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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

TODAY, STATE LAWMAKERS MET FOR THE 12TH LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE 30-DAY SESSION, WRAPPING UP THEIR BUSINESS BEFORE LUNCH TO AVOID THE WEATHER HEADING HOME.

THAT MEANS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS 40 PERCENT COMPLETE.

THE LEGISLATURE GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO A BILL AIMED AT MAKING SURE WORKING FAMILIES AREN'T PENALIZED FOR THE ADDITIONAL TAX CREDITS THEY RECEIVE FROM CONGRESS LAST YEAR.

MANY FAMILIES RECEIVE AN EXTENDED CHILD TAX CREDIT DEPENDENT CARE CREDIT OR MODIFIED EARNED INCOME CREDIT LAST YEAR.

BUT UNDERCURRENT STATE LAW, ALL THAT IS TAXABLE INCOME.

LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE LAST YEAR TO UNTAX THESE BENEFITS AND FINALLY SUCCEEDED TODAY.

>> THERE WAS ACTUALLY ROUGHLY $2 BILLION SENT TO ALABAMA WORKING FAMILIES THAT HAD CHILDREN.

THE INTENT WAS TAX FREE, IT WAS FEDERALLY TAX FREE, AND THERE WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY $350 PER HEAD PER CHILD PER MONTH DURING THE YEAR 2021.

THERE WERE -- EVERY STATE IN THE NATION EXCEPT ALABAMA AND LOUISIANA HAD AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS IN THEIR REVENUE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THIS TAX FREE WITHOUT US DOING A STATUTE THAT WOULD NOT BE TAX FREE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THE HOUSE AND SENATE ADJOURNED BEFORE TRANSMITTING THE BILL TO THE GOVERNOR.

MEANING THE EARLIEST SHE COULD SIGN IT INTO LAW IS TUESDAY.

IF YOUR FAMILY RECEIVED ANY OF THESE TAX CREDITS LAST YEAR, STATE LEADERS RECOMMEND WAITING TO FILE.

SO YOU CAN SAVE MONEY ON YOUR STATE TAXES.

THE SENATE PASSED A BILL TO GIVE TAX RELIEVE TO SMALL BUSINESSES, FARMERS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

SENATE BILL 189 FROM SENATOR GARLAND GUDGER OF CULLMAN IS THE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF AND VITALIZATION ACT.

IT WAS AS PRODUCT OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSION SET UP BY LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH.

>> I WOULD APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION OF THE LT.

GOVERNOR IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR SMALL AND MID SIZED BUSINESSES TO HAVE RELIEF THROUGH COVID.

IT ENSURES ECONOMIC RELIEF FOR FORMERS AND RECEIPTS OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 WHICH IS WHAT WE KNOW'S THE ARPA FUNDING.

NUMBER, 2 PROVIDES RELIEF FOR BUSINESSES REALIGNING A FILING DATE FOR CORPORATE TAX RETURNS.

NUMBER 3, THIS RECEIVES REGULATORY BURDENS AND PROVIDES TAX RELIEVE FOR ALL SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> THE HOUSE THIS WEEK GOT BOGGED DOWN OVER A BILL THAT WOULD CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF RIOTS IN STATE LAW AND INCREASED PENALTIES FOR THOSE PARTICIPATING IN ONE.

DEMOCRATS OPPOSE THE MEASURE SAYING IT CURBS RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY.

THEY SLOWED DOWN BUSINESS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND EFFECTIVELY PREVENTED THE BILL FROM COMING UP FOR A VOTE.

HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON SAID WOULD IT COME BACK TO THE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.

WHEN YOU'RE WORKING AND YOU'VE GOT A FULL CALENDAR, SOMETIMES ONE BILL THAT HAS OPPOSITION CAN HOLD UP AN ENTIRE CALENDAR AND SO WE HAD -- WE HAD SOME GOOD BILLS THAT WAS ON THAT CALENDAR THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND IT WAS A DECISION MADE BY THE SPONSOR AND JUST MEMBERS TALKING AMONG THEIRSELVES AND SAID, WELL, LET'S GET THROUGH THE CALENDAR.

THERE ARE SOME CHANGES.

AND ALSO THE OTHER THING GOING ON IS THAT MEMBERS WERE TRYING TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON THE PROS AND CONS OF THE BILL.

AND SO A LITTLE MORE TIME MAY HELP THEM MOVING FORWARD.

>> ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE THAT IS DESTINED FOR THE HOUSE FLOOR IS CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS.

HOUSE BILL 272 WOULD REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT GUN OWNERS OBTAIN A PERMIT FOR HAVING A CONCEALED HANDGUN.

THE SPEAKER SAID THAT BILL WOULD ALSO BE ON THE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.

ED.

>> THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT WAS PUT OUT FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY -- AND I THINK THAT BILL NUMBER IS HOUSE BILL 66 I THINK -- YOU CAN DO THE RESEARCH ON IT -- BUT THE BILL THAT WE HAVE NOW, HOUSE BILL 272 IS A TOTAL REWRITE OF THAT BILL.

IT'S RESPECTFUL OF OUR SCHOOLS, OF OUR COURT SYSTEMS, FOR BIDDING TO CARRY PLACES, PUBLIC PROPERTY AND BUSINESSES, WE HAVE EVEN ADDRESSED AND LOOKED AT THE LAWS THEMSELVES DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO CARRY NOW ON THE PISTOL PERMIT PROCESS.

SO IT'S A TOTAL REWRITE OF THE LAW.

>> THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT THIS WEEK ON A MAJOR SCHOOL CHOICE BILL BEING SPONSORED BY SENATOR DEL MARSH OF ANNISTON.

HIS ORIGINAL SENATE BILL 140 WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO TAKE A PORTION OF THEIR STATE TAX DOLLARS TO USE TOWARDS SENDING THEIR CHILD TO AN ALTERNATE SCHOOL, INCLUDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

MARSH KNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT PUSH BACK FROM EDUCATION GROUPS AND HE SHARED WHAT HE THINKS ARE THE STICKING POINTS.

LET'S JUST FACE IT.

IN ALABAMA YOU HAVE A MONOPOLY, THE PUBLIC SYSTEM CONTROLS ALL OF THE EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

THIS IS A 1ST ATTEMPT TO GIVE MORE CLOSE, IN THIS CASE PARENT'S CHOICE, AND THE POWERS THAT BE FEEL THREATENED BY THAT.

AND I GET IT BUT I HAVE NOT HEROD ANY SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS GIVEN TO ME.

AND I THINK WE ALL -- IT'S OUR DUTY AS CITIZENS AND AS MY POSITION AS A SENATOR TO ADDRESS EDUCATION ISSUES IN THIS STATE.

I THINK THAT'S THE PUSH BACK IS JUST THE STABILITY DOESN'T LIKE THE THOUGHT OF OTHERS BEING INVOLVED IN EDUCATION.

>> MARSH SAID HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP HAVE ESTABLISHED A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE BILL AND SCHOOL CHOICE GENERALLY.

COMMISSIONS AND SUBCOMMITTEES ARE OFTEN WHERE BILLS GO TO DIE.

SO MARSH HAS HIS RESERVATIONS.

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

AND I HAD A MEETING AS EARLY AS THIS MORNING WITH THE PRO TEM ON THAT.

I HAVE COMMITMENTS THAT THIS IS NOT JUST TRYING TO BURRY THE BILL.

WE'RE WORKING WITH OTHER EDUCATION ISSUES IN THE MEANTIME AND I'M GOING TO HOLD THEM TO THEIR WORD ON THAT AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

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

>> NEXT ON THE PROGRAM I'M JOINED BY SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN OF BIRMINGHAM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LITERACY ACT.

YOU HAD A BILL IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK -- WELL, YOU HAD A BILL -- IT 1ST TALKED ABOUT A 3-YEAR DELAY OF THE RETENTION PART OF THE LITERACY ACT BUT GOT CHANGED TO A 2-YEAR DELAY.

WHY DID YOU ACCEPT THE 2-YEAR DELAY?

>> WELL, LAST YEAR THE BILL THAT FINALLY PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE LEGISLATURE WENT TO THE GOVERNOR WAS A BILL FOR 2 YEARS.

ALONG THE WAY, THAT WAS A COMPROMISE.

THERE WERE SOME PEOPLED WHO MENTIONED ABOUT ONE YEAR.

OF COURSE I SEE THE NEED THAT WE REALLY NEED THE 3 YEARS TO GO PREPARED BASED ON THE PANDEMIC THAT WE HAVE HAD AND THE SECOND ONE THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW.

BUT AS A COMPROMISE, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE ACTUAL BILL LEAVING THE SENATE THIS TIME WOULD HAVE THE COMPROMISE IN IT AND A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE, I THINK THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE HOUSE, ASKED ME WOULD I BE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, GET US BACK TO WHERE WE WERE WHEN THE BILL WAS PASSED TO THE GOVERNOR.

AND I SAID THAT YOU WOULD I CAN TREATED IT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE 3 YEARS BASED ON WHERE WE ARE.

BUT SURELY 2 YEARS GIVES US A LOT MORE TIME TO TRY TO GET PREPARED THAN ONE YEAR.

SO THAT'S WHY I AGREED TO IT.

>> SO THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR AND REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS ARE PROPOSING, RIGHT, ONE YEAR?

>> ONE YEAR.

>> SO I MEAN WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

WHY IS 2 YEARS BETTER THAN ONE YEAR IN TERMS OF DELAYING THE IMPLEMENTATION?

>> WELL, IT'S BETTER SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PREPARE, AND OUR TEACHERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IN SERVICE OR ADDITIONAL TRAINING THEY MAY NEED.

AS A RESULT OF THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT READY TO BE TESTED.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS.

I WENT THROUGH THE PROGRESSION TODAY IN COMMITTEE AND I SAID THAT WE STARTED OUT WITH TEACHERS AND THEN WE STARTED OUT WITH CERTIFIED SUBSTITUTES.

NOW THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO FIND SUBSTITUTES.

CERTIFIED HAS REALLY GONE OUT OF THE WINDOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THIS THAT POOL TO PULL FROM.

SO NOW WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO REALLY JUST BABYSIT, GET THERE AND HOLD A CLASS AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING HAMS.

AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SITUATION ON A BILL THAT WAS DESIGNED FOR THE TIMES WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE A COVID-19.

THAT'S WHEN IT WAS PASSED.

NOW, WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC AND WE CAN'T PREPARE THE KIDS.

AND WE'RE READY TO TEST THEM.

THEY'RE GOING TO FLUNK.

EVEN WITH THE ADJUSTED SCORES THAT WERE PRODUCED IN TERMS OF SCALING DOWN.

STILL YOU'RE LOOKING AT 23 PERCENT OF ALL 3RD GRADERS ARE GOING TO FLUNK.

THEY WILL BE HELD BACK IN RETENTION.

THEY'RE GOING TO REPEAT THE 3RD GRADE BECAUSE OF THE NOT BEING PREPARED AND WE ARE ADDRESSING THE READING.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW IS THAT WITH THE 2 YEARS GETTING PREPARED, GETTING STUDENTS PREPARED, THE ONES WHO ARE THERE NOW, WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR AT-RISK SPENDING AND STILL PREPARE THEM AND GIVE THEM A TUTORIAL ALONG THE WAY.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF HELPING THOUGH STUDENTS.

I HEAR PEOPLE SAY WELL, WE HAVE TO TEST THEM OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GENERAL GENERATION OF 3RD GRADERS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO READ.

WE NEED HELP THEM WITH TUTORIAL.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I DO HERE FOLKS SAY WELL TO PASS A 3RD GRADER TON 4TH GRADE THAT CAN'T READ IS REALLY SOMETIMES MORE CRUEL THAN HOLDING THEM BACK.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WELL, 1ST I WOULD GUESS THAT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN THIS PANDEMIC AND THE SITUATION IN OUR SCHOOLS WHERE KIDS CAN'T EVEN GO AND SOME OF THEM ARE ON BECAUSE I RECALL SOME ARE ON PACKETS.

YOU KNOW THE ONES THAT CAN'T GET THE COMPUTER THEY HAVE A PACKET TO GO HOME AND YOU GO HOME WITH A PACKET AND NOBODY TO HELP YOU.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO PREPARE THEM TO TAKE THESE KINDS OF TESTS SO I WOULD THINK THAT I -- I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT BUT THE KIDS CAN'T BE THE SCAPEGOAT.

THEY DIDN'T CREATE THE PANDEMIC.

THEY DON'T DECIDE HOW MUCH TUTORING THEY GET.

THEY CAN'T DECIDE WHETHER A TEACHER IS GOING TO BE THERE.

THEY CAN'T DECIDE WHETHER COOL IS GOING TO BE OPEN.

THEY CAN'T DECIDE IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON ZOOM OR IN A PACKET AND SURE CAN'T DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GET TUTORS OR NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS.

SO, YES, IT WOULD BE CRUEL AND UNUSUAL TO FLUNK THEM WHEN WE HAVEN'T PREPARED THEM NOT TO BE FLUNKED.

SO I -- I THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE ON GIVING THEM TUTORIALS.

AND AS -- NOT COACH -- I COACH HIGH SCHOOL AND GIRLS BASKETBALL.

AND ONE THING THAT OF THAT I NOTICED, ALL PLAYERS WILL BLOOM BUT THEY JUST DON'T BLOOM AT THE SAME TIME.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THE PERSON THAT'S THERE NOW, IF YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM SUMMER ENRICHMENT, TUTORIALS IN THE EVENINGS, THEN IT MAY BE WHEN THEY'RE MOVING OUR THE 4TH THAT THEY ACTUALLY GET IT BUT THEY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET IT.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A PASS OR FAIL AND FLUNK THEM, THEN REALLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING -- AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION, YOU'RE TEARING OUT THE HEART OF A LOT OF THOSE STUDENTS WHEN YOU HOLD THEM BACK.

I NEED AS GROWN PEOPLE WE SEE IT FROM OUR EYES.

BUT I'M TELLING YOU FROM THOSE KIDS AND FROM THE PARENT WHOSE ARE PARENTS OF THOSE KIDS THAT YOU -- IT'S NO-NO HOPE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY COULDN'T CONTROL IT AT ALL AS I JUST MENTIONED TO YOU.

SO THAT'S ONESO I'M THINKING YES AS WE GET PREPARED.

>> YES, WE CAN'T IMPLEMENT IT NOW.

IT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT THAT KIDS SHOULDN'T READ.

WEE DON'T WANT THEM THERE RIGHT AT THE MOMENT BUT WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO DO WHAT THE LAW IS TELLING US TO DO.

>> SWITCHING GEARS, YOU HAD A BILL ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK WE'RE DEALING WITH DUE PROCESS OF STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT DOES.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, PRESENTLY, A STUDENT CAN JUST BE SUSPENDED, SENT ON HOME, WITHOUT A CHANCE TO PRESENT THEIR CASE AND PLENTY THE SITUATION, QUESTION PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

THE SITUATION.

AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING A ACCURATE.

AND JUST DUE PROCESS IS THE SAME THING AS YOU AND I HAVE.

SAME THING EXCEPT THAT THE KID IS IN THE SCHOOL.

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO CONFRONT THE PERSON WHO HAS ACCUSED US.

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD BAY NEUTRAL PERSON WHICH IS CALLED A HEARING OFFICER.

AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SPEEDY HEARING.

SOME KIDS GET SUSPENDED AND THEY WILL BE OUTDOOR 10 OR 20 DAYS BEFORE THEIR HEARING TIME COMES UP.

AND IT'S OVER THEN.

SCHOOL IS OVER.

THEY COME BACK AND THEY MISSED ALL OF THOSE DAYS ASSOCIATION THAT WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM THE SAME DUE PROCESS THAT WE WOULD TAKE.

AND OF COURSE 1 OF THE KEARNS THAT ALSO BEEN EXPRESSED WAS ABOUT THE HEARING OFFICERS.

SO WE HAVE GIVEN FLEXIBILITY FOR THE BOARDS AND THE PARTIES TO DECIDE ON THE HEARING OFFICERS VERSUS MAKING IT MANDATORY THAT IT HAS TO BE A LAWYER OR SOMEBODY LIKE THAT.

WE THAT FOR COST SAVING PURPOSES FOR THE BOARD.

>> WELL, WE ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO WANTED TO WATCH THAT MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON TO SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE, SENATOR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I WILL JUST SAY THIS CLOSING.

YOU KNOW, THE CHILDREN ARE WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT IS TRYING TO HELP THEM AND PUT THEM IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE ARE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER THESE BUILDS OF BILLS WITH THE INPUT THE EVERYBODY I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE.

>> WE WILL BE WATCHING.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON.

>> APPRECIATE YOU TOO.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY KIRK HATCHER OF MONTGOMERY.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU TOOK A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ON THE SENATE FLOOR THE OTHER DAY TO LAMENT SOME OF THE VIOLENT CRIME THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

IT'S BEEN PLAYING MONTGOMERY.

A LOT OF FOLKS FOUND THAT VERY MOVING.

WHY DID YOU FIND THAT NECESSARY.

WHAT WAS YOUR MESSAGE?

>> YOU KNOW THE CHILD -- I CALL HIM LITTLE MASTER GREEN WHO WAS 3 YEARS OLD, THE CONNECTION TO IT IS HIS 5-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, JADEN WILSON IS A PART OF THE HEAD START PROGRAM THAT I DIRECT HERE IN THE CITY.

AND JADEN OBVIOUSLY COULD HAVE BEEN AS WELL IN THAT VEHICLE.

AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS A 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD CAUGHT UP IN THE WANTON VIOLENCE THAT IS PLAYING OUR CITY, THAT IS PLAYING URBAN AREAS THROUGHOUT THIS NATION IS A SCHOOL FOR SOME MOMENTS OF SOBER REFLECTION ON WHERE WE REALLY ARE.

AND I DID NOT PLAN TO SHARE WHAT I SHARED.

AS YOU KNOW, I WAS THERE AT THE PODIUM PASSING SOME LEGISLATION, AND IT DAWNED ON ME THAT ULTIMATELY WE DO NEED TO A BIT MORE LOVING, A BIT MORE CARING AND A BIT MORE HUMAN.

AND PART OF WHAT WE CAN DO AS LEAD SERVICE 1ST OF ALL TO MODEL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE WHAT IT IS WE LIKE TO SEE AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE SEA AND BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE AS I THINK I MAY HAVE SAID THAT WE ARE THE LAST EXPRESSION OF HUMAN POSSIBILITY AND THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO STEP INTO THIS INCREDIBLY ANXIETY RIDDEN MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF THIS COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE FATIGUE THAT WE ALL SUFFER BEHIND COVID-19 WE HAD BETTER, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT IS NECESSARY AND SHOULDER UP.

BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING WORSE I UNDERSTAND FROM PARENTS THAN HAVING TO BURRY YOUR CHILD.

IT JUST MESSES UP THE WHOLE ORDER OF THINGS.

AND ESPECIALLY ONE SO YOUNG.

I HOPE THAT WHAT I SHARED WAS HELPFUL TO THE BODY BECAUSE IT WASN'T DEFINITELY SHARED OUT OF MY HEART.

>> WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED IT'S NOT JUST MONTGOMERY.

IT'S BIRMINGHAM, MOBILE, A ARE THE OF CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY DEALING WITH THE RISE IN VIOLENT GUN CRIME.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR A DISTRICT ATTORNEY BUT AS A STATE SENATOR AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, HOW DO WE REVERSE THIS TREND.

I HOPE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE EXPERIENCE, ALL OF THAT GOES INTO THAT, THERE'S LESS OF A TENDENCY TO DO HARM; RIGHT?

BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT IS POSITIVE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SHORT TEMPERED.

LIVES ON THE ROAD ARE MORE PROGRESSIVE NOW.

AND THAT ENERGY IS OUT HERE.

AND I THINK WHAT THE -- WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF FIREARMS -- NOW STATISTICS INDICATE THAT WE NOW HAVE MORE FIREARMS THAN PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR.

WE'RE COUNTING 340 MANAGE WEAPONS.

WELL, WE'RE BECOMING THE WILD WEST SO TO SPEAK.

AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE LESS INCLINED TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES THROUGH THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT NORMAL YOU KNOW, HUMAN BEINGS WOULD TYPICALLY DO TO TALK THINGS OUT OR WHAT HAVE YOU BUT NOW WE'RE JUST RESORTING TO AN END RESULT OF TAKING A LIFE.

AND I JUST THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE IN AN OPPORTUNITY THAT PROVIDES THEM WITH A CHANCE TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE WITH THEIR LIVES.

AND LET ME JUST CUT THAT TO THIS.

AGAIN I SAY, IF YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE IS BETTER, I BELIEVE THERE'S LESS OF A TENDENCY FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

I JUST BELIEVE IT.

AND WE SEE IT.

YOU SHOW ME COMMUNITIES WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE NOT LIVING IN AIRTIGHT CAGES OF POVERTY, AND I WILL SHOW YOU A COMMUNITY TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHERE IT'S FULL OF LIFE AND PEOPLE ARE WALKING, THEY'RE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PROMOTE LIFE AND LESS INCLINED TO HARM EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY SEE OTHERS AS EXTENSIONS OF THEMSELVES.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED QUALITY OF LIFE.

A BIG PART OF THAT AND LINKED TO PROBLEMS LIKE CRIME IS EDUCATION.

WE FOUND WE HAVE SEEN A BACKSLIDE WHERE WE'RE LAST IN MATH, ALMOST -- NEXT TO LAST IN READING.

SCORES HAVE BEEN SLIDING BACKWARD.

THE CAPITOL CITY HAS HAD A TOUGH TIME IN EDUCATION.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL.

I KNOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

JUST?

GENERAL WHAT SOLUTIONS ARE THERE OUT THERE FOR IMPROVING EDUCATION UNDER PRETTY DIFFICULTY CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> 1 OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY IN OUR EDUCATION POLICY MEETING AT THE LITERACY SACRAMENT THAT SENATOR SMITHERMAN SPONSORING THAT EDUCATION TO AT LEAST EXTEND OUT THE TIME FOR 3RD GREAT GRADE RETENTION.

I WILL BE OFFERED GRACE IN HERE, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND OR INTERNET CAPABLE TO DO THE REMOTE LEARNING, LET'S NOT PUT THIS ON THEIR BACKS.

LET'S DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO DO OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND TEACH THEM.

PART OF WHAT DISTURBS ME FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT IN THE COUNTRY WE HAVE NOT MOVED BEYOND THE 1950S THE MODEL OF EDUCATING.

WE HAVE NOT COME TO THE POINT WHERE THE TECHNOLOGY IS BEING USED IN WAYS THAT WOULD HAVE SPOKEN TO A MOMENT LIKE THIS SEAMLESSLY.

I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE BASED ON WHERE I TAUGHT WHERE I CAME BACK HOME.

OUR KIDS IN WEST CHEFFER COUNTY NEW YORK PARTICULARLY AT THE SCHOOL WRITE TAUGHT WERE ABLE TO MOVE ALMOST AGAIN SEAMLESSLY INTO THE VIRTUAL REALITY BECAUSE THE SCHOOL IS EQUIPPED WITH A TECH ZONE STAFFED BAY FEW APPLE EMPLOYEES WHO WERE ABLE IMMEDIATELY TO MOVE US -- THAT SCHOOL RATHER -- TO WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE TO MEET THIS INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING MOMENT.

WELL, WE HAVE GOT TO BE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT OPERATING WITH THIS KIND OF TEACHING METHODOLOGIES THAT I THINK WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO RESPOND TO THESE THINGS.

AND WHAT WOULD I OFFER IS THIS CAN HAPPEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS WELL.

WE HAVE SCHOOLS IN MONTGOMERY.

ONE IN PARTICULAR.

WE DO NOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO MEET THE CHALLENGES.

WE HAVE SEEN IT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND I THINK A PART OF WHAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IS TAKING THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AWAY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION UNDER THE GUISE OF SAYING, WELL, NOW, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO OFFER YOU A CHOICE -- WELL, YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE.

THE CHOICE IS A PUBLIC EDUCATION OR A PRIVATE ONE.

BUT DON'T ASK, YOU KNOW, THE LION'S SHARE OF TAX HOLDERS TO SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PAYING FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION.

THAT'S JUST WRONG.

SO I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER AN OPTION IN OUR PUBLIC SECTOR THAT IS ALSO COMPETITIVE, THAT ALSO SEEKS TO DO THE JOB THAT IT NEEDS TO DO IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS.

OTHERWISE, IF WE TAKE THOSE RESOURCES WE ARE DECAPITATING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IF THAT'S WHAT YOUR'S GOING TO DO, AS I SAID IN THE POLICY MEETING, THEN JUST SAY IT SO WE WILL KNOW EXACTLY HOW WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION GOING FORWARD.

>> WELL, WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE, I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK AND CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION, NOT JUST ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION BUT -- ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SENATOR.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> .

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR THE "WEEK IN REVIEW" PROGRAM AT 7:30:00 P.M.

HERE ON APT.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY, WE WILL SEE YOU