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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL HIT THE HOMESTRETCH THIS WEEK AS JUST SEVEN MEETING DAYS REMAIN.

OF COURSE, THOSE DAYS COULD STRETCH OUT OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS AS LAWMAKERS PLAN CAREFULLY TO PASS KEY BILLS WHILE AVOIDING THE GOVERNOR'S POCKET VETO.

THIS LOOKS TO BE ANOTHER BUDGET WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE, AS THE HOUSE TAKES UP THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND AND THE SENATE TAKES UP THE GENERAL FUND.

HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER LAID OUT THAT TIMELINE UPON ADJOURNMENT LATE LAST WEEK.

>> BUT I THINK WE WILL SEE THAT COME OUT NEXT THURSDAY.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY HAVING THE BUDGET AND THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND BUDGET IN COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO PARALLEL IT WITH IT AND HAVE IT COME OUT WEDNESDAY OF COMMITTEE AS WELL.

THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES FROM THE HOUSE SIDE.

AND WE WILL SEE THAT IMP MENTATION.

THAT'S WEDNESDAY OUT OF COMMITTEE AND HAVE IT ON THE FLOOR THURSDAY.

>> THE EDUCATION BUDGET AND THE GROCERY TAX BOTH?

>> YES, SIR.

>> AS THE SPEAKER MENTIONED, THE GROCERY SALES TAX CUT PROPOSAL WILL ALSO BE IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK AND TRAVELING WITH THE EDUCATION BUDGET ON THE FLOOR THURSDAY.

HOUSE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DANNY GARRETT SAID THAT, ALTHOUGH IT IS GETTING LATE IN THE SESSION, THE SHEER NUMBER OF LAWMAKERS SIGNED UP AS COSPONSORS BODES WELL FOR THE GROCERY SALES TAX CUT PASSING THIS YEAR.

>> THE SENATE HAS NOT PASSED THE GROCERY TAX BILL YET.

IT'S A GROSS REPLY TAX BILL FILED IN THE SENATE THAT HAS 35 SPONSORS.

AND THAT SENATE BILL WE NOW HAVE 100 SPONSORS IN THE HOUSE YESTERDAY SO WE DROPPED IT IN THE HOUSE.

BILLS THAT EFFECT REVENUE HAVE TO ORIGINATE IN THE HOUSE.

SO TO GET THE BALL ROLLING WE REALLY HAVE TO DO THAT.

SO WE FILED THE BILL YESTERDAY.

WE WILL BE IN COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK AND ON THE FLOOR THURSDAY.

SO BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH MONEY IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL, SENATOR ORR AND I WORKED CLOSELY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS SO A LOT OF WHAT THE COMMENTS THAT HOUSE MEMBERS AND THE SPEAKER THAT MYSELF WOULD HAVE WERE REFLECTED IN WHAT THE BUDGET CAME DOWN FROM THE SENATE.

SO WE WILL MAKE SOME CHANGES OBVIOUSLY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT CAME DOWN FROM THE SENATE WAS NOT UNEXPECTED.

HAVE THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY LEAVING THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND?

>> THERE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNS.

OUR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY IS TO PROTECT THE EDUCATION BUDGET.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN A SLOW DOWN OF ANY TAX CREDITS OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD WITHDRAW FROM THE EDUCATION BUDGET IN EITHER HOUSE OR THE SENATE FLOORS SO WE KIND OF PAUSED THAT.

IF THE GROCERY TAX IS A PRIORITY AND IT CLEARLY IS, THEN WE HAVE TO PUT AS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH AND IT WILL CAUSE US TO TAKE A PAUSE ON SOME OTHER ITEMS.

>> GARRETT ALLUDED TO AN EMERGING ISSUE, THE VARIOUS TAX CUT BILLS THAT ARE NOW PILING UP IN THE SENATE WHERE HIS COLLEAGUE SENATOR CHAIRMAN ARTHUR ORR HAS TAKEN A WAIT AND WAIT AND SEE APPROACH.

WITH SO LITTLE TIME LEFT THAT DID MAKE SPONSORS NERVOUS: SENATE PRO TEM PRESIDENT GREG REED SAID CAUTION IS A GOOD THING WHEN THERE ARE PERMANENT POLICIES IMPACTING EDUCATION FUNDING.

>> ALL OF THESE ARE IN REASONABLE GOOD THOUGHTS BUT THE IDEA THAT WE CAN DO ALL OF THIS IS NOT REASONABLE AT ALL.

THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT AS THE LEGISLATOR IS TWO CATEGORIES.

NUMBER 1, TAKE SURPLUSES.

ALABAMA'S ECONOMY IS VERY ROBUST.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SPEND THOSE DOLLARS VERY WISELY.

BUT ALSO DON'T BE LURED INTO A THOUGHT PROCESS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SURPLUSES TODAY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE MULTIPLE DOZENS OF CHANGES RELATED TO STATUTE ASSOCIATED WITH ALABAMA'S TAX STRUCTURE AND THE TAX RECEIPTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THAT TO HELP MOVE THE STATE FORWARD.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CALCULATED.

THERE'S A PROPER BALANCE WITH THAT.

>> SPEAKING OF TAX POLICY, A NEW REPORT RELEASED TODAY BY THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNSEL OF ALABAMA OR PARCA SHOWS ALABAMA'S ONLINE TALES SAX EFFECT ON ON THE GENERAL FUND VERSUS BRICK AND MORTAR STORES.

IN 16 HE THE SIMPLIFIED USE ENACTED IN 2016, THE SIMPLIFIED SELLERS USE TAX ENFORCES SALES TAX FOR ONLINE PURCHASES AT A RATE OF 8 PERCENT.

THAT'S ALMOST TWO PERCENT LESS THAN THE AVERAGE IN PERSON SALES TAX, POTENTIALLY PUTTING STORES AT A DISADVANTAGE.

THAT MONEY, WHICH LAST YEAR AMOUNTED TO $634 MILLION, IS SPLIT, WITH HALF GOING TO THE STATE AND HALF GOING TO CITIES AND COUNTIES.

OF THE STATE'S PORTION, 75% GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND AND $25% TO THE ETF.

FOR THE LOCALS, 60 PERCENT GOES TO MUNICIPALITIES AND 40 PERCENT GOES TO COUNTIES.

UNLIKE IN PERSON SALES TAXES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PASS THE REVENUE ON THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.

PARCA ARGUES THAT MEANS SCHOOLS SYSTEMS COULD BE MISSING OUT ON THOSE DOLLARS.

SUPPORTS OF THE ONLINE SALES TAX, INCLUDING STATE SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON, CALLED THE REPORT DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE THE POINT ALL ALONG WAS TO FIND AN EQUITABLE WAY TO COLLECT THE TAX DOLLARS WHILE HELPING THE LONG-STARVED GENERAL FUND AND HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK FOR A PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WEEK AHEAD IN THE LEGISLATURE.

REPORTER: RANDY SCOTT AND KAREN GOLDSMITH.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON ANOTHER PANEL DISCUSSION.

>> SURE.

NO PROBLEM.

>> STARTING THE WEEK; RIGHT.

HERE WE ARE, SEVEN DAYS TOGETHER IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.

IT'S MONDAY, AND THE WEEK BEGINS LEGISLATIVELY ON TUESDAY SO WE CAN KIND OF GET A PREVIEW OF WHAT IS EXPECTED.

SEVEN DAYS TO GO WILL BE OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS.

BUT I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT.

AND KAREN I WILL START WITH YOU IN THE SENATE.

I KNOW LAST WEEK THERE WERE SLOW DOWNS.

YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY THEY GO AT A PRETTY GOOD CLIP GETTING THOSE BILLS THROUGH.

IF SOMEBODY IS UPSET THEY CAN SLOW IT DOWN.

I'M CURIOUS IF YOU THINK THOSE ISSUES ARE PAST THEM AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO THE THAT PACE OR IF THOSE ISSUES MIGHT REMAIN.

>> FIRST OF ALL I'M HOPEFUL THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE WE HYPED THEM.

ON THURSDAY, WE THOUGHT THEY WERE BEHIND THEM.

JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT KNOW.

THERE WERE THREE SOMEBODIES WHO WERE UPSET.

SENATOR MERICA COLEMAN THAT REMOVES THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO BRING A CIVIL CASE FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE VICTIMS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE.

IT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP FOR A ZERO VOTE NO JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND SHE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THAT SO SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO SPEAK TO THE EXCELLENT UNTIL WE SINE DIE.

WE KNOW SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON WAS NOT HAPPY WITH LAWMAKERS NOT PUTTING IN FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOL OF HEALTHCARE SCIENCES, THE ALABAMA'S GOVERNOR RECOMMENDED.

INSTEAD OF FUNDING FOR THAT SCHOOL THAT WOULD BE IN THIS AREA IT'S NOW BEING REDUCED TO A FEES BIT STUDY.

AND RODGER SMITHERMAN WAS NOT HAPPY BECAUSE THEY KILLED HIS EXPULSION BILL.

THE VOTE WAS 11-20, A PRETTY BIG KILL ON THE BILL AND HE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THAT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE HAD A BILL THAT WAS PASSABLE DUE TO NEGOTIATIONS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES AND WITH HIS FELLOW COLLEAGUES AND NO ONE TOLD THEM THEY WERE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

THOSE WERE THE THREE SLOW DOWNS AND WE SNOW SMITHERMAN AND SINGLETON ARE MASTERS AS SLOWING DOWN.

ON THURSDAY THINGS WERE MOVING ALONG.

THEN THE CALENDAR WAS BROUGHT UP.

AND THERE WAS A BILL ON THE CALENDAR, THE ESG BILL, THE 1ST BILL ON THE SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR, WHICH FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW OTHER BILLS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THAT DAY ON FLOOR DEBATE.

HE WENT TO THE PODIUM AND SAID I HAD AGREED TO STAND DOWN FOR MY POSITION OF SLOWING THE PROCESS DOWN IF WE BROUGHT BACK THE CALENDAR FROM TUESDAY.

AND THAT CALENDAR AND NOT ANY OTHER BILLS.

AND YOU ALL BROUGHT BACK THE CALENDAR WITH THIS ADDITIONAL BILL THAT I DIDN'T AGREE TO.

SO HE RESTARTED THE PROCESS AGAIN.

AND I THINK SEVERAL HOURS LATER EVENTUALLY WE GOT OUT OF THERE.

HOPEFULLY ON TUESDAY, THEY'VE ALL WORKED EVERYTHING OUT AND WE WILL BE BACK TO A HARMONIOUS, FAST PACED AND RODGER SMITHERMAN AS U.S. HAS ALWAYS SAID, THEY'RE KNOWN FOR PASSING LARGE NUMBERS OF BILLS IN A FEW HOURS.

SO THEY CAN DO IT.

AND HOPEFULLY, ON TUESDAY, YOU KNOW, WE WILL SEE THEM GO BACK TO A NORMAL PACE.

>> WHEN THEY ADJOURNED ON THURSDAY, THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO PASS AND SENATOR REED INDICATED THOSE BILLS COULD BE BACK UP ON TUESDAY.

RANDY, GOING DOWN TO THE HOW DOES, WHEN YOU TALK TOOT SPEAKER, OTHERS IN HOUSE LEADERSHIP, DO THEY THINK THERE'S ENOUGH TIME LEFT IN THIS SESSION WITH SEVEN DAYS TO GET THE PRIORITY BILLS THEY WANT PASSED THROUGH.

>> YES.

THEY SAY THERE'S ENOUGH TIME TO GET BILLS PASSED THROUGH.

WILL THEY?

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE THOSE PRIORITY BILLS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION, ONE AT A TIME BEING THE GROCERY TAX ISSUE.

THAT HASN'T REALLY HIT THEM YET WHICH IS COMING UP.

WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER BILLS COMING THROUGH COMMITTEE THAT HAVE DEFINITELY TAKEN TIME TO GET THROUGH AND CAUSE SOME ANGST IN COMMITTEE, OTHER BILLS THAT HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF TALK -- FOR INSTANCE LAST WEEK IN HEALTH, THERE'S BILLS DEALING WITH THE DEFINITION OF TRANSGENDER PERSONS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THAT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING.

BUT MORE PEOPLE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK WHO SAID AS LONG AS THE BILL KEEPS OF KEEPS COMING UP THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK.

WHAT AFFECT THEY WILL HAVE ON THE DISCUSSION IS YET TO BE SCENE.

WE HAVE BILLS LIKE THAT TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH COMMITTEE TO MOVE TO THE HOUSE ON TOP OF OTHER BILLS THAT ARE EVEN COMING DOWN FROM THE SENATE THAT HOUSE MEMBERS ARE GOING THROUGH AS WELL.

THERE'S A LOT ON THE PLATE TO GET DONE BUT THEY STILL HAVE FOCUS ON THOSE PRIORITY ISSUES, LIKE I SAID, GROCERY TAX BEING ONE OF THEM ALSO THE BUDGETS.

WE KNOW THE BUDGETS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO YOU, THEY'RE COMING AS WELL TOO SO THAT GETS THEIR ATTENTION AS WELL TOO.

GETTING TO THEM, THAT IS THE QUESTION.

>> THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY NEXT TOPIC.

AND SINCE YOU COVER THE HOUSE, SO THE FOLKS KNOW, THE EDUCATION BUDGET PASSED THE SENATE AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

GENERAL FUND BUDGET A PASSED THE HOUSE AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

THE BIGGEST OF THE TWO SO OBVIOUSLY EDUCATION.

IT HAS THAT HUGE SUPPLEMENTAL THAT'S PROVEN TO BE CONTROVERSIAL.

AND SO CHAIRMAN GARRETT SAYS IT WILL BE IN COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY AND ON THE FLOOR ON THURSDAY.

RANDY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE DOES THAT MEAN A VERY LONGS DAY ON THURSDAY AS THE BUDGET COMES THROUGH?

>> HONESTLY I THINK EVERYONE HAS CON A LOT OF WORK AND TALKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND TALKING TO CHAIRMAN GARRETT.

HE SAID A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE HAVE BEEN CONTACTING HIS OFFICE WITH QUESTIONS, TALKING ABOUT THIS WHICH BASIS THE WAY FOR IT TO COME AND BE DEALT WITH IN WHAT SHOULD BE AN EASY GOING MANNER.

I SAY THAT WITH A CAVEAT AND AFT RISK BY IT BECAUSE YOU MAY NEVER KNOW WHO MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT IN THE LAST MINUTE.

BUT FOR ALL EARLY INDICATIONS FROM THE CHAIRMAN, THEY SAID MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB TALKING ABOUT IT BEFOREHAND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO GET WHERE IT WON'T BE A STALLING ISSUE ONCE IT HITS OR KNOCKING THE TRAIN OFF THE TRACKS ISSUE.

THEY WANT TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF AND, BY THE WAY, IT IS ONE OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO TAKE CARE OF BOTH THE EDUCATION AND THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS AND THEY WANT TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF AND DO IT IN A TIMELY FASHION.

IF THERE ARE LATER THE QUESTIONS DOWN THE LINE OR THREE THIS OUT THERE, IF THE GOVERNOR SEES SOMETHING THAT SHE DOESN'T LIKE AND DECIDES TO CHANGE IT, THEY CAN COME BACK AND MAKE ANOTHER CHANGE IF THEY NEED TO.

>> KAREN YOU HAVE THE GENERAL FUND UPSTAIRS, WHICH PROBABLY ISN'T NEAR LIVE AS CONTROVERSIAL.

I MEAN DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THAT IS MUCH IN THE HOUSE.

MAYBE SOME CHANGES.

BUT WHAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT ARE THESE TAX BILLS THAT ACTUALLY IMPACT THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

BUT THE HOUSE HAS BEEN PASSING THESE TAX CUTS, KIND OF SMALL, RIGHT, BUT THEY ADD UP.

IT'S PROBABLY ALMOST A DOZEN OF THEM.

THEY'RE KIND OF SITTING RIGHT THERE IN THE SENATE BUDGET EDUCATION COMMITTEE, SENATOR OR'S COMMITTEE.

SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND OTHERS ABOUT WILL THEY MOVE THESE BILLS?

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EVERY TAX CUT LIKE THIS TAKES A LITTLE MONEY FROM THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND.

>> THE HALLMARK OF THIS REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY HAS BEEN SAVING NOT SPENDING.

SO KEEPING THAT IN MIND, IF -- I'M SURE SOMETHING WILL MOVE BUT I'M SURE IT WILL BE VERY LIMITED AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS AND DELIBERATIVE AND WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO MOVE AND NOT MOVE.

WE KNOW THE GROCERY TAX IS THE BIG AND THE FACT MOST POPULAR AND ONE THAT WILL IMPACT EVERY ALABAMIAN AND IT WILL SAVE EVERYBODY, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON THE INCOME RANGE, SOME MONEY.

SO I DO THAT SEE MOVING FORWARD AND SUCCESSFULLY MOVING FORWARD.

THIS IS ME PONTIFF INDICATING.

>> WELL, I ASKED YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

I WILL SAY THIS.

SENATOR OR IN PARTICULAR, I REMEMBER HIM MAKING COMMENTS DURING THE GAME PLAN DISCUSSION, TAX AND SENATE BILLS AND BEING VERY CAUTIOUS.

I REMEMBER DURING THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION WHERE WE TALK TO HIM TO HAVE -- IF HE COULD PREDICT WHAT MOVES WILL BE MADE REGARDING THE BUDGETS HE MENTIONED TO, MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS.

THOSE WERE HIS EXACT WORDS WHICH SHOCKED ME BECAUSE IT'S A VERY POPULAR RAP SONG BUT THAT'S WHAT HE SAID AND HE SAID WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM EDUCATION.

I REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN ALL SAT HERE AT THIS TABLE AND WE WERE DISCUSSING IF IT WAS GOING TO BE THE GROCERY TAX OR REBATE AND WHAT FORMS IT WOULD COME IN AND I'M SURE I SAID SOMEBODY WILL HEAR THE WORD NO.

AND WE SAW THE TAXPAYER GO FROM $400 TO 100.

AND SO I SEE HIM MOVING VERY CAUTIOUSLY.

WE HEARD FROM SENATOR REED TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING LURED INTO MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE PERMANENT TO OUR TAX CODE AND OUR TAX RECEIPTS BECAUSE WE'RE LIVING IN SURPLUS DAYS TODAY.

WE KNOW WE ARE ANTICIPATING A RECESSION SOMETIMES THIS YEAR.

SO EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE CAREFULLY AND BE VERY JUDICIOUS AND DELIBERATE AND AS THE SENATOR ALWAYS SAYS, INTENTIONAL ON WHAT TAX BILLS WE DO OR DO NOT PASS.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE.

THIS IS MONEY FOR EDUCATION.

WE KNOW OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS STRUGGLING.

OUR KIDS ARE STRUGGLING.

WE MADE A LOT OF GREAT INVESTMENTS WITH THE LITERACY ACT AND THE NUMERACY ACT BUT WE'RE PUTTING IN A HUGE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO HELP K-12 CHILDREN, TWO YEARS SCHOOLS AND HIGHER EDUCATION SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAUTIOUS.

BUT SENATOR OR DOES HAVE THREE TAX INCENTIVE BILLS TO RULES RECEIPTS TO ETF.

>> HIS OWN BILLS.

>> I THINK 46, 47, 48 OR 47, 48, 49, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

FEEL FREE IT LOOK IT UP.

AND HE HAS SENATE BILL 299 WHICH WILL SUNSET SOME OF THESE TAX INCENTIVES AFTER DECEMBER 31, 200028 WHICH WILL PUT BACK IN THE ETF UNLESS THE LEGISLATOR AT THAT TIME DECIDES TO RENEW SOME OF THOSE.

SO IT'S A LOT TO CONSIDER AND I KNOW THE WAY THESE GUYS MOVE AND LADIES.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING.

>> WE CAN'T LEAVE YOU OUT OF THIS SITUATION AND WE KNOW YOU ARE THE EDUCATION MAN.

AND SCHOOL CHOICE WE'RE ALL BEEN FOLLOWING.

TWO SCHOOL CHOICE BILLS DID COME OUT OF WHICH I.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> ON THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL CHOICE I KEEP GETTING ASKED WILL SCHOOL CHOICE HAPPEN THIS YEAR?

AND IT'S NOT -- IT'S KIND OF A WEIRD WAY TO ASK IT.

MOST OF THE TIMES PEOPLE SKIT, THEY MEAN THE PRICE ACT THEY CALL IT, WHICH IS KIND OF THE WHOLE HOG VOUCHER, $6,900, THE PARENTS CAN GET FROM ETF TO SEND TO PRIVATE SCHOOL OR HOMESCHOOL OR WHATEVER.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO PASS THIS YEAR.

IT MIGHT MAKE IT THROUGH COMMITTEE.

IT MIGHT MAKE IT ON THE FLOOR.

I JUST HEAR SO MANY IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY THAT HAVE A BIG PROBLEM NOT JUST WITH -- HAD PROBLEM ENOUGH WITH 500 MILLION FROM THE ETF.

BIGGER PROBLEMS FROM THOSE WHO SUPPORT SCHOOL CHOICE OR SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATES FROM THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.

IF WE GIVE YOU THIS MONEY THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT SAYS THE STUDENT IS MAKING PROGRESS AND THE LACK OF THAT IN THAT BILL I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY KILLS IT.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD IN COMMITTEE.

I PASSED IN COMMITTEE.

>> IT DID PASS.

>> IT AND THE CHANGES TO THE AAA BILL.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

I SEE THAT AS MUCH MORE LIKELY, CHANGES TO THE ALABAMA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.

THIS IS THE ONE WHERE FAMILIES CAN GET TAX CREDITS AND SCHOLARSHIPS, FOR THOSE IN THE STATE'S WORST PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

THAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT IT BRINGS MORE SCHOOLS INTO THAT LOWEST PERFORMING, CHANGES IT FROM FAILING TO PRIORITY, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT THAT JUST INCREASES THE UNIVERSE OF STUDENTS THAT GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

I SEE THAT, AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A SCHOOL CHOICE MEASURE.

SO SOME PEOPLE ASK IS SCHOOL CHOICE GOING TO PASS THIS YEAR?

YES, IT PASSES IN THAT BUT MAYBE NOT THE BIGGER VOUCHER THINGS THAT -- >> AND AAA, WE KNOW.

IT'S EXISTING.

SO IT'S FAMILIAR TO US.

WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

AS COMFORTABLE AS WE CAN BE ANYWAY.

>> SO THANK YOU.

YES.

WE WANTED THIS SEGMENT ALSO TO INCLUDE QUESTIONS YOU HAD FOR ME BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS THE ONE ASKING THE QUESTIONS.

FIRE AWAY.

>> SINCE YOU'RE IN THE HOT CHAIR.

PLEAT ADD A LITTLEWOOD TO THAT FIRE.

THERE WAS ONE TOPIC THAT WAS TAU TALKED ABOUT A LOT BEFORE THE SESSION STARTED.

EVEN LAST YEAR LEADING INTO THIS YEAR TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING WHICH HAS BEEN ON EVERY THOUGHT OF A SESSION FOR THE LAST 10, 20 YEARS, JUST ABOUT.

AS OF THIS POINT, IT'S BEEN PRETTY PERSONA NON GRATA.

NOTHING HAS BEEN MENTIONED ABOUT GAMBLING IN A WHILE.

LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OR KAREN WAS SAYING, PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT REFUND THAT PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK, WHICH HAS BEEN DWINDLING OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

I WAS OUT WITH SOME PEOPLE AT A GRADUATION EVENT THIS WEEKEND.

EVERYONE WAS ASKING ME.

SO WHAT ABOUT GAMBLING?

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, LIKE THE REFUND.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH GAMBLING.

THEY'RE JUST WAITING TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO PROGRESS WITH THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH GAMBLING THIS YEAR?

>> IT HAS BEEN CURIOUS.

UP UNTIL LATE LAST WEEKS THERE HAVE BEEN NO GAMBLING BILLS FILED.

NO LOTTERY, NO CASINO, NO SPORTS VETTING, AND I SAY LATE LAST WEEK BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN SENATOR SINGLETON INTRODUCED A LOCAL BINGO DEALING WITH THEM LOCALLY.

AND GREEN COUNTY IS KIND OF A SPECIAL CASE.

BUT YEAH, PRETTY CURIOUS THAT NOBODY HAS EVEN FLOATED A BILL, RIGHT?

USUALLY YOU WILL AT LEAST HAVE SOMEBODY HAVING A PAPER LOTTERY BILL.

SENATOR MCCLENDON USED TO DO THAT OR OTHERS.

SO NOTHING LIKE THAT THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE MARY SELL WHO LOOKS INTO THAT I SAY THINGS AND WE GOT REALLY CURIOUS AND STARTED ASKING AROUND AND DISCOVERED THAT ACTUAL THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES BUT IT'S ALL BEHIND THE SCENES AND INFORMAL.

IT'S NOT I LIKE A COMMITTEE LOOKING AT IT OR ANYTHING.

THEY CALL IT AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF INTERESTED PEOPLE, LIKE SENATOR BLACKSHEAR, REPRESENTATIVE BLACKSHEAR.

SOME OF THESE LIKE REPRESENTATIVE WITH IT.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT, OKAY, OBVIOUSLY THE BIG BILL THAT KALE THROUGH, PASSED THE SENATE, THIS IS IT CASINO, LOTTERY AND SPORTS BOOK -- CAME TO THE HOUSE, CAME CLOSE TO PASSING, I MEAN PROBABLY AT THE END OF THE DAY HAD THE VOTES BUT THEY RAN OUT OF TIME AND NEGOTIATIONS AND EVERYTHING.

SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN PASS, WHAT ARE HOUSE MEMBERS INTERESTED IN, WHO COULD POSSIBLY GET THROUGH, KNOWING THAT THE GOVERNOR IS INTERESTED IN THIS AND APPARENTLY SHE HAS SAID, LOOK, IF Y'ALL CALL THE VOTES, I WILL CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND LET'S DO THIS.

SO IT GOES BACK TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

WE HEAR A LOT FROM VIEWERS AND FOLKS THAT COME TO THE STATEHOUSE SAYING WELL, WE WANT A LOTTERY.

AND OF COURSE IF YOU JUST PUT A LOTTERY BILL ON THE FLOOR IT WILL MASS.

WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE IS THE OTHER GAMBLING FACTIONS, THE CASINOS AND SPORTS BOOKS FOCUS DON'T WANT STRAIGHT UP LOTTERY TO PASS BECAUSE THEY MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE LEGALIZATION BILL SO THAT'S ONE PIECE THAT BECOMES THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK IT ACTUALLY COULD -- WE COULD SEE A SPECIAL SESSION.

WE COULD SEE THIS AS THE BIG TICKET ITEM NEXT SESSION.

I CERTAINLY THANK EVERYONE FROM LEADERSHIP DOWN, LET'S TAKE A BREAK ON GAMBLING AND MAYBE THAT'S -- MAYBE THAT BREAK IS WELL RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE BODY.

>> WE DEALT WITH SOME BIG STUFF THIS SESSION.

ARPA, GAME PLAN, IF YOU HAD THROWN A LOTTERY IN, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE RETIRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SESSION.

>> 1 BILL THAT IS TALKED A LOT ABOUT IN IS THE STREETS COMMITTEE.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT 24/7 AND PEOPLE ARE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO DO AND THEIR GOING TO LET THEM HEAR IT ONCE THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE.

>> SO WE WILL SEE.

BUT I AGREE WITH YOU.

GOODNESS IF HAD YOU THROWN THAT ON TOP, WE WOULD HAVE -- WE'RE TIRED ENOUGH BUT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUR SECOND WIND IN THIS HOME STRETCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK ON FOR MORE PANEL DISCUSSIONS AS WE GET FORWARD.

BUT THANKS AGAIN.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE "S" WORD, SPECIAL SESSION.

>> HEY, YOU KNOW, JUST GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A MONTH OF BREATHING ROOM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

ED.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT 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.