DON: GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, DESPITE CALLS FROM SOME REPUBLICANS TO END THE STATEWIDE MASKING MANDATE, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY ENDED THE SUSPENSE AND ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WAS EXTENDING HER MASKING ORDER FOR ONE MORE MONTH.

>> APRIL 9 IS GOING TO BE THE LAST DAY THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE A MASK MANDATE.

AFTER THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

AND ALABAMIANS ARE SMART, THEY HAVE GOOD COMMON SENSE AND THEY KNOW WHAT WORKS.

LIKE I SAY, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MY MASK WHEN I'M AROUND FOLKS BUT AFTER THE NINTH WE'RE NOT HAVING A MASK MANDATE.

>> DON: GOVERNOR IVEY TODAY SAID HER DECISION TO MAKE THIS HER LAST MASK ORDER WAS BASED ON DAILY CORONAVIRUS CASE COUNTS AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES BEING AS LOW AS THEY'VE BEEN SINCE LAST SUMMER.

SHE IS LIFTING SOME RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN EAT AT A RESTAURANT TABLE, RESTRICTIONS ON OUTDOOR PROGRAMS AT SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS WILL END; AND UP TO TWO CAREGIVERS OR VISITORS WILL NOW BE ALLOWED TO VISIT PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES.

THE STATE SENATE THIS WEEK APPROVED A REPUBLICAN RESOLUTION THAT URGED GOVERNOR IVEY TO END THE MASK MANDATE IMMEDIATELY, AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH IN A STATEMENT CALLED ON HER TO NOT EXTEND WHAT HE CALLED A ‘BIG BROTHER-LIKE' MASK ORDER.

IVEY WAS ASKED TODAY ABOUT THOSE CALLS.

>> WELL, MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION I HAVE.

AND WE WANT TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR AND SAFE BEFORE WE DROP THE MASK MANDATE.

LIKE I SAY, WE'VE REACHED THE MILLION DOSE THAT'S BEEN ADMINISTERED THIS WEEK, EVEN BEFORE THE WEEKEND.

THAT'S GOOD PROGRESS.

BUT IF WE KEEP IT UP AND GET THROUGH EASTER, THINK WE'LL BE IN A WHOLE LOT BETTER SHAPE.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID TODAY THAT EXTENDING THE MASK ORDER UNTIL APRIL 9TH WOULD ALLOW BUSINESSES TO MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS FOR THEIR OWN PROPERTIES AND TO PREPARE FOR OPERATIONS AFTER THE MANDATE EXPIRES.

REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADERS WHO HAD SUPPORTED THE RESOLUTION TO END THE MASK ORDER WERE GENERALLY REACTING POSITIVELY TO IVEY'S DECISION TODAY.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED OF JASPER AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CLAY SCOFIELD OF GUNTERSVILLE SAID THIS AFTERNOON THAT ALTHOUGH IVEY DIDN'T LIFT THE MANDATE IMMEDIATELY, THEY WERE ENCOURAGED THAT THE END IS IN SIGHT.

>> I THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE THING IN REFERENCE TO THE FACT HOW GOOD WE'VE DONE.

THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD FEEL CONFIDENT IN SAYING WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO CANCEL THE MASK MANDATE AT A TIME CERTAIN IN THE FUTURE.

THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AGAIN, IT'S A BACK DROP OF THE POSITIVE THINGS OF THAT THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD.

I'VE VISITED WITH A LOT OF OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND OUR SENIORS HAVE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH ON THEM BEING BY THEMSELVES.

>> DON: TODAY MARKED THE SIXTH TIME THAT GOVERNOR KAY IVEY HAS EXTENDED HER MASK ORDER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS STOOD TODAY WITH GOVERNOR IVEY AS SHE MADE HER BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS.

HE APPLAUDED HER FOR DOING SO AND HARRIS ALSO SAID THAT THE STATE WILL SOON BE FURTHER RAMPING UP ITS COVID VACCINATION EFFORTS.

>> WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS COMING WEEK, WE'LL HAVE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND FIRST DOSES FOR THE FIRST TIME, MODERNA AND PFIZER THAT'S A NEW HIGH FOR US COMING INTO THE STATE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE ABOUT 40,000 DOSES OF THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

AND SOMETIMES CALLED THE JANSEN VACCINE, AND IT WILL SHIP THIS WEEK AND HOPEFULLY GIVING DOSES THIS WEEK.

>> DON: DR. HARRIS ALSO SAID THAT WHILE HE'S VERY ENCOURAGED WITH OUR STABLE DAILY VIRUS COUNTS AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES, AND WITH THE STATE HAVING ADMINISTERED ITS ONE MILLIONTH DOSE OF VACCINE THIS WEEK, HE NOTED THAT WE HAVE ALSO NOW REACHED A GRIM LANDMARK.

>> THIS WEEK, ALABAMA PASSED THE MILESTONE OF 10,000 DEATHS SO FAR SINCE THIS RESPONSE HAS BEGUN AND WE HAVE LOST MORE THAN 10,000 OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

CHURCH MEMBERS AND WORK COLLEAGUES.

IT'S JUST A REMINDER OF WHAT A TOUGH YEAR WE HAD IN 2020.

>> DON: HARRIS SAYS THE WORST MONTH FOR COVID DEATHS IN THE STATE WAS JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.

SENATOR DEL MARSH OF ANNISTON SAID TODAY THAT HE WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH HIS PLAN TO BRING HIS LOTTERY AND GAMBLING EXPANSION BILL UP FOR A VOTE IN THE SENATE NEXT WEEK.

HE WILL PRESENT A SUBSTITUTE BILL, AFTER TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING IN THE STATE.

>> WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS INCORPORATE INTO THE LEGISLATION ON THE SUB THAT I WANT TO COME OUT WITH ON TUESDAY, I WOULD LIKE INPUT FROM THOSE HOUSE MEMBERS SO THAT THEY WILL CLAIM AUTHORSHIP IN IT AS WELL.

SO, THIS NEEDS TO BE AT THIS POINT, I'VE TALKED ENOUGH ABOUT THE LEGISLATION AND TALKED TO ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT THIS NEEDS TO MOVE FROM A SENATE PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO A LEGISLATIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> DON: MARSH'S WORDS WERE LIKELY ENCOURAGING TO HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON OF MONROVIA, MANY OF WHOSE COLLEAGUES IN THE LOWER CHAMBERS HAVE REFERRED TO THE GAMBLING BILL AS SENATE LEGISLATION.

MCCUTCHEON WAS ASKED THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF PASSAGE OF THE GAMBLING BILL IN THE UPPER CHAMBER NEXT WEEK.

>> RIGHT NOW, THE HOUSE IS STILL IN A WAIT AND SEE MODE.

AND I SAY THAT, FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT THE SENATE IS STILL WORKING ON A DRAFT AND THE AMENDMENTS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE BILL THAT SENATOR MARCH HAS GOT.

AND AT THIS POINT, WE'RE IN A WAIT AND SEE MODE.

I'LL KNOW MORE WHEN I MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND TALK WITH HER TODAY ABOUT WHAT HER EXPECTATIONS ARE FROM THE BILL.

>> DON: SENATOR MARSH MET WITH SPEAKER MCCUTCHEON AND WITH GOVERNOR KAY IVEY THIS AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS HIS BIG GAMBLING MEASURE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US, FROM SPRINGHILL.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> AND YOU HAD A BILL COME UP EARLIER, HOW WE DEAL WITH OUR STATE HEALTH OFFICIAL.

AND THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER AS WE KNOW NOW WOULD BE DONE AWAY WITH IT AND IT WOULD BE BECOME A CABINET LEVEL JOB, SECRETARY OF HEALTH, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND VETTED BY THE SENATE.

TELL US ABOUT THE NEED THAT YOU SEE TO SWITCH THINGS UP.

>> WELL, DON, TODAY, THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER IS CHOSEN BY THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, WHICH IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, A PRIVATE CLUB.

IT'S A DUES-PAYING ORGANIZATION.

AND MOST PHYSICIANS IN THE STATE, ALABAMA ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE CLUB.

THEY ELECT NOT TO PAY THE DUES.

SO, THEY PICK THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER.

AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS, WE'RE THE ONLY STATE WHERE WE HAVE A PRIVATE, EXCLUSIVE GROUP THAT NAMES A STATE AGENCY, PICKS OUT THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH AND PICKS OUT THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER.

SO, WHAT THE BILL DOES, THAT I HAVE COME FORWARD WITH PUTTING US IN COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER STATES.

MAKES A CABINET-LEVEL FOR THIS APPOINTMENT AND BECOME THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE.

VERY MUCH LIKE WE DO ALL OF THEM.

SO, THIS MAKES IT CONSISTENT.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING, THE LAWS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN ALABAMA HAVE BEEN, WHERE MOST OF THEM WERE WRITTEN BETWEEN 1858 AND 1890.

SO, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF CATCHING UP.

IT'S A PRETTY THICK BILL BECAUSE WE'RE CATCHING UP FROM A HUNDRED YEARS OF THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT.

NOBODY ELSE HAS EVER COME FORWARD WITH IT OR EVER SEEN A PROBLEM WITH IT.

I HAVE A PROBLEM AND OBVIOUSLY, THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH HAS A PROBLEM WITH A PRIVATE GROUP NAMING AND CONTROLLING A STATE AGENCY.

>> AND YOUR BIG ISSUE IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> RIGHT NOW, THE GROUP IS, THE INDIVIDUAL IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR GROUP, NOT TO THE GOVERNOR NOR TO THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS PERSON WORKS INDEPENDENTLY AND THE GOVERNOR HAS NO SAY-SO OR CONTROL.

AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS NO SAY SO OR CONTROL.

AND THAT OFFICE IS A CREATION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

AND IT'S NOT LIKE THE LEGISLATURE TO CREATE SOMEBODY OUT THERE, OUR POSITION AND CUT THEM LOOSE AND SAY, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS.

AND LEGISLATURE, BASICALLY IS STEPPING IN AND GETTING SOME ACCOUNTABILITY OUT OF THAT OFFICE.

>> THINK IT BEARS REPEATING HERE, SENATOR.

YOU ACTUALLY STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION PRE PANDEMIC.

>> OH, YEAH, I WAS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND INTENTION TO EDUCATE MY FELLOW SENATORS ON THE ISSUE.

IT WAS BEFORE WE EVER HEARD THE WORD COVID.

I HAD STARTED BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

PEOPLE SAID, WELL, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVE A STATE AGENCY THAT'S OPERATED THAT WAY!

SO, IT TAKES A WHILE.

AND MY PLAN WAS TO USE LAST YEAR, TO GET MY FELLOW SENATORS EDUCATED.

THEN, COME BACK THIS YEAR AND COME FORWARD WITH THE LEGISLATION AS A RECOMMENDED.

AND COVID HITS IN THE MEANTIME.

>> AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CONCEIVED PRE PANDEMIC, A COUPLE OF CONCERNS WERE RAISED IN THE HEALTH COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, ONE OF THE DOCTORS, WHO WAS YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE.

THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO PURSUE THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WELL, HERE'S THE DEAL.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS FOR SOMEBODY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID IN THE BILL, WHEN THIS IS ENACTED, THERE HAD BEEN A 12 MONTH DELAY TAKING EFFECT.

AND SO, THE REASON FOR THAT, I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM.

WE HAVE STRONG FOLKS IN THAT POSITION, AND THEY SEEM TO BE DOING A GOOD JOB.

ALABAMA IS GETTING BETTER.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THIS PANDEMIC BEFORE WE MAKE THESE MAJOR CHANGES.

>> Don: YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID AND ELUDED TO IT THERE, THAT THIS IS NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST DOCTOR SCOTT HARRIS, OUR CURRENT STATE HEALTH OFFICER.

>> THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO.

DOCTOR HARRIS AND I ARE FRIENDS.

WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS AND WE TALK.

IN FACT, I WAS TALKING WITH ONE OF HIS AIDES THIS MORNING ABOUT IT, AN ISSUE BACK IN MY DISTRICT.

SO, WE GET ALONG FINE.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DOCTOR HARRIS.

I ADMIRE DOCTOR HARRIS VERY MUCH FOR THE JOB THAT HE HAS BEEN DOING AND FOR THE POSITION THAT HE'S BEEN PUT IN OUT OF NOWHERE.

>> Don: AND I MENTIONED THAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK WERE FROM DOCTORS WHO ARE SENATORS WHO ALSO SERVE ON THE HEALTH COMMITTEE, TIM MELSON OF FLORENCE.

AND THE OTHER DOCTOR, DOCTOR STUTTS FROM SHEFFIELD.

THEY BOTH EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT THIS, DID THAT REGISTER WITH YOU, IN THE SENSE GIVEN THAT THEY ARE DOCTORS?

>> WELL, THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE AT ALL.

AND IN FACT, I TALKED WITH BOTH OF THEM AHEAD OF TIME.

I KNEW WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE.

AND YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, THE DOCTORS ARE IN TOTAL CONTROL OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

AND THINK THAT THEY MAY HAVE SOME RESISTANCE TO GIVING UP THAT ARE THE AUTHORITY.

THAT'S NO SURPRISE.

AND INCIDENTALLY, WE CAME OUT OF THERE FRIENDS.

WE WENT IN FRIENDS, CAME OUT FRIENDS.

>> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION'S CHANCES ON THE FLOOR, MOVING FORWARD.

>> I HAVE 19 COSPONSORS AND THAT'S MORE THAN HALF OF THE SENATE.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 33 SENATORS ATTENDING, SHORT TWO SENATORS -- NO, WE'RE NOT.

WE PICKED UP ONE YESTERDAY.

WE'VE GOT 34.

YEAH.

SO, WE GOT 34 AND I'VE GOT 19 COSPONSORS, THAT'S OVER HALF OF THE SENATE!

SO, I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT.

I FEEL -- MORE THAN THAT, THE MORE I TALKED WITH FOLKS, THE MORE I'M CONVINCED THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING TO MAKE THIS CHANGE IN THE WAY THIS AGENCY IS OPERATED.

>> Don: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, SENATOR BUT BEFORE WE CLOSE, IF THIS REACHES FINAL PASSAGE, IT WON'T BE PUT INTO FULL FORCE FOR AT LEAST A YEAR, TO ALLOW THE DUST TO SETTLE FROM THE PANDEMIC.

YOU WON'T BE HAVING A CHANGING OF THE GUARD WHILE THE PANDEMIC IS STILL IN FORCE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S THE PLAN.

>> Don: AND WHOEVER THE GOVERNOR IS, AT THAT POINT, COULD ELECT, COULD THEY NOT, TO PUT DOCTOR HARRIS IN THE POSITION.

>> THAT'S THE GOVERNOR'S PREROGATIVE.

YEAH, SURE.

AND FIND SOMEBODY WITH MORE EXPERIENCE THAN HIM, YOU CAN'T DO IT.

>> Don: I KNOW HE WAS IN A TOUGH POSITION THIS YEAR, CRITICS ON BOTH SIDES, DEALING WITH SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH BEFORE.

UNEXPLORED TERRITORY SO TO SPEAK.

AND HE'S DONE THE BEST JOB HE COULD HAVE DONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE COULD HAVE.

THERE'S NOTHING TO GO BY.

NO BOOK.

NO REFERENCE.

HOW DID THEY DO IT LAST TIME?

WELL, THERE WASN'T A LAST TIME, NOT IN OUR LIFETIME.

HE'S BLAZING TRAILS AND HE'S WORKING HARD.

I'M A SUPPORTER.

>> Don: AND THIS BILL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS PERFORMANCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THAT YOU CONCEIVED THIS PRE PANDEMIC.

>> TOTALLY UNRELATED TO HIM.

THIS BILL, AS I SAID IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SCOTT HARRIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SENATOR THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, JIM MCCLENDON.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> Don: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JONES OF ANDALUSIA.

YOU HAD A BILL DEALING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT, EXECUTIVE CONTRACTS WORTH $10 MILLION OR MORE.

THIS BILL IS COMING AT A TIME WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF, I DON'T KNOW, CONTENTION, OVER THE GOVERNOR'S PRIVATE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN.

AND YOU ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THAT, BUT IT DID RAISE CONCERNS FOR LAWMAKERS, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, WE WORKED WITH THE ISSUES OF PRISONS AND IN THE PAST YEAR, MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THESE ISSUES THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN TOUCHING ON ABOUT LEASE PRISONS.

AND DURING THE COURSE OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A GAP IN OUR OVERSIGHT THAT WE SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW IT EXISTED.

IT DEALS WITH THESE VERY LARGE TYPE OF CONTRACTS, LIKE THIS.

THIS BILL IS ONLY 3.5 PAGES LONG, VERY SHORT BILL.

AND IT WAS INTENTIONALLY TO BE A SHORT BILL.

FISCAL OBLIGATION TRANSPARENCY, A BIG GROUP OF WORDS.

BUT THE NET EFFECT OF THIS, YES, WE WANTED IT TO BE A VERY SMALL COMMITTEE OF THE EXPERTS IN OUR BODY, BOTH SENATE AND HOUSE.

AND COMPOSED OF SIX MEMBERS, CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN, RANKING OF THE HOUSE, AND CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE AND TAXATION.

THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ALL YEAR LONG REVIEW ISSUES DEALING WITH OUR BUDGET AND THEY ARE THE BEST ONES TO RECOGNIZE IF SOMETHING IS POTENTIALLY A HAZARD TO OUR BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING PHYSICAL CYCLES.

AND IT ONLY TOUCHES CONTRACTS $10 MILLION OR GREATER OF ANNUAL PRORATION FOR ANNUAL FUTURE FISCAL BUDGETS.

IF IT'S SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET ALREADY, IT'S NOT TOUCH.

IF ITS BUDGETED OR SOMETHING THAT'S EXPECTED THROUGH A LINE ITEM, IT'S NOT TOUCHED BY THIS ISSUE AT ALL, THIS GROUP.

IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PASSED THROUGH MONEY AND NOT ACTUALLY BUDGETED BY THE GENERAL FUND ISSUE, THEN IT'S NOT COVERED.

THIS IS ONLY TOUCHING THOSE CONTRACTS COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION.

IT'S INTENDED TO BE LIMITED AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO THE WORK OF THE GOVERNOR NOR OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

NOT TRYING TO DO THAT.

BUT IF SOMETHING IS THAT BIG OF A CONTRACT THAT COULD CLEARLY IMPACT THE FUTURE FISCAL BUDGET, OUR JOB IS JUST THAT, TO HAVE OVERSIGHT AND MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN WEATHER IT.

AND IT'S JUSTIFIED.

THAT'S PART OF OUR JOB AND DUTY, IT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT.

SO, WE DIDN'T REALIZE THIS GAP EXISTED.

AND ONCE WE SAW THE GAP DID EXIST IN OVERSIGHT, WE RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS IT.

THIS IS NOT TARGETED SPECIFICALLY TO PRISONS, DOESN'T SAY IT ANYWHERE IN THE BILL.

DURING THE COURSE OF THE DISCUSSIONS, WE RECOGNIZED THAT PROBLEM.

>> AND REPRESENTATIVE, WE HAVE CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND THIS COMMITTEE THAT YOU ARE SETTING UP HERE TO REVIEW THE EXECUTIVE CONTRACTS SORT OF FUNCTIONS IN THE SAME CAPACITY.

>> SIMILAR.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, A MUCH LARGER BUDGET, TYPE OF APPROPRIATION.

AND IT'S A FUTURE, MORE TIMES THAN NOT, MULTIPLE FUTURE FISCAL CYCLES AND WHEN THE CHAIR IS WORKING EVERY YEAR, DEALING WITH THE DATA, ALL OF IT, DEALING WITH THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, THEY HAVE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE COMING AND HOW MUCH IMPACT LONG TERM THEY HAVE ON THE BUDGET CYCLES.

TO BE BLIND-SIDED OF SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE, THEN THAT'S SIGNIFICANT AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

AND UNLIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE CANNOT MAKE MONEY.

AND OUR CONSTITUTION REQUIRES US TO BALANCE THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

SO, IF IT COMES TO A SPOT WHERE AN OBLIGATION IMPACTS OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET TOO MUCH, THEN THE ONLY CHOICE WE HAVE IS TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM OTHER THINGS.

AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S HARD TO DO.

WE'RE CUT THIN IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS IT IS AND ONLY WITH STANDS SO MUCH UNTIL IT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE CAREFUL WITH IT.

>> AND IF THIS LEGISLATION, IF IT PASSES, DOESN'T CURRENTLY AFFECT THE PRIVATE PRISONS BECAUSE THAT'S IN MOTION?

>> RIGHT, THOSE CONTRACTS WERE SIGNED BEFORE WE STARTED THE SESSION.

AND IF THIS DID PLAY OUT, JUST USE ANY FUTURE CONTRACT IN A COMES UP, OVER 10 MILLION OR 5% OF THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF THE AGENCY, THEN THEY HAVE TO GIVE NOTICE WITHIN 10 DAYS TO THE COMMITTEE.

THE COMMITTEE HAS TO TAKE SOME ACTION WITHIN 45 DAYS, OR NO ACTION.

IF THEY APPROVE IT, THEN THE CONTRACT GOES FORWARD.

IF THEY TAKE NO ACTION AFTER 45 DAYS, IT'S DEEMED APPROVED.

BUT IF THEY DISAPPROVE IT, THEN IT CREATES A PAUSE IN THE CONTRACT UNTIL THE END OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND THAT'S TO ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO POTENTIALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE WHETHER THROUGH LEGISLATION OR ADJUSTING THE BUDGETS.

THAT'S WHAT OUR JOB IS.

YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE AT HOME DON'T UNDERSTAND, THE LEGISLATURE HAS NO POWER UNLESS WE'RE IN SESSION.

THAT'S THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE ANY REAL POWER TO DO ANYTHING.

AND THIS IS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO ALLOW US TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT COULD HURT OUR BUDGETS.

>> I KNOW THE SPEAKER ONE OF YOUR COSPONSORS SAID THIS IS IN NO DISRESPECT TO THE GOVERNOR BUT YOU LAID OUT THE CASE PRETTY WELL THERE.

>> YES, SIR.

AND IT'S NOT, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF ALLEGATIONS AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH GOVERNOR IVEY LONG BEFORE SHE WAS GOVERNOR AND HAD GREAT RELATIONS WORKING WITH GOVERNOR IVEY AND I HOPE THAT NEVER CHANGES.

IN THE COURSE OF THESE DISCUSSIONS THIS PAST YEAR, WE DID SEE THAT THERE WAS A GAP.

AND THINK THAT WE WOULD NOT BE DOING OUR JOB IF WE DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT GAP AND THE BILL NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND YOU SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE SETTING THE WORK AGENDA FOR THE LOWER CHAMBER AND NEXT WEEK, WHEN YOU COME BACK ON TUESDAY, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGETS WILL BE INTRODUCED.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH, THAT'S THE FIVE BILLS, THE FIRST CALENDAR UP.

AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR PRIMARY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES IS TO HAVE PASSED BALANCED BUDGETS, GENERAL FUND AND EDUCATION TRUST FUND BUDGETS.

WE'RE MOVING QUICKER THAN NORMAL AND IT'S BY DESIGN.

WE'RE IN TIME OF A PANDEMIC, AND DEALING WITH THE VIRUS, WE FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE CAREFUL IN TAKING CARE OF THE BUDGETS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PROCESS WORKS.

AND WE THINK WE SHOULD DO IT EARLIER IN THE SESSION IN CASE THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK THAT EFFECTED OUR SESSION.

AND WOULD PREVENT US FROM PERFORMING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE.

WE'RE WORKING A LITTLE OVERTIME, AS YOU HAVE SEEN.

THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS MOVING, MOVING PARTS, MOVING FASTER THAN NORMAL AT THE EARLY PART OF THE SESSION.

BUT WE RECOGNIZE WE NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> OKAY.

QUICKLY, BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, BEFORE THE GENERAL FUND, ARE YOU GOOD TO THE WAY IT WEATHERED THROUGH THAT?

>> YES, I DO.

AND CHAIRMANS THAT ARE WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGETS, CHAIRMANS CLOUSE AND POOLE WORKING AS THE SENATE COUNTERPARTS.

AND THEY TOOK TIME, AT THE END OF THE LAST REGULAR SESSION.

AND SOME PEOPLE CRITICIZED US AND THAT WE PUT THE BUDGETS OUT AND APPROVED THEM.

WE LOOKED AT IT TO BE MAKING SURE THAT OUR AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS HAD THE FUNDING THEY NEED AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY WERE BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

SO, WE FELT LIKE WE STILL HAD TO COME PLY WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND PERFORM OUR DUTY AND PASS THOSE BUDGETS AND WE DID.

>> Don: GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF THE PANDEMIC, THINGS COULD BE SO MUCH WORSE FOR US.

>> CORRECT.

IMAGINE THAT WE DIDN'T PASS THE BUDGETS AND PRINCIPALS DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE HAVING FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOLS.

AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES WERE UNSURE OF WHAT THE FUNDING WOULD BE.

SO, WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO GIVE STABILITY TO THE STATE, TO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WITHIN OUR STATE SO THAT'S WHY WE PLACED HIGH IMPORTANCE ON PASSING THOSE BUDGETS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JONES ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW, FROM ANDALUSIA.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:30 ON CAPITOL JOURNAL: WEEK IN REVIEW, WE'LL HAVE A COMPETE WRAP-UP OF THE LEGISLATIVE WEEK.

AND WE'LL BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE WES ALLEN OF TROY, WHO'LL TALK WITH US ABOUT HIS CONTROVERSIAL BILL TO BAN TRANSGENDER MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR MINOR AND HIS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAN CURBSIDE VOTING IN THE STATE.

WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS, WHO'LL DISCUSS GOVERNOR IVEY EXTENDING THE STATEWIDE MASK ORDER FOR ONE LAST MONTH, AND ABOUT THE STATE GETTING MORE VIRUS VACCINE.

AND BRAND-NEW ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN JOHN WAHL OF ATHENS WILL BE WITH US TO DISCUSS HIS NEW ROLE AND HIS PRIORITIES.

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

I'M DON DAILEY.