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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY HAS SIGNED INTO LAW HOUSE BILL 231, WHICH UN-TAXES THE WORKING FAMILY TAX CREDITS OFFERED BY CONGRESS LAST YEAR.

UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, MANY FAMILIES SAW EXTRA FINANCIAL HELP IN THE FORM OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, DEPENDENT CARE CREDIT, OR EARNED INCOME CREDIT.

BUT UNDER PREVIOUS LAW, THAT WAS ALL COUNTED AS TAXABLE INCOME BY THE STATE.

STATE SENATOR DAN ROBERTS HAS CHAMPIONED THE LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THAT.

>> IT WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS FOR ALL OF THE SOFTWARE TO GET UPDATED FROM TURBOTAX OR WHATEVER SYSTEM THEY'RE USING FOR THIS TO BE REPOLICEMAN AND HAD DONE AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY FILED AND HAVE CHILDREN I ENCOURAGE YOU TO AMEND YOUR TAX RETURNS AND REFILE AGAIN TO GET THIS MONEY BACK.

>> IF YOU RECEIVED THESE TAX CREDITS BUT ALREADY FILED YOUR TAXES, YOU CAN FILE AN AMENDED RETURN TO GET SOME MONEY BACK.

VISIT REVENUE.ALABAMA.GOV/ ARPA-TAX-RELIEF/ TO LEARN HOW.

>> THE PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET PASSED A SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY.

THE $2.7 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET INCLUDES A 4 PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, A $17 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND $156 MILLION TO PAY BACK WHAT THE LEGISLATURE BORROWED FROM THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND.

SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE.

>> WE ARE ON SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING BECAUSE WE'VE APPLIED ALL OF THE CORRECT PRINCIPLES OF CONSERVATIVE SPENDING.

WE DON'T SPEND EVERY STINKING DIME.

WE TRY TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL.

IT'S JUST LIKE MENTAL HEALTH.

THE NEED IS SO GREAT THERE BUST WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH EACH TIME.

BUT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

WE GET FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIX IT ALL AND WE CAN'T FIX IT NOW.

BUT I THINK WE'RE MAKING SOLID PROGRESS OVERALL.

>> ALSO INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL FUND PROPOSAL IS A TRANSFER OF NEARLY $25 MILLION TO FULLY FINANCE THE ROLLING RESERVE ACCOUNT.

LAWMAKERS SET UP THE GENERAL FUND ROLLING RESERVE ACCOUNT IN 2020 IN ORDER SAVE MONEY IN TIMES OF PLENTY TO MAKE UP FOR MORE DIFFICULT FINANCIAL TIMES.

SENATOR CLYDE CHAMBLISS SAID THIS TRANSFER WOULD BRING THE ACCOUNT UP TO $100 MILLION.

>> IN STATE GOVERNMENT WE SENT ALL HAD THE ABILITY TO PLAN AHEAD BECAUSE OUR FUNDS WERE SO LIMITED TO THE GENERAL FUND.

WE'VE CREATED A MECHANISM SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT WOULD ALLOW TO US PREPARE.

AND THROUGH A LOVE OF GOOD DECISIONS AND CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING, WE HAVE NOW, IF THIS BILL IS SUCCESSFUL, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS, WE WILL HAVE MAXIMIZED OUR CAP, GONE UP TO OUR CAP ON THAT BUDGET RESERVE.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A HUGE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, THEN WE HAVE SOME MONEY STUCK BACK, IF YOU WILL, TO HELP US THROUGH THAT HARD TIME.

>> THE COMMITTEE ALSO PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD FUND THE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE, WHICH HELPS DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES.

IT'S PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS.

>> THIS IS A SEPARATE PROGRAM AND THE ARPA BILL ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED MANY OF THESE TYPE PROGRAMS.

THIS ONE ACTUALLY REAUTHORIZED A PROGRAM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2010 TO PROVIDE SMALL BUSINESS AND LOAN GUARANTEE FUNDING INCLUDING VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR CERTAIN STARTUP AND OTHER TYPES OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT COULD PROVIDE US UP TO $97 MILLION IN FUNDING THROUGH THAT PROGRAM TO ACTUALLY IS ALSO PROVIDING THE FUNDING FOR THE BILL THAT SENATOR SINGLETON PASSED LAST YEAR WHICH WAS THE AGRIBUSINESS AND RURAL JOBS ACT.

>> THE SENATE HAS PASSED A BILL BANNING DOCTORS FROM PRESCRIBING PUBERTY BLOCKERS OR PERFORMING GENDER TRANSITION SURGERY ON MINORS.

SENATE BILL 184 IS SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR SHAY SHELNUTT WHO CALLS IT A CHILD PROTECTION MEASURE.

OPPONENTS, INCLUDING THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, SAY IT'S UNNECESSARY AND SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.

>> DOWN IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TODAY, THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY -- I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HER AGE BUT WHEN SHE WAS 16 YEARS OLD, YOU KNOW, SHE THOUGHT SHE WANTED TO BE A BOY AND TOOK THE DRUGS AND NOW SHE'S SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES.

YOU KNOW, SHE SAID SHE WISHES THIS LAW WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO STOP THAT SO THAT SHE DIDN'T GET THOSE HARMFUL DRUGS THAT HAVE CAUSED HER NOW TO HAVE A MALE VOICE, CAUSED HER TO GAIN 50 UNNECESSARY POUNDS, AND SHE'S ALSO SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES -- SHE HAS TO TAKE DRUGS NOW FOR A LIFETIME.

>> THERE APPEARS TO BE A COMPROMISE ON DELAYING THE HOLDBACK PROVISION OF THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN HAD PROPOSED DELAYING RETENTION OF THIRD GRADERS WHO CAN'T READ BY AS MUCH AS THREE YEARS.

GOV.

KAY IVEY AND REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS HAD SUPPORTED A ONE-YEAR DELAY.

TODAY, COLLINS SAID SHE WOULD ACCEPT SMITHERMAN'S TWO-YEAR DELAY BILL IN EXCHANGE FOR INFUSING MORE RESOURCES INTO HELPING THOSE STRUGGLING READERS CATCH UP AS THEY GO ALONG.

IT.

>> HAS AN INTENSE FOCUS ON THAT BOTTOM 5 PERCENT OF PERFORMERS IN LIT RELEASE AND THERE WERE ABOUT 52 SCHOOLS OF THAT AND 37 OF THEM MOVED OUT OF THE BOTTOM 5 PERCENT AFTER THIS LAST YEAR OF TESTING.

SO IT'S WORKING.

IT'S MOVING IN A GREAT DIRECTION.

OUR CHILDREN ARE IN LEARNING TO READ.

OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING AMAZING WORK.

WHAT WE SAW IS EVEN DURING THE 2 YEARS OF COVID, CHILDREN ARE READING AT HIGHER LEVELS THAN THEY WERE BEFORE, AND THAT IS AMAZING.

>> THE HOUSE PASSED THOSE UPDATES TO THE LITERACY ACT UNANIMOUSLY.

THE SENATE BILL WILL ADDRESS THE DELAY ISSUE.

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TONIGHT.

WE'LL BREAK FOR A MOMENT FROM OUR COVERAGE OF STATE POLITICS TO TURN TO THE NATIONAL AND EVEN INTERNATIONAL SCENE AS U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE JOINS ME IN STUDIO.

THAT INTERVIEW WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE.

COACH, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> GLAD YOU CALLED ME COACH BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN D.C. CALLS ME COACH.

>> YOU TOLD ME 0 CALL YOU COACH AND I WILL CALL YOU COACH.

THE SENATE IS ON RECESS.

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE BACK IN THE STATE.

THAT GIVES SENATORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK HOME, VISIT WITH FOLKS.

WHAT ALL HAVE YOU BEEN DOING DURING THIS RECESS.

>> WELL, USUALLY YOU GET OFF ON THURSDAY BEFORE THE WEEKEND.

THIS PAST WEEKEND I WENT TO MUNICH TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNSEL MEETINGS.

IT'S LIKE A BIG COACHING CLINIC BUT YOU HAVE 4 MINISTERS, YOU HAVE PRESIDENTS, PRIME MINISTERS, YOU HAVE NATO.

YOU EVERYBODY THAT COMES THERE ALL IN ONE AND I MET MORE PEOPLE IN THOSE 2 DAYS THAN I COULD HAVE MET BY TRAVELING THE WORLD IN 2 YEARS.

SO IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

THIS JOB IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTRY BUT AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE WE'RE THE LEADER OF DEMOCRACY, AND WE WANT TO STAY THAT WAY, AND YOU WANT TO MEET THE PEOPLE THAT WANT THE SAME THING.

SO I MET A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE.

>> I SAW THAT YOU WERE IN HUNTSVILLE.

YOU WERE IN MONTGOMERY TODAY.

OUT AT MAXWELL IN FACT.

HOW DID THAT GO?

>> GOOD.

YOU KNOW, I TRY TO HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE EACH TIME.

WE WORK 3 WEEKS AND WE GET A WEEK OFF TO WHERE WE CAN GO BACK IN THE STATE.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN MOBILE BECAUSE WORKING WITH SENATOR SHELBY TRYING TO LEARN THE ROPES OF WHAT HE HAS BEEN DOING.

I HAVE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM BECAUSE NEXT YEARLY TAKE OVER HIS POSITION AND BE THE SENATOR SENIOR OF THE STATE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE FROM HIM THIS YEAR.

I SPEND -- EVERY DAY I SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITH HIM ON THE SENATE FLOOR AND TALK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT THE STATE.

AGAIN IT GOES BACK TO RELATIONSHIPS AND REALLY KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHY YOU'RE DOING IT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT UKRAINE -- RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.

VLADIMIR PUTIN ORDERING TANKS AND GROUND SUPPORTS FORCES INTO REGIONS OF UKRAINE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCING SOME SANCTIONS, MAYBE MORE TO COME.

OTHER NATIONS DOING THE SAME THING.

YOU ARE ON THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE YOU'RE IN THE BRIEFINGS THAT HAPPEN.

CAN YOU GIVE US A READ ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY COMPLEX.

BUT HERE IS THE DEAL.

UKRAINE USED TO BE PART OF THE OLD USSR IN THE 90S, PRAYING BROKE IT UP AND UKRAINE BECAME AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY.

THEY'RE AGREE AND HAVE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.

OVER THE LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS, PUTIN, AFTER HIS 20 YEARS OF TAKING OVER HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO TAKE BACK THE COUNTRIES THAT USED TO BE IN THE OLD USSR.

UKRAINE IS THE BIGGEST COUNTRY IN EUROPE.

OKAY.

SO A LOT OF FARM LAND, A LOT OF THINGS THAT PUTIN COULD USING FOR RUSSIA.

2014, HE WANT INTO CRIMEA WHICH IS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE UKRAINE AND HE TOOK THAT OVER.

WE PUT SOME SANCTIONS ON HIM THEN.

DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD AT ALL.

RECENT LAST FEW YEARS HE HAS GONE TO BELARUS NORTHERN PART OF UKRAINE AND HE CHANGED THE GOVERNMENT.

CAN'T TAKE IT OVER BUT THE GOVERNMENT CHANGED IN LIGHT OF BEING MORE FRIENDLY TO RUSSIA.

HE'S COMING IN FROM THE EAST SIDE OF UKRAINE.

AND HE WANTS TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE AND MORE OF UKRAINE AT A TIME.

HE MIGHT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS TIME.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAY AND SEE.

KIEV IS IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY, SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AWAY FROM WHERE THEY'RE COMING IN, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT.

THAT'S NOT OUR FIGHT.

WE JUST GOT OUT OF A 20 YEARS WAR.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN LEADING FROM BEHIND.

HE HASN'T BEEN OUT FRONT WITH THIS.

I DON'T KNOW Y HE SHOULD HAVE SANCTIONED RUSSIA 5 OR 6 MONTHS AGO.

I VISITED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UKRAINE, SALENSKI IN AUGUST AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, COACH, WE DON'T NEED BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE JUST NEED YOU TO HELP FINANCIALLY WITH WEAPON QUESTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE WILL DEFEND OURSELVES.

WE'RE A PROUD COUNTRY.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PUTIN IS GOING TO DO.

ONLY ONE GUY KNOWS AND THAT IS HIM.

HE MIGHT TAKE OVER 2 OR 300 MILES OF LAND OR MIGHT GO THROUGH AND TAKE IT ALL OVER.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

BUT WE'RE WAY BEHIND ON THIS.

AS REPUBLICANS LAST WEEK BEFORE WE LEAVE WE CAME UP WITH A LIST OF SANCTIONS THAT WOULD REALLY HURT PUTIN.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

THEY SAID, NO, WE WOULD RATHER SLAP HIM ON THE WRIST AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS OF WHAT HAPPENS.

WHEN YOU SANCTIONS AFTER WHAT HAPPENS THEN YOU HAVE LOST.

IT'S ALL ABOUT OIL.

IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTROLLING THE OIL IN RUSSIA.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS.

WE BUY.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BUYS 500,000 GALLONS -- OR BARRELS OF OIL A DAY FROM RUSSIA BECAUSE WE HAVE STOPPED OUR -- STOCKED OUR ENERGY SUPPLY AND THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE IN SUCH INFLATION AS WE SPEAK.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE MAY WONDER WHY IS THIS A BIG DEAL, WHY ARE WE SEEING IT ON THE NEWS, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, WHY OVER HERE IN THE UNITED STATES IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE FOLKS?

>> 2 REASONS.

RUSSIA TAKING OVER DEMOCRACY.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T REALLY HAVE THAT.

AGAIN IT'S NOT OUR FIGHT.

IT'S REALLY NATO'S FIGHT IN EUROPE.

WE'RE A PART OF NATO.

BUT IT'S POLAND.

IT'S HUNGRY, ROMANIA, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE NEXT IN LINE.

IF PUTIN WANTS TO KEEP ON GOING BUT HE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HE HAS A BUFFER BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA.

AND IF HE DOES TAKE IT ALL OVER -- SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN.

WOULD I HOPE THAT UKRAINE AND THE 40000000 PEOPLE THERE COULD KEEP A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE PUTIN -- HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO.

THE OTHER THING -- IT'S ABOUT HAD THE OIL.

THEY HAVE THE IN ORDER STREAM 2790O.

PIPE LINE AND GERMANY IS BUYING A LOT OF OIL FOR THEM AND THEY'RE PUMPING UP THEIR ECONOMY AND THEY'RE CAUSING THIS.

BECAUSE WE SHUTDOWN AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP LEFT WE WERE OIL INDEPENDENT.

BIDEN CAME IN 1ST DAY AND SHUT OUR OIL IN WITH THE PIPELINES COMING OUT OF CANADA, A LOT OF PLACES WE CAN'T DIG FOR OIL ANYMORE SO NOW WE HAVE TO BUY OIL FROM OVERSEAS AND WE'RE PUMPING UP RUSSIA'S GOVERNMENT AND THINKING ABOUT PUTTING SANCTIONS ON THE GUY.

WE HAVE TO GET BACK ENERGY INDEPENDENT.

>> SWITCHING TO DOMESTIC POLICY YOU CAME OUT PRETTY STRONGLY AGAINST THESE IRS RULES THAT WERE GOING TO LOOK AT SMALLER BANK TRANSACTIONS.

THEY SAID THE WHOLE POINT WAS TO CATCH PEOPLE CHEATING ON THEIR TAXES.

YOU PUSHED BACK -- A LOT OF FOLKS PUSHED BACK.

THE BBB FAILED OR DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE BUT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU DO YOU EXPECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO KEEP PUSHING THESE IRS RULES VIA EXECUTIVE ACTION?

>> BILL BACK BETTER WAS A DISASTER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

LUCKILY JOE MANSION VOTED AGAINST IT, HE AND CHRISTIAN CINEMA.

WE HAVE THAT IN THERE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO TAX THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MORE AND MORE.

WE'RE 30 TRILLION IN DEBT.

EVERY AMERICAN IN THIS COUNTRY NOW THAT PAYS TAXES OWES $270,000 TO PAY THIS DEBT DOWN.

$270,000 PER TAXPAYER.

IT'S AMAZING.

HOW WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO DEBT SO QUICKLY.

WE HAVE BEEN IN DEBT TO ONE POINT BUT THEY SPENT $6 TRILLION THROWING MONEY OUT OF CAR WINDOWS AND TRYING TO PUMP UP OUR ECONOMY AND NOW INFLATION HAS HIT.

TO GET MONEY THEY HAVE TO TAX AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU PAY YOUR TAXES.

SO RIGHT NOW IF YOU SPEND $10,000, THERE'S AN ALERT SENT TO THE TREASURE DEPARTMENT -- NOT THE IRS.

WE HAVE HAD THAT FOR YEARS.

THEY WANT TO CHANGE IT AND SAY IF YOU SPEND $600 OR DEPOSIT 600, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO KNOW THAT.

SO THEY WERE GOING TO SPEND THAT STRAIGHT TO THE IRS AND THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET INTO YOUR PRIVATE LIFE AND THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW AND TRY TO FIND EVERY DIME THEY CAN GET FROM THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER.

LUCKILY THAT GOT OUT EARLY AND BEGOT OUT IN FRONT OF IT, OUR STAFF, AND WE STARTED PUSHING IT OUT IN THE PUBLIC, AND THERE WAS A HUGE CRY FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT.

SO THEY DROPPED IT.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE UP.

THEY HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO TAX THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO PAY THIS TAX DOWN.

>> SPEAKING OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STOCK ACT.

THIS IS THE LOU THAT IS DESIGNED TO STOP INSIDER STRAYING FROM MEX OF CONGRESS.

YOU RECENTLY SAID YOU'RE OPPOSED TO A BAN ON CONGRESSIONAL -- MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TRADING STOCK WHICH SOME PEOPLE HAVE PUSHED BUT YOU YOURSELF HAVE RUN INTO TROUBLE AT TIMES FOLLOWING THE LEGAL DISCLOSURES OF THE STOCK ACT.

SHOULDN'T THERE BE SOME SAFEGUARDS IN TERMS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE IN TRADING STOCK?

>> YEAH.

THERE SHOULD BE.

AND THERE ALREADY IS.

THE PROBLEM WHERE I COME IN, YOU KNOW, I -- I WANT TO INVEST IN AMERICAN COMPANIES.

I WANT TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE.

AND WHEN YOU GO IN PRETTY MUCH WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU INVEST IN OR BUY OR SELL A STOCK, IT GOES BACK TO OVERSIGHT IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AS A CONGRESSMAN OR AS A SENATOR.

SO THAT'S ALREADY ALL OUT THERE.

THEY OVERLOOK EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

I'M NOT AGAINST THEM KNOWING.

I'M FINE WITH THAT.

I GOT IN TROUBLE EARLIER AS YOU SAID.

WHAT HAPPENED, MY STAFF DIDN'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE RULES.

IT'S WORSE THAN THE NCAA.

YOU WILL BREAK A RULE AND NOT KNOW IT.

IF YOU'RE COACHING FOOTBALL -- SAME THING BEING A CONGRESSMAN.

WE UNKNOWINGLY DID THIS.

SO PEOPLE ASKED ME WELL, YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT.

I'M SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT BECAUSE I WANT GOOD PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

I WANTED GOOD PEOPLE TO COME UP AND BE A PARTICIPANT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE NEED PEOPLE THAT REALLY LOVE THIS COUNTRY.

IF YOU CONTINUE AND THERE'S MORE RULES AND REGULATIONS ON A SENATOR IN CONGRESS NOW WHERE ELIMINATING A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT BOB GOOD PEOPLE IN D.C. AND I WANT GOOD PEOPLE OUTDOOR THERE.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO COME UP THERE AND JUST HAVE THEIR NAME OF CONGRESSMAN OR SENATOR, I WANT PEOPLE TO COME FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND IF WE CONTINUE TO PUT -- IT'S NOT SMALL THING BUT PUT THE STOCK ACT OUT THERE AND PUT MORE REGULATIONS ON SOMEBODY THAT WOULD RUN FOR ANY OF THESE POSITIONS I THINK IT WOULD DAMAGE OUR FUTURE.

>> YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN ABOUT RECRUITING PEOPLE POSITIVE RUN FOR CONGRESS AND DISCOURAGING PEOPLE.

THAT POINT IS WELL TAKEN.

I GUESS SOME FOLKS OUT THERE MIGHT JUST THINK ABOUT IT AS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW MORE THAN I DO ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT COULD AFFECT THE STOCK MARKET SO SHOULDN'T THERE BE RULES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

THERE'S HALLS GOING TO BE SOME BAD APPLES IN EVERY BUSHEL OF APPLES.

YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE A FEW.

HERE IS THE THING.

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, EVERYTHING THAT IS IN CONGRESS IS PUBLIC.

ALL OF OUR HEARINGS ARE PUBLIC.

EVERYTHING THAT WE HEAR IS PUBLIC.

I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW.

SO IT'S A FALLACY -- NOW, THERE MIGHT BE SOME WAY THAT I DON'T KNOW MUCH THAT YOU COULD GET THAT INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW, HASN'T BEEN UP THERE LONG ENOUGH BUT I'M NOT LOOKING FOR THAT BUT IT COULD BE.

LIKE IN ANY BUSINESS THERE'S WAYS TO CUT CORNERS, THERE'S WAYS TO CHEAT AND DO THOSE THINGS.

THAT'S THE REASON WE NEED GOOD PEOPLE TO COME TO D.C. AND YOU CUT BACK ON THAT POOL OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD QUANTITY TO BE PART OF CONGRESS, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEED UP WITH MORE BAD APPLES, WOULD I THINK.

I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE DIRECTLY OPTION OF WHAT WE NEED.

>> LET ME SWITCH GEARS AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT FENTANYL, THIS DRUG PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING.

THERE WAS A STORY OUT THIS WEEK IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ALONE 400 PEOPLE DIED LAST YEAR FROM DRUG OVERDOSES, A NEW RECORD BY FAR.

WE'RE SEEING IT HERE AS A PROBLEM IN THE STATE.

WE'RE SEEING IT ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING.

HOW DO WE GET A HANDLE ON THIS DRUG TRAFFICKING SITUATION.

>> IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM; IT'S A DISASTER.

I HAVE BEEN TO THE BORDER AND MOST OF IT IS COMING ACROSS THE BORDER.

IT'S MADE IN CHINA AND THEY SHIP IT DOWN TO SOUTH AMERICA AND IT COMES ACROSS OUR BORDERS.

SOMEBODY SHOULD PAY THE PRICE FOR WHAT IS GOING ON ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDERS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT JOE BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ARE DOING.

THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST DECISIONS EVER MADE IN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.

I HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE AND SEEN PEOPLE COME ACROSS THE BORDER.

SEEN PEOPLE LAYING FLAT IN THE RIO GRANDE RIVER DROWN BECAUSE THEY COME ACROSS AND DIDN'T MAKE IT.

MYSELF I HAVE SEEN THAT.

4, 5, 6,000 PEOPLE A DAY ARE COMING ACROSS OUR BORDER.

IT'S COSTING THIS COUNTRY AND OUR TAXPAYERS A FORTUNE.

NOW, TO GET TO YOUR POINT -- DRUGS COMING ACROSS, CARTEL AND CHINA ARE MAKING MONEY.

IT'S COMING INTO OUR COUNTIES AND CITIES AND OUR STATES AND OUR KIDS ARE GETTING HOOKED ON IT OR TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND SOMETIMES THEY OD ON IT.

LAST YEAR FOR THE 1ST TIME EVER WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE OF OVERDOSE DIRECTLY RELATED TO FENTANYL.

IF WE DON'T STOP IT -- AND YOU CAN'T GET JOE BIDEN OR SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.

I HAVE CHALLENGED THEM.

THIS IS THE WORST DECISION I HAVE EVER SEEN.

THEY JUST TURN THEIR BACK ON OUR BORDERS.

NOW, BIDEN AND ALL OF THE DEFENSE PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT UKRAINE'S BORDERS BUT NOT WORRIED ABOUT OURS.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE IT IS KILLING PEOPLE HERE.

AND THE 1ST RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN CITIZENS AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

AND WE GET THE HOUSE AND SENATE BACK NEXT YEAR SOMEBODY GOING TO GET IMPEACHED.

I KNOW WHO IT'S GOING TO BE BUT THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GUY I HAVE CHALLENGED ANYMORE PUBLIC AND CHALLENGED HIM AT HEARINGS.

HE WON'T EVEN ANSWER.

HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON DOWN THERE AND OUR VICE PRESIDENT IS OVER IT AND SHE'S REALLY NEVER BEEN TO THE BORDER IN HER LIFE.

SHEAF SAYS SYMPATHY HAS BUT SHE HASN'T BEEN DOWN THERE.

>> WE SPOKE BEFORE YOU GOT INTO OFFICE JUST BEFORE YOU GOT INTO OFFICE AND YOU TOLD ME YOUR HOPING TO FIND MEMBERS OF THE OTHER PARTY THAT WERE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER.

HOW HAS THAT GONE?

HAVE YOU FOUND MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATS THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH IN THE SENATE?

>> YOU KNOW THERE'S A FEW -- I CALL THEM LIBERAL, MOD RATES, JOE MANSION, CHRISTIAN CINEMA, THERE'S A HANDFUL.

WHEN I 1ST GOT THERE, 2 THINGS I WANTED TO DO -- WELL, REALLY 3.

GET TO KNOW RICHARD SHELBY.

FOLLOW HIS FOOTSTEPS.

LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN, BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO BE GONE IN THE FUTURE.

VERY NEAR FUTURE.

I WANTED TO MEET PEOPLE AND LEARN PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND RECRUIT.

WE HAVE BEEN RECRUITING THE HECK OUR MANSION AND CINEMA TO VOTE AGAINST, YOU KNOW, BUSTING THE FILIBUSTER AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS BUT I WENT UP THERE MAINLY TO LISTEN.

AND I SAT BACK AND I LISTEN AND I TOOK IN EVERYTHING.

I HAVE READ MORE, ASKED MORE QUESTIONS -- SO THAT'S BEEN MY JOB THE 1ST YEAR.

YOU DON'T WANT REALLY HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THE PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND YOU CAN'T DO IT BY OPENING YOUR MOUTH ALTHOUGH THE TIME.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW I'M CATCHING ON.

IT TAKES A WHILE BUT IT'S SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART THAT WE SAVE THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE DEMOCRATS -- YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A FEW LIBERAL QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU HAVE A HUGE GROUP OF PROGRESSIVES.

I DON'T CALL THEM PROGRESSIVES.

I CALL THEM COMMUNISTS BECAUSE THEY'RE BOUND AND DETERMINED TO TEAR OUR CONSTITUTION UP, START A NEW ONE, START A NEW COUNTRY, TEAR UP THE AMERICAN FAMILY, NUCLEAR FAMILY, GOVERNMENT CONTROL, BIG GOVERNMENT -- IT IS THEIR GOAL AND AGENDA -- I'M JUST SHOCKED THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE MANSIONS AND CINEMAS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, A LOT MORE THAT SHOULD BE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING OVER TO THE PROGRESSIVE SIDE, AND IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS FOR AMERICA.

>> REAL QUICK WHILE I HAVE GOT YOU, YOU MENTION THE SENATOR SHELBY, RETIRING.

THERE'S A HOT RACE GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO REPLACE HIM.

YOU NAVIGATED THAT PRIMARY NOT LONG AGO THAT YOU WERE RETURNING FOR SENATE.

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE TO SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES RUNG FOR SENATE.

>> TODD IT'S THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE BUT MY WIFE SAID YOU'RE GOING TO KILL YOURSELVES SELF.

AND I SAID, NO, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BEAT ME BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ME AS A SENATOR.

THEY KNOW ME AS COACH.

SO I HAVE TO SELL MYSELF.

I TALKED TO EACH CANDIDATE, SAT DOWN WITH THEM, TAKEN PICTURES, GONE TO SOME OF THEIR FUNCTIONS.

I'M NOT FOR ANY OF THEM.

I'M FOR THE BEST PERSON THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE WANTS.

AND I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT.

I'M GOING TO SIT BACK AND WATCH AND SEE WHO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA WANT.

AND I WILL SAY THIS, EVERYBODY SHOULD DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

EVERYBODY SHOULD LOOK AT EVERY CANDIDATE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF YOUR CANDIDATE BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION.

IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY CALLS THEM A SENATOR OR A POLITICIAN.

THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO HELP EVERY PERSON OR HURT EVERY PERSON IN THIS STATE IF WE DON'T GET THE RIGHT ONE.

I LIKE THEM ALL.

I THINK ANY OF THEM WOULD BE GOOD.

BUT I'M NOT THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO PICK THEM.

I'M GOING TO VOTE.

I'M NOT TELL YOU WHO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE NEED TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK ON THESE CANDIDATES AND PICK OUT THE BEST ONE THAT CAN HELP THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.

>> WE WILL HAVE ALL CANDIDATES HERE ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THAT YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING TIME TO COME ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT RIGHT HERE ON APT FOR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.