>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, ALABAMA'S SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR MADE IT OFFICIAL TODAY: HE IS RETIRING.

RICHARD SHELBY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR.

THIS AFTER REPORTS LATE LAST WEEK THAT THE 86-YEAR-OLD SHELBY WOULD NOT SEEK A 7TH TERM IN THE U.S. SENATE.

IN A STATEMENT HE ISSUED TODAY, SHELBY SAID ‘FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, AND THAT HE WAS GRATEFUL TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA WHO HAVE PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

HIS STATEMENT TODAY WHEN TO SA•.

"ALTHOUGH I PLAN TO RETIRE, I AM NOT LEAVING TODAY.

I HAVE TWO GOOD YEARS REMAINING TO CONTINUE MY WORK IN WASHINGTON.

I HAVE THE VISION AND THE ENERGY TO GIVE IT MY ALL.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE HONOR YOU HAVE GIVEN ME - THE HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA IN CONGRESS FOR THE LAST 42 YEARS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT IS TO COME FOR OUR GREAT STATE AND OUR GREAT NATION.'

SENATOR SHELBY HAS BEEN A TOWERING FIGURE IN WASHINGTON.

HE SERVED FOUR TERMS IN THE U.S. HOUSE BEFORE MOVING TO THE SENATE.

HE IS A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE POWERFUL SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, WHERE HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS VICE CHAIR.

HE HAS SERVED IN THE U.S. SENATE LONGER THAN ANY OTHER ALABAMIAN.

SHELBY'S STATEMENT SAID TODAY THAT HIS SERVICE HAS BEEN THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME, AND THAT HE HAD DONE HIS BEST TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES AND FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE DAY TO DAY LIVES OF ALL AMERICANS.

THE LOSS OF HIS FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE WILL BE A BLOW TO ALABAMA.

AMONG HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HE RECENTLY HELPED DIRECT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE STATE FOR AN FBI CAMPUS AT REDSTONE ARSENAL IN HUNTSVILLE.

HE'S ALSO WIDELY CREDITED FOR THE AIR FORCE DECISION TO DESIGNATE HUNTSVILLE AS A ‘PREFERRED SITE' FOR THE U.S. SPACE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS.

AMONG THE MANY STATE OFFICIALS WHO TODAY ISSUED STATEMENTS OF PRAISE FOR SENATOR SHELBY WAS GOVERNOR KAY IVEY, WHO SAID THAT FEW PEOPLE HAVE HAD A MORE CONSEQUENTIAL IMPACT ON THE STATE, AND THAT HIS LEGACY WOULD BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS.

DON: THE STATE TODAY OPENED UP ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TO A WHOLE LOT MORE PEOPLE AND IT BEGAN MASS VACCINATIONS AT A NUMBER OF SITES AROUND ALABAMA.

THIS WAS THE SCENE AT A DRIVE-THROUGH CLINIC IN MONTGOMERY THIS AFTERNOON, ONE OF EIGHT AROUND THE STATE WHERE OFFICIALS WERE GIVING SHOTS TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY.

THE OTHER SITES ARE IN BIRMINGHAM, HUNTSVILLE, MOBILE, TUSCALOOSA, SELMA, DOTHAN AND ANNISTON.

EACH SITE IS EQUIPPED TO GIVE A THOUSAND A SHOTS A DAY.

THE EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY GROUP NOW INCLUDES THOSE 65 AND OLDER, TEACHERS AND EDUCATION EMPLOYEES, CHILD CARE WORKERS, GROCERY WORKERS, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE WORKERS, MANUFACTURING EMPLOYEES, POSTAL WORKERS, PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY.

DON: STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS SAYS OPENING UP THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE COVID SHOTS WILL BRING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THOSE WHO CAN START SIGNING UP FOR THEM TO ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF PEOPLE.

BUT IN A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL, HARRIS SAID HE'S STILL TRYING TO MANAGE THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS.

>> WE HAVE AN ELIGIBLE GROUP NOW 750,000 PEOPLE AND WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE AND WE WILL HAVE THAT NUMBER AGAIN DOUBLING OUR ELIGIBLE GROUP.

WE DOING MASS CLINIC'S I COULDN'T SAY YOU MENTIONED BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET VACCINE OUT QUICKLY.

BUT THE REAL IMPORTANT POINT NOT MISS IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANYMORE VACCINE THAN WE HAVE SO THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF OF THE MESSAGE TO PEOPLE WHO HERE NOW IT'S MY TIME IN LINE AND I'M AT THE FRONT OF THE LIST BUT IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING TO FIND VACCINATIONS.

DON: WITH THE STATE STILL DEALING WITH A LIMITED SUPPLY OF THE VACCINE, DR. HARRIS SAYS ALABAMA IS TAKING THE SHIPMENTS USUALLY SENT TO HOSPITALS AND REDIRECTING THEM TO THE MASS VACCINATION CLINICS.

BUT, HARRIS SAYS THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT HOSPITALS ARE STILL INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

>> SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL VACCINES.

WE HAVE TAKEN OUR ENTIRE PFIZER ALLOTMENT THAT'S COMING THIS WEEK AND, INSTEAD OF DISTRIBUTING THAT LIKE NORMAL, WHICH GOES TO THE HOSPITAL, WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT OR MOST OF THAT WILL BE THE PFIZER PRODUCT USED TO SUPPORT THESE CLINICS BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY THE HOSPITAL WHOSE NORMALLY GET THE PFIZER PRODUCT, WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS IN EACH ONE OF THOSE CITIES TO HELP US GET THIS PRODUCT OUT.

THAT WAY NOT ALL HOSPITALS ARE CUT OFF FOR THE WEEK.

DON: THE MASS VACCINATION CLINICS WERE DESIGNATED IN EACH OF THE STATE'S EIGHT PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS.

DON: AS THE STATE TRIES TO RAMP-UP DISTRIBUTION OF THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE, A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS IS BEING PLACED ON GETTING AFRICAN AMERICANS TO GET THE SHOTS.

IT'S A GROUP THAT HAS A HISTORY OF BEING RETICENT ABOUT VACCINATIONS, DATING BACK TO THE INFAMOUS TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY AND BEYOND.

DR. MARY MCINTYRE IS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SHE TELLS CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE A VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION.

>> WE ARE THE FOLKS THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED.

PART THE REASON WHY AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE SUCH HIGHER INCIDENCE OF DEATH AND COMPLICATION SAYS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT WE ALSO HAVE A HIGHER INCIDENT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO CHRONIC MEDICAL PROBLEMS, HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, RESPIRATORY ISSUES -- ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE A TENDENCY TO WORSEN THE COMPLICATIONS THAT OCCUR BECAUSE THIS DISEASE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALREADY AT RISK.

DON: DR. MCINTYRE SAYS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS RAMPING UP ITS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE AFRICAN AMERICAN ACCESS TO THE COVID VACCINE AND TO EDUCATE THE POPULATION ON ITS SAFETY AND EFFICACY.

SHE'LL JOIN US ON THE BROADCAST SHORTLY TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

DON: THE LEGISLATURE RETURNS TO THE STATEHOUSE TOMORROW TO KICK OFF WEEK TWO OF THE 2021 SESSION.

GETTING FINAL PASSAGE OF COVID AND ECONOMIC-RELATED PRIORITY LEGISLATION WILL TOP LAWMAKERS' AGENDAS.

THE HOUSE TOMORROW IS SET TO TAKE UP A SENTENCING REFORM BILL TIED TO OUR PRISON PROBLEMS.

THE LOWER CHAMBER ON TUESDAY IS ALSO SET TO TAKE UP ANOTHER BILL THAT WOULD SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS WHO SUFFER FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

IT'S SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON OF DAPHNE, WHO RECENTLY UNVEILED THE BILL SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS.

>> THIS BILL WILL MAKE SURE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR CO-PAY FOR COUNSELING FOR ANY HELP THEY TELL THEY GET IF DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD.

IT'S ALSO GOING TO MAKE SURE THOSE WHO RUN TO WORK CAN HAVE COVERAGE AND HELP WITH THEM.

DON: SIMPSON SAYS FOR THE OFFICERS WHO ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO WORK BECAUSE OF PTSD OR DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THE BILL WOULD HELP PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THEIR LOSS OF WAGES.

THE HOUSE GOES IN AT 1PM TOMORROW, THE SENATE AT 2PM.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP, THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DR. MARY MCINTYRE IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE STATE TEST PUBLIC HEALTH KICKED OFF A NUMBER OF MASS VACCINATION CLINICS AROUND THE STATE TODAY AS IT OPENED UP ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TO A LOT MORE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE READ AND HEARD A LOT ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS RETICENCE IN GETTING NOT ONLY THIS VACCINE BUT VACCINES IN GENERAL, AND IT'S AN AGE OLD PROBLEM THAT DATES BACK TO THE SYPHILIS STUDIES IN TUSKEGEE AND EVEN FURTHER BUT THERE'S A CONCERTED EFFORT NOW TO REACH OUT MORE TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET SHOT?

>> YES.

AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST FOR THIS EFFORT BUT ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AS FAR AS DISPARITIES RELATED TO THE INCREASED MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19.

WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE PUT IS SOME ADDITIONAL EFFORT IN REACHING OUT TO THOSE POPULATIONS.

SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE BEGINNING IN MARCH WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST CASE EVEN THEN GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE POPULATION MOST AT RISK.

BUT IN DOING THAT, WE HAVE ALSO REACHED OTHERS AS WELL.

>> I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY FIRM NUMBERS YET ON THE STATISTICS WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN ADVANTAGEOUS NATURE IS CONCERNED BUT YOU'RE COMPILING THAT AND HOPEFULLY HOPE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE; RIGHT?

>> WE HOPE HAVE TO THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

IT'S A BIT OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT MANDATORY, AS FAR AS WE'RE RECORDING THAT INFORMATION OR MAINTAINING THE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF VACCINATION.

SO IN A LOT OF CASES IT'S MISSING AND THAT INFORMATION IS NOT BEING INPUTTED.

WE'RE WORKING ON IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A REQUIREMENT OR A HARD EDIT THAT THEY CAN'T BYPASS A LOT OF THE FORMS AND THE INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE ENTER, HARD COPIES, THEY'RE NOT DONE ELECTRONICALLY.

WHEN IT'S ELECTRONIC, WE CAN MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT WHERE YOU CAN'T BYPASS IT.

BUT WHEN PEOPLE FILL OUT PAPERS AND FORMS A LOT OF TIMES THEY LEAVE INFORMATION MISSING AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE PUT IN THAT IN ORDER TO GET IT WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

SO A LOT OF TIMES IT'S CODED AS UNKNOWN OR OTHER, AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 40 PERCENT WITH THEIR VACCINES THAT ARE BEING GIVEN WITH THAT FIELD MARKED AS OTHER OR UNKNOWN.

THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE NEED TO GET IT CORRECTED IN ORDER GET MORE ACCURATE NUMBERS.

>> WELL, UNTIL WE GET THERE, THERE COULD BE SOME CONCLUSIONS WE COULD DRAW FROM OUR NEIGHBOR IN MISSISSIPPI.

I READ RECENTLY THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS MAKE UP ROUGHLY 37 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN MISSISSIPPI BUT ROUGHLY 18 PERCENT HAVE COME FORWARD TO GET THE VACCINE SO FAR.

GIVEN THAT WE ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF POPULATION AND OTHER THAN DEMOGRAPHICS WITH MISSISSIPPI HOW CONCERNING IS THAT TO YOU?

>> IT'S CONCERNING WHICH IS WHY WE STARTED WORKING EARLY WITH GROUPS WHOSE FOCUS IS ON ADDRESSING THE VACCINE AND THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT THE POPULATION HAS.

YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES IN THE PAST, SO WE HAVE MINOR THAT WE -- WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE UP FRONT.

YES, STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE AND THINGS HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE DECADES THAT MAKE PEOPLE REALLY HESITANT ABOUT TAKING A VACCINE, SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT UP FRONT.

WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE US AND PEOPLE THAT ALSO HAVE THE INFORMATION TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT IT'S SAFE THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THAT.

WE USE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND LEADERS IN ORDER TO SHOW FOLKS THAT WANT IT IS SAFE.

>> RUE REFER TO A LOT OF HISTORICAL INSTANCES WHICH HAVE LENT TO THE CURRENT CLIMATE OF MISTRUST FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHERE VACCINE AND MEDICINE IS CONCERNED BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU ALSO REFERENCE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE CALLING ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS TO STEP FORWARD TO GET A VACCINE TO BE AN EXAMPLE.

YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE.

YOU HAVE HAD BOTH SHOTS.

>> I HAVE.

I HAVE TAKEN BOTH.

MY HUSBAND IS A PHYSICIAN, AN OB/GYN.

HE HAS HAD BOTH OF HIS.

HE WORKS WITHIN THE BAPTIST HEALTH SYSTEM.

AND IN ADDITION TO NOT JUST BEING AFRICAN-AMERICAN, I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES THAT A LOFT PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO TAKE THEM BECAUSE OF MEDICAL PROMISE PART OF THE REASON AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE A HIGHER INCIDENTS DEATH AND COMPLICATION IS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HIGHER INCIDENTS OF HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE A TENDENCY TO WORSEN THE COMPLICATIONS THAT OCCUR BECAUSE OF THIS DISEASE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALREADY AT RISK.

>> WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN GETTING BOTH SHOTS A POSITIVE ONE.

>> MY EXPERIENCE WAS POSITIVE WITH THE FIRST WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OCCURRING BUT ALSO I KNEW TO EXPECT THE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS ESPECIALLY WITH THE SECOND SHOT BECAUSE WITH IT WORKING, KNOWING IT'S BOOSTING THE IMMUNE RESPONSE, YOU MAY GET A LITTLE TIRED OR A FEW ACHES AND PAINS, YOU MAY GET A A LITTLE FEVER.

BUT I TOLD PEOPLE THAT HAVING THAT A DAY OR TWO IS BETTER THAN BEING IN THE HOSPITAL FOR TWO OR THREE WEEKS OR MONTHS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS VACCINATION, SPECIFICALLY THIS ONE.

>> MAY MESSAGE IS THIS.

IT'S SAFE.

I WOULD NOT ASK MY FAMILY MEMBERS -- I WOULDN'T TAKE IT MYSELF IF I HAD ANY DUTY.

YES, THERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VACCINE, PROBABLY MORE THAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD WITH THE FLU, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SECOND SHOT.

BUT EVEN WITH THAT, THE FACT IS THAT I KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL STATISTICS AND NUMBERS OF THE PEOPLE WITH CASES.

WE TAKE UP ABOUT 19 PERCENT OF THE CASES AND CHOSE TO 40 PERCENT OF THE DEATHS.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

WE'RE DYING AT TWO TIMES THE RATE OF THE CAUSE OF THE COMPLICATIONS AND THE OTHER ISSUES.

>> TWENTY-TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE.

AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESS FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED WITH COMPLICATIONS FROM THE ILL PGH I THINK WHICH IS WHY IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

AND I HAVE HAD TO TALK TO FOLKS THAT WERE HESITANT AND EXPLAIN THAT THE VACCINE, WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, LIKE A BENEFICIAL RISK TYPE OF CALCULATION, IT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE OF A BENEFIT FROM TAKING THIS VACCINE THAN THERE IS A POTENTIAL OF RISK.

YES, PEOPLE HAVE SIDE EFFECTS.

I ACHED FOR A FEW DAYS.

I DIDN'T FEEL REALLY GOOD FOR ONE DAY, A WHOLE DAY, BUT AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

THAT'S A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN WORRYING ABOUT BEING ONE OF THOSE WHO COME DOWN TO DEATH BECAUSE OF MY AGE AND THE UNDERLYING MEDICAL ISSUES.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, ADVOCACY GROUPS HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT PROVING ACCESS TO THE VACCINE AND THE MESSAGING FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND I KNOW BETTER EFFORTS ARE UNDER WAY?

>> ENWHEN I LEAVE HERE TODAY I'M DOING PSAS DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY AT THE VULNERABLE POPULATION AND HESITANCY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH GROUPS LIKE FAITH IN ACTION AND AARP AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH AARP, THE NWACP, AND I AM DOING A NUMBER OF TOWN HALL WEBINARS WITH THEM, IN ADDITION TO THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ALABAMA CONFERENCE OF BLACK MAYORS AND OTHERS TO GET MESSAGE OUT.

>> DR. MARY MCINTYRE, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU TODAY.

>> A PLEASURE BEING GEAR AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP, ALABAMA LABOR CERTIFICATION FITZGERALD WASHINGTON IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

MR. SECRETARY A WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS RUNNING IT'S BEEN ENCOURAGING NEWS COMING OUT OF YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR A CHANGE, AFTER SO MANY DARK DAZE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN OUR JOHNLESS RATE WAS SO HIGH.

IT CONTINUES TO FALL AND I KNOW THAT MUST BE ENCOURAGING.

>> IT IS.

WE ANNOUNCED THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR DECEMBER TO BE 3799 PERCENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE STARTED DURING THE PANDEMIC IT WAS AT OUR APEX N APRIL UNEMPLOYMENT WAS OVER 13 PERCENT AND THEN IT FINISHED DOWN AND FINISHED AT 3.9 PERCENT FOR DECEMBER WAS GOOD NEWS NOT STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT THOSE STILL HURTING.

THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORKING AND HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC, BUT ARE THERE CERTAIN SECTORS THAT WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THAN OTHERS WHERE THE JOBLESS NUMBERS ARE END.

>> THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANYBODY STILL LOOKING FOR WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC.

EMPLOYERS ARE STILL LOOKING TO HIRE PEOPLE AT A RAPID PACE.

AS MENTIONED BEFORE ON OUR SHOW, THIS SHOW, WE MANAGED 53 FACILITIES IN THE STATE AND ARE IN CONTACT WITH EMPLOYERS AND ANYBODY LOOKING TO MOVE UP IN ANOTHER TRADE, WE CAN DO AN ASSESSMENT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE YOU INTO NOT ONLY A JOB BUT A CAREER.

>> SKILLED JOBS PARTICULARLY ARE IN DEMAND.

WHEN SAY SKILLED JOBS THAT CAN COVER A SPECTRUM.

>> ENGINEERING JOBS, ANY STEM TYPE JOBS, WELDERS, FOR EXAMPLE.

THERE ARE OTHER JOBS THAT JUST REQUIRE BASIC TRAINING LIKE TRUCK DRIVING.

RETAIL MANAGERS.

AND OBVIOUSLY REGISTERED NURSES AND RN'S.

THOSE THREE JOBS ARE IN TOP DEMAND MONTH IN AND OUT.

>> NURSES ARE SOME SUCH HIGH DEMAND WE CAN'T ALWAYS FIND THEM BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC OBVIOUSLY AND THE STRAIN IT HAS PUT ON THAT PARTICULAR SECTOR.

SO THE WORD IS, IF YOU NEED A JOB, THERE ARE JOBS TO BE HAD IN ALABAMA RIGHT NOW?

>> THERE ARE.

IF YOU JUST LOOK AMOUNT HOW OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS TRENDED SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC IT TELLS US WE ARE MAKING A TURN BACK TO THE EFFORTS WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

A YEAR AGO OUR UNEMPLOYMENT ARE FOR FOR THE STATE WAS THE LOW NEST HISTORY TWO, 7 PERCENT AND MORE PEOPLE HAD JOBS IN THE STATE MORE THAN EVER IN THE STATE AT 2.2 PERCENT.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE PANDEMIC HIT IN MID MARCH, AND ALL OF THE POSITIVE GROWTH THAT THE STATE HAD EXPERIENCED OVER A 72-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME TURNS UPSIDE DOWN.

>> YOU KNOW, MR. SECRETARY, WE TALK OFTEN ABOUT HOW THE RAPIDLY RISING UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN ALABAMA DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, REALLY DEPLETED WHAT WE CALL THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TRUST FUND.

THAT'S THE BIG PART OF MONEY THAT YOU DRAW FROM TO PAY ALL OF THESE CLAIMS.

AT ONE POINT IT WAS PRETTY CONCERNING HOW LOW IT HAD GOTTEN.

HOW ARE WE DOING?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, OUR TRUST FUND -- THIS IS A FUND THAT IS PAID INTO AND WE WERE AT A HEALTHY $700 MILLION.

BECAUSE OF MASS LAYOFFS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THE LAYOFFS WERE THERE NO FAULT OF THE EMPLOYER OR THE EMPLOYEES, AND SO WITH SO MANY PEOPLE FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IT PUT A HEAVY BURDEN ON OUR TRUST FUND.

THERE WAS ALSO FEDERAL PROGRAMS IN EXIST ANS ASSOCIATION WITH THAT, IT WAS A BIG, BIG DRAW DOWN.

SO NOW OUR UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND IS SOMEWHERE AROUND $400 MILLION SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE STARTED BEFORE THE PRE-PANDEMIC AND NOW WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE THE HEAVY DEMANDS ON US PAYING OUT THOSE BENEFITS TO PEOPLE PAID OFF.

>> THAT'S GREAT NEWS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, NOT THAT IT HAS ALREADY GOTTEN BACK UP THAT HIGH BUT TELL US HOW YOU REPLENISH THAT MONEY.

>> PLIERS PAY INTO THE UI TRUST FUND AND IT BUILDS UP ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

GRANTED WHEN PEOPLE GO BACK TO WORK THEY'RE COMING OFF THE UNEMPLOYMENT CAMPSATION PAYROLL.

AS THEY GO BACK TO WORK, EMPLOYERS PAY MORE INTO THE FUND AND IT BUILDS UP OVER TIME.

>> AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE BEEN READING AND HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT TAX LIKE AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO EFFECT BUSINESS.

FILL US IN ON WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.

>> AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, WE, LIKE MOST OTHER STATES, WE PUT IN A WAIVER WHERE WE WAIVED THE PLIER CHARGES.

WE DID THAT BECAUSE, AGAIN TO THE EMPLOYERS, SINCE THE EMPLOYERS PAY INTO THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TRUST FUND WE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY NEEDED TO BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY LAYOFFS SO WE WAIVED THOSE CHARGES FROM APRIL WALL THE WAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO LIFT IT.

WE LIFT IT BECAUSE THE ECONOMY WAS ACTUALLY TURNING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO THOSE COSTS OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME OF WHICH WE HAD TO GO BACK INTO THE POOL COSTS AND THOSE GET SHARED BACK TO THE EMPLOYERS ONCE WE LIFTED THE WAIVER.

SO WE WERE VERY, VERY PLEASED AND FORTUNE THAT THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR IVEY AND THE ADMINISTRATION APPROVED AN ALLOCATION OF CARES ACT MONEY TO GO INTO THE TRUST MONEY TO HELP OFFSET A MAJORITY OF THOSE COSTS AS IT RELATE TOTES EMPLOYER TAXES.

>> BUT THE TAX HIKE WAS UNAVOIDABLE GIVEN WHAT WE HAD GONE THROUGH IN THE LAST YEAR.

>> YES.

IT WAS UNAVOIDABLE N WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE $385,348 FROM THE CARES ACT TO OFFSET EMPLOYERS CHARGES THE EMPLOYERS WOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A 500 PERCENT TAX INCREASE.

WITH THE 385 MILLION TO PUT TO THE EMPLOYERS TAXES THAT WENT FROM A 500 PERCENT INCREASE TO A 77 PERCENT INCREASE OR ABOUT $40 PER EMPLOYEE, SO THAT WAS HUGE FOR ALL EMPLOYERS STATEWIDE.

>> AT THE OUTSET YOU MENTIONED DECEMBER'S RATE, IT WAS 3.9.

THAT IS PRETTY AWESOME CONSIDERING WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR, AS YOU ALLUDED, TO I THINK WE HIT AN ALL-TIME JOBLESS HIGH OF 13 -- >> 13.8 PERCENT IN APRIL.

>> IS THERE ANY REASON TO THINK WE WON'T CONTINUE TRENDING DOWNWARD WHERE THE JOBLESS NUMBERS ARE LEARNED AND WE ARE VERY LOOKING TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES ESPECIALLY AT ADOL.

I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IS DOING AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB TERMS OF TREE RECRUITMENT AND TALKING WITH EXISTING COMPANIES ABOUT EXPANSION, AND SO, AS LONG AS THAT CONTINUES, AND WE SEE IT CONTINUING, I THINK ALABAMA IS POISE DIZZY TO BE PACK AT AN UNEMPLOYMENT LEVEL LIKE WE EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED IT MUST HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING TO HEAR ONE OF THE PRIMARY BILLS IN THE EARLY GOING.

NEW SESSION WAS RENEWING ECONOMIC JOBS INCENTIVES THE JOBS ACT AND TAX CRITICISMS, THINGS THAT HELP WITH US OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY RECRUITMENT.

>> ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE RELATIVE.

AGAIN, THE IVEY ADMINISTRATION IS DOING AN AWESOME JOB IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM IN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AREAS.

>> FINAL ANALYSIS HERE AS WE GETS READY TO CLOSE, MR. SECRETARY.

WHILE WE'RE VERY ENCOURAGED WHERE THE JOBLESS NUMBERS ARE GOING AND THAT'S DOWN AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN FOR THOSE STILL LOOK AT WORK THERE IS WORK TO BE HAD.

IT MAY NOT BE THE JOB YOU HAD BUT THERE ARE JOBS AVAILABLE.

>> YEAH, SOME EMPLOYERS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE PERMANENTLY, NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, JUDGMENT BASED ON THE PANDEMIC.

FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT I REACH OUT STATEWIDE AND WE CAN DO A QUICK ASSESSMENT AND FIND OUT THEIR STRENGTHS ARE AND REPURPOSE THEM INTO ONE OF THE OPEN JOBS THAT WE KNOW EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING TO FILL.

>> FITZGERALD WASHINGTON, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THESE TRYING TIMES?

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE HAVE THE LATEST INCLUDING HOUSE ACTION ON A SENTENCING REFORM BILL AND ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS WHO SUFFER FROM PTSD.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE PARKER MOORE OF DECATUR WHO WILL DISCUSS THIS BILL THAT ALLOWS STATE TEACHERS TO RETURN TO WORK TEMPORARILY WITHOUT LOSING THEIR REQUIREMENT BENEFITS.

AND REPRESENTATIVE KIRK HATCHER OF MONTGOMERY IS SCHEDULED TO JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT HIS BILL TO ALLOW STUDENT ATHLETES TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THE USE OF THEIR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS WHILE PLAYING COLLEGE SPORTS.

FOR ALL OF US AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL," THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.