Share This Episode
Carolina Journal Radio Donna Martinez and Mitch Kokai Logo

Carolina Journal Radio No. 909: Taxpayers cannot afford another state, local bailout

Carolina Journal Radio / Donna Martinez and Mitch Kokai
The Cross Radio
October 19, 2020 8:00 am

Carolina Journal Radio No. 909: Taxpayers cannot afford another state, local bailout

Carolina Journal Radio / Donna Martinez and Mitch Kokai

On-Demand Podcasts NEW!

This broadcaster has 213 podcast archives available on-demand.

Broadcaster's Links

Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.


October 19, 2020 8:00 am

Federal taxpayers cannot afford another bailout of state and local governments. Joseph Coletti, the John Locke Foundation’s senior fellow, explains why in a column he co-wrote for TheHill.com. Coletti contends most state governments have fared better than expected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throwing more money at them now would lead to waste while continuing to drive up the multitrillion-dollar federal debt. High-profile Democratic politicians have endorsed the Green New Deal. It’s billed as an environmental program, but the deal would extend government’s reach far beyond environmental policy. Kent Lassman, president of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, discussed the Green New Deal’s potential impact during a recent online forum presented by the John Locke Foundation. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., continues to ask questions about the federal government’s response to COVID-19. You’ll hear highlights from Burr’s recent appearance on Capitol Hill with experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Sticking to Capitol Hill, North Carolina’s other U.S. senator, Thom Tillis, took a break from the campaign trail to question former FBI Director James Comey. Tillis’ query focused on the controversial federal government investigation into Russian influence on the 2016 presidential election. N.C. voters will select three state Supreme Court justices this fall. Jon Guze, John Locke Foundation director of legal studies, highlights questions voters should ask about judicial elections as they prepare to cast their ballots.

  • -->
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

From chair to current and the largest city in the statehouse into the schoolhouse Carolina Journal radio your weekly news magazine discussing North Carolina's most of public policy events and issues welcome to Carolina Journal radio amateur coca during the next hour, Donna Martinez and I will explore some major issues affecting our state.

High-profile Democrats have endorsed the green new deal expert with North Carolina ties explains why that program would cause major problems for the nation's economy and its environment. North Carolina's senior US Sen. continues to ask questions about the federal government's response to COBIT 19 you hear his recent queries from Capitol Hill. We while our other Sen. recently grilled a former FBI director you learn why they're still talking about the 2016 presidential election and you learn questions North Carolina voters should be asking about this falls state Supreme Court elections. Three seats are up for grabs on the state's highest court, including Chief Justice.

Those topics are just ahead. First, Donna Martinez joins us and she has the Carolina Journal headline. We cannot afford more bailouts for state and local governments. That is the message in a piece published by the Hill and co-author by the John Locke foundation Senior fellow Joe Colletti. Joe and his co-author Michael Fay made the case in this piece that another federal bailout would come with just too many negative consequences.

Joe joins us now to talk a bit about this Joe welcome back to the program that he had been with us credit reader. Thanks, as you and I are talking right now there are negotiations underway between the White House and Congress about all of this and but no matter how this turns out. Joe, let's talk about the economics of this idea in general that the federal government needs to send more money to state and local governments dear general thoughts that the key pieces of the piece you and Michael wrote there's the first part of what we wrote is that the federal government really can't afford anymore spending that we are facing the largest outside of wartime in the nation's history and spending something more money down to states is is unaffordable for the federal government and states really don't need the money is. It is, is even more important from from our perspective because Michael's at the Mackinac Center in Michigan and were here looking at North Carolina State budget and when we take a look at what's happening at the state level states were in bad shape from April through June because they were collecting income tax. That was all delayed until July and from July through August. They look, the numbers come out about even and the and and the actual shortfalls through June weren't as large as anybody was expecting so from the fact that states weren't hit as bad as they as they thought they were going to be that most of the monies been made up and that and that for a number of states they received so much money that they received some some states receive even more money than their general fund from the federal government. So for most states that the idea of more federal money is just throw is just drowning somebody who's who's having a hard time staying afloat anyway.

That's a key point Joe were talking about more money from the federal government give us a sense that even the general figures about what states have already received to the first portion that we've all concentrated on is the hundred $50 billion in coronavirus relief fund which was part of the cares act, and that's money that went to states for them to be able to appropriate on what they deem to be coronavirus related new expenses. So the idea was states didn't budget for everything could in the budgeted for everything and they were there were new things. There are new expenses to to just need all the public health and other last-minute needs. We had advocated that that should be freed up so that it can be used in part 4 to 2 to cover the shortfalls the legislature. The Gen. assembly here ended up in the and Gov. Cooper past and and signed using $400 million of that for opportunity for families to cover their cause for opportunity scholarships, things like that on top of that there was additional money for Medicaid. There was more money directly to schools there is money to salute to the universities and so there's close to $1 billion. That is come down already to state and local governments from the federal government through the various pots of money that they sent and then on top of that. Now the gift the feds are arguing about how much to add to that will Jill.

Why would we be talking about even more money if we've Artie had this huge infusion of cash pushed down to the state and as I understand from your piece. Some states haven't even used all of the initial round of money yet. So why was talking more money that is part of the question that we are trying to figure out is that in and we can figure that out. Part of it, though, is that that that the first response from from Washington, especially from from Democrats in Washington and Congress is less or more money down, but we've also seen this from the White House that they want to use money for infrastructure and they've been talking about anywhere from $150 billion more to to to to the $500 billion more in the in the Democrats and on the house side have been talking one at 1 1/2 $2 trillion, up to that amount that the babe they've been bringing that number down to the last one that I said so in debt that that does just that the natural reaction of functional and Congress is like spend more money, but that's how we foot fix everything no matter how this ultimately turns out that a huge debt problem.

Even if I somehow another we cyber not to send even more money or if we do whatever the amount is Joe how we get paid for all of this that is the multitrillion dollar quite the $23 trillion question at this point that the we we were already running trillion dollar deficits in good economic times.

We have been great in the countries been growing at 2 1/2%. There's no way to been able to to offset the amount of debt that the that the country has has taken on an in the largest drivers of that are Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the largest growing part of that isn't his interest payments even though interest rates are are as low as they are when you're tacking on $3 trillion in a year.

That means that you can have to pay even more interest on that so be the, the, the question for Congress is what we do to be able to afford the government that we have or how do we change the government that we have to make affordable and Joe neither presidential candidate. The two major candidates at Donald Trump and Joe Biden, neither of them are talking anyway about taking a look at raining and spending, particularly on those major entitlement programs that she mentioned. He also mentioned Medicaid which is a federal and state program you at the state level in North Carolina.

We are hearing and Gov. Cooper and Democrats pushing really hard.

They want to add at least 1/2 a million more people to the state Medicaid rolls. What kind of impact we talking there should that come to fruition for the federal government almost gets on notice Reggie Smitherman close brilliant billion and 1/2. $2 billion, or up to actually up to $4 billion. Once it program gets fully implemented for the state that were looking at another $400 million or more. That would would have to be paid in the governors talked about doing that on the backs of hospitals and on the backs of the insurance companies that are managing Medicaid program, or will be managing Medicaid program, but that that that turns in the 400 $500 million of actual of real money that gets paid somewhere out of North Carolina or through or through federal or to federal dollars.

So that's it that's it. That's a big chunk and therefore billion dollars adds is on top of the $50 billion that the state is already spending up from all sources. So it's it it's a big impact huge impact in future generations are going to have to be paying for this, that, whether we end up expanding our standing here at the state level and that depends on who is elected to the Gen. assembly with the governor is etc. and certainly the federal level as well. Joe and remaining moment with you.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic at you, being a numbers guy. What you're seeing. I am optimistic for at the state level having some concerns about the economy. With so many more businesses we closing but but still thought optimistic bullish on North Carolina but very concerned about the national picture Joe Colletti is senior fellow with the John Locke foundation Joe Pillay. Thanks so much.

North Carolina general radio in just a moment tired of fake names tired of reporters with political axes to grind. What you need to be reading Carolina Journal honest, uncompromising, old-school journalism, you expect and you need even better, the monthly Carolina Journal is free to subscribers sign up at Carolina. Journal.com. You'll receive Carolina Journal newspaper in your mailbox each month.

Investigations into government spending revelations about boondoggles who the powerful leaders are and what they're doing in your name and with your money. We shine the light on it all with the stories and angles. Other outlets barely cover but there's a bonus I print newspapers published monthly by our daily news site gives you the latest news each and every day lot on to Carolina. Journal.com once, twice, even three times a day. You won't be disappointed. It's fresh news if you'd like a heads up on the daily news sign up for our daily email do that Carolina Journal.com Carolina Journal, rigorous, unrelenting, old-school journalism, we hold government accountable for you. Welcome back to Carolina Journal radio.

I mixed coca some high-profile members of the Democratic Party have endorsed the green new deal.

It's billed as an environmental program but it could have more wide-ranging impacts can't last, but not the competitive enterprise Institute discuss those impacts. During a recent online form for the John Locke foundation.

Wiseman discussed the green new deals impact on 2018 elections. We saw the idea explode and explode in popularity. People can actually say I've heard of. Also, the number of components that went into time green new deal was finally induced him Congress 2018. We had nine presidential candidates endorsing 12 US senators, was the mainstay of the program around which Alexandria Cortez rolled her national prominence in her hold on the national scene, green new deal idea included not just energy and not just environmental protections but it had all sorts of other policy goals. Sustainable wages relief in the form of insurance.

The idea that we would have adequate housing. It even had a provision one my favorites is very difficult. As a think through a policy means no measurement: for every American have adequate access to nature agreement deal went from really focused on climate and energy and the environment, focusing on aggressive grandpa and the idea was if we couldn't have these progressive goals achieved really live in a green sustainable society so they all had and that's agreement deal that were now wrestling with less than explains why the green new deal would have a major impact. This is transformative. It is a design a plan to reinitiate not just the economy and the economic aspects of our lives, how we live where we live. When we engage in work how we will be paid and who will pay us and what that value is all about. So it's much bigger than the one or another regulatory proposals for shaping the way energy is delivered transformative.

It is the bedrock of of us very large tortoise socialists and I don't mean that this is a descriptive term. This is the bedrock proposal for a step toward socialists applications here in America less than explains how the green new deal leaves out important details.

These programs may call for the end of certain activity or the end of certain fuels. There is no alternative ready to step into that and superficial. It is not quite high school level thinking the site will just have electric cars instead of gas powered cars is that electricity comes from electric grid that is fueled by power sources that relied on fossil fuels, gas and coal, and other fuels.

The green new deal is not happy with. So in addition to Deke organizing economy. I think that's the top level analysis underlying analysis is to drive fear which is you have to do what we say we know best and if you don't everything will come tumbling down world is not sustainable. Our transportation networks are following the air and water. Our logistics systems are going to get goods and services delivered to your home is really a philosophy and a program based on fear.

I think the counterpart is trying to replace is very traditional in America is not novel or new we rely on optimism and innovation. We rely on incremental changes in a given technology and improve year-over-year. And that's the fundamental difference is one that is given by scarcity and fear, or one that is by additional American values of optimism and innovation relying on people of goodwill and of free will to make deals with that's Last president of the competitive enterprise Institute speaking during a recent online forum sponsored by the John Locke foundation Wiseman and his colleagues calculated possible costs of the green new deal in North Carolina the first year alone we came up with a figure of more than $74,000 per household.

That would be the brand-new cost for implementing green new deal the next few years years two through five number for each North Carolina household is more than $47,000 and then finally, once you make it so your five implementing some of these changes, buildings, patient network, there is an ongoing cost so for every year thereafter, the nation in the households of North Carolina would suffer an additional burden of at least $40,697 less than explains how green new deal advocates different from others who focus on improving the environment just to be clear, this is not the same as the proenvironment Pro species protection Pro conservation is very easy for me to libertarian leaning guy to align with those folks with some of the same goals and we we can talk about mechanisms of the antimodern illiberal anti-energy movement is massive. One metric which is not complete is probably not even the best metric which is an understanding of the money spent on organizations that advocate for policies in this area.

It's about 300 to what the anti-energy community versus people like Enterprises were trying to put forward sensible reason policies that would allow for the development of interface of the economy growing with them were about 301 in the known spending through these nonprofit organizations or through philanthropic charities like the MacArthur foundation when they document where they so it is a massive undertaking. I think the worst aspect of the whole problem or debate is something that is now becoming much more common. Unfortunately across the board on a whole range of other issues that is is is not just impolitic but impermissible to talk about some of the essay. There are trade-offs that carbon dioxide. Some benefits some costs in those benefits and costs will not be equally distributed in every community that conversation of trade-offs, which is the essence of economic analysis is the essence of how we get through our daily life & wish trade-off with this. Those conversations orbit are nearly impossible right we see terms like denier thrown around with no really rooted in reality. Major journalists, national journalists like Chuck Todd say invite people who don't agree with Risa Meet the Press will not have a debate about this any longer and that's a real risk and danger that I think that's Ken Glassman, president of the competitive enterprise Institute. He's sharing his concerns about the green new deal in online forum sponsored by the John Locke foundation will return with North Carolina journal radio and a moment if you have freedom we got great news to share with you now.

You can find the latest news, views, and research from conservative groups across North Carolina all in one place North Carolina conservative.com it's one stop shopping. North Carolina's freedom movement and North Carolina conservative.com. You'll find links to John Locke foundation blogs on the days news Carolina journal.com reporting and quick takes Carolina journal radio interviews TV interviews featuring CJ reporters and let foundation analysts, opinion pieces and reports on higher education. The James G. Martin Center for academic renewal, commentary and polling data from the scimitar's Institute and news and views from the North Carolina family policy Council.

That's right, all in one place North Carolina conservative.com that's North Carolina spelled out conservative.com North Carolina conservative.com. Try it today.

North Carolina is changing not just day-to-day but outward to our minute to minute. Even 2nd to 2nd, how can you keep up with the changes, especially the ones that affect you, your family, your home, your job, make the John Locke foundation and Carolina journal part of your social media diet on Facebook like the John Locke foundation like Carolina. Journal follow us on Twitter at John Locke in the sea and at Carolina journal news, insights and analysis you'll find nowhere else. Thanks to the experts at the John Locke foundation and thanks to the first-class investigative reporting of Carolina journal. Don't wait for the morning newspaper. Don't wait for the evening news if it's happening now it's happening here the John Locke foundation and Carolina journal.

Have you covered with up to the second information like us on Facebook the John Locke foundation and Carolina journal follow us on Twitter at John Locke NC and at Carolina journal. Who knew you could shop and invest in freedom at the same time it is true online shopping is now a great way to support the John Locke foundation just shop using the Amazon smile program and designate the John Mott foundation to receive a portion of your purchase amount that's right you shop Amazon donates money to pass the John Locke foundation, Curaçao line arm to smile.amazon.com Amazon smile is the same Amazon you know same products same prices. But here's what's better. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible Amazon smile purchases to the John Locke foundation to try it. Be sure to designate us as the nonprofit you want to support. It's that easy.

So now not only will you enjoy what you buy. You also support freedom.

Don't forget log on to smile.amazon.com today, something nice and help defend freedom, help support the John Mott foundation will go back to Carolina journal radio hi Michiko God, North Carolina's senior US Sen. continues to ask critical questions on Capitol Hill about COBIT 19 Sen. Richard Burr directed one basic question to the high-profile coronavirus expert Dr. Anthony Felty. Would you also answer for members of Congress for the husband and wife that come to us and say my husband got COBIT and the wife didn't get it.

How with a highly transmittable infection like this can two people live together, and one be positive and one never get positive if there's an answer on a lemming that happens all the time with infections.

Sen. that although a that a virus can be highly transmissible.

There's a great degree of variability of a person's natural resistance to a particular type of an infection. So although a highly transmissible virus usually has an attack rate that's hi we see all the time.

Individuals who are exposed to someone with an infection who do not get the infection.

If you look at the population as a whole. You see the kinds of things that were seeing as this pandemic evolves that it is highly contagious. We have the same situation where you had HIV where individuals were living with the person who had continual sex on a regular basis with someone with HIV and Nineveh got infected.

Where is another person could have sex one time with a person with HIV get infected. That's the nature of the variability of susceptibility to infection among individuals. So is entirely conceivable were also has questions for the head of the Food and Drug Administration. We made up new protocols for the review of a covert vaccine or are we simply following the protocols that we've used for every vaccine that every member of this committee.

Every member of Congress and the American people have always seems a gold standard will with respect to our approval or authorization of medical products. FDA does represent the gold standard of the statutory definition for an EUA or authorization is different, of course, that it is for an approval but were following those criteria with respect to our performance during COBIT.

19. I want to give you a few examples, because in fact you are correct. FDA does represent the gold standard are scientists are incredible.

They done it really remarkable work here in one of the major things that distinguishes us from other regulatory agencies around the world is that we actually look at the primary data we don't just look at a paper. We just don't look at a press release. We look at the primary data are scientists analyze that data and then we draw conclusions from that data you been listening to some of Sen. Richard Burr's recent questions and their answers about the COBIT 19 pandemic will return with more Carolina journal radio in a moment where doubling down on freedom at Carolina journal radio were proud to bring you stories that impact your life and your wallet.

And now get twice as much freedom when you also listen to our podcast headlock available on iTunes and@johnlocke.org/podcast headlock is a little bit different.

It's a no holds barred discussion that challenges softheaded ideas from the left and the right, like Carolina journal radio headlock is smart and timely but with headlock you'll hear more about the culture wars get some more humor as well. We guarantee great information and a good time – that's listen to Carolina journal radio each week and listen to headlock to remember, you can listen to headlock@johnlocke.org/podcast or subscriber download each week iTunes Carolina journal radio and headlock just what you need to stay informed and stay entertained both brought to you in the name of freedom by the John Locke foundation will Québec Carolina journal radio I Michiko kind in the heat of a hotly contested pre-election battle Republican US Sen. Tom Tillis still took time to take part in a high-profile hearing on Capitol Hill. He helped question former FBI director James Comey.

The topic the controversial investigation into Russian influence on the 2016 election Tillis honed in on multiple errors in Inspector General identified in the FBI's conduct of that investigation is Comey way.

I'm not going to ask some questions that have already been asked Bob. Prosecutors and lawyers whose preambles and predicates you have rejected so instead of getting a nonanswer only go more from a management perspective we had Gen. Horwitz before this committee Inspector General Horwitz and T identified as you're aware of the 17 errors and omissions in the as I look at some of the errors and omissions. Do you think that we know one that was identified as a cry, but what we do with the remainder of a deal except Gen. Horwitz's reports and his findings do think that there were valid. I do hope that it was followed by root cause analysis enterprise on engaging finance exactly why did this happen, how should we change to make sure well let's say that you came and knows the, the new director of the FBI that after the prior director had their organization study, we found these errors and omissions if if it didn't rise to the level of a calm in your opinion, do you think it at least set of prompted terminations and disciplinary action on the part of the these are all highly trained, highly educated, highly experienced professionals in the epi and by the way, the majority of them are great people but it's a big organization, but what about the remainder made it you're the new director you got this report from the Inspector General.

What you do what what is sure remediation plan.

What would you be doing right now to address the 16 other errors and omissions that occurred under priority or watch is looking like a narrow line to see what the systematic problems are looking narrowly trying to understand so when music plays make these decisions.

What was I thinking. Severe misconduct turns on whether someone was intentionally engaging in wrongdoing is a range of misconduct. Short of that you want to assess that respect everybody with personal knowledge making judgments based on that US Sen. Tom Tillis had more questions for former FBI director James Comey, you were quoted on the radio so I don't get your words wrong but you were quoted as saying the Pfizer process is followed and that the entire case was handled in a thoughtful responsible way by the DOJ is the epi you went on to say, the notion that Pfizer was abused as nonsense.

Do you still say about that. I don't I don't think it was abused but I think I was wrong and having confidence in the Pfizer process and the layers of oversight and review was too confident in this extensive really very complicated system.

Comey's response prompted a follow-up from North Carolina's junior US Sen. What would've prompted you on the front and to think that it was okay. I think that you already said in prior testimony that there were things in the Pfizer process. It should've been approved under your watch what we already trying to do those kinds of changes my confidence was based on the fact that was regular oversight by the department of justice regular summer cases also understood the complexity of the process agents would complain to me everywhere I went. It's too hard to get a Pfizer.

Too many people to check off on too many people to review my work knowing the process which included regular audits give me confidence as a leader is a business leader, government leader, we have a sound, healthy process, and that was wrong here listening to US Sen. Tom Tillis question former FBI director James Comey. This exchange took place during a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill. Tillis placed the FBI's mistakes in perspective. Imagine a case with far less publicity than the investigation of a sitting US president.

One of the things that worry me about this is were talking about an investigation of someone who was running for president of the United States. I like Sen. Sasse resisted some of the. The changes that my colleague surly was putting for but I felt like I had confidence in the process of clearly I shouldn't have any, and even the Pfizer court has expressed their concern. Information presented to them.

But you know what I really worry about. I worry about people that would never have a hearing on their case before the Senate Judiciary Committee Comey were here because were talking about a high-profile elected official, but you have any concerns of the same sorts of lapses that were used here, and I do think people should be held accountable and prosecuted.

Do you have any concerns. If we go back over the over the course of the Pfizer process we had innocent people out there subjected to the same process and potentially wrongfully received a warrant and surveillance sure is a reasonable concern Inspector General data look across dozens of cases and found mistakes. He said in every case that's a serious concern is a systemic problem. That doesn't mean that the warrants would diminish otherwise that's besides the point. There was an issue and are still there would be some everything about every day. I suspect Chris Reyes Tillis wasn't done with the grilling about another question I remembered general Inspector General Horwitz asked a series of questions because in in the report. When he talked about a possible political motivation for the behavior of some of those involved in an and identified an investigation ask about you know.

Did he see any evidence of a political motivation. He said that was murky, but if you've gone through and I'm sure that you have. Do you believe that that this whole process was absent any political bias against the present United States that it was just void a political bias just up paperwork error business process as needed based Reimann are how you feel about that murky description. The Gen. Horwitz gave to the motivations of people we've seen all the emails and the communications vehicle results on some how you feel about that.

You honestly think of this process at the at the operator level was truly devoid of any political bias.

Just saying. I'm saying regular) 400 page report where I think the most important finding is in case opening in the conduct and messy decisions. There was no evidence found political bias #something he knows how to say he found the opposite and so that's why I said why would why would Inspector General Horwitz who I think is very capable Inspector General go so far as to say was murky you. You say that there's there's no doubt but we have him say it was murky based on the same information I read in the report. Murky, comes from and talk about the report itself, which I read very carefully number of times and it makes that finding. We found no evidence of political bias in any phase of this investigation.

The controversy investigation focused on Pres. Trump and his 2016 campaign for the presidency. Tillis had one question related to the man who wants to beat Trump in this fall's election, I know hundred bottom was appointed to Rosemont and 2014 the board while you were the FBI director and and VP Biden was in an office. Did you have any concerns departed.

Did you have any concerns about that with the or expressing concerns with VP Biden.

I never learned a thing about it. I reckon that's former FBI director James Comey answering questions on Capitol Hill from Republican US Sen. Tom Tillis of North Carolina Tillis question Comey's role in the federal law enforcement agencies controversial investigation of Pres. Trump 2016 campaign for office over turmeric North Carolina journal rate in a moment real influence. You either have it or you don't and at the John Mott foundation we have it, you'll find our guiding principles in many of the freedom forward reforms in the past decade here in North Carolina. So while others talk or complain or name call. We provide research solutions and hope our team analyzes the pressing issues of the day jobs, healthcare, education, and more.

We look for effective ways to give you more freedom, more options, more control over your life. Our goal is to transform North Carolina into a growing, thriving economic powerhouse, the envy of every other state research is how policymakers make decisions that ensure you keep more of what you are.

Expand your choice of schools for your kids. Widen your job opportunities improve your access to doctors. The recipe for stability and a bright future for truth for freedom for the future of North Carolina. We are the John lock foundation. Welcome back to Carolina general radio and Donna Martinez 37 seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court are up for grabs this election cycle. As a result of North Carolina supposed will either submit the Democrats hold on the state's highest court or Republican committee. North Carolina is really not even sure why these seats are so important and how they impact our lives.

Well, to get answers to that very important question.

We turn to John would say he is the John Locke foundation's director of legal studies. He's been writing about the importance of the court, welcome back to the program.

What is at stake. This election cycle with the three seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court what's at stake really are the laws of the people known realize it when it comes to the state Supreme Court. But in fact the justices on the state Supreme Court have more power over our laws to govern us in many ways, then the members of the legislature than the governor even the citizens as a whole be shocking to a lot of folks John.

First of all, many people don't realize that even elect justices to the Supreme Court here in our state. Which, of course, we do not realize also that these are partisan races of the ballot will actually tell you who the candidates are and which candidate is a Democrat which candidate is a Republican. What types of things will come before the court. John that will have such direct impact on each and every one of us. Before I question let me just talk about which is the fact that our justices are elected. That's actually a very good thing given that Supreme Court at every level of government have become, in effect, super legislatures.

It's very good that we get to elect ours at the US Supreme Court there appointed for life, so as citizens and states we are stuck with decisions that affect our laws made by members of a super legislature and we know you have adapted about my box of North Carolina redo.

Here's what I mean when I say that the Supreme Court is a mini super legislature. The general summary can vote in the law. The governor can approve it but it still looked this up in court because of certain doctrinal changes that took place in the second half of the 20th century, is now up to Supreme Court to decide whether the law is enforceable also to the Supreme Court to decide what the law means they can change the meaning in ways that legislators would never have wanted a recognizer intended but nevertheless that becomes the law. That's why I stayed there the super legislature super legislature and that's why it's so important that we pay attention to who is running. Find out what their judicial philosophy is about John. It's very interesting I think the issue philosophy and also political party delegation.

As I mentioned these are partisan races. There is a Democratic Party nominee. There is a Republican party nominee for each of these three seats. People might be listening to us. A single hey wait a second court. This is supposed to be justices blind out we we learned that in school. So why does it matter that we know all sorts of information party affiliation and philosophy well.

Unfortunately, the idea just as the implied went out the window in North Carolina in the 40s and 50s, and all across the country to say things happen the intention was to actually weaken the power of the Supreme Court of US level but the effect was actually to make it more powerful trip to two pieces of judicial philosophy came in. One was this idea of living documents, constitutions and laws were regarded living documents the meaning of which could change depending on changing situations, changing ideas of what needed and the other one was this idea of judicial deference, which means that the court should simply defer to the legislature when it's a kind of regulation that the court's approval between them. Justices who adopt those kinds of philosophies can make the law anything they want to be now. Not all justices have done this.

There's there's a growing movement in this country started with Supreme Court US Supreme Court without the Scalia. That's called original is in the idea is that a judge's job isn't to decide what a lot of baby simply needs to apply the law as it's written and if there's any doubt about what the meaning of the written law is well.

It means whatever people understood to me at the time it was written or ratified.keeps the courts where they belong are not as legislatures but as is courts adjudicating disputes and we should be looking for judges and justices who adopt our philosophy to some extent you can get a feel for our political party in general. In general, Republicans are more likely to be originalist. The Democrats, but it's not us. Sure, investing, what you really taking your responsibility as a voter series that you should try to find out what a judge or justice for a candidate for justice has said about Flossie even better if they got a record on the find out how they ruling to. They decide based on maybe what they thought their policy preference was or what they thought their party wanted them to do today decide the case on the basis of the law as it was written such an important point, and that is the reason why here in Carolina general radio were talking about these races and different decisions. John you been writing about this John lock.org my Carolina general radio compass mixed foci has been writing about different rulings from the North Carolina Supreme Court writes it Carolina journal.com is a force to be an informed voter and taken all this information and then make your choice when it comes election time. As you know, one of the three seat that is on the ballot in November is the seat for the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. The Democrat is Sherry Beasley. She is the comic current Chief Justice challenger is Republican Justice Paul Libby currently sits on court tells about the role of the Chief Justice and why it's such a critical seat and that it matters who is elected well. I go to contradict your matters all that much of North Carolina is not like the US Supreme Court where the Chief Justice has a lot of both moral and practical influence on how the cases developed North Carolina to check that the Chief Justice doesn't get to decide he doesn't get to proceed preside over the hearing on the case he doesn't get to assign which justice writes the opinion so I actually don't think it if if just if Paul Newby gets elected as chief justice he might have a little bit of moral authority of the other civic because of the cheaper he'll be new. I don't think it is important just because it's a member of the court, but I don't think it's important very much beyond that right now the makeup is six Democrats, one Republican on the North Carolina Supreme Court so let's just say for the sake of discussion, John that the Republicans do well in the election and North Carolinians elect one Republican to Republican, even as many as three Republicans. This question will balance on the core, what is that is it something for people to consider. Well, it is been sadly, we do see that very often justices on the Supreme Court vote along party lines.

Partly that's because what I said before, Democrats are more likely to take a flexible living trust living document approach to the law. Republicans are more apt to be strict constructionism, originalist but on I would hope that everybody on the court regardless of their political party would recognize it have a duty to apply the law without fear of God's favor equally to everyone, I think we should appeal to their best instincts into their integrity as judges and just remind them of their duty and we encourage every North Carolina course to become an informed voter about all of the races including the three seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court that are on the November ballot.

All sorts of the ways to find out more information about the candidates what they think they are current members what they have written in their rulings or their descendents.

Some of those resources.

Of course, to rely on John lock.org and also Carolina journal.com is director of legal studies for the John lock foundation. John, thanks for talking with this really you, Donna the time we have for Carolina general radio this week. Thank you for listening Martinez joints again next week Carolina journal radio Carolina journal radio is a program of the John Locke foundation to learn more about the John Locke foundation donations support programs like Carolina journal radio send email to development John Locke.or call 1866J LF 166554636 Carolina journal radio is the John line foundation airline is maintaining Carolina broadcasting system, Inc. all opinions expressed on this program are selling their labor information about the show programs and services of the foundation. John not toll-free at 868 JL would like to thank our wonderful radio affiliates across airline and our sponsors. Carolina journal radio. Thank you for listening. Please join us again next week