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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

I HOPE YOUR NEW YEAR IS OFF TO A GREAT START AS WE ALL TRY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

IT WAS NO DIFFERENT IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHERE THE NEWS WEEK STARTED SLOW BUT QUICKLY PICKED UP STEAM HERE INTO THE WEEKEND.

2024 WILL CERTAINLY MEAN NEW BEGINNINGS, BUT IT STARTS WITH SOME OLD PROBLEMS LINGERING FOR ALABAMA'S PRISON SYSTEM AND THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

WE'LL START WITH MARIJUANA.

A MONTGOMERY JUDGE HAS AGAIN BLOCKED THE ALABAMA MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION FROM ISSUING LICENSES.

MONTGOMERY CIRCUIT JUDGE JAMES ANDERSON THIS WEEK ISSUED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER STOPPING THE COMMISSION FROM AWARDING LICENSE FOR INTEGRATED MEDICAL MARIJUANA VENDORS.

THOSE ARE THE COMPANIES THAT HANDLE ALL PHASES OF THE CANNABIS PRODUCT, FROM SEED TO SALE AND SOME OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER LICENSES.

COMPANIES THAT WERE NOT SELECTED FOR THESE LICENSES FILED SUIT CLAIMING THE PROCESS WAS UNFAIR.

THE BLOCK IS ONLY TEMPORARY AS THE CASE IS HEARD IN COURT.

COMMISSION DIRECTOR JOHN MCMILLAN SAID QUOTE "WE REMAIN DETERMINED AND HOPEFUL THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS, RECOMMENDED BY CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS TO QUALIFIED ALABAMA PATIENTS, IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER."

NOW TO PRISONS, WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER TRAGIC DEATH IN AN ALABAMA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

KLIFTON ADAM BOND WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS CELL THURSDAY AT THE ST. CLAIR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN BIRMINGHAM.

THE DEATH CAME JUST DAYS AFTER BOND EXPRESSED FEARS TO HIS FAMILY ABOUT BEING IN IMMINENT DANGER, FEARS HIS FAMILY PASSED ON TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

HIS FAMILY LAST MONTH ATTENDED A LEGISLATIVE PRISON OVERSIGHT MEETING AND PLEADED WITH LAWMAKERS TO ADDRESS THE VIOLENT CONDITIONS IN ALABAMA PRISONS.

BOND WAS SERVING A 20 SENTENCE FOR FIRST DEGREE ROBBERY AND BURGLARY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SAID ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES DIVISION IS INVESTIGATING BOND'S DEATH, THE CAUSE OF WHICH IS PENDING AN AUTOPSY.

FRUSTRATIONS OVER THE PRISON SITUATION SPILLED OUT AGAIN THIS WEEK AT A MEETING OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE.

WHEN A LEGAL CONTRACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CAME UP FOR REVIEW, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ENGLAND TOLD THE DEPARTMENT ATTORNEY THAT HE HAS BEEN SENT CELL PHONE VIDEOS AND PICTURES TAKEN BY INMATES SHOWING EXTREME VIOLENCE.

HE WANTS THE DEPARTMENT TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND TRANSPARENT ON THE ISSUE.

>> YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'VE SEWN A MANAGER PICTURES AND VIDEOS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE NEVER SEEN IN ANY OF THEM?

ANYBODY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS -- NOT A GUARD OR ANYTHING.

SO I'M PRETTY SURE, BECAUSE EVERY TIME I ASK OR CALL, THERE'S ALWAYS AN ANSWER.

BUT, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS, SOME OF THE THINGS, SOME OF THE ANSWERS I'VE RECEIVED AND TALKING TO SOME OF THE FAMILIES, THESE THINGS AREN'T ADDING UP.

SO, WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE RESPONSIVE NECESSARY, MORE TRANSPARENCY, SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SO WE CAN ASSURE THE FAMILIES, WHEN ONE OF THEIR LOVED ONES IS INCARCERATED AND BEING ABUSED -- I'VE GOT A VIDEO OF SEVERAL OVERDOSES.

YOU KNOW, IT IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

>> THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, AND THE D.O.C., YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY EMAIL YOU HAVE, I'M SURE WE HAVE INFORMATION FOR THAT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN, AND I WILL ABSOLUTELY PASS ALONG ALL THIS INFORMATION -- I'LL SPEAK TO THE COMMISSIONER MYSELF TODAY AND MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTANDS YOUR CONCERNS.

>> AFTER THE MEETING, ENGLAND SAID HE WOULD CONSIDER HOLDING UP ROUTINE CONTRACTS IF ONLY TO GET THE DEPARTMENT'S ATTENTION, SIMILAR HE SAID, TO WHAT U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE DID WITH MILITARY PROMOTIONS ON THE ABORTION ISSUE.

>> THERE'S THREE OR FOUR YEARS NOW, MAYBE LONGER, ACTUALLY BEEN TILTING AND WINDMILLS.

IT'S CONDITIONS WITHIN THE FACILITIES ARE GETTING WORSE.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, AFTER LAWSUITS, INVESTIGATIONS, CHARGES, VIDEOS, ALL THIS EVIDENCE IS COMING FORTH, SINCE WE'VE GOT THE FEDERAL COURTS INVOLVED, WE'VE LIKELY GOTTEN WORSE.

SO I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY WHAT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TO GET THEIR ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE RESPONDING TO PEOPLE, TO MAKE SURE OUR PAROLE SYSTEM ACTUALLY STARTS FUNCTIONING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AT A POINT NOW WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO AT LEAST GET THEIR ATTENTION TO THEY CAN RESPOND >> STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE SPOKE OUT TO SAY THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE PREVALENCE OF CELL PHONES IN PRISONS.

HE SAID INMATES' ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD ALLOWS THEM TO THREATEN AND EXTORT OTHER INMATES AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALLOW US TO BLOCK CELL SIGNALS IN OUR PRISONS, SO THE PRISONERS, THEY GET CELL PHONES BROUGHT IN, AND THAT'S HOW THEY RUN THEIR CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES.

THEY ARE ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR GANG MEMBERS OR THEIR FELLOW CRIMINALS OUTSIDE THE PRISON WALLS, AND THEY CAN USE THAT TECHNOLOGY.

SAY A NEW GUARD COMES INTO THE PRISON, THEY FIND OUT EVERYTHING THEY CAN ABOUT THAT GUARD.

THEY FIND OUT ABOUT HIS CHILDREN, OR THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY FIND OUT ABOUT ANY TYPE OF FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, AND THEY USE THAT AGAINST THE GUARDS TO FORCE THEM INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE SMUGGLING CONTRABAND INTO OUR PRISONS.

THEY ARE VERY WELL ORGANIZED THERE.

THEY'VE GOT NOTHING BUT TIME ON THEIR HANDS TO SIT IN THOSE PRISONS AND USE THOSE CELL PHONES TO RUN CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES, AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALLOW US TO BLOCK IT.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGER PROBLEMS OF WHY WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE.

>> THERE'S ONLY ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS YEAR'S SESSION IS SHAPING UP TO BE A BUSY ONE, BUT IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH THE BUDGETS.

THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEGISLATURE IS TO PASS THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH PAYS FOR NON-EDUCATION AGENCIES, AND THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, WITH PAYS FOR THE RANGE OF SCHOOL SPENDING FROM PRE-K TO HIGHER ED.

THE LATEST REVENUE NUMBERS ON THE EDUCATION SIDE SHOW A SLIGHT DIP IN REVENUE COMPARED TO LAST FISCAL YEAR.

FOR DECEMBER REVENUE WAS DOWN 2.57 PERCENT COMPARED TO THE SAME MONTH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF FISCAL YEAR 2024, REVENUE IS DOWN JUST 1.19 PERCENT.

BUDGET EXPERTS SAY THAT IS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND ACTUALLY EXPECTED CONSIDERING THE RECORD GROWTH THE STATE SAW, THANKS IN PART FROM FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS IN THE TAX BASE.

IT COULD, HOWEVER, IMPACT THE GROCERY SALES TAX.

YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT LAWMAKERS REDUCED THAT 4 PERCENT TAX ON GROCERIES BY ONE CENT LAST SESSION AND IT WILL GO DOWN BY ANOTHER CENT IN 2025 IF REVENUE GROWTH IS STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT IT.

FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THERE'S EVEN BETTER NEWS.

LAST FISCAL YEAR ENDED WITH A 16 PERCENT INCREASE AND SO FAR THIS YEAR REVENUES ARE OUTPACING THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE REX REYNOLDS, WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEE, SAID THAT'S THANKS TO HIGH INTEREST RATES ON BONDS AND THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN ONLINE SALES TAXES.

>> WELL, THEY ARE VERY STRONG HERE NOW, TWO BUDGET CYCLES IN A ROW, VERY STRONG GENERAL FUND GROWTH.

OBVIOUSLY AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, OVER 119% WAS INTEREST ON STATE DEPOSIT IN ACCOUNTS.

ANOTHER STATE IS IN AD VALOREM TAXES AND SSUT.

THOSE ARE THE THREE AREAS WE SAW GROWTH.

WE ONLY SAW A 1.19% DECREASE IN DECEMBER, 2023 OVER 2022 NUMBERS, BUT WE HAD A DEPOSIT OF OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS IN '22 THAT'S OFFSETTING THAT.

IF YOU TAKE THAT AND ADD IT TO THE $3.3 MILLION GROWTH WE JUST SAW IN YESTERDAY'S RECEIPTS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PUTTING US UP ALMOST OVER $30 MILLION IN DECEMBER.

SO STRONG NUMBERS.

A LOT OF ONE-TIME MONEY, AS YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE WORDING IN THE CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM.

LAST YEAR, THE FIRST 100 MILLION OF THE BUDGETS WILL GO INTO PRISONS FROM LAST YEAR'S SUPPLEMENTAL, OR THE 2023 SUPPLEMENTAL.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGING OF THE GUARD - LITERALLY.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ON FRIDAY PRESIDED OVER THE CHANGE IN COMMAND CEREMONY FOR BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID PRITCHETT - THE NEW ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD.

GENERAL PRITCHETT REPLACES MAJOR GENERAL SHERYL GORDON, WHO IS RETIRING.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY HUMBLING, BUT OUR FAMILY, WE'RE HONORED TO COME BACK TO ALABAMA.

I SPENT ALMOST 30 YEARS IN THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD BEFORE I LEFT TO FOR SILL FOR THREE YEARS AND TO THE WYOMING NATIONAL GUARD FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

SO ALL OF OUR FAMILY IS HERE.

SO GETTING TO COME BACK HERE TO THE GRANDKIDS AND OUR OWN FAMILY, MY MOM, MY WIFE'S FAMILY.

TODAY IS REALLY ABOUT THE OUTGOING TAG IN CELEBRATING HER 43-YEAR CAREER, BUT, AGAIN, WE'RE HONORED TO REPLACE HER, AS SHE'S DONE TREMENDOUS THINGS FOR ALABAMA, AND IT WILL BE TOUGH BOOTS TO FILL, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST.

THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.

I KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN TRULY BLESSED THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, MORE THAN I DESERVE.

I THANK GOD FOR THE GOODNESS THAT HE HAS GIVEN ME.

IT HAS BEEN MY GOAL TO BE A SERVANT LEADER IN THIS ORGANIZATION AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO BE THE SAME.

TO THE AIRMEN, SOLDIERS, CIVILIANS OF THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD, I ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH THE SAME MEASURE OF PROFESSIONALISM AND HONOR THAT HAS MADE YOUR SUCCESSFUL.

CONTINUE TO SET THE STANDARD FOR THE QUALITY OF YOUR WORK AND SHOW THE WORLD WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SERVANT LEADERS.

CONTINUE TO GROW THE POSITIVE TRENDS WE ARE ON TODAY AND TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT AND AS A VALUED MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO.

ALL OF YOU.

GOVERNOR IVEY, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THIS FAMILY.

IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.

AND GENERAL PRITCHETT, TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILY.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> TURNING NOW TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, 4TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN ROBERT ADERHOLT WAS ONE OF DOZENS OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO TRAVELED TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER THIS WEEK.

THEIR GOAL WAS TO CALL THE NATION'S ATTENTION TO THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS AT THE BORDER AND TO CALL ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DO MORE TO STEM THE ILLEGAL FLOW OF MIGRANTS INTO THE UNITED STATES.

ACCORDING TO U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, AS MANY AS 10,000 MIGRANTS A DAY WERE ARRESTED AT THE BORDER IN DECEMBER.

ADERHOLT WITNESSED THE SITUATION IN PERSON.

>> I'M AT THE MEXICAN-U.S. BORDER, EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, AND YOU CAN SEE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET ACROSS.

THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY OCCURRENCE.

IT SHOWS MORE THAN EVER THAT, IN WASHINGTON, WE HAVE TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MUST DO THEIR WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE SECURE OUR BORDERS.

>> ANOTHER ACCOLADE FOR ALABAMA'S PORT.

A NEW ANALYSIS PUBLISHED BY FORBES RANKED THE PORT OF MOBILE AS THE SECOND FASTEST GROWING PORT IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE ABOUT THIS RANKING IS THAT IT INCLUDES NOT JUST SEA PORTS, BUT ALSO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS AND BORDER CROSSINGS.

ALABAMA'S PORT GREW BY 122 PERCENT OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

THAT'S SECOND ONLY TO CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS, WHICH FORBES CALLED AN ENERGY POWERHOUSE.

BEHIND THE PORT OF MOBILE ON THE LIST WERE ATLANTA'S HARTSFIELD JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND CHICAGO'S O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE HAS COME DOWN WITH SOMETHING OVER THE LAST MONTH OR TWO.

IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN SICK, COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY AND KNOCK ON WOOD.

PART OF WHAT'S GOING AROUND ARE RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES THAT CAN BE SEVERE.

AS "CAPITOL JOURNAL"'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE MONITORING THE SITUATION CLOSELY TO SEE JUST HOW SERIOUS IT GETS.

>> THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE SEEN SOME UNUSUAL ACTIVITY DUE TO COVID 19 AND THE EFFECT THAT SORT OF THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE'RE FALLING INTO MORE SEASONAL PATTERNS NOW.

>> DR. WES STUBBLEFIELD IS WITH THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, MONITORING DISEASES AFFECTING ALABAMIANS.

AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES.

>> WE'VE SEEN EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND HOSPITAL VISIT RELATED TO COVID 19 AND INFLUENZA THAT INCREASED WEEK OVER WEEK OVER THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING SOME RSV ACTIVITY.

>> STUBBLEFIELD SAYS ALABAMA JOINS THE REST OF THE NATION WATCHING THOSE PATTERNS.

>> THESE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN START IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND THEN MOVE TO OTHER PARTS.

IF YOU LOOK AT INFLUENZA, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SOUTHEAST IS OVERREPRESENTED, AND THE UPPER MIDWEST IS UNDERREPRESENTED IN TERMS OF ACTIVITY.

>> IT'S A NEW YEAR AND A NEW SEASON FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, ACCORDING TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH RIGHT KNOW IS THE PRIME TIME FOR RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS TO ARISE.

THAT'S WHY THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING WHAT IT CAN TO HELP CITIZENS STAY SAFE AND FIGHT THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> WE TRY TO GET INFORMATION OUT.

WE HAVE INFORMATION OUT ON NEWS RELEASES.

WE HAVE INFORMATION, OF COURSE, SOUTHERN WEB SITE, INCLUDING RESPIRATORY DISEASE TRACKERS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE AT ALABAMAPUBLICHEALTH.GOV.

>> STUBBLEFIELD SAYS INFORMATION ABOUT THESE ILLNESSES ARE VERY VALUABLE TOOLS.

>> THEY'RE ALL VERY DIFFERENT.

FOR COVID 19 AND FLU, WE HAVE A BROADLY-AVAILABLE VACCINE, WITH RSV WE HAVE VERY TARGETED VACCINES FOR CERTAIN GROUPS, THOSE WHO ARE VERY YOUNG AND AMONG THE OLDER INDIVIDUALS.

>> HE ADDS, SOME GOOD NEWS IS TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE.

>> THEY'RE ALL VERY DIFFERENT.

FOR COVID 19 AND FLU, WE HAVE BROADLY-AVAILABLE VACCINE.

WITH RSV WE HAVE VERY TARGETED VACCINES ONLY FOR CERTAIN GROUPS, THOSE WHO ARE VERY YOUNG AND AMONG THE OLDER INDIVIDUALS.

>> AND IF YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE SICK, SEE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

>> SO THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO GETTING TESTED FOR THESE VIRUSES.

LIKE I SAID, THE SYMPTOMS CAN OF LAP AND IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COVID 19, INFLUENZA AND RSV JUST IN GENERAL, BUT TESTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL THREE THAT ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE.

>> TO MAKE SURE CITIZENS STAY HEALTHY.

>> COVID 19 AND INFLUENZA CAN BE TREATED, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S EARLY ON IN THE COURSE, AND MAY BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE LENGTH OR THE SEVERITY OF THE ILLNESS.

FOR INFLUENZA, THIS INCLUDES MOST ANYONE WITH THE DISEASE, AND FOR THOSE WITH COVID 19, IT IS LIMITED TO CERTAIN HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS.

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

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL INTERVIEW TWO MORE CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS IN THE NEWLY-REDRAWN 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: CURRENT STATE SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN AND FORMER STATE SENATOR DICK BREWBAKER.

AND LATER IN THE SHOW, A SPECIAL TREAT FOR US HISTORY BUFFS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRACY ESTES AND LOCAL HISTORIAN JOEL MIZE JOIN ME TO DISCUSS THE HISTORIC OLD BYLAR ROAD PROJECT THAT COULD BECOME THE STATE'S NEWEST TOURIST ATTRACTION.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN ALABAMA'S SECOND DISTRICT.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO ALL CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE.

IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN BURNING UP THE ROAD AT 65 BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AND MONTGOMERY.

I ASK ALL CANDIDATES WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

>> YEAH, SO, RIGHT AFTER THE SUPREME COURT, YOU KNOW, AFFIRMED THE LOWER COURT RULING, MY PHONE ACTUALLY STARTED RINGING.

THIS WAS PRIOR TO THE MAPS BEING DRAWN AND ANY OF THAT.

SO I'M VERY ACTIVE NATIONALLY WITH WOMEN'S GROUPS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ISSUES.

SO FOLKS ARE, LIKE, ARE YOU RUNNING?

I HAD JUST COME BACK FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AROUND THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, ME AND 48 OTHER LEGISLATORS WERE INVITED FOR THE WORK WE'VE DONE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST ENSURING THAT WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO ABORTIONS THAT THEY NEED TO.

SO MY DAUGHTER SAYS TO ME, MOM ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, WHEN I CAME HOME.

I SAID, WHY DO YOU ASK IS THIS SHE SAID, I WAS WORKING A HEALTH FAIR THIS WEEKEND AND PEOPLE KEPT COMING UP AND SAID IS YOUR MOM RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

SO ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

I SAID I'M PRAYING AND THINKING ABOUT IT.

TWO WEEKS LATER, SHE COMES BACK AND ASKS ME THE SAME QUESTION, WELL, MOM, HAVE YOU MADE UP YOUR MIND AND ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

I SAID I'M STILL THINKING AND PRAYING.

SHE SAID, WELL, MOMMICS IF NOT YOU THEN WHO.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S MY DAUGHTER, SHE'S 26 YEARS NOW.

SHE KNOWS MY TRAGEDIES AND TRIUMPHS.

SHE'S SEEN ME AT MY WORST AND BEST.

FOR SOMEONE TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT THERE IS TO KNOW AND TO SAY YOU ARE THE ONE, I TRULY HAD TO, IN ADDITION TO THE PHONE CALLS I HAD BEEN GETTING, MAKE THAT SERIOUS THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING.

ONCE WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND STARTED, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THE TENTACLES OUT, WE HAD AN EXPLORATORY TEAM OUT PRIOR TO ACTUALLY QUALIFYING, AND FOLKS WERE, LIKE, HEY, WE LIKE YOU, WE SUPPORT YOU, AND WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND RUN.

AND WE'RE RUNNING ON THE SAME TYPES OF ISSUES THAT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AND AGAINST IN THE ALABAMA STATE SENATE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> DIDN'T HAVE A LONG TIME TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

NO.

>> IT WAS A PRETTY SHORT WINDOW.

YOU WERE ONE OF SEVERAL CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING FOR THIS SEAT WHO ACTUALLY GIVE OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT.

>> YES.

>> IN YOUR CASE, BIRMINGHAM.

TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ALLOWED.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO VOTERS WHO MIGHT HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT SOMEONE LIVING OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT RUNNING?

>> SURE.

SO, ACTUALLY, I HAVE A RENTAL HOUSE HERE NOW IN THE OFFICE PARK AIRY IN MONTGOMERY.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SPACE HERE.

BUT, NO, I'M NOT INDIGENOUS.

I HAVE FAMILY ROOTS HERE IN THE DISTRICT, BUT I DIDN'T GROW UP HERE.

I ACTUALLY DIDN'T EVEN GROW UP IN ALABAMA.

MY DAD IS MILITARY AND WHAT WE ARE TAUGHT IS THAT YOU ACTUALLY -- WHEREVER YOUR SEEDS ARE PLANTED, THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG, AND THAT'S BEEN ME THROUGHOUT MY TENURE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IN LIFE.

BUT IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T COME UP AS OFTEN AS YOU WOULD THINK.

I'VE HAD LISTENING SESSIONS THROUGHOUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2 FROM THE SMALLEST COUNTY TO MONTGOMERY AND MOBILE, AND I EVEN ASKED IN BULLOCK COUNTY, I WAS TALKING TO THE VOTERS LEAGUE AND I SAID WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE ASK ME, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

AND SOMEONE SAID, CAN YOU RAISE MONEY?

WHAT I FOUND IN THE LISTENING SESSIONS WITH THE CITIZENS OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2, THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT DO YOU HAVE A RECORD OF PRODUCTION?

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

SOME HAVE NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEIR MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

TO ME, THEY'RE POTENTIALLY MEETING THEIR MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO IS LISTENING TO THEM AND THE ISSUES THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY COME UP AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD THINK.

ONLY POLITICAL BRING IT UP.

BUT, AGAIN, FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT DON'T ASK MY QUESTION.

THEY ASK ME ABOUT MY RECORD AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR DISTRICT 2.

>> SPEAKING OF DISTRICT 2, IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT.

IT'S A BRAND-NEW DISTRICT THAN THE TRADITIONAL 2ND DISTRICT, TRAVERSING FROM PHENIX CITY, MONTGOMERY, DOWN TO MOBILE.

IT'S REALLY A LARGE DISTRICT.

SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT CAMPAIGNING, GIVEN THOSE GEOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES?

>> THE GEOGRAPHIC MAKEUP IS ACTUALLY PRETTY SIMILAR TO MY CURRENT SENATE DISTRICT.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT EVEN IN AN URBAN AREA, YOU HAVE AREAS -- I HAVE FARMERS IN MY DISTRICT.

I MEAN, I GO OUT TO NELSON FARM, THEY HAVE INVITED ME OUT THERE.

BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO DO IT.

YOU GET IN THE CAR.

MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS A POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE IN ADEGREES TO TWO MASTERS, AN M.B.A. AND PH.D., SHE NEEDS A JOB, YOU ALL, HIRE HER.

SHE HAS BEEN WHAT'S CALLED BODYING ME, DRIVING ME THROUGH THESE VARIOUS COUNTIES.

AND WE HAVE HAD AN AMAZING TIME LEADING THESE CITIZENS FROM MOBILE TO TALKING SPECIFICALLY WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT THEY CARE ABOUT.

I THOUGHT THEY WOULD TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PORTS AND RED SNAPPER.

FOLKS IN MOBILE WERE ASKING WHAT CAN YOU DO AT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL AS RELATES TO CRIME?

MONROVIA WAS THE LARGEST LISTENING SESSION WE HAD THUS CAR, A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT.

THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE WAS THE CLOSING OF THEIR HOSPITAL, THE MATERNITY WARD, SPECIFICALLY.

THERE WAS A WOMAN SITTING IN THAT LISTENING SESSION WHO WAS PREGNANT AND SAID, WHAT IF I HAVE AN EMERGENCY?

SO I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGHOUT THIS DISTRICT, DRIVING THROUGH THE DISTRICT, KNOCKING ON DOORS AND TALKING TO FOLKS, AND THAT'S THE ONLY TYPE OF CAMPAIGNING I KNOW HOW TO DO, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING 20 YEARS AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE HUMAN AND PERSONAL TOUCH IN THE DISTRICT.

>> YOU TOUCHED ON WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU NEXT AND THAT IS IT'S SUCH A LARGE FIELD IN JUST THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

LOTS OF CANDIDATES RUNNING.

A LOT OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE RUNNING, RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> SO HOW DO YOU -- AND THIS IS REALLY COMING DOWN TO A RUNOFF, AND YOU CAN KIND OF CONSIDER IT LIKE A PLAYOFF.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO STAND OUT AS A CANDIDATE IN THIS LARGE FIELD SO COME MARCH 5 YOU ARE IN THE TOP TWO FOR THE RUNOFF?

>> I AM A WOMAN OF FAITH SO I WOULD BELIEVE GOD TO WIN IT OUTRIGHT.

I HAVE WON A RACE BEFORE WHEN THERE WAS SIX OTHER PEOPLE IN A RACE WITHOUT A RUNOFF, BUT THE REALITY IS MORE THAN LIKELY THERE WILL BE A RUNOFF.

SO WE'RE CREATING A MOVEMENT TO KIND OF SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.

WE HAVE A MANTRA, A RALLY CALL IN OUR CAMPAIGN, AND IT'S CALLED MARCHING WITH MERIKA.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT'S EXCITING TO ME WHEN PEOPLE POST ON MY PAGE "I'M MARCHING WITH MERIKA."

WE ARE EXCITING WOMEN THROUGHOUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2.

WE ARE EXCITING FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE NEVER HAD ANYBODY TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

THEY HAVE BEEN MARCHING WITH US, WE ARE RALLYING TOGETHER.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MARCHING WITH MERIKA, ALSO, GO TO MERIKACONGRESS.COM AND SIGN IT AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO BRING YOU ON OUR TEAM.

WE ARE RUNNING A TRADITIONAL GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN BUT THERE IS ALSO A SCIENCE OR STRATEGY TO CAMPAIGNING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MOST LIKELY VOTERS IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2, 60% OF THEM ARE WOMEN.

WOMEN ARE GOING TO DETERMINE WHO ENDS UP BEING THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS REPSING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2.

AS A WOMAN IN THE ALABAMA SENATE, ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I FOUGHT FOR THE ISSUES, WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, CHILDCARE SUBSIDY ISSUES, KITCHEN TABLETOPPICS THAT AFFECT THE FAMILIES.

WE'LL RUN ON THOSE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

MARCHING WITH MERIKA.

>> AND YOU GOT THE WEB SITE IN.

WELL TONE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PRIMARY.

>> YES.

>> IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, IT GOES TO A GENERAL ELECTION.

THIS IS A PURPLE DISTRICT.

PROBABLY DEMOCRATIC LEANING, BUT IT'S AS PURPLE AS WE'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME AND THAT MEANS IT MAY TAKE, YOU KNOW, INDEPENDENT VOTERS, MORE MODERATE VOTERS.

SO IT'S A CHALLENGE.

YOU'VE GOT TO APPEAL TO THE BASE.

>> TO THE COALITION.

>> TO THE BASE TO WIN THE PRIMARY, BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT TO TURN AROUND AND APPEAL TO MAYBE MORE INDEPENDENTS, MODERATE VOTERS.

HOW DO YOU DO BOTH, APPEAL TO THE BASE AND SOME OF THE INDEPENDENTS?

>> YOU HAVE TO.

I SERVE IN A SUPER MINORITY IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

THERE ARE 134 MEMBERS.

35 AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND ONLY 37 DEMOCRATS.

IN ORDER TO PASS ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION, I HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL PASSING LEGISLATION.

YOU HAVE TO BUILD COALITIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT YOU WILL NEVER GET THERE ON, BUT ON THOSE ISSUES THAT WE CAN FIND COMMONALITY IN, ESPECIALLY THE KITCHEN TABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, JOBS, EDUCATION, WE APPEAL TO THOSE FOLKS IN THE MIDDLE WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE COMMONALITIES.

AGAIN, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 20 YEARS NOW, HAVING TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

WHAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL TELL YOU, I'M GOING TO BE WHO I AM.

I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND TO BE ANYBODY ELSE, AND I THINK PEOPLE RESPECT YOU WHEN YOU'RE VERY HONEST WITH THEM.

AND I THINK ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE MANY YEARS AGO.

I VOTED AGAINST THE BAN ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE MANY YEARS AGO, LIKE 2006.

AND, SO, I WAS IN AN ELECTION PROCESS THAT TIME AND I HAD SOME FOLKS IN A CHURCH THAT SAID TO ME WE DON'T LIKE THIS VOTE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT YOU.

I TOOK IT, LISTENED TO EVERYTHING THEY HAD TO SAY AND STOOD UP AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE MANY YEARS WE WORKED TOGETHER ON THE REVENUE I HAD BROUGHT TO THE DISTRICT, THE PROJECTS I SUPPORTED, THE TYPE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME TOGETHER ON AND, AT THE END OF IT, THERE WERE FOLKS THAT SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T LIKE THAT VOTE THAT YOU'VE TAKEN, BUT I RESPECT THAT YOU CAME HERE, LISTENED, YOU TOOK IT AND REMINDED US OF HOW WE HAVE WORKED SO WELL TOGETHER THROUGH THE YEARS.

SO, AGAIN, YES, I WILL DO JUST THAT.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THE REPUBLICANS ARE DISILLUSIONED ABOUT THE DISTRICT.

48, 489% BLACK VOTING POPULATION, BUT 16 OUT OF THE 17 OF THE LAST ELECTIONS, DEMOCRATS WON THOSE ELECTIONS.

WHAT I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE BANKING ON IS BLACK VOTERS NOT GOING OUT TO VOTE.

>> TURNOUT.

>> NOT GOING OUT.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT NOW.

WE'RE EXCITING PEOPLE IN THE PRIMARY TO REMIND THEM THAT'S CORRECT IN ORDER TO WIN THE RACE IN NOVEMBER, IN ORDER FOR A DEMOCRAT TO WIN THIS RACE, YOU'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND VOTE.

SO, AGAIN, WHAT'S WHY WE'RE BUILDING THAT MOVEMENT OF EXCITEMENT NOW, PREPARING PEOPLE FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING TO WATCH.

>> IT'S EXCITING NOW.

>> FOR THOSE OF US WHO COVER POLITICS FOR A LIVING IT'S KIND OF A DREAM.

WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THE CAMPAIGN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MERIKA FOR CONGRESS.COM, CHECK US OUT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS FORMER STATE SENATOR DICK BREWBAKER, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN ALABAMA'S 2ND DISTRICT.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> TODD, THANKS FOR LETTING ME COME.

>> WELL, WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO ALL THE CANDIDATES, THIS LAUNDRY LIST OF CANDIDATES.

>> ALL 20 OF US.

>> IN THE 2ENED DISTRICT RACE.

YOU'RE RUNNING IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

>> YES.

>> PRETTY CROWDED IN THAT PRIMARY.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN I -- LAST TIME I RAN FOR THE SENATE, I SAID I WOULD SERVE TWO TERMS AND QUIT.

I DID.

I DIDN'T DEFEND ANY SEAT.

IN 2018, I SERVED MY TWO TERMS AND GOT OUT.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD GET BACK INTO POLITICS.

BUT WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, I'M BEGINNING TO BELIEVE, IF WE DON'T TURN THIS AROUND PRETTY QUICKLY, MY GRANDCHILDREN, MAYBE EVEN MY SONS, WILL LIVE TO SEE THIS REPUBLIC FAIL.

>> WOW.

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE LEADING OUR COUNTRY THAT ARE SO IN DIVISION TO THE POINT WHERE THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO BECOME UNGOVERNED, AND THAT'S ON PURPOSE.

THEY WANT IT TO HAPPEN.

AND I BELIEVE THAT REPUBLICANS, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BECOME WAY TOO FRACTURED, TOO MUCH -- TOO MANY CIRCULAR FIRING SQUADS WHERE WE SPEND OUR TIME SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER, AND LET'S JUST FACE IT, THE REPUBLICANS -- WE HAVE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO OFFICE BUT DON'T SEEM VERY SERIOUS ABOUT GOVERNING.

I MEAN, IT WAS REPUBLICAN INFIGHTING IS THE REASON THERE WAS NO FARM BILL PASSED LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

THE COUNTRY'S IN TROUBLE, REAL TROUBLE, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHY, IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO IT, BUT, AS A PERSON WITH POLITICAL EXPERIENCE, AND I BELIEVE IN THE LEGISLATURE, I HAVE A REPUTATION OF BEING ABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, TAKE A PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE RACE WITH MORE CONSERVATIVE CREDENTIALS I HAVE AND I THINK I'M THE BEST ONE TO HELP TURN THIS THING AROUND.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE KIND OF REFERENCED.

CONGRESS IS REALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL.

IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR A WHILE, BUT REALLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND ESPECIALLY THE LAST YEAR.

>> IT'S GOTTEN WORSE, YES.

>> SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, MAN, THAT'S NOT FOR ME, I'M NOT GOING TO BE A PART OF THAT, BUT YOU'RE RUNNING.

DO YOU SEE IT AS MORE OF A CHALLENGE RATHER THAN A DETERRENT.

>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I SEE IT AS A DUTY.

ONE OF THE FOUNDERS SAID IN ONE OF OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS THAT, WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RUN OR TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT FIVE SONS, I'VE GOT FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, I EXPECT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE SOON.

I'VE GOT OTHER THINGS I CAN DO WITH MY TIME, BUT I LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND I CAN'T STAND TO WATCH IT SLOWLY BEING DESTROYED.

I MEAN, WHEN I WAS -- LET ME TELL YOU HOW FAR WE'VE SLID.

I'M OLDER THAN YOU ARE.

WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, MY PARENTS USED TO LET ME GET UP IN THE PITCH-BLACK DARK, AND I WOULD RIDE MY BIKE TO A CLOSED SHOPPING CENTER AND ROLL 112 NEWSPAPERS FOR THE "ADVERTISER JOURNAL" AND GET ON MY BIKE AND GO DELIVER THOSE PAPERS, AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ANYBODY THAT SOMEBODY WOULD BOTHER A PAPER BOY.

BUT, NOW, NO PARENT IN THEIR RIGHT MIND LETS THEIR KIDS GO OUT OF THEIR YARD UNSUPERVISED BECAUSE THEY'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM.

THAT'S THE AMERICA WE'VE LOST AND THE AMERICA WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK.

400,000 -- THERE WERE 400,000 ILLEGAL ENTRIES ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER LAST MONTH.

THAT'S THE SIZE OF PITTSBURGH.

AND THE DEMOCRACY CANNOT SURVIVE WITH THAT INFLUX OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NON-CITIZENS AND ARE, FRANKLY, NON-PARTICIPANTS.

AND WE'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT WHO CARE ABOUT SOLVING THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> WELL, YOU MENTIONED ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

WHAT OTHER KEY ISSUES DO YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON -- YOU KNOW, FEDERAL ISSUES CONGRESS WITH EFFECT IF ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

>> THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT UP IMMIGRATION BECAUSE THAT IS A FEDERAL ISSUE.

>> SURE.

>> ANOTHER ONE IS -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD INFLATIONARY PERIODS IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE, BUT, USUALLY, MOST OF THE TRIGGER WAS FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY LIKE AN OPEC OIL EMBARGO, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WELL, NOW WE'RE SEEING INFLATION ESPECIALLY IN THE FOOD SECTOR BECAUSE OF OUR OWN GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THE ENERGY POLICY, OUR CURRENT LEADERS ARE PURSUING.

THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY DRIVING UP FUEL COSTS WHICH, IN TURN, HAS DRIVEN UP FOOD COSTS.

IN THE LAST YEAR, IF YOU LOOK AT THE INFLATION RATE OF THINGS LIKE BUTTER, SUGAR, MILK, HAMBURGER, EGGS ARE UP OVER 100% SINCE APRIL OF 2022.

I RAISE FIVE BOYS, THAT'S A LOT OF EGGS.

THINGS LIKE INFLATION NOT ONLY DEVAL YOU YOUR WAGES AND YOUR SAVINGS, THEY ALSO MAKE IT HARDER ON FAMILIES TRYING TO RAISE AND EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN.

AND CONGRESS CAN DO SOMETHING AIN'T FOREIGN RELATION BY PURSUING A MORE SANE ENERGY POLICY AND BY BEGINNING TO REEL IN SOME OF THIS VERY EXCESSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

AND UNTIL THAT'S DONE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE INFLATION IN AREAS THAT ARE SENSITIVE, ESPECIALLY TO FUEL COSTS.

>> WELL, LOOKING AT THIS RACE, THE DISTRICT HAS OBVIOUSLY CHANGED A LOT, THE SECOND DISTRICT WHICH I WORKED IN BEFORE.

>> UNRECOGNIZABLE.

>> IT'S A WHOLE NEW DISTRICT, REALLY.

>> YEP.

>> SO YOU ARE PRETTY WELL KNOWN HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

>> RIGHT.

>> NOT JUST FOR SERVING IN THE STATE SENATE BUT ALSO YOUR CAR DEALERSHIPS, CAR COMMERCIALS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT TAKE IT DOWN TO MOBILE, THIS DISTRICT STRETCHES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MOBILE, TO PHENIX CITY, PLACES WHERE YOU MIGHT NOT BE AS WELL KNOWN.

HOW DO YOU AS A CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN IN MOBILE AND TRAVERSE THIS VERY LARGE DISTRICT?

>> WELL, EVERYBODY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE THAT'S RUNNING HAS SOME AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE THEY ARE RELATIVELY MORE WELL KNOWN.

I MAY BE BETTER KNOWN IN MONTGOMERY BUT CAROLYN DOBSON IS WELL KNOWN IN THE BULLOCK COUNTY AREA AND GREG ALBRITTON IS VERY WELL MOAN IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF DISTRICT 2, SO EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR AREA.

WHEN IT COMES TO YOU ASKED ABOUT MOBILE, I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MY TIME EDUCATING MYSELF ON WHAT FEDERAL ISSUES A TOWN LIKE MOBILE, WHERE I HAVE NEVER LIVED, HAS TO CONTEND WITH.

AND LET'S FACE IT, MONTGOMERY IS SPENDING A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW BUILDING A CONTAINER PORT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> WELL, IF MOBILE DOESN'T GET THE MONEY TO WIDEN THE CHANNEL, AND THE CONTAINERS CAN'T GET OUT OF THE PORT CITY, WELL, THE MONEY WE'RE SPENDING PROBABLY ISN'T GOING TO DO US VERY MUCH GOOD HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

SO A LOT OF THE ISSUES SEEM VERY CENTRAL TO CERTAIN AREAS.

YOU KNOW, THE FARM BILL AND THE WIREGRASS.

MOBILE DOES HAVE SOME VERY UNIQUE ISSUES, LIKE FISHERIES.

BUT, FOR THE MOST PART, THE BIG ECONOMIC DRIVER ISSUES, LIKE WIDENING THE PORT, ARE GOING TO DO PEOPLE IN MONTGOMERY NEARLY AS MUCH AS GOOD AS PEOPLE IN MOBILE.

I THINK I SAW THE CITY SPENDING OVER $100 MILLION TO BUILD THIS PORT ON THE RIVER AND ANOTHER ONE FURTHER UPSTREAM AROUND JEFFERSON COUNTY.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF FAMILIARIZING YOURSELF.

I'LL TELL YOU ANOTHER ISSUE I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT SINCE I STARTED THIS THAT THERE'S BEEN A TIDE MARKER ON DAUPHIN ISLAND FOR 50 YEARS.

THE OCEAN LEVELS ARE TWO FEET HIGHER THAN 50 YEARS AGO, AND MOST OF THAT INCREASE HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

THIS ISN'T TAKING THE WORD OF SOME SCIENTIST THAT NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT.

THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE SAY ABOUT THE TIDE MARKERS THEY KNOW HAS BEEN THERE FOR 50 YEARS.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE ARE AREAS OF ALABAMA EXPERIENCING FLOODING THAT HAVE NEFF HAD TO DEAL WITH IT BEFORE.

ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO THAT KIND OF MITIGATION.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF LEARNING AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON DOING.

>> WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS, BECAUSE OF THE DISTRICT CHANGES, IT'S BECOME A PURPLE DISTRICT.

>> YES, VERY PURPLE.

>> YOU COULD ARGUE IT'S DEMOCRATIC LEANING.

>> D PLUS 4, ABSOLUTELY IT IS.

>> ANY REPUBLICAN NOMINEE TO WIN WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO APPEAL TO INDEPENDENT VOTERS, MAYBE MODERATE DEMOCRATS, BUT YOU'VE ALSO GOT TO WIN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BY APPEALING TO CONSERVATIVES.

ARE YOU THE KIND OF CANDIDATE THAT CAN APPEAL TO THE CONSERVATIVES AND ALSO THE INDEPENDENTS?

>> I THINK I'M THE BEST AMONG THE REPUBLICANS TO MAKE THE CLAIM.

YOU SEE MY LEGISLATIVE RECORD, I PUT THAT UP AGAINST ANYBODY ELSE THAT EVER SERVED IN THE AREA.

THAT WORK I DID ON SCHOOL CHOICE THAT CONSERVATIVES CARE ABOUT, PRESENTING RIGHTS, SCHOOL CHOICE, IT'S IMPORTANT.

BUT, ALSO, I HAD THE REPUTATION OF BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHETHER JUDICIAL OVERRIDE OR JUDICIAL REFORM.

SOME OF THE ISSUES CLINTON ROSS AND I WORKED ON TOGETHER.

SO I THINK I CAN APPEAL TO 51% OF THE VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT.

AND, ALSO, WHEN IT COMES TO CONSERVATIVE VERSUS LIBERAL, THAT'S NOT REALLY, I THINK, THE ISSUE THAT HAVE GOTTEN REPUBLICANS IN TROUBLE.

THE PROBLEM REPUBLICANS HAVE, AND A QUESTION THAT EVERY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE OUGHT TO HAVE TO ANSWER, ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE CLUB FOR GROWTH AND ARE YOU GOING TO JOIN THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.

>> CAN YOU ANSWER IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THE REASON IS WHAT THEY WANT FOR IT.

CLUB FOR GROWTH HAS A RULE IF TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR GROUP VOTES TO TAKE A STAND ON A CERTAIN ISSUE, YOU'RE OBLIGATED TO CAST YOUR VOTE WITH THEM.

WELL, THAT'S ONE REASON WE DIDN'T GET A FARM BILL LAST YEAR.

YOU HAD ALABAMA REPUBLICANS VOTING AGAINST THE DIRECT INTERESTS OF THEIR DISTRICT BECAUSE OF COMMITMENTS THEY HAD MADE TO THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.

NOW, I MAY AGREE WITH A LOT OF THEIR STANDS ON CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL THINGS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO HAND THEM MY VOTING CARD.

AND THE SAME WAY WITH TAKING MONEY FROM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CLUB FOR GROWTH.

>> WELL, THAT ACTUALLY IS GOING TO BE A KEY ISSUE IN THIS RACE AND I'M INTERESTED IN HOW THAT GOES FORWARD.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT GOOD LUCK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

WE'LL BE FOLLOWING IT CLOSELY.

>> I HOPE SO.

I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME COME ON YOUR SHOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> ALABAMA'S OLDEST ROADWAY, THE OLD BYLAR ROAD IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA MIGHT BECOME THE STATE'S NEWEST TOURIST ATTRACTION THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS.

JOINING ME NEXT TO TALK ABOUT IT, STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRACY ESTES AND JOEL MIZE, LOCAL HISTORIAN AND FORMER PROFESSOR.

GENTLEMEN, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> APPRECIATE THE INVITATION.

>> I HAVE BEEN EAGER TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

I'VE SEEN THE RECORDING ON THE BYLAR ROAD, WE DID REPORTING ON IT OF OURSELVES.

SENATOR ESTES, WE KNOW YOU AND SENATOR GREG REED HAVE BEEN DRAWING ATTENTION TO THIS STATE'S HISTORIC PROJECT.

TELL US HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

>> JOEL MIZE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND MADE ME AWARE OF WHAT WE WERE DEAL WITH HERE, AND, SO, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY ONE NIGHT, WAS LEAVING A FUNCTION HERE IN MONTGOMERY, AND RAN INTO LEE SINTEL, DISTRICT OF TOURISM TRAVEL AND SAID I'VE GOT A PROJECT YOU NEED TO HELP US WITH.

I MENTIONED IT TO HIM, HE LISTENED, AND WHEN I GOT TO THE PART ABOUT IT BEING THE FIRST HIGHWAY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA EVERY COMMISSION IN THE ALABAMA STATE LEGISLATURE ONLY DAYS AFTER WE BECAME A STATE IN 1819, THE HISTORIAN, YOU COULD SEE HIS EYES LIGHT UP AND HE HAS BEEN A SUPPORTER EVER SINCE.

THEY ARE PROVIDING INITIAL FUNDING TO PUT UP SOME OF THE HISTORIC MARKERS ALONG THE ROUTE FROM THE MUSCLE SHOALS AREA TO THE NORTH PORT-TUSCALOOSA AREA.

WE GOT TOURISM TO PARTNER WITH US TO HELP WITH THE FUNDING, AND THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD ABOUT HELPING PROMOTE THE PROJECT AS WELL.

>> HISTORIC TOURISM IS SUCH A BIG PART OF WHAT THAT DEPARTMENT DOES, LEE SINTEL, NOBODY BETTER.

PROFESSOR, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO SHARE WITH THE VIEWERS WHAT THE BYLAR ROAD IS.

WHAT ARE ITS ORIGINS AND THE HISTORY OF THE ROAD?

>> AS TRACY JUST MENTIONED, IT WAS AUTHORIZED TWO DAYS AFTER STATEHOOD.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, IN THE VERY EARLIEST DAYS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA, IT WAS A ROAD NEEDED FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

ONE IS ALABAMA ALREADY WAS GETTING A REPUTATION FOR BEING REALLY GREAT IN GROWING COTTON.

AND COTTON WAS VERY MUCH IN DEMAND, PARTICULARLY IN EUROPE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE HIGHEST AND BEST PRICE WAS.

BUT THE COTTON OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY WAS RATHER LANDLOCKED.

THEY COULDN'T SHIP THE COTTON OUT BECAUSE OF THE SHOALS CREATING SO MUCH TURBULENCE, AND IT WAS VERY HAZARDOUS FOR SHIPPING.

SO, CONSEQUENTLY, PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS AROUND THE SHOALS.

AND, THUS, THE BYLAR ROAD WAS SEEN AS A WAY TO SHIP COTTON OVER LAND, DOWN SOUTH TO THE WARRIOR RIVER, WHERE THE FALLS OF THE WARRIOR RIVER OCCURRED AT TUSCALOOSA AND, CONSEQUENTLY, THE ROAD WAS BUILT JUST DOWNSTREAM OF THE FALL LINE, JUST WHERE NAVIGATION COULD OCCUR.

THEY COULD TAKE THE COTTON ON TO MOBILE AND FROM MOBILE ON TO THE FOREIGN PORTS OF ENGLAND AND EUROPE.

>> IT'S SO INTERESTING TO THINK THAT RIGHT AFTER STATEHOOD, I MEAN, ONE OF THE FIRST TOP PRIORITIES AS A NEW STATE WAS SAYING, HEY, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT THIS REALLY AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN ORDER TO EXPORT PROBABLY THE STATE'S MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE.

>> YES.

THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR.

THERE WAS A SECONDARY FACTOR I'LL ALSO MENTION, WHICH IS THE JACKSON MILITARY ROAD HAD JUST BEEN BUILT UNDER AN AUTHORIZATION THAT CONGRESS APPROVED WHERE JACKSON WOULD USE HIS WAR OF 1812 SOLDIERS IN THE PERIOD OF 1816 TO 1820 TO BUILD THE JACKSON MILITARY ROAD WHICH WAS A SHORT CUT FROM NASHVILLE TOWN TO THE SOUTHWEST TERRITORIES, WHICH HAD RECENTLY BEEN ACQUIRED THROUGH THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE, AND ALSO NEW ORLEANS WAS A PROMINENT CITY ON THE MOVE WEST, AS SETTLERS BEGAN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO COME ACROSS THE ALLEGHENIES AND APPALACHIANS AND GET DOWN TO THESE NEW TERRITORIES, THEY WANTED TO COME DOWN THE JACKSON MILITARY ROAD WHICH HAD JUST BEEN BUILT.

ALABAMA POLITICAL FIGURES GOT CONCERNED PEOPLE WERE JUST GOING TO PASS THROUGH ALABAMA ON THEIR HASTE TO SEE THE WESTERN PROPERTIES, AND WE WANTED THEM TO STAY IN ALABAMA A WHILE AND, THUS, THE BYLAR GIVE A NEW AVENUE TO HAVE PEOPLE LINGER LONGER IN THE STATE AND MOVE FROM THE SHOALS AREA DOWN TO TUSCALOOSA, WHERE THEY COULD GET A BETTER, DEEPER FLAVOR OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALABAMA OFFERED?

>> MM-HMM.

WELL, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE HISTORIC FINDS ALONG THIS ROAD HAS BEEN THIS SLAVE CEMETERY, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SLAVE CEMETERY RIGHT ALONG THE ROAD.

TALK ABOUT THAT SIGNIFICANCE, THAT HISTORY, AND, AS PROMOTION EFFORTS BEGAN, KIND OF THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THAT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROAD.

>> WELL, I THINK THE KEY WORD YOU USED THERE, TODD, WAS SENSITIVE, BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH CRITICAL STATE HISTORY.

IT MAY BE HISTORY WE'RE NOT ALL VERY PROUD OF NOW ON THE BACK SIDE OF IT, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS STILL PART OF WHAT THIS STATE WAS AND WHAT WE MOVE THROUGH AS A PEOPLE.

ESERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH SEVERAL BLACK COLLEAGUES WHO ARE FRIENDS OF MINE, AND WE WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER, AND I'M PROUD TO SEE HOW FAR OUR STATE HAS COME IN RACE RELATIONS.

BUT YOU ARE CORRECT, WE WILL HAVE TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY PROPER RESPECT WHERE IT'S DUE BECAUSE THERE ARE HUNDREDS, AS I UNDERSTAND, OF FORMER SLAVES AND THEIR DESCENDENTS PURR IDEA THERE.

BUT THAT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY AS PEOPLE TRAVEL THE ROAD, AS WE MARK IT WITH HISTORIC MARKERS, I'M SURE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO GET OFF, NOTING IT'S SIZE AND HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT THAT AND TURN BACK A CHAPTER IN THE STATE'S HISTORY AND TAKE A GLIMPSE OF WHERE WE'VE COME FROM TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> PROBABLY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE ACTUAL SITE.

I UNDERSTAND IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST SLAVE CEMETERIES IN THE COUNTRY?

>> YES, A RECENT SURVEY HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY THE ARCHEOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA WHERE THEY WENT IN WITH SEVERAL LEVELS OF SUB-SURFACE INVESTIGATION TO SEE WHAT WAS UNDER THE SURFACE THERE.

AT THE TIME, BEFORE THE PROJECT STARTED, THE THINKING WAS THERE WERE MAYBE 3- TO 400 BURIALS IN THAT CEMETERY.

WHAT THE SURVEYS REVEALED IS THAT THERE WERE AROUND 850 GRAVES IN THE CENTRAL CEMETERY, AND THEN CONSIDERING A COUPLE OF PERIPHERAL CEMETERIES THAT WERE ALSO ATTACHED TO THE CENTRAL PLANTATION FROM WHICH THESE SLAVES CAME, THERE'S PROBABLY WELL OVER 100 SLAVES AND SLAVE DESCENDENTS THAT ARE BURIED IN THIS ONE CONCENTRATED LOCATION.

>> GOODNESS.

>> THIS IS RIGHT ON LAKE TUSCALOOSA, RIGHT ON THE OLD BYLAR ROAD ROUTE.

THE PLANTATION THAT SPAWNED THESE CONCENTRATION OF SLAVERY WAS ONE OWNED BY A JOHN WELCH PREWITT.

SO IT WAS KNOWN AS THE PREWITT PLANTATION BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE STATE.

AND JOHN WELCH PREWITT IS REPORTED TO HAVE HAD OWNERSHIP OR PARTIAL OWNERSHIP IN A STEAM BOAT, GOING REGULARLY SCHEDULED ROUTES FROM TUSCALOOSA TO MOBILE.

IT'S ALSO TOLD THAT HE HAD THREE OCEAN-GOING SAILING SHIPS, SAILING OUT OF MOBILE BAY.

SO HE HAD A READY SUPPLY OF THE CHAIN OF PRODUCTION TO GET THE PRODUCTION ALL THE WAY INTO EUROPE AND ENGLAND.

>> THAT KIND OF ALMOST TELLS THE FULL SCOPE OF THE ECONOMICS INVOLVED WITH THE SLAVERY AND COTTON GROWING AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

I WANT TO GO BACK EVEN FURTHER IN HISTORY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE BYLAR ROAD HAS SOME PRE-HISTORIC ORIGINS.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THERE ARE TWO CLASSES OF PRE-HISTORIC HISTORY WE'RE COVERING IN OUR SIGNAGE PROJECT.

ONE IS ONE THAT'S MOST INTERESTING TO THE AUDIENCE WOULD BE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A GREATLY OF AMERICAN -- A GREAT DEAL OF AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY ALONG THE TRAIL.

FROM THE TOP OF THE TRAIL WE'VE GOT THE CHEROKEE INDIANAPOLIS AND OTHER PRE-HISTORIC ARCHAIC INDIANS THAT BUILT MOUNDS IN THE TENNESSEE RIVER.

THEY BUILT SHELL MOUNDS WITH THE MUSCLE SHELLS FOUND THERE SO THAT MUCH OF THE MUSSELS IN MUSCLE SHOALS, THAT'S WHAT THE MUSSELS THRIVED ON.

YOU HAVE CHIEF TUSCALOOSA, SO THAT PART OF THE INDIAN STORY.

ANOTHER PART WE DISCOVERED DIGGING DEEPER INTO THE HISTORY HERE IS THAT THERE WAS AN EAST-WEST EARLY TRADING PATH THAT WAS RECORDED IN HISTORY AS EARLY AS 1696, ANOTHER TRIP IN 1698, TRAVELED FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, OVER TO TRADE WITH THE CHICKASAW INDIANS AROUND TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI, AND THE QUAPAW INDIANS OF ARKANSAS.

IN THE EARLY 1600S, THE VERY FIRST KNOWN ENGLISH TRADER WHO CAME INTO THE TERRITORY OF WHAT'S NOW ALABAMA CAME ALONG THIS CHAMPLAIN DE LA CAROLINE, THE TRAIL OF THE CAROLINAS THAT WAS AN INDIAN TRADING PATH THAT THE CHICKASAWS USED FIRST TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE CAROLINAS TO TRIED AND THEN THE TRADESMEN ON THE CAROLINA COAST DECIDED IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO GO IN AND BEGIN DIRECT NEGOTIATION AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL.

>> MM-HMM.

WELL, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN OVERSEEING THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.

MIRANDA WAS THE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME AND STILL INVOLVED ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE PROJECT.

SHE HAS RETIRED.

BRIAN RUSHING HAS TAKEN OVER POINT.

THE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN A GOD-SEND FOR US AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE PROJECT AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDED.

A GROUP OF FIVE OR SIX OF US HOLD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING ON SCHEDULE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

I REALLY WANT TO THANK NISA IN THE EARLY STAGES AND BRIAN RUSHING FOR TAKING THE LEAD IN THE CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHETHER ALABAMA OR AUBURN IS HAVING A LOGO BRAND ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR PROJECT ISNER A BAD THING WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING AND GAINING CREDIBILITY.

I WOULD BE AMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION SKIP TUCKER, FORMER JOURNALIST, USED TO BE EDITOR OF THE DAILY MOUNTAIN EAGLE IN JASPER, SAT ON GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

HE IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE IN A DIFFERENT AREA THAN JOEL AND IS OUR PUBLIC RELATES MANAGER FOR THE PROJECT.

HE'S BEEN FANTASTIC TO TAKE POINT.

MY JOURNALISM BACKGROUND, I WAS TEMPTED TO DO THAT BUFF I HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO IN THE LEGISLATURE, SO SKIP HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH US IN MAINTAINING THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.

>> PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE WITHOUT SKIP.

ONE LAST THING, YOU TALK ABOUT TOURISM, AND I KNOW IT'S EARLY IN THE PROJECT.

BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EARLY IDEAS YOU SEE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT SIGNAGE AND HOW THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT CAN WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT TYPES OF STOPS ALONG THE WAY AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

>> WELL, THE GOOD THING IS JOEL HAS DONE SO MUCH HOMEWORK WITH HIS BOOK AND OFF HIS OTHER STUDIES OVER THE YEARS AS FAR AS PICKING THOSE SITES, THAT WORK'S BEEN DONE AND GIVEN TO US, LAID IN OUR HANDS DUE TO HIS PREVIOUS EFFORTS.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO AROUND 50 SIGNS, BRONZE MARKERS OVER THE FIRST THREE YEARS, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM HAS SET ASIDE THE MONEY TO COVER THE COST.

WE'LL DO AROUND 16, 17 A YEAR FOR THOSE THREE YEARS.

HAVE TO DIP IN AGAIN AS LONG AS TOURISM WAS WILLING TO HELP US AND EXTEND IT BEYOND THE THREE YEARS TO GET TO EVENTS, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORY ALONG THE TRIAL.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE BYLAR ROAD IN THE SAME BREATH WITH THE NATCHES TRACE, SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE WHERE IT WOULD BE COMMON NOMENCLATURE THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO COME TO ALABAMA AND VISIT OUR HISTORY BECAUSE IT IS THE EARLIEST PART OF ALABAMA UNDER STATEHOOD.

IT GOES BACK TO TRYING TO KEEP FOLKS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THIS SHOWS THE STATE LEGISLATURE OVER 200 YEARS AGO WAS BATTLING ISSUES WE ARE BATTLING TODAY.

WE WANT TO KEEP THE TOURISM DOLLARS IN THE STATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE AND TOURISM DOLLARS.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE AS THE CENTURIES PASS.

>> WE DO HAVE A VISION FOR EXPANDING BEYOND THE HISTORICAL.

ONE OF THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS PARTNERING WITH THE SWEET TRAILS ALABAMA AND ARE LOOKING AT A TRAIL NETWORK OF WALKING OUTDOOR RECREATION, BIKING, HIKING, ET CETERA, AND WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF AS MANY AS 30 TRAILS, EXISTING TRAILS THAT WE'LL BE CROSSING WITH THE BYLAR ROAD ROUTE AND/OR NEW TRAILS THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED OFF OF SOME OF THE COUNTRY ROADS, IF YOU WILL, THAT WERE FORMERLY OLD BYLAR ROAD BUT TODAY ARE SIMPLY ISOLATED SEGMENTS OF COUNTY ROADS.

SOME OF THEM STILL IN THE GRAVEL STATE, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN PAVED, BUT, NEVERTHELESS, THERE'S A WEALTH OF OUTDOOR RECREATION TRAILS THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL DEVELOP FROM THE BYLAR ROAD PROJECT.

>> I TELL YOU WHAT, OUTDOOR RECREATION IS BECOMING THE NAME OF THE GAME IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING ON HERE AND SHARING WITH US ABOUT THE BYLAR ROAD PROJECT.

WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR OUR HISTORY AND SO MANY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

LOOKING FORWARD TO CATCHING UP SOON.

THANK YOU, TODD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH MY COLLEAGUE RANDY SCOTT HOSTING THE SHOW.

THAT'S AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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