>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, PASSIONS WERE RUNNING HIGH TODAY AS LAWMAKERS TOOK UP A PAIR OF TRANSGENDER BILLS.

ONE WOULD BAN TRANSGENDER MEDICAL PROCEDURES FOR MINORS, AND THE OTHER WOULD BAR TRANSGENDER YOUTH FROM PLAYING PUBLIC SCHOOL SPORTS FOR THE GENDER WITH WHICH THEY IDENTIFY.

AS PROTESTORS OPPOSED BOTH MEASURES OUTSIDE THE STATEHOUSE TODAY, THE SENATE BY A VOTE OF 23-4 APPROVED THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAR DOCTORS FROM PRESCRIBING PUBERTY BLOCKING DRUGS AND HORMONES TO ANY YOUTH UNDER 19, AND WOULD ALSO BAN TRANSITION SURGERIES FOR MINORS.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR SHAY SHELNUTT OF TRUSSVILLE, WHO DEBATED IT WITH, AMONG OTHERS, SENATE MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO.

SINGLETON CONTENDED THAT FAMILIES NEED HELP DEALING WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA THROUGH COUNSELING, NOT THROUGH MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS.

>> YOU DON'T STOP IT BY RESTRICTING DOCTORS OR PHARMACISTS FROM GETTING MEDICINE.

THE MEDICINE MAY BE THE HOPE THAT KEEPS THEM ALIVE, FROM BEING SUICIDAL.

IT MAY BE.

I DON'T WANT THIS ON CHILDREN!

BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE OUR CHILDREN SUFFER EITHER.

>> WELL, THE INTENT OF THE BILL IS JUST TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

THAT'S MY INTENT.

WE PASS LAWS THAT STOP PARENTS FROM ALLOWING KIDS TO DO THINGS.

KIDS CAN'T DRINK, SMOKE, GET A TATOO EVEN WITH PARENTAL.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S INTENDED AS THIS LEGISLATION IS.

WE JUST WANT TO PROTECT KIDS THAT CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES.

>> DON: ADVOCATES LIKE THE ACLU OF ALABAMA HAVE CONTENDED THAT THE TRANSGENDER YOUTH BILL IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND HAVE VOWED A LEGAL CHALLENGE IF IT REACHES FINAL PASSAGE.

A SIMILAR BILL IN THE HOUSE HAS PASSED COMMITTEE, BUT HAS NOT YET MADE IT TO THE FLOOR.

THE OTHER TRANSGENDER BILL THAT WAS BEING PROTESTED OUTSIDE THE STATEHOUSE TODAY WAS ONE THAT WOULD MANDATE THAT YOUTH WHO COMPETE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL SPORTS CAN ONLY DO SO BASED ON THE GENDER ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATES, NOT BASED ON THE GENDER WITH WHICH THEY IDENTIFY.

IT'S LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT STADTHAGEN OF HARTSELLE, WHO RECENTLY TOLD CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT HIS BILL WAS MORE ABOUT FAIRNESS FOR FEMALE ATHLETES.

>> THESE GIRLS, THEY START YOUNG.

SAY, SOFTBALL, TRACK, AND THEY PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO THIS.

WHEN THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL, IF A MATURE MALE WHO HAS THE UPPER HAND WITH HIS CHEMISTRY OF HIS BODY, THEN THAT'S NOT FAIR FOR THEM.

AND I WANT TO PREVENT THAT FOR THEM.

>> DON: HOUSE PASSAGE OF STADTHAGEN'S LEGISLATION WOULD SEND IT TO THE SENATE.

ALSO ON THE HOUSE'S AGENDA TODAY WAS A BILL THAT WOULD LIFT THE BAN ON YOGA IN STATE SCHOOLS.

IT'S LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT FOR THREE STRAIGHT YEARS BY REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY GRAY OF OPELIKA, WHO PREVIOUSLY TOLD CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT YOGA PROVIDES OBVIOUS HEALTH BENEFITS.

>> WHERE YOGA IS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE OF ALABAMA, IN PUBLICS, GYMS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-12, IT IS NOT ALLOWED.

AND THIS BILL JUST ALLOWS YOGA IN THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> DON: YOGA WAS BANNED IN STATE SCHOOLS 28 YEARS AGO AMID CONCERNS OVER IT'S CONNECTIONS TO EASTERN RELIGIONS.

PROPONENTS OF GRAY'S LEGISLATION CONTEND THAT YOGA DOESN'T HAVE TO BE RELIGIOUS.

THE HOUSE TODAY ALSO TOOK A LOT OF TIME DEBATING A BILL THAT WOULD LIMIT THE POWER OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO CLOSE BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES IN A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY LIKE THE ONGOING PANDEMIC.

IT WAS ULTIMATELY APPROVED AND IT'S SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE KIEL OF RUSSELLVILLE, WHO PREVIOUSLY SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> WHEN YOU CLOSE ONE BUSINESS AND OPEN ANOTHER, AND YOU TELL SMALL BUSINESSES THEY CAN'T BE OPEN BUT A LARGE BUSINESS CAN, THAT SELLS THE SAME PRODUCT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.

IF A LARGE BUSINESS CAN OPEN UNDER CERTAIN GUIDELINES OR ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS, LARGE OR NOT, BUT IF A TYPE OF BUSINESS CAN BE OPEN UNDER A GUIDELINE THEN A CHURCH OR OTHER TYPE OF BUSINESS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING.

>> DON: KIEL SAYS HE BROUGHT HIS LEGISLATION AFTER A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM HIS CONSTITUENTS.

IN SPITE OF SOME OPPOSITION, KIEL'S PLAN WAS ALSO ENDORSED BY SOME BUSINESS GROUPS.

THE HOUSE TODAY APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GIVE LAWMAKERS OVERSIGHT OF CONTRACTS OF 10-MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE ENTERED INTO BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE MOVE COMES AS GOVERNOR KAY IVEY IS IN THE MIDST OF A PRIVATE LEASE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN.

ON THE FLOOR TODAY, REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JONES SAID HIS BILL WOULD NOT APPLY TO CURRENT CONTRACTS AND LEASES.

>> WHAT THIS DOES, IT ALLOWS OVERSIGHT.

PLACES A PAUSE LIKE A CONTRACT VIEW.

AND ONCE THE COMMITTEE IS MADE AWARE, AND IT'S A SIZEABLE CONTRACT, LIMITED TO THE VERY LARGE THINGS AND FOR FUTURE FISCAL CYCLES, ONCE THEY ARE MADE AWARE.

THEY HAVE 45 DAYS TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE.

IF THEY APPROVE, IT GOES FORWARD.

IF THEY DO NOTHING, IT GOES FORWARD AND IF THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING, IT PAUSES OR DELAYS IT UNTIL THE END OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND THAT GIVES THE LEGISLATURE MORE TIME TO REVIEW IT.

>> DON: WITH TODAY'S HOUSE PASSAGE, REPRESENTATIVE JONES' LEGISLATION NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE.

THE SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TODAY APPROVED A CLOSELY-WATCHED BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR WILL BARFOOT OF MONTGOMERY.

>> WELL, I HEARD FROM A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS OVER THE PAST 7, 8, 9 MONTHS AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE NATION, YOU SEE GOVERNORS NOT UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT GOVERNOR IVEY HAS BEEN HERE RECENTLY.

IT'S NOT A LOOK BACK OR ASSAULT ON ANYBODY, BUT RATHER A CURE TO A POTENTIAL PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK GIVEN EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IN THE PAST YEAR, THIS GIVES US A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRO ACTIVE AND ADDRESSING THAT THROUGH ANY SITUATIONS THAT MAY COME DOWN TO THAT.

>> DON: WITH TODAY'S COMMITTEE APPROVAL, BARFOOT'S BILL TO ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP, REPRESENTATIVE DAVID WHEELER IS IN THE STUDIO.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND NICE TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU HAVE A BILL CLOSELY WATCHED IN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AREA THAT'S UP FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TOMORROW IN THE LOCAL LEGISLATION HOUSE COMMITTEE.

IT DEALS WITH THE HEALTH OFFICER THERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND IN MOBILE COUNTY.

I WILL REMIND OUR VIEWERS THAT WHILE WE HAVE A HEALTH STATE OFFICER, THERE'S AT LEAST TWO COUNTIES WHO ARE UNIQUE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY BEING ONE OF THEM.

AND WHAT YOU PROPOSED IN THE LOCAL BILL, THERE'S A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WOULD WORK IN CONCERT I GUESS AND WORK IN OVERSIGHT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY OVERSIGHT, AND AS YOU CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED, THERE'S TWO COUNTIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, JEFFERSON AND THE COUNTY AND I'M USING THIS TO ADDRESS THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, CHURCHES HAD, AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAD A VOICE AND IN AT LEAST OFFERING COMMENTS.

>> SO, WHEN YOU SAY GIVING THEM A VOICE, THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER HAS TO HEAR THEM OUT IN FORMULATING DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE.

THIS IS AN OUTGROWTH OF THE PANDEMIC, I ASSUME?

>> CORRECT.

THIS BILL PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER COMMENTS, THAT IT CANNOT VETO ANYTHING THAT IT PROPOSES.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

IT'S JUST AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AND TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> AND DOES THE HEALTH OFFICER HAVE TO SAY IN ADVANCE, I'M PROPOSING THUS AND SO AND THEN THIS COMMITTEE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT COMMENTS AND RESPONSES BEFORE HE MAKES THE FINAL DECISION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THE MAKE-UP OF THE ADVISORY BOARD IS PRETTY BROAD.

WE DID THAT ON PURPOSE.

WE WANTED DIVERSITY AND A LOT OF THINGS COVERED.

YOU HAVE GOT MEMBERS THAT CAN BE SELECTED, TWO FROM THE HOUSE AND TWO FROM THE SENATE DELEGATION AND BIRMINGHAM MAYOR, JEFFERSON COUNTY MAYOR'S ASSOCIATION, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA.

AND MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT 5, SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS THAT RESIDE IN BIRMINGHAM.

>> SO, I REMIND, THAT THESE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICERS, JEFFERSON COUNTY AND MOBILE COUNTY HAVING THE OTHER.

THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS IN CONCERT WITH, OR OUTSIDE OF THOSE MADE BY THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER SHOULD BE GIVING APPROVAL TO THESE.

THINK THERE'S A COMPANION BILL -- WELL, NOT COMPANION BILL BUT ANOTHER ONE COMING FORMALIZING THAT AND DOCUMENTING THAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED.

>> IN BRINGING THE BILL, DID YOU HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT ENOUGH CONCERNS AND DECISIONS MADE BY THE LOCAL JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER DURING THE PANDEMIC AND YOU DECIDED THIS WAS NECESSARY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

CHILDRENS' BOUTIQUE, SMALL INDEPENDENTLY OWNED, THEY WERE FORCED TO CLOSE YET TARGET, K-MART AND OTHERS WERE ALLOWED TO OPEN.

AND THIS SPECIFIC BUSINESS COMES DURING THE EASTER SEASON AND THEY WERE CLOSED DURING THE EASTER SEASON.

AND THAT OWNER DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, WELL, WE CAN OPERATE ON THE SAME CDC GUIDELINES AS THE BIG BOX STORES AND WE CAN LIMIT OCCUPANCY BUT THEY WERE NEVER GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND I ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T PICK WINNERS OR LOSERS, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

>> AND THE PANDEMIC IS ON BOTH AND THE POWERS INVESTED IN THESE INDIVIDUALS AND AS A BROADER MOVE OBVIOUSLY, TO BRING IN CHECKS AND BALANCES, AS THESE THINGS ARE CONCERNED, THERE'S A BILL I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT ABOLISHES THE OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER AND MAKE IT A CABINET LEVEL JOB APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND VETTED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG MOVEMENT THIS YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THINK WE LEARNED A LOT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

AND LET ME CLARIFY.

THIS IS NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST ME AND THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH TREMENDOUS PRESSURE AND I'M JUST TRYING TO ALLOW OUR PUBLIC AND BUSINESS OWNERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT BEFORE SOMETHING IS ACTUALLY DONE.

>> AND ARE YOU OF THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT, REPRESENTATIVE, MANY RESPECTS FOR THE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICER AND STATE OFFICER, THIS PAST YEAR WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

THEY WERE TESTING POWERS THEY NEVER UTILIZED BEFORE.

>> YES.

YES.

THINK THEY WOULD EVEN ADMIT THAT.

NOBODY EXPECTED THIS.

AND TOTALLY UNPRECEDENTED.

AND LIKE I SAY, THINK THEY HAVE DONE OVERALL AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

>> I WOULD DARE SAY THAT SOME OF THE DECISIONS MADE IN THE LAST YEAR, IN HINDSIGHT SIGHT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF THESE HEALTH OFFICERS WERE GIFTED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE NOW VERSUS WHAT THEY WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT.

CORRECT.

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY OFFICER WAS QUOTED IN AN AOL ARTICLE AND REFERRED TO HIS ORDERS AS SILLY.

IN HINDSIGHT, THEY WERE IN HIS EYES, JUST SILLY.

>> Don: SO, SORT OF VERY REACTIONARY AND OF THE MOMENT.

BECAUSE AT THE TIME THE PANDEMIC BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR AGO IN ALABAMA, WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH.

EVERYBODY WAS LEARNING AS WE WENT ALONG.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND IN THE PROCESS, THERE WERE FRUSTRATIONS ON A LOT OF LEVELS, NOT THE LEAST OF THOSE THAT YOU HEARD FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS AMONGST OTHER THINGS, THE DECISIONS TO CLOSE CERTAIN BUSINESSES AND LEAVE OTHERS OPEN.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> I'VE REACHED OUT TO JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER AND MEMBERS OF HIS BOARD.

THEY HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS OVER THIS BILL.

I HAVE OFFERED TO WORK WITH THEM.

THEY EVENTUALLY CAME BACK AROUND AND SAID THEY FEEL LIKE IT IS SO FLAWED, THEY DON'T WANT TO TRY TO WORK WITH IT.

IN FACT, THEY WENT OUT AND HIRED ONE OF THE TOP TIER LOBBYISTS TO HELP THEM FIGHT THE BILL WHICH GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN BECAUSE THEY ARE USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND THAT AND TAXPAYERS ARE WHO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING.

>> SO YOU TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM IS WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING?

AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS NO MEETING IN THE MIDDLE ON THIS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND HOW DO YOU GAUGE SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION.

YOU SAID IT WILL GO BEFORE THE LOCAL LEGISLATION COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE TOMORROW FOR A HEARING.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE VOTE IS TAKEN TOMORROW.

>> I'M ANTICIPATING A VOTE WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW.

>> I ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGING SUPPORT AMONGST THE BIBB COUNTY LEGISLATIVE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK I HAVE ENOUGH VOTE TO PASS IT BUT AS YOU KNOW IN POLITICS A LOT CAN CHANGE IN 24 HOURS.

I DO WANT AN UP OR DOWN VOTE AND I'M SURE WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

>> AND ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE IN YOUR HOUSE, JAMIE KEHL HAD A HOUSE BILL DEALING WITH BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES SHUT DOWN WITH EMERGENCY ORDERS LIKE THE PANDEMIC, AND AGAIN, IT'S PART OF THIS BIG OUTGROWTH TO PROVIDE CHECKS AND BALANCES, BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR.

>> AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS BILL AND MINE IS CENTERED LOCALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE A HEALTH OFFICER AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF AUTHORITY OVER THEM BOTTOM LINE ON YOUR BILL JUST OFFERING LOCAL INPUT, SWEEPING INPUT THAT THE HEALTH OFFICER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY MAY MAKE BEFORE HE ACTUALLY MAKES THEM.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND HE HAS TO COMMUNICATE BEFOREHAND, I'M PROPOSING THIS, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE, DAVID WHEELER FROM VESTAVIA HILLS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP, REPRESENTATIVE LAURA HILL IS IN THE STUDIO WITH US TONIGHT NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK IN THE STUDIO.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND I WANT TO MENTION YOUR BILL, MAKE NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING PERMANENT IN THE STATE.

A VOTE IS SCHEDULED ON THIS TOMORROW.

YOU HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ISSUE LAST WEEK.

SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL HAS INDICATED SUPPORT FOR AT LEAST SOME PARTS OF YOUR LEGISLATION, BUT IN RECENT DATES, HE BACKED OFF OF FULL THROTTLE NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

AND DOES THIS GIVE YOU SOME OPTIMISM OF WHERE THIS BILL IS CONCERNED?

>> IT DID.

>> BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAD THE CIRCUIT CLERKS AND PROBATE JUDGE IN THIS COMING OUT IN OPPOSITION TO THIS.

>> I DO KNOW, INCLUDING THIS MORNING, THERE'S BEEN CALLS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE RELATIVE TO THAT.

BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I'M CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM.

THERE WERE THINGS THAT THEY FELT WERE GOOD ABOUT THE BILL AND HOPEFULLY THAT WE COULD HAVE A COMPROMISE OF SORTS, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PRESENT TOMORROW AND GET A VOTE ON.

>> AND THE MAKE NO-EXCUSE MAKING ABSENTEE VOTING PERMANENT.

>> RIGHT, IT DID.

THE TURNOUT WAS EXCELLENT.

I CAN JUST SPEAK FOR MADISON COUNTY WHERE I WORKED.

IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE EACH DAY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION TO CAST A VOTE.

I THINK IT'S A BEGINNING FOR GETTING READY FOR THE ELECTION NEXT YEAR.

>> AND WHEN WE SAY NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING, CURRENT LAW MANDATES THAT YOU PROVIDE AN EXCUSE, AND YOU ARE GIVEN CERTAIN CHOICES THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM WHEN PRESENTING ABSENTEE AND THAT WAS WAIVED LAST YEAR?

>> RIGHT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS.

THIS YEAR, IT APPEARS THAT BOTH THE CIRCUIT CLERKS SPECIFICALLY WANTS TO KEEP THE EXCUSE AS PART OF THIS.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE TWO ENVELOPES THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN THE AFFIDAVIT FOR SIGNING, ET CETERA.

AND YOU HAVE TO CHECK OFF THE EXCUSE ON ONE OF THOSE TWO.

SO, IT WAS MY HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT, MAYBE IF WE KEEP THE EXCUSE ON THERE, THEN MAYBE THE ENVELOPES WOULD BE A WAY OF ADDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS THEY HAVE.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT IT MAY NOT GET OUT OF COMMITTEE TOMORROW?

>> WELL, I WILL TELL YOU THIS.

I WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT.

AND IF IT NEEDS FURTHER WORK DONE, I'M WILLING TO DO THAT.

AND IF NOT, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, THIS WAS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IN LIGHT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION LAST YEAR.

THERE'S A CONTINGENT, I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF, THINGS LIKE NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT, AS THEY SAW IT, VOTER FRAUD.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE FOLKS?

>> LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE.

ALABAMA IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

I'VE NOT HAD ANY INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY TOOK PLACE OTHER THAN A NUMBER OF RECORD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT TURNED OUT TO VOTE.

>> AND WOULD YOU SAY THE SAME WOULD BE THE SAME IN THE OTHER STATES?

>> WELL, I THINK IF THEY HAD A PROCESS IN PLACE, I'M A STRONG BELIEVER, WHEN THERE'S A PROCESS IN PLACE, PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW THAT PROCESS.

SO, I JUST THINK THAT.

AND EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT TURNED OUT VERSUS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY INDICATED THERE WAS FRAUD.

I HEARD A CASE WHERE THEY HEARD THERE WAS TWO IN ONE STATE.

AND THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS HAD DIED AFTER THEY HAD VOTED.

IT WAS NOT THAT IT WAS REALLY FRAUD.

BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE NUMBER IS SO SMALL, DO WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME FROM PUSHING BACK FROM VOTING?

THAT'S WHAT THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT IT, ENHANCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT TURN OUT TO VOTE.

>> WELL, PEOPLE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE LINGERING THAT THERE WAS WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> WELL, MAYBE THERE WAS BUT I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT.

>> AND YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT IN YOUR ESTIMATION, EASIER FOR FOLKS TO VOTE?

>> THAT'S THE POINT.

YES.

>> AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS.

THAT'S A CENTRAL THEME OF YOURS THIS YEAR?

>> YEAH, REALLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE NUMBER OF, AMAZING.

I DID A LOT OF WORK WITH THE DIFFERENT GROUPS AS WE WERE DOING VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE DISTRICTS.

AND I FOUND A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY AND NOT ABLE TO VOTE.

AND THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BEGIN TO PUT IN THE PROCESS OF SOMETHING SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IS EXPECTED, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET THEIR RIGHTS RESTORES.

>> A SIMPLIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM.

OKAY.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND NOW, ANOTHER THING, DEALING WITH THE CONFEDERATE SYMBOLS.

ONE, YOU WANT THE CONFEDERATE SYMBOLS, CONFEDERATE FLAG REMOVED FROM THE STATE SEAL, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND YOU PRO PROPOSED REMOVING CONFEDERATE MEDALS AND THE LIKE FROM THE UNIFORMS OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL.

>> AND THAT BILL, EVEN BEFORE WE WENT THROUGH THE CHALLENGES OF LAST SUMMER, THAT WAS A PROCESS THAT WAS IN DISCUSSION ALREADY.

AND IT CAME FROM A STATE TROOPER WHO IS NOW RETIRED AND ASKED IF WE WOULD PLEASE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REMOVED THIS CONFEDERATE FLAG FROM THE SEAL.

SO, THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THAT PROCESS.

AND WE'RE LOOKING, HOPEFULLY WE'RE LOOKING AT HOUSE BILL 43, LOOKING AT THE SYMBOL AND MAKING A CHANGE HERE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.

>> YOU MENTIONED A STATE TROOPER CAME TO YOU AND THAT WAS PART OF YOUR INSPIRATION.

>> YES.

>> AND DIDN'T LIKE THE SEAL ON HIS UNIFORM.

>> RIGHT.

AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN STATE TROOPER WHO SERVED AND RETIRED.

EVERYDAY HE PUT THAT ON, AND LOOKED AT THE SYMBOL AND FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING, IN SOME KIND OF WAY, HAVING TO WEAR THE SYMBOL.

YET, HE LOVED HIS WORK AND HE CONTINUED TO WORK.

>> IT'S A LONGTIME FIXTURE ON THE STATE SEAL SO I'M IMAGINING THAT THIS MAY FEEL SIGNIFICANT PUSHBACK ON THE FLOOR?

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT?

>> I DO.

BUT I'M A BELIEVER IN HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS TO SEE, NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A FLAG.

THE ALABAMA FLAG, THE STATE OF ALABAMA FLAG WE HAVE, THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR PLACING IT ON THE SEAL AND I HAVE INFORMATION FROM THE STATE ARCHIVES, MR. MURRAY, MAKING SURE I HAVE THE HISTORY RIGHT SO WE'RE PRESENTING WHAT IS CORRECT AND NOT SOMETHING BASED JUST ON EMOTIONS.

>> Don: CONFEDERATE SYMBOLS, MONUMENTS, PRESERVATION ACT IS VERY PREVALENT ISSUES IN THE SESSION AND I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, REPRESENTATIVE GIVAN, FLOATING A BILL THAT AMENDS THE STATE'S MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT AND ALSO SEEMS TO BE PART OF A GROWING THEME THIS YEAR.

>> SURE.

AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

I THINK GIVING LOCALS FOR THE RIGHT TO REMOVE MONUMENTS CERTAINLY WOULD BE THE ROAD WE LOOK AND MOVE TOWARD, LOOKING FOR THE AREAS WHERE THEY WANT IT TO BE REMOVED.

>> AND SHE'S TAKING STRIDES, TOO, TO REMAIN THE SPIRIT OF THE ORIGINAL LAW, CITIES AND COUNTIES, THEY REMOVE THEM, COULD TURN THEM OVER TO THE STATE.

>> AND THE STATE FINDS A PLACE TO LOCATE IT.

>> AND DOING SO, THEY DON'T FACE SUCH STIFF FINES.

>> YEAH, SO.

LOTS OF WORK TO BE DONE YET.

>> REPRESENTATIVE LAURA HILL, HUNTSVILLE, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

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

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

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, INCLUDING EXPECTED COMMITTEE ACTION ON A BILL THAT WOULD DO AWAY WITH THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER AND CREATE A CABINET LEVEL POSITION, A BILL TO AMEND THE MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT, AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING PERMANENT IN THE STATE.

WE'LL BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE K.L.

BROWN OF JACKSONVILLE, WHO'LL DISCUSS THE DISTRACTED DRIVING BILL HE'S BROUGHT BACK THIS YEAR.

AND WE'LL TALK WITH THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, REPRESENTATIVE BEN ROBBINS OF SYLACAUGA ABOUT HIS FIRST MONTH ON THE JOB.

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

I'M DON DAILEY.