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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THERE'S BREAKING NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS GRANTED A STAY IN THE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING CASE AT THE REQUEST OF ALABAMA ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL.

THAT MEANS THE RULING FROM A LOWER COURT ORDERING THE LEGISLATURE TO REDRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WILL BE PUT ON HOLD AS THE COURT CONSIDERS THE FULL CASE.

THE JUSTICES MADE THE RULING, IN PART, BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION SCHEDULE.

CANDIDATE QUALIFYING ENDED TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS IN MAY.

ALABAMA CAN PROCEED WITH ITS CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS UNDER THE DISTRICT MAPS APPROVED LAST YEAR BY THE LEGISLATURE.

REMEMBER THAT LAST MONTH, A THREE-JUDGE PANEL FROM THE 11TH CIRCUIT RULED THAT ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL MAP LIKELY VIOLATED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

AND JUST TODAY, THAT SAME PANEL APPOINTED A SPECIAL MASTER TO REDRAW THE DISTRICTS WITH A PROFESSIONAL CARTOGRAPHER.

STATE SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON, WHO HELPED BRING THE LAWSUIT, SAID HE HAD SEEN THAT PROCESS OF MAP DRAWING WORK OUT IN THE PAST.

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>> I'VE BEEN A PART OF A PARTY WITH SPECIAL MAGISTRATE HAS DRAWN MAPS AND BECAUSE THEY ARE INDEPENDENT PARTIES, HAVE YOU TO TRUST THAT THEY DO THE RIGHT THING AND NOT WHETHER SOMEBODY IS DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, TOTALLY INDEPENDENT AND BASED ON WHAT THE JUDGES LAID OUT ON THE DECREE TRYING TO DRAW A MAP ON THAT.

AND WE HOPE WE GET A GOOD STRONG REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL SEE THAT AND DRAW A GOOD MAP.

>> BUT THAT REDRAWING WON'T HAPPEN, AT LEAST NOT FOR NOW.

THE JUSTICES INDICATED THAT THEY WON'T RULE ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE UNTIL THE COURT IS BRIEFED OR HOLDS ORAL ARGUMENTS.

AND JUST FOR CONTEXT HERE, LET'S LOOK AT THE MAPS.

ON YOUR LEFT IS THE MAP OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AS DRAWN BY THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR.

ON RIGHT IS A DISTRICT MAP AS PROPOSED BY PLAINTIFFS IN THE LAWSUIT.

THEY ARGUED THAT THE CURRENT SEVENTH DISTRICT PACKS IN TOO MANY BLACK VOTERS AND THAT ANOTHER DISTRICT WITH SIGNIFICANT BLACK POPULATION IS POSSIBLE.

REPUBLICANS ARGUED THAT THE MAP AS PASSED HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES WITH NO PROBLEMS AND THAT THE PROPOSED MAP WOULD UNFAIRLY SPLIT VOTERS BY RACE.

THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WE'LL KEEP FOLLOWING ON CAPITOL JOURNAL.

SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE PANDEMIC FRONT.

AFTER WEEKS OF THE OMICRON VARIANT SWEEPING THE STATE, ALABAMA'S COVID-19 SITUATION APPEARS TO BE IMPROVING.

THE LATEST DATA FROM THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SHOWS 2,288 PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.

THAT'S DOWN MORE THAN 680 HOSPITALIZATIONS IN JUST TWO WEEKS.

DR. SCOTT HARRIS SAID THE STATE APPEARS TO BE ON THE DOWNSLOPE.

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>> ALL ALONG, WE'VE KIND OF OBSERVED WHEN WE SEE BIG CASE NUMBERS, IT TAKES A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO REALLY SEE IT REFLECTED IN THE HOSPITAL NUMBERS.

SOMETIMES TASE WEEK OR SO LATER TO SEE IT REFLECTED IN THE DEATH NUMBERS.

OUR CASE COUNTS IN ALABAMA HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN THE LAST WEEK, 10 DAYS OR SO OR TRENDING THAT WAY.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IT REFLECTED IN THE.

HO NUMBERS.

WE'RE STILL AHEAD WHERE WE WERE FROM JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

>> THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION RESUMES TOMORROW AND ONE ISSUE CROPPING UP AGAIN THIS YEAR IS ELIMINATING THE STATE'S SALES TAX ON GROCERIES.

THE IDEA HAS BEEN DEBATED IN THE STATE HOUSE FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, WITH THE BIGGEST QUESTION BEING WHETHER AND HOW TO REPLACE THE MORE THAN $500 MILLION IN REVENUE LOSS TO THE EDUCATION BUDGET.

A NEW PLAN THIS YEAR WOULD LET VOTERS DECIDE.

REP. MIKE HOLMES, R-WETUMPKA, IS SPONSORING TWO RELATED PROPOSALS.

ONE THAT WOULD ELIMINATE STATE SALES TAX ON FOOD, PERIOD WITH NO REVENUE REPLACEMENT; AND ANOTHER, THAT WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO DECIDE ON A WAY TO MAKE UP THAT REVENUE THROUGH LIMITING TAX DEDUCTIONS.

THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL THAT IS THE TALK OF THE STATE HOUSE COULD SEE SOME CHANGES THIS WEEK.

LAWMAKERS MIGHT TRY A PHASED IN APPROACH TO LESSEN THE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLOTTE MEADOWS OF MONTGOMERY PRE VIEWED THE CHANGES.

>> THE BIGGEST ONE IS THAT BY TRANSITION OVER A PERIOD OF TIME SO ALL STUDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE THE FIRST YEAR.

MAYBE WE'LL START WITH KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE AND SECOND GRADE AND MOVE UP FROM THERE.

YOU KNOW AS THE SAUSAGE GETS MADE, THE BILL INTRODUCED LAST WEEK IS NOT WHAT'S GOING TO BE PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

SO, WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THERE MAY BE MORE TWEAKS AND CHANGES AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY WITH THE CHANGES.

>> MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH MEADOWS WHEN WE COME BACK.

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>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHIEF METEOROLOGIST -- CHARLOTTE MEADOWS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND THERE'S ONE THAT YOU ARE SPONSORING COSPONSORING WITH SENATOR DEL MARCH AND TAKING A PORTION OF THE STATE TAX DOLLARS AND COULD BE A DIFFERENT PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL OR HOMESCHOOL.

WHY IS THIS CONCEPT NECESSARY HERE IN ALABAMA?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS THAT WE HAVE, WITH THE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THEY ARE NOT WHAT ANY OF US WANT.

AND UNTIL WE CAN, I WOULD SAY, UPSET THE APPLE CART, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THREE YEARS AND INVOLVED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR 15.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS PUT IN THE SCHOOL GRADE BILL.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS IMPLEMENTED THE LITERACY ACT AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, TEAM'S PROGRAMS WHERE WE PAY TEACHERS MORE TO BE IN THE SYSTEM, SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MATH PROGRAMS.

WE'RE NOT GETTING RESULTS YET.

BUT MY POSITION, THE PARENT, THE PERSON MOST INFORMED ABOUT THEIR CHILD AND WHAT THEIR CHILD NEEDS.

I'VE SAID FOR DECADES, AND I DID IT MYSELF, IF A PARENT CAN MAKE A DECISION EVERY YEAR BASED ON THEIR CHILD'S NEEDS TO DO WHATEVER THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THE CHILD.

EVERY YEAR, EACH CHILD.

THAT'S THE BEST THING FOR THE CHILD IS.

AND THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS.

THAT'S WHY I AM HELPING TO SUPPORT THE PARENTS CHOICE BILL AND HELPING SENATOR DEL MARSH AND BRING IT TO PASS.

>> NOW, IT WAS IN COMMITTEE BUT BEFORE IT MADE IT TO THE FLOOR, THERE WERE LOTS OF DEBATES.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT WEAR HEAR.

>> A COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ADDED AND ONE PERTAINING TO STATE ASSESSMENTS OR TESTING.

ONE CHANGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IS MAKE SURE THAT THE OTHER STUDENTS DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE STATE ASSESSMENT BUT WHATEVER THEIR SCHOOL IS USING.

PRIVATE SCHOOL, THEY DO ALL TYPE OF DIFFERENT NATION NATIONAL NORM REFERENCE.

AND WE ADD THAT, MAKES THE ACCOUNTABILITY PEOPLE HAPPY.

AND MAKE SURE SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS OPPOSED TO JUST THE STATE TEST HAPPY.

AND WE'RE TAKING OFF THE REFERENCE TO HOME SCHOOLING.

THE HOMESCHOOLERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING FORCED DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTERVENTION OVER THEIR CURRICULUMS OR PROGRAM, THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO WE TAKE OUT THE REFERENCE TO HOME SCHOOLING.

THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE BIGGEST COMPONENTS OF THE CHANGES.

OH, THE BIGGEST ONE, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION THE PROGRAM OVER A PERIOD OF TIME SO ALL STUDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

WE'LL START WITH KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADE AND MOVE UP FROM THERE.

AND YOU KNOW AS THE SAUSAGE GETS MADE, THE BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED LAST WEEK WAS NOT WHAT IS PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE'RE EXPECTING THERE COULD BE MORE TWEAKS, CHANGES AND ALL WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THE MOST PEOPLE HAPPY TO GET THE PILL PASSED.

I DO THINK THIS IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME FOR ALABAMA TO REALIZE, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AS LEADERS IN THE STATE, IF WE CONTINUE TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'RE GETTING AND OUR RESULTS ARE FINE WITH US.

THEN, THERE'S NO REASON TO DO ANYTHING.

BUT IF WE AREN'T HAPPY WITH WHAT THE RESULTS ARE, THEN IT'S TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE AND DO SOMETHING SOMEWHAT RADICAL.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, TAKING HOME SCHOOLING OUT, SO PEOPLE NO LONGER USE THE ACCOUNT TO APPLY TO A HOMESCHOOL SITUATION.

>> NEW FAMILIES CAN TAKE IT AND DO HOWEVER THEY WANT TO.

THE CURRENT HOME SCHOOLING FAMILIES ARE NOT REALLY GOING TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM.

>> I SEE.

WHAT ABOUT INCOME THRESHOLD?

I TALKED TO SENATOR MARSH THE DAY HE INTRODUCED THE BILL.

THERE'S KIND OF A PHILOSOPHICAL THING WHERE IT'S, OKAY, ALL TAX DOLLARS, WHETHER YOU ARE RICH OR POOR, AND ALSO, THOUGH, THERE'S A PRACTICAL SIDE OF THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK, WELL, MAYBE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMEBODY, SAY, A WEALTHY FAMILY TAKING THEIR TAX DOLLARS AS OPPOSED TO A POOR FAMILY.

IS THERE A TALK OF ANY INCOME THRESHOLD.

>> THAT MAY COME UP WITH POSSIBILITY OF AMENDMENT OR SUB SHOOT DOWN THE ROAD.

AND WE HAD IT IN THE FIRST BILL INITIALLY SO WE SLOWLY GET TO THE POINT WHERE EVERYBODY COULD PARTICIPATE AND THE ORIGINAL BILL HAD 200% INCOME THRESHOLD.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT, EVEN WEALTHY PARENTS PUT DOLLARS INTO THE SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT TAKING ALL OF THE TAX DOLLARS, IT'S TAKING A PORTION.

IT REALLY LEAVES BEHIND ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER STUDENT.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN.

AND IF WE HAVE TO DO THAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

BUT REALLY IT'S ABOUT, WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH MONEY AWAY FROM THE E.T.F.

BECAUSE WE STANDARD STAND THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BUT THIS YEAR, IN MORE THAN ANY OTHER YEAR IN RECENT PAST, PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GETTING SO MUCH MONEY FROM THE CARES ACT.

$1.2 BILLION IN SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS THAT ARE COMING AND THERE'S EXTRA MONEY, THE E.T.F.

IN GENERAL IS BIGGER THAN ANY TIME IN THE PAST.

SO, IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I BELIEVE THE TIME IS NOW.

THE IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO GIVE PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT FOR THEIR CHILD.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU MAY HEAR FROM OPPONENTS OF THIS BILL, YOU ALREADY HAVE.

$550 MILLION FROM THE E.T.F -- AND OF COURSE, IN ADVERTISING AND MESSAGING, IT'S GOING TO BE FROM KIDS, FROM SCHOOLS.

BUT THAT'S A LEGIT THING.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THEM SAYING, LOOK, ULTIMATELY EVEN THOUGH THE MONEY IS FOLLOWING THE STUDENT, YOU ARE TAKING AWAY MONEY THAT GOES TO CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> BECAUSE THOSE CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GETTING WAY MORE MONEY THAN EVER GOTTEN BEFORE FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM ALLOWING PARENTS THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE ADVANTAGE -- AND MANY OF THESE PARENTS ARE NOT HIGH INCOME.

THEY ARE MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME PARENTS.

AND I KNOW RIGHT HERE IN MONTGOMERY, A LOT OF PARENTS ARE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS TO BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR CHILD IN A SCHOOL SETTING WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

WHERE THEY KNOW, FIRST, THEIR CHILD IS SAFE AND ALSO LEARNING.

AND IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR THE PARENTS TO GET THE BENEFITS OF THE TAX DOLLARS.

SO, THE SAME THING GOES FOR PEOPLE MAKING $200,000.

IT'S A SACRIFICE FOR ANYBODY DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT YOU HAVE.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THE TAXPAYERS CAN BENEFIT FROM THEIR TAXPAYER MONEY IN USING THIS PROGRAM.

AND I THINK THAT NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE WORKING ON SUBSTITUTE AND AMENDMENTS TO TRY TO DECREASE WHAT'S CALLED THE HIT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION SO IT DOESN'T COME ALL AT ONCE AND NOT MASSIVELY.

THAT'S THE FEAR, THAT IT COMES ALL AT ONCE.

AND WE KNOW THAT'S NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE A BIG CHARTER SCHOOL ADVOCATE.

YOU LEAD THAT HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

AND THAT'S WORK GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

DO YOU EVER FEAR THIS TALK OF BIGGER SCHOOL CHOICE, MORE BROAD SCHOOL CHOICE DISTRACTS FROM THAT LONGER TERM, HARD WORK PUT IN ON CHARTER SCHOOLS?

>> I REALLY DON'T.

ETHIC THAT THE RISING TIDE FLOATS ALL BOATS.

AND IF PARENTS REALIZE THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILD.

AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE CHOICES OUT THERE.

AND EVERY SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM BUT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR EVERY STUDENT AND EVERY FAMILY.

JUST BECAUSE A SCHOOL IS EXCELLENT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR YOUR CHILD.

THINK THAT EVERY PARENT IS GOING TO BE THE BEST BAROMETER OF WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR STUDENT.

>> SENATOR ORR WAS ON THE OTHER DAY AND MADE REFERENCE TO SOMETHING YOU ELUDED TO AS WELL.

BUT THE LAST NATIONAL REPORT CARD SCORES, ALABAMA WAS DEAD LAST IN SOME CATEGORIES AND ALMOST LAST IN READING AND MATH.

IT WAS NOT ALWAYS THAT WAY.

BACK IN THE LATE 2000S, WE WERE 38TH IN THE RANKINGS.

WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW DO WE PICK THAT BALL BACK UP?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

I WAS INVOLVED IN EDUCATION CERTAINLY AS A PARENT.

BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT I AM NOW.

BUT I SAY PROBABLY A LACK OF FOCUS AND EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT THERE.

I MEAN, IF WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, THEY GENERALLY RISE TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS.

CERTAINLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING AND WE CAN'T BLAME THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ON COVID.

WE CAN'T BLAME COVID ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BUT IT HAS BEEN DEVASTATING.

AND THAT'S LED US TO AN EVEN MORE REALIZATION THAT PARENTS HAVE HAD NO SAY IN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY WOULD SHUT DOWN AND RIGHTFULLY SO, BUT THOSE PARENTS HAVE BEEN INCONVENIENCED SOMETIMES THEY HAVE HAD TO QUITE JOBS.

AND YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S THE JOB THAT YOU ARE COUNTING ON TO MAKE ENDS MEET THAT'S REALLY INCONVENIENT.

AND THIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO DO WHAT'S GOOD FOR THEIR CHILD, NOT ONLY THE THEIR CHILD BUT FOR THEIR FAMILY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MEADOWS THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> AND THE 2:00 PM FEBRUARY 16, 1968, THE VERY FIRST 911 CALL WAS MADE IN HALEYVILLE, ALABAMA.

IT WAS MADE BY RANKIN AND ANSWERED BY TOM BEVELL AT THE POLICE STATION BY A BRIGHT RED TELEPHONE GIVEN BY THE TELEPHONE COMPANY.

AND HALEYVILLE STILL STARTS WITH THEIR 911 INVOLVEMENT WITH AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

>> NOW, THE DOCUMENTARY FILM TOM BEVEL, WHO WAS A CONGRESSMAN SERVING ALABAMA IN CONGRESS FOR 30 YEARS AND WAS KNOWN FOR HIS ABILITY TO DELIVER PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS BACK TO HIS HOME STATE.

I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY SETH JOHNSON PRODUCING THE FILM FOR ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION AT JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY.

SETH, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> THANKS, I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME.

>> LET ME COMPLEMENT YOU ON THE WORK, THOSE OF US ALABAMA POLITICAL JUNKIES.

WE LOVE THIS STUFF.

LET ME START BY ASKING YOU, WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR TOM BEVEL DOCUMENTARY INITIATE?

>> WELL, THIS IS A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH APT WHERE WE PRODUCE TWO DIFFERENT DOCUMENTARIES EACH YEAR THAT HIGHLIGHT INFLUENTIAL AND IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO THE HISTORY OF ALABAMA.

THIS IS OUR FOURTH DOCUMENTARY.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO WORK ON IT.

AND WHEN WE WERE APPROACHED, APT WANTED US TO GIVE AN ENCAPSULATING STORY THAT REPRESENTED THE LIFE AND THE STORY OF TOM BEVEL.

SO, IMMEDIATELY, WE WERE TASKED WITH FINDING OUT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.

WE TRAVELED ALABAMA INTO THE ARCHIVES WHICH IS THE COLLECTION OF ALL OF THE OFFICE DOCUMENTS AND ALL OF THE RESEARCH MATERIALS FROM BEVEL'S OFFICE WAS GIVEN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

AND THEY WERE GRACIOUS TO LET US GO THROUGH EVERYTHING, AND FOUND ALL KINDS OF CONTENT AND IMAGES.

AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, AND ALL OF THEM, THE FAMILY, THEY WERE ALL PARTICIPATING AND HELPED US TO CONDENSE THE MATERIAL DOWN INTO A 50 MINUTE FILM.

WE LEARNED ALL ABOUT HIM.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I SPOKE TO MANY PEOPLE THAT HELD HIM IN SUCH HIGH REGARD.

AND TRULY, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT HE WAS TO ALABAMA AND THE HISTORY OF IT.

WHERE HIS DISTRICT WAS ABLE TO GO WITH WHAT ALL HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

IT WAS A VERY FUN PROJECT TO WORK ON.

>> MR. BEVEL WAS, HE WAS IN THE HOUSE BUT SOMETIMES WAS CALLED ALABAMA'S THIRD SENATOR BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE DELIVERED THOSE PROJECTS AND EVERYTHING.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT HOW HE DEVELOPED THAT REPUTATION AND WHERE THAT MOTIVATION CAME FROM?

>> WELL, HE HAD THIS UNCANNY ABILITY TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE TERMS I KEPT HEARING OVER AND OVER FROM DIFFERENT POLITICAL FIGURES, HIS ABILITY TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND THAT WAS ON HIS YEARS FROM THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER DEVELOPMENT AND SUBCOMMITTEE.

HE WAS ABLE TO WORK DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS AND BE ABLE TO GET DIFFERENT BUDGETS APPROVED, DIFFERENT MAJOR, MAJOR ITEMS APPROVED BY BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS PERHAPS WHERE THE TERM CAME FROM, THE ABILITY TO FORM RELATIONSHIPS AND GET THINGS DONE.

AND SO, THAT'S, YES, THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE THAT TERM CAME FROM.

>> I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS IN THE FILM THAT WERE MENTIONED.

CORRIDOR X, BECOMING INTERSTATE 22.

THAT WAS A PROJECT 40 YEARS IN THE MAKING OR MORE.

TENNESSEE TOMBIGBEE WATERWAY.

DEEPENING OF THE MOBILE HARBOR.

YOU CAN JUST GO DOWN THE LIST.

HOW WAS A FILMMAKER, AS YOURSELF, HOW DO YOU PUT ON CAMERA, FILM, THESE MASSIVE PROJECTS AND THEIR IMPACT AND EVEN FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT HOW THEY GET DONE?

>> WELL, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE ROAD.

WE WENT DOWN INTO THE TOM BEVELL LOCKING DAM AND LOOK AND SEE, GOT DIFFERENT NEWSCASTS AND NEWS FOOTAGE FROM DIFFERENT NEWS OUTLETS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT GAVE US INTERVIEWS AND NEWS REPORTS.

THERE WAS ESPECIALLY WITH THE TENNESSEE TOMBIGBEE WATERWAY, THERE WAS A LOT OF APPREHENSION, A LOT OF YEARS TO GET IT OFF THE GROUND.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT IT.

AND IN THE END, HE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH HIS VISION AND SUCCESS OF IT.

AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY TIED BACK TO HIS VISION IN FOLLOWING HIS ABILITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH.

I THINK THE BEST PART OF THAT PROJECT WAS BEING ABLE TO CAPTURE FROM THE AIR, WE TOOK A CAMERA CREW AND THESE BIG AERIAL DRONES AND FLEW, WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE MASSIVE EXPANSION OF IT AND IT WAS JUST INSPIRING, IT REALLY WAS.

>> YOU MENTIONED BIPARTISANSHIP, ABILITY TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF THAT IN WASHINGTON THESE DAYS AND I WONDERED IF YOU THOUGHT THAT SHOWED SOME KIND OF CONTRAST FROM THEM, MAYBE AN ERA OF COOPERATION TO NOW, FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS, INCLUDING YOUR STUDENTS.

>> WELL, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THAT WE INTERVIEWED FOR THE FILM.

I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE GOALS, I BELIEVE, OF THIS FILM.

MAYBE SUBCONSCIOUSLY, WE TALKED ABOUT PERHAPS POLITICIANS TODAY LOOK AT HOW HE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE IN HIS 30 YEAR TENURE AND TAKE THAT AND APPLY THAT TO TODAY AND HOW TO LEAD, HOW TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, I THINK THE LESSON LEARNED WAS THAT YOU CAN STILL HOLD TRUE YOUR VALUES BUT ALSO REPRESENTS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY.

I DON'T QUITE KNOW IF I WAS ABLE TO SUM THAT UP, FOR WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THERE, BUT I THINK -- >> WELL, TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS, IT REALLY LEAVES ALL OF US SPEECHLESS!

NOW, YOU MENTIONED THE STUDENTS AND NOT JUST IN THE CLASSROOM BUT BEING INVOLVED IN THIS FILM PROJECT AND OTHER FILM PROJECTS, HOW VALUABLE IS THAT FOR THEM, AS STUDENTS, TO BE INVOLVED IN A REAL PRODUCTION INCLUDING THIS DOCUMENTARY?

>> SO, THIS OPPORTUNITY GIVES OUR STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO WORK ON A LIVE PRODUCTION, REAL LIVE PRODUCTION WITH A PROFESSIONAL STUDIO.

AND THIS ONE PRODIGY FILMS OUT OF NASHVILLE, THEY CAME DOWN TO ALABAMA.

WE HAVE A FULL BLOWN STUDIO AND THIS PRODUCTION COMPANY IS ACTUALLY WORKING OUT OF OUR FACILITY.

IT GIVES OUR STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK ON THE SETS, GETTING LINE ITEMS ON THE RESUME, AND GETTING OPPORTUNITIES TO OPERATE CAMERAS, WORK WITH A REAL LIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHER, AND YOU KNOW, BEING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE STUDENTS, IT'S A KICK START INTO THE FILM CAREER INDUSTRY.

AND IT'S JUST VERY, VERY VALUABLE TO THEIR FUTURES.

>> ANY OTHER PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON THAT WE SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE JUST STARTED A NEW FILM ON THE HISTORY OF SCHLOSS FURNACE IN BIRMINGHAM.

AND DOING A DOCUMENTARY ON THE POARCH CREEK INDIAN TRIBE, THE ONLY FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THAT'S THE NEXT TWO DOCUMENTARIES WE'RE WORKING ON.

>> OKAY.

SOUNDS GREAT.

LOOKING FORWARD TO PHENOMENAL WORK AND TO THE FUTURE PROJECT IN YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK!

>> I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE TOM BEVILL DOCUMENTARY CAN BE VIEW ANYTIME ONLINE AT APTV.ORG.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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