>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, WHILE A VIRUS VACCINE ISSUE AND HOW TO SPEND FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY WERE MAKING SOME THE HEADLINES TODAY, THE LOTTERY ISSUE LOOMED LARGE OVER THE ALABAMA SENATE.

A BILL THAT WOULD SET UP A STATE LOTTERY WAS THE SUBJECT OF MUCH DISCUSSION IN THE UPPER CHAMBER, WITH A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON.

SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON OF SPRINGVILLE IS THE MEASURE'S SPONSOR AND HE RECENTLY TOLD CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT IT HAD BECOME A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

>> WE HAVE SOME SENATORS FOR A PLAIN, SIMPLE STRAIGHTFORWARD LOTTERY ONLY.

WE HAVE OTHER SENATORS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE CASINOS, WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANOTHER CASINO LOCATION IN NORTH ALABAMA.

SO WE HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT FOLKS HERE, AND IT'S AN ISSUE TO GET THEM TOGETHER ENOUGH TO GET THE NECESSARY VOTE.

>>DON: MOST LAWMAKERS, EVEN IF THEY DON'T PERSONALLY LIKE A LOTTERY OR GAMING, HAVE AGREED THAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEIR CONSTITUENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE GAMBLING AN EXCEPTION IN STATE LAW.

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS LOOMED OVER A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, BUT HAS TAKEN NEW TWISTS AND TURNS THIS YEAR.

>>DON: THE SENATE TODAY ALSO UNANIMOUSLY PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW STUDENT ATHLETES IN THE STATE TO PROFIT FROM THEIR NAMES, LIKENESSES AND IMAGES.

IT'S A MEASURE THAT'S ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE, BUT THE SENATE AMENDED IT TODAY SO IT WAS HEADED BACK TO THE LOWER CHAMBER.

MEANTIME, THE HOUSE TODAY TOOK UP A COUPLE OF VOTING BILLS: ONE WOULD PROHIBIT CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FROM BEING PAID FOR ASSISTING PEOPLE IN VOTING ON A PER-BALLOT BASIS.

THE OTHER WOULD ALLOW THOSE RELEASED FROM PRISON TO HAVE THEIR VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED AUTOMATICALLY, ONCE ALL CONDITIONS ARE MET.

>>DON: ALABAMA TODAY JOINED A NATIONAL PAUSE ON JOHNSON AND JOHNSON CORONAVIRUS VACCINATIONS, AFTER OFFICIALS SAID THEY WERE REVIEWING WHAT THEY CALLED 'RARE' BUT SERIOUS REPORTS OF BLOOD CLOTS IN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE SHOTS.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS SAID TODAY THAT ALABAMA HAD NOT SEEN ANY COMPLICATIONS FROM THE J AND J PRODUCT.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE ANY REPORTS AT ALL OF ADVERSE EVENTS.

WE KNOW ALL OF THE VACCINE PRODUCTS CAN SOMETIMES GIVE TEMPORARY REACTIONS OF HEADACHES OR NAUSEA AND FEEL BAD IN SOME WAY.

THAT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH ALL VACCINES.

>>DON: OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOES OF THE VIRUS VACCINE HAVE SO FAR BEEN ADMINISTERED IN ALABAMA, MADE UP PRIMARILY OF A MIX OF PFIZER AND MODERNA SHOTS, WITH JOHNSON AND JOHNSON BEING A RELATIVELY SMALL PART OF OUR VACCINATION PROGRAM.

IN A STATEMENT TODAY, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY COMMENDED DR. HARRIS FOR TAKING THE SWIFT ACTION TO PAUSE OUR USE OF THE J AND J PRODUCT, SAYING IT WAS OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.

HARRIS SAID TODAY THAT HE HOPES ALABAMIANS WON'T BE DETERRED BY THE ISOLATED BLOOD CLOT ISSUES.

>> I STILL WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE HAD NO ISSUES OF THIS SORT OR SUGGESTION THAT THE MODERNA OR PFIZER VACCINE HAVE THESE COMPLICATIONS AT ALL.

WE ARE NOT CERTAIN THAT JOHNSON&JOHNSON IS RELATED TO THE COMPLICATION.

WE ARE TAKING A PRECAUTIONARY CAUSE UNTIL MORE DATA CAN BE FOUND IN THAT.

>>DON: DR. HARRIS SAYS THE BLOOD CLOT ISSUES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN ONLY SIX WOMEN AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THAT THE RATE OF COMPLICATION BREAKS DOWN TO ABOUT ONE IN 1.2 MILLION JOHNSON AND JOHNSON SHOTS ADMINISTERED.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS WILL MEET TOMORROW TO REVIEW THE SIX KNOWN CASES.

>>DON: ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL SAID TODAY THAT HE HAD NO COMMENT ON ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL MIGHT HAVE USED STATE RESOURCES TO FACILITATE A REPORTED EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR.

>> WE DON'T COMMENT ON ANY POSSIBLE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS HERE.

WE HAVE A TEAM THAT REVIEWS ANY CRIMINAL COMPLAINT THAT COMES TO OUR ATTENTION.

WE'LL GIVE IT DUE DILIGENCE.

>>DON: STATE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALSO SAID THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL SHOULD STEP DOWN IF ACCUSATIONS ARE TRUE THAT HE MADE RACIST REMARKS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SO-CALLED 'OTHER WOMAN.'

MERRILL HAS DENIED MAKING SUCH REMARKS AND HAS SAID HE PLANS TO SERVE OUT HIS TERM AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

>>DON: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TODAY WAS ALSO URGING CITIES AND COUNTIES TO FOLLOW THE STATE ETHICS LAW WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO SPEND THE SOME 2-BILLION DOLLARS THAT ALABAMA LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL RECEIVE FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

MARSHALL SAYS THERE ARE MANY RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THAT MONEY CAN BE SPENT.

>> I'M NOT HERE TO THREATEN ANYONE.

I'M HERE TO PLEAD WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO PLEASE BE CAREFUL.

DON'T EVER FORGET, THE DOLLARS YOU ARE SPENDING ARE NOT YOURS.

THOSE BELONG TO THE TAXPAYERS.

>> WE WORK HARD TO CREATE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE ETHIC'S LAW.

THE ETHICAL CONDUCT EXTENDS BEYOND COMPLYING WITH ALABAMA'S ETHIC'S LAW.

ETHICAL CONDUCT EXTENDS TO BE SURE THE PUBLIC HAS CONFIDENCE IN THE DECISIONS YOU ARE MAKING.

>>DON: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OUTLINED SOME ETHICS GUIDELINES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT WILL RECEIVE THE INFLUX OF FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY: AVOIDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR PERSONAL FINANCIAL GAIN AND SOLICITING OR ACCEPTING ITEMS OF VALUE FROM LOBBYISTS THAT MIGHT SEEK TO INFLUENCE SPENDING DECISIONS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ ♪ >> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF CAPITOL JOURNAL ONLINE AT APT.ORG OR APT'S FREE MOBILE APP.

CONNECT TO CAPITOL JOURNAL AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON THE CAPITOL JOURNAL FACEBOOK PAGE, AND LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL PODCASTS.

KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL.

♪ ♪ >> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE MIKE BALL OF MADISON BACK WITH US.

REPRESENTATIVE, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> I WANT TO DIVE INTO A COMPLICATED ISSUE YOU ARE RAISING THAT WILL BE IN COMMITTEE TOMORROW.

WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING, REPRESENTATIVES IS CHANGING GRAND JURY SECRECY LAWS IN ALABAMA.

CURRENTLY GRAND JURY WITNESSES CANNOT DISCUSS THEIR TESTIMONY.

YOU WANT TO ALLOW THEM TO DISCUSS THEIR TESTIMONY AND EXPERIENCE WITH PROSECUTORS.

IT'S PART OF THE EFFORT YOU HAVE BEEN LAUNCHING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND COVERING ETHIC'S CASES OF POLITICIANS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IN RAISING A CHANGE TO THE GRAND JURY SECRECY LAW, THIS SEEMS LIKE A MONUMENTAL TASK THAT YOU MAY RUN INTO ROADBLOCKS ON.

>> OF COURSE.

ANYTIME YOU QUESTION THE POWER OF THE POWERFUL, PEOPLE WHO HAVE POWER WANT TO KEEP IT.

THAT'S WHAT POLITICS IS.

IT'S WHY POLITICS IS SO CORRUPT.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE POWER WANT TO KEEP IT.

THEY WANT TO USE IT.

AS I HAVE GROWN OLDER, AND REFLECTED MORE ON THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, I HAVE BECOME FAR MORE PHILOSOPHICAL.

AS I BECOME MORE PHILOSOPHICAL, I BECOME LESS POLITICAL AND RECOGNIZE POLITICS FOR WHAT IT IS, AND IT'S NOT GOOD.

>> WHAT WOULD BE THE GAIN OF CHANGING OUR GRAND JURY SECRECY LAWS?

>> HERE'S THE THING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ABI, I HAD A QUOTE ON THE WALL FROM ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE PHILOSOPHERS, BUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES.

THOSE WHO FIGHT MONSTERS SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO BECOME A MONSTER.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ABYSS, IT LOOKS BACK AT YOU.

EVERYONE HAS MONSTERS THAT THEY FIGHT.

WE ARE ALL FIGHTING THOSE THINGS, THOSE THINGS WE RECOGNIZE AS EVIL.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE GET FOCUSED ON FIGHTING ONE MONSTER, WE DON'T SEE OUR PRIDE -- PRIDE IS ALMOST A UNIVERSAL MONSTER.

WE DON'T RECOGNIZE WHAT CAN BE HAPPENING TO US.

WE GET SO BUSY LOOKING AT EVERYBODY ELSE'S CONSTRUCTION, THAT IT CAN START GROWING IN US.

I HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I HAVE SEEN PUBLIC OFFICIALS RISE.

I HAVE SEEN THEM FALL.

IT'S ALWAYS -- IT'S ALWAYS THAT MONSTER.

IT'S -- ONE OF -- PEOPLE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT MORAL COMPASSES.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CORRUPTION, IT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

MOST OF OUR ETHIC'S LAWS, AND MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY THINK OF CORRUPTION THINK OF ONE FORM OF CORRUPTION, WHICH IS USING YOUR OFFICE FOR PERSONAL GAIN.

WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS DONE, ONE OF THE -- THE MODEL I HAVE ALWAYS HAD FOR CORRUPTION ON A MORAL LEVEL CAME FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST SPEAKING TO THE ROMAN SOLDIERS.

THEY WERE LISTENING TO JOHN THE BAPTIST SPEAK.

THEY REALIZED THEY WANTED TO DO BETTER.

HE WAS THAT KIND OF FELLER.

FOLKS WOULD LISTEN TO HIM TALK AND REALIZE, WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

THEY WENT TO HIM AND SAID WHAT SHOULD I DO?

HE SAID DO NO VIOLENCE AND TAKE NO WAGES.

>> DO VIOLENCE TO NO MAN, THE UNNECESSARY OR ACCESSIVE USE OF FORCE.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD USE FORCE TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT.

PROTECTING THE INNOCENT IS THE PRIMARY REASON WE SHOULD HAVE GOVERNMENT, TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT FROM BEING BULLIED.

VIOLENCE IS USING EXCESSIVE FORCE, TOO MUCH OR UNNECESSARY FORCE WHEN IT'S NOT NECESSARY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO LORD THEIR POWER OVER OTHERS, AND THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE REINED IN.

>> ARE YOU REFERRING IN THIS CASE TO PROSECUTORS?

>> ANYBODY THAT HAS POWER IS SUBJECT TO IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

PROSECUTORS ARE HUMANS.

I HAVE DEALT WITH A LOT OF THEM.

A LOT OF THEM ARE GOOD PEOPLE, MEAN TO DO WELL.

SOMETIMES -- SOMETIMES -- IT'S NOT UNHEARD OF FOR A PSYCHOPATH TO BE IN THAT POSITION OR PSYCHOPATHS CAN BE IN ANY POSITION.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE -- OR BULLY -- IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT PREVIOUS WORD.

>> DO YOU FEEL OUR GRAND JURY SECRECY LAWS HAVE BEEN MISUSED OVER SOME OF THE HIGH PROFILE POLITICAL CASES?

>> OF COURSE.

OF COURSE, IT HAS.

I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I FIRST SAW IT I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED -- NOW I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT I HAVE DONE IS LOST CONFIDENCE IN OUR PROCESS AND SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE REASONS IS, I WAS EXPECTING SOMEBODY MIGHT ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER?

THAT TIME HAS PASSED.

I FEEL A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THE SECOND THING AFTER THE VIOLENCE IS ACCUSE NO MAN FALSELY.

IT SEEMS LIKE FALSE ACCUSATIONS, PEOPLE WILL JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS AND POINT FINGERS AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE SURE OF YOUR FACTS.

ALL OF THOSE ARE FORMS OF CORRUPTION THAT IS RIFE IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS -- DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL -- THEY ARE ELECTED POLITICIANS.

NOW, A LOT OF THEM KNOW HOW TO FLIP THE SWITCH OFF, BUT IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO SAY ALL OF THEM DO, AND POLITICS CAN CORRUPT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT JUST ALABAMA.

IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE, AND IT HAS.

IT SEEMS MORE AND MORE THERE ARE POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT SOME OF THE POLITICIANS OR A LOT OF THEM DON'T NEED TO BE PURSUED.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO ENFORCE THE LAW, YOU HAVE TO OBEY THE LAW.

IT'S THE ONE THING -- WHEN I WAS CHASING MURDERERS ARE CHILD ABUSERS OR CORRUPT POLITICIANS, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND THEM, YOU HAVE TO OBEY THE RULES, AND YOU CAN'T BE WHAT IT IS YOU'RE CHASING.

>> AND YOU DON'T THINK THE RULES ARE OBEYED UNDER THE GRAND JURY SECRECY LAWS?

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW WHAT LITTLE BIT I HAVE SEEN, I KNOW WHAT I HAVE SEEN, AND LOOKS TO ME LIKE ONE FORM OF CORRUPTION IS ATTACKED AND ANOTHER IS SWEPT UNDER THE RUG AND IGNORED.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM.

THE GRAND JURY SECRECY KEEPS IT NOT JUST DURING THE PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION OR INDICTMENT, BUT THEY CAN NEVER TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT WAS DONE.

IT'S -- WE NEED A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.

WE NEED OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES TO WORK.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN SAID I WAS WEAKENING THE STRENGTHEN LAW.

I'M TRYING TO STRENGTHEN THE GOVERNMENT.

THE FOUNDING FATHERS RECOGNIZED HUMAN FRAILTY AND WEAKNESS AND NOBODY IS TO BE TRUSTED WITH TOO MUCH POWER.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE.

DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME I WAS LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS, I WAS TESTING THE SYSTEM.

I WAS GIVING CHOICES TO PEOPLE IN HIGH PLACES, TRYING TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD DO.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS, I PUT THEM IN A POSITION THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN DOING THE ETHICAL THING OR DOING THE POLITICAL THING.

OF COURSE, THE LEGAL THING, THEY COULD DO EITHER, OR I DON'T KNOW -- BUT BETWEEN THE ETHICS AND POLITICS, IT'S AMAZING TO ME HOW MANY CHOOSE POLITICS OVER ETHICS.

HERE'S THE THING, THERE'S DOING WHAT'S MORALLY RIGHT, DOING WHAT'S LEGALLY RIGHT AND DOING WHAT IS POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT.

WHEN THOSE THREE THINGS LINE UP, THE WORLD IS GOOD.

YOU CAN DO THE MORALLY RIGHT THING, IT'S LEGAL AND POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT.

WHEN THOSE THINGS CONFLICT AND YOU HAVE A MORAL DILEMMA, WHICH DO YOU CHOOSE?

THAT'S THE MARK OF WHO YOU ARE.

I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S AMAZING TO ME HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE POLITICAL REALM WILL DO THE THINGS POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT, THE THING THAT LOOKS GOOD INSTEAD OF THE THING THAT IS GOOD AND DRAWS FIRE.

IT HAS DRIVEN HOME TO ME THE NECESSITY OF WORKING ON OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.

I WOULD HOPE -- I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT UNTIL RECENTLY THAT I COULD RELY ON MY FRIENDS WHO PROSECUTE CRIMINALS ALL THE TIME TO HELP ME GET THE BEST POSSIBLE SYSTEM.

THEY DON'T SEE IT.

THEY JUST DON'T SEE IT.

HERE'S THE THING.

UNTIL PEOPLE OPEN THEIR EYES UNLESS THEY ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING HOLISTICALLY AND TEST THEMSELVES -- WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT CORRUPTION ALL OF MY LIFE, MOSTLY MY OWN.

ONLY THEN CAN YOU GO AFTER OTHER CORRUPTION.

I HAVE DECIDED THIS IS THE END OF MY POLITICAL CAREER.

I'M DONE WITH POLITICS.

I THINK CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN CHANGING A FEW LAWS.

THE BILL I HAVE INTRODUCED, I BELIEVE IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO TRANSPARENCY, BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT IS HAVING PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND SEE IT, AND THERE ARE THINGS TO THE PROCESS WE CAN DO.

THE ETHIC'S BILL I HAVE INTRODUCED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE FLOOR, MAKE CHANGES, MAKES CHANGES TO THE PROCESS, AND IT WOULD MAKE OUR PROCESS -- BUT IF WE CAN'T TRUST THE PROCESS, THE REPUBLIC IS AT STAKE.

THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THE JURY BOX AND THE BALLOT BOX.

IF THOSE TWO THINGS FAIL, THEN WE ARE TOAST.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MIKE BALL OF MADISON.

GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> CAPITOL JOURNAL WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> STAY IN TOUCH WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL ONLINE AND TWITTER.

CONTACT US BY E-MAIL AT D DAILY AT EPT.ORG OR BY MAIL.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST REPRESENTATIVE DAVID STANDRIDGE.

>> THERE IS A BIT OF FLURRY, ELECTION RELATED BILLS.

YOU ARE CARRYING ONE OF THEM.

LET'S BEGIN THERE.

IT PROPOSES AN AUTOMATIC ONE TIME ELECTION AUDIT, SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE WOULD CARRY OUT THE AUDIT.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PHILOSOPHY HERE?

>> WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS, IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A ONE TIME POST ELECTION AUDIT AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION 2022.

THE REASON FOR THE BILL IS WE JUST WANT TO ENSURE VOTER CONFIDENCE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO AND THINGS ARE WHAT THEY APPEAR.

JUST LIKE ANY AUDIT, IT'S JUST TO CHECK THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AND HOPEFULLY, EVERYTHING IS WELL, BUT IT IS AN AUDIT PROCESS.

THIS IS A ONE TIME PILOT PROGRAM.

IT'S BASICALLY TO GET READY IN CASE WE WANT TO GO TO AN AUDIT PROCESS PERMANENTLY OF SOME TYPE.

38 STATES DO AN AUDIT PROCESS FOR THE ELECTIONS.

WITH THEE CONCERN NATIONWIDE WITH OUR ELECTIONS AND THE INTEGRITY, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE PRESERVE THAT AND PRESERVE INTEGRITY AND MAINLY VOTER CONFIDENCE IN OUR PROCESS.

>> WE DO THIS ONE TIME AND SEE HOW IT WORKS AND MAYBE DETERMINE FROM THEN ON OUT IF IT NEEDS TO BE A PERMANENT FIXTURE?

>> YES, I THINK THAT'S THE COURSE.

SEE HOW IT WORKS.

IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM.

WE CAN SEE WHAT WORKS, WHAT WE SHOULD TWEAK, WHAT WE SHOULD ADJUST AND LOOK AT SOME TYPE OF PROCESS THAT THERE WOULD BE AUDITS TO CHECK THE OUTCOME AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTIONS.

THIS IS JUST A SPOT CHECK, THIS AUDIT.

THIS PILOT PROGRAM WOULD JUST BE FOR THREE COUNTIES IN THE STATE.

ONE IS CHOSEN FROM NORTH ALABAMA, CENTRAL ALABAMA AND SOUTH ALABAMA.

WHAT WE WOULD DESIRE IS BEING A LARGER COUNTY, MEDIUM SIZED COUNTY AND A SMALLER COUNTY.

THEY WOULD GO IN.

THEY WOULD LOOK AT ONE STATEWIDE RACE, ONE LOCAL RACE AND CHECK THE RESULTS.

WHERE DOES THE BILL STAND RIGHT NOW?

>> IT HAS PASSED THE HOUSE.

IT IS NOW IN THE SENATE.

IT'S PASSED SENATE COMMITTEE AND WAITING ON ACTION IN THE SENATE.

>> AUDITS LIKE THE ONE YOU DESCRIBE HERE, THE ONE YOU PROPOSE, HERETOFORE ARE CONDUCTED, I ASSUME, WHEN PROBLEMS ARE DETECTED AND THERE IS A NEED OR CONCERN RAISED, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT NOW IN THE PROCESS, WHAT WOULD GENERALLY HAPPEN IS AN ELECTION CONTEST THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BY SOMEONE CONTESTING THE RESULTS AND GETTING A COURT ORDER TO DO THAT, UNSEAL THE BALLOTS AND RECOUNT THAT IF GIVEN THAT COURT ORDER.

IT'S COSTLY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WOULD BE CONTESTING THAT, AND THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT WOULD BE IN PLACE NOW IF NO ONE BRINGS A CONTEST, THEN THE RECORDS ARE SEALED AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENS.

THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY TYPE OF SPOT CHECK OR ANY TYPE OF PROCESS OTHER THAN SOME TYPE OF CONTEST.

>> ALABAMA'S ELECTION PROCESS HAS BEEN WIDELY PRAISED DURING THE LAST YEAR IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THE ALLEGATIONS OF ELECTION FRAUD AND THAT SORT OF THING.

WE HAVE NOT HAD SPECIFIC PROBLEMS IN GEORGIA, BUT MORE IN RESPONSE TO THE NATIONAL CONTROVERSY?

>> YES, AND BEFORE THIS NATIONAL CONTROVERSY, WE HAD THE BILL PREPARED LAST YEAR.

WE WERE READY TO GO FORWARD BEFORE A LOT OF THOSE CONTROVERSIAL THINGS HAPPENED IN THE NATIONAL ELECTION.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS.

I'M A FORMER PROBATE JUDGE.

I RETIRED FROM THE POSITION.

OBVIOUSLY, WAS IN CHARGE A GOOD BIT FOR ALL OF OUR ELECTION PROCESSES IN THE COUNTY THERE IN BLUNT.

I JUST SEE A NEED THAT WE HAVE AN AUDIT PROCESS THAT WE CAN CHECK THAT.

WE HAVE HAD REALLY GOOD ELECTIONS.

I DON'T EXPECT US TO FIND PROBLEMS IN THE AUDIT.

I HOPE WE DON'T FIND PROBLEMS IF WE PASS THE BILL AND DO THE AUDIT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEWS AND NATIONAL NARRATIVE THAT WE KEEP THE PROCESS LIKE THAT, THAT WE KEEP OUR INTEGRITY, MAINLY KEEP CONFIDENCE FROM OUR VOTERS.

>> LET'S TURN TO ANOTHER BILL YOU ARE DEALING WITH THIS YEAR, PISTOL PERMITS RELATING TO ACTIVE DUTY AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS.

THEY WOULD BE IN THIS BILL.

>> I PASSED A BILL TO ALLOW A MILITARY MEMBER TO RECEIVE A PISTOL PERMIT WITHOUT PAYING A FEE.

THIS IS A WAY TO HONOR THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS.

LOOKING AT THAT AND LISTENING TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY, THEN -- WE WANTED TO EXPAND THAT.

THIS BILL WOULD EXPAND FROM NOT JUST RETIRED MILITARY TO ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS AND MEMBERS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A PISTOL PERMIT WITHOUT PAYING A FEE ALSO.

THE SAME REASONS.

WE WANT TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED.

I FEEL LIKE PERSONALLY THEY HAVE PAID THE PRICE FOR THAT.

THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS ANYONE ELSE THAT WENT INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHATEVER TYPE OF CHECKS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS AND THE NORMAL PROCESS.

WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT, THEY WOULDN'T PAY A FEE.

THE SHERIFF SHOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY A FEE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DAVID STANDRIDGE, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

CAPITOL JOURNAL WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES ON THE ALABAMA TELEVISION WEBSITE APT.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

CONNECT WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL ON CAPITOL JOURNAL'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, INCLUDING EXPECTED HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION ON A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE.

AND WE ARE SCHEDULED TO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE MERIKA COLEMAN OF PLEASANT GROVE, WHO WILL DISCUSS HER BILLS DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FIREARMS AND PROSTITUTION.

WE ARE ALSO SET TO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE GIL ISBELL OF GADSDEN, WHO WILL DISCUSS THE GOVERNOR SIGNING INTO LAW HIS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR HOME DELIVERY OF SEALED CONTAINERS OF BEER, WINE AND SPIRITS.

FOR ALL OF US AT CAPITOL JOURNAL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.