FROM THE GRAND HOTEL IN POINT CLEAR, ALABAMA, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS CONFERENCE.

EACH YEAR, THE STATE'S TOP POLITICAL AND BUSINESS LEADERS GATHER HERE AT THE GRAND FOR A SERIES OF MEETINGS AND PRESENTATIONS ABOUT HOW TO PROMOTE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY POLICIES IN THE LEGISLATURE AND POLITICS.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WAS GIVEN SPECIAL ACCESS TO THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE.

HERE'S SOME SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THIS YEAR'S BCA.

>> JOIN ME AND THE CABINET IN REFOCUSING ON EFFORTS SO MORE HELP WANTED SIGNS COME DOWN.

THIS PAST SESSION -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> AT BCA, WE'RE ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING ALABAMA BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THEY ARE MORE THAN OFFICE BUILDINGS.

THEY ARE MADE UP OF HARD-WORKING ALABAMIANS.

BUSINESSES NEED A STRONG WORKFORCE, AND WORKERS NEED STRONG BUSINESSES.

FRIENDS, IT'S REALLY THAT SIMPLE.

THAT'S WHY WORKING FOR ALABAMA WAS OUR TOP PRIORITY TO ENHANCE OUR WORKFORCE AND ENSURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.

>> AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S BCA CONFERENCE, MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAD A PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN DC, WHY IT MATTERS FOR ALABAMA AND HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER THROUGH A GRIDLOCKED WASHINGTON, D.C. >> THE APPROPRIATION PROCESS IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT BILLS TO PASS.

THERE ARE 12 APPROPRIATION BILLS OUT THERE THAT HAVE TO BE PASSED AND I ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE THERE ARE 12 BILLS THAT HAVE TO BE PASSED.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT KEEPS OUR DEPARTMENT AND GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING.

IF ONE OF THOSE DOESN'T PASS, PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT OPERATING.

WE'RE A LITTLE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, OR WE HAVE BEEN.

WE PASSED ALL 12 APPROPRIATION BILLS ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

I'M GOING TO DETER TO KATIE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT -- BUT I SAY THAT BUT WE HAVE ONLY PASSED FIVE ON THE FLOOR AND WE HAVE 12 TO GO.

THE NEW YEAR STARTS OCTOBER 1ST.

THE NEW FISCAL YEAR IS OCTOBER 1ST.

HERE WE ARE APPROACHING MID AUGUST AND WE STILL HAVE ONLY PASSED FIVE IN THE HOUSE.

WE STILL HAVE SEVEN TO GO.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> WE MEET ONCE A MONTH, AS A DELEGATION.

TO HAVE AND IN-STATE MEETING HAS BEEN GREAT.

I HOPE THE STATE OF ALABAMA APPRECIATES THE FACT THAT BEING BIPARTISAN, AS A DELEGATION, HAS ITS ADVANTAGES.

I WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY, WHILE I SIT ON WAYS AND MEANS, I KNOW I CAN GO TO ADERHOLT, KARL, KATIE, TO REALLY ADVANCE THOSE APPROPRIATION PROJECTS THAT I WANT TO IN MY DISTRICT.

I'D LIKE TO THINK IF THEY HAD ANYTHING WITH TRADE OR WITH TAXATION THAT WE CAN DO THE SAME.

I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT -- BECAUSE I KNOW I DO, THAT WE DO TRY TO FUNCTION IN A BIPARTISAN WAY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR STATE.

>> THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE FEATURED NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED POLLSTERS WHO SHARED SOME OF THEIR SURVEY DATA ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, HOUSE AND SENATE RACES AND JUST WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THIS BIG ELECTION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER.

>> THE LAST SURVEY I DID IN JUNE, WE HAD DONALD TRUMP UP BY 5 POINTS OVER KAMALA HARRIS.

THE LAST SURVEY WE DID TEN DAYS AGO, DONALD TRUMP IS UP BY TWO POINTS.

THIS IS AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION, BUT BASICALLY THE RACE IS PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHERE IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST DEBATE, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU SEE INDEPENDENT VOTERS DONALD TRUMP IS UP BY A POINT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, I LOOK AT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN STILL BEING ON OFFENSE.

WE ARE UP BY A POINT WITH INDEPENDENT DENTS.

WE DIDN'T WIN WITH INDEPENDENTS IN 2016.

8% OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTE -- THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I NOTICED ABOUT THAT, DONALD TRUMP IS GETTING MID TEENS WITH BLACK VOTERS.

IT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR HARRIS AND THE DEMOCRATS TO WIN.

YOU SEE THE BIG GENDER DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU ARE MARRIED, MOST MARRIED WOMEN, ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS, ACTUALLY VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS, BUT THE SINGLE WOMEN, A LOT OF YOUNGER SINGLE WOMEN VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY FOR DEMOCRATS AND A LOT OF OLDER, SENIOR WOMEN.

AND THAT'S A DIFFERENCE IN THE SHAKE-UP OF THE RACE NOW.

WE ARE SEEING DONALD TRUMP RUN BETTER AMONG SENIORS.

KAMALA HARRIS IS BRINGING IN MORE FEMALE BLACK VOTERS THAN JOE BIDEN AND WE HAVE DONALD TRUMP AHEAD IN THE SUBURBS, AND UP BY 4.

WE RAN BEHIND BY DOUBLE-DIGITS IN THE SUBURBS IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> I THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP ADVANTAGE IS THE SOLIDIFIED BASE.

HE'S ALWAYS HAD A SOLIDIFIED BASE AND THERE'S A CHANCE EVEN THE UNFORTUNATE AND HORRENDOUS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON HIM COULD GALVANIZE VOTERS IN HIS FAVOR.

I THINK TRUMP BENEFITS WHAT I WOULD CALL TRUMP AMNESIA.

THERE'S BEEN ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT THIS.

ESSENTIALLY, WE LIVE IN A NATION THAT IS SO OFTEN UNDERGOING PENDULUM SWINGS.

WE PICK ONE PRESIDENT OR THE OTHER, CHAMBER CONTROL SWITCH FROM CYCLE TO CYCLE.

FOR A LOT OF VOTERS, THEY FORGET -- A LOT OF SWING VOTERS, WHETHER THEY VOTED FOR TRUMP OR NOT, THERE WERE A SET OF VOTERS TIRED OF HIM ON THE TWITTER ACCOUNT FROM FOUR YEARS AGO.

I THINK HE BENEFITS FROM THE FACT HE IS NOT IN OFFICE AND WE SEE THAT HOW YOU COMPARE A BIDEN VERSUS A TRUMP PRESIDENCY.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN POLLING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS.

I WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE KEY STATES THERE HAVE BEEN SEISMIC SHIFTS.

IT'S BECAUSE WE ENERGIZED THE BASE AMONG DEMOCRATS.

WHAT'S THAT MEAN?

IT MEANS A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC POLLS LIKE WE SEE NATIONALLY ARE COMING BACK A COUPLE OF POINTS BETTER.

IT ALSO MEANS IT HAS A POTENTIAL OF CHANGING THE ELECTORATE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THAT JIM AND I DO IS TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT THE ELECTORATE EXACTLY WILL LOOK LIKE.

TRENDS USUALLY HOLD OVER TIME BUT AS WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE EXCITEMENT, WE HAVE SEEN A FIVE TO SEVEN-POINT UPTICK IN DEMOCRATIC ENTHUSIASM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT NATIONAL POLLING.

SO, YOU KNOW, STRONG DONOR ENGAGEMENT, STRONG BASIC EXCITEMENT IS WHAT KAMALA HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECORD SPENDING.

AS I THINK ABOUT HOW I'M MODELING THE ELECTORATE THIS NOVEMBER, I THINK THERE'S POTENTIAL IN SOME STATES TO HAVE HIGHER TURNOUT THAN WE SAW IN 2020 BASED ON SOME OF THE EXCITEMENT WE'RE SEEING IN POLLING.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" HERE AT THE GRAND HOTEL AT THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA'S ANNUAL GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS CONFERENCE.

I'M JOINED BY THE CEO OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA, HELENA DUNCAN AND ALSO THE CEO OF REGENTS FINANCIAL CORPORATION, MR. JOHN TURNER.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE AT THE CONFERENCE.

IT'S A REAL TREAT FOR US.

>> YES.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK IT'S GONE SO FAR?

DIDN'T YOU SAY IT WAS THE MOST WIDELY ATTENDED BCA EVER?

>> WE HAD 770 REGISTRANTS THIS YEAR, 150 MORE THAN LAST YEAR, WHICH WE THOUGHT WE WERE AT CAPACITY BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ALABAMA, YOU CAN SEE IN THE ROOM, PEOPLE ARE ENERGIZED AND INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF OUR PROCESS.

SO, WE'RE EXCITED.

HISTORICAL DAY FOR US.

>> MR. TURNER, YOU ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BCA RIGHT NOW.

YOU ARE CEO OF ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES IN ALABAMA, A NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT -- AND YOU HAVE A ROLE VERY MUCH NATIONALLY.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOUR COMPANY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE BCA AND INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNMENT SPACE IN ALABAMA?

>> YEAH.

THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA IS A GREAT WAY FOR BUSINESSES TO BE INVOLVED, TRY TO HELP SHAPE POLICY THAT SUPPORTS JOB GROWTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HELPS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE BUSINESSES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO, OUR BUSINESS IS GOOD OR BAD BASED UPON HOW GOOD THE ECONOMY IS.

IT'S A REAL REFLECTION OF THE ECONOMY.

SO WE NEED TO SUPPORT IT TO HAVE A SAY, TO HAVE A VOICE IN TRYING TO SHAPE POLICY THAT, AGAIN, SUPPORTS JOB GROWTH.

IT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC EXPANSION AND REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE BUSINESS COUNCIL HAS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP, WITH OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO BRING ABOUT REAL POSITIVE POLICY INITIATIVES THAT ARE, I THINK, ESTABLISHING THE GROUNDWORK FOR MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENT IN ALABAMA OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ABOUT THAT.

YOU ALL GOT GOOD NEWS TODAY IN TERMS OF INVOLVEMENT.

TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD TAKE AWAY FROM IT.

>> CAMPAIGN 2026 IS WHAT WE ANNOUNCED TODAY.

WE, IN ALABAMA, AND WE WILL TALK COLLECTIVELY BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND OUR STRATEGY -- YOU WILL HEAR US TALK ABOUT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, ALIGNMENT.

CAMPAIGN 2026 IS MUCH OF THE SAME.

WE ARE AT A PIVOTAL POINT IN OUR STATE WHERE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OPEN SEATS IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

WE ARE NOT WILLING TO JUST ALLOW IT TO BE HAPPENSTANCE.

YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

SO, WE WANT TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WE HAVE CREATED.

YOU HEARD THE NUMBERS THIS MORNING.

WE ARE GROWING AND RECOGNIZED AS BEING A BUSINESS FRIENDLY STATE.

WE'RE NOT JUST SATISFIED WITH BEING FIVE OR SIX IN THOSE NUMBERS.

WE WANT TO BE NUMBER ONE.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY, CONTINUE OUR VISION, CONTINUE OUR MISSION.

BUT THAT STARTS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE SEND TO THE STATEHOUSE AND YOU KNOW THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY PROACTIVE IN RUNNING THE ANALYTICS, SOURCING CANDIDATES, REVISITING RECORDS AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PRO-BUSINESS CANDIDATE.

WE WILL ALL BE OPERATING ON THE SAME DEFINITION.

SO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.

IT WILL TAKE OUR SPONSORS AND BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT OUR MISSION TO GET BEHIND IT AND HELP GET IT DONE.

IT'S A BIG ELECTION.

THE BIGGEST COMPARISON IS 2010.

>> ANOTHER BIG ELECTION.

>> ANOTHER BIG ELECTION.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE'S NO OTHER COMPARISON CLOSE, BUT IN OUR MINDS THIS WILL EXCEED THAT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF OPEN SEATS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2026.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY PROACTIVE.

OUR CHAIRMAN, AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND OUR BOARD HAVE VERY MUCH BEHIND IT AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

2026 IS A HUGE ELECTION.

YOU HAVE A U.S. SENATE SEAT, ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, ALL THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE SEISMIC POTENTIALLY KIND OF THINGS, BUT IT INTRIGUES ME WHEN YOU SAY PRO BUSINESS.

YOU DIDN'T SAY REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A PARTISAN THING VERY MUCH, BUT MORE IN TERMS OF DO YOU SUPPORT WHERE WE'RE GOING, SUPPORT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NOT NECESSARILY A PARTY IDEOLOGY.

I THINK IT IS SIGNIFICANT.

>> IT IS SIGNIFICANT, TODD.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SAYING, ALONG WITH OUR MESSAGE ALL WEEKEND, WE HAVE JUST TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC PRIVATE.

WE TALKED ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, GETTING ALIGNED.

THAT'S NOT ABOUT A PARTY.

THAT'S ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BUT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STATE.

THESE PRACTICES ARE GOOD FOR US TO CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR STATE.

YES, WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT JOBS.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO DEFINE WHAT BUSINESS FRIENDLY REALLY MEANS.

HOWEVER, EVERYTHING THAT'S ALIGNING IS BEST FOR THE STATE.

SO, IT WILL PUT DOWN PARTY LINES.

WE'RE PUTTING DOWN OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL IDEAS OR, YOU KNOW, EGOS FOR THE LACK OF A BETTER WORD AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS STATE.

WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS BUT ALL OF IT IS FOR NAUGHT IF THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE NOT WALKING IN THE STATEHOUSE IN 2026.

>> YEAH, I'LL JUST ADD, GROWING JOBS, GROWING BUSINESSES, HELPING TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF BUSINESSES, DEVELOPING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR HORIZONS AND EXPAND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH NEW OPPORTUNITIES, THOSE ARE NOT PARTISAN ISSUES.

THOSE ARE HOW DO WE MAKE ALABAMA BETTER.

THAT'S WHAT WE SUPPORT.

>> I'M CURIOUS ALSO BECAUSE, BANKING IS SUCH A HUGE INDUSTRY, A LOT OF REGULATIONS.

I KNOW THEY ARE DIFFERENT STATE TO STATE, A LOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT ALABAMA'S REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT WHEN IT COMES TO BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, DID THE LAWS ALWAYS NEED TO BE UPDATED OR IS THAT WHAT YOU ALL ARE TRACKING?

>> IT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.

THERE ARE 96 BANKS HEADQUARTERED IN ALABAMA.

THOSE 96 BANKS HOLD ABOUT $214 BILLION IN ASSETS.

>> OKAY.

>> THEY ARE SPREAD ACROSS OUR STATE.

THEY RANGE FROM LARGE BANKS LIKE REGENTS TO SMALL COMMUNITY BANKS.

WE ARE ALL FOCUSED ON PROVIDING TO HELP BUSINESSES GROW AND PEOPLE TO MANAGE FINANCES AND HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE WAY THEY THINK OF MANAGING THEIR BUSINESS.

I DO THINK BECAUSE IT IS COMPLEX BUSINESS AND THAT REGULATION IS IMPORTANT.

WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VERY GOOD BANKING DEPARTMENT HERE LED BY MIKE HILL AND REED WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

WE HAVE A VERY SOUND AND SECURE BANKING SYSTEM IN ALABAMA, AND I THINK WE BENEFIT FROM THAT BECAUSE THOSE BANKS ARE ABLE TO THEN, AGAIN, LEND INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES TO HELP SUPPORT BUSINESSES WHICH THEN HELPS TO CREATE JOBS AND HELPS TO IMPROVE INCOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO, I THINK WE ARE FORTUNATE.

>> WITH CONFIDENCE, LENDING WITH CONFIDENCE.

BANKING WITH CONFIDENCE.

I WANT TO GET TO THAT.

WE JUST HAD THIS TASK FORCE MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE BLOCKCHAIN ISSUE, CRYPTOCURRENCY.

I HAVE TO BE HONEST, I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF IT.

I'M LEARNING.

>> I DON'T EITHER.

>> YOU ARE IN A BIG NUMBER.

>> I HAD THE SECURITIES COMMISSION ON TO GO THROUGH IT.

SHE MADE GOOD POINTS IN TERMS OF, LOOK, WE REGULATE BANKS FOR A REASON TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM FRAUD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE STATE IS EXPLORING WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCY TO MAKE SURE CONSUMERS ARE PROTECTED.

WHAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE FROM ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE BANKING INDUSTRY.

>> I THINK OF IT DIFFERENTLY.

BLOCKCHAIN IS A DISTRIBUTED LEDGER.

WE THINK IT WILL HAVE SOME REAL VALUE AND APPLICATION OVERTIME.

USE CASES ASSOCIATED WITH IT ARE STILL DEVELOPING.

WE ARE NOT USING BLOCKCHAIN AT REGIONS TODAY.

SOME OF THE LARGEST BANKING OPERATIONS IN THE STATE ARE.

IT IS TO BE DETERMINED HOW HELPFUL THOSE DISTRIBUTED LEDGERS ARE IN TERMS OF PROTECTING PEOPLE'S PRIVACY, PROTECTING INFORMATION, SECURING TRANSACTIONS, ALLOWING US TO COMPILE A LOT OF DATA AND DO IT EXPEDITIOUSLY.

THOSE ARE ALL BENEFITS THAT COME WITH BLOCKCHAIN.

CRYPTOCURRENCY IS ANOTHER THING.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FASCINATION WITH IT, FRANKLY.

>> THERE REALLY IS.

THERE'S LIKE THIS BUZZ.

>> THERE IS.

I DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THIS NOTION THAT IT IS A STORED VALUE.

I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK IT IS SUPPORTED BY PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE IN IT TODAY, BUT JUST AS SOON AS THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN IT THEY CAN LOSE CONFIDENCE IN IT.

WHAT REALLY UNDERPINS THE VALUE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY.

I THINK IT IS POTENTIALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE LIMITED TRANSPARENCY, NO TRANSPARENCY.

THERE'S SOME CONCERN IT IS USED FOR ILLICIT PURPOSES AND WE KNOW THAT TO BE A FACT AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE.

I THINK IT REQUIRES REGULATION FROM A BANKING PERSPECTIVE.

WE ARE HIGHLY REGULATED AND WE WOULD EXPECT IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO HOLD AN INDIVIDUAL'S ASSETS IN THE FORM OF CRYPTOCURRENCY THEY SHOULD BE REGULATED AND SHOULD HAVE REQUIREMENTS TO KNOW THEIR CUSTOMERS, JUST AS WE DO.

I VERY MUCH BELIEVE AND SUPPORT THE ALABAMA BANKING DEPARTMENT AND THE ALABAMA SECURITIES COMMISSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION LOOKING AT WHAT IS APPROPRIATE REGULATION.

I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, AS WELL, BUT, YOU KNOW, I ENCOURAGE US TO TRY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IT, IF YOU WILL, AND MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING CONSUMERS WHO ARE INVESTING IN IT AS AN ASSET CLASS.

>> AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ADVOCATE FOR AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD.

>> HELENA, IT IS A FASCINATING CONVERSATION.

MAYBE ONE EXAMPLE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPEN AT AN ORGANIZATION LIKE BCA, DIVERSE BUSINESSES, LARGE BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES, TAKE ALL TYPES.

>> WE DO.

>> ARE YOU PLEASED WITH THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR?

CAN WE CALL IT A SUCCESS?

>> WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT IN THE BOOKS AND CALL IT A SUCCESS.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WE SHARED A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION.

VERY HEAVY ON THE POLITICAL SIDE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL SEE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS BUT VERY PLEASED.

>> WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT BECAUSE WE ARE TRACKING THE '26 ELECTION.

THANKS FOR LETTING US COME TO THE CONFERENCE.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE A PART OF IT.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE "ONLINE VIDEO TAB" ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

HERE AT THE GRAND HOTEL, WE'RE AT THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA'S GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS CONFERENCE.

I'M JOINED BY U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE ON AND IN FRONT OF YOUR AUDIENCE.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WE ARE HERE AT BCA AND YOU WERE THE FORMER OTHER PRESENT CEO OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA.

THAT'S INTERESTING AND NOW SPEAKING AS A PANELIST FROM OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION.

WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

>> OBVIOUSLY HAVING PUT ON ONE OF THESE CONFERENCES, THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT GOES IN TO IT.

SO MANY PEOPLE MAKING SURE EVERYTHING LINES UP AND YOU HAVE GOOD MATERIAL AND GOOD PANELS AND ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES.

TO SEE TODAY REALLY APPRECIATED THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO IT AND I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN IT'S A SUCCESS AND I THINK THIS MORNING WAS CERTAINLY A SUCCESS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT A LOT OF THE PANELS THAT WERE ON THE STAGE.

>> IT IS LESS STRESSFUL AS A PARTICIPANT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT IS OR THAT GOING TO WORK OR THE TIMING OF THIS, WHERE'S THAT PERSON.

IT IS NICE TO ENJOY A CUP OF COFFEE AND THE MATERIAL IN FRONT OF YOU AND BE HERE IN THAT WAY.

>> AND TAKE A MILLION SELFIES.

I SAW THE LINE.

ONE OF THE THINGS Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT IS CHILDCARE.

>> YES.

>> WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE WORKFORCE ISSUE IS THIS WATCH WORD NOW, HUGE ISSUE.

YOU HAVE LEGISLATION DEALING WITH THIS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

TALK ABOUT CHILDCARE AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE ISSUE OF WORKFORCE AND MAYBE, AS A BARRIER TO THE WORKFORCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE TRIED TO DO SINCE I, YOU KNOW, STEPPED FOOT ON THE SENATE FLOOR IS FIND THINGS THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THAT, TOO, THAT I UNIQUELY HAVE A WINDOW INTO.

I'M THE ONLY REPUBLICAN FEMALE WITH SCHOOL-AGED KIDS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES SENATE.

SO IF IT IS SPEAKING TO THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR SOCIAL MEDIA OR LOOKING AT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A MOM.

I REFLECT ON MY OWN CHALLENGES TRYING TO FIND CHILDCARE, BOTH AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBILITY.

I KNEW THAT TIM KAINE, DEMOCRAT FROM VIRGINIA HAD BEEN A REAL LEADER FOR THIS IN HIS STATE WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR AND DID SOME BOLD THINGS.

ONE OF THE FIRST CONVERSATIONS I HAD WHEN I GOT TO THE SENATE IS SITTING DOWN WITH TIM TO SAY I WANT TO FIND A PATHWAY FORWARD ON THIS, A COMMON SENSE SOLUTION WHERE WE CAN AFFECT PEOPLE AND AFFECT THIS IN A POSITIVE WAY.

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

YOU REFERENCED WHEN IT COMES TO WORKFORCE SHORTAGES THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE THEM ALL ACROSS OUR STATE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CHILDCARE CRISIS, IT'S ABOUT $122 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT A YEAR.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT IT AS A MOM MYSELF.

I THINK ABOUT WHEN WE HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND WE WERE WRITING THAT CHECK FOR OUR CHILDCARE.

IT FELT LIKE WE WERE WRITING A CHECK FOR COLLEGE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT ALABAMA IS A MORE RURAL STATE.

WE HAVE 55 OUT OF 70 COUNTIES BEING RURAL.

TRYING TO FIND OUT THE ACCESSIBILITY ANGLE OF THIS IS IMPORTANT.

WE APPROACHED IT IN A WAY OF SAYING LOOK AT THE CHILD AND DEPENDENT CARE TAX CREDITS, DECOUPLE THOSE FROM THE CAP AND MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND USER FRIENDLY.

ADDITIONALLY, TAKING A LOOK AS WE EXPANDED THOSE THINGS AND TRY TO INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYERS TO HELP IN THIS AREA, AS WELL, MOVING THOSE TAX CREDITS UP FOR BUSINESSES, UP FROM 150,000, THIS IS THE 45-F PROVISION TO $500,000 A YEAR AND ALLOWING SMALL BUSINESSES -- WE KNOW THIS FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS.

A SMALL BUSINESS, I BELIEVE, IS THE HEART BEAT OF AMERICA.

EVERY ONE OF OUR MAIN STREETS, EVERY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO FINDING A WAY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE SO THEY CAN POOL RESOURCES UP TO 600,000.

WE LOOKED AND HAVE A SEPARATE PROVISION, A SEPARATE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT LOOKS AT HOW WE CAN CREATE AND SUSTAIN EVEN GREATER CHILD WORKFORCE THERE FOR CHILDCARE.

SO, IT IS IN MULTIPLE WAYS AND ALLOWS THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A TAX BURDEN TO ACTUALLY GET A REFUND CHECK.

IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THAT REGARD, AS WELL.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF IT.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION MOVING FORWARD, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEXT CONGRESS ABOUT TAX CUTS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO TIM KAINE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THIS CRITICAL ISSUE IN FRONT OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO GET TRACTION AND HOPEFULLY DO GOOD THINGS.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK.

IT HAS BEEN INTO INTRODUCED AND YOU DID THE ROLLOUT.

NOT LIKELY THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT?

>> YES.

STARTING TO BUILD MOMENTUM AND YOU REMEMBER THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

GET PEOPLE ON BOARD.

AS WE LOOK AT THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT AND THAT IS EXPIRING, THERE WILL BE A LARGER CONVERSATION THAT OCCURS WITHIN THE SENATE AND HOUSE.

KNOWING THIS IS SUCH A CRITICAL ISSUE.

YOU THINK ABOUT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY HOME WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND YOU DO, I WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT IF ACCESSIBLE OR AFFORDABILITY IS AN IMPEDIMENT TO YOU REENTERING THE WORKFORCE, I WANT TO TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE.

IT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS WOMEN AND WE WANT TO CREATE STRONG COMMUNITIES AND TO ME THAT STARTS WITH A BILL LIKE THIS.

>> INTERESTING.

YOU MENTIONED WORKING WITH TIM KAINE, DEMOCRAT FROM VIRGINIA.

SEEMS TO BE LIKE A TRADITION IN THE SENATE.

YOU FIND AN ISSUE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO WORK ON TOGETHER.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK THAT'S SIGNIFICANT IN A TIME THAT IS SO POLARIZED LIKE WE ARE IN.

TALK ABOUT WHY THAT'S SO IMPORTANT AND WHY IT HAS BEEN A TRADITION IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TODD, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT, TOO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HOT BITTEN ISSUES.

>> RED MEAT.

>> RIGHT.

AND NOT THE THINGS WE'RE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARE A COMMON GOAL.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE TO GET IN A ROOM AND FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD.

ON THIS, WHETHER IT IS CHILDCARE OR THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS AND ME GETTING IN TO A ROOM WITH SENATOR BUTLER AND SAYING HOW CAN WE FIX THIS?

WE KNOW ALABAMA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN THE NATION.

IT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS BLACK WOMEN.

IT IS 2024.

IT SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THAT AT THIS POINT.

IN THE SENATE YOU HAVE TO GET 60 VOTES TO GET SOMETHING PASSED.

SO FINDING A GOOD PARTNER AND CREATING A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION IS ESSENTIAL TO MOVE IT FORWARD AND THAT'S WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS FOUNDED ON.

HOW DO WE MOVE THESE THINGS FORWARD IN A WAY THAT IS PRODUCTIVE FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS ON THE ISSUES WHERE I SHARE A COMMON GOAL WITH SOMEONE ACROSS THE AISLE I WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE CAN DO GOOD THINGS FOR ALABAMA AND THE NATION.

>> THAT SOUNDS OPTIMISTIC.

SHOULD WE BE MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN IF WE PAID ATTENTION TO TWITTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA?

DO YOU GET ALONG MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S ONE THING I TALK OPENLY ABOUT WHETHER IT IS IN HEARINGS OR INTERVIEWS LIKE THIS.

PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU CREATE IN ORDER TO DO GOOD THINGS.

SO, I THINK YOU SEE A LOT OF THAT IN THE SENATE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT WHAT GETS PEOPLE CLICKS.

WE'RE IN A WORLD WHERE SOME PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA BELIEVE IT IS THEIR JOB TO SELL VERSUS TELL THE NEWS.

SO TELLING THE NEWS IS NOT AS INTERESTING AS SELLING THE NEWS.

I THINK I'M GOING TO KEEP SPEAKING DIRECTLY INTO THIS.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR OUR VALUES AND OUR PEOPLE.

ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS I OBVIOUSLY DISAGREE STRONGLY WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE AISLE AND I SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THOSE CONSISTENTLY AS WELL.

BUT WHERE WE SHARE COMMON GROUND AND WHERE WE CAN FIND CONSENSUS AND MOVE THINGS FORWARD, JUST PASSED A SOCIAL MEDIA BILL IN THE SENATE.

KNOWING WE LOOK AT WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE TODAY, KNOWING WE HAVE TO PUT UP GUARDRAILS TO HELP THEM BE ABLE TO SUCCEED.

THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING IT.

YOU SHOULD BE MORE HOPEFUL.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY THINGS WHERE WE DON'T SHARE A COMMON GOAL AND YOU SEE THOSE CONSISTENTLY ON TWITTER.

I DO THINK WHERE WE DO AMERICANS SHOULD BE HOPEFULLY BECAUSE THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS THAT ARE REALLY HAPPENING IN PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIFE OR ISSUES EVEN THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER CONSISTENTLY TO HELP SELMA AND OTHER AREAS IN THE REGION.

WHETHER IT IS FLOOD RISK MITIGATION AND ALL TYPES OF THINGS.

SO WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

I WISH THAT STORY GOT TOLD MORE BECAUSE I THINK AT THIS TIME WOULD ALLOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO EXHALE AND GIVE THEM HOPE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE BRIDGE.

THE BRIDGE AND BAYWAY.

I KNOW IT IS NOT AT DIRECT APPROPRIATION BUT A GRANT.

I KNOW YOU WORKED THIS.

TAKE ME BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE HAVE READ THE PRESS RELEASES AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

TAKE ME BEHIND THE SCENES.

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN IN TERMS OF GETTING THE LARGEST FEDERAL GRANT THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAS EVER SEEN LIKE THIS.

$550 MILLION TO BUILD THE BRIDGE AND BAYWAY.

>> I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING A LOT OF THINGS AND ALSO NEVER GIVING UP.

IF YOU REWIND TO THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AS A STAFFER DURING MY TIME AT BCA AND NOW AS A UNITED STATES SENATOR.

CONSISTENTLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE TURNED DOWN FOR OPPORTUNITIES, YOU SEE THE MOMENTUM DISSIPATE.

ON THIS ONE THOUGH, THE PLAYERS KEPT COMING BACK TO THE TABLE.

THERE WAS COLLABORATION BETWEEN LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS.

WE KEPT ASKING QUESTIONS.

WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT THEIR APPLICATION THAN OURS.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN?

HOW CAN WE BE BETTER AND CONTINUED TO APPLY AND PUSH FORWARD AND HOPING FOR A DIFFERENT RESULT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF TENACITY.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE COMMUNITY, STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS TO CONTINUING TO WORK THE PROCESS.

ADDITIONALLY I WOULD SAY IN ALL OF THAT, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND DIFFERENT AGENCIES TO KIND OF HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

PEOPLE HAVE TO WANT TO HELP YOU AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU PUT FORTH THE BEST PROJECT.

WE HAD MOMENTS OF ASKING QUESTIONS, MOMENTS OF CHANGING DIFFERENT THINGS ON THERE.

OBVIOUSLY, GOVERNOR IVEY DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.

AL DOT DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.

LOOK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND SANDY SIMPSON HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTY COMING TOGETHER, AND REALLY LEAN INTO THAT AND THE NECESSITY OF THIS.

YOU CAN NOT GET FROM TEXAS TO FLORIDA WITHOUT COMING RIGHT THROUGH I-10.

KNOWING WHAT THIS MEANT, WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENT ABOUT TRYING TO BE VISIONARY AND I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING THAT IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

YOU SAW SENATOR SHELBY DO IT WITH THE DEEPENING OF THE PORT.

IN 2017 IT WAS NAMED THE FASTEST GROWING CONTAINER PORT IN THE NATION.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH AND THERE'S A STRAIN PUT ON THIS.

WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL IN FRONT OF US MAKING SURE WE ARE ABLE TO WIDEN THIS, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUED GROWTH.

I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT IT MEANS FOR COMMERCE.

I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT IT MEANS, OBVIOUSLY FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES HERE AND THEN YOU ALSO THINK IN THE UNFORTUNATE EVENT OF SOME TYPE OF NATURAL DISASTER THE ABILITY TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY AND SAFELY ACROSS THE SPACE.

THIS TOOK A LOT OF DILIGENCE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING A LOT OF THINGS.

I WAS HONORED TO PUSH THIS PROJECT FORWARD AND BE A MEMBER OF THE TEAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO MOBILE AND TALK ABOUT THE BRIDGE AND THE PORT, THE DEEPENING AND WIDENING AND THE DREDGING.

LOOK, I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

>> AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE, AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" HERE AT THIS THE GRAND HOTEL.

I'M JOINED BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

HOW'S THE CONFERENCE SO FAR?

>> CONFERENCE GOOD.

I GOT IN LATE LAST NIGHT AND ENJOYED THE SESSIONS THIS MORNING, HEARING THE POLLING DATA AND WHAT OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS DOING AND THE GREAT WORK BCA IS DOING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FOR JOB RECRUITMENT, REALLY FOR THE BUSINESS CLIMATE.

I'M BULLISH ON ALABAMA.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> LOOK, YOU SAID YOU GOT IN LATE LAST NIGHT.

YOU HAD FLIGHT DELAYS.

YOU WERE COMING FROM SAN DIEGO WHERE THE HUNT KING FELLOWSHIP WAS.

THIS IS PART OF THE HUNT INSTITUTE.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS ORGANIZATION.

IT IS ABOUT EDUCATION.

>> YEP.

>> BEST PRACTICES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WHAT HAVE YOU TAKEN AWAY FROM YOUR TIME AS PART OF THE HUNT INSTITUTE?

>> IT IS A GREAT THING.

TWO FORMER GOVERNORS STARTED IT.

IT IS BIPARTISAN.

IT TALKS ABOUT PRE-K TO K-12 AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND HIGHER ED.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS SO PROUD OF ALABAMA, THEY BRING IN NATIONAL EXPERTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

GINA ROTH SPOKE BEFORE ON PRE-K BUT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE AND THEY SAID RIGHT NOW ALABAMA IS DOING MORE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO WORKFORCE THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

IT WASN'T ME SAYING THAT BUT ONE OF THE INDEPENDENT SPEAKERS THAT CAME IN.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE STUFF WE HAVE DONE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON THE WORKFORCE SIDE AND GETTING PEOPLE JOB READY, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT.

ON THE PRE-K PART, I THINK WE ARE THE NATIONAL LEADER ON PRE-K AND GETTING STUDENTS ABLE TO READ ON GRADE LEVEL IN THIRD GRADE.

I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THAT AND TALKING ABOUT HIGHER ED AND KEEPING IT AFFORDABLE.

AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

YOU ARE KNOWN AS A FELLOW AFTER YOU ARE FINISHED BUT I FELT LIKE I WAS BACK IN COLLEGE JUST SITTING THERE.

IT IS INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT OTHER STATES ARE DOING, WHAT THE DATA IS SHOWING ON THAT.

IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I AM FINISHED IT WITH NOW BUT I ENJOYED THAT AND LEARNING.

IT IS A GREAT WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

ONE THING I'M WORKING TO CREATE A PLAN FOR IN THE FUTURE IS HOW TO TARGET INNER CITIES IN ALABAMA, MOBILE, HUNTSVILLE, BIRMINGHAM.

SOME OF THE CITIES DON'T HAVE THE BEST SCHOOLS.

SO WHAT'S THE PLAN TO FIX THAT.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT IN THE NEXT SIX TO 12 MONTHS.

>> I WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT BUT I WANT TO GET BACK TO WORKFORCE.

THAT'S THE WATCH WORD OF THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

YOU WERE PART OF THIS WORKING FOR ALABAMA COALITION.

YOU DID QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH AND HAD A BIG COMMISSION REPORT.

A LOT OF THAT GOT PASSED IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION AND ALL OF THAT.

OF COURSE, YOU PASS THE BILLS AND THEN THEY HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

HOW DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING IN TERMS OF NEW LAWS BEING IMPLEMENTED?

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A TRANSFORMATION OF THE STATE'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FROM THE TOP DOWN.

HATS OFF TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

OUR JOB IS RESEARCH.

A LOT OF STUFF IS COMMON SENSE.

LET'S TRAIN STUDENTS FOR JOBS WE WILL NEED, INSTEAD OF TRAINING THEM TO GET READY FOR COLLEGE AND THE ACT BUT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ON IMPLEMENTATION.

OUR OFFICE IS INVOLVED IN THAT.

THE LEADER OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND HER TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AND DR. MACKEY IS DOING A GOOD JOB GETTING IT DONE.

I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THEY WILL GET IT IN PLACE AND IT WILL START TO IMPACT CHILDREN'S LIVES, STUDENTS LIVES AND THE BEST PART IS BUSINESSES WILL HAVE A GREAT QUALIFIED WORKFORCE TO HIRE FROM.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> PART OF IT IS ABOUT REMOVING BARRIERS, RIGHT?

YOU ALL DID A STUDY -- MAYBE COVID HAS SOMETHING TO DO IT OR SOME PEOPLE LEFT THE WORKFORCE DURING COVID AND HAVEN'T RETURNED FOR WITH ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.

IDENTIFYING THOSE BARRIERS AND USING GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES TO REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS.

DO YOU THINK WE CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK ONE OF THE LARGEST BARRIERS IS CHILDCARE.

WE HAVE A CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT NOW THAT'S GOING TO BE IN PLACE IN OUR STATE.

FAMILIES START TO FEEL THE BENEFITS OF NOT HAVING TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE, THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE MAKER.

TALK ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO THE WORKFORCE MAYBE SOMEONE IS TRYING TO DECIDE, I JUST HAD CHILDREN, CAN I WORK?

CAN I AFFORD IT?

IT IS EXPENSIVE TO LIVE.

INFLATION IS REAL, THROWING OUT NUMBERS 15, 20% THE COST OF GOODS HAVE GONE UP.

FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TO TRAIN PEOPLE -- THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED TOO, FOR 21ST CENTURY JOBS THAT PAY WELL.

ONE OF THE EMPHASIS I WANT TO DO IS -- LIKE OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, I FEEL IF WE DON'T GET THEM TRAINED FOR A JOB OR FURTHER EDUCATION TO GET A GREAT PAYING JOB WE FAIL.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE STUFF THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT OFF THE BAT.

CHILDCARE IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL BE A GAME CHANGER.

WHEN I TALK TO INDUSTRY THAT'S HERE, THEY LOVE THAT.

I TALK TO COMPANIES THEY LOVE TO OFFER THAT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES NOW.

>> I SPOKE WITH SENATOR BRITT ABOUT THE SAME THING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL THEY ARE DOING SOME THINGS.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE FUTURE.

THERE WAS THE JOHN SHARP ARTICLE IN AOL.COM SPECULATING WHETHER YOU MAY PURSUE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

PEOPLE ASSUME YOU ARE.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT'S YOUR DECISION PROCESS.

2026 WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT?

>> I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE THAT'S THE ONLY OFFICE I WOULD RUN FOR.

THERE WILL BE A VACANT SEAT IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

I ENJOY SOLVING PROBLEMS.

IT'S BEEN FUN.

YOU THINK OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND GETTING TO DO THAT.

WE DID THE RESEARCH ON THAT, RIGHT, WORKING FOR ALABAMA, FOR THE JOBS AND EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING ON THE WORKFORCE SIDE.

THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN GETTING TO RESEARCH AND GET IT IMPLEMENTED.

THE GROCERY TAX CUT TO HELP FAMILIES.

I ENJOY HELPING PEOPLE SOLVE PROBLEMS AND I THINK MY BACKGROUND IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH I THINK I COULD ROLL INTO GOVERNOR AND DO A GOOD JOB THERE.

THE KEY IS HAVING GOOD PEOPLE AROUND YOU, WHETHER BUSINESS OR GOVERNMENT AND WE WOULD DO THAT.

FOR ME, AS FAR AS THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, RIGHT NOW I'M FOCUSED ON DOING A GREAT JOB AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND CONTINUING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND I THINK REALISTICALLY NEXT YEAR, FEBRUARY, MARCH PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS, INCLUDING MYSELF.

WE HAVE -- ONE THING THAT IS UNIQUE, LIKE SENATOR BRITT, I HAVE YOUNGER CHILDREN.

OUR BOYS ARE FRESHMEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, OUR DAUGHTER IN 7TH GRADE.

OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD DAD BUT OUR FAMILY BELIEVES IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND BELIEVES YOU HAVE ONE LIFE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS TOUGH TO SERVE AND ALSO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE AND WE ALL BELIEVE IN THAT.

WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS A FAMILY SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.

>> GOVERNOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD CONFERENCE, AT LEAST AN ABBREVIATED ONE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BACK IN MONTGOMERY.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE "ONLINE VIDEO TAB" ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" HERE FROM THE GRAND HOTEL.

JOINING ME NEXT IS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, NATHANIEL LEDBETTER.

MR. SPEAKER, THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE, TODD.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE HERE AT BCA, ANNUALLY ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY ATTENDED EVENTS BY THE LEGISLATURE.

PLENTY OF HOUSE MEMBERS ARE HERE.

WELL REPRESENTED.

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF A CONFERENCE LIKE THIS?

>> IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BIGGEST AND IMPORTANT ONES.

WE LEARN WHAT THE ECONOMY IS DOING THROUGH THE BUSINESS LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE.

HAVING THEM COME IN THIS YEAR CERTAINLY WORKING FOR ALABAMA, CREATING THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY GOOD FOR ALABAMA.

I NOTICED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE WERE NOMINATED ONE OF THE MOST FRIENDLIEST STATES TO DO BUSINESS IN AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.

AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS IS IMPORTANT TO THE GROWTH OF OUR STATE.

>> JUMPED UP IN THE RANKINGS, LIKE A BIG JUMP IN ONE YEAR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ONE OF THE WORKFORCE/ECONOMIC INITIATIVES FROM THIS LAST SESSION WAS THE SEEDS ACT.

YOU HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THIS.

IT HAS TO DO WITH HELPING LOCALITIES DEVELOP THEIR LOCAL INDUSTRIAL SITES.

RAN SHORT OF THOSE A LITTLE BIT.

WHEN YOU PASSED THE BILL, BUT IT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED, WE ARE SEEING FRUITS OF THAT.

ARE YOU PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU ARE SEEING SO FAR?

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE SUNSETTING THE FIRST PIECE OF INCENTIVES AND LOOKED BACK AT IT, ONE THING WE BROUGHT BACK IS THE SEEDS ACT AND TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE STATE WITH THE FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT IS MATCHING MONEY.

WE PUT $30 MILLION IN.

I THINK 37 MILLION, SO ALMOST 70 MILLION USED ON INDUSTRIAL SITES THAT HADN'T BEEN USED.

I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

CERTAINLY IMPACTED MY DISTRICT AND EVERY DISTRICT ACROSS THE STATE.

I REALLY THINK THAT COULD BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER.

YOU KNOW, DUE TO THE SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD IN THE STATE, LET'S BE HONEST, WE HAVE RUN LOW ON INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE.

SO THIS HAS BEEN IMPACTFUL QUICK.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHERE WE GO FORWARD WITH IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE.

WE'RE ON DECK AND YOU ARE ON DECK AS CHAIRMAN.

IT IS GOING TO BE IN BIRMINGHAM.

THAT WILL BE A YEAR FROM NOW.

WHAT DID YOU SEE IN WEST VIRGINIA THAT MAYBE GETTING IDEAS AND WANTING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY BUT WHAT GOES INTO PLANNING SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> THE PLANNING STARTED OVER A YEAR.

IT WILL BE OVER A YEAR IN THE MAKING.

ONE OF THE THINGS -- I SERVED, IT IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST ASSOCIATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS A 15-MEMBER STATES IN THE SOUTHEAST AND NETWORK WITH HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS AND LEADERSHIP AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SOUTH IS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO US.

I SERVED AS 'CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE AND VICE CHAIR LAST YEAR AND ASKED TO SERVE AS A CHAIRMAN OF AN ORGANIZATION IS A BIG DEAL.

WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT, FIRST OF ALL, IT BRINGS A HUGE IMPACT TO OUR STATE, FROM THE ECONOMY STANDPOINT BECAUSE WE HAVE AVAILABLE 2500 ROOMS.

THE SECOND THING IS I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE WE'RE A NEW ALABAMA WITH THE GROWTH WE HAVE SEEN AND YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE SHOW, WITH THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY AND SHIPPING AND COMMERCIAL AIRLINES AND TECHNOLOGY.

IT IS AMAZING THE GROWTH WE HAVE HAD IN ALABAMA AND I THINK IT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO SEE, WE'RE A NEW ALABAMA.

WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION THAT IS POSITIVE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE AND FOR THE SOUTH AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT BUT OUR TEAM IS WORKING ALREADY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THEY MEET WEEKLY.

SO OUR STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB AND IS IN THE TORCH THEY HAVE PICKED UP.

>> YEAH.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TORE THAT AS A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE ALABAMA TO OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS.

>> ABSOLUTELY IS, WITHOUT QUESTION.

OF COURSE SLC IS BASED IN ATLANTA.

SO THEIR STAFF IS ON BOARD.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, AS CHAIRMAN NOW, TO USE THAT TO HELP US AND THEY HAVE DONE IT A FEW TIMES SOME THAT CERTAINLY WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO US.

BUT IT DOES SHOWCASE WHAT WE ARE DOING IN OUR STATE.

>> TOO BAD THE NEW STATEHOUSE WON'T BE DONE OTHERWISE WE COULD SHOW IT OFF.

>> DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THERE ISN'T A SURPRISE VISIT TO MONTGOMERY.

WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE AND GOOD THING ABOUT BIRMINGHAM, IT IS CLOSE ENOUGH WITH A BUS TRIP WE CAN DO THREE OR FOUR LOCATIONS I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED IN.

>> LOOK, I KNOW IT IS JUST AUGUST BUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT.

I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN BUDGET HEARINGS GOING ON.

WHAT KIND OF PREPARATIONS ARE UNDER WAY.

ARE YOU ALREADY HAVING DISCUSSIONS WHAT THE AGENDA WILL LOOK LIKE BECAUSE IT STARTS IN FEBRUARY?

>> RIGHT.

WE TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU TALK ABOUT IT WITH MEMBERS ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE WON'T CAUCUS UNTIL NOVEMBER.

AFTER THE CAUCUS MEETING WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA.

ONE THING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FROM MY OFFICE AND HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF MEMBERS FROM JEFFERSON AND MOBILE COUNTY AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE IS WE WANT TO HELP FIX THE CRIME PROBLEM.

IT IS A BIG ISSUE IN OUR STATE.

OUR GROWTH HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WE CREATED $87,000 WITH $50 BILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENT BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT WHERE IT IS SAFE FOR METROPOLITAN AREAS.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

I THINK IT'S A PLAN THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR THAT TO BE THE CASE.

>> WELL, IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING SESSION.

IT ALWAYS IS.

LOOK, I WILL LET YOU GET BACK TO ENJOYING THE CONFERENCE AND EVERYBODY IS WALKING AROUND.

I GUESS WE WILL SEE YOU AROUND BCA BUT THANK YOU FOR STOPPING IN.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION IS YOUR PLACE FOR FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CURRICULUM-ALIGNED VIDEOS, LESSON PLANS AND MORE.

EXPLORE RESOURCES AT APTV.ORG/EDUCATION.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" HERE AT THE GRAND HOTEL, THE BUSINESS COUNCILOR OF ALABAMA'S GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONFERENCE.

SENATOR GREG REED IS JOINING US.

>> ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE.

>> LITTLE BETTER SET UP THAN THE STATEHOUSE.

YOU ARE AT THE GRAND HOTEL.

>> IT IS BEAUTIFUL HERE.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES.

THE LORD'S CREATION IS ON DISPLAY.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE COME EVERYBODY YEAR TO BCA.

YOU HAVE BEEN PROBABLY COMING 15 YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DID SEE A LOT OF SENATORS IN THE HALLWAYS AND EVERYTHING.

SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE WELL RESPECTED.

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF A CONFERENCE LIKE THIS FROM A PARTICIPANT AND AS AN ATTENDEE.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

I HAVE BEEN COMING ABOUT 15 YEARS.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE 14 YEARS AND WAS HERE BEFORE I WAS ELECTED.

THAT WAS MY FIRST TRIP TO THE BCA.

WE GET A LOT OF PARTICIPATION BECAUSE THE TIME IS VERY VALUABLE.

JUST TODAY, I HAVE LOST COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS I HAVE HAD WITH SENATORS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, BUSINESSES AND THE LIKE THAT ARE HERE FOR THE CONFERENCE, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES, TALKING ABOUT THINGS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, ISSUES IN THE LAST SESSION, TOPICS THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THEM, AS WELL AS WE HAVE HAD SOME MEETINGS WITH JUST SENATORS GETTING TOGETHER.

WE HAVE DONE THAT TRADITIONALLY AT BCA, NOT A LIKE A FULL CAUCUS MEETING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT SITTING AROUND AND DRINKING COFFEE AND TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE IN THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICTS AND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

IT'S A GREAT CONFERENCE TO DO THAT.

IT IS A NICE SETTING, VERY RELAXED.

IT'S ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT EVERY YEAR FOR ME.

>> APPRECIATE THEM ALLOWING US TO COME AND HIGHLIGHT THIS.

IT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST GATHERING BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE AND, OF COURSE, BUSINESS LEADERS, AS WELL.

YOU MENTIONED ISSUES.

PROBABLY THE WATCH WORD OF THE LAST SESSION WAS WORKFORCE.

, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION.

YOU ALL PASSED THE SLATE OF BILLS CALLED WORKING FOR ALABAMA.

YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME BILLS GET IMPLEMENTED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HAS THAT BEEN A BIG TOPIC IN BCA OF WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND HOW IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED?

>> IT HAS BAN BIG TOPIC JUST BECAUSE THE WORKFORCE-RELATED THINGS, THOSE ARE ON THE MINDS OF BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGHOUT ALABAMA, WHETHER IT IS BIG OR SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING EMPLOYEES.

ALABAMA'S ECONOMY IS STILL VERY STRONG.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THINGS AREN'T CHALLENGING FRAME, BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT BUSINESSES ARE EXPERIENCING IS FINDING QUALIFIED WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO DO JOBS IN THEIR PARTICULAR BUSINESSES, AND THAT GOES FROM HIGH-END PROSPECTS, WHERE -- I TALKED TO SOMEONE EARLIER TODAY THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT HIRING ACCOUNTANTS AND THEY WERE STRUGGLING TO FIND PEOPLE THAT HAD QUALIFICATIONS, AS WELL AS I HAD A CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY WITH A BUSINESS OWNER LOOKING IN MANUFACTURING.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR JUST BASIC EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD START WITH THEIR BUSINESS THAT THEY COULD TRAIN INTO A MANUFACTURING POST.

>> SO IT IS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

>> ACROSS THE SPECTRUM A REAL CHALLENGE.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT ALABAMA HAS BEEN DOING ON THAT.

I TOLD YOU I HAD JOINED A NEW THOUGHT, A NEW PHRASE THAT HELPS ME TO KEEP MY IDEAS TOGETHER ON SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THE FOUR CS, LIKE THE LETTER C. FOUR CS OF OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE.

THE FIRST ONE IS CONSERVATIVE.

ALABAMA'S LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN SUPER CONSERVATIVE.

OUR BUDGETS HAVE BEEN STRONG.

UNLIKE OTHER STATES THAT SPENT EVERY DIME, WE FILLED UP EVERY RAINY DAY ACCOUNT, ADDED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, ROLLING RESERVES, THAT TYPE OF THING.

THAT POSITIONED THE STATE TO BE IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE.

NEXT IS CONNECTIVITY.

BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS IS A HUGE FOCUS.

ALABAMA IN MONEY FROM STAKEHOLDERS, STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY, WE HAVE SPENT $2 BILLION ON BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS.

ALABAMA'S GONE FROM 47TH TO 24TH IN BROADBAND ACCESS, WHICH IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

>> JUST IN RECENT YEARS.

>> JUST IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

>> WOW.

>> THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

WE ALL KNOW IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS BUSINESS OR EDUCATION OR HEALTHCARE, IF YOU CAN'T CONNECT TO THE INTERNET YOU HAVE TROUBLES.

SO, THAT'S A BIG ONE.

THE NEXT ONE IS CONVINCE.

WE HAVE THE BEST INCENTIVES, IN MY OPINION, IN ANY STATE IN THE SOUTHEAST.

WE PASSED THE GAIN PLAN THE YEAR BEFORE LAST.

THOSE INCENTIVES ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL NOW AND READY TO GO AND WE ARE CONVINCING THE GLOBE WHERE THEY OUGHT TO BE IS ALABAMA.

WE HAVE GREAT WORKERS, GREAT PEOPLE, A GREAT WAY OF LIFE, A LOW COST OF LIVING, LOW TAXES, GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE WITH BROADBAND AND REBUILD ALABAMA.

WE ARE THE PLACE YOU OUGHT TO COME AND INVEST YOUR MILLIONS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

SO, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND OTHERS THEY JUST RETURNED FROM EUROPE ON THE AIR SHOW, WHICH ALABAMA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PRODUCERS OF AIRLINERS IN THE WORLD.

THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN BE PROUD OF IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THE FOURTH C IS COORDINATION.

WHEN YOU THINK OF WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EFFICIENCIES, EFFECTIVENESS, WE ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS IN WORKFORCE AND WORKFORCE TRAINING AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BUT THOSE EFFORTS ARE NOT REALLY THAT COORDINATED.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DID WITH WORKING FOR ALABAMA.

YOU HAVE THE NEW GROWTH ALLIANCE THAT WILL BE GIVING ADVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND THE NEW DEPARTMENT THAT WILL BE BETWEEN LABOR AND PORTIONS OF COMMERCE THAT'S COMING TOGETHER TO FOCUS ALL OF OUR ATTENTION ON WHAT WE DO WITH WORKFORCE MAKING IT BE THE BEST IT CAN BE.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, THINGS WE CAN BE PROUD OF.

THEY ARE ALREADY SHOWING RESULTS AND THERE'S MORE YET TO COME.

MORE TO BE DONE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ON THE TASK.

AND I'M PROUD OF THE LEGISLATURE, HOUSE AND SENATE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR TO TRY TO GET THE JOB DONE.

>> FOUR CS.

I LIKE WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN AND MAKE IT CONVENIENT TO REMEMBER.

WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THAT.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME NOW, BUT I WANT TO -- WENT WE GET BACK TO MONTGOMERY I WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON.

BEFORE TOO LONG WE WILL BE BACK IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I KNOW YOU ALL ARE PLANNING FOR THAT.

WE'LL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

SENATOR, THANKS AGAIN AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE CONFERENCE.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> ON JULY 8, 1860, THE LAST KNOWN SLAVE SHIP "CLOTILDA" SAILED IN WITH 110 AFRICAN-AMERICAN ON BOARD.

MANY ESTABLISHED AFRICATOWN ONE OF THE FIRST TOWNS FOUNDED, OCCUPIED AND CONTROLLED BY BLACKS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEIR DESCENDENTS CARRIED THEIR ANCESTORS LEGACY WITH SOME LIVING IN THE SETTLEMENT TODAY.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FROM HERE AT THE GLAND POINT CLEAR, ALABAMA.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME.

FOR THE ENTIRE "CAPITOL JOURNAL"