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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO RECONVENE IN THE CAPITAL CITY TOMORROW FOR THE 21ST DAY OF THE 30-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

COUNTING TOMORROW, THEY HAVE TEN MEETING DAYS LEFT THIS SESSION.

IN CASE YOU'RE CURIOUS OR NEED TO PLAN, LET'S LOOK AT THE LIKELY SCENARIOS.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, THE LEGISLATURE HAS 105 CALENDAR DAYS TO MEET FOR 30 LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

THEN TEN TO GO, THE HOUSE AND SENATE SHOULD SEE A MIX OF TWO AND THREE DAY WEEKS THROUGH THE END OF MAY AND INTO JUNE.

MOST YEARS, LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIPS DECIDES TO TAKE A TEN DAY BREAK BETWEEN THE SECOND TO LAST AND LAST DAY OF SESSION IN ORDER TO AVOID WHAT'S KNOWN AS A POCKET VETO.

THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS THE GOVERNOR TEN DAYS TO VETO OR AMEND LEGISLATION, INCLUDING AFTER THE SESSION ADJOURNS.

SO IF THE LEGISLATURE WAITS UNTIL THE LAST DAY TO PASS IMPORTANT BILLS, SHE COULD VETO THEM AND THEY'D HAVE NO RECOURSE.

WITH THE TEN DAY WINDOW, THEY GAIN THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE ANY POTENTIAL VETOS ON THAT LAST DAY OF SESSION.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY YEAR, BUT IT DOES MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE CHOSE THAT OPTION, IT WOULD LIKELY MEAN THAT MONDAY, JUNE 19 IS THE LAST DAY OF THE SESSION.

AS IT HAPPENS, THAT IS THE 105TH DAY SINCE THE SESSION BEGAN ON MARCH 7, SO IN ALL LIKELIHOOD WE ARE GOING THE FULL LENGTH THIS YEAR.

HOPE YOU CAN PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

THE LEGISLATURE'S PACE WILL BE A KEY FACTOR IN WHAT BILLS MOVE AND WHICH DON'T DOWN THE STRETCH.

IN THE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS HAVE USED THEIR FLOOR TIME AND PROCEDURAL TOOLS TO SLOW DOWN THE PACE AT WHICH LEGISLATION FLOWS, LEADING TO SOME TENSE MOMENTS.

THE SENATE TYPICALLY MOVES THROUGH BILLS AT A MUCH SPEEDIER CLIP, BUT THAT FASTER PACE BECAME AN ISSUE LAST WEEK AS SOME SENATORS COMPLAINED THAT THE LEGISLATION BEFORE THE BODY WASN'T BEING FULLY EXPLAINED.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED SAID THAT THE CHAMBER WILL BE MUCH MORE DELIBERATIVE DOWN THE STRETCH TO AVOID CONFUSION.

>> 1 OF MY FAVORITE WORDS AS A BUSINESSMAN AND ALSO AS A LEGISLATOR IS "INTENTIONAL."

AND I THINK THAT WORD HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE IT JUST MEANS YOU'RE RECOGNIZING THE CONTEXT OF WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHY YOU'RE DOING IT AND YOU HAVE A VERY FOCUSED ATTITUDE OF DOING IT CORRECTLY.

AND SO WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF INSTANCES AS WE GET YOU ALL -- WE GET MOVING FAST IN THE SESSION 20 WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING.

MANY TIMES WE'RE GOING SO QUICKLY WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR STAFFS FROM LSA AND ALL OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.

ISSUES AND MINDS ARE CHANGING QUICKLY.

SO I JUST FEEL LIKE AS WE MOVE ON TO THE LATTER PART OF THE SESSION WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL AND VERY DELIBERATE TO THIS POINT IN THE BODY DEALING WITH SIGNIFICANT ISSUES.

WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SLOW DOWN NOT FOR THE SAKE OF BEING SLOW BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE EXPLAINED APPROPRIATELY.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF SENATORS ON BOTH THE MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY HAVE MADE REQUESTS OF ME TO SAY I'M TRYING TO KEEP UP BUT I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE DOING THERE AND CAN WE ASK EVERYONE TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> EVER SINCE THE SENATE'S PASSAGE OF THE $2.8 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THERE HAS BEEN SOME GRUMBLING ABOUT THE SENATE'S CHANGES TO THE BILL, ESPECIALLY AS IT IMPACTS PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH ALABAMA.

IN PARTICULAR, THE REMOVAL OF A NEW SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE HIGH SCHOOL IN DEMOPOLIS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SOME CRITICISM.

HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER SAID THE HOUSE IS GOING TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE BILL AND SEE WHAT CHANGES ITS MEMBERS WANT TO MAKE.

HE SAID IT'S PART OF A LARGER CONVERSATION ON IMPROVING EDUCATION IN ALABAMA.

>> TODAY WAS EDUCATION TODAY.

AS YOU HAVE SEEN WE MOVED SEVERAL PRO-CHOICE BILLS AND THAT'S BEEN A THEME OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE.

AND THAT'S ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES IS TRYING TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THE STATE AND THAT'S WHY I SET UP AN EDUCATION DAY AND WILL CONTINUE DOWN THAT LINE.

THE BUDGETS WILL BE -- I THINK WE'RE REAL CLOSE ON THEM.

I THINK REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT HAS WORKED CLOSE WITH SENATOR ORR AND I THINK THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT AND PROBABLY A FEW CHANGES BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT THOSE ARE AND MOVE FORWARD.

MY PREFERENCE ON THE DEMOPOLIS SCHOOLS WOULD BE THAT WE COULD DO A FEASABILITY STUDY YOU KNOW, AND JUST SEE IF THERE'S A CHANCE IT'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S MY BIGGEST THING.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE AN APPETITE FOR THE KIDS ACROSS STATE THAT'S WILLING TO GO THERE AND DURING A FEASIBILITY STUDY IS A CONSERVATIVE THING TO DO.

>> FOR YOUR PLANNING, THE HOUSE CONVENES AT 1:00 P.M. AND THE SENATE COMES IN AT 3:00.

COMING UP NEXT, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL TO TALK ABOUT NATIONAL POLICE WEEK, HIS RECENT TRIP TO THE BORDER AND OTHER ISSUES.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.B TO.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS ALABAMA ATTORNEY, STEVE MARSHALL.

MR.

MARSHAL, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO BE BACK.

THANK YOU.

>> WELL, IT'S NATIONAL POLICE WEEK.

AND AS THE STATE'S TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON JUST TO MARK THE OCCASION AND ALSO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT POLICE AND NOW IT'S GOING.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THEY WORK PRETTY DANGEROUS JOBS.

MAYBE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS THAN IN YEARS PAST.

IS THAT YOUR OBSERVATION?

>> I THINK CLEARLY SO.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FACTORS.

NUMBER BUN IF YOU HOOK IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IT'S SOME OF THE MOST VIOLENT PERIODS WE HAVE SEEN AS FAR AS HALL OF FAME SIDE RATES ASSAULTS, SEXUAL FENCES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME.

ALSO WE HAVE A INITIATED NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND I THINK BOTH OF THOSE COMING TOGETHER MAKE IT VERY PROBLEM ATTIC AND THE OTHER THING PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT ENOUGH IS DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN OBVIOUSLY OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE ON THE FRONT LINE, SO IS LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AS AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT LIVES THAT WERE LOST IN THE LINE OF DUTY, MUCH OF THAT WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVID-19.

>> WE TALK IN THE STATEHOUSE A LOT ABOUT THIS -- THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND YOU AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AS WELL, WITH THEY'RE JUST NOW STARTING TO GET BACK THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

BUT ONE OF THE BIG PIECES OF CONVERSATION IS THAT IS ALSO A BIG FACTORS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDING TO A SITUATION WHERE IF SOMEBODY IS IN CRISES THAT COULD LEAD TO ANOTHER DANGEROUS FACTOR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS YEAR ALONE, IN SHELBY COUNTY, TWO SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES RESPONDING TO A WELFARE CHECK, AND BOTH OF THEM WERE SHOT AS A RESULT OF WHAT THEY DID THAT DAY.

NOTHING TO DO WITH AN OPTION CRIME IN THAT PARTICULAR HOME BUT SOMEBODY WHO OBVIOUSLY HAD THEIR OWN STRUGGLES.

UNFORTUNATELY BOTH OF THOSE DEPUTIES LIVED BUST AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

IT'S WHY TO SOME EXTENT A LOT OF THE DEFUND THE POLICE ARGUMENTS THAT PEOPLE SAID LET'S PUT A SOCIAL WORKER IN THIS TO DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES.

THEIR SKILL SET AND EXPERTISE IS ESSENTIAL.

BUT THEY'RE NOT DINED DESIGNED TO BE HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY I THINK WE HAVE SEEN IN ALABAMA'S HISTORY TOO MANY TIMES THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT BECOMES TO PROVIDE SOMEBODY WITH HEALTH CARE.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT OUGHT TO BE DESIGNED.

BUT IN AREAS OF ADDICTION AND OTHER AREAS OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AT LEAST THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS THEM HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO REFERRALS THAT HAS GOTTEN SOMEBODY TREATMENT AND HELP.

>> THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, THE 988 VERSUS 911 SITUATION WHICH IS BIG CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO GET TO YOUR BORDER TRIP.

I SPOKE WITH SENATOR BELL, SPOKE WITH SENATOR REED BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE TRIP WITH YOU DOWN AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

YOU ALSO HAD DISTRICT ATTORNEY QUESTIONS AND EVERYTHING BUT THESE ARE ALABAMA OFFICIALS GOING TO THE MEXICAN BORDER.

BUT WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE SITUATION THAT APPLIES TO YOUR WORK HERE?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

NUMBER 1 IN MY ROLE AS AG IT'S THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT ME AND SEVERAL COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE DOING TO FIGHT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AROUND IMMIGRATION POLICY.

YOU SAW RECENTLY EVEN AT THE END OF TITLE 42 GOING AWAY THAT ONE OF THE ACTIONS WAS MY COLLEAGUE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHO WAS ABLE TO PUT A HOLD ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE POLICY AFTER TITLE 42 IN A WAY IS THEN CROWDED PORTS OF ENTRY WHERE THE DETENTION CENTERS ARE ALREADY THREE TIMES CAPACITY.

THE DESIGN AND THE MEMO FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS TO RELEASE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND SAY WE WILL SEND YOU A LETTER IN THE MAIL AND TELL YOU WHEN THE COURT DATE IS.

THAT'S COMPLETELY INSANE AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE LAW.

SO WE HAVE SEEN VARIOUS EVICT RELEASE AND ATTACKED THE EFFORTS TO MODIFY THE PAROLE SYSTEM.

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE APP BEING USED.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE JUMPING ON A PLANE IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES SAYING THEY HAVE SPONSORS COMING IN AND HOPEFULLY GOING TO SHOW UP POUR THEIR IMMIGRATION HEARING TO DETERMINE THEIR ASYLUM CLAIM, FOR EXCEEDING THE AUTHORITY CONGRESS GAVE THEM.

NUMBER 1 IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO THE AUTHORITIES, PARTICULARLY IN TEXAS ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE TO KNOW EMOF THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE ARE HELPFUL.

BEYOND THAT, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN STATUTE THAT COULD BUTTRESS AND SUPPORT WHAT IS ALREADY GOING ON AT THE BORER ITSELF OF.

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR TEXAS.

300,000 CONTACTS WITH THOSE COMING ACROSS LEGALLY TAKING MEASURES WITH MONEY AND RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS OTHERWISE THAT BORDER PATROL COULD DO BUT THEY'RE OVERMATCHED BUT TO FIND VEHICLES UNDER THE LAW THAT ARE NOT PREEMPTED BUT ALSO CAN PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT HERE.

>> WELL, I GUESS IT'S FRUSTRATING TO SEE THE PICTURES.

IT'S FRUSTRATING TO SEE ALL OF THE CROWDING AT THE BORDER AND WRONGS OF PEOPLE COMING AND YOU WONDER ABOUT THE YEARS OF FAILED IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

I THINK BACK TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHEN WE HAD ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS AND THEY WENT TOUGH, ZERO TOLERANCE.

AND IT KIND OF WORKED.

IT CERTAINLY SEEMED TO SLOW DOWN THE INFLUX, THE MAGNET, IF YOU WILL, BUT YOU ALSO WILL SOME PRETTY TOUGH IMAGES THAT I THINK SO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF OF SELF SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO WITH THIS POLICY.

MY QUESTION IS DO WE HAVE THE STOMACH TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE OUR BORDER?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO AUTHORIZE THOSE FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHO HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS TO DO IT.

AND CLEARLY THAT'S NOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

IS THE EFFORT TO IS 20 MOTORCYCLES THE MAKE THE PAPER PROCESSORS MORE THAN THE ACTIVE ENFORCEMENT WING THEY HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS A IS OBVIOUS FROM BEING DOWN THERE IS THE REFORMED OF THE MEXICAN POLICY HAD MERIT IN BEING ABLE TO SHOW DOWN THOSE COMING TO MAKE THOSE ASYLUM CLAIMS.

WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN THE BORED AND TELLING THEM YOU CAN'T WORK WHILE HERE.

ULTIMATELY TRUSTING THEM TO SHOW UP AT SOME IMMIGRATION HEARING AT SOME POINT IN TIME THAT COULD BE UP TO TWO YEARS AGO DOWN THE ROAD.

THERE'S NO BORDER CONTROL AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

AND SO I DO THINK WE SAW THE HOUSE ACT LATE LAST WEEK WITH A BORDER SECURITY MEASURE THAT MADE SENSE ON A LOT OF FRONTS.

WE WILL SEE WHETHER OR NOT THIS ADMINISTRATION FEELS LIKE THAT IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO CONSIDER.

I HEAR THAT'S KIND OF DEAD ON ARRIVAL ALREADY.

BUT THEY CAN'T POINT TO THE HOUSE AND SAY THEY HAVEN'T ACTED.

THEY CLEARLY HAVE PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT IS BASED ON MUCH OF WHAT WE HEARD IN THE BORDER ITSELF AND GIVE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO STEM THE TIDE OF WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY BEEN AN DECREASE INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING IN.

AND THE PORTS OF ENTRY DON'T INCLUDE ANYBODY FROM MEXICO.

ALL OTHER COUNTRIES ARE COMING IN THAT PORTS OF ENTRY.

IT IS MEXICAN NATIONALS THAT ARE CROSSING ILLEGALLY.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE TEXAS IS TAKING ON A HUGE LOAD AND NOT ONLY BEING ABLE TO SECURE SOME OF THOSE OPEN AREAS BUT ALSO APPREHENDING AND PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS THEY'RE ABLE TO DETAIN BACK TO BORDER PATROL ACROSS THE BORDER.

>> IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE AND POLITICALLY FRAUGHT.

DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A POLITICAL INCENTIVE ON BOTH SIDES?

THAT'S THE TOUGH PART.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WITH THEIR DIFFERENT SETS OF POLITICAL INCENTIVES HAVING ENOUGH TO SAY OKAY, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

>> CLEARLY THERE NEEDS TO BE THE POLITICAL WILL TO DEAL WITH IT.

WHAT WE HAVE HANDLED ON THE LITIGATION SIDE REALLY AS A RESULT OF A DIVIDED CONGRESS HAT HAS NOT ACTED AND IT'S WHY YOU SEE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THROUGH A MEMO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME ADDRESS AND IMPLEMENT THE DACA POLICEMAN WHICH AUDIT TO BE INCORPORATED IN LAW IF THAT'S GOING TO BE THE POLICY OF OUR COUNTRY NOT BEING A BRAT SIGNING A LAW TO DO IT.

IT'S WHY WHAT WE HAVE SEEN BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN DONE BY EXECUTIVE FIAT INSTEAD OF CONGRESS.

THEY NEED TO DECIDE WHAT THE POLICY IS.

>> WELT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

BUT I WANT TO MOVE ON TO OTHER ISSUES PARTICULARLY THOSE GOING ON IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

MULTIPLE BILLS ARE DEALING WITH CRIME.

THERE'S RETAIL THEFT.

ALSO THIS GANG VIOLENCE BILL, A LITTLE MORE CONTROVERSIAL AND HAS HAD PUSH BACK.

HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS LEGISLATION AND CUFF EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO ATTACK.

>> WE'RE SPEARHEADING THE THAT LEGISLATION.

ALABAMA IS IN THE MINORITY OF STATES THAT DOESN'T HAVE A BILL ON THE BOOKS THAT ALLOWS US TO DEAL WITH GANG VIOLENCE.

AND IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO DO TWO THINGS.

NUMBER 1, IT SAYS IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A MEMBER OF A GANG, NOTHING OUTLAWING BEING PART OF A GROUP.

BY GANG WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BLOODS AND CRIPS AND MX13.

IT'S NOT NATIONAL GANGS BUT IT'S THREE OR MORE COMING TOGETHER FOR BAD REASONS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN A GANG AND COMMIT A CRIME YOUR PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE ENHANCED.

I HEARD OF THE STATEMENTS AROUND OF THE POLICE CHIEF OF BIRMINGHAM TALKING TO MAYORS AROUND THE STATE AND THEY SPEAK TO THE DRIVER OF A LOT OF VIOLENCE THEY'RE SEEING IS GANG SPECIFIC.

IT'S THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING TOGETHER FORE TERRITORY REASONS FOR OTHER REASONS TO BE ABLE TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE GANG COMMITTING THESE RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN MANY CASES.

SO LET'S GIVE PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT A CHANCE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE PART OF A GANG ENGAGED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND YOU HAVE USED A GUN TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SERVE A CERTAIN MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME -- WHETHER IT'S JUST POSSESSING THE GUN DURING THE COMMISSION OF THAT OFFENSE OR IF YOU BRANDISH OR OBVIOUS THAT GUN IT'S GOING TO BE A LENGTHENED PERIOD OF TIME.

THAT'S DESIGNED TO DO TWO THINGS.

IT WILL PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE PUNISHMENT FOR SOMEONE INVOLVED IN THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY.

BUT IT'S DESIGNED TO DETER SOMEBODY FROM ENTERING A GAME TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO ENGAGE IN THOSE GANG CRIMES DO IT WITHOUT A FIREARM.

HOPEFULLY WE CHANGE MINDS AND CONVINCE PEOPLE NOT TO BE A PART OF IT BUT WE THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR US, PARTICULAR LIFT WHEN YOU SEE CONTINUED AND ONGOING HIGH RATES OF VITAL CRIME IN OUR STATED.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION.

WE SEE IT HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

IT'S A FRUSTRATING PROBLEM.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST SAY THIS LAW IS ENACTED AND THEN PROSECUTORS GOING TO WORK AND MAYBE THE 1ST COUPLE OF TIMES THAT -- YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY GETS PICKED UP AND THESE LAWS ARE PUT IN PLACE AND ACTUALLY UTILIZED, DOES WORD GET AROUND THAT, WELL, OUR BUDDIES, YOU KNOW, LOCKED UP WITH ACTUALLY A STRICTER SENTENCE, A LONGER SENTENCE THAN IT USED TO BE?

>> THAT'S CLEARLY THE HOPE, THAT WE'RE SENDING THAT DIRECT MESSAGE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE INTENTIONAL DECISION TO BE A PART OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF THIS TYPE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND GOING IN THE PUNISHMENT ITSELF IS GOING TO BE MORE SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I OF I BELIEVE BUT FEDERAL GUN LAWS HAVE BEEN SO EFFECTIVE WHEN THEY CREATED MANDATORY MINIMUMS FOR THOSE NOT ENTITLED TO POSSESS A FIREARM.

IT BECAME AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT AND ALSO AN EFFECTIVE TOOL TO TAKE VIOLENT PEOPLE OFF THE STREET.

WE SAW THAT WHEN YOU SPOKE ABOUT GENERAL SESSIONS.

CAN YOU AGREE HIS TIME WE HAD GREAT COLLABORATION WITH OUR FEDERAL U.S.

ATTORNEYS AND DID REALLY GOOD THINGS.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CREATE A SIMILAR MECHANISM HERE IN ALABAMA AND I THINK HAVE SIMILAR RESULTS.

>> YOU WERE RECENTLY INVOLVED IN IN THE PROSECUTION OF A MURDER YOURSELF.

DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GOES TO A LOCAL CASE BUT THIS IS A SPECIAL CASE.

THIS WAS A COLD CASE FROM DOWN IN OZARK; RIGHT?

>> IT WAS.

>> TALK ABOUT THIS WHY YOU FELT IT NECESSARY TO PERSONALLY GET INVOLVED.

>> THAT'S THE WORLD I COME FROM, WHEN PEOPLE ASK YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR A ARE LIVING.

I'M A PROSECUTOR.

IT'S HOW I'M WIRED AND WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

WHEN THE LEAD PROSECUTOR IN THAT CASE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AS A RESULT OF BIKE RECOLLECT I GOT A CALLED AND THE D.A.

'S OFFICE AND ASKED IF WE COULD DO IT OURSELVES.

AS ATTORNEY, I NEED TO MAKES SURE THAT I ACCEPTED THAT MESSAGE NOT ONLY TO THE STATE BUT TO MY "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT I'M GOING TO BE INVOLVED AND ACTIVE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING ALSO.

THIS WAS ALSO A UNIQUE CASE WHERE FOR THE 1ST TIME I'M AWARE GENEALOGY DNA ABOUT THE SAME TIME LEAD FOR US AND ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL THAT NOW HAS BEEN CONVICTED.

BUT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO GET JUSTICE FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS WHO WERE TAKEN FAR TOO YOUNG.

THEY WERE 17 YEARS OLD IN 1999 WHEN TRACY AND J.B.

WERE TAKEN FROM US AND I'M PROUD TO SAY AS A RESULT OF WHAT THE JURY DID INTEREST IN DALE COUNTY THOSE FAMILIES NOW HAVE US.

>> IS IT DIFFERENT TO PUT THE PROSECUTOR'S HAT BACK ON AND A DIFFERENT SET OF SKILLS AS YOU SEE EVERY DAY?

I REALIZE YOU COME FROM THE BACKGROUND.

>> YEAH.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND REVIEW THE RULES OF EVIDENCE AGAIN; RIGHT?

THAT WAS PART OF IT.

BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT WHEN I SORT OF THING OF WHAT SKILLS I HAVE, THE TALENTS THAT GOD GAVE ME, THE ABILITY TO BE IN THAT COURTROOM IS REALLY WHERE I WAS BORN TO BE.

IN.

RESPECTS.

SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH A TREMENDOUS TEAM -- NOT JUST ME -- I HAD A GREAT TEAMMATE FROM I MY OFFICE, JIMMY THOMAS AND EMMET MASSEY WHO WORKS IN DALE COUNTY COLLECTIVELY REALLY PLEASED WITH WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.

I DON'T MIND TELLING YOU IT WAS NICE TO GET BACK AND DO IT.

IT HAD BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE I TRIED A CASE.

IT'S NOT COMPLETELY LIKE RIDING A BIKE BUT AT THE SAME TIME I HOPE I DID THAT COMMUNITY PROUD BY THE CONVICTION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN.

>> A LITTLE TIME LEFT AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE ESG ISSUE, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE.

YOU TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS THAT NATIONALLY IT'S SOMETHING CONGRESS SHOULD TAKE UP AND GET INTO.

NOW THERE'S A STATE BILL.

THERE'S A STATE -- IN THE STATE SENATE FROM SENATOR DAN ROBERTS DEALING WITH ESG.

THEY HAD IT IN COMMITTEE AND SCALED IT BACKS BECAUSE THERE WERE CONCERNS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ABOUT FREE SPEECH RIGHTS AND THEIR ABILITIES TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.

WHERE IS THAT ISSUE?

ARE YOU TRACKING THIS AT ALL?

>> CLEARLY SO.

AND YES, ESG IS A FUND LEDGELY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I WENT TO CONGRESS LAST WEEK AND TESTIFIED THERE.

IT'S A BATTLE ALLOWING THE MARKET TO BE ABLE TO WORK BUT ALSO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CONCENTRATION OF RESOURCES AND WEALTH THAT DICTATES POLICY ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND THE REALITY IS THE S OF ESG MOVEMENT IS DESIGNED TO DO TWO THINGS: CREATE A GLOBAL ENERGY POLICY; AS WELL AS CREATE PREFERRED SOCIETAL VALUES, NEITHER OF WHICH ARE THE ROLE OF ASSET MANAGERS.

THAT'S THE ROLE OF CONGRATULATIONS AND OUR STATE LEGISLATORS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS A STATE THAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE CLEARLY TARGETED IN THIS AREA.

AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CREATE STATE PROTECTIONS FOR THEM.

IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE AND I GRANT YOU THAT.

BUT IT'S ONE THAT I THINK IS APPROPRIATE FOR STATE POLICY MAKERS.

1ST WE HAVE MAKE SURE THAT WE, THE ISSUE WELL AND WE'RE TARGETING THE WORK WE'RE DOING BY THE AFFECTED INDUSTRIES IN OUR STATE.

>> THAT WAS A LONG HEARING.

THEY EVENTUALLY ADVANCED THE BILL.

BUT, YEAH, YOU JUST HEARD THE TWO NOTIONS BUMPING AGAINST EACH OTHER THAT, YEAH, THE DESIRE TO PREVENT WAS CLEARLY OVERREACH AND SOME OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITHOUT ALSO PRESENTING, YOU KNOW, COMING TOO FAR BACKS THE OTHER WAY, YOU KNOW, OVERCORRECTING WITH A LAW ON THE BOOKS THAT MIGHT AFFECT COURSE CORPORATIONS.

>> WHEN PEOPLE TALKS THE FREE MARKET ITSELF, FREE MARKET IS NOT WELL OF WHEN THOSE WITH ACCESS TO WEALTH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BLACK ROCKS VANGUARD, THE STATE STREETS OF THE WORLD, WITH COLLECTIVELY MORE ASSETS THAN THE UNITED STATES GDP DICTATING TO CORPORATIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES HOW IT IS THEY WILL OPERATE AND POLICIES THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO IMP MERCHANT.

THAT'S NOT THE MARKET WORKING.

THAT'S CONCENTRATED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS VERY SMALL IN NUMBER THAT ARE CONTROLLING THE POLICIES OF.

CORPORATIONS IN OUR STATE.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AGAIN THAT WE'RE ALLOWING THE MARKET TO WORK.

LOOK RIGHT NOW HAT BUD LIGHT.

THAT'S GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE MARKET IS WORKING.

THE PUBLIC'S RESPONSE TO THAT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.

>> BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE A LAW.

>> DIDN'T TAKE A LAW TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

YET WE KNOW AS A RESULT OF THESE ALLIANCES AND THERE ARE ROUGHLY 11 ALLIANCES CREATED WHEN THE UNITED STATES WITHDREW FROM THE PARIS ACCORDING THEIR ADDICTION THROUGH THE ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND THEIR INTEREST IN THE COMPANIES WHERE THEY HAVE ASSETS DICTATING POLICY THAT WAY.

NOT A CORPORATION ITSELF MAKING THAT INDEPENDENT DECISION.

AND ALSO IT'S LOOKING AT -- THERE'S A HUGE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ENERGY TRANSFORM MAGAZINE, ABOUT HOW IT IS THAT WE GENERATE POWER IN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE'S BEEN TWO OTHER SORT OF HISTORIC -- NOT BY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES BUT BY TECHNOLOGY AND BY THE ECONOMICS OF THE TIME.

THAT'S THE MARKET WORKING AND THAT'S ANOTHER THINGS THAT I THINK WE GO LOOK AT.

>> ATTORNEY, STEVE MARSHALL.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NOT GOING TO TELL AT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM I'M TODD STACEY.