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5 <br /> 1 those bills are bipartisan bills and hopefully there will be some movement in conjunction with <br /> 2 what the Governor is announcing. <br /> 3 Commissioner McKee said he is pleased to hear that there is some movement on the <br /> 4 previous restrictions that prevented counties' ability to move forward. He said he does not think <br /> 5 all restrictions will be lifted, but some adjustments are critical to make it work. <br /> 6 Senator Foushee said the one drawback on Senate Bill 689 is the language needs to be <br /> 7 changed such that co-ops are held harmless. She said the way the bill is written now, they <br /> 8 would lose in terms of having to replace vertical assets as necessary. <br /> 9 Chair Price said this has been the number one priority for past several years for the <br /> 10 State and National Associations of Counties, particularly in rural areas. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Commissioner Fowler left the meeting at 9:03 a.m. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 Commissioner Greene read the priority on Minimum Wage Increase: <br /> 15 "Support legislation to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 per hour for all, not just <br /> 16 employees of the State of North Carolina, to enhance people's economic security, <br /> 17 improve access to safe and secure housing, boost the economy with increased <br /> 18 spending, decrease dependence on government assistance programs, and improve the <br /> 19 lives of families." <br /> 20 <br /> 21 Representative Insko said there are many bills being filed to address this. She said she <br /> 22 is interested in getting some information on the change in the low-income group in poverty, and <br /> 23 showing that this group is increasing, and the money is continuing to go to the top, and what it is <br /> 24 doing to society. <br /> 25 Commissioner McKee said he considers this more critical than he did in the past. He <br /> 26 said during his 50 years of working life, he never had a job where he received an actual regular <br /> 27 paycheck, until three years ago. He said he was shocked to realize it would have been hard to <br /> 28 live a normal lifestyle on the paycheck he received, and it was not a minimum wage paycheck. <br /> 29 He said it was shocking to see how the majority of other people live. He said he had income, <br /> 30 but did not receive it every week, or every other week, or every month. He said it brought home <br /> 31 to him the reality of the majority of the people in the County, State, and Country who are living <br /> 32 paycheck to paycheck. <br /> 33 Commissioner Greene read the priority on Protection of Civil Rights for Transgender <br /> 34 Persons: <br /> 35 "Oppose any legislation that limits equal rights for transgender persons or otherwise <br /> 36 discriminates against them, including in the areas of healthcare and sports." <br /> 37 <br /> 38 Senator Foushee said she would oppose Bills 358, 514, 515. <br /> 39 Representative Insko said she was appalled, and said the Republican Party was <br /> 40 supposed to be the party of individual liberties. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 Commissioner Fowler arrived at 9:08 a.m. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Chair Price read the priority on Racial Equity in Criminal Justice: <br /> 45 "Support the recommendations of the North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in <br /> 46 Criminal Justice (TREC), and specifically legislation to legalize the possession and use <br /> 47 of marijuana and permit licensed businesses to engage in retail sales to adults, and this <br /> 48 decriminalization will in turn broaden the agricultural economy and jobs as well as <br /> 49 enhance revenue for governments with taxes, licenses, and other associated revenues <br /> 50 that can be utilized to address opioid and other drug-related problems and other needs." <br /> 51 <br />