying the most tires,
the most gasoline, the most light bulbs.
And I want to take my problem
solving skills to that level.
Listen, we we beat that drum hee
on this show on a weekly basis.
Regardless of whether you're
Republican or Democrat people,
taxpayers deserve to have
effective governance.
And that includes a a governor as well.
So I I, I think our viewers
will will be happy to hear that.
But where do you think the
state is headed right now?
I mean we've got Republicans in
control of the General Assembly passing
some some important legislation
controversial to some in the last week.
While you have a Democratic governor,
how do you feel about the overal
direction the state's headed?
I'm wearing this little pill pen
this morning that has 10C on it.
Your listener, your viewers oftn
know know what NC stands for,
but for our purposes this morni,
it stands for nothing compares.
In terms of the banking crisis,
it stands for no crisis.
Nothing compares means that I would not,
as the keep of the public perso,
state treasurer.
I wouldn't trade places with any other
state treasurer in the United States.
And you viewers know that we got
designated last year's number
one in the country for business
outlook and business activity.
That just didn't jump up
on the table by itself.
So NC nothing compares means the
have a one of the strongest bale
sheets in in the United States,
one of the best funded pension
plans in the United States.
We've been able to we're on
the process of retiring 60%,
that's 60% of the state debt ovr
an 8 year period in North Carol.
That's why there's so much
business activity in our state,
but as well as our torso is doig
through demographics and the ce.
Obviously the urban areas like Charlotte,
we do still have some major challenges
going on in rural North Carolin.
And at the end of the day, all people want.
I think the voters are actually
much more sophisticated and they
get credit for all they really
want is someone who will attack
problems and not attack people.
And that's what I've done is
to keep for the public purse.
And it's one reason I'm one part
of North Carolina being in such
a strong financial position.
Speaking of that,
I'm sure as treasurer you have n
opinion about Medicaid expansion
getting passed this past week.
It's been about a decade in the making.
A lot of Republicans fought
it for quite some time.
It's attached to the budget,
so it's not formally in in effect yet.
Were you, I'm not going to say happy,
but were you in agreement
that this get passed?
Well, I have for the longest
time I've let the decision about
Medicaid expansion, you know.
Being the keeper,
the public purse is like practicing yoga.
You you don't. By the way,
we don't have bowling yoga yet,
but maybe we'll have that one d.
But you know, it means paying attention
to your mat and and breathing.
The decision to expand Medicaid
was obviously something that was
done between the executive bran,
the governor and the legislatur.
Legislature.
I'm disappointed that there wast
more reforms in the Medicaid expansion
to actually lower healthcare co.
They taught me at Winston,
Salem state and UNCG,
you don't try to solve a a cost
problem with the revenue soluti.
We need to repeal the certificate and
need laws in North Carolina so t
we can actually have the supplyf
healthcare that we desperately .
So I'm going to continue to fight for that.
I would like to have seen that
in the Medicaid expansion bill
because of what is happening to
the high cost of healthcare,
especially on those that teach,
protect and serve and the general citizenry.
Sports betting, how do you feel about that?
I'm not an expert on sports bet.
I've been racing motorcycles for 46 years.
I'm not aware of any sports betg
that it goes on in motorcycle racing.
But it's not, it's not one of
my subject matter expertise.
OK, the no surprise to you I'm
sure the Democratic Party issuea
statement when you announced tht
you were running for governor,
that you've used your office to target
LGBTQ state employees for political points,
and they say also quote advances
own extreme view.
Is putting job killing devices
nest ahead of the people of Norh
Carolina your response to that?
Well, I can't choose what people say,
but I will respond by saying th,
as I've said during my whole elected career,
I believe that marriage is
between a man and a woman.
But at the end of the day,
what I've done is the keeper,
the public first is to be fair and just
and and to focus on keeping our state.
Not just solve it, but you know,
being in a fantastic position going forward.
And I'll also say that at the
end of the day the, you know,
the other party will say
what they want to say.
But my job is to is to focus one
$248 billion that we have at the
state Treasurer's office and aly
other 20 duties and responsibilities,
which also include.
Chair of the State Banking Commission,
and we have some big news on
that just in the last few days.
Sticking with the race for just a second,
you're likely primary opponent d
be Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.
What do you view as the biggest
differences between you and
the Lieutenant governor? Well,
as I said earlier,
I'm the first Republican to announce for
governor of North Carolina for .
No one. I've never heard of
Mark Robinson 1000 days ago.
Your viewers can go online
and and figure out, you know,
what he has done and what he has
said in those thousand days.
But as I said earlier,
my focus is to attack problems
and and not attack people.
At the end of the day,
the root word of conservative
is to conserve and the root
word of liberal is to liberate
and set economically free.
And I'm going to let the Lieutet
governor be who he is and I'm
going to be who I am and I
have complete confidence that.
The voters are sophisticated and
knowledgeable enough to know the
difference between someone who t
attacks people versus someone wo
actually attacks problems on their behalf.
The
last question real quick,
just as a matter of business,
as Treasurer, you are in charge
of the state pension plan.
That's hundreds of thousands of people.
How has it been impacted by
the recent banking crisis
or that? That's a great questio.
The pension plan has 1,000,000 people on it.
One out of 10 adult N
Carolinians are now connected.
For this pension plan, those that teach,
protect and serve our pension
plan in the volatile year,
last year was down 7% for the fiscal year.
We don't like losing a penny ora
paper clip at the treasurer's office.
And now we have another crisis
called a banking crisis.
Chair of the State Banking Commission
and the Commissioner Boskin andr
team have done a great job making sure
that NC also stands for no cris.
We regulate some banks that
your viewers have heard of.
BB&amp;T truest first citizens first bank and
33 other state charter community banks.
The reason that our banking sysm
is in such great shape is that e
always had conservative regulaty
policies in North Carolina.
We've also always had great bankers in
North Carolina and unlike Silicon Valley
Bank or Signature Bank with cryptocurrency,
which we have not been
involved in in North Carolina,
the the depositors in North
Carolina are more insured.
Then then almost anywhere
else in the country,
90% of the Silicon Valley Bank
depositors were not insured,
90%.
And so this is the fact that we
have such a conservative regulay
policy in North Carolina means
that most of our depositors are
insured in our North Carolina Se
Charter banks and the depositors
themselves are very diversified
between entrepreneurs and businesses.
And and manufacturing companies
and even local governments.
So we have a very diversified deposit
base and the bigger percentage
of those people are insured.
So the NC also this morning at s
point stands for no crisis and I'm very
proud of our our Banking Commisn
state Treasurer and Republican
gubernatorial candidate Dale Falwell.
Thanks for coming back on.
We appreciate it.
I look forward to joining you a.
Sounds good. More flashpoint after this.