>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT WE KICK OFF OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION SCHEDULE.

WHEN LAWMAKERS ARE IN SESSION, CAPITOL JOURNAL WILL BE SEEN MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:30PM AND AT OUR USUAL TIME OF 7:30PM ON FRIDAYS.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY SIGNED 30-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENTS ON TWO NEW REGIONAL MEN'S PRISONS SLATED FOR ELMORE AND ESCAMBIA COUNTIES.

ONE WOULD BE BUILT IN TALLASSEE, THE OTHER NEAR ATMORE.

A THIRD LEASE FOR ANOTHER NEW MEN'S PRISON IN BIBB COUNTY HAS YET TO BE SIGNED.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY RELEASE THE COST FOR THE LEASES, BUT THE TOTAL FOR ALL THREE REPORTEDLY EXCEEDS THE $88 MILLION YEARLY AFFORDABILITY LIMIT THE IVEY ADMINISTRATION INCLUDED IN ITS ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

LEGISLATORS HAVE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH THE LACK OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON THE LEASES, SOMETHING CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER JEFFERSON DUNN ADDRESSED LAST WEEK.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, THE LEADERSHIP AND PROVIDING INFORMATION AND NEGOTIATIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES.

AND THEN THERE'S ELEMENTS OF ACHIEVING THAT AND TO SAY THE CLOSE.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HELPING US TO GET TO THAT POINT.

>> DON: COMMISSIONER DUNN HAS PRAISED THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS WITH THE PRIVATE LEASE PRISON DEALS.

THEY'RE WITH CORE-CIVIC, A NATIONAL PRIVATE PRISON FIRM.

UNDER THE DEAL, THE STATE WOULD OPERATE THE PRISONS, BUT CORE-CIVIC WOULD FINANCE, BUILD, OWN AND MAINTAIN THE FACILITIES.

OVER THE WEEKEND, REGIONS BANK ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER BE PROVIDING BANKING SERVICES TO CORE-CIVIC AFTER ITS CURRENT CONTRACTS END IN 2023, AND THAT IT WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THE FINANCING OF THE STATE PRISONS.

THE MOVE BY REGIONS CAME AFTER A MEETING LAST WEEK WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER, BIRMINGHAM, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE INPUT ON THE PRIVATE LEASE PRISON PLANS.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY HAS SAID THE NEW MEN'S PRISONS ARE NEEDED TO REPLACE AGING, OVERCROWDED AND UNDERSTAFFED FACILITIES.

ALABAMA IS, OF COURSE, BEING SUED BY THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OVER OUR PRISON CONDITIONS AND IS ALSO UNDER A COURT ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEMS.

PRISON ADVOCACY GROUPS IN RECENT DAYS HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE PRIVATE LEASE DEAL, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF ALABAMA.

DILLON NETTLES IS THAT ORGANIZATION'S POLICY AND ADVOCACY DIRECTOR.

>> WE HAVE EVENTUALLY EXECUTED NOW A $3 BILLION DEAL IN WHICH WE GET ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OUT OF IT IN TERMS OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OR ADDRESSING THE CRISIS THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ALABAMA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DEAL WE SEE $3 BILLION INVESTMENT FROM THE ALABAMA TAXPAYER AND FACILITIES THAT WE WILL NOT OWN, PROPERTY THAT WE WILL NOT OWN.

>> LAWMAKERS WHOSE DISTRICTS INCLUDE EXISTING PRISON FACILITIES THAT WOULD BE REPLACED BY THOSE TO BE BUILT UNDER THE PRIVATE LEASE DEAL HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE SETS OF CONCERNS.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE HOLMES OF WETUMPKA REPRESENTS ELMORE COUNTY, WHERE ONE OF THE NEW PRISONS WOULD BE BUILT.

HE SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL ABOUT TODAY'S LEASE DEAL.

>> I'M NERVOUS ABOUT ACTUALLY WHAT'S ON THE TABLE AND THE STRUCTURE OF IT.

I HAVE SOME CONCERNS, FISCAL HAWK, THE FISCAL SIDE OF THIS HAS NOT BEEN FULLY VETTED.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD VIRTUALLY NO INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AND REALLY, OUR BIGGEST JOB IS TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

IT'S GOING TO BE RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE.

>> DON: A SECOND LEASE DEAL TO BUILD A NEW REGIONAL MEN'S PRISON IN BIBB COUNTY IS STILL BEING NEGOTIATED WITH THE GROUP ALABAMA PRISON TRANSFORMATION PARTNERS.

IT IS SLATED FOR THE BRIERFIELD COMMUNITY, NEAR MONTEVALLO.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE HOLMES ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HE WOULD BE FILING LEGISLATION THIS WEEK THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE CURRENT ALABAMA MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT AND FURTHER PROTECT MONUMENTS, MARKERS AND OTHER HISTORICAL REMEMBRANCES FROM REMOVAL, RELOCATION AND DESTRUCTION.

THE MOVE COMES FOLLOWING THE RACIAL UNREST OF THE LAST YEAR, AND THE TAKING DOWN OF CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS THAT WERE CONSIDERED BY SOME TO GLORIFY RACISM.

REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES, WHO IS A REPUBLICAN, TELLS CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT HE HOPES TO GET BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT FOR HIS BILL TO STRENGTHEN THE MONUMENTS LAW, BUT SAYS HE KNOWS IT'LL BE A TOUGH SELL TO SOME DEMOCRATS.

>> THEIR ANTENNA GO UP AS SUSPICIOUS IMMEDIATELY.

SOME OF THOSE MONUMENTS AS RACIST, SOME SEE IT, BUT I DON'T.

THEY ARE IN RECOGNITION OF A HERO OR AN EVENT THAT IS HISTORY, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH IT.

BUT YOU CAN WALK BY AND IGNORE IT, CURSE IT, OR YOU CAN WALK BY AND LEAVE IT ALONE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS ASKING, JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.

>> HOLMES' LEGISLATION COMES DURING A YEAR IN WHICH THERE'S A PROPOSED DEMOCRATIC BILL THAT WOULD REPEAL MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT AND HAVE CONFEDERATE STATUES AND THE LIKE MOVED FROM PUBLIC SQUARES AND PLACED IN MUSEUMS OR CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL PARK IN CHILTON COUNTY.

THE MONUMENTS ISSUE, A NEW LOTTERY PROPOSAL AND A REVISITING OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE ARE SOME OF THE MORE HIGH-PROFILE BILLS THAT LAWMAKERS WILL TACKLE IN THEIR 2021 REGULAR SESSION, WHICH KICKS OFF TOMORROW IN MONTGOMERY.

IT WILL BE MARKED WITH A LOT OF PANDEMIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND LIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS HERE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH, WHO PRESIDES OVER THE ALABAMA SENATE, RECENTLY SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL ABOUT ALL OF THE PLANNING THAT'S LED UP TO TOMORROW'S START OF THE SESSION.

>> WE'RE GOING TO GO IN TWO WEEKS AND TAKE OFF A WEEK, 10 DAY GAP, AND IF ANYBODY IS INFECTED, IT WOULD RUN A CYCLE.

AS FAR AS ALLOWING VISITORS IN THEY CAN COME IN BUT IT'S GOING TO BE DONE IN A SOCIAL DISTANCE.

AND NOT ONLY CAN YOU WATCH COMMITTEE ROOMS VIRTUALLY BUT WE'LL BE IN BIGGER ROOMS TO SPREAD PEOPLE OUT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHT AND PROCESSING THAT WENT IN TO PROTECT THE MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.

AND ALSO, ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE ACCESS.

TOUGH BALANCE, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN.

>> GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WILL DELIVER HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ALONE THIS YEAR, WITHOUT AN IN-PERSON AUDIENCE.

LAWMAKERS WILL WATCH IT REMOTELY.

CAPITOL JOURNAL WILL BRING YOU THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS DURING A SPECIAL LIVE BROADCAST TOMORROW EVENING.

THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT HAD FINALLY LAUNCHED AN ONLINE PORTAL THROUGH WHICH RESIDENTS CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO GET CORONAVIRUS VACCINATIONS.

THE PORTAL HAS BEEN MONTHS IN THE MAKING, AND HAS FACED SEVERAL UNEXPECTED PROBLEMS IN GETTING IT UP AND RUNNING.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS RECENTLY SPOKE WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL ABOUT THE NEW PORTAL.

>> I THINK WE NEED, AGAIN, TO ADDRESS PEOPLES' EXPECTATIONS AND THE ONLINE PORTAL IS ONLY SCHEDULING AT THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, AND NOT THE OTHER 200 OR SO, SITES.

>> IF YOU WANT AN APPOINTMENT, YOU HAVE TO CALL THEM?

>> RIGHT, WE'RE NOT SCHEDULING FOR THAT AT THE LOCAL PHARMACY, JUST THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE SCHEDULED OUT THROUGH FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

>> DON: YOU CAN VISIT THE NEW ONLINE SHOT APPOINTMENT PORTAL AT ALCOVIDVACCINE.GOV.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE KIEL IS BACK IN STUDIO WITH US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES RECONVENE FOR THE 2021 SESSION TOMORROW AT THE STATE HOUSE AND YOU ARE GOING TO DO SO IN THE MIDST OF A RAGING PANDEMIC SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WE LEFT LAST YEAR'S SESSION.

IT SORT OF SET IN MID SESSION AND CUT IT SHORT.

THIS YEAR WE GO IN WITH A FULL BLOWN PANDEMIC.

A LOT OF US NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD STILL BE WHAT IT IS A YEAR LATER.

>> NO, I REMEMBER LAST YEAR, WE LEFT FOR SPRING BREAK, GOING 14 DAYS TO COVID FREE AND OBVIOUSLY, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

THIS TIME, THOUGH, WE HAVE TIME TO PLAN AND UNDERSTAND THE VIRUS BETTER THAN WE DID BEFORE.

AND WE HAVE OFF SUMMER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S FIXING TO HAPPEN.

HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE GOOD RESULTS.

>> YOU FEEL GOOD WITH THE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

BUT THE HOUSE HAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT NUMBERS THERE, LAST YEAR YOU WERE SPREAD OUT IN THE HOUSE FLOOR AND THE PUBLIC HOUSE GALLERY AND THAT'S THE SITUATION AGAIN THIS YEAR.

>> THAT'S THE PLAN AGAIN.

THERE'S 105 MEMBERS AND THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THOSE TWO AREAS PLUS TWO MORE ROOMS WE'RE USING AND WE'LL BE DOING MORE VIDEO AND ELECTRONIC VOTING AT THIS TIME WHICH IS NEW FOR US.

WE'LL GO IN FOR TWO WEEKS, MEETING THREE DAYS FOR TWO WEEKS AND TAKE OFF A WEEK TO RECESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

LEADERSHIP IS GOING TO MEET WITH THE CLERK AND MAKE SURE IT'S GOING THE WAY WE THINK IT SHOULD AND THEY WILL MAKE A DECISION HOW THE REST OF THE SESSION PROCEEDS.

>> PUBLIC ACCESS HAS BEEN A BIG ACCESS AS IT WAS LAST YEAR AND I KNOW THAT CERTAIN ACCOMMODATIONS ARE BEING MADE.

ALL OF THE LEGISLATURES MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE STREAMED ONLINE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SEE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

LAST WEEK, BUDGET HEARING COMMITTEES AND THEY WERE ALL ONLINE.

THE VIDEO WAS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND SO THAT'S ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND SESSION WILL BE THIS YEAR ALSO.

>> YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET MEETINGS LAST YEAR, REPRESENTATIVE.

HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING INTO THIS YEAR, LOTS OF ANTICIPATION HOW THE PANDEMIC AND THE EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY WOULD HAVE ON THE STATE BUDGETS.

BUT ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, WE SEEM TO BE IN FAIRLY GOOD SHAPE.

>> IT'S REMARKABLE, DON, THAT WE ARE.

LOTS OF STATES ARE CUTTING BUDGETS AND HAVING TO CUT AREAS THAT THEY FUNDED IN THE PAST.

ALABAMA IS NOT THAT WAY.

WE HAVE BUDGETED CONSERVATIVELY.

CHAIRMAN POOLE AND CHAIRMAN ORR, THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF BUDGETING CONSERVATIVE AND SET UP WITH THE TRUST FUND, ROLLING RESERVE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A CUSHION.

WE'RE GOING TO COME THROUGH THIS THING STRONG BECAUSE ALABAMA HAS A GOOD CONSERVATIVE FUNDING.

>> YOU SERVE ON -- >> EDUCATION BUDGET.

>> RIGHT.

AND IT BENEFITS FOR MORE SUSTAINED REVENUE STREAMS THAN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

BUT EVEN SO, THE GENERAL FUND CAME THROUGH THIS FAIRLY UNSCATHED.

>> RIGHT.

THE GENERAL FUND AND THE SIMILAR AREPLE SALES TAX, LOTS OF PEOPLE CALL IT THE ONLINE TAX, AMAZON, AND THAT HAS GROWN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BUYING THINGS AT HOME.

AND IT'S GROWN AND BEEN A GROWTH REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

>> EDUCATION BUDGET REALLY HAD TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THIS YEAR, EXTRA FUNDING FOR COVID-RELATED MATTERS, AND THERE ARE SO MANY, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH I HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION'S PRESENTATION, LAST WEEK.

HE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO HIRE MORE NURSES FOR THE SCHOOLS.

>> YES, ALWAYS A NEED.

AND ESPECIALLY NOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH SO MUCH ILLNESS IN THE SCHOOLS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT DURING THE SESSION.

WE'VE HAD UNPRECEDENTED DOLLARS COMING IN ALSO DIRECTLY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THEY BENEFIT FROM THE DOLLARS ALSO.

>> AND WE HEARD LAST WEEK, SCHOOL SYSTEMS LIKE MONTGOMERY COUNTY, DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF SEVERAL TEACHERS FROM COVID OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD.

AND YOU INTRODUCED A BILL CONSIDERED IN THE ONGOING LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND DEALING WITH LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS GETTING MORE OF A SAY AND EXTENDING SCHOOL ENCLOSURES.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY HAD MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DECIDE THOSE THINGS FOR THEMSELF.

>> SURE.

>> AND WITH COVID CAME THE EMERGENCY ACT.

WE SAW A LOT OF POWER IN PLACES THAT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW IT WOULD BE CENTRALIZED.

AND ONE OF THOSE PLACES IS WITH OUR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND THEY HAVE THE UNILATERAL ABILITY TO CLOSE SCHOOLS FOR ANY EVENT, ANY TIME AND THEY DON'T NEED TO SEEK BOARD APPROVAL FOR THAT.

THINK IT'S ONE OF THE SITUATIONS WHERE HAD WE CENTRALIZED TOO MUCH POWER IN ONE PERSON WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

AND I THINK OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION IS THE COMMUNITY INPUT NEEDED IN THAT PROCESS.

SO, THE BILL THAT I'M SPONSORING DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ABILITY TO CLOSE SCHOOLS IF THERE'S A NATURAL DISASTER OR A TORNADO, HURRICANE, OR SOME TYPE OF NATURAL DISASTER WHERE THEY HAVE TO CLOSE FOR A WEEK, THEN, BY ALL MEANS, CAN DO THAT WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL.

THEY CAN CALL SCHOOL OFF, JUST LIKE THEY CAN NOW.

BUT WHEN WE GET PAST THAT WEEK, THEN WE START TO ENTER INTO POLICY DECISION RATHER THAN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION.

WITH THE POLICY DECISION, THE BOARD SHOULD HAVE INPUT.

THAT'S WHAT I AM RECOMMENDING.

I'VE TALKED WITH SUPERINTENDENTS, SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, AND TALKING WITH OTHERS TRYING TO WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT EXACTLY HOW IT'S GOING TO LOOK.

IN THE END, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS INPUT ON WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE OPENED OR CLOSED.

BUT FOR A LONG-TERM ENCLOSURE, THAT DECISION SHOULDN'T REST WITH ONE PERSON.

>> LONG-TERM ENCLOSURE THAT WE SAW AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC DEPENDING ON LOCALLY DISCERNED NEEDS.

>> AND MONTGOMERY SCHOOLS, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO OPEN THEM UP EXCEPT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT.

WE SAW IT ACROSS THE STATE.

NORTH ALABAMA, BEFORE THANKSGIVING, WE HAD A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT CLOSED DOWN UNTIL TWO WEEKS AFTER.

AND THE NEW YEAR'S BREAK WAS OVER.

AND THE SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT HAVE A VOTE IN THAT.

SO, OUR CITIZENS WERE UPSET WITH THAT.

IT'S NOT JUST MONTGOMERY BUT HAPPENING ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND I TALKED TO OTHER REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE VERY INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

>> IS THIS A PROBLEM THAT YOU DISCERNED THAT SCHOOL BOARD'S COME TO YOU?

>> NO, I DIDN'T TALK TO THEM UNTIL IT WAS DRAFTED, I CONTACTED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PARTIES WITHIN JUST A DAY OF EACH OTHER AND SENT THEM THE BILL, SHOWED IT TO THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU JUST DON'T REALIZE IT UNTIL YOU REALIZE IT.

AND WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU, THEN YOU REALIZE, HEY, THIS REALLY SHOULD BE MORE OF A POLICY DECISION THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AT LEAST HAS INPUT IN.

>> WHAT KIND OF REACTION DID YOU GET FROM BOTH SIDES.

>> THE SUPERINTENDENT ARE RESIST TENTH TO GIVING UP ANY TYPE OF AUTHORITY OR POWER.

AND THE SCHOOL BOARD'S WERE NOT COMMITTAL EITHER WAY.

SO, IT'S NOT A SLAP WITH EITHER ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, THE FACT IS, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT COULD HAPPEN.

WE NEVER HAD SUPERINTENDENTS TO CLOSE SCHOOLS FOR A MONTH OR SO AT A TIME WITHOUT ANYBODY'S APPROVAL.

WE'VE SEEN IT DURING SNOW STORM, TORNADO, HURRICANE OR A NATURAL DISASTER.

WE KNEW IT COULD HAPPEN THEN BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SAW THAT COMING.

>> NO DISRESPECT TO ANY OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS, MORE OF A CENTRALIZED AUTHORITY ISSUE.

>> RIGHT.

OUR SUPERINTENDENTS ARE GREAT, MANAGE THE SCHOOLS WELL, THEIR ADMINISTRATION POSITION IS ONE THAT I DO NOT ENVY.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISION, HARD CALLS AND THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A POLL SEA DECISION THEY NEED INPUT ON.

>> AND NOW, REPRESENTATIVE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, BUT WHAT CONCERNING THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER IN OFFERING BROAD DIRECTIVES WITH THE PANDEMIC, A MOVE TO GIVE THOSE CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT.

>> IT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT WE NEVER KNEW THAT ONE PERSON, AND THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER IS UNELECTED, THAT PERSON HAD THAT MUCH POWER.

AND THAT POWER SEEMS TO BE CENTRALIZED WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER.

SO, I HAVE ANOTHER BILL THAT DEALS WITH BUSINESS CLOSINGS DURING TIMES OF EMERGENCY, DURING A PANDEMIC, FOR INSTANCE.

NOW, BACK IN THE SPRING, WE SAW THAT BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED ACROSS THE STATE, DEEMED NON ESSENTIAL.

AND THE ISSUE FOR ME IS THAT NOT ALL BUSINESSES WERE TREATED EQUALLY.

WE SAW THAT, AT TIMES, OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED DOWN BUT LONG LINES AT OTHER BUSINESSES, BIG BOX RETAILERS LONG LINES OUT THE DOOR AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE GATHERING THERE.

SO, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THOSE TIMES I LOOK LOOKED AT WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND US AND I THOUGHT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EVER THOUGHT THAT ONE PERSON WOULD HAVE THE TYPE POWER TO CLOSE BUSINESSES OR CHURCHES WITHOUT ANYBODY ELSE'S APPROVAL.

>> RIGHT.

I WAS GOING TO POINT OUT, CHURCHES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BILL WITH BUSINESSES.

>> RIGHT, TRUE.

IF THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESS TO FOLLOW, ANY BUSINESS, CHURCH, SYNAGOGUE OR MOSQUE CAN OPEN UNDER THE SAME GUIDELINES.

AND WHAT I SAW AND LOTS OF FOLKS SAW AT THE TIME, FOR INSTANCE, WAL-MART IS OPEN SELLING TENNIS SHOES AND T-SHIRTS BUT HIBBITS DOWN THE STREET COULDN'T OPEN AND SELL TENNIS SHOES AND T-SHIRTS.

YOU COULD GO TO COSTCO, JUST HOARDS OF PEOPLE AND GO IN AND BUY A MATTRESS OR A RECLINER AND CAN'T GO TO THE SMALL FURNITURE STORE, WHERE NOBODY IS, AND WALK IN THERE AND BUY A MATTRESS OR A RECLINER.

SO, WHEN I'VE BEEN TO FURNITURE STORES, THEY ARE LARGE, EXPANSIVE SPACES, ESPECIALLY INDEPENDENTLY-OWNED ONES AND NOT LOTS OF FOLKS IN THERE.

TYPICALLY, THAT'S WHY THEY ARE CALLED SMALL BUSINESS, TYPICALLY SMALL.

AND WHEN YOU GO INTO THE FURNITURE STORE, THERE'S SPACE AND YOU CAN SPREAD OUT.

SO, IF COSTCO, WAL-MART OR LOWE'S CAN OPEN AND BE RESPONSIBLE, THINK A SMALL BUSINESS CAN BE RESPONSIBLE UNDER THE SAME GUIDELINES.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE TERM, NON ESSENTIAL BUSINESS, AND WHEN THIS TRANSPIRED, GOVERNOR IVEY USED NON ESSENTIAL BUSINESS AND SHE CAME BACK AND APOLOGIZED BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO IMPLY THAT ANY BUSINESS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHER.

>> RIGHT.

I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND EVERY BUSINESS IS ESSENTIAL IF IT PROVIDES FOR YOUR LIVELIHOOD.

I AM GLAD SHE SAW THAT AND RECOGNIZED IT AND WOULD NOT GO TO THAT DIRECTION AGAIN.

WHETHER IT'S NON ESSENTIAL OR ESSENTIAL SECTION, YOU CLOSE ONE AND OPEN ANOTHER AND TELL A SMALL BUSINESS THEY CAN'T BE OPEN, BUT THE LARGE ONE CAN BECAUSE THEY SELL THE SAME PRODUCT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.

THINK IF A LARGE BUSINESS OPENS UNDER CERTAIN GUIDELINES OR ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS, BUT IF A TYPE OF BUSINESS CAN BE OPEN UNDER A GUIDELINE THEN A CHURCH OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR SAID AT THE SAME TIME, OR SINCE HAS SAID, SHE HAS NO PLANS TO DO ANY MASSIVE SHUTDOWNS AGAIN LIKE WERE DONE AT THE HEIGHTH OF THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR.

BUT WE WERE REALLY PRESENTED THIS YEAR WE'RE WE ARE NOT REPRESENTED WITH EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, ONCE IN A CENTURY TYPE THING.

>> WE HAD NO PLANS OF SHUTTING DOWN LAST YEAR.

IF YOU THINK BACK WHERE WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, I DON'T THINK ANY TYPE OF LARGE-SCALE ENCLOSURES THAT HAPPENED WERE PLANNED.

NOBODY HAS EVER DEALT WITH IT.

>> HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> I HOPE IT DOESN'T.

BUT IT'S UNCHARTERED TERRITORY FOR ALL OF US, CERTAINLY GOVERNORS DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT BEFORE THAT.

AND I HOPE THIS YEAR, SOME LEGISLATION TO MAKE SPREAD THE POWER A LITTLE BIT THAT ONE PERSON OR ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT DOESN'T MAKE ALL THOSE DECISIONS.

>> INDEED.

WHERE CHURCHES ARE CONCERNED, IT WAS BROUGHT UP DURING THAT DEBATE LAST YEAR THAT CHURCHES ARE MORE OF A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CLOSING CHURCHES, YOU ARE MORE SUGGESTING TO THEM THAT THEY NOT HOLD SERVICES, YOU CANNOT MANDATE -- >> WELL, IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A SUGGESTION AT THE TIME.

I DON'T THINK OUR CHURCHES TOOK IT THAT WAY AND DID CLOSE.

SOME PROBABLY STAYED OPEN.

BUT WHEN THEY DID, THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE BREAKING THE LAW.

AND I THINK THAT OUR CHURCHES ARE PROTECTED.

THINK THEY SHOULD NEVER BE SHUT DOWN.

AND THINK PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE THE FREEDOM TO WORSHIP AS THEY PLEASE, EVEN DURING A TIME OF PANDEMIC.

>> BUT BE RESPONSIBLE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> SURE, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD TAKE THEIR OWN HEALTH SERIOUSLY, BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SELVES.

AND IF YOU FEEL THAT WEARING A MASK PROTECTS YOU, THEN YOU SHOULD DO THAT.

IF YOU FEEL THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTECTS YOU, YOU SHOULD DO THAT TOO.

AND OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE SEEN THAT THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SAY BOTH OF THOSE MEASURES HELP IN PREVENTING THE VIRUS.

>> HOPING OF COURSE THAT WE DON'T SEE ANOTHER PANDEMIC LIKE THIS FOR AT LEAST A HUNDRED YEARS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME GIVEN THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH DURING THE LAST YEAR, YOU WANT TO CODIFY THESE THINGS FOR WHEN AND IF IT EVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> RIGHT.

COVID, WE DON'T KNOW IF THE VACCINE IS GOING TO MAKE IT GO AWAY OR COMING BACK IN THE DIFFERENT FORM NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT YEAR.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER VIRUSES MAY COME.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS NOT A TYPICAL VIRUS, THE ORIGIN OF IT IS SUSPICIOUS AND THERE COULD BE MORE SUSPICIOUS VIRUSES COMING.

AND THINK IT HAS OPENED THEIR EYES WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE EVENT OF A ANOTHER PANDEMIC OR EMERGENCY, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

AND FRANKLY, ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION, WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AND A PANDEMIC NEXT WEEK.

AND MAY BE SOME OTHER, MORE CONTRIVED EMERGENCY, NOT A PANDEMIC.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, AND VERY QUICKLY, I WANTED TO MENTION ANOTHER BILL WE PRE FILED, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS LATE LAST YEAR AND IT DEALS WITH VOTING.

THAT MOVEMENT TO PAY PEOPLE FOR HE TELL GETTING OUT THE VOTE AND HOW IT COULD BE MISCONSTRUED, I GUESS.

>> WELL, ALWAYS HAPPENED AND WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH PAYING ORGANIZATIONS TO GET OUT THE VOTE BUT THERE'S A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT ADVERTISED THAT IF A CHURCH WOULD HAVE ITS MEMBERS VOTE EARLY -- NOT JUST VOTE, BUT VOTE ABSENTEE, THEY WOULD PAY THEM PER HEAD, PER PERSON, $6.

IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL TO PAY SOMEBODY TO VOTE.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT NOW.

BUT THAT FELT AN AWFUL LOT LIKE THAT.

I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANY TRANSACTION FOR A VOTE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IT SURE FELT LIKE.

THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THE POLL, TO VOTE.

AND IT HAPPENS EVERY TWO YEARS, TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER.

IN 2022, WE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO DO IT ON THAT DAY, WE KNOW WHEN IT IS.

>> NOT TO SQUELCH THE VOTES BUT JUST TO BE PREPARED.

>> RIGHT, THE VIEW WAS THAT WE WERE PAYING PEOPLE TO VOTE AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE IN ANY FORM.

>> REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE KIEL, GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES AS WE GO BACK INTO SESSION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DEALING WITH YOU IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT www.aptv.org CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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

>> DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT.

PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW EVENING FOR A SPECIAL LIVE BROADCAST TO BRING YOU GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

OUR PROGRAM WILL BEGIN AT 6PM TOMORROW WITH PRE-SPEECH ANALYSIS FROM FORMER SENATOR DICK BREWBAKER OF PIKE ROAD AND POLITICAL SCIENTIST DR. NATALIE DAVIS OF BIRMINGHAM.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH BEGINS AT 6:30, AND WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE OFFICIAL DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE FROM REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY GRAY OF OPELIKA.

WE'LL HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TOMORROW EVENING AT THE SPECIAL TIME OF 6:00 PM FOR OUR LIVE BROADCAST.

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

I'M DON DAILEY.