Please welcome to the state governor roy cooper. [applause] where so excited to have you here, [inaudible] we were excited to have the governor with us today. Theres a lot of not a lot of time. Since youve been elected and in a relatively short tenure since november, your opponents have worked hard to show obstacles in your way and the lay of North Carolinas citizens. In terms of their ability to exercise their right to vote. Just yesterday we heard that the Supreme Court decided not to review a case that would have. [applause] a case regarding one of the most comprehensive antivoter laws weve seen in a long time. Were talking a little bit about the dynamics around that but the other experts that youve seen in North Carolina to restrict peoples right to vote. North carolina is an epicenter in the country for the fight for the right to vote. When you look at what the North CarolinaRepublican Legislature has done over the last few years, its been disastrous. The Fourth Circuit said that the North CarolinaRepublican Legislature discriminated against africanamericans surgical precision. They actually asked for data on the habits of africanamericans and how they voted and drafted their legislations accordingly. And the court thankfully saw through that. But this General Assembly doesnt stop. This was a temporary win yesterday. My republican governor predecessor had appealed this case to the United StatesSupreme Court. I withdrew that appeal which helped us procedurally i think to get this Supreme Court not to hear it. But this legislature probably within 10 days will pass another kind of law that will probably eliminate again same day registration area will still have some type of voter id requirement. In their voter id law, this trendy to use campus id card from the university of North Carolina and the chapel hill, statesupported university, that id wasnt good enough and that we know where that was coming from. But what theyve done from my position as governor, they tried to take away the ability of the governor to administer elections. Because what i want to do is to make easier for people to register and vote, not harder. We want everybody,. [applause] in the process so they passed legislation, taking that authority away from the governor. I vetoed it. They overrode my veto because they have super majorities in both chambers. I sue them, the court struck down. So again, we repackaged it, put lipstick on it, pass it again. I vetoed it again. They overrode it again and the court again slap it down. And youre going to see that with this voter law to. And im certain that the court will deal with it, i feel confident that they will but it is important for us to realize what is happening in North Carolina. In 2018, were going to make changes in this legislature but until then, were going to have to keep fighting. This is an issue that , a battle that going on not at the state and county level as well. Also tackling election commission. Thats what they were trying to do by taking the authority away from the governor who appoints the majority of the county board of election. If they wanted to make it bipartisan, where each side has the same amount, what was going to happen though is the default if theres a tie would call for more restrictive voting requirements so we know what their mission is and we just have to find it in the legislature, we have to fight it at the ballot box, the courts. Until we get into a position where everybody has that right. We make it easier for them to do, we need online, we need to expand peoples abilities and we can have safe legislatures discriminating against certain people because of who they are or what color they are. This issue really does highlight the importance of the judiciary which is another area where you had to battle for changes. Yes, they tried to take the authority away from the governor in numerous areas and we have sued them in those areas. We believe that we will be successful at the end of the day. The bottom line here is were working hard to move North Carolina to a position where we know should be. North carolina for decades was in the south, the first state in this country to open our doors to Higher Education supported by the public. We had the first Early Initiative which was a Publicprivate Partnership that recognized that it was important to get the kids early in their life in order to get them the opportunity to be ready to learn when they went to school but was the last five or six years with the republican super majorities and republican governor the last four years, they have tried to take North Carolina in a different direction. Its time for us to get it back. We the first step with my election for governor and we are winning some battlesand im , i can appoint the secretary of the department of Environmental Quality who actually cares about clean air and water so we can appoint people to positions who can have influence over the process but your continuing to see this legislature with what theyre doing with their concentration on tax cuts for the wealthiest and for corporations, on workers compensation, on unemployment insurance, hurting every day working people with these rightwing social issues. That has been the order of the day. They just passed an amendment that took away a number of peoples ability to enter the snap program when it doesnt cost the state a dollar. We just turned down federal money that will hurt the kids who qualify for school lunches. Thats just wrong. Governor, you mentioned education and that has been a cornerstone of your governing agenda and i am impressed by the way you looked at that in a comprehensive lens from investments in Early Childhood education and teachers, Community College workforce investments. Could you talk about what your priorities are in that area and what your overarching goals are . The economy overall has gotten better. Unemployment has improved. But for that middleclass family, for that family thats working to try to get into the middle class, a mom whos got two kids that she wants to educatethem, their wages are stagnant. Things really have gotten better for them. And out of frustration, a lot of them voted for donald trump , hoping that some change would come to their lives and i think what we have to do as democrats and as democratic leaders, we have to have a positive pocketbook message for them. I want to make sure that we do that. I want to emphasize education. Early childhood all the way through our great Community Colleges and universities. The ceos that ive talked to about coming and expanding in North Carolina, the first question city is not what is your tax rate even though now its the lowest in the attack east, is it people who can perform the job that i create. We can put more money in their pockets, the better paying jobs if we have the training and skills. The North Carolina top 10 educated state, 2025 and you can do that with empirical data. You can do that by getting more kids in prek which my budget reflects, we want to get to 55 percent from 22 percent where we are now by getting more kids graduated from high school. We need to be in the 90s and more people with advanced degrees and certificates. Can help when these better paying jobs in the new economy because its chicken and egg. These companies will come if you have workforce. And in our state has the second largest banking state in the country, we have the benefit of the foundation that we have built in North Carolina. Were just fighting off these problems we had a last five or six years. We can get back, we can those middleclass families and working families who are trying to get into the middle class ruby education as the cornerstone of more money in their pockets. And plus, we need to take advantage of all the help we can get for the federal government, our state has yet to expand medicaid. I tried to do it, they sued me in federal court. We could ensure hundreds of thousands of north carolinians, create tens of thousands of good paying jobs. We can lower the insurance premiums for businesses because gets guess what . When you increase the indigent population, youre going to have better results. And were going to have a healthier North Carolina. But they refuse to do it and weve got to fight back at every turn. Last part talks a lot about meeting to help those who dont have any college or have graduated from college to get betterpaying jobs , two pieces of your initiative is to make Community College free but also to provide additional noncollege coursework for those who want to upscale and want to get a sense of you think those are ideas that could have traction with your Republican Legislature . If they made it through with bipartisan support support in other states, thats one that comes to mind. Free Community Colleges away for those middleclass and workingclass families to get that education they need to get that better paying job. College of workability is critical, i proposed it and ive argued to the Republican Legislature that is being done by republicans , they see the economic benefits that result from it. Were also going to work to try to get kids to understand that there are certain certificates now that can help them with advanced manufacturing, and with other good paying jobs of kids, really who are having a hard time affording that two or even at fouryear degree. That step into a job making 50, 60, 70 grand year with a certificate but we have to our Community Colleges and universities that are nimble, that are ready to customized training for these kinds of companies to come and expanding our state. And it can be a very positive thing. Investment in education has got to be all the way from birth through Higher Education. North carolina, its been known for that. Weve got a lot of catching up to do. We had the National Average in teacher salaries, we dropped significantly, have a plan to get back there. Our Early Childhood has been successful but it has dropped significantly since republicans took over. Were going to get back there because now, more than ever, its a Strong Economic Development argument. And weve got to get there. Absolutely. You mentioned your political opponents have focused on some socially divisive issues before your tenure as governor, the state passed hb two which was highly controversial law that limited transgender individuals ability to use the bathroom of their choice. Issuing your campaign and something you have prioritized seeking a repeal of that law and were able to get through the legislature. The ultimate legislation has been controversial and im wondering if you could talk about those issues that played out in your state . House bill two was wrong because it discrimination into the law. To tell the transgender kids that you have to know to the restroom that corresponds with your birth certificate is not only discrimination, its humiliation. What house bill two did was take away every right of lgbt citizens and prevented local governments from acting anything. Since that law was, while it was being debated for the eight hours that it was debated, i fought that law every single day because not only is it wrong, not only does it discriminate, but it also purchased the reputation of my state, it hurts our economy and our people but it all stems from the fact that this legislation was highly discriminatory. My goal, the statewide lgbt protection in North Carolina. And im going to keep fighting every day until i get that. [applause] the super Majority Legislature that operating on the pastor rule that you got to have a majority of your own caucus in order to be able to consider anything on the floor, even though i wanted clean repeal with no compromise, and a lot of people wanted that. It was not going to be possible. So at least two years. So i had choice, do i continue to make a statement and pound on the table and nothing happens or do i take a positive step, make progress and continue to fight . I chose the latter for my state. The cause we read of the birth certificate requirements. We opened up the ability of local governments to provide some protections now and some in the future, im going to issue an executive order pretty soon that is comprehensive that helps with lgbt protections and were going to keep working every day. We have a lot of businesses, their sporting events and others to come back because number one, they know weve taken a positive step but number two, they know my commitment for this in North Carolina and although it wouldve been politically and probably emotionally easier for me to keep pounding the table and not accept a compromise, i knew it wasnt right for my state. I knew it wasnt right for lgbt citizens in my state although i have had our conversations with a number of my friends about this would have rather us go two years with house bill two. Instead of taking a compromise, but as governor, as the leader of my state, knowing what it has done to the reputation of my state and the signal that sends to lgbt citizens and everyone, i knew we had to make a step and thats why i did it. I think its the right thing to do. Diversity is our strength. North carolina is a welcoming state area weve got to make sure our laws catch up with our people and were going to get there. Thank you governor. [applause] we can talk for 15 hours but we appreciate you being here and your frontline theyre fighting the fight on our behalf. I want to thank everyone out there for what youre doing, and the fight. I know its hard to see whats happening in our country. Chris and i were at the National Governors association during the president in the state dining room and theres a portrait of abraham lincoln. And i thought, where are we . But you know that night when my wife and i were back at the hotel, she said you know, theyre in our country was more divided than it is now. He made it. Were going to make it because of people like you in this room and all of us working to make sure that we have a North Carolina and a country that works for everybody and i think thats important. Thank you all. Iq. Thanks a lot. [applause] thank you for your strong leadership of which so ably promotes our progressive priorities. Good morning everyone. Im susan wright. And that you may have seen a parody of me on certain cable news channels. Says im at the white house ive become concerned that the United States is squandering one of our greatest assets. Americas leadership of the world. Im here to argue for a better strategy. A progressive strategy that will renew our Global Leadership. It seems that the Current Administration looks at the world and sees only threats. Immigrants, refugees, muslims, mexicans. Even trade. Its America First and the rest of the world laughs. I recognize that we face serious threats. Ive spent eight years reading the president ial daily briefing. And the last 3 and a half years personally briefing president obama but the world i see also is filled with profound opportunities. Our relationships are not zerosum. They should be mutually beneficial. Through enlightened self interest we can expand opportunity, not hoarded for the few. I believe that a responsible National Security strategy must be confronting threats while choosing opportunities. Its a strategy based on four pillars a strong defense, skillful diplomacy , Smart Development and domestic strength. First our National Security begins with a strong defense. The United States must remain the worlds preeminent military power. That requires sustaining a force that smartly funded, wisely deployed and ready the only threats, any threat at a moments notice. Conflict is not inevitable. And bluster is for bullies. But our adversaries from russia to north korea must know that we will confront them with unity, resolve and with every tool at our disposal. When we employ military force, we must use it judiciously because weve learned through vietnam to iraq that even the finest fighting force on earth cannot defeat the underlying political, economic and sectarian forces that engender conflict so instead of simply fouling to bomb the bleed out of isis, we must use our full arsenal including cutting off its finances, discrediting extremism online and helping stabilize rival states. We must confront terrorists globally through syria and afghanistan, to northern mali and the philippines where al qaeda 3. 0 is germinating. We cant allow twitter wars to become shooting wars. So instead of masquerading between reckless saber rattling, and dumping kim jongil in a smart cookie, we should steadily apply increased pressure on north korea. While protecting our allies and our homeland. And instead of excusing russias outrageous behavior, and branding nato obsolete, we must defend and read nato ally unconditionally and firmly counter russias cold war tactics. Even as we address todays crisis, we must get ahead of emerging threats that will endanger us tomorrow. From rising oceans to the dark depths, the conflict in outer space to the manipulation of artificial intelligence. Second, an effective Foreign Policy requires skillful diplomacy. We should embrace the mantle of Global Leadership, because the United States remains the worlds best hope. But we need to be a steady, trusted partner so that as Charles De Gaulle once said, the word of the United States is good enough for me. From north america to europe, from israel to asia, our allies in france must know we stand with them. Trane bound by shared values and shared interests. And lets stop pretending that our interests and values conflict. Yes, sometimes we must work with unsavory regimes, but our values and interests converge. Democracies that respect human rights are most reliable partners. Visit arlington cemeteries ored allied burial grounds around the world. Our soldiers didnt fight asrt part of some Global Protection g racket. They died for the rights of all people to live in freedom, dignity and equality. [applause] are these are our values. These are universal values, and they are not expendable when inconvenient. To tackle challenges that transcend borders, we must cooperate across borders. As a former u. N. Ambassador, i know well the frustrations ofru multilateral diplomacy. But International Institutions and collective action make us more effective. We should reject the deconstruction of the Administrative State and update the postwar International Architecture that the united bui states built. Because it remains the right framework for promoting peace and prosperity around the world. The fact is we cannot bomb Climate Change or even violent extremism into submission. Pandemic flu and zika wont stop at the rio grande. Side with these and criminal cartels dont respect national boundaries. S in todays interconnected world we need collective action to achieve lasting security. We also need a well functioning state department. [laughing] diplomacy is an optional, but its comparatively cheap pick a secretary of defense matas put it, if you dont fully fund the state department, that i need to buy more ammunition for america, to remain the unrivaled Global Leader, we must value and fully fund the talented career professionals who do the delicate work of diplomacy. [applause] third, our diplomacy needs to be backed by an equal dedication to Smart Development. Helping other peoples is neither charity nor wasteful spending. We its one of the wisest investment we can make in our security and prosperity. From afghanistan to nigeria, weve seen poverty, conflict and corruption stifle opportunity, and extremism take root. But when usaid helps a farmer increaser yields in ethiopia, supports microenterprise in haiti, or in the to a village in kenya so that kids can study at night, thats good not just for them, its good for americas security. When we combat malaria, aids and ebola, investing in Global Health infrastructure, thats good for our security. When we educate and empower women and girls, thats good for our security, too. So yes, we still need to let girls learn. [applause] finally, an effective foreignpolicy must be grounded in domestic strength. To lead the world and protect our people, we cant rely solely on military might. We must continue to prosper by growing our economy, creating jobs, raising wages, reducing inequality, and liftingic americans out of poverty. We must pursue trade that is fair and free, and not cede the asiapacific, the worlds Fastest Growing region, to china. We need to catalyze americanthe entrepreneurship and remain the Global Leader in r d and Higher Education. These advantages dont just make us competitive. They, too, make a safer and stronger. Ultima ultimately, of course, the greatest source of americas strength is our people. The extraordinary skill, spirit, diversity and audacity of americans. Our founding ideals, including the inherent equality of every human being. Our commitment to free speech and a free press. Our welcoming of immigrants fror every corner and calling them simply americans. Make no mistake, the world watches very closely what we do and say. So we must act asked, what message are we sending now . Because at this moment, our single greatest weakness as a people, as a country, and as thn Global Leader, is our profound political polarization. It hasnt always been like this. I grew up in the city, and im old enough to remember when loyalties and even major legislation crossed party lines, when civility was the norm andd politics mostly ended at the waters edge. That seems like lifetimes ago. But it wasnt. We need to shake off this National Folk and remember that first and foremost we are all americans. We must honor our constitution, our founding values, and each other. Surely, we will often disagree, but we sure as hell need to agree that a hostile foreign power has no business messing with our elections. [applause] because heres the truth. If we cannot find our way to put country over party, democracy over demagoguery, even in the face of such a dangerousell ha external threat, then we might as well hang up our leadership cleats and resign ourselves to becoming a secondrate power. That should not be our future. We are so much better than that. Our best we are still the bright beacon to the world of hope,uste creativity, justice, andf every opportunity. When americans of every race, religion and class stand together for the rights of all, for women as well as men, for our immigrant heritage, for lgbt citizens, for the belief that we are all equally gods children, when we recall that we all love this country deeply, when we remember what america truly means, then and only then we will be strong at home and a still stronger leader in this complex world. D. The choice is ours. We can either squander our greatness, or build a Common Future based on respect for the dignity and value of every american at all mankinds together, lets ensure we make the right choice. Thank you. [applause] please welcome to the stage senator Amy Klobuchar and jennifer palmieri. [applause]rning, e good morning, everybody. Senator klobuchar. Thank you. Thanks for joining us today. You are from minnesota, and it is a politically diverse state. Thank you, one person. [laughing] as it turns out you are not the only person for minnesota. A state that clinton won, didnt do as well in the otherr midwestern states. It can be pretty tough territory, or treacherous territory for democrats. There is a Minneapolis Star Tribune poll briefly that had your Approval Rating at 72 . Making the question wise Amy Klobuchar so awesome . But how do you, tell us a little bit about how you navigate that state that is produced by did, and he thinks pretty divided. Do you think there are lessons . First of all you see a number of people like Heidi Heitkamp in north dakota, Tammy Baldwin in wisconsin who are able, despite their states voting differently in the president ial election, unable to navigate it. I think one of the things that we do is come first of all, not be afraid to go anywhere or talk of an issue with our constituents. We dealt with the people behind. I actually visit all 87 counties in minnesota every single year i am on my 12th you pick up got to the point where in some counties ive been visiting places just recently calledt insect inferno. Lets kill bedbugs with heat. Ne that was one of the businesses. I use that an example because her kind of out of place, they did make me go inside a semithat that lets kill bedbugs with heat on the outside, then they turned up the heat but only halfway come with a put the and things. It reminded me of what actually a republican candidate for president who didnt make it wants it, you go not just words comfortable but where it is uncomfortable. I think a lot of what we need to do in the Democratic Party is make sure we are reaching out to people in every town and not just considering them a place where you dont when those counties or those regions, so we dont go there. I think that was a bit about women for the president ial race but its certainly been a strategy of our winning candidates in some of the rule areas but i think talking to them and figure that out and having an academic agenda that includes everyone is going to be very important in the coming election. If youve been doing that for 12 years, people feel they have been heard, they bend listen to, or you find, you do actual have these moment . W right. You get to know them. You get to know all the elected officials, some are nonpartisan. It has a say on the ballot. Maybe people think that republicans but the gist of people you get to know as friends and its a way different way of relating to people that we might in more partisan a lot settings. You can make a lot of progress using humor. That tried. And you on the rural economic committee, the senate and committee. T i know that you and your staff take very surrey succumbed to a lot of them spent a lot of time in parts of minnesota and doing tours on the role economy. Say all about say all a bit about what you think is albert r, you know, traditionally people here rural and they just think agriculture. Minnesota, what you think those elements are . Im on the Agriculture Community at our state is i spent a lot of time on the farm bill, successful farm bills under two different president s. Thats been very important. I think people should think about that, not just because of the ag aspic of it but also the child attrition aspect and some the conservation programs in those bills, and our Democratic Party have to get strongly behind him. But it is so much more than just talking about the farm bill when you think about world america. Its rural Economic Development and as a look at whats coming at us with technology and robots and some of the changes thathiow were going to see, i think id would resolve that and how to make sure there are jobs in future . The first obvious and 20 people for the jobs that we have now and that we live in the future. But the second one is continuing his great entrepreneurial american focus on new businesses, small businesses, startups. This is where i get to rural. One of the easier places to start some of these new businesses are places where there is a a lower cost of livi, whether it was when spam, hormel start in southern minnesota, which by the way i urge you to visit, home of the world only spam museum. Or as we call it the gugenspam. Or more modern copies that makes cutting boards up and delivered so too hard is that energy and spirit as a lot of younger people want to move places like duluth where there is a culture developing of entrepreneurship is important to him had he do . Have to have wifi. You cant have this digital divide. You cant have doctors in northern minnesota that if you want to look at the xrays had to go to the mcdonalds parking lot it didnt let it go to the hospital. That is a true fact. You cannot have kids on a tribal land will get come one house gets wifi and you looked at his window and all these other kidse are doing the homework in the front joy. True d thats a true digital divide. That is the thing we need resolved and we have a package of infrastructure. Number two, rural hospitals. Hurt horribly by these budgets that is proposed with the medicaid cuts coming out of the Health Care Bill in the house. The third would be making sure we have Educational Opportunities available. And then i would also say that the whole budget when you look at it yet to look at in terms of rural america. You can look at this divide. One of my favorite suggested to pet cuts from this administration 2. 2 is the limit on home heating, right . Tom daschle would tell you that in south dakota and minnesota it gets kind of cold. No, not everyone can go to florida, can afford to do that every weekend. So looking at how we do the budget, the statement of values that includes everyone in the country. If you have an interesting way, they are understandable reasons for why theyre so much anxiety in the country. We have had two decades of text with your change, 9 11, two t wars, the great recession, we that they changes in