Catholic Lawsuit; Florida Banned; Child Tax Credit

THE CONTRARY", NEW JERSEY DIOCESE AGREES TO ONE OF THE LARGEST SETTLEMENTS IN THE U.S. HISTORY, CHARGING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WITH SEX ABUSE.

>>> THEN CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS A TOP REASON CITED FOR THE REJECTION OF 41 PERCENT OF.

>>> TEXTBOOKS IN FLORIDA.

>>> AND WITH THE EXPIRATION OF ENHANCED CHILD TAX CREDITS, IS THE U.S.

TURNING ITS BACK ON POOR CHILDREN?

[MUSIC] >> Bonnie: HELLO.

I AM BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY", A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, THE LATEST ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHILD SEX ABUSE.

A NEW JERSEY CATHOLIC DIOCESE AGREED TO AN 87.5 MILLION DOLLARS SETTLEMENT FOR CLAIMS OF PRIEST PEDOPHILIA.

IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST SETTLEMENT SO FAR INVOLVING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

SOME 56 PRIESTS AND ONE DEACON HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO THE CAMDEN DIOCESE ABUSE SCANDAL INVOLVING SOME 300 ALLEGED VICTIMS.

THE SETTLEMENT ALSO CALLS FOR NEW PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN.

THE SUITS FOLLOWED ACTION BY THE STATE LENGTHENING THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

IT NOW ALLOWS VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY PRIESTS TO SUE UP UNTIL THEY TURN 55HE SETTLEMENT MUST STILL GO BEFORE THE BANKRUPTCY JUDGE.

JOINING ME TODAY ARE LATIFA LYLES, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE WOMEN'S BUREAU AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S; CARRIE SHUT FIELD OF THE INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM; SAM BENNETT WITH THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS, AND ALL MILAH UP AND NOBODY, SHOW HOSTED PRAGER YOU, A CONSERVATIVE MEDIA COMPANY.

>> Bonnie: WELCOME, LATIFA LYLES.

THE SETTLEMENT IS ONE OF MANY THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN A ROW OVER THE PAST FIVE OR 10 YEARS WITH THE PRIEST PEDOPHILIA SCANDAL.

IS IT OVER, OR IS IT STILL GOING ON?

AND IF IT IS STILL GOING ON, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT 20 YEARS TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT?

>> HOPEFULLY NOT.

I MEAN, THIS CASE IS REALLY AN INDICATION THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE MORE WE PEEL BACK THE ONION, THE MORE THERE IS.

BUT IN THIS CASE WITH THE IMPROVEMENT DOOR, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN STILL SUIT UNDER THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BEING EXPANDED, WHICH WE REALLY HOPE TO SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HONESTLY, THE FACT THAT PEOPLE LITERALLY HAVE NO TIME TO BRING THESE CASES, THE FACT THAT THEY CAN BRING THIS CASE, THE CIVIL CASE FOR DAMAGES, IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

THERE WAS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAN TURN BACK THE CLOCK OF TIME AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND THE TRAUMA THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THESE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES' LIVES.

SO I THINK THAT ANY REMEDY, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THE MORE WE CAN DO IN THE CRIMINAL SPACE AS WELL, BUT THIS IS REALLY A THING FOR STATES TO TAKE NOTICE AND THOSE STATES WHO DON'T HAVE REFORM AROUND STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS NEED TO GET ON BOARD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS, ALL MILAH, AND WELCOME.

>> Bonnie: >> I AGREE.

I THINK IT'S BROUGHT IN A LIGHT TO A MASSIVE PROBLEM, NOT ONLY IN THIS AREA, WE SAW THE BOSTON GLOBE BREAK A STORY ON THIS YEARS AGO AND JUST THE DIFFERENT HIERARCHIES THAT WERE HAPPENING WITHIN THIS CHURCH THAT WERE ABLE TO COVER UP HIS COMPLETE ABUSE OF POWER AGAINST YOUNG CHILDREN, HOW IT WAS CONNECTED WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THESE AREAS.

I'M GOING TO SPECULATE AND SAY THAT THEY ARE MORE STATES AND CITIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND THERE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATIONS LOOKING INTO THIS, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MORE VICTIMS WHO NEED TO BE HEARD IN NEED TO BE FULLY COMPENSATED FOR WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH.

LIKE LATIFA SAID, THIS ABUSE HAS HAPPENEDHERE WAS NO TAKING IT BACK, NO EMBRACING IT.

IT IS A VERY UNFORTUNATE ABUSE OF POWER BY WHAT'S MEANT TO BE A TRUSTED INSTITUTION.

>> Bonnie: THE CHURCH KEEPS TRYING TO IMPROVE ITS PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN AGAINST RAPE, AGAINST BEING ABUSED BY THE PRIEST PEDOPHILES.

BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT'S WORKING YET.

>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN WHEN SEXUAL ABUSE IS REPORTED, EVEN WHEN IT'S.

OUT BY LOCAL MEDIA AS IT WAS WITH THE BOSTON GLOBE AND WORKING FOR LOCAL MEDIA MYSELF AT AMSTERDAM NEWS, THE NATION'S OLDEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK NEWSPAPER, LOCAL MEDIA HAS PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN EXPOSING ALL OF US AND PUTTING THE PRESSURE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

BUT WHEN SEXUAL ABUSE ITSELF IS SO VASTLY UNDERREPORTED, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT PROBABLY ONLY ONE IN SIX RATES IS A REPORTED.

SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THIS IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

THERE IS NO FINANCIAL AWARD THAT CAN BE BIG ENOUGH, RIGHT, TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS, HAVING BEEN SEXUALLY TRAFFIC MYSELF AND SEXUALLY ABUSED MYSELF, I CAN SPEAK VERY POIGNANTLY TO THAT.

BUT THE CHALLENGE I THINK IN ALL OF THIS IS -- AND SOMEONE POINTED THIS OUT THAT THIS IS A TRUSTED INSTITUTION THAT HAS -- THAT IS CENTURIES OLD, THAT HAS A CULTURE OF COVERING UP SUCH MALFEASANCE.

EVEN WHEN YOU FAST FORWARD TO A YOUNGER ORGANIZATION LIKE BOY SCOUTS, MY GRANDFATHER WAS A NATIONAL DIRECTOR WITH CUB SCOUTS, THE LONGEST-SERVING OFFICER IN SCOUTING HISTORY, HE WOULD TURN OVER IN HIS GRAVE RIGHT NOW IF YOU SAW SOME OF THE SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDALS THAT ARE EVEN COMING UP IN A RELATIVELY YOUNGER ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS.

I THINK ACROSS THE CULTURE, THIS IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, BOTH ORGANIZATIONALLY AND ACROSS OUR CULTURE.

>> Bonnie: CARRIE, WHAT HAS THE STONE TO THE CHURCH'S REPUTATION GENERALLY?

IN EUROPE, WHERE PEOPLE -- THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED DEGREES THAN IN THE UNITED STATES.

CHURCHES ARE EMPTY WHEN IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN HERE?

IS IT HAPPENING HERE?

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE PEW RESEARCH DOES REALLY GREAT RESEARCH ON PUBLIC LIFE.

THEY INCREASE WHAT THEY SAY IS THE RESONANCE IN ROMAN CATHOLIC NUNS, BUT NO NES NUNS, PEOPLE WHO DON'T AFFILIATE WITH ANY FAITH AT ALL.

I SAY THIS AS A RECOVERED NON-MYSELF.

I WAS AGNOSTIC FOR A WHILE WHEN I BECAME CHRISTIAN.

PART OF THE RISE THE NUNS IS HAPPENING IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DO SEE, I BELIEVE SOMETIMES PEOPLE -- I KNOW MYSELF AND I WAS AGNOSTIC, I CONFUSED PEOPLE WHO -- WEAR A COLLAR OR USE GOD'S NAME, I WAS RAISED IN THE MORMON CHURCH AND UNFORTUNATELY THE MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT REALLY PRESENT OR ENFORCED WITHIN THE MORMON CHURCHES AS WELL.

SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT, THEY CONFUSE THE NAME OF GOD WITH GOD HIMSELF.

I THINK THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC FORCES THAT'S PRESSURING ON WESTERN CIVILIZATION RIGHT NOW.

IS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN GOD AND AS A CHRISTIAN, I PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THE BEST WORK AS A CHRISTIAN.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE, YOU KNOW, DOING GOD'S WORK.

SO I THINK THAT THE TRADITIONS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION ARE UNDER ASSAULT RIGHT NOW BY LOTS OF DIFFERENT FORCES.

AND WE NEED TO PERFORM IT.

CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT, PUSHING FOR THESE REFORMS THE STRONGEST TO REFORM THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ITSELF.

MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS I THINK ARE A VERY KEY ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON.

>> AGREE TO.

>> Bonnie: ALL RIGHT.ROM THE CHURCH TO THE CLASSROOM: IN 20 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CONTROL DOWN TO THE WORDS USED IN TEXTBOOKS AND WHAT IS TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM IS DECIDED BY STATE GOVERNMENT.

THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED STINK TEXTBOOK DATE FRANCIS BETWEEN THE WAY, FOR EXAMPLE, RED TEXAS AND LOU CALIFORNIA WRITE ABOUT YOU IS HISTORY AND TOPICS, SUCH AS GUN CONTROL.

THIS YEAR, THE PROBLEM SUBJECT IS MATH.

FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REJECTED NEARLY HALF THE SUGGESTED MATH TEXTBOOKS FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE THEY SAY THE BOOKS VIOLATE STATE LAWS, BARRING THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND OTHER SO-CALLED DIVISIVE CONCEPTS.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED, CLAIMING HE IS KEEPING KIDS SAFE FROM WOKENESS AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY, REFERENCE TO IN THESE MATH PROBLEMS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS NOT YET PROVIDED EXAMPLES, DEEMED IMPERMISSIBLE.

CARRIE SHUT FIELD, I SAW SOME OF THE EXAMPLES BY AN ONLINE JOURNALISM ORGANIZATION.

THEY WERE SUCH THINGS AS A PICTURE OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MATHEMATICIAN WHO WAS RENOWNED FOR HIS WORK.

HE LIVED DURING THE 20TH CENTURY.

AND THE MENTION OF MAYA ANGELOU'S NAME, HOW DOES THAT -- HOW DOES THAT STAND AS SOME KIND OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

>> WELL, BONNIE, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES TO.

>> Congresswoman Norton: THE CONTEXT.

BUT THEY KNEW NO GENERALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FLORIDA IS THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED, EDUCATION AT THE STATE LEVEL, FLORIDA LABORATORY FOR DEMOCRACY.

AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS' APPROVAL RATING HAS BEEN GOING UP SINCE HE HAS IMPLEMENTED THESE REFORMS AND WE ARE SEEING THE POPULARITY THAT HE HAS HEADING INTO REELECTION, HE NOW HAS DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD OVER DEMOCRATIC COMPONENTS.

I THINK THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA IS SPEAKING STRONGLY ABOUT THIS.

IN FACT, HIS VICTORY INITIALLY WAS DUE IN LARGE PART TO LATINO AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUPPORT IN FLORIDA.O WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS, AND I AM A VIRGINIA VOTER, I VOTED FOR GLEN YOUNG CAN HEAR AND IT WAS A SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE PARENTS STOOD UP AND SAID, WE WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

HERE IN VIRGINIA, TERRY McCULLOUGH SAID, NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.

HE GOT IN THE BACKSIDE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN FLORIDA, IS PARENTS WANT TO BE INVOLVED.

ANOTHER FACTOR THAT I DON'T THINK WAS MENTIONED IN THE INTRO WAS COMMON CORE WAS ANOTHER BIG REASON WHY A LOT OF THESE TEXTBOOKS WERE REJECTED.

COMMON CORE IS NEEDLESSLY ADDING FIVE STEPS TO ONE OCCASION WHICH SHOULD BE JUST ONE-STEP.

SO IT'S CONFUSING STUDENTS.

AND THEN IN ADDITION LAYERING ON INCREDIBLY RACIALLY DIVISIVE AND DEMEANING CONCEPTS, AND WHAT I FIND INTERESTING ALSO FROM -- >> Bonnie: IN A MATH BOOK, THOUGH?

I MEAN, I COULD MAYBE UNDERSTAND IT IN A SOCIOLOGY TEXTBOOK OR POLITICAL SCIENCE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

BUT MATH?

>> WELL, THAT IS INCREDIBLE, IS THAT YOU SEE THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT SAYING THAT MATHEMATICS IS RACIST.

SO THEY ARE THE ONES WHO REALLY STARTED THIS.

SO THEY ARE TRYING TO, WHAT THEY SEE REFORM MATH BY INTRODUCING IS VERY DIVISIVE CONCEPTS.

>> Bonnie: LET ME GO-TO LATIFA.

IS THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT POLLUTING MATH TEXTBOOKS WITH REFERENCES TO CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE REALLY WIDESPREAD DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN THAT HAS UNFORTUNATELY JUST TAKEN CHARGE AND TAKEN HOLD OF THIS REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL CONVERSATION THAT WE COULD BE HAVING IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE OVERLOOKING COMPREHENSIVE AND TRUE TO THE ROOTS OF THIS COUNTRY, MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE MOST ROUNDED, WORLDLY, AND TRUTHFUL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WORLD, HOW IT WORKS, AND THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE RESPONDING TO THESE COMMITTEES REALLY OUTRAGEOUS, INFLAMMATORY CLAIMS.

AND A LOT OF PARENTS ARE IN THEIR FEARS OR PERHAPS THEIR UNCERTAINTIES TURNING INTO FEARS ARE BEING STARVED BECAUSE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THEY CAN USE IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS TO SAY, ONCE AGAIN, THERE IS SOME LIBERAL AGENDA TO UPEND YOUR LIFE AND TO TAKE OVER THE MINDS OF YOUR CHILDREN, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

>> RIDICULOUS, RIDICULOUS.

>> Bonnie: GO AHEAD, SAM.

>> HAVING RUN FOR U.S. CONGRESS IN 2008, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AT THE RECEIVING END OF SOME OF THESE DIATRIBES.

I THINK THIS IS ALL POLITICAL POSTURING.

AND WHEN IT CREEPS INTO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE -- EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN SHOULD BE SOMETHING ABOVE AND BEYOND POLITICS.

IT NEEDS TO BE SACROSANCT.

YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH FAX.

TO BE HONEST, I THINK WOULD HAPPEN IF WHAT MAKES ME THINK OF FAHRENHEIT TO 51, RIGHT, WHERE WE BURNED BOOKS.

>> Bonnie: 451.

>> THANK YOU.

MY MATH WAS WRONG.

BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS A SOCIETY THAT EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF POLITICS AND POLITICAL POSTURING, WHICH THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR COMMENT CARRIE,, I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR CASTIGATION OF COMMON CORE.

COMMON CORE IS ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE MATH APPROACHES THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS SEEN, TURNING INTO SOMETHING THAT'S EASILY COMPRESSIBLE AND EMBRACED BY STUDENTS.

AGAIN, I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING IS FLORIDA IS NOT THE BEST OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

I RESPECTFULLY AGREE WITH YOU.

HOWEVER, HAS A BOOMING ECONOMY, A LOT OF MIGRATION IN, A LOT OF POLITICAL FORMAT WHICH YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A PIVOTAL STATE LIKE THAT ELECTORALLY, BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE-STEP TOO FAR A BRIDGE ACROSS THE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN.

>> Bonnie: CARRIE, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND?

>> YES, U.S. MATHEMATIC GLOBAL RANKINGS HAVE BEEN DROPPING.

SO I THINK THE RESULTS ACTUALLY SPEAK AGAINST WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, SAM, IN TERMS OF BEING INNOVATIVE AND USEFUL IN ANY SORT OF WAY.

>> I HAVE TO SAY ONE OF THE REASONS COMMON CORE WAS DEVELOPED WAS TO HELP REPOSITION OUR COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO MATHEMATICS.

IT'S A NEW PROGRAM EXACTLY DESIGNED TO HELP CORRECT, AS I AGREE WITH YOU, AND UNACCEPTABLE DECLINE OR SEGMENTATION OF OUR STANDING COURT IN MATH.

>> Bonnie: ON MILAH?

>> IS A FORMER FLORIDIAN MYSELF, THERE IS DEFINITELY CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEING TAUGHT IN THE STATE OR IN AN EFFORT TO TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE STATE.

EVERYONE A LOOK AT EXAMPLES OF MATH PROBLEMS, WHERE THIS IS PRESENT, HERE IS A MATH PROBLEM FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT SAYS, WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY THAT A RANDOM CHILD SELECTED AND PROPERTY IS WHITE?

THEN ASK, WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY THAT A RANDOM CHILD SELECTED AND PROPERTY IS BLACK?

THE LAST QUESTION ON THIS, IS POVERTY INDEPENDENT OF RACE?

IS THIS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING IN MATH CLASS?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SENSES IF RON DESANTIS IS THE ONLY WHEN GOING TO THESE TEXTBOOKS READING THIS AND FINDING IT, HE ACTUALLY BROUGHT TOGETHER A GROUP OF ADMINISTRATORS OF TENURED TEACHERS TO LOOK THROUGH THESE TEXTBOOKS, FIND THE THINGS THAT WERE WRONG, AND GET THEM OUT.

AND A LOT OF THE REPORTING ON THIS, I MUST SAY I'M REALLY DISGUSTED BY BECAUSE THEY ARE SAYING THAT 54 THESE TEXTBOOKS WERE TAKEN UP BECAUSE OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 28 OF THOSE TEXTBOOKS.

AGAIN, THEY LOOK THROUGH BY TEACHERS WHO FOUND EVIDENCE OF THIS.

WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RACE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES AND NOT IN THIS LIGHT.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS STOP WOKE ACT THAT RON DESANTIS PUT OUT.

IN THE ACT IF YOU GO AND READ THE BILL COMMITS AS WE WANT TO HAVE DISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY THAT TELL THE FULL TRUTH OF SLAVERY, OF JIM CROW, OF ALL OF THE TRANSGRESSIONS.

HOWEVER, YOU DON'T GET TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD FEEL BAD ABOUT THEIR RACE OR ABOUT WHITE PRIVILEGE OR SAYING THAT MERITOCRACY IS AN EXTENSION OF WHITE SUPREMACY.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.

IT'S AN EXTENSION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY, A LAW THEORY THAT'S BEEN DISTILLED DOWN TO K-12 AND THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO INDOCTRINATE KIDS WITH THIS, NOT JUST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUT IN STATES ACROSS THE NATION.

IT IS TO BE DONE -- >> Bonnie: LET ME JUST JUMP IN AND ASK YOU, THE BIGGER STATES IN THIS COUNTRY, THE FLORIDA'S, THE TEXAS, THE CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK, THEY PRETTY MUCH DICTATE WHICH TEXTBOOKS ARE GOING TO BE SOLD ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THE PUBLISHERS WANT TO MAKE MONEY.

THEY WANT TO SELL AS MANY TEXTBOOKS AS POSSIBLE.

SO WHEN FLORIDA WANTS A TEXTBOOK ONE WAY, THEY WILL PRINT MORE OF THOSE AND NOT PRINT OTHER TEXTBOOKS THAT MAY USE COMMON CORE.

IS THAT A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING?

IS THE TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY?

>> I HAVE TO SAY HISTORICALLY, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW IS, IS OUR SYSTEM MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS?

AND THE ANSWER IS NOW.

IT HAS NOT BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IT IS A COMBINATION OF SCHOOL RESOURCES.

TO SOME EXTENT, TEXTBOOKS, BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT.

I DON'T BELIEVE FOR A SECOND THAT THE REPUBLICANS IN FLORIDA ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN THIS COUNTRY, NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, I BELIEVE VERY, VERY STRONGLY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS ABOUT CHOICE, IT IS ABOUT WHAT FEELS OKAY.

THE DECISIONS TO PULL THESE BOOKS ARE NOT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FACTUALLY INCORRECT INFORMATION.

IT COMES DOWN TO STYLE, IT COMES DOWN TO CULTURE, AND IT COMES DOWN TO CAMINO, WHAT INDIVIDUALS IN A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH.

AND THE QUESTION FOR US IS, DO WE HAVE AN ARBITER THAT IS NOT BIAS, WHO IS MAKING SURE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT TEACHERS ARE TEACHING CHILDREN AND THE FACTS ARE DISTILLED IN A WAY THAT ARE UNBIASED, FAIR, AND REALLY HONEST TO THE FACTS?

I MEAN, WE ARE TALKING -- >> Bonnie: ON YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT, AND THEN WE ARE OUT, ONTO THE NEXT STORY.

>> SO I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT WE TEACH CONSERVATIVE INDOCTRINATION IN SCHOOLS.

I JUST WANT MATH, SCIENCE, READING, WRITING TO BE TAUGHT.

IF YOU IMPLEMENT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE SUBJECTS, WHICH THEY ARE DOING IT IT IS UNFASHIONABLE, IT IS WRONG, TO TEACH KIDS AND SEPARATE INTO AFFINITY GROUPS WHERE THEY ARE DEVIATED BY RACE AND MEANT TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, TO TELL CHILDREN, LITTLE CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS FIVE YEARS OLD THAT WHITE PRIVILEGE IS IN EXISTENCE AND IF YOU ARE BLACK, YOU ARE BORN IN A SYSTEM THAT'S PUT BARRIERS IN PLACE FOR YOU, THAT IS FACTUALLY INCORRECT.

>> WELL, FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE MOVEMENT MIGHT BE ACTUALLY FACTUALLY INCORRECT.

BUT FOR MOST KIDS, THOSE REALITIES ARE PLAYING ON THEIR LIVES EVERYDAY.

>> Bonnie: FROM SCHOOL CURRICULUM TO CHILD POVERTY.

THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT IS DEAD.DESPITE EXPRESSING IT WAS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN LOWERING CHILD POVERTY RATES.

THE TAX CREDIT WILL GO FROM A MAXIMUM OF $3600 PER CHILD BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL LEVEL BEFORE JOE BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, $2000 MAXIMUM.

EXPERTS SAY THE EXPANSION WAS A SUCCESS AND HELPED PULL MILLIONS OF CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN INTENDED TO MAKE THE EXPANSION PERMANENT AS PART OF HIS BILL BACK BETTER PROGRAM.

BUT THAT LAW IS STUCK IN THE SENATE WHERE THE DEMOCRATS' TWO MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS HAVE REFUSED TO BACK ITAM BENNETT, WAS EXPANDING IT A GOOD IDEA?

AND WILL SENATOR'S MANSION AND SINEMA BE THE ROADBLOCKS TO EXPANDING IT EVEN MAYBE PARKWAY?

>> I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY A BRILLIANT IDEA TO EXPAND IT.

HERE, WE HAVE A LOW COST PROGRAM THAT WORKS, THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL, THAT'S ECONOMICALLY BASED.HAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT, RIGHT?

SO OF COURSE IT SHOULD BE EXPANDED.

I AM COMPLETELY FLUMMOXED BY HOW ANYONE WOULD HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THE EXPANSION OF THIS PROGRAM.

I WILL LOOK TO POSSIBLY MY CONSERVATIVE COLLEAGUES TO ELIMINATE MY DARKNESS.

AND WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT IN OUR COUNTRY THAN RAISING CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY?

IN ANY COUNTRY, BY THE MEASURE OF THE LEAST OF US -- >> Bonnie: WAIT A MINUTE, A PROBLEM HERE WITH PASSING IT IS NOT REPUBLICAN, IT'S THE TWO DEMOCRATS FROM WEST VIRGINIA AND ARIZONA.

>> AND I HONESTLY, I HONESTLY AM ASKING THEM, I'M NOT DOING IT IS A CHALLENGE, I AM SAYING, CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME -- I'M COMPLETELY FLUMMOXED.

THIS IS SUCH A NO-BRAINER PASSAGE.

NOW, COULD IT BE THAT THE CONSERVATIVE ARM, AND I DID NOT MEAN ANY DISRESPECT, CARRIE, MY APOLOGIES, BUT IF THE CONSERVATIVE ARM OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS EXERTING A STRANGLEHOLD ON SOMETHING AS FUNDAMENTAL AND SIMPLE AS THAT, I AM COMPLETELY AT A LOSS.

I CANNOT SOUND PARTICULARLY ARTICULATE ON THIS TOO BECAUSE I MYSELF AND CONFUSED.

THIS IS A NO-BRAINER.

>> I THINK I CAN.

>> Congresswoman Norton: SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE SEEING WITH THIS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

ONE, THERE IS NO WORK REQUIREMENT FOR THIS CHILD TAX CREDIT EXPANSION.

SO YOU'RE GETTING THIS TAX CREDIT EXPANSION AND NOT BEING ASKED TO BE EMPLOYED.

SO IT'S GOING TO PARENTS WERE NOT SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, SO YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY GIVING OUT FREE MONEY.

THERE IS ALSO -- IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A LOW ENOUGH CAP ON INCOME WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AT THE TAX CREDIT.

SO YOU HAVE PARENTS MAKING UPWARDS OF $100,000 GETTING THIS EXTRA MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH, LET'S BE HONEST, IS MONEY FROM US, IT IS OUR TAX DOLLARS AND WE ARE PAYING FOR THIS IN PART.

AND I THINK THIS IS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT JOE MANCHIN SAW WITH US THAT HE FELT LIKE NEEDED TO BE FIXEDE ARE ALL FORGETTING CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

I THINK IT IS DISGUSTING THAT WE HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN EXPERIENCING THIS.

BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE GOING OUT AND GETTING JOBS AND SEEKING EMPLOYMENT AND WE ARE GIVING MONEY TO THOSE WHO DO NOT NEED IT AND MAKE ENOUGH INCOME TO PROVIDE FOR THE CHILDREN, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.

>> Bonnie: HAVING COVERED CONGRESS FOR MANY YEARS IN THE '80S AND '90S, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS A SIMPLE FIX.

YOU PUT A CLAUSE IN THE LAW THAT SAYS THIS IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE $60,000 A YEAR.

BUT THE FACT IS IT'S BEEN SPENT ON FOOD, RENT, ALL OF THE REALLY BASIC -- A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES WHO DON'T LIKE -- SAYING IT'S SPENT ON DRUGS AND BOOZE, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THEY ARE SPENDING IT ON CHILDREN.

>> IT'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF INFLATION.

SO LAST MONTH, 8.5 PERCENT INFLATION, THAT IS A TAX ESSENTIALLY ON, ESPECIALLY FOR WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES.

SO EVEN THOUGH WAGES ARE NOMINALLY RISING, THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THE WAGES ARE RISING LOWER THAN THE PRICE OF INFLATION.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY DRIVERS OF INFLATION IS GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

IF HE ACTUALLY WENT TO HELP WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES WITH REAL DOLLARS WITH INCOME, WITH THEIR WAGES THAT HAVE BEEN EARNED IN THE REAL ECONOMY, INSTEAD OF TREATING YOU A STELLAR LIKE IT'S FAKE MONOPOLY MONEY, PUTTING US $30 TRILLION INTO DEBT, SADDLING FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH DEBT, WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGING WORK.

AS MILAH SAID, BUT WORK WORK REQUIREMENTS AND THE BILL WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE AT ANY TIME, WHETHER CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, BUT TO WORK REQUIREMENT PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE AND THEY GET SCREAMED AT, GET CALLED RACIST, GET CALLED WHITE SUPREMACIST.

WE CANNOT HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT POVERTY IN THIS COUNTRY IN ABOUT INFLATION IN THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT PEOPLE CALLING NAMES.

AND RESPECT WE ARE DOING IT ON THIS PROGRAM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ON THE SENATE FLOOR OR ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.>> HONESTLY, I SERVED AS THE GOVERNOR AND BOARD OF ASSISTANCE IN MY COUNTY NOW FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON OUR ROLES THAT WERE HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE DISABLED, THEY DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO LIVE, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING THREE JOBS IN SOME CASES AND STILL NEED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID ENOUGH.

SO I PUSH BACK ON THIS IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS THE PROBLEM.

THERE HAS BEEN WHOLE BODY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT THAT DISPUTES THATBSOLUTELY, IRREFUTABLY.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR CHILDREN, BOTTOM LINE, WE SHOULD BE DOING.

IF YOU PUT A WORK REQUIREMENT IN, WE DON'T NEED IT.

>> THE FINDINGS ARE REALLY CLEAR THAT THESE FUNDS WERE USED TO REALLY KEEP FAMILIES SURVIVING AND THEIR CHILDREN DRIVING AND CAMINO, THIS IS NOT A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO CRIPPLE OUR ECONOMY.

THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT CAN PAY FOR ITSELF THREE TIMES OVER OVER THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS AND IT WILL BE REALLY HARD FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD IF WE CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH THESE TWO SENATORS WHO AT THIS POINT, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW THE HANG UP AND IT'S REALLY, FRANKLY, A SLAP IN THE FACE TO AMERICAN FAMILIES.

>> Bonnie: OKAY.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION.

LET'S KEEP TALKING ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.org/TOTHECONTRARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK "TO THE CONTRARY", SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

[MUSIC] FOR A TRANSCRIPT OF THIS EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.org/TO THE CONTRARY