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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A WEEK IN POLITICS, AS THE IMPACTS OF THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND THE SUBSEQUENT REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION RIPPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND HERE INTO ALABAMA.

A LARGE CONTINGENT OF ALABAMA REPUBLICANS WERE IN MILWAUKEE THIS WEEK ATTENDING THE CONVENTION.

THERE WERE DELEGATES ELECTED BY PRIMARY VOTERS SENT TO OFFICIALLY NOMINATE TRUMP, PLUS SEVERAL OF THE STATE'S POLITICAL LEADERS, SOME OF WHOM PLAYED PROMINENT ROLES AT THE CONVENTION.

LEADING OFF WAS U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE, WHO SERVED AS THE DELEGATION CHAIRMAN AND LED THE NOMINATION OF TRUMP FROM THE CONVENTION FLOOR.

>> ALABAMA, 50 DELEGATES.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> MADAM CHAIR, I'M SENATOR TO BE BY TUBERVILLE AND PROUD TO REPRESENT THE GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA.

ONE OF THE MOST PRO MILITARY AND PRO VETERAN STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA SENT SOMEBODY TO THE MOON FROM THE UNITED STATES IN THE PAST, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

WE STAND FOR THE FLAG AND KNEEL FOR GOD.

[ APPLAUSE ] MADAM CHAIR, WE PROUDLY CAST OUR 50 DELEGATES FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP.

>> U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT HAD A PRIMETIME SPEAKING SLOT ON MONDAY.

THAT WAS THE DAY REPUBLICANS THEMED AROUND ECONOMIC ISSUES, AND BRITT SPOKE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MOTHER OF TWO SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN.

>> TO MY FELLOW MOMS AND DADS ACROSS AMERICA, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT RAISING A FAMILY IS HARD.

ADD IN SMARTPHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE ALREADY HAD PLENTY TO WORRY ABOUT.

BUT THEN JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS CAME AROUND.

NOW OUR LIVES ARE THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND WAY MORE EXPENSIVE.

UNDER BIDEN-HARRIS, PRICES ARE HIGH AND EXPECTATIONS ARE LOW.

GROCERY PRICES ARE UP 21%, ELECTRICITY UP 31%, GAS UP 48%, MORTGAGE RATES MORE THAN DOUBLED AND RENT IS SKYROCKETING.

TO ME, THESE AREN'T JUST NUMBERS.

THIS IS PAIN FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS >> I SPENT PART OF THE WEEK IN MILWAUKEE AS WELL, TALKING WITH MEMBERS OF ALABAMA'S DELEGATION TO GET THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS PIVOTAL MOMENT IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

I CAUGHT UP WITH SENATOR BRITT THE MORNING AFTER HER SPEECH TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS LIKE AND HER THOUGHTS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE GOING FORWARD.

.

>> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE GOING UP ON THE STAGE THE ARENA IN FRONT OF NOT JUST YOUR STATE, CONVENTION AND THE WHOLE WORLD.

>> IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I HAD SO MUCH FUN.

FIRST OFF WALKING OUT THERE YOU CAN FEEL THE ENERGY, NOT JUST THE CONVENTION BUT THE ENERGY OF THE NATION RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE ARE READY TO PUT THE COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK.

IT WAS EXCITING.

THE MOMENT I STOOD UP TO THE PODIUM, YOU COULD HEAR THE ALABAMA SECTION THAT WAS A GREAT START TO WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A DIRECT SPEECH THAT CAPTURED WHERE WE ARE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ECONOMY.

I MEAN, TODD, PEOPLE KNOW THE DOLLAR IN THEIR POCKET DOES NOT GO AS FAR UNDER JOE BIDEN AND ARE READY FOR CHANGE.

>> AFTER YOUR SPEECH, YOU GOT TO SIT IN THE BOX WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AFTER HIS ENTRANCE, THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

I WONDER IF YOU ALL HAD ANY INTERACTION OR NOT.

>> WHEN HE WALKED IN AND YOU COULD SEE HIM ON THE SCREEN WITH "GOD BLESS AMERICA" PLAYING YOU CAN SEE THE EMOTION IN HIS FACE AND FEEL THE EMOTION IN THE ARENA.

WE WERE SITTING RIGHT BEHIND.

DON JUNIOR AND KIMBERLY WERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

YOU COULD FEEL THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE MOMENT AND THE GRATITUDE THEY FELT AND THE HOPE WE FELT FOR THE COUNTRY MOVING FORWARD.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO SEE HIS GUESTS AND ASKED TO BE THIS THAT SMALL SPACE AND SIT WITH HIM IN HIS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE SINCE THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.

THE ENERGY, EMOTION AND UNITY THAT WE FELT LAST NIGHT WILL CARRY US THROUGH.

>> TALK ABOUT THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE A DIFFERENT PARTY, MAYBE EVEN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY IN TERMS OF THAT WAS A WAKEUP CALL MAY BE.

WILL IT BE A DIFFERENT PARTY?

HE'S TALKED ABOUT EVEN BEING A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE HAVING A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT.

ANY SENSE OF THAT FROM YOU?

>> HAVING HAD A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE MYSELF, I CAN TELL YOU REALLY DO WRESTLE WITH NOT ONLY GOD'S GRACE BUT HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE.

WE APPRECIATE THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO BETTER, TO BE BETTER AND THERE'S A REASON THAT GOD ALLOWED YOU TO CONTINUE TO WALK THIS EARTH.

HE'S NOT FINISHED WITH YOU AND THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO FURTHER HIS KINGDOM AND HIS PLAN.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

YOU KNOW TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED ANOTHER DAY AND COMING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL, WHICH IS REALLY SAVING THE GREATEST NATION THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN AND PUTTING IT BACK ON TRACK AND DOING IT IN A WAY WHERE AMERICANS, NO MATTER THE SIDE OF THE AISLE, CAN GET BEHIND THE AGENDA AND MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE WE TALKED ABOUT THE ELECTORATE AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE UNIFIED.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME PRIOR TO THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, CAME AND SAT DOWN WITH THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS, SAT NEXT TO MITCH MCCONNELL.

RIGHT ACROSS THE ROOM FROM SENATOR TUBERVILLE AND I, MITT ROMNEY AND DAN SULLIVAN AND EVERYONE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS IN THE ROOM.

IN MY 18, 19 MONTHS OF THE SENATE I HAVE NEVER LEFT A MORE UNIFIED MEETING WHERE PEOPLE KNEW SAVING OUR COUNTRY, PUTTING HARD-WORKING AMERICANS FIRST, DOING THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

WE ALL LEFT THAT ROOM WITH THAT UNIFICATION.

NOW, AFTER WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, YOU CONTINUE TO SEE THE ENERGY, KIND OF A FLAME PUT UNDER IT.

IT IS IGNITED IN A WAY THAT NOT ONLY SERVES OUR PARTY WELL AND IN THE WAY WE BRING PEOPLE IN, BUT ULTIMATELY SERVES OUR NATION WELL AND WILL GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DO REALLY GOOD THINGS AND I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> LAST QUESTION.

JD VANCE.

YOU ARE HIS FRESHMAN CLASS COLLEAGUE.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

WERE YOU EXCITED TO HEAR THAT?

>> I WAS THRILLED.

I'M JUST SO EXCITED.

ISN'T THAT AWESOME?

ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS GETS TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE WERE SO HAPPY FOR HIM AND EXCITED FOR THE NATION TO GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JD, HIS PASSION, HIS STRENGTHS.

AT THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY PUT YOU IN THE SENATE I'VE SAID HOW THEY HUMBLE YOU IS THEY PUT YOU IN A BASEMENT WITH CINDER BLOCK WINDOWS, NO AIR CONDITIONING AND THE LAST LACK OF MOVEMENT DOWN THERE.

I WAS IN THE BASEMENT WITH JOHN FETTERMAN, JD VANCE AND MYSELF.

WE STARTED ON THE GROUND FLOOR TOGETHER AND I'M THRILLED TO SEE HIM IN THIS WAY.

WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH, ALL OF THE JUNIOR REPUBLICANS.

WE HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND ASK QUESTIONS AND AS PEOPLE.

I'M EXCITED FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO GET TO KNOW JD BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU >> I ALSO CAUGHT UP WITH ALABAMA CONGRESSMEN ROBERT ADERHOLT AND BARRY MOORE OUTSIDE AN EVENT ON LAKE MICHIGAN THERE IN MILWAUKEE.

ONE INTERESTING THOUGHT THEY SHARED WAS THAT, WHEREAS EIGHT YEARS AGO MANY REPUBLICANS REMAINED SKEPTICAL OR EVEN OPPOSED TO TRUMP AT THE CONVENTION, THIS TIME AROUND THE PARTY IS ALMOST UNIVERSALLY UNITED BEHIND HIM.

.

>> EVERY CONVENTION HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY.

YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR FIRST CONVENTIONS FONDLY.

MY WIFE AND I WERE DELEGATES IN 1992 FOR GEORGE BUSH AND WE WERE STILL DATING AT THE TIME.

WE WERE SORT OF GETTING SERIOUS IN OUR DATING RELATIONSHIP IN THAT CONVENTION.

WE ALWAYS THINK OF THAT DURING CONVENTION TIME.

YEAH, IT'S JUST REALLY I THINK ON THE HEELS OF WHAT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY HAS MADE THIS CONVENTION A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

OBVIOUSLY, SECURITY IS ALWAYS TOP PRIORITY AT ANY CONVENTION, BUT THIS ONE A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE NOMINEE, YOU KNOW, COMING WITHIN MILLIMETERS OF LOSING HIS LIFE HOURS BEFORE THE CONVENTION STARTED.

I THINK THAT IS A CLOUD OVER THIS BUT A GOOD CONVENTION AND GREAT TO BE IN MILWAUKEE.

FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN TO MILWAUKEE.

YOU SEE LAKE MICHIGAN BEHIND ME.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS IN THE WINTER BUT IN THE SUMMER IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> ONE THING I LOVED WAS HIS POLICIES.

WHAT HE DID FOR THE COUNTRY, SECURING THE BORDER, GETTING INFLATION UNDER CONTROL, GAS PRICES CAME DOWN.

VANCE WAS NEVER TRUMP GUY EARLY ON BUT SAID HE GOT TO KNOW HIM.

HE IS A BILLIONAIRE THAT COULD RIDE OFF IN THE SUNSET AND LET THE NATION BURN BUT HE LOVES THE COUNTRY AND HE DOESN'T NEED THE MONEY.

FOR ME IT IS A CULMINATION OF ENDORSING HIM EARLY ON AND SEEING HIM SERVE WITH GREAT POLICY AND SEEING HIM PUNISHED BY THE LEFT AND STILL A FIGHTER.

NOT ENOUGH CAN BE SAID ABOUT HIS COURAGE AND CHARACTER.

>> CONGRESSMAN JERRY CARL WAS ALSO AT THE CONVENTION.

BACK IN MARCH, HE LOST THE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BARRY MOORE IN THE 1ST DISTRICT THAT SAW THE TWO CONGRESSMEN DRAWN IN TOGETHER.

BUT CARL REMAINS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN POLITICS AND HAD SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW REPUBLICANS SHOULD CAMPAIGN BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER.

>> I THINK THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS STAY OUT OF BIDEN'S WAY.

KEEP TELLING OUR STORY AS WE WANT TO SEE IT PLAY OUT.

LET BIDEN KEEP BEING BIDEN.

I THINK WE'LL SEE SOME REAL CHANGES.

I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY IF THEY WILL GET HIM OUT OF THE WAY OR NOT.

I HOPE THEY DON'T.

I WANT HIM TO STAY RIGHT WHERE HE'S AT, BUT IT'S GOING TO GET PRETTY NASTY FOR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND WE ALREADY SEE THAT IN WASHINGTON NOW.

>> FOR SOME CONVENTION GOERS, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TIME ATTENDING THE RNC.

THAT INCLUDING SECRETARY OF STATE WES ALLEN AND RICK PATE.

>> MY FIRST CONVENTION AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS IN LOCAL REPUBLICAN, STATE POLITICS, ELECTED OFFICE.

EXCITING TO BE HERE.

A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THE ROOM LAST NIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME IN.

THAT WAS EXCITING AN ELECTORATE ATMOSPHERE.

THE PARTY IS GALVANIZED AROUND TRUMP AND VANCE, HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK.

I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF HISTORY AND HERE WITH THE DELEGATION AND IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.

>> NOT HAVING TO DO THIS BEFORE, I WAS ELECTED FOUR YEARS AGO AND NEVER GOT TO COME BECAUSE OF COVID BUT IT WAS FUN.

REPUBLICAN PEOPLE ARE SO PASSIONATE.

I GREW UP -- MOTHER RAN IN 1966 AFTER INSPIRED BY GOLDWATER.

SO FUN TO BE AROUND.

PEOPLE ARE SO NICE AND THE EXCITEMENT SUN BELIEVABLE.

>> FOR SOME CONVENTION GO-ERS, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TIME ATTENDING THE RNC.

THAT INCLUDED SECRETARY OF STATE WES ALLEN AND COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE RICK PATE.

SOME IN THE DELEGATION HAVE ATTENDED MANY CONVENTIONS.

STATE SENATOR JABO WAGGONER TOLD ME HE'S ATTENDED EVERY CONVENTION SINCE 1984.

YOU HAVE BEEN COMING TO THESE CONVENTIONS A LONG TIME.

WHEN DID YOU START COMING TO THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION?

>> MY FIRST WAS 1988 AS EITHER A DELEGATE OR ALTERNATE DELEGATE.

EVERY FOUR YEARS I HAVE RUN FOR DELEGATE AND I HAVE BEEN DOING IT CONSISTENTLY FOR -- SINCE 1988.

1984, UH.

I RAN FOR CONGRESS AND I WAS INVITED TO COME TO NOT AS A CANDIDATE.

I HAVE BEEN COMING SINCE '84 BUT HAVE BEEN A DELEGATE OR ALTERNATE SINCE '88.

>> THE PARTY HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THESE YEARS.

WHAT REMAINS THE SAME?

>> THE FUN WE HAVE, THE CAMARADERIE AMONG THE DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES AND THE FRIENDS WE HAVE MET THROUGH THE YEARS COMING TO CONVENTIONS.

SO, THIS WILL BE MY NINTH THIS YEAR.

>> SO YOU WERE LEADING REPUBLICAN IN ALABAMA WHEN THAT THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF ELECTED REPUBLICANS IN ALABAMA AND NOW THEY DOMINATE THE STATE.

HOW'S THAT BEEN TO SEE THE SEAT CHANGE FROM THE '80S THROUGH THE '90S AND INTO THE 2000S?

>> EARLY ON, WHEN I WAS COMING TO CONVENTIONS, YOU KNOW, STILL A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN ALABAMA AND THE COUNTRY.

AND THERE STILL IS, OF COURSE, BUT THE MOMENTUM HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

IT'S DOMINATING BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOW.

>> YEAH, NO QUESTION.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT AS PRESIDENT TRUMP -- >> WATCHING HIM LAST NIGHT, HEARING HIM LAST NIGHT, IT JUST MADE A LOT OF HEARTS FEEL VERY WARM TOWARD HIM BECAUSE OF WHAT HE WENT THROUGH LAST WEEK.

I MEAN, HE STOOD UP -- WE SAW HIM ON CAMERA WITH A BIG BAND-AID OVER HIS EAR.

IT WAS JUST VERY EMOTIONAL.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SCENE LAST WEEK, BUT HE SURVIVED.

THE MOMENTUM IS IN OUR FAVOR THIS YEAR.

>> SENATOR BRITT HAD A PROMINENT ROLE.

SHE'S A BRIGHT YOUNG LEADER IN THE PARTY.

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE TO SEE HER RISE PRETTY SUDDENLY?

>> SO ENCOURAGING TO SEE THIS BRIGHT YOUNG WOMAN FROM ALABAMA HAVING A MAJOR ROLE IN THE OPERATION OF THE REPUBLICAN POLITICS IN ALABAMA.

VERY BRIGHT LADY, VERY ARTICULATE AND SHE'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> ONE LAST WORD FROM MILWAUKEE, ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN JOHN WAHL ALSO PLAYED A PROMINENT ROLE AT THE CONVENTION.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE SENSES A CHANGED CANDIDATE IN DONALD TRUMP AND A REENERGIZED PARTY IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING IN PENNSYLVANIA.

>> THIS CONVENTION WAS UNIQUE.

WE HAD A SOLEMNNESS FOR THE VICTIM IN PENNSYLVANIA BUT DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO GO FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT THE VALUE AND HOW OUR VALUES WILL HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

WE WANT TO BRING AMERICA TOGETHER.

WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR THE SAME THINGS AND GOING TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA, DEFEND THEIR FREEDOM AND HELP THEM TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

>> AGAIN, IT WAS QUITE A WEEK IN MILWAUKEE.

THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 19-22 IN CHICAGO.

ALABAMA DOESN'T HAVE QUITE AS MANY DEMOCRATIC ELECTED OFFICIALS THAN THE GOP, BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY BE COVERING THAT CONVENTION AND GETTING REACTION FROM ALABAMIANS IN CHICAGO A MONTH FROM NOW.

AND STAY TUNED FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH POLITICAL SCIENTIST DR. DAVID HUGHES LATER IN THE SHOW.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLY VOLATILE POLITICAL MOMENT THAT IS UPON US.

>>> HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK, LAWMAKERS AND EXECUTIVE AGENCY LEADERS GATHERED FOR THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF BUDGET HEARINGS TO LOOK AT REVENUE AND SPENDING PROJECTIONS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

WHILE THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE SEEN RECORD BUDGETS, SOME ARE STARTING TO SEE WARNING SIGNS OF A SLOW DOWN.

JEFF SANDERS HAS THAT STORY.

>> RECORD BUDGETS, THAT'S WHAT LAWMAKERS IN ALABAMA PASSED DURING THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

$9.3 BILLION FOR THE STATE EDUCATION TRUST FUND AND $3.4 BILLION FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

>> WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE THIS YEAR AND I THINK WITH THE BUDGET WE PASSED THAT STARTS IN OCTOBER WE WILL BE GOOD FOR THAT.

OUR CONCERN IS '26.

>> REPUBLICAN SENATOR ALBRITTON WHO CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE JOINED OTHER LAWMAKERS FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE FOR A JOINT BUDGET HEARING AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO DO.

WE HAVE BEEN RIDING A CREST OF A WAVE HERE NOW FOR A LONG TIME.

WE KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN OR HOW.

>> LAWMAKERS WERE BRIEFED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY.

>> THANKFULLY YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SPENDING IN YOUR BUDGET IN A WAY THAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

YOU JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT HAS TO CONTINUE BECAUSE YOU WON'T HAVE THE BIG LEFTOVER BALANCES GOING FORWARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE HUGE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION BILLS WITH.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE '23 YEAR, INTEREST ON STATE DEPOSITS GENERATED $400 MILLION IN REVENUE, BUT WITH THE LOSS OF FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDING AND POTENTIALLY LOWER INTEREST RATES IN THE FUTURE, THAT AMOUNT WILL BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED.

>> BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER OF '26, A HUGE DECLINE IN AMOUNT OF MONEYS WE HOLD ON THE FAUCET.

REGARDLESS OF THE RATE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL BE IN DECLINE.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

TO THAT POINT, WE ARE SPENDING IT DOWN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND THROUGH OTHER PROCESSES.

THE TIMING AND THE AMOUNT OF THE UNWINDING IS GOING TO BE -- ANYBODY CAN PREDICT THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND WITH THE POSSIBLE CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION.

>> DESPITE THE WARNING, LAWMAKERS LIKE ALBRITTON EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING NOW TO ENSURE ALABAMA'S FINANCIAL FUTURE REMAINS STABLE.

REPORTING FROM THE STATEHOUSE IN MONTGOMERY, I'M JEFF SANDERS FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>>> SCHOOL WILL BE STARTING BACK IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, AND THAT MEANS IT'S BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING SEASON.

JUST IN TIME, ALABAMA'S ANNUAL SALES TAX HOLIDAY IS THIS WEEKEND OFFERING SHOPPERS A LITTLE RELIEF.

RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

>> VISIT ANY STORE NOW DAYS AND YOU'LL SEE THE SIGNS, BACK-TO-SCHOOL ITEMS ON FULL DISPLAY, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW IT IS TIME TO GET READY FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

THE COST FOR GETTING READY HAS GROWN BUT THANKS TO LAWMAKERS THERE'S HELP FOR THAT.

>> THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED TO PASS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION MANY YEARS AGO THAT WOULD ALLOW FAMILIES TO SHOP FOR BACK TO SCHOOL IN A SALES TAX HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

>> IT'S A TIME FOR DISCOUNTS GIVE A REVENUE BOOST TO STATE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WHILE SAVING SHOPPERS MONEY.

>> WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, IT WAS ACTUALLY IN AUGUST, BUT BECAUSE SCHOOL STARTS SO EARLY NOW THEY HAVE MOVED IT BACK TO THIS WEEKEND IN JULY.

SO PARENTS CAN GET THAT SCHOOL LIST THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

>> THE GOAL, GIVING CONSUMERS A FINANCIAL BREAK WHEN SHOPPING FOR VITAL SUPPLIES AND SHOWS CONSUMERS WHAT IS OUT THERE IN TERMS OF GOODS, SERVICES AND RESTAURANTS, MAKING THEM POSSIBLE CUSTOMERS.

>> YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE WILL BE OUT THAT DAY STARTING EARLY, HAVE A LIST.

AND THEY WILL GO TO GET LUNCH OR HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE THAT DAY.

MAKE A POINT TO GO TO A LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS.

>> GIVING CITIZENS A CHANCE TO CHECK OVER THE LIST OF MUST HAVES TWICE, JUST AS THEY DO ON THE OTHER HOLIDAY IN DECEMBER BUT THIS IS IN THE HEART OF SUMMER HEAT.

>> YOU THINK OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES, NOTEBOOK PAPER, FOLDERS, SUPPLIES, GLUE STICKS, PENCILS AND ALL OF THOSE ITEMS BUT ALSO INCLUDES COMPUTERS UP TO A MAXIMUM AMOUNT, COPY PAPER, PRINTERS, ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT SCHOOL KIDS USE.

>> BUT THE SAVINGS DON'T STOP THERE.

IN ADDITION TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES YOU GET CLOTHING UP TO $100 PER ITEM.

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SCHOOL SHOES AND UNIFORMS BECAUSE MANY KIDS WEAR UNIFORMS TO SCHOOL, BUT ALSO IT IS FOR ANYONE.

SO YOU CAN GET THOSE SALES TAX ITEMS.

>> THIS PROGRAM ALSO SETS UP A PROCESS OF COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT BY SHOPPING LOCALLY.

>> IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, FOR INSTANCE, IT'S A 10% SALES TAX.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS PARTICIPATING.

SO YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO GET 10% AND IF IT IS ALREADY MARKED 50% OFF, THINK ABOUT IT, YOU GOT A 60% SAVINGS ON A PIECE OF CLOTHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IN MAY BUT THOUGHT I WILL WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS YOUR PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO GET 60% OFF.

>> IN MONTGOMERY, RANDY SCOTT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>>> ONE MORE ITEM BEFORE WE GET TO THE INTERVIEW PORTION OF THE SHOW, THIS WEEK TWO NEW MASSIVE SHIP-TO-SHORE CRANES ARRIVED AT THE PORT OF MOBILE.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THOSE THINGS.

ACCORDING TO THE ALABAMA PORT AUTHORITY, THE NEW CRANES REPRESENT A $40 MILLION INVESTMENT MADE AS PART OF THE DREDGING PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO DEEPEN AND WIDEN THE PORT CHANNEL.

PORT AUTHORITY DIRECTOR JOHN DRISCOLL SAID ALL TOLD THERE WILL BE BILLION DOLLARS INVESTED INTO ALABAMA'S PORT BY 2030.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

IT'S A PROCESS THAT STARTED TWO YEARS AGO AND RELATED TO THE WIDENING AND DEEPENING OF THE CHANNEL WHERE CUSTOMERS SAW THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED FOR THEM FOR INCREASING THEIR EFFICIENCIES THROUGH THE PORT AND INVESTING EVEN MORE.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL BE JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JEANA ROSS.

STAY WITH US.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JEANA ROSS.

REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> AGAIN, THE NEWEST MEMBER, YOU WON THROUGH VACANCY AND PROMOTED TO THE SENATE.

OUR VIEWERS -- MOST OF THEM ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOU IN YOUR PREVIOUS ROLE AS SECRETARY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

NOW YOU ARE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

MAYBE REINTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE AUDIENCE ABOUT YOUR CAREER AND WHAT LED YOU TO THIS.

>> WELL, I STARTED OUT TEACHING YEARS AGO IN A RURAL COMMUNITY IN JACKSON COUNTY.

I TAUGHT -- WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNG I WENT BACK TO TEACHING AND STARTED AS A TEACHERS AIDE IN A PRE-K. AND I LEARNED OF A GRANT AVAILABLE WHEN THEY STARTED THE PRE-K PROGRAM IN THE STATE.

I WROTE A GRANT PROGRAM AND WE GOT IT.

ONCE YOU START TO WRITE GRANTS YOU BEGIN TO ADMINISTER THOSE GRANTS.

I LATER BECOME A COACH FOR THE PRE-K CLASSROOMS IN MARSHALL COUNTY.

AND THEN MOVED TO BOAZ CITY AND THEN MADISON CITY.

ALONG THE WAY I SPRINKLED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FAMILIES AND FAMILY PROGRAMS AND WORK WITH AT RISK PROGRAMMING AT THE TIME.

THEY CALL IT STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES NOW BUT ENJOYED ALL OF THAT AND THEN IN 2012 WAS ASKED TO SERVE ON THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET AS THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

THAT IS WHEN WE HAD 219 CLASSROOMS, PRE-K CLASSROOMS AND THAT GREW OVER THE SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS TO OVER 1300.

SO HAD QUITE A JUMP IN OUR FUNDING AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE WERE ACCOUNTABLE AND WE HAD A VERY EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SYSTEM WHICH WAS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS BEING ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

VERY PROUD OF THAT.

PROUD OF THE TIME THAT I GOT TO SPEND WORKING IN THE FIELD WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

LIKE I SAID, JACKSON COUNTY, GUNTERSVILLE, MARSHALL COUNTY AND BOAZ AND MADISON CITY.

ALSO, I WAS ABLE, WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED WITH OR FOR EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THIS DISTRICT.

I UNDERSTAND PARTICULARLY THE EDUCATION NEEDS, CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES THAT NOT ONLY DISTRICT 27 BUT ACROSS THE STATE BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL AND VISIT SCHOOLS.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO GO DEEPER ON EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FIRST CLASS PRE-K BECAUSE YOUR WORK THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AND SOME WOULD CALL IT LEGENDARY.

WHAT LED YOU TO RUN?

AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED -- MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET IS A BIG DEAL BUT NOT ELECTED OFFICE.

THIS IS ELECTED.

WHAT LED YOU TO THROW YOUR NAME IN THE HAT AND SAY I WANT TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT?

>> PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHY IN THE WORLD DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO MONTGOMERY AND I SAID WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I SPENT EIGHT SESSIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE, ADVOCATING AND HOPING TO FIND SUPPORT AND FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE FOR PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

SO, I UNDERSTAND THAT PROCESS AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

I JUST THOUGHT, WELL, I WILL BE AVAILABLE AND PEOPLE ARE DOING THE SAME THING.

I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AND BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AND REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SUPPORT POLICY THAT REALLY MAKES AN IMPACT AND POSITIVE CHANGE.

>> YEAH.

IT'S GREAT TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT.

YOU KNOW, SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE IS A SERVICE.

IT'S NOT LIKE IT IS HIGHLY PAID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO SOMETIMES THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET PEOPLE THAT ARE QUALITY, GOOD PEOPLE TO SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO IT CAN BE TOUGH TO RECRUIT QUALITY CANDIDATES.

KUDOS TO YOU FOR STANDING UP AND SAYING I WANT TO SERVE.

YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THOSE ISSUES.

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?

OBVIOUSLY EDUCATION IS RIGHT THERE, BUT WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES GOING TO BE AS YOU BEGIN YOUR SERVICE IN THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, OF COURSE EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

BECAUSE WE KNOW 90% OF A CHILD'S BRAIN IS DEVELOPED BY AGE 5 AND WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE, PARTICULARLY NOT JUST THE PRE-K PROGRAM BUT WHAT IS GOING ON CHILDCARE IS IMPORTANT.

THERE IS A PLAN BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND THE VETERANS SYSTEM.

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE VETERANS ACCESS EASILY.

I KNOW THERE ARE RESOURCES THERE.

I MET WITH VETERANS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

THAT WAS ON MY MIND EARLIER, VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES -- THAT WAS LAST SATURDAY -- EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE KNOW-HOW OR THE FACILITATOR, A LIAISON TO HELP THEM THROUGH THAT.

I KNOW WE HAVE SOME BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KNOW ABOUT IT.

SPEAKING TO ONE MAN WHO SPENT YEARS TRYING TO GET THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES HE NEEDED AFTER SERVING FOUR DEPLOYMENTS IN IRAQ.

HE REALLY NEEDED SOME HELP.

HE'S FOUND THAT NOW AND I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL BUT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SINCE THE ELECTION, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET HERE IN TIME FOR THIS SESSION BUT I HAVE BEEN AROUND TO VISIT AND GONE TO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I WAS INVITED TO AND MORE.

I WENT TO A SENIOR HEALTH FAIR AT OUR LOCAL PARK AND SENIORS CROSS THE COUNTY WERE THERE AND TO LISTEN TO THEM AND THE DIRECTORS ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND CONCERNS AND THINGS THAT MIGHT BE MORE HELPFUL TO HELP THEM DO THEIR WORK AND TO SERVE THIS WONDERFUL GROUP OF SENIORS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STATE.

>> TALK ABOUT EDUCATION A BIT.

YOUR TIME IN THE DEPARTMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, YOU ARE RIGHT, IT WAS A TIME OF SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.

I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN EXPANDING FIRST-CLASS PRE-K WASN'T THAT POPULAR.

RIGHT?

MONEY WASN'T AS FLUSH AS IT IS RIGHT NOW Y'ALL HAD TO REALLY FIGHT AND ADVOCATE AND WERE SUCCESSFUL AT CONVINCING THE LEGISLATURE, YEAR OVER YEAR TO INCREASE THE FUNDING ON A STEADY LEVEL, KEEPING THE HIGH QUALITY, BUT THAT'S INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE NOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND GET REQUESTS FROM EVERYBODY ABOUT HOW TO DO THINGS.

MAYBE THAT INSTRUCTIVE EXAMPLE OF USING RESULTS, USING THE QUALITY -- LIKE YOU SAID, THE ACCOUNTABILITY TO CONVINCE THE LEGISLATURE, HERE'S THE PRIORITIES WE NEED TO SET.

HERE'S THE FUNDING.

SOMETIMES HARD CHOICES HAVE TO BE MADE ON EDUCATION ISSUES, LIKE THE READING INITIATIVE AND NUMERACY ACT.

MAYBE THAT INSTRUCTIVE TO HOW TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WILL IMPROVE EDUCATION?

>> BASICALLY IT'S ALL ABOUT OUTCOMES.

I LEARNED VERY EARLY ON THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOME TYPE -- OF COURSE WE DON'T TRACK DATA ON OUR STUDENTS, BUT WE DO FOLLOW OUTCOMES.

SO, WE PUT TOGETHER RESEARCH AND EVALUATION TEAM AND WE WERE ABLE, OVER THE YEARS, TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THOSE CHILDREN AND NOT ONLY SEE THE PROGRAM WAS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT BUT THE OUTCOMES WERE AMAZING.

THEY WERE LESS LIKELY REFERRED TO SPECIAL ED SERVICES.

THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO NOT BE RETAINED IN SCHOOL, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

I LOVED THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE GONE TO FIRST-CLASS PRE-K.

THE LITERACY ACT AND BEING RETAINED IN THIRD GRADE IS HOPEFULLY NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT APPLIES TO THEM.

WE ALSO FOUND THEIR ATTENDANCE WAS BETTER.

THEIR STUDENT INCIDENT REPORT NUMBERS WERE BETTER.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT FADED OUT WHICH WE SAW IN OTHER STATES.

WE WERE ABLE TO FOLLOW THIS.

THERE WAS NO FADEOUT THROUGH THE 8TH GRADE.

THAT'S AS FAR AS OUR SAMPLE SIZE WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO REALLY REPORT.

IT WON'T BE LONG THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THESE STUDENTS THAT WERE IN HE'S HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS -- AND IT'S ALL ABOUT QUALITY AND THE SUPPORT THAT TEACHERS GET.

WE HAVE GREAT TEACHERS.

BUT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE RESOURCES, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES THEY NEED IN THE CLASSROOM THAT THEY CAN USE EVERY DAY FOR THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND THE THINGS THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE CHILDREN ARE GETTING THE VERY BEST WE CAN OFFER.

THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, I'M ALL ABOUT COACHES.

WE HAD COACHES IN OUR PRE-K CLASSROOMS OFF THE BAT, AND IT WAS A TIERED COACHING MODEL.

WE HAVE MASTER TEACHERS THAT MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY NEED A COACH, AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY SPREAD THOSE COACHES WHERE THEY ARE REALLY NEEDED.

SO WITH THE TIERED COACHING MODEL, I THINK THAT IS AN EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT WAY TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE ENCOURAGED.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE THE FIRST DEPARTMENT TO REALLY PUSH THE SCIENCE OF READING PROGRAM THAT IS SO CRITICAL FOR TEACHERS BECAUSE WE FOUND THEY REALLY WANTED AND NEEDED MORE INFORMATION THEMSELVES ON THE SCIENCE OF READING.

I HAD BEEN TO MISSISSIPPI.

THEY HAD ANOTHER CONVENING AND SOME OF OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, SOMEBODY FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND I SENT TWO OF THE PEOPLE ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE DEPARTMENT.

WHEN THEY CAME BACK, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY HAD SEEN AND LEARNED, THE THING THEY DID IS THEY TALKED TO THE TEACHERS, AND THE TEACHERS HAD SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS TRAINING THAT WE RECEIVED WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE HAD SOME GRANT MONEY LEFT.

THIS WAS ON A WEDNESDAY.

BECAUSE WE HAD A GRANT SYSTEM PRETTY MUCH A STATE OF ART IN OUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE COULD BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE PROGRAM DESIGN WAS, WHAT WAS EXPECTED THROUGH THE FUNDING AND HOW WE COULD SUPPORT THEM THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

SO, WE HAD THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE ALREADY.

I SAID, WELL, OKAY.

WE'VE GOT GRANT MONEY LEFTOVER.

LET'S DO.

THIS LET'S OFFER IT.

NOT A MANDATE, LET'S SEE WHO WANTS TO TAKE IT.

BY FRIDAY WE HAD A SYSTEM SET UP.

BY THE NEXT WEEK THERE WAS A WAITING LIST BECAUSE IT WAS VOLUNTARY.

THE TEACHERS THAT WANTED TO DO IT, SIGNED UP FOR IT.

WHEN THEY FINISHED IT -- NOW, IF THEY DIDN'T FINISH THEY HAD TO REIMBURSE US BECAUSE IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE PER TEACHER BUT WE ALSO GAVE THEM A STIPEND AT THE END FOR GETTING THE CERTIFICATION.

IT JUS SNOWBALLED BECAUSE THEY WANTED IT AND THEY KNEW IT MATTERED.

>> EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO A GOOD JOB.

>> THEY WANT TO DO A GOOD JOB.

THE SUPERINTENDENT TALKED IT OVER AND EMBRACED IT AND ABLE TO GET MORE FUNDING.

I KNOW IT IS AVAILABLE NOW, NOT ONLY THROUGH TRAININGS BUT NOW OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE UNDERSTANDING IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT INSTRUCTION IN SCIENCE AND READING.

>> I HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND JUST THE DIFFERENT STREAMLINE OF EDUCATION.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE SO CLOSE, ON CUSP OF DOING SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL.

>> I WILL BE ON THE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE AND ANOTHER ONE I'M INTERESTED IN AND I UNDERSTAND IT IS FAIRLY NEW, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG BUT IT IS THE CHILDREN AND SENIOR ADVOCACY GROUP.

>> RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY.

>> YES.

>> WHICH I WILL THOROUGHLY ENJOY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING IN ANY WAY I'M NEEDED.

I HOPE I'M KNOWN TO GIVE 110% BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT SERVING AND PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS IS JUST A GREAT MISSION.

>> YOU CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING UP WITH YOU.

BUT CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME AGAIN TO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> THANK YOU.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DR. DAVID HUGHES.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY HAVING ME.

>> YOU HAVE HAD A CAREER CHANGE RECENTLY.

TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

THE SPRING SEMESTER WAS MY LAST WITH AUBURN UNIVERSITY OF MONTGOMERY.

AFTER EIGHT YEARS I'M MOVING DOWN THE ROAD TO CAJUN COUNTRY AND JOIN THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA IN LAFAYETTE.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT, BUT STILL TEACHING POLITICAL SCIENCE.

>> POLITICAL SCIENCE, YEAH.

>> THAT'S WHY I WANT TO HAVE YOU ON.

WE ARE LIVING IN AN HISTORIC POLITICAL MOMENT, VOLATILE, TO SAY THE LEAST.

WE HAD THE DEBATE.

WE HAD AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.

WE HAVE SEEN THE RNC THIS WEEK WE SEE THE POLLING GOING ON.

SO MUCH IS HAPPENING.

AS A POLITICAL SCIENCE EXPERT, AND AS A TEACHER, HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON THIS POLITICAL MOMENT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US THOUGHT THAT 2016 WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MORE UNIQUE EPISODES IN AMERICAN POLITICS IN OUR LIFETIME AND I'M NOT SURE THAT MANY OF US WOULD HAVE EXPECTED EIGHT YEARS LATER OUR NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE WOULD TURN THE DIAL UP A COUPLE MORE NOTCHES, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT'S VOLATILE.

IT'S UNIQUE.

WHEN I DISCUSS THIS YEAR WITH MY STUDENTS I COMPARE IT TO THE NATIONAL STAGE THE 1890S.

DURING THAT PERIOD YOU HAD EXTREMELY VOLATILE POLITICAL PARTIES.

YOU HAD THE EMERGENCE OF POPULISM.

YOU HAVE THE RECONSOLIDATION OF TWO POLITICAL PARTIES.

YOU HAD PRESIDENTS ELECTED, DEFEATED AND ELECTED THE NEXT ROUND AGAIN AND YOU HAD POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS DURING A PERIOD OF WILD ECONOMIC INSTABLE.

>> IS THAT CLEVELAND, GROVER CLEVELAND?

>> YEAH.

THE ONLY PRESIDENT WE HAVE HAD THAT WAS ELECTED NONCONSECUTIVELY.

SO IF TRUMP WERE TO DO IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT ERA IN POLITICS.

WHEN WE TRY TO THINK ABOUT OR GAME WITHOUT WHERE POLITICS ARE LIKELY TO GO, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GUIDE POSTS TO THINK OF THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT EXCEPT THAT PERIODS LIKE THESE DO TEND TO END UP WITH SOME POLITICAL REORGANIZATION.

THE PARTIES TEND TO CHANGE.

BASES CAN MOVE AROUND AS POLITICIANS ATTEMPT TO MANEUVER THEMSELVES FOR THE NEXT ERA IN PARTY POLITICS.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT IN TERMS OF DEBATES SHIFTING AND EVEN POLICIES.

WHO HAD THE TEAMSTERS PRESIDENT SPEAKING AT THE RNC.

>> INCREDIBLE.

>> YEAH.

SO THE BIG QUESTION AT THE MOMENT, I GUESS IS WILL PRESIDENT BIDEN ACTUALLY BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE?

IT SEEMS CLEAR IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE HIS DECISION BARRING SOME 25TH AMENDMENT KIND OF THING.

I KNOW IT DEPENDS WHICH HOUR YOU ARE LOOKING AT TWITTER AND EVERYTHING, BUT WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?

DO YOU THINK WE WILL HAVE BIDEN-TRUMP BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT BIDEN DROPS OUT?

>> AT THIS HOUR I WOULD PUT IT 50/50.

IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THINGS AT ANY MOMENT BECAUSE OF THE SHEER AMOUNT OF POSTURING GOING ON WITHIN THE DIFFERENT FACTIONS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE SHEER NUMBER OF LEAKS HAPPENING FROM DIFFERENT OFFICES OR BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AS POLITICIANS ATTEMPT TO EITHER MOVE BIDEN ANOTHER STEP TOWARD THE EXIT OR TO HELP ENTRENCH HIM IN HIS CURRENT POSITION.

BUT THE SHEER NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC LEADERS COMING OUT AND CALLING FOR CHANGE MAKES BIDEN'S POSITION REALLY UNTENABLE, EVEN IF HE REMAINS THE NOMINEE, HAVING THAT MANY ARROWS IN YOUR BACK GOING INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION MAKES THE ODDS OF SUCCESS EVER MORE SLIM.

IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE LIKELY TO BE IN A POSITION TO CONTEST THE '24 ELECTION, I SUSPECT IT WILL HAVE TO BE WITH A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE SUPREMELY CONFIDENT.

I JUST GOT BACK FROM MILWAUKEE.

IT IS A DIFFERENT VIBE THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN, PROBABLY BACK TO '04 FOR CONFIDENCE LIKE THAT.

THE REAL IMPACT IS -- FOR US AT LEAST THIS ALABAMA IS DOWN BALLOT.

I'M PRETTY SURE I KNOW WHERE OUR ELECTORAL VOTES ARE GOING.

THAT'S NOT REALLY IN QUESTION, BUT WE HAVE A COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACE HERE.

AFTER THE COURTS REDREW ALABAMA'S 2ND DISTRICT TO GIVE BLACK VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY, A CHOICE TO ELECT ONE SOMEONE OF THEIR CHOOSING IT BECAME A FAVORED DEMOCRATIC PICKUP, WHICH IS ONE OF THE GOLD STANDARDS FOR PROGNOSTICATION PUT IT LIKELY PICK UP IN THEIR LAST RATINGS BUT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT NOW.

YOU HAVE TWO CANDIDATES, SHOMARI FIGURES AND CAROLEENE DOBSON.

YOU RUN THE RACE NINE OUT OF TEN IT WILL PROBABLY BE DEMOCRATIC BUT GIVEN THE PROBLEMS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET WITH BIDEN IT IMPACTS.

YOU SEE THEM SAYING WE HAVE A CHANCE HERE.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT.

>> THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS A HUGE ENTHUSIASM GAP.

REPUBLICANS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC TO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP AND IN THAT CAN HAVE DOWN BALLOT BECAUSE WE USE STRAIGHT LINE VOTING ON OUR BALLOTS.

THREE QUARTERS OF VOTERS VOTE PARTY LINE ALL THE WAY DOWN.

TURNOUT, IN MY MIND IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO DEMOCRATS TAKING THE REDRAWN 2ND DISTRICT.

IF BIDEN IS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND IF THE MOOD, COME NOVEMBER, IS THAT HE HAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE ELECTION, THAT COULD HAVE REALLY SIGNIFICANT AFFECTS DOWN BALLOT BECAUSE PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHY SHOULD I BOTHER GOING OUTER TO THE POLLS?

IT'S SUCH A DONE THING ANYWAY AND NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT -- NOT EVEN HAVING THE 2ND DISTRICT THE FRONT OF THEIR MINDS.

THAT COULD THROW THE ELECTION TO THE REPUBLICAN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS MUCH OF A PERSUASION GAME HERE, ESPECIALLY IN ALABAMA POLITICS WHERE PARTISANSHIP IS SO POLARIZED.

NOT MANY PEOPLE SPLIT THEIR TICKETS ANYMORE.

>> THE DIE IS CAST.

>> RIGHT.

I WOULD THINK THE ENTHUSIASM GAP IS THE MOST LIKELY WAY THE REPUBLICANS HANG ON THE 2ND DISTRICT IF REPUBLICANS DON'T TURN OUT BECAUSE OF LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FOR A BIDEN CANDIDACY.

>> IT IS INCUMBENT ON SHOMARI FIGURES TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND VOTE.

THAT'S THE GAME.

HE'S GOT TO CONVINCE VOTERS, OKAY, EVEN IF THE PRESIDENCY IS LOST, CONGRESS STILL MATTERS.

THE MAJORITY MIGHT BE ON THE LINE.

THAT'S GOT TO BE -- THAT'S A TOUGH THING TO DO, RIGHT?

PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY THINK OF CONGRESS AS MUCH AS THE PRESIDENCY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

TODAY'S POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE SO NATIONALIZED.

LOCAL ISSUES ARE SO MUCH LESS OF A THING FOR VOTERS THESE DAYS AND NATIONAL ISSUES.

IF THERE IS ALREADY A DRAG ON ENTHUSIASM FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BIG TICKET NATIONAL RACES LIKE THE PRESIDENCY, THAT DOES MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR DEMOCRATS AND FOR MR.

FIGURES TO DRIVE THAT TURNOUT.

YEAH, I WOULD LOOK TO SEE WHAT KIND OF RETAIL POLITICS MR.

FIGURES IS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO GET MEMBERS OF HIS BASE OUT TO VOTE.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE AS WE REALLY GET INTO NOW IS PRIMETIME FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> WE DID SOME REPORTING ON THE RACE LAST WEEK.

THIS WAS PRE RNC AND POST DEBATE.

MR.

FIGURES WAS -- HE'S OUR NOMINEE AND THE REASON WE HAVE A 25TH AMENDMENT IF IT CAME TO IT.

IT STRIKES ME THAT SHOULD THE DEMOCRATS CHANGE THE TOP OF THE TICKET, SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN AND PERHAPS IT IS KAMALA HARRIS LEADING THE TICKET, WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, COULD YOU SEE THAT BENEFITING SHOMARI FIGURES CANDIDACY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE SAW THE BLACK TURNOUT IN ALABAMA WAS WAY UP IN 2008 AND 2012 WHEN YOU HAD BARACK OBAMA AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> I REMEMBER.

I'M NOT GOING TO COMPARE KAMALA HARRIS TO BARACK OBAMA.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME CLEAR DIFFERENCES IN THE STYLE OF CANDIDATE THEY WOULD BE.

BUT THE FACT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE A BLACK WOMAN AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT COULD HAVE A HUGE TURNOUT AFFECT FOR BLACK MOBILIZATION.

THAT'S THE KEY FOR THE DISTRICT.

WHEN THE FEDERAL COURT REDREW THE DISTRICT WAS TO GIVE BLACK VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT A CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE.

YOU KNOW, BLACK TURNOUT IS DOWN IN THAT TICKET, IT COULD LEAD TO THE ELECTION OF A REPUBLICAN.

SO, HAVING A BLACK CANDIDATE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET FOR THE PRESIDENCY COULD WELL HELP FLIP THAT SEAT TO THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

>> INTERESTING.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT PLAY OUT.

ONE THING I'M WATCHING IN THIS RACE -- WE DID SOME REPORTING ON THE NUMBERS.

CAROLEENE DOBSON IS AHEAD BY A LITTLE -- SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK IT IS THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES, CAMPAIGN SPENDING THAT WILL BE THE BIG THING.

I THINK IT WILL BE SUPER PAC, THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT ENGAGE IN TV AND RADIO ADS AND MAIL AND GEO-TV EFFORTS.

TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT.

IN THE OLD DAYS IT WAS YOU RAISE MUTT MONEY, PUT ADS ON TV AND THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT AND NOW YOU HAVE OUTSIDE GROUPS AND IT HAS TO CHANGE THE RACE.

>> CANDIDATES CAN'T ALWAYS BE IN CHARGE OF THE MESSAGE WHEN YOU HAVE GROUPS ENGAGED IN OUTSIDE EFFORTS TO HELP STEER THE DIRECTION OF THE CAMPAIGN.

SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE REALLY BENEFICIAL, RIGHT, IF ONE OF THE OUTSIDE OPERATIONS IS REALLY EFFICIENT WITH THEIR MONEY AND GOOD AT TURNS OUT, REGISTERING VOTERS.

SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC IF AN OUTSIDE GROUP ENGAGES IN MESSAGING THAT THE CANDIDATE DOESN'T APPROVE OF.

>> YOU CAN SAY HEY, WE DIDN'T DO IT, RIGHT?

>> SURE BUT IT COULD STILL BE A MAJOR DISTRACTION FROM THE THEMES THAT YOU WOULD RATHER BE TALKING ABOUT.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO, I MEAN, MORE EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGNS TYPICALLY LEAD TO MORE TURNOUT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE IRONCLAD FINDINGS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE IS THAT EXTENSIVE, WELL ADVERTISED CAMPAIGNS, HELP VOTERS TO KNOW WHO IS RUNNING AND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR AND IT HELPS THIS TO SHOW UP AT THE BALLOT BOX OR AT LEAST NOT LEAVE ITEMS ON THE BALLOT BLANK BECAUSE THEY PRESUMABLY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE CANDIDATE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY SPENT IN A U.S. HOUSE ELECTION THAT CAN TURN ON A FEW SEATS.

WILL THERE WILL BE ATTENTION ON THIS DISTRICT.

I EXPECT IN THE COMING MONTHS WE WILL SEE A LOT OF ADVERTISING ON TV, BILLBOARD OR INTERNET ADVERTISING.

I THINK WE ARE JUST GETTING INTO THE MEAT OF THE ELECTION SEASON HERE.

>> I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, NOT NECESSARILY A PERSUASION GAME.

NOT A LOT OF VOTERS ARE UNDECIDED.

IT WILL BE GEO TV, PERSUADING YOU TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

I'M FASCINATED HOW THAT WILL WORK OUT.

WE WILL HAVE BOTH CANDIDATES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" HOPEFULLY A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES.

I WANT TO GET INTO THE ISSUES THAT MATTER BUT WE WON'T HAVE ADS.

WE WILL NOT HAVE POLITICAL ADS HERE ON APTV.

I JUST GOT BACK FROM MILWAUKEE.

IT WAS STRIKING TO ME BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED 2016 AND I WAS IN CLEVELAND FOR THAT.

BACK THEN THERE WAS STILL A LOT OF FRAGMENTATION WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

YOU HAD THE NEVER TRUMP CROWD, THE TED CRUZ FLOOR CHALLENGE A LITTLE BIT.

PLENTY OF REPUBLICANS WERE NOT OKAY WITH DONALD TRUMP.

TRUMP SKEPTICAL WE'LL CALL IT.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN MILWAUKEE.

IT WAS STRIKING TO ME HOW UNITED REPUBLICANS ARE.

THERE AREN'T DETRACTORS ANYMORE.

NIKKI HALEY SPOKE.

IT CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THAT IN TERMS OF HOW DRAMATICALLY IT HAS CHANGED TO COMPLETE CONSOLIDATION AROUND DONALD TRUMP.

>> IT IS REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION.

EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE PAID A LOT OF ATTENTION TO REPUBLICAN GROUPS LIKE THE LINCOLN PROJECT AS THEY WERE PUTTING OUT AD AFTER AD ABSOLUTELY ATTACKING DONALD TRUMP AND SURE THOSE SORTS OF GROUPS EXIST BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE SWAY THEY USED TO.

I DO SEE SOME CRACKS IN THE PARTY.

LET'S NOT FORGET NIKKI HALEY DID RUN A ROBUST CHALLENGE TO HIM IN THE PRIMARY AND GOT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF VOTES IF ONLY A HANDFUL OF DELEGATES WHICH TO ME REPRESENTS THERE'S STILL SOME ANTI-TRUMPISM IN THE PARTY, EVEN IF MOST OF THOSE FOLKS WILL HOLD THEIR NOSE AND ARE PULL THE LEVER FOR TRUMP COME NOVEMBER.

YOU ALSO SAW SOME DISSENSION ON THE FLOOR WHEN MITCH MCCONNELL APPEARED ON THE FLOOR TO REPRESENT KENTUCKY.

HE WAS BOOED, RIGHT?

>> HE MIGHT BE THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKER OF OUR TIME.

>> CERTAINLY IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN WHO CARES ABOUT JUDICIAL REFORM, YEAH.

MITCH MCCONNELL IS MAY BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PARTY LEADER IN SENATE HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO SHAPING THE DIRECTION OF THE JUDICIARY, RIGHT?

I DO STILL SEE SOME MOVEMENT IN THE JOINTS.

THAT SAID, COMPARED TO 2016, THE AMOUNT OF UNITY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS STRIKING AND YOU COULD SAY THE OPPOSITE ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU, WE HAVE 90 DAYS BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN BUT SHOULD THERE BE A CHANGE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

DO DEMOCRATS HAVE ENOUGH TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SAME CONSOLIDATION, UNITY TO GIVE THEM MOMENTUM COMPARABLE, TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO COMPETE WITH THE REPUBLICANS IN NOVEMBER.

>> I SEE THE PATH BUT THE PATH CANNOT BE A WIDE OPEN CONVENTION.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN AN HONEST TO GOD FLOOR FIGHT FOR A PARTY NOMINATION IN MOST OF OUR LIFETIMES AT THIS POINT.

I DOUBT THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO DO THAT EFFORTLESSLY BECAUSE THERE ISN'T INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY OF THE LAST TIME THEY NEGOTIATED A FLOOR FIGHT.

IF BIDEN IS GOING TO NOT BE THE NOMINEE, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MANEUVERING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MINIMIZE ME EXTENT TO WHICH THERE'S ANY QUESTION WHO THE NOMINEE WILL BE.

THAT'S WHY MOST POLITICAL SCIENTISTS I KNOW SAY THERE'S NO CHANCE THAT IT'S NOT KAMALA HARRIS BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE CHAOS.

IF YOUR THOUGHT YOUR CHANCES WERE BLEAK WITH BIDEN, STRAP IN WITH WHAT HAPPENS WITH A BARE KNUCKLE FIGHT ON THE CONVENTION FLOOR IN CHICAGO.

>> WOW, WE ARE LIVING HISTORY RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

DAVID, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POST IN LOUISIANA.

WE WILL MISS OUR CONVERSATIONS HERE BUT CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA POLITIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.