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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THE LEGISLATURE RECONVENED TODAY FOR THE 19TH DAY OF THE 30-DAY SESSION.

THERE ARE TWO MORE MEETING DAYS SCHEDULED THIS WEEK, MEANING THE SESSION WILL BE 70% COMPLETE BY THIS TIME THURSDAY.

THE HOUSE TODAY TOOK UP THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

THE $8.1 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET FUNDS THE RANGE OF EDUCATION SERVICES FROM PRE-K TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

THIS YEAR'S SPENDING PLAN REPRESENTS A MORE THAN $500 MILLION INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET AND WILL BE THE MOST MONEY EVER ALLOCATED FOR EDUCATION IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

THE BUDGET INCLUDES A 4% PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATION WORKERS.

THAT SAME RAISE WAS EXTENDED TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKERS AS WELL.

IT INCLUDES TARGETED FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS AIMED AT IMPROVING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, WITH FIRST CLASS PRE-K AND THE ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE.

MORE THAN $20 MILLION WOULD GO TOWARD A NEW PROGRAM INTENDED TO IMPROVE MATH INSTRUCTION IN LOWER GRADES.

THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES NEW INVESTMENTS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT, WHO CHAIRS THE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE, LED THE DISCUSSION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, WHERE MEMBERS WENT THROUGH THE SPECIFICS OF THE BILL.

>> FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU PRESENTED.

A PREVIOUS SPEAKER, I BELIEVE, FOR ME, TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING, ALL THE FUNDING THAT WE PUT INTO EDUCATION.

AND THEN, AT THE LEVEL WHERE WE ARE IN PERFORMANCE.

I NOTED TWO AREAS IN PARTICULAR.

HELP ME AGAIN TO EXPLAIN THE PRE K AMOUNT, AND FOR READING, HOW MUCH IS IN FOR READING?

THAT'S THE BASIS FOR ALL OF THE AREAS.

>> WE'LL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL $24 MILLION FOR THE PRE K PROGRAMS TAKING US TO A TOTAL OF $174 MILLION AND THAT PROVIDES 125 NEW PRE K CLASSROOMS, INCREASING PRE K ACCESS FROM 42% TO 45%.

CURRENTLY 3,407 CHILDREN ON THE PRE K READING LIST.

THERE ARE 35 NEW CLASSROOMS AND ADD STRONG START STRONG FINISH PROGRAM, GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE TO GOING TO THE LOWEST PERFORMING, GOING TO THE AREAS OF MOST NEED.

ALSO, IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE $1.9 MILLION FOR PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5, PREVIOUSLY FUNDED UNDER A GRANT.

AND PROVIDING 1 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR ADDITIONAL AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS.

THAT'S FOR PRE K. >> THE BILL PASSED 100 VOTES TO ONE, THE LONE NO VOTE BEING STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW SORRELL.

IT NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

THE SENATE TODAY GOT BOGGED DOWN IN AN UNEXPECTED FILIBUSTER.

THE CHAMBER HAD BEEN SET TO DEBATE A BILL FROM SENATOR GERALD ALLEN DEALING WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF GUN LAWS, BUT THE WORK CAME TO A HALT WHEN STATE SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON DISCOVERED A BILL DEALING WITH THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR OPTOMETRISTS WAS LEFT OFF THE SENATE AGENDA.

MCCLENDON BEGAN A FILIBUSTER, TALKING AT LENGTH ON BILLS IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN SENATE BUSINESS AND MAKE HIS POINT.

>> I HEARD MY COLLEAGUE DISCUSSING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS BILL.

WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS BILL AND THIS MOTION THAT YOU HAVE MADE IS TO SCRAP THE ORIGINAL BILL.

GET RID OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS.

THERE'S CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

ONCE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE WHILE.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANY OF THIS IN HASTE.

WE WANT TO TAKE OUR TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DRESS THIS BILL UP PROPERLY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE KILL IT AND GET ANOTHER ONE OUT.

>> THE SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TOOK UP A BILL THAT WOULD BAN THE TEACHING OF DIVISIVE CONCEPTS ABOUT RACE AND GENDER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THE NOTION THAT PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE.

THE BILL'S LIST OF BANNED DIVISIVE CONCEPTS INCLUDE THE NOTION THAT THE UNITED STATES IS INHERENTLY RACIST OR SEXIST AND THE IDEA THAT QUOTE ANY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE ASKED TO ACCEPT, ACKNOWLEDGE, AFFIRM, OR ASSENT TO A SENSE OF GUILT, COMPLICITY, OR A NEED TO WORK HARDER SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF HIS OR HER RACE OR SEX, END QUOTE.

THE PROPOSAL ALSO WOULD PREVENT FAULT, BLAME, OR BIAS FROM BEING ASSIGNED TO ANY RACE, SEX, OR RELIGION, OR TO ANY MEMBERS THEREOF.

STATE SENATOR WILL BARFOOT, WHO SPONSORED THE BILL, SAID HIS INTENT IS NOT TO STOP THE TEACHING OF DIFFICULT HISTORY, BUT RATHER TO PREVENT STUDENTS FROM EXPERIENCING GUILT OR SHAME IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE OF THEIR BACKGROUND.

STATE SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN MADISON CHALLENGED BARFOOT ASKING IF MORE TIME SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EXAMINE THE BILL AND HEAR MORE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.

>> I THINK THESE ARE CONCEPTS THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT, NUMBER ONE, WE SHOULD HOLD IN A SOCIETY, ADHERE TO, WE CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT TEACH OUR KIDS THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR WORSE THAN ANY OF THE OTHER KIDS BASED ON THEIR RACE, SEX OR RELIGION.

I HAVE REPRESENTATIVE OLIVER HERE, WHO HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THE HOUSE VERSION, COMPANION VERSION OF THIS.

AND I WOULD SAY ALSO THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT THIS PROHIBITS THE TEACHING OF HISTORY.

MY MOTHER WAS A HISTORY TEACHER AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT MY LOVE OF HISTORY.

WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE GOOD, BAD, AND THE UGLY TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE SPAGHETTI WESTERNS.

AND WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE FALLS SOUTHEAST THAT HAVE HAPPENED AND MISTAKES AND BAD THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

THIS BILL DOESN'T DO AWAY WITH THAT.

>> BUT I DO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT ACCORDING TO WHAT I AM READING HERE, WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT YOU CANNOT TEACH HISTORY, AS YOU SAY, THE GOOD, BAD, OR THE UGLY, IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT.

EVEN WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO MONUMENTS.

I TELL PEOPLE, USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH.

BUT TEACH THE WHOLE HISTORY, TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

WHAT'S ON THIS MONUMENT IS ONLY WHAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO BE ON HERE.

DO YOUR RESEARCH AND TEACH THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT WHO THIS PERSON IS AND WHAT THEY DID OR DID NOT DO.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH CONTROVERSY AROUND IT, I WISH WE COULD CARRY IT OVER FOR A WEEK TO MAYBE SIT DOWN AND GET A MEETING OF THE MINDS TO UNDERSTAND.

>> THE BILL PASSED COMMITTEE IN A 6-1 VOTE AND NOW GOES TO THE FULL SENATE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Todd Stacy: JOINING ME NEXT ON THE PROGRAM, STATE SENATOR JABO WAGGONER CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, AGAIN.

>> AS I MENTIONED, YOU ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE.

FOLKS OUT THERE MAY NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

CAN YOU GIVE US THE ROLE OF THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN IS?

>> THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE SETS THE CALENDAR FOR EACH LEGISLATIVE DAY.

WE HAVE A CALENDAR EVERYDAY WE'RE IN SESSION.

IT MAY HAVE TWO BILLS ON THE CALENDAR, IT MAY HAVE 20.

BUT WE DETERMINE WHAT BILLS ON THAT PARTICULAR LEGISLATIVE DAY WILL LOOK LIKE, WHAT BILLS.

WE HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED BILLS IN THE PROCESS IN ONE CATEGORY OR THE OTHER.

BUT WE LOOK AT ALL THE BILLS AND WE DETERMINE WHICH ONES MAY FIT THE CALENDAR THAT DAY.

AS I SAID, WE'VE HAD AS FEW AS ONE AND AS MANY AS 25.

THOSE ARE THE BILLS THAT WILL BE DEBATED ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE THAT PARTICULAR LEGISLATIVE DAY.

>> SO YOU HAVE MEMBERS COMING UP TO YOU EVERYDAY SAYING CAN YOU GET MY BILL ON THE FLOOR OR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE?

>> OH, SURE, I HEAR FROM SENATORS EVERYDAY.

SOME WANT A BILL.

AND SOME WANT NOT TO PUT A BILL UP.

AND I HEAR FROM THE LOBBYING COMMUNITY.

MY PHONE RINGS A LOT.

I GET TEXT MESSAGES, PUT THIS BILL ON OR TAKE THIS BILL OFF.

IT WILL KEEP YOU BUSY DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SEASON.

>> SPEAKING OF BEING BUSY, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN.

YOU HAVE BEEN MOVING QUITE THE PACE AND UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WOULD BE TWO LEGISLATIVE MEETING DAYS A WEEK, TWO DAYS A WEEK WHERE YOU ARE WORKING IN THE CHAMBER, WORKING OFF THE CALENDAR OF BILLS, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH A COMMITTEE DAY IN BETWEEN.

AND YOU ARE IN SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, TOO.

I'VE BEEN HEARING IT'S QUITE A STRAIN ON MEMBERS OF THE BODY.

>> IT HAS.

ESPECIALLY, I MIGHT ADD, IT'S BEEN A STRAIN ON THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I MAKE A CALENDAR ALL THREE DAYS.

WE MEET TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY IS COMMITTEE DAY AND WE MEET THURSDAY.

AND THAT'S MY DAY OF REST, JUST COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

SO, PUTTING A CALENDAR TOGETHER FOR THREE DAYS IN A ROW IS A PRETTY GOOD TASK.

WE'VE WORKED THROUGH IT AND WE'VE MADE IT HAPPEN.

>> Todd Stacy: Y'ALL HAVE EXCITING THINGS GOING ON IN BIRMINGHAM.

I KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED TO BRING THE EFFORT OF THE UNITED STATES FOOTBALL LEAGUE, BRAND NEW, A TEAM TO BIRMINGHAM AND ALSO A SERIES OF GAMES TO BIRMINGHAM.

WHAT'S THAT LIKE FOR THE CITY IN.

>> IT'S BEEN GREAT.

I'VE LIVED IN BIRMINGHAM ALL MY LIFE.

I'VE SEEN SOME GOOD THINGS HAPPEN, BAD THINGS HAPPEN AND SOME UGLY THINGS HAPPEN DURING MY LIFE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN SO POSITIVE, SO EXCITING AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED LIVING IN BIRMINGHAM MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THE U.S. FL IS COMING TO TOWN.

THERE'S GOING TO BE 30 PROFESSIONAL TEAMS AND ALL OF THE GAMES WILL BE PLAYED THE FIRST SEASON IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA AT OUR BRAND NEW PROTECTIVE STADIUM, RIGHT NEXT TO THE CIVIC CENTER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE 32 GAMES PLAYED THIS SPRING.

IT'S A SPRING SEASON.

AND EIGHT OF THE GAMES WILL BE PLAYED AT HISTORIC LEGION FIELD.

ALL TEAMS WILL BE HOUSED IN BIRMINGHAM.

ALL OF THE PLAYERS WILL LIVE HERE DURING THE SEASON.

ALL GAMES WILL BE PLAYED, AT LEGION FIELD.

AND IT'S A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR BIRMINGHAM.

IT'S EXCITING FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

SO, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF EXPOSURE FOR BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA BECAUSE ALL OF THESE GAMES WILL BE TELEVISED ON FOX SUPPORTS AND NBC SPORTS.

SO, TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE, PUBLICITY FOR BIRMINGHAM AND FOR ALABAMA.

THE COMMUNITY IS EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S FIXING TO HAPPEN IN BIRMINGHAM BEGINNING IN APRIL.

>> Todd Stacy: AND ON A SIMILAR NOTE, THE WORLD GAMES ARE STARTING HERE PRETTY SOON IN BIRMINGHAM THIS.

IS AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION COMING TO THE CITY.

SO, REALLY TWO VERY BIG SUPPORTS OPPORTUNITIES, PRETTY CLOSE TOGETHER.

>> IN JULY, THE WORLD GAMES WILL COME TO BIRMINGHAM.

I WAS TALKING TO MR. NICK SELLERS, YESTERDAY.

THEIR GOAL IS TO SELL 600,000 TICKETS TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLDED.

THEY HAVE ALREADY SOLD WELL OF $400,000 AND WELL ON THE WAY FOR MAKING THEIR GOAL AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF TICKETS SOLD.

MULTIPLE COUNTRIES COMING HERE, MULTIPLE ATHLETIC EVENTS WILL BE HERE.

IT'S EXCITING FOR BIRMINGHAM AND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR BIRMINGHAM TO TELL ITS STORY BECAUSE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE IN THE USFL AND IN THE WORLD GAMES.

>> BIRMINGHAM ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, AWAY FROM SPORTS, BIRMINGHAM IS A RESEARCH TIME WITH UAB AND EVERYTHING GOING ON THERE.

I HAD MR. CARPENTER FROM SOUTHERN RESEARCH ON, THE OTHER DAY, TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THEIR PRIORITIES AT BUILDING A NEW CAMPUS, SOUTHERN RESEARCH AND FOCUSING SO MUCH INVESTMENT ON RESEARCH AND A LOT HAPPENING WITH COVID.

I KNOW THERE WERE SOME BUDGET REQUESTS THAT THEY HAVE MADE.

HOW'S THAT LOOKING IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING SOUTHERN RESEARCH THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

>> IT'S LOOKING VERY GOOD.

SOUTHERN RESEARCH WAS FOUNDED IN BIRMINGHAM 75-80 YEARS AGO.

I THINK IT WAS FOUNDED BY MR. THOMAS W. MARTIN WHO FOUNDED THE ALABAMA POWER COMPANY.

AND ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, HE FOUNDED SOUTHERN RESEARCH.

IT DOES RESEARCH, VERY IN-DEPTH RESEARCH FOR COMPANIES, THE GOVERNMENT, AND FROM ALL OVER THE WORLDED.

THERE WAS A VERY HISTORIC, OLD BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS.

IT WAS A REAL ANTIQUE BUILDING, OKAY.

AND THERE'S NOT A NEW RECENTLY BUILT BUILDING ON THAT CAMPUS BUT THEY TORE DOWN WHAT THEY CALLED, THE CASTLE.

AND THERE WAS A LITTLE PUSH BACK IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TEARING DOWN THE CASTLE FROM THE HISTORIC INTERESTS.

BUT IT'S DOWN.

AND THEY ARE TRYING TO RAISE, THINK IT'S $45 MILLION TO HELP BUILD A NEW MODERN BUILDING WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN THAT BUILDING FOR THEM TO FURTHER THEIR RESEARCH CAPABILITIES.

THEY DO A LOT OF RESEARCH FOR THE GOVERNMENT, FOR THE MILITARY, FOR PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND IT'S A REAL TREASURE FOR THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM.

WE NEED TO HELP THEM UPGRADE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEW PLANS UNDER THE NEW LEADERSHIP OF JOSH CARPENTER.

>> Todd Stacy: A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN BIRMINGHAM.

I APPRECIATE YOU COME ON AND SHARING WITH US, ALL OF YOUR VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE ON ALL OF THESE THINGS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> Todd Stacy: AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Todd Stacy: NEXT, I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA DRUMMOND FROM MOBILE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, AND I SEE YOU HAVE HAD TO FILL BIG SHOES AND YOU ARE UP TO THE JOB.

>> THANK YOU.

NOW, YOU ARE FROM MOBILE, HOW WAS MARDI GRAS.

>> MARDI GRAS WAS WONDERFUL AND THINK EVERYBODY GOT COVID RELIEF FROM THAT WITH MARDI GRAS.

AND THE NUMBERS WERE OUTSTANDING.

IT'S A BIG ECONOMIC ENGINE, NOT ONLY FOR MOBILE BUT FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TO BE HAILED AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF MARDI GRAS.

>> EVERYBODY FROM MOBILE MAKES SURE TO MAKE THAT POINT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> EDUCATION TRUST FUND ON THE FLOOR TODAY PASSED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY AND CERTAINLY OVERWHELMINGLY WITH THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

WALK ME THROUGH THE HIGH POINTS OF THIS BUDGET.

>> WELL, THIS IS A VERY, VERY GOOD BUDGET FOR EDUCATION.

IT WAS ABOUT $8.1 BILLION.

SO, WE HAD MONEY THAT WE ACTUALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK ON A NUMBER OF AREAS IN THE EDUCATION ARENA.

THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME, AND THESE ARE MY HIGH PICKS.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE CLASSROOMS.

AND WHEN I SAY THAT, FROM THE 4% PAY RAISES FOR TEACHERS, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS EXTREMELY NEEDED IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

IT HAS BEEN ON THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AGENDA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AS WELL AS THE ONE-TIME BONUS FOR RETIREES, WHICH IS ALL SUPPORT FOR RETIREES IN EDUCATION NOW GET A BONUS.

NOT AS MUCH AS WE WANTED, BUT I AM SO THANKFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAMMER OUT SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE RETIREES.

AND THOSE ARE HIGH POINTS FOR ME, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID, AFTER COVID AND RIGHT NOW.

WE SAW THEM STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

AND THEY HAVE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB TO KEEP THE WHEELS OF EDUCATION GOING IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THOSE WERE TWO HIGH POINTS FOR ME.

AND THEN, THE OTHER ONE WAS, WHEN I SAY, PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

WHEN YOU SAW THE SUPPLIES, THE SUPPLY UNITS GOING UP TO $900 PER TEACHER PER UNIT.

THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE SUPPLIES TO TAKE BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM THAT CAN HELP OUR CHILDREN.

SO, THOSE WERE SOME OF THE HIGH LIGHTS.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER ONES, A BIG AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME ITEM, NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO PRE K. THAT'S A HUGE ITEM.

THE PRE K PROGRAM IS STELLAR.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS BEING REPLICATED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S WORKING.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO, WE HAD MADE 39% TO 40% OF THOSE PRE K CLASSROOMS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT ALL THE WAY, THINK IT'S GOING TO BE OVER 45%.

THAT'S A BIG ONE FOR US.

AND THEN, THE OTHER ONE IS TO BE ABLE TO PUT AUXILLIARY AIDES INTO THE TARGETED CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS HOPEFULLY HELP US MOVE THE MARK TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND OTHER ONE THAT IS SO INTERESTING TO ME.

WE PUT THE MONEY IN THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND AND WE'RE WAITING ON THE BILL.

THAT'S THE ONE TO HELP US TO INCREASE OUR MATH LITERACY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WE'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT MATH, AND THE SCIENCES, AS WELL AS READING ARE THOSE AREAS WHERE OUR CHILDREN NEED TO IMPROVE.

SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE BUDGET AND IN ADDITIONS TO ALL OF THAT, SOME OF THE HOUSECLEANING THINGS THAT I THINK WE DID VERY EFFECTIVELY, WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THERE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF A LOT OF THE DEBT FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA AS IT RELATES TO EDUCATION WHICH IS GOING TO HELP US TO PUT US ON A BETTER FINANCIAL FOOTING FOR THE 23 SCHOOL YEAR.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE BUDGET BECAUSE AS I SAID EARLIER, THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CAN YOU SAY, A NUMBER OF THOSE ITEMS WERE ON THE AGENDA AND I WAS SO ECSTATIC AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT THOSE.

AND I'M GOING TO DO ONE THING OFF.

IT WAS SUPPORTED NON PARTISAN AND THAT'S THE WAY EDUCATION SHOULD BE.

I SERVE ON WAYS AND MEANS, EDUCATION.

AND I, THAT'S BEEN A COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN SO FULFILLING FOR ME, NOT ONLY WHEN CHAIRMAN POOLE, BILL POOLE BUT UNDER DANNY GARRETT, WE WORKED HARD.

AND WE LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF EDUCATION IN ALABAMA.

I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT COVID IN THE BUDGET, YOU ALSO FIND MONEY IN THERE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, FOR OUR CHILDREN WHICH IS A BIG TICKET ITEM.

YOU ARE GOING TO FIND MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO HELP US WITH CYBER SECURITY WHICH I THINK IS VERY MUCH NEEDED IN THIS TIME.

WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, DURING COVID THAT WAS HACKED AND HAD TO SHUT DOWN FOR WEEKS.

THAT'S TAKING AWAY FROM THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.

AND IN THIS ERA OF TECHNOLOGY THIS IS PARAMOUNT.

WE HAVE NEED TO HAVE STRONG AND STABLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT BILL IS GOING TO HELP.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE BILL AND THINK IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR EDUCATION.

>> Todd Stacy: AND WE'LL WATCH AS THE BILL COMES DOWN FROM THE SENATE.

BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE LITERACY ACT.

THERE'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH JUST HOW FAR TO DELAY IT.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS ONE YEAR.

SENATOR SMITHERMAN AND YOU SAID TWO YEARS.

IS THERE A SHOWDOWN LOOMING BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ON THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I APPLAUD THE GOVERNOR AND I APPLAUD SENATOR TERRY COLLINS.

I VOTED THE BILL AND SUPPORTED THE BILL.

AND I DON'T WANT TO DELAY ANYTHING FOR THE CHILDREN.

BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS, COVID.

IT HAS KEPT OUR CHILDREN OUT OF THE CLASSROOMS AND THEY ARE NOT PREPARED RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO SEND THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE NOT PREPARED.

WE PASSED THE BILL LAST YEAR FOR TWO YEARS.

THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.

WE'VE STILL NOT MET THE MARK.

AND DURING THE TIME WHEN THE BILL WAS VETOED, I, IN MY DISTRICT IN MOBILE, I WENT TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO SEE WHAT THE SUMMER READING INITIATIVES WERE.

THEY ARE NOT REACHING ALL OF THE CHILDREN AND A NUMBER OF CHILDREN NOT IN THE CLASSROOMS BECAUSE OF COVID.

SO, DOING IT FOR TWO YEARS, WE FEEL WE CAN BUILD UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE ONLY DELAYING THE RETENTION PIECE, THE LITERACY ACT IS GOING TO GO FORTH.

ONLY THE RETENTION IS BEING HELD.

WE'RE NOT GOING TOLD HEM BACK.

WE'RE BUILDING A STRONG FUTURE AND THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT.

AND THAT'S NOT A MAGIC NUMBER THAT WE PICKED UP.

I ACTUALLY HAVE GONE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRADE LEVEL READING LEVEL INITIATIVES.

I'M LOOKING AT DATA AND THEY ARE NOT READY.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE YEARS AND TWO YEARS.

WE WANTED TO DO A STRONG FOUNDATION.

AN AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE SPONSOR.

I'M NOT THE SPONSOR.

I ONLY CARRIED IN THE HOUSE.

AND I CERTAINLY SPANISH FORT SENATOR SMITHERMAN'S TWO YEAR DELAY.

>> AND I KNOW YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF EDUCATION ISSUES.

REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMEDONED -- DRUMMOND, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME AND I PLAUD YOU BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

TIM: WORLD WAR II TUSKEEGEE AIR MEN AND BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONLY TRAINING FACILITY FOR BLACK PILOTS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR WORLD WAR II, POTENTIAL PILOTS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

IT WAS THE 99TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, SPRING OF 194 '3 AND FLEW OVER ITALY.

AND THE 332ND FIGHTER GROUP WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BOMBER MISSION AND THEY HAD DISTINCTIVELY RED TAILS ON THE PLANES AND EARNED THE NAME RED TAILS OF THE AND THEY MANDATED THE INTEGRATION OF ALL MILITARY SERVICES AND IT WAS FOR 2007, PRESIDENT BUSH AWARDED THEM A CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 ON APT FOR MORE LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE.

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