>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THERE WAS BIG NEWS THIS WEEK SURROUNDING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

COMMISSIONER JEFF DUNN, WHO HAS LED THE AGENCY THROUGH SOME TURBULENT TIMES, INCLUDING AN ONGOING FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER CONDITIONS IN OUR MEN'S PRISONS, SAID THAT HE WAS RETIRING AND DEPUTY ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT SECRETARY JOHN HAMM WAS NAMED AS HIS SUCCESSOR.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

>> RANDY: APPOINTED TO THE POST OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER IN 2015, JEFF DUNN ANNOUNCED HE IS STEPPING DOWN FROM THAT POSITION AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

ALABAMA IS STILL CLOSELY WATCHED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> WELL, SHOOT, YEAH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BREATHING DOWN OUR NECK.

SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP.

>> WHICH HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF THE STATE'S PRISON SYSTEM.

REPORTS OF DID YOU KNOW'S RESIGNING IS BIG NEWS, WHICH GOVERNOR KAY IVEY DISCUSSED ATTENDING A ROTARY CLUB MEETING IN PRATTVILLE.

>> WE TOLD THE COURTS THAT WE'RE GOING FULL FORWARD, WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE'RE TAKING THAT FIRST STEP.

NOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH LEADERSHIP.

WE THANK JEFF DUNN FOR HIS SEVEN YEARS OF GOOD SERVICE.

HE'S HELPED PREPARE THE GROUNDWORK FOR MOVING FORWARD, AND SO I'M THRILLED AND EXCITED THAT JOHN HAMM HAS AGREED TO COME ON AS COMMISSIONER.

>> OTHER TOPICS WERE COVERED BUT GOVERNOR IVEY REASSURE RESIDENTS THE PRISON HAS A POSITIVE OUT LOOK.

>> WE STARTED WITH OUT LOOK AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOLD THEM WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND THEN IT GIVES US TIME TO DO CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILLS.

NOW, WE'RE CHANGING LEADERSHIP TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MORE LEADERSHIP.

SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THE COURTS ALL TO BE APPRECIATIVE.

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

DON: JEFF DUNN WAS APPOINTED TO BE ALABAMA'S CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER ALMOST SEVEN YEARS AGO BY FORMER GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY, WHO TWICE TRIED TO GET LAWMAKERS TO PASS PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLANS, ALTHOUGH BOTH ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.

BENTLEY SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL ABOUT OUR PRISON TROUBLES AND WE ASKED HIM TO REFLECT ON JEFF DUNN'S TENURE LEADING OUR PRISON SYSTEM.

>> WELL, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

AND I THINK THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED BEFORE NOW.

SO I'M NOT BLAMING HIM.

IT IS A DIFFICULT DIFFICULTY PROBLEM TO SOLVE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I HAVE BEEN THERE.

I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS.

BUT I DO HATE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS GONE ON, AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED FOUR OR FEW OF YEARS AGO.

DON: THE FORMER GOVERNOR ALSO SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD HAVE APPROVED USING FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY TO HELP BUILD NEW STATE PRISONS.

BENTLEY WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

DON: THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR HEATED UP THIS WEEK WHEN TWO MORE CANDIDATES ENTERED THE FRAY.

GREENVILLE BUSINESSMAN TIM JAMES, THE SON OF FORMER GOVERNOR FOB JAMES, FILED CAMPAIGN PAPERWORK WITH THE STATE AND SAID HE WOULD HAVE A FORMAL KICKOFF NEXT MONTH.

JAMES UNSUCCESSFULLY MOUNTED TWO PREVIOUS GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS.

MEANTIME, LINDY BLANCHARD ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WAS DROPPING OUT OF THE U.S. SENATE RACE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> I WILL STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS AGAINST NOT JUST THE LIBERAL LEFT BUT THE GO ALONG TO GET ALONG SO-CALLED CONSERVATIVES WHO HAVE RUN THINGS IN MONTGOMERY WAY TOO LONG.

I DO WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNOR FOR STEADYING THE SHIP.

HOWEVER, NOW -- NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT THE SHIP IN GEAR.

MOVING THE STATE OF ALABAMA FORWARD.

(APPLAUSE) DON: BLANCHARD PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO SLOVENIA UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

RECENT REPORTS SUGGESTED THAT TRUMP HAD ENCOURAGED BLANCHARD TO LEAVE THE SENATE RACE AND CHALLENGE KAY IVEY FOR GOVERNOR.

BLANCHARD DID NOT ADDRESS THAT REPORT THIS WEEK.

OTHER REPUBLICANS OFFICIALLY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR INCLUDE DEAN ODLE AND STACY GEORGE.

STATE AUDITOR JIM ZEIGLER HAS LAUNCHED AN EXPLORATORY REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN.

ONLY ONE DEMOCRAT HAS SO FAR ANNOUNCED A RUN FOR THE STATE'S TOP OFFICE: HE IS CHRISTOPHER COUNTRYMAN OF DOTHAN.

DON: WITH TWO NEW SIGNIFICANT NAMES JOINING THE GOP RACE THIS WEEK, INCLUDING LINDY BLANCHARD, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WAS ASKED WAS ASKED ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN BECOMING MORE COMPETITIVE.

>> I'M RUNNING STRONG ON MY RECORD AND WORKING HARD TO GET MY MESSAGE OUT.

I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF LINDA BLANCHARD.

I CERTAINLY HAVE NOT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING AND GET OUR MESSAGE OUT AND STAY STRONG.

I'M PROUD OF MY RECORD.

AND I WILL BE PROUD TO TALK ABOUT IT.

DON: OFFICIAL QUALIFYING FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS BEGINS JAN. 4 AND CLOSES JAN. 28.

THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS MAY 24, 2022.

DON: A BILL HAS BEEN PRE-FILED FOR LEGISLATIVE CONSIDERATION NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD BAN ABORTIONS AT SIX WEEKS OF PREGNANCY AND ALLOW FOR THOSE SEEKING, PROVIDING OR HELPING TO FACILITATE THE PROCEDURE TO BE SUED FOR 10,000-DOLLARS, JUST LIKE A CONTROVERSIAL TEXAS LAW.

REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE KIEL OF RUSSELLVILLE IS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION AND HE SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO EVERY DAY THAT THE TEXAS CASE IS IN REVIEW AND NOT OVERTURNED THERE ARE 55 LIVES THAT ARE SAVED.

AND MY POINT IS, IS THAT IN ALABAMA THE SAME COULD BE TRUE.

WE PASSED A VERY STRONG ABORTION LAW -- I THINK THE STRONGEST IN THE NATION, IN 2019.

AND ONCE THE SUPREME COURT FINALLY DOES RULE, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT ABORTION LAW IS THE LAW OF THE LAND IN ALABAMA.

UNTIL THEN, 16 BABIES EVERY DAY ARE PERISHING SO I HOPE TO STOP THAT AT LEAST UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT RULES ON ROW-WADE, HOPEFULLY IN JUNE.

DON: THE SUPREME COURT ON FRIDAY LEFT IN PLACE TEXAS' BAN ON MOST ABORTIONS, THOUGH IT RULED THAT CLINICS IN THAT STATE CAN SUE OVER WHAT'S BEEN CALLED THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LAW IN THE NATION.

THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF ALABAMA ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT IT WOULD VIGOROUSLY FIGHT THE ALABAMA BILL THAT WOULD MIRROR THE TEXAS LAW.

>> DON: ANOTHER STATE LAWMAKER SAYS HE'LL BE BRINGING LEGISLATION NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD TWEAK THE MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT, WHICH HAS FINES AND OTHER PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO REMOVE HISTORIC MONUMENTS.

IT CAME IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS BEING TAKEN DOWN.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE BALL OF MADISON IS SPONSORING THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REVISIT THE ISSUE.

HE SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> YOU KNOW I WAS ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED AGAINST IT.

I THINK ME AND ONE OTHER IN EITHER THE HOUSE OR SENATE.

AND YOU KNOW, I NORMALLY VOTE WITH THE HERD.

BUT THAT ONE, IT WAS -- IT WAS JUST A BRIDGE TOO FAR, AND I WAS -- I WAS TROUBLED BY THE -- I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OVERREACH OF STATE GOVERNMENT WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEEDED TO MAKE DECISION ELSE BASED ON THEIR LOCAL POPULATION.

DON: BALL SAYS HIS BILL WOULD ALLOW LOCAL OFFICIALS TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY TO DECIDE THE FUTURE OF ANY MONUMENT A COMMUNITY WANTS TO REMOVE, SIMILAR TO AN UNSUCCESSFUL BILL SPONSORED THIS YEAR BY REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYNN GIVAN OF BIRMINGHAM.

HE'LL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

DON: ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED ANOTHER VICTORY IN THE STATE'S BATTLE AGAINST PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S WORKER VACCINE MANDATES.

THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA GRANTED ALABAMA'S MOTION FOR AN INJUNCTION AGAINST THE FEDERAL CONTRACTOR VACCINE MANDATE.

MARSHALL HAS CALLED THE MANDATES UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND SAID THIS WEEK'S COURT DECISION REPRESENTS THE THIRD VICTORY FOR ALABAMA AND A COALITION OF STATES THAT HAVE PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE RULES, WHICH HAVE ALSO INCLUDED PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

DON: NINE ALABAMIANS ARE THE NEWEST INDUCTEES INTO THE STATE'S ACADEMY OF HONOR AFTER CEREMONIES THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY.

THE ACADEMY WAS CREATED TO RECOGNIZE LIVING ALABAMIANS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SERVICE.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

>> LAST YEAR'S ALABAMA ACADEMY OF HONOR INDUCTION CEREMONY WAS POSTPONED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BUT THIS YEAR'S EVENT WAS TWICE AS NICE, AS BOTH THE CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021 WERE ADDED TO THIS PRESTIGIOUS GROUP.

>> THE 2020 HONOREES ARE CONGRESSMAN JO BONNER, RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL J. GARY COOPER AND EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE FOUNDER BRYAN TEACHSON.

THE CLASS OF 2021 WITH THE CURRENT U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, LLOYD AUSTIN, HUNTSVILLE ATTORNEY JULIENNE BUTLER, FORMER ALABAMA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN ENGLAND, JUNIOR.

FORMER LOCKHEED MARTIN CEO MARILYN HOUSTON.

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST LIONEL RICHIE AND THE UNDER THE OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM VICE PRESIDENT OF MEDICINE DR. SELWYN VICKERS.

STEPHENSON SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE INDUCTEES.

HE SAID ALABAMA HAS TO DO BETTER.

>> I WANT TO DO RAISE THE COMPASSION INDEX IN OUR STATED, THE JUSTICE INDEX.

WE'RE WELL POSITION THE BECAUSE OF OUR HISTORY TO REALLY LEAD THIS NATION OUT OF THE POLITICS OF FEAR AND ANGER TO SOMETHING THAT IS MORE HOPEFUL, THAT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T DENIGRATE BUT LOOKS TO BUILD.

>> HE ALSO SAYS WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING AND EXCLUDED.

>> WE HAVE TO CHANGE THESE NARRATIVES THAT CONTINUE TO WEIGH ON US THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BY OUR HISTORY OF RACIAL INJUSTICE AND THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE UNCOMFORTABLE THINGS NECESSARY TO CREATE A HEALTHY SOCIETY.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO RESPOND.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE ALREADY DOING THAT AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM.

>> SINCE ITS IN ACCEPTANCE IN 1965, THE ACADEMY HAS INDUCTED 265 ALABAMIANS.

FOUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

Reporter: NEXT UP, THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, REPRESENTATIVE PENNI MCCLAMMY OF MONTGOMERY JOINS US IN THE STUDIO.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THAT HAVE.

>> NICE SO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> YOU ALSO.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT ELECTION.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, YOU HAVE INHERITED YOUR LATE FATHER'S HOUSE SEAT, REPRESENTATIVE THAD MCCLAMMY THAT WE LOST THAT LAST YEAR AFTER SERVING 27 YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

BEFORE HIS DEATH -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- HE HAD ALREADY PLANNED TO RETIRE AND HAD ALREADY TALKED TO YOU ABOUT RUNNING FOR THE SEAT; RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

WE DISCUSSED HIS SEAT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

AND HE WAS SAYING THAT HE WAS READY TO PASS THE TORCH ON TO SOMEONE ELSE.

AND WE TALKED OFTEN.

AND LAST YEAR, WE LIVED TOGETHER.

SO HE ASKED ME, HE SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ME RETIRING?

I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, I NEVER TELL YOU WHAT TO DO!

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE ALWAYS TOLD ME "I NEVER TELL YOU WHAT TO DO."

SO HE SAID, WELL, ARE YOU INTERESTED?

IN RUNNING FOR OPPOSITION?

AND I SAID ARE YOU TRULY READY TO RETIRE?

HE SAID YES.

I SAID YES.

HE BEGAN AS MY PRIMARY CAMPAIGN MANAGER THAT DAY WHERE WE WERE DISCUSSING HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET OUR SYSTEM IN PLACE AND GET OUR RV READY TO USE, ONCE USED IN HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT.

>> HE ACTUALLY WORKED UNTIL THE LAST WEEK HE PASSED.

HE WAS MAKING PHONE CALLS AND TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND YOU KNOW, SAYING I'M RETIRING, MY DAUGHTER IS STEPPING IN.

THEN HIS LAST WORDS TO ONE PERSON WAS: "I MAY NOT BE HERE."

"BUT YOU TAKE CARE OF HER AND BE THERE FOR HER."

>> IT MUST BE AN AWESOME TASK FILLING YOUR DAD'S SHOES AND INHERITING OF THAT LEGACY SO TO SPEAK THAT HE LEFT.

>> IT IS SURREAL, INHERITING THIS TASK.

BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE RIGHT HERE WITH ME.

SECOND OF ALL, HE LEFT SUCH GREAT SHOES.

AND HAVING TO STEP INTO THOSE SHOES AND MOVE FORWARD, THAT HAS BEEN A GIANT TASK AND I AM READY TO DO.

I ALWAYS SAY, INSTEAD OF BEING IN HIS GIANT SHOES I'M NOW MOVING FORWARD IN MY HIGH HEEL PUMPS AND TAKE THIS CHALLENGE ON.

SO IT IS A THRILL MOMENT FOR ME.

AND I CARRY HIM IN MY SPIRIT DAY BY DAY, AND I HEAR HIM DIRECTING AND ENCOURAGING AND GUIDING EACH DAY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR PERSONALLY.

YOU ARE AN ATTORNEY.

>> I AM.

>> HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST FOR RAY INTO POLITICS?

>> YES.

I WOULD SAY.

I DID AT ONE TIME TRY TO RUN FOR OFFICE, BUT I NEVER ANNOUNCED MY RUNNING BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS ILL AT THE TIME.

SO BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN STARTED, I MADE MY ANNOUNCEMENT, I ACTUALLY WITHDREW FROM THE CAMPAIGN.

MY NAME REMAINED ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LATE TO REMOVE IT BY A COUPLE OF DAYS.

THAT WAS FOR STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN UP ONE OF YOUR LATE FATHER'S CAUSES.

HE SUPPORTED THE MOVE TO REMOVE THE STATE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES.

YOU HAVE ALREADY PREFILED A BILL TO THAT EFFECT?

>> YES.

I AM WORKING ON PREFILING A BILL FOR SALES TAX TO BE REMOVED FROM GROCERIES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT I WILL BE PREFILING A BILL TO REMOVE SALES TAX FROM PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS.

SO THOSE ARE TWO OF MY ISSUES I WILL BE HANDLING BEFORE THE SESSION STARTS TO GO INTO THE SESSIONS WITH.

>> THESE ARE ISSUES THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS VISITED A NUMBER OF TIMES.

IT'S NEVER QUITE MADE IT TO FRUITION.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OPTIMISM NEXT YEAR MIGHT FINALLY BE THE YEAR.

>> WELL, ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY.

AND I DO -- I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS ON THE BILL AND THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WORK WITH ME ON THIS.

WE WILL AT LEAST TRY TO GO THROUGH WITH IT.

I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A SHORT SESSION BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION SESSION THAT WE WILL -- BUT WE WILL TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN AND PUSH IT THROUGH.

IF NOT THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR.

>> AND AGAIN YOUR PHILOSOPHY, I ASSUME, LIKE YOUR FATHER'S, WAS THAT, FOOD IS A NECESSITY FOR FOLKS AND TAXING IT, THE WAY ALABAMA DOES, IS A FORWARD TOWARD LESSENING THE BURDEN?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS.

ONE OF MY MAIN ISSUES CONCERNS THE ELDERLY AND ALSO THOSE UNDERPRIVILEGED.

AND EVEN WITH US, YOU KNOW?

IT'S A BURDEN WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DECIDE, AS I SAID, WITH PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AM I GOING TO BUY MY MEDICINE TODAY OR AM I GOING TO BUY GROCERIES?

EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS IN A HOUSE HOLD.

I DON'T CARE FOR WHAT LEVEL YOU ARE TO THE NEXT.

THAT'S ONE LESS OF A BURDEN I WANT TO PUT ON OUR CITIZENS IS PAYING SALES TAX ON THOSE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED.

>> I BELIEVE YOU SAID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE A PRIORITY FOR YOU IN YOUR FIRST TERM CORRECT?

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

I DO BELIEVE I FOLLOW IN MY FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

MANY PEOPLE ASK -- THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT.

BEFORE MY DAD WAS A LEGISLATOR -- BECAUSE I WAS IN COLLEGE WHEN HE ASKED ME AND HE RAN HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE AND HE WAS ALWAYS WORKING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE PROGRAM THAT WE WORKED WITH WAS TO BRING THE ENTERPRISE ZONE TO WEST MONTGOMERY.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING I HAVE GROWN UP INSIDE THE HOME AND OUTSIDE STUDYING.

ONE THING I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, BECAUSE I AM A CERTIFIED STEM ADVISOR AND I HAVE WORKED WITH STEM PROGRAMS HERE LOCALLY, BUT I HAVE ALSO WANTED TO WORK WITH THE STEM PROMISE OUT IN RURAL AREAS AND COMMUNITIES, TO BRING THOSE TYPES OF EDUCATION INTO THOSE AREAS.

NOT ONLY INTO RURAL BUT EVEN RIGHT HERE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR MATH AND TECHNOLOGY SCORES HERE.

THEY'RE NOT THE BEST.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WOULD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

I KNOW YOU SAID, WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> BUT THEY WORK HAND IN HAND.

>> RIGHT.

AND YOU JUMPED OVER TO STEM PROGRAM.

BUT REALLY EVERYTHING I'M LOOKING AT IN MY PROGRAM IS DEALING WITH EDUCATION, COMMERCIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

BECAUSE IF WE START OFF OUR KIDS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH THESE STEM PROGRAMS, THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY AND THE JOBS ARE THESE DAYS.

AND THEN WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES INTO THIS STATE.

AND IT'S OUR COMMUNITY AND WE CAN FOCUS ON STEM.

WHEN THE KIDS HAVE SOME TYPE OF WORKFORCE TRAINING IN THE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ONE PROJECT WHERE ONE OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THAT PROJECT, SO ONCE THEY FINISHED WITH THE EDUCATION, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO A JOB, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT FELL APART, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF SYSTEM IN PLACE.

WHEN WE BRING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT HERE, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR STEM BUSINESSES HERE, THAT WE WORK ON EDUCATING, FIRST OF ALL, STRENGTHENING OUR STUDENTS IN THOSE AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH AND THEN THEY HAVE A GOOD BACKGROUND TO GO INTO COLLEGE WITH OR GO IN THE WORKFORCE IN THESE BUSINESSES.

I ALWAYS SAY, ALABAMA DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB IN EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS HERE IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE EXCELLENT JOB AT ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY, TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY, A&M UNIVERSITY, AUBURN, ALABAMA, AND OTHERS.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GRADUATE?

THEY MOVE!

THEY LEAVE THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND THEY GO TO THESE STATES THAT HAVE THE STEM PROGRAMS, THE STEM JOBS.

SO WE BRING THOSE JOBS HERE TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA, AND WE EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY AT THE YOUNG AGE, AND THEY SAY, WHAT, THIRD GRADE IS THE AGE YOU SHOULD BE GETTING STARTED.

THEN, IF WE MAINTAIN WORKFORCE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND NOT HAVE OUR STUDENTS MOVE THERE AND HAVE THE JOBS HERE FOR THEM NOT ONLY DO WE MAINTAIN OUR STUDENTS HERE IN THIS STATE BUT WE BRING IN OTHER STUDENTS FROM OTHER STATES OR FROM OUT OF STATE AND THAT IS WHERE I WANT TO FOCUS ON WITH MY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO WITH MY EDUCATION AND INTO THE RURAL AREAS.

>> THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE IS PENNI MCCLAMMY OF MONTGOMERY.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

ALSO I WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOB IN THE YEAR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HERE WITH APT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU HAVE.

>> THAT'S VERY NICE OF YOU TO SAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

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

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

NICE TO SEA YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LIST DIVE RIGHT IN.

YOU WERE PLANNING A BILL FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH I GUESS WE COULD SAY PROPOSES TWEAKING, THE ALABAMA PRESERVATION ACT, THE MONUMENTS LAWS AS IT'S KNOWN TO ME.

>> I WAS ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED AGAINST IT.

I THINK ME AND ONE OTHER IN EITHER THE HOUSE OR SENATE AND, YOU KNOW, I NORMALLY VOTE WITH THE HERD, BUT THAT ONE -- IT WAS JUST A BRIDGE TOO FAR AND I WAS TROUBLED BY THE -- I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OVERREACH OF STATE GOVERNMENT WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEEDED TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THEIR LOCAL POPULATION.

>> IT'S IRONIC YOU SAY THAT.

WE HAD MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEPHEN REED ON THE PROGRAM AND HE PRETTY MUCH SAID THE SAME THING, THAT WAS HIS CONCERN THAT IT WAS LEGISLATIVE OVERREACH THAT INFRINGES ON HOME RULE.

>> THAT'S PART OF IT.

AND THERE'S ACTUAL A LOT MORE EVEN TO THAT.

IT'S THAT -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE -- THE SAME GOVERNMENTS, 50 OR A HUNDRED YEARS AGO PUT UP THE MONUMENTS.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE SAME GOVERNMENT THAT PUT IT UP COULD TAKE IT DOWN.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS, AN ACTION THAT A GOVERNMENT MAKE ELSE IS NOT SACROSANCT, AND IT'S NOT IRREVERSIBLE.

THE THING IS OUR GENERATION -- THE PREVIOUS GENERATION-MADE DECISIONS, OUR GENERATION MAKES DECISIONS AND OUR POSTERITY WILL MAKE DECISIONS.

AND WHAT WE DID WAS, WE JUST -- WE MADE THOSE -- INSTEAD OF PRESERVING HISTORY, WE REACHED SO FAR THAT IT FELT LIKE WE WERE MAKING IDOLS IS SACROSANCT.

SIX IT JUST CAN'T SEEM EXACTLY -- WE WERE GOING TOO FAR.

SO REALLY WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE TO DO, THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY -- IT'S ABOUT HISTORY -- AND NOT IDOLS.

IF IT'S ABOUT HISTORY, THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVE AND HISTORY HAS BEEN WORKING ON A WAY TO USE THAT COMMISSION THAT WAS CREATED TO HAVE SOME DECISION-MAKING AND TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE SOME INPUT.

WITHOUT COMPROMISING HISTORY.

IT IS DEEPLY TROUBLING.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOUND UP DOING THIS.

WE WOUND UP DOING THIS BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE ON THE LEFT THAT WERE -- THAT WERE WANTING TO WRITE THE LEFT HISTORY, AND EVEN MAYBE OBLITERATE AND TAKE THEM DOWN BECAUSE IT'S VERY OFFENSIVE TO THEM AND I UNDERSTAND Y.

BUT WE FORGET TO SEE WHEN WE LOOK BACK IN HISTORY AT THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THESE MEMORIALS COMING UP, AT WHAT TIME IT WAS PAT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE WERE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING THEY'RE AFRAID OF.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS, WE OVERREACTED.

WE SHOULD HAVE -- WE SHOULD HAVE REACTED TO PRESERVE HISTORY AND TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO PRESERVE IT THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE MORES OF THE CURRENT TIMES, WHICH WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE PLACE, A MUSEUM OR WHATEVER, WITHOUT OVERREACTING.

SO WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY TO DO IS -- YOU KNOW, I'M A RADICAL MODERATE.

SO WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD -- WHICH IS KIND OF A DYING BREED IN POLITICS.

SO WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD I TRY TO DO IS GET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY.

DO I BELIEVE IN HISTORY.

I BELIEVE WE SHOULDN'T LOOK AT THE LEFT WING HISTORY OR THE RIGHT WING HISTORY.

WE SHOULD LOOK FOR TRUTH.

AND THE TRUTH WILL HAVE ALL KINDS OF LESSONS FOR ALL OF US TO LEARN, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER, AND SO THE HISTORY IS IMPORTANT BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T COPY REPEATING AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE CIVIL WAR.

IT'S OVER.

>> VERY QUICKLY.

AN AT ANY POINT WAS MATED IN THE REGULAR SESSION EARLIER THIS YEAR TO TWEAK THE MONUMENTS LAW.

IT DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR CHANCES ARE?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE WAS ONE ATTEMPT BY ONE PERSON ON ONE SIDE OF THE ISSUE AND ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY ANOTHER PERSON ON ANOTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE TO MAKE IT STRONGER, AND THIS BILL THAT I'M STARTING WITH WAS THE SUBSTITUTE THAT ONE OF THE PEOPLE H THERE WERE ATTEMPTS BUT OF COURSE THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR, A THIRD RAIL -- I WOULD IMAGINE THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

OF COURSE THEY MAY NOT THINK I GO FAR ENOUGH, BUT THE POLITICS OF IT -- THE POLITICS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT IN AN ELECTION YEAR, BUT YOU KNOW IF I GET A GOOD BILL AND TRY TO STATE THE CASE WHERE WHY WE NEED TO DO IT, MAYBE ONE OF THESE DAYS, PEOPLE WILL PICK IT UP AND DO SOMETHING LATER AFTER I'M GONE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BILL THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY BOUGHT THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING BRINGING BACK.

IT'S AN ETHICS REFORM BILL THAT WAS BORN OUT OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAD FOLLOWING THE PROSECUTION OF FORMER SPEAKER MIKE HUBBARD.

>> WELL, IT WASN'T JUST THE HUBBARD CASE.

THERE WERE THINGS DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE.

BUT THE HUBBARD THING DRAWS THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE AIR AND THAT'S ALL PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT.

AND THEY CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS.

HERE IS THE SAD THING IS, WHEN POLITICS VOLKSWAGEN HE SAY ON THE PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE IMPERFECT.

EVERYBODY IS IMPERFECT.

NOBODY IS IMPERFECT.

SO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THIS PROCESS THAT THE FOUNDERS CREATED WAS ABOUT GETTING A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT -- WITH CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT WORKS AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE AND I SAW THIS SPRINGS THAT GOT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES TOTALLY OUT OF KILTER THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED.

THE PROBLEM IS, UNTIL PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE STORY AND THE WHY THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE, PASSING A BILL WILL BE VERY UNLIKELY, AND DURING AN ELECTION YEAR, THE POLITICAL DISCUSSION DOESN'T GENERALLY HAPPEN.

DURING ELECTION YEAR THE POLITICAL DEBATE GETS VERY VAPID IN A HURRY AND IT TURNS INTO ONE LINER AND ZINGERS AND NAME-CALLING AND STIGMATIZING AND STEREOTYPING.

AND POLITICIANS ARE AFRAID OF THAT.

SO GENERALLY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO A LOT OF CONTROVERSIAL STUFF DURING THIS LAST SESSION.

BUT I DO FEEL -- I'M NEVER GOING TO RUN FOR ANYTHING AGAIN AND I CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

I'M NOT GOING TO SHUT UP UNTIL I'M DEAD.

AND I THINK BEING UNFETTERED BY HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE WILL HELP ME TO DO THAT.

AND ETHICS IS AN ISSUES I PLAN TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> MIKE BALL OF MADISON, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU FOR.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> YOU BET.

>> NEXT UP, FORMER GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, DON.

GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

>> WELCOME BACK TO MONTGOMERY.

YOU CAME THIS WEEK TO ATTEND THE ACADEMY OF HONOR CEREMONY WHERE A NUMBER OF DISTINGUISHED ALABAMIANS WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> THEY REALLY WERE.

AND IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION.

I THINK THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH IT IS, IT IS LIMITED TO A HUNDRED AND WE PROBABLY HAVE A LOT MORE IN THE STATE THAT DETERMINE DESERVES RECOGNITION ALSO.

BUT BEING GOVERNOR YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY A PART OF IT BUT IT'S AN HONOR AND THERE WERE REALLY FINE PEOPLE THERE.

>> I WANT TO BEGIN WITH PRISONS TONIGHT.

PRISON REFORM WAS A BIG ISSUE FOR YOU DURING YOUR ADMINISTRATION.

YOU TRIED A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH DIFFERENT PLANS.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A PRISON BILL THIS YEAR AND I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT WHAT FINALLY PASSED.

WE WERE GOING TO BILL FOUR PRISONS.

ONE WAS A FEMALE PRISON.

IT WAS GOING TO COST $800 MILLION.

THE WAY WE WERE GOING TO DO IT, THERE WERE GOING TO BE DESIGNED BUILD.

THEY WERE ALL ALIKE BECAUSE THAT SAVED 18 PERCENT ON ARCHITECTURAL FEES.

THAT SAVED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IS WE WERE GOING TO FUND THAT WITH A BOND ISSUE.

RIGHT NOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

BOND ISSUE MONEY IS SO LOW RIGHT NOW, THAT WE WERE GOING TO FUND IT WITH A BOND ISSUE AND PUT THOSE OUT FOR BIT.

WE WERE GOING TO DESIGN AND KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE PUTTING THIS OUT FOR BID.

THEY MAY HAVE DONE THAT TO GET THE COMPANY TO BUILD THEM.

BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM OUT FOR BID.

THE ONLY OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THEY'RE BUILDING, I BELIEVE, TWO PRISONS FOR ABOUT $1.3 BILLION, AND THAT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY MORE THAN WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.

ALSO THEY'RE USING $400 MILLION OF THE CARES MONEY AND I DON'T THINK THAT OUGHT TO GO FOR PRISONS.

>> THAT SEEMED TO BE A BIG STICKING POINT DURING THE DEBATE OVER THIS DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION ON THIS -- >> I JUST THINK THAT MONEY SHOULD BE USED FOR WHAT IT'S DESIGNED FOR.

THAT'S FOR MAYBE SMALL BUSINESSES OR PARTICULARLY IT OUGHT TO BE DESIGNED FOR HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE AND THAT'S WHAT IS LACKING SO MUCH.

>> THE HEAT WAS ON, GIVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WATCHING US CLOSELY WHERE OUR PRISONS ARE CONCERNED.

IT WAS LONG OVERDUE HERE.

>> WE KNEW ABOUT THE LAWSUIT AND KNEW ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMING IN AND TELLING US WHAT TO DO WHEN I WAS THERE.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND DO FOUR AND TRY TO SOLVED ISSUE OF HOUSING.

NOW, DOES THAT SOLVE THE ISSUE OF WHETHER PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE IN JAIL OR NOT?

NO, IT DOES NOT.

BUT IT DOES HELP SOLVE THE JOB OF HOUSING.

I THINK IT COULD STILL BE DONE.

I'M NOT TOO SURE THIS IS THE CHEAPEST OR THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY.

AND I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT THAT WAY.

THE REASON WE DIDN'T DO IT IS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE BEGGED ME -- BEGGED ME -- TO LET THEM PUT MY PLAN IN THEIR AGENDA.

AND THEY SAID THAT WILL BE THE FIRST THING WE PASS.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

>> JEFF DUNN WHO YOU APPOINTED PRISON COMMISSIONER DURING YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND WHO GOV.

IVEY KEPT ON ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK SHE RETIRING TO BE SUCCEEDED BY JOHN HAMM, THE DEPUTY ALEA SECRETARY.

HOW DO YOU LOOK BACK ON JEFF DID YOU KNOW'S TENURE?

>> WELL, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

AND I THINK THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED BEFORE NOW.

SO 'M NOT GOING TO BLAMING HIM.

IT IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO SOLVE.

I HAVE BEEN THERE.

I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS.

BUT I DO HATE THIS PROBLEM HAS GONE ON.

>> I DO KNOW JOHN.

THIS IS A HARD JOB.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT -- PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT JOB?

STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> LET'S TURN TO THE CAMPAIGN SEASON.

I'M SURE YOU'RE WATCHING WITH INTEREST AS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS SHAPING UP.

LAST WEEK TIM JAMES JOINED THE REPUBLICAN FOLD FOR A THIRD RUN AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND WE HAD LYNNDIE BLANCHARD SWITCH FROM THE U.S. SENATE RACE TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE TO CHALLENGE KAY IVEY.

WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSION OF HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP?

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION TO REPRESENT THE STATE IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SHOULD ATTRACT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THERE MAY BE MORE THAT WILL ENTER THE RACE.

IT SHOULD ATTRACT PEOPLE.

IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND I THINK HAVING MORE PEOPLE COME INTO IT IS A GOOD THING.

I DO HOPE THAT -- CANDIDATES -- I THINK THEY NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEIR GOING TO BE DOING: THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE STATE THAT NEED TO BE SOLVED AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF THEM SOME SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN THEM TALKING ABOUT RIOTING THE SHIP OR WHATEVER THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING.

HONESTLY THE SHIP DOESN'T NEED TO BE RIOTED BECAUSE WHEN WE LEFT IT WAS IN THE BEST POSITION IT HAD BEEN IN.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD CUT THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT BY 25 PERCENT.

>> WE PAVED ROADS AND BRIDGES, $1.4 BILLION AND DIDN'T HAVE TO RAISE TAXES.

SO THERE'S SO MANY THINGS WE SAVED A BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR AND SO THERE'S -- THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS AND WE PAID OFF ALL THE RAINY DAY FUNDS.

SO THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN GREAT SHAPE WHEN I LEFT.

I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS GOVERNOR IVEY OR LINDA BLANCHARD TO BE TALKING ABOUT RIOTING THE SHIP WHEN THE SHIP WAS NOT IN BAD POSITION WHEN SHE TOOK OVER.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY, OF COURSE, ORIGINATING THE TERM RIOTING THE SHIP AFTER YOU LEFT OFFICE, REFERRING HAD TO THE CONTROVERSY AND THE CHANGE OF POWER.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT THE STATED WAS IN GOOD SHAPE.

I REALLY DO.

WE HAD WORKED REALLY HARD.

WE TALK TOOK OVER A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

ALL RAINY DAY FUNDS HAD BEEN EXHAUSTED.

WE HAD BORROWED MONEY AND WE WERE IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.

UNEMPLOYMENT WAS 11 PERCENT.

WHEN I LEFT IT WAS FIVE.

AND WE HAD RECRUITED A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES AND JOBS, YOU KNOW, AIRBUS AND ALL OF THE COMPANIES UP IN NORTH ALABAMA, YOU KNOW, POLARIS AND REMINGTON AND ALL OF THOSE COMPANIES.

SO THINGS WERE NOT BAD.

AND I -- HONESTLY, I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOOD.

AND I DON'T THINK THE SHIP NEEDED TO BE RIOTED.

ACTUALLY, SHE TOOK OVER MANY OF THE THINGS I HAD ALREADY STARTED.

SHE KEPT MOST OF MY CABINET.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT QUICKLY BEFORE WE CLOSE, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE UP TO NOW.

YOU STILL HAVE YOUR DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE IN TUSCALOOSA AND YOU'RE RUNNING A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES FREE MEDICAL CARE AROUND THE STATE.

>> I DO.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS.

WHEN I WENT BACK, YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS AGO, IN 2017, I SAID I'M JUST GOING TO STARTED A NEW PRACTICE AND I DID.

BUT WE SAW THE TREMENDOUS NEED FOR HEALTH CARE.

SO MANY CANCERS AND THINGS THAT WE SAW THAT HAD BEEN NEGLECTED.

I SAID IF THEY'RE NEGLECTED IN EXCLUSION THINK HOW BAD IT IS ACROSS THE STATE.

THEN WE STARTED GOING OUT AND HAVING FREE CLINICS ALONG THE STATE AND WE SAID THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THAT WOULD BE THROUGH A NONPROFIT AND WE HAVE CREATED A NONPROFIT.

DANIEL SPARK MAN IS IN CHARGE OF OUR NONPROFIT.

AND WE ARE SEEING AND HAVING FREE CLINICS IN THE RURAL AREAS.

WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT, NOT ONLY FOR DERMATOLOGY BUT FOR OTHER HEALTH CARE SITUATION SITUATIONS TOO, LIKE, YOU KNOW, PRIMARY CARE AND OTHER SPECIALTIES WHICH ARE TREMENDOUSLY LACK.

WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEMS WITH HEALTH CARE IN THE RURAL AREAS IN THE STATE.

>> ROBERT BENTLEY, WHEREAS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU BET.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> FLEX UP ON THE BROADCAST, HE'S HASN'T TO BECOME THE BRAND-NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA IN MOBILE.

FORMER CONGRESSMAN JO BONNER IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> IT'S GOOD TOOK HERE, AND I'M GOING TO MOBILE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING BUT WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A BRIGHT FUTURE.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BIG PLANS.

>> THANK YOU.

A LOT OF PEOPLED AND ME SINCE I ANNOUNCED MY RETIREMENT WHAT IS NEXT.

AND I SAID I DON'T KNOW WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS NEXT BUT I WILL KEEP THAT DOOR OPEN.

>> YOU KEEP IT OPEN.

AND YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR THIS STATE, AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS JUST BECAUSE I'M ONE OF YOUR FINAL GUESTS FOR THE YEAR AND ALSO FOR YOUR TIME HERE, DON, BUT YOU HAVE BROUGHT INTEGRITY TO THIS DESK.

YOUR QUESTIONS ARE FAIR.

YOUR REPUTATION IS STERLING.

AND WE ALL OWE YOU A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR BEING A BIG PART OF OUR LIVES EVERY NIGHT THAT WE GET A CHANCE TO TUNE INTO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND WATCH YOU HERE AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> THAT'S VERY NICE FOR YOU TO SAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND CALL YOU MR. PRESIDENT?

YOU WILL ASSUME THE PRESIDENCY ON JANUARY 1; RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AS A CHILD I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NEAT TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.

SO I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA SO I WILL TAKE ANY TITLE BUT JUST CALL ME JOE.

>> YOU WERE CONFIRMED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

YOU OFFICIALLY TAKE OVER THE OFFICE JANUARY 1.

YOU'RE STILL TECHNICALLY EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AS SORT OF AN EX OFFICIO CHIEF OF STAFF UNTIL THE END OF YEAR.

>> LIZ -- BECAME THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND GOVERNOR IVEY BEING ONLY THE SECOND FEMALE GOVERNOR IN OUR HISTORY THAT WAS A PROUD MOMENT.

LIZ IS GOING TO DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

SHE ALREADY PUTTING HER TEAM TOGETHER.

SO I'M TRYING TO GET MY STUFF OUT OF THE WAY AND FINISH UP ANY LAST MINUTE PROJECTS.

I OWE GOVERNOR IVEY A TREMENDOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I WAS RETIRED FROM POLITICS, WORKING IN OUR EDUCATION.

AND SHE ASKED ME THREE YEARS AGO THIS YEAR IN OCTOBER, RIGHT BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION AND SHE CAME AND WE HAD LUNCH AND SHE SHED SHE WOULD LIKE ME TO CONSIDER GOING TO WORK WITH HER.

WE JOKED ABOUT IT.

SHE HAD NOT NATIONED THE VOTERS YET FIRST AS A GOVERNOR SEEKING ALEX TO A FULL TERM BUT I WAS SO GREATUPFUL THAT HE GAVE ME THAT OPPORTUNITY AND I WAS SO HONORED TO HAVE WORKED WITH HER IN THE INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT SHE HAS WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

>> SHOW JOE, YOU TAKE OVER -- I THINK YOU WERE THE FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA?

>> I'M GOING TO TRY TO COULD AT SOUTH LIKE I TRIED TO DO IN CONGRESS AND WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND EVERY OTHER JOB I HAVE HAD, DON, AND THAT'S BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS.

THE UNIVERSITY IS 58 YEARS OLD.

IT WAS FOUNDED IN 19553.

IT WAS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AS A SATELLITE CAMPUS.

DR. FRED WHIDDEN WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE UNIVERSITY, FIRST PRESIDENT, SERVED THERE FOR MANY YEARS.

AND HE WAS A BOLD AND VISIONARY LEADER.

HE WAS AUDACIOUS TO THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR OWN UNIVERSITY IN MOBILE.

AND SURE ENOUGH, SHE PUT TOGETHER TEAM, CAME UP TO MONTGOMERY, GOT GOVERNOR WALLACE'S HELP AND MEMBERS THE LEGISLATURE AND THAT'S IN FACT WHAT HAPPENED.

DR.

WHEN I HADDEN RETIRED AND A GUY NAMED GORDON MOULTON WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE DR.

WHEN I HADDEN HAD HIRED AND ENDED UP BECOMING ONE OF HIS VICE PRESIDENTS AND MOST TRUSTED ALLIES, PRESIDENT MOULTON AND HIS WIFE GERRIE BECAME THE SECOND PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY.

AND THINK TOOK THE VISION OF FRED WHIDDEN AND THEN THEY ENHANCED IT AND THAT CAMPUS TODAY IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

WE'RE GETTING STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT WANT TO COME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, PRESIDENT TONY WALL DRIP CAME UP FROM SOUTH FLORIDA WHERE HE WAS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RESEARCHER AND DID JUST AN INCREDIBLE JOB BUILDING ON WHAT PRESIDENT WHIDDEN AND WHAT PRESIDENT MOULTON.

HE ADDED HIS OWN TOUCH IN THE AREA OF ACADEMICS AND RESEARCH.

WE HAVE A GREAT MEDICAL SCHOOL, GREAT NURSING PROGRAM, THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THREE-POINTS, GREAT BUSINESS SCHOOL, ENGINEERING SCHOOL.

I'M GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO LEAVE SEVERAL OF THEM OUT.

BUT I'M GOING TO DO MY HARDEST WORK WITH THE FACULTY TO GET TO KNOW THE TEENS AND THE VICE PRESIDENTS AND THE ALUMNI, ALMOST 90,000 STRONG, THAT LOVED THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

SO MY JOB IS TO BUILT ON THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS AND LET'S HELP TAKE SOUTH TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> YOU HAVE SAID -- I KNOW YOU SAID THIS WHEN YOU WERE CONFIRMED BY THE TRUSTEES RECENTLY -- GIVE ME A CHANCE.

SOME HAVE POINTED TO YOUR LACK OF ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS IN GETTING THIS JOB.

NOW, YOU'RE NOT A STRANGER TO ACADEMIA YOU SERVED AS CIVIL RIGHTS CHANCELLOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA BUT YOUR MANTRA IS GIVE ME A CHANCE.

>> IT'S LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I ASKED THE FACULTY.

AND REALLY IT WASN'T JUST THE FACULTY.

THERE WAS QUESTIONS BY THE TRUSTEES AND OTHERS.

I DO NOT HAVE A TRADITIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION BACKGROUND.

I GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA WITH A DEGREE OF JOURNALISM, VERY PROUD OF THAT.

MY SISTER JUDY CHOSE THE PATH OF BEING IN HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION.

SHE HAD HER OWN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.

AND THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING I EVER PLANNED FOR OR REALLY PREPARED FOR.

BUT WHEN I STARTED HEARING RIGHT AFTER DR. WALL DRIP ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RETIRE, FROM SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD LOVE THAT UNIVERSITY SIX, WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT?

AND I SAID WELL, I'M NOT QUALIFIED AND THEY SAID, WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT THE BOARD WANTS.

AND THEY MADE THE DECISION EARLY ON.

I HAD NO INVOLVEMENT IN THIS.

THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REQUIRE HAD A TRADITIONAL PH.D. AND ACADEMIC BACKGROUND.

THEY SAID THEY WANTED A LEADER WHO WAS GOING TO HELP BUILD ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE PAST, AND HELP RECONNECT OUR UNDER THE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTY BUT REALLY WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FROM TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, TO NEW ORLEANS.

THERE'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY THERE.

WE GET MOST OF OUR OUT OF STATE STUDENTS COMING FROM MISSISSIPPI BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR STUDENTS ALL AROUND THE GULF COAST AND THE NATION.

WE HAVE A LARGE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT BODY AS WELL.

SO IT IS A TREMENDOUS OF HONOR.

WHEN THE BOARD VOTED TO CONFIRM THE FOURTH PRESIDENT AND NOTHING I SPENT MY LIFE PREPARING FOR.

IT'S A CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A LIFETIME.

MY WIFE GENERAL AND I ARE GOING TO GIVE EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO THE GREAT UNIVERSITY.

>> AS WE CLOSE, WE TALKED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT WHAT BOTH GREW UP IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA.

I'M FROM MARENGO COUNTY AND YOU'RE FROM WILCOX COUNTY.

AND BEING A SOUTHWEST ALABAMA NATIVE, WE'RE MIGHT MIGHTY PROUD OF YOU IN THIS NEXT LEG OF YOUR JOURNEY.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE TIME HOPEFULLY TO COME DOWN AND SEE US AND BE A PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THAT WELCOME MAT WILL ALWAYS BE OUT.

BUT THANK YOU.

MARENGO COUNTY AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA IS PROUD OF DON DAILEY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU HAVE MADE, AND I'M CERTAINLY PROUD TO CALL YOU MY FRIEND.

>> CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> JO BONNER, NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> FINALLY TONIGHT IT'S OUR WEEKLY VISIT WITH STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> DR. HARRIS, COVID CONTINUES TO SPIKE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

EVERY NIGHT ON THE EVENING NEWS WE SEE THE MAPS OF WHERE IT'S MOST PREVALENT.

ALABAMA'S NOT COLORED IN AS DARK RED JUST YET BUT DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

>> IT IS A MATTER OF TIME.

WE HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN GOOD AT PREDICTING THESE SURGES AND KNOWING EXACTLY WHY THEY OCCUR OR WHEN WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM BUT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM BASED ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES.

RIGHT NOW MICHIGAN AND THE UP EVER MIDWEST IS BEING HIT HARD.

WHAT IS MORE CONCERNING IS THE NORTHEASTERN STATES, VERMONT, CONNECTICUT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, HAVE REALLY HIGH VACCINATION RATES AND YET THEY'RE SEEING SPIKES IN THE HOSPITALIZATIONS AS WELL.

NOW, THOSE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DRIVEN BY UNVACCINATED PEOPLE BUT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE VAX NATALLED YOU CAN STILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US TO POINT OUT THAT WITH THE VACCINES, YOU ARE PROTECTED AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS AND HOSPITALIZATION BUT THERE'S NOT 100 PERCENT PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

DIFFERENT VACCINES, WE MEASURE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT THE COVID VACCINES PROTECTIVE AGAINST INFECTION IN MANY CASES BUT WHAT THEY REALLY DO WELL IS PROTECT AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS HOSPITALIZATION OR NEED FOR HOSPITALIZATION OR DEATH.

AS WE GET THE MORE INFECTIOUS VARIANTS LIKE DELTA LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH OR WITH OHM I DON'T KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW YET BUT WE MAY SEE THAT VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE LIKELY DO GET INFECTED.

BUT TO THIS POINT, THE VACCINES HAVE BEEN VERY PROTECTIVE.

>> FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE VACCINATED AND POINTING TO CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE STILL INFECTED, KEEP THOSE THINGS IN MIND.

>> IF YOU REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WE HAD ON THE VACCINE, THEY WERE AS MUCH AS 90 PERCENT EFFECTIVE.

WHEN YOU VACCINATED 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE, IF 90 PERCENT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMPLETELY PROTECTED, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL MAY HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO COULD GET INFECTED WITH BREAK THROUGH INFECTIONS AND THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT VACCINE EVEN THOSE THESE ARE VERY GOOD VACCINE.

>> THE SPIKES WE'RE SEEING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WILL SEE IN ALABAMA ARE DRIVEN BY THE DELTA VARIANT?

>> OVERWHELMINGLY SO.

I HEARD DR. WALENSKI SAY 99.9 PERCENT OF ALL INFECTIONS ARE SEQUENCED IN THE COUNTRY ARE THE DELTA VARIANT.

ABOUT 0.12 PERCENT OF ALL INFECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY ARE ANYTHING OTHER THAN DELTA.

ALL OF THE VARIANTS THAT WEE KNOW OF OTHER THAN DELTA.

>> WE'RE STILL WAITING TO LEARN MOTHER ON THE OMICRON VARIANT.

SO FAR IT'S DETERMINED IT IS HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE BUT AT THE SAME TIME -- AND AGAIN AT LEAST SO FAR, THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES THAT HAVE BEEN DETECTED HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY MILD.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCHERS THAT HAVE DONE THE MOST WORK ON THIS OF COURSE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT INITIALLY IDENTIFIED THIS VARIANT AND THEY'RE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF FOLLOWING UP ON THE CASES THEY KNOW ABOUT.

IT SEEMS RIGHT NOW PATIENTS AREN'T GETTING PARTICULARLY SICK.

I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A MORE INFECTIOUS VARIANT, EVEN IF YOU WERE TO GET ONLY AS SICK AS THE VARIANTS WE HAVE, HERE IS NUMBERS COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR YOUR HOSPITAL SUM.

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE GET BE INFECTED.

RIGHT NOW IT DOES NOT SEEM THIS IS MORE SEVERE.

IT'S NOT A WORSE ILLNESS.

WE HOPE IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH DELTA AND THE PREVIOUS STRAINS.

>> ALABAMA WAITS TO SEE THE SPIKES THAT OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE SEEING NOW, OTHER NUMBERS FOR THE MOMENT STILL REMAIN RELATIVELY STABLE.

EVEN SO I THINK WE CROSSED 850,000 TOTAL COVID CASES THIS WEEK SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE HAVE HAD MORE CASES THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

DELTA WAS SO MUCH MORE INFECTION, EVEN IN THE FACE OF VACCINATION.

AS WE HAVE SAID ON THE SHOW BEFORE, WE HAD MORE THAN 16,000 DEATHS.

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR ALABAMA HAS HAD MORE TOTAL DEATHS IN THE STATE THAN BIRTHS.

THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE AND WE WILL SEE THAT MORE THAN TWO STRAIGHT YEARS -- NOT BY A LITTLE BIT BUT BY A LOT.

WE HAD 6 OR 7,000 MORE DEATHS IN 2020 THAN BIRTHS.

THIS YEAR WILL BE SEVERAL THOUSAND.

THE YEAR SO NOT OVER AND WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL NUMBERS BUT SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE DEATHS THAN BIRTHS.

>> AND HE WANT TO WORRIED WITH THE DELTA VARIANT AND POSSIBLY THE OMICRON VARIANT WITH THE UNVACCINATED AND THAT IS STILL UNFORTUNATELY A HIGH NUMBER OF FOLKS HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE ABOUT 2.6 MILLION PEOPLE IN ALABAMA WHO RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SHOT AND CLOSE TO 2.2 MILLION ARE CONSIDERED PHYSICALLY VACCINATED.

MOST OF THE SHOTS WE'RE GIVING RIGHT NOW ARE BOOSTER DOSES.

WE'RE NOT REACHING THE PEOPLE WHO NEVER MADE A DECISION SO INITIATE THAT PRIMARY REGIMEN.

IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR US.

WE HAVE SEEN -- EVER SINCE VACCINE BECAME AVAILABLE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNVACCINATED ARE THE ONES MOST AT RISK FOR GETTING SICK, BEING IN THE HOSPITAL AND DYING.

SO MOST OF THOSE CASES SEEM PREVENTABLE TO US.

WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE BEING HOSPITALIZED OR DYING OF COURSE, WHEN A VACCINE WOULD PREVENT MOST OF THAT.

>> WHERE THE OMICRON VARIANT IS CONCERNED, PFIZER SAID THIS WEEK ITS RESEARCH HAD BORNE OUT HAVING BOTH SHOTS AND THE BOOSTER WAS GOOD PROTECTION AGAINST OMICRON.

>> AND THAT'S ENCOURAGING.

WE ALREADY HAD APPROVAL FOR BOOSTER SHOTS FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY.

THIS WEEK FDA ALSO AGREED A 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR BOOSTER DOSES.

WE WILL PROBABLY SEE THAT SOON WITH THE YOUNGER PEDIATRIC POPULATIONS AS WELL.

ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THEIR FIRST TWO SHOTS OF MRNA VACCINE OR ONE J AND J SHOULD GET A BOOSTER, AT LEAST ANYONE 16 YEARS OF AGE OR UP.

STILL EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN BOOSTED MAYBE BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T -- IT HASN'T BEEN AS LONG AS IT SHOULD BE FROM THE LAST SHOT ARE STILL PRETTY WELL PROTECTED SO OUR PRIORITY REMAINS REACHING THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEVER GOT THEIR FIRST SHOT AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE WANT TO RESEARCH REACH.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SCHOOLKIDS FOR A MOMENT.

MANDATORY MASKING RULES STILL EXIST IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS AND A BIG QUESTION ON PARENT'S MINDS IS HOW LONG MIGHT THAT LAST.

>> IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

CDC HAS REALLY TRY TO BE EXTRA SPECIAL CAREFUL WITH SCHOOLS.

WE UNDERSTAND AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL.

WE KNOW OF THAT THE SCHOOL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT USUALLY MEANS YOU CAN'T DISTANCE KIDS APPROPRIATELY.

AND UNTIL JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO THERE WAS NO VACCINATION FOR CERTAINLY OUR YOUNGER SCHOOLKIDS AS WELL.

CDC HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE UNIVERSAL MASKING REGULATIONS TO FOR SCHOOLS WHICH WE SUPPORT.

WE TALKED TO THEM MANY TIMES ABOUT WHAT POINT IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO CHANGE THAT AND MAKE THAT OPTIONAL AND THEY ARE STUDYING THAT ISSUE AND WE HOPE TO HEAR SOMETHING SOON.

SO FAR THAT RECOMMENDATION IS NOT CHANGED.

>> JANUARY 2021 WAS A BAD MONTH FOR ALABAMA WHERE COVID NUMBERS ARE CONCERNED.

ARE YOU WORRIED JANUARY OF 2022 MIGHT BE THE SAME?

>> I WISH I COULD PREDICT THAT.

I WOULD JUST SAY WE DON'T KNOW.

JANUARY WAS TOUGH FOR US AND IT CAME ON THE HEELS OF SEVERAL WEEKS OF INCREASING INFECTIONS THAT STARTED AROUND THANKSGIVING, IF YOU REMEMBER THROUGH THE DECEMBER HOLIDAY SEASON.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT YET TO THIS POINT THANKFULLY.

THE NUMBERS THAT WE SAW AFTER THANKSGIVING LAST YEAR HAVEN'T BEEN DUPLICATED YET TO THIS POINT SO WE WILL JUST HAVE TO SAY WHAT HAPPENS.

>> VIGILANCE REMAINS THE WORD RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

OUR GUIDANCE HAS NOT CHANGED.

IF YOU'RE VACCINATED YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH DO WHAT YOU WANT.

IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS, TRY NOT TO BE MIXED TOGETHER WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN DOORS FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

>> IT'S ALWAYS PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

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

DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE JOINED BY GOVERNOR KAY IVEY, WHO'LL TALK WITH US ABOUT HER OPPOSITION TO THE VACCINE MANDATES, A NEW PRISON COMMISSIONER AND WHAT'S AHEAD IN THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE'RE ALSO HOPING TO BE JOINED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL, WHO'LL DISCUSS ALABAMA'S LATEST COURT VICTORY OVER THE VACCINE MANDATES.

HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MIKE JONES OF ANDALUSIA WILL JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE EXEMPTION LAW HE CARRIED IN THE HOUSE AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW SORRELL OF MUSCLE SHOALS WILL BE WITH US TO DISCUSS HIS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY LEGISLATION.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL BE BACK TO TALK ABOUT THE LATEST ON THE PANDEMIC.

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

I'M DON DAILEY.