♪♪ >>> WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE DISCUSSION, MORE DEBATE.

WE JUST DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REALLY GO THROUGH THE BILLS AND MAKE THEM BETTER.

YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE A BAD BILL BETTER.

>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER GLORIA BUTLER TALKS ABOUT THE FRUSTRATION FOR DEMOCRATS OVER SWEEPING BILLS BY REPUBLICANS TO ROLL BACK ELECTION LAWS.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS LEGISLATIVE DAY 31.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

I HAD THE CHANCE TO DISCUSS THE CONTROVERSIAL ELECTION BILLS WITH LEADER BUTLER.

THAT INTERVIEW IS COMING UP.

SHE ALSO OFFERS HER THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO WITH THE STIMULUS MONEY COMING IN.

WE HAVE OPINIONS FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE SHOW.

AND A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY SONG FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FROM A LAWMAKER WHO COULD BARELY CATCH HIS BREATH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LET'S HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME WHERE CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS HAS A WRAP-UP OF THE DAY, BEGINNING WITH REACTION TO SAY THE FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE.

>> Reporter: HI, DONNA.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS HAVE SLAMMED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION COVID-19 RELIEF BILL, CALLING IT BIASED AND GOING ON TO SAY IT PUNISHES STATES THAT KEPT BUSINESSES OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE BILL ALSO WILL NOT ALLOW STATES TO CUT TAXES FOR RESIDENTS.

>> QUITE HONESTLY, IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE TO MY FELLOW GEORGIANS.

DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON AND IN THE WHITE HOUSE ARE NOT GOING TO TELL ME OR THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WE CAN'T CUT TAXES FOR HARD-WORKING GEORGIANS.

>> Reporter: GEORGIA WOULD COLLECT $4.7 BILLION, ANOTHER $3.5 BILLION WOULD GO TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE STATE.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID WILKERSON THANKED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENTS.

>> THEY'LL APPRECIATE THE STIMULUS CHECKS THEY'LL BE GETTING AND THE HELP TO OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS.

I THINK THEY'LL APPRECIATE ALL THOSE THINGS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THIS WHOLE HOUSE AS WE HAVE GREAT LEGISLATION IN DECIDING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH $5 BILLION.

>> TODAY THE LEADERSHIP HAS COME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HELP IS ON THE WAY.

WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT, GEORGIA WILL RECEIVE $5 BILLION.

MY COUNTY, GWINNETT, WILL RECEIVE $181 MILLION.

>> Reporter: OTHER LAWMAKERS ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK SHOULD BE FIRST ON THE AGENDA, SHOULD BE MEDICAID EXPANSION.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF IT, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS COVID PANDEMIC THAT'S HAPPENING.

>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, OBVIOUSLY, TO BE USED IN OUR SCHOOLS, TO HELP OUR SCHOOLS GET GOING, SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS A HELPING HAND, MORE VACCINE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS THAT THE ADDITIONAL MONEY COULD BE USED AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Reporter: THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE BIDEN COVID RELIEF BILL IS $1.9 TRILLION.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THAT BILL AROUND 2:00 THIS AFTERNOON.

>>> HOUSE BILL 156 PASSED A FEW WEEKS AGO IN THE HOUSE AND THEN IN THE SENATE.

IT WAS BACK TODAY WITH CHANGES THE SENATE MADE AND THE HOUSE AGREED.

>> THIS IS A BILL THAT SETS UP A PROCESS FOR AGENCIES, STATE AGENCIES, COUNTIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO REPORT CYBERATTACKS, BREACHES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, TO THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE PARSONS WAS REFERRING TO JIMA, WHICH COULD ALSO SET ADDITIONAL REPORTING RULES FOR CYBERATTACKS.

NOW THIS BILL GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.

>>> SENATE BILL 4 PASSED, 151-0 IN THE HOUSE.

THIS BILL RELATES TO DRUG ABUSE, TREATMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PROHIBITS PATIENT BROKERING.

>> WITH THE RISE OF HOW WE TREAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE DIFFERENTLY AND HOW OUR DIFFERENT APPROACH TO RECOVERY, INSTEAD OF CRIMINALIZING, WE FOCUS ON RECOVERY, ANY TIME AN INDUSTRY DEVELOPS, THERE'S ALWAYS BAD PLAYERS.

THERE'S ALWAYS BAD PLAYERS THAT COME UP AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN MAKE A BUCK.

THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW THE STATE TO REGULATE THESE THINGS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.

SO THIS IS A GREAT BILL.

>> THE BILL NOW HEADS BACK TO THE SENATE.

>>> WELL, A SEA OF PURPLE CAPES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS MORNING.

THE BACK OF THOSE CAPES READ "I AM A LUPUS HERO".

REPRESENTATIVE KEN SKOFIELD EXPLAINED WHAT IT WAS.

>> EACH YEAR I STAND BEFORE YOU TO RECOGNIZE LUPUS ADVOCACY DAY, TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE OVER 55,000 GEORGIANS IMPACTED BY LUPUS.

I AM THANKFUL AND APPRECIATE OF MY COLLEAGUES.

WE AS MEMBERS OF THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY WEAR OUR CAPES IN SOLIDARITY OF THE STRENGTH THAT IT TAKES TO LIVE WITH LUPUS.

>> A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS MORNING.

WHAT'S A CELEBRATION WITHOUT A SONG?

ESPECIALLY FROM A REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS STILL RECOVERING FROM COVID AND NEEDS AN OXYGEN TANK.

BUT TODAY REPRESENTATIVE DEXTER SHARPER SANG WITHOUT THE USE OF HIS TANK.

♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♪ ♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♪ ♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SPEAKER ♪ ♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REPRESENTATIVE SHARPER.

>>> AND ONE MORE SONG.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR SPEAKER, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

>> WOW.

>> HE CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY.

>> I NEED YOU TO SING ON MY BIRTHDAY.

>> THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT.

>> GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER GLORIA BUTLER IS MAKING HISTORY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE FIRST WOMAN TO HEAD A CAUCUS IN EITHER PARTY IN THE SENATE AND THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR.

I SPENT TIME THIS AFTERNOON WITH HER DISCUSSING HER NEW ROLE AND THE BIG ISSUE THIS SEASON, THE REPUBLICAN MOVE TOWARD ELECTION REFORM.

BUT I STARTED WITH THE MASSIVE COVID-19 STIMULUS PACKAGE, AND THE NEARLY $5 BILLION COMING TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

I ASKED HER WHAT THE STATE SHOULD DO WITH IT.

>> FIRST THING I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FOR THIS STATE IS MEDICAID EXPANSION.

WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS STATE THAT DON'T HAVE GOOD MEDICAL INSURANCE OR NO MEDICAL INSURANCE.

AND SO WE NEED TO START THERE.

WE NEED TO START THERE, GET EVERYBODY COVERED.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

AND THE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW, WHEN ANYTHING IS GOING TO BE CUT FROM THE BUDGET, IT'S ALWAYS EDUCATION.

LET'S FULLY FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WE CAN DOUBLE BACK OR JUST GET STARTED WITH COVID, GET EVERYBODY BACK WITH THE VACCINE.

WE NEED EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN GEORGIA VACCINATED TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES, KEEP THEM HEALTHY.

WE CAN'T JUST KEEP PIECEMEALING.

IT DOESN'T WORK.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED WOULD NOT COVER ENOUGH PEOPLE.

AND WE HAVE THE MONEY.

WHY NOT USE THE MONEY WISELY AND MAKE IT HAPPEN?

>> SO WE'VE HEARD ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT BRIDGES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, OR EVEN A TAX CUT, USING THAT MONEY FOR THOSE THINGS.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> WE DON'T NEED A TAX CUT.

WE CAN USE THIS MONEY NOT FOR A TAX CUT.

IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO SAVE $40 OR $50.

BRIDGES, IF WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE TO GO ACROSS THE BRIDGES, WE WON'T NEED THE BRIDGES.

THAT IS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE ISSUES, SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, AND THEY NEED THOSE RIDES TO THE POLLS.

AND THE CHURCH PROVIDES THAT.

>> NOW, YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ELECTIONS PROCESS.

YOU'VE CERTAINLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SENATE ETHICS AND SENATE RULES COMMITTEES WHEN IT'S COME TO THESE BILLS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE ARE COMING OUT OF CROSSOVER DAY AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE HB 531 AND SB 241?

>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN BOTH OF THOSE BILLS, FOR INSTANCE, WHY WOULD YOU REDUCE THE SUNDAY VOTING?

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT LOOK FORWARD TO THE SOULS FOR THE POLLS EVENT.

THAT IS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE ISSUES, SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, AND THEY NEED THOSE RIDES TO THE POLLS.

AND THE CHURCH PROVIDES THAT.

IT'S ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY, SOULS TO THE POLLS.

NOT JUST IN GEORGIA.

SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT IS IN THOSE TWO BILLS ARE THE ABSENTEE VOTING, NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

IT'S WORKED SINCE 2005.

WHY WOULD WE STOP NOW?

16 YEARS LATER, AFTER IT'S WORKED.

AND IT REALLY WORKED IN 2020.

NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT OUR ELECTIONS THAT WORK FOR ALL OF GEORGIA.

SO LEAVE THAT ALONE.

PUT THE BALLOT BOXES BACK OUT.

DON'T LEAVE THEM OUTSIDE WHERE PEOPLE CAN EASILY GET TO THEM.

THAT WAS A GOOD FEATURE AS WELL, ALTHOUGH IT WAS AN EMERGENCY FEATURE.

WE NEED TO KEEP IT.

I THINK WE RUSHED THE BILLS.

WE HAD EARLY MORNING MEETINGS.

WE HAD A 7:00 A.M. COMMITTEE MEETING.

AND MY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WAS TO NOT HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, NOT TO HAVE COMMUNITIES INVOLVED.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A LOT MORE PEOPLE'S INPUT, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.

WE HAD SOME, BUT NOT ENOUGH.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE BEING HAD ABOUT THESE BILLS.

WE WERE OUTNUMBERED 9-4.

SO THERE WAS NO WAY THAT WE COULD WIN ANYTHING.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE TIME TO GO THROUGH THE BILLS.

AN HOUR IN A COMMITTEE MEETING IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE DISCUSSION, MORE DEBATE.

AND WE JUST DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REALLY GO THROUGH THE BILLS AND MAKE THEM BETTER.

YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE A BAD BILL BETTER.

>> IS THERE A PUSH BY DEMOCRATS TO HAVE DEMOCRATS ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES OR INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS?

TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> ACTUALLY, I HAVE TALKED WITH ONE OF THE MEMBERS THAT HAS PROMISED ME THAT WE CAN HAVE A DEMOCRAT ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND I'VE ALREADY CHOSEN THAT PERSON.

>> CAN YOU TELL US WHO?

>> SENATOR HOWARD JONES TO SERVE ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> HE'S VERY OUTSPOKEN ABOUT IT.

THERE'S PASSION BEHIND ALL OF THIS.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> WELL, FOR SO LONG, YEARS AND YEARS -- 400 YEARS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO BE FREE TO VOTE AND CHOOSE THE WAY YOU WANT TO, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT.

WE DON'T NEED TO GO BACKWARDS.

>> I MENTIONED THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SITTING OUT ON SB 241 ON THAT VOTE.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT, AND THE OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO WERE NOT PRESENT FOR THAT VOTE?

>> I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE THE COURAGE TO VOTE THE WAY YOU FEEL ABOUT BILLS.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE BILL, VOTE NO.

IF YOU LIKE THE BILL, VOTE YES.

INSTEAD OF WALKING OUT ON IT.

I DON'T RECALL EVER WALKING OUT ON A BILL.

I STAND UP TO IT.

>> YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 1999.

>> I HAVE.

>> YOU NEVER REMEMBER DOING THAT?

>> NO.

>> YOU DON'T THINK THAT SHOWS YOUR DISAGREEMENT WITH IT, WITH THE BILL?

>> NO.

VOTE NO.

>> SAY NO, JUST COME RIGHT OUT AND DO IT?

>> YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO BACK HOME TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU VOTED AGAINST SOMETHING.

AND SO I'M COVERED.

I CAN GO BACK HOME AND TELL MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I VOTED AGAINST A BILL BECAUSE IT CHANGED AND I DON'T THINK WHAT IT CHANGED TO WOULD BE GOOD FOR YOU, NOR FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

>> YOU'RE THE NEW SENATE MINORITY LEADER, FIRST WOMAN, FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR, DEFINITELY, ALSO.

YOU WERE A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CHAIR.

HOW IS IT DIFFERENT BEING IN THE LEADERSHIP ROLE?

YOU REPLACED SENATOR STEVE HENSON, WHO DIDN'T RUN AGAIN, BUT WAS IN THE ROLE FOR 16 YEARS.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW, NOT HAVING HIM AHEAD OF YOU, IN A SENSE, IN THAT ROLE?

>> A DECISIONMAKER.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE FROM CHAIR TO LEADER.

BUT I KNOW IT'S A LOT MORE.

BUT BECAUSE HE AND I WORKED SO CLOSE TOGETHER AND WE DISCUSSED A LOT OF THINGS, WE DISCUSSED THE BILLS, WE DECIDED TOGETHER SOMETIMES WHAT WE WOULD DO IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

AND SO I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT PLACE YET WITH MY CHAIR WHERE WE CAN SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS AND DECIDE THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

AND SO THE DECISIONMAKING, FOR ME -- WHICH I MAKE DECISIONS PRETTY QUICKLY.

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THEM TOO LONG BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME IN THE SESSION.

40 DAYS.

AND SO THE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE PRETTY QUICKLY.

>> SO AT THIS POINT IT'S THE BUCK STOPS HERE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THE BUCK STOPS HERE.

>> YOU HAVE -- IN YOUR PLACE NOW, SENATOR PARENT AND THEN HAROLD JONES.

SO YOU DO HAVE A NICE COLLABORATIVE TEAM.

BUT I GUESS YOU'VE GOT TO GET TO WHERE THE COLLABORATION TAKES PLACE.

>> WE HAVE GROWING PAINS, AND SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WE ARE GETTING THERE.

I CAN SEE A BIG CHANGE FROM, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE STARTED UP TO TODAY.

YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED THE OTHER DAY ON THE FLOOR.

ALL OF US STOOD UP TO THESE ELECTION BILLS.

I PUT THAT TEAM TOGETHER.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

AND ALL OF THE ONES THAT DECIDED TO GO TO THE WELL TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ELECTION BILLS, IT WAS PLANNED AND IT WORKED.

>> I HAVE TO ASK WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING THE ONLY WOMAN IN YOUR POSITION.

ARE YOU SOMETIMES THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM?

>> IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF MY HAVING THREE BROTHERS AND I WAS THE ONLY GIRL IN THE ROOM.

AND SO I -- I HAVE TO BE STRONG, I HAVE TO SPEAK MY PEACE AND NOT BE SPOKEN OVER.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S TAKING THE MEN A LITTLE WHILE TO GET USED TO WORKING WITH A WOMAN, TOO, BECAUSE THEY'RE USED TO GETTING IN THERE AND JUST DOING WHAT THEY DO.

I FEEL THAT MY BIGGEST JOB IS TO LOOK AFTER MY MEMBERS, TO BRING THEM ALONG, NOT JUST WORKING FOR MYSELF.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.

IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM, IT'S ABOUT ALL OF US.

THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO GET AS MANY BILLS -- YOU KNOW, WE HAD EIGHT BILLS ON CROSSOVER DAY THAT PASSED BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED AND WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED.

ALTHOUGH WE HAD TEN BILLS ON THE CALENDAR, WE GOT EIGHT OF THEM, WHICH IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

BECAUSE SOME YEARS WE DON'T HARDLY GET ANY.

BUT WE GOT EIGHT TO CROSS OVER.

>> YOU'RE FEELING PRETTY GOOD AS WE WRAP THINGS UP?

>> I AM FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT BEING LEADER.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THAT SAYING YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR BECAUSE YOU WILL GET IT.

I GUESS I WAS REALLY SURPRISED -- SURPRISED MYSELF THAT I EVEN RAN FOR LEADER, BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU ALWAYS QUESTION YOURSELF, CAN I DO THAT?

OF COURSE I CAN DO THIS.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE 22 YEARS AND GOTTEN TO WHERE I AM BY NOT DOING.

I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE.

I'VE WORKED EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

>> I WANT TO THANK LEADER BUTLER FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

>>> COMING UP, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG LIFE-CHANGING EVENT THIS WEEKEND FOR ALL OF US, SPRINGING FORWARD TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE MOVES UNDER THE GOLD DOME TO KEEP GEORGIANS FROM CHANGING THE CLOCK TWICE A YEAR.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>> Announcer: "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, WITH OVER 81 YEARS HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

THE FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT ALL GEORGIA FARMERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR-ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

THIS WEEKEND IT'S TIME TO SPRING FORWARD AND LOSE AN HOUR OF SLEEP AND IT'S HARD TO FIND ANYONE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME 2021 BEGINS ON SUNDAY AT 2:00 A.M. AND THAT'S WHEN WE MOVE OUR CLOCKS FORWARD.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE WITH MY GUEST, REPRESENTATIVE WES CANTRELL, WHO HAS A BILL ABOUT IT.

I'M HAPPY YOUR HERE.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CONFUSING STORIES AND CONFUSING HEADLINES ABOUT THE BILL.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BREAK IT DOWN AND SHARE GRAPHICS.

FIRST, WE CAN KEEP SPRING FORWARD AND FALL BACK AND MAKE NO CHANGES, OR SECOND, KEEP SPRING FORWARD AND FALL BACK, THEN GO TO THE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME YEAR-ROUND WHEN CONGRESS ALLOWS IT, THIRD, GO TO STANDARD TIME YEAR-ROUND NOW, THEN DO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME YEAR-ROUND WHEN CONGRESS ALLOWS IT.

FINALLY, GO TO STANDARD TIME YEAR-ROUND NOW.

SO THE SECOND OPTION IS REFLECTED IN YOUR BILL, HB 44.

SO TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I GOT ELECTED SEVEN YEARS AGO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO TALK TO ME ABOUT, WAS, CAN'T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TIME CHANGE?

THERE'S TWO ISSUES.

TIME CHANGE IS ONE ISSUE.

90% OF PEOPLE HATE THE CURRENT SYSTEM.

THEY TELL ME ALL THE TIME, PLEASE JUST PICK ONE OR THE OTHER, LET'S STOP THIS RIDICULOUS TIME CHANGE.

THEN THE SECOND ISSUE IS IF WE WERE TO GET RID OF THE TIME CHANGE, WHICH TIME ZONE DO YOU PREFER, DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME OR STANDARD TIME?

AND ABOUT 70% OF PEOPLE PREFER DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME OVER STANDARD TIME.

>> IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.

THERE'S A SENATE BILL AND IT'S SB 100 AND IT WAS CARRIED BY SENATOR BEN WATSON AND HE'S A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND HE'S PUSHING THE LEGISLATION FROM A MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE.

>> THE JOURNAL OF SLEEP MEDICINE BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO CAME OUT RELATING THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE GOING BACK AND FORTH.

WE SHOULDN'T BE LOSING SLEEP FOR TWO WEEKS IN THE SPRING AND TWO WEEKS IN THE FALL.

THEY RECOMMENDED GOING TO STANDARD TIME YEAR-ROUND.

THAT'S ONE ASPECT OF IT AND THAT'S ONE THOUGHT PROCESS.

MANY PEOPLE WILL SAY THEY WOULD RATHER GO TO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME YEAR-ROUND AND, AS A MATTER OF FACT, A BIPARTISAN EFFORT IS NOW IN FRONT OF CONGRESS.

I TALKED TO MY CONGRESSMAN AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF.

THEY'RE WORKING IN THE HOUSE ON IT AND ALSO WORKING IN THE SENATE ON IT.

THERE ARE OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS BESIDES SLEEP.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS RELATING TO HEART ATTACKS.

THERE'S AN INCREASED NUMBER OF HEART ATTACKS IN THAT TWO-WEEK PERIOD IN THE SPRING.

THERE'S ALSO A STUDY ABOUT GRUMPY JUDGES.