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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOCUSED ON FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDING IS IN THE BOOKS.

LAWMAKERS MET FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS NEGOTIATING A PLAN TO ALLOCATE ABOUT $772 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

THAT LEGISLATION IS NOW LAW, AS GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SIGNED IT THIS MORNING.

LET'S REVIEW THE DETAILS OF THE BILL.

$80 MILLION WILL GO TO SUPPORT HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES HIT HARD BY COVID-19 $225 MILLION WILL GO TOWARD BUILDING OUT WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING IN THE BLACK BELT $79 MILLION WILL BE USED TO SHORE UP THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND TO LOWER TAXES ON BUSINESSES $243 MILLION WILL GO TOWARD EXPANDING ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS AND $20 MILLION WILL GO TOWARD EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THE BILL PASSED WITHOUT OPPOSITION IN THE FINAL VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, A SIGNIFICANT FEAT CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED SAID THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE PROUD OF ITS EFFICIENCY AND COOPERATION THIS WEEK.

>> I THINK THAT THE WORK DONE BY THE ALABAMA SENATE AND THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RELATED TO THE ROVERS ACT FUNDS IS EXTRAORDINARY.

OUR TASK IN WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR WAS TO GET THESE RESOURCES TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD.

IN SEVERAL AREAS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT RELATED TO BROADBAND, ACCESS RELATED TO HEALTH CARE ISSUES, RELATED TO TOPICS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WERE VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE GUIDANCE ALLOWED US TO USE THESE FUNDS FOR, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK WE DID GOOD COLLABORATIVE WORK.

WE HAD A BIPARTISAN EFFORT FROM THE MINUTE WE STARTED ON ALL OF THIS FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA AND I AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE.

>> BIPARTISANSHIP WAS THE WATCH WORD OF THIS SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WORKED HAND IN HAND TO FIND THE RIGHT WAYS TO SPEND THIS INFUSION OF FEDERAL MONEY.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY, ESPECIALLY IN THIS HYPER PARTISAN ENVIRONMENT.

SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN MADISON OF BIRMINGHAM SAID THAT BIPARTISANSHIP WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO GETTING THE PLAN DONE SO QUICKLY.

>> I'M VERY -- REALLY VERY PROUD OF OUR DELEGATION AS FAR AS HOUSE, SENATE AND ACROSS THE BOARD REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, HOW WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS.

IDENTIFIED THOSE ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR STATE AS A WHOLE AND WE WERE NOT LOOKING AT WHAT BANNER WE WERE UNDER AS FAR AS REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME WE WERE STATESMEN AND STATESWOMEN.

WE LOOKED AT THE NEEDS OF THIS STATE.

AND THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND WE ADDRESSED THOSE ISSUES.

>>OF COURSE, THIS ISN'T THE ONLY FEDERAL RELIEF THE STATE WILL SEE.

ANOTHER $1.1 BILLION DOLLARS IS EXPECTED IN THE NEXT ROUND OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING.

LAWMAKERS ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH HAS THAT STORY.

>> THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN.

SENATOR MADISON WAS BENDING MY EAR BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED ON THAT VERY TOPIC.

>> I TALKED WITH THE GENERAL FUND CHAIRMAN.

HE HAS AGREED TO WORK BE ME AND HELP ME.

>> THE BIRMINGHAM SENATOR SUPPORTS HOW THE FIRST ROUND OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OR ARPA FUNDING WAS USED NOTING THE INVESTMENT IN WATER AND SEWER.

>> IT'S A SHAME THAT WE HAVE SOME PORTS OF OUR STATE THAT ARE LIKE THIRD WORLD, THAT ARE -- PEOPLE IN THE BLACK BELT COUNTIES THAT DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO DECENT DRINKING WATER, AND YOU HAD RAW SEWAGE THAT WAS A LINE RUNNING OUT.

>> SHE WOULD LIKE THE NEXT LINE OF REVENUE TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUNDS.

>> WHETHER YOU LIVE IN THE URBAN AREAS OR RURAL YOU WILL FIND THOSE DO YOU KNOW WHO AREAS CUT ACROSS THE BOARD WHEREVER YOU LIVE IN SOMETHING THAT WE NEED FOR OUR STATE.

>> THE NEEDS, I WILL SAY IT, ARE THERE.

THEY ARE REAL, NOT MADE UP.

THOSE ARE VALID CONCERNS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> STATE SENATOR ROGER SMITHMAN WOULD SAY LIKE MORE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS FROM ALABAMA'S URBAN DISTRICTS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT DECIDES HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED.

>> WHAT DIVERSITY DOES, IT GIVES YOU DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES FOR THE TOTALITY OF YOUR DECISION.

I DON'T EXPECT SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS RURAL ALABAMA TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE URBAN AREA.

I AM TALKING ABOUT DRAIN, STORM AND DRAINAGE, THAT FLOODS US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE DRAINAGE.

WE TALK ABOUT COPPER PIPES THAT ARE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD BUSTED UNDER THE CITIES.

>> SENATOR SMITHERMAN MENTIONED MORE OR DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO BRING FOLKS IN TO HAVE, IF IT CAN BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE A BROADER VIEW.

I THINK WE WILL COME TO DECISIONS ON HOW TO SPEND THE NEXT MONIES AND I THINK IT WILL RUN HOPEFULLY AS SMOOTHLY AS WE HAVE THIS TIME.

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

>> JUST AS THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE BECAME A MODEL OF BIPARTISAN COOPERATION, A DIVISIVE BOMBSHELL CAME IN THE FORM A FEDERAL COURT RULING ON REDISTRICTING.

A THREE-JUDGE PANEL RULED THAT ALABAMA'S NEWLY REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS CANNOT GO FORWARD.

THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS ARE FAR-REACHING AND IT'S NOT EXACTLY CLEAR WHAT'S NEXT.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT HAS THAT STORY.

>> THE ALABAMA HOUSE IS WRAPPING UP A SESSION ON THOUSAND ADDRESS ARPA FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> THAT WILL BE GOING DIRECTLY TO ADECA FOR BROADBAND OR DIRECTLY TO ADEM FOR THE WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.

YOU KNOW, HELPING OUT OUR HOSPITALS OUR NURSING HOMES, OTHER HEALTH CARE INDUSTRIES LIKE ASSISTED LIVING OR MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, VETERANS HOMES.

>> THESE ARE THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED IN THE LEGISLATURE LONG AGO.

>> NOW WE CAN FINALLY DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

FOR THE PEOPLE OF LOWNDES COUNTY AND OTHER SMALL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE BLACK BELT AND ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA WHOSE VOICES ARE OFTEN IGNORED.

AND THEY ARE SIMPLY TOLD THEIR ISSUES ARE JUST AT THE BOTTOM OF A VERY LONG LIST.

>> BUT BEFORE THE SESSION ENDS, A NEW ISSUE POPS UP.

A THREE-JUDGE FEDERAL PANEL SAYS ALABAMA NEEDS TO REDRAW RECENTLY REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL LINES.

>> WE'RE MEETING WITH LEGAL AND WE'RE FINDING OUT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.

AND AT THIS POINT WE DON'T KNOW.

WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT SEE.

THERE'S AN OPTION FOR AN APPEAL.

THE REINFORCEMENT COMMITTEE IS READY TO GO TO WORK.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL MARSHAL IS SAYING THAT HE'S GOING TO FILE AN APPEAL TO THE THREE-COURT -- THREE-JUDGE PANEL THAT SENT A RULING DOWN THAT ALABAMA NEEDED TO REDRAW THE MAP AND ACTUALLY DEVELOP TWO MINORITY DISTRICTS.

HERE'S CHALLENGING THAT.

MY QUESTION TO HIM IS WHY ARE YOU GOING TO DISENFRANCHISE 13 ADDITIONAL -- ADDITIONAL 13 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION?

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

>> THE ALABAMA ACLU WAS A PLAINTIFF IN THAT LAWSUIT.

THEY ARGUE THAT ALABAMA'S ONE MINORITY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ISN'T SUFFICIENT GIVEN THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKE UP ALMOST A THIRD OF THE STATE.

>> THE DECISION ITSELF IS REALLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT BLACK VOTERS ARE REPRESENTED RIGHTS, SO THEY MAKE UP 27 PERCENT AND ONLY 14 PERCENT OF CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THIS STATE.

SO THE CHANGING IF YOU WILL OR THE DRAWING OF THESE TWO DISTRICTS IS REALLY A REPRESENTATION OF THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

SO OUTSIDE OF PATTERN POLITICS I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY HONE IN ON THAT POINT ENSURING THAT THESE PARTICULAR MAPS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS MANDATED TO DRAW REPRESENT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, AND THAT POPULATION GROWTH THAT WE'RE SEEING.

>>THE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE COURT CASE.

NEVERTHELESS, THE ALGOP WAS IMPACTED BY THE COURT'S ORDER THAT CANDIDATE QUALIFYING FOR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS BE DELAYED UNTIL NEW DISTRICT LINES ARE DRAWN.

PARTY CHAIRMAN JOHN WAHL SAID THAT BEYOND THE ISSUE OF VOTER REPRESENTATION, IT'S THE JOB OF THE LEGISLATURE, NOT THE COURTS, TO DRAW DISTRICT MAPS.

>> OUR FOUNDERS ENVISIONED THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE WOULD REDRAW THE DISTRICT LINES.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE ALABAMA STATE LEGISLATURE DID, SO IT'S A VERY SERIOUS THING FOR A COURT TO OVERRULE THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT APPEAL PROCESS AND WHERE DOES THIS ACTUALLY END UP.

>> MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHAIRMAN WALL WILL BE LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> THE POLICE CHIEF OF BROOKSIDE, ALABAMA HAS RESIGNED IN THE WAKE OF A SCANDAL THAT REVEALED THE TOWN'S AGGRESSIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND FINES.

SHERIFF MIKE JONES QUIT FOLLOWING A STORY BY AL.COM THAT SAID HE TURNED THE TOWN INTO A TRAFFIC TRAP OFF INTERSTATE 22.

REVENUE FROM FINES AND FORFEITURES ROSE 640% IN TWO YEARS.

LT. GOV.

WILL AINSWORTH HAS CALLED FOR A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE TOWN AS WELL AS LEGISLATION CRACKING DOWN ON SPEED TRAPS.

AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYN GIVAN, WHO REPRESENTS PART OF THE AREA, IS CALLING ON THE MAYOR, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND A LOCAL JUDGE TO RESIGN AS WELL.

>> THEY WERE GIVING CITIZENS TICKETS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVING TICKETS TO THESE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS.

THOSE FUNDS AND TICKETS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS IF IN FACT THE CITIZENS WERE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

THEREFORE THOSE FUNDS SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COFFERS AND NOT THE CITY OF BROOK SIDE.

THEY HAVE BEEN STOPPING RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, HARASSING THEM, GIVING EXORBITANT NUMBERS IN THEIR FEES, FEE STRUCTURE IN THE CITY OF BROOK SIDE AND IT'S JUST BEEN A COMPLETE DERELICT OF DUTY AS WELL AS RACIAL PROFILING.

NOT JUST RACIAL PROFILING BUT HARASSMENT OF WOMEN THAT HAVE TRAVELED THAT ROUTE FOR THEIR SAFETY TO GET TO AND FROM HOME.

I'M CALLING ON STEVE MARSHALL AS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER.

>> THE DEFAMATION TRIAL INVOLVING FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE ROY MOORE CONTINUED TODAY.

LEIGH CORFMAN, WHO ACCUSED MOORE OF SEXUALLY MOLESTING HER WHEN SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD, TESTIFIED THAT MOORE KNOWS THE ABUSE HAPPENED DESPITE HIS PUBLIC DENIALS.

MOORE HAS COUNTERSUED AND GAVE FORCEFUL TESTIMONY OF HIS OWN SAYING HE NEVER MET CORFMAN.

THE ALLEGATIONS OVERSHADOWED MOORE DURING THE 2017 SENATE CAMPAIGN WHEN CORFMAN SHARED HER STORY WITH "THE WASHINGTON POST."

MOORE ULTIMATELY LOST THAT RACE A STUNNING DEFEAT TO DOUG JONES, THE FIRST ALABAMA DEMOCRAT ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 25 YEARS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY JOHN WAHL, CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME AND JOINING US VIRTUALLY TODAY.

>> I ALWAYS ENJOY BEING A GUEST ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

BEFORE WE GET TO THE BIG ISSUE AT HAND, THE COURT CASE, TODAY IS THE END OF QUALIFYING.

SO I IMAGINE YOUR OFFICE IS PRETTY BUSY.

LET ME ASK YOU: IS IT GOING SMOOTHLY?

>> IT REALLY IS.

WE KNOW AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ABOUT QUALIFYING AND WE KNOW WHAT THE LAST DAY OF QUALIFYING IS AND THE WORK THAT COMES WITH IT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN GETTING READY FOR IT.

WE'RE -- GREAT STAFF HERE, ORGANIZED, WE HAVE EVERYTHING SET UP.

AND SO FOR A FAR IT'S BEEN GOING SMOOTHLY TODAY.

A LOT OF ACTION AND EVERYTHING HAMS BUT EVERYTHING IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

>> THE LAST FEW ELECTION CIRCLES THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS AFTER QUALIFYING.

IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE ALGOP TO CHALLENGE SOMEBODY'S BALANCE STATUS.

BASICALLY SAYING THINK CAN'T RUN AS A REPUBLICAN BECAUSE THEY VIOLATED BYLAWS OR SOMETHING.

DO YOU FORESEE ANY OF THAT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S PART OF THE ELECTION PROCESS.

AND EVERY SO I CAN THERE ARE ALWAYS CHALLENGES.

THAT JUST COMES WITH THE TERRITORY OF THE ELECTION.

AND AS REPUBLICANS HAVE GAINED MORE AND MORE CONTROL THROUGHOUT THE STATE WE HAVE MORE AND MORE REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR OFFICE SO THE PERCENTAGE OF BALLOT CHALLENGES HAVE GONE UP WITH THAT INCREASE IN REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

SO EVERY CYCLE WE USUALLY GET A FEW MORE THAN THE CYCLE BEFORE SO I'M DEFINITELY EXPECTING A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF BALLOT CHALLENGES AND THAT COMES WITH THE PROCESS AND WE ARE READY TO DEAL WITH THAT AS IT MOVES FORWARD.

>> NOW, TO THE REAL ISSUE, AND THAT IS THE COURT CASE, THE RULING FROM THE FEDERAL COURT THAT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A BOMBSHELL.

AND IF IT STANDS THERE'S AN APPEAL -- BUT IF IT STANDS, THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP OF ALABAMA WILL LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT, DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.

WHAT WAS YOUR GENERAL REACTION TO THE RULING?

>> YOU KNOW, MY FIRST THING WAS I WAS SURPRISED.

I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED TO HAVE THIS HIT, YOU KNOW, A FEW DAYS BEFORE QUALIFYING BECAUSE THE COURTS HAVE HAD THIS INFORMATION.

AND IT MAKES IT VERY HARD ON US.

THE PARTY IS KIND OF AN INNOCENT VICTIM HERE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT NAMING THE -- WE'RE NOT NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT.

NOT BREAKING STATE LAW OR FEDERAL LAW AND YET WE WERE INCLUDED IN OF THE COULD COURT'S ORDER TO DELAY QUALIFYING WHICH IS A MASSIVE THING FOR US BECAUSE OUR QUALIFYING IS BASED ON OUR INTERNAL BYLAWS.

AND THE PRIMARY RESOLUTION WE BASSED AT OUR SUMMER MEETING.

SO WE KIND OF HAD THE PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE THIS WAS A VERY, VERY DISRUPTIVE THING -- TO THE ELECTION PROCESS IN GENERAL AND ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

SO REALLY WE DON'T KNOW YET HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THINGS, WHAT WE WILL BE FACING MOVING FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT THE QUALIFYING FOR U.S. CONGRESS SEATS AS A POSSIBILITY, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HALL ACTIONS WE WILL NEED TOO TAKE THIS IS THIS DISRUPTS THE PROCESS HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> BASICALLY IT MEANS TWO DIFFERENT QUALIFYING DATES; RIGHT?

AND I CAN SEE THAT BEING REALLY PROBLEMATIC FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

I MEAN THEY SAID FEBRUARY 11 BUST COULD I SEE THAT GETTING DELAYED DEPENDING ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO DRAW NEW DISTRICTS.

THAT COULD CREATE A LOT MORE HEADACHES.

>> EXACTLY.

AND TO THE POINT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY BOUND BY STATE LAW NOT TO HOLD QUALIFYING OPEN PAST 28TH SO, YES, WE ARE IN THE SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A FEDERAL COURT ORDER THAT ORDERS US TO DO ONE THING AND STATED LAW THAT ORDERS A LOT.

SO IT'S A VERY AWKWARD SITUATION FOR THE PARTY AND WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT AND BECAUSE OF THE -- WE'RE LOOKING INTO LEGAL ACTION TO SAY THIS IS AN UNATTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ORDER THAT YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IS HAPPENING AND THE STRAIN IT'S PUTTING ON THE PARTY AND ALSO THE VOTERS FROM ALABAMA.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED AT THE RULING GIVEN THAT IT CAME FROM REPUBLICAN-APPOINTED JUDGES.

YOU HAD TWO APPOINTED BY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, ONE THAT WAS APPOINTED BY FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN -- ORIGINALLY ZERO APPOINTED BY REAGAN AND PROMOTED TO THE APPELLATE BY CLINTON BUT THAT'S STILL A REPUBLICAN PANEL.

SO I THINK PEOPLE WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT TYPE OF PANEL WOULD UP HOLD REPUBLICAN-DRAWN DISTRICTS.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT?

>> NOT AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS REMEMBER, ESPECIALLY WITH FEDERAL COURTS AND FEDERAL JUDGES, YOU SHOULD NOT LOOK AT A FEDERAL JUDGE AS APPOINTED BAY REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

YOU SHOULD LOOK AT A FEDERAL JUDGE AS THEIR PAST EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM.

AND A LOT OF JUDGES ARE APPOINTED BASED ON THE TASK NOT ON THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

SO IT DIDN'T REALLY SURPRISE ME.

I DON'T WANT TO SOUND NEGATIVE BUT OFTENTIMES WITH FEDERAL JUDGES I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO BE DOING THINGS ON REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES.

SO, NO, IT WAS NOT SURPRISING.

I DO THINK IT WILL BE APPEALED.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE APPEAL PROCESS BECAUSE IT HAS TO GO BACK TO THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR FOUNDERS ORIGINALLY INTENT ON THIS AND IT'S CLEAR OUR FOUNDERS ENVISIONED THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE WOULD REDRAW THE DISTRICT LINES AND THAT'S WHAT THE ALABAMA STATE LEGISLATURE DID.

SO IT'S A VERY SERIOUS THING FOR A COURT OVERRULE THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT APPEAL PROCESS AND WHERE DOES THIS ACTUALLY END UP.

>> IT WILL.

AND COMING FROM -- JUST LOOKING WHETHER IT'S THE REDRAWING MUCH LINES OR THE COURT CASE, DON'T THE PLAINTIFFS OR THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A POINT IN THAT THE STATES BLACK POPULATION IS NOT REPRESENTED PROPORTIONATELY IN CONGRESS WITHIN OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION?

DON'T THEY HAVE A POINT THERE?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU LOOK AT.

WE HAVE SEVEN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION IS IN THE UPPER 20S.

AND IT'S HIGH ENOUGH THAT IT'S CLOSER TO TWO DISTRICTS THAN IT IS TO ONE BUT IT DOESN'T MEET TWO.

SO WHERE DO YOU SPLIT THAT MIDDLE GROUND DISTRICT?

YOU KNOW DO YOU GO TOWARDS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION OR NOT?

I THINK THE REAL QUESTION TO ASK HERE IS ON THE PRACTICAL SIDE.

FORGET APPLICATION FOR A MINUTE, THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF KEEPING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT LINES WE HAVE NOW ARE BASED MORE ON COMMUNITIES THAN THEY ARE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU.

HAVE THE MOBILE/BALDWIN DISTRICT, THE WIREGRASS DISTRICT, YOU HAVE THE BIRMINGHAM METRO DISTRICT AND DISTRICT 6.

EASTERN ALABAMA.

DISTRICT 3 AND THEN THE HUNTSVILLE AND TENNESSEE VALLEY WITH DISTRICT 5.

SO I REALLY SEE THESE DISTRICTS BASED MORE ON COMMUNITY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY THAN BASED ON RACE AND THAT'S HOW FAR DISTRICTS SHOULD BE DIVIDED.

LOOK AT THE POPULATIONS IN THE KEY COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

I ALSO THINK -- THERE'S AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE HERE.

THERE IS NO WAY UNLESS YOU GERRYMANDER THE DISTRICT, THERE IS NO WAY TO PULL OUT TWO MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS.

IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE STATISTICALLY.

I LOOKED AT IT.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO WITH THE LINES, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS LITERALLY TAKE AWAY THE ONLY MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICT WE HAVE IN THE STATE IN ORDER TO DO ANYTHING.

AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO MINORITIES.

LIKE IN THE NAME OF HELPING MINORITIES ARE WE GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE ONE THEY DO HAVE?

SO I'M VERY CONFUSED BY THIS BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THIS AS POSITIVE TO MINORITIES.

I SEE THIS AS PUTTING ALL SEVEN DISTRICTS FOB ELECTED WITH WHITE REPUBLICANS AND I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND I'M ACTUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT LOSE LOSING A MINORITY DISTRICT.

SO IT'S A VERY STRANGE SITUATION AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR WITH THIS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT GEOGRAPHICALLY.

>> WELL, LET'S JUST SAY THE COURT'S RULING STANDS AND THAT WE END WITH THESE TWO SO-CALLED OPPORTUNITY DISTRICTS.

THEY SEE WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE A LOT MORE MODERATE AND CONTAIN A LOT MORE BLACK VOTERS.

JUST IN THE MODERN ERA, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES REALLY HAVEN'T HAD TO COMPETE FOR THOSE VOTES A WHOLE LOT, ESPECIALLY IN CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

WOULD THAT -- WOULD THE RHETORIC CHANGE?

WOULD THE ISSUES THAT CANDIDATES SPEAK TO CHANGE?

>> YOU KNOW THE FUNNY THING ON THAT IS, I'M A LITTLE BIT -- MY HEART AS CHAIRMAN OF THE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ALREADY TO REACH OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.

IN FACT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR NEW MINORITY OUTREACH TEAM.

OUR MINORITY GOP TEAM WE HAD IN PLACE FOR YEARS, AND I HAVE THIS HEARD THE FOR MINORITIES AND REACHING OUT TO THEM.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE A THING WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE ALREADY REACHING OUT THEN EVER EVEN THOUGH WE WEREN'T DRYING -- WE WANT THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE A THING FOR US AS FAR AS OUR OUTREACH BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY REACHING OUT.

THOSE VOTERS ARE IMPORTANT TO US.

THE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS A WHOLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PARTY OF, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES.

WE'RE THE PARTY OF LINCOLN.

WE'RE THE PARTY WHO FOUGHT FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE SIX TEASE AND WE'RE NOT SCARED OF THAT.

THAT IS OUR HISTORY.

OUR HISTORY IS STRONG FOR MINORITY RIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU JOHN FOR JOINING US ON WHAT IS A VERY BUSY KAY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" DID REACH OUT TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO JUNE US BUT HE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY CAM WARD DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

MR. WARD, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON, TODD.

>> YOU KNOW, PRISONER CONSTRUCTION WAS THE ISSUE IN THE LAST SPECIAL SESSION.

A BIG PARTY OF THAT -- PART OF THAT PLAN THAT PASSED WAS BRINGING ON THE PERRY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY KIND OF AS A HYBRID BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

I WANTED TO SEE WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF GETTING THAT FACILITY ONLINE AND THE PLAN IMPLEMENTED.

>> WELL, THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES, WE'VE CHANGED OUR MISSION A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE FOCUSING HEAVILY ON RE-ENTRY, REDUCING RECIDIVISM.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

WE HAVE DAY REPORTING CENTERS WHICH REQUIRE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND JOB TRAINING WHERE WE PARTNER WITH OTHERS.

WE HAVE 11 OF THOSE AROUND THE STATE.

PERRY COUNTY WOULD BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND WHERE WE COULD SERVE AS UP TO 3 OR 400 PEOPLE AT A TIME AS FAR AS REHABILITATION, JOB TRAINING AND COUNSELING.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING THE FACILITY WHICH THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED.

AND THEN WE EXPECT OUR FIRST CLIENTS TO COME IN THERE PROBABLY TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE STATEMENT.

AND I HOPE IT'S REPLICATED EVERYWHERE.

HAD YOU HAD THAT KIND OF SERVICE AND JOB TRAINING IT REDUCES THE CHANCES OF COMMITTING A CRIME AGAIN.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT REDUCING RECIDIVISM.

WHEN YOU WERE IN THE COUNSEL YOU INTRODUCED -- THAT'S NOT YOUR ROLE ANYMORE BUT WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP IN SENTENCING AND PRISON REFORM.

>> WE HAVE TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

RIGHT NOW IN ALABAMA SOMEONE GOES INTO PRISON OR INTO JAIL.

THEY COME OUT.

WITHIN THREE YEARS THE CURRENT DATA SHOWS YOU HAVE A 30 PERCENT CHANCE YOU'RE GOING TO COMMIT A NEW CRIME.

THAT'S NOT THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY OR LOWEST BUT WE CAN DO BETTER.

WHAT THE DATA SHOWS IS THAT IF YOU GET A JOB AND YOU COMBAT AND DEAL WITH THE UNDERLYING ISSUE WHERE IT'S ADDICTION OR MENTAL HEALTH, IF YOU TEAL WITH THAT AND THEY GET A JOB, THE RATE GOES FROM 30 PERCENT TO 3 PERCENT.

WHY WOULDN'T WE DO THAT?

YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH CRIME?

YOU REALLY WANT TO HANDLE THE CRIME ISSUE?

MAKE SURE WHEN THEY GET OUT THEY DON'T GO BACK IN.

I THINK BOTH CONSERVATIVES, LIBERALS, INDEPENDENT, REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATS, GREENS -- YOU CAN ALL AGREE, THAT'S A WINNING FORMULA FOR EVERYBODY SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE LEGISLATURE THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS TO FUND MORE MENTAL HEALTH, TO FUND THESE DAILY REPORTING CENTERS AND GIVE US RESOURCES TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND THAT HELPS REDUCE CRIME.

>> I WAS INTERVIEWING THE HEAD OF THE ALABAMA ACLU THIS WEEK.

AND IT'S HER ASSERTION THAT BUILDING PRISONS WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM, THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT DEINCARCERATION AS SHE PUT IT.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT ARGUMENT?

YOU KNOW IS BUILDING PRISONS PROBLEMATIC?

>> NO, I THINK THEY SHOULD.

THAT WAS A GOOD BILL THAT WAS PASSED AND THE LEGISLATURE CAN DID THE RIGHT THING IN PASSING CONSTRUCTION.

WHAT IS THE OFTEN NEGLECTED IS THAT THE CURRENT FACILITIES -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED AGAINST THE STATE AND JUDGE THOMPSON'S COURT THEY SAID THAT YOU KNOW WHAT WE DON'T PROVIDED A QUIT MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT INSIDE THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, WE DON'T PROVIDED A QUIT THERAPY OPPORTUNITIES WELL RIGHT NOW TODAY ON THE CURRENT FACILITIES WE HAVE THERE'S NO WAY TO DO THAT.

YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE.

THERE'S NO SPACING -- THERE'S NO PROGRAMMING SPACE.

I THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S AN OBJECTION TO CONSTRUCTION, EVEN ACLU WILL SAY WELL, WE REALIZE IT'S NOT INCREASING CAPACITY SO YOU'RE NOT BUILDING THE WAY OUT OF THE PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS, THEY'RE OBJECTING TO NEW CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THEY WANT A LARGE RELEASE OF INMATES.

WHAT THEY'RE NOT SAYING IS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE BUILDING BECAUSE YOU NEED MORE PROGRAMMING SPACE.

YOU NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

YOU NEED MORE DRUG REHABILITATION TREATMENT.

YOU NEED MORE JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU KNOW CAN'T DO THAT IN THE CURRENT FACILITIES.

SO I THINK THEY'RE BEING DISINGENUOUS WHEN THEY SAY NO MORE BUILDING, WE NEED TO RELEASE PEOPLE.

THE HIDDEN AGENDA IS THAT THEY WANT TO RELEASE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEREAS THE CERTIFICATE WAS BAG OF A LAW TO BUILD MORE PRISONERS THAT SAYS LET'S PROVIDE THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE FIND.

>> I KNOW ANOTHER ISSUE YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH GOING FORWARD IS ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT DIFFERENT STANDARDS AND RULES.

WHERE DO WE STAND ON THAT.

>> THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED ABOUT $800,000 IN THE LAST REGULAR SESSION.

AND THEN MANDATED THAT PARDONS AND PAROLES MONITOR ROUGHLY ABOUT 380 TO 400 MORE PEOPLE COMING UP IN.

NEXT YEAR AS FAR AS ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

CENTURY A PARTICULAR PHILOSOPHY I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT.

NUMBER 1, THE LEGISLATURE FUNDS US TO PAY FOR THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

SO THE PERSON WHO IS GETTING MONITORED WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AT ALL.

IT'S ON US AS AN AGENCY.

TWO, IT'S ONLY PEOPLE CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

THEY'RE ON PROBATION, THEY'RE CONVICTED OR ON PAROLE AND RELEASED FROM PRISON.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO WE WILL MONITOR AND WE WILL START OFF WITH THE HIGHEST RISK PEOPLE BEING MONITORED SUCH AS SEX OFFENDERS, FOLKS WHO COMMITTED THE MOST VIOLENT CRIMES OR HIGH RISK TO RECIDIVATE AND COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME, THEY WILL BE MONITORED FIRST BECAUSE YEAR EVENLY TALKING ABOUT 380 TO 400 PEOPLE BEING MONITORED.

AND KEEP IN MIND WE HAVE UNDER OUR CUSTODY ROUGHLY 44,000 PEOPLE ON PROBATION AND PATROL THAT WE HAVE TO WATCH AND SUPERVISE ON A DAILY BASE.

SO YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A HIGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE BUT THAT'S WHAT THE LEGISLATURE MANDATED AND WE FEEL COMFORTABLE CARRYING THAT OUT.

>> THIS IS A NEW ROLE FOR THE BUREAU.

>> IT IS BUT IT'S ALSO A TOOL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

I MEAN AT THE END OF THE DAY, MONITORING IS NOT A PROBLEM.

THE ONLY AREA I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IS WE MADE THE CLIENT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT AND WE HAVE STEEN ARTICLES RECENTLY WHERE THAT WAS AN ISSUE IN SOUTH ALABAMA.

WE WILL BE THE ONES THAT IS COVER THE COSTS BUT I DO THINK MONITORING WITH SEATS PUBLIC SAFETY TOOL.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB.

THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES, JUST THE BUREAU AND THE BOARD IS KIND OF IN A MESS FOR A WHILE.

IT WAS SAID MANY YEARS AGO IT WAS TOO LAX.

CHARLIE GRADDICK CAME IN AND SAID IT WAS TOO STRICT, TO RIGID AND NOW GOVERNOR IVEY HAS CHARGED YOU WITH TAKING OVER THE AGENCY.

HOW ARE YOU GOING -- IT'S DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.

SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER?

>> IT IS A CHALLENGE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS A CHALLENGE I LOOKED FORWARD TO WHEN SHE APPOINTED ME.

SO IN 2019 THE STATUTE CHANGED.

IT USED TO BE THERE WAS A THREE MEMBER BOARD LIKE YOU HAVE NOW AND THEY APPOINTED THE THERE ARE AND THE DIRECTOR CARRIED OUT THEIR INITIATIVES.

NOW YOU HAVE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES.

I'M DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU BUT I DON'T ANSWER TO THE BOARD.

I ANSWER DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR ACROSS A MEMBER OF OUR CABINET.

SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

NOW WE HAVE WORKED WELL TOGETHER.

I WILL SAY THERE'S TIMES THAT I DISAGREE WITH THE BOARD AND SOME OF THEIR DECISIONS AND I'M SURE THEY DISAGREE WITH ME.

THE CHALLENGE IS GOING FORWARD THAT THAT AGENCY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ALMOST LIKE -- I CALLING IT THE THREE BARES.

YOU ALMOST HAVE TO HAVE A GOLDILOCKS APPROACH.

ONE YEAR OR TWO YEARS THEY'RE WAY OVER HERE TO THE LEFT.

IT'S TOO HOT.

THEN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THEY'RE OVER HERE AND IT'S TOO COLD.

YOU NEED TO FIND THAT WARM SPOT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE THAT FIXES IT.

AND I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT.

IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE TIME.

I WILL TELL YOU THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE HAVE BEEN A TROUBLED AGENCY.

AND NOT JUST FOR THE LAST YEAR OR TWO BUT MAINLY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIX THAT SAID.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY AS YOU SAID.

THIS IS -- THIS IS NOT A CABINET JOB THAT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE OF WHERE IT'S HONORARY.

IT'S A DAY TO DAY BATTLE BUT I DO THINK THIS.

I THINK WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

I THINK THAT THE KEY IS THOUGH YOU HAVE TO FIND A BALANCE.

AND I ALSO THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POPULATION YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHEN SOMEONE IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR PAROLE, SOMEONE IS UP FOR SURE PROBATION AND TO LOOK AT THAT.

MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE AT DIRECTOR ONCE SOMEONE IS ON PAROLE OR PROBATION THEY'RE BACK IN THE CUSTODY THE BUREAU TO MAKE SURE HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT, WHAT DO WE DO TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T COMMIT A CRIME AGAIN.

THE BOARD WHICH IS INDEPENDENT, THEY DECIDE DO I GRANTED SOMEONE OR NOT?

ONCE THAT I MAKE THAT WANT DECISION THEY'RE IN MY POPULATION AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN REDUCE THE PUBLIC SAFETY RISK ONCE THEY'RE WITH US.

>> IT WAS IN THE AFTERMATH OF PRISON COMMISSIONER JEFF DID YOU KNOW'S REQUIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT, HE SAID HE WOULD STEP DOWN AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND IN THAT CONVERSATION, SOME LAWMAKERS WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF COMBINING THE KEPT OF CORRECTIONS WITH THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW I WILL TELL YOU, FIRST OF ALL COMMISSIONER JOHN HAM IS A GOOD GUY.

I HAVE KNOWN HIM A LONG TIME.

WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE HE WORKED FOR VARIOUS STATED AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

GREAT COMMISSIONER.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB AT DOC.

MAYBE LONG-TERM PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE I DISCUSSED THAT.

I THINK RIGHT NOW THOUGH BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF LITIGATION GOING ON, YOU HAVE TWO TROUBLED AGENCIES.

YOU HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE OBVIOUSLY.

PARDONS AND PAROLES A LOT OF TROUBLE.

BOTH OF THEM PUBLIC PROBLEMS.

I THINK UNTIL YOU GET THOSE ISSUES RESOLVED HAVING THAT CONVERSATION MERGING THE TWO AGENCIES I THINK THAT'S WAY TOO PREMATURE.

A LOT OF THINGS SOUND GOOD FOR A THEORY BUT IN PRACTICE YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK.

AT THE END OF THE DAY GOVERNOR IVEY HAS HAD THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND VISION ON HOW THE TWO AGENCIES NEED TO CLEAN UP THAT HOUSE BEFORE WE START LOOKING AT MERGING THE HOUSES.

>> WELL, IT WASN'T LONG AGO THAT WE WERE IN THIS BUILDING AS A STATE SENATOR.

DO YOU EVER MISS IT?

>> MISSION A LOT OF FOLKS.

I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS HERE.

I ENJOYED MY FRIENDSHIP AND COMING DOWN TO SEE YOU GUYS.

BUT I DON'T MISS SOME OF THE DAY-TO-DAY CAMPAIGNING AND POLITICKING THEY HAVE TO DO.

>> I LOVE MY JOB.

IT'S FUN.

IT IS HARD.

AND I FELT LIKE AT 50 I WAS TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE.

AND NOW HAVING A NEWBORN, I REALLY REALIZE -- >> CONGRATULATIONS, BY THE WAY.

>> I REALIZE I'M NOT THAT YOUNG.

BUT AT THE ENDS OF THE DAY, I DO MISS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.

BUT I DON'T MISS SOME OF THE POLITICS OF IT.

I THINK CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS SOMETHING I ARGUED FOR, PUSHED FOR WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND IT'S A PERFECT FIT FOR ME.

SO I ENJOY IT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TO GIVE US AN UPDATED.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON, TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY DR. SCOTT HARRIS, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AGAIN FOR ANOTHER COVID UPDATE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.

HERE WE ARE IN -- OMICRON IS CONTINUING.

WHAT IS THE GENERAL UPDATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH?

>> OH, WE CONTINUE TO SEE REALLY HIGH CASE NUMBERS FOR THIS DISEASE, YOU KNOW, IT'S REMARKABLE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE MONTH OF JANUARY IS NOT OVER WITH YET WE HAVE HAD HALF AS MANY CASES IN JANUARY ALONE AS WE HAD IN THE ENTIRE YEAR THIS PAST YEAR, IN 2021 WE HAD A LITTLE OVER HALF MILLION CASES FOR THE ENTIRE 12 MONTH PERIOD.

SO FAR IN JANUARY, WE'RE OVER 260,000 CASES JUST IN JANUARY.

SO THESE NUMBERS ARE JUST HARD TO EVEN IMAGINE.

>> DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT, HALF AS MANY CASES THIS MONTH ALONE, THAN ALL OF LAST YEAR?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS TO GO IN THIS MONTH.

YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE SAID ON THE SHOW BEFORE.

THERE IS -- YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF SILVER LINING ITS SEEMS LIKE THE AVERAGE DISEASE FOR OMICRON IS LESS SEVERE MAN WHAT WE SAW WITH DELTA, THAT GOODNESS BUT IT'S ALSO MUCH MORE INFECTIOUS.

SO EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING REALLY SERIOUSLY ILL OR DYING, JUST THE SHEER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING INFECTED MEANS WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF SICK PEOPLE OUT THERE.

>> WELL, IT STANDS -- IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE ALMOST EVERYBODY I KNOW HAS HAD SOME KIND OF BOUT WITH THIS, FAMILY, FRIENDS.

AND YOU KNOW JUST HEARING THOSE NUMBERS THAT DOESN'T COUNT PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T ACTUALLY TESTED WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR GOTTEN THEIR INFORMATION TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW SO MANY TESTS NOW ARE BEING DONE BY PEOPLE AT HOME WITH, YOU KNOW, OVER THE COUNTER TEST YOU YET AT A PHARMACY OR ORDER ONLINE.

AND WE ARE -- WE SUPPORT THAT.

WE'RE GLAD PEOPLE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO THEM.

BUT WE ALMOST NEVER GET ANY OF THAT INFORMATION.

AND SO WE THINK THAT, EVEN THOUGH WE VERIFIED OVER A QUARTER MILLION CASES THIS MONTH THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY, MANY MORE POSITIVES THAT WE ARE NEVER GOING TO KNOW ABOUT.

>> WELL, LET'S SAY THAT YOU WERE NOT VACCINATED, GOT OMICRON AND THANKFULLY MADE IT THROUGH.

SHOULD YOU NOW GO GET VACCINATED.

>> YES, YOU SHOULD.

THE VERY BEST EVIDENCE WE HAVE SHOWS THAT THE BEST IMMUNITY PEOPLE HAVE OCCURS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INFECTED AND ALSO BEEN VACCINATED.

WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INFECTED ON PURPOSE BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T DO WELL.

BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE INFECTED WHO THEN GET VACCINATED ARE MUCH LOWER RISK FROM GETTING INFECTED AGAIN.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD DATA ON THAT.

THE DATA IS NOT NECESSARILY WITH OMICRON.

THE DATA WAS FROM A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT THE VERY BEST ADVICE THAT WE HAVE IS THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD GET VAX MATED EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INFECTED BEFORE.

>> BECAUSE I CAN HEAR PEOPLE SAY, LOOK, I MADE IT FLUID.

I DIDN'T GET VACCINATED WHY IN THE WORLD SHOULD IT GET VACCINATED NOW.

WELL, IT'S OVER BUT THERE COULD BE OTHER STRAINS AND VARIANTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE HAD MANY PEOPLE IN ALABAMA WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND SOME PEOPLE INFECTED EVEN MORE AND SOMETIMES THOSE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED.

WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED TEND NOT TO GET AT SICK AND DON'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL AS OFTEN AND DON'T DIE AS OFTEN.

HAVING OMICRON ONE TIME BY NO MEANS PROTECTS YOU FROM BEING INFECTED AGAIN WITH ANY OTHER STRAIN.

IN EVERY CASE THAT WE KNOW ABOUT SO FOR BEING VACCINATED REDUCES YOUR RISK OF BEING INJURED BY ILLNESS OR DEATH.

>> ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE LATEST SURGE HAS BEEN A STRAIN ON HOSPITALS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

WHAT IS THE LATEST YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE STATE HOPS ABOUT THIS, THE STRAIN OR THEIR STAFF AND THE STAFFING SITUATION?

>> THE HOSPITALS STILL CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DONE DO WITH THE NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE INFECTED OR EXPOSED AND HAVING TO QUARANTINE.

THERE ARE JUST HUGE NUMBERS AS WE MENTIONED ALL THE OVER THE COMMUNITY SO PATIENT WHOSE ARE COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR ANY REASON, YOU KNOW, FOR NONCOVID REASONS LIKE THEY'RE DELIVERING A BABY OR HAVING ELECTED SURGERY, THOSE PATIENTS ARE SOMETIMES FOUND TO BE INFECTED AND THEN THEY CAN AND DO PASS AT THE HOSPITAL STAFF.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL AROUND 2900 OR SO IN PATIENTS IN TOTAL AROUND THE STATE.

THAT'S ALMOST AS HIGH A NUMBER AS WE HAVE EVER HAD AND IT'S MORE THAN WE HAD WITH DELTA IN FACT THIS PAST SUMMER.

EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF THOSE PATIENTS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY SICK WITH COVID, IT'S STILL A REAL STRESS ON THE HOSPITAL THAT HAS ISOLATED THOSE PATIENTS AND PROTECTS THE STAFF AND TO PROTECT THEIR OTHER PATIENTS.

>> SO THE NUMBER IS BOOSTED BY FOCUS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY SICK BECAUSE OF COVID BUT THEY GET TO THE HOSPITAL AND TEST POSITIVE AND SO THEY'RE SICK WITH COVID?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S CORRECT.

I THINK THERE ARE PRETTY LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF COVID WHO ARE ALSO HOSPITALIZED BUT IN AND OUT HOSPITALIZED BEFORE FOR COVID.

I THINK THAT IS COMMON AND THAT'S REALLY FORTUNE FOR THE PATIENTS THAT THEY'RE NOT SICK FROM COVID.

BUT FROM.HOSPITAL STANDPOINT, IT MAKES A LITTLE DIFFERENCE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE A VENTILATOR ON THAT PATIENT PERHAPS BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO USE A LOT OF RESOURCES ON THAT PATIENT.

>> I SAW TODAY WHERE THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION WAS ASKING TORE BLOOD DONATIONS, PUBLICLY MAKING AN EFFORT TO SAY, PLEASE COME DONATE BLOOD.

WE'RE HAVING A BIT OF A START SHORTAGE.

IS THAT COVID RELATED?

IS IT AN EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC WHERE PEOPLE MAYBE STOPPED DONATING BLOOD?

>> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE LATTER.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COVID RELATED PER SE.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE SURGERIES PEOPLE STOP DOING WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO.

PEOPLE STOP GIVING BLOOD AND PUTTING THEMSELVES IN A MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT.

WE KNOW THAT SCREENINGS FOR CERVICAL CANCER WITH PAP SMEARS OR MAMMOGRAMS THOSE NUMBERS FALL OFF TREMENDOUSLY WHEN THERE'S A SURGE OF WOMEN THAT DON'T CHOOSE TO DO THOSE AT THAT TIME AND THEY FEEL IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN PUT OFF.

YOU FELT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR PUTTING OFF THAT TYPE OF CARE.

ONE OF THE FIRST BIG THINGS THAT WE RECOGNIZE WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC WAS THAT CHILDHOOD VACCINATION WERE -- WHEN CHILDREN WERE AT HOME AND DIDN'T HAVE SO GET A BLUE SHEET TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL IS A LOT OF TIMES PARENTS DIDN'T TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR SHOTS AND CHILDREN GOT WAY BEHIND ON ROUTINE VACCINATIONS WHEN COVID BEGAN.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DISRUPTIONS TO THE MEDICAL SYSTEM AND WE FEEL LIKE THOSE CONSEQUENCE LESS PLAY OUT DOWN THE ROAD AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY IF THIS WAS JUST TO 2020, THAT'S ONE THING BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT YEAR THREE AND PEOPLE PUTTING OFF REALLY IMPORTANT MEDICAL DECISIONS INCLUDING OTHER VACCINATIONS THAT SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

>> MANY OR MOST HOSPITALS AROUND THE STATE ARE VOLUNTARILY DECIDING TO DELAY ELECTIVE THINKS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES STAFF OR EQUIPMENT OR SO ON.

BUT THE PROCEDURE THAT SEEMS ELECTIVE TODAY MAY NOT REALLY BE ELECTIVE IF YOU PUT IT OFF A MONTH OR TWO OR THREE MONTHS.

SOME OF THOSE PROCEDURES ARE NO LONGER ELECTIVE AT ALL AND HAVE TO BE DONE.

AND TYPICALLY THE LONGER THAT YOU WAITED PERHAPS YOUR OUTCOME MAY NOT BE AS GOOD.

>> WE TALKED AT HOSPITAL STAFF BUT YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH THE RINGER BY THIS PANDEMIC.

I MEAN IT'S JUST A LOT TO DEAL WITH AS AN AGENCY, A AS A STAFF.

SO HOW IS EVERYTHING EVERYONE DOING.

HOW IS YOUR STAFF HOLDING UP.

>> YOU KNOW I WILL SAY MY STAFF IS WORKING TREMENDOUSLY HARD.

I'M REALLY PROUDLY TO BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION AT ADPH.

PEOPLE HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB.

BUT WE ARE BEING EFFECTED LIKE EVERY OTHER AGENCY OR BUSINESS OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

WE HAVE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE INFECTED WHO ARE OUTRIGHT NOW.

MANY OF OUR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HESITATE TO CLOSE A DAY OR TWO HERE AND THERE OR AT LEAST LIMIT SERVICES PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.

WE HAVE TRIED.ORG OUT AND FIND CONTRACT WORKERS TO COME IN AND FILL THE BILL AND LIKE ALL ALABAMA EMPLOYERS THAT'S DIFFICULTY TO DO RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'RE GETTING INTO A POLITICAL SEASON.

IT'S KIND OF ALWAYS A POLITICAL SEASON BUT HERE WE ARE, THE CAMPAIGN IS GETTING STARTED REALLY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS PANDEMIC HAS REALLY BEEN POLITICIZED ALMOST FROM DAY ONE.

AND I WONDERED YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS THE CAMPAIGNS GET GOING.

ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT SOME OF THE RHETORIC SURROUNDINGS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AS THE CAMPAIGNS GET STARTED?

>> YOU KNOW IT HAS BEEN POLITICIZED INCREDIBLY IN A WAY I JUST NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD REALLY EVER SEE IN MY LIFE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT, DEPENDING ON ONE'S POLITICAL LEANINGS PEOPLE TEND TO OVERSTATE THE RISK OR COVID OR COMPLETELY UNDER CERTIFICATE THE RISK OF COVID.

SO FOR US THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.

WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL JUST LISTEN TO THE BEST EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE.

WE'RE NOT POLITICAL IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE'RE POLITICAL FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S POLITICS BUT WE JUST TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO GIVE PEOPLE THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND WHAT THE BEST SCIENCE SAYS.

WE WOE RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY GET EVERYTHING FROM YOUR OWN INFORMATION BUBBLE OR ECHO CHAMBER BUT YOU KNOW, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, REACHED OUT TO US AT PUBLIC HEALTH, LOOK AT SOURCES THAT CAN GIVE YOU UNBIASED INFORMATION.

I THINK THAT REALLY THE SINGLE BIGGEST THING I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT IS JUST WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES AROUND THE VACCINE MANDATED WHICH MANY PEOPLE HAVE MANY VALID CONCERNS ABOUT, I THINK SOME PEOPLE TAKE AWAY THE MESSAGE THAT THE VACCINE IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HURT US.

AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE.

THE VACCINES ARE SAFE.

AND THEY'RE EFFECTIVE.

AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED OR NOT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUE THAT'S PLAYING OUT IN THE COURTS RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE VACCINES ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE AFRAID OF.

>> WELL, I HAVE HEARD FROM.

VIEWERS WHO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE SHOWS REGULARLY TO OFFER UNBIASED & SCIENTIFIC ADVICE TO THAT YOU HAVE AGAIN FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY RANDY SCOTT AND KAREN GOLDSMITH OF THE "CAPITOL JOURNAL" NEWS ATTEMPT.

WE'RE BACK FOR MORE PANEL ANALYSIS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATEHOUSE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME TODD.

I LIKE PANEL ANALYSIS.

>> IT'S FUN.

KAREN, FIRST QUESTION TO YOU.

YOU HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY FOLLOWING THIS FEDERAL RELIEF BILL AS IT HAS MOVED ITS WAY THROUGH THE STATEHOUSE.

IT'S NOW ALLOW, THE GOVERNOR SIGNING IT INTO LAW.

DO YOU GET THE SENSE EVERYBODY GOVERNMENT WHAT THEY WANTED FROM THIS BILL?

>> OVERALL 99.9 PERCENT I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY, YES.

OF COURSE WHEN I HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH STATE SENATOR GREG ALL BRIT TON, THE SENATE GENERAL FUND BUDGET CHAIR WHO WAS THE ONE THAT AUTHORED THE SENATE VERSION OF THAT BILL HE SAID NOT EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.

AND OF COURSE THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED.

BUT OVERALL GENERALLY, DEFINITELY, YES.

AND THAT WAS EVIDENCED BY LOOK A THE VOTE COUNTS IN THE HOUSE AS WELL AS THE SENATE.

I THINK INITIALLY ON THE SENATE BILL WHEN IT CAME THROUGH, THERE WAS ONE NO VOTE FROM SENATOR GIVAN WHEN THE FINAL VERSION OF THE HOUSE BILL CAME THROUGH THE SENATE THERE WAS ONE ABSTENTION AND I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT OVERALL JUST WHEN THE BILLS CAME THROUGH COMMITTEE, UNANIMOUS CONSENT THEY PASSED QUICKLY ON BOTH FLOORS AS WELL AS THROUGH COMMITTEES.

THERE WEREN'T ANY CONTENT ISSUES CONVERSATIONS.

THERE WEREN'T -- THERE WERE VERY FEW -- MAYBE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, BUT NOTHING REALLY PICKING AT THE BILL WHICH AS WE KNOW AND OS OUR AUDIENCE KNOWS THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LEGISLATION COMES THROUGH.

PEOPLE PICK IT AND THEY ANALYZE IT AND TEAR IT UP AND PUT ILL BACK TOGETHER AND TEAR IT UP AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.

THINKS -- THINGS ARE REALLY, REALLY VETTED.

IT WASN'T VETTED IN A WAY TO PRODUCE ANY TYPE OF NEGATIVITY OR CONTRARY COMMENTS, YOU COULD SAY.

SO OVERALL, I THINK EVERYONE IS GENERALLY HAPPY, PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN IN OUR STATE OVERLOOKED, PEOPLE IN THE BLACK BELT AND OUR RURAL AREAS WE KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO WATER AND SEWER AND BROADBAND THEY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED AND NOW THAT THEY WERE MADE A PRIORITY IN THE LEGISLATION, AND THAT'S HISTORIC WITHIN ITSELF -- I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT IT I CAN'T EVEN TALK BUT I HAVE TO SAY I'M A LITTLE BIT SAD BECAUSE I LOVE DISCUSSING THE NUMBERS AND BUDGET AND THINKS LIKE THIS AND IT'S OVER.

WE HAVE THE BUDGETS COMING UP BUT I REALLY ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATIONS.

>> YOU KNOW YOUR STORY WAS ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP AND IT WAS REALLY SIGNIFICANT, THE BIPARTISANSHIP THAT INFORMATION ON DISPLAY HERE DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION.

AT THE SAME TIME, RANDY, ABOUT THE MOST PATTERN ISSUE THAT PEOPLE DEAL WITH IN THE LEGISLATURE IS REDISTRICTING.

IT CAN BE A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE AND HERE WE HAD THIS MONUMENTAL RULING FROM THE COURTS THROWING OUT ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AS THEY WERE DRAWN LAST YEAR AND SAYING, NO, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, DRAW FAIRER DISTRICTS.

WHAT WAS THE REACTION IN THE HALLS OF THE STATEHOUSE ON THIS COURT CASE.

>> ON ONE HAND YOU HAD SOME WHO WERE COMPLETELY TAKEN ABACK BY IT.

WHY WOULD THEY COME BACK AND SAY REGREW THESE DISTRICTS WORKERS DID A GOOD JOB OF DRAWING THESE DISTRICTS.

MOSTLY THOSE WERE IN THE MAJORITY WERE THINKING EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

ON THE OTHER HAND MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY SIDE WERE SAYING -- WE WERE SAYING THIS FROM THE GET GO, WHEN WE HAD THAT SPECIAL SESSION NOT TOO LONG AGO WHEN THE DISTRICTS WERE BEING DRAWN.

WE WERE SAYING WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN US AS GUIDELINES FOR DRAWING THESE DISTRICTS.

YOU SEE MIGHT WANT TO RETHINK THESE BEFORE YOU PASS THE PEN ON THE PAPER AND SIGN IT AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE DONE WITH IT, THE DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN REDRAWN.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T YOU MIGHT GET A CALL FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FAST-FORWARD TO THIS WEEK -- LAST WEEK ACTUALLY -- AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS HEY WAIT A MINUTE, THE THREE-JUDGE PANEL, WE NEED YOU GUYS, ALABAMA, TO REDRAW THESE DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ADDING UP THE WAY THEY SHOULD, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTATION.

YOU WERE TOLD THERE NEEDED TO BE ANOTHER MINORITY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO REFLECT THE POPULATION OF THE STATE, AND IT WASN'T DONE.

SO THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, ALABAMA, YOU NEED TO DO SOME REDRAWING OF DISTRICT LINES.

SO JUST STAY WITH US.

AND ALSO THIS WAS THE CAVEAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT DONE BY FEBRUARY.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, SO THAT MEANS THEY NEED TO BE DONE IN A HURRY.

ARE WEE GOING TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE TAKE UP THESE MAPS AND REDRAW THEM NEXT WEEK?

IS THAT WE WILL BE REPORTING NEXT WEEK?

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION.

I BELIEVE SOMEHOW, SOME WAY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO -- QUICK FAST AND IN A HURRY.

QUESTION IS WILL THERE BE ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION CALLED FOR THIS OR WILL IT BE INCORPORATED IN THE ESSENTIAL SESSION THEY'RE TO RETURN TO NEXT WEEK?

THAT'S BEEN THE BIG QUELL.

HAVING BEEN GIVEN A YEA OR NAY OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT EITHER WAY COME NEXT WEEK WE'RE GOING TO START TALKING ABOUT THAT AND MORE THAN LIKELY DOING ACTION ON IT SO THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN ACTION SIMILAR TO WHAT THE STATED WENT THROUGH WITH THE PRISONS WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME AND SAID, AND STILL IS WATCHING AND SAYING YOU NEED TO STRAIGHTEN THIS PROBLEM UP NOW OR WE'RE GOING TO COME AND FIX IT FOR YOU.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND PIT.

YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS AND THE MAJORITY SHEAR AND THEY SAY WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS.

WE'VE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK AND REDRAW MAPS.

AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT FROM A WORKFLOW PERSPECTIVE.

THEY'RE READY TO GET STARTED ON OTHER ISSUES.

BUT THE FEDERAL COURTS DON'T PLAY.

SO I AM CURIOUS ABOUT WHETHER REPUBLICANS SAY, WELL, NO, WE'RE JUST GOING TO LET THE COURTS DO I FELT.

BECAUSE PARTS OF THAT RULING SAID IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT COMPLY, IF THEY DO NOT FOLLOW-UP AND REDRAW THE MAPS AS WE HAVE INSTRUCTED THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO IT BASED ON OUR EXPERT AND EVERYTHING.

SO I DO GET A SENSE FROM SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS THEY SAY, FINE, YOU KNOW, IF Y'ALL DON'T LIKE OUR MAPS YOU DRAW THEM YOURSELF.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT SAYS, BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT GET THE MAPS THEY WANTED.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, TODD, CAN I ADD -- I TALKED TO SENATOR SINGLETON ABOUT THIS.

HE DID NOTE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT MADE ME THINK THEY MAY LET THE COURTS DO IT THERE HAVE BEEN APPEALS FILED TO THE ELEVENTH U.S.

CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO STAY THAT DECISION.

AND I NOTICE ON THE PART OF ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT SENATOR SINGLETON SAID HE HAS BEEN 2349 SITUATION MR.

THE SPECIAL IMAGINE STATE OF THE COURT DREW THE MAPS IN THIS PERSON IS NEUTRAL NONPARTISAN LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL CENSUS NUMBER, THE DATA, WHAT THE NUMBERS SHOW.

AND THEY -- HE SAID WE MAY NOT BE SHAPE WITH WHAT THE COURTS DO BUT WE KNOW THIS IS A PERSON WHO HAS NO SKIN IN OUR GAME WHO CAN DRAW THESE MAPS AND THEY MAY DRAW MAPS THAT WOULD BE LEANING MORE TOWARD WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD WANT.

SO I MEAN -- IT'S HARD TO SAY.

THIS IS A HARD ONE TO CALL BECAUSE TIME IS AN ISSUE.

FEBRUARY 11 IS NOT A LOT OF TIME TO HAVE THIS DONE AND WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES PRESSING AND WE HAVE PUT THE REGULAR SESSION ON HOLD FOR 5 DAYS SO THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON OUR TIME TO GET OUR REGULAR SESSION COMPLETED.

SO IT'S A LOT OF VARIABLES TO CONSIDER.

>> THERE ARE.

>> WELL, I TALKED WITH REPRESENTATIVE A.J.

MCCAMPBELL AND HE SAID IT'S ALL ABOUT FAIR REPRESENTATION.

THE WAY THE POPULATION HAS BEEN COUNTED IN THE STATE, YOU'RE NOT SEEING FAIR REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS.

>> ONE DISTRICT WHEREAS THE POPULATION IS A LOT MORE.

>> EXACTLY.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS FAIRLY REPRESENTED.

AND THAT MEANS ALABAMA IS DUE ANOTHER MINORITY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

SO LIKE YOU SAID IT COULD EITHER BE DONE BY THE STATE OF ALABAMA ITSELF OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN COME IN BUT IT REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID.

IT'S AN ALABAMA PROBLEM.

WE FIND AN ALABAMA SOLUTION.

I WONDER IF THE LEGISLATURE WILL TAKE THAT SAME APPROACH.

>> I SAID THE SAME THING.

ALABAMA SOLUTION FOR AN ALABAMA PROBLEM.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH.

REGARDLESS THEY COME BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION NEXT WEEK PRESUMABLY.

>> REGULAR SESSION?

>> THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

>> WELL, ALL SESSIONS ARE SPECIAL.

BUT LOOK THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT I'M SURE LAWMAKERS WANTED TO GET TO.

KAREN WHAT IS YOUR SENSE IN THE HOUSE OF WHAT MIGHT BE NEXT ON THAT I EVER AGENDA?

>> YOU WANT TO PUT ME IN THE HOUSE?

THOSE ARE HIS PEOPLE.

NOT THAT I DON'T LIKE THE PEOPLE.

MY PEOPLE ARE THE SENATE, HIS PEOPLE ARE THE HOUSE.

>> I HAD HOUSES MEX ARE WATCHING.

>> I LIKE YOUR HOUSE MEMBERS.

THEY'RE NICE TO ME.

BUT I LOOK OUT FOR MY SPECIAL THRIVE.

SENATOR ALL OF BRITAIN SAID HE REALLY TO WON WORK ON HIS COMPREHENSIVE GAMING BILL.

SENATOR READ SAID ON JANUARY 13TH BEFORE THE SPECIAL THAT THE BUDGETS, THEY WANT TO GET THAT THAT QUICKLY.

THAT WAS EXCITING NEWS.

HOPEFULLY THAT HAPPENS.

AND I KNOW WHY THE MINORITY PART A LOT OF THEIR MAIN CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED UNDER ARPA BROADBAND, WATER AND SEWER AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS NEXT ROUND OF ARPA, MONEY FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE, WITH SENATOR SINGLETON AND COLEMAN MADISON AND SENATOR SMITHERMAN ALSO SAID.

WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME BILLS ALREADY IN PLAY THAT WERE PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE BEFORE THE SPECIAL, SENATOR ARTHUR ORR HAS HAD A COUPLE OF TAX CUT WILLS THE, ONE THAT WOULD EXEMPT $10,000 OF A RETIREE'S INCOME FOR RETIREES AGED 65 AND OLDER, SENATE BILL 18.

HE HAS ANOTHER TAX AND YOU TELL BILL THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO FAMILIES PARTICULARLY FAMILIES IN THE 50 TO $55,000 RANGE INCREASE AN OPTIONING DEDUCTION AS WELL AS A DEDUCTION -- EXEMPTION REGARDING CHILDREN SO THESE BILLS ARE READY TO GO.

THEY CAN BE CALLED UP FOR A POSSIBLE VOTES ON TUESDAY.

SENATOR CHAMBLISS HAD A COUPLE OF BILLS CONNECTED TO VOTING THAT ARE IN POSITION TO POSSIBLY BE ON THE SPECIAL CALENDAR AND VOTED ON TUESDAY.

>> SO WE HAVE SOME THINKS IN PLAY READY TO GO.

WHAT COLOR AND SENATOR JONES HAD A BILL IN COMMITTEE, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.

NO VOTE ON THAT BILL.

IF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MEETS NEXT WEAK ON THE 2ND, WHICH THEY WERE PLANNING TO, THAT BILL COULD BE VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS ALREADY SCHEDULED AND ONE AGENDA ALREADY UP SO WE ARE READY TO GO UPSTAIRS IN THE UPPER CHAMBER AS WE ALL OURSELVES.

>> LET'S GO DOWNSTAIRS INTO THE HOUSE.

WHAT ARE THE HOUSE MEMBERS SAYING ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO TACKLE NEXT?

>> ONE THING I HAVE HEARD REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN DEALS WITH MEDICAID.

MEDICATED EXPANSION.

AND IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN REVOLVING AROUND COVID AND THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS TAKEN CARE OF FOR MEDICAL STANDPOINT.

SO I HAVE HEARD MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY PARTY SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY MEDICAID EXPANSION.

I HAVE HEARD THE MAJORITY SHEA WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE EVERYONE IS CONCERNED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS -- NOT ONLY JUST FAIR REPRESENTATION BUT FAIR REPRESENTATION WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ALL OF THE MEDICARE AND HEALTH ISSUES THEY NEED.

ALSO HELPING TO GET HOSPITALS UP AND ESTABLISHED OR REESTABLISHED IN SOME AREAS.

ESPECIALLY RURAL AREAS.

ALSO EDUCATIONAL ISSUES AS WELL, TOO.

>> AND SOMETHING TELLS ME SOON MEDICAID EXPANSION THEY MAY WANT TO GET PAST THIS ELECTION BEFORE THAT.

IT BEING AN ELECTION YEAR.

BUST LOOK, A LOT GOING ON.

HERE IN THE STATEHOUSE.

AND NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE REALLY -- FROM THE COURT CASE TO ALL OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES GOING ON IN THE LEGISLATURE, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.

I'M GLAD Y'ALL ARE COVERING IT RIGHT THERE ON THE FLOOR.

>> I'M GLAD YOU'RE WITH US AS WE COVER I.

A LOT TO DO NEXT WEEK.

NEVER ARE A DULL MOMENT.

>> AND THE SPECIAL REGULAR SESSION.

>> VERY SPECIAL INVESTED WELL, RANDY, KAREN, THAT I THINK A LOT.

>> THANKS TODD.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OUR NIGHT NIGHTLY LEGISLATIVE COVERING CONTINUES MONDAY AT 10:30 RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.