Minutes 03-11-2019 Legislative Breakfast

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3 Commissioner Greene asked if the expected improvements could be explained. Senator Foushee said public-private partnerships are being pursued, whereby counties and municipalities can provide the infrastructure for the telecommunications companies to provide service. Representative Insko said the Governor has a proposal for this, and also for hot spots. Senator Foushee said the NCACC is still working on the counties' behalf. Representative Meyer said he has trumpeted Orange County as an example of how to work with the public private partnerships with broadband. Representative Meyer said the Speaker's school bond has passed through all House committees, with the exception of the Rules Committee who will review it today, and it will be on the floor on Wednesday, and they will be introducing a democratic bill that is twice the size of the GOP's. He said the State Treasurer released a debt affordability study that says that $2 million is the maximum amount that the State can issue, and that is why the GOP has limited its bill to this amount. He said this study is based on policy decisions that were made by the Treasurer. Representative Meyer said the General Assembly should be making policy decisions, and not the Treasurer. Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a chance of this passing. Senator Foushee said zero. Representative Meyer said the House leadership thinks there will be hybrid bond; a pay- as-you-go plan. Senator Foushee said there will not be a pure bond bill that passes. Commissioner Greene asked Representative Meyer if brand new state employees will not have a retirement plan at all, in the fairly near future. Senator Foushee said that started in 2017. She said as grim as some of these things sound, the Governor has veto power now so there has to be negotiation on both sides. She believes they are at a point where the people are going to force elected officials to represent them. She said there are House Bills that pass, but not in the Senate, and that is where they will see horse-trading. She does not think any of these issues will be resolved quickly, and there will not be many special sessions anymore but they may recess to a date certain while they negotiate what will happen. Senator Foushee said she believes things will change significantly. Representative Insko said an example is what will happen to Medicaid, and if the HB gets to Senate and what will they demand back. She said stalemate is a possibility. Senator Foushee said the 2020 elections will provide a push to take action (in hope of re-election), and will be one of many factors to bring about positive changes. Representative Insko said that is why they need activists on the ground. Commissioner Dorosin asked if there are any prospects for bills for independent re- districting and privatizing ABC. Senator Foushee said referred to the first one, and said last week at the North Carolina chamber, Phil Berger said this bill would not leave the Senate. Representative Meyer said if there is a major court case that would result in judges redrawing the districts, then there may some capitulation on this issue, in order to have control over the redistricting. Representative Meyer said he is on the ABC committee this year, and there will be some modernization of the ABC, but not privatization. He said there will be some debate of some hybrid liquor licenses, and it is likely best for consumers to simply expand the hours. He said they are also working to have ABCs be more responsive to bars and restaurants with things such as delivery etc. Senator Foushee said in order for the modernization to occur, a number of restrictions will need to be removed, which she thinks will happen.