1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on. Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,519 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,719 my daily show prep with all of the links, become 6 00:00:18,719 --> 00:00:22,359 a patron, go to vpeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you 7 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,920 hit the subscribe button. Get every episode for free right 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,320 to your smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so 9 00:00:27,399 --> 00:00:32,359 much for your support the spending up in Washington, DC 10 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,320 and the reconciliation and the I don't even know what 11 00:00:36,359 --> 00:00:38,200 these things are called anymore. I'm losing track of all 12 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:45,240 of the different concurrent budget resolutions, continuing resolutions, all of it. Well, 13 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,240 I figure this might be a good guy to talk 14 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,359 to about. His name is Ben Tomcik. He is the 15 00:00:49,399 --> 00:00:52,399 vice president and deputy chief of Staff for the Committee 16 00:00:52,439 --> 00:00:56,759 for a Responsible Federal Budget. The website is CRFB dot org. 17 00:00:57,039 --> 00:00:58,799 And Ben, welcome to the show, sir. How are you. 18 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 2: How are you doing? 19 00:01:00,679 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: I'm good. I hope you're enjoying your travels around the 20 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,319 state of North Carolina. Understand you've done a couple of 21 00:01:07,359 --> 00:01:09,079 appearances and so far, so good. 22 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely I spoke to students at Wingate University this morning, 23 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:15,760 and I have to tell you, I was just blown 24 00:01:15,799 --> 00:01:18,239 away by them. So it's been a really inspiring trip 25 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,319 down here in North Carolina. 26 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: Because nothing gets the kids excited like talking about the 27 00:01:22,239 --> 00:01:23,120 federal budget. 28 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,359 Speaker 2: Right, absolutely, absolutely, all. 29 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,879 Speaker 1: Right, So explain to me, because like I've been kind 30 00:01:30,879 --> 00:01:34,560 of following what happens with the spending and like I'm 31 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,319 a regular order kind of a guy, Like I want 32 00:01:36,359 --> 00:01:38,359 them to go back to regular order. I think that's 33 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:39,920 a pipe dream at this point. I don't think they're 34 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,640 ever going to really go back to that. So what 35 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,120 exactly is the mechanism that the Congress is now using 36 00:01:46,719 --> 00:01:49,560 to create. I don't even know if you Are they 37 00:01:49,599 --> 00:01:52,200 budgets or are they just resolutions? At this point, I 38 00:01:52,239 --> 00:01:53,200 don't even know what to call it. 39 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,799 Speaker 2: Right, So you talk about being a regular order guy, 40 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,319 I'm a passing a budget. I wish Congress would get 41 00:01:59,359 --> 00:02:02,040 back to to passing a budget. And what I will 42 00:02:02,079 --> 00:02:04,439 tell you is right now, what they're doing is they're 43 00:02:04,439 --> 00:02:08,879 basically basically using a budget resolution and it's kind of 44 00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:10,759 a show where they agree to how much they're going 45 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,599 to spend, how much they're going to cut and from 46 00:02:13,719 --> 00:02:15,879 there what they do is that they agree to those 47 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,280 levels and then they fill in the details a little 48 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:23,039 bit later. On. So last Thursday, before Congress adjourned for 49 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,680 their Easter recess, the Senate had passed the budget resolution. 50 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,439 The House then passed with the Senate bill, or excuse me, 51 00:02:30,479 --> 00:02:33,120 the House then passed with the Senate passed. And I 52 00:02:33,199 --> 00:02:36,240 just want to put it into perspective. The bill that 53 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,120 the Senate and the House both passed, and this is 54 00:02:38,199 --> 00:02:41,199 right before they left town, would allow up to five 55 00:02:41,199 --> 00:02:45,879 point eight trillion in additional deficits over the next decade, 56 00:02:46,199 --> 00:02:49,360 and that to me is incredibly concerning. It also has 57 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,360 the potential to add around seven trillion dollars to the debt. Now, 58 00:02:53,479 --> 00:02:57,080 to put this in perspective for some of your listener's peep, Historically, 59 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,960 when we've used this process, it's known as budget reconciliation, 60 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,400 and I know that's a very Washington term. We've often 61 00:03:03,479 --> 00:03:08,000 used reconciliation to cut deficits, and now it seems like 62 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,960 what we're really using it for is we're using it 63 00:03:11,039 --> 00:03:12,879 to approve more borrowing and. 64 00:03:12,879 --> 00:03:14,879 Speaker 1: To avoid and to avoid doing. 65 00:03:14,719 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 2: Budgets right absolutely, and to. 66 00:03:17,319 --> 00:03:20,479 Speaker 1: Maybe pass some you know, healthcare overhaul of one sixth 67 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,800 of the economy maybe, I like, yeah, just the way 68 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,039 they use these things. So what is the difference between 69 00:03:26,039 --> 00:03:31,000 the reconciliation and the continuing resolutions and the omnibus stuff? 70 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:37,479 Speaker 2: Oh? So with with with a continuing resolution, what you're 71 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,520 basically doing is you're keeping funding levels at the same 72 00:03:41,039 --> 00:03:42,879 you know, at the same level as they have been 73 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,080 while you normally try to figure out a budget. Okay, 74 00:03:46,439 --> 00:03:48,919 with a budget resolution, the key thing about or sorry, 75 00:03:48,919 --> 00:03:51,120 with reconciliation. The key thing about that is it's a 76 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,759 way to get around the filibuster, right, you know, And 77 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,039 an omnibus I like to think of an omnibus sort 78 00:03:56,039 --> 00:03:59,159 of like a Christmas tree. It's like we have a 79 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,000 vehicle and we're basically just going to pile a ton 80 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,639 of stuff onto it. And it's another way of sort 81 00:04:04,639 --> 00:04:06,879 of it's another way of getting around a budget, if 82 00:04:06,879 --> 00:04:07,199 you will. 83 00:04:08,039 --> 00:04:12,599 Speaker 1: So on the website crfb dot org crfb dot org, 84 00:04:13,159 --> 00:04:15,000 I will point out they've got a bunch of very 85 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,319 y'all have a bunch of very helpful tools. You got 86 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,639 the reconciliation resources, a whole bunch of links to analysis 87 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,959 and blog posts and such. You have a reconciliation tracker, 88 00:04:25,319 --> 00:04:27,800 you got the COVID money tracker. I saw on that too, 89 00:04:28,639 --> 00:04:33,319 the Fixed US Project, which is an initiative to assess 90 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:38,360 the root causes of political divisions. So is there a 91 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:44,720 way that Congress breaks out of this this mold that 92 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,920 it has been in for like I guess it's probably 93 00:04:48,959 --> 00:04:51,879 been what ten or fifteen years or so. It just 94 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,399 doesn't seem they have any incentives to try to go 95 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,439 back to doing it the way they used to do 96 00:04:58,480 --> 00:04:59,800 it with actual budgets. 97 00:05:00,519 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 2: Right. Well, the first thing I would say with Congress 98 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:04,759 is is if I had a member of Congress in 99 00:05:04,759 --> 00:05:06,040 front of me, the first thing I would say is 100 00:05:06,079 --> 00:05:09,399 I would have some just stop digging right. We're in 101 00:05:09,439 --> 00:05:12,879 a thirty six trillion dollar hole right now, and so 102 00:05:13,319 --> 00:05:15,480 just stop digging, right, That would be my first thing. 103 00:05:15,519 --> 00:05:18,800 No new borrowing, pay for your priorities. One of the 104 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,079 things that you mentioned a lot of the resources we 105 00:05:22,079 --> 00:05:24,879 have on our website. One thing we've been developing over 106 00:05:24,879 --> 00:05:28,279 the last six months is something called the Budget Offsets Banks. 107 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,439 It basically is a list of resources where policy makers 108 00:05:32,519 --> 00:05:35,680 can go to it and find potential policies that can 109 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,600 help raise revenue to help pay for priorities. So first 110 00:05:39,639 --> 00:05:42,480 things first, stop digging, no new debt, and then the 111 00:05:42,519 --> 00:05:45,160 third and then the second thing is pay for your priorities. 112 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,360 And then you know, if I could add a third 113 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,720 wish to that, it would be let's start not only 114 00:05:49,759 --> 00:05:52,439 paying for our priorities, but starting to put a down 115 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,759 payment on our debt so we can get ourselves out 116 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:55,279 of this hole. 117 00:05:55,879 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: What are the if you had that member of Congress 118 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,480 in front of you, and I suspect you've probably and 119 00:06:01,519 --> 00:06:04,800 you and your colleagues at the Committee for a Responsible 120 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:06,680 Federal Budget. I'm sure you guys have talked to members 121 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:11,120 of Congress. What are the obstacles that they claim are 122 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,199 preventing them from doing these things? Because I assume, particularly 123 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,920 if you're talking to Republicans, but also I would suspect 124 00:06:16,959 --> 00:06:20,439 a lot of Democrats too, Like I think everybody recognizes 125 00:06:20,519 --> 00:06:24,319 that a lot of these programs are unsustainable, and the 126 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:28,439 budget and the debt, the deficit and the debt are unsustainable. 127 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:29,639 What are their excuses? 128 00:06:30,759 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: Well, one of the most frequent things we often hear 129 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,000 from members of Congress is I don't hear about this 130 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:39,319 from my constituents. Right, members will say hey, I'm with 131 00:06:39,439 --> 00:06:41,800 you on the debt, I'm with you on fiscal responsibility, 132 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,360 but I'm not hearing about this when I go home. 133 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:46,519 And so one of the things I and others in 134 00:06:46,519 --> 00:06:48,759 my organization have been doing is we've been traveling the 135 00:06:48,759 --> 00:06:53,240 country meeting with students, civic business, and local elected leaders 136 00:06:53,639 --> 00:06:55,680 to help raise the profile of the issue, to help 137 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:00,879 people understand just how unsustainable our fiscal trajectory is and 138 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,879 what we can do about it, to really kind of 139 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,399 put that grassroots pressure and to help you raise awareness 140 00:07:06,399 --> 00:07:08,319 on the local level, because that's one of the things 141 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,800 as well. You know, the other thing is, and you 142 00:07:11,879 --> 00:07:13,480 have to address it, is you know, we live in 143 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,920 highly polarized and partisan times and if you look at 144 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:18,680 some of the big drivers of our debt and deficit, 145 00:07:18,759 --> 00:07:21,160 one of one of which is social security. I mean 146 00:07:21,199 --> 00:07:23,160 to address that, we're going to need both parties to 147 00:07:23,199 --> 00:07:27,040 really come together and work together on solutions rather than 148 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:28,920 just demonize each other and say, well, I'm not going 149 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,920 to touch it, because not touching it is not an 150 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:32,519 option if we want to protect the program. 151 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, but the demonizing gets you the clicks on social media. 152 00:07:37,199 --> 00:07:40,680 So I mean, you've got to have priorities here, like 153 00:07:40,759 --> 00:07:41,920 we need the clicks. 154 00:07:42,199 --> 00:07:44,959 Speaker 2: Absolutely, But here's what I would say, Here's what I 155 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,680 would say to that with the clips. Let me let 156 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,759 me give you a quick fact about our fiscal situation 157 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,120 as a country. Right now, Interest payments on the debt 158 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,839 are the fastest growing part of the federal budget. And 159 00:07:54,959 --> 00:07:57,680 right now we spend more on interest on the debt 160 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,519 in the federal budget than we do on defense and 161 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:04,079 on children. And if that doesn't make your blood boil, 162 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,160 If that doesn't get you outraged about you know where 163 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,240 we are as a country, I don't know what will, 164 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:13,360 because to me, that says a lot about you know, 165 00:08:13,439 --> 00:08:15,399 what we're spending our money on and what we need 166 00:08:15,439 --> 00:08:15,959 to change. 167 00:08:16,199 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: So how unsustainable is it? And can we grow our 168 00:08:19,519 --> 00:08:21,759 way out of the out of the debt? 169 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 2: So it's not sustainable and we cannot grow our way 170 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,199 out of our debt. It's worth noting that we were 171 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,360 at a previous level of debt right after the end 172 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,000 of the Second World War. But if you remember what 173 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:34,799 the state of the world was after the end of 174 00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:36,639 the Second World War, I mean, we were the lone 175 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,960 manufacturing superpower left standing. We could generate the economic growth 176 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,879 that's not going to happen right now, and it isn't sustainable. 177 00:08:44,919 --> 00:08:48,399 You're starting to see a lot of voices in the 178 00:08:48,399 --> 00:08:52,799 fiscal community express concern. Jerome Powell was just on television yesterday. 179 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,360 One of the items he expressed concern about was the 180 00:08:55,399 --> 00:08:58,840 debt the ratings agency Moody. I believe it was earlier 181 00:08:58,879 --> 00:09:02,879 this month concerned about our debt load. It's something that 182 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,519 is not sustainable. Now there are some who will say, well, hey, hey, 183 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:11,120 ben Hap, Japan has a high debt to GDP ratio. 184 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,320 But we don't want to emulate Japan because while Japan 185 00:09:14,399 --> 00:09:17,720 does have that, they also don't have economic growth. So 186 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,639 you know, it's it's not sustainable and we have to 187 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,559 get this under control before it's too late. 188 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 1: All right, So in thirty seconds, how do you fix it? 189 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 2: Well, the first thing you do is, I think number 190 00:09:30,399 --> 00:09:33,919 one again, no new borrowing. You pay for your priorities. 191 00:09:34,399 --> 00:09:37,320 You know. The second thing you do is, and this 192 00:09:37,399 --> 00:09:39,639 is really up to our policy makers, is they've got 193 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:42,120 to work together. First. You've got to get together and 194 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,720 you got to pass a budget. Okay, a budget is 195 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,519 is your nation's priorities, and we got to get back 196 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,799 to doing that, you know, And then you know, the 197 00:09:49,799 --> 00:09:51,120 second thing they got to do is we got to 198 00:09:51,159 --> 00:09:54,240 start working and putting forward bipartisan solutions to some of 199 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,120 our big challenges. We know Social Security is going to 200 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,399 be insolvent in the next eight to ten years, so 201 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,399 what are are we doing about it? We know interest 202 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,519 payments on the debt are high, so what are we 203 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,399 going to do about it? Can we put together a 204 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:10,039 plan that puts the debt on a more sustainable path 205 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,679 than you know, what we're doing right now? That's what 206 00:10:12,759 --> 00:10:14,440 I would say. 207 00:10:14,639 --> 00:10:17,879 Speaker 1: I would may, I would just suggest that maybe, uh, Jubilee, 208 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,600 let's just forgive everybody's debt. Let's just everybody own the 209 00:10:20,639 --> 00:10:23,840 planet start from zero again? Why not? I feel like 210 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,799 we're at the point of no return anyway, so why 211 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:26,639 not give it a shot. 212 00:10:27,279 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 2: Well, here's the thing, you know, I you know, the 213 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,559 thing that has always allowed the United States to stand 214 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,039 out as a global economic power is people have a 215 00:10:36,039 --> 00:10:37,759 lot of belief in the full faith and credit of 216 00:10:37,799 --> 00:10:41,600 the United States. They believe we pay our bills. Okay, 217 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,360 they believe they can trust us. And when we start 218 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:48,080 you know, forgiving debt, when we start thinking that we 219 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:51,759 can print our way out of this situation. Then that 220 00:10:51,919 --> 00:10:54,320 starts to put that trust in us. That starts to 221 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:56,679 make that trust look a little bit shaky. So we 222 00:10:56,759 --> 00:10:58,240 can't do it. We have to do it by doing 223 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,759 the hard choices. What we've done hard things before. We've 224 00:11:01,799 --> 00:11:03,639 done hard things. We've gone to the moon. You know, 225 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,840 look at what we did in World War Two. We've 226 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:07,559 done hard things as a country. We can do that. 227 00:11:07,639 --> 00:11:08,360 We can do it again. 228 00:11:09,039 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, but that's hard. This is easier, all right. I'm 229 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,399 just kidding that may but it is true. Look, I 230 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,759 appreciate the work that you guys do up there and 231 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,080 in your time today. His name is Ben tom Chicken. 232 00:11:21,159 --> 00:11:23,320 He is the Vice President and Deputy chief of Staff 233 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,240 for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget SRFB dot org. 234 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,639 A ton of good resources over at that site. Save 235 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:31,159 travels to you, Ben, Thank you, sir. 236 00:11:31,639 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 2: Hey, thanks Bete. Have a great day, you too. 237 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: Take care. All right, if you're listening to this show, 238 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:37,799 you know I try to keep up with all sorts 239 00:11:37,799 --> 00:11:39,840 of current events, and I know you do too. And 240 00:11:39,919 --> 00:11:44,720 you've probably heard me say get your news from multiple sources. Why, Well, 241 00:11:44,759 --> 00:11:47,440 because it's how you detect media bias, which is why 242 00:11:47,519 --> 00:11:50,679 I've been so impressed with ground News. It's an app, 243 00:11:50,879 --> 00:11:54,120 and it's a website, and it combines news from around 244 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,559 the world in one place, so you can compare coverage 245 00:11:56,799 --> 00:11:59,480 and verify information. You can check it out at check 246 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:03,960 dot org, dot news, slash pete. I put the link 247 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,120 in the podcast description too. I started using ground News 248 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,840 a few months ago and more recently chose to work 249 00:12:09,879 --> 00:12:11,919 with them as an affiliate because it lets me see 250 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,799 clearly how stories get covered and by whom. The blind 251 00:12:15,799 --> 00:12:18,600 spot feature shows you which stories get ignored by the 252 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:22,399 left and the right. See for yourself. Check dot ground, 253 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,240 dot news, slash pete. Subscribe through that link and you'll 254 00:12:26,279 --> 00:12:29,440 get fifteen percent off any subscription. I use the Vantage 255 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,960 plan to get unlimited access to every feature. Your subscription 256 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,759 then not only helps my podcast, but it also supports 257 00:12:35,759 --> 00:12:39,039 ground News as they make the media landscape more transparent. 258 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,279 All right, So, as I mentioned, the CRFB dot org 259 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,440 has a ton of resources on the website about deficits, 260 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,759 about you know, spending. If you want to get deep 261 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:56,120 into the congressional abdication of financial responsibility, this is a 262 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,240 great resource. And no, they're not paying me to say 263 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,240 that it is. I was I spend probably too much 264 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,879 time on there this morning. Like, for example, they estimate 265 00:13:04,919 --> 00:13:10,600 that enacting the legislation that has been so far proposed, 266 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,480 and you heard Ben tom Chik mention it, it would 267 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:19,519 add five point eight trillion dollars to the deficit, all right, 268 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,279 It would result in deficits that would be about eight 269 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:30,440 point two percent of GDP by twenty thirty four. The 270 00:13:30,519 --> 00:13:37,320 Senate instructions, the Concurrent Budget Resolution instructions would allow for 271 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,759 more borrowing than any recent legislation and make it much 272 00:13:41,799 --> 00:13:45,879 more difficult for policymakers to fix the country's fiscal situation. 273 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,840 So like this will make things much worse than they 274 00:13:50,879 --> 00:13:55,879 already are. Under these instructions, annual deficits would be more 275 00:13:55,919 --> 00:14:00,840 than three trillion dollars in about six years. It would 276 00:14:00,919 --> 00:14:03,840 rise three and a half trillion to twenty thirty four. 277 00:14:05,279 --> 00:14:07,159 If you don't do this and you just keep the 278 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:11,320 current law in place, you're only at two point six trillion. 279 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:16,440 So it's a trillion more what the Senate has proposed. 280 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,200 While deficits have increased during recessions and emergencies in the past, 281 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:26,399 these deficit levels would be unprecedented during normal economic circumstances 282 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,279 and present major risks to the country's economy and ability 283 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:39,679 to respond to crises. Also, their president, the President of 284 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:44,639 the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Maya McGuinness, put 285 00:14:44,679 --> 00:14:47,639 out a statement when the House of Representatives voted to 286 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:53,360 adopt the Senate Fiscal Year Concurrent Budget Resolution, and when 287 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:59,000 the House did that, it unlocked the fast track reconciliation process. Okay, 288 00:15:00,399 --> 00:15:03,120 and she said, this budget sets the stage for the 289 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:08,720 largest deficit increase in history. She called it an absolute disgrace. 290 00:15:09,759 --> 00:15:14,279 The Senate took the houses borrowing allowance and doubled it, 291 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,080 more than doubled it, clearing the way for a bill 292 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:24,840 that could borrow more than the American Rescue Plan, the TCJA, 293 00:15:25,799 --> 00:15:33,200 the Cares Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law combined combined. 294 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:40,440 That's outrageous. The Senate shrunk the Houses required spending cuts, 295 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:44,120 so the House had the borrowing allowance that was higher. 296 00:15:44,559 --> 00:15:47,559 But then they had a bunch of cuts. The Senate 297 00:15:48,399 --> 00:15:50,799 took the House's borrowing allowance. They said, yes, we liked 298 00:15:50,799 --> 00:15:55,879 that idea, let's borrow more, but how about we cut 299 00:15:55,960 --> 00:16:00,519 your cuts. Let's eliminate your cuts by roughly nine point 300 00:16:00,559 --> 00:16:05,960 eight percent. The Senate required cuts that amount to three 301 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,799 dollars per household per year. That'll get you a cup 302 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:11,039 of cough. Will it even get you a cup of 303 00:16:11,039 --> 00:16:14,639 coffee anymore? I don't even think so, She says. Attaching 304 00:16:14,679 --> 00:16:18,080 such a debt blowout to the largest debt ceiling increase 305 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:22,440 in history just adds insult to injury. The House messed 306 00:16:22,519 --> 00:16:24,759 up in deferring to the Senate this time, and they 307 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,360 must not continue to capitulate to them going forward. Fiscally 308 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,440 responsible members of Congress should insist that the final legislation 309 00:16:32,559 --> 00:16:37,120 is fully paid for with substantial spending cuts and thoughtful 310 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,559 tax reforms. I heard somebody say the other day, actually 311 00:16:43,919 --> 00:16:49,120 that the Tea Party was the limited government and fiscal 312 00:16:49,159 --> 00:16:53,519 responsibility people, the Tea Party of twenty ten, twenty eleven timeframe. 313 00:16:54,360 --> 00:17:00,320 That was us asking nicely. That's what that was. And 314 00:17:02,639 --> 00:17:08,319 Trump represents what happens when you get ignored for another decade. Now. 315 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,480 I don't know if Trump is actually going to do 316 00:17:11,559 --> 00:17:15,960 what's necessary to get the fiscal house in order. He 317 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,319 has said he's not going to touch Social Security, Medicaid, 318 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,079 everything else. Right, nobody wants to touch the entitlements. Third 319 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:25,559 rail of politics and all that, and the left demonizes 320 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:27,759 this over and over and over again. They just can't stop. 321 00:17:27,839 --> 00:17:29,839 They can't help themselves. They've been doing it for so long, 322 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:35,160 it's just it's second nature to them. But this is unsustainable. 323 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:41,599 There isn't enough money. There isn't enough money. Cuts are 324 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,599 going to have to be made, and Congress is going 325 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:49,240 to have to do its damn job. But I don't 326 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,559 think they will because they've offloaded all responsibility onto the 327 00:17:52,599 --> 00:17:55,200 executive branch. So this way they get to blame somebody 328 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,200 else for the bankruptcy that we are obviously on the 329 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,119 path to. Here's a great idea. How about making an 330 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,400 escape to a really special and secluded getaway in western 331 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:06,960 North Carolina. Just a quick drive up the mountain and 332 00:18:07,039 --> 00:18:11,039 Cabins of Ashville is your connection. Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, 333 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,759 a honeymoon, maybe you want to plan a memorable proposal, 334 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,400 or get family and friends together for a big old reunion. 335 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,759 Cabins of Asheville has the ideal spot for you where 336 00:18:19,759 --> 00:18:22,359 you can reconnect with your loved ones and the things 337 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:26,000 that truly matter, Nestled within the breath taking fourteen thousand 338 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,200 acres of the Pisga National Forest. Their cabins offer a 339 00:18:29,279 --> 00:18:31,920 serene escape in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 340 00:18:32,079 --> 00:18:34,599 centrally located between Ashville and the entrance of the Great 341 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:38,519 Smoky Mountain National Park. It's the perfect balance of seclusion 342 00:18:38,759 --> 00:18:43,279 and proximity to all the local attractions with hot tubs, fireplaces, 343 00:18:43,319 --> 00:18:47,519 air conditioning, smart TVs, Wi Fi grills, outdoor tables and 344 00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:51,880 your own private covered porch. Choose from thirteen cabins, six cottages, 345 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,960 two villas, and a great lodge with eleven king sized bedrooms. 346 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,279 Cabins of Ashville has the ideal spot for you for 347 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,119 any occasion, and they have pet friendly accommodations. Call her 348 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,559 text eight two eight, three six seven seventy sixty eight 349 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,599 or check out all there is to offer at Cabinsovashville 350 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:14,480 dot com and make memories that'll last a lifetime. The 351 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:18,599 McClatchy papers reporting that at the North Carolina State Capitol, 352 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:22,519 the State Senate took the first of two votes to 353 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:27,920 advance it's proposed two year, sixty six billion dollar budget. 354 00:19:28,079 --> 00:19:32,119 Yesterday I went over the highlights of the spending plan. 355 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,519 It's a two year budget. Each year, it's like thirty 356 00:19:34,519 --> 00:19:37,319 three billion and it's like thirty two and a half 357 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,880 and then thirty three and a half. I think, so 358 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:41,680 the end, this is normal. They do a two year 359 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,480 budget during their long session. They'll come back next year 360 00:19:45,519 --> 00:19:48,759 in the short session make any tweaks to the budget, 361 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,839 but they don't overhaul the budget. They do the budget 362 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,440 on a two year rolling basis. Wow. Maybe the US 363 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:57,640 Congress could do something like that. That would be amazing, 364 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,759 blending tax cuts, modest raises for teachers and state workers, 365 00:20:02,799 --> 00:20:06,240 increased reserves for helene recovery, and cuts to programs. Okay, 366 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,880 so it seems like there is a narrative calcifying here 367 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:14,240 for the state Senate budget plan. Now the House is 368 00:20:14,279 --> 00:20:15,680 going to do its own. I think they're going to 369 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:19,599 do theirs the beginning of May. They'll roll theirs out 370 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,920 and then there will be differences. They will then meet 371 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,200 in a conference committee together, you know, they'll designate people 372 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,559 from the House and from the Senate. They'll go together, 373 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,400 they'll work out differences and stuff, and then they'll come 374 00:20:32,599 --> 00:20:37,559 forward to the general body with their finished work. And 375 00:20:37,799 --> 00:20:43,119 generally speaking, those votes tend to I don't want to say, 376 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,720 I mean, they are basically a formality you can make 377 00:20:45,759 --> 00:20:48,599 some changes after the fact with amendments, but it doesn't 378 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:51,359 usually happen most of the time. You know, the budget 379 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:55,119 talks are going on with leadership involved, and so by 380 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:56,839 the time you get to the finished product and it 381 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,799 goes to the General Assembly to vote like that, people 382 00:21:00,839 --> 00:21:03,319 pretty much know that's it. We'll wait and see what 383 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:06,160 the House version looks like. But the narrative is that 384 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:10,799 the raises are modest. These are modest raises. Now, one 385 00:21:10,839 --> 00:21:16,079 thing I feel the need to point out because they 386 00:21:16,079 --> 00:21:19,799 are talked about as two separate things. The pay raises 387 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:24,880 for teachers, state employees, you know, law enforcement, whatever you have. 388 00:21:25,079 --> 00:21:28,640 You have that discussion that occurs, and then you have 389 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:33,640 the discussion about the income tax rates. And it seems 390 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:39,119 like reporters never they never combine the two. They never like, 391 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,359 they never take into account that, yes, the state employees 392 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,799 are getting a pay raise. And while it may be 393 00:21:46,279 --> 00:21:49,400 depending on you know, teachers or cops or whatever. I 394 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,680 went over those numbers the other day, but the that 395 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:59,160 pay raise percentage represents a total you know, net paycheck 396 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,480 that you come home with, right, and then the income 397 00:22:03,559 --> 00:22:09,799 tax rate by dropping means your net take home is more. 398 00:22:10,519 --> 00:22:13,559 Does that make sense? So they lower the rate, they 399 00:22:13,599 --> 00:22:16,400 give you a raise. You end up with more money 400 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:20,119 than just simply that raise, because the income tax rate 401 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,319 is now lower, you get to keep more of your 402 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:28,079 own money. But they never combine these two ideas, these 403 00:22:28,079 --> 00:22:32,599 two concepts, and that is part of the budget. That's like, 404 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,480 they run all of these numbers and what kind of 405 00:22:34,519 --> 00:22:36,200 impact is it going to have on revenue and all 406 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:39,319 of that. Because there is a philosophy on the right 407 00:22:40,279 --> 00:22:43,160 that is, you made the money, you should keep your 408 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,519 money as you should keep as much money as possible. 409 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:50,440 If the state or any government ends up with a surplus, 410 00:22:50,839 --> 00:22:55,640 it means that they took too much. They do not 411 00:22:55,839 --> 00:22:59,519 want to operate at a surplus. The point of the 412 00:22:59,559 --> 00:23:03,920 government is not to make money, right, it's to provide 413 00:23:04,599 --> 00:23:08,079 core services. And the problem is, as I mentioned in 414 00:23:08,079 --> 00:23:12,519 the first hour, government like fire, is a useful servant 415 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:16,400 and a fearful master. It will spread and it will 416 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,000 it will just keep taking more and more and more, 417 00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:23,440 getting into all these different areas, crowding out private sector competitors. 418 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,359 That's why you have to constantly rein it in and 419 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,880 you do that by not granting it you know, powers 420 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,200 to do stuff, but also through the power of the purse, 421 00:23:33,319 --> 00:23:36,519 through the funding. And so if you are constantly seeing 422 00:23:36,559 --> 00:23:39,839 as our friends on the left usually see surpluses as 423 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:43,920 a reason to now enact new plans, new programs to 424 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,839 spend that money. This is the see a penny, spend 425 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:51,079 a penny philosophy that drives people on the left. That's 426 00:23:51,079 --> 00:23:55,319 their economic way of thinking. They and I went over 427 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:59,160 the quotes the other day. The rainy day fund is like, 428 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:02,640 it's a offensive to them. Well, they'll say, you know, oh, 429 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:05,200 we should have you know, some rainy day fund. Sure, 430 00:24:05,279 --> 00:24:07,519 but we should totally use that fund right now to 431 00:24:07,759 --> 00:24:13,799 give teachers pay raises. That's not that's one time money. 432 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,599 Like they see that as proof though, that that we 433 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:21,000 can collect more taxes from people and then we can 434 00:24:21,039 --> 00:24:23,359 spend it on more programs and services and the like. 435 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:28,480 And this goes back to the argument about core services. Right, 436 00:24:28,519 --> 00:24:33,119 your core services are limited, and just because you end 437 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:37,079 up generating a surplus in revenue doesn't mean that you 438 00:24:37,079 --> 00:24:40,119 should start expanding beyond your core services, because once you 439 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:45,799 start expanding beyond the core, you start losing focus on 440 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:52,000 what you're actually supposed to be doing. For example, public safety, 441 00:24:52,039 --> 00:24:57,480 it is actually the only real reason public safety and justice. Right, 442 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,720 That's the whole point of having a government at all. 443 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,559 There's no other reason why. At the core base of 444 00:25:06,599 --> 00:25:09,480 the argument, if you are ordering a society, you're trying 445 00:25:09,519 --> 00:25:12,000 to build a society around you know, you got a 446 00:25:12,039 --> 00:25:14,759 thousand people in some little village someplace, you have to 447 00:25:14,799 --> 00:25:17,559 have some form of order. And who gets to use force, 448 00:25:17,599 --> 00:25:20,759 who meets out the justice? Right, That's the reason why 449 00:25:20,799 --> 00:25:24,880 people order themselves under a government giving them the power 450 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,000 the monopoly onforced Otherwise everybody else is committing violence on 451 00:25:28,039 --> 00:25:33,440 each other for whatever perceived you know, slights or violations 452 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:38,240 that their neighbors may have committed. That's it. And so 453 00:25:38,279 --> 00:25:40,160 when you and then you start now I'm not arguing, 454 00:25:40,279 --> 00:25:42,240 you know, I'm not a capital l libertarian saying there 455 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,920 shouldn't be any government whatsoever to do these things. I 456 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,079 understand that there are practical benefits, but your core services, 457 00:25:50,079 --> 00:25:53,119 when you start moving beyond them, you start now getting 458 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,799 distracted from the thing that you're actually supposed to be doing. 459 00:26:00,039 --> 00:26:04,359 After a debate yesterday that lasted more than five hours, 460 00:26:04,599 --> 00:26:09,920 the Senate voted to approve the budget with Senator Dan Blue, 461 00:26:10,079 --> 00:26:12,839 a Raleigh Democrat, and the former leader of the Senate 462 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:19,200 Democrats joining Republicans to vote for the bill, along with 463 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:23,400 three other Democrats. One Republican voted against it, but you 464 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:27,599 had four Democrats that joined the what twenty six? I 465 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:34,440 think it is Republicans to approve it. Interestingly enough, though 466 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:38,960 the word bipartisan never mentioned in this story. I'm sure 467 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:43,279 it was just an oversight, but that would be the headline. 468 00:26:43,559 --> 00:26:50,240 Senate approves budget proposal in bipartisan vote. That's a headline 469 00:26:50,279 --> 00:26:53,599 for this story. But you don't get that when you're 470 00:26:53,799 --> 00:26:56,920 the Republican majority and you can peel off some Democrats, 471 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,079 including the former Senate Democrat leader. All right, so spring 472 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:06,599 is here a time of renewal and celebrations. You got graduations, weddings, anniversaries, 473 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:09,200 and the special days for mom and dad. Your family's 474 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:11,200 making memories that are going to last a lifetime. But 475 00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:14,319 let me ask you, are all of those treasured moments 476 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:16,799 from days gone by? Are they hidden away on old 477 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:21,839 VCR tapes, eight millimeter films, photos slides? Are they preserved? 478 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,680 Because over time, these precious memories can fade and deteriorate, 479 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,519 losing the magic of yesterday. At Creative Video, they help 480 00:27:29,559 --> 00:27:33,319 you protect what matters most. Their expert team digitizes your 481 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,720 cherished family moments and transfers them onto a USB drive, 482 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:39,200 freezing them in time so they can be enjoyed for 483 00:27:39,319 --> 00:27:42,680 generations to come. I urge you do not wait until 484 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:46,599 it's too late this spring, celebrate your past. Visit Creative 485 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,480 Video today and let them preserve your legacy with the 486 00:27:49,599 --> 00:27:53,400 love and care that it deserves. Creative Video preserving family 487 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,880 Memories since nineteen ninety seven, located in mint Hill, just 488 00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:00,200 off four eighty five. Mail orders are accepted too, all 489 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,880 the details that create a video dot com. So I 490 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:09,599 mentioned that one Republican voted against the Senate budget. What's 491 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,079 the deal with that, Glad you asked? That would be 492 00:28:13,759 --> 00:28:19,319 Republican Senator Bobby Haynig of Kuratuk County. Why would he 493 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,640 vote against it? Well, he wants to make sure that 494 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:27,519 the state's coastal ferries still remain free, not like free 495 00:28:27,559 --> 00:28:33,839 from oppression, but like no cost to ride once again 496 00:28:34,559 --> 00:28:42,519 core services. Republican Senator Bobby Haynig tried to He had 497 00:28:42,519 --> 00:28:46,240 an amendment, it did not pass. I believe it would 498 00:28:46,279 --> 00:28:51,920 have cut a provision of the Senate GOP budget item 499 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:56,920 that ends free rides on the state's coastal ferries and 500 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:03,119 start charging tolls to board the boats, which I kind 501 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:06,119 of feel like is a smart thing to do. No 502 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:09,039 free rides, because there ain't no such thing as free. 503 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,680 This is one of the things that like it's difficult. 504 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:14,720 I get it. This is your jurisdiction, this is your district. 505 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,440 You know, you want to make sure that people can 506 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:21,240 get on and off the ferries for free. I understand, 507 00:29:23,759 --> 00:29:25,960 But is that really what gov Co should be doing? 508 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:31,519 Should they even be running the ferries at all? So 509 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:36,079 Hannick voted against the budget. I don't know what that means. 510 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:40,119 If Josh Stein veto's the budget, maybe the House puts 511 00:29:40,119 --> 00:29:42,559 it back in and then Hannig can vote for it. 512 00:29:42,599 --> 00:29:44,720 I don't know. We'll see, you know, if he is 513 00:29:44,759 --> 00:29:48,240 able to get that the free rides continuing. I'm not 514 00:29:48,279 --> 00:29:52,880 sure the reason. Senator Dan Blue, Democrat from Raleigh, why 515 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:57,440 he voted for it. He made an amendment to the budget, 516 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:07,119 and that would give County five additional assistant district attorneys. Okay, 517 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:12,200 so well that's a good thing. More assistant das. The 518 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,720 Meckliberg DA says he needs more das. I don't know 519 00:30:14,799 --> 00:30:19,319 how many meckliberg counties got, but if they're not getting 520 00:30:19,319 --> 00:30:24,079 more district attorneys, that might I don't know, that might be. 521 00:30:25,119 --> 00:30:28,920 That might be a testament to the ineffectiveness of the 522 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:34,160 local Mecklenberg delegation, which is basically old Democrats, their inability 523 00:30:34,599 --> 00:30:38,920 to get anything out of a Republican majority. And while 524 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:42,000 you could say, oh, that's the Republican's fault, you could 525 00:30:42,039 --> 00:30:45,279 also argue that it's kind of the Democrat's fault too, 526 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,519 because if you can't figure out a way to get 527 00:30:49,599 --> 00:30:56,680 Republicans to increase funding for district attorney's offices, to throw 528 00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:00,839 more people in jail, right to crack down on crime, 529 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,200 if you can't figure out a way to convince Republicans 530 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,440 to sign on to that, I kind of feel like 531 00:31:06,519 --> 00:31:10,720 that's a you problem. You know, you should be able 532 00:31:10,799 --> 00:31:14,759 to because my suspicion is that Republicans would be happy 533 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:20,319 to add more das to Mecklenburg County for you, if 534 00:31:20,359 --> 00:31:22,799 you were to run an amendment to ask for, hey, 535 00:31:22,799 --> 00:31:26,200 we need ten more assistant das or whatever. I suspect 536 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:30,359 that if the Republicans agreed to do that, they would 537 00:31:30,839 --> 00:31:33,920 expect you to vote for the budget but you don't 538 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:36,319 want to vote for the budget. You want your thing 539 00:31:36,559 --> 00:31:39,920 in there, and then you want to vote against the 540 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:42,640 whole thing, so you can still get what you wanted 541 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:47,160 and not have to explain why you voted for all 542 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:52,000 of the other spending that's in the budget. A second 543 00:31:52,039 --> 00:31:55,920 and final vote was to be today. I don't know 544 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:58,400 if they've done it yet or not. For the second reading. 545 00:31:59,039 --> 00:32:01,480 The House is working on its own budget proposal that's 546 00:32:01,519 --> 00:32:05,000 expected to be released in a couple of weeks here 547 00:32:05,079 --> 00:32:09,559 sometime in May. Josh Stein, the governor, said that the 548 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,599 Senate spending plan is inadequate. We need to spend more money, 549 00:32:13,839 --> 00:32:16,359 more money, more money. Also, I don't know if he'll 550 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:20,160 use the school vouchers issue like Roy Cooper always did 551 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:23,440 to veto and medicated expansions now off the table, right 552 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:27,319 because we already did that, So now Stein can't use that. 553 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:29,680 So I suspect he's going to say, you know, more 554 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:33,200 money for Helene recovery and get rid of the voucher 555 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,720 program and then he'll veto it or more pay raises 556 00:32:36,759 --> 00:32:39,200 for teachers. So I'd rather veto the budget so they 557 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:44,559 don't get anything, right. I don't know, we'll see because 558 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,920 under the state plan, teachers would see a new salary schedule, 559 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,279 that's what they call it. You can actually go to 560 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:57,200 the website, the state government website, and you can look 561 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:01,119 at these schedules. You can look at the pay for 562 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,160 you know, all the teachers not by name, but by 563 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:08,559 years of service, and you know, the annual thousand dollars 564 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,839 step increases that they get every year for like the 565 00:33:10,839 --> 00:33:17,839 first fifteen years, the additional bonuses basically annually for the 566 00:33:19,119 --> 00:33:23,880 you know, certified if they become certified, if they well, 567 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,319 they haven't restored the masters. I think that is in 568 00:33:26,359 --> 00:33:30,000 one of the that's in one of the pieces of 569 00:33:30,119 --> 00:33:33,200 legislation that was run earlier this session. So I don't 570 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:35,079 know if they're going to restore that or not. But 571 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:36,960 you can look at you can look at the schedule, 572 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:40,359 see how much teachers make. And so the starting pay 573 00:33:40,599 --> 00:33:44,079 would be set under this plan that got passed yesterday, 574 00:33:44,079 --> 00:33:48,720 approved yesterday by the Senate. Forty five hundred ten dollars 575 00:33:48,799 --> 00:33:53,240 is the starting teacher pay zero experience forty one five ten. 576 00:33:54,359 --> 00:33:58,960 That goes to fifty six six fifty, so almost fifty 577 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:02,839 seven thousand dollars for those with twenty five years or 578 00:34:03,079 --> 00:34:07,079 more of experience. Teachers will also get a three thousand 579 00:34:07,119 --> 00:34:11,320 dollars bonus over the two year budget cycle and the 580 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,400 raises of two point three percent in year one, three 581 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:21,079 point three percent over both years, and again the income 582 00:34:21,199 --> 00:34:25,559 tax rate drops, so they're keeping more of their own money. 583 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:29,840 Most state employees. I went over all of the data 584 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:32,039 on that the state employees. There are all different breakdowns 585 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:34,800 and there are additional They get a baseline of like 586 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:37,679 one and a quarter percent increase, but then there's targeted 587 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:44,960 increases across all these different job descriptions real quick. Meanwhile, 588 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:48,639 Central Piedmont Community College says that a planned training facility 589 00:34:48,679 --> 00:34:51,360 will be a great resource for local law enforcement. It's 590 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:55,480 one hundred and eighteen million dollar project. It's called Community Lifeline. 591 00:34:56,119 --> 00:34:59,960 But the activists are like, it's going to be cops 592 00:35:00,119 --> 00:35:04,960 city like Atlanta that drew all the protests. Yeah from 593 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:10,840 the activists, so like, no, we want untrained law enforcement. 594 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:15,960 Wait what. CPCC is partnering with Mecklelnberg County to build 595 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:19,119 the facility at its Lavine campus in Matthews. It'll feature 596 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:24,639 simulation spaces replicating real life emergency scenarios like a townhouse 597 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,159 or hotel. According to the college's news release, there will 598 00:35:27,159 --> 00:35:30,440 be a driving course and a soundproof firing range. I 599 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,440 don't know if that's indoor or outdoor, and it'll expand 600 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:37,719 academic programs as well, because yeah, I think this is 601 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:41,039 an outrage. Obviously we can't have trained police. My goodness, 602 00:35:41,119 --> 00:35:43,679 what are these people thinking? All right, that'll do it 603 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:46,360 for this episode. Thank you so much for listening. I 604 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:48,519 could not do the show without your support and the 605 00:35:48,519 --> 00:35:51,599 support of the businesses that advertise on the podcast, so 606 00:35:51,639 --> 00:35:53,719 if you'd like, please support them too and tell them 607 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:55,719 you heard it here. You can also become a patron 608 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:59,960 at my Patreon page or go to thepetecleanershow dot com. Again, 609 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:02,760 thank you so much for listening, and don't break anything 610 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:07,440 while I'm gone.