Legislative Week in Review for Feb. 15, 2013 on Unc - Tv

QUALITY PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU WHO INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM IN SUPPORTING UNC-TV >> UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS CHANGES ARE COMING TO NORTH CAROLINA. EMINENT DOMAIN LEGISLATION CLEARS THE HOUSE AGAIN, BUT WILL THE SENATE PICK IT UP IN 2013? AND THE REPUBLICANS TELL THE FEDS NO NEW HEALTH CARE EXPANSIONS. HELLO. I'M KELLY McCULLEN. THANKS FOR WATCHING "LEGISLATIVE WEEK IN REVIEW." LOTS OF BIG STORIES THIS WEEK, BUT WE BEGIN WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEBATE. HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS BOTH AGREE THAT STATE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SHOULD BE LOWERED AND THE BENEFITS WINDOW SHORTENED. THE GOP SAYS THIS WILL SPUR IN-STATE JOB CREATION. THE DEMOCRATS ARE COUNTERING THAT THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED HAVE BILLS TO PAY NOW. SENATE REPUBLICANS MATCHED THEIR HOUSE COUNTERPARTS IN EASILY APPROVING STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO NORTH CAROLINA'S UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SYSTEM. THE $535 WEEKLY MAXIMUM CHECK WILL BE DROPPING TO $350 PER WEEK. THE TIME A PERSON CAN COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT WILL DROP FROM 26 WEEKS TO A MAXIMUM OF 20 WEEKS. UNCHANGED FROM THE HOUSE PROPOSAL. THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THE VOTES, BUT THEY SPOKE UP. >> THAT IS MONEY THAT GOES TO PAY LANDLORDS. THAT IS MONEY THAT GOES TO DRUGSTORES, TO SUPERMARKETS. THAT'S MONEY THAT GOES IN PEOPLE'S GAS TANKS. GET CAR REPAIRED. THIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR 170,000 PEOPLE IN 2013 TODAY WHEN WE HAVE 9.2% UNEMPLOYMENT AND WE NEED THIS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY DESPERATELY. >> THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TRUST FUND IS BROKE. IT'S BEING KEPT SOLVENT BY FEDERAL LOANS THAT CURRENTLY TOP $2.5 BILLION. THESE LOANS REQUIRE HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT TAXES ON STATE BUSINESSES UNTIL IT'S REPAID. SO REPUBLICANS WILL CHANGE THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM TO QUICKLY RETIRE THAT DEBT IN A FEW YEARS AND LOWER CASH OUTFLOWS. THE GOP SAYS THE SYSTEM HAS GONE BURST. WHAT OTHER REASON IS NEEDED TO TAKE A LOOK AT FRESH UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND BUSINESS TAXES? >> THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT FUTURE BEHAVIOR IS TO LOOK AT PAST BEHAVIOR. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, IF WE SIT HERE AND SAY WHAT WE'VE DONE IS CORRECT IN MOVING FORWARD, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER DEFINITION OF SOMETHING THAT'S NOT RIGHT. >> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT ARGUED THAT STATE UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS ARE DEPLETED. THEY ARE ARGUING THAT THE SITUATION IS TEMPORARY AND DOES NOT REQUIRE AN UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM OVERHAUL. >> IT IS USING THE CRISIS OF THE GREAT RECESSION AND UNPRECEDENTED UNEMPLOYMENT TO DRASTICALLY ALTER OUR STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM, NO, SIR JUST TO -- NOT JUST TO GET US THROUGH THIS CRISIS, BUT ALTER THE SYSTEM PERMANENTLY. >> GOVERNOR PAT McCRORY SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE CHANGES. THE HOUSE PASSED THE SENATE'S BILL OPTING NORTH CAROLINA OUT OF TWO KEY PROGRAMS CONTAINED IN THE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE LAW. HOUSE FLOOR DEBATE THIS WEEK CLEARLY REVEALED PARTISAN OPINION ON THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE. HOUSE REPUBLICANS POWERED THROUGH LEGISLATION TELLING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE STATE WILL NOT EXPAND ITS MEDICAID PROGRAM AND IT WILL NOT BE OPERATING A HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE. REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S BETTER NOT TO COOPERATE THAN TRUST CONGRESS ON ITS WORD TO FUND ANY HEALTH CARE INSURANCE EXPANSIONS. >> WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO PAY FOR THIS, ONLY IN THE EARLY YEARS, BY THE WAY, THERE ARE THOSE THAT WILL BE SWEPT UP WITH THIS REOCCURRING DREAM THAT IS OFTEN PURPORTED THAT FEDERAL MONEY IS LIKE MANNA FROM HEAVEN. >> HOUSE DEMOCRATS, MANY WHO SUPPORT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, CLAIM HYPOCRISY ON GOP OPPOSITION TO STATE MANAGED HEALTH CARE INSURANCE EXCHANGES CONTAINED IN THE BILL. >> WHY AS A BODY WOULD WE AND DATE -- ABDICATE OUR AUTHORITY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF THEY'RE SO BAD, IF THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES. >> DEMOCRATS TRIED TAPPING EMOTIONAL CHORDS TO SLOW THE BILL'S PROGRESS. >> THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND THE VICTIMS OF ALZHEIMER'S AND IN MY DISTRICT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURED VETS WHO ARE NOW DISABLED, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DOWN SYNDROME DIFFICULTIES AND THOSE WHO ARE CEREBRAL PALSY VICTIMS, THOSE ARE THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE DENYING COVERAGE TODAY. >> OTHER DEMOCRATS SAY RURAL HOSPITALS WILL FAIL BECAUSE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR INDIGENT CARE WAS CUT IN ANTICIPATION THE STATES WOULD COVER THE UNINSURED POOR. REPUBLICANS SAY MANY HOSPITALS SIGNED ON TO OBAMACARE AND THIS IS THE DEAL THEY GET. >> SOME OF OUR HOSPITALS, ESPECIALLY OUR RURAL ONES THAT OPERATE ON A VERY RAZOR-THIN BUDGET, ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM TO CONTINUE OVER THESE NEXT FEW YEARS. >> REPRESENTATIVE TINE MENTIONED THE BOX THAT WE'VE BEEN PUT IN. WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION HELPED BUILD THAT BOX. YOU KNOW, THEY AGREED TO A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THEY SIGNED OFF ON THEM AND ENDORSED THEM, AND NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING THE BAD END OF A DEAL, THEY WANT THE STATE TO COME IN AND SAVE THEM. >> WELL, THE EFFORT TO FIGHT FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM WASN'T SUCCESSFUL GO YEARS AGO, 2013 IS PROVING TO BE THE TIME REPUBLICANS CAN BACK THEIR OPPOSITION WITH SUPERMAJORITIES THAT CAN'T BE VETOED. GOVERNOR PAT McCRORY SUPPORTS THE LEGISLATIVE DECISION ON MEDICAID AND HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES. THE GOVERNOR SAYS MEDICAID CAN'T BE EXPANDED BECAUSE A RECENT STATE AUDIT REVEALED THE PROGRAM SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED WITH ANY MORE STATE TAXPAYER MONEY. HE SAYS THE FEDS ARE NOT CLEAR ON THE LONG-TERM COSTS OF INCREASING SUBSIDIZED HEALTH CARE AND NORTH CAROLINA DOES NOT FEATURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE. >> THESE ARE WORKING FAMILIES. THESE ARE WORKING POOR. 500,000 NORTH CAROLINIANS. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU JUST TURN YOUR BACK ON THEM AND SAY BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WE CAMPAIGNED TO REPLACE WERE NOT PERFECT, WE ARE GOING TO PUNISH YOU. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUNISH THEM. >> SOME HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING FOR A NEW INFANT SCREENING TEST. HOUSE BILL 105 WOULD REQUIRE THE NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM TO TEST FOR CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE USING PULSE OXIMETRY. THE NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM REQUIRES HEARING TESTS, COUNSELING AND OFFERS INFORMATION TO NEW PARENTS. HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS EASILY PASSED EMINENT DOMAIN DOMAIN LEGISLATION THAT COULD LIMIT HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SEIZE PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE ACTION HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AGREE MUST BE PREVENTED IS THE SEIZING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH THAT PROPERTY THEN BEING SOLD BY THE GOVERNMENT TO A PRIVATE PROPERTY DEVELOPER. HOUSE LEGISLATION RESTRICTING THIS HAS PASSED BEFORE, BUT BILL SPONSORS ADMIT THE LEGAL LANGUAGE WAS VAGUE WHICH WOULD BE OPEN TO INTERPRETATION IN COURT, LETTING LAWYERS HAVE A FIELD DAY. THEY BELIEVE THEY'VE SOLVED THAT LEGAL VAGUERY. >> WE'RE GOING ONLY WITH CONDEMNATIONS THAT ARE TO BE USED BY THE PUBLIC, NOT JUST ONES THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR US OR WE MIGHT LIKE OR WE MIGHT PREFER OR WE MIGHT THINK WOULD BE -- WE'D BE HAPPIER ABOUT. >> THE SENATE HAS NEVER PASSED A RECENT HOUSE EMINENT DOMAIN BILL, BUT HOUSE SUPPORTERS HOPE THEY'VE CLEARED THE HURDLE, ESPECIALLY OFFERING AN EXEMPTION. >> IF WE DO CUT OUT, THE FACT THAT NO GOVERNMENT CANNOT CONDEMN PRIVATE PROPERTY AND SELL IT TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER FOR PRIVATE USE WHICH HAS BEEN HOW THIS WHOLE EMINENT DOMAIN SITUATION HAS COME ABOUT. >> THE PUSH WOULD LET VOTERS DECIDE A NEW STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN NOVEMBER 2014, BUT THE AMENDMENT DOES MORE THAN RESTRICT EMINENT DOMAIN. IT WOULD ALSO GIVE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH THEY'D BE PAID SHOULD THEIR LAND BE SUBJECT TO A LEGAL EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE. >> WE ARE THE ONLY STATE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE IN ITS CONSTITUTION THAT THE ISSUE OF DAMAGES IN CONDEMNATION CASES BE DECIDED BY A JURY. THE SPONSORS OF THIS LEGISLATION BELIEVE THAT A JURY TRIAL IN EMINENT DOMAIN CASES IS SO FUNDAMENTAL THAT IT SHOULD BE SPELLED OUT IN THE CONSTITUTION. >> AT THIS POINT, EMINENT DOMAIN RESTRICTIONS HAVE FOLLOWED THE FAMILIAR COURSE OF PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. EASY HOUSE PASSAGE, UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN THE STATE SENATE. THE NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WILL BE FEATURING NEW ENDORSEMENTS OR CERTIFICATIONS IN A FEW SCHOOL YEARS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE THESE SEALS WHICH SUGGEST THEY HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON VOCATIONAL STUDIES OR UNIVERSITY STUDIES. JUNIORS AND SENIORS WOULD DETERMINE THEIR ACADEMIC PATHS BY USING ELECTIVE COURSES TO EARN THEIR SEALS. STUDENTS COULD EARN BOTH DIPLOMA CERTIFICATIONS. AS THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DETERMINES HOW TO BEST IMPLEMENT THE NEW DIPLOMA PROGRAM, IT COULD BE GUIDING A PUBLIC EDUCATION SWITCH TOWARDS DIGITAL LEARNING THAT COULD MEAN AN END TO PAPER TEXTBOOKS IN FAVOR OF COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE-BASED eBOOKS. THE HOUSE PASSED MULTIPLE BILLS THIS WEEK THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW OUR KIDS LEARN. A TRIO OF HOUSE BILLS COULD SHIFT NORTH CAROLINA'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM TOWARDS A DIGITAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. AND IT WOULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS THE END OF THIS DECADE. IF APPROVED, THE STATE WOULD MEASURE BROADBAND AVAILABILITY TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE AN SHIFT THE WAY FROM HARD PAPER BOOKS TOWARDS COMPUTERS, TABLES AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD BE CHARGED WITH CREATING NEW DIGITAL TEACHING STANDARDS. >> TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING IN TOUCH -- AT SUCH A RAPID PACE AND THE FACT IS THE PRICES ARE COMING DOWN. THERE'S WAYS TO SAVE MONEY MOVING FROM TEXTBOOKS TO DIGITAL EDUCATION. AND THEN YOU ADD INTO THE INTERACTIVENESS OF DIGITAL APPLICATION, WHAT AN EXCITING TIME IN NORTH CAROLINA AND FOR NORTH CAROLINA STUDENTS. >> THE LEGISLATION WOULD ESTABLISH A BROAD GOAL IN DIGITAL LEARNING PHILOSOPHY. FINER DETAILS WOULD COME FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THERE IS A QUESTION OUT THERE CURRENTLY ABOUT GETTING STUDENTS THE APPROPRIATE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AS WELL AS PAYING FOR THE EQUIPMENT. >> WE HAVE TWO THINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY LACKING IN OUR SCHOOLS. FIRST, NOT EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO EVEN A LAPTOP LET ALONE A TABLET OR MORE SOPHISTICATED DEVICE. AND SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THOSE RESOURCES TO ALL F OUR CHILDREN. AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. >> DECIDING WHICH COMPUTERS MIGHT BE USED, WELL, THAT'S A DETAIL THAT WILL COME LATER AND COULD INVOLVE LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS IF DIGITAL LEARNING LEGISLATION BECOMES LAW. >> I THINK THAT THE DECISION SHOULD BE MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AT THE LEAs AND AT THE HOME. NOT THE STATE DICTATING THIS IS THE RIGHT DEVICE. >> THE QUESTION OF PAYING FOR NEW COMPUTER EQUIPMENT SHOULD SCHOOLS GO DIGITAL MIGHT BE FOUND IN HOUSE BILL 97. IT WAS FILED THIS WEEK. REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG HORN PROPOSES USING LOTTERY REVENUE UNDER THIS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION. IT WOULD ESTABLISH A TIME FRAME THAT ENDS IN 2016. SCHOOLS COULD USE LOTTERY MONEY TO IMPROVE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AND BUY THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE THEY NEED. AFTER 2016, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION COULD USE LOTTERY REVENUE TO STUDY THE MOST EFFECTIVE SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN OU STATE. DRIVERS WHO PASS STOPPED SCHOOL BUSES COULD FACE TOUGHER PENALTIES. JUDGES WOULD HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY TO GRANT LIMITED DRIVING PRIVILEGES WHILE VIOLATORS SERVE A SENTENCE. SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT ENERGY EXPLORATION PERMITS ISSUES LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER AN UPCOMING STATE ENERGY STUDY IS RELEASED. A NEW ENERGY BILL SETS GUIDELINES FOR CLEANUP TRUST FUNDS. THE SENATE IS MAKING PREPARATIONS SOME TWO YEARS EARLY TO GET OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION GOING THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA. OUR STATE IS STILL OFFICIALLY STUDYING THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPLORATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BUT THESE PLANS IN THIS BILL SETS TAX RATES AND A DATE FOR ISSUING EXPLORATION PERMITS. >> THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS TO MAKE VERY CERTAIN FOR INDUSTRY WHAT THEY CAN FACE WHEN THEY COME HERE TO INVEST AND EXPLORE OUR RESOURCES, BECAUSE WE WANT TO DEVELOP THESE RESOURCES BECAUSE WE WANT THE JOBS. >> SENATE BILL 76 WOULD SET A 1% INITIAL STATE TAX ON RAW PUMPED PETROLEUM. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COULD NOT TAX PETROLEUM OR ASSESS IMPACT FEES, ONLY LEVY PROPERTY TAXES. ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY WITH STAE REGULATIONS STILL BEING WORKED ON -- >> WITHOUT THE WORK BEING COMPLETE YET AND WITHOUT RULES HAVING BEEN PRODUCED FOR THIS LEGISLATURE TO REVIEW, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THIS BODY TO HAVE ANY BASIS FOR KNOWING WHETHER THAT SEVERANCE TAX IS SUFFICIENT. >> THE BILL WOULD ESTABLISH TWO TRUST FUNDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER CLEANUP. OFFSHORE DRILLING REVENUE WOULD FUND A $50 MILLION FUND. ONSHORE FRACKING REVENUES WOULD SUPPORT A $10 MILLION FUND FOR ONSHORE CLEANUP. SENATE BILL 76 ESTABLISHES THE BROAD FRAMEWORK TO GET THE NEW ENERGY INDUSTRY GOING BEGINNING MARCH 1st, 2015. >> IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS STATE TO EXPLORE THE NATURAL GAS THAT IS AVAILABLE AS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT I HAVE, IT'S IN ABUNDANCE AND I THINK IT REALLY COULD BE A GAME CHANGER FOR OUR STATE. % >> THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMET AND NATURAL RESOURCES HAS A DEADLINE WITH PERMITS COMING IN MARCH 2015. THIS ISSUE SEEMS SETTLED WITH REPUBLICANS IN CHARGE. >> WE APPEAR TO HAVE ABUNDANT NATURAL GAS RESOURCES OFFSHORE. WE BELIEVE THERE'S ABOUT FIVE TRILLION CUBIC FEET OF CLEAN BURNING NATURAL GAS. WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HARVEST THAT, BRING IT ONSHORE WITH A PIPELINE AND PUMP IT OUT TO FOLKS ALL OVER NORTH CAROLINA AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO BUY IT. >> SENATOR ANDREW BROCK OF DAVIE COUNTY IS THE POINT PERSON OR ONE OF THEM ON THIS BILL. FUNDING FRACKING, SETTING UP THE FRAMEWORK. THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SHOW. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >> I REMEMBER A TWO-YEAR STUDY WAS PASSED AND YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT RIGHT NOW TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE POSSIBILITIES OF FRACKING AND OIL DRILLING. DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THAT REPORT? ARE WE GOING TO DRILL AND FRACK REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT REPORT SAYS? >> WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT REPORT TO COME OUT. ACTUALLY, WHY WE MOVED TO THE DATE IN THE BILL WAS ACTUALLY TO PUT FIVE MONTHS AFTER THAT REPORT IS DUE. WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE TIME OF THE REPORT OR ANY OF THE INFORMATION. IT'S TO GO AHEAD SO WE CAN START AND PUT SOME DEFINITE TIMELINES INTO THE STATE LAW TO WHERE COMPANIES CAN LOOK AND GO AHEAD AND START. IF IT'S GOOD, THEY CAN GO. IF NOT, THEN THE MORATORIUM WILL STAY IN PLACE. >> LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DETAILS, YOU SET A 1% SEVERANCE TAX ON THE RAW PETROLEUM THAT'S PUMPED OUT OF THE GROUND, OUT OF THE OCEAN, OR FRACKED. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH 1%? >> WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT WILL INCENTIVIZE COMPANIES TO COME HERE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR CLEAN NATURAL GAS WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE WANT TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE COMPANIES TO COME HERE. OVER TIME THAT RATE WILL INCREASE. THAT'S SOMETHING WE LOOKED AT AND ALSO IT FLUCTUATES WITH THE PRICE, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD, AND THE COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING TO EXPLORE FOR THIS ENERGY SOURCE, IT'S GOOD FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEN THEY WON'T BE PENALIZED IN TOUGH TIMES. >> WHO DO YOU SEE OUT THERE AROUND US IN TERMS OF SOUTHEASTERN REGION AS BEING OUR MAIN COMPETITORS FOR BUSINESS F OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION COMPANIES? >> WELL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT LARE DEPOSITS IN ARKANSAS, TEXAS AND OTHER AREAS. AND IF WE FIND THIS ABUNDANT, NATURAL, CLEAN RESOURCE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE'LL FIND MORE AND MORE EXPLORATION. THAT'S WHY NORTH CAROLINA'S GOING TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF ENERGY EXPLORATION. AND ALSO SAFETY MEASURES AS WELL. >> TAKING THAT 1% COMING OUT OF THE GROUND, THE STATE'S COLLECTING THAT. THE MONEY WILL FUND THESE TWO TRUST FUNDS, 10 AND 50 MILLION DOLLARS. HOW DID YOU REACH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY? IS THAT A JUST RIGHT AMOUNT OR A BEGINNING AMOUNT THAT MAY GO UP OR MAY GO DOWN? >> WE'RE LOOKING AT A STARTING POINT OF PUTTING MONEY IN THE TRUST FUND TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS THAT WILL BE OUT THERE. BUT THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S A STARTING POINT OF TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO. WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW TECHNOLOGY HAS EVOLVED. HOW THE PROCESS HAS BECOME BETTER AND SAFER. WE THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT AMOUT TO START OUT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER TWO YEARS BEFORE WE START. SO WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO CHANGE IT IF NEEDED. >> I WAS STRUCK BY THE PROVISIONS IN THERE THAT KEEPS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM TAXING PETROLEUM THAT WILL BE COMING OUT OF THEIR TOWNS AND COUNTIES. THEY CAN'T TAX IT. THEY CAN LEVY PROPERTY TAXES. >> RIGHT. >> HOW DO YOU SEE THAT PLAYING OUT? WILL PROPERTY VALUES GO UP BECAUSE IT'S KNOWN THERE'S GAS AND OIL UNDERNEATH THE PEOPLE'S FEET, THE PROPERTY OWNERS, OR IS IT MEANT TO KEEP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM SHUTTING DOWN EXPLORATION IN A COUNTY? >> I THINK YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMPANIES ARE COMING HERE TO EXPLORE, TO FIND OUT WE HAVE IT, WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE. AND FOR NOT SO MUCH TO SHUT DOWN, BUT ALSO NOT -- DON'T MAKE IT -- PUT THE COMPANIES AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS AT DISADVANTAGE OF EXPLORING FOR NATURAL GAS, AND ALSO WITH THE OTHER SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS, IF THEY STILL CAN RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, YOU'LL SEE A DECREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES. >> I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. I GUESS VIOLATION OF WHAT THE STATE POLICY WOULD BE. >> STATE STATUTE IMPACT FEES ARE ILLEGAL. >> HAVE YOU BEEN TIPPED OFF THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN OR IS THIS A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE MOESH SURE -- MEASURE? >> TALKING WITH THE COMPANIES THAT WANT TO COME HERE, THEY WANT ALL THE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE. THEY DON'T WANT TO RUN INTO ANY TROUBLE. THEY DON'T WANT TO RUN INTO ANY PARTS OF THE LAW THAT SAFETY IS NOT COVERED. BECAUSE THE WORST THING FOR THEM IS TO RUN INTO A PROBLEM. THEY WANT TO COME IN TO HAVE GOOD LEGISLATIONS IN PLACE, GOOD SAFE REGULATIONS SO THEY CAN DO THIS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY AN TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DO A GOOD JOB AND NORTH CAROLINA BENEFITS. >> AS THIS MONEY COMES IN, AS WELLS START SUPPLYING A PRODUCT, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO? >> WELL, PART OF IT WILL GO TO THE GENERAL FUND. ALSO, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIRING THOUSANDS OF JOBS, WHICH ARE NEEDED, AND LOOKING AT HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WILL BRING INTO THE ECONOMY. YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONE FACTOR OF BEING OFFSHORE. THAT COULD BRING IN OVER $600 MILLION AND ABOUT 700,000 JOBS. IT'S A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT NOT ONLY FOR THE COMMUNITIES BUT THE ENTIRE STATE AS WELL. >> THOM GOOLSBY TOLD ME THERE'S FIVE TRILLION CUBIC FEET IN ONE AREA OUT IN THE OUTER BANKS. HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO DRIL? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? >> WE'RE LOOKING AT ESTIMATES OF FIVE AND 15 TRILLION. IT COULD BE MORE THAN THAT. IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME. AND THEN AGAIN, WITHOUT EXPLORING AND SEEING IF WE -- HOW MUCH WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHO'S TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE IN THE GROUND? >> WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE DEBATE ABOUT ENERGY EXPLORATION? THERE WERE DEMOCRATS IN THERE. NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WERE FIGHTING THE BATTLE. IT SEEMS DISCUSSION HAS MOVED N TO OTHER MATTERS. AM I READING THAT RIGHT? >> I THINK THE QUESTION -- IT WAS IN FINANCE COMMITTEE. THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE MONEY SIDE OF THE ISSUE. WE KNOW THERE IS MONEY BEHIND IT. MONEY THAT WILL -- THE MONEY THAT WILL COME INTO THE ECONOMY, MONEY THAT WILL BE CREATED FROM JOBS, THINGS THAT WILL SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NORTH CAROLINA. YOU KNOW, IT WOULD CUT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN. THEY KNOW THE BENEFITS BEHIND IT. AND, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE UNAFFILIATED OUT THERE KNOW THE BENEFITS BEHIND IT AS WELL. AND I THINK WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ISSUES AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THE SAFEGUARDS, MEASURES IN IT TO MAKE SURE WE PRODUCE A SAFE, CLEAN, SOURCE OF ENERGY, I THINK IT'S SOME OF THE OLD ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE YEARS AGO ARE NO LONGER VIABLE. >> SENATOR ANDREW BROCK, DAVIE COUNTY, THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING ON THE SHOW. GOVERNOR PAT McCRORY HAS JOINED WITH SOUTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA'S GOVERNORS SEEKING FEDERAL COOPERATION ON SHOVE ORENERGY EXPLORATION. IN A LETTER WRITTEN TO U.S. INTERIOR SECRETARY DESIGNATE SALLY JEWELL, IT HE READS IN PART -- THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVES LEGISLATION OFFERING MORE TRANSPARENCY WHEN HOMES ARE FORECLOSED. THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE A TIMELY FILING OF A NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE WITHIN 60 DAYS OF ANY DEED OR MORTGAGE BEING FORECLOSED. THERE ARE FORECLOSURES WHERE HOMES ARE SOLD AT AUCTION AND THE NEW BUYER WILL NOT SIGN THE DEED. THIS BILL WOULD APPLY TO FORECLOSURES OCCURRING AFTER OCTOBER 1st, 2013. A UNANIMOUS HOUSE APPROVES TOUGHER SANCTIONS ON FUNERAL PROTESTORS. STATE LAW CURRENTLY PREVENTS FUNERAL DISRUPTIONS, BUT THIS LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE PROTESTORS TO STAY 500 FEET FROM A FUNERAL, MEMORIAL SERVICE, OR OTHER PROCESSION. A FIRST OFFENSE WOULD BE A MISDEMEANOR WITH FELONY CHARGES TO MULTIPLE FUNERAL DISRUPTIONS. A SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE I CONSIDERING WHETHER GUN PERMIT HOLDER INFORMATION SHOULD BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE. IT'S A DEBATE THAT'S FLARED IN NORTH CAROLINA LAST FEW YEARS AND MOST RECENTLY UP IN THE NORTHEASTERN U.S. SOME PEOPLE THINK GUN PERMIT INFORMATION BELONGS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, THAT IT'S THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO HAVE ACCESS TO IT. THAT'S HOW STATE LAW CURRENTLY READS. BUT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE LIKE DAVIDSON COUNTY SENATOR STAN BINGHAM WHO BELIEVE RELEASING INFORMATION PUTS LEGAL GUN OWNERS AT RISK. >> THIS, IN FACT, WOULD PREVENT SOMEONE FROM MIAKING AWARE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS A LARGE COLLECTION OF HANDGUNS OR ANY GUNS. >> ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING MEDIA OUTLETS AND SENATE DEMOCRATS WANT MORE FACTS PROVING THAT PUBLICLY VIEWABLE GUN PERMIT INFORMATION LEADS TO CRIMES AGAINST GUN OWNERS AS WELL AS SHOWING WHICH HOMES MAY NOT POSSESS GUN PROTECTION. >> THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER SECRECY BILL THAT'S IN NEED OF SOME REAL EVIDENCE, SOME REAL JUSTIFICATION, BEFORE WE GO AND THROW THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW OUT OF THE WINDOW. >> THE SENATOR SAYS GUN COLLECTING, IF LEGAL, SHOULD BE PRIVATE. >> IT'S PERSONAL INFORMATION. IT WOULD BE LIKE IF I WAS -- IF I COLLECTED GOLD COINS, I WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT IT IN THE PUBLIC THAT I'VE GOT A MILLION DOLLARS IN GOLD COINS IN MY HOUSE AND SAY WHERE THAT WOULD BE. >> THE HOUSE VOTED THIS WEEK TO PROTECT A NORTH CAROLINA NEW YEAR'S EVE FESTIVAL. HOUSE BILL 66 WOULD MODIFY THE POLICY FOR ISSUING CAPTIVE ANIMAL PERMITS. IT WOULD ALLOW THE TEMPORARY CAPTURE OF A WILD ANIMAL AS LONG AS ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS ARE FOLLOWED AND THAT ANIMAL IS SAFELY RELEASED. THIS COULD BENEFIT THE POSSUM DROP IN BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA. A JUDGE STOPPED THE LOWERING OF A LIVE POSSUM ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AS PART OF THAT CELEBRATION. >> THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS A LICENSED SPORTSMAN TO HOLD CAPTIVE A WILD ANIMAL FOR DISPLAY IN AN ANNUAL SEASON OR CULTURAL EVENTS AND FOR THAT WILD ANIMAL TO BE RELEASED AT OR NEAR WHERE IT WAS CAPTURED. SECOND PART ACTUALLY GIVES A VENUE IN CASE THERE'S INHUMANE TREATMENT, FOR A CIVIL TRIAL TO BE TRIED AND ADJUDICATED IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH IT OCCURRED IN SUPERIOR COURT. >> THE PEOPLE FOR ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS HAD SUED. UNC-TV WILL BE AIRING GOVERNOR PAT McCRORY STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS LIVE THIS MONDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 18th. THAT'S MONDAY AT 7:00 P.M. HERE ON UNC-TV. VISIT OUR SHOW ONLINE THIS WEEKEND. WE'RE ALWAYS AROUND. OUR BLOG IS UP AND RUNNING, unctv.org/legweek. "LEGISLATIVE WEEK IN REVIEW" IS ON FACEBOOK. IT'S facebook.com/legweek. AND WE TWEET ALL WEEK, EVERY DAY, @LegWeekinReview. SEND US AN EMAIL IF THAT'S YOUR WISH. WE READ EVERY EMAIL MESSAGE SENT TO legweek@unctv.org. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. QUALITY PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU