What Matters for Thursday, December 3, 2015
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Weapons and politics – words not usually used in the same sentence, but they’re both topics Chad opens the show discussing given Wednesday’s tragic shooting in San Bernardino, California that left 14 dead and 21 injured – not including the two shooters. And, given the announcement of another Representative who won’t be seeking re-election next year.
Next, Stanly and Montgomery County Rep. Justin Burr joins Chad. They discuss the response by the House Speaker to comments he made about the last session in a press release announcing his bid for re-election. Chad asks if he was surprised by the venom of Speaker Moore’s response. Rep. Burr says he was – especially when he’d supported Rep. Moore in becoming Speaker. Rep. Burr tells Chad other House members have told him they have concerns about being bullied into supporting agendas they and their constituents do not believe in. Rep. Burr says, “Silence is consent. I can’t sit quietly and support what is going on.” Rep. Burr says he knows the House Speaker had a whisper campaign going on while they were in session. Rep. Burr concludes by simply saying, “I hope we can get past this and move forward in 2016.”
In the second hour, Dr. Bob Luebke, Civitas Senior Education Policy Analyst, is in studio discussing the latest education issues. Chad asks him about a recent article stirring a lot of controversy is the legality of the North Carolina Association of Educators taking dues from teacher’s paychecks without having the state required number of members to do so. Bob explains this is an annual reduction of almost $500 in after-tax dollars for every educator in the state. They also delve into the benefits of Education Savings Accounts or ESA’s. These federal funds, where approved, follow the child, and help parents with children with special needs.
Finally, Chad speaks to House Majority Leader Mike Hager about the situation with House Speaker Moore and Rep. Burr. Rep. Hager tells Chad he’s trying to have a meeting in the next two weeks to work on a solution to move forward and get past this situation. And, Rep. Chris Millis calls in to give his two cents on the issue. Rep. Millis says he wrote a letter to the House Speaker that also went to House Caucus members to try and get this situation settled. He tells Chad he has concerns about what is going on inside the House. Rep. Millis says for the House Speaker to say Rep. Burr was not engaged was untrue. He says his concern, regardless of the two members, though there are varying views between members of the House, everyone should have the opportunity to voice their opinion, and vet it. That’s the process. Rep. Millis says, “It’s about the end result for me.”
News14’s Tim Boyum join us tomorrow.