>>> TONIGHT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" WEEK IN REVIEW, WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION INCLUDING SPECIAL REPORTS ON A POSSIBLE LITERACY ACT FROM KAREN GOLDSMITH AND THE CONCEALED GUN CARRY BILL.

IT'S ALL NEXT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

IT WAS ANOTHER ACTION-PACKED WEEK IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THREE DAYS THIS WEEK WITH DOZENS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS TAKING PLACE, AS WELL.

LAWMAKERS ARE ALL CAUGHT UP FROM THE TIME LOST DURING THE TWO-WEEK SPECIAL SESSION IN JANUARY BUT THEY DON'T APPEAR TO BE SLOWING DOWN AS THE SESSION NEARS ITS MIDWAY POINT.

TWO TAX BREAK MEASURES GOT FINAL PASSAGE THIS WEEK.

A BILL FROM REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT WOULD ALLOW BUSINESSES TO EXEMPT UP TO $40,000 IN BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.

IT ENSURES ANY FEDERAL RELIEF THAT FARMERS RECEIVE FROM CONGRESS IS EXEMPT FROM STATE TAXES.

>> I'D LIKE TO APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND LETTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES, DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MID SIZE BUSINESSES HAVE RELIEF, ESPECIALLY THROUGH COVID.

THIS ENSURES ECONOMIC RELIEF FOR FARMERS IN RECEIPT OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021.

>>> WHICH WE KNOW OF AS ARPA FUNDING AND PROVIDES RELIEF FOR BUSINESSES FOR CORPORATE TAX RETURNS, THREE, THIS RECEIVES REGULATORY BURDEN AND PROVIDES TAX RELIEF FOR ALL SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> ALSO RECEIVING FINAL PASSAGE THIS WEEK WAS A BILL FROM DAN ROBERTS OF BIRMINGHAM THAT ENSURES WORKING FAMILIES AREN'T PENALIZED ON STATE INCOME TAX, FOR THE EXPANDED CREDITS OFFERED LAST YEAR.

UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW THE EXTRA CREDITS ARE TAXABLE INCOME THAT FAMILIES WOULD HAVE TO CLAIM ON THEIR STATE TAXES.

>> THERE WAS $2 BILLION SENT TO ALABAMA FOR WORKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

THE INTENT WAS FEDERALLY TAX FREE AND IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH 250 PER HEAD, PER CHILD PER MONTH DURING 2021.

EVERY STATE EXCEPT ALABAMA AND LOUISIANA HAD AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS IN THEIR REVENUE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THIS TAX FREE WITHOUT US DOING A STATUTE IT WOULD NOT BE TAX FREE.

>> IT'S WORTH MENTIONING AGAIN THE EARLIEST THIS BILL WILL BECOME LAW IS TUESDAY.

IF YOUR FAMILY RECEIVED ANY OF THESE TAX CREDITS LAST YEAR, LEADERS RECOMMEND WAITING TO FILE SO YOU CAN SAVE MONEY ON YOUR STATE TAXES.

>>> THE SENATE PASSED A PACKAGE OF BILLS AIMED AT MAKING ALABAMA A MORE MILITARY FRIENDLY STATE.

SOME ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING IT EASIER FOR MILITARY FAMILIES TO RELOCATE HERE.

ONE FROM SENATOR BUTLER OF HUNTSVILLE ESTABLISHES A SPACE NATIONAL GUARD TO SUPPORT THE NEW U.S. SPACE FORCE.

>> IT'S LIKE "STAR WARS" COMING TO REALITY.

WE USED TO SEE DICK TRACY TALKING ON HIS WRIST AND SAM CATCHING HIS BUDDY AND NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL NOW BE A SPACE FORCE COMING.

IT'S A SACRIFICE TO SERVE THIS NATION AND THE SERVICE IS IMPORTANT TO US.

WE WANT TO MAKE ALABAMA THE MOST MILITARY FRIENDLY STATE SO THEY WILL RECEIVE THE SAME BENEFITS AS OTHER STATES.

IF A SPOUSE OF A MILITARY MEMBER COMES HERE THEY ARE NOT PROHIBITED FROM PRACTICING IN A PROFESSION THEY WERE ENGAGED IN THE OTHER STATE.

IT'S NOT ONLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SPOUSES, DEPENDENTS AND THE MEMBERS BUT IT HAS A BENEFICIAL TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA AS WELL AS HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

WE ARE MAKING SURE WE ARE ON OUR Ps AND Qs AND ADDRESSED THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO BRIGHT TO KEEP OUR MILITARY BASES HERE IN ALABAMA, MAKE SURE WE KEEP THEM HERE.

>> ONE OF THE HOTTEST ISSUES THIS SESSION CONTINUES TO BE THE EFFORT TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT GUN OWNERS OBTAIN A PERMIT TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN.

AS RANDY SCOTT REPORTS, THE VIEWS ON THIS ISSUE REMAIN WIDELY MIXED.

>> THIS BILL, BY NO MEANS HAS TAKEN ANY TOOL AWAY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT IS SIMPLY GIVING LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS THE ABILITY TO CARRY A GUN FOR THEIR PROTECTION.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BUYING PERMITS ARE -- ARE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AND THE PEOPLE THAT GET PERMITS -- >> IT GENERATES HEATED DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE.

>> MY AMENDMENT IS A DUTY TO DECLARE AMENDMENT.

IT WOULD REQUIRE TO DECLARE IT WHEN ASKED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

>> WHILE THERE IS AN OVERALL ACKNOWLEDGMENT IT CREATES DANGER IN A TRAFFIC STOP, THE POLITICAL CONCERNS ARE OUTWEIGHING THE ACTUAL SAFETY CONCERNS BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT ON THIS COMMITTEE TODAY.

>> IF THE BILL PASSES, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WEIGH IN.

>> I DON'T GET MUCH OUT OF A PISTOL PERMIT TO HAVE A SLUSH FUND.

THERE'S NO SLUSH FUND FOR ME.

A LOT OF OTHER SHERIFFS NEED THIS MONEY TO FUND THEIR DEPARTMENT.

IT'S GOING TO ALLOW MORE GUNS TO BE ON THE STREET.

WE DO NOT NEED MORE GUNS ON THE STREETS.

>> WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE DO THIS JOB EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT IS OUR CAREER.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERTS IN AND WE CAN CITE MANY EXAMPLES THROUGHOUT OUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT REMOVING THE PERMIT REQUIREMENT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

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

>> ANOTHER PRESSING ISSUE IS DELAYING THE HOLDBACK PROVISION OF THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY IS SEEKING A ONE-YEAR DELAY, BUT SOME LAWMAKERS WANT MUCH LONGER.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS THE FULL STORY.

>> THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT THAT KEEPS A THIRD GRADE STUDENT FROM ADVANCING TO FOURTH GRADE IF STANDARDIZED TESTS SHOW THE STUDENT IS NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL GOES INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR ROGER SMITHERMAN HAD A BILL THAT WOULD DELAY THE RESTRICTION FOR TWO YEARS, CITING LEARNING LOSS BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> WE GOT TO GET OUR KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

TEACHERS WITH ONE ON ONE INSTRUCTION WITH THEM AND GOING OVER WHAT THESE LETTERS MEAN AND HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER AND HOW TO PRONOUNCE.

THEY CAN'T BE DONE BY A SOUND BYTE ON THE COMPUTER.

THIS DELAYS THAT ACTION TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO GET OUR STUDENTS TRAINED, GET OUR TEACHERS ARE CHANCE TO DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO.

>> LAWMAKERS PASSED THE BILL THAT GOVERNOR IVEY VETOED IT.

THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO SEE IF THE DATA SHOWED THAT ALABAMA STUDENTS SUFFERED LEARNING LOSS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WELL, IT DID AND NOW SENATOR SMITHERMAN IS TRYING, ONCE AGAIN, TO ADVANCE HIS LEGISLATION.

>> WE AIN'T GOT NOBODY THERE TO TEACH THEM.

THE TEACHERS AIN'T TRAINED.

WE STILL HAVE KIDS WITH COVID.

THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT FULLY OPENED.

>> AFTER A 30-MINUTE DEBATE THE SENATE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE PASSED THE BILL 8-4.

IT IS NOW IN NEGOTIATIONS.

>> I THINK THE EXACT CONCERN PRIMARILY IS ON THE TIMING.

IS IT A DELAY FOR -- THERE'S BEEN A DISCUSSION OF ONE, TWO, OR THREE YEARS.

MANY SAY ONE YEAR MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.

THREE YEARS MAY BE TOO LONG.

TWO YEARS IS WHAT WE DID LAST SESSION.

>> THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE NEXT WEEK.

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

>>> IN ADDITION TO READING, MATH IS BECOMING AN AREA OF CONCERN FOR STATE LEADERS.

ONLY 24% OF ALABAMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL FOURTH-GRADERS WERE LABELED AS PROFICIENT OR BETTER ON A SPRINGTIME MATH ASSESSMENT TAKEN THIS YEAR.

FOR EIGHTH-GRADERS, IT WAS EVEN WORSE: JUST 14%.

>> WE HAVE A CRISIS IN MATH.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY WAY TO GET AROUND IT.

WE HAVE BEEN LAGGING FOR YEARS AND NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN USED TO THAT UNFORTUNATELY.

WE LOOKED AT THE MOST RECENT STATE AND TEST DATA FOR STUDENTS, OVER 100 DISTRICTS, 102 DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, OVER 70% OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THEIR STUDENTS PROFICIENT IN MATH.

70% OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THREE OF EVERY FOUR CHILDREN IS NOT PROFICIENT.

THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR STUDENTS AND NOT GOOD FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMIC VIABILITY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CHANGE.

>>LOOKING TOWARD NEXT WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE WANTS TO BEGIN MOVING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

THAT NORMALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL LATER IN THE SESSION BUT SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED SAYS THEY SHOULD BE READY TO GO.

>> THE TOPIC, I THINK WE WILL BE MOVING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET NEXT WEEK.

THAT'S MUCH EARLIER THAN WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

SENATOR ALBRITTON, OF WHICH THE BILL FOR THE GENERAL FUND STARTS IN THE SENATE, HE AND HIS COMMITTEE HAVE BEEN AT WORK TRYING TO WORK THAT INFORMATION.

I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE SPECIFICALLY SEPARATE, AS YOU ALL REMEMBER, THE ARPA FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL AND EDUCATION FUNDS.

AND NOW LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND AND EDUCATION BUDGET, I THINK THE BUDGETS ARE WELL FUNDED BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PUT THE RESOURCES IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACES AND SO THAT'S BEEN THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.

THEY HAVE BEEN AT IT DILIGENTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

>> THE STATE'S COVID-19 SITUATION CONTINUES TO IMPROVE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS FROM THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SHOW 1358 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH THE VIRUS.

THAT'S DOWN 46% FROM THE OMICRON PEAK OF ALMOST 3,000 IN LATE JANUARY.

HOWEVER, THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN MORE THAN 1,100 PEOPLE DIE FROM THE VIRUS OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS.

DR. DON WILLIAMSON OF THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION WILL JOIN ME LATER IN THE SHOW FOR A COMPLETE COVID UPDATE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

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

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

KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY STATE TREASURER, YOUNG BOOZER.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON TO EXPLAIN A NUMBER OF THINGS BUT FIRST YOU ARE THE STATE'S BANKER IN A WAY.

I WONDER IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE STATE TREASURER IN A NUTSHELL.

>> I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

FIRST, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I AM BACK AS THE TREASURER FOR THE STATE'S TREASURE.

I WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR IVEY FOR THINKING OF ME.

I AM BACK AND THE TREASURER IS THE BANKER FOR THE STATE.

WE TAKE IN CASH.

PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE SPENDING MONEY AND PAYING TAXES AND THEY ARE REMITTED TO US.

WE COLLECT THAT.

WE POOL AND MANAGE THAT OVERNIGHT MONEY TO SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS AND THEN WE HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR WHEN IT NEEDS TO GO OUT TO MAKE PAYMENTS AND MOST OF THOSE GO THROUGH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MAKING PAYMENTS.

WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHERE'S MY TAX REFUND, I SAY I DON'T DO THAT.

>> YOU DON'T WRITE THE CHECKS.

>> I DON'T.

I MANAGE THE MONEY.

WE TAKE IN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON AN AVERAGE DAY.

WHEN I FIRST BECAME THE TREASURER, JUST BEFORE I GOT HERE IN 2010 AT THE END OF THE GREAT RECESSION, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE WERE MANAGING WAS $2.4 BILLION.

WHEN I LEFT THE OFFICE IN 2019, THAT NUMBER HAD GROWN TO $3.6 BILLION.

ABOUT A 50% INCREASE AND THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE ECONOMY HAD GOT BETTER.

WELL, WE ARE AWASH IN CASH AND IT IS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE MONEY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CARES ACT AND ARPA, $9.7 BILLION.

THAT'S 2.5 TIMES BIGGER THAN THREE YEARS AGO.

THERE'S A LOT OF CASH THAT WE HAVE THAT WE ARE MANAGING AND WILL NEED TO BE SPENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> THAT IS A PRETTY SHOCKING NUMBER.

SO, THAT'S WHAT THE STATE HAS ESSENTIALLY IN ITS COVERS RIGHT NOW?

>> YES.

>> VARIOUS FUNDS.

>> YES.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL THE MONEY THAT HAS COME TO THE STATE.

CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE MONEY, TOO.

AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED THAT WE ARE EXPECTING $1.1 BILLION IN JUNE.

ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO BE COLLECTED, INVESTED AND READY TO MAKE PAYMENTS WHEN THOSE PAYMENTS ARE MADE FOR THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PURSUED AND THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT.

>> TALK ABOUT INVESTMENTS, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND.

IT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1985.

THIS IS A FUND THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NATURAL GAS DOWN THERE BUT IT IS A BIT OF AN ENIGMA OR IT HAS BEEN TO ME OVER THE YEARS.

WE HAVE A FUND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BENEFIT THE STATE AND SOMETIMES IT CONFUSES ME WHAT ALL GOES IN AND COMES OUT.

HOW DOES THAT WORK AND HOW DOES THE STATE BENEFIT?

>> THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE.

WE DISCOVERED NATURAL GAS OFF OF MOBILE IN 1978.

WE BEGAN PRODUCTION.

THE NATURAL GAS IS SOLD.

WE GET A ROYALTY.

THE ROYALTY IS PAID TO THE TRUST FUND.

THAT'S COLLECTED AND POOLED.

OVER TIME -- ACTUALLY ONE YEAR WE HAD $358 MILLION IN ONE SINGLE YEAR BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT NATURAL GAS WORKS, THE DECLINE CURVE THEY HAVE HAS DIMINISHED OVER THE YEARS SO NOW WE ARE COLLECTING 35 TO $40 MILLION ANNUALLY.

THAT COMES TO THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND AND IT'S INVESTED AND THEN WE HAVE A SPENDING POLICY THAT SAYS HERE'S WHERE THIS MONEY GOES, WHO RECEIVES IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

MY HISTORY WITH IT GOES BACK TO 2021, 2011 WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.

I LOOKED AT HOW IT WAS STRUCTURED AND IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS SAID IT WAS A STATUTORY LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST FUND THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED.

WHEN I GOT IN AT '11 WE SAID IT NEEDS TO CHANGE AND WE NEED TO SECURE THE INCOMING CASH FLOW AND MANAGE IT BETTER IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND HAVE A SPENDING POLICY THAT MAKES SENSE.

BEFORE IT WAS GUESS WORK AS TO HOW MUCH WOULD BE FOR THE BUDGET OUT OF THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND.

WE GOT TOGETHER IN 2012 AND SAID THIS HAS TO BE UPGRADED AND CHANGED.

SO WE CAME UP WITH A NEW PLAN, WHICH BECAME CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 856.

IT ALLOWED US TO MANAGE BETTER AND THEN HAVE A SPENDING POLICY THAT MADE SENSE.

INSTEAD OF JUST GUESSING AT WHAT THE BUDGET WAS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO PROJECT THAT TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE.

RIGHT NOW THE THING THROWS OFF A LITTLE LESS THAN $200 MILLION A YEAR, MOST FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

IT ALSO SENDS ABOUT -- I THINK LAST YEAR IT SENT $17.5 MILLION TO THE CITIES AND COUNTIES AND THE TRUST GETS $15 MILLION A YEAR.

THAT'S A MAX THEY CAN GET.

SO, IT IS WORKING INCREDIBLY WELL.

WE HAVE A GREAT BOARD AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN WHAT AND HOW WE ARE DOING IT.

IN THE PERFORMANCE LAST YEAR, EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT YEAR LAST YEAR IN THE STOCK MARKET IN THE INVESTMENT MARKET.

WE WERE JUST UNDER 20% RETURN FOR THE SINGLE YEAR.

WE HAD A GREAT YEAR.

>> SPEAKING OF FINANCE, THAT'S ONE REASON I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON.

WE HEAR A LOT OF FINANCIAL ISSUES OUT THERE.

WE HEAR A LOT OF TERMS.

WE HEAR ABOUT SUPPLY CHAIN, SEE HIGHER PRICES BUT IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

WHAT CAUSES THE INFLATION AND HOW LONG CAN WE EXPECT IT TO BE AROUND?

>> OKAY.

WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES BUT -- >> OKAY.

LET ME GIVE YOU WHAT I THINK IS SORT OF THE COMPRESSED ANSWER TO THAT, RIGHT?

LET ME START WITH ONE ECONOMIST AND THAT IS MILTON FRIEDMAN WHO I THINK HIGHLY OF.

MILTON FRIEDMAN'S DEFINITION OF INFLATION WAS AND IS -- TOO MANY DOLLARS CHASING TOO FEW GOODS.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT AS YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THOSE GOODS, YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY MORE AND MORE AND YOU HAVE MORE AND MORE DOLLARS TO PAY.

SO THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN TODAY IS CLASSIC.

IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE DISCUSSION WE HAD AT THE BEGINNING, HOW MUCH CASH DO I HAVE ON HAND, RIGHT?

IF THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF INFLATION, WE ARE -- AND WE ARE SEEING IT.

THE THING IS NOW RUNNING ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS 7.5%.

SOME WERE SAYING IT WAS TEMPORARY WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS TEMPORARY BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE FACTORS OUT THERE.

IF WE LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE, JUST SAY FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA, WE HAVE $9.7 BILLION THAT'S GOING TO BE USED IN ORDER TO FUND ALL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MONTHS.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THOSE DOLLARS WILL START DEALING WITH CONTRACTORS, BUYING MATERIALS, PURCHASING LAND AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS AND THE INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS WE HAVE $9.6 BILLION BUT 49 OTHER STATES ARE IN THE SAME POSITION.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS ALL OF THE CASH WILL START TO CHASE GOODS THAT WILL BE IN HIGH DEMAND BECAUSE A LOT OF STATES ARE DOING BROADBAND.

A LOT OF STATES ARE DOING THINGS FOR EDUCATION.

THEY WILL BE BIDDING FOR THE SAME PROCESS.

>> ONLY SO MUCH FIBER AND PIPE.

>> EXACTLY.

IF SOMEONE SAYS I NEED IT NOW BECAUSE I HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, THEY ARE GOING TO BID UP THE PRICE.

IT IS A PROCESS THAT KEEPS MOVING.

DO WE HAVE INFLATION?

WE DO.

IT IS BROAD BASED, WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

IT'S GOING TO DO SOME HARM TO THE -- I'M GOING TO SAY MIDDLE AMERICA.

YOU DIDN'T LIVE THROUGH THE '70s AND '80s BUT I DID.

IT FINANCIALLY HOLLOWED OUT THE MIDDLE CLASS.

IF IT IS PERSISTENT AND HIGH HIT CAN BE INCREDIBLY DAMAGING.

THAT GETS BACK TO INTEREST RATES.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH INTEREST RATES?

THIS IS A DELAYED RESPONSE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH RESPECT TO INFLATION THAT.

IS THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS KEPT INTEREST RATES DOWN VERY LOW IN ORDER TO GET US THERE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

PLUS, WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE MONEY OUT THERE WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DEMAND FOR ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.

SO INTEREST RATES ARE GOING TO GO UP.

THE FED IS PROBABLY GOING TO MOVE A QUARTER OF A POINT IN MARCH.

I READ A STORY THIS MORNING THAT ONE FED BOARD MEMBERS IS TALKING ABOUT HAVING A 1% INCREASE BETWEEN NOW AND JULY.

NOW, WHEN YOU THINK 1% IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL BUT WHEN YOU GO FROM ZERO TO 1% THAT IS A HUGE INCREASE.

THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.

I HAVE 9.7 BILLION, I HAVE $6 BILLION EARNING 3 100th OF 1%.

SO I'M ONLY MAKING $1.5 MILLION A YEAR.

IF IT GOES TO 1%, IT GOES TO $60 MILLION THAT WOULD COME TO THE COFFERS.

>> WHAT IS THAT INTEREST RATE HIKE MEAN FOR REGULAR FOLKS TRYING TO BUY A CAR, TRYING TO BUY A HOUSE OR THEIR SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR 401(K)?

>> SO LENDERS WILL DO BETTER.

BORROWERS WILL DO WORSE.

IF I HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT AT A BANK AND INTEREST RATES GO UP BY 1%, I GET MORE INCOME, INTEREST INCOME FROM THAT.

IT IS BETTER FOR ME.

NOW, IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT BUT BETTER.

IT IS BETTER THAN ZERO WHICH IS WHAT IT IS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE BORROWER'S SIDE, IT WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO BORROW.

IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ARE BORROWING FROM AND WHAT YOU ARE BORROWING FOR.

MORTGAGE RATES HAVE GONE UP BUT ARE STILL LOW IN HISTORICAL TERMS.

WITH RESPECT TO OTHER VEHICLES, BOATS, THAT KIND OF THING, IT WILL GO UP BUT, YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU BUY AND HOW YOU BUY IT.

>> WE COULD TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL ISSUES FOR A LONG TIME.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK BECAUSE THESE ISSUES ARE GOING TO STAY AROUND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> MY PLEASURE.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

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

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

YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

NEXT I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY ANTHONY DANIELS OF HUNTSVILLE WHO SERVES AS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> SO THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ANNOUNCED ITS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA LAST MONTH AS THE SESSION BEGAN.

I KNOW YOU ARE NOT IN THE MAJORITY SO YOU CAN'T EXPECT TO GET EVERYTHING BUT HAVE THERE BEEN SUCCESSES SO FAR IN THE SESSION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT, THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PRE-K. THAT IS AN ITEM THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR US.

ONE THING YOU MENTIONED YOU DON'T GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF AFTER UNIVERSAL PRE-K MODEL BECAUSE WE KNOW THE EARLY YEARS ARE MOST CRITICAL TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ON COURSE WHENEVER THEY ENTER THE K-12 SYSTEM.

>> THIS WEEK IN THE HOUSE THINGS GOT BOGGED DOWN.

ON THE FLOOR, THE RIOT BILL, IT WOULD INCREASE PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE.

THE BILL NEVER CAME UP BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF DELAY TACTICS TO BASICALLY RUN OUT THE CLOCK.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE CAUCUS' FEELING TOWARD THE RIOT BILL.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING.

DEFINING RIOT.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IF A PERSON IS ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN A RIOT, BUT THAT PERSON MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY THERE AND THE PENALTY -- INCREASING THE PENALTY DOESN'T NECESSARILY STOP ANYTHING FROM HAPPENING AND FOR THE MOST PART WE HAVE NOT HAD A RIOT IN ALABAMA.

I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE WE RESPONDING TO?

IF WE ARE RESPONDING TO JANUARY 6th, THEN GREAT BUT THERE IS NOT BEEN THAT IN ALABAMA.

IF WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT A JANUARY 6 SITUATION TO HAPPEN IN ALABAMA I'M AMENABLE TO THAT.

A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND SOME DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION.

INTERPRETATION IS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO.

I THINK MORE MEAT AND DETAILS AS TO THE INTENT AND ALSO USING -- EVEN USING EXAMPLES.

I THINK SOMETIMES WE TRY TO RESPOND TO AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND WE DO MORE HARM THAN HELP LONG TERM.

I'VE NOT SEEN A RIOT THAT HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA DURING MY TEN YEAR, SINCE I HAVE BEEN ALIVE.

JUSTIFYING OUT WHERE THE MOTIVATION IS COMING FROM.

>> I GUESS IT IS A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD CALL IT A RIOT BUT THINGS DID GET VIOLENT IN BIRMINGHAM TO AN EXTENT IN HUNTSVILLE WHEN THE PROTESTS HAPPENED.

THERE WAS SOME DESTRUCTION, A LITTLE BIT OF VIOLENCE.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WOULD CALL IT A RIOT.

SO THERE IS SOME DEFINITIONAL THINGS THERE.

>> IN HUNTSVILLE, I WAS INVOLVED IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION WHERE I SPOKE AT THE RALLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE EVIDENCE ACTUALLY STATES THE OPPOSITE FOR HUNTSVILLE.

THERE WAS NO DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

THERE'S NO ELEMENTS OF THAT.

I THINK THE AGGRESSORS FROM THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT WASN'T THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE AT THE PEACEFUL PROTEST.

>> TURNING NOW TO -- I KNOW ANOTHER BIG ISSUE IS THIS CONCEALED CARRY BILL.

I EXPECTED IT ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK.

IT DIDN'T GET THERE.

IT'S THROUGH COMMITTEE NOW.

ANY DAY NOW IT WILL COME TO THE FLOOR.

I WOULD IMAGINE PLENTY OF FILIBUSTERING ON THAT BILL, TOO.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> IT IS AN INTERESTING BILL.

I THINK I THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, MOST OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS, ASSOCIATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY ARE AGAINST THE BILL.

I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.

FOR US, OUR POSITION HAS BEEN THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE EASY ACCESS FOR A BAD GUY OR SOMEONE THAT MAY BE MENTALLY ILL AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO A PERMIT TO CARRY A WEAPON.

I THINK THAT IS SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENCE AND OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

LET'S THINK OF A PERSON -- IF ALABAMA DOES AWAY WITH THE PERMIT AND A PERSON GOES TO LOUISIANA, FLORIDA, WITHOUT THE PERMIT, THERE'S NO RECIPROCITY GRANTED FROM MOVING FROM ONE STATE TO THE OTHER AND THE PERSON WILL BE ARRESTED.

THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL THINGS WE HAVE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT THROUGH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT.

IF LAW ENFORCEMENT BELIEVE IT IS A BIG THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHO HAS ACCESS TO A GUN, I THINK WE ARE MISUNDERSTANDING THE SUBJECT THINKING THIS IS SOMEHOW INFRINGING ON YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT WHEN IT IS REALLY NOT.

IT IS A PROCESS THAT IS PUT IN PLACE THAT REALLY HELPS TO KEEP GUNS FROM BEING IN THE HANDS OF BAD PEOPLE OR SOMEONE MAY HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS THAT SAYS, HEY, YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CARRY A FIREARM.

I DON'T THINK IT INFRINGES ON THAT RIGHT.

I'M CONCERNED THAT IT SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENCE.

>> SWITCHING GEARS TO EDUCATION.

THE TALK THIS SESSION HAS BEEN ABOUT THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL FROM SENATOR MARSH, REPRESENTATIVE MEADOWS.

IT IS STILL BEING NEGOTIATED.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL CHOICE BILL, EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT ALLOWING PARENTS TO USE TAX MONEY TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, OTHER SCHOOLS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> MY POSITION IS, AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, WE DON'T BUILD INTERSTATE 64 NEXT TO INTERSTATE 65.

INTERSTATE 64 HAS A FEW POTHOLES AND WE FIX THEM AND MOVE FORWARD AND THE SAME WAY WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION.

HOW DO WE RIGHT THE WRONGS?

HOW DO WE LOOK AT THE DATA AND SAY THIS IS AN ISSUE BUT HOW DO WE FIX IT?

WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A SYSTEM AND A LOT OF UNKNOWNS THAT HAVE NOT NECESSARILY BEEN PROVEN.

AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM MYSELF AND HAVE CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM AND WORKED ON THE POLICY SIDE BEFOREHAND, IF WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO SAVE EDUCATION OR HELP EDUCATION, I THINK WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON BIRTH TO PRE-K. USE A SIMILAR CONCEPT FOR BIRTH TO PRE-K WHERE EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION PROGRAM FROM BIRTH TO PRE-K. THAT'S -- BIRTH TO 5 IS 95% OF THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.

A LOT OF THE KIDS, WHEN I WAS A THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE TEACHER, I COULD TELL YOU EVERY CHILD THAT WENT TO PRE-K OR BEFORE BASED ON THEIR BEHAVIOR AS WELL AS THEIR TEST RESULTS AND THE WAY THEY ACADEMICALLY PERFORM.

SO, IF WE KNOW THAT IS AN ISSUE ON THE FRONT END, I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH SENATOR MARSH AND OTHERS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ON THE FRONT END.

AS IT RELATES TO INTERVENTION.

WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT LEARNING LOSS AS A RESULT OF COVID.

SOME COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE -- THESE YOUNG PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE INSTRUCTORS IN FRONT OF THEM AND THE VIRTUAL OPTION DIDN'T WORK FOR EVERYONE, RIGHT?

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE KNOW MORE HANDS ON IN THAT CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE, BEING IN THE CLASSROOM DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO THE VIRTUAL OPTION DIDN'T NECESSARILY WORK FOR EVERYONE.

SO I THINK FOR ME, LOOKING AT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

OFTEN TIMES WE THINK OF AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS OF GOING HERE AND GET HELP WITH HOMEWORK FOR A FEW HOURS AND JUST GO HOME, FAMILY PICK YOU UP AT 5:00.

THAT'S A FULL DAY'S WORK AND IT IS CONVENIENT FOR THE FAMILY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE READING AND MATH COMPONENT AND MAKING CERTAIN WE ARE BUILDING UPON THOSE SKILLS AND THAT WE ARE USING THE DATA FROM THAT CHILD AND WHERE THEY ARE AND BUILDING UPON THOSE SKILLS.

IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND IN THE SUMMERTIME.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A HALF DAY, ONE OR TWO DAYS A WEEK DURING THE SUMMER WHERE A CHILD CAN GET HELP.

THE OTHER PIECE IS PATHWAYS.

IF TODD IS INTERESTED IN 7th GRADE, WE ARE INTERESTING HIM TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENGINEERING, WE ARE INTRODUCING HIM TO SUBJECT AREAS.

WE ARE SPARKING HIS INTEREST IN THESE AREAS AND HELPING HIM UNDERSTAND, OKAY, THESE ARE THE OPTIONS.

THEN, TODD, YOU GET A CHANCE TO SAY, OKAY I WANT TO GO TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH OPTION.

WE DON'T HAVE THE PATHWAYS TO HELP TODD MAKE THAT DECISION TO WHERE HE GOES TO HIGH SCHOOL THERE'S IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.

ALL ASPECTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WHETHER IT IS A HOSPITAL OR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS.

WE DON'T HAVE THINGS THAT ARE SPARKING AND CONTINUING TO BUILD UPON THE INTEREST OF THE CHILD.

SO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT PATHWAYS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT INTERVENTION ACTIVITIES AND FOCUS ON THE FRONT END.

UNTIL WE DO THOSE THINGS, THERE'S NO SYSTEM THAT YOU BUILD THAT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM.

SO WE HAVE TO STOP BUZZ WORDS AND DOING WHAT OTHER STATES ARE DOING.

THAT'S NOT THE PATH TO SUCCESS.

SO WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON DATA, OUTCOMES AND THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO WORK.

>> WE COULD TALK A LONG TIME ABOUT EDUCATION AND I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK SO WE CAN GET DEEPER INTO THIS AND TEACHERS AND WHAT WE CAN DO.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ALWAYS GOOD.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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

>>> NEXT, I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER OF COLEMAN.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> APPRECIATE BEING HERE.

>> YOU HAD A BILL ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK DEALING WITH TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT IT DOES.

>> IT DOES MORE THAN THE NAME OF IT, WHICH IS SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF AND REVITALIZATION ACT OF 2022.

THE TITLE SHOULD ALSO SAY FARMERS RELIEF, IT SHOULD SAY SMALL BUSINESS FROM THE MOM AND POPS OF THE WORLD ALL THE WAY UP TO CORPORATIONS AND THEN ALSO FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

SOME OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF IT, ANY DISADVANTAGED FARMER WHO WERE ABLE TO GET ARPA FUNDS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT IN 2021, THOSE LIABILITIES ON THE LOAN WOULD BE PAID IN FULL.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

THEY WERE ABLE TO GET FORGIVENESS ON A LOAN.

NUMBER TWO, IT GAVE EXTENSIONS ON THE DEADLINES FOR FILING TAX RETURNS FOR CORPORATIONS AND THEN ALSO FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR ONE MONTH THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ASKED FOR BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE READJUST THAT TO CORPORATIONS AND THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PLUS, IT ALLOWED THEM TO REALIGN AND DIDN'T CHANGE ANY TAXPAYERS ON HOW MUCH THEY WERE PAYING IN.

IT IS JUST A FACT THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS MORE EFFICIENT IN THEIR DEPARTMENT.

THAT WAS THE SECOND PART OF THIS BILL.

THE THIRD IS WHERE IT GOT TO THE MEAT OF IT, WHICH IS A SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF.

WHAT THAT DID THERE, IT ALLOWED SMALL BUSINESSES TO PAY ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES TAX FROM $2,500 AND MOVED IT UP TO $5,000 OF THAT.

BY DOING THAT, IT HELPED APPROXIMATELY, THAT WE KNOW OF TODAY 2437 BUSINESSES THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GET RELIEF THROUGH THIS PAST COVID ERA INTO THE FUTURE.

THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO FILE PAPERWORK ON PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX AND BUSINESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE WILL HAVE A COMPUTER ON THE DESK, YOU ARE SITTING IN A CHAIR.

IN A SMALL BUSINESS YOU HAVE TO BUY THOSE SO YOU ARE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND BE AS EFFICIENT AS YOU CAN IN SMALL BUSINESS AND MAKE MONEY.

FROM IT YOU PAID SALES TAX ON THE FRONT SIDE AND THEN USE THEM TO MAKE MONEY AND PAY INCOME TAX ON THE BACKSIDE.

BUT ALSO, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, THEY WILL SEND YOU A FORM, STATE AND COUNTY THAT WILL SAY WE'D LIKE YOU TO PAY TAX ON THE EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE PURCHASED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR.

DURING COVID WE REALIZED HOW'S IS IT BEST TO GIVE RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO WE FILED A TAX EXCEPTION IN THIS BILL UP TO $40,000, WHICH HELPS A TON OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT CAPITAL AND PUT THAT IN OTHER PLACES WHERE THAT'S COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, WHETHER IT IS BUYING IN BRICK AND MORTAR AND INVESTING BACK IN THEIR OWN BUSINESS, BUT THAT IS THE MEAT OF THE BILL.

I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS WAS WORKINGS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSION LED BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH AND SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TWO OR THREE YEARS NOW.

IT FINALLY CAME TO FRUITION TODAY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE FARMERS PART OF THE BILL.

I FOUND THAT INTERESTING BECAUSE DURING THE CARES ACT, GO BACK TWO YEARS AGO, DURING THE CARES ACT, THE PPP PROGRAM, THE FORGIVABLE LOANS TO SMALL BUSINESSES, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT, LIKE GIVING THE FARMERS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES HAD TWO YEARS AGO UNDER CARES.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH SBA WAS ABLE TO GET FORGIVENESS OF THOSE LOANS AND EVERYBODY NEEDED IT, RIGHT?

THIS ALLOWS THE DISADVANTAGED FARMERS THE SAME THING.

IT ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE THE DEBT OFF OF THEIR SHOULDERS AND PUT IT BACK INTO THEIR FARMS, THEIR EQUIPMENT, WHATEVER THEY NEED, EVEN LABOR SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> I KNOW THAT OVER THE YEARS YOU HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE OF THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, POWER PLANTS, COAL MINES, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ALABAMA AND POSSIBLE THREATS TO THEM.

WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THAT ISSUE?

>> WE PASSED SB-17 IN THE HOUSE.

AND FROM THAT, THAT BILL IS ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK READY TO BE SIGNED.

IT'S THE FIRST ONE PASSED ALL THE WAY THROUGH BOTH HOUSES AND LAYING ON HER DESK.

THAT BILL, THE MEAT OF THAT BILL WAS THE FACT THAT ANYONE THAT WANTS TO HAVE AN ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT AFFECTS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN ALABAMA, AGAIN, THAT IS A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE, UTILITY LINE, THAT TRANSFERS ENERGY AND ELECTRICITY.

THE ENTRANCES AND TRANSPORTATION, THE PRODUCTION OF COAL.

ANY OF THAT IS PROTECTED IN THIS ACT.

IT USED TO BE MISDEMEANOR.

WE CHANGED IT TO A FELONY.

BY DOING THAT IT ALLOWS TO GO FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE DOING ACTS OF VIOLENCE THAT WE HANDLE THEIR PUNISHMENT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

>> IT'S NOT -- THERE'S NO LEGISLATION THAT WE KNOW OF YET ON THE GAMBLING ISSUE, BUT EVERY YEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, OKAY, ARE WE GOING TO SEE A LOTTERY OR WIDE-RANGING GAMBLING BILL.

LAST YEAR IT WAS LOTTERY, CASINO AND SPORTS BETTING.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN THE STATEHOUSE ABOUT A POSSIBLE GAMBLING BILL HERE WE ARE 12 DAYS IN.

>> THERE ARE WHISPERS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE, BOTH CHAMBERS ABOUT THE LOTTERY BILL.

THERE WERE MAJOR BILLS THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO GET THROUGH.

A LOT OF THOSE ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION BUT THE WHISPERS ARE THE SENATE WANTS TO PASS SOMETHING.

THE OTHER IS A THE HOUSE IS PRODUCING A PAPER LOTTERY AND BRINGING IT UP.

THE LAST THREE YEARS I HAVE DIVED INTO THE INFORMATION AND MAKE THE BEST DEAL POSSIBLE.

I'VE DECIDED THIS YEAR WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THAT'S MY OPINION THIS YEAR TO SEE IF THE HOUSE SENDS SOMETHING TO THEM OR IF WE SEND SOMETHING DOWN OR IF NOTHING HAPPENS.

RIGHT NOW I'M WAITING AND SEEING.

>> ANOTHER ISSUE YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN IS MENTAL HEALTH SPECIFICALLY AS IT CONCERNS VETERANS AND PTSD.

I KNOW THERE WERE SOME PILOT PROGRAMS OUT THERE.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THOSE?

>> THE DATA IS WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, RIGHT?

HOW MANY PEOPLE USE THE MEDICINE TO GET BETTER.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PATIENTS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT NEED HELP, THAT NEED SOMEONE AND SOME PLACE TO GO TO FOR COUNSELING.

THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT NEED IT.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT I HAVE FOUND ON TRYING TO BRING VETERANS TO THIS PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE CREATED LAST YEAR IS THE FACT THAT THEY WON'T COME.

THE FAMILIES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PUSHING THE VETERANS TO THIS.

I'M GOING TO BACK UP AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM IF YOU DON'T MIND?

>> SURE.

>> LAST YEAR WE WERE BLESSED TO HAVE A GOOD BUDGET CHAIR.

GREG ALBRITTON ALLOWED US TO HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM AND HE SAID IT WILL GO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR LOCAL AUTHORITY OF MENTAL HEALTH WHICH IS WELLSTONE, IT IS LOCATED IN COLEMAN, ALABAMA AND HUNTSVILLE.

THAT'S WHERE WE FOCUS.

THEY HAVE TO GET A DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD.

IF THEY GET THAT DIAGNOSIS THEY CAN GO UNDER ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL AND UNDER THE CARE OF A PHYSICIAN THEY WOULD GET THE REQUIRED TREATMENT SO THEY REMEMBER THOSE MEMORIES BUT THE ANXIETY, THE ANGER AND FRUSTRATION THEY FEEL ON A DAY-TO-DAY WHERE THEY CAN'T HOLD DOWN A JOB OR PROJECT THE FAMILY, THEY ARE SOMEWHAT OF A MENACE TO SOCIETY AND GET FIRED FROM DIFFERENT JOBS, THEY REMEMBER THE MEMORIES BUT THAT ANXIETY GOES AWAY AFTER THIS TREATMENT.

WE HAVE HAD 22 PEOPLE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

THEY COME IN AND WE HAVE A POINTS RATING SYSTEM THAT WE PUT THESE PATIENTS ON.

20 IS THE WORST AND 1 BEING THE BEST.

THEY ARE COMING IN AT 16 AFTER THIS TREATMENT.

THEY DROPPED 10 POINTS AUTOMATICALLY.

SOME LITTLE BETTER OR WORSE AND NOW THEY ARE PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN AND HOLD DOWN THEIR FAMILY, TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONES AND BE WHO THEY WERE WHATEVER TRAUMA HAPPENED IN THEIR LIFE.

WE HOPE TO EXPAND THAT.

>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

SENATOR MARSH HIS SCHOOL CHOICE BILL, EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

THEY SAY IT IS BEING NEGOTIATED HOW'S THE SENATE CAUCUS CONVERSATION?

WILL WE SEE IT TO THE FLOOR.

>> DEL MARSH IS PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATION AND WE ALL SHOULD BE.

WE HAVE ONLY GONE DOWN IN THE GRADES OF EDUCATION NATIONALLY.

WE NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING BESIDES FUNDING IT WITHOUT ANY RESULTS BACK.

NOW, ARE WE SAYING OUR TEACHERS OR SCHOOLS ARE BAD, NOT AT ALL.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL RANKINGS WE GO DOWNHILL BY PUTTING MORE MONEY IN TOO IT.

IT IS NOT A MONEY ISSUE BECAUSE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO THINK OF IT DIFFERENTLY.

THAT WAS CONFIRMED BY CONDOLEEZZA RICE WHEN SHE CAME AND TOLD US THE NUMBER ONE THING TO FOCUS ON TO GET THE BEST WORKERS, WE NEED BETTER EDUCATION AND HOW DO WE DO THAT, NOT ONLY WITH EXPANDING BROADBAND BUT CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK OF EDUCATION.

THAT CONFIRMATION, WE ALL KNOW, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

DEL MARSH HAS BEEN OBVIOUSLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE GIVEN HIM A ROAD BLOCK IN THE PAST AS YOU KNOW WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS BUT IT HAS TO BE VERY SOON THAT WE COME ALL TOGETHER TO FIND OUT WHAT BEST FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE TEACHERS AND EDUCATION GOING FORWARD.

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

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

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

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

KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> NEXT ON THE PROGRAM, I'M JOINED BY DR. WILLIAMSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

DOC, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> I WAS LOOKING AT THE LATEST COVID DASHBOARD NUMBERS.

THE HOSPITALS IN ALABAMA ARE REPORTING 1358 HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.

THAT'S DOWN FROM THE PEAK IN LATE JANUARY OF 2961.

THAT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PROGRESS WITH OMICRON.

>> NO QUESTION, THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION NOW.

WE STILL HAVE OVER 300 PEOPLE IN THE ICU.

WE STILL HAVE OVER 200 ON VENTILATORS BUT IF YOU LOOK AT TOTAL HOSPITALIZATIONS WE HAVE SEEN IT REDUCED BY HALF.

IF YOU LOOK AT CASE COUNTS, CASE COUNTS TODAY WE HAD 1041, 1400 PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH COVID TODAY BUT POSITIVITY RATE IS 13%.

NOW WE ARE SEEING WHAT THE TOLL OF THE OMICRON VARIANT WAS.

OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS WE HAVE HAD 1100 PEOPLE DIE DUE TO COVID.

JUST IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WE HAD 425.

AND 30 A DAY NOW REPORTED BY THE HOSPITALS AS HAVING DIED.

>> THAT'S A SOBERING NUMBER.

AND YET I WALK AROUND THE GROCERY STORE AND AROUND TOWN THERE'S A SENSE THAT WE HAVE TURNED THE CORNER.

MASK REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING AWAY IN THIS BUILDING THE MASK REQUIREMENT WENT AWAY AND WE ALL WANT THAT TO BE, RIGHT, WE ALL WANT THAT CORNER TO BE TURNED BUT DO YOU SEE AT ANOTHER WAVE COMING?

THERE WILL THERE BE ANOTHER VARIANT COMING DOWN THE PIKE?

>> LET ME ADDRESS WHERE WE ARE.

WE NEED TO CELEBRATE AND BE REALISTIC OF WHERE WE ARE.

AND THAT IS THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER.

HOWEVER, WE DON'T NEED TO ASSUME THAT OMICRON AND COVID ARE THROUGH WITH US.

WE MAY BE THROUGH WITH THEM BUT I'M NOT SURE THEY ARE THROUGH WITH US.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT CONTROL IN A COMMUNITY, YOU ARE AIMING FOR 5% POSITIVITY RATE OR LESS.

WE'RE STILL AT 13.5%.

WE GOT TO UNDER 5% BACK AROUND THANKSGIVING AN EARLY IN DECEMBER.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO GET BACK WHERE WE WERE JUST BEFORE THE SURGE.

AND THAT WOULD BE WITH LESS THAN 300 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL AND HAVING BETWEEN 100 AND 300 CASES A DAY.

AND A POSITIVITY RATE OF LESS THAN 5%.

AT THAT LEVEL, YOU WOULD SAY WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD COMMUNITY CONTROL.

WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

WE ARE STILL -- IF YOU LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES, MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS 8% POSITIVITY RATE THIS MORNING BUT OTHER COUNTIES ARE STILL AT 18% POSITIVITY RATE.

SO VARIES GEOGRAPHICALLY.

BEFORE WE GET TOO EXCITED, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT THERE YET AND WEARING MASKS, EVEN IF NOT REQUIRED, WEARING MASKS IN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES IS STILL THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET INFECTED IF YOU DO NOT GET EXPOSED.

NOW, AS TO WHAT THE FUTURE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

YOGGI BERRA SAID IT BEST WHEN HE SAID IT IS HARD TO MAKE PREDICATIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE OMICRON SUB VARIANT, WE KNOW IT IS 50 TO 60% MORE INFECTIOUS.

I SAW SOMETHING TODAY THAT SAYS MAYBE IT CAUSES MORE SEVERE DISEASE AND THERE'S TALK ABOUT RELABELING IT NOT AS A SUB VARIANT BUT ITS OWN GREEK LETTER.

THE QUESTION IS DOES THAT MATTER?

PROBABLY DOESN'T MATTER.

THE QUESTION IS, IS IT GOING TO BE A MAJOR DRIVER OF DISEASE IN OUR COMMUNITY?

WHETHER IT'S THE SUB VARIANT OR DIFFERENT VARIANT, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE WHO ARE STUDYING THIS THING, THEY THINK IT IS MORE PROBABLE THAN NOT THAT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS WE WILL HAVE NEW VARIANTS THAT EMERGE AND THEY WILL CAUSE SPIKES IN CASES.

THE REAL QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THOSE SPIKES ARE DISRUPTIVE OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

AND DISRUPTIVE OF SOCIETY.

IF THE VIRUS CAUSES VERY LITTLE DISEASE, THEN WE MAY HAVE A LOT OF CASES BUT IF IT IS NOT SEVERE DISEASE PEOPLE WON'T END UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND IT WON'T DISRUPT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

LIKE WISE, IT WON'T DISRUPT SOCIETY AT LARGE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE A LONG WAY AWAY FROM WHERE WE WANT TO BE WITH THIS VIRUS.

I USE AS AN EXAMPLE THE 1918 THE VIRUS JUMPED FROM A PIG TO THE HUMAN POPULATION.

IT CIRCULATED AT LOW LEVELS THE NEXT 100 YEARS AND THEN IN 2008, THERE WAS A CONCERN WE WERE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER OUTBREAK OF H1N1 AND WE PREPARED FOR THE PANDEMIC.

IT TURNED OUT IN PART BECAUSE THERE WAS ENOUGH IMMUNITY IN THE BACKGROUND POPULATION WE DIDN'T HAVE MASSIVE OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE.

YES, WE HAD INCREASED CASES BUT IT TENDED TO BE MILD.

WE DON'T HAVE 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

WE HAVE TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE.

I SUSPECT EVERY TIME WE WILL SEE SOME SPIKES.

HOPEFULLY THE DISEASE WILL BE MILDER AS WE HAVE MORE BACKGROUNDS IMMUNITY TO IT.

WE WILL DEVELOP BETTER DRUGS AND MAYBE IT WILL BE AN ENDEMIC VIRUS, SOMETHING LIKE THE FLU THAT WE COME TO EXPECT AND LIVE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO PRESUME THAT CAN'T BE ANOTHER SPIKE AND NOT ANOTHER SPIKE THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO SOCIETY IN THE WAY OMICRON WAS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT OMICRON AND GOT OVER IT.

I HAD IT.

I WAS VAXED AND BOOSTED AND IT WASN'T MUCH OF AN EVENT THANKFULLY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY WONDER, I'M OVER IT.

I'M THROUGH IT.

WHY GET A VACCINE AGAIN?

RESPOND TO THAT WAY OF THINKING.

>> WE CLEARLY KNOW THAT NATURAL IMMUNITY DOES CONVEY SOME PROTECTION.

THERE'S A STUDY RECENTLY THAT SHOWS IT IS A COMBINATION TO GET YOUR BEST PROTECTION.

THAT'S A COMBINATION OF NATURAL IMMUNITY FROM HAVING HAD THE DISEASE AND BEING VACCINATED.

NOW PREFERABLY, THE VACCINES PRECEDE THE EXPOSURE TO THE DISEASE BECAUSE IT DRAMATICALLY REDUCES THE SEVERITY OF THE ILLNESS.

EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD IT, BEING VACCINATED AFTERWARDS WILL BOOST THEIR IMMUNE RESPONSE AND GIVE THEM ANTIBODIES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE NEXT VARIANT AND EXPOSURE.

>> I KNOW THE RESPECTS HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT THE LAST TWO YEARS, HOW IS EVERYBODY HOLDING UP?

>> THEY ARE TIRED AND EXHAUSTED AND LOOKING FOR A BREAK.

I MENTIONED WE HAVE 300 COVID-19 PATIENTS IN THE ICU, WHICH IS A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WE HAVE BEEN BUT WE HAVE LESS THAN 10% OF ICU BEDS STATEWIDE BECAUSE THEY ARE FILLED WITH HEART ATTACKS, STROKES AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US IN LIFE AND SOME OF IT IS CATCH UP FROM PEOPLE WHO DEFERRED AND DELAYED THEIR CARE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK TO GO DEEPER ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE, ALL WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS.

SO WE WILL DO THAT NEXT TIME.

DOC, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> BORN HENRY LOUIS AARON ON FEBRUARY 5, 1934 IN MOBILE, HANK AARON FIRST HONED HIS BASEBALL SKILLS WHILE GROWING UP IN ALABAMA.

HE'S BEST KNOWN FOR BREAKING BABE RUTH EAST RECORD OF 714 HOME RUNS, ULTIMATELY HITTING 755, A RECORD THAT STOOD FROM 1974 TO 2007.

DURING HIS CAREER, AARON WAS A MEMBER OF THE MILWAUKEE AND THEN ATLANTA BRAVES FOR 21 SEASONS AND MADE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM EVERY YEAR FROM 1955 TO 1974.

HE WON THREE GOLD GLOVE AWARDS FOR YOUTH FIELD AND LIFETIME RECORDS FOR MOST RUNS BATTED IN AND EXTRA BASE HITS STILL STAND.

AARON WAS ELECTED TO THE BASEBALL ALL HALL OF FAME IN 1982.

IN 2022, HE RECEIVED THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, THE NATION'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WON'T HAVE A SHOW ON MONDAY, MAKING WAY FOR THE FREEDOM RIDERS: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTARY, WHICH I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO.

WE'LL BE BACK TUESDAY AT 10:30 PM WITH OUR NIGHTLY COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM OF KAREN, RANDY, ROD AND JOHN, I'M TODD STACY.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.