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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

WE ARE LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY FROM THE START OF THE 2024 REGULAR SESSION OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

THAT WILL BEING ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 WHEN GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WILL GIVE HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, WE WILL AIR HER ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE LIVE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION WITH OUR COVERAGE BEGINNING AT 5:00.

ON TO THE NEWS.

ALABAMA'S LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT IS OUT.

THE STATE'S JOBLESS RATE WAS UP SLIGHTLY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER AT 2.6% BUT THE YEAR OVER YEAR NUMBERS SHOW REMARKABLE STABILITY, IN THAT THE PREVIOUS DECEMBER ALSO HAD A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 2.6%.

OF COURSE, THE NUMBER THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, WHICH STANDS AT 57.2%.

THAT'S UP SLIGHTLY FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH, AND OVER THE LAST YEAR, THAT RATE HAS IMPROVED A HALF A PERCENT FROM 56.7 PERCENT.

IT WAS A BIG WEEK IN WEST ALABAMA.

A PROPOSED HEALTH CARE SCIENCES HIGH SCHOOL IN DEMOPOLIS GOT A BIG BOOST AS BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES PLEDGED TO CONTRIBUTE $26.4 MILLION TO MAKE THE SCHOOL A REALITY.

THAT MONEY IS CONTINGENT ON STATE FUNDING ALSO COMING THROUGH.

THE PROPOSAL IS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL TO PRODUCE HEALTH CARE SCIENCE GRADUATES READY FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL, NURSING SCHOOL OR TO GO RIGHT INTO THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ORIGINALLY PROPOSED THE IDEA LAST YEAR, BUT THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT INCLUDE IT IN THE FINAL BUDGET.

LOCALS ARE HOPING THIS PRIVATE COMMITMENT WILL CHANGE THAT THIS YEAR.

>> THIS IS AN EXCITING DAY IN WEST ALABAMA.

OH, WHAT A GOOD DAY TO BE ALIVE!

[APPLAUSE] I AM SO EXCITED.

TO SEE ALL THESE FACES IN SUPPORT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

I, TOO, WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR IVEY FOR HER VISION.

AND WHEN WE HEARD THAT VISION OF GOVERNOR IVEY, GOVERNOR IVEY THEN PINPOINTED NOT ONLY A VISION FOR A SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, BUT, IN HER ADDRESS, SHE PINPOINTED SHE WANTED IT TO BE IN WEST ALABAMA, AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

WE SAW THE CYBER SCHOOL IN HUNTSVILLE GO UP.

THEN BILL POOLE, WHO WAS THEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS OVER THE BUDGET, HE AND I AND A.J.

GOT TOGETHER IN A ROOM, AND WE WATCHED THAT PROCESS.

AFTER GOVERNOR IVEY SAID SHE WANTED IT IN WEST ALABAMA, WE LOOKED AT THE PROCESS AND HOW THE PROCESS WAS GOING TO WORK.

SO THAT'S HOW WE INTRODUCED THE BILL TO BRING IT TO WEST ALABAMA AND PARTICULARLY HERE IN DEMOPOLIS.

THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE IN WEST ALABAMA THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN THIS BUT DEMOPOLIS.

AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THIS DEMOPOLIS COMMUNITY.

>> IT ALL STARTED WITH THE VISION FROM GOVERNOR IVEY.

SO, GOVERNOR IVEY, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SHE -- ACTUALLY, HER VISION WAS TO IMPROVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND INCORPORATE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION IN IT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE STATE OF ALABAMA, AS WELL AS ALL THE STATES IN THE UNITED STATES, SUFFER AND HAVE A HUGE CHALLENGE IN HEALTHCARE JOBS AROUND THE NATION AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS ONE OF THEM.

SO, WHEN WE WERE APPROACHED BY GOVERNOR IVEY AT UAB AND ASKED FOR HELP, WE STARTED TO WORK IMMEDIATELY.

THE FIRST THING WE DID, WE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A HUGE -- A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF LEADERS AROUND THE STATE IN GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, FINANCE, WORK DEVELOPMENT, AND WE SAT ALL TOGETHER AND WE WANTED TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION, HOW CAN WE DO THIS, HOW CAN WE RESPOND TO GOVERNOR IVEY'S VISION OF REQUEST.

AND THAT'S REALLY HOW THE ALABAMA SCHOOL OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES WAS BORN.

>> LAST WEEK, RANDY SCOTT TALKED TO ANTHONY BROCK OF VALLIANT CROSS ACADEMY ABOUT SOME EXCITING NEWS ON THE HORIZON.

THIS WEEK WE LEARNED THE DETAILS.

THE ALL-BOYS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IN MONTGOMERY WAS AWARDED THE YASS PRIZE, KNOWN AS THE PULITZER OF EDUCATION INNOVATION.

AND IT COMES WITH A BIG REWARD.

RANDY SCOTT WAS ON HAND FOR THE STORY.

>> GOOD NEWS FOR MONTGOMERY'S VALLIANT CROSS ACADEMY.

THEIR EFFORTS TO EDUCATE FUTURE LEADERS IN THE CAPITAL CITY ARE PAYING OFF LITERALLY.

>> IT'S A TREMENDOUS DAY.

IT'S AN ANSWER TO A LOT OF PRAYERS TO LET MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT VALLIANT ACROSS THE NATION IS IMPORTANCE TO US.

SO WE'RE APPRECIATIVE TO THE YASS FAMILY AND MONTGOMERY FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE.

>> THE IDEA WAS TO HELP YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS GET A BETTER EDUCATION WHEN IT OPENED IN 2015.

TODAY, WITH OVER 200 STUDENTS OF DIFFERENT RACES, THE STORY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

THE STAFF ENTERED THE YASS FOUNDATION'S EDUCATION CHALLENGE TO CELEBRATE SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS.

>> PROBABLY THE ONLY ALL-BOYS SCHOOL IN THE COMPETITION THIS YEAR THAT I KNOW OF THAT MADE IT AT LEAST TO THE SEMIFINALS AND QUARTER FINALS.

SO JUST AN HONOR.

>> THE YASS PRAISE FOR SUSTAINABLE, TRANSFORMATIONAL, OUTSTANDING EDUCATION IS A NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO FIND, REWARD AND CELEBRATE GREAT EDUCATION PROVIDERS.

>> JEANNE ALLEN SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE YASS PRIZE.

>> VALLIANT CROSS WAS THE WINNER OF THE $1 MILLION YASS PRIZE AND, TODAY, THEY ARE HERE TO BE CELEBRATED.

>> SO WE'RE HERE TO HOPE THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TAKES NOTE OF THIS, WHAT ALABAMA IS DOING, WHAT STATES LIKE ARIZONA AND FLORIDA HAVE DONE FOR POOR CHILDREN TO HAVE THE EXISTING MONEY FOLLOW THE CHILDREN TO THE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE.

>> JEANINE YASS IS THE FOUNDER OF THE YASS PRIZE.

THEY CHECKED ALL THE BOXES FOR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE LEARNING FOR YOUNG SCHOLARS.

>> THEY KNOW WHERE THEY WOULD BE WERE IT NOT FOR SCHOOLS LIKE THIS.

THEY KNOW THE OPTIONS OUT THERE.

SO MANY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE FAILED CHILDREN AND, COMING FROM THOSE SEATS, THEY APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN WE COULD EVER KNOW.

>> WE'RE HERE AT VALLIANT CROSS ACADEMY IN DEW POINT MONTGOMERY WHERE, A SHORT TIME AGO, A BIT OF HISTORY WAS MADE.

THIS SCHOOL HAS BEEN AWARDED A HUGE GRANT FOR THE HARD WORK IT DOES TO HELP EDUCATE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, AND THAT WORK IS THE START OF A NEW ERA FOR VAL I CAN'T CROSS.

>> THAT NEW TIME STARTS IMMEDIATELY WITH A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> I'M PROUD TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT, IN THE FALL OF 2024, VALLIANT CROSS ACADEMY WILL OPEN UP A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> STEPPING AHEAD INTO THE FUTURE.

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

>> AFTER THE EVENT, GOVERNOR IVEY WAS ASKED FOR AN UPDATE ON HER DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL CHOICE LEGISLATION.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR BROKE THE NEWS ON THIS PROGRAM THAT SHE WOULD BE PROPOSING SCHOOL CHOICE LEGISLATION, AND SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZING EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

IVEY SAID HER ADVISERS ARE STILL WORKING ON THE PROPOSAL AND THAT IT WOULD LIKELY BE READY BY EARLY SESSION.

>> EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE PARENTS EXTRA CHOICES SO THEY CAN CHOOSE THE BEST SCHOOL, IN THEIR VIEW, FOR THEIR STUDENTS TO ATTEND.

SO I'M ALL FOR IT AND THE MORE WE CAN GET THE BETTER IT WILL BE.

WE'RE WORKING HARD ON THE BILL.

>> TURNING TO WASHINGTON FOR A MOMENT TO CHECK IN ON ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

CONGRESS THIS WEEK PASSED LEGISLATION EXTENDING FUNDING THROUGH MARCH AND AVERTING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE BEEN UNABLE FOR A YEAR TO PASS REGULAR ORDER APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, FORCING THEM TO RELY ON SHORT TERM CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS THAT SIMPLY KEEP FUNDING AT CURRENT LEVELS.

THE ALABAMA DELEGATION WAS SPLIT ON THE VOTE, AND HERE'S HOW THAT BREAKS DOWN.

VOTING IN FAVOR WERE REPRESENTATIVES ROBERT ADERHOLT OF THE 4TH DISTRICT, MIKE ROGERS OF THE 3RD DISTRICT, TERRI SEWELL OF THE 7TH DISTRICT AND DALE STRONG OF THE 5TH DISTRICT.

VOTING AGAINST THE MEASURE WERE BOTH SENATORS TOMMY TUBERVILLE AND KATIE BRITT, AND REPRESENTATIVES JERRY CARL OF THE 1ST DISTRICT, BARRY MOORE OF THE 2ND DISTRICT AND GARY PALMER OF THE 5TH DISTRICT.

WHEN WE COME BACK FOR OUR INTERVIEW PORTION OF CAPITOL JOURNAL, WE'LL BE TALKING POLITICS.

I'LL FIRST BE JOINED BY ALEXANDER HEFFNER, HOST OF THE OPEN MIND HER ON PBS, ABOUT CIVILITY IN POLITICS AS WE ENTER THIS CAMPAIGNS SEASON, AS WELL AS HIS UPDATED BOOK.

LATER, I'LL BE JOINED BY THREE MORE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES AS WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS LONG LIST OF 2ND DISTRICT CANDIDATES: DEMOCRAT PHYLLIS HARVEY HALL, AND REPUBLICANS GREG ALBRITTON AND HAMPTON HARRIS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WITH THE IOWA CAUCUSES COMPLETE AND THE NEW HAMPSHIRE JUST AROUND THE CORNER, WE ARE CERTAINLY IN THE POLITICAL SEASON, SO TO SPEAK.

JOINING ME NEXT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS ALEXANDER HEFFNER E HOST OF "THE OF MIND" ON PBS AND AUTHOR OF A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

ALEXANDER, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> A PLEASURE BEING WITH YOU, TODD.

THANKS FOR INVITING ME.

>> WELL, I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON JUST THIS POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, YOU REPORT AND TRAVEL THE COUNTRY TALKING TO VOTERS, TALKING TO CANDIDATES, BREAKING BREAD WITH CANDIDATES.

SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A GREAT PERSPECTIVE ON JUST WHAT THE VIBE IS OUT THERE IN THIS POLITICAL SEASON.

IT SEEMS SO DIVISIVE AND DIVIDED, BUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ON THE GROUND?

>> WELL, ON THE GROUND, THERE'S A HUNGER FOR SOLUTIONS, CONSENSUS, CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND DISCOURSE THAT'S GOING TO ELICIT SOUND PUBLIC POLICY.

THAT'S THE AMERICAN CREED.

WE WOULDN'T BE IN THE JOBS WE'RE IN, AND FOLKS WOULDN'T BE ATTENDED TOWN HALL MEETINGS, WRITING LETTERS PHOTO THE EDITOR AND PARTICIPATING IN CIVIC LIFE IF THEY DIDN'T STILL HAVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF PROMISE IN THAT SACRED LIFE, LIBERTY AND HAPPINESS, AND POLITICS AS THE VEHICLE TO ACHIEVE IT.

SO, OF COURSE, THE MAINSTREAM, CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS THAT WE'RE DISILLUSIONED, WE'RE DISENCHANTED, WE'RE DEJECTED.

AND THERE IS TRUTH TO THAT, BUT FOR EVERY VOTER WHO IS ENTIRELY FED UP WITH THE SYSTEM AND BASICALLY ENTRENCHED IN APATHY, THERE'S ANOTHER VOTER WHO IS STILL HOLDING OUT HOPE THAT WE CAN RETURN TO NOT JUST A MORE CIVIL DISCOURSE BUT A MORE FUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF CABLE NEWS IS JUST ARGUING BACK AND FORTH.

IT'S ALMOST JUST LIKE THIS FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT PEOPLE WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IT'S SORT OF ADDING TO THAT, YOU KNOW, FUROR AND ANGER THAT EXISTS OUT THERE.

IS THAT AN OUTSIZED -- IS THAT SORT OF AN EXAGGERATION OF WHAT REALLY EXISTS?

BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME YOUR PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY "THE OPEN MIND" IS DEDICATED TO KIND OF BRINGING DOWN THAT VOLUME AND JUST HAVING A REAL CONVERSATION.

IT'S A REALLY GREAT SPACE FOR THAT, ONE THAT'S REALLY NEEDED.

>> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT, TODD, AND YOUR FORUM AS WELL.

I THINK THE PERSPECTIVE AND THE SKEWED PERSPECTIVE THAT THE MEDIA OFTEN PORTRAY IS THAT THERE IS, MOST PREDOMINANT IN OUR POLITICS, A VICIOUSNESS AND HATEFULNESS AND THAT THAT IS EMBODIED IN THE ELECTORATE, NOT JUST IN OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR STATEMENTS TO EACH OTHER OR THEIR STATEMENTS ANTAGONIZING THE OPPOSITE PARTY.

AND, SO, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT PROJECTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU'VE HAD, FOR SO MANY YEARS NOW, THIS TOXIC FUSION OF TRADITIONAL CLICKBAIT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SEE ON TELEVISION, THE ECHO CHAMBER OF CABLE NEWS NOW MERGED WITH THE FEEDING FRENZY OF SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THAT IS SUCH A DESTRUCTIVE EQUATION THAT REALLY RESULTS IN BELIEVING THAT ONE-HALF OF AMERICA DESPISES THE OTHER HALF OF AMERICA.

AND HAVING TRAVELED TO ALL 50 STATES, I CAN TELL YOU THAT'S PLAINLY NOT TRUE.

NOW, WE DO HAVE ASPIRATIONS AND RESENTMENTS AS AMERICANS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

AND THE LAST PRESIDENCY AND LAST 25 YEARS OF PUBLIC POLICY SOMETIMES INFORMS WHAT OUR AS SEPARATIONS ARE AND WHAT OUR RESENTMENTS ARE AS AMERICANS.

IN MY MIND, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT RECONCILING THOSE TWO THINGS AND BEING A POSITIVE FORCE IN THE DISCOURSE, AND THEN, IF YOU WANT TO SEE A POLICY OUTCOME, EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHY IT'S GOOD FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND HEAR PEOPLE OUT IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

IF WE GET TO THE CRUX OF IT, THE CRUX OF IT IS THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, IT'S THE STORYTELLING.

IT'S HOW PEOPLE FOUND THEIR WAY TO A CERTAIN CONVICTION.

IT'S NOT THE CONVICTION ABILITY BEING FOR -- CONVICTION ITSELF ABOUT BEING FOR OR AGAINST SOMETHING, IT'S THE BODY OF EXPERIENCE, PEOPLE'S FAMILY, SCHOOL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES, AND HOW THAT EQUATES COMING TO A POINT OF VIEW.

I RECENTLY, AS YOU KNOW, SPOKE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, AND THE POINT THAT I TRIED TO MAKE TO STUDENTS WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE STARTING FROM THE WRONG PLACE.

WE ALL SEEMINGLY WANT CLEAN WATER AND CLEAN AIR AND UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NON-PARTISAN, IMPARTIAL FOLKS WHO LOOK AT THE DIALS OF CHEMICALS OR POISON IN STREAM WATER OR IN TAP AND ASSESS THAT.

THAT'S NOT A PARTISAN DECLARATION, IT'S NOT A LEFT OR RIGHT OR CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL ASSESSMENT.

AND, SO, IF WE CAN AGREE AT THE MOST BASIC LEVEL THAT POLITICS, IN A FUNCTIONAL SENSE, IS ABOUT HAVING ENGINEERS AND, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION THAT BASICALLY ENSURE OUR WATER IS CLEAN AND OUR AIR IS CLEAN, LIKE, WHY DON'T WE JUST START THERE?

>> WELL, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN IN ALABAMA PARTLY TO PROMOTE YOUR BOOK, A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

TALK ABOUT HOW THIS BOOK CAME ABOUT AND WHAT READERS CAN EXPECT WHEN THEY PICK IT UP.

>> YEAH, WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, TODD.

THEY CAN EXPECT A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY MUCH LIKE IF YOU GO TO ONE OF THE MUSEUMS IN ALABAMA.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE INSTITUTE IN BIRMINGHAM, AND IT IS IMMERSIVE.

AND YOU START WITH THE ERA PREDATING CIVIL RIGHTS AND GO THROUGH ANTEBELLUM THROUGH THE CON TEMPORARY CONDITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, NOT JUST IN AMERICA BUT THE WORLD, AND THAT WAS ILLUMINATING.

AND MY BOOK ASPIRES TO ILLUMINATE THE STORY OF AMERICA THERE FROM TOM PAYNE'S "COMMON SENSE" AND FREDERIC DOUGLASS' SPEECH ON JULY 4TH, "WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN," ALL THE WAY ZOOMING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FINDING THE MOST PIVOTAL DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE FORMATIVELY SHAPED OUR IDENTITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF OUR MILITARY, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF OUR MEDIA, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BROADER CULTURE.

SO THE BOOK WAS LAUNCHED BY MY GRANDFATHER IN THE '50S, AND THE IDEA WAS TO PROVIDE AN ANTHOLOGY THAT DIDN'T EXIST AT THE TIME.

IF YOU WANTED TO ACCESS RUDIMENTARY U.S. HISTORY, THERE WEREN'T MANY TEXTBOOKS.

YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO GO TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY AND READ ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA.

NOW, OF COURSE, WE HAVE WIKIPEDIA.

BUT WHAT'S BEEN LOST THROUGH SUCH SEAMLESS ACCESS TO ANYTHING YOU WANT IS THE IMPORTANT OF PRIMARY SOURCES AND PRIMARY DOCUMENTS AS THE FIRST DRAFT OF HISTORY AND REALLY SPEAKING PRECISELY TO THE CLIMATE, THE TENOR, WHAT WERE THESE PEOPLE THINKING WHEN THEY WERE AUTHORING A DOCUMENT TO DECLARE OUR INDEPENDENCE.

SO FROM THE FRAMERS TO THE CONTEMPORARY PRESIDENTS, MY GRANDFATHER WANTED TO PROVIDE A RESOURCE IN CLASSROOMS THAT DID NOT EXIST, AND IT WAS, IN EFFECT, A COMPENDIUM, AN ANTHOLOGY LIKE BRITANNICA BUT CONDENSED WITH THE MOST ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS CHARTING OUR HISTORY.

>> WELL, ALEXANDER, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND SAFE TRAVELS.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON WHO IS ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN THE NEWLY REDRAWN ALABAMA 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'RE USED TO HAVING BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AND THINGS PREVIEWING THE SESSION AND WE'LL GET TO THAT, BUT YOU'RE A CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS.

YOU'VE PUT YOUR NAME IN THE HAT FOR THIS NEW DISTRICT, NEWLY REDRAWN, KIND OF A SHORT WINDOW THERE.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO LET ME ASK YOU THE QUESTION I ASK ALL THE CANDIDATES, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

>> BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE.

I'LL GET INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT, BUT NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE BORDER PROBLEMS WHICH RANGES FROM A FIASCO TO A TRAGEDY, AND WE HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE GOT.

BUT OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS, FRANKLY, ECONOMIC.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FAST APPROACHING A PROBLEM THAT WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH.

THEY'RE SPENDING AND WE'RE PRINTING -- SPENDING PRINTED MONEY.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING.

THAT'S MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FOR US.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

LET ME MAKE SOME COMPARISONS, IF I MIGHT, BETWEEN HOW WE ARE IN ALABAMA AND THE FEDS.

OVER THE TIME FRAME -- AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THIS SHOW BEFORE, HOW WELL ALABAMA'S HANDLED ITS FINANCES, BUT THE CREDIT RATING OF ALABAMA HAS BEEN INCREASING.

IT'S BEEN IMPROVING.

THE CREDIT RATING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DECLINED.

WE WOUND UP WITH A SURPLUS ON JUNE 30.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOUND UP WITH $1.7 TRILLION IN DEBT.

WE PAID SEVERAL OF OUR DEBTS OFF THIS PAST YEAR -- FEBRUARY, WE PAID THE ATF OFF AND ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN, I THINK IT WAS, OTHER BONDS THAT WERE DUE, WE PAID THOSE OFF, ALSO, WHEREAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW 33-, 34- APPROACHING AND MOVING TOWARD $35 TRILLION IN DEBT.

WE HAVE, IN OUR GENERAL FUND, INTEREST ON SAVINGS THAT'S COMING IN.

THAT'S THE MAIN PART OF OUR INCOME FOR GENERAL FUND.

ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE ARE PAYING OUT ALMOST, NOW, $1 TRILLION JUST IN INTEREST PAYMENTS.

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AVENUES OF APPROACH.

>> SO SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD LEARN LESSONS FROM WHAT ALABAMA IS BEING ABLE TO DO.

THEY'VE GOT TO.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THESE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED AND APPLIED IN ALABAMA, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THOSE AND APPLY THEM IN WASHINGTON.

IF WE DON'T, I'M AFRAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ON A FINANCIAL DEATH SPIRAL HERE.

WE CAN'T KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> THAT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY TOUGH TASK.

>> YEAH.

>> HOW DO YOU GET STARTED WITH SUCH A MONUMENTAL TASK?

IS IT GOING TO HAVE TO BE A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH?

32-, $33 TRILLION IN DEBT?

>> NO, SIR, 34 TRILLION, MOVING TOWARD 35-.

>> OKAY.

>> THOSE WERE LAST MONTH'S NUMBERS.

>> COME ON... >> YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVE TO STOP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE CAN DO THIS.

WE FACE THE SAME, SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHEN WE CAME INTO POWER, THE REPUBLICANS DID, IN 2010, AND WE MADE CHANGES.

WE MADE POLICY CHANGES, WE MADE PROCEDURAL CHANGES, WE MADE DETERMINED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES IN THE PROCESS, AND WE STUCK TO THOSE.

AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES AT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BALL GAME, NO PRORATION.

WE HAVE SURPLUSES, WE'RE DOING TAX CUTS.

WE'RE DOING THOSE THINGS THAT A GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO DO.

WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE SAME THINGS TO WASHINGTON.

NOW, I KNOW ONE OUT OF 435 -- AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK TO DO -- BUT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS THERE AND MAKES AN EFFORT TO TRY AND STARTS TALKING ABOUT IT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENT.

WE CAN'T KEEP IT UP.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE ANSWERS.

>> YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S INTERESTING.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH CANDIDATES AND NOBODY'S BEEN THAT SPECIFIC ON THE FISCAL STUFF.

FRANKLY, YOU USED TO HEAR A LOT MORE REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT THAT THAN THESE DAYS.

>> AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM, TAD, IS WE'VE STOPPED TALKING ABOUT IT.

WE JUST IGNORE IT AND GO ON.

LIKE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE UP THERE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO PASS ANOTHER CR.

THAT IS THE POOR WAY OF DOING IT.

THAT'S THE WAY OF YOU'RE IGNORING THE PROBLEM AND DOING IT, FRANKLY, IN MY MIND, ILLEGALLY.

BUT WE CAN'T SHUT THINGS DOWN.

WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THE PROCESS GOING, BUT WE'VE GOT TO SIT DOWN AND WORK THIS THROUGH.

WE'VE DONE THAT HERE.

I WANT TO DO IT UP THERE.

I THINK WE CAN.

>> SO WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE COMING UP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, ISSUES THAT YOU ARE APPEALING TO VOTERS ABOUT SPECIFICALLY?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BORDER PROBLEMS, OKAY.

THE BORDER ISSUES.

AND THE MAIN ANSWER TO THAT, FRANKLY IS THAT WE HAVE TO FORCE THE LAW.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM, WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE LAWS, WE SIMPLY CHANGED THE PROCEDURES AND ACTIONS AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS DID, NOT JUST THE CURRENT ONE, BUT OTHERS HAVE.

THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 20 YEARS.

WE'VE GOT TO ENFORCE THE EXISTING LAW AND TAKE A DETERMINED ACTION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THAT'S TAKEN A CHANGE IN POLICY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A CHANGE IN RESOURCES.

WE'VE GOT TO DO IT.

THE OTHER, INTERNATIONAL.

WE'RE IN TROUBLE INTERNATIONALLY.

WE HAVE WAR GOING ON IN UKRAINE, WE HAVE A WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO BLOW UP IN THE FAR EAST.

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR MILITARY BACK IN PLAY.

I'M THE ONLY VETERAN OF MILITARY SERVICE IN THIS WHOLE GAGGLE OF US THAT'S RUNNING FOR THIS DISTRICT 2.

I KNOW HOW TO RUN MILITARY.

I SERVED OFFICER, I'VE SERVED ENLISTED, I HAVE BEEN IN RESERVE, I'VE DONE ACTIVE DUTY TIME.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SERVE OVERSEAS AND TO BE DEPLOYED.

THAT'S WHERE WE'VE GOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SAFE AND CAN RESPOND, WHEREAS RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT RESPONDING AT ALL.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A FIRM HAND ON WHERE WE ARE MILITARILY, FINANCIALLY AND SECURITY-WISE ON THE BORDER.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT I THINK ARE FOCUSING ON.

>> HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO WHAT COMMITTEES YOU WOULD WANT TO SIT ON IF YOU GOT ELECTED?

>> SURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DISTRICT 2 IS FAR SHORT OF IS INFRASTRUCTURE -- ROADS, BRIDGES, INTERNET, AND I CAN KEEP NAMING ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

SO MY PURPOSE WOULD BE -- AND I'VE ALREADY BEEN TO WASHINGTON AND TOLD THEM THIS IS MY PREFERENCE -- IS TO GET ON THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT WOULD BE THE MEANS WHERE WE CAN GIVE THE DIRECTIONS AND SUCH THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON.

THAT WOULD GIVE US THE MEANS SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE HALF-BUILT ROADWAYS COMPLETED THAT'S DOWN THERE.

DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T TRAVEL THROUGH DISTRICT 2 ON A SINGLE ROADWAY?

IT TAKES THREE OR FOUR.

YOU CAN'T EVEN TRAVEL THROUGH THE DISTRICT AND REMAIN IN THE DISTRICT, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T AND REMAIN IN THE STATE.

IT'S A VERY CUT-UP PIECE OF LAND THAT HAS BEEN IGNORED FOR SO LONG.

OUT OF THE 13 COUNTIES IN THIS DISTRICT, ONE HAD A POPULATION INCREASE IN THE LAST CENSUS.

ONE OF THEM HELD ITS OWN, MADE REMAIN STATIC.

THE OTHER ELEVEN HAD SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN POPULATION.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP THAT DRAIN.

THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS BY IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN THAT AREA.

>> WELL, SPEAKING OF THIS NEW DISTRICT, IT'S CHANGED A LOT, NOT JUST GEOGRAPHICALLY, BUT DEMOGRAPHICALLY -- >> CORRECT.

>> -- TO WHERE AO2 WAS RELIABLY REPUBLICAN, NOW MORE PURPLE.

YOU MIGHT ARGUE THERE MIGHT BE A DEMOCRATIC ADVANTAGE.

THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS ANY REPUBLICAN THAT WINS THE NOMINATION IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO APPEAL TO THOSE MORE INDEPENDENT, MORE MODERATE VOTERS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO WIN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY TO APPEAL TO THE BASE BUT YOU HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND APPEAL TO THE OTHER SIDE.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> MY CAREER HAS BEEN DOING THAT.

IN THE DISTRICT OF THE 13 COUNTIES, FIVE OF THEM I'VE REPRESENTED, I'VE LIVED IN SEVERAL OF THEM, TOO.

I KNOW THIS DISTRICT.

I KNOW THE PEOPLE THERE.

I HAVE REPRESENTED PEOPLE THERE.

I HAVE BEAT DEMOCRATS AND I'VE BEAT REPUBLICANS THERE.

I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN IN THIS AREA.

I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS TAKEN AND HAD MULTIPLE RACES WITH MULTIPLE CANDIDATES AND COME OUT THE WINNER.

NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT, FOR THE MOST PART, I HAVE.

I KNOW HOW TO WIN THIS DISTRICT.

I KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

I KNOW THE PEOPLE.

>> WELL, BEFORE -- I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS TO LEGISLATIVE IN A MINUTE, BUT THERE IS -- IS THERE A CAMPAIGN WEB SITE?

>> ALBRITTONFORALABAMA.COM.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> THAT CAME FROM A VIEWER WHO SAW PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS AND SAID WHY DON'T YOU ASK CANDIDATES TO OFFER THEIR WE ARE WEB SITE, SO GOOD NOTE.

THANK YOU.

SWITCHING TO LEGISLATIVE.

CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE BUDGET GENERAL FUND COMMITTEE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, HOW'S THAT DOING?

I SPOKE TO YOUR COUNTERPART IN THE HOUSE AND HE EXPRESSED OPTIMISM.

ARE YOU SEEING GOOD NUMBERS GENERAL FUND-WISE?

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS.

FIRST OFF, LET ME SAY, AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING THE GOOD NUMBERS BECAUSE OF THE PLANNING AND THE CAREFUL WAY WE'RE DOING THINGS.

WE HAVE NOT SPENT EVERY DIME AND WE HAVE BEEN, IF I MIGHT USE THE WORD, SWAMPED WITH FEDERAL MONEY THESE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, HANDLING THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE ON THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

BUT WE HAVE DONE WELL WITH THEM.

WE'VE PUT MORE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE GROUND THAN WE EVER HAVE WITH WATER AND SEWER LINES, ROADWAYS ARE GOING IN.

WE'RE DOING WELL IN ALABAMA THAT WAY.

BUDGET-WISE, WE HAVE CONTINUED GROWTH.

AS I MENTIONED, THE BIGGEST GROWTH THAT WE HAVE IS INTEREST THAT'S COMING IN TO THE GENERAL FUND AND, YET, WE'RE FACED -- WE KNOW MUCH OF THE MONEY WE HAVE HAD HAS BEEN FEDERAL MONEY AND MONEYS THAT WE HAD, THAT'S BEING SPENT AND DRAINED OUT AND PUT INTO THE GROUND.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE INTEREST RATES BEGINNING TO DECLINE, SO THAT'S GOING TO PUT A DENT IN THE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD.

I KNOW IN THE ETF, WE'VE HAD SHOWINGS AND IN PARTICULAR IN INCOME TAX THAT HAS SHOWN A SLIGHT DECLINE.

SO, WE'RE UNSURE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE HEADED FOR THE FUTURE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE PREPARED FOR IT.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE BUDGETS, AND Y'ALL EVE GOT GENERAL FUND UPSTAIRS THIS YEAR, RIGHT.

>> YES, WE DO.

STARTING THERE.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

TURNING TO AN ISSUE WE GET ASKED ABOUT A LOT, THAT'S GAMBLING.

WE HEAR ABOUT CONVERSATIONS GOING ON, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE -- >> AS WELL IT SHOULD BE, OKAY.

YOU'VE HEARD ME ON THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S WHERE IT HAS TYPICALLY GONE TO DIE.

AND, SO, IT MAKES SENSE IT WOULD START THERE, PLUS THE SPEAKER HAS GIVEN THEM INSTRUCTIONS.

>> YES.

>> WE'RE TALKING LOTTERY, CASINO, SPORTS BOOK, LIKE YOUR PREVIOUS BILLS.

WHERE ARE WE?

HOW MUCH MOMENTUM WOULD YOU SAY EXISTS AT THIS MOMENT?

>> I THINK WE HAVE MORE MOMEMTUM THAN WE'VE HAD PREVIOUSLY, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SERIOUS WORK IN THE HOUSE.

MY COMPLIMENTS TO THE HOUSE MEMBERS, ANDY WHITT, CHRIS BLACKSHEAR, THE SPEAKER, WHO HAVE TAKEN THIS ON AND EDUCATED THEMSELVES AND OTHERS OF THIS ISSUE.

THEY HAVE PERSONALLY GONE OUT AND SEEN WHAT'S OUT THERE.

AND THEY HAVE TAKEN WHAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE AND HAVE BUILT AROUND, I THINK, A VERY GOOD CORE, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, A POTENTIAL BILL THAT LOOKS FEASIBLE.

IT IS COMPREHENSIVE, DEALS WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT -- LOTTERIES, THE CAPPING, THE CONTROLLING, THE REGULATING, THE TAXING -- ALL OF THAT'S IN PLACE, AND ENFORCEMENT IS BEEFED UP STRONGLY.

I THINK THEY'VE TAKEN THIS AND RAN THROUGH ALL THE GAMUTS THEY CAN.

I AM OPTIMISTIC THIS IS THE BEST PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN GAMBLING EVER BROUGHT.

IT WILL BRING CLARITY TO THE STATE, REGULATION TO THE STATE, IT WILL STOP THIS GROWTH OF CANCER WE HAVE CALLED GAMING JUST GROWING WILDLY.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD PIECE.

>> I THINK YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE THIS YEAR SOME GROUPS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO EXPANSION OF GAMBLING COMING OUT STRONGLY, MAYBE MORE SO IN THE PAST THAT HAVE AGGRESSIVELY BEEN PUSHING BACK ON THE IDEA OF ANY BILL -- >> MAYBE THAT'S AN INDICATION OF HOW CLOSE WE ARE.

>> MY QUESTION, DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT?

YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEW LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE NEVER VOTED ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE.

>> SURE, BUT ALSO WHAT IT IS.

YOU FIGHT THE BATTLES THAT YOU'RE GIVEN, NOT THE ONES YOU WANT OR PLAN FOR.

YOU'RE CORRECT.

THERE WILL BE OPPOSITION HERE JUST AS STRONG, IN A DIFFERENT TACK THAN WE HAVE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO.

WE'LL SEE WHAT WE GET WHEN WE GET IT TO THE FLOOR.

THE SPEAKER HAS SAID PUBLICLY THAT HE INTENDS TO BRING THIS TO A FLOOR VOTE ON THE HOUSE.

>> THAT'S ONE OF MANY, MANY ISSUES TO WATCH.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON HERE.

GOOD LUCK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS PHYLLIS HARVEY-HALL, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN ALABAMA'S 2ND DISTRICT.

MS. HALL, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BRAND-NEW DISTRICT.

THE BRAND-NEW DISTRICT SPANS SO MUCH OF THE STATE SO I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TALK TO AS MANY AS WE CAN SO, AGAIN, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON.

LET ME ASK YOU WHAT I HAVE BEEN ASKING ALL OF THE CANDIDATES, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

AND I WILL BEGIN WITH JUST A BRIEF HISTORY OF THIS THAT I AM RUNNING FOR THE SAME REASON WHICH I RAN IN 2020 AND IN 2022 BECAUSE, AS I HAVE LIVED IN THIS DISTRICT, BORN IN THIS DISTRICT AND LIVED, PEOPLE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS NOT JUST GOING TO UP UNDER THE TITLE OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THEY NEED SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT, AND WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO THE RACE IN 2020, IT WAS BECAUSE I KNEW WE NEEDED REPRESENTATION.

WE NEEDED SOMEONE WHO WOULD PRESENT CAUSES TO THE HIGHEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHO WOULD TAKE THE PEOPLE'S CAUSES AND PRESENT THEM, THE ISSUES THAT ARE LYING WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.

AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T SEE THE PERSON WHO WAS RUNNING FOR THAT SEAT THAT WAS GOING TO GO AND DO THAT WORK BECAUSE, IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, WE CAN BE CAUGHT UP ON OUR OWN IDEOLOGICAL PATH AND FORGET ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.

I FOLLOW THIS QUOTE AS I COME OF THIS PARTICULAR AGE IN LIFE THAT YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.

AND IN DISTRICT 2, THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE RESOLVED, AND I'M ABOUT FIXING THOSE PROBLEMS AND REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE, PRESENTING THE CAUSES AND THE PROBLEMS TO EVERY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THE FEDERAL BRANCH, AND RESOLVING ISSUES THAT WILL MAKE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> YOU MENTIONED RUNNING BEFORE IN THE 2ND DISTRICT.

THE DISTRICT HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED, BUT WHAT LESSONS DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THOSE CAMPAIGNS THAT YOU THINK CAN HELP YOU IN THIS BRAND-NEW IN THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE POSSIBLY HAVE LOOKED AT THOSE RACES, EVEN IN THE DISTRICT, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

IT IS SLIGHTLY LEANING MORE ONE WAY, LEANING AS WE WOULD SEE DEMOCRATIC, BUT IT'S STILL A VERY COMPETITIVE DISTRICT, IT'S NOT A 50/50.

WHAT I TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IS WHEN I RAN IN 2020 AND 2022, THOSE RACES, WHEN WE HAD -- THEY WERE, LIKE, 20, MAYBE 27% MINORITY, IN EACH OF THOSE RACES I WAS ABLE TO WIN AND COME OVER AND WIN WITH A PERCENT HIGHER THAN 27% MINORITY.

SO IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT SO MUCH THE MINORITY OR THE MAJORITY FOR ME, BUT IT'S BEEN ABOUT PEOPLE.

SO I TAKE THAT TO MEAN THAT IT'S ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

NOW, HERE IN ALABAMA, WE HAVE OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE R AND THE D, AND WE GET CAUGHT UP WITH NATIONAL ISSUES THAT REALLY ARE QUITE DISTANT FROM US, BUT POLITICIANS USE THOSE TO GET ELECTED.

AND I TAKE AWAY SEVERAL THINGS -- PEOPLE WANT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO REPRESENT THEM.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIVES, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT EDUCATION, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT REDEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS.

>> I KEEP HEARING THAT FROM A LOT OF CANDIDATES, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, ABOUT THE RURAL NATURE OF THE DISTRICT AND HOW THAT NEEDS TO BE A FOCUS.

WELL, YOU MENTIONED ISSUES.

WHAT ISSUES, IN PARTICULAR, THAT CONGRESS CAN EFFECT ARE YOU BRINGING UP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO APPEAL TO VOTERS?

>> I LIKE THE WAY YOU PHRASED THAT.

AS WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITIES AND FORUMS, YOU ARE RIGHT, CERTAIN AREAS ARE BROUGHT UP, YOU ARE RIGHT.

EDUCATION IS A FUNCTION OF THE STATE.

THE BIGGER ISSUE, EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, YOU CANNOT JUST DISCUSS ONE OF THOSE, BECAUSE THEY ARE INTRICATELY TIED TOGETHER.

WHEN I START THINKING ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WELL, ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE NEED TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS, MY TEAM AND I, $7.25, NEITHER OF US CAN FATHOM LIVING OFF THAT AND WE'RE OFFERING THAT AS A MINIMUM WAGE AND A LOT OF COMPANIES IN ALABAMA ARE PAYING THAT.

SOME COMPANIES ARE CHOOSING TO OFFER MORE.

BUT RAISING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE, THAT'S AN ISSUE.

CODIFYING VOTING RIGHTS, THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS, THAT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE.

AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BUT LOOKING AT REALLY -- LOOKING AT JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND LOOKING AT REFORMING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>> YOU'RE FROM MONTGOMERY?

>> I'M A DUAL CITIZEN, MR. STACEY.

I HAVE BEEN IN MONTGOMERY, GRADUATED FROM ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY, I'M A HORNET.

THAT'S MY FIRST GRADUATION, SO, YES.

I LATER WENT TO AUM, TSUM, SO VARIED COLLEGE DEGREES HERE.

BEFORE WHAT, I WAS BORN STRAIGHT DOWN I-65.

>> THE REASON I BROUGHT IT UP IS THE GEOGRAPHIC NATURE OF THE DISTRICT, USED TO BE THE CORNER OF THE STATE, NOW IT'S A WHOLE SWATH.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF, OKAY, YOU'RE FROM MONTGOMERY, LIVE HERE NOW, PROBABLY VERY MUCH HOME TURF FOR YOU.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO GO TO MOBILE AND PHENIX CITY.

HOW HAS IT BEEN TRYING TO CONNECT WITH VOTERS IN SO MANY PLACES IN SUCH A LARGE DISTRICT?

>> ONE OF THE PLUSES FOR ME HAVING RUN, SEVEN OF THE COUNTIES WE'RE RUNNING IN, PIKE COUNTY INCLUDED, CRENSHAW, BUTLER, BULLOCK, MONTGOMERY, THOSE ARE PLACES WHERE I'VE DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE, BARBER COUNTY, THOSE ARE COUNTIES THAT HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE DEMOCRATIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN ALABAMA HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT DERAILED FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT I HAVE NAME RECOGNITION AND I.D.

IN SEVEN OTHER COUNTIES.

OTHER COUNTIES, WHEN YOU TALKING ABOUT MOBILE, I'M FROM EVERGREEN COUNTY.

WE WENT TO MOBILE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, DOCTORS, HOSPITALS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.

THAT'S ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE.

MONROEVILLE, WHICH IS MONROE COUNTY, AS A PERSON GROWING UP IN MY TEENS, WE HAD TO TRAVEL AND GO INTO THE COUNTIES AND VISIT.

THEY'RE NOT FOREIGN TO ME.

RUSSELL COUNTY, A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT I HAVE ROOTS AND PEOPLE IN COLUMBUS AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST A QUICK HOP.

IT'S A LOT TO NAVIGATE, BUT WE ARE DOING IT BECAUSE, AS A CANDIDATE, I THINK THAT THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN ACTUALLY EXPECT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN YOU IS THAT YOU DO THE GRASSROOT WORK OF MEETING THEM.

>> OH, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

YOU'VE GOT TO PUT IN THE EFFORT.

ONE THING I HAVE BEEN ASKING ALL CANDIDATES, TOO, ON BOTH SIDE, YOU MENTIONED IT BEING KIND OF A PURPLE DISTRICT, RIGHT.

>> YES.

>> IT'S PROBABLY LEANING DEMOCRAT BUT IT'S A PRETTY COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

THE REASON I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NO LONGER JUST AUTOMATIC REPUBLICAN OR AUTOMATIC, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOMINATED AS THE DEMOCRAT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO APPEAL TO THOSE INDEPENDENT, MORE MODERATE VOTERS, EVEN SOME REPUBLICANS.

ARE YOU THE KIND OF CANDIDATE THAT CAN DO THAT, CAN APPEAL TO THOSE INDEPENDENTS?

>> I LOVE THAT QUESTION BECAUSE SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE REPUBLICANS, SO GO FIGURE.

SOME TO HAVE THE OTHERS ARE INDEPENDENTS.

I DON'T HAVE JUST THIS ONE MONOLITH GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT I TALK WITH.

SO MY MAYBE NEXT DOOR TOLD ME, HE WAS, LIKE, PHYLLIS, I COULDN'T VOTE FOR YOU.

I SAID YOU COULDN'T, MR. JAKE, BECAUSE YOU'RE REPUBLICAN.

AND WE LAUGH ABOUT THAT.

SO WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND I THINK, LIKE I WAS TELLING YOU, WHEN WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS, THAT CROSSES EVERY LINE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING.

WE JUST HAVE TO STOP THE TALKING POINT NOISE AND FOCUS ON REAL ISSUES, KITCHEN-TABLE ISSUES, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON AND I THINK THAT MESSAGE I WAS TELLING YOU EARLIER WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVEN THOUGH 2ND DISTRICT WAS HIGHLY, HIGHLY REPUBLICAN BASED, YOU LOOKED IN ON YOUR INDEX, AND IT WAS JUST REPUBLICAN.

>> FOREGONE CONCLUSIONS.

>> YES, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH ME RUNNING BUT I WAS WILLING TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE PEOPLE WITHOUT A CHOICE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THAT'S THE REASON I RAN.

SO I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL.

>> WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, BUT I WANTED TO ASK TO SHARE YOUR WEB SITE WITH VOTERS SO THEY CAN GO AND LOOK YOU UP AND LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN.

>> MY WEB SITE IS PHYLLIS, WHICH IS MY FIRST NAME -- BY THE WAY THAT CAME FROM MY REPUBLICAN NEIGHBOR, WE KNOW YOU AS PHYLLIS, THE HARVEY-HALL IS A MOUTH FULL.

BUT PHYLLISFORCONGRESS.COM.

YOU CAN FIND OUT A LOT MORE ABOUT ME ON THAT WEB SITE, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT WHO I AM.

YOU CAN FIND THAT I AM MORE THAN CAPABLE OF BEING THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE WE LIKE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND AS YOU POSSIBLY KNOW, AND IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP, MANY OF THEM ARE NOT FROM THE DISTRICT, BUT I AM A PRODUCT OF THIS DISTRICT AND I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE RURAL AREAS INTO THE URBAN AREAS.

>> GOOD LUCK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING CLOSELY.

THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> CONTINUING OUR EFFORT TO INTERVIEW ALL THE CANDIDATES FROM THE NEWLY REDRAWN ALABAMA 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, NEXT I'M PLEADS TO BE JOINED BY HAMPTON HARRIS, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS.

HAMPTON, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WELL, WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO ALL THE CANDIDATES, BIG, LONG LIST THERE, BUT YOU'RE RUNNING ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO LET ME ASK YOU THERE WHAT I ASK EVERYBODY, AND THAT IS PRETTY SIMPLE, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

>> FOR SURE.

SO I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THIS COUNTRY AND POLITICS IN GENERAL, AND MY GRANDFATHER ON BOTH SIDES FOUGHT IN OR WERE PART OF THE MILITARY.

I'VE SEEN HOW THEY'VE STRUGGLED WITH VETERANS AFFAIRS, GETTING CARE FOR WHAT THEY NEEDED.

MY WIFE IS ALSO ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE, SO I'M ABLE TO SEE BOTH OUR PAST AND CURRENT MILITARY, SEEING THE WAY THAT THEY ARE BEING TREATED BY OUR GOVERNMENT.

THEY HAVE TERRIBLE HOUSING.

THERE IS TERRIBLE CARE.

TAKES FOREVER TO GET IN TO SEE THE DOCTORS, IF YOU EVER GET IN.

AND OUR CURRENT MILITARY IS MORE WORRIED ABOUT PUSHING A POLITICAL IDEOLOGY ON OUR MILITARY AND USING IT FOR THEIR POLITICIZATION RATHER THAN USING IT TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY.

THAT IS ONE MASSIVE REASON I WANTED TO GET INTO THIS RACE IS TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO TOOK CARE OF US AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOMETHING TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY BUT, ALSO, AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN THE DISTRICT, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF RED TAPE AND REGULATION AND DOUBLE TAXATION THAT A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HAS AND HOW MUCH IT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE FROM GETTING IN TO BUSINESS AND THE DISTRICT AND HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK.

AND ALL THAT LEADS BACK TO INFLATION AND THE RISING COST OF EVERYTHING IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL CAUSED BY THE LEFTIST AGENDA AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN D.C. AND, SO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE TO GET SOMEBODY UP THERE THAT WILL STAND UP FOR THEIR CHRISTIAN, CONSERVATIVE VALUES AND BRING POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND THE STATES AND TAKE IT AWAY FROM WASHINGTON BECAUSE, LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ALWAYS SAID, TO REMOVE -- TO DRAIN THE SWAMP, WE HAVE TO REMOVE SOME POWER FROM WASHINGTON AND BRING IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND TO THE STATES.

>> WELL, SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU TALK ABOUT BEING FROM AROUND HERE.

MONTGOMERY?

>> I GREW UP IN MONTGOMERY.

EARLY CHILDHOOD MONTGOMERY, MOVED TO PIKE ROAD BEFORE IT WAS A ROAD BEFORE IT IS THE BIG CITY IT IS NOW AND GREW UP THERE.

I WAS HOME-SCHOOLED THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL ALONG WITH MY SIX OTHER SIBLINGS.

SO WE HAD A BIG FAMILY.

THAT'S WHERE MY MOTHER WAS ABLE TO INSTILL THESE CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE VALUES THAT ARE DEEPLY INSTILLED IN ME, AND THAT IS SOMEWHERE, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THAT.

MOVED UP GOING TO AUBURN UNIVERSITY, MONTGOMERY, AFTER I GRADUATED.

I GOT AN ECONOMICS DEGREE THERE.

THEN I WENT TO ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE LAW SCHOOLS IN THE NATION UP IN BIRMINGHAM CUMBERLAND LAW.

SO I WAS ABLE TO GET MY LAW DEGREE UP THERE.

DURING THAT TIME, I ALSO, AN UNDERGRAD, WORKED FOR THE EMERGENCY ROOM HERE IN MONTGOMERY, SAW THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR EMERGENCY ROOM AND REALLY HOSPITALS IN GENERAL AND THE OPIOID CRISIS AND OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND SAW ALL THAT, THE PROBLEMS THERE.

THEN I ALSO OPENED MY OWN REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE AND WAS ABLE TO DO THAT, WORKING MY WAY THROUGH LAW SCHOOL, TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT KIND OF STUFF AND WORK MY WAY THROUGH IT.

I WAS ABLE TO START A BUSINESS HERE AND THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MADE IS GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS MYSELF.

>> NOW, YOU ARE THE YOUNGEST CANDIDATE IN THE RACE, BUT WHAT ELSE SETS YOU APARTMENT?

BECAUSE IN THIS FIELD, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND OUT.

>> FOR SURE.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEPARATE YOURSELF.

WHAT ELSE SETS YOU APART AS A CANDIDATE MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF?

>> NUMBER ONE, I'M THE YOUNGEST.

I HAVE A LOT OF PASSION, DRIVE AND ALL THE ENERGY A YOUNG PERSON HAS TO GET UP THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THOUGH I'M YOUNG, I'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS.

MY REAL ESTATE BUSINESS HAS SOLD OVER 12 MILLION SINCE IT'S OPENED.

I'M DRIVEN.

I WAS TOLD NEVER TO DO ANYTHING 80% YOU, BUT 100% ALL THE TIME.

I WAS TAUGHT NEVER TO BACK OFF MY VALUES.

I'M THE MOST CONSERVATIVE PERSON IN THE RACE.

I THINK THAT WILL SET ME APART AS WELL, BEING VERY STRONG CONSERVATIVE, VERY GROUNDED IN MY ROOTS AND WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE THIS DISTRICT AND BRING BACK THE POWER FROM WASHINGTON AND GET IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND HELP THIS DISTRICT.

>> YOU'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE, ALREADY, VETERANS AFFAIRS ISSUES.

WHEN I USED TO WORK UP IN WASHINGTON, THAT WAS A BIG DEAL GOING ON THEN, LOTS OF SCANDALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU TALKED ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE YOU SEEKING TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT IN THIS CAMPAIGN, ISSUES THAT CONGRESS WORKS WITH, RIGHT, ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFECT AS A CONGRESSMAN.

>> VETERANS, AND SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT IS VERY STRONG WITH ME.

IT'S A RIGHT.

THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT GIVE US THAT RIGHT BUT PUT LIMITATIONS TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH THAT RIGHT, AND THEY CANNOT TAKE AWAY A RIGHT THEY DID NOT THEMSELVES GIVE YOU.

SO STANDING UP FOR OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT.

MAKING SURE WE HAVE A STRONG BORDER.

IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMING INTO THE NATION WERE GREATER THAN THOSE BORN IN AMERICA.

SO WE HAVE A MASSIVE INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMING IN THE NATION.

WE NEED TO STOP IT, PUT A WALL ALL THE WAY UP THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHO'S COMING INTO THE COUNTRY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO HURT AMERICA.

SO DOING THAT, MAKING SURE TO STAND UP.

I MEAN, ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED, BUT THE FIGHT IS NEVER OVER, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT TO LIFE WHICH BEGINS AT CONCEPTION IS PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES.

SO STANDING UP FOR ALL THESE DIFFERENT CHRISTIAN, CONSERVATIVE VALUES UP IN CONGRESS.

>> ANY IDEA WHAT COMMITTEES YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASPIRE TO?

I MEAN, THE LIST IS LONG AND DIFFERENT ISSUES AFFECT -- YOU KNOW, ARE KIND OF TOUCHED BY DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR SIGHTS SET ON ANYTHING PARTICULAR?

>> VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR SURE.

THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF THAT AS WELL.

CONGRESSMAN BARRY MOORE HAS DONE WELL WITH THIS DISTRICT AND HE HAS BEEN A PART OF IT AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF IT AS WELL.

THOSE COMMITTEES, I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF.

>> TALKING ABOUT MOST CONSERVATIVE IN THE RACE, I GUESS OTHERS MIGHT ARGUE WITH YOU ABOUT THAT, BUT I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD.

TALKING A LOT ABOUT CONSERVATISM, FREEDOM CAUCUS, THIS KIND OF STUFF.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS DISTRICT CHANGED A LOT AND IT IS MORE PURPLE THAN IT USED TO BE.

I'VE MADE THE ARGUMENT, WHOEVER IT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT IS NOMINATED, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO APPEAL SOME TO THE MORE INDEPENDENT, MODERATE VOTERS TO GET OVER THE HUMP AND GET THE 50%.

HOW WOULD YOU, GIVEN YOUR CONSERVATIVE BONA FIDES, ALSO BE ABLE TO APPEAL TO THE MORE INDEPENDENT, MORE MODERATE VOTERS?

>> FOR SURE.

THIS IS A NEW DISTRICT AND I BELIEVE IT'S STILL A VERY CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO BACK OFF MY VALUES IN ORDER TO GET ELECTED, I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN CONGRESS TODAY ARE THE OLDER PEOPLE WE HAVE OVER THERE THAT BACK OFF VALUES SO THEY CAN GET UP AND GET ANOTHER TERM OR GET ELECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY REFRESHING SO REALLY ALL SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM IS SOMEBODY WHO WILL STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN AND WILL NOT BACK DOWN.

I STILL BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT THAT A CONSERVATIVE CAN COME IN AND WE CAN KEEP IT A VERY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

>> HAVE YOU FOUND IT CHALLENGING TO -- I MEAN, JUST GEOGRAPHICALLY GOING ALL THE WAY FROM PHENIX CITY, HERE TO MONTGOMERY, DOWN THE MOBILE, BIG SWATHS OF THE BLACK BELT.

IT'S GOT TO BE A CHALLENGE TO CAMPAIGN.

>> IT'S A LOT OF RUBBER OFF THE TIRE.

BASICALLY LIVING IN MY TRUCK.

I'M DRIVING OVER TO PHENIX CITY, RUSSELL COUNTY, BARBER COUNTY, GOING DOWN, HITTING WASHINGTON COUNTY.

MOBILE IS VERY, VERY DIVERSE AND GET A LOT OF DIVERSE -- I MEAN, MOBILE THE HUB OF INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURING AND THEY HAVE A HOT OF OUR MILITARY PRODUCTION AND I WANT TO BRING BACK -- NOT BRING IT BACK BUT INCREASE OIL DRILLING IN THE GULF BY AMERICAN COMPANIES, NOT FOREIGN COMPANIES, AND BRING PIPELINES DOWN TO HELP WITH THE MANUFACTURING.

YOU COME UP AND GO THROUGH PARTS TO HAVE THE WIREGRASS REGION AND YOU HAVE ALL THESE AGRICULTURE AND ROW CROPS AND YOU COME OUT TO WEST MONTGOMERY COUNTY, YOU HAVE THE BLACK BELT, DIFFERENT KINDS OF ROW CROPS.

SO IT'S A VERY DIVERSE DISTRICT, AND IT'S A LOT TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND IT, AND IT'S INTERESTING HOW THEY DECIDED TO REDISTRICT THIS DISTRICT.

>> YOU PROBABLY LEARN A LOT, DON'T YOU, JUST MEETING PEOPLE, HEARING THEIR DIFFERENT STORIES AND EVERYTHING.

>> OH, FOR SURE.

>> THAT WILL REALLY HELP YOUR POLITICAL CAREER IN THE FUTURE, I'M SURE.

>> FOR SURE.

I LOVE MEETING EVERYBODY AND HEARING WHAT THEY FEEL THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS OF THE DISTRICT ARE AND HOW WE CAN ALLEVIATE THOSE PROBLEMS AND GET THOSE -- GET ALL THE PEOPLE HERE.

>> WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TELL US WHERE VIEWERS CAN FIND YOUR CAMPAIGN.

YOU HAVE A CAMPAIGN WEB SITE?

>> HAMPTONHARRISFORALABAMA IS MY WEB SITE, HAMPTON HARRIS ON FACEBOOK AND GRAHAM AND HAMPTON HARRIS ON TWITTER OR X.

>> WE WILL BE FOLLOWING IT CLOSELY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH MORE "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.