tune into the radio show tonight. on point with cynthia hardy. it is every sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. on 101.3. this week on the tv show, i am previewing the 2016 south carolina legislative session. south carolina law makers gear up for what's going to be a very challenging and business legislative session. the top of the list, a roseville for sure, educational improvement, ethics reform, gas tax, you know, before the flood, the state of south carolina department of transportation estimated that it needed about $1.4 billion a year for the next 20 years to not only maintain but also to improve and expand south carolina roads. now, that's a number that is a lot higher now. in addition to fixing the state's roads, law makers are also facing a daunting 22-year- old task. the supreme court has ordered the legislature to find a way to provide adequate education to the state's children livering in poor, rural areas, the land mark ruling came after

november of 1993. in were getting a good -- through the legislature will consume a lot of time leaving less time for some of the other equally important issues. this week, on point, we are previewing the 2016 south carolina legislative session. brian i am delighted to have you here: it is 2016 and all of the optimism on the good things t thappen in 2016 are all about us. >> yeah. it starts in two day. >> yes. >> at the state house, things start rolling again and you mention the big ticket item. it was a big eight ticket item, a loot of plans -- big ticket item. we are still talking about it here and will be talking about it again. >> representative nathan valentine is here is us. i am always happy to have you here with us. you are my representative. that comes with a challenge because you get your feet held

base all the time. we wanted to stata talking about roseville. do you anticipate a lot of conversation about that. >> i don't know how we want. you know, the house, -- we won't. the house, we did what we could have passed the bill and sent it to the senate. i am hearing they will take it up. it is election year. people are scared of share shadows. you don't know if it will have difficulty in doing what they should do but i don't see how any elected official cannot address instraw structure, not just roads but -- infrastructure, not just roads but the lifeline for the job here in state. that's what we are about. we are seeing unemployment numbers have dropped to where they haven't been since 2001. we have to continue education and infrainfrastructure. >> the flood of course magnified an issue. >> with the floods in minds,

particular issue occupy for lawmakers? what can you did as a general assembly, a body of lawmakers to address the financial needs that are pressing right now across the state because of the disaster. >> sure. the federal government we have our officials there assisting them, but i have been please window the conversations i don't think it will be what a would call a contemptuous debate. we have to have to cake care of debates. it could be a million dollars. one thing hasn't got a lot of attention but is relief for farmers out there. so in of us, we are in the rural areas are coming to colleagues and friends and saying we need to take care of the farmers with the disaster. those two are some items you will seat in the $8 billion of the state budget this year. >> a loft expectations on you guys.

there was a lot of national exposure to injustice that is happened in the state with regards to shootings and then on top of all of that, then we had that historic flooding that tually took place. there was a lot of hundred that will be needed to -- a lot of money that will be need today get us on right path. do we have enough. >> if you just read the paper or listen to the news you will think they have e -- dollar extra to spend. i wish it was that easy. when you look at where we have some obligations already we have to spend that it comes down real quickly. you know, already the colleges and universities higher ed, they have requested all of it. >> so they want the whole 1.2 that's sit willing. when you look at the state agency request for the year it is over $2 billion. so even though there's money there, there's not going be enough to go around. being extended. >> always are.

-- one thing it shows we have not raised taxes. people ask how do you have extra. the economy is come in pretty good and we are living within our means where he felt to go back and address and fund some area that is have been taking for some time. who will be left out. there's always something left out. >> one thing that was very encouraging was to see the governor coming up with funds to help so in people who didn't necessarily get money from fema and still had recovery effort that is need today be done. this was 2015 was not just a year for that kindover think shine. >> she's a good friend. >> to the job. iends across the, the flag debate, particularly the charleston and everything associate window that, on top

window that -- associated with that on top of the floods. >> to be asked to do the rebuttal for the state of the union. it is just a big deal and you know, to see her being cast in a national light like that, it makes you kinds of proud of the governor for the state of south carolina. >> yeah and particularly for the state. she has done, not -- it is not just her. it is the people of the state coming together. that's what is srefreshing to see. if you look around the country, they would not have handled these situations as south carolina has handled them. i don't even understand how the families could have that type of grace that they are. frankly i don't think sick had that type of grace but the way they handled that and how quickly the general assembly move today assemble that had caused issues for so in in the state for so in years, and of course there's a group that didn't like that. but you know i think all in all it is putting our state in a positive light and we will continue to see not only the

but the general assembly and employers. >> we want to kick off the show segment. >> sounds good. >> democratic strategy. he may want to put you guys together in the third segment. >> do we put on boxing gloves. >> you won't need it. >> you gays stay tune. we will be right back -- you guys stay tune. we will be right back.

legislative session. >> welcome back. previewing the upcoming legislative session and there's a lot to talk about. >> there is. we have only scratched the surface but we heard from the gop sidede of things in segment one so we have to be fair. >> >> i will tell you what though,

that you to work in an administrative position n over in legislature but they have been talking about it in rose april nothing has been happening. why should we think anything is going to happen this year. >> typically in politic, people respond to crisis. and that's been traditional at the federal level, at the state level and local level. when there's a crisis there's also a time for an opportunity. we have a tremendous opportunity this session, even though it is an election year to pass a -- my hope is that we pass a long term solution to our long-term infrastructure problem and not just do a band- aid approach. >> you know, last year he was taking pictures of potholes and sending them to people and telling people to send it to governor. >> i remember that. >> my friend -- send it to them. >> you launched that campaign here on on point, i think. >> he did mention it. >> he did. he launched it here.

campaign still continues. the situation only got worse. >> the flood shed light on a problem we knew existed for a long time. it is going to take a birr partisan effort to get it done -- bipartisan effort to get it done but the bottom line is that the republicans control this general assembly. all the state -- >> how is it that democrats don't have a big role. >> we have the minority voice. the minority voice in anybody is to raise concern. but not to pass legislation. >> you say blame them, i don't say blame them but point all the blame to them. i will tell you i'm optimistic because a pothole does not have a democrat or republican label. we have to do a better job fixing our roads and working together. we did a good job working together on the flag and bringing under the

bipartisan manner and i am optimistic we can do that again. >> i am worried ant education. >> each year -- about education. >> each year that's a major concern. we heard about some major issues like that and there's more money out there. there's a lot of hands being extended for that money but not every has been can be filled with money. >> education a big umbrella because not only do you have k- 12 education. nathan mentions higher ed. it is a big umbrella and we have serious needs in k-12 and higher ed some what i am hoping for is that we will address the lawsuit because it has been pressing since 1993, i think it was. that's the fundsmental thing for south carolina if we don't have a good k-12 education system, nothing else will work in the state. that is our future. >> jason use today say this all time, education is a great equalizer. it is that.

access to quality education we aren't giving people a fighting chance. >> we aren't and the fact is i say this all the time. if people in -- do not have the same quality education as those in lexington, fort mill and the -- because we in south carolina are a team, but if we don't have quality, high quality education across the state then we are fooling ourself. we will never be able to compete in a 21st century ever changing world. >> we have addressed that issue and the economy is improverring. that mean there is are job that is require skills so if we strong the laborers who have skills we have to ship them? >> we have atracted bow asking bmw but they have to then bring in people from other states to fill those roles. we have in people in our state

to make sure they're qualified. >> there's been talk we will for the roads. is that -- can we expect that. >> the legislature process is going to pull itself out. there's a lot of people who know we have to be creative in finding our approach to fixing roads. i would tell anybody, particularly my republican friends we have to have a menu of options when we look addressing the long-term solution. we cannot wipe off one thing because it doesn't hold well in a gop or democratic primary. we to be open minded from the approach and how to fix our roads. >> i am glad you mentioned the upcoming election. we want to talk you guys. >> is it time for toss leave the set let them go ahead. >> i want to talk about the upcoming election. we have been giving the business about donald trump. >> i can't wait to have nathan who is the republican party and donald trump is the leader.

>> we will be right back. the representative nathan will join us again.

you guys stay tune. >> we are delight today host this segment because it is a -- delighted to host this segment because it is a fun one. >> this is the chaos segment. we let the left approximate right go at it and -- left and right go at it. >> there might be some of that. >> thank you for joining us once again. now you get to go head to head. >> we hit the big issue. where do the two parties differ on this? is there common ground? well i mean the house, the debate was how much of a -- could we tie that into an income tax cut.

the governor had a plan, some of us supported that in politics and wisents over what we could to the senate. i don't think it is more than -- it is a chamber thing. i think in politics the devil is in the di tails and the big -- details. we democrats know and understand and the republicans alike but we have one of the lowest income tax in the country. you can't, you shouldn't tie income tax to a pothole because it is apples and orange. it doesn't make sense. we need to address roaoa, pot hoax bridges and so forth, not income tax. if you are going to do income tax do that in a separate edge ration. if you do that in a separate bill and focus on how we fix potholes and bridges in south carolina. >> what you realize there's a lot of pressure on you lawmakers to do something and get itit done.

care about how, almost, just it has got to get done. >> if you look at rich land county, with the penny tax, some of the things coming out of that, it is one ting this we know we will pitch in and i will pay x. it is another thing if we can't trust your elected officials. that's why the d.o.t., there needs to be reform there. i agree we can do it in a piece of legislation, the house is you don't want to piece bill, the time is now and it is a valid point. there should be transparency and whether it is local or state the good news about that is 2016 is election and they

hawk that's why we have not passed a descent and maybe that's why we have not fixed education because it has been in charge for a very long time and they haven't necessarily taken it seriously in terms of addressing roads that we have a problem and addressing education and the lawsuit has been around since 1993. >> yeah. >> here it is 2016. we know that education is a fundamental engine to make south carolina. we just have to do it. now is the time. i think we definitely addressed that, education in some fashion. you know, one thing under republican leadership is overly the 5.5% of unemployment. the lowest in 14 years. so we are king some things ght. wewere getting the state in the right direction. we can't wait around and shouldn't have to wait around for a lawsuit to fix education. we will do that. it doesn't mean we throw more money about it. i hear people all the time in my district, we don't like portable. it is not necessarily the facilities granted you can't

some of the areas but we have to get the right people in the right places and when i think of education and the teachers coming out of college, what young female or young male right out of school, what individual would rather go to a rural area than to go to charleston or columbia, we need to look at teacher repore. >> insent vise them. >> we don't have time for the proposal and others but what i believe in is community can say help themselvess and what i am looking for is the kid from the rural community who goes off to be a teacher, let's help that individual get through education and go back to his or her community where he's known or she's known and cares as an interest and kids in that area can say they went off, made a name for herself, came back i want to do the same thing and i can. i think that's how we turn education into rural area. >> i am glad nathan talked about 5.5% of unemployment. today is sunday and on monday, the national unemployment rate.

south carolina thing. the overall economy is doing good in the country because we've had good leadership under president obama. in fact exceptional leadership under president obama because it is probably the lowest it has been across the country. >> he's quick, isn't he. >> he's good. >> that's why i can't wait until we have a republican president to fix some of those things. >> this is coming from the republican party. >> i am excited. >> it is a february e tennis match. >> -- it is a tennis teach. >> as we are tying the debate that's coming up in the primary that's coming up, what are your that is correct you guys about it? is donald trump going be the party leader. >> you know, he's not my guy. i'm with rubio. i am conservative. i'm not crazy. so i will support whoever we have. i think whoever we have on the worst day is better than the alternative and another clinton to run the country again and

run the country again. i am waiting for trump. honestly i am waiting for him to fade but it is getting close to primary. he might ride it through. >> he's the leader and we all know good things happen under democratic leadership. we saw eight years of bush and eight years of clinton. the voter also decide that. you asked, they election is probably the most important decision we will face. every state house, every state senate seat is up and elections have consequences. if we want to move our state and our country forward we have to elect democrats in south country. >> i can give you 20 seconds. i can't just let that stand. >> there's a reason why we have a majority in south carolina. there's a reason why jobs are more apun can't, companys are coming to us -- abundant. companies to coming to us. why our leadership is giving the national address. what we have been doing is very

that under the next governor and under the next republican. >> i am so glad we are discussing roads and education because the republican versus been in trouble for a long time and they haven't fixed either one of them. >> nobody even got hurt this time. how about that. >> we do like each other. >> we are friends. we are good. >> thank you, gentlemen, very, very much. thank you for your service each in your own way. >> we will switch gear, coming up the black history month parade is scheduled for february 6. we want to talk to you about why this is for the masss and what this effort is

you guys stay tune. >> we are going switch gears and we thought it would be fun to preview system of things that are going on in the month of february.

for black history month. >> every town, every city has a rich history. >> uh-huh. >> maybe not everyone is aware of it but the capitol city, columbia has a very important history that is going to be highlighted. >> that's right. >> during the month of february and people need to be a part of this, all people. >> all people is what we want to stress. >> that's a good point. i am so glad that i got historians here. we have got and we have joseph johnson and joseph really digestion through history and figuring out the historical significant of things so you can help people understandhe relevance of it today. >> right. >> which so important. >> >> another leader is preparing the for annual black history month parade. we thought this year year what would be great, if we create an environment where it is just one black history teaching time. we think we are on to something th that. what do you guys think.

everybody loves a parade, like to come out and see the bands and floats and so forth. but this parade, focuses on history. and it is a great idea through the past. therefore, we look forward to it and we certainly encourage your views to come out and participate, february 6 we will kick off for it. >> okay. joseph, so often we think we know enough about our history so often, people think that i should just be concerned about mine, not as much as what bryan's is, but what you want us to know is that his history intersects mine. >> most definitely. the unique thing about history, we think we know everything but there's so much more we can learn. there are so in intersections history.

>> the biggest thing that we miss often times is that people who are young, they don't this. >> you mentioned that before this segment that the younger generation sees names, but there's so much more. >> there's so much more. >> there's things going back to correlate directly to young adult, students. we are reinventing the wheel for all the while, these thing versus already been done b b we don't know these things because it is special to go back to letter about these names to figure out where we go next.

area, and hearsay the historical foundation. randolph cemetery is soot place is there. it is -- another place that it is there. those are the things we need to do for his general expiration mine too so it is not aware of it. black history month a time to do it but we haven't been doing what we need to do to really focus on. i think from this point on, in addition to the parade opepeng things up we need to focus on some tangible places. the cemetery, focus on those kinds of thing. >> we are certainly going to keep our eye on this project and we will have you guys back to talk about it because we intend on being heavily, heavy involved in black history month from the standpoint we want to help, that is significant about black history. thank you, guys for watching on points today.

guests and thank you, guys. remember, when you are informed you are empowered.

weweill see you next weeee i'm chris wallace. with just 22 days until the voting starks in iowa, donald trump doubles down. questioning whether ted cruz is eligible to be president. >> honestly, do you have any

natural born sit sine in.