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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

IT WAS A SPECIAL DAY IN THE CAPITAL CITY AS THE ALABAMA HUMANITIES ALLIANCE HELD ITS ANNUAL COLLOQUY TO HONOR ALABAMIANS WHO HAVE GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE HUMANITIES.

THIS YEAR'S HONOREES WERE BRYAN STEPHENSON, FOUNDER OF THE EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE, AND THE LATE JOHN LEWIS, THE TROY NATIVE WHO BECAME A CIVIL RIGHTS ICON AND LONGTIME CONGRESSMAN.

MEMBERS OF LEWIS' FAMILY ACCEPTED THE HONOR ON HIS BEHALF.

STEPHENSON PARTICIPATED IN AN ONSTAGE INTERVIEW ABOUT HIS LIFE AND THE MOTIVATION BEHIND EJI.

>> I'M REALLY HONORED BY THIS AND I HAVE TO SAY HOW MOVED I WAS BY THAT BEAUTIFUL POEM, MS. JONES.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE KIND, INCREDIBLE WORDS AND FOR YOUR BRILLIANT MIND.

[ APPLAUSE ] IT MEANS THE WORLD BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE HUMANITIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, HOW WE THINK OF THESE ISSUES.

IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT WITHOUT ALL ACCESS TO THE HUMANITIES.

I FEEL LIKE I'M THE PRODUCT OF A GENERATION OF PEOPLE.

I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEOPLE WHO DID SO MUCH MORE WITH SO MUCH LESS AND THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED ME TO THINK MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE A GENERATION AGO WHO WOULD PUT ON THEIR SUNDAY BEST AND GO PLACES TO PROTEST AND FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS, AND THEY KNEW WHEN THEY GOT THERE THEY WOULD BE ON THEIR KNEES PRAYING AND THEY WERE GOING TO GET BATTERED, BEATEN AND BLOODIED AND THE COURAGE AND CONVICTION INSPIRES ME AND MAKES THE RECOGNITION SO PRECIOUS AND WONDERFUL.

I'M DEEPLY HONORED BY THIS.

>>THE SECOND HALF OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS TOMORROW.

LAWMAKERS HAVE TAKEN AN AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE SO FAR AND DON'T APPEAR TO BE SLOWING DOWN.

THEY'LL MEET FOR THE 16TH, 17TH AND 18 DAYS THIS WEEK OF THE 30-DAY SESSION.

DOZENS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE ALSO SCHEDULED.

THE HOUSE WILL BEGIN TAKING UP THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND BUDGET, FIRST IN COMMITTEE AND THEN ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER RECORD SETTING EDUCATION BUDGET.

THE PROPOSAL GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SENT OVER LAST MONTH SET EDUCATION SPENDING AT $8.3 BILLION.

THAT'S MORE THAN $627 MILLION MORE THAN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON SAID IT'S INCUMBENT ON LAWMAKERS TO USE THE PLUSH REVENUE TO PAY OFF DEBT AND SAVE FOR A RAINY DAY.

>> I KNOW WE WILL BE WORKING ON THE EDUCATION BUDGET AND WE HAVE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET DOWN FROM THE SENATE.

THE GENERAL FUND COMMITTEE WILL START TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO THE SENATE BILL AND START WORKING ON THAT.

LIKE I SAID, THE EDUCATION BUDGET IS MOVING AT A GOOD PACE AND WE FEEL WE WILL BE ADDRESSING IT PRETTY SOON.

>> THE SENATE COULD SEE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THIS WEEK.

THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PLANS TO TAKE UP REPRESENTATIVE SHANE STRINGER'S CONCEALED CARRY BILL.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED SAID LAWMAKERS ARE HEARING LOTS OF FEEDBACK ON THE GUN BILLS.

>> AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

THAT WORK IS ONGOING WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF SENATE MEMBERS THAT HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT FOLKS INTERESTED AND CERTAIN SECOND AMENDMENT GROUPS.

I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE FROM THE SENATE IS WE ARE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF SUPPORT AND STRENGTH FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

AT THE SAME TIME IN ANALYZING THE LEGISLATION COMING FROM THE HOUSE THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT ELEMENTS, AND YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A GOOD DEBATE ON THAT I'M CONFIDENT.

I EXPECT AS THAT -- I ASSIGNED THAT TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

SO THOSE ATTORNEYS AND OTHERS THAT ARE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE WILL BE DOING A DEEP DIVE AND LOOKING AT THE ISSUES OF THAT PARTICULAR LEGISLATION.

>>> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER SENATOR DEL MARSH SCHOOL CHOICE BILL WILL SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY THIS SESSION.

HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP SENT THE BILL TO A SPECIAL COMMITTEE CHARGED WITH ANALYZING THE ISSUE.

SOMETIMES THAT'S HOW LEGISLATION DIES IN THE STATEHOUSE.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CLAY SCOFIELD SAID THAT WASN'T THE INTENT, BUT THAT THERE ARE OTHER EDUCATION REFORMS WORTH LOOKING AS WELL.

>> HE IS GOING TO ADD READING TO THAT.

HE HAS SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS TO ADDRESS THE EXISTING SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDER PERFORMING.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT BILL THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN WORKING ON GETTING ASSISTANCE IN CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS THAT NEED THOSE.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE BILLS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, THIS YEAR THAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO HELP US BEGIN TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.

THOSE, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THOSE.

SO, THIS COMMISSION IS NOT JUST FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

IT'S TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND WE ARE OPEN TO LOOK AT ANYTHING.

>> TURNING TO POLITICS -- DOTHAN BUSINESSMAN JEFF COLEMAN IS TRYING TO KEEP HIS CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS ALIVE AFTER A FEDERAL COURT RULED HE CANNOT APPEAR ON THE BALLOT.

COLEMAN QUALIFIED AFTER THE JANUARY 28TH DEADLINE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DELAYED BY THE SAME COURT.

BUT THE SUPREME COURT LATER BLOCKED THAT ORDER.

>> ON FRIDAY, THE COURT DECLINED TO CLARIFY AND CLAIMED WE WEREN'T PARTY TO THE CASE.

WELL, THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTY TO THE CASE, ATTORNEY GENERAL MARSHALL AND SECRETARY OF STATE MERRILL.

THAT'S WHY TODAY I'M ASKING SECRETARY MERRILL AND GENERAL MARSHALL TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE.

TO STAND UP TO POLITICAL CRONYISM AND ASK THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT TO CLARIFY THIS MATTER.

SO VOTERS HAVE A REAL CHOICE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

>>SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE PANDEMIC FRONT.

COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS IN ALABAMA ARE DOWN BELOW 700 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO MONTHS.

JUST 695 ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH THE VIRUS.

THAT'S DOWN FROM ALMOST 3,000 ON JANUARY 25th.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS JUST 6.3%, DOWN FROM MORE THAN 10% LAST WEEK AND MORE THAN 60% IN JANUARY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

♪ >> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY DR. JOE MORTON, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BUSINESS EDUCATION ALLIANCE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

>> CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE BUSINESS EDUCATION ALLIANCE, THE ORGANIZATION AND WHAT IT DOES?

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.

WE ARE ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD, A 501 (C) 3 FOUNDATION.

WE WERE FORMED WITH ONE CONCEPT IN MIND AND THAT IS TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUES THAT PLAGUE PUBLIC EDUCATION, FORGE SOME SOLUTIONS, RESEARCH BASED AND SHARE THOSE WITH POLICYMAKERS AROUND THE STATE, IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, LEGISLATURE T BACKED WITH MAYORS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

ANYONE THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IMPROVING EDUCATION IN ALABAMA THAT WOULD LEAD TO AN IMPROVED WORKFORCE FOR OUR STATE.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE A NEW REPORT OUT TODAY.

IT IS PRETTY LENGTHY.

IT LOOKS PRETTY LONG.

>> YEAH.

>> I WONDER IF YOU CAN HIT THE HIGH POINTS OF WHAT THE REPORT SHOWS.

>> IT IS CALLED "FORGING ALABAMA'S FUTURE."

BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW -- AND I HOPE WE DID A GOOD JOB OF DOING THAT -- IS THAT THE FUTURE OF ALABAMA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE.

SO, IF PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS STRUGGLES IN READING OR STRUGGLES IN MATH, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE STRUGGLES IN LANDING THE RIGHT KIND OF INDUSTRIES OR EXPANSION OF INDUSTRIES IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY WANT THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF WORKER THEY CAN GET.

THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE SOMEONE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND MOST LIKELY A TWO OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE.

THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS.

BUT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MORE EDUCATION.

WORKS WITH THE ALABAMA WORKFORCE COUNCIL, THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED BY 2025, WE NEED 500,000 OF THESE NEW CREDENTIALED PEOPLE.

IF WE DON'T MAKE SOME PROGRESS QUICKLY, WE'RE GOING TO COME SHORT OF THAT GOAL.

>> YOU MENTIONED MATH AND READING.

WE HAVE STRUGGLED IN THOSE AREAS, LAST AND NEXT TO LAST ON THE LAST NATION'S REPORT CARD.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT WAY.

I REMEMBER BACK WHEN YOU WERE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, ALABAMA WAS DOING PRETTY WELL IN THE HIGH 30s, IN FACT, NATIONAL AVERAGE IN SOME OF THE TEST SCORES.

WHAT HAPPENED?

HOW DID WE SLIDE BACK SO FAR?

>> WELL, I LIKEN IT TO THE BEST IN THE WORLD AT WHAT THEY DO.

IF YOU ARE A SPORTS PERSON, YOU HAVE COACHES.

IF YOU ARE A TEACHER, YOU COULD ALSO BENEFIT FROM A COACH.

THE BEST NFL TOM BRADY, HE HAS A COACH, A QUARTERBACK COACH.

YOU SAY WHY WOULD THE BEST IN THE WORLD NEED A COACH?

BECAUSE IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO KIND OF CHANGE YOUR WAYS, TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE.

TEACHERS ARE NO DIFFERENT.

IT IS NOT A CRITICISM OF TEACHERS BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN COME IN AND HELP YOU STAY POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SERVE EVERY CHILD, YOU COULD HAVE SOME SLIPPAGE.

THAT'S -- WE WENT THROUGH A PERIOD WHERE THERE WAS A DE-EMPHASIS ON ACADEMIC READING COACHES.

NOW, WITH THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT, THERE'S A RE-EMPHASIS ON THAT.

THAT'S THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

OUR REPORT POINTS TO THAT.

IF WE CAN GET BACK TO BEING FOCUSED ON THAT AND DEVELOP EQUALLY ALONG WITH THAT A REAL STRONG GAME PLAN IN MATH, WE CAN GET BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

BUT WE NEED THOSE TWO WORKING TOGETHER.

WE REALLY NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

WE NEED A STRONG GAME PLAN IN MATH.

>> WHEN YOU TALK TO BUSINESS LEADERS, DO YOU GET A SENSE THEY UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM?

IS THERE A SENSE OF URGENCY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ABOUT REALLY INVESTING AND GETTING THESE EDUCATION PROBLEMS FIXED?

>> THERE REALLY IS.

YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY, BUSINESS DIDN'T GET INVOLVED IN EDUCATION MATTERS TOO MUCH.

BUT BUSINESS REALIZED -- AND HOW WE GOT FORMED, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTED US TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND POINT OUT TO THEM AND THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND HOW CAN WE FIX IT?

BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THEIR ECONOMIC VIABILITY GOING FORWARD IS DEPENDENT ON THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

SO, WE MAKE AIRPLANES IN ALABAMA, ROCKETS IN ALABAMA, AUTOMOBILES IN ALABAMA.

ALL OF THOSE REQUIRE ADVANCED EDUCATION.

YOU CAN'T DO THOSE WITH A SHOVEL AND A PICK ANYMORE.

THAT'S THE NEW ECONOMY.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET MORE REFINED GOING FORWARD.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MORE EDUCATION, NOT LESS.

SO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY REALIZES THIS AND I THINK EDUCATORS REALIZE IT.

IT IS JUST NOT AN EASY LOAD TO CARRY BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PRESSURE ON IT, FOR SURE, BUT THE END RESULT MEANS ALABAMA WILL BE BETTER OFF.

THE FIRST REPORT WE EVER DID WAS CALLED OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT WAS IN 2014.

WE SAID IF WE COULD GET TOT A 90% GRADUATION RATE AND SUSTAIN THAT, WE HAD AN THAT DID A STUDY AND IT SAID THE COFFERS WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO CARRY STATE EDUCATION.

IN ALABAMA WE HAVE 90% GRADUATION RATE AND A BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS IN THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

SO, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY.

IT'S PUTTING THAT MONEY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO WORK FOR OUR CITIZENS.

WE HAVE TO FUND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE MOST CRITICAL.

ENHANCING CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE STATE, DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS WITH THE TWO-YEAR COLLEGE SYSTEM, GETTING KIDS RAIDING ON THIRD GRADE LEVEL, DOING MATH ON GRADE LEVEL.

WE ARE FALLING BEHIND IN SOME OF THOSE.

WE ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN SOME.

ALL OF THOSE HAVE TO HIT ON ALL CYLINDERS FOR US TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

>> REAL QUICK, WHILE I'VE GOT YOU, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN THE LEGISLATURE IS HOW LONG TO DELAY THE LITERACY ACT RETENTION PROJECT, HOLDING BACK A THIRD GRADER WHO CANNOT READ PROFICIENTLY, NOT ADVANCING TO FOURTH GRADE.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

HOW IMPORTANT IS ACCOUNTABILITY IN IMPLEMENTING IT SOON?

>> WELL, WELL WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS TO STUDENTS THAT CANNOT READ ON THIRD GRADE LEVEL IN THIRD GRADE.

AND THEY GET PROMOTED TO FOURTH OR FIFTH AND THEY KEEP GETTING PROMOTED.

WE KNOW THOSE STUDENTS STRUGGLE THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

WE HAVE ALREADY NOW, AN AGREED UPON ONE-YEAR DELAY.

THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED THAT IN HER STATE OF THE STATE.

OUR REPORT SUPPORTS A ONE-YEAR DELAY.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT FROM PSYCHOMETRIC POINT OF VIEW WHERE THE TEST ANALYSTS SAID WE NEED THAT SO WE WILL HAVE ALL OF THE DATA.

WE DO NOT AGREE WE NEED A TWO-YEAR DELAY.

IT'S TOO IMPORTANT TO DELAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO YOU SAY, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN CATCH THOSE FOURTH GRADERS UP AT A LATER TIME.

THE LONGER THEY ARE NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL AND THE HIGHER THE GRADE IS, THE HARDER IT IS TO CATCH THEM UP AND MOST DON'T GET CAUGHT UP.

SO IT'S REALLY A DISSERVICE TO THEM.

NOW, IT'S NOT RETENTION OR PROMOTION EXCLUSIVELY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS EMBEDDED IN THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT THAT CALL FOR AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMMINGS AND FOLLOWING THE MISSISSIPPI MODEL -- THEY DID IT.

MISSISSIPPI DID IT.

WE HAVE YET TO DO IT.

THEY DID IT AND DID NOT RETAIN THAT MANY STUDENTS AND THE ONES THEY DID BENEFITED BY THE RETENTION.

SO, IT'S NOT PUNITIVE.

IT IS ACTUALLY PRO-STUDENT BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A BETTER CHANCE TO SUCCEED IN THE ONGOING GRADES.

>> CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO WATCH AS THE LEGISLATURE MOVES FORWARD.

>> IT'S CRITICAL ISSUE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE.

>> DR. MORTON, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> 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.

♪ >>> THE 1961 FREEDOM RIOTS WERE A PROTEST AGAINST SEGREGATION ON INTERSTATE BUS AND TERMINALS IN THE AMERICA SOUTH.

THEY BEGAN MAY 4th AND CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

THE FREEDOM RIDERS, SMALL, RACIALLY INTEGRATED TEAMS WERE MET WITH VIOLENCE IN A NUMBER OF STATES AND THEY ENCOUNTERED SOME OF THE WORST VIOLENCE IN ALABAMA.

IN ANNISTON, A BUS WAS ATTACKED BY A WHITE MOB AND FIRE BOMB.

IN BIRMINGHAM, RIDERS WERE BEATEN BADLY.

IN MONTGOMERY, POLICE STOOD IDLE AS A MOB OF MORE THAN 200 GATHERED OUTSIDE OF THE BUS TERMINAL AND ATTACKED THE RIOTERS, REPORTER AND OTHERS.

FEDERAL MARSHALLS WERE SENT TO RESTORE ORDER.

FOUR DAYS LATER, THE FREEDOM RIDERS DEPARTED FOR JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, ESCORTED BY THE NATIONAL GUARD.

THE DIRECT ACTION LED TO A 1916ED OFFER BY THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION PROHIBITING SEGREGATION IN BUS TRANSPORTATION AND STATIONS NATIONWIDE.

>>> NEXT, I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT AND KAREN GOLDSMITH FOR A PANEL DISCUSSION ON ALABAMA POLITICS.

FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME AT THE TABLE.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> WE STARTED THE DAY AT THE ALABAMA HUMANITIES ALLIANCE LUNCHEON AND ENDING THE DAY AT THE DESK.

IT JUST FEELS RIGHT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE ARE HERE AT THE HALF WAY POINT.

KAREN, I'LL START WITH YOU.

HAS ANYTHING SURPRISED YOU UP TO THIS POINT IN THE SESSION?

>> YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

I'M IN SHOCK ON DAY 15, THE SENATE PASSED THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

IT'S NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE HOUSE.

I KNOW WE ARE GOING TALK ABOUT WHAT THE HOUSE IS PLANNING TO DO WITH THE OTHER BUDGET BUT THIS IS INCREDIBLY SURPRISING TO ME THAT SO EARLY AND SENATOR REED SAID AT THE START OF THE SESSION, ON JANUARY 13th, THAT WE WERE GOING TO START TO WORK ON THE BUDGETS EARLY AND THEY HAVE KEPT THAT COMMITMENT.

YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACT WE TALKED ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP DURING THEM ARPA DISCUSSIONS.

THAT HAS CARRIED OVER TO A FEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION, INCLUDING THE BUDGET.

IN COMMITTEE, SENATOR SINGLETON, A DEMOCRAT WANTED TO HAVE THE FOOD BANK IN WEST ALABAMA FUNDED $30,000 LIKE THE OTHER REGIONAL FOOD BANKS.

HE GOT IT.

THERE WERE OTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FACT THAT MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS AT THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AREN'T BEING PAID AT A LEVEL THAT IS EQUITABLE TO WHAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE PAID.

THERE WAS SOME AGREEMENT ON THAT EVEN THOUGH IT CANNOT BE FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET THEY AGREED THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE THEM ON THE SAME LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND RODGER SMITHERMAN SAID THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET CHAIRMAN, HE THANKED HIM FOR INCLUDING HIM AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION, EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT ON THE COMMITTEE THAT SETS THE BUDGET BUT HE SAID HE WAS INCLUDED.

SO, WE ARE SEEING A SPIRIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP AT THIS POINT CONTINUE TO CARRY FORWARD.

VERY EXCITING TO SEE.

>> RANDY, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE HOUSE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SESSION, AND EVEN THIS WEEK?

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE HOUSE TO TAKE UP?

>> PERHAPS THE BIGGEST chore for the house will be the education trust fund budget.

That's what the legislature is there for.

General fund budget is on the way and now the education trust fund budget.

Lawmakers are looking forward to tackling the big spending plan for the state schools and they are supporting arms and legs to try to make sure everything is taken care of.

To what Karen said, there's been a lot of bipartisanship workmanship between members of the legislature, the Senate and House.

There have been some bumps in the road.

You had some bills that shook up things.

The gun permit bill, the transgender bills and also the riot bills but they still have stuck with their focus of making sure the education budget, which is up now, general fund budget which is on the way is taken care of and everyone is working on them to make sure every request is answered from every corner of the state to make sure things are taken care of.

They know it is important to take care of this, especially during an election season.

>> That's right.

It is an election year.

A lot of money going around.

We talked about ARPA a few weeks ago, all the federal money, but this is a lot of state money.

In the education budget you talked about, at least the governor proposed $8.3 billion.

We have never been above $8 billion before.

I mean, is this a matter of saving some, spending what they can?

What are they talking about in terms of the education budget?

>> Smart, managing how the money is taken in, where it comes from, making sure the lines flowing in to fund it are not clogged in any way and helping members.

This is the most important thing, talking to members, hearing what they have to say, making sure allocations are put in a very good clean cut way and making sure everybody has a say in which, which they know is pertinent because these are the two budgets.

That's what they are here for.

They have to take care of those.

Even if there is an uptick in the amount of money that's coming in, I know lawmakers are saying we are blessed to have this coming in.

We have to be smart with it.

It is here and good today but you never know what tomorrow will bring.

>> Karen, what's going to happen next in the Senate?

>> A lot.

>> To say the least.

>> To say the least.

Speaking of this unusual nature we are in, so tomorrow, which is Tuesday, typically meeting days, sometimes the governmental affairs and Senate committee will meet and they will meet tomorrow.

They have a bill on the agenda.

Senator figures has a bill that deals with electronic meetings as it relates to the open meetings act.

Senator Orr has a bill that will limit the powers of the state Health Officer.

That normally happens but also tomorrow, unusual, the finance and taxation education committee will meet.

They will take up representative Collins literacy act, which we discussed extensively.

They will also deal with another education bill, which we talked to senator Orr about and the Senate judiciary committee will meet on Wednesday.

Their agenda has changed a little bit.

I don't know what it will be finally but they will deal with the house version of the permitless carry bill which is more detailed than we have seen in the Senate and what I understand from senator reed there are several questions about that piece of legislation.

So we have some pretty heavy hitting legislation coming through the Senate this week.

I don't know what will be on the floor but we are ready to work.

>> Controversy -- ready to take up controversial bills.

They are moving at an aggressive pace.

Three day weeks.

Normally, they meet on Tuesday and Thursday with a committee meeting that between.

Pretty aggressive schedule.

Do you expect them to keep moving at this pace until the end?

>> We have that little thing called a special session they got to in an expedient matter.

It didn't slow things down too bad.

As I said a can second ago, a lot of folks want to wrap it up as soon as possible because they are still campaigning.

They are going to try to get through the meat of what they have to take care of, but at the same time they are doing it at warp speed, lightning speed, "Star Trek," "Battlestar Galactica" speed trying to get things done.

And they are doing it with cooperation between both aisles trying to make sure things are taken care of.

We hope it lasts.

>> Karen, will we go all 30 days?

>> No.

>> A lot of people -- wishful thinking.

>> I had a conversation with someone and the only constitutionally required to pass a budget.

They are doing it quickly.

Some of the major pieces of legislation that got out of the way pretty quickly.

There's a real possibility and they have been aggressive with the three-day weeks, which I heard they will do through the end of the month, so this week could wrap that up.

I haven't heard when spring break will be.

I'll look for that to happen.

I could see them not going the full 30 because the way they have been so aggressive with the major pieces of legislation they wanted to deal with.

>> Always the timing issue down the stretch.

And they always like to wait ten days between final adjournment to prevent the governor from final vetoes.

The timing is always interesting.

We're out of time but I appreciate are it.

We will have another panel discussion sometime soon.

>> Sounds good.

>> Looking forward to at this time.

That's our show for tonight.

Join us tomorrow night for more legislative coverage.

For Randy, Karen and our "Capitol Journal" team, I'm Todd Stacy.