♪♪ >> GOOD MORNING.

WELCOME TO CROSSOVER DAY, 2022.

I CAN'T WAIT, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL.

>> WELCOME TO THE START OF WHAT WILL BE A LONG CROSSOVER DAY AS DOZENS OF BILL ARE VOTED ON UNDER THE GOLD DOME, GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON LEGISLATIVE DAY 28 AND OUR CROSS OVER DAY SPECIAL, IN ATLANTA, THIS BILLS MONTH BE PASSED OUT OF ONE OF THE TWO CHAMBERS IN ORDER FOR THE CHANCE OF THEM BECOMING LAW BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS APRIL FOURTH, AMONG THE BILLS PASSED TODAY, ONE IMPOSING HARSHER PENALTIES ON THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMES DURING PROTEST, ANOTHER ON COLLEGE AID FOR STUDENTS AND ANOTHER FOR COMPANIES WHO WANT TO SELL MEDICAL MARIJUANA, WE'LL ALSO HAVE ANALYSIS THAT COVERS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FIRST, OUR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA WATERS.

>> THANK YOU, DONNA, IT'S A VOTING MARATHON HERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

BILLS, BILLS, AND MORE BILLS, SOME OF THEM HOT OFF THE PRESS.

>> HOUSE BILL 1485 IS A FINANCIAL AID BILL FOR STUDENTS.

>> WHAT WE SEEK TO DO IN THIS LEGISLATION HELP ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WHO HAVE A FINANCIAL GAP, A SMALL GAP TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE TO FINISH THEIR CERTIFICATE OR THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM UP TO $2,500.

>> THEY MUST HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER OPTIONS, PASSED 171-3, A THREE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CERTAIN MENTAL DISORDERS AMONG CHILDREN, 1884 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> THIS BILL PROVIDES COVERAGE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF UP TO 100 CHILDREN THROUGH THE STATE-HELD BENEFIT PLAN, FOUR PANS WHICH IS A AUTOIMMUNE NEUROTIC DISORDER.

>> IT IS INCREDIBLE IMPORTANT THAT WE FIGHT FOR MEDICAL COMMUNITIES TO RECOGNIZE PANS AS A LEGITIMATE DISEASE SO THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL BEGIN TO PAY FOR THE TREATMENTS OF THIS, MUCH LIKE MY BEAUTIFUL NIECE ALEXIS HAD TO UNDERGO, SO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS BILL, THANK YOU TO THE CHAIRMANS FOR BRINGING IT AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERABLE LEGISLATION.

>> SOME RIPPING OFF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, SOME HAVE BEEN VICTIM TO THIS CRIME.

>> NEW PENALTIES FOR CRIMINALS STEALING CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FROM VEHICLES, THE PROCESS TO STEAL A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN JUST TAKE MERE MINUTES.

THE REASON IS TO SCRAP THE METAL FOR THE PRECIOUS METALS INSIDE THESE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

>> BUT THE COST TO INSURANCE COMPANIES TO REPLACE THEM CAN GO AS HIGH AS $4,000.

THE SENATE WAS NO EXCEPTION, BILLS PASSED SB 609 WILL HELP COMPANIES THAT WANT TO SELL MEDICAL CANNABIS OILS, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BOGGED DOWN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AS CANNABIS COMPANIES HAVE STRUGGLED TO GET THE NECESSARY LICENSES ISSUED.

AND SENATE BILL 353 WHICH WOULD ALLOW JUDGES TO HAVE DISCRETION ABOUT SUSPENDING A DRIVER'S LICENSE FROM SOMEONE WHO FAILED TO APPEAR FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

>> IN GEORGIA, DRIVER'S LICENSE MEANS A JOB.

IF YOU HAVE ONE, YOU CAN WORK.

IF YOU DON'T, 80% OF GEORGIANS DRIVE TO WORK AND HALF OF GEORGIANS WHO LOSE THEIR LICENSES LOSE THEIR JOBS, IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

>> BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS, NOT SO LUCKY, SENATE RESOLUTION 131 WOULD ALLOW GEORGIANS TO VOTE ON A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW HORSE BETTING IN THE STATE, BUT THE VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION FAILED TO GAIN THE 2/3 MAJORITY REQUIRED AND WASN'T ADOPTED.

A MOTION TO RECONSIDER WAS IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED AND PASSED.

IT'S UNKNOWN WHEN THAT RESOLUTION MAY COME UP AGAIN.

SB 601, CALLED THE GEORGIA EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACT WOULD GRANT A $6,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT WANTED TO LEAVE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO ATTEND A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

>> FAMILIES MAKING WELL ABOVE WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU WANT TO PUT IN THERE, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, TO SKILL QUALIFY FOR A $6,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEIR STUDENT?

>> YES, SIR, AS COULD A MINORITY STUDENT MAKING VERY WELL BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL AND, COULD ALSO QUALIFY.

>> WHEN A CHILD GOES TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, IS THE EXPENDITURE ON THAT CHILD'S NEEDS TESTED?

>> NO, SIR.

>> SO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME SOMEBODY IN THE TOP 1% OF WAGE EARNERS ATTENDS PUBLIC SCHOOL WE SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT AS SOMEBODY IN THE BOTTOM 1%?

>> WE DO.

WE DO.

>> IN THAT WAY, DOESN'T THAT BILL MIRROR WHAT WE DO IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM?

>> THAT BILL FAILED TO PASS, 20-29.

ALSO MAKING NEWS, LEGISLATURES IN THE HOUSE AGREED TO GIVE THEMSELVES AND SENATE COLLEAGUES A PAY RAISE.

IT WOULD INCREASE THEIR CURRENT SALARY FROM $17,000 TO $35,000.

IF THE SENATE PASSES THE BILL, VOTERS WOULD NEED TO APPROVE THE MEASURE IN NOVEMBER.

THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT, DONNA, AND IT'S TIME NOW TO CROSSOVER BACK TO YOU.

>> BRING IT HERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU LATER ON IN THE SHOW, SEVERAL TIMES, BRENDA.

THANK YOU.

I'M DELIGHTED NOW TO HAVE TWO JOURNALISTS WITH ME FOR THIS ONE HOUR CROSSOVER DAY SPECIAL, FEELS LIKE REUNION DAY BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM WORKED ON "LAWMAKERS" IN THE PAST AND I MISS THEM BOTH, PATRICIA MURPHY, SERVED AS LAWMAKERS CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT IN 2020, BROUGHT WITH HER EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, HAVING COVERED STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS, STATE AND WHITE HOUSE, INSIDER NATIONAL COLUMNIST FOR AJC, WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU, SO GREAT TO BE BACK.

SO GREAT.

>> ALSO RETURNING TONIGHT, RAUL VALLEY, LAST YEAR SERVED AS CORRESPONDENT WHO GAVE US UP TO THE MINUTE INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES AT THE CAPITOL DURING THE SHOW, HELPED PRODUCE THE SHOW FOR MANY YEARS AND NOW HE'S A POLITICS REPORTER FOR W.A.B.E.

RADIO.

LET'S START WITH BOTH OF YOU WITH YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE DAY AND WHAT CAME OUT OF CROSSOVER DAY, LET'S START WITH YOU PATRICIA.

>> SO TODAY RIGHT NOW, CROSSOVER DAY IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, A NUMBER OF BILLS WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON GOING POSSIBLY UNTIL MIDNIGHT SO IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS, THAT'S MY FIRST HEADLINE.

SECOND OF ALL, TO ME, THE PAY RAISE WAS BIG NEWS.

THAT IS GOING TO GO TO VOTERS ON A REFERENDUM.

I DO SUSPECT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY PASS BOTH CHAMBERS SO VOTERS WILL SEE THAT ON THE BALLOT IN 2022 IN NOVEMBER, IF LAWMAKERS SHOULD GET THAT, I'VE WRITTEN A COLUMN ON THIS TOPIC.

GEORGIA IS ABOUT THE BOTTOM FIFTH OF PAY FOR LEGISLATURES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND LAWMAKERS MAKE LESS THAN THE ATLANTA SCHOOL BOARD, MAKE LESS THAN THE ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL.

A PART-TIME JOB TECHNICALLY BUT IT REALLY TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND MY POINT IN THE COLUMN IS STARTING TO WEED OUT PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE OF THE PAY AND THIS COULD CHANGE THAT .

>> SO WE'LL GET TO YOU IN A MOMENT, I KNOW WE THINK WE'RE SKIPPING YOU BUT I'M NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO BRENDA WHO HAS SOMEBODY WITH HER RIGHT NOW AND SO BACK TO YOU, BRENDA.

>> SORRY, THANK YOU DONNA, I HAVE REPRESENTATIVE RON STEVENS WITH ME, SPONSOR OF HB 1053 WHICH EXTENDS THE TAX CREDIT FOR GEORGIA ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, EXTENDED ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

>> YES, FIVE YEARS.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TO THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> YOU KNOW, THOUGHT OF THIS STUFF BACK IN 2008 AND CREATED A FILM TAX IN SET IT BACK THEN AND IT CREATED, TURNED TO A JUGGERNAUT WITH 10S OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND OF COURSE GOT SBREMS OF BILLIONS, NOT MILLIONS BUT BILLIONS, SO ONCE A FILM IS PRODUCED IN GEORGIA, THEN THE NEXT STEP, OF COURSE, IS TO HAVE THE POST PRODUCTION FEES, USED GO OUT TO CALIFORNIA AND OTHER PLACES, NOW GEORGIA IS ITS HOME AND ESSENTIALLY TAKEN OVER THE COUNTRY, NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY NOW FOR MAKING FILMS AND THE POST PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT IS A PIECE OF THAT.

>> TO SAY THEN, PASSED TODAY BY THE WAY, MY NEXT QUESTION, HOW DO WE FAIR WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, YOU SAY WE'RE NUMBER ONE NOW.

>> OFF AND ON, NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD, OR AT LEAST THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME.

USED TO BE CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK, BUT WE HAVE OUR STARS HERE, HOME GROWN FOLKS, THE MOVIES PRODUCED HERE STIMULATES TOURISM THROUGH THE ROOF SO AN AMAZING FOR GEORGIA TO BE NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY AGAIN FOR FILM PRODUCTION AND WRITING AND ALSO POST PRODUCTION AND THIS CARRIES IT HOME FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS .

>> OKAY, TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION SO LET'S SWITCH CHANNELS NOW.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL CARE.

YOU'RE A SUPPORTER.

>> I AM A SUPPORTER.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE CITIES THAT HAVE ESSENTIALLY DEFUNDED THE POLICE, IF YOU WILL, PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH COMMUNITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, SO THIS ALLOWS FOLKS IN ALL SITUATIONS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

YOU STILL GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECKS TO PURCHASE A GUN BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE BREAKING INTO YOUR CAR WHICH IS A REAL PROBLEM NOW WHENEVER YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR GUN IN YOUR CAR, YOU CAN CARRY IT WITHOUT GOING TO THE PROBATE JUDGE AND LOOKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SIGN THAT BILL AND PUT IT INTO LAW.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, GETTING TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA, BACK IN THE STUDIO, RAUL, I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CROSSOVER DAY SO FAR.

>> I THINK NUMBER ONE IS THE HOUSE SPEAKER STEPPING IN ON MEDICAL CANNABIS OIL, I THINK THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT BILLS THROWN OUT THERE, PROPOSED, ON WHAT TO DO AND THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, MEDICAL CANNABIS IS LEGAL IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA BUT NO LEGAL WAY TO BUY IT SO WAS SET UP THROUGH THE LEGAL CANNABIS COMMISSION, GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS BUT TAKING A VERY LONG TIME.

NOW 23,000 PEOPLE ON THE PATIENT REGISTRY SO WHAT THE SPEAKER DID TODAY WITH THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS ON THEIR SIDE OF THE BUILDING IS BASICALLY WORK TOGETHER WITH LAWMAKERS, BASICALLY COMES DOWN TO THIS.

THEY CANCELED THE SIX LICENSES, RESTART THAT PROCESS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE PEOPLE WAITING FOR THIS OIL, IT TELLS THE COMMISSION GO FIND THAT OIL, GO PRO CURE THAT OIL AND GET IT TO GEORGIANS BY MID AUGUST, WILL IT GET DONE?

NOW THE SENATE AS HAD A THEIR OWN BILL.

>> AND THE STIPULATION WAS WHERE TO SELL IT AND THE LOSSES, FRANKLY, FROM THE ONES NOT GRANTED THE LICENSES .

>> WHEN I TALKED TO STATE LEGISLATURE ALLEN POWELL THAT WAS HIS MAIN TERN, IF THIS IS ANOTHER FEW YEARS ABOUT OF IT GETS THROUGH THE COURTS, BEFORE MEDICAL CANNABIS OIL, LOW THC OIL IS PRODUCED, I MEAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING A WHILE SO I THINK THE SPEAKERS' COMPROMISED BILL ON THE HOUSE SIDE DOES IS GET THE OIL TO PEOPLE AND WE'LL SORT EVERYTHING OUT AT THE SAME TIME.

>> THE OTHER THING WE SAW TODAY WAS THE MOVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE GAS TAX WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AND SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE MOVEMENT.

IT WILL BE TEMPORARY BUT TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE, PATRICIA.

>> IT WILL BE QUITE TEMPORARY, THE STATE GAS TAX WILL BE SUSPENDED WHICH IS A NICE CHUNK OF CHANGE FOR GEORGIANS SUSPENDED THROUGH MAY 31st THROUGH THIS LEGISLATION, MIRRORS SOMETHING CONGRESS INTEND TO DO WHICH IS LIFT THE GAS TAXES.

THEY DO HELP THE SUPPORT OF BRIDGES AND ROADS AND MAINTENANCE AROUND THE STATE BUT GOVERNOR, AND LEGISLATURE WE BELIEVE WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IDEA.

GEORGIANS REALLY FEELING IT AROUND THE PUMP, THE PRICE GONE UP NEARLY $2 IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, PEOPLE CAN REALLY FEEL IT, COMMUTING MORE AND MORE SO IT'S SOMETHING POPULAR WITH VOTERS.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WILL BLOW A HOLE IN THE BUDGET, SO IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S THE RIGHT TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WAR IN UKRAINE, PUTTING EVEN STRONGER PRESSURE ON PRICE INCREASES, THIS LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO DO.

>> AND GOVERNMENT WANT TO PASS IT FAST.

>> ABSOLUTELY, SO WHAT WE'RE HEARING, IT CAME THROUGH THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THEN THERE WAS A PROCEDURAL MOTION AND WHAT IT'S LOOKING LIKE IS THIS COULD BE ON THE SENATE FLOOR THURSDAY AND IN THE GOVERNOR'S HANDS THURSDAY AND SO AND ANOTHER, WE'RE HEARING 150 TO $160 MILLION A MONTH, SO PATRICIA'S RIGHT, THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN ABSORB RIGHT NOW THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THE NUMBER IS 29 CENTS A GALLON FOR UNLEADED AND 33 FOR DIESEL, THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND WANT IT RIGHT AWAY.

>> BUT HERE'S AN IMPORTANT THING, YOUR VIEWERS SHOULD KNOW IS WHEN IT'S SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, THERE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A LAG, BECAUSE THE GAS THAT'S IN YOUR GAS STATION RIGHT NOW, THE TAXES HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID ON IT.

IT'S THE NEXT AMOUNT OF GAS THAT GOES TO THE GAS STATION THAT WON'T BE TAXED SO THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG FOR SOME GAS STATIONS.

>> OKAY, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GET OUT THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE CLAMBERING FOR THIS.

BACK TO BRENDA AT THE GOLD DOME WITH ANOTHER INTERVIEW.

BRENDA.

>> Reporter: DONNA, I HAVE REPRESENTATIVE TOD JONES, WE'LL TALK ABOUT GAMBLING.

A LOT OF MEASURES IN CONSIDERATION TONIGHT, TOTALLY AGAINST EXPANDING GAMBLING IN GEORGIA, TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT AND WHY YOU'RE OPPOSED TO IT.

>> SURE, TWO REAL KEY ISSUES AND COME BACK TO ONE KEY THEM AND THAT'S INTELLECTUAL HONESTY AND DISHONESTLY, SO MANY TIMES WE HEAR THE SUPPORTERS OF GAMBLING TALK ABOUT THE EXTRA REVENUE THE STATE WILL GET, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT COST THE STATE INCURS BECAUSE OF EXPANSION AND THAT'S ANYTHING FROM GAMBLING ADDICTION, INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH, UNFORTUNATELY SEX TRAFFICKING AND SO MANY AREAS WE SEE ACROSS THE NATION WHERE LEGALIZATION ALREADY OCCURRED.

>> AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, SO COMPELLING WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR SON AND SAY GAMBLING AND MENTAL HEALTH, BILL PASSED RECENTLY, KIND OF INTERTWINE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR SON AND HOW YOU THINK THIS EXPANSION OF GAMBLING WOULD DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS A CROSS SECTION BETWEEN GAMBLING ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE WE SEE SO MANY TIMES EVEN IN THE BILL, IN SB-142 WHICH TALKS ABOUT EXPANDING ON SPORTS BETTING YOU SEE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SPORTS BETTING COMPANIES WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE, DON'T REALLY DETAIL WHAT THAT ASSISTANCE WOULD BE.

THINK ABOUT JUSTIN, MY SON, DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR, SCHITZO, DEPRESSION, AND HE HAS ADDICTIVE PERSONALITIES, WITH DRUGS, BEHAVIORS, THIS A YOUNG MAN WHO PACES 18 HOURS A DAY AND THEY SUBSCRIBE THAT A LOT TO IN SOME WAYS, GENETICS BUT ALSO ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR SO FOR ME, I DON'T WANT TO PUT INTO GEORGIA, FOR 10.2 MILLION GEORGIANS TO SEE SOMETHING ALONG GAMBLING REALLY NOT NECESSARY AND WILL CROSS OVER AND CAUSE IN MY OPINION, GREATER MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND GREATER CRIMINAL COSTS.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE REVENUE SIDE, TALK ABOUT THE COST SIDE, AND THAT INTELLECTUAL HONESTY HAS TO TALK ABOUT DIRECT AND INDIRECT COST AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T HEAR THE SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL TALKING ABOUT.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU, SIR.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA, TALK ABOUT GAMBLING AND HE'S TOTALLY AGAINST IT, WE'RE HEARING, EARLIER TODAY, SENATE TOOK IT UP, VOTED DOWN BUT RECOMMITTED SO NOW HEARING IT MAY RISE AGAIN.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE HEARING.

>> NOW PUT ON CALENDAR FOR THIS EVENING AND THAT'S THE RESOLUTION.

THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK.

>> FOR HORSE RACING.

>> THIS IS JUST FOR HORSE RACING, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE FOLLOWING FOR TONIGHT AND KEEPING AN EYE ON.

>> THAT'S A BIG ONE AND WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE EVERY CROSSOVER DAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GAMBLING THE LAST FEW YEARS?

MAY NOT HEAR ABOUT IT RIGHT UNTIL CROSSOVER DAY AND THEN IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> ONE REASON, BECAUSE FRANKLY THE GAMBLING LOBBYISTS ARE A STRONG PRESENCE AT THE CAPITOL.

TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WERE TONS OF LOBBYISTS FROM THE GLEN CASINOS, IN THE BUILDING, DIDN'T GET ACROSS THAT PARTICULAR CROSSOVER DAY, BUT IT'S STRIKING TO HEAR TOD JONES RAISE A SPECIFIC POLICY-BASED OBJECTION, WE HAVEN'T HEARD A STRONG OBJECTION LIKE THAT, IT'S BEEN HAPPY TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PARAMUTUAL BETTING, MAYBE A COMBINATION DOWN THE ROAD, PARA-MUTUAL, SPORTS BETTING ALL COMBINED.

IT IS SOMETHING THIS YEAR FEELS LIKE IT HAS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE SIDE AND TO SEE IT RECOMMITTED FOR LATER THIS EVENING, THAT'S A STEP THEY TYPICALLY DON'T TAKE UNLESS THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE FOUND THE VOTES FOR IT.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER INCREMENTAL STEP TOWARDS GETTING THIS FINALLY ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OTHER FACTOR YOU MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE NOTICED IT COMES UP AROUND LATER IN THE SESSION.

I KEPT HEARING WAS THIS TIME AROUND, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO SUPPORTED IT WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER QUALIFYING SO THEY WOULDN'T PICK UP A SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE APPOINTMENT, I MEAN OPPONENT SO THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE HEARING THAT AND SAW ANTIGAMBLING PEOPLE LAY DOWN A MARKER LAST WEEK WITH THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> THEY DID, HAVE A HUGE PRESS CONFERENCE, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE SOMETHING MORE WILL HAPPEN THIS HOUR.

STILL MORE TO COME ON THIS HOUR-LONG CROSS-OVER DAY SPECIAL OF LAWMAKERS .

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" FOR THE SPECIAL CROSSOVER DAY, WITH ME JOURNALISTS WHO COVER POLITICS, PATRICIA MURPHY AND RAUL, WITH W.A.B.E., FIRST, HEAD BACK TO THE CAPITOL WHERE BRENDA WATERS HAS A GUEST.

>> Reporter: I HAVE SENATOR ELAINA PAIR WITH ME AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT A BILL THAT IMPOSES ON HARSHER PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO PROTEST, TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS ACTUALLY OVER A YEAR OLD.

THERE'S SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH IT, ONE IS IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT LIMITS FREEDOM OF SPEECH, VAGUE IN WHAT IT OUT SETS WITH THE LAW, IMPEDES ON THE FIRST RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY AND PROTEST AND MAKE ONE'S VOICES HEARD.

NOW, ARE YOU ALLOWED TO COMMIT CRIMES DURING PROTEST?

NO.

>> Reporter: A DIFFERENT STORY.

>> AND THAT IS AND SHOULD BE ILLEGAL BUT IT BILL COMES WITH A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND SIMILAR TO A YEAR PASSED LAST YEAR IN FLORIDA AND ENJOYED BY THEIR COURTS, AGAIN, THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE FINAL VOTE?

>> MIGHT HAVE BEEN PARTY LINE, PROBABLY 32-20, HAVE TO LOOK AT THE EXACT NUMBER THOUGH.

>> Reporter: OVERALL, HOW DO YOU THINK THE SESSION IS GOING FROM DEMOCRATIC PRIORITY?

>> YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY GOT THINGS ACCOMPLISHED, I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE OUR VOICES EFFECTIVELY TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THINGS THAT GEORGIANS CARE ABOUT LIKE EDUCATION, JOB CREATION, TRANSPORTATION, BUT IS CERTAINLY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, MANY OF THE THINGS I THINK GEORGIANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE REMAIN UNDONE.

>> Reporter: AND NAME SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

>> CERTAINLY, MEDICAID EXPANSION, WE PASSED A WHOLE LOT OF BILLS THAT REALLY SEEK TO MICRO MANAGE AND PUNISH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, OUR TEACHERS, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO THOSE AND FRANKLY, WE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MADE-UP ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THIS SESSION, IN A WAY, THAT I THINK IS INTENDED TO DRAW SORT OF A CULTURE WAR AROUND MACES AROUND VACCINES, AROUND PEOPLE TO GET IN THE FACES OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, IN THEIR FACE AND THEN IF THEY GET REMOVED THEY'RE MAD ABOUT THAT.

IT'S BEEN A LIT ANTIOF BILLS.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT CRT?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THEM, THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, SEEKING TO REMANAGE TEACHERS AND SHUT DOWN CONVERSATION.

A, IT WON'T WORK, AND B, IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA, FOR ALL KINDS OF REASONS, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS ARE CURIOUS.

THE PLACE TO UNPACK DIFFICULT ISSUES, WITHIN THE CLASSROOM, IT IS A VERY APPROPRIATE PLACE TO DISCUSS DIFFICULT AND HARD ISSUES AND HAVE THAT PUSH AND PULL OF DIALOGUE AND THE OPENING OF YOUNG MINDS AND CRITICAL THINKING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TRY TO SEEK TO NOT EXPOSE KIDS TO ALL KINDS OF THINGS YOU'RE NOT DOING THEM A SERVICE, YOU KNOW, AND THE REALITY IS THAT THE OFFENSE OF, YOU KNOW, ATTEMPTING TO MICRO MANAGE TEACHERS, THEY CAN'T DO THEIR JOB, NOT TREATING THEM LIKE PROFESSIONALS IS REALLY IN THE FRONT AND WE HAVE A SERIOUS TEACHER SHORTAGE.

>> WITH ALL THESE BILLS COMING, FIVE, OR SIX OF THEM, I'D THROW MY HANDS UP AS A TEACHER TOO AND BE LIKE I'M OUT OF HERE.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU, GOOD LUCK TONIGHT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

HERE, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS BRENDA TALKED ABOUT AND THAT WAS ABOUT SHE ASKED SENATOR PAREN ABOUT THE PROTEST BILL.

TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT TODAY AND THE DISCUSSIONS WE HEARD.

>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO PUT THAT PROTEST BILL IN THE BUCKET OF PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS WE'VE SEEN FROM REPUBLICANS SINCE LAST YEAR AND SINCE THE PROTESTS OVER SOCIAL JUSTICE.

AND PART OF THE PROTEST HERE IN ATLANTA AND OTHER METRO AREAS WERE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT SHUT DOWN I-75, I-85 A PORTION OF THIS BILL NOT JUST ABOUT BANNING PROTESTS BUT CRIMINALIZING PORTIONS OF PROTEST INCLUDES SHUTTING DOWN ROADS.

THE MOST PROBLEMATIC PIECE OF THE BILL FOR DEMOCRATS IS IT DEFINES A PROTEST AS A GATHERING OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS OBJECTIVELY OFFENSIVE AND COULD BE SEEN AS THREATENING.

I MEAN WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TWO OR MORE PEOPLE SO THERE ARE DEFINITIONS IN THE BILL THAT DEMOCRATS OBJECTED TO STRONGLY AND FIRST AMENDMENT CONSTITUTIONALISTS HAD THEIR OBJECTIONS TO THIS BUT BECAUSE IT IS IN THE BUCKET OF BILLS I'LL PUT IT WITH CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, THERE WAS A BILL LAST YEAR THAT PASSED, DON'T LET CITIES DEFUND THE POLICE, SORT OF THIS BUCKET OF ISSUES ON PUBLIC SAFETY, I THINK THESE ARE ALL PART OF THAT MESSAGE FROM REPUBLICANS.

AND WHEN WE TALK TO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE GETTING READY FOR SOME OF THEIR OWN PRIMARIES, THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO TAKE SOME OF THESE CONSERVATIVE BILLS BACK TO THEIR VOTERS AND SAY LOOK AT WHAT I'VE DONE FOR YOU SINCE THESE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED SO I THINK THAT'S HOW I SEE IT IN THAT VEIN.

AND WE CERTAINLY SAW SOME DEMOCRATS PROTESTING BUT REPUBLICANS SAYING THIS IS NEEDED, YOU CAN'T SHUT DOWN EXPRESS WAYS.

>> WE SAW PROTESTERS AT THE CAPITOL TODAY AND THEY WERE THERE WITH A FENCE AROUND THE CAPITOL THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE.

SO EVEN THAT LOOK OF WHEN YOU PROTEST AT THE CAPITOL IS ALL TOGETHER DIFFERENT.

ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD ON THAT?

>> I THINK WHAT I'M WATCHING FOR IS NOT ONLY HOW IT'S USED IN THE PRIMARY BUT HOW THESE BILLS WILL BE USED IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THAT'S THE OTHER THING I WANT TO WATCH BECAUSE AS MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION IS AROUND WHAT HAPPENS AT THE PRIMARIES, GETTING OUT THE VOTE IN THE FALL IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH TOO.

>> OKAY.

WELL WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE CAPITOL BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, JOINING US FROM THE CAPITOL TO TALK ABOUT THE DAY IN THE HOUSE IS SPEAKER PROTIM, DAN JONES, WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS.

>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CROSSOVER DAY, HOW DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING SO FAR?

>> ACTUALLY, IT'S BEEN A RELATIVELY SMOOTH CROSSOVER DAY.

THIS IS MY 20th AND IT DOESN'T FEEL AS FRANTIC AS I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, IT'S RUN SMOOTHLY.

>> WHAT BILLS DO YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE COME THROUGH BEFORE THE NIGHT IS OVER?

>> MY GOSH, MOST OF WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING AND INTERESTED IN HAS GONE THROUGH PRIOR TO THE DAY.

WE DID PASS A BILL I THINK WILL BE VERY HELPFUL AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING GAP FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

IF A STUDENT IS 80%, HAS COMPLETED 80% OF THEIR COURSE WORK FOR A DEGREE, THEY COULD APPLY THROUGH THEIR COLLEGE FOR GAP FUNDING TO HELP THEM FINISH THE DRILL, SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY LOSE THEIR DAYCARE OR CAN'T PUT TIRES ON THEIR CAR, OR THEY, WHICH WILL IMPEDE ABILITY TO PAY TUITION AND EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER FINANCIAL AID, THERE WOULD BE FUNDING THERE, A $10 MILLION FUND OF COURSE WE COULD INCREASE IN THE FUTURE BUT I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THAT TODAY.

YOU WERE A BIG PROPONENT OF TWO BILLS THAT PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE RECENTLY, HB-1178, THE PARENT BILL OF RIGHTS BILL, AND 1084, THE TEACHING OF, QUOTE, DIVISIVE CONCEPTS ON RACIAL MATTERS.

DO YOU THINK EITHER OF THOSE BILLS HAVE ANY TEETH?

>> TEETH?

>> IF THEY BECOME LAW.

>> I THINK THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE.

I ALSO WORKED ON A BILL THAT IS ACTUALLY A TECHNOLOGY REFORM, SEEMED TO DUST UP INTEREST IN THE BEGINNING BUT IN THE END IT PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY WITH 136 OF 180 VOTES AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TEN YEARS, WE'VE UPDATED OUR TECHNOLOGY AND WITH ALL THIS ONLINE LEARNING THAT WE'VE SEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE USING A SCHOOL-ISSUED DEVICE OR ACCESSING THE INTERNET THROUGH A SCHOOL-ENABLED BROWSER THAT WE PROTECT THEM FROM AGE INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

THAT COULD BE BOTH SEXUAL IN NATURE, BUT COULD BE EXTREME VIOLENCE, JUST ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND SO WE WITH A WIDELY SUPPORTED BILL, ONE I WORKED WITH REPRESENTATIVE IRWIN ON PERSONALLY.

THE OTHER TWO BILLS I WORKED ON SOME, THE PARENT BILL OF RIGHTS TAKES ALMOST ALL RIGHTS OF PARENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN LAW AND SIMPLY MAKES SURE THAT THEY'RE TRANSPARENT AND THAT TEACHERS HAVE, OR THE PARENTS ARE AWARE OF THEM AND THAT THERE'S A PROCESS IF THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED OR IF THEY OBJECT TO SOMETHING.

>> GOOD EVENING, SPEAKER PROTIM JONES, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ON DEVICE OF CONCEPTS AND PARENTAL POINT OF ONCE YOU GET DOWN THE LINE AND YOU FEEL LIKE A SCHOOL SYSTEM HASN'T FOLLOWED THE RULES, WHAT IS -- WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE TOOL TO, MAYBE NOT THE WORD PUNISH, BUT TO KEEP SCHOOLS IN LINE?

IS IT GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH QVE FUNDING, DO YOU SEE LEADERSHIP GOING THE PROPERTY TAX ROUTE, THROUGH LABORS OR JUST PRIVATE RIGHT TO ACTION, SUING CIVILLY?

WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP GOING?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY NOT PRIVATE RIGHT TO ACTION.

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT QVE FUNDING, AND IT'S NOT OTHER TYPES OF PUNISHMENT THAT YOU MENTIONED.

WHAT IT DOES DO IS VERY NARROWLY, WITH REGARD TO THE DIVISIVE CONCEPTS, IF A SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND IT'S NOT AT THE TEACHER LEVEL, IT'S AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL.

IF THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE AS A PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE THE ONES WHO TAKE THE STATE STANDARDS AND IMPLEMENT IT WITH CURRICULUM.

IF THEY ARE TEACHING CONCEPTS THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE AT THAT AGE AND TEACH HATE, FRANKLY, THEN THEY COULD, THROUGH A LONG DUE PROCESS UP TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, COULD NARROWLY LOSE A DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY, WHAT YOU REFERRED TO AS WAIVERS, WITH REGARD TO THAT CURRICULUM.

>> WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH, LEADER JONES FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON YOUR 20th CROSSOVER DAY.

THANKS SO MUCH.

ENJOY THE REST OF THE EVENING.

>> I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE, THANK YOU, IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD NIGHT.

WE'LL DO GOOD THINGS FOR GEORGIA.

THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU.

SO SHE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS THERE AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WHAT SHE'S DONE HAS FOCUSED ON KIDS EVEN AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL OR IN THE K-12 LEVEL AND ANY THOUGHT ON SOME OF THE THINGS SHE BROUGHT UP?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS SO INTERESTING SHE SAID A LOT OF WHAT SHE'S DONE HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AHEAD OF CROSSOVER DAY.

THIS FEELS DIFFERENT FROM SOME OF THE OTHER CROSSOVER DAYS I'VE COVERED IN THAT THE REALLY BIG TICKET ITEMS ARE NOT IN QUESTION.

THEY STILL NEED TO PASS ANOTHER CHAMBER BUT IN TERMS OF GOVERNOR'S TAX CUT, THE PAY RAISES AND BUDGET, OBVIOUSLY, BUDGET WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ALREADY, CRITICAL RACE THEORY, DIVISIVE ISSUES, CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY FRONT-LOADED SESSION SO EVERYTHING NOW ON CROSSOVER DAY ARE THE MORE NARROW, TAILORED PIECES THEY STILL WANT TO GET ACROSS THE LINE AND SOME OF THEM ARE HARDER TO GET ACROSS THE LINE, GAMBLING CERTAINLY IN THAT BUCKET, CHANGES TO VOTING LAWS.

SO GETTING TO THE ISSUES HERE OF THE PRIORITIES BUT THE REALLY BIG PIECES ALREADY HAD THE ATTENTION.

>> ELECTION YEAR, THAT'S PART OF IT RIGHT, WHY WE SAW SO MUCH PASSED ALREADY.

>> AND TO FOLLOW UP THE QUESTION ASKED, WHEN THESE BILLS STARTED, THERE WAS A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFERENT PUNISHMENTS AND TOOLS WHETHER IT WAS QVE OR GETTING SOME MONEY BACK FROM PROPERTY TAX, IT LOOKS LIKE GOING INTO THAT WAIVER AREA IS WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE AND IT'S INTERESTING NOW BOTH DIVISIVE CONCEPT BILLS DO NOT INCLUDE THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA.

THAT WAS THE OTHER THING I NOTICED IN THE END YOU HEARD TWO DISCUSSION POINTS, FIRST OF ALL, CAN IT EVEN BE ENFORCED, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE END BOARD OF REASON, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, KIDS WHO ARE IN COLLEGE ARE ADULTS AND IF THEY PICK A COURSE ON A DIVISIVE TOPIC, THAT'S UP TO THEM.

>> IF THEY START IT OFF WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOOKING TO BE PUNISHED, YOU KNOW, LOOKING TO BE ACTUALLY PUT SOME TEETH IN IN TERMS OF MONEY TAKEN AWAY FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUT THEY BACKED AWAY FROM ALL OF THAT AS IT WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS WHICH TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT THE PROCESS.

DOESN'T IT?

>> TELLS YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS, THE FEEDBACK THEY'VE GOTTEN FROM EDUCATORS, EVEN FROM OTHER PARENTS AND FROM FELLOW LAWMAKERS TO SAY MAYBE EVEN IN PRINCIPLE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE REPUBLICANS COULD SUPPORT, BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO THE IDEA OF ACTUALLY WITHDRAWING FUNDING FOR UNDERLYING CURRICULUM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING A POSSIBLY EVEN GIVING PARENTS THE RIGHT TO SUE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OVER SOMETHING THAT'S TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM, IS THAT A ROAD THEY WANT TO GO DOWN RIGHT NOW?

SO THIS IS REALLY WHAT THE PROCESS IS ALL ABOUT, PUTTING THESE PROPOSALS FORWARD, SOME OF THEM ARE A BRIDGE TOO FAR, THEY GET NARROWED DOWN TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET A MAJORITY VOTE.

>> YOU REALLY DO GET AN IDEA OF HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE FROM BEGINNING TO END.

>> A LOOK INSIDE THE SAUSAGE MACHINE.

>> SO WE'LL GET ANOTHER BREAK, ANNE AND A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE SENATE WHEN WE DO THAT BUT WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE OF "LAWMAKERS".

>> STILL CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO THE HOUSE, SENATOR FROM 44th ASKED UNANIMOUS CONSENT, OBJECTION?

CHAIR HEARS NONE.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS ", LONG CROSSOVER DAY, A REUNION OF SORTS WITH JOURNALISTS WHO COVER POLITICS, PATRICIA, RAUL, WITH W.A.B.E.

WHO USED TO WORK ON THE SHOW SO GLAD TO HAVE THEM BACK.

WE WANT TO WORK ON SOMETHING THAT SURPRISED PEOPLE TODAY.

>> YEAH, STATE SENATOR JEFF MOSS FILED TWO BILLS, ONE, BRING BACK THE CITY -- YOU KNOW, CREATE THE CITY OF BUCKHEAD BUT ONE THAT DEALT WITH THE ATLANTIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THEY WROTE THE CHARTER THAT STUDENTS IN BUCKHEAD CITY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WAS THE BILL SO WHEN I SAW THE TWO BILLS ON FIRST READERS THIS MORNING, THOUGHT LET SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT GETS ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE AND THE FIRST BUCKHEAD CITY BILL, AGAIN, ASSIGNED TO URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, IT'S AN ALL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE WHICH EFFECTIVELY KILLS IT AGAIN.

SO IT WAS INTERESTING THE BILLS POPPED UP AND THEN THEY WENT AWAY THE SAME WAY.

>> SO IT'S CROSSOVER DAY, ANYTHING WILL HAPPEN AND SOME WILL TRY.

>> ANYTHING WON'T HAPPEN.

>> ANYTHING WON'T.

>> AND THEY KNEW IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T GO FAR, SENATOR MULLUS BUT WENT AHEAD AND FILED IT IN.

>> I THINK THE BUCKHEAD CITY SUPPORTERS THOUGHT IT MIGHT GET A LITTLE FURTHER TODAY WHICH WAS QUICKLY TOSSED INTO THE TRASHCAN ESSENTIALLY, MAYBE SEEMED LIKE A COMMITMENT THAT SENATOR MULLUS MADE TO THE BUCKHEAD COMMITTEE, TOLD MONTHS TRUST US, IT WILL PAST, IT WILL BE GREAT, MOST OF THOSE NOT COME TO PASS BUT IT DOES FEEL LIKE THEY WERE CHECKING THE BOX, THEY GOT THE BILL INTRODUCED, EVEN TO READ THAT BILL THAT WAS CHANGING THE CHARTER OF ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE STUDENTS THAT WOULD NOT BE IN THEIR CITY, THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED MONTHS OF DEBATE WITHIN THESE TWO CHAMBERS IN TERMS OF QUESTIONS OF LOCAL CONTROL GOING IN AND CHANGING A SCHOOL SYSTEM'S CHARTER, GOING IN AND MAKING STUDENTS ELIGIBLE IN A CITY WHERE THEY DO NOT LIVE.

THERE WERE MANY, MANY, MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION, EVEN BEFORE THE DEBATES STARTED AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

>> AND I WANT, YOU KNOW, I THINK OUR AUDIENCE AND YOUR AUDIENCE ABSOLUTELY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON, GRANTDED, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, I GET THE QUESTION, WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM BROOKHAVEN, VININGS, EAST -- BECAUSE THIS IS REMOVING A CITY FROM AN EXISTING CITY.

I'M STILL GIVING THIS EXPLANATION HOW THE TO PEOPLE WHO KEEP ASKING ME WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT?

THAT'S WHY IT'S DIFFERENT, BECAUSE ALL THOSE OTHER CITIES ARE BEING CARVED OUT OF COUNTIES.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT.

>> AND PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

IT REALLY IS WORTH REPEATING.

SO I'M GLAD YOU DID.

THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE IT CAME UP AGAIN, ARE WE GOING TO SEE IT MAYBE AGAIN ADDED ON TO, TUCKED ON TO SOMETHING ELSE?

>> IT'S -- I THINK SO BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, BUCKHEAD CITY, BECAUSE IT'S A CITY COMING OUT OF A CITY, I HEARD IT HAS TO BE IN TWO BILLS, I HEARD SOME PEOPLE MAYBE IN THREE BILLS SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ATTACHING LANGUAGE TO THREE DIFFERENT BILLS.

THAT'S -- IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO PASS ONE BILL ATTACHED TO A BILL.

THREE OR EVEN TWO IS GOING TO BE REALLY A CHALLENGE.

>> PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WE MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF CROSSOVER DAY BUT STILL A POSSIBILITY THAT LEGISLATION THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT TODAY PASS OUT OF EITHER CHAMBER CAN STILL GET TACKED ON OR FRANKENSTEINED AS WE SAY -- >> ALWAYS THAT POSSIBILITY, SENATOR JEFF MOLUS WHO IS THE CHAIR, COMMITTEE SAID YESTERDAY, LET ME TEACH YOU SOME TRICKS BECAUSE I GOT THEM, CROSSOVER DAY, WE KNOW ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN BUT BUCKHEAD CITY IN PARTICULAR THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP SAID THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THIS, THE SENATE LEADERSHIP IN THE FORM OF GOVERNOR JEFF DUNCAN SHOWN HE IS NOT ONLY NOT INTERESTED BUT ACTIVELY BLOCKING IT NOW, BRINGING IT TO A SHORT NUMBER OF DAYS, EVERY MEMBER OF ATLANTA DELEGATION AGAINST IT, EVERY MEMBER OF BUCKHEAD DELEGATION AGAINST IT, EVEN THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM BUCKHEAD GEORGIA, REPUBLICAN, IS AGAINST IT.

SO NEED TO PICK UP SUPPORTERS AND NOT PEOPLE ACTIVELY OPPOSING IT TO BE REALISTIC AND AT THIS POINT, VERY HARD TO SEE.

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT YOU DON'T THE NEW MAYOR.

ANDRE DICKENS HAS BEEN TO THE CAPITOL A LOT, NOT ONLY TIMES YOU'VE SEEN HIM ON THE MEDIA, BUT A NUMBER SAY THE MAYOR CAME TO MY OFFICE TODAY.

I THINK HE SAID HE CAME TO THE CAPITOL NOW EIGHT OR NINE TIMES SO I THINK THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE HAS BASICALLY CAUSED -- CHANGED THE DYNAMIC, AND LAWMAKERS FEEL AT LEAST GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.

WE'LL CHANGE GEARS AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE CAPITOL WHERE BRENDA WATERS HAS ANOTHER GUEST, BRENDA.

>> Reporter: HEY DONNA, REPRESENTATIVE JAMES BEVERLY IS WITH US NOW, WE'LL TALK ABOUT ELECTION.

THE ELECTIONS BILL.

AND I WOULD BE HB-1464, DEMOCRATS OPPOSE THIS BILL.

THERE WAS A PROTEST OUT FRONT THIS MORNING.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY YOU OPPOSE THIS MEASURE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT'S A CONTINUATION OF SB-202 LAST YEAR, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE NOW LEANING INTO 1464, LEANS INTO THE FACT WE HAVE OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD SPONSOR WATER OR FOOD OR WHATEVER IT IS WITHIN THESE LONG LINES AND THEY'RE SAYING ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THEY WANT ANY OUTSIDE MONEY COMING FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP SMALL ACCOUNTANTS, SMALL MUNICIPALITIES, SAYING YOU CAN'T GET EXTRA MONEY, WHICH IS AN ADDED PROBLEM HELPING PEOPLE STAY IN LINE FOR LONGER.

THE OTHER THING PROBLEMATIC ABOUT THE BILL IS THAT AT ONE POINT YOU HAD TO HAVE ONE MACHINE FOR 250 PEOPLE.

AND NOW THEY SAYING YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE MACHINE DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LEFT TO VOTE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

WHO DOES THE REGRESSION ANALYSIS OR FORECAST TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LEFT, SO YOU WIND UP SHRINKING THE AMOUNT OF MACHINES THAT PEOPLE CAN VOTE ON, THERE BY DEPRESSING THE VOTE AND NO WAY ANYONE CAN TELL WHAT THAT IS.

>> Reporter: LET'S TALK ABOUT DROP BOXES, SHOULD VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS CONTROL THEIR OWN DROP BOXES?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE VOTING A LOT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO DO IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT IT SEEMS REPUBLICANS HELL-BENT TAKING AWAY OUR FREEDOMS WITH VOTING, FREEDOM OF SPEECH YOU NAME IT AND TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

>> Reporter: OKAY.

YOUR FEELING ABOUT TONIGHT, CROSSOVER NIGHT, TONIGHT?

>> YEAH, THIS IS MY LIFE.

MY 10th CROSSOVER.

AND IT'S CERTAINLY THE SAME YOU GET A BUNCH OF STUFF HAPPEN IN THE BEGINNING AND NEXT FEW HOURS ARE LONG.

KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU THAT NOTHING CRAZY WILL COME UP THAT CAN PUT GEORGIANS IN DANGER FROM MY STAND POINT AND THEN LEAN INTO IT, BUT RIGHT NOW, IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM, LEAN INTO IT, SEE WHAT'S THERE, BUT SEEMS MUCH OF WHAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, A LOT OF AS WE SAY CRAZINESS HAPPENED EARLIER IN SESSION SO TODAY IS CLEANING UP WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE HOUSE TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET THE SENATE STUFF COMING OVER.

>> ONE MORE QUESTION, SOMETHING LIKE 1464 DOES GO THROUGH, WHAT DO YOU TELL CONSTITUENTS, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO THEM?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS MY INSTITUTES SMART, WHICH I THINK GEORGIANS ARE VOTING FOR AND WHAT I SAY TO THEM IS ONE WORD AND ONE WORD ONLY.

VOTE.

VOTE THESE PEOPLE OUT.

THIS IS THE ELECTION YEAR, A GREAT ELECTION YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR, GOD WILLING.

AND WE GOT TO VOTE.

VOTE OUR CONSCIENCE, VOTE, GOOD PEOPLE GOT TO GET IN, SO THE ONE WAY TO CHANGE ALL THIS FOOLISHNESS THAT HAPPENS HERE, GET UP AND VOTE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO JUST QUICKLY, ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT HE HAD TO SAY IN TERMS OF THE BILL, THE ELECTIONS BILL?

>> THE ELECTIONS BILL I'M INTERESTED HE FOCUSED ON THE OUTSIDE MONEY THAT CANNOT COME INTO THE STATE.

THERE WAS A FLOOD OF MONEY, 10S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DURING THE 2020 ELECTION TO LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND THAT WAS REALLY TO HELP THEM GET PPE, TO GET SCREENS UP DURING COVID, THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SAYING WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET READY FOR THIS ELECTION, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE FOUNDATIONS THAT CAME IN WERE THE ZUCKERBERG FOUNDATION PUT IN A LOT OF MONEY WHICH IS OF COURSE, MARK ZUCKERBERG FOUNDATION WITH HIS WIFE SO THAT WAS MONEY REPUBLICANS FELT LIKE WAS PARTISAN, WAS NOT TRUSTWORTHY AND WAS BEING SPENT AND IN COUNTIES WHERE MAYBE THE ZUCKERBERG FOUNDATION HAD INTEREST INSTEAD TO START SPREADING EQUALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE SO THAT WAS THEIR OBJECTION BUT WILL REALLY PUT SOME OF THESE COUNTIES IN A BIND, THEY THOUGHT, I THINK THEY BELIEVED THEY HAD A NEW SOURCE OF FUNDING IF THEY NEEDED IT IN A PINCH TO GET READY FOR THE BIG ELECTIONS AND THAT WON'T BE AVAILABLE.

>> YEAH, IF THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE THE AUTHOR, SPONSOR OF THE ELECTIONS BILL THIS A MOMENT, BRENDA WILL, BUT NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING GOING ON DOWN THERE.

>> NOW, THE HOUSE IS PICKING UP REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT HULCOMB'S WRONGFUL CONVICTION ACT AND RIGHT NOW IF SOMEONE IS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF A CRIME AND THEN EXONERATED, EVERY CASE IS SEEN AS A SEPARATE BILL, HERE'S THE CRIME AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WHAT SCOTT HOLCOMB IS PROPOSING IS A REVIEW PANEL TO MAKE IT MORE CONSISTENT, CONSISTENT WHETHER IT'S THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR WHAT CRIMES, IT'S THE IDEA OF IT SHOULD BE A UNIFORM PROCESS, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THAT BILL WILL DO.

IN THE END, THE LEGISLATURE STILL HAS TO APPROVE IT AND STILL FUND THROUGH APPROPRIATIONS, THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE HOUSE FLOOR NOW.

>> WILL BE A FLOOD OF BILLS, ONE FOR EACH PERSON.

OKAY.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

BRENDA HAS ANOTHER INTERVIEW AND SHE HAS THE SPONSOR OF THE ELECTIONS BILL, HB-1464.

>> Reporter: I DO.

>> GO AHEAD, BRENDA.

>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, HB-1464, SPONSOR OF THE BILL, DEMOCRATS FIERCELY OPPOSE IT.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S NEEDED?

>> IT'S JUST PRACTICAL COMMON SENSE, CLEAN-UP MEASURES AND SECURITY MEASURES.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE IS SUCH OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.

THIS BILL PUTS INTO CODE MEASURES THAT UNIFORMLY CODEIFY A CHAIN OF CUSTODY FOR BALLOTS, EXPANDS VOTER ACCESS TO THE POLL.

IT CREATES A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS FOR GDI TO HAVE REGIONAL JURISDICTION, THESE ARE ALL COMMON SENSE MEASURES.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE OPPOSITION IS ABOUT.

>> DO YOU THINK THE GDI INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATING THOSE AT THE POLLS, IS THAT INTIMIDATING FOR THE VOTERS?

>> NO, FRANKLY, GBI CAN ALREADY INVESTIGATE ELECTIONS ISSUES.

THE ONLY CHANGE THAT WE'RE MAKING IS MAKING IT ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A, AN AGENCY LIKE SECRETARY OF STATE OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT REQUEST THEY DO INVESTIGATIONS.

THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING INVESTIGATIONS OVER THE YEARS.

WHO DOESN'T TRUST THE GBI?

I MEAN IT'S THE HIGHEST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN ATLANTA.

IT'S NOT PUTTING THEM OVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE TASK OF ELECTIONS.

THIS IS JUST, THIS IS A GOOD MEASURE TO SECURE THE VOTE.

>> Reporter: A LOT OF GROUPS ARE GEARING UP TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS BILL, THERE WAS A PROTEST OUT FRONT TODAY.

WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO EVERYTHING GOING ON AROUND THIS BILL?

>> YEAH, AGAIN, I HAVE TO KIND OF GO BACK TO, IF THEY WOULD READ THE BILL I THINK THEY WOULD FIND THAT THIS BILL IS A, YOU KNOW, A BIPARTISAN MEASURE THAT DOESN'T PUT ANYTHING THAT RESTRICTS FULL ACCESS.

IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING THAT I CAN SEE THAT WOULD HAVE THESE FOLKS UP IN ARMS LIKE THIS.

THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

IT'S SIMPLY JUST READ THE BILL.

>> Reporter: OKAY.

ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.

WILL THE BILL HAVE MORE RESPONSIBILITY WITH A SMALLER ELECTION DEPARTMENT?

>> SAY THAT AGAIN, PLEASE.

>> Reporter: I'M GETTING THIS IN MY EAR.

WILL THE BILL HAVE MORE RESPONSIBILITY WITH MORE ELECTION DEPARTMENT?

>> SO THE PROVISIONS FOR CHAIN OF CUSTODY REQUIRE THAT AND BALLOTS ARE MOVED, THEY'RE MOVED IN A SEALED BOX, SO WHETHER IT'S A SEALED CARD BOARD BOX OR HARD PLASTIC BOX TO BE DETERMINED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNTY, AND IT REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE A CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM OR SHEET SO EVERY TIME THE BOX IS MOVED OR OPENED, THEN WE KNOW WHO TOUCHED IT AND WHY THEY TOUCHED IT AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH IT.

IT WILL -- MOST OF THESE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, BOARD OF REGISTRARS ARE ALREADY PERFORMING TASKS SUCH AS THIS, THIS JUST CREATES A UNIFORMITY IN CHAIN OF CUSTODY DIVISIONS.

>> Reporter: SO NOTHING NEW?

APPRECIATE YOU, SIR.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH BRENDA, THE WHOLE IDEA THIS BILL, DID NOT COME OUT UNTIL LAST WEEK, HEARINGS WERE LAST WEEK, YET IT'S MOVING ALONG QUICKLY AND WE'RE ALREADY, WE GOT THE MAY PRIMARY COMING UP SOON.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING, ONCE WE MAKE THE TURN AWAY FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND START FOLLOWING THE MAY PRIMARY TO JUNE RUN-OFFS IS THE EFFECT OF SB-202 ON A MAJOR LIKE WE SAW ATLANTA AND MAYORAL RACES ACROSS THE STATE, BUT WHAT IS THE EFFECT ON ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE CHALLENGES RECRUITING POLL WORKERS, THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL DEFINITELY BE WATCHING IS THE EFFECT ON POLL WORKERS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS WHETHER IT'S WORK LOAD OR THEM JUST WANTING TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK.

>> WE'RE ALREADY HEARING SOME POLL WORKERS SAYING, A LOT RETIRING BUT A LOT SAYING THIS HAS BEEN A LOT ON THEM.

THE 2020 WAS A LOT, THEY WERE INTIMIDATED, THEY WERE, SOME OF THEM WERE, YOU KNOW, THREATENED SO, YOU KNOW, JUST GETTING PEOPLE TO WANT TO BE POLL WORKERS IS TOUGH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE PIECE OF THIS BILL DOES INCLUDE A PROVISION TO CRIMINALIZE MAKING THREATS AGAINST POLL WORKERS, TO MAKE THAT ITS OWN DISTINCT CRIMINAL PENALTY, WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO INCREDIBLY PREVALENT AND SO DISTURBING AND WE CANNOT CONDUCT ELECTIONS WITHOUT ELECTION WORKERS.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT THOSE WORKERS AND I THINK THERE WAS UNIFORM AGREEMENT ON THAT PIECE OF THE BILL.

>> YEAH.

AS WE WRAP UP, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRAP UP EVENTUALLY, EVEN THOUGH WE'LL BE GOING BACK DOWN TO THE CAPITOL TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS CROSSOVER DAY IS DIFFERENT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT BE HERE NEXT YEAR, WHO, SOME OF WHOM, WE JUST FOUND OUT ARE NOT GOING TO BE RUNNING AGAIN.

IT'S THE FINAL CROSSOVER DAY FOR JEFF MOLUS FOR INSTANCE, SENATOR MULUS IS ONE OF THEM.

>> HE JUST ANNOUNCED -- THERE IS A SLEW OF LAWMAKERS, AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THEM, WE'RE LOOKING AT HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WALKING OUT THE DOOR.

IN ADDITION TO JEFF MOLUS, CALVIN, SALGRY, AN ABSOLUTE INSTITUTION AND LOVED IN THAT BUILDING.

EVERYBODY IN THAT WHOLE CHAMBER.

CAREY ENGLAND, CHAIR OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIONS COMMITTEE, WALKING OUT THE DOOR WITH ALL OF THAT KNOWLEDGE.

I'M SURE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A KNOWLEDGEABLE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BUT SO MUCH INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

GO OVER TO SENATE, JEFF DUNCAN WILL BE LEAVING THE CHAMBER, OTHERS LEAVING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE WILL NOT BE RETURNING, SENATOR PROTIM, BUSH MILLER, BURT JONES, THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING BACK BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING FOR DIFFERENT OFFICES SO THE NEXT SESSION WILL BE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT AND A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THE SENATE AND HOUSE ESPECIALLY ARE LOSING THESE OLD HANDS AND ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THEY HAVE AN EVEN TEMPERAMENT, DISAGREEMENTS BUT NOT FEUDS, NOT FIGHTS, AND THAT SORT OF DEMEANOR AND CHARACTER IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY GOING TO BE MISSED AS WELL.

>> AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CAREY ENGLAND, CALVIN, TRUSTED BY BOTH SIDES.

WITH JEFF MOLUS LEAVING, MAYBE A QUESTION TO ASK REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATES, WHAT WILL YOUR CHAIRMAN LOOK LIKE -- AND I'M WORKING ON A STORY TALKED TO LAWMAKERS LEAVING, WHY ARE YOU LEAVING, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGED, ONE THING LAWMAKER MENTIONED, NO MATTER WHO IS IN CONTROL, THEY NEED TO HAVE MORE CHAIRMANS FROM BOTH PARTIES IN DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT HAVE A CLOSER NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING, AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE WHO WORK TOGETHER WELL AND KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER WELL, SO WE'LL HAVE TO WRAP UP THE SHOW.

I LOVED HAVING THIS REUNION WITH YOU GUYS, COMING BACK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

TODAY, RAUL, PATRICIA, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON "LAWMAKERS" FOR THE SPECIAL ONE HOUR CROSSOVER DAY.

THE SHOW IS ENDING BUT GPB'S COVERAGE OF THE CAPITOL CONTINUES.

WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON TWITTER THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND GPB DIGITAL PAGES, STAY TUNED TOMORROW FOR THE WRAP UP OF LAWMAKERS DAY 29.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.