♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> GOOD EVENING.

THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS WORKING THROUGH THE NIGHT ON DOZENS OF BILLS ON THIS CRITICAL CROSSOVER DAY.

WELCOME TO OUR ONE-HOUR "LAWMAKERS" SPECIAL ON DAY 28 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

CROSSOVER DAY IS WHEN BILLS MUST PASS EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE TO HAVE A CHANCE AT BECOMING LAW AND THERE ARE WAYS TO STILL GET A BILL THROUGH AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER IN THE SHOW.

BECAUSE WE ARE LIVE WE'LL BRING YOU INTERVIEWS WITH LAWMAKERS ON BILLS THEY SUPPORT.

AMONG THOSE WE'LL HEAR FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BURT JONES WHO AMONG OTHER THINGS, WILL TALK ABOUT THE BILL THAT PASS THE SENATE TO PROVIDE BILLSES FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND HE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DEFEAT OF THE BUCKET HILL.

IN THE STUDIO TO OFFER ANALYSIS TWO OF THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION'S POLITICAL INSIDERS.

LET'S START, AS ALWAYS, TO HEAD TO THE CAPITOL FOR A REPORT OF THE DAY SO FAR FROM CORRESPONDENT RISCHELLE RICHY.

HI, RICHELLE.

>> THE HOUSE IS NOW IN RECESS FOR A MUCH-NEEDED DINNER BREAK AND WILL RETURN AT AROUND 8:15.

EARLIER IN THE DAY, A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW 17-YEAR-OLDS TO BE SEEN IN JUVENILE COURT INSTEAD OF SUPERIOR COURT SHOULD PASS AS WELL AS THE BUDGET, BUT THE BIG NEWS OF THE DAY MAINLY COMING FROM THE SENATE.

>> IT'S CROSSOVER DAY.

A BUSY DAY FOR BOTH CHAMBERS AS THEY TRIED TO PASS AS MANY OF THEIR BILLS AS THEY CAN BY THE END OF TODAY'S SESSION.

IN THE SENATE, MORE GAMBLING AND EDUCATION LEGISLATE AND SENATE RESOLUTION 140 WOULD PROVIDE A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT INVOLVING SPORTS BETTING.

THE RESOLUTION WOULD NEED TO BE APPROVED BY TWO-THIRD MAJORITIES IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND VOTERS WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.

>> BELIEVE IF GEORGIA WANTS TO, THE ONLY FAIR WAY TO DO THIS IS TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION WHICH IS WHAT 140 DOES.

THIS LATEST PROPOSAL DISTRIBUTES THE GAMBLING PROCEEDS DIFFERENTLY.

55% OF THE MONEY GOES TO EDUCATION.

15% FOR TREATING AND PREVENTING, PULSIVE GAMING.

25% TO RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HEALTH CARE, MENTAL HEALTH IN THOSE AREAS AND THEN THE 5% FOR PROMOTING SPORTS, VENTS.

SENATOR MARTY HARV INWHO OPPOSED AN EARLIER GAMBLING BILL ONCE AGAIN ROSE IN OPPOSITION.

WHEN WE LOOK AT SPORTS GAMBLING, THERE'S AN ADDITION ISSUE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT WE SEE FROM IT AND THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE ADDICTION.

EVEN THIS THAT'S ACCORDING AND IF YOU ALL WILL REMEMBER I HANDED THE ILLINOIS LAW REVIEW TO YOU, AND THE ADDICTION RATE EVEN AMONG MINORITIES ARE DOUBLE WHAT IT IS AMONG CAUCASIANS.

EVEN JESSE JACKSON IN THE SPEECH ON MARTIN LUTHER DAY, YOUTH AND KIDS EXPOSED TO GAMBLING ARE SHOWING THOSE OF DOUBLE PERCENTAGE RATES.

>> MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS WERE PROPOSED INCLUDING MAKING HOPE'S SCHOLARSHIP INSTEAD OF MERIT BASIN VOFLING CASINO AND MUTUAL WAGERING AND BOTH FAILED TO MAKE THE GRADE.

THE RESOLUTION FAILED TO MEET THE TWO-THIRDS REQUIREMENT WITH A 30 TO 26 VOTE AND SB-233, A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS A $6,000 VOUCHER TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

>> THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO HOME SCHOOLING TO VIRTUAL SCHOOLING.

THAT NUMBER REPRESENTS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE AVERAGE QBE ALLOCATIONS OR SHOULD I SAY STATE FUNDING ALLOCATION THAT WE SPEND ON EVERY STUDENT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

THOSE PARENTS WILL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE FROM A LIST OF EXPENSES, APPROVED EXPENSES THAT ARE IN THE BILL OUTLINES 42 TO 59.

IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO REQUEST FUNDING FROM THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT WOULD ADMINISTRATE THESE FUNDS FOR THOSE APPROVED EXPENSES.

>> OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY IT WILL WEAKEN PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING.

WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW THIS PROGRAM WORKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 70% TO 80% OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE FAMILIES WHO WOULD HAVE SENT THEIR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL ANYWAY.

SO WHAT WE ARE, IN FACT, DOING IS WE ARE RE-ALLOCATING MONEY.

>> WE ARE DEFUNDING OUR STATE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND SENDING THAT MONEY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> YOU RUIN THE SCHOOLS SO THEY DON'T HAVE CREDIBILITY.

YOU DON'T GIVE THEM THE MONEY THEY NEED TO DO A BASIC JOB WHICH IS ON US AND THEN USE THE EXCUSE TO WEAKEN THEM FURTHER.

>> THE BILL PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES, 33-23.

>>> IN THE HOUSE, A LENGTHY DEBATE ON HOUSE BILL 30 WHICH CHANGES THE DEFINITION OF ANTI-SEMITISM.

>> ANTI-SEMITISM IS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF JEWS WHICH MAY BE EXPRESSED AS HATRED OF JEWS, RHETORICAL AND PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF ANTI-SEMITISM ARE DIRECTED TOWARD JEWISH OR NON-JEWISH INDIVIDUALS OR THEIR PROPERTY TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS OR FACILITIES.

>> THERE IS SAL READY A DEFINITION AND OTHER MINORITY OR RELIGIOUS GROUPS MAY FEEL EXCLUDED FROM ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS.

>> BY CREATING A DEFINITION FOR ANTI-SEMITISM WHEN ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS ARE ALREADY COVERED IN STATUTE IT BEGS THE QUESTION AS TO WHY THE GEORGIA CODE DOES NOT DEFINE ANTI-BLACK RACISM OR ANTI-LATINO RACISM OR ANTI-ASIAN RACISM.

EACH OF THESE GROUPS COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO AN INCREASED ACTS OF VIOLENCE OVER THE YEARS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE ESTHER PENANCE, THE ONLY JEWISH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAYS THIS BILL DOES NOTHING OF THE SORT.

>> TO BE CLEAR, JUST BECAUSE THE HATE CRIME LAW SAYS IT'S AGAINST RELIGION DOES NOT MEAN A SWASTIKA WOULD BE CONSIDERED ANTI-SEMITIC.

A SWASTIKA DOES NOT GO AGAINST MY RELIGION.

THERE IS NOTHING IN THE TORAH ABOUT A SWASTIKA.

YOU NEED A DEFINITION TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT A SWASTIKA IS ANTI-SEMITIC.

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

THINGS THAT YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE OBVIOUS ARE NOT OBVIOUS, AND I'LL GET TO AN EXAMPLE IN A MOMENT, BUT THAT IS ALL THIS IS, AND IT HAS BEEN TWISTED AND CONTORTED INTO MAKING SOMETHING IT'S NOT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

>> THE BILL PASSED 136-22, AND A MAJOR MILESTONE AS HB-18 WHICH COVERS THE 2023 AMENDED FISCAL BUDGET PASSED SUCCESSFULLY.

>> I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO BEGIN WITH A FEW OF THE PLACES WHERE THE HOUSE AND SENATE AGREED WANT ONLY WITH EACH OTHER, BUT WITH THE GOVERNOR.

FULL FUNDING FOR QBE IN THE MID-TERM ADJUSTMENT.

RULES WORK HOUSING INITIATIVE.

167 -- 166.7 MILLION FOR LARGE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS RECEIVING REBOOT GRANTS FOR HYUNDAI AND RIVAN.

$92 MILLION FOR INSURANCE TO HELP KEEP OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS LOW AND 34 1/2 MILLION FOR THE STATE PATROL AND DNR.

>> AND THE SENATE ALSO PASSED THE AMENDED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, 54-1.

THAT BILL IS NOW ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND IN A COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MORNING WITH HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN MATT HATCHET, HE SAID THEY COULD EXPECT ANOTHER BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR READY WITHIN A WEEK.

DONNA, THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, RICHELLE, WE'LL SEE YOU THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

>> FOR NOW, JOINING US IN THE STUDIO ARE TWO OF THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION'S TWO, ONE OF THE WRITERS OF "THE JOLT" NEWSLETTER AND HE ALSO HOSTS THE PODCAST POLITICALLY GEORGIA WITH OUR OTHER GUEST AJC COLUMNIST PATRICIA MUSIC WHO USED TO BE ON "LAWMAKERS" WHO WRITES FOR "THE JOLT."

I THINK WE HAVE TIME FOR A QUICK QUESTION BEFORE WE GO BACK OUT THERE RICHELLE.

LET'S TALK ONE OF THE BILLS WE SAW IN THE HOUSE AND THAT DEALS WITH THE ANTI-SEMITISM AND THE HATE BILL.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S A BILL THAT WE'VE BEEN WATCHING CAREFULLY AND THAT IS A BILL THAT WILL DEFINE ANTI-SEMITISM AS A PART OF THE STATE'S HATE CRIME STATUTE BEFORE ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS AND EACH ACTS TO THREATEN WERE NOT CONSIDERED A HATE CRIME IN GEORGIA.

THAT IS NOW OR IT'S ON THE WAY FROM BEING CHANGED THAT BILL FROM REPUBLICAN JOHN CARSON AND ESTHER PANICH WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE STATEHOUSE AND AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR THE AND FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THESE KIND OF CRIMES THAT WE'VE SEEN HAPPENING WITH INCREASED AND MORE CONCERNING FREQUENCY AROUND THE STATE.

>> QUICKLY, IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET TO THIS POINT, DIDN'T IT?

IT LOOKED LIKE IT MAY NOT MAKE IT.

>> THE OVERALL DEBATE AROUND HATE CRIMES HAD BEEN WAGED FOR TWO DECADES AND THIS MEASURE IN PARTICULAR GAINED TRACTION AFTER ANTI-SEMITIC FLYERS WERE DUMPED ON THE DRIVEWAYS OF PREDOM MINUTELY JEWISH NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING MY OWN HOUSE.

>> WOW.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

WE GOT THIS FAR AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES IN THE SENATE, BUT WE NEED TO GO RIGHT NOW BACK TO THE CAPITOL WITH RICHELLE RICHIE AND SHE HAS A MAJORITY LEADER.

>> YES, THANK YOU, DONNA.

I'M HERE WITH THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HB-30 AND I WANT TO FIRST GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON SERVING AS HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER FOR FIRST YEAR.

>> THANK YOU, RICHELLE.

IT IS SO EXCITING TO SERVE THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER REPRESENTING THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

WE HAVE SO MANY OUTSTANDING MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE AND MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT UP FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND JUST GETTING TO WATCH HOW THE PROCESS WORKS AND HELP MEMBERS PASS THEIR LEGISLATION HAS BEEN TERRIFIC.

I'VE REALLY ENJOYED IT.

>> DID YOU HAVE ANY SURPRISES WHEN YOU CAME INTO THE ROLE, THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING TO BE A PART OF THE JOB.

>> I THINK PART OF THE DOME IS SURPRISES ALL OF THE TIME AND THERE HAVE BEEN NEW ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP.

CERTAINLY, MANY TIMES MEMBERS BRING IN ISSUES THAT ARE PASSION PROJECTS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS AND I HAD A CHANCE TO REEDUCATE MYSELF.

>> YEAH.

>> ONE OF THOSE ISSUES WAS HB-30 IT WAS PASSED IN MY HOUSE ASK DONNA AND HER PANEL WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.

GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL AND ALSO SOME OF THE RELUCTANCE TO SUPPORT IT?

>> ANTI-SEMITISM IS A REAL ISSUE FACING OUR NATION AND OUR STATE, PREVIOUSLY CARRIED THE ANTIHATE CRIMES LAW AND I TALK IN THE PAST THE ANTI-SEMITISM BILL FOR USE IN BOTH HATE CRIMES PROSECUTIONS AND DISCRIMINATION CASES IS CRITICAL TO OUR STATE.

REPUBLICAN JOHN CARSON, A CHAIRMAN, CARRIED THE ABOUT ILAND DEMOCRAT ESTHER PANICH CO-SPONSORED THE BILL HERE AT THE CAPITOL, AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT IT PASSED TODAY WITH A RESOUNDING BIPARTISAN VOTE.

GEORGIA IS TOO GREAT TO HATE.

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN FOLKS ARE DOING TERRIBLE THINGS TO TERRORIZE VICTIMS AND ALSO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO CALL THAT OUT IN THE LAW AND ADDRESS IT ACCORDINGLY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER.

I I KNOW YOU HAVE A BUSY, BUSY EVENING AND I KNOW YOU BROKE FOR DINNER.

GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DONNA, WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RICHELLE.

WE'LL SEE YOU A LITTLE BIT LATER.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY, AND ONE IS THE BILL OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO TAKE SPORTS BETTING TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH AN ARC HANDMENT AND IT FAILED TO GET THE TWO-THIR THIRDS MAJORITY AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THEY BILLED, SO IT'S NOT ANOTHER OPTION, BUT IT DOES REMIND US HOW THIS DEDEBATE HAS BEEN, AND ANY EFFORT TO EXPAND GAMBLING HAS MET A LOT OF OPPOSITION.

>> EVERY YEAR WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND TALK ABOUT WHAT STILL MIGHT BE OUT THERE IN THE HOUSE.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS MORE NARROWLY TAILORED TO THE SPORTS BETTING ALONE.

WE'VE SEEN SOME OTHER EFFORTS THAT HAD SPORTS BETTING PLUS, PLUS AND SPORTS BETTING WITH SOME FORM OF HORSE RACING AND SPORTS BETTING WITH CASINO BETTING ON TOP OF IT.

SPORTS BETTING MIGHT HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF PASSAGE AND CRUCIALLY THEY'RE TRYING TO PASS IT IN A WAY THAT WOULD MAKE IT PART OF THE GEORGIA LOTTERY.

THAT MEANS IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION THROUGH A REFERENDUM.

THAT IS A MUCH EASIER LIFT THAN GETTING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSED FIRST THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE WITH TWO-THIRDS VOTE AND THEN THROUGH AN ACTUAL POPULAR VOTE OF GEORGIA VOTERS.

SO OBVIOUSLY, THOSE STEPS ARE VERY COMPLICATED AND CHIEF JUSTICE, THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT ISSUED AN OPINION EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT DID SEEM TO BE CARRYING WATER WITH SOME MEMBERS WHO SAID YOU MAY NOT ACTUALLY NEED THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

IF IT'S A PART OF A LOTTERY GO FOR JUST THE MAJORITY VOTE.

WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS THAT THAT'S GOING TO GET ALL KINDS OF LEGAL CHALLENGES EVEN IF YOU DO PASS IT, BUT FIRST THING'S FIRST, THAT'S THE ONE THAT HAS THE POSSIBILITY WITH THE HOUSE AND THE FACT THAT THE MONEY WOULD GO INTO THE LOTTERY FOR ED KAGD SEEMS TO HAVE APPEALED TO OTHER MEMBERS.

>> THAT AND THE FACT THAT SOME 1010 AND ESPECIALLY OVER SUPER BOWL AND OTHER BIG EVENTS AND OTHER STATES LEGALLY.

SO IT'S A BIG ISSUE THAT'S STILL CONTINUED TO ROLL ON, BUT THIS YEAR SUPPORTERS FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE TRACTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUPPORT FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BURT JONES AND TACIT SUPPORT FROM GOVERNOR KEMP.

>> ACTUALLY, HOUSE SPEAKER BURNS SAYS HE'S WILLING TO AT LEAST THINK ABOUT IT AND LOOK AT IT.

.

WE'LL HEAD BACK TO THE GOLD DOME WHERE RICHELLE HAS STONE KEN JACKSON FROM STONE MOUNTAIN.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO GET INTO WAS SB-140 WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY AGAINST.

TELL US WHY.

>> SB-140 WOULD BAN GENDER-AFFIRMING SURGERY ALONG WITH HORMONE THERAPY FOR ANY YOUTH THAT IS GENDER DIVERGENT AND I'M OPPOSED TO THAT BECAUSE TRANS CHILDREN ARE GREATLY AT RISK OF SUICIDE.

SO WE KNOW WHEN THEY GET GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE THAT HELPS THEM FEEL BETTER ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND IT HELPS THEM WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING AND MENTAL HEALTH SO I'M OPPOSED TO IT.

>> HOW CONCERN RD YOU THAT THIS WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO THE GENERAL'S DEATH.

>> I'M HOPING WE WON'T SEE IT TONIGHT.

THE REALITY IS THERE ARE ONLY 50 OR SO STUDENTS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF GEORGIA WHO ARE IN NEED OF THIS TYPE OF CARE AND SO THIS JUST FEELS LIKE BULLYING AGAINST A MINORITY GROUP OF PEOPLE FOR A CULTURE WAR.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL SEE THIS ALL DIE TODAY.

>> SPEAKING OF CULTURES AND PRAYER TO US COMING TO THE SHOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TUITION FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE AFGHAN AND UKRAINIAN.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU KIND OF INTRODUCED A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH.

I INTUSED A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR IN-STATE TUITION FOR ANY SPECIAL IMMIGRANT THAT HAS COME HERE AND RESETTLED IN GEORGIA.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FOLKS WHO HELPED US IN THE WAR AND FOR AFGHANISTAN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UKRAINIANS AND REFUGEES.

I HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING CLARKSTON WHICH HAS A LARGE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND IN-STATE TUITION WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM.

DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE CALL FOR ACTION WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

>> MY BILL IS BIPARTISAN AND A MATCH IN THE HOUSE SIDE THAT'S ALSO BIPARTISAN.

THE REALITY IS THIS IS JUST GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE.

WE'RE SAYING YOU HELPED US AS AMERICANS IN WARS.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR ECONOMY AND WE WANT TO HAVE EDUCATION.

>> THANKS FOR BEING ON "LAWMAKERS".

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

SENATOR JACKSON SAYS SHE HOPES SHE DOESN'T SEE THIS BILL COME AND HB-140 WITH GENDER DISFORRIA.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

>> EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE HEARD HIS JOB IS FULL OF SURPRISES AND THINGS ARE VERY FLUID RIGHT NOW, BUT THIS BILL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEBATED HOURS AGO AND IT WAS 15th ON THE SCHEDULE IN THE GEORGIA SENATE AND IT WAS ABRUPTLY PULLED AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, CONSERVATIVES DON'T FEEL LIKE IT GOES FAR ENOUGH IN RESTRICTING GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERY SO IT'S A BIG DEBATE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO LAND AND WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE ENERGY ON CULTURE WARS AND ISSUES AND THE SOCIAL, CONSERVATIVE ENERGY IS BEING FUNNELED INTO THIS BILL BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SEEING NEW RESTRICTIONS ON,A BORGZ AND NEW EXPANSIONS FOR GUNS AND THE REVIVAL OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES AND THE ISSUES WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

>> AND THAT WE EXPECTED, RIGHT?

GOING INTO THIS.

>> WE REALLY WEREN'T, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU QUITE SURE WHAT TO EXPECT BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW HOUSE SPEAKER, AND WE HAVE A NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GOING INTO HIS SECOND TERM WITHOUT A MAJOR, MAJOR AGENDA OTHER THAN THE ECONOMIC BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES THAT HE TALKED ABOUT COMING INTO SESSION, AND SO WE WERE WAITING TO SEE WHERE THESE BILLS WOULD BE AND PARTICULARLY ON ABORTION.

WE DID THINK WE WOULD SEE A NUMBER OF BILLS COME IN AFTER THE SIX-WEEK ABORTION BAN WENT INTO EFFECT AND WHAT OTHER AREAS COULD THEY COME IN AND RESTRICT EVEN FURTHER AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN OTHER STATES AND TO GREG'S POINT, IT WAS SUCH A SMALL ANALYSIS WITH THE TYPICAL ENERGY AMONG OTHER COP SEB TIFF BELLS FEELS LIKE IT'S ALL GET FOR THE MEDICAL CARE FOR TRANSGENDER WORTH.

>> HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT?

IS IT 50?

IS IT 500, 5,000.

IT'S HARD TO SEE XKLY WHERE EVEN THE CENTER IS ON AND DOES IT TOO NEED TO BE PER RESTRKIVE AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT ONE GOES, AND I WANT IT TALK ABOUT 233 AND IT'S A $6,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR PARENTS TO YUDZ FOR CHILDREN IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND HOME SCHOOLS.

IT WAS IN THE SENATE TODAY.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH AND A LOT OF DEBATE AGAINST IT.

>> YEAH.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE'VE TALKEDED ABOUT ON THIS PROGRAM FOR YEARS AND UNDER THE GOLD DOME FOR YEARS THAT CRITICS SAY WOULD TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION AND FUNNEL IT INTO PRIVATE SCHOOL.

IT IS A DEBATE THAT CONSERVATIVES SAY IS NEEDED ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE FAILING THEM AND THE SENATE IS TAKING ANOTHER STAB AT IT.

>> YEAH.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY CALLED THE VOUCHER BILL BY SOME PEOPLE AND YOU'RE REALLY AGAINST IT THAT THIS MONEY IS WE'RE JUST HANDING THEM THE MONEY AND THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH IT, IN TERMS OF AN EDUCATION WHICH IS ON THE PRO SIDE, PEOPLE ON THE PRO SIDE WANT THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE REAL CRITICISM WE HEARD TONIGHT FROM DEMOCRATS WAS THERE'S NO MEANS TESTING FOR THIS AND THERE IS NO SPECIFICITY EVEN TO SAY YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR TUTORING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT ALL IN THE YEAR THAT IT WAS SENT TO YOU AND SO DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING AT THE VERY LEAST TO TIGHTEN IT UP AND MAKE IT MORE SPECIFIC AND TAYLOR IT TO DISABLED STUDENTS AND VERY SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES, NEEDS BASED, BUT THAT IS NOT THE BILL THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE SENATE.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE STATE HOUSE DOES WITH IT.

>> WE'LL SEE.

WELL BE WATCHING THAT ONE.

WE WILL RETURN TO THE CAPITOL NOW WHERE RICHELLE RICHY HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH REPRESENTATIVE MISHA MAYNOR OF ATLANTA.

>> HI, DONNA, YES.

I AM HERE WITH REPRESENTATIVE MISHA MAYNOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO SPEAK TO US BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S SUPER BUSY AND THIS IS YOU ALL'S DINNER HOUR.

I WANT YOUR REASONING BEHIND SUPPORT OTHER THE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW OVERSIGHT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY DEMOCRAT THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORTS THAT BILL.

TELL US WHY.

>> YOU KNOW, WAS THERE A LOT OF INFORMATION GOING AROUND THAT THIS WAS A REPUBLICAN PARTISAN BILL, BUT TRUTHFULLY THEY'RE ONE OF THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE NO OVERSIGHT.

SO LEGISLATORS HAVE OVERSIGHT.

EVERYONE HAS OVERSIGHT EXCEPT FOR PROSECUTORS.

THEY MENTIONED SOME THINGS DURING THE DEBATE SAYING YOU COULD GO TO THE AG'S OFFICE AND GO TO THE BAR.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE LAY VOTER IS IT WENT TO THE BAR TO COMPLAIN AND YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW LEGAL TERMINOLOGY TO EVEN FILE A COMPLAINT.

TO SAY YOU CAN LECH THEM, ANOTHER DISTRICT ATTORNEY THE NEXT GO ROUND, THAT DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME A LAY VOTER HAS NO IDEA WHAT PROSECUTORS ARE DROPPING AND SO TO HAVE OVERSIGHT, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS OVERSIGHT AND IN PARTICULAR COUNTIES ESPECIALLY COUNTIES THAT I REPRESENT CRIME AGAINST WOMEN ARE NOT BEING PROSECUTED.

>> GIVE US ANOTHER REASON WHY YOU THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE D.A.

TO BE -- BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SENATOR RANDY ROBERTSON HAD MENTIONED THE AHMAUD ARBERY CASE BASED ON COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS ALSO A REACTION TO SOME OF THE BIAS THAT WE'VE SEEN PLAY OUT AND CASES THAT ARE HERE IN GEORGIA, EVEN IN THOSE THAT ARE NATIONAL?

YOU KNOW, I DID NOT THINK THAT THIS BILL HAD COME FORTH AS A POLITICAL BILL.

THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL BILL.

THIS IS A BILL THAT PROTECTS CITIZENS AND COUNTIES.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ARE RID NOW THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE STATE.

SO THEY GET TO SAY RIGHT THEN AND THERE IF A CRIME -- OR IF IT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.

ONE BIG PROBLEM I HAVE ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN, IF A POLICE OFFICER DOES AN INVESTIGATION AND SAYS THIS IS A CRIME.

INSTEAD OF THE POLICE OFFICER GOING TO THE JUDGE TO ASK FOR A WARRANT THEY SKIPPED THAT PROCESS AND THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY -- BECAUSE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ARE NUMB TO CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN.

SO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILL SAY NO, I'M NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE THAT AND THEN THE POLICE OFFICER NEVER EVEN GOES TO THE JUDGE FOR THE WARRANT.

SO THEN THE POLICE OFFICER GOES BACK TO THE VICTIM AND SAYS I'M SORRY, THE PROSECUTOR SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE IT.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

MY HANDS ARE TIED.

>> BEFORE I LET YOU GO, THERE IS ONE BILL I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT.

THIS BILL WAS ACTUALLY INTRODUCED AND IT ALLOWS COLLEGE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR TRANSCRIPTS EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY OWE MONEY TO THE UNIVERSITY.

I'VE HAD FRIENDS THAT HAVE PERSONALLY RAN INTO THAT ISSUE AND COULDN'T GET THEIR COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS JUST TO EVEN APPLY FOR A GRAD PROGRAM.

WHY IS THAT BILL SO IMPORTANT FOR ENSURING THAT STUDENTS AND PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION OR EVEN GO AFTER THE JOBS THAT THEY WANT?

>> YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROBLEM AND IF WE ARE NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION TO GET A DEGREE TO HAVE A BETTER JOB THEN THIS BILL WILL SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

>> AWESOME.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH REPRESENTATIVE MISHA MAYNOR FOR JOINING US.

ALL RIGHT, DONNA.

SENDING IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, RICHELLE, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE'S ONE OF THE FEW DEMOCRATS THAT WAS IN FAVOR OF THIS PROSECUTORIAL OVERSIGHT.

I DON'T EVEN THINK I'M RIGHT, THE D.A.

BILL, SHE IS ONE OF THE FEW DEMOCRATS IN FAVOR OF IT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MAYNARD, WE'VE STARTED TO WATCH HER CAREFULLY.

SHE IS SO INTERESTING AND SHE'S NOT AFRAID TO GO AGAINST HER PARTY ON ISSUES WHERE SHE HAS THE POINT OF VIEW TO BE CASTING THE RIGHT VOTE AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND REPRESENTATIVE MAYNARD HAS SPOKEN ABOUT BEING THE VICTIM OF STALKING AND SHE'S TALKED ABOUT BRINGING HER STALK TORE JUSTICE.

IT'S VERY HARD TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST HIM AND TO HAVE THE PROSECUTOR TAKE THE JUDGES SERIOUSLY AND BRING IT TO COURT.

SHE NOT ONLY HAS HAD PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, SHE GETS CONTACTED BY OTHER VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC ABUSE AND STALKING.

BECAUSE SHE'S TAKEN A STAND, THEY'VE RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEMS.

>> PROSECUTORIAL.

I GOT IT RIGHT.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ON THIS.

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN BOUNCED ALONG THE HILL, AND AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY BONNIE WILLIS IS AND THE EFFORTS TO SHAPE THE 2020 ELECTION.

SO IT'S BEING BOUND UP.

IT'S INEXTRICABLY TIED WITH BONNIE WILLIS EVEN IF IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY SHE'S HANDLING THE PROBE INTO THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ABOUT THAT.

SO COMING UP, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BURT JONES, HIS FIRST CROSSOVER DAY AS FAR AS THE GAVEL AND THE SENATE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE IN JUST A MINUTE.

>> ALSO GIVES THEM AUTHORITY TO THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES TO ASSIST ALL CLASSES WITHIN THEIR COURT, WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT.

♪♪ ♪♪ "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE, AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS 74 BILLION OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND YEAR ROUND.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> HERE'S WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH WITH PASSPORT.

>> KRISTEN HAD A LOT OF COURAGE.

SHE FOUGHT FOR BLACK CULTURE.

♪♪ ♪ >> IT'S WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

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♪♪ ♪♪ >> GEORGIA SENATE IS BACK IN SESSION THIS EVENING ON THIS CROSSOVER DAY AND THEY JUST HAD A VOTE ON SOMETHING.

WE'LL FIND OUT ABOUT IT IN JUST A MOMENT.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS," I'M DONNA LOWERY AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO BURT JONES WHO IS PRESIDING AS THE FIRST CROSSOVER DAY AND IT'S A FAR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

EARLIER TODAY I ASKED HIM FOR A COUPLE OF BILLS AND HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR MORE THAN 60 BILLS ON THE RULES CALENDAR?

>> WELL, YOU SCRIPT YOUR FIRST 20 AND MAKE SURE YOU GET THE PRIORITIES OF THE SENATE, YOU KNOW, AND THE LEADERSHIP AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SEE GET DONE IN THE SENATE.

WE'VE ALREADY PASSED OVER TO THE HOUSE AND THEN FROM THERE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TAKE IT AFTER LUNCH AND BRING IN THE ONES.

I ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE IT'S A TWO-YEAR PROCESS.

WHATEVER DOESN'T GET DONE THIS YEAR, IT'S STILL A LOT FOR NEXTIARY.

>> IT'S A MARATHON, NOT A PRINT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

IT CREATED AN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR THE STATE'S DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO SAY INCLUDING D.A.

WHO HAS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP?

>> I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL D.A.s THAT HAVE COME UNDER FIRE AND PARTICULARLY, I KNOW THE ONE OVER IN CLARK COUNTY HAS BEEN ONE THAT HAS REALLY BROUGHT ON A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE TRYING TO BE ADDRESSED IN THIS PROSECUTOR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THERE ARE D.A.s IN ALL REGIONS OF THE STATE THAT HAVE DONE AND NOT FULFILLED AS WHAT THEIR DUTY IS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS THERE, AND THIS IS A MECHANISM TO CALL, YOU KNOW, TO COME TO TASK ON IT, AND I NG IT'S THE RIGHT MOVE FOR ROBERTSON AND WE HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR, AND I THINK IT WILL HAVE FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION OVER IN THE HOUSE WHEN THEY TAKE IT UP OVER THERE.

>> OKAY.

YOU CAMPAIGNED IN FAVOR OF BUCKET CITIHOOD.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS NOW THAT SOME OF YOUR FELLOW REPUBLICANS HAVE SOUNDLY SHUT IT DOWN?

>> WELL, I CAMPAIGNED IN FAVOR OF GIVING THEM A VOICE.

I THINK THERE ARE LEGITIMATE ISSUES THAT WERE BEING BROUGHT UP AS FAR AS FROM A CRIME PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS FROM THE LACK OF SERVICES THAT IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE RECEIVING THERE IN THAT AREA OF THE STATE AND I'M ALL FOR PEOPLE ALLOWING TO WRITE THE VOTE AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PROPONENT OF THAT WHEN TALKING ABOUT CITY HOODS AND GAMBLING.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID YOU HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO VOTE ON THINGS.

HOWEVER, WE LET THE DEBATE HAPPEN IN THE SENATE, AND THE SENATE VOTED IT DOWN AND THE SENATE HAS SPOKEN AND WE'LL MOVE ON FROM THERE.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK WE'LL GO TONIGHT IN.

>> HOW LONG WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO, DONNA?

I THINK IT COULD BE A LATE NIGHT, BUT WHO KNOWS?

EVERYBODY MIGHT DECIDE TO TALK, I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T NEED ANY OF THIS LEGISLATION THIS EVENING.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING NIGHT EITHER WAY.

>> WELL, I WAS IN THERE WRAPPING IT UP EARLY.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO THAT WAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

HE MENTIONED THE D.A.

AND CLARK COUNTY AND DEBORAH GONZALEZ, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER.

>> I INTERVIEWED D.A.

GONZALEZ AS THE BILLS WERE STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD AND SHE SAID THE IDEA OF D.A.

OVERSIGHT FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS NOT OVERSIGHT.

IT'S OVERREACH THAT THESE ARE LOCAL D.A.s WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THEIR VOTERS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY'RE PROSECUTING THESE CRIME BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'RE CHOOSING TO PRIORITIZE OR DEPRIORITIZE.

SHE IS SOMEONE WHO CAMPAIGNED AS AN EXTREMELY PROGRESSIVE D.A.

AND MADE IT CLEAR WHAT SHE WAS PLANNING TO PROSECUTE IN A TOUGH MANNER AND ANOTHER THING SHE WAS NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE ESPECIALLY AFTER THE ABORTION BILL WAS ENACTED, THE SIX-WEEK ABORTION BAN, SHE SAID WE WILL NOT PROSECUTE ANYONE UNDER THIS BILL.

THIS IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR MY OFFICE.

THAT'S THE TYPE OF STATEMENT THAT REALLY GOT REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS VERY ANGRY AND UPSET.

SHE IS REALLY GETTING A LOT OF THE FOCUS OF THESE D.A.

BILLS BECAUSE SHE IS IN THE HOME COUNTY OF WHERE TWO OF THE BILL'S SPONSORS ARE FROM AND THAT'S WHY MOST OF THE FOCUS IS ON HER AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PROGRESSIVE D.A.s IN THE STATE AND A NUMBER OF WOMEN OF COLOR HAVE BEEN ELECTED AS D.A.s AND THEY WOULD SAY THEY WERE ELECTED BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE AND BECAUSE OF HOW THEY'RE PROSECUTING THOSE CRIMES AND IT'S VOTERS WHO HAVE THE OVERSIGHT OVER THEM AND NOT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> WE HAVE THE TWO BILLS, HOUSE AND SENATE, TOO.

SO THEY REALLY WANT THIS.

>> VERY SIMILAR AND YES, THEY REALLY WANT THIS BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO MEMBERS OF THE D.A.

GONZALEZ'S HOMETOWN AND GOVERNOR KEMP IS THERE, AND HE'S MADE AN ISSUE.

LIEUTENANT BURT JONES AND GOVERNOR KEMP BOTH VOICED THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS ISSUE AND IT'S ON THE FAST TRACK AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE THE HOUSE BILL EMERGED AND WE HAVE SIMILAR BILLS BOTH MOVING AT BREAKNECK SPEED IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER THING I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT AND IT'S CITIHOOD, AND HE SAID ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS GIVE PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO VOTE, BUT IT WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED.

>> YEAH, AND SO WE WERE ALL LOOKING WHEN BURT JONES BROUGHT IT TO THE SENATE, DID HE KNOW HE HAD THE VOTES TO PASS IT?

OR DID HE KNOW IT WAS DEFEATED ALTHOUGH WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THIS MORE AND MORE OUT OF BURT JONES' STATE SENATE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING TO GO UNTIL IT WAS DEBATED ON THE FLOOR OF THE STATE SENATE AND THINGS CAN GO LOOPY AND HE BROUGHT THAT BILL AND THE BUCKHEAD BILL TO A DEBATE AND IT LOST BY A LOT.

TEN REPUBLICANS, AND VERY SENIOR REPUBLICANS CAME OUT AGAINST THAT BILL, AND I WOULD SAY BY DEBATING THAT AND HAVING THAT HUGE DEFEAT, I WOULD SAY FOR ONE OF THE PROPONENTS OF THE BILL IN AN, MAIL.

>> THEY WERE BASICALLY SAYING THEY'RE CALLING IT QUITS FOR NOW AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT PATRICIA JUST MENTIONED, TEN REPUBLICAN SENATORS IN THE CHAMBER THAT THERE WAS MORE SUPPORT IN THE SENATE THAN THE HOUSE AND TEN VOTED AGAINST IT.

HIS ISSUE IS DAVID KEMP AND IT OUTLINED MORE THAN A DOZEN LEGAL AND CONSTITUTION QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS MEASURE ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD DO TO BOND APPLICATIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF BOND APPLICATIONS AND STUDENTS IN THE CITY OF BUCKHEAD AND WHERE THEY CAN GO TO SCHOOL AND THAT HELPED SEAL ITS FATE.

>> WE SAID LAST YEAR WHEN IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR THAT IT WAS OVER, AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE THINK IT'S OVER.

IT STILL CAN COME BACK.

>> IT FEELS PRETTY OVER TO ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHERE ARE THE KIDS IN BUCKHEAD GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL?

WHERE ARE MOM AND DAD, WHAT CURB ARE THEY DROPPING THEM OFF ON DAY ONE?

WHERE ARE BUCKHEAD KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL?

HE SAID WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU CAN'T CREATE A NEW SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THEY CAN'T GO TO EPS SCHOOLS AND THAT WAS NEWS TO THE BUCKHEAD COMMITTEE TWO YEARS AGO AND THEY NEVER RESOLVED THE ISSUE.

YOU CANNOT BRING FORWARD AND YOU CERTAINLY CANNOT PASS BILLS WITH THOSE HUGE, MASSIVE, UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AND THAT WAS ONE OF A DOZEN THAT THE GOVERNOR OUTLINED.

>> OKAY.

I'M HEARING THAT THERE WAS A BILL THAT JUST PASSED THAT WILL GIVE LICENSES TO THE MILITARY SPOUSES TO BE ABLE TO SB-195, I'M SORRYING.

AS THE MILITARY DEPENDENT AND I HAVE FOR YEARS, MY DAD WAS IN THE MILITARY AND IT ALLOWS THE SPOUSES OF THE MILITARY PEOPLE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK IN THE AREAS IN GEORGIA.

SO WE DO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK THE BUDGET RID NOW.

ED MID-YEAR BUDGET CAME TODAY AND LESS MONEY WHEN IT CAME TO THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED AND WE ALL EXPECTED.

>> YEAH.

THEY ROLLED BACK SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVES AND FOR THE MOST PART THERE WAS CONSENSUS BETWEEN THE HOUSE, SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR AND IT WAS EASIER TO HAVE CONSENSUS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SURPLUS OF $6 BILLION AND IN TIMES A-PLENTY IT'S EASIER TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE AND THEY HAVE TO DO MORE BELT TIGHTENING.

>> I KNOW WE'LL DO OUR ONE-HOUR BUDGET SHOW ON MONDAY SO WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT AND NOW THE MID-YEAR, WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE IT'S NOW FOR THE GOVERNOR, AND NOW WE HAVE TO WORK ON THE FISCAL BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR ARMS AROUND THE BIG BUDGET AND NOT THE BABY BUDGET, AND TO GREG'S POINT, THEY STILL ARE WORK THIS LARGER 16 AR A LOT OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF FEDERALED IF FLOODING THAT FLOODED THROUGH EIGHT STATE AND THE CHAIRMAN AT THE GET WE SEE STORM CLOUDS WITH THE HORIZON AND OTHER OUTLAYS THAT ARE JUST WAITING OUT THERE FOR THE STATE BUDGETERS TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE COMING AROUND THE BUDGET AND THEY'LL HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH THOSE ISSUES AND WE'LL START TO SEE A LARGE PART OF THAT IN THE UPCOMING FULL-YEAR BUDGET.

>> ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> THIS IS THE CENTERPIECE OF GOVERNOR KEMP'S REELECTION CASE WITH STACY ABRAMS OVER HOW THEY SPEND THAT BUDGET AND HOW A BIG PORTION OF HIS BUDGET AND PROPOSAL IS GIVING BACK AN ESTIMATED $2 BILLION OF THAT SURPLUS AND THE TAXPAYERS IN THE FORM OF PROPERTY TAX REF LEAVE, DEMOCRATS ARE, AND OTHER NUMBER TIFFS SUCH AS EXPANDING THE MEDICAID PROGRAM PI WANT TO GO THROUGH WHAT ISN'T EXPECT INTERESTED SOME THINGS YOU GUYS THOUGHT WE MIGHT SEE TONIGHT THAT YE ARE NOT SEEING?

>> ONE BIG PROPOSAL WAS ANYTHING ON ABORTION, ON GUN EXPANSIONS AND A RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND THOSE ARE THREE HOT-BUTTON ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN WATCHING FOR YEARS AND ANY TIME IT COMES UP IT SPARKS A DEBATE AND MEASURES HAVE SO FAR BEEN BOTTLED UP IN COMMITTEE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE IT COULD BE TACKED ON, AND WE EXPLAIN HOW THINGS CAN GET TACKED ON THE LEGISLATION AND HOW TONIGHT ISN'T THE END OF EVERYTHING.

EXPLAIN THAT MORE.

>> DAY 40 WILL BE THE DAY WHEN YOU CAN REALLY SEE A WHOLE LOT OF CHRISTMAS TREE BILLS SHOW UP ON THE CALENDAR AND THAT MEANS YOU HAVE THE MAIN BILL AND IT STARTS TO GET TACKED ON LIKE ORNAMENTS AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE.

CROSSOVER DAY IS WHEN YOU SEE WHICH BILLS WILL SEE A MAJOR RESUSCITATION ON FINE, IF YOU'RE NOT ON CROSSOVER DAY.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER OR GOOD WILL TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL FAVOR AFTER CROSSOVER DAY YOU NEED TO HAVE HAD YOUR BILLS IN REGULAR ORDER BY THE END OF THE DAY TODAY IN ORDER TO HOPE FOR FINAL PASSAGE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> AND THE END OF THE BILL COULD BE TOMORROW.

SO WE WILL TAKE A BREAK AND THEN WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH OUR SPECIAL ONE-HOUR "LAWMAKERS" ON CROSSOVER DAY.

>> I YIELD.

>> GOOD THOUGHT.

GOOD THOUGHT, SENATOR.

♪♪ ♪♪ "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

WITH MORE THAN 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY AND FOOD PRODUCTION REPRESENTS $74 BILLION IN GEORGIA'S SMALL ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA'S FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> HERE'S WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH.

>> KRISTEN HAD A LOT OF COURAGE.

SHE FOUGHT FOR BLACK CULTURE.

♪♪ >> THEY COULD HAVE KILLED YOU.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WITH WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

>> SHE WAS POISONED.

>> THESE AND ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS ARE AVAILABLE WITH PASSPORT.

SUPPORT YOUR PBS STATION AND STREAM MORE WITH PASSPORT ON THE PBS APP.

>> WE CARE ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF EVERY AMERICAN.

>> WE ARE THERE AT THE FRONT LINE AND TO GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT REALLY MARYS AND EVERY ISSUE.

>> THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT SEEN THAT IN 80 YEARS.

>> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> YOU'RE MAKING SUCH AN IMPACT.

>> TRUST IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.

>> ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO SUPPORT GPB IS TO BECOME A MONTHLY GPB SUSTAINER AND IT IS UPPERS NOT ONLY THE GREAT PROGRAMMING THAT YOU LOVE ON GPB AND ALSO OUR EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

GPB IS COMMITTED FOR A TRUSTED SPACE, DIGITALLY ALL ACROSS GEORGIA.

ALL OF THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH YOUR MONTHLY SUPPORT.

PLEASE DONATE RIGHT NOW AT GPB.ORG/GIVE AND THANKS.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS," I'M DONNA LOWERY ON A SPECIAL ONE-HOUR CROSSOVER DAY SPECIAL AND WE'LL GO TO THE GOLD DOME WHERE MICHELLE RICHIE IS WITH SENATOR RANDY ROBERTSON.

>> HI, DONNA, YES.

I AM HERE WITH RANDY ROBERTSON WHO HAS TAKEN TIME OUT OF HIS VERY, VERY BUSY SCHEDULE BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE SENATE TO COME AND SPEAK TO US.

I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE THE ONE THAT PRETTY MUCH INTRODUCED THE BILL THAT WOULD GIVE THE PROSECUTORIAL OVERSIGHT FOR D.A.s, AND I WANT TO GET INTO WHY YOU WERE SO ADAMANT IN GETTING THIS BILL THROUGH.

>> THIS JOURNEY STARTED THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND WE HAD SOME ISSUES IN MY DISTRICT WHERE WE HAD A DISTRICT ATTORNEY GET ELECTED INTO OFFICE AND BAKLEY DECIDED THE LAWS DIDN'T APPLY TO HIM.

WE HAD A DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN BRUNSWICK WHERE WE HAD A MAN OUT FOR A JOG AND HE WAS MURDERED AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WE FELT, WASN'T DOING HIS JOB AND WE HAD AN INCIDENT IN FULTON COUNTY WITH THE PREVIOUS DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHERE SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WERE CHARGED WITH CRIMES WITH WHAT WE FELT LIKE WAS DUE PROCESS, AND SO WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THESE THINGS AND REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A GAP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHERE ALL OF OUR JUDGES HAD OVERSIGHT AND AND OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS DID NOT.

SO WE FELT THAT IT WAS TIME TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, AND SO MYSELF AND A FRIEND OF MINE IN THE HOUSE GOT SERIOUS ABOUT IT AND PUT LEGISLATION OUT THERE, AND SO FAR WE'VE HAD SUCCESS WITH IT.

>> PRIOR TO SPEAKING WITH YOU I SPOKE TO NICEA MAYNOR AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I DIDN'T ASK HER THAT I WILL ASK YOU, WHY IS IT OUTSIDE OF MAYNOR, DEMOCRATS WERE SO RELUCTANT IN SUPPORTING THIS BILL.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF TALK AROUND THE EDGES THAT WHETHER THE BILL WAS A -- WAS FOCUSED ON JUST DEALING WITH DEMOCRAT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND THE IRONIC PART OF IT IS WHEN THIS BILL WAS INITIALLY DROPPED THERE WERE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE THAT DROPPED THE BILL THAT SAID THE SAME THING THE BILL WE'RE CARRYING TODAY SAID.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE D.A.

'S OFFICE AROUND THE STATE AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IS WE NEED TO REMOVE POLITICS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND I THINK ABOUT MAKING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS NONPARTISAN, SO CITIZENS ARE VOTING ON PROSECUTORS BASED ON RESUMES AND EXPERIENCE AND NOT WITH WHAT PARTY THEY'RE AFFILIATED WITH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOIN US AND WE'LL LET YOU GO SO YOU CAN GO BACK IN THE SENATE.

>> DONNA, WE'LL SEND IT RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RICHELLE.

WE TALKED ABOUT SOME BILLS OR SOME ISSUES THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD COME UP AND THE VOTING BILLS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STATUS ON SOME OF THE BILLS.

IT WAS THE EFFORT TO ADDRESS RUNOFFS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, OBVIOUSLY AFTER OUR CONSECUTIVE RUNOFFS IN 2020 AND 2022.

THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS THE TIME TO LOOK AT RUNOFFS AND EITHER REDUCE THE THRESHOLD TO 45% TO TRIGGER A RUNOFF OR JUST TO GET RID OF RUNOFFS ALTOGETHER.

I GOT A LOT OF PRESS ATTENTION AND IT HAS NOT GOTTEN ATTENTION.

IT IS HERE ON CROSSOVER DAY.

>> THERE IS STILL A POSSIBILITY OF SOME OTHER BILLS WHERE THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO TIGHTEN UP SOME THINGS.

>> THERE IS.

THERE WAS LANGUAGE IN ONE BILL THAT PASSED THAT WOULD ELIMINATE DROP BOCKES IN GEORGIA AFTER DEMOCRATS WERE WORRIED ABOUT A PROVISION THAT WOULD REQUIRE LIVESTREAMING OF THESE DROP BOXES.

THERE WERE OTHERS THAT WOULD ALLOW MORE MASS CHALLENGES OF VOTER ADDRESSES AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE BILLS THAT ARE BOUNCING AROUND OUT THERE, BUT I AM SURPRISED THAT THE RUNOFF BILLS DIDN'T GET MORE TRACTION EITHER BECAUSE WE AS GEORGIANS ARE VERY TIRED OF THOSE EXTENDED RUNOFF AND WE ONLY HAD FOUR WEEKS AND STILL, FOUR WEEKS IS A LONG TIME.

>> CERTAINLY, A LOT OF VOTER FATIGUE AND WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE A BIG ISSUE THIS TIME AROUND.

JUST NOT SEEING IT, RIGHT?

>> I ALWAYS TEND TO THINK THAT IF YOU'RE WORKING WITH A GROUP OF LAWMAKERS WHO WERE JUST ELECTED UNDER THE CURRENT RULES, THEY ARE VERY RELUCTANT TO CHANGE THOSE RULES BECAUSE ALL OF THEM ARE SITTING IN THEIR SEATS BY THE LAWS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, AND THEY START TO WONDER, IF THEY'LL HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD DIG INTO.

>> IT'S BEEN A DIFFERENT SESSION.

>> WELL, WE HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW LEADER AND CHUCK IS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE LEADERSHIP AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BURNS IS NEW AND THEY'RE FEELING THEIR WAY AROUND THE LEADERSHIP STYLE AND WE'RE SEEING BIG BILLS COMING UP AND FAILING.

USUALLY SEE WE A BILL FAIL WHEN IT'S A BIG SURPRISE.

IN THIS CASE, WE KNEW THE BILLS WOULD END UP FAILING AND HE'S OKAY WITH BRINGING UP BILLS EVEN IF THEY'RE DOOMED.

>> THE SENATE IS THE MORE CONSERVATIVE OF THE TWO AND DEFINITELY TRUE THIS YEAR.

>> YES.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE THIS YEAR AND ONE THING THAT'S VERY, VERY DIFFERENT IS THE SCHEDULE.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THIS FRENETIC CHANGING OF THE SCHEDULE MID-SESSION.

THEY SET A SCHEDULE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE SESSION.

WORK MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY OR FRIDAY, COMMITTEE DAY OR DAY OFF AND SO ON AND SO ON.

THAT HAS NOT CHANGED AND THAT HAS ADDED TO THE LEVEL OF PREDICTABILITY THAT JUST FEELS SO STRANGE RIGHT NOW DOWN AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

I WOULD SAY ALSO ALONG THE LINES OF GREG, WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE HOW THE CHAMBERS ARE INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER.

WE TALKED TO A VETERAN LOBBYIST DOWN THERE TODAY AND HE SAID THEY JUST DON'T FEEL THE HATE RID NOW.

THE HATE IS GONE AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE ANTIPATHY THAT WE SEE IN THE STATE HOUSE LEADERSHIP AND THE STATE SENATE LEADERSHIP EVEN WHEN WE'RE IN THE SAME PARTIES AND GIVE THEM SOME TIME.

THEY'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO COME TO BLOWS YET AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THE SAME TUG-OF-WAR QUITE YET BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS AND THE PARTY CHAMBERS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE POWER CENTERS ARE IN EACH OF THEIR OWN CHAMBERS STILL.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS IS HEARING THAT THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE WILL MEET AT 8:00 P.M. TONIGHT.

ANY GUESSES?

>> SPORTS BETTING IS A BIG GUESS.

THEY CAN ADD 20, 30 BILLS AT 8:00 P.M. AND IT WON'T BE UNPRECEDENTED AND I'VE HAD SOME THAT WOULD GO INTO THE WEE HOURS OF THE NEXT MORNING.

>> DEFINITELY SPORTS BETTING AND THE WILD CARDS.

WE KNOW SOMETHING WILL COME UP AND WE'LL START PORING THROUGH OUR NOTES AND SAY WAIT, WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

I THINK WE'LL WAIT FOR THE SURPRISE, DONNA.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW DEMOCRATS ARE FEELING ABOUT THINGS?

MINORITY LEADER BEVERLY HAD A BRIEF PRESS CONFERENCE AND HE WASN'T HAPPY WITH SOME THINGS AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MEASURES THAT DEMOCRATS ARE UPSET ABOUT INCLUDING THE BUDGET AND THE FULL EXPANSION OF MEDICAID INCLUDING THE PROT CUTERIAL OVERSIGHT AND WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THEY CAN ALSO CLAIM VICTORIES INCLUDING THE DOOM OF BUCKHEAD CITIHOOD AND THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT DEMOCRATS UNITED AGAINST AND THEY JOINED THE TEN REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND THEY'VE HAD SOME WINS AND IT'S THE PARTY OF MINORITIES AND IT IS HARD TO OPERATE WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN POWER IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> AND THE DEMOCRATS SUPPORTED THE STATE SPENDING BILL AND IT IS ONE OF THOSE BILLS THAT IS SPLITTING THE CAUCUSES AND SPLITTING THE REPUBLICANS AND IT IS AN ESPECIALLY INTERESTING PIECE OF THE DYNAMIC DOWN THERE.

ALSO FROM DEMOCRATS, THEY JUST ARE NOT ABLE TO GET TRACTION FROM THE BILLS THAT ARE NEAREST AND DEAREST TO THEM.

GUN SAFETY, ABORTION EXPANSIONS AND THE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE DOING, MEDICARE EXPANSION AND TRYING TO MEET THE ISSUES WHERE THEY CAN'T LEAD A MORE TAILORED DISCREET ISSUES ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> IN THE IN THE SENOR, JOSH McLAURENS BEEN THERE FIVE YEARS, EXCUSE ME, FIVE YEARS AND SENATOREST VEZ HAD HIS FIRST BILL TODAY.

>> AND -- AND THEY'RE HAVING SUCCESS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BILL.

>> WE SAW REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT HOLCOMB WHO HAS HAD A NUMBER OF BIPARTISAN BILLS TODAY AND SO THERE IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR BIPARTISAN CONSENSUSSHIP.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL GO BACK TO RICHELLE RICHY TO GIVE US A WRAP UP AS WE FINISH UP THE SHOW.

HI, RICHELLE.

>> HI, DONNA.

IT IS STILL A VERY, VERY BUSY NIGHT DOWN HERE AT THE CAPITOL AND IT WILL GO FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND THE HOUSE RULES CALENDAR AND THEY'LL START THAT UP AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING SO THE MEMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF SLEEP, OBVIOUSLY, TONIGHT, BUT WE SPOKE WITH A COUPLE OF SENATORS AS WELL AS HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES AND WHAT WAS REALLY NICE IS THAT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF DIVISION AROUND BILLS AND CONSENSUS AROUND OTHERS SUCH AS THE PROSECUTORIAL OVERSIGHT, AND I'M SURE THE DEMS ARE HOPING TO GET SOMETHING DONE WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICARE EXPANSION AS I WAS LISTENING TO YOUR GUEST AND THAT AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW TO BREAK IT DOWN ONCE AGAIN, AND DONNA, I'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING, RICHELLE.

I WANT TO GET YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE DAY AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TONIGHT.

>> WE HAVE THE MARCH AFTER TONIGHT WHERE WE WILL DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT IN THE SPAN OF FEWER DAYS AND SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF NEGOTIATION BETWEEN HOUSE AND SENATE OVER WHICH MEASURES SHOULD PASS AND WHICH PIECES OF LANGUAGE SHOULD GO INTO WHICH BILLS, BUT THERE WILL BE MORE HEADLINES TO COME.

>> WE'VE SEEN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS AND THE BUCKHEAD BILL, YOU CAN'T OVERSTATE HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS TO SEE THAT DEFEATED ON THE STATE SENATE FLOOR.

IT PUTS THAT ISSUE TO BED RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE'LL SEE BILLS THAT ARE CONSENSUS DRIVEN AND TEACHER PAY RAISES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY RAISES.

SO GOVERNOR KEMP IS LOOKING AT A RATHER CONSENSUS DRIVEN AGENDA, PARTICULARLY WITH THE BUDGET AND I THINKWELL SEE THE FINAL RESULTS OF THAT.

>> SO THE THREE OF US ARE HEADED BACK OVER THERE AFTER WE FINISH THIS, RIGHT?

AND WE'LL SEE HOW LONG IT GOES.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" TODAY AND WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW FOR DAY 29.

>> SENATE BILL 66 BE REMOVED FROM THE TABLE.

SECRETARY, READ THE CAPTION.

>> SENATE BILL 66 BY OTHERS TO ENACT CODE TO AMEND CODE 156 -- ♪♪ ♪♪