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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN NORTHERN AUTAUGA COUNTY WHEN A TORNADO RIPPED THROUGH THE AREA THURSDAY.

AT LEAST 12 MORE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE STORM ALSO PRODUCED A TORNADO THAT STRUCK DOWNTOWN SELMA, UPROOTING TREES AND DAMAGING SEVERAL HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

SELMA MAYOR JAMES PERKINS SAID NO FATALITIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY, U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT AND CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL TOOK AN ARIEL VIEW OF THE DAMAGE IN A HELICOPTER FRIDAY.

THE LEADERS SAID THAT OFFICIALS ARE STILL ASSESSING THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE AND THEY WILL BE ASKING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

>>> THE LEGISLATURE WAS BACK IN TOWN THIS WEEK.

THE NEW LEGISLATURE THAT IS, WITH HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS ELECTED TO OFFICE IN NOVEMBER.

LAWMAKERS MET FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION, WHICH INCLUDES THE ELECTION OF LEADERSHIP, ADOPTING RULES AND ASSIGNING MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES.

IN THE HOUSE, WE OFFICIALLY HAVE A NEW SPEAKER.

MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED NATHANIEL LEDBETTER OF RAINSVILLE TO WIELD THE GAVEL FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THAT WAS THE HIGH POINT OF A BUSY FEW DAYS IN THE LOWER CHAMBER.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

[ GAVEL BANGING ] >> LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE HOUSE CHAMBER FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.

THEY ARE HAPPY TO SEE EACH OTHER BUT THIS IS NOT A SOCIAL CALL.

THERE'S WORK TO DO.

>> TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, SO HELP ME GOD.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

>> NEW MEMBERS ARE SWORN IN, THEN THE ELECTION OF A NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THE MEMBERS NOMINATED NATHANIEL LEDBETTER TO THE POST.

>> I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY A MAN HUMBLED BY THE FAITH YOU HAVE PUT IN ME AND THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY YOU HAVE PLAYED UPON MY SHOULDERS.

I PLEDGE TO YOU HERE AND NOW TO WORK AS HARD AS I'M ABLE TO JUSTIFY BOTH.

>> SPEAKER LEDBETTER MENTIONED THE GOALS OF THE HOUSE.

>> ALL OF US WHO HOLD AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE SERVE WITH ONE PURPOSE IN MIND, TO MAKE AN ALREADY GREAT STATE EVEN GREATER.

I UNDERSTAND THE SPEAKER'S GAVEL IS NOT A WEAPON.

IT'S A TOOL.

TO BE USED TO ENCOURAGE COMMON DEBATE, FIND COMMON GROUND AND REPRESENT THE CONSTITUENTS WE SERVE.

EACH TIME WE ENTER THE CHAMBER WE PASS BY THE PHRASE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

IT WAS CARVED IN THE SEAL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

I INTEND TO LET THOSE VOICES BE HEARD, NOT THROUGH POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING BUT THROUGH OPEN AND FAIR AND CONSTRUCTIVE DEBATE.

>> THE SPEAKER NOW IN PLACE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE IS ELECTED SPEAKER PRO-TEM.

>> I REMEMBER SITTING IN THAT CHAIR FOR JANUARY OF 1995 NEVER IMAGINING FOR A MOMENT THAT I WOULD BE THE PRO TEM OF THE ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY I'VE ENJOYED EVERY BIT OF IT.

>> THE REGULAR SESSION STARTS IN MARCH BUT THE HOUSE STANDS READY.

>> TIME TO GO TO WORK, RIGHT?

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> THERE WERE NO LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN THE SENATE.

GREG REED OF JASPER WAS REELECTED AS PRESIDENT PRO TEM.

JUST LIKE IN THE HOUSE, THAT ELECTION WAS UNANIMOUS AND BI-PARTISAN, PER TRADITION.

THAT STANDS IN CONTRAST TO THE HIGHLY PARTISAN SPEAKER ELECTION IN WASHINGTON.

>> I'M GOING TO COMMUNICATE AS MUCH AS I KNOW NOW.

I LIKE TALKIN', AND SO WE'RE GOING TO COMMUNICATE.

THAT'S THE HALLMARK OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ALREADY UP TO.

I WILL FOCUS ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO ALABAMA.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANCE BUT SOME MOST IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

RECOGNIZE EVERY MEMBER TO BE HEARD.

WE GET A MUCH BETTER PRODUCT COMING OUT OF THIS BODY WHEN WE LISTEN TO WHAT EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY.

IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME, BUT WE WIND UP WITH A BETTER OUTCOME AND IS THAT NOT OUR GOAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA?

>> SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON WAS AGAIN ELECTED BY THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS TO SERVE AS MINORITY LEADER.

HE HAD SOME THOUGHTS OF HIS OWN ON THE FLOOR ABOUT HOW HIS CAUCUS WOULD OPERATE IN THE REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED CHAMBER.

>> THANK YOU TO MY CAUCUS OVER ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE FOR ENTRUSTING IN ME TO CONTINUE TO BE THE LEADER, AS MINORITY LEADER.

I WANT TO THANK LEADER REED FOR ENTRUSTING AND WORKING WELL TOGETHER WITH ME IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.

AND FOR THIS BODY, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.

I LOOK FORWARD COMING TO THIS MIC AND GIVING YOU PURE ATL AND MAKING SURE WE START OUT FIRST HOUR IF WE CAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, MR. LEADER.

THANK YOU.

>> BOTH CHAMBERS ADOPTED NEW RULES FOR LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

IN THE HOUSE, CHANGES WERE MADE TO STREAMLINE DEBATE AND THE BILL PASSING PROCESS.

IF A BILL COMES TO THE FLOOR WITH MULTIPLE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, THEY CAN BE CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE AMENDMENT AND VOTED ON INSTEAD OF REQUIRING MULTIPLE SEPARATE VOTES.

THE NEW RULES ALSO ALLOW LOCAL BILLS TO BE CONTESTED BY THOSE OUTSIDE THE AREA SO LONG AS 11 MEMBERS AGREE TO THE CONTEST.

ALSO, THE SPEAKER WILL BE EMPOWERED TO REASSIGN BILLS TO A SECOND COMMITTEE ONCE THEY REACH THE FLOOR.

IN THE SENATE, ONE NEW RULE WILL ALLOW SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON BILLS WITHOUT THE PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED 48-HOUR NOTICE.

THE NEW RULE SAYS 48-HOUR NOTICE SHOULD BE GIVEN "“WHEN POSSIBLE"”" SENATOR ARTHUR ORR SPONSORED THE RESOLUTION CONTAINING THE RULE CHANGES AND SAID THAT OFTENTIMES, A COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN WILL HAVE A MEETING PLANNED AND THE DAY PRIOR, A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC OR A GROUP WILL REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING.

CHAIRS WANT TO ACCOMMODATE THE REQUEST, BUT DON'T WANT TO WAIT 48 HOURS.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL RETURN FOR ITS REGULAR SESSION ON MARCH 7 AND BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WE WILL SEE BILLS GETTING PRE-FILED.

ONE PROPOSAL WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM SENATOR ORR IS A PAY RAISE FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.

ORR SAYS HE WANTS TO RAISE PAY AND BUILD A PIPELINE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 1,440 PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE AND PRINCIPALS' SALARIES VARY.

BUT ON THE LOWEST END, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEADER STARTS AT ABOUT $62,000 PER YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE COUNCIL OF LEADERS IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS.

OF COURSE, ALL TEACHERS AND EDUCATION WORKERS GOT A PAY RAISE IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT RAISE APPLIED TO SOME BUT NOT ALL ADMINISTRATORS.

ORR SAYS RECRUITING AND RETAINING QUALITY PRINCIPALS IS A KEY COMPONENT TO IMPROVING EDUCATION.

ALSO ON THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE, ALABAMA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM IS PARTNERING WITH THE ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS OFFER 30 COLLEGE, CAREER AND APPRENTICESHIP WORKSHOPS TO MILIARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THE COUNCIL ALSO DONATED $50,000 TO THE PROJECT.

>> THESE WORKSHOPS WILL PROVIDE OUR ACTIVE MILITARY, NATIONAL GUARDSMEN, RESERVISTS AND VETERANS IN ALABAMA WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS STATE AND FEDERAL FINANCIAL BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO THEM AT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

THE EVENTS STAND TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY.

THESE WORKSHOPS SHOW THE INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT OF THESE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS.

WE WANT TO RECIPROCATE THAT WITH PARTICIPATION AND WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO SUPPORT.

>> THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS RECENTLY DECIDED TO REMOVE INMATE DEATH TOTALS, INCLUDING HOMICIDES AND SUICIDES, FROM ITS MONTHLY STATISTICAL REPORTS.

THE PLAN GOING FORWARD IS TO REPORT THOSE STATISTICS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS IN WHAT THE DEPARTMENT CALLS A MORE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE REPORT.

BUT LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE QUESTIONING THE MOVE, SAYING LEGISLATION MAY BE NECESSARY TO COMPEL THE MONTHLY REPORTING.

GOVERNOR IVEY AND PRISON COMMISSIONER JOHN HAMM HAVE DEFENDED THE CHANGE SAYING IT WILL LEAD TO MORE ACCURATE REPORTING.

HAMM ALSO REMINDED THE MEDIA THAT MANY OF THE DEATHS THAT OCCURRED IN PRISON ARE FROM NATURAL CAUSES.

>> THAT IS A NUMBER OF 200 PLUS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS THAT ARE NATURAL CAUSES BECAUSE AS A PRISON POPULATION OF ABOUT 21,000 RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HAVING INMATES COME IN THAT ARE OLDER.

THEY ARE NOT AS HEALTHY AS THEY SHOULD.

SO, WE DO HAVE INMATES THAT ARE DYING OF NATURAL CAUSES OR DISEASE.

>> HAMM ALSO RECOGNIZED THAT THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF INMATES INCARCERATED FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEATH TOLL.

>> ACCORDING TO THE ALABAMA SENTENCING COMMISSION REPORT THAT ACTUALLY HASN'T GONE OUT YET ON THEIR YEARLY STATISTICS, 80% OF THE PEOPLE SERVING TIME IN THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ARE THERE FOR A VIOLENT OFFENSE.

THAT, IN ITSELF, TELLS YOU WE HAVE A POPULATION THAT IS, YOU KNOW -- THEY ARE PRONE TO VIOLENCE.

SO, WE'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THROUGH OUR REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS AND, YOU KNOW, OUR REHABILITATIVE HOUSING UNITS.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

>> THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR THE LOSS OF CORRECTIONAL INCENTIVE TIME, MORE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GOOD TIME, WHICH REDUCES TIME FROM AN INMATE'S SENTENCE FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR BEHIND BARS.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE JUNE OF LAST YEAR WHEN TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WERE SHOT AND ONE WAS KILLED BY SOMEONE RELEASED EARLY FOR GOOD TIME.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS THE STORY.

>> OUR ACTION TODAY, VERY SIMPLY PUT, KEEPS VILE OFFENDERS OFF OF THE STREET INCENTIVIZES INMATES WHO TRULY WANT TO REHABILITATE AND BETTER THEMSELVES, AND REINFORCES THE CONCEPT THAT BAD CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

>> EXECUTIVE ORDER 725 PUTS INMATE VIOLATIONS THAT RESULT THIS IN THE FORFEITURE OF CORRECTIONAL INCENTIVE TIME OR GOOD TIME INTO FOUR CATEGORIES -- SEVERE, HIGH, MEDIUM AND LOW.

AFTER MEETING CERTAIN CRITERIA, INMATES CAN APPLY FOR RESTORATION OF THE TIME BUT RESTORING LOST TIME DUE TO SEVERE VIOLATIONS IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER AND WILL BE USED IN RARE, EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> IT ALL COMES DOWN TO BEHAVIOR.

THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF FELONIES AND THEY ARE INCARCERATED.

SO, IF THEY ARE READY TO BE REHABILITATED THAN THAT'S PART OF IT.

THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

WE OFFER ALL OF THE CLASSES THEY NEED ON ANGER MANAGEMENT AND GOOD DECISION-MAKING.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MAIN THING.

WHAT'S THEIR RECORD AND HOW THEY ARE ACTING.

>> DUE TO THE NATURE OF THEIR CRIMES AND/OR THE LENGTH OF THEIR SENTENCES, NOT ALL INMATES QUALIFY FOR CORRECTIONAL INCENTIVE TIME, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DO, THE PLAN CAN REMOVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DAYS OFF OF THEIR SENTENCES BUT STATE OFFICIALS WANT TO ENSURE THAT INMATES ARE TRULY EARNING THE TIME.

>> FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS JUST TO GET GOOD TIME, JUST BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO BREATHE, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

THAT'S NOT JUSTICE.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT TO THE VICTIMS, BUT THESE POLICIES, IN MY OPINION, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL SEE WILL GIVE CLEAR GUIDANCE AND SEPARATE THOSE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND TRYING TO REHABILITATE THEMSELVES AND TRYING TO BE GOOD MODEL CITIZENS WHEN THEY GET OUT OF PRISON FROM THOSE WHO ARE JUST GAMING THE SYSTEM.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> I'LL SPEAK WITH STATE SENATOR APRIL WEAVER MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

RUSSELL CAVE IS LOCATED IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA IN JACKSON COUNTY.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE WITH DEEP DEPOSITS THAT ARE A RESULT OF FREQUENT USE BY NATIVE AMERICANS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND OFFER A GLIMPSE OF WAYS FROM THE ARCHAIC TO THE HISTORIC PERIOD.

IT WAS NAMED A NATIONAL MONUMENT IN 1961 AND TODAY IS PART OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY SENATOR APRIL WEAVER.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WITH YOU.

>> I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON THIS WEAK BECAUSE IT IS TOPICAL, THE DISCUSSION OF GOOD TIME POLICIES IN OUR PRISONS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

GOOD TIME MEANING, THE POLICY THAT ALLOWS INMATES TO GET TIME OFF SENTENCES FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR BEHIND BARS.

OF COURSE, THERE WERE A FEW CASES LAST YEAR WHERE THOSE WHO HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON COMMITTED CRIMES, INCLUDING A MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

I WANTED YOU TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH.

SO YESTERDAY I PRE-FILED SB-1 WHICH WILL BE KNOWN AS THE DEPUTY BRAD JOHNSON ACT.

IT'S A VERY TRAGIC SITUATION THAT HAPPENED IN MY DISTRICT THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SINCE THE BEGINNING.

ACTUALLY, JUNE 29th, 2022.

AND TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, I WAS WORKING HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

THERE WAS A CONVICTED FELON WHO STOLE A CAR IN SHELBY COUNTY AND THEY HAD A HIGH-SPEED CHASE THAT WOUND UP GOING INTO BIBB COUNTY WHERE DEPUTY CHRIS POOL AND DEPUTY JOHNSON BEGAN TO CHASE THE SUSPECT.

THE SUSPECT WOUND UP WRECKING THE CAR, ESSENTIALLY IN THE FOOT OF MY DRIVEWAY.

I'M RIGHT NEAR MY HOUSE.

AND DEPUTY POOL WAS THE FIRST AT THE SCENE.

AND HE WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD BY THE SUSPECT.

AT WHICH TIME HE PICKED UP THE RADIO AND SAID I'VE BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD, CALL APRIL WEAVER.

>> BECAUSE IT WAS AT YOUR HOUSE.

>> I WAS AT MY HOUSE AND HE KNOWS I'M A MEDICAL PROVIDER AND I HAVE KNOWN THEM A LONG TIME.

GREAT PEOPLE AND GREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

WHEN HE PICKED UP THE RADIO AND CALLED FOR ME TO HELP HIM, MY MOTHER WAS LISTENING TO HER SCANNER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HEARD DEPUTY POOL'S REQUEST FOR ME TO HELP HIM.

AT WHICH POINT SHE STARTED TO LOOK FOR ME.

I WAS HERE IN MONTGOMERY WORKING.

SO SHE STARTED TO TRY TO FIND ME.

SHE CALLED MY HUSBAND, WHO IN THE FIRST PART OF HIS CAREER WAS A TRAUMA PHYSICIAN.

HE SPENT OVER 600 FLIGHTS DOING LIFE FLIGHTS AND 27 YEARS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM SETTING.

SO WAS TAKING CARE OF A LOT OF CRITICALLY ILL PEOPLE.

SHE CALLED HIM.

SHE WAS WORKING AT HOME AND HAPPENED TO BE AT THE HOUSE WORKING AT THE TIME THAT ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE.

HE WAS ON THE ZOOM CALL.

HE LOOKED DOWN AND SEES HER VOICE MAIL DICTATING TO HIM THAT CHRIS HAS BEEN SHOT AND IS ASKING ME TO HELP HIM AND SO HE IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT TO THINK HE IS GOING TO HELP CHRIS AND WHEN HE GETS THERE HE FINDS DEPUTY JOHNSON HAS ALSO BEEN SHOT.

HE, ALONG WITH OTHERS THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDED CARE TO THE DEPUTY JOHNSON ON THE SCENE.

HE WORKED WITH OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE TRANSPORT TO THE AMBULANCE AND ROAD TO UAB WITH DEPUTY JOHNSON.

WHEN I GOT HOME THERE WAS A MANHUNT AROUND OUR HOUSE AND FARM.

I GOT TO SEE THE INCIDENT COMMAND CENTER OF THOSE HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WORKING THERE.

AT THAT TIME, WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED IN ALABAMA WHERE WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER AND DIFFERENTLY.

SO SITUATIONS LIKE THAT DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

I MADE A COMMITMENT THAT NIGHT I WAS GOING TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.

FOR THE PAST SIX, SEVEN MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND PEOPLE RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE HAVE FIGURED OUT A WAY THAT WE THINK IS A GREAT RESOLUTION TO STATUTORILY FIX A BROKEN LAW THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE WAY THE GOOD TIME LAW IS WRITTEN.

>> WE REPORTED ON ACTIONS THE GOVERNOR IS TAKING FROM HER EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

WHY IS LEGISLATION NEEDED?

>> I'M EXCITED THE GOVERNOR TOOK THE FIRST STEP WITH HER EXECUTIVE ORDER AND I APPRECIATE HER AND HER STAFF HAVING A GREAT INTEREST IN THIS TRAGIC SITUATION.

I HAVE DISCUSSED THAT WE NEED TO STATUTORILY REFORM AND FIX THE LAW BECAUSE I THINK THE LAW IS BROKEN.

>> THOSE ARE -- THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE THAT SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, WE NEED GOOD TIME POLICIES TO ENCOURAGE GOOD BEHAVIOR IN PRISON.

OUR PRISONS ARE PRETTY VIOLENT ALREADY.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE ARGUMENTS?

>> I WOULD SAY I THINK THERE IS A PLACE FOR GOOD TIME.

I THINK FOR PRISONERS BEHAVING WELL IN PRISON AND GOING THROUGH REHAB AND REFORMING THEMSELVES AND COOPERATING WITH CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, I THINK THERE IS A PLACE YOU USE GOOD TIME TO WORK WITH THEM AND THEIR SITUATION.

HOWEVER, IN THIS SITUATION, THE SHOOTER OF DEPUTY BRAD JOHNSON AND I WILL NOT SHOOT HIS NAME BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE DESERVES ANY RECOGNITION.

FOR ANYONE INTERESTED THEY CAN GOOGLE IT AND SEE DEPUTY BRAD JOHNSON.

A LOT OF STORIES IN THE NEWS BUT HE WAS A CONVICTED FELON, WHO IF HE HAD BEEN SERVING HIS FULL SENTENCE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN PRISON ON JUNE 29th, 2022, THE DAY DEPUTY JOHNSON WAS SHOT.

HE HAD A LOT OF BAD BEHAVIOR DURING HIS TIME DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND AFTER THAT.

EVEN IN COUNTY JAILS WITH.

HE WAS AN ESCAPEE FROM DOC AND ASSAULTED OFFICERS.

IN THE BILL I PRE-FILED YESTERDAY THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT IF YOU DO THESE THINGS WHILE IN PRISON YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR GOOD TIME.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD GIVE GOOD TIME JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE THERE.

I THINK YOU SHOULD EARN IT.

>> WELL, YEAH.

THAT SOUNDS PRETTY BAD BEHAVIOR, TRYING TO ESCAPE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHILE WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME, CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE BASICS OF YOUR BILL?

>> YES.

THE BILL I PRE-FILED YESTERDAY, SB-1, PREFILED FOR THE 2023 SESSION.

I'M SO EXCITED IT'S THE FIRST BILL FILED FOR THE SESSION.

IT MAKES CHANGES FOR HOW THE DEDUCTIONS IS CALCULATED.

CURRENTLY IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE SERVING TEN YEARS, IF THEY GO BY THE CURRENT LAW, THEY COULD HAVE DEDUCTIONS DOWN TO THREE YEARS OR A LITTLE MORE.

SO THEY COULD SERVE A THIRD OF THEIR SENTENCE IF ALL GOOD TIME WAS GIVEN TO THEM.

THIS MAKES CHANGES IN THE CALCULATIONS SO IT DOESN'T GIVE THEM AUTOMATIC GOOD TIME.

IT MAKES THEM EARN IT.

AND IT CHANGES THE CALCULATION IN THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE WITH THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE PRISONERS.

NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO EARN IT, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET GOOD TIME TO GET OUT EARLY UNDER THIS LAW THAT I PRE-FILED.

>> DO YOU THINK -- SO THE INCENTIVE WOULD STILL BE THERE AND MAYBE EVEN GREATER IN A PERFECT SCENARIO FOR PRISONERS NOT TO JUST NOT DO WRONG BUT PROACTIVELY DO GOOD.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD HOPE IS THAT IT WOULD BE AN INCENTIVE.

IF YOU ARE ON GOOD BEHAVIOR AND YOU ARE TRYING TO DO BETTER THAN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS AND WE CAN WORK YOU THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND CALCULATIONS.

ONE OTHER THING THAT I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THIS LAW CURRENTLY THAT I HAVE PRE-FILED DOES IS IT ALSO PROVIDES A REPORTING MECHANISM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

THERE WILL BE A REQUIRED REPORT RELATED TO GOOD TIME FROM DOC THAT WILL GO TO THE GOVERNOR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND TO THE LEGISLATURE EACH YEAR UNDER THIS LAW.

>> WELL, WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING A WHOLE EPISODE JUST ON PRISONS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING IN ALABAMA.

I WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON AND TALK MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> I'D LOVE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

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.

>> MOUNDVILLE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK CONTAINS THE REMAINS OF ONE OF THE LARGEST PREHISTORIC NATIVE AMERICAN SITES IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT WAS LOCATED ON THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER 14 MILES SOUTH OF TODAY'S TUSCALOOSA.

A THRIVING CENTER, THE SITE WAS OCCUPIED MORE THAN THREE CENTURIES BUT ABANDONED BY THE EARLY 16TH CENTURY.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM AUBURN, THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON, TODD.

ALWAYS ENJOY VISITING WITH ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES COMMITTEE.

HOW DID THIS APPOINTMENT COME ABOUT?

>> I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE TRUST THE SPEAKER LEDBETTER PUT IN ME AND THE MEMBERS SERVING THIS ROLE.

WHEN I WAS ELECTED IN THE SPECIAL SESSION IN 2016, I CAME DOWN HERE -- IN THE SPECIAL SESSION YOU COME BY YOURSELF SO I PAID ATTENTION AND LOOKED TO SEE WHO IS GETTING THINGS DONE AND TRIED TO LEARN FROM THOSE PEOPLE.

AS NEW PEOPLE COME IN, YOU GET A SMALL OFFICE ASSIGNMENT.

I WAS PUT IN A BROOM CLOSET ON THE FIFTH FLOOR AND ACROSS THE HALL WAS NATHANIEL LEDBETTER.

WE MET AND HAVE BEEN GOOD FRIENDS EVER SINCE.

HE ASKED IF I WOULD TAKE ON THIS ROLL AND I WAS HONORED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> YOU WERE A FRESHMAN CLASS OF ONE FOR THAT SPECIAL SESSION.

THE RULES COMMITTEE IS INTERESTING.

IT'S AN INFLUENTIAL, POWERFUL COMMITTEE.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT THE COMMITTEE DOES, THE PROCESS?

>> SURE.

THE MAIN PROCESS WE HAVE IS WHEN LEGISLATION IS GOING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, IT COMES TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT ON THE FLOOR.

THE RULES COMMITTEE SETS THE AGENDA ARE, THE CALENDAR, PROVIDES MORE SCRUTINY FOR THE BILLS MAKING SURE THEY ARE GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT AND THE BILLS ARE DOING WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO AND WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE BRINGING THE BILLS TO MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL AS THEY GO FORWARD AND ALSO IF SOME BILLS NEED TO BE TAKEN BACK FOR MORE IMPROVEMENT.

WE OFTEN SAY THAT IT TAKES THREE DAYS TO PUSH A BAD BILL THROUGH THE HOUSE BUT THREE YEARS TO PUSH A GOOD ONE.

THE GOOD ONES TAKE THE TIME AND SCRUTINY THAT'S NEEDED.

WORKING WITH OUR RULES COMMITTEE TO TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO BRING THEIR LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR AND THOSE PIECES THAT NEED A LITTLE MORE WORK DONE TO THEM, WE WILL IDENTIFY THOSE, AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, AS PEOPLE INTRODUCE BILLS ONE BY ONE, THEY ARE BASICALLY PUT ON THE REGULAR CALENDAR, BASICALLY IN THE ORDER OF -- CHRONOLOGICALLY WHICH THEY GOT ESTABLISHED BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN -- CERTAIN BILLS MAY TAKE A PRIORITY.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

AS BILLS COME THROUGH WE WILL MEET AS A COMMITTEE.

I'LL HELP TO ESTABLISH A PICK LIST OF THOSE BILLS WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND MADE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE CRITERIA WE WANT TO DO AND DOING THE TYPE OF THINGS THE LEGISLATION IS INTENDED TO DO AND THEN PICK, AS A COMMITTEE, TO ESTABLISH THAT CALENDAR AND THEN I'LL PRESENT TO THE ENTIRE BODY THAT CALENDAR AS A RESOLUTION FOR THE DAY.

AND HOPEFULLY WE VOTE AND ADOPT AND THAT'S THE BILLS WE CONSIDER FOR THAT LEGISLATIVE DAY.

>> WE ARE HERE IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION THIS WEEK AND THERE WERE RULES CHANGES PUT FORWARD THAT YOU ALL ADOPTED.

BASICALLY, GOVERNING HOW YOU ALL GO ABOUT PROCEDURE, WHETHER IT IS ON THE FLOOR, THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, HOW VOTES ARE HANDLED ON LEGISLATION.

I KNOW THERE WERE SOME CHANGES.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE BASICS ON WHAT IS DIFFERENT GOING FORWARD INNER THIS TERM VERSUS LAST TERM?

>> SURE.

THERE ARE RULES THAT WE GO TO, NOT ONLY CONDUCT BUT DRESS AND THE BASICS OF HOW LEGISLATION FLOWS.

SO EVERY FOUR YEARS OR SO THEY ARE LOOKED AT AND SAY WHAT COULD WE DO DIFFERENT AND BETTER AND OUR GOAL THIS TIME IS HOW TO PROVIDE MORE TRANSPARENCY TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND OTHER LEGISLATORS AND MEDIA ALIKE.

HOW CAN WE OFFER MORE EFFICIENCY FOR THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO MOVE THROUGH.

WE TOOK THINGS AND WORKED WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE OFFICES TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THOSE AVENUES WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT AND UPDATED.

WE HAVE ANTIQUATED LANGUAGE WITH POSTING AND WE HAD TO UPDATE TO THE 2022 CONSTITUTIONAL RULES.

SO ALIGNING THOSE WAS PART OF THE PROCESS.

SOME BIG CHANGES THAT WILL COME WITH THAT ON THE EFFICIENCY SIDE, ONE WHERE IF A BILL GOES THROUGH A COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE AND THERE'S MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS ADDED IN THAT COMMITTEE THEN WHEN THAT BILL COMES THE FLOOR YOU WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT BILL AND THEN REATTACH EACH OF THOSE AMENDMENTS.

ONE CHANGE WE'VE DONE IS WHEN THE COMMITTEE MEETS AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE ADDED WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE IT WILL COME AS A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE AND THE AMENDMENTS WILL BE ROLLED INTO IT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE FLOOR, YOU WILL HAVE A COMPLETE BILL THAT WON'T BE BROKEN UP INTO INDIVIDUAL AMENDMENTS ADDED AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE AMENDMENTS THROUGHOUT THAT NEW COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE TO SHOW MEMBERS WHERE THOSE AMENDMENTS PLAY A ROLE.

YOU MAY HAVE AN AMENDMENT IN THE PAST THAT'S COME IN WHERE IT MAY ADD A COMMA OR THE WORD AND 50 TIMES IN A BILL AND YOU HAVE TO READ THROUGH AND SEE WHAT IT DOES AND WHAT IT CHANGES.

NOW THAT CAN BE CLEARLY HIGHLIGHTED AND YOU CAN SAY, I AGREE WITH OR DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

SO IT COMES TO A FLOOR VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

THE PROCESS IS SHE SAME, YOU CAN STILL DEBATE IT.

YOU JUST FILE AN AMENDMENT TO TAKE IT BACK OFF THE FLOOR.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR MEMBERS AND EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHERE THOSE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS ATTACH.

>> ALSO YOU MENTIONED THE EFFICIENCY.

SAY A BILL COMES OUT OF COMMITTEE WITH EIGHT COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS.

WELL, YOU HAVE TO DEBATE AND VOTE ON EACH OF THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS.

I'M PRETTY SURE -- I SAW SOME REPORTING THAT IT IS UNLIMITED DEBATE.

SO YOU COULD BE DEBATING THE REST OF THE DAY IF TIME ALLOWED.

I GUESS THIS COULD SPEED THINGS ALONG.

THIS IS THE COMPLETE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.

>> SURE.

>> AND NOT TAKE HOURS ON END.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S STILL AVENUES TO ADD AND TAKE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ADDED IN COMMITTEE BACK OFF.

THOSE ARE STILL THERE BUT SOME SCRUTINY WE WERE TAKING AWAY DEBATE.

THE DEBATE PROCEDURES ARE STILL IN THERE.

BUT IF WE HAVE A BILL THAT'S SOME SMALL DEBATE ANYWAY, YOU AMPLIFY IT AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIND AN EFFICIENCY OF FLOW.

WHEN WE COME IN WITH A BILL THAT WE FEEL WILL BE VOTED ON THAT DAY, IT EXPEDITES US TO GET TO THE VOTE A LITTLE BIT QUICKER SO WE CAN VOTE IT UP OR DOWN OR MAKE CHANGES ALONG THE WAY, BUT IT DOES HELP THE EFFICIENCY WITH THE DEBATE.

>> I HEARD LAST TERM A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FROM RANK AND FILE MEMBERS THAT IF PEOPLE GET INTO A FILIBUSTER MENTALITY, THE DAYS WOULD DRAG ON AND ON, FIVE OR SIX HOURS ON ONE BILL BECAUSE EVERYBODY WOULD TURN THEIR LIGHT ON AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK.

UNLESS YOU CLOISTERED, I KNOW THE FORMER SPEAKER WANTED TO BE SPARING ABOUT THAT, BUT UP IN THE SENATE THEY ARE BREAKING FOR LUNCH AND YOU ARE ON THE FIRST BILL.

I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION AND WANTING EFFICIENCY.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE MINORITY WANTS THEIR ABILITY TO DO THAT FILIBUSTER TO SLOW DOWN THINGS.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE NEED FOR EFFICIENCY AND LETTING THE MINORITY -- MAKING SURE THE MINORITY HAS A VOICE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EACH RULE CHANGED WE LOOKED AT WE TRIED TO THINK OF -- WE HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY AS REPUBLICANS.

I LOOKED AT EACH ONE OF THESE AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM DID AS WELL, WHAT IF WE WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE, WOULD WE BE TREATED FAIRLY AND DO THE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR VOICE?

WE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY ANY OF THAT.

AS YOU ADD PROCEDURAL VOTES LIKE AMENDMENTS BACK ON A BILL OR AMENDMENTS THROUGH THAT PROCESS OR VOTES, SOMETIMES YOU VACATE THE DEBATE OF SUBSTANCE FOR THE BILL AND IT BECOMES OFF THINGS.

WE'RE DEBATING THE CONTEXT OF A BILL, A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WHAT'S THE GOOD AND BAD, YES OR NO, IS THIS BEST FOR ALABAMA.

WE GET INTO SESSIONS WHERE IT MAY GET INTO PERSONAL ISSUES.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP PUSH THROUGH THE BILLS MORE QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AND GET DOWN TO THE REAL ISSUES WE ARE GOING TO DEBATE AND MAKE TIME FOR THOSE BASED ON SUBSTANCE VERSUS ANY OTHER ISSUE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

WE HAVE SEEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION THIS WEEK BUT LAST WEEK WE WERE WATCHING WASHINGTON AND ESPECIALLY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THEY DON'T CALL IT ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION BUT IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME THING, ELECTING A SPEAKER, ADOPTING RULES.

IT DRUG ON FOR A WEEK.

THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT -- IF KEVIN McCARTHY WAS GOING TO GET THE VOTES BUT HE FINALLY DID.

WHAT LOT OF THAT WAS OVER RULES CHANGES AND PEOPLE USING THEIR LEVERAGE TO EXACT THOSE CHANGES AND ENDED UP PASSING A PACKAGE AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

IT STRIKES ME BECAUSE YOU HAD HALF OF -- WELL, 20 TO 40 REALLY FOLKS THAT MAYBE HAD MORE INCENTIVE TO DISRUPT THE PROCESS, GET ON TV, TOOT THEIR OWN HORN RATHER THAN WORK WITH THE TEAM TO GET THINGS DONE.

HOW DO YOU ALL AVOID THAT SAME PROBLEM THEY ARE SEEING IN WASHINGTON?

>> WHAT I TOLD PEOPLE THROUGH THE RULES PROCESS IS THE SAME WITH OTHER LEGISLATION I HAVE BEEN A PART OF.

MAKE SURE YOUR DISAGREEMENT IS BASED ON FACT.

MAKE SURE YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERN IS BASED ON FACT.

WE HAD SOME CONCERNS THAT BLEW UP FROM THIS DEBATE ON RULES JUST IN ALABAMA BUT WAS ABLE TO MINIMIZE IT BECAUSE WE SENT AS MUCH CORRECT INFORMATION OUT.

AS SOON AS WE MET AND TALKED ABOUT THE CHANGES WE WANTED TO MAKE, THE SPEAKER AND MYSELF REACHED OUT TO THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER AND SAID HERE'S WHAT WE ARE THINKING AND I WANT TO GET YOUR FEELS.

HERE'S THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO.

FEEDBACK, WE WANTED FEEDBACK, CIRCLE BACK FROM THE MEMBERS, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT AND WE MADE THE FINAL RULES BASED ON THE FEEDBACK.

WE MADE CHANGES THE DAY OF BASED ON HOW TO EFFICIENTLY WORK WITH LOCAL BILLS.

THE FACT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON -- WE ARE FORTUNATE WE HAD A UNIFIED ELECTION OF OUR SPEAKER.

IT COMES DOWN TO BASIC COMMUNICATION.

PEOPLE OF ALABAMA ARE GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD NEIGHBORS.

WE, IN THE LEGISLATURE, ARE CROSS SECTION OF WHAT ALABAMA IS.

WE'RE ELECTED BY THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY AND WORKING IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND GOING TO CHURCH IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE HERE.

YOU HAVE THE OUTLIER IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR CHURCH THAT LIKES TO MAKE NOISE SOMETIMES.

WE WILL HAVE THAT SAME IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT CLEAR COMMUNICATION, BASIC UNDERSTANDING AND WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE THAT WILL AGREE TO DISAGREE AND WORK THROUGH PROBLEMS.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE HAVE SERVING GOING INTO THE NEXT QUADRIENNIUM.

WE WILL NOT ALWAYS AGREE BUT WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH PEOPLE WHO RESPECT EACH OTHER AND A GOOD GROUP THAT I FEEL SPEAKER LEDBETTER PUT TOGETHER IN OUR CHAIRMANSHIPS AND COMMITTEES THAT WE WILL REALLY GET SOME THINGS DONE AND MOVE FORWARD LEGISLATION TO KEEP ALABAMA GOING IN THE GREAT DIRECTION WE ARE GOING.

>> WELL, GOOD.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON YOUR CHAIRMANSHIP.

GOOD LUCK.

I GUESS WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN IN MARCH.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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>> THIS WEEK, I HOSTED A LEGISLATIVE ISSUES BREAKFAST WHERE LAWMAKERS, OTHER STATE LEADERS AND LEGISLATIVE COMMUNITY GATHERED FOR A DISCUSSION ON WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH TALKED ABOUT HIS WORK LEADING THE COMMISSION CHARGED WITH PROVIDING UPDATES TO THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE LAWS.

THAT PROVED AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TO THE PANELISTS AS WELL INCLUDING GREG REED, NATHANIEL LEDBETTER, BOBBY SINGLETON AND ANTHONY DANIELS.

HERE'S THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED.

>> I BRING GOOD NEWS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALABAMA RIGHT NOW, OUR ECONOMY, I'M BULLISH ON WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

YOU TALK TO PEOPLE MOVING TO OUR STATE.

WHY ARE THEY COMING TO ALABAMA?

THEY ARE TIRED OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY LIKE OUR TAX POLICY AND THE OPPORTUNITY.

FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT YOU NEVER HAVE CORPORATIONS THAT COME AND WANT TO LEAVE.

WE ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT.

I WAS HONORED TO WORK WITH A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHO THAT IS, TO LOOK AT OUR CURRENT INCENTIVES AND FIND OUT WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT AND WRONG, COMPARED TO OTHER STATES.

OUR GOAL WAS SIMPLE WE WANT THE BEST INCENTIVES FOR OUR STATE AND MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING A GOOD RETURN.

THE IDEA OF CORPORATE WELFARE IS NOT ACCURATE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RETURN WE ARE GETTING IT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

THE MEMBERS AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT OUR COMMISSION IS WE HAD PEOPLE FROM GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT AS A MODEL GOING FORWARD, HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD CERTAINLY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE FOR MAKING DECISIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME AND SOME MEMBERS WILL FIGURE THIS OUT.

PEOPLE EXPECT YOU TO BE AN EXPERT AT EVERYTHING AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE SO YOU HAVE TO RELY ON EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION, MYSELF, GREG REED, VERNON BARNETT, DANNY GARRETT, ARTHUR ORR, ANTHONY DANIELS, BOBBY SINGLETON, GREG BARKER, ROSEMARY ELBASH, DAVID KNIGHT, ALLISON KING, LUKE KISLA AND SAM ADDY.

WE WERE TASKED AT REVIEWING AND REAUTHORIZING AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.

BEFORE I GET STARTED I WANT TO SAY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH, THE PRO-TEM, THE SPEAKERS OFFICE, BOTH THE MINORITY CAUCUSES WERE GREAT TO WORK WITH AND APPRECIATE THE INPUT.

THE THING ENCOURAGING ABOUT ALABAMA IS WE ARE NOT WASHINGTON, D.C. EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND WORK TOGETHER.

>> I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T START WITH THE NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WHO HAD A BIG DAY YESTERDAY WHERE.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, SPEAKER LEDBETTER.

>> THANK YOU.

I WAS LISTENING TO YOUR SPEECH ON THE FLOOR, RIGHT AFTER THE OATH.

YOU TALKED ABOUT, YES, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

ALABAMA HAS DONE A LOT AND THE THINGS YOU ARE PROUD ABOUT.

BUT YOU HAD THIS REFRAIN SAYING WE CAN DO MORE.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

TALK ABOUT WAYS WE CAN DO BETTER AND SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, ESPECIALLY THIS NEXT YEAR, THIS NEXT TERM, WAYS WE CAN DO BETTER.

>> LET ME SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON, TODD.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO EVERYBODY AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE COMING ON.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK EVERYONE FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE AS YOUR SPEAKER.

I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT.

SOME OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO -- I THINK WE HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS OF IMPROVING EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

THE NUMBERS WE SEE, I THINK IT IS A PRIORITY AND I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.

I THINK LEADER DANIELS AND MYSELF AND SOME MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE AT THE END OF THE LAST SESSION WERE ABLE TO MOVE SOME I BILLS THAT I THINK CHANGED EDUCATION.

THERE'S NO QUESTION CHAIRMAN COLLINS WITH THE LITERACY ACT THAT IS CHANGE IN EDUCATION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO TO CHANGE EDUCATION AND I THINK WE SEE THE PROCESS BEGINNING.

THE JOBS ACT, THERE'S NO QUESTION.

I THINK ALABAMA'S ECONOMY IS GROWING AT A PACE I'VE NEVER SEEN IN MY LIFETIME.

I THINK THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PUT IT WELL, THERE'S MORE WE CAN DO TO BRING BETTER JOBS AND GIVE PEOPLE BETTER LIVES.

THAT'S ONE THING WE CAN DO.

THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE WE HAVE WORKED ON THE PAST THREE YEARS, I THINK WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

THE ISSUE WITH FENTANYL HAS TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE ADDRESS WHEN WE GO BACK INTO SESSION BECAUSE IT'S KILLING OUR CHILDREN.

I THINK THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT US AS LEADERS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE DEPEND ON US TO MAKE SURE WE DO THOSE TYPE OF BILLS.

>> SENATOR REED, WE HEARD LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH TALK ABOUT HIS WORK WITH THE COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG ISSUE INTO THE SESSION A PRIORITY ACROSS THE BOARD.

DO YOU THINK -- TWO QUESTIONS, DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE ADDRESSED EARLY IN THE SESSION AND DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE SWIFT OR DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE A PROLONGED PROCESS?

FIRST OFF, TODD, LET ME THANK YOU, AS THE SPEAKER DID, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY, I HAVE MANY OF MY SENATE MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS YOUR PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS IN OUR FUTURE AND HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SIGNIFICANT THINGS.

WHEN WE THINK OF THE INCENTIVES, THIS IS A TASK I HAVE BEEN ON FOR A WHILE, TODD, AS YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

I SPONSORED THE JOBS ACT ORIGINALLY.

THEN THE RULES CHAIRMAN, MAC McCUTCHEON, AND THEN OF COURSE THE SPEAKER WENT ON TO WORK WITH ME ON GROWING ALABAMA AND THE AIM ACT AND THE RENEWAL OF THE JOBS ACT.

I HAVE BEEN ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS NOW FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS AND I THINK TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S POINT IN THE ANALYSIS OF THE COMMISSION WE HAVE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB IN THE WAY THAT ALABAMA CHANGED ITS METHODOLOGY OF INCENTIVIZING BUSINESSES TO COME TO OUR STATE.

WE HAVE ENJOYED GREAT SUCCESS, AS YOU HEARD THE GOVERNOR GIVE THE DETAIL OF WHAT THE STATISTICS ARE OF HOW WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK THIS TOPIC IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTING IN MARCH.

I KNOW IT IS A COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNOR.

I HAVE TALKED TO HER DIRECTLY ABOUT IT.

THE SPEAKER, MY MINORITY COLLEAGUES, I KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR US.

I WOULD IMAGINE, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE WILL BE GETTING ALL OF OUR DUCKS IN A ROW THE BEST WE CAN, THANKS TO THE COMMISSION AND GOVERNOR'S WORK AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S WORK, SECRETARY CANFIELD, AND WE WILL HAVE MEMBERS READY WITH WHAT WILL BE SEVERAL BILLS IN A PACKAGE ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WE WILL DO WITH THE INCENTIVES.

I THINK THEY WILL BE A HIGHLIGHT OFF THE BAT.

WE WILL BE FOCUSED ON IT.

IT WILL BE A BIG PRIORITY FOR ME AS PRESIDENT THAT WE GET IT DONE AND GET IT DONE THE RIGHT WAY SO IT CAN BE RENEWED AND HERE WE GO CONTINUING TO HAVE GREAT SUCCESS AND BEING ABLE TO SELL ALABAMA.

AS A SALES GUY, THAT'S MY CAREER, MY WHOLE BUSINESS CAREER.

IF YOU HAVE A GOOD PACKAGE, A GOOD PROGRAM, YOU HAVE GOT GOOD THINGS TO OFFER, THEN YOU ARE IN A GREAT PLACE AND ALABAMA HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, BEEN ABLE TO TELL A GOOD STORY ABOUT ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE IN ALABAMA.

WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

THINGS ARE GOING TO BE EXCITING AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU.

SENATOR SINGLETON, THE LAST COUPLE OF COMMISSION MEETINGS I HEARD YOU BRING UP THE ISSUE OF RURAL ALABAMA AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE THINK OF INCENTIVES, WHETHER IT IS ALABAMA JOBS ACT, GROWING ALABAMA ACT OR THESE SITES, THAT WE GET OFF THE INTERSTATES AND CONSIDER RURAL ALABAMA.

TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE FOR YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WHEN THESE BILLS COME UP.

MENT.

>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THE GROWTH AND HOW IT IS GROWING, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LEAVE ANY SECTOR OUT.

WE CAN'T JUST GROW IN URBAN AREAS BUT IN RURAL AREAS TO BALANCE THE STATE OUT.

SINCE 2015, I THINK WE HAVE GROWN ONLY 6,000 JOBS IN RURAL AREAS.

WE HAVE TO GET THE NUMBERS UP.

I'M IMPRESSED WITH THOSE NUMBERS BUT THEY HAVE TO GO UP.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN WHAT WE ARE DOING.

THERE'S SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND LOOKING AT HOW DO WE DEAL WITH RURAL INCENTIVES TO GET JOBS TO COME TO RURAL AREAS.

THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT MOVING IT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE OVER TO THE INNOVATION CORPORATION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND HOW TO BE ABLE TO BETTER PINPOINT, GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO RURAL JOBS, SMALLER JOBS THAT ARE COMING IN.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE INCENTIVIZE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE FOOTPRINT, EXPANDING THEIR FOOTPRINT.

AN EXAMPLE, I GOT TEXTILE, PAPER COMPANY THAT IS INVESTING $180 MILLION IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IN THAT FOOTPRINT THEY ARE GOING TO ONLY CREATE 30 JOBS.

THE ONLY THING THAT THE LOCALS CAN OFFER IS AN ABATEMENT TAX.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE GET THOSE PEOPLE TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND EXPAND THOSE FOOTPRINTS TO STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO DO.

WITH THIS NEW ACT AND EXPANSION ON IT, MOVING IT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET MORE INCENTIVES FOR RURAL AREAS, WE JUST HAVE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO IT.

THAT'S IT.

>> LEADER DANIELS, YOU REPRESENT HUNTSVILLE, BUT YOU GREW UP IN RURAL ALABAMA.

YOU KNOW BOTH WORLDS A LITTLE BIT.

YOU REPRESENT ARGUABLY THE MOST INNOVATIVE AREA OF OUR STATE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE INNOVATION COMMISSION AND THAT MOVING FORWARD.

HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS NOT TO JUST REAUTHORIZE THESE INCENTIVE PACKAGES BUT TO LOOK AT WAYS TO APPLY SOME OF THOSE INNOVATIVE WAYS SO IT'S NOT JUST THE SAME INCENTIVES WE ARE OFFERING BUT NEW, BETTER, MORE EFFICIENT AND FORWARD LOOKING FROM SOMEONE IN THE MOST INNOVATIVE PART OF THE STATE?

>> TODD, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATIONS HERE TODAY TO LISTEN TO THIS GROUP OF EXPERTS.

I WILL STAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS SINCE WE HAVE HAD 217 PROJECTS COME ONLINE.

WE HAVE CREATED 38500 JOBS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AS A RESULT OF THE JOBS ACT AND GROWING ALABAMA.

WE HAVE EXPANDED THE AREAS THAT WE WILL FOCUS ON, RURAL ALABAMA, AS WELL.

SO, FOR ME, I THINK THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF SUCCESS AND CERTAINLY SEEN A BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT, ABOUT 173% RETURN ON INVESTMENT AS A RESULT OF THESE INCENTIVES AND INVESTMENTS.

OTHER STATES AROUND US SEE THE SUCCESS WE HAVE AND THEY ARE MAKING THE ADJUSTMENTS IN ORDER TO COMPETE WITH US FOR THESE JOBS.

I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF REAUTHORIZATION IS MAKING CERTAIN WE ARE MAKING LARGER INVESTMENTS.

WE HAVE DONE $22 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS TO DATE BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO DO EVEN BETTER AND BE MORE CREATIVE.

AS SENATOR SINGLETON MENTIONED, EXPANDING OUR FOCUS TO TECHNOLOGY.

I THINK THAT OFTENTIMES WE LOOK AT AREAS LIKE NORTH ALABAMA, HUNTSVILLE AREA AND SEE THE TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES AND TECHNOLOGY JOBS BUT I DON'T THINK WE ARE EXERCISING THE SAME APPROACH INTO RURAL ALABAMA.

RURAL ALABAMA HAS THE SAME TALENT THAT WE HAVE IN THE HUNTSVILLE AREA.

SINCE COVID, YOU HAVE SEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUAL FROM CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE MOVED INTO OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN BROADBAND AND EXPAND THE DIGITAL -- REDUCING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE THAT, THOSE AREAS WILL BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE SURE ALL AREAS WITHIN THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS A FOCAL POINT AS WELL.

>> MR. SPEAKER, I'LL ASK THIS OF YOU BUT ANYONE I WOULD INVITE TO OPINE ON THIS.

WE WERE ALL WATCHING WASHINGTON LAST WEEK, AS THE CHAOS UNFOLDED.

IT WAS MY OBSERVATION THAT THE HOUSE HAD A ROUGH WEEK LAST WEEK BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE A ROUGH YEAR THIS YEAR BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HANDFUL OF MEMBERS, MAYBE 20, MAYBE UP TO 40 WHO BASICALLY HAVE A GREATER INCENTIVE TO BE DISRUPTIVE AND GO AND GET ON TV AND WHAT NOT.

MORE OF AN INCENTIVE OF THAT THAN TO BE TEAM PLAYERS AND WORK WITH THE BODY AND EVERYTHING.

SO, JUXTAPOSED TO THAT IS YOU GENTLEMEN WERE BOTH ELECTED AS TRADITION, BIPARTISAN MAJORITIES TO SHOW BIPARTISANSHIP.

HOW DO YOU AVOID IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT BREAKDOWN IN INCENTIVES FOR FOLKS GOING OUT ON THEIR OWN AND BEING DISRUPTIVE VERSUS WORKING AS A TEAM AND GETTING THINGS DONE?

>> I THINK THE MAIN THING IS COMMUNICATION.

ONE THING WE TRY TO DO WITH OUR CAUCUS IS BRING THEM IN AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE ISSUE.

WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THAT AND IT SEEMS TO PAY OFF.

IF YOU THINK OF A SUPERMAJORITY, WHICH WE DO, WE HAVE TO USE IT CAREFULLY.

THE MINORITY PARTY REPRESENTS AS MANY PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICT AS WE DO IN OURS.

I THINK WE ALWAYS -- EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE A VOICE.

I WILL SAY THIS, LEADER DANIELS AND I OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS NOW NOT ONLY DO WE WORK WELL TOGETHER WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON ISSUE BUT WE FIND COMMON GROUND MOST OF THE TIME.

I THINK IT IS GOOD TO AGREE TO DISAGREE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM TO DISAGREE WITH EVERYBODY.

YOU HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT IT.

IF WE CAN'T COME TO COMMON GROUND WE WILL HAVE TO GO ON BUT I THINK BOTH SIDES UNDERSTAND THAT.

I'LL APPLAUD SENATOR REED AND BOBBY BECAUSE THEY DO THAT AS WELL AS I HAVE SEEN IT DONE IN THE STATE.

IF WE ARE REALLY IN THIS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THE GRANDSTANDING.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THE -- AS I SAID, PITCHING A FIT.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO AGREE BUT WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE AND GO ON.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL MANY YEARS AGO, THE GUY THAT WAS MAYOR TOLD ME ONE THING AND I THINK ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL REMEMBER THIS, I THINK IT WILL SERVE US ALL WELL.

HE TOLD ME, IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT'S RIGHT, EVERYTHING ELSE WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF AS FAR AS ELECTIONS ARE CONCERNED.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT.

MOST OF THE TIME IN THE HOUSE AND I REALLY BELIEVE THIS, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE WITH US ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

I DON'T SEE THEM AS POLITICIANS BUT AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.

THAT'S THE ADVANTAGE WE HAVE IN THE STATE.

>> SENATOR REED, WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

>> WELL, I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUE HAS SAID.

I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING ABLE TO MANAGE THINGS IN THE STATE SENATE, THEY DIDN'T BEGIN YESTERDAY.

BOBBY SINGLETON AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BEING BUDDIES, AS WELL AS BEING COLLEAGUES FOR YEARS.

IT IS INTENTIONAL.

IT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS GOOD OR SOMEBODY SAYS IT SOUNDS GOOD.

WE HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE ATTITUDE IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU AND ME BUT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WE HAVE TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION THAT ALLOWS US TO ACCOMPLISH SIGNIFICANT GOALS IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE PLEASED WITH OUR TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE SENATE.

SO, TRYING TO WORK TODAY -- I SAID YESTERDAY ON THE FLOOR IN SOME COMMENTS THAT I MADE AFTER THE ELECTION, THE FACT THAT EVERYONE'S VOICE IS ABLE TO BE HEARD YIELDS, IN MY EXPERIENCE OVER TIME, A MUCH BETTER PRODUCT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

WHEN YOU THINK I'VE GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT AND MY WAY AND THOUGHTS ARE THE BEST AND I DON'T NEED TO HEAR FROM OTHERS IN MY OWN PARTY OR THE OTHER PARTY, THAN YOU ARE IN A PLACE TO WHEREVER YOU ARE YIELDING, AS YOUR SOLUTION, WILL BE LESS THAN.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY, BRING THEIR THOUGHT AND THEIR EXPERIENCES TO THE TABLE AND THEN COLLECTIVELY LOOK AT WHAT IS THE BEST OUTCOME AND THE BEST BENEFIT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA IT YIELDS A BETTER PRODUCT.

SENATOR SINGLETON AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVE THAT METHODOLOGY WILL WORK.

I'M PROUD OF IT.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE IT.

I SEE THAT AND HEAR THAT FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE THAT HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE.

I THINK MOVING FORWARD THIS WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SO INTERESTED IN WHO'S ON TELEVISION NEXT.

WE'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE.

>> SENATOR SINGLETON WAS NEXT ON MY LIST AND FOR BOTH OF YOU ALL, NO SECRET, THESE ARE SUPERMAJORITY FOR REPUBLICAN AND YET YOU HAVE TO NOT ONLY REPRESENT YOUR PEOPLE BUT GET YOUR CONSTITUENTS, GET THE BENEFITS FOR THEM, THE GOODIES THE BUDGET, WHATEVER THEY NEED.

SO HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

HOW DO YOU USE YOUR LEVERAGE IN THE MINORITY TO COME TO AGREEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

HOW DO YOU WORK LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, TODD, I WAKE UP EVERY DAY TO WIN.

[ LAUGHTER ] NO MATTER WHAT.

BUT AS SENATOR REED SAID, WE'RE GENUINELY FRIENDS.

AND I FEEL I CAN GO TO HIM AND TALK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT IS PART OF THAT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WITHOUT HAVING TO HOLD BACK MY FEELINGS.

WE CAN SIT THERE AND AGREE TO DISAGREE AND WALK OUT OF THE ROOM AND WE TRY TO WALK OUT OF THE ROOM WITH A PLAN TO GET A SOLUTION TO WHATEVER IT IS.

SO, I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN I GO IN, I DON'T EXPECT 100% OF EVERYTHING I ASK FOR BUT IF I WALK OUT OF THE ROOM, BEING A SUPER MINORITY WITH 50%, THAT'S A WIN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY IT DOESN'T HURT HIM WITH HIS COLLEAGUES.

IT'S A WIN FOR US.

IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS BETTER OFF, IT'S A WIN FOR US.

WE TRY TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA FIRST, NOT ABOUT PART, NOT ABOUT Ds AND Rs BUT WHAT CAN WE SEE DOWN THE ROAD THAT WILL BE BEST FOR THE STATE.

IF IT IS BEST FOR THE STATE, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK THE SAME TIME NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY, WE'LL SEE YOU