♪♪ >> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM WILSON STRIBLING.

WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF @ISSUE WHERE WE DEBATE THE ISSUES FACING MISSISSIPPI AND HOW IT IMPACTS YOUR PEER LAWMAKERS ARE ENDING THE FINAL WEEK OF THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS WEEK THEY BEGAN MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO FINALIZE DETAILS ON SEVERAL MEASURES THAT THE TWO CHAMBERS COULD NOT AGREE ON.

IN CONFERENCE OUR HALLMARK 2021 LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS LIKE THE HOUSES INCOME TAX PHASEOUT PLAN IN THE SENATE'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

IF COUNTRIES IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE DO NOT MEET THE DEADLINE BY THIS WEAKEN THE MEASURES WILL DIE AT LEAST FOR THE CURRENT SESSION.

EARLIER THIS WEEK THE SENATE PASSED A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A STUDY COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THE STATES TAX COMMITTEE STRUCTURE.

THE COMMITTEE COULD LOOK INTO THAT THIS SUMMER.

AT A STATE TOURISM EVENT THIS WEEK THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT THE RESOLUTION.

>> I AM PLEASED THAT THE HOUSE BROUGHT THAT UP.

IT WAS ON OUR AGENDA FOR THE ESTIMATE THIS SUMMER.

SOME PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN, AS YOU KNOW WE DID NOT WANT TO RAISE PEOPLE'S TAXES HAD THE BILL RAISED PEOPLE'S TAXES.

THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I DIDN'T THINK WERE COMPLETELY THOUGHT OUT IN THAT PROCESS.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO GOING INTO THAT STUDY GROUP.

YOU WILL SEE US WORKING HARD AT LOOKING AT ALL OF THE TAX PARTS HOW TO BEST HAVE THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON GOVERNMENT AND MAXIMUM STAYING IN TAXPAYER POCKETS.

>> ATTENDING THAT SAME EVENT WAS HOUSE SPEAKER PHILIP GUNN.

HE DEFENDS THE STATE TAX FOR MISSISSIPPIANS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

HE TELLS ASHLEY NORWOOD THAT HE IS DISAPPOINTED IN THE SENATE.

>> WE THINK THAT PLAN IS A SOLID PLAN.

IT'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR A MONTH.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED AT IT.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ECONOMISTS TO LOOK AT IT AND GIVE IT A THUMBS UP.

FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THERE'S VERY LITTLE WRONG WITH IT.

THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.

IN OUR VIEW IT IS A SOLID PLAN AND A SOLID POINT IN WHICH TO WORK.

IT IS A WORKABLE PLAN AND IT WILL PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR INCOME TAX ELIMINATION IN THE FUTURE.

I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THE ISSUE IT IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

WE HAD 90 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE VOTE FOR IT.

IT IS A STRONG BIPARTISAN STATEMENT.

IT IS GOOD FOR MISSISSIPPI.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND ELIMINATE INCOME TAX IN THE STATE.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK THE SENATE PASSED A STUDY COMMITTEE.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT IT IS A WRAP FOR THE PLAN THIS SESSION?

>> NEARLY THAT IS AN INDICATION ON THEIR PART THEY HAVE NO INDICATION TO DO THAT.

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO KEEP WORKING.

>> JAMISON TAYLOR OF THE CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY TELLS MPB NEWS DESIREE FRASER THAT IT MIGHT NOT PASS A LEGISLATOR THIS YEAR BUT A LAST-MINUTE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD HAPPEN IN THESE FINAL DAYS.

>> ON THE ONE HAND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN STUDIED QUITE A BIT.

WE HAVE ISSUES LIKE NORTH CAROLINA AND OTHER STATES THAT DO THIS.

CERTAINLY THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE SPEAKER HAS MENTIONED THE IDEA OF ELIMINATING INCOME TAX.

>> THE GOVERNOR DOES SUPPORT ELIMINATING IT, TOO.

>> THE GOVERNOR DOES SUPPORT IT.

THE SPEAKER WORKED ON THIS IDEA SIX YEARS AGO.

THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT THE SPEAKER HAS BEEN LOOKING AT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AT THE SAME TIME I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WANTS TO LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE MORE CAREFULLY.

WE SEE JOSH HARKINS THE SENATE FINANCE CHAIRMAN SAID HE WANTS TO LOOK AT IT MORE CAREFULLY.

THE STATE ECONOMISTS IS VERY WELL RESPECTED.

MANY PEOPLE WANT TO SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

ONE FEATURE OF THE SESSIONS IS THAT IT GOES QUICKLY.T IS HARD TO STUDY THESE COMPLEX ISSUES.

AT THE SAME TIME WE SEE THE LEGISLATURE THAT MAY BE GOING HOME A LITTLE EARLY.

THEY WANT TO SAVE SOME DAYS SO THEY CAN COME BACK INTO TOWN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL COVID MONEY.

IT COULD BE THAT THEY SHOULD STUDY THIS ISSUE OVER THE SUMMER AND COME BACK IN AUGUST.

AS A GOOD TAX PLAN WE HAVE VOTERS FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE THEY HAVE ELECTED REPUBLICANS AS GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

IN THE HOUSE THERE'S MAJORITY LEADERS IN THE HOUSE AND THEY HAVE A REPUBLICAN SPEAKER.

VOTERS ARE EXPECTING THEIR LEADERS TO VOTE TOGETHER AND GET ON THE SAME PAGE.

VOTERS DO WANT TAX RELIEF AND TAX DEBT.

HOW DO WE ARRIVE AT THAT BALANCE FOR MISSISSIPPI FAMILIES AND MISSISSIPPI BUSINESSES.

LET'S KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SOMETHING WON'T PASS IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND HAVE SEEN A LOT OF SESSIONS.

THIS SESSION ISN'T AS CRAZY AS OTHERS.

I CAN'T PREDICT WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

SOMETHING COULD PASS THIS WEEK BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE TAKING MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> A MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL IS IN MEASURES IN CONFERENCE THIS WEEK DESPITE CRITICISM FROM SUPPORTERS OF INITIATIVE 65 THAT INITIATIVE WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT NEXT MONTH BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGE OF THE SIGNATURE COLLECTIONS THAT GOT IT ON THE BALLOT.

SENATE LAWMAKERS SAY THE EFFORT TO PASS LEGISLATION CREATING A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IS A BACKSTOP SHOULD THE COURT STRIKE DOWN AN INITIATIVE THAT VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED.

KEN NEWBERGER THE PRESENT ASSOCIATION OF MARIJUANA COALITION SAID LEGISLATOR SHOULD LEAVE THE ISSUE ALONE.

>> MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A TOPIC THAT PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR BECAUSE THEY WANTED AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS REALLY SAD THAT THIS IS BEING PUSHED.

WE ALREADY VOTED LAST YEAR.

WE DON'T NEED A BACKSTOP.

NOTHING CAN THWART THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS SAYS TO THOSE WHO WORK ON THE INITIATIVE 65 WHO CAMPAIGNED AND VOTERS WHO VOTED?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON IN THE CAPITAL ABOUT THE PROGRAM?

>> I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO I'VE MET THROUGH THE INITIATIVE 65 PROGRAM AND OTHER VOTERS.

THEY'VE COME TO ME AND THEY SAID WHAT WAS THE POINT IN VOTING?

WHY DID WE VOTE IF THIS YEAR THEY ARE GOING TO PASS A PROGRAM THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE ASKED FOR LAST YEAR?

HE POINTS ABOUT INITIATIVE 65 THAT ARE UNIQUE FOR IT AS OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER PROGRAM THAT TALKED ABOUT THIS YEAR.

INITIATIVE 65 IS SOLELY REGULATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

IT IS A MISSISSIPPI BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WAS STARTED BY MISSISSIPPIANS FOR MISSISSIPPIANS AND A COMPLETELY FREE MARKET PROGRAM THAT WILL BE THE IDEAL FOR WHAT EVERYONE ASKED FOR LAST YEAR.

>> HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING ON?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF HANGUPS TO WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING ON.

IT WOULD LIMIT PATIENTS ACROSS THE STATE FROM GETTING ACCESS TO THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA THAT THEY REALLY WANT AS WELL AS A LOT OF HIGHER BARRIERS FOR INJURIES FOR BUSINESSES HERE IN THE STATE.

>> IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE SESSION MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE NEGOTIATING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILLS.

MISSISSIPPI RANKS SECOND IN THE NATION FOR IT'S HIGH RATE OF IMPRISONMENT.

LAST YEAR GOVERNOR TATE REEVES VETOED THE LEGISLATURE'S COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT FOCUSED ON PAROLE.

THE VICE CHAIR OF THE SENATE CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE SAYS THAT SENATE BILL 2795 IS ANOTHER EFFORT TO EXPAND EARNED PAROLE ELIGIBILITY IN THE STATE.

>> ELIGIBILITY DOES NOT EQUAL RELEASE.

THE PAROLE BOARD STILL HAS A JOB TO DO HERE PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO VIOLENT CRIMES.

WE GIVE THE VICTIM A RIGHT TO BE HEARD, NOT A NOTICE, THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD AT THE PAROLE HEARING OR IN SOME MATTER THEY DON'T HAVE TO ATTEND, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THE SHERIFF.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS WELCOME TO SOLICIT THE PAROLE BOARD TO SAY WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GRANT PAROLE EVEN THOUGH THIS PERSON IS ELIGIBLE.

THIS IS NOT A RELEASE WILL.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

ALL OF OUR EFFORTS ARE TO MOTIVATE BEHAVIOR TO YES, GIVE PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE BUT IT IS NOT GIVING THEM A SECOND CHANCE, THEY ARE EARNING THAT SECOND CHANCE.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU THE CHAMBERS HAVE WORKED WELL TOGETHER ON THIS BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR.

WE LISTENED TO THE GOVERNOR IN THE VETO MESSAGE AND SOME OF THE THINGS HE HAD CONCERNS WITH WE TRIED TO ADDRESS THAT.

CHAIRMAN BARNETT HAS REACHED OUT REPEATEDLY TO THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF AND THE GOVERNOR AND THEY BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE MAY NOT AND WE CERTAINLY WON'T HAVE A BILL THAT EVERYONE IT IS GOING TO HOLD HANDS AND SAY THIS IS THE PERFECT WILL THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PASS POLICY AND I DO APPRECIATE THE CHAIRMAN AND ALL OF THE PARTIES TO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER HERE WE HAVE MET REPEATEDLY IN THE LAST YEAR, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WORK BEFORE I GOT HERE.

THIS IS MY FIRST TERM, SECOND YEAR BUT THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF WORK THAT SENATOR BARNETT AND OTHERS ON THIS AND HAVE DONE AND FOLKS ON THE OTHER AND HAVE CERTAINLY WORKED HARD AT IT AS WELL.

WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A VERY GOOD BILL.

I HAVE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT SOME OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE WANT A GOOD PUBLIC SAFETY BILL BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD POLICY HERE THESE ARE MISSISSIPPIANS MOST OF THEM WHO ARE GOING TO COME OUT AT SOME POINT.

THE PROGRAMMING PIECE NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM WHILE INCARCERATED SO YOU CAN EARN PAROLE ELIGIBILITY IS SOMETHING WE BELIEVE IS VERY VALUABLE.

>> MISSISSIPPI VACCINE ROLLOUT IS SURPASSING NEW BENCHMARKS THIS WEEK AS THE STATE TOPS ONE MILLION DOSES OF CORONAVIRUS VACCINES.

WITHIN 720,000 PEOPLE IN MISSISSIPPI HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE-SHOT.

400,000 HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS IN MISSISSIPPI.

YOU CAN SCHEDULE A VACCINE APPOINTMENT BY VISITING COVID VACCINE.

UMC.EDU OR CALLING 877 Ã978 Ã 6453.

DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE IN LINCOLN COUNTY, GOV.

REEVES SAID THE ONE MILLION SHOT MILESTONE IS SIGNIFICANT BUT RECOGNIZES THERE WILL BE HURDLES FOR THE TWO MILLION.

>> WHILE TODAY MARKS A MAJOR MILESTONE OF ONE MILLION SHOTS, WE ARE NOT YET OUT OF THIS FIGHT.

IN FACT, WE KNOW THAT THE NEXT MILLION SHOTS ARE GOING TO BE HARDER TO GET THAN THE LAST MILLION.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE HARDER TO GET BECAUSE OF VACCINE HESITANCY.

WE HAVE VACCINE HESITANCY IN OUR STATE THAT WE SEE ALL AROUND THE NATION.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW MANY OF YOU SAW ME.

I HAVE TAKEN THE VACCINE.

MY FAMILY HAS TAKEN THE VACCINE .

MANY GREAT PHYSICIANS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AROUND THE STATE HAVE TAKEN THE VACCINE.

AND SO, IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO URGE OUR FELLOW MISSISSIPPIANS TO DO JUST THAT.

TO TAKE THE VACCINE THEMSELVES.

I THANK YOU WILL SEE US TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS AS TO WHY WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION FOR ALL MISSISSIPPIANS.

>> TODAY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS REPORTING TUNER 68 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 AND 11 ADDITIONAL DEATHS BRINGING THE TOTALS IN MISSISSIPPI TO 300,000 CASES AND NEARLY 7000 DEATHS.

THAT'S SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER DOCTOR THOMAS DOBBS SAID THAT STATE HAS COME A LONG WAY IN AN EFFORT TO LOWER THE RATE OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS.

>> TWO VERY SIMPLE REASONS.

WE ARE HERE NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN A NORMAL IMMUNIZATION EFFORT AND WE SEE THAT MOST MISSISSIPPIANS OVER 65 AND A GROWING PERCENTAGE OF MISSISSIPPIANS OVER 50 ARE VACCINATING AND PROTECTED.

THEY ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO HAVE SEVERE DISEASE AND MUCH LESS LIKELY TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR DIE.

THAT IS PHENOMENALLY IMPORTANT.

I AM SO VERY PROUD OF MY FELLOW MISSISSIPPIANS.

AS WE HAVE ADDED TO OUR IMMUNIZATION STRONGHOLDS OF PROTECTION WE HAVE CONTINUED TO WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC.

NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

PLEASE, CONTINUE TO DO THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE KNOW TO PREVENT OUTBREAKS.

WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC AND AVOID LARGE INDOOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

WE KNOW IT'S MORE SAFE TO BE INSIDE AND CERTAINLY WE'VE EXPANDED ACCESS TO SPORTING EVENTS OUTDOORS BUT FOR NOW, PLEASE FOLLOW COMMON SENSE PRECAUTIONS.

>> LET'S GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT WITH VIEWS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

BRANDON JONES IS AN ATTORNEY AND FORMER DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

AUSTIN BARBOUR IS A NATIONAL REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND FOUNDER OF THE CLEARWATER GROUP.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH ON THE DESK THIS WEEK.

LET'S START WITH TAX REFORM.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS HEAR THEIR'S LOTS OF DEBATE AND DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND NOW IT IS IN CONFERENCE.

IS IT DEAD?

>> PROBABLY.

NOTHING IS SAID INTEL-BASED SIGN IT AND GO HOME.

BRANDON HAS EXPERIENCED FOUR YEARS OF THAT.

NOTHING IS DEAD DEAD UNTIL WE GO HOME.

I WILL TELL YOU THIS THOUGH, I GO BACK TO THIS POINT HEAR THE SPEAKER DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR GETTING THE BALL ROLLING ON A SERIOUS CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION AND DEBATE ABOUT INCOME TAX REFORM.

IT IS CLEAR.

I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH REPUBLICANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAPITAL, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

WANT INCOME TAX REFORM.

THEY WANT TAX REFORM.

THAT IS A GOOD THING.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS THE BEST PATHWAY TO GET THERE.

AND, THERE'S NO AGREEMENT ON THAT NOW.

I KNOW THAT SENATOR HARKINS HAS A BILL THAT IS COME OUT THE SENATE WILL PUT TOGETHER SUBCOMMITTEE WITH THE HOUSE.

THEY WILL LOOK AT IT NEXT SUMMER AND NEXT YEAR WE WELCOME TOGETHER AND GET SOMETHING DONE BUT ONCE AGAIN THE SPEAKER GET SOME CREDIT FOR PUSHING THIS THIS YEAR.

>> YOU GIVE THE SPEAKER CREDIT I WILL GIVE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CREDIT.

TAKING A BREATHER AND TAKING A LOOK AT THIS AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE STATE, THERE AGAIN.

WE ALL LIKE THE SOUND OF NOT PAYING TAXES.

IT SOUNDS GREAT BUT THEN THERE ARE ALL THESE THINGS THAT YOU WANT THE STATE TO DO LIKE MAINTAIN ROADS, INCREASE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HAVE BETTER HOSPITALS.

I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR IS BEING PRUDENT AND SHARP BY SAYING BY THE OWN ADMISSION OF THE ANALYST WE HEARD MOMENTS AGO.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE AND LISTEN TO THIS.

THIS IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IN OUR ECONOMY.

IT IS GOOD THAT WE ARE TAKING A BREAK AND WILL LOOK AT IT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION OVER THE SUMMER.

>> JOSH HARKINS WHO IS A FRIEND AND MEMBER OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE SENATE.

I AM SURE THAT HE WANTS THIS FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND WILL MAKE SURE IT IS THE MOST CONSERVATIVE PLAN.

MOST CONSERVATIVE PLAN THAT HE THINKS WILL WORK FOR TAXPAYERS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

BUT, LOOK.

AGAIN, IT IS A GREAT DAY WHEN WE ARE HAVING A REAL DEBATE ON TAX REFORM.

IF THAT LEADS TO THE SUMMER AND MORE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS AND MORE DETAIL ON WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ELIMINATE INCOME TAX OR WHATEVER IT IS, THAT IS OKAY.

THAT IS NOT THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD.

>> I'M LAUGHING BECAUSE YOU SAID MOST CONSERVATIVE.

THERE'S WAYS TO CUT THIS.

OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOME THINGS TO DO TO CUT TAXES AND MAYBE THEY CAN COME OUT OF COMMITTEE WITH GROCERY TAX.

>> THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS PUT A LOT OF ENERGY BEHIND THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL.

WHY HAS IT STRUGGLED TO GAIN TRACTION?

>> WE'VE BEEN SCRATCHING OUR HEADS ON THIS PROGRAM.

WE'VE BEEN FAIRLY CONNECTED AND WE TALKED TO LEGISLATORS EVERY DAY.

TALK TO THE FOLKS EVERY DAY AND OUR PRODUCER TALKS TO THEM, DESIREE TALKS TO THEM, WE LIKE TO THINK WE KNOW WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT BUT IT'S STILL ONE OF THE BIGGEST MYSTERIES OF THE SESSION AS TO WHY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS PUSHED AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM WHICH SEEMS DUMB AND LEGISLATIVELY STRANGE.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE BRINKSMANSHIP ON THAT ISSUE.

WILSON, I DON'T KNOW BUT I THINK IT HAS FINALLY REACHED A MERCIFUL DEATH.

>> LIKE THE TAX PLAN IT'S NOT DEAD UNTIL IT'S DEAD UNTIL THEY SIGN IT AND I. I WILL SAY THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT HE WOULD WANT A TRIGGER IN THE BILL THAT WOULD SAY IT ONLY GOES INTO PLAY IF THE SUPREME COURT RULES ON ISSUE 65 AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THE REALITY IS THERE'S NOT ENOUGH VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND THAT THEY BIPARTISAN EFFORT BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE WHO SIMPLY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS WE DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THIS BILL .

WHO WON'T LET THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DO THEIR JOB WHICH VOTERS SAID, GO START A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IN MISSISSIPPI AND THAT'S WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS DOING RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE COMING UP WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS AND AGAIN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH VOTES IN THE HOUSE TO MAKE IT HAPPENED.

>> IT IS ENDING THE SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT WE ARE WAITING ON.

LET'S TALK THIS TECH BILL WHICH REESTABLISHES THE PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER PERIOD OF TIME.

WHY LET THAT BILL WHICH IS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM, WHY LET THAT DIE?

>> THAT IS A QUESTION, I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO LET ANYTHING DIE OVER THERE.

OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THIS BUT THERE'S NOT A CONSENSUS BETWEEN CONFEREES AND THE HOUSE IN THE SENATE OR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEDICAID COMMISSION IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON WHATEVER THE SPECIFIC ISSUES ARE THAT THEY ARE DISAGREEING WITH.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THIS BILL DOES NOT PASS IS IT WILL ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO CONTROL AND RUN SOME PORTION OF THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID.

IS IT 100 PERCENT, 50 PERCENT THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

IF THEY DON'T PASS THE MEDICAID TECH BILL IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, I DON'T KNOW IF THE LAST FEW DAYS MEANS THREE DAYS, FIVE DAYS OR SIX DAYS, THE GOVERNOR COULD CALL THEM BACK IN A SPECIAL SESSION TO DEAL WITH THAT PART.

I THINK IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE, SENATE AND GOVERNOR, NO ONE IT IS GOING TO LET RECIPIENTS OF MEDICAID GO WITHOUT THE SERVICES THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM MEDICAID OR THE VENDORS THAT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

I AM CONFIDENT THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE PROTECTED WHILE A DEAL IS GETTING WORKED OUT.

>> I THINK IT WAS SENATOR BRIAN WHO TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE LEGISLATURE WHERE PEOPLE WERE MAD AND HAVING A HARD TIME AGREEING ON ANYTHING.

AUSTIN, THIS IS A FAILURE.

EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO DISAGREE.

AS PART OF THE PROCESS TO BATTLE IT OUT BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE LOOK TO GOVERNMENT TO FIGURE OUT.

CERTAINLY HAVING THE MEDICAID PROGRAM INTACT WITH ENABLING LEGISLATION IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

WE CAN ALWAYS DISAGREE BUT WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES OF REACHING A LANDING POINT, THIS IS A FAILURE.

YOU CAN BE DISAGREEABLE AND FIGHT BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD AND I THANK YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT WILL GET THERE BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT OUGHT TO BE A #1 ON YOUR PRIORITY LIST COMING OUT OF THE SESSION.

>> AND THEY MIGHT STILL GET IT DONE.

WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN HERE THEY STILL HAVE DAYS LEFT TO GET A CONSENSUS ON THE MEDICAID BILL.

NEXT THERE'S A NUMBER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IN CONFERENCE.

SHOULD WE EXPECT ANY OF THOSE TO COME OUT OF CONFERENCE AND STAY ALIVE?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK ALL THE BILLS IN CONFERENCE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IS THE BIGGEST BILL.

ONE ON CENSUS DATA YOU HAVE ONE ON RELEASE PROGRAMS AND HOW WE DO THAT WE HAVE WON ON HABITUAL LAWS BUT PAROLE IS THE BIG ONE.

IF YOU REMEMBER THAT SENATE BILL 2123 WAS PASSED LAST YEAR BUT VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

WE ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON THE PROGRAM AND THE FACILITIES ARE NOT REALLY NEED TO BE HERE WE ARE LOOKING ACROSS STATEWIDE IN ALABAMA AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT A BILLION-DOLLAR ORDER.

WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT.

THERE IS A POLL AND SOME FINDINGS THAT ARE MAKING THEIR WAY AROUND THE CAPITAL BY THE ROUNDS CONSULTING GROUP.

THIS WAS PUT FORWARD BY GROUPS THAT ADVOCATE THESE ISSUES.

WHAT IT SAYS IS WE COULD SAVE $1 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES IF WE WERE TO BRING OUR PAROLE ELIGIBILITY IN LINE WITH SURROUNDING STATE.

THAT IS HUGE.

$1 BILLION IN THE OTHER WAY THAN WHAT ALABAMA IS DOING INTO THE STATE COFFERS RATHER THAN AWAY FROM THEM.

IT IS A HUGE ECONOMIC ISSUE.

THIS REPORT SAYS THEY CAN EASILY PREDICT ONE PERCENT IN JOB GROWTH WHICH SOUNDS MARGINAL BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW BIG THOSE NUMBERS ARE, THAT REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF JOBS.

I THINK, WILSON, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO GET RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO FIND THAT FORMULA THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN PASS AND THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN SIGN.

>> I AGREE WITH THE POINT THAT BRANDON JUST MADE.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE GOVERNOR AGREES THAT WE NEED PAROLE REFORM.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR ARE THE VARIABLES THAT COME OUT, THE FORMULA AS BRANDON DESCRIBED IT COMES OUT IN WHATEVER THE AGREEMENT IS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE CORRECTIONS CHAIRMAN'S OF THOSE COMMITTEES.

I THINK THIS WILL REVOLVE AROUND HOW MUCH TIME MUST SOMEONE SERVE BEFORE THEY CAN COME UP FOR PAROLE.

LOOK, I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IF WE THINK ABOUT WHAT SENATOR SPARKS SAID DURING HIS INTERVIEW, THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO BE GRANTED PAROLE.

IT MEANS YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN FRONT OF THE PAROLE BOARD AND GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A HEARING IN A QUICKER MANNER THAN WHAT THE LAW STATES RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS A SUPER IMPORTANT PART OF THIS TO UNDERSTAND.

I THINK LAST YEAR THE GOVERNOR WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TYPES OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS WHO MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR APRIL HEARING AND THAT IS WHY HE VETOED THE BILL LAST YEAR.

THERE SEEMS TO BE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THE BILL THE PARTICULARS IN THE DETAILS WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHETHER THEY COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND WHEN THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN SUPPORT.

NEXT WE TALKED ABOUT BIPARTISAN STUFF A LOT.

IN WILSON, THIS IS AN INSTANCE OF THIS YOU HEARD SENATOR SPARKS KEEP REFERRING TO THE FOREMAN THE DEMOCRAT THERE'S BEEN NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM WHICH IS A GREAT THING FOR THE STATE.

THEY ARE TRULY IN LOCKSTEP WORKING TOGETHER AND IN THE OTHER END OF THE CHAMBER GOT THE REPUBLICAN WATCHING THE TRUE BIPARTISAN WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

THESE ARE HUGE ISSUES AFTER SOME OF THE MEDICAID AND HEALTHCARE ISSUES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

FIGURING OUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH OUR PRISON SYSTEM IS A BIG ONE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WE THOUGHT ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE REMAINING DAYS AND WHE YOU THINK THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE FINISHED.

>> THEY WILL BE FINISHED EARLY NEXT WEEK.

THEY WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL IN THE BOND BILL INTO WHAT DEGREE THE BOND BILL WILL COVER.

OBVIOUSLY UNIVERSITIES AND STATE AGENCIES WHO HAVE ANNUAL REQUESTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE CARE OF AND THEN OF COURSE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, ROADS, SEWERS AND BRIDGES ARE BACK HOME FOR LEGISLATORS AND THOSE ARE DECISIONS AT THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL BE WORKING ON FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

>> WHAT HE THINK WE WILL BE LOOKING AT?

>> WHAT WILL I KNOW?

I AM IN THE VAST MAJORITY CARED WE WILL KNOW WHEN VIEWERS AT HOME GET THE NEWS.

>> HAD TO SAY WILSON, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SAM BOLTON.

HE TURNS 102 YEARS OLD THIS WEEK.

THIS MAN IS AN AMERICAN HERO WHO LIVES IN MISSISSIPPI.

MR. SAM OLDEN YOU ARE A GREAT GUY WE LOVE YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND KEEP WATCHING.

>> DO YOU HAVE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANYBODY?

>> I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD HERE.

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HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪