Minutes 04-19-2021 Virtual Legislative Breakfast Meeting

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5 Commissioner Greene thanked Representative Meyer for bringing in his Republican colleague from Union County to the Broadband Taskforce meeting. Senator Foushee said there are bills that were promoted by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC). She said she will push forward Senate Bill 689, which will expand County Broadband authority so they can use vertical assets, make grants to providers that are willing to provide service in underserved areas. She said Senate Bill 582 provides funding for homes to access Broadband when it is available. She said both of those bills are bipartisan bills and hopefully there will be some movement in conjunction with what the Governor is announcing. Commissioner McKee said he is pleased to hear that there is some movement on the previous restrictions that prevented counties' ability to move forward. He said he does not think all restrictions will be lifted, but some adjustments are critical to make it work. Senator Foushee said the one drawback on Senate Bill 689 is the language needs to be changed such that co-ops are held harmless. She said the way the bill is written now, they would lose in terms of having to replace vertical assets as necessary. Chair Price said this has been the number one priority for past several years for the State and National Associations of Counties, particularly in rural areas. Commissioner Fowler left the meeting at 9:03 a.m. Commissioner Greene read the priority on Minimum Wage Increase: "Support legislation to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 per hour for all, not just employees of the State of North Carolina, to enhance people's economic security, improve access to safe and secure housing, boost the economy with increased spending, decrease dependence on government assistance programs, and improve the lives of families." Representative Insko said there are many bills being filed to address this. She said she is interested in getting some information on the change in the low-income group in poverty, and showing that this group is increasing, and the money is continuing to go to the top, and what it is doing to society. Commissioner McKee said he considers this more critical than he did in the past. He said during his 50 years of working life, he never had a job where he received an actual regular paycheck, until three years ago. He said he was shocked to realize it would have been hard to live a normal lifestyle on the paycheck he received, and it was not a minimum wage paycheck. He said it was shocking to see how the majority of other people live. He said he had income, but did not receive it every week, or every other week, or every month. He said it brought home to him the reality of the majority of the people in the County, State, and Country who are living paycheck to paycheck. Commissioner Greene read the priority on Protection of Civil Rights for Transgender Persons: "Oppose any legislation that limits equal rights for transgender persons or otherwise discriminates against them, including in the areas of healthcare and sports." Senator Foushee said she would oppose Bills 358, 514, 515. Representative Insko said she was appalled, and said the Republican Party was supposed to be the party of individual liberties. Commissioner Fowler arrived at 9:08 a.m.