>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, RACIAL PROFILING, CURBSIDE VOTING AND DRIVE-THROUGH BEER AND WINE SALES ALL MADE FOR A BUSY DAY FOR THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

WE'LL GET TO IT ALL, BUT FIRST THE FINANCING FOR GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S PRIVATE LEASE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN.

AS WE REPORTED LAST NIGHT, TWO BOND ISSUE UNDERWRITERS HAVE PULLED OUT FINANCING A BOND ISSUE, AFTER ONE OF THEM WAS CRITICIZED FOR BREAKING A PROMISE TO STOP SUPPORTING FOR-PROFIT PRISON COMPANIES.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT SHE WOULD CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR PRISON PROJECT AND TODAY SHE SUGGESTED THAT SHE WOULD BE OPEN TO SEEKING LAWMAKER SUPPORT FOR A BOND ISSUE.

THAT AFTER LEGISLATIVE BUDGET LEADERS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE STEVE CLOUSE OF OZARK SAID THEY FELT IVEY SHOULD ABANDON HER PRIVATE LEASE DEAL AND PURSUE A STATE BOND ISSUE.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD DEAL FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND WE CAN BUILD THESE NEW PRISONS.

AT THE END OF A 30 YEAR PAYOUT, WE OWN THE PRISONS THEN, FOR EVER HOW LONG THEY STAND THE TEST OF TIME, HOPEFULLY A HUNDRED YEARS.

WE CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO PUT AN END TO THIS LEASE-BILL PLAN AND LET'S GET THE LEGISLATURE TOGETHER.

LET'S GET THIS BOND ISSUE PASSED AND BUILD THESE PRISONS ON OUR OWN PROPERTY.

>> DON: A HOUSE BILL THAT WOULD SET UP A PRISON BOND ISSUE WAS DRAFTED EARLIER THIS YEAR, IN CASE THE PRIVATE LEASE DEAL FELL THROUGH.

IF THAT BILL WERE FORMALLY INTRODUCED, QUESTIONS REMAIN AS TO WHETHER IT COULD BE PASSED IN THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME LEFT IN LAWMAKERS' CURRENT SESSION.

AND THERE'S ALSO PRECEDENT TO CONSIDER, PREVIOUS PRISON BOND ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT SENATOR ANDREW JONES OF CENTRE TELLS CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT A LOT'S CHANGED SINCE LAWMAKERS LAST CONSIDERED SUCH A MOVE, INCLUDING A FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER OUR PRISON PROBLEMS.

>> THIS TIME AROUND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NEW CROP OF MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATURE, MYSELF INCLUDED.

WE HAD A HUGE TURNOVER AS YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS KNOW, DON.

I SAY, GIVE US A SHOT.

IF THERE'S ONE WORD I CAN USE TO DESCRIBE THE NEW CLASS OF LEGISLATURES THAT CAME IN 2018, THE WORD I WOULD USE IS PRAGMATIC.

I THINK WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS.

SO, I SAY, GIVE US A SHOT AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> DON: SENATOR JONES WILL JOIN US ON THE BROADCAST SHORTLY TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE PRISON FINANCE ISSUE.

THE SENATE TODAY PASSED A RACIAL PROFILING BILL THAT BIRMINGHAM SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN HAS PRESSED FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

HE OUTLINED HIS PREMISE ON THE FLOOR OF THE UPPER CHAMBER.

>> WELL, HEARING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM ENGAGING IN SUCH CONDUCT AND REQUIRING STATE MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO PROHIBIT RACIAL PROFILING.

AS I SAID, DEFINES RACIAL PROFILING DETENTION, INTERDICTION AND OTHER DISPARAGENT THINGS BASED SOLELY ON RACE OR STATUS.

>> DON: UNDER SMITHERMAN'S LEGISLATION, CITY, COUNTY AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD ADOPT WRITTEN POLICIES TO PROHIBIT RACIAL PROFILING AND THEY WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO KEEP RECORDS OF TRAFFIC STOPS TO TRACK WHETHER SUCH PROFILING IS OCCURRING.

WITH TODAY'S SENATE PASSAGE, THE BILL NOW MOVES TO THE HOUSE.

WITH A BILL TO BAN CURBSIDE VOTING IN THE STATE POISED FOR SENATE ACTION, A SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY REJECTED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW SUCH VOTING, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

IT WAS SPONSORED BY MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO, WHO ADDRESSED THE SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TODAY.

>> MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO GO INTO THE VOTING BOXES, WHO ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS, PEOPLE THAT ARE PREGNANT, ELDERLY PEOPLE AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO GIVE ALABAMIANS FREE ACCESS TO THE POLLING PLACE AND NOT TAKING IT AWAY FROM THEM.

>> I HAVE TWO CONCERNS ABOUT THIS BILL.

NUMBER ONE, THE COST, PUTTING A POLL WORKER OUTSIDE AT THE CURBSIDE BOX; AND NUMBER TWO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I STAND TO BE CORRECTED BUT THAT WE HAVE ABSENTEE VOTING THAT HANDLES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, HAVING DIFFICULT TIMES GETTING TO THE POLLS, ET CETERA.

>> DON: SUPPORTERS OF BANNING CURBSIDE VOTING IN ALABAMA HAVE RAISED BALLOT CHAIN OF CUSTODY SECURITY ISSUES.

ALABAMA LAW DOES NOT CURRENTLY ALLOW FOR CURBSIDE VOTING, BUT IT IS NOT EXPLICITLY BARRED.

THE ALABAMA HOUSE TODAY APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR DRIVE-THROUGH OR WALK-UP WINDOW SALES OF BEER AND WINE IN THE STATE.

IT'S SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE GIL ISBELL OF GADSDEN, WHO RECENTLY SUCCESSFULLY SPONSORED A BILL THAT WILL ALLOW HOME DELIVERY OF BEER, WINE AND SPIRTS.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY HAS ALREADY SIGNED THE LATTER BILL INTO LAW.

WITH THE DRIVE-THROUGH AND WALK-UP WINDOW BEER AND WINE SALES LEGISLATION PASSING THE HOUSE TODAY, IT NEXT MOVES TO THE SENATE.

THE SENATE TODAY APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD PUT ALABAMA ON PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, IF CONGRESS ALLOWS STATES TO DO SO.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME IS FEDERALLY MANDATED AND ONLY A CHANGE IN FEDERAL LAW WOULD ALLOW STATES TO MOVE TO A YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULE.

15 STATES HAVE SO FAR PASSED LAWS AUTHORIZING PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, IF AUTHORIZED BY WASHINGTON.

TODAY'S SENATE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS WITH NO DEBATE AND THE MATTER NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP, SENATOR ANDREW JONES FROM CENTRE, ALABAMA AND I WANT TO BEGIN WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THE PRISON FRONT.

THIS WEEK, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT COUPLE OF UNDERWRITERS FOR GOVERNOR IVEY'S PRIVATE PRISON PLAN PULLED OUT.

AND GOVERNOR IVEY SAYS SHE'S GOING TO FORGE AHEAD.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE LEGISLATURE COULD HANDLE THE ISSUE.

IT IS CONCERTING AND THE DEAL SEEMS TO BE IMPLODING ALL AROUND US AS THE CREDITORS PULL OUT.

IT MAKES ME WONDER WITH WHAT'S LEFT, WHAT THE INTEREST RATES WOULD BE.

THE DEAL WAS ALREADY CONCERNING BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN GET MORE FOR OUR MONEY WITH A BOND ISSUE.

WE WON'T EVEN OWN THE PRISONS AT THE END OF THE 30 YEAR LEASE.

SO, THINK FOR LESS MONEY OR EQUIVALENT MONEY WE CAN GET MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK.

AND THAT'S WHERE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN.

WE'RE ON STANDBY NOW AND JUST TEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN.

>> AND I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT SOME COLLEAGUES SAY GIVE SHOULD PERHAPS ABANDON THE PLAN AND HAVE A BOND ISSUE.

THEY HAVE EVEN PROPOSED A SPECIAL SESSION ON THIS ISSUE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT PROSPECT?

>> WELL, A SPECIAL SESSION ALWAYS COSTS TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY TO DO A SPECIAL SESSION.

SO, MY THINKING IS, WE DO HAVE TIME IN THE REGULAR SESSION TO HANDLE IT.

AND HAD THE GOVERNOR, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO TALK TO THE LEADERSHIP AND GET THE BALL ROLLING IF WE ARE TO DO SOMETHING DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

I DO AGREE THAT THE BOND ISSUE IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT.

NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO SPEND MONEY ON PRISONS, BUT IT'S NEEDED.

WE WANT TO AVOID DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMING IN AND TAKING OVER OUR PRISON SYSTEM.

WE WANT TO SHOW THAT WE'RE WILLING TO REFORM, HIRING MORE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND OUR LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS ARE READY TO STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE IF WE NEED TO.

>> AND IN SOMEWHAT PRESCIENT MOVE, THERE WAS A MOVE FOR A PRISON BOND ISSUE IN CASE THIS PRIVATE LEASE DEAL SOMEHOW FELL THROUGH.

I GUESS, IT'S WAITING IN THE WINGS AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE IF IT WERE TO BE INTRODUCED, THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH TIMES LEFT IN THE DAYS TO GET IT OUT?

TIM: WINDOW IS RAPIDLY CLOSING AND THE GOVERNOR IS TAKING AN ISSUE ON IT, BUT PATH TO THE SUCCESS WITH THE LEAST PROGRAM IS RAPIDLY DECLINING.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL WAIT AND SEE.

THERE IS A NARROW PATH.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, WE HAVE TO DO THAT IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Don: DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE WOULD APPROVE A BOND ISSUE.

AND I ASKED THE QUESTIONS IN THE CONTEXT, GIVE CAME FORWARD WITH THE PRIVATE LEASE DIAL AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS FOR THE BOND ISSUE OVER THE LAST, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS.

>> I WOULD SAY THIS TIME AROUND, WE HAVE A NEW CROP OF MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATURE, MYSELF INCLUDED.

WE HAD A HUGE TURNOVER AS YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS KNOW, DON.

I SAY, GIVE US A SHOT.

THERE'S ONE WORD THAT I CAN USE TO DESCRIBE THE NEW CLASS OF LEGISLATORS THAT CAME IN 2018, THE WORD I WOULD USE IS PRAGMATIC.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS.

AND GIVE US A SHOT AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> NOW, I WANT TO TURN TO ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATURES, LOCAL BILL UP IN YOUR COUNTY, ETOWAH, AND GAINED STATEWIDE ATTENTION, ANIMAL BUY PRODUCT PLANT.

AND INITIALLY, YOU SOUGHT TO PROHIBIT THE PLANT.

NOW, WHAT YOU ARE ASKING TO DO IS GIVE PROPERTY OWNERS RIGHTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST DEVALUATION FROM THIS PROPERTY AND THAT SORT OF THING.

TELL US WHAT'S ON THE TABLE NOW AND WHAT THE STATUS IS.

>> SURE.

EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE IS MEANT TO DISCOURAGE THIS PLANT FROM LOCATED IN ETOWAH COUNTY.

AND THIS IS KNOWN AS A RENDERING PLAN.

AND THIS IS KIND OF DISGUSTING TO HEAR THE DETAILS.

BUT CHICKEN GUTS, TANKERS FULL OF BLOOD, AND SUCH, AND WE HAVE MAYOR IN THE CITY COUNCIL IN GADSDEN HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PUSH THE FACILITY ON TO EVERYBODY IN ETOWAH COUNTY.

AND NO ONE WANTS IT.

I CAN'T NAME A SINGLE PERSON THAT WANTS IT IN THIS COUNTY.

>> WHAT'S THE CONCERN?

>> THAT IT WILL DEVALUE PROPERTY.

IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE AIRPORT AND THESE FACILITIES ATTRACT BIRDS WHICH POSES DANGER TO OUR AIRPORT.

AND AT THIS NOT THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU COME IN, FLY IN ON A CORPORATE JET AND THERE YOU ARE AT A RENDERING PLANT.

THERE'S ODOR SITUATIONS.

AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE LOCATED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

BUT INSTEAD, FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO PUT IT NEAR SOME OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE COUNTY, ACROSS FROM A MEGA CHURCH, NEAR SCHOOLS, AND NEXT TO THE AIRPORT.

ACTUALLY ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE AIRPORT CURRENTLY.

SO, WE HAVE A GROUP OF OVER 9,000 CITIZENS IN ETOWAH COUNTY OPPOSED TO THE FACILITY COMING.

AND IT'S VERY CLEAR TO ME, I'M GOING TO SIDE WITH MY PEOPLE.

THERE'S 9,000 ON ONE SIDE AND SEVEN COUNCILMAN AND A MAYOR ON THE OTHER.

SO, IT'S VERY CLEAR WHO SHOULD BE IN THE RIGHT ON THAT SITUATION.

>> YOUR COMPENSATION HAS SEEN AN INTERESTING JOURNEY.

IT HAS HAD THREE ATTEMPTS TO GET IT OUT OF THE UPPER CHAMBER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SEVERAL LEGISLATORS AND SOME WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME SAID THEY NEVER HAVE SEEN ONE THAT HAD THREE CONSIDERATIONS IN THE SAME DAY.

AND I WAS JUST DETERMINED, YOU KNOW.

I HAD A LOT OF HELP FOR SOME FOLKS, COLLEAGUES THAT WERE WILLING TO HELP ME WITH THE BILL.

I WAS DETERMINED TO GET IT THROUGH NO MATTER WHAT.

AND IT TOOK A FOUR HOUR FILIBUSTER AND OTHER PROCEDURES, MANEUVERS AND GOT DOWN TO THE HOUSE.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT.

>> THIS BILL MEANS EVERYTHING TO THE FOLKS IN ETOWAH COUNTY.

THEY WANT TO BE SURE ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES, GO TO WORSHIP, GO TO SCHOOL AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE PLANT.

>> YOU EXPRESSED STRONG SENTIMENTS ABOUT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

IS IT AN ECONOMIC ISSUE AS YOU SEE IT FOR THEM?

>> WHAT THEY ARE SELLING, FOLKS, IS JOBS.

BUT REALLY BASED ON ALL OF THE STUDIES THAT I HAVE SEEN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MIGRANT OR TRANSIENT WORKERS NOT JOBS FOR HOMETOWN FOLKS.

AND AND THE REAL EFFECT IS THAT WATER SALES AND WATER TREATMENT, 600 MILLION GALLONS TO THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT A DAY.

IT'S AN ECONOMIC BOONDOGGLE CLOAKED IN JOBS AND OTHER THINGS.

>> HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO THEM IN THE PROCESS.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> TO TRY TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND.

>> WE'VE TALKED TO THEM, HAD PEOPLE PROTESTING AT COUNCIL MEETINGS.

AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

AND THIS ALL HAS BEEN GOING ON THIS NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE IN A SITUATION UNFORTUNATELY WHERE THEY HAVE DUG IN THEIR HEELS AND UNWILLING TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT.

SO, THAT'S WHERE I, AS STATE SENATOR, COME INTO THE PICTURE AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

>> AND YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC THIS MAY MAKE PASSAGE BEFORE THE FINAL SESSION.

>> WE'VE RUN INTO HURDLES IN THE HOUSE AND THE BILL WAS PUT IN A SEPARATE COMMITTEE AND AS YOU KNOW FROM DEALING WITH OTHER LEGISLATION, RARE FOR A BILL TO GO THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THIS.

HAS GONE THROUGH LOCAL LEGISLATION AND IS NOW IN THE SECOND COMMITTEE AND WE SUSPECT THAT IT'S BEEN SENT THERE TO DIE A GRIZZLY DEATH, SO TO SPEAK.

WE ARE WORKING TO GET THE BILL OUT AND MOVING BUT THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE, JUST ARE NOT SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE FOLKS IN ETOWAH COUNTY.

AND THAT'S MY FIRST AND FOREMOST CONCERN.

>> SENATOR ANDREW JONES OF CENTRE, ALABAMA AND ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE PROD CAST, REPRESENTATIVE PRINCE CHESTNUT UP ON THE SHOW.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

>> LOTS OF EYES ON ON THE LEGISLATURE THIS FINAL POINT OF THE SESSION.

AND IF NOT FOR DEBATE, THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING BILL NOT ONLY BRINGING LOTTERY TO THE STATE BUT BRINGS ABOUT CASINOS, AND I'M WONDERING HOW FEEL ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS THE HOUSE GETS READY TO TAKE IT UP.

>> WELL, I FEEL THAT, I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT SEE THE INCOME, THE REVENUE STREAM THAT COULD GO TO HELP SO MANY IN OUR STATE TO THE SURROUNDING STATES.

SO, I AM IN FAVOR OF US MOVING FORWARD WITH COMPREHENSIVE BILL.

I JUST BELIEVE THAT THE BILL NEEDS TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE.

IF THERE ARE SOME ENTITIES OPERATING NOW, THINK THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE OR BE GIVEN SOME LEVEL OF CERTAINTY.

AS FAR AS WHAT WILL BE PERMITTED AND HOW LONG IT WILL BE PERMITTED.

BUT JUST TO SHUT OFF AND SHUT DOWN PEOPLE, SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS AND GOING AND COMING IN COMMUNITIES WHO OTHERWISE DON'T HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF AN AMAZON OR A GOOGLE, OR FACEBOOK OR HIGH YIELDING, HIGH PAYING JOB.

I THINK WE HAVE TO SHOW COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE.

>> THERE ARE POCKETS OF THE STATE WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING FACILITIES AND MAJOR EMPLOYERS OF POCKETS OF PEOPLE.

>> AND I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE I'M FROM AN AREA OF THE STATE WHERE WE JUST UNDERSTAND STRUGGLE.

WE UNDERSTAND TRYING TO TAKE 15 CENTS AND STRETCH IT AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO.

SO, WHENEVER THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM SOME TYPE OF RELIEF FINANCIALLY, THEN I'M ALL FOR THAT.

>> HAVE YOU HEARD FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS FROM BACK HOME AT LEAST WANTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE ISSUE OR IS IT ULTIMATELY UP TO THE PEOPLE.

>> THEY DEFINITELY WANT TO VOTE BUT THOSE ARE FOLKS, WHETHER THEY ARE LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE, IN MY DISTRICT, THEY WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.

>> AND THIS MAY GET OUT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND IN THE GAMBLING SESSION SOME FORM OR FASHION.

>> I'M TOTALLY OPTIMISTIC WE'RE STILL 105 PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE AND IT IS, THE HOUSE IS DISTINCTLY A DIFFERENT CHAMBER AS YOU KNOW, FROM THE SENATE.

IT'S A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO CORRAL A HUNDRED FIVE FOLKS VERSUS 35.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S, WE'RE LIKE THIS FOR A REASON.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FLESH OUT SOME ISSUES AND GET TO A POINT WHERE THERE'S AN EQUAL GNASHING OF TEETH AND THEN TRY TO FIND A COMMON GROUND.

>> AND YOU ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC YOU SAY.

>> YES, SIR.

>> AND LET'S MOVE OVER TO SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT YOU ARE SPONSORING.

I'LL REMIND FOLKS YOU ARE A RETIRED JUDGE IN SELMA, AND CURRENTLY PRACTICING ATTORNEY.

YOU HAD A BILL THIS YEAR, NEXT STOP IS THE SENATE -- WELL, THE HOUSE FLOOR.

A JUDICIAL PAY BILL PROPOSING A UNIFORM PAY PLAN FOR JUDGES THAT RUN THE GAMUT, FROM THE CIRCUIT IN DISTRICT LEVEL ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND CHIEF JUSTICE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

AND THE WAY THAT THIS BILL WAS CONCEIVED WAS THERE WAS A JUDICIAL COMPENSATION COMMISSION THAT CAME TOGETHER AND MET TOGETHER FOR OVER TWO YEARS.

THESE WERE NON ACTIVE JUDGES, MANY RETIRED JUDGES.

THEY GOT TOGETHER AND THEY FLESHED OUT THE ISSUES.

THEY LOOKED AT SURROUNDING STATES.

AND THEY CAME UP WITH A RESTRUCTURING TO MAKE THINGS MORE FAIR, EQUITABLE AND UNIFORM AND TO GIVE US SOME PREDICTABILITY ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IN SOME COUNTIES, YOU MAY HAVE A DISTRICT JUDGE THAT MAY BE GETTING A SUPPLEMENT TO HIS SALARY.

THEN, THE NEIGHBORING COUNTY, THAT JUDGE IS NOT.

SO, YOU HAVE INEQUITIES OF PAY, AND UNIFORMITY IS A GOOD THING, YOU HAVE THE SCALE OF PAY, IT'S A GOOD THING.

YOU HAVE JUDGES NEWLY ELECTED, SERVING THE FIRST SIX YEARS.

THEY WILL BE, HAVE STEP 1.

STEP 1, WOULD BE DISTRICT JUDGE, PAY OF, I BELIEVE IT'S $139,000.

CIRCUIT IS ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE, AND THEN APPELLATE IS, I BELIEVE, $174,000.

AND THEN SUPREME COURT, $175,000.

AND THEN, IT SCALES UP FOR EACH TERM THAT THEY ARE ELECTED.

ASSOCIATION LIKE RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE JUDGES ARE GETTING INCREASE INS PAY ANNUALLY FOR SERVICE.

THEN, YOU HAVE SOME JUDGES WHO MAY HAVE STARTED OFF IN THE TRIAL BENCH AND NOW ARE ON THE APPELLATE BENCH.

THEY MAY BE PAID MORE THAN SOMEONE WHO IS ON THE SAME BENCH WITH THEM DOING THE SAME JOB.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, UNIFORMITY IS A BIG DEAL.

THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THIS BILL IS A GOOD BILL AND DESERVES TO BE -- >> I MENTIONED THAT THE BILL IS MOVING.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT IT'S GOING TO GET OUT?

>> YES, I AM.

AND ALSO, IT'S A BIPARTISAN BILL.

I WAS ABLE TO GET THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF LAWYERS IN THE HOUSE TO COSPONSOR.

SO, WE FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT.

>> Don: TIME IS SHORT, REPRESENTATIVE BUT BEFORE WE CLOSE, I WANTED TO BRING UP A VOTING-RELATED BILL YOU BROUGHT UP.

AND THERE'S SO MANY BILLS BROUGHT UP LIKE THAT IN THE CONTROVERSY OVER THAT.

AND YOUR BILL PRO PROPOSED AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION IN ALABAMA.

IT HAS NOT MOVED BUT YOU THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE WORTH REEXPLORING OR REVISITING AT SOME POINT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

I BELIEVE WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE.

YOU KNOW, VOTING, WE CALL IT A RIGHT, BUT WE TREAT IT LIKE A VERY DISTINCT AND INSULAR PRIVILEGE.

WHEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE SAYING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR LIVES CHANGED AS A RESULT OF BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE.

I MEAN, I BELONG TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE "AMERICAN EXPERIENCE" HAS BEEN EXPONENTIALLY EXPANDED BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND SO, I JUST BELIEVE THAT WHOEVER IS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND WE NEED TO FACILITATE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.

ULTIMATELY, WHEN YOU GET REGISTERED, YOU STILL HAVE TO BE MOTIVATED, GET UP, AND GO VOTE.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU ARE DOING A CONCIERGE SERVICE FOR ANYBODY.

YOU ARE JUST GIVING ONE LESS HURDLE SO THEY CAN BE REGISTERED AND OPT OUT IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH IT.

IF THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED.

SO, I BELIEVE THIS IS A WORTHY BILL THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN AN UP OR DOWN VOTE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE PRINCE CHESTNUT OF SELMA, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> Don: AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> 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 THE RECORD $7.6 BILLION ALABAMA EDUCATION BUDGET.

AND WE'RE SET TO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE REX REYNOLDS OF HUNTSVILLE, WHO WILL DISCUSS HIS BILL THAT WOULD ADD LAW ENFORCEMENT TO A PROTECTED CLASS THAT INCLUDES RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ETHNICITY, OR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY.

WE'RE ALSO SET TO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE ROLANDA HOLLIS OF BIRMINGHAM, WHO WILL TALK ABOUT HER BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT FREE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS BE PLACED IN STATE SCHOOLS, AND SHE'LL TALK ABOUT HER CONCERNS OVER LEGISLATION THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE ALABAMA MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT.

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

I'M DON DAILEY.