>>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WELCOME TO A NEW SEASON OF "@ISSUE" WHERE WE DISCUSS AND DEBATE THE ISSUES FACING THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND HOW THESE ISSUES IMPACT YOU.

MISSISSIPPI IS OFFICIALLY FLYING A NEW STATE FLAG.

IT IS THE FLAG MISSISSIPPI ANS VOTED ON IN NOVEMBER WAS THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM FOR LAWMAKERS IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

DURING A CEREMONY AT THE TWO MISSISSIPPI MUSEUMS IN JACKSON THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR TATE REEVES SIGNED THE BILL ADOPTING THE NEW FLAG INTO LAW.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION DESIGNED THE IN GOD WE TRUST FLAG BEHIND IT.

THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED 3,000 FLAG DESIGNS BEFORE NARROWING IT DOWN TO ONE.

IN NOVEMBER MORE THAN 70% OF VOTERS IN MISSISSIPPI APPROVED THE NEW DESIGN.

>> IN MISSISSIPPI THERE HAS BEEN A PROMINENT ROAD BLOCK TO UNITY.

WHEN MANY LOOK AT OUR FORMER FLAG, THEY JUST SAW A SYMBOL OF THE STATE AND HERITAGE THEY LOVED, BUT MANY FELT DISMISSED , DIMINISHED AND EVEN HATED BECAUSE OF THAT FLAG.

THAT IS NOT A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR OUR STATE.

SO TODAY WE TURN THE PAGE.

WE COMMIT OUR FORMER FLAG TO HISTORY, AND WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE.

>> FROM THERE REEVES AND COMMISSION MEMBERS JOINED LEGISLATORS ON THE CAPITOL STEPS FOR A FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY.

IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR THE STATE, HOUSE AND SENATE APPROVED LEGISLATION TO REMOVE THE 126-YEAR-OLD FLAG WITH ITS CONFEDERATE IMAGERY.

DURING THE CEREMONY HOUSE SPEAKER PHILIP GUNN TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME LAWMAKERS WHO STRUGGLED WITH THEIR VOTE TO TAKE DOWN THE FORMER FLAG FINALLY CAME AROUND TO VOTING YES.

>> ANOTHER MEMBER CAME BACK -- TOLD ME NO, BUT CAME BACK LATER AND SAID I HAVE TWO LITTLE BOYS WATCHING ME AND I CANNOT LET THEM DOWN.

I AM VOTING YES.

ANOTHER MEMBER TOLD ME NO.

FIVE HOURS LATER HE CALLED ME BACK AND SAID I TALKED TO MY WIFE AND MY WIFE ASKED ME AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK MYSELF IN THE MIRROR THE DAY AFTER THIS VOTE AND BE PROUD OF WHAT WHAT I HAD DONE?

HE SAID I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION AND I AM VOTING YES.

FINALLY I HAD A MEMBER WHO UNFORTUNATELY, SADLY LOST HIS SON-IN-LAW TO CANCER.

HE IS NOW THE FATHER FIGURE AND THE LIFE OF HIS SIX-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON.

I ASKED HIM FOR HIS VOTE ONE DAY AND HE WAS SO OVERCOME WITH EMOTION THAT HE COULD NOT ANSWER.

ALL HE COULD DO IS REACH INTO HIS COAT POCKET AND PULL OUT A PICTURE OF HIS SIX-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON AND SAY TO ME, "HE'S WATCHING ME.

I CANNOT LET HIM DOWN."

AND I COULD TELL YOU A DOZEN MORE STORIES LIKE THESE.

LEGISLATORS WHO BECAME CONVICTED THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO WHEN YOU ASK ME WHAT CAUSED ALL THESE LEGISLATORS TO CHANGE THEIR VOTES FROM NO TO YES, I WILL TELL YOU IT WAS THEIR FAMILIES.

IT WAS KNOWING THAT HIS -- HISTORY WAS GOING TO RECORD WHAT THEY DID AND THEY DID NOT WANT THEIR SPOUSES OR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN THEM.

THEY WANTED THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO BE PROUD OF THEM.

THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THIS STATE TO BE PROUD OF WHAT THEY DID.

AND BY THEIR COURAGEOUS ACTION THEY HAVE GIVEN FUTURE GENERATIONS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

>> FOR SOME LAWMAKERS WATCHING THE NEW FLAG RISING ABOVE THE CAPITOL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVOKED A MIX OF EMOTIONS.

DEPARTMENT TIFF REPRESENTATIVE SUMMERS OF JACKSON SAYS SHE THOUGHT OF HER CHILDREN WHEN SHE VOTED YES TO CHANGING THE FLAG.

SHE REMEMBERS FORMER BLACK LEGISLATORS WHO WOULD HAVE WANTED TO SEE THIS MOMENT IN MISSISSIPPI HISTORY.

>> WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH IN THIS STATE TO GET THAT NEW EMBLEM.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH A PRESENTATION FROM A HISTORIAN THAT TALKS ABOUT THE FIRST BLACK LEGISLATORS AFTER RECONSTRUCTION, AND TO KNOW THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN THOSE SEATS, MANY OF WHOM WERE NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED AS THERE AND I PRESSED THE BUTTON TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.

AND THE FEELING OF JOY THAT VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME TO TURN A NEW PAGE.

THEY WENT OUT AND VOTED IN A MAJOR WAY.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THE VOTERS REALLY PUTTING A STAMP ON WHAT WE DID LAST SESSION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CELEBRATE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.

SO I'M JUST SO EXCITED.

I'M EXCITED TO TALK WITH MY CHILDREN ABOUT IT THIS EVENING AND TO KNOW THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEIR MOTHER WAS A PART OF THAT.

IT IS QUITE HISTORICAL.

>> FORMER GOVERNOR RONNIE MUSGROVE, ALSO A DEMOCRAT, ATTENDED THE BILL SIGNING AND THE FLAG RAISING.

HE LEAD AN EFFORT IN 2001 TO CHOOSE A NEW FLAG DESIGN THROUGH A STATEWIDE VOTE.

WITH 64% OF THE VOTERS IN MISSISSIPPI CHOOSING TO KEEP THE 1894 FLAG WITH ITS CONFEDERATE EMBLEM.

HIS EFFORT FAILED.

THE FORMER GOVERNOR SAYS HE WASN'T SURE IF HE WOULD LIVE TO SEE MISSISSIPPI SELECT A NEW BANNER.

>> IT WAS SO DIVISIVE AT THE TIME.

I MADE THE COMMENT BECAUSE OF HOWDY VIE SHIV IT -- HOW DIVISIVE IT WAS, I WAS UNSURE IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN MY LIFE.

I FELT LIKE IT WOULD HAPPEN.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON MY DEATH BED WHEN IT DID HAPPEN.

AND SO AS A RESULT, I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WATCHED WHAT HAS HAPPENED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY HAVE SEEN THE INJUSTICES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE, AND THEY HAVE SEEN THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SPOKEN FOR AND STOOD UP FOR.

TO LIVE IN A STATE WHERE THE FLAG DOES NOT REPRESENT YOU OR WHO YOU ARE IS A DISAPPOINTMENT.

IT ALSO HOLDS THE STATE BACK FROM MOVING FORWARD.

WHETHER IT BE EDUCATIONALLY AND WHETHER IT BE ECONOMICALLY , IN GOOD JOB OFFERINGS OR GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE.

I BELIEVE THAT TODAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR THE START OF MISSISSIPPI.

>> WE ARE NEARING ALMOST A YEAR NOW SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS ARRIVED IN MISSISSIPPI.

TODAY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS REPORTING 2,342 NEW CASES AND 55 RELATED DEATHS.

THAT BRINGS THE TOTALS IN MISSISSIPPI TO JUST UNDER 249,000 CORONAVIRUS CASES AND A LITTLE OVER 5400 DEATHS.

COVID-19 VACCINES ARRIVED IN MISSISSIPPI IN MID-DECEMBER.

SINCE THEN THE STATE HAS VACCINATED MORE THAN 63,000 PEOPLE.

PRIMARILY HEALTH CARE WORKERS, RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND THOSE 65 AND OLDER.

ON WEDNESDAY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE HAS NO MORE VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE AT DRIVE-THRU LOCATIONS, AND CLINICS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ORDER MORE UNTIL THE STATE RECEIVES ADDITIONAL SHIPMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH COULD BE IN MID-FEBRUARY.

AND THEN LATE TODAY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUED AN UPDATE SAYING MORE APPOINTMENTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE THE FIRST WEEK -- OR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 25th.

REGARDLESS, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IF YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN YOUR FIRST DOSE, THERE IS ENOUGH SUPPLY ON HAND FOR YOUR SECOND DOSE.

>>> THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ALSO CONTINUES TO DISRUPT TEACHING AND LEARNING IN MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HOSEMAN IS DEEPLY DISTURBED ABOUT POTENTIAL LEARNING LOSS.

>> I AM WORRIED TO DEATH ABOUT A GAP HERE.

I WILL JUST TELL YOU ALL.

I HAVE BEEN ON 50 DIFFERENT CLASSES AND ON ZOOM CALLS WITH TEACHERS AND WHATNOT.

THEY BASICALLY HAVE CREATED AN ENTIRE NEW SCHOOL SYSTEM SINCE FEBRUARY.

I STILL MARVEL AT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT EVERY ONE OF THESE WHEN I ASK THESE KIDS WOULD YOU RATHER BE HERE IN CLASS, AND 90% WANT TO COME BACK TO CLASS.

THE TEACHER CAN'T COME DOWN THE ROW AND SAYING WHAT ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE WITH?

THEY DON'T HAVE THE SOCIAL INTERACTION THAT GOES WITH GOING TO SCHOOL.

THIS DISTANCE LEARNING IS A SUPPLEMENT TO EDUCATION.

IT IS NOT THE ANSWER TO EDUCATION.

I THINK YOU WILL FIND TODAY, AND I THINK IN OUR NATIONAL STUDIES THAT OUR STUDENTS AREN'T GETTING AS GOOD AN EDUCATION AS THEY WOULD SITTING IN FRONT OF A TEACHER.

>> DURING A HEARING AT THE CAPITOL LAST WEEK SENATORS MET WITH EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT CARRIE WRIGHT.

SHE SAYS WITHOUT FULL DATA IT IS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 DIS -- DISRUPTIONS ON LEARNING IN MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS.

UNDER A STATE LAW IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL YEARS STUDENTS ARE WRITER -- REQUIRED TO PASS A READING ASSESSMENT AT THE END OF THIRD GRATE -- THIRD GRADE.

THOSE WHO DO NOT PASS ARE TO BE HELD BACK, BUT WRIGHT BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE A YEAR OF GRACE FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS.

>> THIS IS MY RECOMMENDATION.

THEY MAINTAIN THEIR LETTER GRADES THEY HAD FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, STILL ADMINISTER THE THIRD GRADE ASSESSMENT AND STILL ADMINISTER THE END OF COURSE ASSESSMENTS, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO RETAIN THIRD GRADERS THAT DO NOT PASS THE ASSESSMENT AND NOR WOULD WE HOLD THE SAME LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THE PASSING RATE.

>> THE LEGISLATURE COULD TWEAK THE LAW TO WAIVE THE PASSING REQUIREMENT, OR GOVERNOR TATE REEVES COULD DO IT THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>>> A TEACHER PAY BILL HAS COME OUT OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND IS EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN UP ON THE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.

HE TELLS ASHLEY NORWOOD THAT THE BILL IS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR'S BILL THAT WAS PUT OFF DUE TO STATE SPENDING UNCERTAINTIES AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC BEGAN.

IT WOULD BE A PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS AND TEACHER ASSISTANCE -- ASSISTANTS.

CURRENTLY A TEACHER WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IT IS 38,890.

WE ARE PUSHING IT TO 37.

THAT RAISE WOULD BE 1,110.

>> WHY NOT MORE?

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

>> I AGREE.

WE NEED TO GET TO THE SOUTHEASTERN AVERAGE.

WE CAN'T DO IT AT ONCE.

WE HAVE HAD OTHER AGENCIES TO BE CORRECTED.

MENTAL HEALTH, CHILD SUPPORT AND CHILD SERVICES.

OUR PLAN IN THE SENATE IS TO START HERE AND THEN BE BACK.

WE WOULD BE BACK DOING THE PAY RAISE IF LAST YEAR'S BILL PASSED.

OUR GOAL IS TO HELP TEACHERS RECEIVE A DECENT PAY THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ON.

>> THEY ARE OUTLINING THEIR PRIORITIES IN THE 2021 SESSION.

ELECTION REFORM IS ONE ITEM ON THE LIST.

ANGELA TURNER FORD CHAIRS THE CAUCUS.

SHE TELLS "@ISSUE" PRODUCER WHAT THE GROUP IS PRIORITIZING AND WHY INCREASING AGO -- ACCESS TO VOTING IS IMPORTANT.

>> THE ABSENTEE BALLOT PROCESS WE HAVE IS MORE COMPLICATED.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ALLOW INDIVIDUALS -- DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK THAT WOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE EARLY.

I HEARD THIS IS NOT OUR LAST PANDEMIC.

WHY NOT USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHANGE THAT'S WOULD HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS.

>> WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT?

>> IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE REPORTS AND THE MEDIA WHERE VOTERS WERE WAITING IN LONG LINES TO SIMPLY CAST THEIR BALLOT.

WE DON'T WANT TO EXPRESS THEIR WILL FOR WHO IS LEADING THEM.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN.

HOW DO YOU SUPPOSE IT WILL GO OVER.

>> THERE WAS NO INTEREST IN CHANGING THE FLAG.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE READY AND THE POLICIES ARE IN PLACE.

WE WANT TO BE PREPARED TO MOVE ON IT.

>> A GROUP OF KAW SUCCESS MEMBERS -- CAUCUS MEMBERS WENT TO TOUR THE FACILITY.

WE FELT THEM TO BE IN A CONDITION THAT WAS ALARMING TO US.

WE WERE NOT ABLE TO TOUR DUE TO COVID.

BUT THERE IS THE ISSUE OF THEM NOT BEING RELEASED.

WE WANT THERE TO BE A RE-ENTRY INTO SAW SIGH -- SOCIETY.

WE NEED TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR THEM TO BE REHABILITATED.

THESE ARE ALL POLICIES THAT NEED I WOULD SAY ALL HANDS ON DECK AND THEY DO NEED TO BE MODIFIED.

IT IS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE PROGRESSION IN THE COMMUNITY.

THERE HAS BEEN OPPOSITION TO IT.

AND HOPEFULLY THERE IS HOPEFULLY A SYSTEM FOR THEM TO GET HEALTH CARE AS THEY NEED.

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

BRANDON JONES IS AN ATTORNEY AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

AUSTIN BARBER IS A STRATEGIST AND FOUNDER OF THE CLEAR WATER GROUP.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A WHILE -- AWHILE.

WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE SAT DOWN TO REMEMBER WHEN WE LAST GATHERED.

WE STOPPED PRODUCTION ON THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

WE WERE ON A NEW SET WHERE WE ARE SOCIALLY STANCE -- DISTANCED NOW.

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED.

WE HAD THE STATE FLAG WHICH WE SAW THERE.

WE LOST GOVERNOR WINTER.

WE HAVE A PRESIDENT ABOUT TO BE INAUGURATED AND ANOTHER PRESIDENT ABOUT TO BE IMPEACHED.

IT IS A DIFFERENT PLACE WHERE WE WERE IN FEBRUARY.

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION.

SO MANY THINGS HAPPEN INSIDE MISSISSIPPI.

AND IT HAPPENED AROUND THE WORLD.

GLASS TO BE BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING PRECAUTIONS AND BUILDING US A NICE PLACE TO WORK SAFELY.

A LOT OF TEAMWORK WENT INTO THAT.

I HOPE TO YOUR POINT YOU MADE DURING THE NEWS PORTION, WILSON THAT FOLKS ARE OUT THERE GETTING THIS VACCINE BECAUSE THAT WILL BE THE WAY WE START TO TURN THE CORNER.

>> AND WE GOT GOOD NEWS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO MORE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE UNTIL PERHAPS MID-FEBRUARY.

AND NOW THEY SAY JANUARY 25th.

AS SUPPLIES ROLL IN FROM OTHER CHANNELS THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.

WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT SO FAR OF HOW THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE VACCINE, EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT, IS BEING HAM -- HANDLED ON THE STATE LEVEL?

>> YOU HAVE TO START AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

IN MANY RESPECTS THE STATES WERE SCRAMBLING.

IT HAS BEEN A PIECEMEAL APPROACH BY THE STATES.

OUR ADMINISTRATIONS FARED BETTER THAN OUR PARTNERS IN FLORIDA AND GEORGIA THAT HAD SOME OF THE WORST RESPONSES WE SAW IN THE COUNTRY.

AT TIMES MAYBE DIDN'T DO ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI.

NOW WE ARE AT THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PHASE.

I GIVE THEM CREDIT, AUSTIN.

THEY SEEM TO BE SCRAMBLING TO GET AS MUCH VACCINE INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE TO ADMINISTER AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S BEEN A MIXED BAG.

TO BE FAIR THIS WAS NOT AN EASY PROCESS.

THERE IS NO BLUEPRINT AND THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET.

THIS IS A CHALLENGING TIME.

I HOPE WE CAN SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

>> YEAH.

AND I KNOW GOVERNOR REEVES AND DR. DOBBS, THEY ARE NOW INVOLVED WITH THIS.

THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY UNTIL EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO BE VACCINATED IS VACCINATED AND THEY WILL WORK HARD TO DO THAT.

THERE ARE ROAD BLOCKS SET UP.

YOU HAVE TO GET ENOUGH VACCINES AND DISTRIBUTE THEM AROUND THE STATE.

THEY HIT ROAD BLOCKS AND THEY HAVE ANOTHER TIME TO WORK THROUGH IT.

IT IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS.

MY PARENTS WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WENT TO THE DRIVE IN IN CANTON THE OTHER DAY.

THEY ARE BOTH 80 YEARS OLD AND WERE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED IN ROUND ONE.

I WAS GLAD TO KNOW THAT.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE OUT THERE, GET VACCINATED IF YOU CAN.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, GET ONLINE AND GO TO REASONABLE AND RATIONAL SITES.

IT IS WORTH GETTING UPDATED ON THIS.

HOPEFULLY GETTING A SHOT IN YOUR ARM.

>> YOU SERVED IN THE HOUSE AND HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS AFFECT THE WORK GETTING DONE IN THE CAPITOL?

YOU CAN'T ALL GET IN THE SAME ROOM AT THE SAME TIME.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE HAPPENING UNDER ALTERED CIRCUMSTANCES.

THEY ARE ONLINE NOW WHICH IS HELPFUL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL, BUT HOW DOES IT HINDER THE LEGISLATURE'S WORK?

>> I THINK IT IS A GREAT HINDRANCE.

WE SAW THIS SUMMER ABOUT 50 MEMBERS CONTRACT THE VIRUS.

THAT IS STAFF AND VISITORS.

IT HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON FOLKS.

THERE IS NO GOOD WAY TO DO IT IN PERSON, AND YOU REALLY CAN'T GET TOGETHER.

I APPRECIATE THAT THEY ARE PUTTING THE MEETINGS IN LARGER ROOMS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOLKS NOT GOING THERE.

I AM ONE OF THEM.

NOT HAVING DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS MAKES IT TOUGH TO LOBBY AND MAKES IT TOUGH TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES.

AUSTIN YOU HAVE BEEN BY A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

>> I HAVE BEEN THERE THREE TIMES THIS SESSION.

WE SHOULD MENTION FORMER MEMBER THAT DIED OF COVID.

HE WAS A GREAT MAN AND EVERYBODY LOVED HIM.

IT HAS A REAL IMPACT ON THOSE WHO WORK IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL.

>> SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED QUITE SIGNIFICANT.

THE FLAG ISSUE FIRST OF ALL THAT THE LEGISLATURE ACTED ON IT AND THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED ON IT IN A SENSE, AND NOW IT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR WAS RIGHT OUT FRONT THIS TIME AND HE HAD NOT BEEN TERRIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF CHANGING THE FLAG BEFOREHAND.

BUT WHEN IT WAS TIME TO SIGN THE BILL HE WAS RIGHT THERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS A BIG MOMENT FOR OUR STATE.

I HAVE A LOT OF GRATITUDE TO THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS AND THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT MADE THIS VOTE AND TO OUR GOVERNOR FOR SIGNING IT.

THIS WAS A LONG PROCESS, BOYS.

I THINK AARON HENRY, THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, FILED THE FIRST BILL IN THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE THE FLAG IN 1988.

IN 1993, THE NAACP AND MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS SUED THE STATE TO TRY TO CHANGE THE FLAG.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE HEARD FROM GOVERNOR MUSGROVE AND HIS FLAG COMMISSION CO-CHAIRED BY WILLIAM WINTER, RECENTLY GONE.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE WORKED SO HARD OVER THE COURSE OF TIME TO DO THIS.

I AM GLAD THAT GOVERNOR WINTER LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THIS RESULT THAT HE PUT SO MUCH SWEAT EQUITY IN.

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL, AUSTIN, TO YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE PEOPLE.

THEY SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON NATIONALLY AND THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A MOMENT.

THEY RAISED THEIR VOICE.

AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY RESPONDED.

THE NCAA RESPONDED.

IT IS A CUL -- CULMINATION OF A LOT OF UNLIKELY BEDFELLOWS.

YOU HEARD THE SPEAKER SPEAK A MOMENT AGO.

I DON'T THINK I EVER HEARD SPEAKER GUNN SPEAK WITH SO MUCH PASSION ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

THAT'S A BIG FEATHER IN HIS CAP.

AND AS SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT DISAGREED WITH HIM ON MANY THINGS, I AM VERY PROUD OF HIS LEADERSHIP HERE.

>> IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING, THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE THAT DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT.

THAT'S THE SPEAKER, PHILIP GUNN, AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

THOSE TWO MEN WENT OUT ON A LIMB IN THEIR OWN PARTY.

THERE WERE MANY WHO DID NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

THERE WERE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO WERE, I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT THIS OR NOT, BUT WERE CONVINCED THAT IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NEC, THE -- THE MEC, THE MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC COUNCIL, OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THOSE GUYS AND GIRLS, THEY WORKED SO HARD AND THEY WERE SO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

A LOT OF BUSINESS LEADERS AROUND THE STATE, A LOT OF THEM ARE NONPARTISAN AND THEY DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT FOR IT.

>> YOU BOTH SAW WHAT HAPPENED AT THE U.S. CAPITOL LAST WEEK.

THE WHOLE WORLD SAW IT.

WE HAVE SEEN IT PLAYED AND REPLAYED.

IT IS STILL PLAYING OUT.

WE HAVE AN INAUGURATION OUTSIDE THAT BUILDING NEXT WEEK.

AUSTIN, YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN WASHINGTON.

HOW ABOUT THAT WHOLE THING, THAT WHOLE AFFAIR MOVE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO NOW?

>> I WAS ANGRY, VERY, VERY ANGRY.

I WORKED AS AN INTERN AND I WAS 21, 22 YEARS OLD IN THE SUMMER OF 1927.

IT WAS TRASHED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ROUGH WORDS I CAN USE, BUT I WAS VERY ANGRY AND UPSET WITH THE PRESIDENT.

I FELT LIKE HE ENCOURAGED FOLKS TO COME TO WASHINGTON.

YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME TO WASHINGTON TO LET THEIR VOICE BEHEADER HEARD -- BE HEARD, THAT'S FINE.

YOU DON'T GET THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SO ANGRY.

YOU DON'T JUST GET THEM AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WANT YOU TO GO AND GO -- YOU KNOW, CHARGE THE CAPITOL.

HE AND OTHERS ON HIS TEAM SAID WORDS THAT I REALLY WISH -- I HOPE THEY REGRET THEY DID.

I VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK HE DID A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE GOOD DURING HIS PRESIDENCY.

BUT THIS CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THE LAST 9 DAYS HAVE MARRED HIS PRESIDENCY IN MANY WAYS.

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT YOU FEEL THAT WAY, AUSTIN, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING IT.

WE WORKED OVER THE YEARS TO GIVE THESE VIEWERS A SHOW WHERE WE TRY TO BE HONEST.

WE TRY TO FIND WAYS TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND AS HONESTLY AS POSSIBLE AND FIND PARTS WHERE WE AGREE AND WHERE WE DISAGREE.

WHAT STRIKES ME IS THAT OUR COUNTRY IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF AN INJECTION OF HONESTY AND TRUTH.

WE CAN'T RECONCILE OURSELVES TO ONE ANOTHER UNLESS THERE IS SOME TRUTH AND FACTUAL BASIS THAT WE START FROM.

I LOOK AT THE FOLKS LAST WEDNESDAY, THOSE HORRIFIC IMAGES, IMAGES WE HAVE NEVER SEEN.

THAT CAPITOL HAS NOT BEEN UNDER SIEGE SINCE THE WAR OF 1812.

PUT THAT IN CONTEXT.

AND NOW WE KNOW PEOPLE DIED.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIED AND MISLED.

THEY WERE THERE UNDER THE HONEST BELIEF THAT THE ELECTION HAD BEEN STOLEN FROM THEM, AND WHAT A DISSERVICE TO THEM AND TO THEIR WORLD VIEW AND TO THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT IT BRINGS THEM TO THIS POINT OF CRISIS AND BRINGS THE NATION TO A POINT IN CRISIS.

I THINK PART OF THE WAY WE BEGIN TO UNRAVEL ALL OF THIS IS TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.

THERE IS THIS DESIRE TO KIND OF HAVE A BOOGIE MAN WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING WELL IN OUR LIFE.

DONALD TRUMP HAS FILLED THAT VACUUM BY GIVING PEOPLE THESE NARRATIVES THAT JUSTIFY BAD ACTS.

I THINK THE PROCESS WE ARE SEEING NOW, THIS IMPEACHMENT.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE TIRED, PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED.

THEY ARE TIRED OF HAVING TO THINK ABOUT THE NEWS, BUT ACCOUNTABILITY HAS TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS SO THAT WE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES AGAIN.

WE KNOW FROM BEING KIDS YOU DON'T GET PUNISHED WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG THEN YOU ARE INCLINED TO DO SOMETHING WRONG NEXT TIME, OR ONE OF YOUR BUDDIES WILL SEE IT AND SAY I CAN GET AWAY WITH IT TOO.

IT IS A NECESSARY PROCESS WE ARE GOING THROUGH.

>> BOTH SIDES HAVE TO BE BETTER.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE, BUT RESPOND WITH THAT.

DO YOU THINK THE SENATE SHOULD GO FORWARD WITH A TRIAL AGAINST.

-- AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP EVEN AFTER JOE BIDEN IS PRESIDENT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CENSURE MEASURE, BUT THAT'S THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT YOU DID.

I THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THIS AND DEBATED THIS WITH SOME REALLY CLOSE FRIENDS WHO WERE STRONG REPUBLICANS.

I JUST THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME IF I WAS A VOTING MEMBER I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR IMPEACHMENT.

BUT I DO THINK CENSURE WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT MEASURE AND SO DID THE LEADER OF THE MINORITY -- THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE AND I'M SURE MITCH McCONNELL WOULD HAVE SAID THE SAME THING.

>> MUCH TO WATCH FROM WASHINGTON AND BEYOND OVER THESE COMING DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS.

THANK YOU BOTH, AS ALWAYS.

GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN WATCH THIS PROGRAM ONLINE OR LISTEN TO THE PODCAST AT MPB ONLINE.ORG/@ISSUE.

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THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.