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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

TOMORROW STATE LAWMAKERS CONTINUE THEIR SPECIAL SESSION FOCUSED ON HOW TO SPEND SOME $772 MILLION OF FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY.

IT'S THE ONE AND ONLY TOPIC THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED IN THIS SPECIAL SESSION.

NOW THAT THE LEGISLATION IS THROUGH COMMITTEE, IT WILL REQUIRE THREE MORE DAYS TO PASS IT INTO LAW.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS EXPECT THAT TO GO SMOOTHLY THIS WEEK.

>> I THINK THE IDEA OF EDUCATING THE MEMBERS CONTINUOUSLY AND LETTING THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BACK HOME WHAT HAVE WE DONE AND WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE PRIORITIES FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THE MOTION THAT WE WILL BE ENGAGED IN ON TUESDAY.

I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT HAS BEEN A STRONG BIPARTISAN EFFORT, AND WE HAVE WORKED ON ISSUES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE STATE, DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE STATE, DIFFERENT SEGMENTS, WHETHER IT BE HEALTH CARE OR BROADBAND OR ISSUES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE -- ALL OF THOSE TOPICS HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH THE DEBATE ALREADY BUT I THINK WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHERE WE ARE.

THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF GOOD IDEAS THAT HAVE COME FROM MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND THEY WILL WANT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE AS WE GET TOGETHER ON TUESDAY.

>> WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE, THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE ALLOCATED MORE THAN $4 BILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY, BETWEEN THE CARES ACT PASSED UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PASSED UNDER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

AND THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE BILLIONS MORE THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO CITIES, COUNTIES, BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS.

ONE STATE BUDGET LEADER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CASUAL ATTITUDE HE SAYS HAS DEVELOPED ABOUT SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY.

>> MY CONCERN IS, WE ARE AT THE PEAK.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE IN THIS POSITION NEXT YEAR OR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT IS KEEPING ME UP AT NIGHT -- NOT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY NECESSARILY BUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THIS IS GONE.

AND I'M NOT SURE MOST OF US ARE FOCUSED ON THAT.

BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE, PASS YOU SAID, A MUNDANENESS THAT IS THERE, WITHOUT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO US NOW?

WE'RE GETTING ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS IN JUNE I GUESS, MAY OR JUNE.

AND THE POINT I MADE TO SOMEBODY WAS, THAT BILLION DOLLARS IS NOT THE SAME THAT WE GOT LAST YEAR THAT WE JUST COMPLETED SPENDING.

IT'S GOING TO BE WORTH LEGISLATION THAN THAT.

AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE COMPREHEND THAT YET.

I DON'T THINK THAT HAS SET IN.

SO THE FIGURES WILL LOOK THE SAME BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BUY THE SAME.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT SIX >> A NEW POLL IS OUT TODAY SHOWING RESIDENTS' OPINIONS ABOUT CERTAIN USES FOR FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY.

IN A SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY ALABAMA ARISE, MORE THAN PERCENT OF VOTERS SUPPORTED SPENDING THE MONEY ON RURAL HOSPITALS, 59 PERCENT SUPPORTED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, 61 PERCENT SUPPORTED PUBLIC HOUSING, 73 PERCENT SUPPORTED INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND 65 PERCENT SUPPORTED SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

LAWMAKERS ARE SPENDING THE CURRENT TRANCHE OF MONEY MOSTLY ON HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES, WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET.

ANOTHER $1 BILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT IS EXPECTED FOR ALABAMA LATER THIS YEAR.

I'LL TALK WITH ARISE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROBYN HYDEN LATER IN THE SHOW.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

>> JOINING ME NEXT ON THE PROGRAM IS DR. SCOTT HARRIS, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

DOC, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WELL, WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE ONLY I DON'T KNOW VARIANT, VERY WIDESPREAD IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

I WAS HOPING FOR AN UPDATED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ON WHERE WE ARE.

>> WE'RE STILL SEEING BIG NUMBERS.

IN SOME OF THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTHEAST AND STARTING TO SEE THE UPPER MIDWEST CASES ARE GOING DOWN.

WE HAVE HEARD THAT FROM OUR SURROUNDING STATES SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THINKS WILL BEGIN TO IMPROVE BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YET IN ALABAMA.

THIS PAST WEEK WE HAD CASE NUMBERS EVERY DAY THAT WERE OVER 14,000 -- A COUPLE OF DAYS OVER 16,000, 16,000 NEW CASE'S DAY.

AND YOU KNOW AS WE SAID SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SHOW, FORTUNATELY OMICRON SEEMS TO CAUSE A LITTLE LESS SEVERE DISEASE AS BEFORE WITH DELTA AND THAT THING BUT THE SHEER NUMBER OF CASES IT'S CREATING A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW.

I SAW THE LATEST NUMBERS FROM THE DASHBOARD WERE ABOUT 2710 HOSPITALIZED RIGHT NOW, AND THAT SEEMS PRETTY HIGH?

>> THAT IS PRETTY HIGH.

THE HIGHEST NUMBER WE HAVE EVER SEEN IS RIGHT ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN GOT THE FIRST BIG WINTER SURGE AND VACCINES HAVEN'T ROLLED OUT.

WE GOT ABOUT 3,000 PATIENTS THERE JUST FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THAT WAS REALLY THE BREAKING POINT FOR THE HOSPITALS.

THEY JUST ABOUT COULD NOT HAVE HANDLED MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

THIS PAST SUMMER WITH THE DELTA SURGE WE GOT CLOSE TO THAT.

WE GOT OVER 2900, CLOSE TO 3,000 AND AGAIN THAT'S A STRAIN ON OUR SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT ABOUT 2700 AND WE'RE HEARING FROM A LOT OF HOPS AND THEY'RE HAVING A DIFFICULTY TIME A LOT OF THEIR STAFF IS INFECTED BECAUSE THE CASE NUMBERS ARE SO HUGE.

AND A LOT OF NONCOVID-RELATED THINKS THAT COME TO THE HOSPITAL ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, A DELIVERY OR HIP FRACTURE OR CAR ACCIDENT -- A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE TURN OUT TO HAVE COVID WHEN THEY GET THERE, OR AT LEAST THEY'RE INFECT AND SAID HOSPITALS HAVE TO MANAGE THEM THE SAME WAY, ISOLATE THEM AND USE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND IT'S A STRAIN ON OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT INCLUDES HOSPITAL STAFF; RIGHT?

THE STAFF HAS BEEN THROUGH MULTIPLE WAVES OF COVID.

>> THE HOSPITAL STAFF, OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE THE REAL HEROS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THEY'VE GONE THROUGH TWO YEARS OF THIS, INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.

NOW, BECAUSE OMICRON IS JUST SO INFECTIOUS WE'RE SEEING LARGE NUMBERS OF THEM GET INFECTED AS WELL.

MOST OF THEM ARE VACCINATED SO THEY DON'T USUALLY GET VERY SICK.

THEY DON'T END UP AS HOSPITAL PATIENTS BUT THEY STILL CAN'T WORK, WHEN THEY'RE INFECTIOUS TO OTHER PEOPLE SO IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT VACCINES.

ALABAMA STILL HAS A RELATIVELY LOW RATE -- AMONGST THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE ENTIRE POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN VACCINATED.

IS THAT IMPROVING AT ALL WITH THE SPREAD OF OMICRON?

ARE MORE PEOPLE DECIDING NOW IS THE TIME TO GET A VACCINE?

>> IT HAS SPURRED THINKS A LITTLE BIT.

WE SAW A DUMP DURING DELTA.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE DISEASE THEMSELVES OR FAMILY MEMBERS THEY KNEW.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DAME OUT TO GET VACCINATED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THAT KIND OF WANED IN THE FALL.

AS OMICRON HAS SHOWN UP WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE COME BACK TO GET VACCINATED BUT A LOT OF THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST COMING TO GET BOOSTED.

AND WE'RE VERY GRAD THEY ARE, BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T COME YET FOR THE FIRST SHOT AND WE DON'T SEEM TO BE MAKING A LOT OF PROGRESS WITH THAT GROUP.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT FOR THOSE OF US -- AND I WILL PUT MYSELF IN THIS BOAT.

I WAS VACCINATED, BOOSTED, STILL GOT OMICRON, WENT THROUGH IT.

SHOULD I GET ANOTHER BOOSTER SIX MONTHS FROM NOW?

IS THAT KIND OF THE SCHEDULE?

>> AT THIS POINT WEE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED LIKE YOU AND WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED HAVE A ROBUST IMMUNITY: WE KNOW THEY HAVE GREAT LEVELS OF ANTIBODIES.

>> I'M COUNTING ON THAT, BY THE WAY.

>> AND YOU PROBABLY ARE QUITE SAFE FOR A WHILE.

THE PROBLEM IS, WE DON'T KNOW THE DURATION OF THE ANTIBODIES IF DON'T KNOW FOR SURE AND DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A NEW VARIANT OUT THERE WHAT THIS IMMUNITY NOW WILL DO.

SO IN TERMS OF GETTING A FOURTH BOOSTER OR A BOOSTER, WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET.

THAT'S BEING STUDIED AND WE WILL GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT BUT IT'S HARD TO SAY.

>> RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF PARENTS ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE SCHOOL POLICIES ARE VERY -- THEY VARY DISTRICT TO DISTRICT.

SOME ARE CLOSED.

SOME ARE VIRTUAL.

SOME ARE IN CLASSROOM.

I KNOW IT'S A PATCHWORK THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WHAT HAS YOUR ADVICE BEEN TO SUPERINTENDENT WHOSE HAVE SOUGHT COUNSEL FROM PUBLIC HEALTH?

>> WE -- FIRST OF ALL I WOULD SAY MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE FOLKS.

OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE JUST MADE IT THROUGH REALLY TREMENDOUSLY DIFFICULT TIMES AND THERE'S NOT A GOOD TEENS SUIT EVERYONE OR MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY OR REALLY ANYONE HAPPY.

BUT OUR ADVICE HAS STAYED THE SAME.

WE BELIEVE THERE OUGHT TO BE UNIVERSAL MASKING IN SCHOOLS.

ANYBODY ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED OUGHT TO BE VACCINATED.

AND TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN WE BELIEVE PEOPLE OUGHT TO TRY TO SPACE THEMSELVES APPROPRIATELY, YOU KNOW, AND WE CERTAINLY -- THE CURRENT GUIDANCE ALLOWS FOR THREE FEET OF SPACING.

IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR SIX FEET FOR KIDS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYWHERE.

A LOT OF COMMUNITIES JUST SAY WE CAN'T ACTUALLY DO THAT AND A LOT OF COMMUNITIES SAY THAT WE'RE JUST UNWILL TO GO TO THAT.

AND EVERY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD HAS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS LOCALLY.

>> SO THERE'S NOT SOME KIND OF STATEWIDE MANDATE ON HERE IS EXACTLY HOW YOU HAVE TO SPACE CHILDREN OR MASK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> NO.

THERE ARE NO STATED-WIDE MANDATES IN PLACE AT ALL.

THE LAST STATEWIDE MANDATE THAT WE HAD WAS RELATED TO MASKS WHICH EXPIRED LAST SPRING I GUESS SO WE'VE NOT HAD ANYTHING 234 PLACE SINCE THAT TIME.

WE DO HAVE GUIDANCE THAT WE BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING FOR FOCUS TO DO BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT REQUIRED.

>> WITH THIS ENOUGH VARIANT SO WIDESPREAD AND TRANSMISSIBLE YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF FOLKS VACCINATED AND YOU STARTED TO SEE THE EXPRESSIONS OF PERSONAL SHAME, IN SOME CASES PUBLIC SHAME FOR TESTING POSITIVE, AND SHOCK MAYBE THAT THEY HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.

DOES THAT WORRY YOU FROM JUST A SOCIETY STANDPOINT THAT WE HAVE -- PEOPLE ARE FEELING SHAME FOR A PANDEMIC THAT THEY REALLY HAD NO CONTROL OVER?

>> YEAH, WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY STRONG OPINIONS ON EVERY SIDE OF THIS.

BUT WE DON'T BLAME ANYBODY FOR GETTING SICK.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW OF -- IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN SICK WITH SOMETHING BEFORE AND YOU MAY HAVE WONDERED SHOULD I HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO PREVENT IT?

AND WE ALL HAVE THOSE FEELINGS BUT WE DON'T POINT A FINGER AT ANYBODY.

THIS VARIANT IS SO INFECTIOUS AND SO EASY FOR FOLKS TO GET INFECTED.

WHAT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL KEEP YOU SAFE.

WEAR A MASK WHEN YOU'RE IN DOORS WITH OTHER PEOPLE, GET VACCINATED AND BOOST OF THE AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

AND YOU KNOW, DO YOUR BEST.

>> SPEAKING OF TREATMENTS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR HAS BEEN THESE MONOCLONALS.

>> MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES; RIGHT.

>> THEY'RE TAKEN FROM PATIENTS.

>> THESE ARE ACTUALLY CREATED IN THE LABORATORY, ARTIFICIALLY CREATED IN A LABORATORY.

>> SO MY QUESTION IS, IF THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY VARIANTS AND STRAINS IF I HAD A MONOCLONAL FOR DELTA DOES THAT WORK FOR MY OMICRON COVID TREATMENT?

>> SO PEOPLE WHO WERE TREATED WITH MONOCLONALS LAST SUMMER WON'T REALIZE ANY BENEFIT OF THAT NOW.

THAT BENEFIT HAS GONE AWAY.

IN FACT EVEN IF THEY WERE TO GET DELTA AGAIN THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL BENEFIT LEFTOVER.

BUT IN FACT RIGHT NOW VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IN THE COUNTRY IS OMICRON.

AND TWO OF THE THREE MONOCLONAL PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE DON'T SHOW ANY EFFECTIVENESS FOR OMICRON SO THERE'S ACTUAL JUST ONE PRODUCT ON THE MARK THAT WORKS FOR OMICRON AND NOT VERY MUCH OF IT.

THERE'S A PRODUCTION LINE OF ABOUT 55,000 DOSES PER WEEK FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

ALABAMA GETS ITS PERCENTAGE OF THAT ABILITY ONE OR ONE AND A HALF PERCENT OF THAT ONCE A WEEK.

SO WE GET AROUND 500 DOSES A WEEK OF THE ONLY MONOCLONAL PRODUCT THAT WORKS.

AS WE MENTIONED WE'RE GETTING 15,000 CASES PERSON DAY AND HAVE ABOUT 500 DOSES WERE WEEK OF MONOCLONAL TO TREAT THEM WITH.

>> WE'RE HERE IN THE START OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LAST YEAR THERE WAS PLENTY OF LEGISLATION AIMED AT YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT.

WHAT AUTHORITY, THE GOVERNOR, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER OR BOTH SHOULD HAVE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES?

HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

ARE LAWMAKERS TALKING ABOUT A THE THAT THIS TIME AROUND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW?

>> THEY HAVE NOT TALKED TO ME ABOUT THAT ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT LAST YEAR EITHER.

WOULD I JUST SAY OUR POSITION IS KIND OF THE SAME.

WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALABAMIANS.

WEE AREN'T POLITICIANS.

WE'RE JUST PEOPLE WHO WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND WE RESPECT THE AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO WORK THOSE THINKS OUT.

WE'RE JUST HERE TO SERVE THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE DOING.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR VIEWERS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT ON THE PROGRAM, I'M JOINED BY ROBYN HYDEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALABAMA ARISE.

ROBYN, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

GOT TO SEE YOU.

>> COULD YOU TELL OUR AUDIENCE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALABAMA ARISE AND WATT YOU DO HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> I'M HAPPY TO.

WE HAVE BEEN AROUND ABOUT 35 YEARS.

WE'RE A COALITION OF REGULAR FOLKS, CHURCH GROUPS, NONPROFITS, REGULAR ADVOCATES FROM EVERY COMMUNITY IN OUR STATE.

WE'RE UNITED IN OUR BELIEF THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE STATED POLICIES TO ADDRESS POVERTY.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS FROM OUR FOUNDING WE HAVE WORKED ON REMOVING THE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES, EXPANDING HEALTH CARE AND MAKING SURE POOR PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS AT THE TABLE WHEN THEIR PROBLEMS AND NEEDS ARE BEING DISCUSSED.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE NEW POLLING OUTDOOR TODAY.

SO US POLITICAL JUNKIES, WE REALLY SALIVATE OVER ANY KIND OF NEW POLLING BUT THIS IS REALLY ISSUE-BASED POLLING ON THINKS BEING DISCUSSED AS IT PERTAINS TO THE FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

TELL US, WHAT WERE YOUR MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS POLLING.

>> WE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO DO THIS POLL.

LAST YEAR WE PUT OUT A LIST OF OUR PRIORITIES FOR RESCUE PLAN FUNDING AND OUR PRINCIPLES THAT WE THINK THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD FOLLOW.

WE FEEL THAT THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT WITH PUBLIC IN AND SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND THE FUNDING SHOULD GO TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR STATE HARDEST HIT BY COVID.

WE WANTED TO VALIDATE THAT AND MAKE SURE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAD A WAY IN TO, DO THEY AGREE WITH WHAT OUR MEMBERS AND BASE ARE SAYING?

WE RAN THIS POLL EARLY JANUARY.

IT SHOWED THAT THE MAJORITY OF -- THE VAST MAJORITY OVER 08 PERCENT OF VOTERS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, THINK HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR THESE FUNDS AND THAT ALIGNS WITH A LOT OF OUR WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN OUR STATE HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.

THEY ALSO FEEL LIKE RURAL HOSPITALS NEED HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AN INVESTMENT.

BEYOND THAT WE WANTED TO POLL ON ISSUES THAT WE DON'T SEE LAWMAKERS DISCUSSING AND WE WANTED THESE ISSUES TO BE IN THE MIX TOO, ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO PEOPLE THAT DROPPED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE WE CAN ADDRESS WHY THEY CAN'T GET TO THE JOBS THAT ARE HIRING.

CHILDCARE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRISES TO EMERGE.

IT WAS HERE PRE-PANDEMIC BUT ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE JUST NEED MORE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CHILDCARE.

AND RELIEF, DIRECT RELIEF, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH TAX REBATES OR TAX CREDITS TO LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES.

THOSE ARE ALL PRIORITIES THAT WE POLLED THAT ALSO POLLED VERY WELL AND WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING THESE TO LAWMAKERS AS THEY CONSIDER THE NEXT ROUND OF ARPA FUNDING, THE $1 BILLION THAT IS REMAINING TO BE SPENT THIS YEAR.

>> WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS.

YOU'RE RIGHT, IT REALLY JUMPS OUT.

81 PERCENT SUPPORT INVESTING IN RURAL HOSPITALS, TO INCREASE ALABAMIANS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, BUT RURAL HOSPITALS.

WHAT DO YOU CREDIT THAT TO?

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MEDIA AND STORIES ABOUT HOW FAR RURAL HOSPITALS HAVE STRUGGLED.

THAT TELLS ME THERE'S AN AWARENESS THERE.

>> THERE IS.

WE LIKE TO SEE LAWMAKERS' PRIORITIES ALIGN WITH THAT AWARENESS.

WE ARE IN A HEALTH CARE CRISES.

THE PANDEMIC IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES.

SO WHILE WE'RE -- YOU KNOW A LOT OF SPENDING THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED WITH THE FIRST ROUND OF RESCUE PLAN FUNDS, SPENDING ON BROADBAND AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, THESE ARE ALSO CRITICAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

WE FEEL LIKE HEALTH CARE NEEDS TO BE MORE IN THE MIX AND MORE OUT FRONT.

FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES THOSE RURAL HOSPITALS AND THOSE PROVIDERS ARE A LIFEBLOOD.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY KIND OF EQUITABLE RECOVERY, EVERY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL THAT IS STRUGGLE IS GOING TO NEED MORE SUPPORT.

>> WHAT I ALSO SEE INTERESTING IN THESE NUMBERS IS WHEN YOU COMPARE THE OVERALL VOTERS WITH -- YOU SEPARATED OUT REPUBLICANS THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DROP-OFF IN SUPPORT AMONGST REPUBLICANS ON THESE ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY ON RURAL HEALTH CARE, RURAL HOSPITALS, YOU KNOW, 1 PERCENT.

THAT'S THE SAME.

WHAT MAKES YOU -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS YOUR TAKE AWAY FROM REPUBLICANS ONLY BEING IN LINE WITH DEMOCRATS GENERALLY ON THESE ISSUES OF POVERTY?

>> I THINK IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT THESE ARE KITCHEN TABLE ECONOMIC ISSUES.

ARISE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ADVOCATES AGAINST POVERTY.

WE MEET WITH LEADERS IN SMALL TOWNS AND BIG CITIES.

I STARTED AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.

IT DIDN'T MATTER IF YOU WERE A DEMOCRAT, NONVOTER -- ALL OVER THE SPECTRUM PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE SAME THINGS.

WE NEED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, GOOD WELL PAYING JOBS.

IN ORDER TO GET TO WORK WE NEED CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION AND AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WE WANT TO SEND OUR KIDS TO GOOD SCHOOLS AND A STRONG COMMUNITY.

IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME.

THERE'S CONSENSUS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

AND WE WANT LAWMAKERS TO FEEL THAT AS THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THESE CHOICES.

THESE DON'T HAVE TO BE PARTISAN POLARIZED ISSUES.

I HAVE APPRECIATED HOW THEY HANDLED THIS ROUND OF FUNDING AND SAID WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WASTEWATER AND WE ALL REALIZE WE NEED TO INVEST IN BROADBAND WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A BIG CITY OR CONCENTRATED URBAN POPULATION OR A SMALL TOWN WHERE YOU CAN'T GET THAT ACCESS, SO I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH CARE AND CHILDCARE IS SOMETHING PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE AGREES ON.

>> ONE COMMON REFRAIN WE HAVE HEARD FROM LAWMAKERS ON THIS ARPA MONEY, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IS THEY WANT TO SPEND THIS ONE-TIME MONEY ON ONE-TIME PROJECTS.

RIGHT?

THEY DON'T WANT TO SET IT UP INTO A RECURRING EXPENSE THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE THEM AS LAWMAKERS TO COME AND SPEND STATE MONEY ON IT.

THIS IS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME FEDERAL MONEY.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT WHEN SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES LISTED WOULD SEEM TO BE EVERY-YEAR EXPENSES GOING DOWN THE LINE?

>> THESE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE RECURRING EXPENSES.

WE SET UP THE HOUSING TRUST FUND ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO.

THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND A FEW YEARS AGO.

IF WE CAN GET AN APPROPRIATION NOR THIS CRITICAL TIME IN OUR STATE, THESE FUNDS COULD BE CONTRIBUTED VIA GRANT PROGRAMS, MUCH LIKE ADECA IS DISTRIBUTING BROADBAND FUNDING AND WATER FUNDING.

THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT SOME CITIES HAVE HAD THEIR EYES ON PROJECTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO FOR YEARS.

AFFORDABLE HOUSE CARE PROJECTS ARE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THESE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE VIEWED AS OH, WE'RE INVESTING IN HUMAN SERVICES IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

WE THINK WE CAN PROVE THAT THE INVESTMENT PAYS OFF EVEN IN THE SHORT-TERM.

IF WE LOOK AT THINKS THAT HAVE BEEN CRITICALLY UNDER FUNDED FOR YEARS AND YEARS, LET'S PUT SOME OF THIS MONEY OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS GETTING TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING THE MOST INSTEAD OF JUST FOCUSING SO MUCH ON THIS IDEA THAT IT HAS TO BE A ONE TIME PROJECT.

WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT WE WANTED YOU TO FUND THE HOUSINGS TRUSTED FUND OR THE TRANCE IT TRUST FUND WITH ARPA MONEY, BUT JUST SEED THOSE FUNDS AND SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THAT INVESTMENT.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE NEXT ROUND.

THIS CURRENT -- ABOUT $770 BILLION THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT FOR THIS SESSION PROBABLY ISN'T GUY CHANGE; RIGHT?

WITHIN A WEEK THEY WILL HAVE THIS SIGNED INTO LAW.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS COMING EITHER IN MAY OR JUNE, YOU KNOW, LATER THIS YEAR, AND WE HEARD SOME OF THIS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WE HEARD ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CRITICAL NEEDS THERE WITH THEIR CURRENT FACILITIES.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THOSE -- THOSE LAWMAKERS WERE RECEPTIVE TO THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEXT ROUND OF ARPA MONEY?

>> WE ARE STILL HAVING MORE OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY TO TALK THROUGH THE DECISIONS BEING MADE SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW SERIOUSLY LAWMAKERS ARE TAKING SOME OF THESE OTHER CONCERNS.

BUT WE THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO LET THEM KNOW.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE DECIDING IN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WHAT TO DO WITH A BILLION DOLLARS THEY NEED TO BE HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT STILL NEED SUPPORT.

>> THUS THE POLLING.

>> YEP.

>> OH, YOU MENTIONED GROCERY TAX BECAUSE THAT IS KIND OF A CORNERSTONE ISSUE FOR ARISE.

AND WE'RE HEARING ABOUT LEGISLATION BEING DRAWN UP FOR THIS SESSION, WHICH STRIKES ME, JUST HAVING BEEN AROUND POLITICS FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES IS THAT IT USED TO BE A PRETTY MUCH SOLELY DEMOCRATIC TALKING POINT.

I REMEMBER THERE KNIGHT HAD HIS BILL AND OVER THE YEARS NOW, YOU'RE HEARING IT FROM REPUBLICANS TOO, ABOUT ELIMINATING THE TAX ON GROCERIES.

OF COURSE THE DETAIL MATTER BUT DO YOU SEE THAT AS A REALISTIC -- REALISTICALLY HANG THIS TIME AROUND OR ANY TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU SAID THERE'S MORE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN SENATOR JONES INTRODUCED THIS GROCERY TAX BILL WHICH HE HAS NOW INTRODUCED.

WE'RE GLAD.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT BILL HAD GOTTEN A HEARING IN ALMOST A DECADE.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD NOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES HAS INTRODUCED A COMPANION BILL IN THE HOUSE.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE A GROCERY TAX BILL THAT WILL NOT ONLY GIVE RELIEF OF $500 MILLION TO WORKING FAMILIES.

WE ALL BUY FOOD AND PAY TAXES ON FOOD.

AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO REPLACE THAT LOST REVENUE.

THAT'S A KEY PIECE FOR US, THAT YOU KNOW, THE EDUCATION BUDGET CAN'T STAND TO LOSE $500 MILLION A YEAR, SO ONE OF THE KEY FEATURES WE'RE LAWMAKER LOOKING FOR IN THEIR THOSE TAX BILLS IS CAN THEY REPLACE THE REVENUE?

THE BILL FROM SENATOR JONES DOES THAT.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

>> WHILE I HAVE YOU, THE LAST THING YOU MENTIONED IT SHOW THE POLLING NUMBERS ON A STATE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

THEY MAY NOT DO THAT BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY DEALING WITH THE TAGS OF STATE TAXES ON THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT AND OTHER TAX CREDITS FROM ARPA; RIGHT?

THESE ARE STATE WORKING FAMILIES PAYING TAX STATE ON FEDERAL WORKING BENEFITS.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SPECIAL BUT IT COULD COME BACK.

ARE YOU PUSHING LAWMAKERS ON THAT AS WELL?

>> I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN THAT BILL AND WE'RE WORKING ON SENATOR OR'S BILL TO LOWER TAXES FOR THE LOW INCOME TAXPAYERS.

ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO MAKE OUR TAX CODE MORE FAIR.

WHEN WE TALK TO REGULAR PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, EVERYONE -- MOST PEOPLE FEEL OVERTAXED EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST THAT ACCIDENT BURDENS IN OUR STATE.

BECAUSE WORKING FAMILIES PAY MORE TAXES HERE THAN THEY WOULD ALMOST ANYWHERE AND WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO FLIP THAT AROUND AND CHANGE THE SCRIPT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING ANY WAY WE CAN SUPPORT MAKING OUR TAX CODE MORE FAIR AND JUST.

>> WE WILL FOLLOW ALONG WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME?

>> TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TODD: AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AS WE CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ ♪