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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TODAY BEGAN THE SECOND HALF OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 16TH DAY.

THE HOUSE PASSED RESOLUTIONS CONDEMNING RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE AND EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE GILL ISBELL WAS THE HOUSE SPONSOR.

>> WHEN THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT DOES WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, WE NEED TO TAKE THE STAND AND LET THEM KNOW IT'S WRONG.

I TALKED WITH SOME IN SENATOR TURBERVILLE'S OFFICE AND THEY TALKED TO ME WHAT WAS GOING ON OVER THERE.

AGAIN, MANY ATROCITIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED FROM THE PEOPLE KILLED, 150,000 RUSSIAN TROOPS THAT HAVE INVADED AND AGAIN, WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND ON THIS.

WE DON'T NEED TO SEND OUR OWN PEOPLE OVER THERE, BUT GIVE THEM MILITARY SUPPLIES TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

>> THE HOUSE PASSED LEGISLATION TO START A PROGRAM OFFERING FREE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO GIRLS IN SCHOOLS IN POOR AREAS.

HOUSE BILL 50 FROM REPRESENTATIVE ROLONDA HOLLIS WOULD ENSURE ALL TITLE ONE SCHOOLS HAVE FREE TAMPONS AND SANITARY NAPKINS.

SHE SAID IT'S A WAY TO FIGHT QUOTE PERIOD POVERTY IN THE STATE.

>> THIS BILL HAS A GRANT PROGRAM WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AGAIN TO PROVIDE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO SCHOOLS GRADES 5-12, AND TITLE I SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE THE MOST AT RISK AND IMPOVERISHED SCHOOLS.

RESEARCH SHOWS 66% OF THIS SHOWS THAT THESE ARE K-12 TITLE I SCHOOLS AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ABOUT 25% OF ALABAMA STUDENTS ARE IMPOVERISHED AND 13% OF LOW INCOME STUDENTS SKIP SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE ON THEIR PERIOD.

>> THE SENATE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE ANY REDISTRICTING CHALLENGE TO BE HEARD BY A NEW STATEWIDE PANEL OF JUDGES RATHER THAN A MONTGOMERY DISTRICT JUDGE.

STATE SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON ARGUED THAT IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO HAVE A STATEWIDE PANEL HEAR SUCH CASES SINCE REDISTRICTING APPLIES STATEWIDE.

THE BILL WAS AMENDED TO SPECIFY WHERE IN THE STATE JUDGES ON THIS PANEL WOULD COME FROM.

>> WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES, THE BILL CREATES A THREE JUDGE PANEL.

THIS AMENDMENT GOES IN THERE AND SAYS, ONE OF THOSE OTHER JUDGES COMES FROM THE NORTHERN DISTRICT.

ANOTHER ONE COMES FROM THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

AND ONE COMES FROM THE CENTRAL DISTRICT ALREADY.

IT'S JUST RESTRICTING THAT THOSE JUDGES ARE CHOSEN FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTION IN COMMITTEE TODAY.

THE HOUSE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE BEGAN ITS WORK ON THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING TOTAL EDUCATION SPENDING OF $8.17 BILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT $125 MILLION LESS THAN WHAT GOVERNOR KAY IVEY RECOMMENDED, AND ABOUT $500 MILLION MORE THAN THE CURRENT YEAR'S EDUCATION BUDGET.

IT INCLUDES A FOUR PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS, AND ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASES FOR ALL MANNER OF PROGRAMS FROM PRE-K TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE.

>> WE BEGIN THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH A BEGINNING BALANCE OF $1.3 BILLION AND AS A CAREER IN THE BUSINESS WORLD AND CFO, YOU DO THE SAME, AND YOU UNDERSTAND, I THINK, AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN ATTEST THAT WHEN YOU MAKE THE WORST DECISIONS IS WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD.

AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

SO, THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT THE FISCAL CLIFF IS COMING PROBABLY WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT.

AND WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET AND THE COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE MUST DO WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE THOUGHTFUL AND CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, RATIONAL, PRUDENT, RESPONSIBLE AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE AS A WHOLE AND WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL AGENDAS.

>> NO VOTE WAS TAKEN ON THE EDUCATION BUDGET.

THAT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN TOMORROW, PUTTING IT IN POSITION FOR THE HOUSE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.

THE SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE TOOK UP AND PASSED A BILL AIMED AT IMPROVING MATH INSTRUCTION IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS.

SENATE BILL 171 FROM SENATOR ARTHUR ORR WOULD ENACT STRONGER REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORT FOR MATH EDUCATION IN GRADES K-5.

MARK DIXON, OF THE A-PLUS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP HELPED WORK ON REVISIONS TO THE BILL, WHICH INCLUDE MORE SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, PLUS FLEXIBILITY FOR DISTRICTS ON CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR SCHOOLS THAT DON'T PERFORM.

>> THAT INCLUDES HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND CURRICULUM TEXTBOOKS WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THE CLASSROOM, TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND MATH AND BETTER TEACH STUDENTS AND ASSESSMENTS TO IDENTIFY WHERE STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING AND INTERVENTIONS TO GET THEM CAUGHT UP.

MATH COACHES IN EVERY SCHOOL OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, CAPACITY FOR THEM TO BUILD WITH THE TEACHERS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE CLASSROOMS AND THERE'S A LOT AROUND TO BE SURE THAT THE SCHOOLS IN THE BOTTOM 5% GET THE SUPPORT FROM THE BILL.

AND YOU START WITH THE BOTTOM 5% DOING INTENSIVE WORK WITH THEM.

AND IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT AND THEY CANNOT MOVE THE NEEDLE, THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE END OF THE BILL THAT ALLOWS FOR EITHER THE SCHOOLS TO BE RECONSTITUTED AND THEY BRING IN NEW LEADERSHIP, COMPLETELY HAVE REDO THE SCHOOL, PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOL, REBUILDING THE SCHOOL BACK UP OR CONVERT THE SCHOOL TO A CHARTER SCHOOL.

>> THE SAME COMMITTEE PASSED HOUSE BILL 220 FROM REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS MAKING TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN QUESTIONED COLLINS DURING THE MEETING SAYING HE WANTED A WAY FOR PARENTS TO HAVE RECOURSE IF THEY DON'T THINK THEIR CHILD SHOULD BE HELD BACK FOR NOT READING PROFICIENTLY.

THE TWO LAWMAKERS HAVE DISAGREED OVER THE HOLDBACK PROVISION IN THE LITERACY ACT FOR SOME TIME.

>> IS THAT A DUE PROCESS STEP IN HERE FOR A PARENT TO BE ABLE TO APPEAL IF THAT CHILD HAS BEEN RETAINED BACK?

IS THERE A STEP BY STEP PROCESS?

>> DEFINITELY THERE'S A STEP BY STEP PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, IT STARTS WITH THE STATE'S SUMMATIVE TESTING, THE ACAP.

AND FROM THAT, IT GOES DOWN AND GIVES THEM A CHANCE FOR ALTERNATIVE TEST.

AND THEN GO TO SUMMER SCHOOL AND TAKE ANOTHER TEST.

LASTLY, BUT MAYBE THEY ARE BAD TESTERS AND THEY ARE JUST ABLE TO READ, THAT SHOWS UP IN THE PORTFOLIO AND THE PARENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT DISCUSSION, FROM THE VERY FIRST SCREENING WHEN THEY COME INTO THE PROCESS, AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

YES, IT'S A STEP BY STEP DUE PROCESS.

>> AND LAWMAKERS CONSIDERED LEGISLATION TO PHASE OUT OCCUPATIONAL TAXES FOR ALL ALABAMA CITIES OVER 20 YEARS.

SENATE BILL 44 FROM SENATOR ANDREW JONES DREW QUESTIONS AND CRITICISM FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND FROM CITY OFFICIALS WHO SAID THEIR TOWNS DEPENDED ON THAT REVENUE SOURCE.

SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER, WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE CULLMAN CITY COUNCIL, SAID HE UNDERSTANDS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S PERSPECTIVE.

>> I'M SITTING HERE TO REPRESENT 150,000 PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTH ALABAMA, AND 27% OF THEM HAVE A MUNICIPAL TAX IN THEIR BUDGET THAT THEY USE SOMEHOW, SOME WAY TO HELP.

I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET IT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

BUT I VIOLENTLY OPPOSE THIS ON THE FLOOR IF THIS EFFECTS MY MUNICIPALITIES.

SO, MY QUESTION IS THIS, TO GET MY VOTE, ARE YOU GOING TO WORK WITH ME ON THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEHOW, SOME WAY THAT MY MUNICIPALITIES ARE GOING TO BE UNDERNEATH THIS AND TAKEN AWAY LOCAL FUNDING?

>> YEAH, I COMMIT TO WORK WITH YOU TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS.

THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING, FOLK, JUST TO BE ABLE TO PLAY BALL.

I'VE BEEN STALLED AND DELAYED ON THIS BILL.

> THE BILL PASSED ON A VOICE VOTE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY DR. ERIC MACKEY, STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GLAD TO BE HERE AND GLAD TO BE HERE ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL," AND FIRST TIME FOR ME SINCE YOU ASSUMED THE NEW POSITION.

>> I'VE BEEN MEANING TO HAVE YOU ON, PARTIALLY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES DEALING WITH EDUCATION GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE HOUSE.

I WANTED TO START WITH LITERACY.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE HOLDBACK PROVISION IN THE DELAY ISSUE.

BUT I WANT TO GET BEYOND THAT FOR MAIN.

REPRESENTATIVE COLLINS WAS IN HERE TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER PART OF THE LITERACY ACT, HOW IT'S WORKS AND HOW IT'S APPLIED IN THE SCHOOLS ON THE INSTRUCTION SIDE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> SO GLAD TO.

JUST AS CHAIRMAN COLLINS TALKS ABOUT, IT'S A LITERACY ACT AND EVEN WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS, GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, SOME OF THEM TALKED ABOUT IT AS THE RETENTION BILL, HOLDBACK BILL.

AND I SAID, PLEASE, DON'T DO THAT.

THE RETENTION OR HOLDBACK IS ONE LITTLE BITTY PIECE IN THE WHOLE LITERACY ACT.

LOTS OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON EVEN IN THE MIDST OF COVID.

WE TESTED OUR STUDENTS LAST YEAR, 95% OF OUR STUDENTS TO TAKE THE TEST.

AND WE KNOW OF THE THIRD GRADERS, 23% OF THEM TESTED BELOW GRADE LEVEL AND SO, STARTED THE LITERACY PROCESS, THEN ABOUT 26%.

SO, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE CURVE FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY WHERE WE'RE GOING.

WE HAVE TEACHERS DOING HIGH LEVEL LITERACY, CALLED LETTERS AND WE PAY THEM A THOUSAND DOLLARS BONUS OUT OF HE ISER FUNDS.

AND OTHERS THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH.

AND 12,000 NOW, THAT'S THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIRD GRADE AND KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS COMPLETING THE LETTERS TRAINING.

AND COVID KIND OF BIT OUR SUMMER SCHOOLS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR WE HOPE TO HAVE FULL ENGAGEMENT IN SUMMER SCHOOL, THIRD GRADERS AND YOUNGER, STRUGGLING IN READING, BUT THE INTENTION OF THE BILL, AND MY INTENTION, AND I KNOW THAT THE CHAIR LADY'S INTENTION AND OTHERS IS NOT TO HOLD ANY CHILDREN BACK.

WE DON'T WANT ANY CHILDREN TO BE RETAINED.

WE WANT CHILDREN TO BE RETAINED AT GRADE LEVEL AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN LATER GRADES.

WE FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT IT.

AND THE THINGS WE'RE IMPLEMENTING ARE MAKING CHANGES IN THE CLASSROOM, MAKING CHANGES IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN.

AND FORTUNATELY, GETTING MESSAGES, IN PERSON EMAILS, CONTACT FROM THE TEACHERS WHO SAY IT'S HARD WORK, RIGHT WORK AND IT'S MAKING ME REALLY A BETTER TEACHER.

>> AND THE EQUIVALENT ON THE MATH AND SCIENCES, SENATOR OR'S BILL WAS THERE TODAY AND SEEKS TO DO WITH MATH WHAT THEY DID WITH LITERACY.

AND NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE BILL.

WHAT'S THE LATEST?

>> WELL, WE TALKED TO SENATOR ORR AND THE BILL WAS IN PROCESS, MOVING FORWARD.

SUPPORTS THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, NUMERACY, MEANS RECOGNIZING NUMBERS AND HAVING THE NUMBER SENSE.

TEACHING STUDENTS TO DO MATH IS NOT QUITE AS INTUITIVE AS TEACHING A STUDENT TO READ.

BOTH ARE DIFFICULT WORK.

BUT WE READ EVERYDAY AND WE ALL DON'T DO MATH EVERYDAY.

WE DO MATH IN REAL LIFE, BUT NOT EVERYDAY.

AND WE'RE READING THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

SO IT'S MORE INTUITIVE.

AND MATH THEREFORE IS A MORE DISTINCT SCIENCE OF LEARNING.

CERTAIN WAYS TO TEACH IT AND IT'S METHOD CALL AND THEY HELP STUDENTS CONCEPTUALLY BETTER UNDERSTAND MATH.

BUT WHAT SENATOR ORR'S BILL DOES, WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER AND PUT MATH COACHES IN ALL OF THE K-5 SCHOOLS HELPING THE TEACHERS TO UNDERSTAND THE NEWEST AND BEST SCIENCE OF LEARNING AND HOW TO REALLY WORK WITH THE STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET IT.

NOT THAT THEY CAN JUST WORK THE PROBLEMS BUT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEMS MEAN.

I WAS IN A MATH CLASS EARLIER THIS WEEK, EXACT SAME THING AT MCMILLAN SCHOOL HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

IT'S A BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL, WE WERE IN THERE WITH THE FIFTH GRADERS AND THE TEACHER WAS DOING A MASTERFUL JOB.

TEACHING MULTIPLICATION AND FRACTIONS AND EVERYBODY WATCHING THE SHOW NOW MAY BREAK OUT IN A SWEAT!

BUT SHE'S SAYING WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, NOT ONLY HOW DO YOU WORK THE PROBLEM, BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN.

>> NO COINCIDENCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MATH AND READING.

THOSE WERE THE SUBJECTS ON THE LAST SCORES THAT WE HAD REALLY FALLEN BEHIND, LAST, SECOND TO LAST AND I DO SENSE IN THESE, IN THIS BILL NOW, THE LITERACY ACT, I DO SENSE URGENCY FROM THE LAWMAKERS, GOVERNOR'S ACROSS THE STREET TO ATTACK THE TWO SUBJECTS ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND HOW DO WE AVOID GETTING BACK INTO THE COMPLACENCY THAT GOT US INTO TROUBLE.

>> WELL, REINVEST.

WE'VE PROVEN WE CAN DO IT.

ALABAMA IN THE LATE 1990s, AND 2000 TO 2002, AT THE TIME WE DEVELOPED THE READING INITIATIVE.

THAT WAS THE PREMIERE, READING FRAMEWORK IN THE COUNTRY.

MISSISSIPPI TOOK THE FRAMEWORK, STATES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS CAME DOWN HERE AND LOOKED AT OUR FRAMEWORK.

YOU PUT A HIGHLY QUALIFIED COACH AND TRAINED COACH IN EVERY SCHOOL.

YOU LET THE PERSON WORK WITH THE TEACHERS HOW TO BE BETTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE TEACHER USING THE MOST EFFECTIVE RESEARCH INTO THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING.

IT WORKED.

AT THE TIME OF THE GREAT RECESSION, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DECIDED TO DO AS A STATE, THESE WERE THINGS THAT HAD TO HAPPEN BUT WE CUT THE LEGS OUT FROM THE READING ISSUES.

WE DID AWAY WITH THE READING COACHES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WE SAW IMMEDIATELY A DECLINE.

10 YEARS, WE WERE NOT QUITE AS FAR BACK IN 200, BUT ALMOST LOST ALL OF THE GROUND WE HAD GAINED.

IF YOU KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT A COACH, CONTINUALLY INVESTING, LOOK AT THE SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL TEAMS, I LOOK AT THAT, THEY DO SPRING STRAINING AND DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A TRAINER, NO REASON TO COACH DURING THE FALL AFTER THE SEASON, NO, NO.

HAVE YOU TO CONTINUE TO REINVEST, COACH, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TEACHERS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE USING THE VERY BEST, NEWEST RESEARCH INTO THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING.

SO, WE'RE ON TRACK WITH THAT, WITH LITERACY AGAIN.

WE HAVE THE PLAN IN PLACE AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

WE'VE GOT 55 MAST COACHES RIGHT NOW PAYING FOR WITH FEDERAL MONEY AND STARTING THE WORK WITH MATH.

OBVIOUSLY, IF THE NUMERACY ACT PASSES, THAT'S $90 MILLION THAT WOULD BE INVESTED WHEN IT'S FULLY INTEGRATED AND TAKE 5 YEARS TO STEP THAT UP FULLY.

THAT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT.

AND WE SEE THE SAME KIND OF SUCCESS IN MATH THAT WE'RE SEEING IN READING ALREADY.

>> I KNOW HAVE YOU TO GO BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU BACK BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT WITH EDUCATION HERE IN THE STATE, HERE IN THE SESSION.

APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GLAD TO BE HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY MELANIE BRIDGEFORTH.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT IT DOES.

>> WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA IS THE STATE'S ONLY PUBLIC WOMEN'S FOUNDATION, MOVING RESOURCES INTO COMMUNITIES TO BUILD GENDER EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EQUITY FOR WOMEN.

LET ME TELL YOU WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT.

CHARITABLE GIVING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, LESS THAN 2% IS ACTUALLY DIRECTED TOWARD BENEFITING THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

THAT'S HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS FACE SOME OF THE MOST STARK CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, OUR JOB IS TO ILLUMINATE THE ISSUES THROUGH RESEARCH, MOVING THE CAPITAL IN COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR PHILANTHROPY AND GET LEGISLATURES TO HAVE CHANGES AND WOMEN CAN HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE.

>> IT WENT JUST FROM BIRMINGHAM FOUNDATION TO THE ALABAMA WOMEN'S FOUNDATION.

WHY THE CHANGE?

>> WE HAVE A 26 YEAR OF LEGACY OF CHANGE IN FIGHTING FOR WOMEN.

IN OUR SUMMATION, IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR WOMEN IN BIRMINGHAM, WHY ISN'T IT GOOD ENOUGH FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE?

SO WE SET OUT ON THE JOURNEY TO THINK ABOUT ENTERING INTO PUBLIC POLICY, FORAY OF PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY WAS, LISTEN, WE WENT ACROSS THE STATE AND LISTENED TO 500 PLUS WOMEN TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT MOST IMPACT THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES.

WE KNOW THAT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH WOMEN IN HUNTSVILLE, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH WOMEN IN MOBILE, AND IN BIRMINGHAM OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE WE WANT TO TAKE ON.

AND SUSPENSION FOR US IS NOT A NATURAL EVOLUTION, IT WAS A HART WORK, VISION, BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS AND BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY CALLED FOR IT.

AND WE'RE EXCITED TO FILL THAT BAP AND BEING THE VOICE FOR WOMEN.

YOU MENTIONED ON PUBLIC POLICY FOR WOMEN.

>> I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND I NOTICED THAT WORK PLACE AND HEALTHCARE ISSUES WERE PRETTY PROMINENT ON THE AGENDA.

TELL US ABOUT THE PRIORITIES.

>> I LIKE TO THINK OF THE WORK AND INSTITUTION AS BEING THE STATE'S BEST ALLY.

LET ME TELL YOU WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

I MENTION THAT HAD RESEARCH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.

BIRMINGHAM HAS THE EIGHTH WIDEST WAGE GAP FOR WOMEN.

THIRD HIGHEST MATERNAL DEATH RATE.

SECOND LOWEST LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN IN THE NATION.

WOMEN ARE THRIVING IN RESILIENCE ABSOLUTELY AND YOU NEVER GET ME TO SAYING ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THAT.

AND NOT WORKING FOR, BUT AGAINST US.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW DO WE COMBAT SOME OF THE ISSUES, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE CAN SOLVE THE ISSUES.

IT'S NOT DOOM AND BLOOM.

-- GLOOM.

OUR RESEARCH HELPS ILLUMINATE THE ISSUES.

AND OUR POLICY BUILDS THAT.

CHILD CARE.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY ISSUES THIS YEAR AND HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS IS TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR EXPANSION OF QUALITY CHILD CARE.

YOU CAN'T FIGHT FOR EXPANSION OF QUALITY CHILD CARE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT STATE INVESTMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE STATE INVESTS DOLLARS TO SHOW IT'S A PRIORITY.

BUDGETS ARE A REFLECTION OF HOW LEG LAY TORE PRIORITIZE COMMUNITIES.

AND WE SAY THAT CHILD CARE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE ROADS AND BRIDGES.

LIKE HAVE YOU TO INVEST IN ROADS AND BRIDGES TO GET TO WORK, HAVE YOU TO INVEST IN CHILD CARE SO ALL PARENTS CAN GET TO WORK AND STAY IN WORK.

AND WE LOOK AT, IN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH LAWMAKERS, EQUAL PAY PROTECTION.

WE KNOW THAT WOMEN AND MEN ARE WORKING HARD EVERYDAY.

ALL ALABAMA FAMILIES WANT IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, COMMUNITIES AND THE WAGE GAP IS BECAUSE SENATOR FIGURES AND REPRESENTATIVE CLARK ADOPTED THAT BILL.

AND WE WERE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH THEM.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE ISSUES AND CLOSING AND STRINGING THE WAGE GAP AND NOT ROBBING COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY OF OUR MORALS BUT OF VIABLE ECONOMICS.

AND THE THIRD ISSUE THAT WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IS FIGHTING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO PUT MORE WOMEN IN IN-DEMAND JOBS.

WE'VE INC. BAITED A -- INC. UBAITED WHERE WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PRIVATE CAPITAL TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND NOW WHAT WE SEE IS MORE WOMEN GOING INTO MANUFACTURING, MORE WOMEN BEING WOMEN WELDERS MAKING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY.

AND THIS IS ABOUT TRANSFORMATION THAN THEY WERE PRIOR.

SO, WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO NOW IS PARTNER OUR PRIVATE CAPITAL WITH THAT OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT EVEN MORE WOMEN INTO THESE IN-DEMAND CAREERS ONLY LIFTING UP THE ENTIRE FAMILIES AND THUS, LIFT UP THE COMMUNITIES.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE WORK PLACE, AND I FIND THAT INTERESTING.

TALKING ABOUT CHILD CARE AND ISSUES, WITH MORE FOCUS THAN FIVE-10 YEARS AGO.

I WAS LISTENING TO NPR, THIS MORNING OR YET, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT RETURN TO WORK POST COVID.

GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND HAS BEEN FOR A WHILE.

THEY DID RESEARCH, SURVEY RESEARCH THAT SHOWED A LOT OF WOMEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT ENJOYED BEING AWAY FROM THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT, NOT HAVING TO DO WITH A MALE DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT, POTENTIAL HARASSMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, THEY ARE, HEY, I'M GOOD, I DON'T HAVE TO RETURN TO WORK.

I FOUND THAT INTERESTING BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE POST-COVID OR GETTING TOWARD THE POST-COVID WORK ENVIRONMENT.

HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT GOING FORWARD?

>> WELL, FIRST, JUST HONOR THAT COVID DEFINITELY LAID BARE IN ISSUES, MAGNIFYING THAT WERE ALREADY THERE.

NOT CREATING THEM BUT JUST SHOWING HOW BIG THEY WERE.

SO, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT CHILD CARE, WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN GENDER LINK.

AND INVESTING IN CHILD CARE HELPS ALL PARENTS.

WE DON'T WANT PARENTS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BEING A GOOD PARENT OR GOOD EMPLOYEE.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO BOTH.

WE CAN DO THINGS IN OUR SYSTEM, LITTLE P AND BIG P, POLICIES.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SAY.

PARTNERS IN LEGISLATURE.

AND LITTLE B IS WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, PARTNERING WITH CORPORATIONS, SMALL WIZS WHO WANT THEIR -- BUSINESSES WHO WANT THEIR EMPLOYEES TO THRIVE AS WELL.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT YOU REFERENCED, THAT MEN AND WOMEN VALUE FLEXIBILITY, THE FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO GOOD THINGS IN OUR HOMES, AND BE GOOD PEOPLE AT WORK.

>> FASCINATING CONVERSATION.

I HOPE YOU CAN COME BACK AND SHARE MORE WITH US.

>> I HOPE YOU HAVE US BACK!

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> ALABAMA IS HOME TO A DIVERSE AND WIDESPREAD VARIETY OF MINERALS.

CHALK, A EXTREMELY FINE TEXTURED LIMESTONE OCCURS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN SECTION, AND FLOOR OF AN ANCIENT SEA, IT CAN BE SEEN ON TOMBIGBEE RIVER.

AND NOW, THIS OWES THE CHARACTER AND NATURAL BEAUTY TO THE UNDERLYING BEAUTY OF THE CHALK ROCKS.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT, APT, FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY AND WE'LL SEE YOU