>> GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY SENT A LETTER TO THE FEDERAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION IN WHICH SHE CONTINUED TO PUSH BACK AGAINST PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR WORKERS.

IVEY HAS ASKED OSHA TO STOP ITS WORK ON A RULE TO IMPLEMENT THE MANDATE.

THE GOVERNOR ON WEDNESDAY WAS ALSO HERALDING THE STATE WINNING A NATIONAL INJUNCTION AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTHCARE WORKER VACCINE MANDATE.

>> EVER SINCE THE WHITE HOUSE ROLLED OUT THIS "MANDATE" -- I'VE CALLED IT AT AN OUTRAGEOUS OVERREACH BY THE AMERICAN WHITE HOUSE AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

YESTERDAY'S RULING IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I'M PLEASED THEY HAVE AT LEAST HALTED THE MANDATE THAT APPLIES TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT WE'RE NOT THROUGH YET.

THIS HAS TO BE SOLVED IN THE COURTS.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY HAS, OF COURSE, ENCOURAGED STATE RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS, AS SHE HAS DONE, BUT IVEY HAS STAUNCHLY OPPOSED THE MANDATE.

>>> THE ALABAMA LAWMAKER WHO CHAMPIONED THE STATE'S 2019 ABORTION BAN SAYS SHE'S HOPEFUL THAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT MAY BE POISED TO REVERSE THE LANDMARK ROE VS. WADE DECISION WHICH LEGALIZED THE PROCEDURE DECADES AGO.

REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS OF DECATUR SAYS SHE WAS WATCHING WITH INTEREST THIS WEEK AS THE HIGH COURT TOOK UP A MISSISSIPPI ABORTION BAN WITH SIMILARITIES TO THE ALABAMA LAW.

SHE TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT SHE WAS HEARTENED THAT THE THREE NEWEST CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES, NEIL GORSUCH, BRETT KAVANAUGH AND AMY CONEY BARRETT, SEEMED TO SIGNAL THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE MISSISSIPPI BAN.

>> SOME OF THE COMMENTS I THINK I HEARD BRETT KAVANAUGH TALK ABOUT THIS IS MAYBE LEFT BACK AT EACH STATE AS THEY CHOOSE.

THAT'S WHAT OUR BILL WAS MEANT TO DO WAS TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE SUPREME COURT RULING AND SEND IT TO EACH STATE.

SO STATES LIKE ALL OF THEIR OTHER LAWS COULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON WHAT WAS AND WAS NOT LEGAL.

I'M HOPEFUL, PRAYERFUL AND HOPEFUL.

>> THE MISSISSIPPI LAW BANS ABORTIONS AFTER 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

ALABAMA'S LAW WOULD ALMOST ENTIRELY BAN THE PROCEDURE.

IT IS TIED UP IN LEGAL CHALLENGES.

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

>>> A STATE LAWMAKER SAID THIS WEEK THAT HE WILL BRING A NEW COMPREHENSIVE GAMING BILL WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RECONVENES FOR ITS REGULAR SESSION IN JANUARY.

SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON OF ATMORE, WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY SPONSORED SUCH A BILL, TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT HE THINKS INCLUDING CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING IN THE MIX IS PREFERABLE TO A SIMPLE LOTTERY BILL.

>> A SIMPLE LOTTERY BILL IS NOT HELPFUL.

IT DOESN'T PULL IN ENOUGH REVENUE.

THERE'S TOO MUCH COMPETITION FROM ALL OVER, AND IT IGNORES ALL OF THE OTHER GAMING THAT GOES ON AND INCREASES GAMING THROUGHOUT THE STATE AT EVERY STREET CORNER WITHOUT GAINING ANY BENEFIT FROM IT.

WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, YOU ARE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE WHOLE INDUSTRY.

>> A COMPREHENSIVE GAMING BILL MADE IT OUT THE SENATE EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT IT ULTIMATELY DIED IN THE HOUSE.

SENATOR ALBRITTON WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE ISSUE.

ALBRITTON SERVES AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UPPER CHAMBER'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEE AND, AS SUCH, HE HELPED PRESIDE THIS WEEK OVER INITIAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TO SPEND ALABAMA'S REMAINING FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS, AN ISSUES THAT WILL BE A TOP PRIORITY IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IN OUR IN-DEPTH REPORT TONIGHT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.

>> MEMBERS OF THE ALABAMA SENATE AND ALABAMA HOUSE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEES ALONG WITH SEVERAL OF THEIR COLLEAGUES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC HEARD A DETAILED REPORT ON ALABAMA'S PORTION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT REVENUE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID THE FUNDS MUST BE ALLOCATED BY DECEMBER 31st, 2024 AND SPENT BY DECEMBER 31, 2026.

THE FEDS HAVE SPECIFIED IN WHICH CATEGORIES THE FUNDS CAN BE USED.

CATEGORIES SUCH AS PUBLIC HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE APPROVED.

THE HEAD OF THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY FISCAL DIVISIONS CAUTIONS THE MONEY CANNOT AND WILL NOT FOLLOW THE NORMAL BUDGETING PROCESS.

>> ONE THING WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS IS THESE FUNDS ARE SO COMPLEX IN TERMS OF REQUIREMENTS FOR SPENDING, REPORTING AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE MONEY.

>> THE STATE FINANCE DIRECTOR ECHOED THAT POINT.

>> THE EXPENDITURES WILL HAVE A LOT OF GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS AND STRINGS ATTACHED.

THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS, NOT STATE FUNDS, NOT GENERAL FUND OR ETF DOLLARS.

SO THOSE EXPENDITURES WILL HAVE A LOT OF COMPLICATED GUIDANCE THAT TRAVELS WITH THEM.

>> HE NOTED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRING QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL REPORTS THROUGH MARCH 31st, 2027 AND LEFT WITH THIS FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

>> OUR OBJECTIVE PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO BROADBAND, WATER AND SEWER SHOULD RECOGNIZE WE ARE IN A COMPETITION WITH OTHER STATES.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME TO ADVANCE FURTHER THAN THOSE OTHER STATES DO IN THEIR INVESTMENTS SO THAT WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, WE THEN PROVED OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, RATHER THAN FALLING FURTHER BEHIND.

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

>> THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY IS FACING A $25,000 FINE FOR RENAMING A STREET WHICH BORE THE NAME OF FORMER CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAYS CHANGING THE NAME TO FRED GRAY AVENUE, IN HONOR OF THE FAMED CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, WAS A VIOLATION OF THE STATE'S MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT.

MONTGOMERY CAN EITHER PAY THE FINE OR FACE A LAWSUIT.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL," MAYOR STEVEN REED WAS NON-COMMITTAL ON WHETHER THE CITY WOULD PAY THE FINE.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR OPTIONS IN SHORT RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE CONSIDERING IS WHETHER OR NOT TO CHALLENGE THE LAW ON THE GROUNDS OF WHETHER IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL, DOES IT VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO GOVERN THEMSELVES.

THERE'S IRONY HERE BECAUSE THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT FEDERAL OVERREACH, AND NOW WE HAVE SEEN MORE LEGISLATIVE OVERREACH IN RECENT YEARS AS IT RELATES TO HOME RULE.

>> REED HAS SAID THAT DONORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE OFFERED TO PAY THE FINE FOR RENAMING THE STREET.

BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL, WHO SAYS HIS OFFICE IS SIMPLY ENFORCING STATE LAW IN THE MATTER, HAS EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT HEARING THAT THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY IS STILL WEIGHING ITS OPTIONS.

HE SPOKE TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THAT WOULD BE COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT OF HOW THEY HAVE ACTED SO FAR.

THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY THE FINE IN LIEU OF THE LAWSUIT BEING FILED.

>> MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL, MEANWHILE, HAS BEEN AMONG THE STATE OFFICIALS MOURNING THIS WEEK'S SHOOTING DEATH OF A RETIRED WILCOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY.

78-YEAR-OLD MADISON ‘SKIP' NICHOLSON STILL SERVED AS A CONSTABLE IN WILCOX COUNTY.

HE WAS KILLED ON WEDNESDAY WHILE HELPING RESPOND TO A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALL IN THE YELLOW BLUFF COMMUNITY.

>> A SIGNIFICANT LOSS FOR US AS A STATE.

I MEAN, THIS IS A MAN WHO GAVE ALMOST 40 YEARS OF HIS LIFE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, WAS A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY, SOMEBODY WHO HAD SIGNIFICANT RESPECT FROM ALL OF THOSE FROM WHOM HE ENCOUNTERED AND WAS INTERACTING WITH AND SIMPLY RESPONDING TO HELP A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM IN DANGER AND LOST HIS LIFE.

IT IS NOT ONLY A LOSS FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

>> ANOTHER WILCOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY WAS WOUNDED IN THE WEDNESDAY SHOOTINGS.

THE SUSPECT, IDENTIFIED AS BILLY BIZZELL, ALSO DIED IN THE VIOLENCE.

>>> THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK RECOGNIZED THE STATE'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN POET LAUREATE.

IN A CAPITOL CEREMONY ON WEDNESDAY, IVEY PRESENTED ASHLEY JONES WITH A COMMENDATION FOR THE HONOR, WHICH WAS BESTOWED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE ALABAMA WRITERS COOPERATIVE.

>> EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND I WOULD ADD FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE PROUD OF YOU FOR BEING HONORED WITH THIS WELL-DESERVED, HISTORIC RECOGNITION.

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL.

>> IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO SERVE MY STATE AS ITS POET LAUREATE AND I'M PROUD TO BE THE FIRST BLACK PERSON, PERSON OF COLOR AND THE YOUNGEST PERSON IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY TO SERVE.

>> ASHLEY JONES IS A CREATIVE WRITING TEACHER AT THE ALABAMA SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS IN BIRMINGHAM.

>>> THIS WEEK MARKED THE 66TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, WHICH WAS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THE CITY ON WEDNESDAY HONORED THE WOMAN WHO STARTED IT ALL WITH A NEW MONUMENT.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

>> POLICE BLOCKED THIS STREET IN DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE.

INSTEAD, IT'S FOR AN EVENT TO HONOR SOMEONE -- ROSA PARKS.

>> I WOULDN'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.

THIS IS A PHENOMENAL EVENT.

I APPRECIATE THE HONORING OF ROSA PARKS AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS.

SHE WAS SO MISTREATED DURING THE TIME OF THE MOVEMENT.

>> MONTGOMERY RESIDENT ANNE CLEMENS JOINS US TO UNVEIL ART WORK AT THE ROSA PARKS LIBRARY AND MUSEUM DEDICATED TO MRS.

PARKS' FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ROSA PARKS, SHE WAS ALL THE ABOUT INCLUSIVITY, UNITY AND ALL ABOUT EQUALITY.

>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THESE TWO PROBLEMS, RACISM AND INEQUALITY, STILL EXIST.

HOWEVER, IT ALSO MEANS THAT IF WE ARE TO COMPLETE THE JOB, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO CHANGE THIS COMMUNITY WITH REFERENCE TO RACISM AND INEQUALITY.

>> ROSA PARKS INFLUENCE IS STRONG HERE AT THE CORNER OF MONTGOMERY AND MOLTEN STREET AND ACROSS THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, THE STATE OF ALABAMA, THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE PLANET.

PEOPLE ATTENDING THIS EVENT SAY ANOTHER WAY TO HONOR MS.

PARKS IS TO CONTINUE HER WORK FOR EQUALITY.

GIVING PEOPLE ANOTHER CHANCE TO SAY THANK YOU.

>> I THINK IT'S A JUST CAUSE AND HAS DONE JUSTICE, MEMORIAL TO MRS. ROSA PARKS.

I COULDN'T THINK OF A MORE FITTING STATUE OR SCULPTURE.

>> FOR FLORIDA, I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> STAY IN TOUCH WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE, ON FACEBOOK AND ON TWITTER.

YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT US BY E-MAIL AT DDAILEY@APTV.ORG OR BY MAIL.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> NICE TO BE BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> I WANT TO BEGIN WITH ABORTION.

YOU SPONSORED THE BILL IN 2019 IN ALABAMA THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BAN MOST ABORTIONS.

AT THE TIME, YOU SAID YOU WANTED IT TO BE A CASE THAT WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT AND GET THEM ROE V. WADE.

IT HAS MANY SIMILARITIES TO THE ALABAMA LAW.

TELL ME ABOUT THE ARGUMENTS YOU HEARD AND PROGRESS ON WHAT YOU SET OUT TO DO IN YOUR BILL.

>> I WAS ENCOURAGED BY IT.

I KNOW I POSTED SOMETHING ABOUT PRAYERS FOR THEIR DECISION-MAKING RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF THE COMMENTS I THINK I HEARD KAVANAUGH TALK ABOUT IT WAS BEST LEFT AT EACH STATE TO DO AS THEY CHOOSE AND THAT'S WHAT OUR BILL WAS MEANT TO DO TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE SUPREME COURT RULING AND SEND IT BACK TO EACH STATE.

SO STATES, LIKE ALL OF THEIR OTHER LAWS SIMILAR, COULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS WHAT WAS LEGAL AND NOT LEGAL.

SO, I'M HOPEFUL, PRAYERFUL AND HOPEFUL.

>> YOU POINT OUT THAT JUSTICE KAVANAUGH ALONG WITH THE OTHER TWO NEWEST JUSTICES TO THE COURT, GORSUCH AND BARRETT, ALL SIGNALED THEY MIGHT BE LEANING THIS WAY, AT LEAST IF NOT OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE GIVING MORE STATES LEEWAY IN THESE DECISIONS.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HOPE.

I'M ENCOURAGED, HOPEFUL AND PRAYERFUL.

I HAVE BEEN ON CONFERENCE CALLS WITH THE PEOPLE IN MISSISSIPPI, WITH THEIR ATTORNEY GENERAL, WITH HER ASSISTANT THAT WAS GOING TO BE DEFENDING THE CASE AND I WAS ENCOURAGED BY IT.

SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENCES, OF COURSE, BETWEEN YOUR BILL AND MISSISSIPPI'S BILL BUT ENOUGH SIMILARITIES IT COULD PROVE TO BE ALMOST THE SAME KIND OF THING AS IT GOES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

THE SUPREME COURT WILL NOT RULE ON THIS UNTIL THE SUMMER BUT THEY HEARD ARGUMENTS THIS WEEK.

>> CORRECT.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES AS YOU SEE THEM.

ONE THING YOU CAUGHT A LOT OF HEAT FOR IN 2019 IS THERE WERE VERY FEW EXEMPTIONS UNDER YOUR LAW, ESPECIALLY FOR NO RAPE OR INCEST AND YOU SAID AT THE TIME THIS BILL IS DESIGNED TO BE CHALLENGED AND GO ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>> AND THAT WAS TRUE.

THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T WANT TO ADD ANYTHING THE BILL WE SPONSORED AND PASSED IN ALABAMA WAS TO DEFEND LIFE.

WELL, IT'S LIFE REGARDLESS OF HOW IT IS CREATED.

THAT WAS THE ISSUE WE WANTED TO ADDRESS IN ROE V. WADE IS IT LEGAL TO KILL LIFE?

AND IS THAT BABY IN THE WOMB A PERSON?

THAT WAS THE WHOLE INTENT.

MISSISSIPPI'S IS MORE ABOUT 15 WEEKS AND VIABILITY.

SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT THEY BOTH SEEM TO BE -- I GUESS THE WAY I HEARD THE JUSTICES SPEAK, THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THE RIGHTS OF STATES TO MAKE THEIR OWN LAW.

THAT WAS REALLY THE INTENT OF OUR LAW, TOO.

SO HOWEVER WE GET THERE WOULD BE GOOD.

>> IT WAS A ROUGH YEAR, 2019.

THIS IS A PASSIONATE ISSUE.

YOU HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS BECAME A NATIONAL NEWS STORY THE YEAR YOU INTRODUCED AND PASSED.

>> ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I HAD ACTUALLY JOHN MERRILL WAS IN JAPAN AND SENT AN ARTICLE AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

SOMEONE WAS VISITING IN FRANCE AND SHE SAID YOU ARE ON MY NEWS.

SO, IT WAS AMAZING ABOUT THAT BUT IT WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR.

WE MADE IT THROUGH.

WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY.

>> DESPITE THE PERSONAL CHALLENGES, WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN?

>> I WOULD BECAUSE I THINK IT'S -- IN ALABAMA, AS I SAID A LOT, IF SOMEONE KILLS A PREGNANT WOMAN IN A CAR ACCIDENT IT IS A DOUBLE HOMICIDE.

WE ALREADY VIEW THAT LIFE AS A PERSON IN ALABAMA.

I THINK ALABAMA SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THE LAWS THAT WE SEE ARE RIGHT.

>> 2019 WAS A BIG YEAR FOR YOU, REPRESENTATIVE, BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME YEAR YOU PASSED THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

SO YOU HAD TWO LARGE ACTS.

WE RANK NEAR THE BOTTOM UNFORTUNATELY WHERE EDUCATIONAL BENCHMARKS ARE CONCERNED.

THIS PAST YEAR THERE WAS A DELAY OF THE LITERACY ACT WHICH WOULD HOLD BACK THIRD GRADERS IF THEY CAN'T READ AT GRADE LEVEL.

WHAT PASSED WAS A TWO-YEAR DELAY.

THE GOVERNOR SAID SHE WILL RECOMMEND TO LEGISLATORS TO CONSIDER A ONE-YEAR DELAY AND YOU SAY YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF THAT ONE-YEAR DELAY.

WHAT CHANGED FOR YOU HERE?

>> NOTHING CHANGED.

I SAID ALL ALONG WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TESTING WHEN WE WERE FIRST LOOKING AT THAT TWO-YEAR DELAY.

I SAID LET'S SEE WHERE WE ARE.

GET THE FIRST YEAR OF DATA, LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT IS GOING.

AT THAT TIME, THE HEAD OF THE ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE ARI SAID LET'S KEEP THE SENSE OF URGENCY THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE LEARNING TO READ.

I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE SUMMER SCHOOL.

I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE -- WE KNEW WE HAD SOME LEARNING LOSS BECAUSE OF 2020 AND COVID SO I WANTED TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO THESE STUDENTS WE HAD RECORD-SETTING SUMMER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

I THINK SOME OF THAT WAS GOOD.

I WANTED TO SEE THE DATA.

I WANTED THOSE ON THE LITERACY TASK FORCE AND THE GRADE LEVEL COMMITTEE AND THOSE TEACHING STUDENTS TO READ TO LOOK AT THE DATA AND MAKE DECISIONS.

THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR BASED HER RECOMMENDATION ON AND I HAD SPOKEN TO HER OFFICE DURING THAT WEEK.

I THINK IT IS RIGHT.

THE REASON I THINK IT IS RIGHT, THE MAIN REASON, WHEN WE PASSED IT WE HAD A NEW TEST ACAP.

WE THOUGHT AT THAT POINT WE WOULD HAVE 20, 21 AND 22, SO THREE YEARS OF DATA BEFORE A DECISION WOULD BE MADE ON THE FINAL PEELS OF IT ABOUT RETENTION.

BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE TESTING IN 2020.

SO EVEN THIS YEAR -- WELL, THIS NEXT YEAR, WE WILL ONLY HAVE TWO YEARS OF DATA WHICH WILL SHOW SOME DEGREE OF REALITY, OF SPECIFIC IS THIS A GOOD TEST, IS THIS NOT?

ARE WE MOVING RIGHT?

BUT YOU NEED THREE YEARS OF DATA TO SHOW TRENDING IN DATA AND TO VERIFY THE DATA IS ACCURATE.

THAT'S THE MAIN THING I WANT US TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE.

WHAT I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE IS THAT WHERE YOU SCORE ON THAT CUT SCORE IS THE FIRST STEP OF SEVERAL STEPS BEFORE THAT DECISION IS EVER MADE.

PARENTS ARE INFORMED.

SO THEY KNOW, HOPEFULLY BY THEIR TEACHERS HOW THEY CAN BE HELPING AT HOME.

THEY HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE TEST POSSIBILITY AND THEN THEY HAVE SUMMER SCHOOL AND THEN THEY HAVE THE TEST AT THE END OF SUMMER SCHOOL BUT THEY ALSO HAVE WHAT THE TASK FORCE FINISHED THIS LAST SUMMER A PORTFOLIO, SO THAT IF A CHILD IS TRULY NOT A GOOD TEST TAKER BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO READ AND THEIR YEAR-LONG PROGRESS SHOWS THAT THAT PORTFOLIO SHOWS IT AS WELL.

I'D SAY EVEN THIS NEXT YEAR IN 2022, IF A STUDENT GOES THROUGH ALL OF THOSE STEPS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO READ, I WOULD RECOMMEND THOSE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THAT STUDENT.

>> BEFORE GOING INTO THE DELAY WATERS, YOU WANTED THE DATA TO BACK IT UP?

>> I DID.

I WANTED THE DATA, TO BE CONFIDENT.

WE KNEW WE HAD A GOOD, VALID MEASUREMENT TO START THE PROCESS.

>> SEEING THE DATA WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

THIS WASN'T POLITICAL IN YOUR MIND.

I SNOW ROGER SMITHERMAN, WHO INTRODUCED THE BILL FOR A TWO-YEAR DELAY CONTENDED THIS MAY BE A DECISION TO GET THROUGH AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> NO, IT WAS NEVER THAT WAY.

I DIDN'T THINK THIS OF THAT IN '19 WHEN WE DID THE BILL OR NOW.

IT IS ABOUT THE THREE YEARS SO WE CAN VERIFY THE DATA IS WHAT WE WANT.

I THINK HAVING THAT ADDITIONAL YEAR SINCE WE, IN MANY WAYS, LOST 2020 IN A LOT OF WAYS, HAVING THAT ADDITIONAL WILL HELP IMPLEMENT AND LET TEACHERS BE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND SOME GOOD THINGS WE ARE SEEING IS ABOUT 37 SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE LITERACY SPECIALISTS AND THE INTENT FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS, 37 MOVED OUT OF THE BOTTOM 5%.

THAT'S GOOD.

EVEN WITH THIS YEAR'S TESTING AND THE PREVIOUS YEARS' TESTING WE HAVE FEWER IN THE BOTTOM QUARTILE THAN WE DID TWO YEARS AGO.

SO WE ARE MOVING IN THE TRITE DIRECTION.

WE HAD SEVERAL TEACHERS BACK OUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DELAY.

KEEPING THAT SENSE OF URGENCY FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO READ AND FOR ALL OF OUR TEACHERS TO BE PREPARED IN THE SCIENCE OF READING IS IMPORTANT.

I'M WORKING.

I HAVE A MEETING TO WORK ON SOME CHANGES THAT WE THINK WILL MAKE THE BILL STRONGER BUT TO INCLUDE THAT ONE-YEAR DELAY THE GOVERNOR RECOMMENDED.

>> YOU WILL CARRY THAT BILL, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINSES, THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL MISS YOU.

MY NAME, JO ANN DOYLE IS YOUR BIGGEST FAN AND WATCHES YOU EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT IN DECATUR AND SHE'S GOING TO BE DEVASTATED.

I'M SURE SHE HASN'T SEEN THE NEWS BUT YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

SO THANK YOU.

>> TO OUR VIEWERS WHO DON'T KNOW, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT I'M GOING TO RETIRE AND I WILL MISS YOU, REPRESENTATIVE AND EVERYBODY AT THE STATEHOUSE BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT THE NEXT CHAPTER HOLDS.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU SAID.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> I WANT TO BEGIN WITH A FINE THE CITY IS FACING OVER THE MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT.

THEY MOVED TO RENAME IT FRED GRAY AVENUE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE RECENTLY NOTIFIED THE CITY YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A $25,000 FINE OR FACE A LAWSUIT.

DO YOU INTEND TO PAY THE FINE?

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR OPTIONS IN SHORT RIGHT NOW.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE CONSIDERING IS WHETHER OR NOT TO CHALLENGE THE LAW ON THE GROUNDS OF WHETHER OR NOT IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL, DOES IT VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO GOVERN THEMSELVES.

I THINK THERE'S IRONY HERE BECAUSE THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAS ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT FEDERAL OVERREACH AND NOW WE HAVE SEEN MORE LEGISLATIVE OVERREACH IN RECENT YEARS AS IT RELATES TO HOME RULE.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

I THINK FOR MANY OF US THAT ARE LEADING OUR CITIES, WE THINK WE KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

I THINK THE STATE HAS ENOUGH CHALLENGES ITSELF THAT THEY OUGHT TO FOCUS ON, OPPOSED TO REALLY DEFENDING ISSUES OF THE PAST, WHETHER IT IS A CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT THAT A STREET IS NAMED AFTER, OR A CONFEDERATE GENERAL A SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER.

I THINK THERE ARE MORE PRESSURING ISSUES AND COMMUNITIES OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR OWN SAY IN TERMS OF WHAT SIGNALS WE ARE SENDING TO RESIDENTS, INVESTORS AND PARTNERS AND WHAT WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND CHANGE.

>> IT WOULD BE WORTH POINTING OUT THERE ARE TWO SCHOOLS, LOCAL TO MONTGOMERY, THAT ARE DISCUSSING CHANGING THEIR NAMES, JEFF DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL AND ROBERT E LEE HIGH SCHOOL WHICH YOU REFERENCED THERE.

>> YES.

WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF DONORS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OFFER TO PAY THE FINE.

THE GOOD THING IS WE KNOW WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO WE DON'T USE $1 OF TAXPAYER MONEY BUT WE ARE THINKING OF A LARGER CAUSE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DELIBERATING ON RIGHT NOW.

WHAT MESSAGE DO WE SEND BY THE ACTION THAT WE TAKE?

>> YOU STAND BY THE DECISION TO RENAME THE STREET.

IT WAS NEVER SOMETHING YOU THOUGHT TWICE ABOUT?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

TO BE MORE CANDID WITH YOU, THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE RENAMED STREETS THAT WERE NAMED AFTER CONFEDERATE LEADERS OR WHITE SUPREMACISTS.

WE HAVE DONE A HISTORICAL STREET NAMING COMMITTEE THAT RECOMMENDED MORE STREETS WE SHOULD REMAIN NAME AND MORE ENTITIES DUE TO THE HISTORY CONNECTED THAT WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD TO OUR CITY COUNCIL EARLY NEXT YEAR.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE OTHER SIDE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, MONTGOMERY IS ESSENTIALLY THE CRADLE OF THE CONFEDERACY.

THIS IS WHERE IT WAS BORN.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH OBSERVING THAT HISTORY?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH OBSERVING IT.

THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU HIGHLIGHT IT.

I THINK WE SENT A MIXED MESSAGE WHEN YOU ARE IN MONTGOMERY AND CAN'T FIND A HIGH SCHOOL NAMED AFTER A UNITED STATES PRESIDENT OR A GENERAL THAT WAS IN THE ARMED FORCES BUT WE HAVE THEM DEDICATED TO CONFEDERATE PRESIDENTS AND GENERALS, AS WELL.

FOR US, WE NEED TO DECIDE IF WE ARE FORWARD FOCUSED ON ONE THAT LOOKS BACK ON A PAST THAT IS CLOUDY AND ONE THAT IS REALLY CONTROVERSIAL BY A LOT OF STANDARDS IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CONFEDERACY STOOD FOR AND WHAT IT MEANS.

IT IS IT SOMETHING WE SHOULD DISCUSS?

ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE PAINS OF OUR PAST AND THE PROGRESS.

HOWEVER, AS A CITY WE WANT TO ILLUMINATE THE POSITIVE STRIDES WE HAVE MADE AND GIVE HONOR TO THOSE THAT ARE TRULY WORTHY OF THAT.

>> I WOULD ASSUME BEING MONTGOMERY'S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN THIS IS A PASSIONATE ISSUE.

>> IT IS.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR PREVIOUS MAYORS.

HOWEVER, TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

WE KNOW OVER THE LAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, CITIES STARTED TO CONFRONT THEIR PAST, NEW ORLEANS, RICHMOND, MANY CITIES AROUND THIS NATION, HUNTSVILLE, BIRMINGHAM, EVEN THE STATE.

WE ARE ONE OF THOSE AS WELL.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A CHANGE IN PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH FOR YOU TO KIND OF HAVE A RESET OF WHAT A COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS TO SHARE WITH ITS RESIDENTS AND THE WORLD AS ITS CORE VALUES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

>> YOU REFERENCED EARLY ON YOU ARE LOOKING AT YOUR OPTIONS AND MONTGOMERY MAY BE MOVING TO CHALLENGE THE MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT.

YOU MAY BE AWARE, TOO, THERE'S GOING TO BE A BILL UP FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH WOULD TWEAK THE CURRENT PRESERVATION MEMORIAL ACT.

>> I THINK IT IS A RATIONAL APPROACH TO TAKE FOR LEGISLATORS TO LOOK AT THAT BILL AND POTENTIALLY TWEAK IT.

I KNOW HOW THINGS CAN BE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S A LONG WAY FROM A BILL INTRODUCED TO PASSED.

I WANT TO CONTROL WHAT I CAN CONTROL.

THAT IS WHAT WE DECIDE TO DO AS A CITY.

>> MAYOR, I WANT TO MOVE ON TO GOOD NEWS THE CITY WAS MARKING RECENTLY.

MONTGOMERY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS OF DECEMBER 1st ARE OUT FROM UNDER STATE INTERVENTION.

I KNOW THAT WAS A HEAVY BURDEN THAT WAS LIFTED, CORRECT?

>> YES, SIR.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT CREDIT BE GIVEN TO STATE SCHOOL BOARD, OUR LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT, DR. MOORE, OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO WORKED THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES TO GET OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

THE GREAT THING IS I THINK WE FELT GOOD ABOUT IT.

LAST YEAR, LEADING UP TO THE TAX INCREASE WE HAD TO INVEST IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS WE INCREASED THAT.

NOW WE SEE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES INTRODUCED AND IN SOME CASES PASS AND OTHERS INTRODUCE THE SAME THING.

THIS IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR OUR PRESENT BUT OUR FUTURE.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT IS COMMISERATE WITH OUR LEVEL OF EXPECTATIONS.

IN ALABAMA, WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

WE DON'T ASK AUBURN AND ALABAMA FOOTBALL COACHES TO GO OUT AND DO THAT WITH OUTDATED FACILITIES.

WE DIDN'T ASK THEM TO DO THAT IN THE SEC WITH LIMITED COACHING STAFF.

THEY HAVE EVOLVED AND ADAPTED BECAUSE PEOPLE EXPECT CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WE EXPECT CHAMPIONSHIPS AS IT IS TO OUR EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE TO PUT THE MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

YOU CAN'T GET WORLD-CLASS SERVICE ON COACH CLASS FARES.

WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO THOSE THINGS.

I THINK THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE WITH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS COMING FROM INTERVENTION AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO TAKE OFF IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MANNER FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH WILL HELP OUR ECONOMY, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, IT WILL HELP OUR ABILITY TO KEEP AND RETAIN TALENT AND BRING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NOT ONLY FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUT CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

>> YOU RECENTLY MET WITH THE BIG TEN MAYORS AROUND THE STATE HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND YOU DISCUSSED PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF PRIORITIES.

WHAT WILL YOU BE WATCHING CLOSELY IN THE NEW SESSION?

>> I THINK ALL OF US AS MAYORS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE SSUT TAX.

THERE IS A BIG BELIEF AMONG US MAYORS THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

CITIES ARE NOT GETTING THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> THE INTERNET SALES TAX.

>> INTERNET SALES TAX, THANK YOU.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING IT MATTERS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO MORE WITH A LOT LESS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT CITIES ARE ECONOMIC ENGINES IN THIS NATION RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE REGARDLESS OF WHO WANTS TO PUT THE GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE.

TO DO THAT WE NEED THE REVENUES NECESSARY TO GROW OUR COMMUNITIES THAT CAN COMPETE WITH OTHER CITIES, NOT JUST ACROSS THE SOUTH BUT ACROSS THE NATION, IF NOT THE WORLD BECAUSE THIS IS A GAME OF TALENT AND RESOURCES.

WE NEED ALL THAT WE CAN HAVE IN ORDER TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA TO GROW JOBS AND OUR ECONOMIES AND MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST QUALITY OF PLACE FOR OUR SENIORS, OUR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, ALL OF OUR WORKING TAXPAYERS IN OUR CITIES, AND THIS IS A PART OF IT.

THE OTHER THING WE ARE WORKING ON AND WE WILL BE WATCHING IS WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE LAW -- THE REFERENDUM THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2022 AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COURT SYSTEM IS WORKING WITH US AS IT RELATES TO VIOLENT OFFENDERS.

SO WE WANT TO WATCH THE BILLS COMING THROUGH THAT DEAL WITH OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM BECAUSE WE REALIZE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AS MAYORS AROUND THOSE ISSUES THAT IMPACT, AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED, PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WILL REMIND OUR VIEWERS I HAVE AM RETIRING.

AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

>> THANK YOU, DON.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, SENATE GENERAL BUDGET CHAIRMAN.

ONE OF YOUR BIG TO DO ITEMS IN THE NEW SESSION STARTING IN JANUARY WILL BE DECIDING HOW TO SPEND THE LATEST FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY, THE RESCUE PLAN FUNDS AS THEY ARE REFERRED TO.

THE LEGISLATURE IN A SPECIAL SESSION THIS FALL DECIDED TO SPEND, WHAT, $440 MILLION OF THAT MONEY ON PRISONS, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE SPENT AND IT'S UP TO THE LEGISLATURE HOW TO SPEND IT.

YOU HAD A JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEEK TO START THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

HOW DID THEY GO?

>> THEY WENT PRETTY WELL, PRETTY WELL.

THE ATTEMPT IS TRYING TO BE CLEAR TO THE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS, WHAT THE DIFFERENT POOLS OF MONEY ARE AND THE DIFFERENT CRITERIA WE HAVE, AND WHAT THEY CAN BE SPENT FOR.

IT IS A COMPLICATED MATTER.

THE REPORTING PROCESS IS SUCH THAT WE NEED TO GET THIS RIGHT.

>> I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT WAS A PRIORITY FOR YOU, THE REPORTING PROCESS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PRETTY MUCH A STICKLER ABOUT THESE THINGS, RIGHT, THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT.

>> THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT, BUT YES, THAT'S AN ACCURATE CONCEPT.

TO ILLUSTRATE, AS DISCUSSED IN THE MEETING, THE FIRST REPORT HAS BEEN MADE.

EVEN THOUGH THE REPORT HAD NO MONEYS THAT HAD BEEN SPENT AT THAT POINT, IT STILL TOOK THREE DAYS TO GATHER THE DATA TO MAKE THE REPORT.

>> REALLY?

>> SO, YEAH, I'M AFRAID THESE ARE GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY DETAILED REPORTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE.

AND THE STATE WILL BE LIABLE FOR THIS.

IF THERE'S A CLAW BACK OR ANYTHING THAT COMES BACK, IT'S GOING TO BE THE STATE TO PAY IT BACK, REGARDLESS OF WHO SPENT IT.

>> IS THE FIRST REPORT DEALING WITH THE PRISON MONEY?

>> YES.

>> THAT WAS EARMARKED.

>> EXACTLY.

>> ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THAT'S GOING TO HOLD UP?

I KNOW QUESTIONS WERE RAISED DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION CAN YOU USE THIS MONEY FOR PRISONS, BUT I THINK THERE ARE PROVISIONS AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEGATIVE SPENDING ARE CONCERNED?

>> YES.

SEVERAL THINGS.

LOOK, WE HAVE DONE OUR HOMEWORK ON THIS.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.

WE LOOKED AT THE -- NOT ONLY THE INITIAL REQUIREMENTS AND CLAIMS, BUT WE HAVE LOOKED AT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ALSO.

WE ARE QUITE CONFIDENT THAT THOUGH FUNDS THAT WE ARE USING FOR THE PRISONS ARE VALID AND WILL NOT BE QUESTIONED.

>> NOW COMES THE BIGGER CHORE OF DECIDING THE REST OF IT.

I MENTIONED IT IS 440 MILLION FOR PRISONS OUT OF 1.2 BILLION.

>> 1.06 BILLION IS I THINK.

WE HAVE 580 MILLION LEFT OF THE FIRST POOL OF MONEY THAT CAME IN.

THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE DEALING WITH IN JANUARY.

>> AM I TO ASSUME YOU HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT COURTERS OF HOW THE MONEY MIGHT BE SPENT?

>> I THINK L.A. AND CALIFORNIA EVEN PUT IN A REQUEST.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE STATE HAS A LOT OF NEEDS THE MONEY COULD ADDRESS, RIGHT?

>> CERTAINLY.

THE FOCUS WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO IS WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THIS MONEY CAN BE USED FOR, THE QUESTION OF SHOULD IT BE USED FOR THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE SPEND THIS MONEY IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO HELP FUTURE GENERATIONS, SPEND IT ON WHAT THE FUTURE NEEDS ARE, RATHER THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING ON OR HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TARGET THOSE NEEDS THAT WE CAN PUT THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF RESOURCES INTO, HAVE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY TASK.

WE HAVE TO TACKLE IT.

>> ANY PARTICULAR NEEDS THAT CAME UP DURING THE MEETING THIS WEEK THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU, OR ARE WE IN A GENERALIZED STANCE HERE?

>> WE'RE STILL IN A GENERALIZED STANCE.

WE ARE MEETING TOGETHER, GROUPS OF US, TO TRY TO IRON THIS OUT AND TRYING TO GET THE POLICIES TOGETHER.

ONCE WE GET THE POLICIES TOGETHER, THEN WE CAN SET UP THE PROCEDURES TO MAKE THIS WORK.

>> I'LL REMIND OUR VIEWERS IT IS DIFFERENT WITH THIS POT OF MONEY BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO APPROVE THE SPENDING FROM HERE ON OUT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT HAS TO BE APPROPRIATED THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS ALL MONEYS THAT COME THROUGH THE STATE TREASURY.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND, THESE ARE -- THIS MONEY IS SEPARATE FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WHICH IS NORMALLY DONE, AND THE ETF, THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND THAT'S THERE.

WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE BUDGETS SEPARATELY ALSO.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND THAT IS OUT THERE THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH SEPARATELY AND DIFFERENTLY.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF NOTES IN THAT SONG THAT WE HAVE TO HIT.

>> GIVEN ALL OF THAT, THERE WAS SOME TALK AS TO WHETHER YOU MIGHT HAVE NEEDED TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION ON THESE RESCUE PLAN FUNDS THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

SO THAT MAKES YOUR WORKLOAD IN THE REGULAR SESSION A LOT BIGGER PULL.

>> TRUE, BUT, YOU KNOW, SIX OF ONE, A HALF DOZEN OF THE OTHER.

WHETHER WE DO IT IN A SPECIAL SESSION OR THIS TIME.

IF WE TRIED TO DO IT IN A SPECIAL SESSION THE TIME FRAME OF GETTING THE PREPARED DIRECTIONS ARE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE.

SO WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FLOUNDERING.

IT WAS BETTER, I THINK, TO WAIT AND TRY TO GET OUR FEET ON THE GROUND OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO BEFORE WE STARTED TO DO THINGS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT GAMING.

>> GREAT.

YEAH.

WORD IS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A GAMING BILL UNTIL THE NEW SESSION.

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

THAT'S CORRECT.

>> GAMING HAS BEEN ON THE TABLE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

WE RECENTLY TALKED TO SENATOR DEL MARSH WHO HAS BROUGHT A COUPLE OF GAMING BILLS OVER THE YEARS AND SAID HE IS NOT BRINGING ONE IN THE REGULAR SESSION BUT YOU SAY YOU ARE.

CAN YOU GIVE ANY DETAILS?

>> WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

UNDERSTAND, THERE'S NOTHING NEW ABOUT THIS GAME, IF YOU WILL.

EVERYBODY HAS SEEN AND DEALT WITH IT MANY TIMES BEFORE.

YOU ARE CORRECT.

BUT ALABAMA HAS TO GET CONTROL OF THIS.

ALABAMA HAS TO CAPTURE THIS INDUSTRY.

WE HAVE TO CONTROL AND REGULATE IT.

CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MANY FOLKS IN LAS VEGAS MADE MONEY IN THE LAST THREE MINUTES OF THE IRON BOWL AND THAT ALABAMA DIDN'T GET ANYTHING FROM IT.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE REALITY THAT GAMING IS PRESENT IN EVERYONE'S LIFE NOW IN ALABAMA.

WE NEED TO CONTROL IT.

WE NEED TO CAPTURE THAT ENCAPSULATE IT.

WE NEED TO TAX IT.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO REGULATE IT FULLY.

AND THEN WE CAN LIVE WITH IT.

RIGHT NOW IT'S THE WILD WEST IN ALABAMA AS FAR AS GAMING IS CONCERNED AND WE'RE GETTING NO BENEFIT FROM IT.

>> ARE YOU CONSIDERING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT'S BEEN ON THE TABLE OR A SIMPLE LOTTERY BILL?

>> A SIMPLE LOTTERY BILL IS NOT HELPFUL.

IT DOESN'T PULL IN ENOUGH REVENUE AND TOO MUCH COMPETITION AND IGNORES THE OTHER GAMING GOING ON AND INCREASES GAMING AT EVERY STREET CORNER WITHOUT GAINING ANY BENEFIT FROM IT.

WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, YOU ARE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE WHOLE INDUSTRY.

A LOTTERY CAN BE A PART OF THAT BUT IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE THE SPORTS GAMING THE ONLINE GAMING, THEY CAN INCLUDE THE GAMING FACILITIES IN OTHER COUNTIES, GREEN, LOWNDES COUNTY AND OTHERS AND THEY CAN INCLUDE PCI GAMING FACILITIES AND HELP US -- HAVE ALABAMA HAVE A PORTION OF THAT COMING IN.

IT IS A MATTER OF ALABAMA EXERCISING ITS RIGHT AND AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR GAINING CONTROL OF THIS AND BENEFITING FROM IT AND REGULATING IT AND PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM THOSE THAT WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE.

>> BRIEFLY, YOU MENTIONED PCI, THE PORCH CREEK INDIANS BASED IN YOUR SENATE DISTRICT.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WORKING WITH THE TRIBE ON THIS ISSUE?

>> I WORK WITH THE TRIKE ON EVERY ISSUE I CAN OBVIOUSLY.

BUT, YES.

THEIR ISSUES, THOUGH, ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT FROM THE NEEDS OF THE STATE.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REGULATIONS AND THE CONTROLS IN GAMING ARE THERE AND VALID AND ARE ENFORCEABLE.

>> IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR NEXT YEAR.

IF YOU GET THIS BILL THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, YOU CAN GET IT ON THE BALLOT BEFORE VOTERS NEXT NOVEMBER.

>> THAT'S THE PLAN.

EXACTLY.

THAT'S THE PLAN.

WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.

WE HAVE PLAYED WITH THIS LONG ENOUGH.

NO PUN INTENDED.

AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED.

I THINK WE WILL.

I'M OPTIMISTIC.

WE HAVE MADE THESE ARGUMENTS MANY TIMES BEFORE.

I THINK THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF WHERE WOE ARE TRYING TO HEAD HERE AND I THINK IF WE GET A GOOD PLAN WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.

>> POLLING CERTAINLY SHOWS THAT VOTERS WANT A CHANCE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY ON THIS ISSUE, TO VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON IT.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

PLUS, THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO DO THEIR GAMING, ONLINE, ON THEIR PHONE, ACROSS THE COUNTY OR STATE LAW LINE.

THEY STILL PARTICIPATE WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO.

THIS WOULD BE A MATTER IN THE STATE WOULD BE A PLAYER IN THIS INDUSTRY AND WOULD CONTROL AND PROTECT THEM AND GAIN FROM IT.

>> GREG ALBRITTON OF ATMORE, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> YES, SIR.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

STAY IN TOUCH WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE, ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

CONTACT US BY E-MAIL AT DDAYLE@APTV.ORG OR BY MAIL.

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

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU, DON.

>> THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> OMICRON IS THE BUZZ WORD THIS WEEK, THE NEW VARIANT OUT THERE.

WE KNOW IT IS IN THE U.S. NOW.

WE KNEW IT PROBABLY ALREADY WAS BUT GOT OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION THIS WEEK.

EXPERTS SAY THERE IS A LOT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS VARIANT YET.

IS THAT WHERE YOU ARE AS WELL?

>> WE ARE HAVING TO LEARN MORE EVERY DAY.

WHAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT OMICRON IS IT HAS A NUMBER OF MUTATIONS THAT WOULD BE WORRISOME.

IT COULD ALLOW THE STRAIN TO DODGE IMMUNITY PROVIDED BY THE VACCINE OR NOT RESPOND TO THE ANTIBODY PRODUCTS WE HAVE.

IT COULD BE THIS VARIANT IS MORE INFECTIOUS OR MORE DEADLY.

THE TRUTH IS WE DON'T KNOW THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW.

IT HAS AROUND A WEEK OR SO WE KNEW THE VARIANT EXISTED.

NOW PEOPLE ARE LOOKING THEY HAVE FOUND IT IN EVERY CONTINENT AND MULTIPLE STATES IN THE U.S. AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> THE PRESIDENT SAID THIS WEEK BE VIGILANT BUT DON'T PANIC.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOOD ADVICE?

>> THAT SUMS IT UP EXACTLY.

WE HAVEN'T HAD SO FAR ANY VARIANTS NOT PROJECTED BY THE VACCINE.

WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THE MUTATIONS WE HAVE SEEN HAVEN'T MADE IT ABLE TO EVADE IMMUNITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL BE DIFFERENT.

THERE IS A CONCERN AND THAT'S WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE WORKING ON.

SO FAR WE ARE MONITORING IT AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO GENEOTYPING HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> IF THEY NEED TO, THE VACCINE MANUFACTURERS CAN TWEAK THEIR VACCINES TO RESPOND TO OMICRON IF NEED BE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S THEM SAME PROCESS THAT IS USED EVERY YEAR FOR FLU SEASON.

WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT FLU VARIANTS FROM YEAR TO YEAR WE GET NEW FLU VACCINES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT WASN'T NECESSARY WITH THIS VARIANT BUT WE WILL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH.

IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE A FEW MONTHS, AT LEAST, IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A NEW VACCINE, EVEN BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

SO, AGAIN, WHAT WE WOULD HATE TO SEE IS A SURGE CAUSED BY A VARIANT WE HAVE NO VACCINE FOR NOW AND IT MIGHT BE A FEW MONTHS BEFORE WE COULD GET ONE.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER SURGE, THAT THE VARIANT WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY RAPIDLY, LIKE DELTA DID.

AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW YET, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

REALLY THE FACTOR THAT DETERMINES THAT PARTICULAR THING IS THIS VARIANT MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN DELTA AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW THAT.

WHICHEVER VARIANT SHOWS UP IN THE WORLD THAT IS EASIEST TO SPREAD IS THE ONE THAT WILL SPREAD EASY EAST BY DEFINITION.

SO THE STRAINS WILL OUTCOMPETE OTHER STRAINS THAT AREN'T AS EASY TO SPREAD.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT IS ONLY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA THEY HAVE SEEN LOCAL TRANSMISSION.

THE OTHER CASES IN EUROPE, ASIA AND NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA HAVE BEEN TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED CASES, NOT LOCAL OUTBREAKS.

>> THEY HAD BEEN TO SOUTH AFRICA.

>> IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD.

>> A LOT OF THE CASES IN SOUTH AFRICA HAVE BEEN MILD CASES.

>> ANTIDOTALLY WE ARE HEARING THAT'S THE CASE.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF THIS -- PERHAPS WITH ALL OF THESE MUTATIONS, MAY MAKE IT LESS WORRISOME.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN SURGE IS IN HOSPITAL NUMBERS IN THOSE PARTS OF THE WORLD YET.

SO TIME WILL TELL.

>> I WOULD ASSUME THOSE THAT NEED TO WORRY THE MOST ARE UNVACCINATED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK ARE UNVACCINATED.

THEY STILL NEED TO BE VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE VACCINES WE HAVE NOW ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

WE HAVE BOOSTER SHOTS FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AND RECEIVED THEIR PRIMARY SERIES.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED YET, DO THAT AS QUICK LIP AS POSSIBLE.

>> IF I YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, YOU HAVE DONE YOU CAN, RIGHT?

>> I WOULD STILL REMIND PEOPLE THERE'S COMMON SENSE ELEMENT IN THERE, AS WELL.

IF YOU ARE A SENIOR OR CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS BE CAREFUL ABOUT MIXING INDOORS WITH LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE IF YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR VACCINE STATUS.

IT MAKES SENSE TO WEAR MASK IN A LOT OF SETTINGS PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE AROUND PEOPLE AND DON'T KNOW THEIR VACCINE STATUS.

THAT SHOULD BE PART OF OUR EVERYDAY ARSENAL AS WELL AS THE VACCINES.

>> WE ARE UP AGAINST A LOT OF ODDS, THE HOLIDAYS, CHRISTMAS IS NEXT AND PEOPLE WILL BE GATHERING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS.

WE HAVE COLD WEATHER, WHICH TENDS TO LEND ITSELF TO MORE TRANSMISSION.

AND THEN YOU HAVE FLU SEASON THROWN INTO THE MIX FOR GOOD MEASURE.

>> ALL OF THOSE ARE ON OUR RADAR.

I WOULD SAY, AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES ON THE SHOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IN A LOT OF CASES WITH THIS VIRUS.

IT WAS A YEAR AGO, IF YOU THINK BACK A YEAR AGO FROM TODAY THAT WE HAD NO VACCINES.

WE WERE GETTING INTO THE WORST SURGE WE HAD SEEN TO THAT POINT.

IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST YEAR, DECEMBER AND JANUARY WERE TERRIBLE AND SET RECORDS FOR NUMBER OF ALABAMIANS HOSPITALIZED AND DIED FROM COVID-19.

THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THOSE SAME CONCERNS THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE 2.5 MILLION VACCINATED TO THIS POINT.

IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO PREDICT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> IS THERE ANY REASON TO THINK THAT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON MIGHT BE AN EASIER LIFT FOR US IN ALABAMA THAN LAST HOLIDAY SEASON WAS AND I SAY THAT IN THE CONTEXT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD COVID AND MAY HAVE NATURAL IMMUNITY AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

>> ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE ENCOURAGING.

IMMUNITY YOU GET FROM INFECTION LASTS FOR SOME PERIOD.

WE KNOW MOST PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED THREE MONTHS AND SOME A LOT LONGER.

IT IS HARD TO PREDICT THAT.

THE VACCINE IMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE BOOSTERS SEEMS TO PROTECT WELL AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS AND OTHER THINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST YEAR WHERE HOSPITALS ARE ABLE TO BUILD CAPACITY TO TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS.

WE HAVE MORE THERAPEUTIC AGENTS OUT THERE, NOT ONLY THE MONOCLONAL DRUGS THAT CAN PREVENT SERIOUS ILLNESS OR HOSPITALIZATION AND NEW ORAL DRUGS WE EXPECT TO HAVE AVAILABLE ANY DAY NOW THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK FOR ILLNESS.

SO A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, NOT JUST VACCINE OR THE PEOPLE WITH NATURAL INFECTION BUT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

WE MAYBE IN A BETTER PLACE.

>> HOW IS OUR MONOCLONAL SUPPLY?

WE HAD SOME SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> WHEN THE DELTA SURGE WAS GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE COUNTRY SIMULTANEOUSLY, EVERYONE HAD LESS THAN THEY WANTED.

AT THIS POINT, WE ARE GETTING A THOUSAND TO 1200 DOSES SHIPPED TO US A WEEK ALLOCATED TO OUR STATE.

THAT'S PROPORTIONATE TO THE NUMBER OF CASES WE ARE SEEING.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY SHORTAGES.

WE ARE ABLE TO ORDER ALL THAT IS REQUESTED FOR US TO ORDER.

WE HAVE LOW TRANSMISSION NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.

ALABAMA IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF CASE NUMBERS.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CASES.

THAT'S A GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS THING THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY MONOCLONALS BUT WE DON'T NEED THEM EITHER.

>> WE HAVE BEEN STABLE THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS BUT IT IS ALARMING TO LOOK AT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND SEE SPIKES IN A NUMBER OF STATES, A GROWING NUMBER OF STATES.

>> AS I SAY, WE CAN'T PREDICT BUT I THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME WE WILL SEE SOME INCREASE FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW AT LEAST.

MOST OF THE STATES RIGHT NOW IN THE COUNTRY WHERE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP ARE STATES THAT HAVE HAD MORE CASE THAN US AND BETTER VACCINATED THAN US AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE DON'T HAVE.

WE HAVE SEEN INCREASING CASE RATES MOVE THROUGH THE UPPER MIDWEST AND THEN NEW ENGLAND AND THE NORTHEAST AND NOW THE UPPER PART OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, LIKE TENNESSEE AND ARKANSAS ARE SEEING THE NUMBERS GOING UP.

I THINK WE WILL SEE SOME DEGREE OF THAT BUT HARD TO KNOW HOW MUCH.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, YOU REFERENCE THE ORAL MEDITATION THAT IS ON THE HORIZON FOR COVID.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THEM.

ONE THAT WAS GIVEN APPROVAL BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK IS PRODUCED BY MERCK.

I WOULD SAY IT SEEMS TO BE MARGINAL HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING SERIOUS ILLNESS.

IT REDUCES THE RISK BY 30% OF GETTING SERIOUSLY ILL OR HOSPITALIZED.

THAT'S NOT AS GOOD AS WHAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE OTHER ORAL DRUG BY PFIZER WHICH MAY REDUCE YOUR CHANCE OF HOSPITALIZATION 90%.

THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE APPROVED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND WE WILL HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO US.

>> ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOL BOX.

>> AND WE CAN USE EVERY ONE WE CAN GET.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE.

WE DON'T WANT TO RAIN ON ANYONE'S CHRISTMAS PLANS BUT AS YOU GATHER TOGETHER AND MAKE MERRY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, BE SENSIBLE IN DOING SO, RIGHT I GUESS IS THE BEST ADVICE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF HEARING ME SAY IT, BUT BEING OUTDOORS IS BETTER THAN INDOORS, WEARING A MASK IS BETTER, BEING TOGETHER A SHORT TIME IS BETTER THAN LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND BEING VACCINATED IS THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO.

>> SCOTT HARRIS, THANK YOU FOR BEING ON.

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

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

>> AND THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

AND OUR GUESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE BALL OF MADISON, WHO'LL TALK WITH US ABOUT A BILL HE PLANS TO BRING NEXT YEAR THAT PROPOSES TWEAKING THE STATE'S MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT.

WE'RE ALSO SET TO BE JOINED BY THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, REPRESENTATIVE PENNI MCCLAMMY OF MONTGOMERY.

SHE'LL DISCUSS BEING ELECTED TO THE SEAT FORMERLY HELD BY HER LATE FATHER, THAD MCCLAMMY.

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

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

WE CLOSE TONIGHT WITH A VIEW OF THE STATE CHRISTMAS TREE, WHICH GOVERNOR KAY IVEY OFFICIALLY LIT THIS EVENING.

I'M DON DAILEY.

GOOD NIGHT.