Welcome back to the Capital Journal's coverage of Governor Carvey's State of the state address.

And joining me next for the official Democratic response is State Representative Sam Jones of Mobile.

Mr.

Jones, thanks so much fo coming and being here to deliver the official Democratic response.

Thank you Thank you for the opportunity.

Well let me just ask you, in general, after we watch the speech here, in the studio, what is the perspective of Democrats?

What is your general response to what we heard from the governor tonight?

Generally, I think that we've have seen some progres in the state in various areas.

We still have a lot of challenges and some of those same areas.

I think that overall, we can actually overcome some of the challenges we have if we work together, if we are very transparent with how we are doing it and inclusive in how we go about doing it.

And I think we make a lo more progress doing it that way.

I think a lot of things we've mentioned, I heard some words about our prison system.

The projection was that we could build three prisons for $1 billion.

We over $1 billion and haven't built one yet.

And that concerns me, because one of the things I think we have to deal with is the recidivism rate.

One of the problems that we have is that if we are not preparing people to leave that system with some skill, some tree, somewhere where they can go but back to the street, then we will never be able to build all the prisons we will need in Alabama.

And I think that we nee to look at different approaches.

We won't ever be able to point to lock up everybody.

So then what we have to do is be able to prepare them to come back into the community, cause they are coming back.

Some people thin when people get sent to prison, you never see them anymore.

That's not the case.

And I think that one of th things that's happening with us, we're having a problem with that, because we are not actually changing the attitude of those people, giving them opportunities.

When you get out of prison, there are a lot of things that you can't do that you can't work at certain places.

Nobody wants to hire an ex-con.

You know, all of those issue are issues we need to deal with.

If we come up with a transitional program.

I think we'd be much better off than trying to spend billions of dollars building prisons.

I don't think of that's ones.

What size prison should a county jail?

And I say the one you can afford.

That's procedure to jail.

Because if you can't run it, you can't afford it.

You know you won't have a system anyway.

So I think that we need to look at some innovation in our system.

Yeah, she did mention prisons tonight, and I've heard that before.

That kind of.

You can't build enough prisons.

You can't, you can't, you know, build prison your way out of public safety.

That's true.

And that's interesting.

You bring that up because I find that as much as Republicans or Democrats can sometimes fin common ground criminal justice, crime, public safety, those it that can be a stark divide between Republicans and Democrats.

You all have spoken up pretty forcefully.

Last session, and I think you might have some this session about, you know, those those crime bills, things like that.

Talk about that issu and the Democrats perspective on what Republicans are tryin to push through his crime bills.

Well, what I think is, those bills, as well as the discussion itself, should take plac before the bill hit the floor.

We should talk about some of the alternatives to some of the things that's taking place.

I mean, you would think that you just build a prison that's solve the problem.

It does not solve the problem because people are going to get out of prison or they're prepared to get out.

Have we done anything to change that person's bad behavior, to bring them back into society, to really help them, that they're coming back?

So I think that we need to look at some approaches to do a better job in preparing people to really integrate themselves back into the community.

Well, again, zooming out.

Generally speaking, what might we see from legislative Democrats i terms of an agenda this session.

And I ask tha with the context of we know it's going to be probably compressed a little bit timing wise.

I want to get back, and everything, but what might we see y'all bringing in terms of bills.

Making the arguments for and even messaging on the floor and press conferences, what might be the legislative agenda for Democrats?

And one of the things that I think we are going to be keying on is the affordability.

Okay.

It is difficult now even for a working family to afford where we are now.

We are seeing that health care is going to be going for many of those families.

We have 130,000 that's on the Affordable Care Act.

They're not going to be on the hook unless something changes in Washington this week.

The other thing is that we had 300,000 that were not insured anyway.

That is a burden on the health system, a real burden on the health system, not to mention what it does to families in our community, in our various communities.

We have over 20 hospitals in rural areas is already close.

We have others that are struggling in some of those communities.

Unless there's a hospital or a long term care facility like a nursing home, there are no medical professionals there in that area at all.

That really is a burden on the entire community.

Is it really a burden on the state?

I think one of the things that we need to do is come up with a comprehensive plan collaborating with the providers, collaborating with all the professionals, and come up with what it takes to adequately provide access to affordable health care to people in Alabama.

And that, you know, I don't think it has to necessarily be modele just around the federal program.

I think they have some other things that we can do, and you can do that when you sit down and discuss the issue and get input from all sources, you really come up with a better product.

Interesting.

That word affordabilit has kind of become a watchword, not just in Alabama, but across the country.

There was some polling that came out recently that everybody's putting affordability prices, not just, you know, whether it's health care, groceries, utility bills, certainly health insurance at the top of the list.

Do you think we might I mean, is that emerging as an issue do you think, among Democrats?

And look, we're going no, we're going into an election year.

We're probably going to see some some campaigning on issues of affordability because those prices really haven't come down.

Well, I would say not just for Democrats, for people in this state who are working people, that's an issue for everyone.

All you need to do is visit the grocery store and remember what you paid last week, and you'll see that the cost is still rising.

And many people you know, while we've done real well in trying to attract jobs and industry in Alabama, we've done well in that.

Some of the people that we are talking abou were not touched by that at all.

They are still locked in the same level and where we are is just mere survival becomes a problem for some families in Alabama.

And I think when we really look at it, we've got to look at a way that we can lessen the pain that's coming from the federal government or wherever, as it relates to removing access to food, to health care.

Snap program whether we're talking about that affordable care, it all becomes a burde on the citizens of this state.

Let's return to health care.

Just for a minute.

They did announce this rural health care fund.

I think it's like $203 million at the state is going to get this year.

Total might be upwards of $500 million.

Sounds like a lot of money.

What's your perspective on that?

What what do you what do Democrats want to try to do with that money?

In terms of making putting it to good use to attack that problem like you're talking about?

I mean, this is not a ne problem with with health care, you know, hospitals, closings and things like that.

Does this start an opportunity?

And how are Democrats going t be a part of that conversation?

Let me first point out, the Democrats have not been supportive.

They've conversation.

That's the first thing I want to point out.

I think that there are some things that we could really put on the table that would assist in that.

We sometimes we have people developing solutions for people that they don't relate to at all.

And so we think is we ought to sit down and discuss people who live in those rural areas who have to ge health care out of that system.

We need to sit with them also, and to find out how we should fashion a program that to get the best use out of that.

But as you know, $203 million is not a lot of money in health care at all.

It'll go quick.

It'll be gone Yeah, it'll be gone very quick.

It won't be sustaining it.

Basically my point and I think that we need to look far sighted on this because as far as I can see, I don't see anything that's going to get us to address the major health care issues we have in this state, one being mental health.

That is, we are totally inadequate in what we provide statewide.

I'm not just talking about Mobile or Birmingham Montgomer or I'm talking about statewide.

We don't have enough beds.

We don't have enough professionals.

We don't have enough revenue to do that.

So I think the state first need to look at how do we improve our revenue base without taxing the people in Alabama, like other states of the states around us have done?

You know, you look at the states who really we tried gaming and it was pretty well along with it, I thought.

And, the way it was put togethe was something that impressed me because it was worke on for over a year and a half.

We talked about the one for, I guess it was two years ago.

Yes, two years ago.

It was worked on for a year and a half, looking at all facets of.

I think that when we come the issue, like health care, we have to do much the same to actually get to a point where we can get something that's acceptable and effective and affordable to the people we serve.

Are you saying that y'all would really support a gambling measure to to build revenue for things like mental health, for things like health care, where the state is lacking in revenue?

Well, if you recall, the House approved the measure twice in the same session.

They approved it twice.

That's how important it was for us to get revenue to address some of these issue that confront our communities.

So, you know, and the way that we went about it, I thought, was one of the best I've seen in terms of cooperation, everybody to work together.

We listen to each other give, take, give, take, and got to the point where we thought we had a very good project and a very nice piece of legislation, we thought.

And till we got to about the last week and, we were quite surprised with what took place.

Yeah, we did the Senate.

Let me ask you about that because I mean, state the obvious here.

Republicans are the supermajority.

That means you're the super minority Democrats as a minority.

So any time in the legislativ process, you all have to kind of be clever in figuring out, all right, how do I go about legislating one.

One great example of that was, Leader Daniels over time, tax cut, limiting, state income tax on overtime wages.

I know it.

Sunset and everything.

But look, tha was the leader of the Democrats bill that passed a majority Republican legislature.

So talk about that strategically.

How do you all work strategically to get some of y'all's initiatives passed, whether it's in the budget or just a standalone bill?

Understanding that you've got a supermajority Republicans to work with.

Well, when we approach legislation, we approach is covering everybody in state.

We don't say this would be good for the Republicans and this would be good for the Democrat.

We say it would be good for the people of the state.

So that's the way we approach the legislation.

And I think that sometimes and you can see that from Washington down the hill, Partizanship plays a huge role in this not getting, some things done that should be done.

If we really look at what's best for the people of this state, it's going to serve all the people in the state.

I'm not going to serve Democrats or just Republicans.

It's also of everybody.

Everybody who meets tha particular need will be served.

I like to joke that, you know, up there in Washington, Republicans and Democrats can agree on the lunch order, much, much less.

Well, I don't think it's I don't think it's that bad here.

Right.

I think that we work together quite well.

And, I think that we get a lot of cooperation.

But when it gets to some areas, that's just a red line drawn in some area, then I think we need to get over that.

Sure.

Well, let me ask you about you perspective as a mayor as well.

If you don't min putting your mayor hat back on, I tend to call you mayor in the hallway.

Just because I remember your time as mayor of mobile.

Because that's a nonpartisan office.

I think most of most of the mayors in the state, you know so you've really got to respond, as you said, to everybody, regardless.

Talk about how the legislature and communicates, with mayor and other local officials in a relationship is so important.

Are we doing okay in terms of the communication between locals and the state?

Because it seems to me that's very important.

Well, one thing is, when it comes to cities you have categories of cities.

And I think that when you look at the larger cities, I saw a proposal some legislation proposing that if the police chief leaves, then the governor and its attorney general all the put all the support and name the interim police, you know, personally, I think that's an affront to the mayor and the city council.

I know some mayors have some problems with that.

Yeah, I would I do have a problem with that.

You got appointing somebody for me to supervise for the next six month till I find a permanent person.

That really doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I think that when you count it for years have been fighting for home rule, and now we got a piece of legislation that's going to take it back from cities.

You know, I think that that's the wrong approach.

I think that mayors and city councilmen are elected by the people of that city.

They later to make decisions for that particular city.

Well, while I've got you, we're almost out of time.

But I can't help but comment on mobile and its progress.

I mean, you had your time as mayor.

There have been others.

Now, there's there's a new mayor down there.

It just seems like if you go back 20 years ago, it was a completely different city.

And so much progress has been made, down there to where it's it' a real jewel of the Gulf Coast.

Can I get you to brag on it a little bit because.

Well, I'm thinking about the port.

I'm thinking about the shipbuilding down there.

I'm thinking about, you know, Airbus and everything else.

It's really become such an a. We talk about Huntsville a lot.

Mobile's the same way.

It's suc an important part of our state that maybe we don't get enough attention in Montgomery.

Well, I think one of the thing that's been very, very positive for mobile, partnerships, city, county, chamber of commerce, business, community, all partner to really put together the very best foot we can when we are trying to recrui industry anywhere in the world.

We all go together to recruit industry when they come to the table in mobile, everybody's at the table at the same time.

So if not, we'll wait until we get with him and we we can really make some decisions in a very short period of time.

And that's been really the success.

It started back in the late 80s and it's been very successful since then.

S we've been very proud of that.

I mean, we had, the largest economic development program in the country when we got ThyssenKrupp steel, MLB.

So remember that.

Yeah.

So we we were pretty fortunate because of the kind of unit that was shown in the community and how everyone worked together for common good.

And I think that we can learn something in the legislature from the process.

We keep talking about it, but we do really plan on coming down to mobile to do Capital Journal on location, to really focus on some of those issues.

Well, representative Mayor, I really appreciate you making the time to come on to offe the official Democrats response.

We want to hear more during the session from you and your colleagues as we move forward.

Going to be a quick session, but it's important to hear those voices.

Thank you.

Thank you.