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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

WE ARE PREPARING TO ENTER THE SECOND HALF OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE'S REGULAR SESSION.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL CONVENE TOMORROW FOR THE 16TH LEGISLATIVE DAY AFTER LAST WEEK'S SPRING BREAK.

WE EXPECT TWO LEGISLATIVE DAYS ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, WITH A COMMITTEE DAY IN BETWEEN ON WEDNESDAY.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE ANNUAL BATTLE FOR GOAT HILL SOFTBALL GAME.

THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR 5:30 WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT MONTGOMERY'S RIVERWALK STADIUM.

TICKETS ARE $10 AND PROCEEDS GO TO BENEFIT THE BIG OAK RANCH.

IT'S ALWAYS A SUPER COMPETITIVE BATTLE, AND I KNOW THIS YEAR WILL BE NO EXCEPTION.

WE, OF COURSE, WILL BE THERE AND TRY TO GET WHAT WE CAN ON TAPE.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE FIRST HALF OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS HECTIC.

THE FAST PACE COMBINED WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF CONTENTIOUS ISSUES MADE FOR A CHALLENGING 15 LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

SO WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE SESSION?

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE PACE IS EXPECTED TO SLOW DOWN A BIT.

INSTEAD OF MEETING FOR THREE LEGISLATIVE DAYS EVERY WEEK, THEY'LL GO BACK TO THE MORE TRADITIONAL TWO DAYS, WITH A DEDICATED COMMITTEE DAY IN BETWEEN, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE WORKLOAD, THAT'S NOT LIKELY TO EASE.

THERE ARE STILL SOME MAJOR ISSUES TO WORK ON THIS SESSION.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

THERE'S THE LINGERING ISSUE OF GAMBLING.

REMEMBER WHERE WE LEFT OFF WAS THE SENATE HAD PASSED A MUCH DIFFERENT, A MUCH MORE SCALED DOWN VERSION OF A GAMBLING PACKAGE THAN THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE ONE PASSED BY THE HOUSE.

THAT PUTS THE BALL BACK IN THE HOUSE'S COURT, TO EITHER AGREE WITH THE SENATE CHANGES FOR FINAL PASSAGE, OR VOTE TO NON-CONCUR AND SENDING IT TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT DIFFERENCES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS EARLY THIS WEEK.

THEN THERE ARE ALWAYS THE BUDGETS.

LAWMAKERS IN RECENT YEARS WAIT TO TAKE ACTION ON BUDGETS AS LONG AS THEY CAN SO THAT THE REVENUE ESTIMATES CAN BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE MIGHT EXPECT WORK ON THE BUDGETS TO BEGIN IN EARNEST WHEN THEY RETURN FROM A SECOND SPRING BREAK AFTER EASTER.

ALSO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

YOU MAY REMEMBER LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH RECENTLY RELEASED AN EXHAUSTIVE COMMISSION REPORT RECOMMENDING POLICY CHANGES TO HELP IMPROVE ALABAMA'S WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE.

WE EXPECT LEGISLATION TO BE ANNOUNCED ON THAT FRONT AS SOON AS THIS WEEK.

AND, SOMEWHAT UNEXPECTEDLY, TORT REFORM.

SOME IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ARE EXPECTED TO PROPOSE LEGISLATION REINING IN WHAT THEY CALL A JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT IS TOO PLAINTIFF-FRIENDLY.

SO THAT COULD BE SOMETHING TO WATCH AS WELL.

IN ANY CASE, PLENTY MORE SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION AWAITING US IN THE SECOND HALF OF SESSION.

HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER COMMENTED ON THOSE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BILLS JUST AS THE HOUSE WAS FINISHING UP THE FIRST HALF OF SESSION.

HE SAID THIS PACKAGE HAS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN ECONOMIC DIFFERENCE FOR A LOT OF ALABAMIANS.

>> WE COME BACK, AND THEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE, THE CHILD CARE TAX CREDITS AND THE HOUSING CREDITS.

SO I THINK PROBABLY WE'LL PUT A PACKAGE ON THE FLOOR.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT ALL TOGETHER.

WE'VE GOT SOME OF IT, AND FINISHING UP.

I THINK WE GOT THE CHILD TAX CREDIT READY.

WE HAVEN'T FINISHED IT UP AND GOT IT IN COMMITTEE, BUT YESTERDAY, ACCORDING TO WHAT WAS TOLD, IT'S GOING TO BE READY TO GO.

THOSE THINGS WILL HELP ON THE ECONOMY SIDE AND ALSO HELP UNDER EMPLOYMENT AND GIVE SINGLE MOMS A CHANCE TO HAVE SOME TAX CREDITS, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY POSITIVE FOR THE STATE.

>> JUST BEFORE LAWMAKERS ADJOURNED FOR SPRING BREAK, CHRIS ELLIOTT OF BALDWIN COUNTY ALERTED HIS COLLEAGUES TO LEGISLATION HE WOULD BE BRINGING TO REFORM THE STATE'S BOARD AND COMMISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW HE SAYS SEVERAL OF THE BOARDS HAVE BECOME PROFIT MAKERS FOR LOBBYISTS AND OTHERS WHO MANAGE THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION.

I CAUGHT UP WITH HIM ON THE PHONE.

>> ABOUT 23% OF ALABAMA'S WORKFORCE IS GOVERNED BY SOME SORT OF OCCUPATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL LICENSING BOARD.

AND THEY ARE VERY DISPARATE IN SIZE AND SCOPE OF -- REALLY OF LICENSURE.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH MY TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE, ON CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE AND WHAT YOU'VE SEEN COMING OUT OF THE SUNSET COMMITTEE, OUT OF THE LAST TWO YEARS OR SO, IS REALLY SOME -- SOME PRETTY SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND FINDINGS FROM THE EXAMINER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

AND SO A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE, THAT SERVE ON THE SUNSET COMMITTEE AND THE CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE, HAVE DOVE INTO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS?

HOW ARE OTHER STATES HANDLING THIS OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING?

WHY IS ALABAMA DOING IT SO DIFFERENTLY?

WHAT YOU SEE IN ALABAMA IS REALLY ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING, OR AT LEAST THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THAT.

IT'S THESE FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE RUNNING THESE BOARDS.

NOW, THESE ARE PRIVATE FOLKS ACTING AS IF THEY ARE STATE EMPLOYEES, AND THEY ARE MAKING MONEY OFF OF THE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING -- THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARD.

AND THERE'S A PROFIT INCENTIVE THERE.

YOU OFTENTIMES ARE SEEING BUDGETS FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXCEED VASTLY THE LICENSE FEE REVENUES, SO THEY'VE FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE OTHER PROFIT CENTERS SHOW UP, WHETHER THAT'S FINES OR MANDATORY TRAINING OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S TURNED INTO VERY MUCH A BUSINESS, AND THAT'S -- WE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE SPOT WHERE THE STATE IS FARMING OUT TO PRIVATE COMPANIES THE, YOU KNOW, A PROFIT -- A PROFIT INCENTIVE FOR THESE FOLKS TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF LICENSE FEES.

>> GOVERNOR KAY IVEY THIS WEEK GOT AN EARLY START TO THE EASTER SEASON BY HOSTING THE 5TH ANNUAL MAGIC MOMENTS EASTER EGG ROLL AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

MAGIC MOMENTS, FOUNDED IN 1984, OFFERS ALABAMA CHILDREN WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC, LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES THE ABILITY TO LIVE OUT SPECIAL EXPERIENCES.

FOR THE GOVERNOR, IT WAS A CHANCE TO REMIND ALABAMIANS OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EASTER SEASON.

>> THE MESSAGE OF TRIUMPH OVER DEATH IS AT THE HEART OF EASTER, REMINDING US OF THE PROFOUND LOVE AND SACRIFICE OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

AS WE WITNESS THE MIRACLE OF THE EMPTY TOMB, WE ARE FILLED WITH HOPE AND JOY, KNOWING THAT HE HAS CONQUERED DEATH, AND THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

AND THROUGH ACTS OF KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND FORGIVENESS, MAY WE HONOR THE LEGACY OF LOVE JESUS LEFT US.

SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES AND FAMILY, AND NEW FRIENDS.

SO TODAY, LET'S REMEMBER THE BLESSINGS HE PROVIDES US WHILE HAVING FUN ALONG THE WAY.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID PRITCHETT, COMMANDER OF THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD, TO DISCUSS A RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE CHALLENGE OF STOP-GAP FUNDING IN CONGRESS.

AFTER THAT, DR. LOU LAMBIASE JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIAL MEDICAL EVENT COMING UP SOON ON HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN CONNECT WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL AND LINK TO THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF CAPITOL JOURNAL WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL PODCASTS.

KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

JOINING ME IS BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID PRITCHETT, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON THE SHOW.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE MESSAGE FORWARD TO THE POPULATION IN ALABAMA.

THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON, BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL RELATIVELY NEW IN THIS JOB, AS THE BRIGADIER GENERAL.

YOU SAID YOU STARTED ON JANUARY 1ST, TECHNICALLY.

RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> I WANTED TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE MILITARY.

WHAT LED UP TO THIS EVENTUAL POST HERE, LEADING THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD?

>> YEAH, FOR MOST OF MY CAREER, ALMOST 30 YEARS OF MY CAREER, I WAS WHAT I WOULD CALL A TRADITIONAL GUARDSMAN.

THIS WAS JUST A PART-TIME JOB FOR ME.

I HAD A FULL-TIME CIVILIAN JOB IN THE CORPORATE WORLD.

IN 2018, AFTER YEARS OF REALLY TRAVELING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, SOMETIMES THE WORLD AND THE CORPORATE WORLD, WE MADE A DECISION, MY WIFE AND I MADE A DECISION TO KIND OF DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

SO MY BACKGROUND IS IN ARTILLERY, SO THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO APPLY FOR A POSITION AT FORT SILL.

WE SOLD OUR FOREVER HOME AND MOVED TO FORT SILL.

IT OPENED MY EYES TO THE ARMY MODERNIZATION PROCESS, AND THINGS TO DO TO GET READY, AND THEY SAY BUILDING THE ARMY OF 2030 AS WE DESIGN THE ARMY OF 2040.

THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP, I THINK.

PUTTING THE UNIFORM ON EVERY DAY AND BEING PART OF THE MODERNIZATION PROCESS.

AND FROM THERE, I WAS SELECTED TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE JOINT STAFF OF THE WYOMING NATIONAL GUARD.

SO WE MOVED UP TO CHEYENNE, WYOMING, AND WERE THERE UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN GOVERNOR IVEY PICKED ME TO COME BACK AS THE ADJUNCT GENERAL.

SO AGAIN, JUST REALLY FIVE AND A HALF YEARS OF DOING THIS EVERY DAY, PUTTING THE UNIFORM ON EVERY DAY, AND WE'RE HONORED AND HUMBLED TO COME BACK TO ALABAMA, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, OUR HOME AND FAMILY.

WE'RE GLAD TO BE BACK HERE SERVING THE CITIZENS OF ALABAMA.

>> TALK ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL.

THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD IS EXCEPTIONAL NATIONWIDE IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION AND SOME OF THE DISTINCTIONS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THE ROLE INVOLVES.

>> IT IS TRULY A JOINT FORCE, AND THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT BRANCHES, IF YOU WILL, TO THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD.

EVERYONE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE TWO OF THEM, BUT IT'S THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD AND WE'RE PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND YOU LOOK AT THAT AND DO THE ANALYSIS, STATISTICALLY WE ARE MUCH LARGER, NATIONAL GUARD, IN TERMS OF JUST THE SERVICE MEMBERS THAN A LOT OF OTHER EQUIVALENT-SIZED STATES.

SO WE HAVE IN EXCESS OF 12,000, ALMOST 13,000 SERVICE MEMBERS, NOT INCLUDING THE CIVILIANS THAT ARE PART OF OUR TEAM AS WELL.

SO IT'S A SIZABLE FORCE, BUT WE'RE REAL PROUD OF THE FACT, AND OF COURSE MOST RECENTLY, THE 187TH WAS IN THE NEWS FOR THE F-35S, AND A LOT OF FOLKS HERE IN MONTGOMERY, ACROSS THE STATE, AND EVEN IN, YOU KNOW, OUR FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES PLAYED A ROLE.

THE 117TH IS THE AIR FUELING WING, THE NEXT BIG PROJECT FOR US TO TRY TO MODERNIZE, IF YOU WILL, THEIR PLATFORMS TO THE KC-46 OR WHATEVER THE NEXT REFUELERS ARE.

GOT A LITTLE WORK TO DO ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE'RE WORKING HARD WITH THE CITIZENS, THE COMMUNITY, AND CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES.

AND THE ARMY AGAIN, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT OUR ARMY NATIONAL GUARD IS DOING.

IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEMS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS HAD WITH RECRUITING SINCE THE INCEPTION OF COVID, WE'RE A BRIGHT STAR IN THAT WE'RE WELL OVER 100% STRENGTH NOW.

OVER 101% STRENGTH.

WHICH DOESN'T COME WITHOUT ITS OWN ISSUES, HAVING MORE SOLDIERS THAN POSITIONS.

BUT IT'S A MUCH BETTER POSITION TO BE IN WHEN WE GO TO THE TABLE AND SAY, "HEY, WE'D LIKE THIS ADDITIONAL STRUCTURE TO COME TO ALABAMA."

SO THE JOB IS, I TELL PEOPLE THERE'S NO -- THERE'S NO TWO DAYS ALIKE.

EVERY DAY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, WE'RE VERY TIGHTLY PARTNERED WITH OUR ROMANIAN PARTNERS FROM EUROPE.

THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT ALL ARE PARTNERED WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER COUNTRY.

SOME MULTIPLE.

AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE THINGS WE'RE DOING.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS BEYOND JUST THE TRADITIONAL MILITARY THINGS THAT WE'RE INVOLVED WITH.

SUCH AS THE STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, AND REALLY EXPANDING THAT BEYOND THE MILITARY TO MILITARY TRAINING, WHAT THE STATE DEPUTY DEPARTMENT WOULD CALL A WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT.

WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH OUR GOOD AGENCIES AND OTHER CORPORATIONS AROUND THE STATE TO -- TO TRY TO EXPAND THAT.

SO AGAIN, NEVER -- NO TWO DAYS ARE ALIKE.

IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO GET UP AND GO SEE WHAT'S NEW.

>> SPEAKING OF CHALLENGES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU REALLY CANNOT CONTROL, AND YET IT AFFECTS YOU PLENTY, IS FUNDING FROM CONGRESS.

WE WERE TALKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE ATERAL, HE EXPRESSED SOME FRUSTRATION ABOUT THIS APPROPRIATION PROCESS BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE NOT FUNDED THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WE ARE IN.

I REMEMBER, WORKING IN DC, CONTINUING RESOLUTION, JUST STOP-GAP FUNDING BASED ON OLD LEVELS MAYBE IMPACT THE MILITARY MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING FUTURE PLANNING.

TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF PUTTING YOUR BUDGET TOGETHER NOT KNOWING WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL ACTUALLY FUND.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE.

WE'RE NOW IN THE SIXTH MONTH OF A CR, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOLDING OUR BREATH TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

BUT YES, YOU'VE TOUCHED ON IT.

BASICALLY, IN A CR, YOU ROLL BACK TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FUNDING.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN'T DO, AND IT STARTS TO AFFECT, WITH THE ARMY AND THE AIR FORCE BOTH, PIVOTING TO LARGE-SCALE COMBAT OPERATIONS AND MODERNIZATION.

IT STARTS TO AFFECT THOSE PROGRAMS, AND IT STARTS TO AFFECT THE PLATFORMS THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER AND TRYING TO -- AND TRYING TO GET HERE IN ALABAMA.

AND SO -- BUT IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE PLATFORMS.

IT'S NOT JUST THE EQUIPMENT.

YOU KNOW, OUR -- OUR BEST WEAPON SYSTEM, IF YOU WILL, ARE OUR PEOPLE.

AND SO IT AFFECTS THE PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE SUPPORT, NOT JUST OUR SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN, BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES.

IT AFFECTS THE SCHOOLS, AND SENDING THOSE SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN TO THE SCHOOL.

ULTIMATELY, IT AFFECTS THE READINESS OF OUR POPULATION AND THOSE SERVICE MEMBERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEYOND JUST THE EQUIPPING PIECE.

AND SO IT -- ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CR, AS GOOD AS WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF OUR -- OUR RECRUITING, RETENTION STARTS TO BE AFFECTED.

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ALWAYS FUND THE SCHOOL, THAT THAT AIRMAN OR SOLDIER MAY NEED, AND THEY GET FRUSTRATED AND MAY LOOK FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

WHILE WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE RIGHT NOW, IF WE CONTINUE THE CR'S ACROSS THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLES, IT HAS A TRAGIC EFFECT ON OUR POPULATION.

>> YEAH.

THE DIVIDED CONGRESS HAS REAL-WORLD, YOU KNOW, IMPLICATIONS.

AND WE'VE HEARD CHAIRMAN RODGERS TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HE'S RIDE TO PUT THE NDA, AND IT'S HARD WHEN THE FUNDING ISN'T THERE.

>> AND I WENT TO OUR FIRST STATE OF THE STATE, WHEN GOVERNOR IVEY DELIVERED HER -- HER REMARKS, YOU KNOW.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO NOW.

YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S A DEGREE OF CIVILITY HERE WITHIN THE POLITICS IN ALABAMA, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF THE FOLKS IN DC COULD LEARN A LITTLE BIT FROM HOW WE'RE DOING BUSINESS HERE.

AND KUDOS TO THE FOLKS HERE, AND DEFINITELY THE GOVERNOR, WHO IS VERY -- VERY GOOD AT REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE AND GETTING THINGS DONE.

>> IT IS DIFFERENT, AND WE SAY THAT ALL THE TIME.

LOOK.

THEY CAN GET INTO DEBATES, BUT IT'S NOT THE KIND OF ZERO-SUM, YOU KNOW, POLITICS THAT IT TENDS TO BE IN DC.

GENERAL, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU ON AGAIN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

JOINING ME IS DR. LOU LAMBIASE, DEAN OF THE MONTGOMERY CAMPUS OF THE ALABAMA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DID I GET THAT RIGHT?

>> YOU DID.

>> I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE THIS EVENT COMING UP.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS REGIONAL CAMPUS OF UAB.

SOME OF OUR VIEWERS MAY NOT KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND -- >> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WE'RE HERE.

THE CAMPUS WAS FOUNDED IN 2012.

LET ME BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

WE'VE HAD A INTERNAL MEDICINE TRAINING PROGRAM IN MONTGOMERY FOR ABOUT FIFTY YEARS NOW.

AND FOR 40 YEARS WE'VE BEEN IN SELMA WITH A FAMILY MEDICINE TRAINING PROGRAM.

IN 2012 IT WAS DECIDED THAT UAB NEEDED TO MAKE MORE DOCTORS, TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF ALABAMIANS.

AND WE WOUND UP PUTTING A CAMPUS HERE IN 2012.

WE HAVE TWENTY THIRD AND FOURTH-YEAR STUDENTS, AND THEY DID THEIR CLINICAL ROTATIONS IN MONTGOMERY.

AND THEN THEY GRADUATE, AND THEY GO BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD.

AND WHAT'S EXCITING, WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT DOCTORS NOW WHO PRACTICE IN MONTGOMERY, WHO GRADUATED FROM US, DID THEIR RESIDENCY, AND THEN CAME BACK AND NOW ARE WORKING IN MONTGOMERY.

>> THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.

>> ADDRESSING THE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE THIS EVENT COMING UP, TALKING ABOUT ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES, APRIL 4.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

>> SO THE -- THE UNIVERSITY HERE IN MONTGOMERY HAS HAD, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, A LECTURE SERIES ENDOWED BY THE KENNAMER FAMILY.

DR. REX KENNAMER WAS A CARDIOLOGIST FROM MONTGOMERY, AND HE AND HIS FAMILY ENDOWED THE KENNAMER LECTURE, WHERE WE BRING IN THE BEST MINDS IN MEDICINE ONCE A YEAR TO GIVE A TALK IN MONTGOMERY.

AND ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO BUILD ON THAT, AND MAKE THAT KENNAMER LECTURE THE KEYNOTE OF THE MONTGOMERY HEALTH POLICY MEETING.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A MEETING, TALKING ABOUT PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE.

LIKE WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES.

SO IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN ALABAMA, PARTICULARLY, YOU COULD LIVE TWO MILES FROM SOMEBODY AND HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES IN TERMS OF HEART ATTACK, DIABETES, STROKE, MATERNAL MORTALITY, AND EVEN A PREVALENCE OF VIOLENCE, CAR ACCIDENTS.

AND SO WE WANT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON IT, TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THAT BETTER, AND -- AND WE THINK THAT WE WANT TO HAVE OPTIMAL CARE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING WAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

A COUPLE OF MILES -- YEAH.

YOU WOULD CONSIDER TWO MILES AWAY TO BE PART OF YOUR OWN COMMUNITY, AND YET THERE ARE JUST MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN LIFESTYLE AND IN THREATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

MAYBE -- MAYBE THINGS THAT WE DON'T REALLY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TAKE FOR GRANTED SOMETIMES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THAT'S -- THAT'S -- AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TRAUMA SURGEONS THAT ARE GOING TO COME AND TALK ABOUT -- SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.

AND THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH THAT.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IN OUR STATE, THERE ARE ONLY FOUR TRAUMA CENTERS.

IF YOU GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND LET'S SAY, DOTHAN, YOU HAVE TO COME TO MONTGOMERY FOR YOUR CARE.

THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR FOLLOW-UP IN MONTGOMERY.

WHICH MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE, YOU KNOW -- >> TWO HOURS, AT LEAST.

>> AND SOME OF OUR PATIENTS, AND SOME OF OUR -- OUR FELLOW CITIZENS HAVE A REAL HARD TIME WITH DRIVING TWO HOURS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY TO GET TO FOLLOW-UP.

SO THAT IMPACTS THEIR OUTCOME.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY COMING TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INTERNAL AIR QUALITY, AND HOW IT AFFECTS CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT DR. DOBBS FROM MISSISSIPPI TALKING ABOUT OTHER DRIVERS OF HEALTH DISPARITIES.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR OWN MONA FROM UAB WHO RUNS LIVE HEALTH SMART ALABAMA, WHERE UAB IS GOING OUT AND TRYING TO HELP NEIGHBORHOODS BY REBUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE, DEALING WITH FOOD DESERTS, AND THEN TREATING UNTREATED CONDITIONS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ALABAMA'S HEALTH METRICS SORT OF TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY.

>> WE'RE GOING TO THROW UP A -- THE GRAPHIC HERE OF YOUR FLYER.

BUT TALK ABOUT WHEN AND WHERE, AND HOW PEOPLE, IF THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS, HOW THEY CAN DO SO.

>> YEAH, IT'S APRIL 4TH.

AT THE RENAISSANCE, AT 8 A.M. WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE YOU OUT OF THERE BY ABOUT TWO.

WE HAVE -- WE'RE GOING TO FEED LUNCH, AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST.

IT'S FREE TO THE PUBLIC, AND FREE TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME.

THE EXCEPTION IS IF YOU'RE A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND YOU WANT CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION CREDITS, THERE'S A NOMINAL FEE, ABOUT $80.

BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT THE CREDITS, IT'S COMPLETELY FREE.

>> NOW WHAT TYPES OF FOLKS HAVE GENERALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS THIS IN THE PAST?

I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, IF I'M A STATE LAW MAKER OR COMMUNITY CIVIC LEADER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I MIGHT STAND SOMETHING TO GAIN FROM LEARNING ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES AND, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE BACKGROUND THERE.

>> WELL, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED, AND I THINK TO ME, THE INTEREST IN THIS SHOULD BE FAIRLY BROAD.

BUT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, YOU KNOW, ANY HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, SOCIAL WORK, I THINK I COULD SAY JUST LIKE YOU SAID, ANY -- ANYBODY WHO'S INVOLVED IN POLICY MAKING, ANY OF THE STAFF OF THE LEGISLATORS, I THINK.

SOME LAWYERS, PROBABLY, WOULD BE INTERESTED.

AND FRANKLY, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TOO.

BECAUSE A HEALTHY WORKFORCE IS IMPORTANT TO -- IS IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, OUR BUSINESS AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY.

LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THIS BUILDING AND THE STATE HOUSE, JUST THE STATE IN GENERAL.

WE'VE GOT THIS LAGGING WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET IT DONE, GET IT, YOU KNOW, INCREASED.

HEALTH INSURANCE IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH IT.

AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT MORE THAN HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

A BIG TOPIC.

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, HEALTH INSURANCE IS A BIG PART OF IT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TOO THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> WELL, DOC, THANK FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO LOOK THIS UP.

THEY GOT THE WEBSITE THERE.

BUT THANKS FOR COMING AND PROMOTING THIS.

AND GOOD LUCK, I HOPE IT GOES WELL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

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

YOU CAN CONNECT WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL AND LINK TO EPISODES ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

>> BIRMINGHAM NATIVE DAVID WAYNE PERKINS IS A ROCK AND R&D GUITARIST, SINGER, SONG WRITING, AND SESSION MUSICIAN.

HE BACKED SEVERAL BIG NAME MUSICIANS.

HE PROVIDED LEAD GUITAR OVERDUBS ON THREE TRACKS IN THE ALBUM CATCH A FIRE AND WAS HIRED BY THE ROLLING STONES ON PLAY LEAD GUITAR ON THREE TRACKS ON THEIR ALBUM BLACK AND BLUE.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

FOR THE CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.