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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

ALABAMA HAS HIT A NEW RECORD LOW FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE'S JOBLESS RATE FOR APRIL WAS 2.8%, DOWN FROM 2.9% IN MARCH AND DOWN FROM 3.6% THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

WAGES ARE ALSO UP MORE THAN $21 A WEEK FROM LAST YEAR.

>>> ALABAMA'S PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN $3 BILLION IN FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF SINCE 2020.

NOW, A NEW WEBSITE IS TRACKING HOW EACH SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL SPEND THAT MONEY.

THE A PLUS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP THIS WEEK LAUNCHED THE DETAILED MONEY TRACKER WHERE ANYONE CAN EASILY SORT THROUGH HOW ALL THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE ARE SPENDING RELIEF MONEY.

THE SITE ALSO CONTAINS AN “ADVOCATE TOOLKIT” WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN SPEND FUNDS EFFECTIVELY.

YOU CAN ACCESS THE SITE AT APLUSALA.COM.

>>> A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF BABY FORMULA CONTINUED THIS WEEK.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS IS ADVISING PARENTS IN NEED OF FORMULA TO TALK TO THEIR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES.

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE PRODUCT THEY ARE USED TO FINDING.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING.

I THINK IT IS RIGHT TO TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN OF WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD.

IN ALABAMA OUR PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES NUTRITION FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE HAS A CONTRACT WITH MEAD JOHNSON, WHICH IS NOT THE FACTORY THAT SHUT DOWN.

THAT WAS AN ABBOTT FACTORY.

SOME STATES ARE ABBOTT STATES AND OTHERS, LIKE ALABAMA, THOSE STATES THAT CONTRACT WITH ABBOTT ARE SEEING BIG SHORTAGES IN THEIR WIC PROGRAMS BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT AN HOUR WIC PROGRAM.

ALSO, MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING FORMULA AREN'T IN OUR WIC FORMULA.

THEY ARE PEOPLE IN THE PRIVATE WORLD TRYING TO TRACK DOWN FORMULA.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO IS TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

PLEASE DON'T MAKE YOUR OWN FORMULA OR WATER IT DOWN TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER.

DON'T BUY THINGS ON THE BLACK MARKET IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BABY.

>>MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR. HARRIS LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE LEGISLATURE IN RECENT YEARS HAVE PASSED LAWS AIMED AT IMPROVING ALABAMA'S LAGGING MATH AND READING SCORES IN LOWER GRADES.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH VISITED KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS TO SEE HOW THESE LAWS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.

>> IT'S THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR BUT AT THIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE BILL FOR TEACHING?

AND THE ZEAL FOR LEARNING -- >> JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL, MAY, JUNE.

>> HAS NOT FADED.

>> AND THEY ARE -- >> THEIR PRINCIPAL SAID DEVELOPING ENTHUSIASM IS VITAL TO LEARNING, ESPECIALLY IN KINDERGARTEN.

>> IN KINDERGARTEN, CHILDREN START TO HAVE A LOVE FOR SCHOOL, BUT JUST CREATING THAT ATMOSPHERE WHERE THEY ENJOY COMING TO SCHOOL AND LOVE BEING AROUND THEIR TEACHER AND LOVE LEARNING.

>> CREATING THIS LOVE OF LEARNING EARLY IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT SAYS STUDENTS NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE WILL HAVE TO REPEAT THIRD GRADE.

>> MY DATA IS SHOWING THAT AT LEAST 90% OF MY KINDERGARTENERS GOING INTO FIRST GRADE ARE READERS.

>> CAN MAKE A JOKE.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> I STARTED IN HIGH SCHOOL MATH AND THEY COULDN'T READ AT ALL AND THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN TO READ IS KINDERGARTEN.

>> THIS SCHOOL HAS ONE OF THE HIGH TEST GRADE POINT AVERAGES.

>> WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND AS THEY PROGRESS I MAKE IT HARDER AND HARDER.

>> SHE SHARES HOW HER STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY HIT THEIR MATH TARGETS.

>> THEY LOVE TO BE ENGAGED AND GET OUT OF THEIR SEATS AND THOUGH YOU WHAT THEY KNOW ♪ I CAN COUNT TO 100 ♪ >> SHE USES A POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT A TOOL.

>> KISS YOUR BRAIN.

>> KISSING THEIR BRAIN MAKES THEM FEEL THEY ACCOMPLISHED IT.

THEY ARE EXCITE LIKE YES, I DID IT.

>> HOW ARE THEY CELEBRATING THE END OF THE YEAR, THE SAME WAY BIG KIDS CELEBRATE THEIR END OF ACADEMIC CAREER WITH A GRADUATION.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> IT'S NO SECRET THAT GAS PRICES ARE AT RECORD HIGHS.

AS "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS, MOST EVERYONE IS FEELING THE PAIN AT THE PUMP.

>> IT'S THE TIME OF THE YEAR, TRY TO RELAX FROM WORK, BUT GET READY WITH PAYING FOR A FULL TANK OF GAS.

>> HIGH PRICES ARE A PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT JUST TRAVEL BUT THE COST OF EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

CARS, HOUSING, GROCERIES, YOU NAME IT.

IT'S GONE UP QUITE A BIT.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING, EXCEPT OUR PAYCHECKS HAVE GONE UP.

>> KEEPING A EYE ON RISING GAS PRICES IS AAA OF ALABAMA.

>> FOR ALABAMA, THIS WEEK WE SET A NEW RECORD HIGH EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.

WE ARE STILL A LITTLE WAYS AWAY FROM MEMORIAL DAY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST DEMAND POINTS OF THE YEAR, WHICH MEANS IT IS USUALLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRICE POINTS OF THE YEAR.

WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE PRICES GET HIGHER BEFORE THEY COME BACK DOWN.

>> THE AVERAGE HAS HIT THE $4 MARK IN ALL 50 STATES, NOT THE NEWS THE CONSUMERS WANT TO HEAR WITH THE START OF SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON A FEW DAYS AWAY.

CONSUMERS ARE HAVING TO MAKE CHOICES IN REGARD TO SPENDING WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, UTILITIES AND GASOLINE.

CONSUMERS CAN HELP THEMSELVES BY CONSERVING GAS.

ANOTHER TIP, SHOP AROUND FOR LOW GAS PRICES.

>> IF WE SHOP AROUND IT GENERATES COMPETITION AND THE STATIONS WILL HAVE TO LOWER PRICES.

THAT PUTS DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON OUR GAS PRICES, AS WELL.

>> INGRAM SAID PAIN AT THE PUMP WILL TEST NERVES BUT IT'S NOT PERMANENT.

>> IT MAY BE A WHILE BEFORE THEY GO DOWN BUT THEY WILL AT SOME POINT.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY.

THIS YEAR, ALABAMA IS ATTEMPTING TO SECURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTE BY USING STATE SUPPLIED COMPUTERS IN ALL COUNTIES TO EXCLUSIVELY REPORT AND TRANSMIT ELECTION RESULTS.

SOS JOHN MERRILL SAID HE DOESN'T EXPECT REPORTING DELAYS.

HE SHADE PEOPLE CAN EXPECT UNOFFICIAL RESULTS TO BE REPORTED ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE, AS USUAL.

>> BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS INTRODUCED NATIONALLY AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD A VULNERABILITY EXPOSED IN ALABAMA BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EACH OF OUR PROBATE JUDGES IN THE 67 COUNTIES ARE USING A SECURED, HARD DRIVE THAT WILL TRANSMIT THE DATA TO US THAT'S NEVER BEEN USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE EXCEPT FOR ELECTION NIGHT REPORTING.

SO, WE SPENT 247,000 TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THOSE PURCHASES WERE MADE AND THAT THOSE COMPUTERS ARE PLACED IN THE 67 COUNTIES, IN THE 68 JURISDICTIONS, SO THERE'S NO EXCUSE NOT TO USE A SECURE, TECHNICAL EXPERT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH SECRETY MERRILL LATER IN THE SHOW.

IT MAY NOT BE A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, BUT MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE WHEN THE RANGE OF ALABAMA CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICES ARE ON THE BALLOT.

PLUS, THIS YEAR WE HAVE A MAJOR RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE TO REPLACE THE RETIRING RICHARD SHELBY.

LET'S START THERE AND GO DOWN THE BALLOT TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT THE POLLS TUESDAY.

FIRST ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WE HAVE WILL BOYD, BRAUDAN DEAN AND LANNY JACKSON RUNNING FOR THEIR PARTY'S NOMINATION TO THE U.S. SENATE.

THEN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THE RACE THAT HAS GARNERED SO MUCH ATTENTION.

KATIE BRITT, MO BROOKS AND MIKE DURANT IN A TIGHT RACE AT THE TOP, BUT ALSO ON THE BALLOT ARE LILLIE BODDIE, KARLA DUPREIST AND JAKE SCHAFER.

REMEMBER, IF NO CANDIDATE WINS MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTE, THE RACE GOES TO A RUNOFF ELECTION.

MOVING ON TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

FIRST ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, A CROWDED FIELD.

YOLANDA FLOWERS, PATRICIA JAMIESON, ARTHUR KENNEDY, CHAD “CHIG” MARTIN, MALIKA SANDERS FORTIER, AND DOUG “NEW BLUE” SMITH.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY IS VYING FOR REELECTION, BUT FACING SOME COMPETITION.

A CROWDED FIELD HERE, TOO TIM JAMES, LINDY BLANCHARD, LEW BURDETTE, STACY LEE GEORGE, DEAN YOUNG, DAVE THOMAS, AND DEAN ODLE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL IS ALSO SEEKING REELECTION.

HE'S FACING HARRY STILL III IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THAT WINNER WILL FACE DEMOCRAT WENDELL MAJOR WHO IS UNOPPOSED IN NOVEMBER.

FOR SUPREME COURT, A TWO-WAY RACE BETWEEN GREG COOK AND DEBORAH JONES.

THIS IS FOR PLACE FIVE ON THE COURT.

THE WINNER WILL FACE DEMOCRAT ANITA KELLEY, WHO IS UNOPPOSED.

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE A FOUR-MAN RACE.

WES ALLEN, CHRISTIAN HORN, ED PACKARD AND JIM ZEIGLER ALL VYING FOR THAT POSITION.

THE WINNER WILL FACE DEMOCRAT PAMELA LEFITTE IN NOVEMBER.

FOR STATE AUDITOR, WE HAVE REPUBLICANS STAN COOKE, RUSTY GLOVER AND ANDREW SORRELL.

THERE IS NO DEMOCRAT RUNNING SO THE WINNER HERE GETS THE JOB.

THERE ARE TWO PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SEATS ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

WE'LL STAR WITH PLACE ONE WHERE INCUMBENT JEREMY ODEN IS FACING JOHN HAMMOCK, STEPHEN MCCLAMB AND BRENT WOODALL.

FOR PSC PLACE TWO, INCUMBENT CHIP BEEKER IS FACING A CHALLENGE FROM ROBIN LITAKER AND ROBERT MCCOLLUM.

NO DEMOCRATS ARE SEEKING EITHER SEAT ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

THAT'S THE BALLOT, SAVE FOR THE LOCAL RACES AND INITIATIVES YOU'LL SEE BASED ON WHERE YOU LIVE.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE AND GO TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

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

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY SENATOR GREG COOK OF JASPER, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE ALABAMA SENATE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, TODD, ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, FRIEND.

>> YOU AND I DIDN'T REALLY GET TO CATCH UP AT THE END OF THE SESSION.

IT WENT UNTIL MIDNIGHT AND EVERYBODY WAS EAGER TO GET HOME.

>> TRUE.

>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ITS PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFECTIVENESS.

WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE IT?

>> I THINK WE HAVE A HIGH MARK.

IN THE BEGINNING YOU HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM FOLKS WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS THE MEDIA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HEY, WHAT CAN YOU GET DONE?

IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR AND THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHING AND PULLING AND THAT'S A PART OF THE PROCESS AND WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT BUT WE TRIED TO CATEGORIZE THINGS INTO PACKAGES THAT WE FELT WERE IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.

WE HAD $160 MILLION IN TAX CUTS IN A TAX CUT PACKAGE THAT AFFECTED FAMILIES, RETIREES, BUSINESSES.

WE HAD 'SECOND AMENDMENT PACKAGE.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF SIGNIFICANT SECOND AMENDMENT ITEMS.

WE HAD A BROADBAND AND FARMERS PACKAGE TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE.

SEVERAL OF THOSE WERE ITEMS THAT TOOK THE ENTIRE SESSION.

LIKE MILITARY BILLS, WE HAD A NUMBER OF THEM, ELECTION SECURITY, THOSE THINGS.

WE WORKED ON THOSE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SESSION.

WHEN WE GOT TO THE END, WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO RELATED TO THOSE PACKAGES IN THE BEGINNING.

IF YOU ADDED TO IN THE EXTRAORDINARY BUDGETS WE HAD H ALABAMA'S BEING ROBUST, STRONG EDUCATION AND GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

WE WERE ABLE TO PAY BACK A LOT OF DEBT MAKE SOME WISE LONG-TERM DECISIONS FOR EXTRA MONEY WE HAD AND GIVE RAISES TO STATE EMPLOYEES AND SCHOOLTEACHERS AND DO THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

I FELT GREAT ABOUT THE SESSION.

>> WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT GOT LOST ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR THAT YOU MAY HAVE WANTED TO SEE DONE.

>> THERE WERE ITEMS IMPORTANT TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, BECAUSE IN THIS QUADRIENNIUM, WE HAD ONE SESSION WE LOST BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS WHERE WE WERE ONLY HERE FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WERE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO A NUMBER OF MEMBERS THAT THEY PUSHED HARD IN THE LAST SESSION.

THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THEM FINISHED.

I THINK THEY WILL COME BACK TO THOSE AS WE MOVE INTO ANOTHER QUADRIENNIUM.

BUT AS FAR AS LARGE TICKET ITEMS, ITEMS THAT WERE IMPORTANT.

WE SPENT TIME WORKING ON GAMING, THAT DIDN'T PASS.

WE WORKED ON PRISONS AND THAT DID PASS.

SOME HUGE ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN AROUND A LONG, LONG TIME.

WE DEALT WITH THEM AND HAD ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT THERE WILL BE SOME ISSUES -- OF COURSE WE MOVE INTO A NEW QUADRIENNIUM AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY TO WORK ON.

>> SURE THING.

ARPA, THE LEGISLATURE DEALT WITH THE FIRST ROUND OF THESE FUNDS, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS.

IS THE SECOND COMING?

THEY ARE SAYING THIS SUMMER.

$1.1 BILLION IN THE SECOND ROUND.

WHAT DO YOU FORESEE THE PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF SPENDING THAT MONEY?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE DID WITH ARPA TO BE HAPPY OF WHAT WE DID WITH THE RESOURCE AND HOW THEY WERE AIL GATED.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE WE MOVE TO ARPA 2, SOME REQUIREMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WILL BE DIFFERENT.

IN ARPA ONE WE HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY CATEGORIZED AS LOST REVENUES.

SO IT WAS REVENUES IDENTIFIED THAT WOULD HAVE COME TO THE STATE TO BE ALLOCATED BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE DID NOT GET BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS AND THE AFFECTS AS A RESULT, WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE THOSE PRETTY MUCH THE WAY WE FELT WAS BEST.

THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE LESS.

THAT REVENUE LOSS NUMBER WILL BE MUCH LESS IN THIS 1.1 MILLION.

THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE RESTRICTIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THESE RESOURCES.

WE SO KEEP THAT IN MIND ON THE FRONT END.

OF COURSE, IF WE SPEND THESE RESOURCES IN THE INCORRECT WAY, OUTSIDE OF THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENT, THAN THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE TO PAY THEM BACK.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT IN THE RIGHT WAY.

SEVERAL ITEMS I THINK WILL BE OF SIGNIFICANCE -- BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES FOR ALABAMA'S ECONOMY, OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE.

THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TOP ITEM.

HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE ON THE FRONT LINE WITH DEALING WITH CORONAVIRUS, SOME OF THE REIMBURSEMENTS REQUIRED, THE EXPENSE OF NURSING AND NURSING CARE, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.

THAT WILL HAVE TO BE AN ISSUE.

WE LOOKED AT WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS WHICH WERE POPULAR WITH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THESE ARE LONG-TERM CONSTITUTIONAL, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT ARE EXPENSIVE MANY TIMES BUT YIELD BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITIES FOR 30, 40, 50 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.

WE SPENT $225 MILLION IN THE LAST ROUND ON ONE FOR THOSE PROJECTS.

I THINK THIS ARPA 2 YOU'LL SEE THAT AGAIN AS MORE OF THOSE RESOURCES ADD TO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER IDEAS AND THOUGHT THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT WAYS TO USE THE MONEY WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WILL TELL US.

MY ATTITUDE ALL ALONG WITH IS HOW CAN WE SPEND THESE DOLLARS IN A WAY THAT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA DECADES INTO THE FUTURE.

THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

NOT JUST SPEND THE MONEY TO MAKE SOMEONE HAPPEN HAPPY THEY GOT AN INCREASE IN THEIR BUDGET.

WE DEAL WITH THAT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

THESE RESOURCES ABOUT AIL GATED IN WAYS THAT ACCOMPLISH GOALS THAT WE OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT ARE BENEFICIAL FOR A LONG TIME IN THE FUTURE AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE FOCUSED ON.

>> THERE'S TALK OF A SPECIAL SESSION TO SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON THESE FUNDS.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH GOVERNOR IVEY ABOUT THE TIMING OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> WE HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.

I THINK WE ARE WAITING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TO GIVE US DETAILS AND WHEN THE FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO US OR IF THEY ARE ALREADY IN THE STATE WHEN CAN WE EXTEND THEM.

THERE'S MORE CLARITY TO COME.

OBVIOUSLY THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA MAKES THE DECISION WHEN WE WILL HAVE SPECIAL SESSIONS BUT THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED BUT THERE WILL BE MORE DISCUSSION IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE TIMING MAYBE.

OBVIOUSLY, OUR GOAL IS TO GET THESE RESOURCES TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

AT THE SAME TIME, DO IT IN A WAY WHERE WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING DEFINITIVELY BEFORE WE LAUNCH INTO A SESSION SPECIAL TO GET IT DONE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF ABORTION.

WE SAW THE LEAKED OPINION FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE, IF NOT LIKELY, THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS POISED TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE, IT WOULD SEND THE QUESTION OF ABORTION TO THE STATES.

ALABAMA HAS PASSED MULTIPLE LAWS RESTRICTING ABORTION INCLUDING 2019, WHICH AMOUNTS TO ONE IF NOT THE STRICTEST LAW IN THE COUNTRY, A NEAR TOTAL BAN, NO EXCEPTIONS.

THAT, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN -- BY THE COURT BUT IF THE COURT OVERTURNS ROE IT COULD GO INTO SPECIFIC.

SENATOR COLLINS IS INTERESTING TO MAYBE ADD BACK EXCEPTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

DO YOU SEE ANY APPETITE IN THE LEGISLATURE IN A POST-ROE WORLD OF REVISITING ALABAMA'S LAWS PERTAINING TO ABORTION?

I'D SAY THE ISSUE OF ABORTION HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TO THE LEGISLATURE DURING MY TENURE OF SERVICE.

I CAN TELL YOU I HAD ON THIS TOPIC -- I HAD SOME NOTES THAT I WENT THROUGH JUST TODAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME -- I'D SAY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LEGISLATIVE SERVICE WAS BACK IN 2012.

YOU'LL REMEMBER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS ON EVERYONE'S MIND AND THEY OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FOR STATES TO HAVE FEDERAL FUNDS TO OFFER STATE-SPONSORED ABORTIONS.

I SPONSORED A BILL IN 2012, IT WAS SENATE BILL 10 THAT BASICALLY SAID WE IN ALABAMA DON'T WANT THOSE FUNDS.

WE DO NOT WANT TO USE FEDERAL MONEY TO SPONSOR ABORTIONS IN OUR STATE.

ALABAMA IS ONE OF ONLY 17 STATES THAT REFUSED THOSE RESOURCES.

I'M CERTAINLY PROUD OF THAT LEGISLATION.

THAT'S BEEN MY ATTITUDE RELATED TO ABORTION AND THE SANCTITY OF LIFE THING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF MY SERVICE, ALL THE WAY TO THE 2019 LEGISLATION, WHICH WAS CONTROVERSIAL, AS YOU MENTIONED BUT WAS ONE OF MAYBE THE STRONGEST LAWS IN THE NATION.

I THINK THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR WERE DEFINITIVE ON WHERE WE WANTED THAT POSITION TO BE.

NOW, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, YOU LOOK AT LEGISLATION.

YOU PASS IT IN SPECIFIC REASONS, SPECIFIC WAYS.

IF IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND MODIFIED, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT.

WE DO THAT RELATED TO WHAT WE THINK IN LEGISLATIVE THEMES ALL THE TIME.

IN THIS ISSUE, I THINK YOU HAVE SOME CHALLENGE IN EXAMINING HOW YOU WOULD DO THAT, BECAUSE THIS WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

SO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA HAVE VOTED THIS IS WHERE THEY FEEL IT SHOULD BE.

IF THE LEGISLATURE LOOKS TO MODIFY OR CHANGE THAT, THERE WILL BE SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS TO IS THERE A WAY TO DO IT?

CAN YOU DO IT?

IF THAT'S WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO DOES IT GO TO THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR DECISION AND THE LIKE?

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS FAR AS TIME FRAME, NUMBER ONE IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH ROE V. WADE, ALABAMA AND OUR LEGISLATURE HAVE DONE THE HARD WORK OF STANDING UP FOR THE UNBORN, FOCUSING ON THE SANCTITY OF LIFE WHICH WAS MOST IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT IN OUR LAW.

NOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH ROE V. WADE AND THE SUPREME COURT AND THEN IF THAT COMES BACK TO US FOR MORE DECISION, WE ALREADY KNOW OUR LAWS WILL GO INTO EFFECT.

DO THEY NEED TO BE MODIFIED?

IS THERE SOME QUESTION ABOUT IT?

I THINK THAT'S A DECISION THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO MAKE.

AT THE MOMENT THERE'S A LOT TO BE REVIEWED AND DONE BEFORE WE GET TO THAT PLACE.

>> WHILE I'VE GOT YOU, REAL QUICK, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE -- WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A PRIMARY ELECTION IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF SENATORS UP FOR RE-ELECTION RIGHT NOW AND SOME OPEN SEATS.

HOW'S THE PRIMARIES LOOKING?

>> WE'RE IN ELECTION SEASON, MAN.

IT IS HOT AS A FIRECRACKER.

THINGS ARE POSITIVE.

IF I LOOK AT THE ALABAMA SENATE, WE HAVE 35 MEMBERS IN THE SENATE, FIVE OPEN SEATS, TWO DEMOCRAT AND THREE REPUBLICAN.

OF THE 27 REPUBLICAN SEATS THAT WE HAVE, 24 OF THOSE ARE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AND OF THOSE SEVEN HAVE PRIMARY OPPONENTS.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON THOSE SEVEN PRIMARY OPPONENTS AND OPENING OUR INCUMBENTS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND YOU HAVE SOME AGGRESSIVE RACES GOING ON.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT PROCESS.

THE CANDIDATES ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD.

THERE'S BEEN ABOUT $3 MILLION, THUS FAR, SPENT IN THE PRIMARY RACES THAT I'M AWARE OF.

SO IT'S BEEN ROBUST.

WE WILL SEE WHAT THE OUTCOMES ARE.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT OUR INCUMBENTS.

I THINK THEY HAVE RUN GOOD RACES AND MANY OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THE ALABAMA PEOPLE RECOGNIZE HAVE BEEN FOR THEIR BENEFIT AND HAVE PAID DIVIDENDS IN THE ELECTION CYCLE AND SEEMS LIKE THINGS ARE POSITIVE.

WE WILL SEE HOW THINGS TURN OUT.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU ARE A BUSY MAN WITH THE ELECTION DAYS AWAY.

APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.

WHAT DO OUR VIEWERS NEED TO KNOW WITH THE ELECTION A FEW DAYS AWAY ABOUT GETTING OUT TO VOTE ON THIS ELECTION DAY?

>> LAST NIGHT WAS THE LAST TIME TO TURN IN YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT IN PERSON.

MONDAY IS THE LAST TIME TO ACTUALLY VISIT THE OFFICE AND TURN IT IN IF YOU MADE THAT APPLICATION BY THURSDAY.

SO, WE WANT OUR VIEWERS TO KNOW THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED TO VOTE IN PERSON AT THEIR POLLING SITE ON TUESDAY, THE 24th, FROM 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M.

THEY NEED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR POSITIONS SO THEY CAN CAST AN EDUCATED VOTE.

>> WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TURNOUT TO LOOK LIKE ON TUESDAY?

>> WE ANTICIPATE WE WILL HAVE BETWEEN 28 AND 32% OF OUR 3,640,660 VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS, 1.2 AND 1.25 MILLION PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES COMBINED.

>> HOW'S THAT COMPARE TO RECENT ELECTIONS?

>> A LITTLE HIGHER THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS BUT THAT'S AN EXPECTATION BECAUSE A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT TRYING TO GET TWO OFFICES ON THE BALLOT.

WITH THE IF GOVERNOR'S RACE AND THE SENATE SEAT OPEN.

>> OF COURSE WE REPORT ON A LOT OF THIS STUFF AND THE SENATE RACE ALONE 25, $26 MILLION AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AT LEAST 10 WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR.

AND YOUR OFFICE TRACKS ALL OF THIS.

WHEN YOU GO ONLINE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH CAMPAIGNS HAVE SPENT, THAT'S YOUR OFFICE -- I GUESS YOU HAVE ALL BEEN BUSY IN THAT REGARD.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

NOT ONLY ARE WE KEEPING UP WITH EXPENSES AND INCOME BUT PENALTIES THAT HAVE TO BE LEVIED FOR THOSE AND RACES DOWN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD LEVEL.

>> LET ME ASK ABOUT THE NEW REPORTING SYSTEM.

YOU SAID EVERY COUNTY WILL BE ON THE SAME SYSTEM IN TERMS OF REPORTING THE ELECTION RESULTS.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> THEY HAVE BEEN BEFORE.

THE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT IS BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS INTRODUCED NATIONALLY AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD A VULNERABILITY EXPOSED IN ALABAMA BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EACH OF OUR 68 PROBATE JUDGES IN THE 67 COUNTIES ARE ACTUALLY USING A SECURED HARD DRIVE THAT WILL TRANSMIT THE DATA TO US THAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE EXCEPT FOR ELECTION NIGHT REPORTING.

SO, WE SPENT 247,000 TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THOSE PURCHASES WERE MADE AND THOSE ARE PLACED IN THE 67 COUNTIES IN THE 68 JURISDICTIONS.

SO THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO USE A SECURE, TECHNICAL EXPERT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

>> DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO SPEED UP, SLOW DOWN, AFFECT THE TIME OF THE REPORTING?

>> YOU KNOW, TODD, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION THAT THERE MAYBE DELAYS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

I HOPE JEFFERSON COUNTY IS ABLE TO REPORT THEIR RETURNS AT THE SAME RATE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BEFORE.

THEY HAVE TWO COMPUTERS, ONE AT THE CUT OFF AND THE OTHER DOWNTOWN AT RICHARD ARRINGTON WHERE THE COURTHOUSE IS.

THEY ARE THE ONLY COULDN'T THEY HAS TWO.

MADISON COUNTY HAS ONE.

MOBILE AND MONTGOMERY HAS ONE.

THOSE ARE THE HIGHEST POPULATION COUNTIES BESIDES JEFFERSON AND IF YOU SPLIT JEFFERSON IN HALF AND SEE WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE, IT IS BASICALLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE OTHER THREE.

WE ANTICIPATE IT WILL BE BASICALLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE USUALLY SEEN, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER, TODD, IS NOT TO BE FAST.

IT'S TO BE ACCURATE, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THIS IS FOR ELECTION NIGHT REPORTING WITH UNOFFICIAL NUMBERS.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAYING IN THIS ELECTION.

YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN GETTING OUT THE WORD TO BE WARY OF SOME GROUPS THAT ARE ELECTIONEERING OR FOLLOWING THE RULES.

>> WHEN THEY ARE NOT, IT INCUMBENT TO NOTIFY THE STATE AND HELP THEM EVALUATE THE INFORMATION THEY ARE RECEIVING SO THEY KNOW WHETHER IT IS ACCURATE, TRANSPARENT AND WHETHER OR NOT NOSE PEOPLE ARE GENUINE IN THEIR PRESENTATION.

WE'RE FINDING SOME ARE NOT.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

I REMEMBER THIS FROM FOUR YEARS AGO.

IT HAPPENS A LOT.

I REMEMBER, IN PARTICULAR, I THINK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE WHERE YOU HAD A GROUP COME IN, NOT REGISTERED OR REPORTING THEIR EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS.

REALLY TRYING TO IMPACT THAT RACE.

IT GOT REPORTED BUT I NEVER SAW A PENALTY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

DO YOU EXPECT PENALTIES IN THIS CASE?

>> THE THING YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, WHEN YOU EVALUATE WHAT IS ONGOING IS WHETHER OR NOT IT BREAKS ESTABLISHED STATE AND/OR FEDERAL LAWS.

IF IT DOES, WE WILL IDENTIFY THOSE PEOPLE AND INVESTIGATE THEM.

IF IT IS WARRANTED WE INDICT THEM TO THE EXTENT OF THE LAW AND IF IT IS QUALIFYING FOR PENALTIES WE WILL DO THAT.

IF THEY ARE NOT BREAKING THE LAW, THE LAW HAS TO BE TIGHTENED UP.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE THE PAST FEW YEARS IN CERTAIN AREAS BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REMEMBERED THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE SPEND AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME, MONEY AND RESOURCES TO CIRCUMVENT THOSE LAWS.

I KNOW YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

MAYBE WE WILL TELL A THE ELECTION, DO YOU THINK THE LAWS NEED TO BE TIGHTENED UP AND LOOPHOLES CLOSED?

AS A VOTER AND MEDIA PERSONALITY, IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT SOMEBODY CAN BREAK THE RULES AND INFLUENCE THE VOTE BECAUSE VOTERS DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISINFORMATION AND MAYBE MORE LEGITIMATE.

>> VERY DISAPPOINTING WHEN THAT OCCURS.

THAT'S WHAT WHY THE LEGISLATURE'S WORK IS NEVER DONE, EVEN IN THE AREA OF ELECTION INTEGRITY.

THINGS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL OF THE THING ONGOING AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT AREAS NEED TO HAVE ATTENTION GIVEN FOR THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.

>> SPEAKING OF THIS ELECTION, THERE ARE SEVERAL CANDIDATES, YEAH, SEVERAL CANDIDATES RUNNING TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE.

THEY ASPIRE TO YOUR JOB.

I WONDERED IF YOU MIGHT HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THOSE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> THE THING THEY HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THE JOB IS A JOB, THE WAY IT IS DESCRIBE IN THE CONSTITUTION, BUT THEN THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU HAVE TO GIVE ATTENTION TO IN ORDER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SERVANT.

NUMBER ONE, I'D ENCOURAGE THEM TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

NUMBER TWO, WORK WELL WITH MEMBERS OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

NUMBER THREE, THEY NEED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROBATE JUDGES, THE CIRCUIT CLERKS, THE SHERIFFS AND REGISTRARS IN ALL 67 COUNTIES.

IF THEY BEGIN TO MANAGE THAT PART OF THE OPERATION, THEN WORKING WITH THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY MEMBERS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE SHOULD BE RELATIVELY EASY FOR THEM AND THEY COULD BE EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

>> SO, WE WILL HAVE THIS ELECTION ON TUESDAY.

ALMOST CERTAIN WE WILL HAVE RUNOFFS AND THAT WILL OCCUR FOUR WEEKS FROM NOW, OR FOUR WEEKS FROM THEN.

IT USED TO BE SIX WEEKS.

DOES THAT PUT MORE PRESSURE ON YOU AND YOUR ELECTION OFFICIALS?

>> NOT REALLY,.

TO WE EVALUATED WHERE WE WERE AFTER THE 2018 CYCLE AND REALIZED THERE'S NOT A REASON ANYMORE FOR US TO HAVE A TWO ADDITIONAL WEEK DELAY BETWEEN THE PRIMARY AND THE RUNOFF.

SO THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL IN 2019 TO CHANGE OUR RUNOFF PERIOD FROM SIX WEEKS BACK TO FOUR WEEKS WHERE IT HAD BEEN FOR MANY YEARS.

IN DOING SO, IT SHORTENED THE LENGTH OF TIME PEOPLE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS AND THE LENGTH OF TIME WHERE CAMPAIGNS HAVE TO GIVE ATTENTION TO TRYING TO GET VOTES AND SHORTEN THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROPERLY PREPARED.

ONCE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, AND ONCE WE HAVE THOSE CANDIDATES' NAMES CONFIRMED AFTER THE ELECTION IS CERTIFIED, WE HAVE THE BALLOTS PRINTED AND SENT OUT AND THE PROCESS TAKES CARE OF ITSELF.

IF EVERYBODY FOLLOWS THE STEPS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.

>> WELL, THE ELECTION WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND GOOD LUCK ON ELECTION DAY.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME 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.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY DR. SCOTT HARRIS, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

DOC, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD YOU ON SINCE YOU, YOURSELF, HAD A BOUT WITH COVID.

I TRUST YOU HAVE FULLY RECOVERED?

>> I'M DOING FINE.

MY WIFE AND I WERE GOING TO VISIT MY PARENTS AROUND THE EASTER WEEKEND, MY PARENTS ARE IN THE 80s AND I HAD A LITTLE RUNNY NOSE AND THOUGHT WHY DON'T WE TEST AND WE WERE SURPRISED TO FIND WE WERE BOTH POSITIVE.

WE HAD BEEN VACCINATED, BOOSTED AND SECOND BOOSTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE.

THAT OUR ILLNESS WAS REAL MILD.

STAYED AT HOME AND GOT TO WORK IN MY PAJAMAS, WHICH WAS NICE BUT STILL WORKED SO IT GOES TO PROVE A POINT THAT VACCINATION AND BOOSTING REALLY DOES KEEP YOU FROM GETTING SICK, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T KEEP YOU FROM GETTING INFECTED.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF COVID.

I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THIS WEEK THAT A BISCUITS GAME GOT CANCELED BECAUSE OF A SMALL OUTBREAK, IT MUST BE STILL PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND SPREADING SOME.

>> WE ARE SEEING THE NUMBERS STARTING TO GO UP.

IN ALABAMA THE PAST TWO WEEKS, CASES HAVE INCREASED 80%.

THAT'S A BIG PERCENTAGE INCREASE BUT STILL A PRETTY LOW NUMBER BECAUSE CASES HAD GOTTEN SO LOW.

WE HAVE HAD FROM FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS 200, 250 CASES A DAY COMPARED TO 17,000 BACK IN JANUARY ON SOME DAYS.

BUT NOW WE ARE SEEING CASE NUMBERS LIKE 400 A DAY OR 450 A DAY.

NUMBERS ARE DEFINITELY GOING UP, BUT, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER WE CAN HANDLE.

THERE'S NOT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE STILL HAVING SOME CONCERN.

WE'RE NOT A WELL VACCINATED STATE.

IF WE GET ANOTHER VARIANT THAT SPREADS EASILY, NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> ARE WE TO THE POINT IN THIS PANDEMIC WHERE IT BECOMES ENDEMIC WHERE IT WILL BE PRESENT VARIANT AFTER VARIANT, SYSTEM SEASONALLY.

>> I THINK IT WILL ALWAYS BE HERE.

THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS WHETHER IT IS ENDEMIC OR NOT.

THERE ARE ENDEMIC DISEASES IN THE WORLD LIKE MALARIA THAT KILL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KIDS A YEAR.

SO ENDEMIC DOESN'T MEAN IT IS GOOD OR MILD BUT YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET RID OF IT.

IT ALSO IMPLIES IT IS PREDICTABLE AND YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT YOUR NUMBERS WILL BE AND SO ON.

I THINK WE WILL GET TO AN ENDEMIC STATE FOR SURE.

RIGHT NOW I THINK IT IS EARLY TO SAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A RISK FOR SURGES AGAIN.

WE HAD SO MANY ALABAMIANS WHO GOT INFECTED IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY.

MOST OF THE STATE, MAYBE HALF OF THE STATE OR MORE.

THOSE PEOPLE PROBABLY HAVE SOME PROTECTION ON BOARD OR DID FOR A FEW MONTHS.

WHEN WE STARTED TO SEE NUMBERS GOING UP IN THE NORTHEAST IT HASN'T REALLY HAPPENED HERE.

THE NATURAL IMMUNITY WILL WANE.

WE KNOW THAT IT DOES.

LATER IN THE SUMMER OR IN THE FALL, WITH OUR VACCINATION RATES WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> PART OF THE REASON WHY I ASK IS I REMEMBER BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, TWO YEARS AGO, AND THERE WAS THIS HOPE THAT, OKAY, IF WE DO PROTECTIVE MEASURES WE CAN BE DONE WITH IT BUT IT SEEMS NEW VARIANTS EMERGE AND YEAR AFTER YEAR THIS MIGHT KEEP HAPPENING.

>> THE VIRUS IS SMARTER THAN WE ARE.

IT CONTINUES TO MUTATE AND TO EVOLVE, TO ESCAPE THE THERAPEUTICS AND THE VACCINATIONS WE ARE TRYING TO THROW AT IT.

FORTUNATELY, THE DISEASE HASN'T GOTTEN WORSE IN SEVERITY SINCE DELTA.

IT HAS GOTTEN MILDER ON AVERAGE.

BUT IT STILL POSES A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK LIKE SENIORS OR CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS.

>> WHAT'S THE LATEST WITH VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTERS.

>> THE NUMBERS IN ALABAMA REMAIN FAIRLY LOW.

WE DON'T HAVE REALLY MUCH INTEREST IN VACCINATIONS OR BOOSTERS RIGHT NOW H. ABOUT HALF OF THE STATE IS FULLY VACCINATED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE BOOSTED, AS WELL.

IT SEEMS LIKE AFTER FIVE OR SIX MONTHS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL BOOSTERS.

WE DON'T FORMALLY RECOMMEND THAT FOR EVERY AGE GROUP BUT PEOPLE OVER 50 OR CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS WE RECOMMEND A SECOND BOOSTER IF IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST FIVE MONTHS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF VACCINE AVAILABLE.

YOU CAN GET IT AT ANYTIME IN ANY COUNTY AND MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.

I'D ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE THIS DOWN TIME, WHEN WE ARE NOT HAVING HOSPITALS OVERRUN AS A TIME TO GO OUT AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE PROTECTED.

>> I WAS TRYING TO GET A BOOSTER THE OTHER DAY BUT WENT TO THE WEBSITE AND EVERY DAY AND SAID I WASN'T ELIGIBLE, I GUESS I WASN'T OLD ENOUGH.

WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE FOR THAT NOW?

>> RIGHT NOW THE RECOMMENDATION IS ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR INITIAL SERIES AND HAD A BOOSTER, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A SECOND BOOSTER IF YOU ARE AGE 50 OR OLDER OR ACTUALLY ANYONE 12 AND UP IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN UNDERLYING CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS.

THOSE ARE THE GROUPS MOST AT RISK FOR SERIOUS OUTCOMES.

I THINK IT WILL BE FAIRLY SOON THE SECOND OR ADDITIONAL BOOSTERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE BUT NOT TECHNICALLY THERE YET.

>> SWITCHING GEARS REAL QUICK.

THERE WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING NEWS ABOUT THIS OUTBREAK OF PEDIATRIC HEPATITIS THAT STARTED IN ALABAMA.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

>> IT IS INTERESTING.

IT IS STILL A RARE OCCURRENCE BUT IT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN 36 STATES AND SEVERAL COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY WESTERN EUROPE.

THE REASON IT WAS FOUND IN ALABAMA, IT IS NOT CLEAR IT STARTED HERE BUT FIRST IDENTIFIED IN ALABAMA BUT SOME PHYSICIANS BY THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN BIRMINGHAM.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS ONE OF THE BEST VIROLOGY CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN OUR STATE.

THERE WERE FOUR CHILDREN LAST SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER REFERRED TO THAT HOSPITAL WITH UNEXPLAINED LIVER DISEASE.

IT IS POSSIBLE IT IS LINKED TO A CERTAIN TYPE OF VIRUS.

SOME OF THOSE KIDS REQUIRED LIVER TRANSPLANTS.

AROUND THE COUNTRY THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE OR SIX DEATHS IN THESE KIDS MOSTLY UNDER AGE 5, NO DEATHS IN ALABAMA, BUT IT IS AN UNUSUAL THING WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE.

I THINK AT LAST COUNT WE HAVE 12 KIDS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THE STATE TOTAL SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER.

SO CERTAINLY NOT A LARGE OUTBREAK BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

IT IS NOT RELATED, WE KNOW FOR SURE TO COVID VACCINATION OR INFECTION.

THEY ARE TOO YOUNG TO BE VACCINATED.

THAT QUESTION GETS ASKED A LOT AS YOU MATE IMAGINE.

IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT LED THIS TO HAPPEN BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE TRACKING.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT BABY FORMULA.

OBVIOUSLY IT IS HUGE NEWS NATIONALLY THAT THERE IS A SHORTAGE BECAUSE OF THE FACTORY THAT GOT SHUT DOWN.

I THINK IT IS COMING BACK ONLINE.

IS THAT SHORTAGE AFFECTING ALABAMA YET?

>> IT IS SOMEWHAT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE PRODUCT THEY ARE USED TO FINDING.

I DON'T THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING.

I THINK THERE IS ADDITIONAL PRODUCT OUT THERE AND THE BEST ADVICE IS TO TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD.

IN ALABAMA, OUR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, THAT PROVIDES NUTRITION FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IS NOT CONNECTED WITH THE ABBOTT FACTORY.

SOME STATES ARE ABBOTT STATES AND OTHERS.

THE STATES THAT CONTRACT WITH ABBOTT ARE SEEING SHORTAGES IN THEIR WIC PROGRAM AS WELL BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT IN OUR WIC PROGRAM.

MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING FORMULA AREN'T IN OUR WIC PROGRAM.

THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THE PRIVATE WORLD TRYING TO TRACK DOWN FORMULA.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO IS TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

DON'T TRY TO MAKE YOUR OWN FORMULA OR WATER DOWN FORMULA YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER.

PLEASE DON'T BUY THINGS ON THE BLACK MARKET IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM.

JUST TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BABY.

>> IT'S THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT BECOME HUGE THINGS SUDDENLY WHEN WE RUN OUT OF THEM.

>> IT IS AMAZING, ISN'T IT?

TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS ABOUT TOILET AND IT SEEMED LIKE A CRISIS.

BABY FORMULA IS A SERIOUS ISSUE.

WE UNDERSTAND, FROM THE FEDS, THAT IT OUGHT TO BE EASING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

IT'S PROBABLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO HAVE THINGS BACK TO NORMAL.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE TO PARENTS AND FOR ALL YOU ARE SHARING WITH US ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

>> NEXT, I'M JOINED BY DAVID MOWERY, CHAIRMAN OF THE MOWERY CONSULTING GROUP.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> YOU ARE A WELL KNOWN POLITICAL CONSULTANT AND WE ARE DAYS AWAY FROM THE ELECTION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF RACES ON THE BALLOT STATEWIDE THEY HOPE YOU CAN PROVIDE ANALYSIS ON, GIVEN YOUR EXPERIENCE.

YOU HAVE WORKED IN DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS.

YOU ARE WELL SUITED TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THESE RACES, I THINK.

LET'S START WITH THE RACES -- THESE OFFICES DON'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.

STATE AUDITOR, STAN COOK, A MINISTER, RUSTY GLOVER, A FORMER STATE SENATOR AND ANDREW SORRELL, A CURRENT STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

DOES ANYONE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE HERE?

>> ANDREW SORRELL IS HAS BEEN IN THE RACE A LONG TIME AND UP AND COMER TYPE AND THEN GLOVER WHO RAN FOUR YEARS AGO AND HAD FRIENDS STATEWIDE AND A BASE IN MOBILE AND THAT'S THE DYNAMIC TO WATCH.

WHO AMONG THEM GETS THEIR PEOPLE OUT AND HOW THEY DO IN THE REST OF THE PLACES AND HOW MUCH THE OTHER -- I THINK THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO THAT ARE ADVERTISING.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE A RUNOFF, I DON'T THINK EITHER HAS A DECIDED ADVANTAGE AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHO WOULD WIN A RUNOFF BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT OFFICE.

WE HAVE WES ALLEN, CHRISTIAN HORN, ED PACKARD WHO'S WORKED IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR MANY YEARS AND JIM ZEIGLER, WHO IS OF COURSE THE CURRENT STATE AUDITOR.

I GUESS DO YOU SEE A RUNOFF HERE, TOO?

>> I THINK SO.

IT IS INTERESTING.

IF YOU ARE IN MONTGOMERY, I SEE ED PACKARD BILLBOARDS EVERYWHERE BUT NOT MUCH ELSE.

JIM ZEIGLER IS USED TO THIS.

HE PROBABLY FEELS HE IS IN THE SEAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WILL LEAD BUT THE PROBLEM IS A RUNOFF, IS ALLEN ABLE TO SWAMP WITH MONEY.

>> THAT WINNER WOULD FACE PAM LEFITTE, WHO IS UNCHALLENGED IN HER PRIMARY.

SUPREME COURT AN INTERESTING RACE HERE BETWEEN GREG COOK AND DEBORAH JONES, NO RUNOFF, JUST TWO CANDIDATES.

THE WINNER TAKES OFF.

>> THAT'S A RARITY, ONLY TWO CANDIDATES AND THEY APPEAR TO BE BOTH PRETTY WELL FUNDED AND UP ON TV, MAKING THEIR ARGUMENT.

I THINK THERE IS A PROXY WAR BETWEEN SOME OF THE CONSTITUENCIES THAT DEAL WITH THE COURTS ON THAT ONE.

I HAVE A FEEL FOR IT.

I THINK THAT THEY REALLY TRY TO GET DEBORAH JONES -- DIDN'T WE HAVE A DEBRA THAT RAN BEFORE, MAYBE A NAME THING COOK HAS DONE A GOOD JOB RAISING MONEY AND I THINK THAT'S A JUMBLE.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT IS TURNING INTO A PROXY WAR.

IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD '90s, TRIAL LAWYERS VERSUS BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF THE ADVERTISING AND MONEY HAS COME IN AT THE LAST MINUTE.

>> YEAH.

>> THE POLLING, WE DID SOME TIME BACK, IT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO, GREG COOK HAD A SLIGHT CHANGE BUT A LOT OF UNDECIDED.

>> THOSE ARE THE RACES THAT ARE SORT OF LOW INFORMATION, PEOPLE GO BY FEEL FOR HOW THEY WANT A JUDGE TO BE OR WHO THEY WANT A JUDGE TO BE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF OUR SUPREME COURT, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT COOK HAS AN ADVANTAGE BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE THEIR BASES OF SUPREME COURT ARE AND THAT'S ONE I'D FLIP A COIN.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED EITHER WAY.

>> THAT WINNER WILL FACE DEMOCRAT ANITA KELLEY WHO'S ALSO UNCHALLENGED.

A LOT OF THESE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE ARE ONLY ONE CANDIDATE IN SOME OF THESE RACES.

>> RIGHT.

>> MOVING TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE A REALLY CROWDED FIELD.

THESE AREN'T NECESSARILY HOUSEHOLD NAMES, YOLANDA FLOWERS, CHAD CHIG MARTIN, DOUG "NEW BLUE" SMITH.

I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH ADVERTISING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SENATOR SANDERS FORTIER WAS RUN UNTIL TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO.

>> I THINK SHE WAS THE DAY OF QUALIFYING.

IT WAS THE DAY OF QUALIFYING AND HER DAD RAN FOR HER SEAT IT WAS ALL KIND OF WEIRD.

>> I KNEW SHE HAD HEALTH ISSUES OR OUT BECAUSE OF COVID AND DIDN'T COME AND I THOUGHT THAT MEANT SHE WAS GIVING UP HER SENATE SEAT AND TAKING TO THE HOUSE OR GOING TO BE A LAWYER.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE.

I DON'T HAVE A FEEL FOR IT.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW -- I THINK SHE PROBABLY HAS AN ADVANTAGE GIVEN THE CONSTITUENCIES WITH THE VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

>> REPUBLICAN SIDE, GOVERNOR IVEY IS VYING FOR RE-ELECTION BUT FACING COMPETITION.

A CROWDED FIELD HERE, TOO.

TIM JAMES AND STACY LEE GEORGE, DEAN YOUNG, DEAN ODLE.

THE CONTEST IS ABOUT THE RUNOFF, RIGHT?

>> OR IF THERE IS GOING TO BE ONE.

IF GOVERNOR IVEY CAN CONSOLIDATE HER SUPPORT, WE SAW THE POLL LAST WEEK OR MAYBE THIS WEEK THAT YOU DID THAT SAID THAT BASICALLY SHE'S VERY POPULAR BUT NOT ABOVE THAT MAGIC 50% MARK.

IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR SAY WITH ALL OF THE STUFF GONE CRAZY IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAS KAY IVEY BEEN STEADY AT THE TILL.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN PEOPLE SPENT $20 MILLION TELLING PEOPLE HOW TERRIBLE YOU ARE, MAYBE ENOUGH BELIEVE IT TO GET IN THE TO A RUNOFF AND ONE OF THE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU TAKE ON AN INCUMBENT, YOU HAVE TO GET THEM TO FIRE THE INCUMBENT AND HIRE YOU.

SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE THE DOG THAT CATCHES THE CAR, RIGHT.

THEY GET IN THE RUNOFF AND THE GOVERNOR'S PEOPLE TURN THEIR GUNS ON ONE PERSON AND PROBABLY NOT SUPER PLEASANT TO BE THAT ONE PERSON.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

UNLIKE THE SENATE RACE, IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, TAKE TIM JAMES AND WENDY BLANCHARD.

IF THERE IS A RUN OFF, YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT GOVERNOR IVEY WILL SHOOT BACK.

>> I WOULD GUESS THEY HAVE PRETTY THICK BOOKS ON EVERYBODY.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH.

THE SENATE RACE.

THIS IS THE BIG ONE.

>> HUGE.

>> WE HAVE WILL BOYD, BRANDAUN DEAN, AND LANNY JACKSON.

WHAT DO YOU SEE HERE?

>> WHO KNOWS?

I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH WHO VOTES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY HOW MANY PEOPLE VOTE AND HOW MUCH THEY GET THE BALLOTS OUT AND IF ANYONE GOT THE ENDORSEMENT.

IS ANYONE TRYING TO GET IN A LANE WITH ANY OF THE GOVERNOR'S CANDIDATES.

I HAVEN'T SEEN A SINGLE AD FOR ANY OF THOSE, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

>> SOMETIMES ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, GETTING ON THE SAMPLE BALLOT IS THE TICKET.

THE BIG ONE, THE SENATE.

THIS SEEMS DESTINE FOR A RUNOFF.

>> I THINK SO.

EACH HAS A BASE OF SUPPORT.

EACH CANDIDATE HAS A LANE THEY ARE IN OR THAT THEY HAVE SORT OF BEEN PUT IN, ESPECIALLY MO BROOKS THOUGHT HE WAS IN ONE LANE AND I WILL TELL YOU THE INTERESTING THING THAT PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO SAY IT'S ANYBODY'S GUESS AS TO THE ORDER AND ANYONE'S GUESS AS TO WHO IS THE SECOND CANDIDATE.

I THINK BRITT HAS A LOT OF ADVANTAGES AND DURANT HAS A LOT OF DAMAGES BUT MO, EVERYBODY FLAMED OUT WHEN THE TRUMP THING WENT AWAY AND THEN EVERYONE TURNED THE GUNS ON HIM.

WE HAVE SEEN IT SO MANY TIMES WITH DURANT AND BRITT HITTING EACH OTHER.

I DON'T HAVE A FEEL FOR IT.

I THINK THE TWO OF THEM SPLITTING A BASE, THE TWO MO BROOKS AND MIKE DURANT OF NORTH ALABAMA AND OLDER WHITE MALE, IS AN INTERESTING THING TO LOOK FOR AND DOES BRITT BRING OUT A DIFFERENT LOOKING ELECTORATE?

DOES SHE BRING OUT MORE WOMEN, MORE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO, IN ALABAMA, THOSE ARE TWO CONSTITUENCIES, EVERYWHERE ELSE THAT IS A SWING VOTE.

CAN SHE GET ENOUGH FOLKS THAT DON'T NORMALLY VOTE IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BUT WOULD VOTE FOR HER FOR ANYTHING TO COME OUT?

THAT'S A DYNAMIC I'M WATCHING.

>> ASSUMING IT GOES TO A RUNOFF, THE OTHER THING QUESTION IS DOES FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP GET INVOLVED WITH AN ENDORSEMENT?

>> RIGHT.

I THINK IT PROBABLY HAS TO DO WITH WHO'S IN THE RACE.

AND THEN IT'S LIKE IS HE GOING FOR OR AGAINST SOMEBODY?

FUNNY THING ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THAT HIM BEING FOR YOU CERTAINLY HELPS.

IF YOU LOOK AT LAST NIGHT, REPORTING THIS ON A WEDNESDAY AND IF YOU LOOK AT NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA, THE TRUMP CANDIDATES TENDED TO WIN IN THOSE PLACES AND TEND TO WIN UNLESS THERE IS A DYNAMIC LOCALLY THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY CATCH ON TO.

WHICH I THINK FIGURED OUT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE BROOKS THING WHICH IS WHY HE JUMPED OFF OF IT.

SOMETIMES IT IS MORE FUN, ESPECIALLY FOR US GIRLS, TO WATCH HIM TURN HIS WIT ON SOMEBODY AND TAKE THEM DOWN A PEG.

THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

NO MATTER WHO HE ENDORSES.

>> WELL, SURE.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, MO BROOKS HE ENDORSED BUT HAD HARSH CRITICISM FOR HIM.

IT WOULD BE HARD TO SEE HIM RE-ENDORSING HIM.

>> IT ALMOST SEEMS TO ME IF IT IS A BRITT AND DURANT RUNOFF HE MAY STAY OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT LIVE WITH EITHER OF THEM.

PUTTING YOUR SCALE ON THE ONE IS PROBABLY PICKING A WINNER BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE WITH THE RIGHT PERSON.

IF IT IS DURANT AND BROOKS OR BRITT AND BROOKS, I THINK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE A LOT MORE.

>> HE WANTS TO WIN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> LOTS OF FASCINATING RACES.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME.

>> GREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> CREATED BY THE U.S. CONGRESS ON MAY 18, 1933, THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY OR TVA IS THE NATION'S LARGEST PUBLIC POWER COMPANY IN A WORLD RENOWNED AGENCY.

IT OPERATES HYDROELECTRIC DAMS AND COAL POWERED AND NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.

THEY MANAGE THE TENNESSEE RIVER FOR FLOOD CONTROL, NAVIGATION, RECREATION AND WATER QUALITY.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK, FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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