>> Don: TONIGHT ON CAPITOL JOURNAL•WE'LL BE JOINED BY SENATOR DEL MARSH OF ANNISTON, WHO'LL DISCUSS POSSIBLE NEW LEGISLATIVE LIFE FOR HIS BIG GAMBLING EXPANSION PLAN AND THIS WEEK'S COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF A LOTTERY-ONLY BILL.

WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET CHAIRMAN ARTHUR ORR OF DECATUR, WHO'LL DISCUSS THIS WEEK'S UPPER CHAMBER APPROVAL OF A RECORD $7.6-BILLION SCHOOL SPENDING PLAN.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL BE WITH US TO DISCUSS EXPANDING VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY NEXT WEEK AND THE SOON-TO-OPEN MOBILE CLINICS AROUND THE STATE THAT THE NATIONAL GUARD WILL HELP STAFF.

AND WE'LL MARK THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF THE MILITARY UNIT THAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WITH A LOOK AT A VINTAGE VIDEO ABOUT THE MEN WHO BECAME TRAILBLAZERS AND HEROES.

IT'S ALL NEXT•ON CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> Don: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I‘M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE LEGISLATURE IS NOW OFF FOR SPRING BREAK, BUT NOT BEFORE A JAM-PACKED WEEK IN WHICH THE SENATE PASSED THE EDUCATION BUDGET, THE HOUSE TACKLED HEAVYWEIGHT ISSUES LIKE RIOTING, TRANSGENDER ATHLETES, ABORTION AND BANNING CURBSIDE VOTING, AND A COMMITTEE PASSED A LOTTERY BILL AND KEPT HOPES FOR A BIGGER GAMBLING EXPANSION PLAN ALIVE.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE SENATE APPROVING A HISTORIC SCHOOL SPENDING PLAN.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT INCLUDES A 2% COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR ALL EDUCATION EMPLOYEES, FUNDING FOR AT LEAST 2% STEP RAISES FOR ALL TEACHERS, AND A NEW SALARY STRUCTURE TO RECRUIT MORE CREDENTIALED MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS.

SENATOR ARTHUR ORR OF DECATUR IS THE UPPER CHAMBER'S EDUCATION BUDGET CHAIR.

>> THIS IS THE LARGEST BUDGET IN STATE HISTORY, $7.6 BILLION-PLUS.

CERTAINLY GIVEN THE ECONOMY OF LAST YEAR, I THINK ALABAMIANS OUGHT TO BE ENCOURAGED BY THAT PAUSE A LOT OF STATES HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING BEFORE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS CAME RAINING IN.

SO WE TIGHTENED OUR BELT EARLY ON AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO PAY OFF IN THE DAYS AHMED.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO, QUITE FRANKLY, BECAUSE OF COVID AND REMOTE LEARNING.

>> Don: SENATOR ORR WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE BIG SCHOOL SPENDING PLAN.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP HAD A GOAL OF GETTING BOTH STATE BUDGETS OUT OF THEIR HOUSES OF ORIGIN BEFORE SPRING BREAK.

THE HOUSE LAST WEEK PASSED THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND NOW BOTH IT AND THE SENATE-PASSED EDUCATION BUDGET HAVE MADE IT HALF THROUGH THE PROCESS AT THE LEGISLATURE'S HALF-WAY POINT.

THE ALABAMA HOUSE ON THURSDAY TACKLED A NUMBER OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

IT PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE NEW PENALTIES FOR RIOTING, SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE CONTENDED COULD AFFECT PEACEFUL PROTESTS.

AND THE HOUSE ALSO APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAN CURBSIDE VOTING IN THE STATE.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

>> HOUSE MEMBERS WORK THROUGH A LONG LIST OF PROPOSALS, INCLUDING HOUSE BILL 445, LAW CHANGES FOR HANDLING PROTESTS AND RIOTS.

>> ASSAULT ON A FIRST RESPONDER, FIRST DEGREE.

ASSAULT ON FIRST RESPONDER SECOND DEGREE.

AGGRAVATED RIOT, CREATES A NEW CRIME OF AGGRAVATED RIOT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN TREAD WAVE SPONSORS THIS BILL AND SAYS MANY DIFFERENT VOICES WORKED ON THIS PROPOSAL.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT SUPPRESSING ANYBODY'S RIGHT TO PROTEST.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO TRY TO CHANGE THE BILL AND ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MERIKA COLEMAN SAYS THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO.

>> WHAT I AM AFRAID OF WITH YOUR BILL IS IT WILL BE USED AS A TOOL TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM GOING OUT TO USE THAT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.

>> HOUSE BILL 445 IS APPROVED.

ANOTHER CLOSELY WATCHED PROPOSAL IS HOUSE BILL 285 WHICH SEEKS TO PROHIBIT CURBSIDE VOTING.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT THERE WERE COUNTIES WHO WANTED CURBSIDE VOTING WHERE THE BALLOT WOULD BE FILLED OUT IN THE CAR AND TAKE THEM THERE.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN MERRILL'S OFFICE, SUED TO HAVE THAT PROCESS STOPPED.

>> HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACCOMMODATE THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WANT TO SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY AND HAVE THOSE DISABILITIES BUT YET AND STILL DO NOT HAVE A FACILITY THAT'S ADA COMPLIANT?

>> HOUSE BILL 285 WAS ALSO APPROVED.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> THE HOUSE BILL IS TRYING TO BE PASSED -- >> THE PHYSICIAN WHO ATTEMPTED THE ABORTION IN THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CENTER SHALL EXERCISE THE SAME DEGREE OF PROFESSIONAL SKILL, CARE AND DILIGENCE TO PRESERVE THE LIFE AND HEALTH OF THE CHILD AS A REASONABLY DILIGENT AND CONSCIENTIOUS PHYSICIAN WOULD RENDER TO ANY OTHER CHILD BORN ALIVE AT ANY OTHER LOCATION IN THIS STATE AT THE SAME GESTATIONAL AGE.

>> SHAVER HAS SAID SUCH INSTANCES ARE RARE BUT THAT THEY CAN AND DO HAPPEN.

HER LEGISLATION NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE.

>> THE HOUSE ON THURSDAY SAID ATHLETES CAN ONLY PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS THAT CORRESPOND WITH BIRTH DATES ON THEIR CERTIFICATES.

THEY SAY IT IS NOT ABOUT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST TRANSGENDER ATHLETES.

>> I BELIEVE ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF WOMEN ATHLETICS AND THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF TITLE NINE.

IT IS UNFAIR FOR BIOLOGICAL MALES TO COMPETE AGAINST FEMALES IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

>> STADTHAGEN'S LEGISLATION'S NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE.

A BILL THAT WOULD BAN CERTAIN TRANSGENDER MEDICAL INFORMATION FOR MINORS.

HOUSE APPROVED SHAY SHELNUTT'S LEGISLATION THAT SENT OUT THE THE FULL HOUSE TO BAR DOCTORS FROM ADMINISTERING PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONE TREATMENTS TO UNDERAGE TEENS.

>> SCIENCE SHOWS A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE WOMEN GROW OUT OF THIS STAGE AND ARE FINE WITH THE SEX THEY WERE BORN WITH.

IT'S NOT DISCRIMINATE TORE.

IT'S PROTECTING CHILDREN.

WE ALL AGREE CHILDREN AREN'T CAPABLE OF MAKE THESE DECISIONS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH WAITING TILL THEY'RE AT LEAST 19.

>> Don: OPPONENTS OF SENATOR SHELNUTT'S MEASURE AND THE TRANS ATHLETE BILL CONTEND THEY WILL BOTH HURT TRANS YOUTH.

>> Don: THE SENATE TOURISM COMMITTEE THIS WEEK APPROVED A NEW LOTTERY-ONLY BILL, AND IT ALSO PASSED FOUR PIECES OF ENABLING LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD SPELL OUT THE FINE POINTS OF BOTH THE LOTTERY AND A BIG GAMBLING EXPANSION PLAN THAT DIED IN THE SENATE LAST WEEK.

THAT FAILED EXPANSION PLAN, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING, WAS SPONSORED BY THE COMMITTEE'S CHAIRMAN, SENATOR DEL MARSH OF ANNISTON.

>> SINCE LAST WEEK'S VOTE I'VE HAD MEMBERS COMING TO ME ASKING ABOUT RECONSIDERATION THAT SOME VOTES WEREN'T THERE.

I SAID WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS WE GET SOMETHING OUT THERE FOR THE PEOPLE TO MAKE A DECISION ON.

ALL I'VE DONE IS KEEP THE OPTIONS OPEN.

WE WOULD HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING A CLEAN LOTTERY BILL OUT TODAY BUT NOW BECAUSE YOU HAVE MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE, MEMBERS WHO WANT TO SEE MORE CONFIDENCE IN GAMING PACKAGE AND THOSE WHO PREFER A SIMPLE LOTTERY.

WE KEPT BOTH ALIVE.

>> Don: SENATOR MARSH WILL JOIN US ON THE BROADCAST SHORTLY TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

THE LOTTERY BILL THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE SENATE TOURISM COMMITTEE THIS WEEK IS SPONSORED BY SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON OF SPRINGVILLE, AND IT WOULD SPLIT THE PROCEEDS BETWEEN THE STATE EDUCATION AND GENERAL FUND BUDGETS.

THE LARGER GAMBLING EXPANSION PLAN PROPOSED THAT CASINO REVENUE WOULD HELP FUND BROADBAND EXPANSION IN THE STATE, SOMETHING THAT'S CONSIDERED A PRESSING NEED, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS OF ALABAMA.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED OF JASPER SAYS BROADBAND EXPANSION'S PROSPECTS ARE STILL STRONG, THAT IT COULD SEE SOME $4-BILLION FROM THE NEW FEDERAL STIMULUS PLAN AND FROM OTHER SOURCES.

>> WE JUST GOT THROUGH PASSING AN EDUCATION BUDGET IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT'S THE LARGEST IN HISTORY THAT IS, YOU KNOW, 7.6 BILLION, AND THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT MORE THAN HALF THAT TOTAL AMOUNT AS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LEGISLATION THAT'S COMING FROM D.C.

SO WILL THERE BE RESOURCES FOR BROADBAND?

I THINK SO.

WILL THERE BE MORE RESOURCES FOR A LOT OF OTHER TOPICS?

I THINK SO.

JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF MONEY DOESN'T MINIMIZE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY STUDIOUS AND FOCUSED ON HOW YOU SPEND THOSE RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> Don: SOME ESTIMATES HAVE SAID THAT ONE IN EVERY FOUR ALABAMIANS DON'T HAVE AN INTERNET CONNECTION AND BARELY MORE THAN HALF CAN GET A HIGH-SPEED ONLINE CONNECTION.

THE NEW FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE ALSO OFFERS NEW INCENTIVES TO STATES LIKE ALABAMA THAT DIDN'T EXPAND MEDICAID SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

AND DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE URGING GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THEY CALL THIS ‘SECOND CHANCE.'

IN OUR IN-DEPTH REPORT TONIGHT, CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.

>> I LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR, WHO HAS REALLY AT THE HELM OF THE SHIP DURING SOME VERY TURBULENT TIMES RIGHT NOW, BUT SHE HAS DONE WELL.

THIS IS ONE LEGACY THAT SHE CAN LEAVE BY IMPROVING AND EXPANDING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY TO GOVERNOR IVEY, IF NOT NOW WHEN?

>> SENATE DEMOCRAT CAUCUS CHAIR LINDA COLEMAN MADISON EXPLAINS WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO EXPAND MEDICAID.

>> MEDICAID MATCH WOULD STILL BE 90% FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 10% FROM ALABAMA.

SO HERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

THE BASE MEDICAID BOOST WOULD LAST FOR TWO CALENDAR YEARS STARTING THE FIRST DAY TO HAVE THE QUARTER IN WHICH AGRICULTURE EXPAND AND SIGNS AND BEGINS TO ENROLL PEOPLE.

AND RIGHT NOW, ALABAMA STANDS TO GAIN AN ESTIMATED $940 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE STATE HOUSE IS ADDRESS MENTAL ILLNESS.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDS SO WE CANNOT ONLY ADDRESS IT IN THE SCHOOL BUT ENHANCE IT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE PHRASE I LIKE TO USE, IT'S TIME FOR US TO PUT OUR MONEY INTO PEOPLE AND NOT INTO BRICK AND MORTAR.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES, AS ALWAYS, IS HOW CAN WE FUND IT.

WELL, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> MEMBERS OF THE ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND STATEWIDE ADVOCATES ALSO JOINED THE CALL.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> Don: GOVERNOR KAY IVEY HAS SAID THAT SHE NEEDS MORE INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING A COMMITMENT ON MEDICAID EXPANSION.

IN A STATEMENT, IVEY‘S OFFICE SAID• “ENSURING EVERY ALABAMIAN HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE IS IMPORTANT TO THE GOVERNOR AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF HERS.

HOWEVER, AS SHE HAS MADE CLEAR, THE PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOW TO PAY FOR IT.

SHE IS OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION BUT, RIGHT NOW, WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ALL THE FACTS.

THIS IS A MASSIVE PACKAGE, AND OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND MEDICAID AGENCY WILL NEED TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW IT BEFORE WE CAN FULLY WEIGH IN ON THIS ISSUE.” AND CAPITOL JOURNAL WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> DON: UP NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, SENATOR DEL MARSH IS IN THE CAPITOL STUDIO WITH US.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> Don: A WEEK AGO WE WERE TAKING ABOUT THE DEFEAT OF YOUR GAMBLING EXPANSION BILL IN THE SENATE.

HOPEFULLY THIS WEEK, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL AND IT WILL BE BACK.

>> IN THE TOURISM COMMITTEE WE HAD A COUPLE OF LOTTERY BILLS.

ALSO LAST WEEK WAS THE ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT FITS INTO BILL 214 DEFEATED BY TWO VOTES LAST WEEK.

WE'RE KEEPING EVERYTHING IN PLAY BY GETTING THOSE OUT OF COMMITTEE.

THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA WANT TO VOTE ON THE GAMING ISSUE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I'VE TOLD SENATOR McCLENDON WHOSE BILL CAME OUT AS THE LOTTERY BILL THAT WE'LL TAKE THE SPRING BREAK OFF, TIME TO TALK TO CONSTITUENTS, AND MAKE A DECISION WHETHER JUST TO MOVE THE STRAIGHT LOTTERY BILL OR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE GAMING BILL BASED ON THE FEELINGS OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME BACK FROM BREAK.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT WEEK.

>> Don: SENATOR WHEN THE SENATE DEFEATED THE GAMBLING EXPANSION BILL LAST WEEK, DID YOU HAVE A SENSE THERE MIGHT BE AN APPETITE FOR THIS IN SOME FORM?

>> IF YOU REMEMBER, THE CLAIM OF THE DEFEAT THAT THE ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT HAD BEEN INTRODUCED HAD NOT BEEN TIME FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO IT FOR THEM TO DETERMINE ENOUGH IF THEY'D LIKE TO ENABLE LEGISLATION.

THE ENABLING LEGISLATION HAS BEEN OUT THERE A WEEK BY THE TIME WE GET BACK.

IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE WITH A COUPLE OF MEMBERS, THAT'S GONE, SO WE MAY GET BACK TO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE BILL.

EITHER WAY, I THINK THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA DESERVE SOMETHING TO MAKE A DECISION ON IN NOVEMBER OF '22.

>> Don: THE ENABLING LEGISLATION IS THE FINE PRINT OF WHAT YOU'RE ATTENDANT TEMPTING TO DO HERE.

THERE WERE SOME LAWMAKERS IN THE LEADUP TO THE SENATE VOTE LAST WEEK THAT THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE TAKEN UP THE ENABLING LEGISLATION FIRST BEFORE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD DO ALL OF THIS.

DID YOU HEAR A LOT OF THAT?

>> NOT REALLY.

IT WAS MORE ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE ENABLING LEGISLATION.

THE ENABLING LEGISLATION DEALS WITH THINGS LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, WHAT'S ALLOWED, WHAT'S NOT, HOW THE COMMISSION WORSE, RULES TO HAVE THE COMMISSION, HOW SPORTS BETTING WOULD WORK, THAT'S THE FINE PRINT, AS YOU SAID, THAT YOU DON'T PUT INTO THE CONSTITUTION.

SO IT'S OUT THERE, EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.

IT'S ON THE WEB SITE.

LOOK AT IT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.

AND WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON WHEN WE GET BACK ON HOW TO PROCEED BASED ON WHAT THE PEOPLE'S APPETITE IS.

>> Don: CASINOS ARE A BIG PART OF YOUR PLAN AND SOME LAWMAKERS SAID THAT WAS THE STICKING POINT FOR THEM.

YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU THOUGHT AND YOU HAD SEEN POLLING THAT CASINOS DID BETTER IN POLLING THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE IMAGINED.

>> THEY DID.

IF YOU ADDED THE LOTTERY COMBINATION CASINO QUESTION, IS IT TIME TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND SETTLE IT HERE IN ALABAMA, IT POLLED 71% AMONG REPUBLICANS IN THE PRIMARIES.

SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY STRONG.

NOW, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT, WHETHER THEY'D VOTE IT DOWN OR UP, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY WON A VOTE ON THAT ISSUE.

>> Don: YES, THAT HAS BEEN A RECURRING THING THROUGHOUT THE DEBATE IS FOLKS ARE CLAMORING TO VOTE ON AT LEAST A LOTTERY AND MAYBE EVEN SOMETHING BIGGER.

>> YES.

>> Don: AND DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT VOTE?

I MEAN, I ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO YOUR CRYSTAL BALL BUT I'VE HEARD YOUR COLLEAGUES SAY THEY'RE NOT SO SURE THE PUBLIC WOULD VOTE THIS APPROVING THINK.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

MY GUT TELLS ME THAT THEY WOULD APPROVE A GAMING AGENDA THAT DEALT WITH OVERALL CONTROL OVER GAMING BECAUSE WE HAVE NO REAL CONTROL OF GAMING NOW IN THE STATE.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT.

SO I THINK IT WOULD PASS.

THERE AGAIN, I AM FINE.

WHATEVER WE CAN GET OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE TO GET TO THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WANT THE ABILITY TO VOTE ON THIS.

>> LAST WEEK, IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT'S DEFEAT, YOU SAID YOU WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS A LOT OF CONCERNS BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR COLLEAGUES AND ALSO TRYING TO ADDRESS CONCERNS BROUGHT BY THE GOVERNOR.

DO YOU FEEL THAT IN THE INTERIM, SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED OR ARE BEING ADDRESSED?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY HAD BEEN.

BUT THERE AGAIN, AS WE PROCEED, I'M SURE THE GOVERNOR AND HER STAFF WILL HAVE INPUT INTO WHERE WE ARE AND WE'RE GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

I HAVE BEEN, OBVIOUSLY, TALKING WITH HOUSE MEMBERS AS WELL ABOUT THE ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, MY GOAL IS TO GET IT -- SOMETHING OUT OF THE SENATE.

AT THAT POINT, IT'S UP TO THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR TO DETERMINE IF THEY WANT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT OR NOT.

>> Don: THE GOVERNOR IS FOR ALLOWING THE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE ISSUE.

SHE PUT TOGETHER THE STUDY COMMISSION LAST YEAR WHICH GAVE YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES A LOT OF INFORMATION TO WORK WITH AS YOU CONSIDER THE ISSUE.

THERE WERE SOME OBSERVERS WHO THOUGHT MAYBE THERE ISSUE ISN'T OVER BECAUSE MAYBE THATCH ENERGY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN EXPEND OPENED THIS WITH THE STUDY GROUP IF THERE WASN'T CONTINUING INTEREST MOVING FORWARD.

>> YEAH, AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE TOOK THE STUDY GROUP'S RECOMMENDATIONS, INCORPORATED THEM INTO THE LEGISLATION.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND LISTEN TO INPUT.

WE'LL SEE, WE'LL GET BACK FROM THE BREAK AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.

>> Don: BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT SEEMS TO BE CRUCIAL, SENATOR.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS THERE.

QUITE HONESTLY, THE BILL WAS DEFEATED BY A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS.

EVERY DEMOCRAT THAT WAS IN THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THE LEGISLATION LAST WEEK.

SO I CAN'T -- I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS, HAVEN'T REACHED OUT AND RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM THE DEMOCRATS ON THE WAY WE PREPARED THIS LEGISLATION.

>> Don: YOU HAVE SAID SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE MEASURE WAS DEFEATED LAST WEEK THAT YOU HAD THE VOTES AND YOU SAID MAYBE YOU MADE A ROOKIES MISTAKE BECAUSE AS TIME TICKED BY SUPPORT DWINDLED.

>> IN ATTEMPT TO SATISFY AS MANY AS I COULD AND GET A STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE, IT WAS AN ERROR ON MY PART.

THE VOTES WERE DEFINITELY WILL EARLY ON.

MEMBERS TOLD ME, IF I COULD HAVE VOTED TWO WEEKS BEFORE, NO DOUBT I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED IT, BUT I RECEIVED CERTAIN PRESSURES FROM HOME, ISSUES THAT COME UP.

SO THAT IS A REALITY.

SO -- AND THAT WAS A DANGER YOU RUN, THE LONGER YOU HOLD OUT ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

SO I WILL TELL YOU THIS, IF THERE'S ANY INDICATION THAT THE VOTES ARE THERE WHEN WE RETURN FROM SPRING BREAK, I WILL MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF WHATEVER PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS DETERMINED CAN PASS BY THE BODY.

>> Don: SOME OF YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES SAID IN RECENT WEEKS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED A LOTTERY-ONLY PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IT WAS THE BIG EXPANDED GAMBLING CASINO ASPECT THAT HAD THEM CONCERNED.

>> YEAH, AND AS I SAID, EITHER/OR CAN BE ON THE FLOOR FOR DEBATE AND WE'LL GO WHERE THE BODY WANTS TO GO.

IF IT BECOMES A SIMPLE LOTTERY AND THAT THE WILL OF THE BODY, THEN I'M FINE WITH THAT, TOO.

>> Don: THERE ARE A LOT OF EXTENUATING ASPECTS OF THIS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE PORCH CREEK INDEPENDENCE CANS AND WHETHER THE STATE WOULD ENTER INTO A COMPACT WITH THEM ON GAMING SHOULD YOU LEGISLATION ULTIMATELY BE APPROVED.

IS THAT ALSO -- WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT A MORE COMPLICATING PART OF THIS.

>> NOT REALLY, DON.

QUITE HONESTLY, SAY WE PASSED A SIMPLE LOTTERY, OBVIOUSLY, WON'T BE THE DOLLARS THAT GO TO MENTAL HEALTH AND RURAL HOSPITALS, BROADBAND, THINGS THAT WE HAD WANTED TO DO, BUT THAT DOESN'T IN ANY WAY -- I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR, WITH OR WITHOUT ANY LEGISLATION, THE GOVERNOR CAN SIT DOWN AND START NEGOTIATING COMPACT WITH THE POARCH CREEK INDIANS ANYTIME SHE CHOOSES.

SO THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT THIS WHOLE ATTEMPT IS ABOUT GIVING THE INDIANS A MONOPOLY, WHICH COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

I MEAN, ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION I PROPOSE, IT DOES EVERYTHING, IN FACT, TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOT A MONOPOLY.

BUT, YEAH, THE GOVERNOR AT ANYTIME CAN GO INTO A NEGOTIATION AND START THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE INDIANS.

>> Don: AND THOSE WHO WOULD CONTENT TEND THE TRIBE MIGHT HAVE A MONOPOLY WHEN THE LEGISLATION WERE ULTIMATELY APPROVED, I GUESS THEY'RE LOOKING AT EXISTING TRIBAL FACILITIES AND THE POSSIBILITY THEY WOULD BUILD ANOTHER ONE AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT?

>> THERE AGAIN, THE BILL THAT FAILED LAST WEEK SET UP FIVE LOCATIONS OF GAMING IN THE STATE.

ONLY ONE OF WHICH WAS -- COULD HAVE BEEN PROMISED TO THE INDIANS FOR COMPACT NEGOTIATIONS.

SO THERE WERE FOUR OF THE FACILITIES THAT WERE NOT INDIAN RELATED.

SO AS I SAID, TO ME, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A MONOPOLY, IF NO LEGISLATION IS PASSED, THE GOVERNOR TOMORROW COULD GO INTO COMPACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE INDIANS AND IF THAT WENT THROUGH, IN FACT, THAT IS WHEN THE INDIANS WOULD HAVE A MONOPOLY.

BUT THE BILL DOES EVERYTHING, IN MY OPINION, TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.

>> Don: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, SENATOR, BUT BEFORE WE CLOSE YOU SAID DURING THESE NEGOTIATIONS YOU WERE OPEN TO ADDING A COUPLE MORE CASINO LOCATIONS.

YOU STILL OPEN TO THAT.

>> THERE AGAIN, GOES AGAINST THE TALK OF MONOPOLY.

I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE BESIDES THE EXISTING FACILITIES IN THE STATE.

THERE WAS PUSHBACK WITH FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF ON THAT AND IT WAS NOT IN 214 ON THE FLOOR LAST THURSDAY.

I'M OPEN TO ANYTHING THAT THE BODY WANTS TO CONSIDER TO GET TO THE PEOPLE FOR A VOTE.

BUT TODAY I WOULD SAY YOU'RE RESTRICTED TO THE STICKS LOCATIONS, COUNTING DOTHAN.

>> Don: DOTHAN, I KNOW THAT WAS AN AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR LAST WEEK AND LOWNDES COUNTY CAME FORWARD WANTING TO BE PART OF THIS BUT WE'LL STICK WITH THE STATUS QUO NOW.

>> ALL THAT'S OUT THERE NOW IS A SIMPLE LOTTERY BILL.

THAT'S OUT THERE THAT CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> Don: DO YOU THINK EITHER YOUR LOTTERY BILL OR YOUR BILL, ONE OR BOTH MIGHT GET OUT?

>> WELL, I'M HOPEFUL SOMETHING WILL GET OUT TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO VOTE.

>> Don: SENATOR DEL MARSH OF ANNISTON.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL," WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, SENATOR ARTHUR ORR OF DECATUR IS BACK IN STUDIO WITH US.

SENATOR, WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, DON, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Don: SENATOR, WE WRAPPED UP THE LEGISLATIVE WEEK AND HEADED INTO SPRING BREAK HAVING PASSED THE EDUCATION BUDGET OUT TO HAVE THE UPPER CHAMBER.

IT'S A RECORD-BREAKING $7.6 BILLION, AND THERE IS A LOT MORE MONEY FOR A LOT OF GOOD CAUSES, RIGHT?

>> WELL, THAT'S CORRECT, BUT WE NEED TO BE VERY STRATEGIC AND WISE HOW WE SPEND THIS MONEY BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING DOWN AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FULLY IN SYNC WITH THOSE DOLLARS AND THE STATE DOLLARS TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS.

>> Don: IT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT BECAUSE SCHOOLS STAND TO GET MILLIONS, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS UNDER THE LATEST STIMULUS PLAN, WHICH WILL HELP THEM IN SO MANY AREAS.

SO THIS STRATEGIC PLACING OF STATE FUNDS WOULD BE CRITICAL.

>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE.

ONE THING THAT WE TUT TODAY AND USUALLY WOULDN'T WANT TO CUT THE FUNDING FOR THE READING INITIATIVE AND THE LITERACY ACT, AND THAT WOULD BE FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR SUMMER PROGRAMS.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE PAYING FOR ALL THAT, SO WE DON'T NEED TO DUPLICATE IT WITH STATE DOLLARS, SO WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THOSE STATE DOLLARS ELSEWHERE, AGAIN ALL TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ACROSS THE STATE WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS.

>> Don: I HEARD SUPERINTENDENT DR. ERIC MACKEY SAY RECENTLY THAT ALL THIS MONEY THAT'S GOING TO COME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SCHOOLS AS PART OF THE STIMULUS ACT WAS REALLY GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER.

DO YOU VIEW IT THAT WAY?

>> WELL, LET'S HOPE IT IS.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER, AND BY DELIVER, WE MAKE UP FOR THE DEFICIT IN LEARNING THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR, DUE TO VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING OVER THE INTERNET, AND HOW DIFFICULT THAT'S BEEN FOR EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE, MUCH LESS THE CHILDREN.

>> Don: HAVE YOU HEARD DR. MACKEY SEEMS FAIRLY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN CLOSE THE GAP, THAT WE CAN CATCH UP, SO TO SPEAK, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE NO SMALL CHORE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, BECAUSE EDUCATORS ARE GOING TO BE BUSY THIS SUMMER AND THANKS FOR WHAT THEY DO AND REALIZING THE NEED AND KIND OF THE CRISIS POINT THAT WE'RE AT, BUT TO CLOSE THE GAP WITH LEARNING AND CATCH THESE CHILDREN UP TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

>> Don: I WANT TO HIT ON SOME OF THE HIGH POINTS OF THE EDUCATION BUDGET BUT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEARNING, LET'S START WITH MORE MONEY IN THIS BUDGET THAT PASSED THE SENATE THIS WEEK FOR MIRING MORE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT SO MUCH HIRING MORE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PLACES OR POSITIONS FOR ABOUT 7,500 SUCH MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE.

HOWEVER, ONLY ABOUT 4,300 ARE FILLED WITH CERTIFIED MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS.

SO THE BALANCE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE CREDENTIALS, THE RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS TO BE TEACHING THOSE SUBJECTS.

>> Don: THEY WERE JUST PUT IN THERES A PLACE HOLDERS?

>> WELL, THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN.

>> Don: SURE.

>> AND SYSTEMS CAN'T ATTRACT MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SYSTEM, SO WE'VE GOT TO RAISE THE BAR, AND MONEY TALKS, AND TALK WALKS.

SO WE'VE GOT TO OFFER MORE MONEY IN THESE HARD-TO-FILL PLACES AND GET QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS INTO THE CLASSROOMS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

>> Don: THERE ARE A LOT OF BENCHMARKS OUTLINED IN THE PLAN I KNOW THAT WOULD DECIDE WHO GETS HOW MUCH NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER THINGS WERE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, WERE THEY NOT?

>> SURE, THEY'VE GOT TO BE QUALIFIED AND CERTIFIED WITH THE RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, SO THIS IS SOMETHING, IN WORKING WITH THE SENATOR DONNIE CHASTEEN, FORMER EDUCATOR, BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

BUT WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY.

THE BILL PASSED TODAY AND SO IT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO GET THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND, AGAIN, RAISE THE BAR, ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALITY EDUCATORS WHEN IT COMES TO MATH AND SCIENCE.

THEN WE DID SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY ELSE AS WELL.

>> Don: SORRY, DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

>> NO.

I WAS GOING TO SAY, WE RAISED THE AMOUNT FOR STEP RAISES FOR TRADITIONAL TEACHERS.

THE STEP RAISES HAD BEEN WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT AND CHAIRMAN POOL FROM THE HOUSE WERE LOOKING AT CONTINUING TO MOVE THOSE ALONG.

THAT COST OVER $30 MILLION, AND TO MAKE THOSE MIDDLE YEAR TEACHERS AFTER EIGHT, NINE, TEN, TWELVE, 15 YEARS, KEEP INCREASING THEIR COMPENSATION SO THEY'LL STAY IN EDUCATION AND NOT LOOK ACROSS THE FENCE AND SAY WELL, I COULD MAKE MORE MONEY SELLING INSURANCE OR REAL ESTATE OR WHATEVER, AND KEEP THEM IN THE CLASSROOM AND PAY THEM FOR IT.

>> Don: SPEAKING OF SCHOOL STAFF, THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL NURSES HAS BEEN PREDOMINANT DURING THE PANDEMIC, OBVIOUSLY, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PUSHES TO -- FOR US TO DO BETTER WHERE SCHOOL NURSES WERE CONCERNED.

WAS THAT BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET AT ALL?

>> WE SAW A $6 MILLION INCREASE IN THAT.

DOUBLE DIGIT GAINS WITH SCHOOL NURSES, AND WITH COVID, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S SHOWN WE HAVE BEEN DEFICIENT IN THIS AREA AND WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPROVE IT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT ALONG CERTAINLY AS WE CAN AFFORD IT.

>> Don: PRE-K IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY, IT WAS AGAIN THIS YEAR, AND THEY GOT ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PRE-K CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THIS HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO GOVERNOR IVEY, AND SHE MOVED THE NUMBER ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY LAST YEAR, WHEN COVID HIT.

WE ACTUALLY DIALED IT BACK AND MORE OR LESS LEVEL-FUNDED OUR PRE-K PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GROW IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

BUT FOR NEXT YEAR, WE ENVISIONED A LOT OF GROWTH AND GOVERNOR IVEY TOOK THE INITIATIVE AND WE SAW ALMOST A $30 MILLION INCREASE IN THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE HIGH 20s, GETTING MORE DOLLARS FOR PRE-K. >> Don: I KNOW THERE WAS ALSO MORE MONEY FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, RIGHT?

>> YES, AND THEY'RE HAPPY, I HOPE, WITH THEIR INCREASES AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, AGAIN, ALL UP AND DOWN THE LINE, THAT WE SUPPORT THE INSTITUTIONS AS WE CAN.

WE HAD HEALTHY INCREASES IN OUR JUNIOR COLLEGE SYSTEM.

THEY ARE WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, IN MY OPINION, AND FOR SO MANY ALABAMIANS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE THEM AS STRONG AS THEY CAN BE AND CHANCELLOR BAKER DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB IN LEADING THAT ORGANIZATION WITH HIS BOARD AND THE PRESIDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Don: SENATOR ORR CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE IN THE UPPER CHAMBERS.

YOU'VE WATCHED THE EDUCATION BUDGET GROW OVER YEARS.

THE EDUCATION BUDGET ENJOYS A MORE STEADY REVENUE STREAM THAN THE GENERAL FUND.

THE GENERAL FUND HAS SEEN A GROWTH OVER THE COMING YEARS.

GIVEN THE PANDEMICS AND THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, ARE YOU SURPRISED HOW WELL THE BUDGET FARED DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> WE'RE PRESENTLY SURPRISED.

WE DIALED IT BACK IN MAY OF LAST YEAR.

WHEN WE CAME BACK IN MAY OF 2020, AND THE PANDEMIC WAS REALLY FRONT AND CENTER, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKED LIKE.

WE BUDGETED VERY CONSERVATIVELY FOR FISCAL '21, BUT NOW FOR FISCAL '22, THE BUDGET WE JUST PASSED, WE HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS WITH OR WITHOUT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, AND, SO, I FEEL LIKE, IF WE COULD REALLY DELIVER AT THE GROUND LEVEL, BE IT A FIFTH-GRADE OR COLLEGE CLASSROOM, IT WOULD BODE WELL AND FOR THE PEOPLE IN IT.

>> Don: GIVEN OUR GENERALLY HEALTHY EDUCATION BUDGET ON THE STATE LEVEL PLUS THE INFUSION OF ALL THE MONEY THAT WILL COME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A REALLY BRIGHT TIME FOR OUR STATE SCHOOLS.

DO YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY?

>> YES, AND NO.

YES, IT'S BRIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF MONEY, BUT MONEY DOESN'T DELIVER RESULTS, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER RESULTS WITH QUALITY EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HOLD STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE, WE HOLD EDUCATORS ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE REALLY NEED TO IMPROVE OUR STATUS AMONG THE OTHER STATES OF THE COUNTRY BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE LOWER ECHELONS, AND THAT'S NOT A PLACE THAT I THINK ANY ALABAMIAN OUGHT TO WANT TO ACCEPT OR RESIGN OUR STATE TO BE AT THAT LEVEL.

MONEY HELPS BUT WE HAVE TO DELIVER AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> Don: OUR BEING IN THE LOWER ECHELONS, AS YOU POINTED OUT, WAS COMPOUNDED THIS YEAR, AS WE DISCUSSED, A BY THE LEARNING LOSS, AS IT'S BEEN TERMED, DURING THE PANDEMIC, SO OUR WORK IS CUT OUT FOR US HERE.

>> TRUE, BUT SO WILL BE THE CASE IN MOST EVERY OTHER STATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE'RE COMPARED TO.

SO, AGAIN, ATTRACTING QUALITY INDIVIDUALS INTO THE FIELD OF EDUCATION, CERTAINLY GIVING THEM THE RESPECT THAT THEY'RE DUE AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO HAVE A CAREER IN EDUCATION, WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEM TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A NICE LIVING, STANDARD OF LIVING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THIS LEGISLATURE IS COMMITTED TO DO, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.

AND THIS YEAR'S BUDGET MAKES A GOOD STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> Don: SENATOR ARTHUR ORR OF DECATUR, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, DON.

>> Don: YOU BET.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, TODAY, MARCH 19, MARKS THE 80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE U.S. MILITARY'S 99th PURR SUIT SQUAD I DON'T KNOW, THE GROUP ALONG WITH OTHER UNITS ESTABLISHED LATER WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME KNOWN AS THE TUKEGEE AIRMEN, COMPRISING AMERICA'S FIRST BLACK MILITARY PILOTS.

THESE UNITS CONFRONTED RACISM AT HOME AN AND THE ENEMY ABROAD.

THEY WOULD GO ON TO COMPILE AN EXEMPLARY RECORD IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND EUROPEAN THEATERS OF WORLD WAR II AND PAVE THE WAY FOR DESEGREGATION OF THE MILITARY.

WE MARK THE 80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIT THAT WOULD BECOME THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN BY PRESENTING A 1945 FILM RELEASED BY THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES FIRST MOTION PICTURE UNIT.

IT COVERS THE HISTORY SURROUNDING THE FORMATION OF THE TUKEGEE AIRMEN AND IS NARRATED BY THEN ACTOR AND, OF COURSE, FUTURE PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.

♪♪♪ >> IT'S MORNING, 20 MILES FROM THE ENEMY.

THESE ARE AMERICAN BOYS GOING TO WORK.

THE MORNING FIGHTER PATROL.

THEY'RE FLYING OVER ITALY, AND THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE THEM FLYING OVER BURMA, OVER THE COAST OF HOLLAND, OVER CHINA, AND OVER GERMANY.

IN SEARCH OF THE ENEMY.

ENEMY PLANES.

THE ODDS ARE BAD THIS MORNING.

NEARLY THREE TO ONE.

THE ROUTINE MORNING PATROL GOES ON.

THEY CLOSE THE RANGE.

3,500 FEET.

3,000.

2,500.

2,000.

THE ODDS ARE STILL THREE TO ONE.

BUT IT'S THREE NAZIS SPINNING DOWN IN BLOOD AND FLAME TO EVERY ONE OF OURS.

ROUTINE MORNING PATROL.

THEY'RE GOOD PLANES, WONDERFUL PLANES, AND THEY'RE PILOTS ARE GOOD, TOO.

LISTEN -- >> YESTERDAY, I FILLED ONE OF MY AMBITIONS A COMBAT PILOT.

I GOT ONE AIRPLANE.

>> AN AMERICAN FAR FROM HOME, FIGHTING A WAR AROUND THE WORLD.

LISTEN AGAIN.

>> AND THE SECOND SHOT, TWO FOX WOLVES CAME ON MY RIGHT.

I TURNED RIGHT, PUT UP A STONEWALL OF BULLETS.

>> A WALL OF BULLETS.

IT WASN'T SO LONG AGO THESE MEN WERE STUDENTS IN A UNIVERSITY, WORKMEN IN A SHIPYARD, JUST PLAIN CITIZENS FROM EVERYWHERE U.S.A.

THEY CHANGED JOBS, THEY CHANGED CLOTHES, THEY TOOK A TRAIN INTO THE FUTURE.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE WOULD BE, BUT MANY HOPED THEY WOULD GET THE CHANCE TO FLY AND FIGHT IN THE AIR.

SOME WANTED THAT CHANCE MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

DEEP INSIDE ALABAMA IS A FAMOUS SCHOOL CALLED THE TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE.

IT WAS FOUNDED ON JULY 4th OF 1881, AND SINCE THAT INDEPENDENCE DAY, IT HAS GRADUATED MANY THOUSANDS INTO AGRICULTURE, INTO SCIENCE, INTO INDUSTRY.

THIS SCHOOL WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, AND ITS FOUNDER, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, WAS A PIONEER WHO BROKE OPEN A ROAD FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

THIS MAN HAD A DREAM AND THE DREAM BECAME STONE.

HE LIFTED THE VEIL OF IGNORANCE FROM HIS PEOPLE AND POINTED THE WAY TO PROGRESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY.

CLOSE TO THIS SCHOOL, CLOSE TO THE WORK THIS MAN HAD DONE, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, DETERMINED TO BUILD AN AIRFIELD.

THREE YEARS AGO, THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER FARM IN ALABAMA.

MORE THAN TREES HAD TO BE CLEARED AWAY.

THERE WAS MISUNDERSTANDING AND DISTRUST AND PREJUDICE TO BE CLEARED AWAY.

THREE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS ONLY AN IDEA, BUT IDEAS ARE POWERFUL THINGS, AND, TODAY, THERE ARE FIGHTER PLANES FLYING OVERHEAD.

INSTEAD OF SWAMP AND YELLOW PINE, THERE ARE HANGARS, REPAIR SHOPS, BARRACKS.

INSTEAD OF PATCHES OF CORN, CONCRETE FLIGHT STRIPS.

BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

YOU CAN'T MAKE A FIGHTER SQUADRON OUT OF CONCRETE AND ALUMINUM AND A CAN OF PAINT.

IT TAKES MEN.

A CHEMISTRY STUDENT, A WELDER, A SHOE SALESMAN MUST LEARN HOW TO FLY.

A GROUP OF AVERAGE AMERICANS MUST BECOME A TEAM OF FIGHTING MEN WITH WINGS.

THERE'S A NEW WORLD UP HERE.

A MAN HAS TO LEARN HIS WAY AROUND.

IT TAKES MANY WEEKS OF LEARNING TO MAKE A FIGHTER PILOT.

AND A LOT OF THAT LEARNING IS DONE IN A HARD, WOODEN CHAIR.

BECAUSE A FIGHTER PILOT IS A COMBINATION OF A MATHEMATICIAN AND AN ATHLETE, A SCIENTIST AND A SHARPSHOOTER.

HE'S GOT TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON INSIDE HIS PLANE.

THE HEART OF HIS FIGHTER IS STEEL AND COPPER, GAS AND OIL, BUT THE BRAIN IS THE MAN WHO FLYS IT.

IT BEGINS IN A SAFE, SLOW PLANE, TWO WINGS INSTEAD OF ONE.

BUT HE FLYS MANY HOURS IN A CLOSED ROOM.

IN THE MORNING HE MAY BE FLYING A PRESCRIBED COURSE OVER A SHEET OF PAPER.

IN THE AFTERNOON HE MAY FLY THE SAME COURSE ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

HE TRAINS HIS MUSCLES DOWN HERE VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND, BUT HE'LL USE THE SAME SENSE OF BALANCE AND COORDINATION IN THE SKIES ABOVE TUSKEGEE.

FOR THIS JOB OF FLYING IS NEVER EASY, AND SOMETIMES IT'S VERY, VERY TOUGH.

BUT HE'S LEARNING HOW HIGH AND HOW FAST AND HOW FAR HE MUST GO TO REACH THE ENEMY.

PILOTAGE, DEAD RECKONING, THEORY OF FLIGHT, RADIO CODE.

YES, HE'S GETTING MUSCLES IN HIS MIND, HE'S GETTING HARD, KEEN, QUICK.

HE'S COMING INTO THE CLEAR.

HERE ABOVE THE WARM, FAMILIAR HILLS OF ALABAMA, THESE AMERICANS ARE LEARNING TO FLY IN THOSE TIGHT FORMAT COMBINATIONS THEY'LL USE SOME DAY TO HUNT DOWN THE GERMAN AND JAP ABOVE HIS OWN CITIES.

IN ADDITION TO FIGHTER GROUPS, THIS MEN BEGAN TO TRAINMEN FOR MEDIUM BOMBERS AND THAT, TOO, WAS A PIONEER STEP.

ONE THING IT PROVED, YOU CAN'T JUDGE A MAN HERE BY THE COLOR OF HIS EYES AND THE FACE OF HIS NOSE.

ON THE FLIGHT STRIP, YOU JUDGE A MAN BY THE WAY HE FLYS.

HERE'S THE ANSWER TO THE PROPAGANDA TO HAVE THE JAPS AND NAZIS.

HERE'S THE ANSWER, WINGS FOR THIS MAN.

HERE'S THE ANSWER -- WINGS FOR THESE AMERICANS.

SQUADRON AFTER SQUADRON OUT OF TUSKEGEE FLYING P-40s FIRST, TOUGH LITTLE PLANES, THEN STRIKING WITH THUNDERBOLTS, P-47s.

THEN RIDING THE MUSTANGS, P-51s.

NO, IT WAS NEVER EASY FOR THESE MEN.

THEY WERE PIONEERS, AND NO PIONEER HAS IT EASY.

THEY FOUGHT LIES, THEY FOUGHT HEART BREAK, AND THEY WON.

NOW THEY FIGHT THE ENEMY.

ON HIS OWN SOIL.

[ GUNFIRE ] [ EXPLOSIONS ] THEY FOUGHT THE ENEMY NOT WITHOUT LOSS.

OUT OF THE FIRST CLASS TO GRADUATE ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO, ONLY A HANDFUL ARE LEFT ALIVE, SO THAT LIBERTY MIGHT NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.

THREE YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE FOUNDING OF TUSKEGEE AIRFIELD.

750 PILOTS HAVE BEEN TRAINED.

50% OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN COMBAT, AND THIS IS ONLY A BEGINNING.

LISTEN TO MAJOR GENERAL BUT HER AT THE CELEBRATION OF THIS THIRD ANNIVERSARY.

>> HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME NEGRO AVIATION CADETS WERE BEING GROOMED TO FLY WARPLANES OF A UNIT WHICH WAS THEN A UNIT IN THOUGHT ONLY, THE 99th PURSUIT SQUADRON.

THESE MEN WERE PIONEERS OF AN ADVENTURE SO NEW THAT YOU WHO STAND HERE BEFORE ME NOW, AFTER THREE YEARS, MAY STILL BE CONSIDERED FORERUNNERS IN THE MOVEMENT WHICH HAS GIVEN YOU A PLACE IN THE FIGHTING MEN OF THE SKY.

>> UNDER THE FEET OF THESE MEN, A NEW ROAD IS BEING BEATEN OUT.

BROAD ENOUGH NOW FOR THOUSANDS AND TEN THOUSANDS, A GOOD ROAD FOR OUR COUNTRY RESPECT THESE MEN REMEMBER THAT, MARCHING OR FLYING.

THEY REMEMBER BACKING THEM UP, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FRIENDS, WHO EXPECT SO MUCH OF THEM, AND BACKING THEM UP THE MEN AND WOMEN OF EVERY CREED AND SPEECH AND COLOR WHO MADE THESE PLANES, AND BACKING THEM UP THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE WORLD, THE STRENGTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

♪♪♪ >> Don: FUTURE PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN NARRATING A 1945 FILM RELEASED BY THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES FIRST MOTION PICTURE UNIT, COVERING, OF COURSE, THE HISTORY SURROUNDING THE FORMATION TO HAVE THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.

AS PRESIDENT, RONALD REAGAN WOULD LATER COME TO TUSKEGEE MANY YEARS LATER, IN 1987, TO DEDICATE THE GENERAL DANIEL "CHAPPIE" JAMES CENTER.

JAMES ATTENDED THEN WHAT WAS CALLED TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE AND INSTRUCTED AFRICAN-AMERICAN PILOTS DURING WORLD WAR II.

HE WAS A DECORATED AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT WHO ALSO FLEW MISSIONS IN KOREA AND VIETNAM AND IN 1975 JAMES BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO REACH THE RANK OF FOUR-STAR GENERAL IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES.

HE DIED IN 1978, SOME NINE YEARS BEFORE PRESIDENT REAGAN SPOKE THESE WORDS ABOUT HIM IN TUSKEGEE.

>> CHAPPIE'S MOTHER TOLD HIM AT A YOUNG AGE THERE WAS AN ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT, THOU SHALT NOT QUIT.

HE TOOK THAT TO HEART, AND CHAPPIE JAMES IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW OFFICERS EVER TO OBTAIN THE RANK OF FOUR-STAR GENERAL.

HE HAD FOUR STARS ON HIS SHOULDER, AND 50 STARS IN HIS HEART.

CHAPPIE JAMES WAS AN UNABASHED PATRIOT.

>> THE LATE PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN IN TUSKEGEE IN 1987.

PART OF OUR REMEMBRANCE OF THE "EMPIRE" NEARS AND HEROS WHO ARE AND WERE THE TUKEGEE AIRMEN ON THIS THE 80th ANNIVERSARY TO HAVE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THEIR UNIT.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: FINALLY ON THE BROADCAST TONIGHT, IT'S OUR WEEKLY VISIT WITH STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS.

THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Don: BIG DOINGS STARTING NEXT WEEK WHERE COVID VACCINATIONS ARE CONCERNED.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE OPENING UP OF A NEW ELIGIBILITY GROUP STARTING MONDAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

UP TILL THIS POINT WE HAVE BEEN TAKING THE PEOPLE IN ONE A AND B STARTING 65, BUT MONDAY WE'LL EXPAND IT TO ONE-C AND THAT INCLUDES THE CRITICAL FORCE WORKERS WHO WEREN'T ELIGIBLE BEFORE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY ADULTS FROM ANY AGE OF 16 YEARS AND UP THAT HAVE CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS.

THERE'S A LIST OF CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS INCLUDED AND ANYTHING CERTIFIED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN THAT WOULD WARRANT TAKING THE VACCINE IS GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE GROUP NOW THAT'S CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE IN ALABAMA AND THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE PEOPLE I THINK SEEKING VACCINES.

>> Don: MORE CRITICAL WORKERS, UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, FROM AGINGS 16 AND UP, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE BECAUSE AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THERE HAD BEEN A NOTION OUT THERE THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE ALREADY ELIGIBLE AND NOT OFFICIALLY TILL MONDAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I KNOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED SHOTS.

IT'S NEVER BEEN OUR INTENTION TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING A SHOT OR HAVE SOMEONE TURNED AWAY.

I KNOW IT CERTAINLY HAPPENED IN SOME CASES BUT TECHNICALLY THEY FALL INTO THE 1-C CATEGORY.

WE HAVE LOWERED THE AGE RANGE TO 55 AND UP SO ANYONE OVER AGE 55, EVEN IF COMPLETELY HEALTHY, WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE.

SO WE'LL HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF ALABAMIANS WHO WILL BE SEEKING SHOTS NEXT WEEK.

>> Don: MORE SUBGROUPS UNDER THIS AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE NEW ELIGIBILITY CLASS ONLINE TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION, BUT AGAIN, GENERAL SPEAKING, FOLKS, 55 AND UP, THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS 16 AND UP AND ADDING MORE CRITICAL WORKERS INTO THE MIX.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED.

THE OCCUPATIONS IN THE 1-B CATEGORY WERE CRITICAL WORKERS WE THINK OF WHO REALLY CAN'T DISTANCE THEMSELVES, PEOPLE WORKING ON THE FRONT LINE IN A MANUFACTURING PLANT, FIRST RESPONDERS DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC EVERY DAY, TEACHERS IN CLASSROOM SETTINGS WITH DOZENS OR HUNDREDS OF KIDS EVERY DAY, THOSE ARE OUR 1-B GROUP.

THE REMAINDER, THE 1-C GROUP WITH THOSE WHO STILL HAVE THOSE PARTICULAR JOBS BUT MAYBE SOMEWHAT LOWER RISK.

SO IT INCLUDES THE MEDIA, SO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE ELIGIBLE, PEOPLE IN FINANCE, THE LEGAL PROFESSION, A NUMBER OF OTHER OCCUPATIONS AS WELL.

>> Don: AT THE SAME TIME, AS YOU OPEN UP ELIGIBILITY TO MORE PEOPLE, AND I THINK YOU SAID IT, IN ESSENCE, DOUBLES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO GET IN LINE FOR A SHOT NOW, YOU WILL OPEN UP MOBILE CLINICS AROUND THE STATE STARTING NEXT WEEK WITH THE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD.

>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THE NATIONAL GUARD HAVE BEEN SEARCH GREAT PARTNERS FOR US.

ALABAMA IS SO FORTUNATE FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.

THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, GENERAL GORDON, HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE, GENERAL -- LIEUTENANT GENERAL MARTIN HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US REEL SINCE DAY ONE, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, WORKING ON RESPONSES BY THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND NOW THEY'VE TAKEN ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ADDING THESE MOBILE CLINICS.

THEY HAVE TWO TEAMS EVERY DAY MOVING FROM ONE COUNTY TO THE NEXT ON EVERY DAY, TRYING TO GIVE 1,000 SHOTS A DAY.

SO THEY WILL ACTUALLY RUN THOSE CLINICS FOUR DAYS A WEEK, SO THAT WILL ADD ABOUT 8,000 SHOTS PER WEEK, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE FOCUSING ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE COUNTIES.

THEY ARE GOING TO THOSE COUNTIES IDENTIFIED AS THOSE WHO HAVE THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS BASED ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS BUT PRIMARILY IN ALABAMA'S BLACK BELT AND WILD GRASS AREA.

THOSE COUNTIES WE'VE STRUGGLED TO REACH, THEY WILL BE WORKING THERE THE NEXT SIX WEEKS AND FEW MONTHS.

>> THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THAT THIS WEEK.

GO TO THE WEB SITE TO SEE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.

THESE ARE RURAL, UNDERSERVED, THE BLACK BELT AREA OF ALABAMA AND OTHER PARTS, AND THIS STARTS THESE MOBILE CLINICS, START ON TUESDAY THE 23rd AND YOU'RE HOPING THEY WILL GO ON AT LEAST SIX WEEKS.

>> THEY WILL GO FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY FOR THE FIRST THREE WEEKS, A TOTAL OF 24 COUNTIES REACHED.

AFTER THAT THREE-WEEK PERIOD, THEY START THE CYCLE AGAIN IN THE SAME ORDER SO PEOPLE CAN GET SECOND SHOTS, THEY WILL ROTATE THROUGH 24 COUNTIES OVER A SIX-WEEK PERIOD GIVEN TWO SHOTS.

AFTER THAT TIME WE MAY DETERMINE MORE COUNTIES WILL HAVE NEED AND REDEPLOY THEM.

THE GUARD HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE AND WILLING TO DO THIS AND WE'RE JUST REALLY THANKFUL TO HAVE THEM.

>> Don: HOW ARE WE DOING ON VACCINE SUPPLIES.

>> INCREASING SOMEWHAT.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE MORE THAN 110,000, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 110,000 TO 120,000 FIRST DOSES THIS COMING WEEK, BY FAR THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD AND ABOUT DOUBLE WHAT WE HAD ONLY FIVE OR SIX WEEKS AGO, SO THAT'S TREMENDOUS.

WE THINK BY THE VERY END OF THE MONTH OR THE FIRST OF APRIL WE'LL SEE A RELIABLE SUPPLY OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE AS WELL.

TO THIS POINT, WE'VE ONLY SORT OF GOTTEN ONE LARGE ORDER, LIKE ALL STATES, BUT WE THINK THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THE MIX VERY SOON.

I BELIEVE AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS A MONTH FROM NOW, THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE WE HAVE A LOT OF VACCINE AND WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME TO GET IT.

I THINK WE'LL HAVE THE OPPOSITE PROBLEM OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

>> Don: THIS IS A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER BUT I'LL ASK IT.

DO YOU THINK WE CAN STAY FAR ENOUGH AHEAD OF ANY POSSIBLE FUTURE SPIKE IN THE NUMBERS BY GETTING MORE SHOTS IN ARMS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?

>> OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S OUR GOAL.

WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS IS THIS DISEASE HAS SHOWN THIS PROPENSITY TO CYCLE UP AND DOWN.

WE ASSOCIATE OUTBREAKS WITH EVENTS LIKE THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT SURE WHY WE SEE SPIKES OR OUTBREAKS.

WE KNOW THERE ARE VARIANTS CIRCULATING THAT ARE EASIER TO TRANSMIT.

CERTAIN STRAINS TO HAVE THE VIRUS ARE EASY TO PASS FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER.

SO IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME IN A WAY.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING AS POSSIBLE TO GIVE OUT AS MANY SHOTS AS POSSIBLE.

WE HOPE THE BARRIER DOESN'T BECOME SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST UNWILLING TO TAKE IT.

THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO KNOW WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO END THE PANDEMIC AND WE CAN'T CONVINCE EVERYONE THAT'S THE THING THEY OUGHT TO DO.

>> Don: WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE CONCERNED, DR. HARRIS, OUR DAILY CASE COUNTS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, REPORTED THIS WEEK, ARE AS LOW AS THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING TO HAVE THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

JUST A FEW HUNDRED CASES A DAY, WHICH IS TERRIFIC.

I DON'T THINK IT'S COINCIDENTAL THAT THIS PAST WEEK ARE THE MOST VACCINATIONS WE'VE GIVEN, MORE THAN 170,000 SHOTS WERE GIVEN THIS PAST WEEK AS WELL.

WE ALSO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE MORE THAN 10% OF THE STATE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFECTED WITH THIS DISEASE, SO CERTAINLY MANY OF THOSE IF NOT MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE SOME IMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO I THINK THE COMBINATION OF THE NUMBERS OF CASES WE HAVE SEEN AND THE NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS WE'RE DOING ARE WHAT DRIVING THESE CASE NUMBERS DOWN.

>> Don: AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE ALL THE ENCOURAGING NEWS, WITH THOSE STATS WITH THE VACCINATIONS RAMPING UP, I DON'T THINK WE CAN OVEREMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT LETTING OUR GUARD DOWN.

>> WE'RE ALMOST OVER THE GOAL LINE.

IT'S NOT TIME TO QUIT DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE, THIS DISEASE IS STILL DEADLY AND MAY BE THERE AREN'T VERY MANY PEOPLE GETTING IT COMPARED TO PREVIOUS MONTHS AND, YET, WE STILL HAVE DEATHS REPORTED EVERY DAY IN THE STATE.

WE'RE NOT GETTING THEM IN EVERY COUNTY EVERY DAY BUT DEATHS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND IT TENDS TO BE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER OR HAVE CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS.

SO PLEASE DON'T STOP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> WHEN WE SAY DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, SIMPLE THINGS WE'VE PREACHED FOR YEARS NOW, SOCIAL DISTANCE, WASH YOUR HANDS, WEAR A MASK, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE MASK MANDATE WILL GO AWAY APRIL 9 BUT I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD CHANGE ANYONE'S BEHAVIOR.

WE DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO TAKE THAT AS A SIGNAL THAT EVERYTHING IS SAFE AND WE CAN BAILIFF THE WAY WE BEHAVED PRE-PANDEMIC.

A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AND HEALTH FACILITIES WILL CONTINUE TO MANDATE MASKS.

THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS NOT GOING TO MANDATE THAT.

IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WEAR OUR MASKS UNTIL THE NUMBERS ARGUE WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT.

EVEN THOUGH OUR CASE NUMBERS ARE BETTER THAN EVER, WE STILL HAVE NEW CASES AND TEST EVERY DAY, SO WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO BEFORE GIVING UP ON MASKS, COMPLETELY.

>> Don: BEFORE WE CLOSE, DR. HARRIS, WHERE SHOTS ARE CONCERNED, PUBLIC HEALTH PUT UP A NEW DASHBOARD ON ITS WEB SITE WHERE YOU CAN TRACK THE NUMBER OF SHOTS GIVEN COUNTY BY COUNTY, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE HAD THIS DATA BUT WE'VE HAD TROUBLE PUTTING IT TOGETHER IN A FORM WITH THE PUBLIC BECAUSE SO MANY DIFFERENT PROVIDERS ARE REPORTING.

IT'S ANALOGOUS TO THE TESTING AND REPORTING OF CASES WAY BACK WHEN, WHEN THIS ALL STARTED.

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GIVEN VACCINES, MOST OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN USED TO ENTERING THE DATA IN A DATA BASE.

WE POSTED THIS WEEK A DASHBOARD THAT SHOWS A MAP OF THE STATE.

IT SHOWS THE NUMBER OF ADULTS IN EACH COUNTY, THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE ADULTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED VACCINES SO FAR, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SHOTS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN SO FAR.

SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THAT.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT ANYTIME YOU HAVE A LIST OF WHO GOT THE MOST AND THE LEAST, PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE WINNERS AND LOSERS, BUT THIS IS REALLY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC.

IT INFORMS US TO KNOW HOW TO PRIORITIZE AND WHERE WE NEED TO GET SHOTS TO.

WE ARE PROUD OUR BLACKBELT COUNTIES HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB.

THOSE COUNTIES HAVE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE VACS MADE RATE IN THE STATE, ALMOST ALL OF THEM.

A FEW COUNTIES WE WANT TO HAVE ON THE LIST AS WELL, ALL OF THEM EVENTUALLY, BUT WE ARE PRIORITIZING THE NATIONAL GUARD TEAMS TO GO TO THE COUNTIES WHO HAVE LOWER THAN AVERAGE RATES.

>> Don: SCOTT HARRIS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> YOU BET.

>> Don: "CAPITOL JOURNAL," WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT.

BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE ON SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK, OUR NIGHTLY BROADCASTS WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED.

WE WON'T BE SEEN AGAIN UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 26TH.

WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN US THEN WHEN OUR GUESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO AGAIN INCLUDE STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS, WHO'LL DISCUSS THE FIRST WEEK OF EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR VIRUS VACCINATIONS.

AND ALABAMA SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION DR. ERIC MACKEY IS SET TO BE WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS STATE SCHOOLS WILL GET UNDER THE FEDERAL STIMULUS PLAN.

FOR ALL OF US AT CAPITOL JOURNAL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.