Minutes 03-21-2022 Virtual Legislative Breakfast

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4 issues around some of the subtleties of how policies are implemented. She said it was concerning how they took the permitting process and made changes. She said she appreciates the attention paid to issues. Senator Foushee said that when these situations come forward, it's not just legislators who need to talk with partners. She gave an example of when progress was made on legislation, but just before it was to be considered, partners expressed objections. She said legislators can lobby, but if they don't hear from people at the county level, they get push back. She said they can't let perfect be the enemy of the good. She said that the legislative delegation pushes every day, but the numbers are often not there. She said that the commissioners' associations can also push and that will help achieve goals. She said they were almost there with the permitting legislation, but then got push back from the conference of district attorneys. She said they do everything in partnership, but that the squeaky wheel will get the grease. Chair Price said that some county associations got pushback when they encouraged the legislation. Some recommendations might not fit in every county. She said racial injustice and inequity is in every county, even in Orange County. Commissioner Greene said that with 100 counties, many of them rural, it is a challenge to advocate for issues. Chair Price said that when an issue is personal that is when you begin to see progress. She said that closure of rural hospitals pushed some counties to advocate for Medicaid expansion. Chair Price said that they skipped over Medicaid because they are hopeful that it will happen this year. Chair Price referenced the Leandro Remedial Action Plan and asked if anyone had any questions. Commissioner Amy Fowler arrived at 9:06 a.m. Representative Meyer said that he believes the General Assembly will incorporate pieces of what Leandro calls for in legislation, but there will not be Republican support for anything with the name Leandro on it. He said that they are reviewing what the Leandro plan calls for and finding opportunities to work on those individual pieces. He said they are trying to find out what they can accomplish as soon as possible. Commissioner Greene said she was pleased to hear Representative Meyer's comments on Leandro and felt that was the right approach. She said it reminded her of a previous environmental justice act that people objected to because of what it was called. She said supporters said to forget the name, just give us the justice. Senator Foushee gave another example of when a name change made a difference in the success of legislation, specifically, the More at Four program, which changed to NC Pre-K. Chair Price said it was similar to calling changes to Medicaid as "expansion," which turned people off. She said when you discussed specific changes that were needed for Medicaid, people were supportive. Chair Price said the last majority priority was access to broadband. She said that the county used $5 million in ARPA funding to jump start a broadband project. She said the state is beginning to offer financial assistance. Commissioner Greene said to accept state broadband funding means you have to accept state control over your system. She said there is still too much direction from the legacy telecomm providers who want to keep the game theirs. She said it is great to have the money, but it is hard to accept the funding when it means accepting state terms.