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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE MET TODAY FOR THE 17TH DAY OF THE 30-DAY SESSION BEFORE ADJOURNING FOR ANOTHER SPRING BREAK.

BEFORE THE SESSION STARTED, SOME HAD QUESTIONED THE NEED FOR TWO SPRING BREAK WEEKS, BUT GIVEN THE FAST PACE AND SHEER AMOUNT OF LEGISLATION MOVING THE FIRST HALF OF SESSION, ANOTHER WEEK TO TAKE A BREATHER AND RECALIBRATE HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY LAWMAKERS, STAFF, LOBBYISTS AND US IN THE MEDIA.

LEADING THE NEWS TONIGHT IS THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE STATE'S TOP LEADERS OF A NEW PACKAGE OF BILLS AIMED AT TRANSFORMING THE STATE'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM.

YOU'VE HEARD US REPORT ON HOW THE STATE'S 57.4% WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IS AMONG THE COUNTRY'S LOWEST.

STATE LEADERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM BY REMOVING BARRIERS THAT KEEP POTENTIAL WORKERS ON THE SIDELINES.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY, LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH, HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED, AND BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA PRESIDENT HELENA DUNCAN LED THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> WHILE WE HAVE RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, OUR LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IS ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY.

AND, Y'ALL, THAT'S NOT LOW IN A GOOD WAY.

IN 2015, MAJOR REFORMS WERE MADE WITHIN THE STATE'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SECTOR, AND AS GOVERNOR, I'M CALLING ON OUR LEGISLATURE TO ONCE AGAIN MAKE THE NEEDED REFORMS SO THAT OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WORK BETTER FOR US, AND THE CUSTOMERS, JOB-SEEKERS, AND OUR EMPLOYERS.

>> IF WE'VE GOT THE BEST INCENTIVES IN AMERICA, IF WE'RE DOING THINGS AS A RESULT OF THAT PACKAGE LIKE THE SEEDS ACT, WHERE WE'RE ADDING SITES AND DOING OTHER THINGS TO DEVELOP OUR STATE AND GROW, THE #1 QUESTION THAT'S GOING TO BE ASKED BY THOSE THAT ARE LOOKING TO COME AND INVEST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ALABAMA IS: HOW CAN YOU PROVE TO ME YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKFORCE WHEN I GET READY TO INVEST IN YOUR STATE, AND HOW CAN YOU ALLOW ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE REALITY NOT ONLY NOW, BUT 10 YEARS FROM NOW AND 25 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> WE HEAR THE FACT THAT 43% OF WORKING-AGE PEOPLE ARE NOT WORKING.

THEY DO NOT HAVE A JOB.

SOME SAY THEY NEED TO GET OFF THE COUCH AND GO TO WORK, BUT IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

WHEN YOU HAVE FAMILIES WITH SINGLE MOMS, TWO KIDS, AND THEY'RE PAYING $30,000 A YEAR FOR CHILD CARE, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

AND I THINK FOR US AS LEADERS IN THE STATE, WE HAVE TO TRY TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS.

IN THIS PACKAGE OF BILLS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE FOR CHILD TAX CREDIT, WHERE FAMILIES CAN GO TO WORK AND BE PRODUCTIVE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION THAT WILL START MOVING WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN IN APRIL.

ALABAMA GROWTH ALLIANCE ACT WILL BE SPONSORED BY SENATOR REED AND REPRESENTATIVE RANDALL SHEDD.

THE ALABAMA WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION ACT WILL BE SPONSORED BY SENATOR STEVE LIVINGSTON AND REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT.

THE ALABAMA CAREER PATHWAYS ACT WILL BE SPONSORED BY SENATOR DONNIE CHESTEEN AND REPRESENTATIVE KELVIN LAWRENCE.

I'LL ACTUALLY SPEAK WITH MR. LAWRENCE ABOUT THAT LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT WILL BE SPONSORED BY SENATOR GARLAND GUDGER AND REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY DANIELS.

THE HOUSING TAX CREDIT WILL BE SPONSORED BY SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT AND REPRESENTATIVE CYNTHIA ALMOND.

THE INNOVATION DISTRICT ACT WILL BE SPONSORED BY SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON AND REPRESENTATIVE JAMES LOMAX.

THE INNOVATION DISTRICT ACT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WILL BE SPONSORED BY SENATOR DAN ROBERTS AND REPRESENTATIVE NEIL RAFFERTY.

AND THERE WILL BE BUDGET LINE ITEMS ATTACHED TO THE BUDGETS FOR THIS PACKAGE, HANDLED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGET CHAIRMEN.

IT'S AN AMBITIOUS PACKAGE TO SAY THE LEAST, AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING IT CLOSELY.

HERE ON CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TODAY THE HOUSE PASSED LEGISLATION PROVIDING PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

IF YOU WATCHED CAPITOL JOURNAL LAST NIGHT, YOU SAW MY CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS BILL WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE GINNY SHAVER.

HOUSE BILL 309 WOULD PROVIDE STATE EMPLOYEES EIGHT WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE AFTER HAVING OR ADOPTING A BABY.

SHAVER SAID THAT HER BILL IS PRO-FAMILY AND PRO-WORKER.

>> WE'VE BEEN HEARING LATELY AND HEARD IT AGAIN THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW LOW ALABAMA'S WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IS, AND HOW HARD IT IS FOR EMPLOYERS TO -- TO FIND GOOD QUALITY EMPLOYEES AND HIRE EMPLOYEES, AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA HIRING EMPLOYEES IS NO DIFFERENT.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES IN OUR TURNOVER RATE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OVER 15%.

AND THE GOVERNOR PUT TOGETHER -- SHE COMMISSIONED A STUDY GROUP CHAIRED BY TREASURER BOOZER TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES SURROUNDING HIRING AND RETAINING STATE EMPLOYEES.

AND THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION THEY MADE CONCERNING OUR ABILITY TO INCREASE THIS WAS TO OFFER PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.

IT OFFERS PAID WEEKS -- EIGHT -- EIGHT WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

>> THE SENATE HAD A SMALL CALENDAR OF SUNSET LEGISLATION.

THOSE ARE BILLS THAT ARE REQUIRED YEAR TO YEAR TO REAUTHORIZE CERTAIN STATE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

IN THIS CASE, THE SENATE REAUTHORIZED THE STATE LICENSING BOARD FOR GENERAL CONTRACTORS, THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR ASSISTED LIVING ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE BOARD OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS.

BUT THE TALK IN THE UPPER CHAMBER WAS ALL ABOUT JUST WHAT A BUSY AND EVENTFUL FEW MONTHS IT HAS BEEN.

REPUBLICANS VIEW THE ADVANCEMENT OF BILLS ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION OR DEI; AND BALLOT HARVESTING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AS NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALIGNED WITH THEIR AGENDA.

THE DEMOCRATS PERCEIVE THESE DEVELOPMENTS AS A REGRESSION FOR THE STATE, VIEWING THEM AS STEPS BACKWARD RATHER THAN FORWARD.

>> YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.

DONE GOOD WORK THIS WEEK.

WE'VE DONE GOOD WORK FOR THE FIVE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE BREAK THAT WE HAD PRIOR.

WE'LL BE BACK IN OUR DISTRICTS WORKING.

I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAD A LOT OF ACTIVITIES GOING ON IN YOUR DISTRICTS THIS LAST WEEK, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THOSE IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

>> IT WAS TOO MUCH.

IT WAS HARD.

IT WAS TAXING.

AS I CALLED THE BILLS, THE BILLS THAT I STILL -- THAT DOESN'T MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> LOOKING AHEAD, BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WILL PIVOT THEIR ATTENTION TOWARDS CRAFTING THE BUDGETS - THE GENERAL FUND AND THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

LEADERS ALSO INDICATED A SHIFT TOWARDS A MORE BIPARTISAN APPROACH.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN THE SECOND HALF, BILLS THAT WE INTRODUCED TO THE WORKFORCE, AND GETTING PEOPLE READY TO WORK.

THAT'S WHAT ALABAMA NEEDS TO BE DOING.

THAT'S THE KIND OF VISION THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON, LOOKING OUT OF THAT WINDSHIELD INSTEAD OF OUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE AND DOING SOMETHING THAT DOES MOVE THE NEEDLE, AND GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BETTER LIFE AND HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE, AND GIVING OUR KIDS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

THOSE BILLS WILL GIVE SOME OF OUR KIDS THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE DIPLOMA THAT WILL TAKE THEM STRAIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> THE #1 PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE BUDGETS, AND THE BUDGET CHAIRS ARE ALREADY WORKING ON THAT, OF COURSE.

THE GOVERNOR SENT HER INFORMATION OVER TO US, SO WE HAVE ALL OF THAT.

I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS, ALABAMA'S ECONOMY IS STRONG, THE BUDGETS WILL HAVE SURPLUSES, SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME WISE CHOICES, NOT AS LARGE AS SURPLUSES AS WE'VE HAD, BUT WE'RE GOING TO, AGAIN, HAVE A STRONG BUDGET TO WORK ON.

>> ONE ISSUE THAT WILL AWAIT LAWMAKERS WHEN THEY RETURN IN APRIL IS GAMBLING.

THE HOUSE DECLINED THIS WEEK TO TAKE ACTION ON THE SCALED-BACK LEGISLATION THAT THE SENATE SENT THEM TWO WEEKS AGO.

LAWMAKERS INDICATED THEY WILL TAKE THEIR TIME BEFORE DECIDING NEXT STEPS.

>> I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE IN THE HOUSE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO ASSESS EXACTLY WHAT THE CHANGES ARE.

WE TOOK THEIR BILL, SO THERE'S MANY THINGS ABOUT THE ACTUAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND THE ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT ARE THE SAME, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH AND ANALYZE THAT.

I THINK THEY WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO DO THAT, AND I WELCOME THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

>> [INAUDIBLE] -- WIDESPREAD CASINOS?

>> THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE THAT WAS A MAJOR FACTOR, WHICH SURPRISES ME.

BECAUSE WE PASSED THIS TWICE BEFORE.

BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO TASTE FOR THE TRADITIONAL CLASS THREE GAMING.

>> YOU KNOW HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.

IT COULD BE THE LAST DAY, THE LAST MINUTE, SOMETHING COME OUT, AND IT WORKS.

I NEVER GIVE UP ON THIS PROCESS JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS DIM.

I BELIEVE IN IT.

I BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE.

IF WE GET A GOOD CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING, WE CAN MAKE IT WORK, TO PRESENT BACK TO BOTH HOUSES, AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO VOTE IT UP OR DOWN.

YOU KNOW.

I REALLY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.

>> THE BATTLE FOR GOAT HILL TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT.

THAT'S THE ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE SOFTBALL GAME, PITTING THE HOUSE VERSUS THE SENATE.

WITH TENSIONS RUNNING HIGH IN THE STATE HOUSE THIS SESSION, THE GAME OFFERED LAWMAKERS AND STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BLOW OFF A LITTLE STEAM AND HAVE A NIGHT OF FUN AND FELLOWSHIP.

THE GAME BEGAN WITH A SPECIAL VIDEO GREETING BY US SENATOR KATIE BRITT SUPPORTING HER HUSBAND WESLEY, WHO WAS A SPECIAL GUEST OF THE HOUSE.

ALABAMA POWER PRESENTED A $10,000 CHECK TO THE BIG OAK RANCH, FOUNDED BY THE FAMILY OF FORMER ALABAMA QUARTERBACK BRODIE CROYLE, WHO HIMSELF PLAYED FOR THE SENATE.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS HIM.

IN ALL THE EVENT RAISED MORE THAN $40,000 FOR BIG OAK RANCH.

THE SENATE HAD SOME GOOD HITS EARLY, BUT THIS GAME WAS DOMINATED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE BIG HITTERS FOR HOUSE MEMBERS: REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BLACKSHEAR AND REPRESENTATIVE KELVIN LAWRENCE.

THEIR OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE LED THE HOUSE TO A 13-1 VICTORY OVER THE SENATE -- LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S BLACKSHEAR.

IT'S A TRIPLE.

THE FIRST ONE AFTER THREE YEARS.

BLACKSHEAR, HE WAS THE MVP, BY THE WAY, AROUND SECOND.

THE WAY HE WAS HITTING, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HE WAS TAKING OUT SOME FRUSTRATION WITH THE SENATE OVER WHAT THEY DID TO HIS GAMBLING BILL.

YEP, THAT SEALED THE GAME.

AND NOW THE HOUSE GETS TO CELEBRATE ...

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

LET'S GET SOME MORE REACTION FROM THE FIELD.

>> AND IT GOES TO REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS!

>> YES!!

[CHEERING] [CHANTING MVP].

>> IT'S FUN TO COME UP HERE AND GET A CHANCE TO PLAY, AND RAISE MONEY FOR THE BIG OAK RANCH.

AND WE GIVE KIDS THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE DREAMS AND DO THINGS LIKE WE GOT TO DO TONIGHT.

>> IT WAS WELL DESERVED.

THEY'VE BEEN RAGGIN' PRETTY HARD ALL WEEK.

WE JUST SAT BACK AND LET IT HAPPEN.

SHOWED IT ON THE FIELD.

THE TEAM PLAYED GREAT.

WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE WIN.

IT'S A GREAT NIGHT FOR THE HOUSE.

>> A GREAT NIGHT INDEED.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

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KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> WELCOME BACK TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE KELVIN LAWRENCE.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A REALLY BUSY FIRST HALF OF THE SESSION.

WE'RE A LITTLE PAST THE FIRST HALFWAY, I GUESS.

TALK ABOUT THAT, THE PACE OF IT, SO MANY COMPLICATED ISSUES.

Y'ALL IN THE MINORITY HAVING TO FIGHT BACK AND HAVE YOUR VOICES HEARD.

>> IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND.

SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MINORITY CAUCUS.

I KIND OF LIKEN TO ALMOST TRYING TO DRINK OUT OF A WATER HOSE.

IT JUST KEEPS COMING YOU, FROM THE DEI, TO THE ABSENTEE VOTING, TO JUST THE -- THE IVF ISSUE THAT WE DIDN'T SEE COMING.

SO IT'S JUST BEEN A LOT OF KIND OF REAL CONTENTIOUS BILLS IN THE FIRST PART OF THE SESSION.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, HAVING TO -- A THREE-DAY WORK WEEK WHERE WE COME IN, YOU KNOW, AND HAVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON WEDNESDAY, AND THEN WE GO INTO SESSION.

SO IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT SESSION.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ONES I'VE HAD SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

NOW THIS IS MY TENTH YEAR.

>> I KEEP HEARING THAT, THAT IT'S MAYBE ONE OF THE BUSIEST, IN TERMS OF BEING CONTROVERSIAL, DEBATABLE ISSUES, NOT JUST ONE THING.

Y'ALL GOT TO BLOW OFF A LITTLE STEAM LAST NIGHT AT THE SOFTBALL GAME.

YOU HAD A BIG NIGHT.

YOU WERE PRETTY GOOD AT THE PLATE THERE.

>> YEAH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS -- WE SET OUR GOALS EVER SINCE LAST YEAR, WHEN WE -- THE SENATE DEFEATED US IN A GAME TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

AND WE HAD CAME IN WITH THE MINDSET THAT THIS IS ALL BUSINESS.

WE KNOW IT'S FUN AND FOR CHARITY, BUT FOR THE HOUSE MEMBERS, IT WAS ALL BUSINESS LAST NIGHT.

AND WE WAS HAPPY TO COME OUT WITH THE VICTORY.

>> I HEARD THAT DURING THE PRACTICE THERE WAS INJURIES.

Y'ALL MUST HAVE BEEN PRACTICING HARD!

>> WE WERE HOT AND COMPETITIVE.

THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE COULDN'T ALLOW ANYBODY ON THE HOUSE TEAM TO PLAY -- AND THIS YEAR WE HAD A HOUSE VERSUS HOUSE SCRIMMAGE, LIKE A TRIAL.

WE PICKED THE BEST 20 PLAYERS.

WE TIED, COMING DOWN TO THE FIFTH, WITH BRAGGING RIGHTS.

WE TOOK THE BRAGGING RIGHTS AWAY FROM THEM, LEAST ONE YEAR.

>> AND AFTER A BUSY SESSION, GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS AND STAFF TO BLOW OFF STEAM.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE.

THIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, THE WORKFORCE PLAN AT THAT I'VE GOT HERE.

REALLY AMBITIOUS.

TALKING ABOUT GETTING FOLKS OFF THE SIDELINES, BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, REMOVING BARRIERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU'RE SPONSORING THIS WITH CAREER PATHWAYS AND CREATING CAREER PATHWAYS FOR ALL ALABAMIANS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.

>> IT WAS DERIVED SPECIFICALLY FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, AND IT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT LIGHTS.

EVERYBODY'S NOT GOING TO BE THE FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE STUDENT, OR GO TO THE MILITARY, OR WANT TO GO TO A TRADE.

AND SO I THINK WITH THIS BILL, IT PUTS THE FOCUS ON CREATING THE PATHWAY THAT'S A BETTER SUIT FOR THAT PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, THAT PARTICULAR STUDENT.

AND I THINK HAVING ALL OF THESE MEASURES IN PLACE, IT GROWS FOR A BETTER -- I MEAN, A BETTER ECONOMY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE LOWEST WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, BUT WE HAVE SOME LOW UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

AND IT'S, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S TOUGH AS A BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF.

WE STRUGGLE TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE GAINFULLY PASSENGER'S SIDE, BECAUSE PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR WHATEVER REASON THOSE MAY BE.

>> IT'S TOUGH TO FIND WORKERS.

>> IT'S TOUGH TO FIND WORKERS.

THEN WHEN YOU FIND THEM, BY THE TIME YOU TRAIN THEM AND GET THEM ACCLIMATED, IT'S LIKE A REVOLVING DOOR.

AND SETTING UP A PIECE OF LEGISLATION LIKE THIS CAREER PATHWAY THING, START THEM OUT SO THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING THEY REALLY LIKE DOING.

AND I THINK SEEING THAT MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PUT THIS THING ON OUR -- ON A TRAJECTORY, WHERE WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE DECREASE THE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE WORKING, WHICH WILL IN TURN KEEP THE ECONOMY MOVING FORWARD.

>> YEAH, IT'S KIND OF A PARADIGM SHIFT, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND I'M THINKING BACK, YOU KNOW, 15, 20 YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH FOCUS ON, LIKE YOU SAID, FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

"EVERYBODY NEEDS TO GO TO COLLEGE."

THAT'S NOT THE SAME ANYMORE.

THERE'S MORE RECOGNITION THAT'S NOT EVERYBODY'S PATH.

DO YOU THINK THIS CAN HELP TAKE WAY THE STIGMA?

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THE AVERAGE FOUR-YEAR STUDENT THAT GOES TO COLLEGE, THEY'RE PROBABLY SADDLED WITH AT LEAST 30, $40,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

WITH THIS CAREER PATHWAY, AND HAVING DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR KIDS, YOU CAN HAVE A KID THAT HAS TWO YEARS OF DUAL ENROLLMENT WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL AND A TWO-YEAR COLLEGE.

THEY CAN COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL WITH A WELDING CERTIFICATE MAKING WELL OVER 70, $80,000.

THAT'S GENERATIONAL.

THAT'S GAME-CHANGING, WITH NO DEBT AT ALL.

AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHETHER IT'S HAVING CERTIFICATES IN CYBERSECURITY, OR CODING, OR WHATEVER, I THINK THOSE TYPE OF CAREERS SET PEOPLE ON A PATHWAY WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STUDENT DEBT, IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

WE'RE NOT DISCOURAGING PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TAKE THE RIDE TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

BUT WE WANT TO PROVIDE OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

AS DIVERSE AS THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS, WE SHOULD HAVE THE DIVERSE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THIS.

THIS IS A BIG PACKAGE.

IT'S AMBITIOUS.

BIPARTISAN.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO FOLLOW.

ALSO SECOND HALF OF THE SESSION, WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH GAMBLING.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FACILITY IN YOUR DISTRICT, WHITEHALL THERE, SO YOU'RE AN INTERESTED PARTY HERE.

SO WHAT -- Y'ALL PASSED A PRETTY AMBITIOUS, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT CAME BACK DOWN FROM THE SENATE WAS SCALED WAY BACK.

I GUESS MAYBE THERE'S NOT A DECISION THAT'S BEEN MADE YET.

WHAT'S THE NEXT?

CONCUR?

GO TO CONFERENCE?

WHAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT INTERNALLY IN YOUR CAUCUS?

>> THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, BUT I THINK THE MOST -- I THINK -- I GUESS -- OBVIOUS ONE IS, WE'LL PROBABLY END UP IN CONFERENCE.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK OUT SOME DETAILS AND SOME ISSUES THAT BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE HAS, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE CAN KIND OF GET SOMETHING THAT WE ALL CAN AGREE ON TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA TO VOTE, FINALLY.

I THINK THE LAST VOTE WAS, WHAT IN 19 ... >> '99 WAS THE LOTTERY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU STAND PERSONALLY ON GAMBLING, GOOD OR BAD, FOR OR AGAINST, I THINK IT'S -- IT'S PAST TIME FOR US TO GIVE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THAT.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, 130 OF US IN THE LEGISLATURE AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT PASSED IN -- IN THE HOUSE VERSION THAT OUR CAUCUS ARE REALLY ON BOARD WITH, IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT WE WORKED THROUGH, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAME THAT WAS TAKEN OUT IN THE SENATE THAT CAME -- PROBABLY GOING TO COME DOWN THAT WE'RE -- GIVE US HEART BURN, A LITTLE PAUSE ABOUT IT.

SPECIFICALLY, THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE IT'S GOING TO GENERATE, BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE POINTS OF GAMING WAS TAKEN OUT.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND COME TO A HAPPY MEDIUM WHERE EVERYBODY CAN BE SATISFIED.

>> YEAH, I WAS TALKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE SAM JONES, WHO WAS REALLY INVOLVED IN THAT, CRAFTING THAT LEGISLATION.

AND HE SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT THE REVENUE AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT HAD FOR HEALTH CARE.

RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> WHETHER YOU CALL IT MEDICAID EXPANSION -- HE SAID, "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT, AS LONG AS IT OFFERS MORE FOLKS --" BUT IT WAS ALL -- I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF DEPENDENT ON THAT REVENUE.

AND SO IF -- WHEN THE SCALING IT BACK AND BRINGING IT DOWN, THAT REVENUE, KIND OF MAKES IT LESS LIKELY.

I KNOW THAT'S A PRIORITY OF THE DEMOCRAT CAUCUS.

IS THAT THE HEART BURN YOU TALKED ABOUT?

>> SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FIGHT PROBABLY SINCE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

AND I THINK -- LOOK.

THIS IS MY -- THIS IS MY TAKE ON IT.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ALABAMA IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE STUCK WITH A PROGRAM THAT DON'T WORK, OR THEY'RE STUCK WITH, YOU KNOW, A PRICE TAG THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE UP.

BUT I ALWAYS SAY THIS.

AND IT'S PROVEN.

WHEN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THE LEGISLATURE MAKE UP THEIR MIND TO TACKLE A PROBLEM, WE ALWAYS FIND A WAY.

AND I THINK WE JUST REALLY NEED TO PUT WHATEVER IT IS, PERSONAL ISSUES, POLITICS, PUT IT ASIDE.

CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME MAY THINK, THIS IS NOT A BLACK-WHITE ISSUE, A REPUBLICAN-DEMOCRAT ISSUE, THIS IS A PEOPLE ISSUE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE SUFFERING EVERY DAY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA BECAUSE OF LACK OF HEALTH CARE.

IN MY COMMUNITY, WE HAVE PEOPLE TRYING TO DECIDE, SHOULD THEY PAY THEIR POWER BILL OR SHOULD THEY BUY THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

AND HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, 2024, THAT SHOULD BE UNHEARD OF.

AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO WORK THROUGH SOME ISSUES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CREATE A HEALTHY ALABAMA.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE LABOR SHORTAGE.

IT ALL TIES BACK INTO EACH OTHER.

>> IT'S A WORKFORCE ISSUE.

>> IF WE DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY ALABAMA, HOW CAN WE INCREASE THE LABOR PARTICIPATION RATE?

IT ALL COMES FULL CIRCLE TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT, AND GIVE THEM ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO FOLLOW.

I MEAN, GOING ON SPRING BREAK, EVERYBODY'S GOT TIME TO MAYBE RUMINATE ON IT A LITTLE BIT.

BUT CERTAINLY WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THE GAMBLING GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE IT'S JUST A PERENNIAL, BIG ISSUE.

AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE SO FAR APART.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME -- WHILE I'VE GOT YOU, YOU GOT A BRACKET?

>> I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET IT FILLED OUT TODAY.

BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET IT FILLED OUT TODAY.

I'M AN ALABAMA FAVORITE, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET OVER THE HUMP AND GET TO THE FINAL EIGHT OR FINAL FOUR THIS TIME.

WE'VE BEEN MAKING IT TO THE SWEET 16 THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

HOPEFULLY.

OUTSIDE OF ALABAMA, I KIND OF LIKE NORTH CAROLINA.

>> YEAH, THEY'VE BEEN PLAYING VERY GOOD BALL OF LATE.

WELL, I'M AUBURN.

AND WE'VE GOT THE BRACKET WITH U-CONN.

THEY PUT US IN THE TOUGHEST BRACKET.

IT WAS THAT WAY IN 2019.

>> IF I THINK AUBURN HAS A PRETTY GOOD SHOT AS WELL.

THEY HAVE A HELL OF A COACH.

>> IT THEY'RE PLAYING GREAT BALL.

IT'S BEEN -- IT'S FUN.

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> MARCH MADNESS!

>> I LOVE IT!

ENJOY THE BREAK.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK IN APRIL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF CAPITOL JOURNAL ONLINE, ANY TIME, AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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

>> PRATT CITY ALABAMA NATIVE OSMOND KELLY INGRAM WAS THE FIRST UNITED STATES SERVICEMAN KILLED IN WORLD WAR I.

HE DIED WHEN A GERMAN SUBMARINE ATTACKED HIS SHIP, AND HE RAN TO RELEASE THE SHIP'S MINES AHEAD OF THE TORPEDO STRIKE.

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

AND WEST PARK WAS RENAMED KELLY INGRAM PARK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT FOR OUR WEEK IN REVIEW PROGRAM AT 7:30, HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.