>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

LEADING THE NEWS THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS COMING TO ALABAMA.

THE PRESIDENT IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT TROY ON TUESDAY WHERE HE'LL TOUR THE LOCKHEED MARTIN MISSILE ASSEMBLY FACTORY LOCATED THERE.

LOCKHEED ASSEMBLES THE JAVELIN MISSILE SYSTEM IN ITS PIKE COUNTY FACILITY.

THE UNITED STATES IS SUPPLYING THESE ANTI-TANK MISSILES TO UKRAINE TO HELP DEFEND ITSELF FROM RUSSIAN FORCES THAT INVADED THE COUNTRY TWO MONTHS AGO.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY HAS SAID SHE WILL NOT BE ON HAND TO WELCOME THE PRESIDENT TO ALABAMA.

2ND DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN BARRY MOORE WILL ALSO NOT BE ATTENDING.

CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL, THE DELEGATION'S ONLY DEMOCRAT, WILL JOIN THE PRESIDENT IN TROY.

>> WELL, IT IS POLITICAL SEASON AS CAMPAIGNS ARE HEATING UP.

THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR MAY 24, SOME 25 DAYS AWAY.

THE MOST-WATCHED RACE IS THE REPUBLICAN CONTEST FOR U.S. SENATE, WHERE CONGRESSMAN MO BROOKS, ARMY VETERAN MIKE DURANT, AND FORMER BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA PRESIDENT KATIE BRITT ARE BATTLING IT OUT TO SEE WHO WILL REPLACE RETIRING U.S.

SENATOR RICHARD SHELBY.

NOW IS ABOUT THE TIME IN THE CAMPAIGN WHEN A DEBATE WOULD BE EXPECTED, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WON'T HAPPEN.

>> ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN JOHN WAHL TOLD AL.COM THAT THE PARTY HAD COMMITMENTS FROM BROOKS AND BRITT, BUT THAT DURANT'S CAMPAIGN WOULD NOT AGREE TO ANY OF THE DATES.

IN THE LAST PUBLICLY AVAILABLE POLL, DURANT WAS IN THE LEAD WITH BRITT A CLOSE SECOND AND BROOKS A DISTANT THIRD.

OFTENTIMES, FRONTRUNNING CANDIDATES ARE HESITANT TO DEBATE FOR FEAR A GAFFE WOULD COST THEM THEIR LEAD.

THE RACE IS LIKELY TO GO TO A RUNOFF BETWEEN THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS, WHEN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT DEBATES WILL RESURFACE.

>> STATE OFFICIALS HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT TO BUILD THE FIRST OF AT LEAST TWO NEW STATE PRISONS.

IT'S PART OF A $1.3 BILLION DOLLAR PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN ENACTED LAST YEAR.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S OFFICE SAID THE STATE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH CADDELL CONSTRUCTION TO BUILD A SPECIALIZED MEN'S PRISON IN ELMORE COUNTY.

THE 4,000 BED FACILITY WILL BE SAFER AND OFFER ENHANCED MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ACCORDING TO IVEY'S OFFICE.

THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS NOT YET RELEASED COPIES OF THE CONTRACT, SAYING PROPRIETARY INFORMATION BUT FIRST BE REDACTED.

THE STATE'S PLAN ALSO INCLUDED ANOTHER PRISON WITH AT LEAST 4,000 BEDS IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY, PLUS A NEW WOMEN'S PRISON AND RENOVATIONS TO EXISTING FACILITIES.

ANOTHER PART OF THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN WAS THE PURCHASE AND RENOVATION OF THE PERRY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

THE IDEA WAS TO ALLOW THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES TO USE THE FACILITY TO HELP INMATES LEAVING PRISON REENTER SOCIETY MORE SUCCESSFULLY AND TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING BACK TO PRISON.

THAT PART OF THE PLAN IS MOVING FORWARD, AS "CAPITOL JOURNAL'"S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE MORE THAN 43,000 PEOPLE IN ALABAMA UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ALABAMA BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

AND ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE RECOMMITTING CRIMES AND RETURNING TO PRISON.

FACILITIES LIKE THIS WILL HELP END THAT TREND.

>> WHAT INFORMATION ONCE A NEW PRISON NEAR UNIONTOWN ALABAMA IS NOW SEEING NEW LIFE.

WELCOME TO THE ALABAMA BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES NEW PROBATION PAROLE RE-ENTRY EDUCATION PROGRAM, OR P.R.

P. CENTER.

DOZENS GATHER AT THE FACILITY FOR IT'S GRAND OPENING.

>> WHICH WILL GIVE PAROLEE'S CHANCE TO GET WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, TRAINING, AND THE FACT THAT WE HAD HARVEST SELECT, A LOCAL EMPLOYER, RIGHT HERE TODAY, ITS OWNER AND CEO TALKING ABOUT BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THE FOLKS THAT GRADUATE FROM THIS CENTER TO ACTUALLY GET GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.

>> SOMEONE WHO IS OUT ON PAROLE, WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO?

MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GO BACK, DON'T COMMIT A CRIME AGAIN.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND HELP THEM GET A JOB.

THAT IS A SECRET SUCCESS.

AND THE DATA SHOWS IT WORKS.

>> THIS NEW PR.

HE EP FACILITY IS TRULY ONE OF A KIND, THE LARGEST IN THE PROGRAMS HISTORY, AND THOSE BEHIND THE SYSTEM HOPE IT'S THE BLUEPRINT OF FUTURE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT ALABAMA.

>> THE DOORS OPEN ALLOWING GUESTS TO SEE THE NEW TOOLS ALLOWED MAKE THIS UNIQUE WITH THE GOALS OF HELPING PEOPLE RETURN TO SOCIETY.

AN IDEA, SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON HAS CHAMPIONED FOR A LONG TIME.

>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS TO UTILIZE THIS FACILITY FOR SOMETHING.

WE TRIED TO USE IT FOR A TRADITIONAL PRISON.

SO WHEN ARE DIRECTOR WARD CAME ON BOARD WITH THE ALABAMA PARDONS AND PAROLES WE DECIDED TO SHIFT THE NARRATIVE AND START TALK AUTOMATIC ABOUT HOW DO WE GIVE PEOPLE SECOND CHANCES.

>> AND AN IDEA THAT IS WELL RECEIVED.

>> WE HAVE FRIENDS LOCKED UP AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS BUT YOU HAVE PEOPLE WITH DRUG ISSUES AND OTHER TYPES OF THING THAT NEED PLAN LIKE THIS TO GET REHAB, TO GET A TRADE, TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIFE.

>> THIS IS GREAT FOR OUR AREA, BECAUSE, FOR ONE, IT BRINGS ABOUT A REPURPOSE FACILITY THAT HAS US BEHIND IT A VERY GREAT AND STRONG OBJECTIVE THAT WILL HELP BUILD OUR COMMUNITY AS OPPOSE TO DO TAKE AWAY FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> A FEDERAL JUDGE WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS NEXT WEEK ON WHETHER TO BLOCK ENFORCEMENT OF A NEW STATE LAW PROHIBITING THE USE OF MEDICATIONS TO AID IN THE GENDER TRANSITION OF MINORS.

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE LILES BURKE WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS FROM PLAINTIFFS THAT THE LAW IS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATION OF EQUAL PROTECTION AND FREE SPEECH RIGHTS.

THE RECENTLY-ENACTED LAW WILL MAKE IT A FELONY, PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON, FOR DOCTORS TO PRESCRIBE PUBERTY BLOCKERS OR PERFORM GENDER TRANSITION SURGERIES ON ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 19.

THE HEARING IS SET FOR MAY 5, JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE THE LAW IS SET TO TAKE EFFECT.

MEDICAID ENROLLMENT IN ALABAMA HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AS THE PROGRAM OPERATES UNDER A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT THAT PEOPLE CAN'T BE UNENROLLED BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THEIR INCOME.

TWO YEARS AGO, IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BOOSTED FUNDING FOR STATES' MEDICAID BUDGETS, BUT SAID ENROLLEES COULDN'T BE REMOVED.

THE REQUIREMENT WAS RENEWED LAST WEEK FOR THE EIGHTH TIME.

THE POLICY HAS MEANT ENROLLMENT GROWTH OF AS MANY AS 200,000 PEOPLE IN TWO YEARS.

GRAPHIC IN 2020, MEDICAID ENROLLMENT WAS 1.05 MILLION PEOPLE.

BY 2021 THAT NUMBER HAD GROWN TO 1.15 MILLION.

THIS YEAR MEDICAID ENROLLMENT IS 1.25 MILLION, PARTLY DUE TO THE FEDERAL POLICY.

MEDICAID IS A HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR THE LOW INCOME AND DISABLED.

CHILDREN ARE THE LARGEST GROUP OF ENROLLEES.

TO QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID, A FAMILY OF FOUR HAS TO EARN $40,524 OR LESS PER YEAR.

A NEW REPORT ON TEACHER RETENTION SHOWS SOME ALARMING STATISTICS ABOUT HOW MANY EDUCATORS ARE CHOOSING TO REMAIN IN THE CLASSROOM.

THE ALABAMA COMMISSION ON EVALUATION SERVICES REPORTS THAT MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF NEW TEACHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION WITHIN THREE YEARS.

BY COMPARISON, 44 PERCENT OF NEW TEACHERS NATIONALLY LEAVE WITHIN FIVE YEARS.

OF ALABAMA'S 143 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ONLY 18 HAVE A FIRST-TIME TEACHER RETENTION RATE OF ABOVE 60 PERCENT.

THE LEGISLATURE ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THIS YEAR.

THE EDUCATION BUDGET INCLUDES A 4 PERCENT RAISE FOR ALL EDUCATORS AND MUCH MORE GENEROUS RAISES FOR TEACHERS WITH MORE EXPERIENCE.

ALABAMA'S AVERAGE STARTING TEACHER SALARY IS HIGHER THAN ANY OF ITS SURROUNDING STATES.

ALABAMA'S FIRST CLASS PRE-K PROGRAM IS ONCE AGAIN TOPS FOR QUALITY NATIONWIDE - AND THE PROGRAM WILL AGAIN EXPAND THIS YEAR.

THE ALABAMA OFFICE OF SCHOOL READINESS, WHICH OVERSEES THE PRE-K PROGRAM, GOT A $22.5 MILLION INCREASE IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET, WHICH WILL ADD 96 CLASSROOMS IN 35 COUNTIES THIS FALL.

GOVERNOR IVEY'S OFFICE SAID ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS WILL BE FUNDED BASED ON THE EVALUATION OF HIGH-NEEDS AREAS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

ABOUT 42 PERCENT OF ELIGIBLE CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY SERVED BY FIRST CLASS PRE-K.

THE STATE HAS A GOAL OF RAISING THAT TO 70 PERCENT.

THE PROGRAM NEXT SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE 26,658 CHILDREN.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION MAY BE BEHIND US, BUT LAWMAKERS WERE BACK AT THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK FOR WORK IN THEIR OVERSIGHT ROLE.

THE JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION MET WEDNESDAY TO REVIEW THE LATEST PLANS AND PROJECTS FROM THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS THE STORY.

>> THE ALABAMA LEGISLATIVE JOINT EDUCATION COMMITTEE MET TO HEAR MULTIPLE REPORTS.

THE AGENDA INCLUDING THE ALABAMA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES WHICH GAVE ITS UPDATES ON THE CITIES THAT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE LOCAL MOTOR FUELS REPORT.

THE LEAGUE'S DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND RESEARCH SAYS THE NUMBER OF NONRESPONSES WAS QUITE LOW.

>> THIS YEAR, WE ARE 278 MUNICIPALITIES REPORT TO REVENUE TO BE INCLUDED IN ALDOT'S REPORT.

WE ONLY HAVE 12 NON-REPORTING MUNICIPALITIES WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE FROM YEARS PAST.

OF THOSE 12, EIGHT OF THEM WERE INCLUDED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.

SO IF YOU WERE TO COMBINE THAT WITH ALDOT THAT GIVES YOU ABOUT A 99 PERCENT REPORTING RATE.

>> THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PRESENTED ITS ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS.

IT ALSO TALKED ABOUT STATE FUNDED PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY THE REBUILD ALABAMA ACT.

THE LAW SETS ASIDE A PORTION OF GAS TAX REVENUE TO SUPPORT LOCAL ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS AND BRIDGE SAFETY IS ALWAYS A PRIMARY CONCERN.

>> BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS.

>> WHAT FORMULA DO YOU USE TO DETERMINE PRIORITY BRIDGE THAT YOU GO TO?

>> SO EACH BRIDGE HAS TO BE INSPECTED IN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME.

NORMALLY IT'S ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.

AS A BRIDGE AGES, THAT SCORE IS GOING TO START DETERIORATING.

FIT REACH'S CERTAIN POINT THAT INSPECTION REQUIREMENT BECOMES MORE FREQUENT.

SOME BRIDGES HAVE TO BE INSPECTED MONTHLY.

AS THOSE EVALUATIONS OCCUR AND THE SCORE DECREASES ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN OCCUR IS THAT WE POST A BRIDGE.

YOU ALL SEEN THIS WHERE A SIGN GOES UP AND IT'S NO LONGER VIABLE FOR ALL TRAFFIC TO CROSS A BRIDGE, ONLY CERTAIN LOADS, UP TO A CERTAIN LOAD, CAN CROSS IT.

>> THEY ALSO CONSIDER THE WIDTH OF A BRIDGE AND ITS OVERALL EVALUATION SCORE.

>> IN SOME CASES WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE BRIDGES HAVE HAD TO BE CLOSED BECAUSE THE EVALUATION THAT OCCURS IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE IT'S SAFE TO PUT TRAFFIC ON IT.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> SOME SAD NEWS FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEVE MCMILLAN DIED THURSDAY.

THE BALDWIN COUNTY LAWMAKER WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE HOUSE IN 1980, MAKING HIM THE LONGEST CURRENT SERVING MEMBER OF THAT BODY.

HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON CALLED MCMILLAN A CLOSE AND TRUSTED ADVISOR AND SAID HE SERVED AS A MENTOR TO MANY YOUNGER HOUSE MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS.

MCMILLAN ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY THAT HE HAD THREE BRAIN TUMORS AND WAS RETIRING FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

WE AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL" EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO MR. MCMILLAN'S FAMILY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY STATE SENATOR WRONGER SMITHERMAN FROM BIRMINGHAM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> AS ALWAYS, GLAD TO BE HERE, THANK YOU.

>> IT'S BAN FEW WEEKS SINCE Y'ALL HAVE ADJOURNED THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HAVE YOU CAUGHT YOUR BREATH?

HAVE YOU HAD TIME TO DECOMPRESS?

>> WELL, WHAT.

WHEN YOU WORK FOR YOURSELF, THE WORK THAT SLOWS DOWN, YOU'RE JUST SHIFTING IT OVER.

NOW I'M GETTING INTO THE STACKS NOW WITH ALL OF THE WORK THAT I HAVE TO DO.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS MAY NOT REALIZED THAT YOU DO A LOT OF WORK IN MONTGOMERY OUT OF SESSION.

Y'ALL ARE HERE TODAY FOR A JOINT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER LEGISLATIVE WORK THAT GOES ON.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

COMMITTEES CONTINUE TO MEET NO MATTER WHAT.

THEY HAVE HAD A SCHEDULE.

AND SOME OF THEM MEET MONTHLY, SOME MEET QUARTERLY BUT CONTINUE TO MEET.

AND SO WE HAVE TO COME -- INITIALLY, WE HAD VIRTUAL HEAR, BUT SINCE, YOU KNOW, THE MORATORIUM HAS BEEN LIFTED, WE HAVE TO COME IN PERSON: SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY AT THE CAPITOL FOR THE JOINT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES MEETING.

>> WELL, LOOKING BACKING A THE SESSION, IT'S PAN FEW WEEKS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE SESSION IN TERMS OF PRODUCTIVE, GETTING THE THINGS THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT DONE?

>> I WOULD GIVE US A -- A VERY GOOD GRADE.

I REALLY WOULD.

SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAD TO DEAL, NUMBER ONE, WITH SO MANY COMPLEX ISSUES.

WE REALLY DID.

SOME 1ST-IMPRESSION ISSUES FOR THE 1ST TIME.

AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THOSE ISSUES.

AND I HAVE TO REMIND YOU THAT WE HAD A SPECIAL SESSION WITHIN THE SESSION.

SO THE FACT THAT WE HAD TO STOP ALL OF THE FOCUS AND THE WORK, THE GRIND, AND THEN START A WHOLE NEW GRIND ON NEW ISSUES AND WHATNOT, THEN WHEN WE FINISHED THAT, GO BACK AND MIC UP THE MOMENTUM FROM WHEN WE STOPPED IN THE NORMAL SESSION, I THOUGHT THAT WE DID VERY WELL.

>> PLUS YOU CAUGHT UP FROM THE GO TWO WEEKS WITH BASICALLY THREE-DAY WEEKS EVERY WEEK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> TO CLOSE OUT THE SESSION, WHICH HAD US ALL JUST, YOU KNOW, HEAVY BREATHING AND SUCKING WIND.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE?

DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE WILL IF HE EVER GO BACK TO THAT AND TRY SUCH A FAST-PAVED GOING IN THE FUTURE SESSIONS?

>> I THINK IT'S A POSSIBILITY, DEPENDING ON THOSE EXTRA ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WITH THE EXTRA SESSION.

FROM TIME TO TIME WE HAVE ENOUGH THINGS OUT THERE NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH.

WE HAVE REDISTRICTING AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE SENT BACK IN ORDERS TO DO SOMETHING AND LOOK BACK AT THINGS AND THAT MAY DICTATE ANOTHER SPECIAL SEGMENTS.

AND THEN AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE ENOUGH IN FRONT OF STRUCTURE COMES DOWNING GOWN WITH ADDITIONAL MONEY.

UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES I CAN SEE US HAVING A THREE-DAY WORKWEEK AND PICKING UP THE PACE LIKE WE DID THIS TIME.

>> YOU HAD BUILT THAT YOU WORKED ON THIS TIME, SOME HIGH-PROFILE BILLS -- THE LITERACY ACT DELAY.

TWO BILLS -- ONE FROM YOU AND ONE FROM REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS.

HERS DEALING WITH TECHNICAL CONTACTS AND YOURS HOLDING IT BACK TWO YEARS.

THAT'S NOW ALLOW.

WHAT DO PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE LITERACY ACT, THE HOLD BACK PROVISION AND WHAT STUDENTS -- WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT FROM THEIR STUDENTS?

>> I THINK WHAT PARENTS NEEDS TO KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR WINDOW TO STRATEGIZE AND PLAN AND WORK TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL WHEN IT COMES TO READING OF THE CHILDREN WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM NOW.

I THINK SO THE PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ALL OF THOSE TWO-YEAR DELAY IS THAT WE'VE PUT IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO AT RISK FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO GET ADDITIONAL TRAINING, TO GET SUMMER SCHOOL, TO GET ADDITIONAL TUTORING SO THEY CAN BE BROUGHT UP TO THAT LEVEL.

SO THE CONTINUATION OF IT WASN'T TO DELAY ALL OF THE OTHER PROCESSES OF GETTING THEM AHEAD, IT WAS THE RETENTION SO THEY WOULDN'T PASS OR FAIL, YOU KNOW; THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE ON OUT OF THE 3RD GRADE AND PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO PUT THE BRAKES ON OR SLOW THE MOMENTUM TOWN.

KEEP GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD.

AND I THINK THAT WITH THE TIME THAT WE HAVE NOW, THAT WILL GET US TO WHERE WEANED TO BE, AND GET US CLOSE TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF EXPECTATION IN TERMS OF OUR STUDENTS.

>> YOU ALSO WORKED ON MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION, YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE LEDBETTER.

THIS ALSO BEEN A REAL FOCUS FOR THE LEGISLATURE HERE IN RECENT YEARS.

I CAN THINK BACK TO, YOU KNOW, 15, 20 YEARS AGO, MAYBE EVEN SOONER THAN THAT, THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, THE DEPARTMENT EVEN, WAS KIND OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT, ALMOST LIKE A STEPCHILD IF YOU WILL AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE FOCUS ON THAT LATELY.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I THINK IN PART BECAUSE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, AS WELL AS MYSELF, WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS.

THE SECOND THING IS THAT MANY INCIDENTS IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE WRITTEN OFF AS BEHAVIOR, SOMEONE JUST -- WHAT WE SAY BEING BAD, NOT DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

AND THEN WE BEGAN TO TAKE A CLOSE EVER LOOK AT THAT.

AND MANY OF THESE KIDS HAVE ISSUES WITH ADHD AND ATTENTION DEFICIT AND ANGER MANAGEMENT SITUATIONS THAT WEANED TO ADDRESS, SO IT'S JUST AN AWARENESS.

TIME IS MAKING PEOPLE AWARE AND QUESTION, WELL, I SAY THIS CHILD DOING THIS?

I ALWAYS ASK THAT QUESTION WHEN YOU SEE ARE A CHILD DO SOMETHING -- FIND OCCUPANT THE WHY.

THEN THAT IN ITSELF WILL HELP YOU RESOLVE IT.

WE FOCUS ON THAT.

AND I WILL SAY THIS AS A COMPLIMENT.

IF YOU ARE WHAT -- THREE YEARS AGO?

I COULD BE OFF A YEAR OR TWO -- GOVERNOR IVEY MADE THAT A PRIORITY OF HERS HELPING THE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL AND THE ASPECT OF HELPING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND FROM THERE, THE MOMENTUM HAS PICKED UP AND TODAY NOW WE HAVE THE COORDINATORS AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IS GREAT.

DO YOU SEE THE SMILE ON MY FACE?

I'M SO HAPPY I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

BECAUSE NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO POOL ALL OF THE SERVICES TOGETHER, HELP PARENTS THE WAY THEY WANT TO BE HELPED.

THEY CAN STILL DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO HAVE THIS SERVICE OR DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS SERVICE.

IT'S UP TO THEM.

AND TO MAKE THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS AWARE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE ADHD, AND IT HELPS WITH DISCIPLINE, IT HELPS WITH TOLERANCE, IT HELPS WITH SESSION, AND THAT -- ONCE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THEN CAN KNOW HOW TO MOVE ACCORDINGLY.

SO THE COORDINATOR IS GOING TO BE SOMEONE GREAT.

I HAVE TO GIVE TO IT THE CHAIR.

WE HAVE ALREADY FINANCED THEM.

>> SO EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT'S SIGNIFICANT?

>> IT IS.

>> Y'ALL ALSO FOCUSED ON NUMERACY.

SO LITERACY WAS 2019.

NOW, NUMERACY, WHICH IS BASICALLY MATH EDUCATION, WAS A REAL FOCUS THIS YEAR.

IN FACT I KIND OF SAID THAT IT WAS SORT OF THE UNEXPECTED BIG DEAL OUT OF NOWHERE THAT THIS CAME.

DO YOU THINK DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER IN THE YEARS AHEAD?

>> I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WILL.

AND I'M GLAD -- INITIALLY IT STARTED OUT WITH THAT RETENTION PIECE IN IT.

INITIALLY.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE SPONSOR'S INTEND INTENT BUT INITIALLY IT DID START OUT WITH THAT.

THEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHERE WE ARE AND EVERYBODY AGREED THAT OUGHT TO COME OUT.

ONCE THAT HAPPENED, IT REALLY TOOK ON IMAGES AND FOCUSES OWN WHAT WAS NEEDED AND NECESSARY.

& WE PUT IN SOME $90 MILLION TO MAKE SURE THAT IS A WE HAD COACHES AND PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO GO GOING TO ASSIST AND MARINE MODERN TECHNOLOGY WE COULD USE AND NEED.

AND I THINK THAT IN ITSELF, THE ATTENTION THAT WE'RE GIVING IT NOW, THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE DIVIDENDS AS WE GO DOWN THE ROAD.

YOU HAVE STEM OUT THERE.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW MATH.

WEE TALK ABOUT STEM PROGRAMS.

STILL STEM PROMISE WITH THESE CHILDREN HAVE TO UNDERSTAND MATH AND APPRECIATE IT.

>> INSTEAD OF WHEN THE LITERACY ACT HAD THE RETENTION AMENDMENT, WHERE IT WAS FOCUSED ON THE STUDENT AND THE STUDENT WOULD BE HEALTH BACK; THIS WAS MORE OF A FOCUS ON THE SCHOOLS.

SO IF THE SCHOOL IS UNDERPERFORMING AND CONTINUE TOGETHER UNDERPERFORM THERE ARE INTERVENTIONS AND FOCUS ON THE SCHOOLS RATHER THAN THE STUDENT?

DO YOU THINK THAT WAS A MORE POPULAR CONCEPT?

>> I THINK IT WAS.

AND I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET TO -- YOU LOOK AT SCHOOLS AROUND THE STATE -- ONCE YOU LOOK AT AND THEY HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SYSTEM, YOU GET IN PLACE AND THE SCHOOL, THEN YOU CAN'T COME AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.

AND I THINK THAT APPROACH IS GOING TO UP LIFT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

>> WELL, YOU MENTIONED THE SPECIAL SESSION WITHIN THE REGULAR -- THIS LAST TIME.

BUT THAT WAS ONLY HALF.

SO THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT FUNDS.

THERE WAS -- THERE WAS THE 1ST TRANCH OF -- WHAT WAS IT $1.1 BILLION AND THEN YOU WERE GOING TO GO AHEAD A 2ND TRANCH OF $1.1 BILLION.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT LATE SUMMER MAYBE AUGUST.

ARE YOU HEARING ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION ON THE SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING?

>> I THINK YOU'RE PRETTY DEMOCRATS ABOUT THE TIME FRAME.

I'M JUDGMENT GUESSTIMATING.

NO ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN FORMALLY MADE BUT I'M GUESSTIMATING IT WILL BE IN LATE AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER, ONE OF THE TWO.

AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND ALLOCATE THE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

ONE OF THE AREAS IN THAT WE ADDRESS STORMWATER DRAINAGE.

I WASN'T IN THE INITIAL ROUND.

AND WE ALL KIND OF -- FROM THE LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT, IT WAS GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS CLEAN WATER FOR PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE CLEAN WATER AND DEALING WITH THE SEWAGE PROBLEM.

SIX AND WE PUT THE MONEY IN PLACE TO DO THAT.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME OF THIS AND FINISH IT.

BUT WE PUT THAT IN PLACE, THE BULK OF THE MONEY NEED.

THIS ROUND WE WILL HAVE IN ADDITION TO THAT, BUT THE STORMWATER DRAIN DRAINAGE IN THERE AS WELL.

>> THAT'S HAD A BIG ISSUE IN BIRMINGHAM; RIGHT?

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME THERE'S A BIG STORM THAT COMES THROUGH THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH STORMWATER DRAINAGE?

>> I WOULD GO FURTHER THAN THAT.

IT'S A BIG ISSUE IN ALL OF OUR METROPOLITAN AREAS.

YOU LOOK AT VESTAVIA.

THEY FLOODED OUT.

YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK DOWN IN MONTGOMERY, AND I THINK -- I SAW SOME AREAS THAT FLOODED OUTDOOR.

I KNOW THIS BUILD BUILDING WAS FLOODED.

>> I HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE.

>> AND THE DRAINAGE IS THE ISSUE SIMPLY BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS SO OLD.

AND YOU HAVE THE CAST-IRON PIPES THAT ARE DETERIORATING SO THE WATER CAN'T PHILANTHROPIST.

SO I THINK THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOING TO BE A MASSIVE PROJECT IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE CITY, BUT I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE AREAS THAT NEEDED MR.

ATTENTION THE MOST AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON THOSE AREAS AS PROJECTS, I THINK WE WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GET IT ALL DONE.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE GOT TO PUT THEM IN THE MIX AND THEN JUST BASED SON HOW MUCH IS AL INDICATED FOR THOSE AREAS, THEN THAT'S HOW MUCH WE IS HAVE TO WORK WITH.

>> SEEMS LIKE THE 1ST ROUND OF MONEY HAD A FOCUS ON RURAL.

BROADBAND WAS A PIG MART OF IT BUT THAT'S RURAL.

SAME THING WITH WATER AND SEWER.

A LOT OF THOSE PLACES THAT ARE LACKING ARE IN RURAL AREAS.

DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE MORE OF A SHIFT TO URBAN AND SUBURBAN NEEDS?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE A SHIFT TO INCLUDE THEM.

WE WON'T EXCLUDE THE RURAL AREAS.

BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A MOVE TO INCLUDE THEM, JUST -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HEAR, AND THIS IS THE CRAFT, THAT RURAL AREAS DON'T HAVE AS MUCH.

>> TAX BASE?

>> BASE AND EVERYTHING.

SO THAT'S A TRUE STATEMENT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT THE FOCUS THERE.

BUT, IN TERMS MUCH THE NUMBER OF CITIZENS THAT'S AFFECTED AND THAT WILL BENEFIT, THEN YOU HAVE TO SHIFT BACK TO URBAN.

YOU TAKE OUR METROPOLITAN AREA ALONE UP THERE AND WE HAVE BETWEEN 1.2 AND 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE.

YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT 30,000 OR 40,000, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1.4 MILLION.

AND THAT'S JUST METROPOLITAN AREA.

SO ZERO THAT'S -- YOU CAN SEE THAT -- THE NECESSITY OF IT BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE -- WHEN YOU HAVE A SECTION OF TOWN THAT FLOODS AND YOU CAN'T GET TO THE NEXT SECTION, THEN EVERYONE THAT WORKS OUT IN THE RURAL AREA CAN'T GET OUT OF TUNE.

THE PEOPLE IN TOWN CAN'T MOVE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET SERVICES.

EVEN EMERGENCIES.

YOU HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY THE INTERSTATEAND COME ACROSS.

IT CREATES SOME DIFFICULTIES FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO JUST MOVE PERIOD.

AND YOU SHUT DOWN -- I'M BEING CONSERVATIVE -- 20 TO 40,000 CARS OR PEOPLE MOVING, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO IT'S A GREAT NEED FOR IT, AND AND IT'S A HEALTH HAZARD, TOO.

WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE HAD TO RESCUE AND WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE ANY MASSIVE DEATH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT WE HAVE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS TAKE PLACE.

>> WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO AUGUST-ISH AND CECE WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS LIKELY TO BE CALLED BACK IN WITH ARPA-2.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING BACK.

>> NEXT TIME, WE WILL TALK JUDGES.

>> THAT WILL WORK.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

TO.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY CHRIS ELLIOTT FROM BALDWIN COUNTY.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> OVER TWO WEEKS OUT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEING FINISHED BUT YOU'RE BACK IN TOWN, FOR A JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIDE COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORTATION.

WHAT IS THIS COMMITTEE DO AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN TODAY?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE LEGISLATURE, WHEN WE PASSED THE GAS TAX, WAS INCREASED OVERSIGHT AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE TRANSPORTATION PROCESS AND HOW THOSE DOLLARS WERE SPENT.

THAT WAS REALLY HANDLED TWO WAYS -- ONE, THROUGH THE LEGISLATION ITSELF THAT SAID THIS GAS TAX COULD BE SPENT ON NOTHING BUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE WANT IT SPENT ON BRIDGES AND ASPHALT AND MAKE SURE IT'S HITTING THE ROAD AND NOT BEING SPENT ON OVERHEAD AND MORE BUREAUCRACY.

THE OTHER THING WAS FOR THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF THROUGH THE JOINT LEGISLATURE COMMITTEE HAD TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND OVERSIGHT ON HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE SPENT TO ASK QUESTIONS NOT ONLY OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BUT ALSO OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES ABOUT HOW THAT FUNDING IS SPENT SO WE HEARD LOST BACK FROM ALDOT, THE COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TODAY WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE BEING GENERATED AND WHERE THEY'RE BEING EXPENDED AND FOR WHAT SPECIFIC PURPOSES ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS, ATRIP-2 FOR INSTANCE AND THE ALDOT HAS DISCRETIONARY FUNDS WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE BEING PUT.

SO THE LEGISLATURE DOING THAT OVERSIDE WORK TODAY HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

>> IT'S NO SECRET IF YOU GO BACK DECADES IN ALABAMA -- PROBABLY A LOT OF STATES -- IT IS THE HIGHWAYS, THE HIGHWAY-SPENDING AND ROAD-BUILDING THAT AT TIMES HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF PROBLEMS.

AND HIGHWAY DIRECTORS HAVE GONE TO JAIL OVER CORRUPTION ISSUES.

IS THAT WHY THE LEGISLATURE HAS TRIED TO PUT STRICTER OVERSIGHT ON DOT?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE ARE CONCERNS NECESSARILY ABOUT CORRUPTION RATHER BUT MORE ABOUT CONSTRUCTION AND WHERE IT'S TAKING PLACE.

YOU VERIFY LEGISLATORS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING.

OFTENTIMES INTERESTED IN THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICTS.

AND THEN LOOKING HOLISTICALLY WHERE WE ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS AND HOW THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS BEING SPEND.

WE MADE THAT DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC AND A LOT OF LEGISLATORS DID WHEN WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE FUEL TAX.

WE HAVEN'T HAD AN INCREASE IN DECADES AND DECADES.

WE NEED MORE MONEY TO FIX YOUR ROADS BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLL IN WATCHING HOW TO MONEY IS SPENT AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THOSE FUNDS.

>> SPEAKING OF, THE REBUILD ALABAMA EFFORT, THAT GAS TAX WAS PASSED IN 2019.

IT HAS INCREASED INCREMENT MENTALLY SINCE THEN N YOUR ESTIMATION HOW IS THAT GOING, THE EFFORT TO PUT THOSE GAS TAX MONIES INTO USE?

HOW IS THAT GOING SO FAR?

>> WELL, ROAD PROJECTS ALWAYS MOVE MORE SLOWLY THAN YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO.

MY TIME AS THE CHAIRMAN COMMISSION HAS SHOWN ME THAT.

PROJECTS YOU START IN THE DESIGN PHASE MAY NOT HIT THE GROUND UNTIL YEARS AND YEARS LATER AND MAY NOT BE FINISHED FISCAL YEARS AFTER THAT.

SO IT IS SLOWER THAN ANYBODY IN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE LIKED FOR IT TO BE AND CERTAINLY SLOWER THAN I THINK THE CITIZENS WOULD LIKE.

BUT IT IS MOVING AND IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE'RE SEEING ROADS BEING RESURFACED AND REPAVED AT THE COUNTY, MUNICIPAL LEVEL AND THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.

AND YOU'RE SEEING MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ROLLING OUT THAT DEAL WITH CAPACITY ISSUES.

NOW, I THINK EVERY LEGISLATOR WOULD SAY LIKE TO SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE PROJECTS IN THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICT BUT YOU'RE SEEING THOSE THINGS HAPPEN AND IT WILL START TO ROLL OUT AND IT WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE NOT HISTORY ACHILLES BEEN SEEING IN ALABAMA'S RECENT PAST BECAUSE THERE SIMPLY WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THAT OTHER THAN MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAD, AS ALABAMA GROSS WE WILL NEED MORE OF THOSE CAPACITY PROJECTS TO MOVE US FORWARD.

AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT THOSE CAPACITY PROJECTS ARE DONE IN AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ARE GROWING.

THAT'S DAY CARE A THAT'S A KEY ISSUE FOR ME.

>> I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE THERE'S STATISTICS OUT THERE SHOWING THAT BALDWIN COUNTY -- I MEAN EVERYBODY KNOWS BALDWIN COUNTY IS GROWING BUT IT'S SUCH A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF THE STATE'S OVERALL GROWTH.

SO HOW IMPORTANT IS INFRASTRUCTURE AND A GROWING PLACE LIKE BALDWIN COUNTY?

>> SO BALDWIN COUNTY SINCE THE 2020 CENSUS GREW BY 7527 PEOPLE -- AND THAT'S JUST SINK THE 2020 CENSUS -- THAT REPRESENTS 48 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S ENTIRE GROWTH.

SO ALMOST HALF OF THE ALL OF THE STATE'S GROWTH TOOK PLACE IN ONE COUNTY.

THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY INVESTING IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE GROWING.

THAT'S WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE.

THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOUR QUESTION IS ZERO ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE GAS TAX AND THE HELP OF SPONSOR IN THE HOUSE WAS TO LOOK AT THOSE POPULATION ESTIMATES NOT EVERY 10 YEARS, BUT AT LEAST EVERY FIVE YEARS AND REALLOCATED BASED ON THOSE ESTIMATES OR MORE FREQUENTLY FOR FAST-GROWING AREAS LIKE BALDWIN COUNTY.

>> I KNOW AS PART OF THE REBUILD AREAS THAT THERE ARE BIG PROJECTS, USING BOND ISSUES TO PAY FOR.

ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT THE NUMBER OF BOND ISSUES BEING USED AND HOW MUCH DEBT THE STATE IS TAKING ON?

>> IT IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.

IT HASN'T -- I DON'T SEE THAT IT HAS RISEN TO THE LEVEL YEAR, BUT THERE'S MERIT TO THAT.

INTEREST RATES ARE HISTORICALLY LOW.

COSTS ARE CREEPING UP.

INTEREST RATES ARE CREEPING UP.

THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD BUILD WITH CHEAPER MONEY AND CHEAPER LABOR AND CHEAPER MATERIALS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT MAY HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD, THERE'S VALIDITY IN THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT ALDOT'S APPROACH IS NOW.

HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED THAT WE MAY BE PAST THE EFFICACY OF THAT ARGUMENT WHERE THINGS ARE GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE AND THE INTEREST RATES ARE NOT AS CHEAP AS THEY WERE.

THERE'S ALSO CONCERN THAT THERE WILL BE A DIMINISHING RICH, IF YOU WILL, ON THE GAS TAX DOLLARS, RIGHT, IF WE HAVE TO BORROW AGAINST THAT MONEY RIGHT NOW AND DOING THESE BIG PROJECTS WELL, WE MAY END WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO CAPACITY PROJECTS BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THEM AND THE ONLY THING LEFT TO DO IS PAY FOR THEM OVER TIME.

SOME AMOUNT OF BORROWING, THERE'S MERIT TO IT BUT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH HOW MUCH BORROWING WE DO.

WE DO NOT WANT TO LEAF FUTURE GOVERNORS AND FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS AND OUR CHILDREN SIMPLY PAYING FOR THE DEBT FOR ROADS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BUILD.

WE NEED TO DO THIS A BIG AT A TIME.

>> THE BIG GORILLA OF PROJECTS IS THE MOBILE BAY WAY BRIDGE.

THIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS.

IT CAME AROUND WHEN THE LOCAL LEVEL SUPPORT WASN'T THERE AND MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE TOLL SITUATION.

IT WAS NOT ONLY GOING TO TOLL THE BRIDGE, THEY WERE GOING TO PUT A TOLL ON EXISTING TUNNELS AND EVERYTHING.

SO IT JUST KIND OF FELL APART.

THERE'S BEEN TALK OF IT REVIVING.

SO I WAS HOPING YOU COULD GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE THIS PROJECT STANDS?

>> I WILL TELL YOU IT IS NOT DEAD ANYMORE.

IT WAS DECLARED BED I DID THE GOVERNOR AFTER AN NPO MEETING.

I DON'T THINK IT'S DEAD ANYMORE.

IT'S BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE, AT LEAST FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED.

CORRIDOR IS IMPORTANT TO BUSINESSES ON BOTH BUSINESSES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BAY AND IT'S IMPORTANT SO THE ALABAMA TOX AND THE WHOLE STATE.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE COMMERCE BACK AND FORTH.

BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE RES DENTALS THAT LIVE IN BALDWIN COUNTY AND BALDWIN COUNTY AND TRAVEL THAT ON A DAILY BASIS.

WHAT WAS PROPOSED ORIGINALLY WHERE IT MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THAT EGREGIOUS FOR SOMEONE PASSING THROUGH, FOR A COMPUTER AND COMPUTING FAMILY WOULD HAVE DOUBLED OR MORE THAN DOUBLED THEIR ENTIRE INCOME TAX LIABILITY, STATE INCOME TAX LIABILITY?

>> SO YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOUR EFFECTIVE TAX RATE WENT UP BY 100% -- SO THAT WAS A NONSTARTER.

BUT I THINK ALDOT AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE COME TO SEE THE CONCERNS.

THE NPO FUNCTIONING AS IT SHOULD AND REMOVED THAT PROJECT FROM THE STIPULATE BUT THEY SAW PUT IT BACK ON SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, TRY TO EX PEND SOME FEDERAL FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED THROUGH SENATOR SHELBY'S OFFICE, SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL FUNDS, AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD.

BUT I THINK WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE IS A REALIZATION THAT SOME OF THE CONCEPTS, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROBABLY WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD AND IT'S SOMETHING OPERATED BID THE STATE AND NOT A PRIVATE ENTITY.

AND THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DESIGN PARAMETERS TOO.

SOMETIMES, NO, WE NEED TO PUSH BACK FROM THE TABLE AND SAY THIS PROJECT IS TOO BIG FOR US TO AFFORD.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PROJECT BEFORE.

IT BLONDE TO WHERE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OF ALABAMA SIMPLY COULDN'T AFFORD.

>> WELL, I WILL ADMIT THE DRAWINGS, YOU KNOW, THE RENDERINGS WERE -- KIND OF LIKE THE TAJ MAHAL OF BRIDGES.

SO DO I THINK IF IT'S BROUGHT BACK IT WOULD BE SCALED DOWN A BIT, NOT QUITE AS FANCY?

>> I THINK IT HAS TO BE.

AND I THINK IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE IT WON'T WORK.

I DON'T THINK THE MARKET WILL SUPPORT IT.

I DON'T THINK THE REVENUE SUPPORTS SOURCES WILL SUPPORT IT AND THAT WAS SOMETHING I WAS ARGUING FOR THE VERY BEGINNING.

LOOK IF THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT THAT BACK.

FAMILIES MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

AND BUSINESS OWNERS MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ALL THE TIME.

>> TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BRIDGE WHILE WE'RE DOING THIS TO BEGIN WITH.

THERE'S INFRASTRUCTURE RIGHT NOW TO BASICALLY GET FROM BALDWIN COUNTY TO MOBILE COUNTY IF YOU'RE GOING TO WORK.

YOU'VE GOT -- YOU'RE USING A TUNNEL, EITHER I-10 OR 98?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SO YOU HAVE TWO MAJOR THOROUGHFARES THERE, THE INTERNET WERE IS I-10 ACROSS MOBILE ON AN ELEVATED BRIDGE DECK AND THEN GOES THROUGH THE WALLS TUNNEL.

THEN YOU HAVE THE CAUSEWAY WHICH IS US98 WHICH IS CLOSE TO SEA LEVEL.

YOU WILL SEE THAT AS THE FLOODS FROM TIME TO TIME AS THE WATER AND WIND IS HIGH.

THEN IT GOATS GOALS FROM THE BANKHEAD TUNNEL INTO MOBILE OR THE COCHRAN AFRICATOWN BRIDGE AND THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS TO GET ACROSS THE BRIDGE.

WE HAVE SEEN IS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES USING THAT THOROUGHFARE EVERY DAY.

AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS ACCOUNT FOR THAT IN SOME WAY SHAPE NORM OR FASHION.

ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS SO THE ALIGNMENT OF THE TUNNELS WHEN THEY WERE THAT'S THERE'S A CURVE GOING IN AND COMING OUT OF THE TUNNELS.

THAT SLOWS DOWN TRAFFIC DRAMATICALLY.

ONE OF THE HONES WITH THE BRIDGE IS THAT WE COULD HAVE A STRAIGHTER APPROACH AND LOW 52 TOMORROW CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH AND NOT SLOW DOWN THERE.

AND AGAIN THE OTHER IS JUST SHEARS VOLUME.

AND THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME.

THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMMERCE BETWEEN MOBILE COUNTY AND BALDWIN COUNTY, THOSE BEING THE MAJOR CONNECTORS.

CAUSES A PROBLEM.

THEN WE HAVE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF VISIT TORSION COMING TO BALDWIN COUNTY BUT ALSO TO DESTINATIONS EAST OF US IS FLORIDA.

SO WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THAT TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH ALABAMA, AND THAT'S REALLY THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE -- THIS GOVERNOR AND THIS ALDOT DIRECTOR AND FUTURE GOVERNORS AND ALDOT DIRECTORS WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION TO.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD LEGISLATION SAYING IF THERE WERE A TOLL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BRIDGE PROJECT, SOME LOCAL COMMUTERS COULD USE SOME OF THOSE OR PUT THOSE EXPENSES TOWARD THEIR TAX WRITE OFF.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

MY GOAL -- AND I REPRESENT THE EASTERN SHORE IN THIS AND PRETTY MUCH THE SOUTH SIDE OF BALDWIN COUNTY OR SOUTH END OF BALDWIN COUNTY.

MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING THE BURDEN ON ALABAMA TAXPAYERS GOING BACK AND FORTH.

AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, USDOT, WON'T ALLOW YOU TO NOT FOLLOW ALABAMIANS OR NOT FOLLOW FOLKS THAT JUST LIVE IN MOBILE COUNTY OR BALDWIN COUNTY.

>> SO IF SOMEBODY HAS A LICENSE PLATE IS DIFFERENT -- YOU CAN'T DO IT THAT WAY.

>> IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU HAD A "2" TAG OR A "5" TAG, YOU COULD MOVE ON THROUGH.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION WITH DOT.

SO WE CAME UP WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A NOVEL APPROACH, WHICH HAS NOT MOVED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT IT'S AN APPROACH TO SAY LET'S DO THIS.

LET'S LET OUR FRIENDS IN FLORIDA, TEXAS AND LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI HELP PAY FOR A BRIDGE ON A FAIRLY SHORT STRETCH OF INTERSTATE AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING THAT BURDEN ENTIRELY ON ALABAMIANS.

BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS HAVE ALABAMIANS PAYING INCREASED GAS TAXES THAT ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IN ALABAMA THEN HAVE TO PAY AGAIN THROUGH HAD A TOLL.

THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME.

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A NOVEL WAY TO GET AROUND THE U.S.

DOT REGULATIONS AND AFHWA AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GIVE THOSE FOLKS A TAX CREDIT MAY BE A WAY TO OFFSET THE COST OF THIS AND CONTINUE TO PUT SOME OF THAT BURDEN WHERE IT BELONGS AND THAT IS ON OUR VISIT TORSION JUST PASSING THROUGH.

>> IS THAT THE KIND OF MEASURE THAT IF IT WAS ENACTED THEN PEOPLE ON THE COAST WOULD BE MORE ACCEPTING OF A TOLL?

>> I THINK SO.

I DO.

I CAN SAY AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE ALREADY FOLKS WHO SAY I DON'T WANT NOT GOING TO TOLL WHATSOEVER.

THERE'S MERIT WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.

BUT WHY WOULD WE NOT ALLOW OUR VISITORS FROM TEXAS, LOUISIANA, FLORIDA AND MISSISSIPPI TO HELP OFFSET AND DEFRAY SOME OF THE COST OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY'RE VERY MUCH USING.

ISN'T THAT THE SAME AS FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS COMING FROM OTHER STATES TO HELP FIX THIS FEDERAL INTERSTATE?

SO I THINK THERE'S MERIT IN THAT APPROACH.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.

>> WHILE WE'VE GOT YOU, IT'S KIND OF PAST IN TERMS OF TOPICAL AND NEWSWORTHINESS, BUT YOU WERE ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND THE VACCINE MANDATE LEGISLATION THAT YOU PASSED IN SPECIAL SESSION IN SETTLEMENT.

COVID WAS A LOT DIFFERENT THEN.

IT WAS SPIKING AND THE VAX SEEN WAS REALLY CONTROVERSIAL, VERY TOPICAL.

BUT NOW THAT LAW, IT'S PASSED AND IT'S IN EFFECT AND YET YOU HAD THE SUPREME COURT STRIKE DOWN SOME OF THE BIDEN MANDATES.

WHY DO YOU THINK THE LAW STANDS REGARDING THE SUPREME COURT ACTIONS?

>> THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED AND I'M GLAD THEY HAVE IN THE WAY THEY HAVE.

BUT IN THE INTERIM IT WAS IMPORTANT, I THINK FOR ALABAMA, TO STAND IN THE GAP.

WE HAD OUR CONSTITUENTS LOOKING AT A MANDATE THEY THOUGHT WAS UNJUST AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

WE HAD EMPLOYERS WHO HAD A MANDATE ON THEM THEY DIDN'T QUANTITY TO ENFORCE.

WHAT WE DID WAS A NOVEL APPROACH SO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ATTACK THE MANDATE DIRECTLY.

THAT'S KNOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH FROM A SEPARATION OF POWERS STANDPOINT.

BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS BROADLY DEFINE THE EXEMPTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT MYSELF OFFICE DID.

AND SAID IF YOU CLAIM FOR A RELIGIOUS REASON OR HEALTH REASON, TURN THIS FORM INTO YOUR EMPLOYER.

WE SAID HERE IS THE FORM.

IT'S ACTUALLY?

THE STATUTE.

THIS IS WHAT YOU USE.

AND MADE IT VERY EASY FOR BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND THE EMPLOYER TO GRANT THE EXEMPTION.

THE MANDATE IS STILL THERE.

BUT IF YOU'RE ALL EXEMPT, ISN'T THAT ESSENTIALLY THE SAME EFFECT?

AND IT PROVIDED AN APPEAL PROCESS.

ALL OF WHICH -- IF THEY WERE TIMELY FILED, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TOLD ME THEY WERE ALL UPHELD IN FAVOR OF THE EMPLOYEE AND THE EXEMPTION WAS UPHELD.

SO I THINK THAT THE LEGISLATION WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESSION THIS THAT SPEAK PEOPLE THAT CLAIMED AN EXEMPTION DIDN'T HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE AND IT STOOD IN THE GAP WHILE THE SUPREME COURT WAS CONSIDERING WHAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL ALL GO AWAY AND WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT ANYMORE.

>> IF HOPING MADE IT ALL SO, YES.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND EXPLAINING THESE COMPLICATED TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK ON AGAIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY DR.

JEWEL A. BOOTHE, PRESIDENT OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF ALABAMA.

DR. BOOTHE THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITATION.

>> I KNOW YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF ALABAMA.

THERE WERE A LOT OF ASSOCIATIONS HAVING TO DO WITH THE HEALTH FIELD HOSPITALS AND NURSES AND ALL OF THESE.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND WHAT IT IS THAT Y'ALL DO.

>> SPECIFICALLY WE REPRESENT THE PHYSICIANS.

IT'S A PHYSICIAN GROUP IN ALABAMA, PHYSICIANS CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE.

WE REPRESENT ALL PHYSICIANS WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE MEMBERS OR NOT BUT WE REPRESENT ALL OF THE SPECIALTIES.

>> SO YOU'RE A DOCTOR YOURSELF.

WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE?

>> I PRACTICE FAMILY PRACTICE.

AND I'M -- I PRACTICE PRIMARILY IN REFORM IN PICKENS COUNTY, A SMALL RURAL COUNTY WEST OF THE TUSCALOOSA.

>> SO YOU UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF TALK IN THE STATEHOUSE ABOUT RURAL HOSPITALS AND RURAL HEALTH CARE AND THE CHALLENGES THERE.

BEING IN PICKENS COUNTY, REFORM ALABAMA, YOU MUST SEE THAT FIRSTHAND?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

FIRSTHAND ESPECIALLY RELATED WITH THE PANDEMIC.

OUR SMALL RURAL HOSPITAL CLOSED DO YOU KNOW WHO WEEKS BEFORE THE NATIONAL PANDEMIC WAS DECLARED.

SO THAT WAS VERY BAD TIMING.

IT'S ALWAYS BAD WHEN YOUR HOSPITAL CLOSES BUT ESPECIALLY IN THAT TIME.

SO WE QUICKLY HAD TO REIDENTIFY OURSELVES NOT ONLY ACROSS A PROXIMATE CAUSE PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE BUT FOR TESTING WHERE WE COULD GET SWABS TO TEST AND TREATMENT AVAILABLE, AND THAT'S THANKFULLY SOMETHING WE COULD OFFER COMMUNITY-WIDE.

>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES SPECIFICALLY FOR RURAL ALABAMA WHEN IT CAME TO COVID.

>> WELL, SO MANY OF THE INITIAL PUSHES FOR TESTING AND THEN EVENTUALLY WITH TREATMENT WERE FOCUSED ON LARGE GROUPS.

SO THERE AREN'T A LOT OF LARGE GROUPS IN YOUR RURAL AREAS, SO A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY FELT THEY WERE LEFT BEHIND AND WEREN'T GETTING THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES WHETHER IT WAS FOR TESTING OR FOR TREATMENT WHEN THAT WAS AVAILABLE, AND SO I KIND OF HAD TO EVEN STEP FURTHER AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND SOME NATIONAL DISCUSSIONS ON, YOU KNOW, NOT FORGETTING THOSE OF US THAT HAVE POPULATIONS THAT MAY NOT BE AS DENSE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN A PERSON BY PERSON HEALTH CARE VERSUS A PUBLIC HEALTH FRAMEWORK AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT SO TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT TO PATIENTS WHERE THEY WERE NOT SO FRUSTRATED BY THAT.

AND STAFF.

STAFF WAS FRUSTRATED -- YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T WE GET THE SWABS WE NEED?

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SWAP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SICK?

AND IT LED TO DIFFICULTY DISCUSSIONS AND HARD DAYS.

AND, OF COURSE, WE HAD SOME STAFF THAT THROUGH THE TIME GAVE UP AND ARE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS NOW BUT THAT'S BEEN THROUGH THE HEALTH CARE THAT WE HAVE SEEN THAT PRESSURE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> WOULD YOU SAY NOW, TWO YEARS LATER THAT THINGS ARE BETTER IN RURAL ALABAMA?

>> FOR THE MOST PART, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO COVID AND PREPARATION, VACCINATIONS, THE ABILITY TO GET A VACCINE IS EVERYWHERE.

SO THAT US VERSUS THEM THAT WE MAY HAVE FELT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, I FELT LIKE THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED BUT A LOT OF THAT IS SUPPLY.

THERE JUST REALLY WASN'T SUPPLY IN THE BEGINNING.

>> RELATED TO THAT IS THE ISSUE OF TELEMEDICINE AND THAT CAME UP WITH THE STATEHOUSE THIS YEAR.

IT WAS ONE OF THE PREMIER PIECE HE OF LEGISLATION.

MAYBE IT DIDN'T TALKED UP AS MUCH AS THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL THINGS BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS ON BOARD WITH THIS.

BUT TELEMEDICINE AND HAVING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO TELEMEDICINE, IT WAS A BIG AGENDA ITEM FOR THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

TELL ME WHY THIS BASS SO IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, I THINK WE JUST NEEDED SOME FRAMEWORK FOR EVERYBODY, SOMETHING THAT WE PROTECT THE PATIENTS, SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROTECT THE PROVIDER GROUPS, THE INSURERS -- REALLY, EVERYBODY NEEDED SOME SORT OF FLAME WORK.

TELL HEALTH IN WAIVED HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR YEARS IN OUR STATE.

THERE JUST WAS NO OVERARCHING REGULATION OR AN ABILITY TO HAVE GUIDELINES FOR WHAT IS APPROPRIATE, WHAT IS THE NOT APPROPRIATE.

OUR OFFICE BEGAN OFFERING TELEHEADS.

MOST PRIMARY CARE OFFICES DID.

A LOT OF SPECIALTIES STILL USE THAT SIGNIFICANTLY, AND WE STILL HAVE THE OCCASIONAL TELEHEALTH VISIT NOW, BUT NOTHING LIKE WE DID WANT TO KNOW WE WERE SCREENING PATIENTS TO FIGURE OUT WHO NEEDED TO COME IN, WHO NEEDED TO BE A PARKING LOT VISIT OR WHO WE COULD SEE AT HOME TO DECREASE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE.

SO THE LEGISLATION, NOW THAT WE HAVE IT, AND YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNEW WE NEEDED SOMETHING.

WE NEEDED SOME FRAMEWORK.

SO THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW, YOU KNOW, A PATIENT WHO NEEDS THAT BENEFIT WILL HAVE THE ABILITY.

THEIR PROVIDER HAS THE ABILITY TO OFFER IT, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SAFEGUARDS IN THERE WHERE IF THEY'RE SEEING THAT SAME PROVIDER FOR SOMETHING OVER FOUR TIMES, THAT SAME ISSUE THAT IS NOT RESOLVED, THEY NEED AN IN-PERSON VISIT, WHICH I'M VERY -- I WAS VERY PRO FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BEING IN THE ROOM WITH THE PATIENT.

THERE'S A LOT THAT I COULD DO IN BETWEEN WITH THE TELEHEALTH VISITS, AND THEY WERE IMPORTANT AND A GOOD PORTION OF THE HEALTH CARE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENTS BUT THEY'RE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT IN-PERSON EXAM, BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY EXAMINE THE PATIENT.

>> CAN YOU AGREE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS BILL I KEPT HEARING PEOPLE SAY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT WAS NECESSARY, THESE REGULATIONS, IS BECAUSE THERE'S A RISK OF SCAMS, DOCTORS OR SOME HOSPITAL GROUP CALLING MAKE MAYBE AN ELDERLY PATIENT OR SOMEBODY TO TRY TO GET THEM SIGNED UP FOR A MEDICAL VISIT, CONVINCING THEM THEY NEED IT.

CAN THIS PREVENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> YES.

PART OF THE LEGISLATION IS THAT IT MUST BE A PATIENT-INITIATED ENCOUNTER.

SO AS OF -- FOR EXAMPLE, MY OFFICE CAN'T JUST CALL A PATIENT AND SAY, HEY, I HAVEN'T SEEN IN IN SIX MONTHS.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A VISIT OVER THE PHONE.

WE COULD DO A CONTACT AND SAY WE'RE AVAILABLE, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE SCHEDULE THAT CALL AND LET US KNOW.

THAT WAY WE'RE THAT SIGNING PATIENTS UP FOUR VISITS THAT THEY REALLY WERE NOT INCLINED TO HAVE BUT YET THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE VISITS IS THERE IS IT THAT'S WHAT'S WE WERE NEEDING.

>> WELL, IT WAS A BUSY SESSION ON A LOT OF FRONTS FOR Y'ALL.

I KEPT SEEING NIKKO AND EVANS AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM IN THE HALLWAY.

REALLY AWL THROUGHOUT THE SESSION.

SO A LOT OF ISSUES Y'ALL HAD ON THE PLATE.

ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT WAS PRETTY CONTROVERSIAL WAS THIS SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF THE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO OPHTHALMOLOGY, PROCEDURES ON THE EYE.

IT PASSED THE SENATE, AND IT TIED IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK Y'ALL HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.

TELL ME WHY YOU OPPOSED THIS EXPANSION OF THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE?

>> SO THE AMOUNT OF EDUCATION THAT THE DIFFERENT PROVIDER LEVELS HAVE IS VERY DIFFERENT.

AND SOMEONE GOING AND DOING A COURSE FOR A WEEKEND TO BE ABLE TO DO SURGICAL PROCEDURES, WE DIDN'T FEEL WAS, YOU KNOW APPROPRIATE.

WE FEEL LIKE -- AS PHYSICIANS WE GO TO SCHOOL A LONG TIME.

YOU HAVE UNDERGRADUATE, MEDICAL SCHOOL, THEN YOU HAVE MINIMUM THREE YEAR RESIDENCY, SO THERE'S SIGNIFICANT EDUCATION THERE AND WE FEEL LIKE THAT EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.

AND PART OF THE SCOPE THAT WE LOOK AT IS ARE WE RESPECTING THE ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION AND ARE WE REQUIRING THAT SAME LEVEL OF STANDARD OF CARE THROUGHOUT?

AND THERE'S REALLY NOT A WAY TO DO DELINEATE WHO HAD ADEQUATE TRAINING OR NOT WITHOUT HAVING THE MD OR D.O.

DEGREE VERSUS SOME OF THE OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONS.

>> SO THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OPT TOM TRUST AND OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND I GUESS IT WOULD BE THAT MEDICAL DEGREE BUT THE OPTOMETRIST WOULD ARGUE WE'RE TREATING EYES EVERY DAY, WE'RE IN THERE ANYWAY AND SOME OF THESE PROCEDURES MAYBE AREN'T AS INVASIVE AS A SURGERY, MAYBE A SHOT.

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> PERSONALLY I'M NOT A SURGEON SO WE ASK THE SURGEONS IN OUR GROUP, AND THAT'S WHY OUR ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS THE FULL SCOPE OF MEDICINE.

WE INQUIRE TO THEM -- YOU ALREADY DO THESE SURGERIES.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS APPROPRIATE AND NOT?

AND OVER AND OVER, THEY WOULD COME DOWN AND SAY IT'S NOT THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE AND OVERSIGHT AND TRAINING THAT THE PHYSICIANS OR THE PHYSICIANS HAVE RECEIVED IN THEIR RESIDENCY TRAINING.

>> ANOTHER MEDICAL ISSUE THAT CAME UP THIS YEAR WAS EXPANDING MEDICAID COVERAGE, MEDICAID POSTPARTUM COVERAGE FROM NEW MOTHERS.

IT HAD BEEN 60 DAYS.

NOW IT'S UP TO A FULL YEAR.

IT WAS LARGELY CELEBRATED BUT THAT MADE IT IN IN THE BUDGET: TELL ME WYOMING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NEW MOTHERS.

>> NOT ONLY IS TO OUR MOTHERS BUT TO THE INFORMANTS THEY HAVE RECENTLY DELIVERED.

OUR INFANT MORTALITY IN HAS BEEN TERRIBLE FOR YEARS.

THERE WERE YEARS I CAN THINK DECADES AGO WHERE WE WERE ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT FOR MULTIPLE REASONS HOSPITAL CLOSURES, DELIVERY FACILITY CLOSURES AND LACK OF ABILITY TO HAVE ENOUGH PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THE CARE, HAS GOTTEN AND WORSE.

A HEALTHY MOTHER IS A GOOD SHOT THAT THE BABY WILL HAVE A HEALTHY INFANCY.

AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE MMRC, WHICH WAS STARTED IN 2018, AND THEY WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT SOME DATA AND REALIZED THAT CLOSE TO 70 PERCENT OF THOSE MATERNAL DEATHS IN THE 1ST YEAR AFTER DELIVERY WERE ACTUALLY PREVENTABLE HAD THE MOTHER HAD HEALTH CARE.

SO A LOT OF THOSE MOTHER AT THAT 60-DAY MARK, THEY STILL HAVE SOME COMPLICATIONS EITHER FROM PREGNANCY THAT ARE STILL PRESENT OR SOMETHING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED YET.

SO WITHOUT THE MOTHERS HAVING THE ABILITY TO HAVE CARE, THAT'S WHERE THOSE UNFORTUNATE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR COMING ON THE SHOW TO UPDATE US ON SOME OF THESE MEDICAL ISSUES.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR SURE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:30:00 P.M. FOR ANOTHER "CAPITOL JOURNAL WEEK IN REVIEW," RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

SIX FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ ♪