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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IT WAS A LONG DAY HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE AS THE LEGISLATURE MET FOR THE 24TH DAY.

THAT LEAVES SIX LEGISLATIVE DAYS LEFT IN THIS REGULAR SESSION.

BEFORE THE HOUSE OR SENATE EVEN CONVENED, THERE WAS NEWS OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN BIRMINGHAM THAT WOULD DOMINATE THE DAY.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE REP. FRED PLUMP OF FAIRFIELD HAS AGREED TO RESIGN FOLLOWING AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE FACES FEDERAL CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME FROM PRIM ESCALONA, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA.

SHE SAID AN IRS AND FBI INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT PLUMP CONSPIRED WITH ANOTHER UNNAMED LAWMAKER TO DIRECT STATE FUNDED KICKBACKS THROUGH A NONPROFIT YOUTH BASEBALL PROGRAM.

>> PROSECUTORS SAID PLUMP'S NONPROFIT RECEIVED $400,000 IN STATE GRANTS, AND THEN IN TURN PAID $200,000 OF THOSE FUNDS IN KICKBACKS TO A FELLOW LAWMAKER'S ASSISTANT, WHO WAS ALSO PLUMP'S GIRLFRIEND.

THE OBSTRUCTION CHARGE COMES FROM PLUMP ALLEGEDLY TEXTING QUOTE "“RED ALERT"” TO OTHERS INVOLVED WHEN HE FOUND OUT HE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

LATER TODAY WE FOUND OUT WHO THE UNNAMED LAWMAKER WAS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN ROGERS OF BIRMINGHAM TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS THE ONE MENTIONED IN THE REPORT, BUT MAINTAINED THAT HE WAS INNOCENT OF ANY WRONGDOING.

ROGERS REFUSED TO SPEAK ON CAMERA, BUT HAD THIS TO SAY TO REPORTERS IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> "“I AIN'T SEEN A DIME.

ONCE YOU GIVE MONEY TO SOMEBODY, THEY DO WHAT THEY DO WITH IT, YOU CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.

FRED PLUMP, OVER FIVE YEARS, ACCORDING TO WHAT THE FBI SHOWED ME.

I HAD GIVEN HIM OVER $400,000, AND 50% OF THAT, HE GAVE TO A YOUNG LADY HE WAS DATING FOR FIVE YEARS.

THAT WAS MY ASSISTANT.

I DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY.

END QUOTE.

ON TO LEGISLATION.

THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DEBATE IN THE HOUSE TODAY OVER A BILL MEANT TO GROW THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY'S FOOTPRINT IN ALABAMA.

HOUSE BILL 429 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE KIEL WOULD ALLOW MORE PRODUCTION COMPANIES, INCLUDING THOSE IN FILM, MUSIC AND VIRTUAL REALITY, TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX INCENTIVES.

IT ALSO INCREMENTALLY RAISES THE CAP THE STATE IS ALLOWED TO ALLOCATE IN TAX CREDITS TO $65 MILLION NEXT YEAR, $110 MILLION THE YEAR AFTER THAT AND THEN $150,000 MILLION AFTER 2026.

DEBATE CENTERED AROUND AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BRING THAT FIRST YEAR'S CAP DOWN TO $50 MILLION.

>> SO, IN OUR LAND OF FREE MONEY AND TAKING IT OUT OF THE ETF, WE JUST SAID THIS IS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND THE FILM INDUSTRY AND AI.

IT'S UNLIMITED.

>> SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

>> I'LL ANSWER IT.

>> WHAT ARE YOU TAKING OUT?

IF A MOVIE DOESN'T COME, WHAT ARE YOU TAKING OUT?

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK IN THE FILM COMMISSION IN THE STATE?

>> BUT HOW MANY -- >> NO, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE FILM COMMISSION IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> BUT IF THEY DON'T COME, WHAT'S TAKEN OUT.

>> AGAIN, THE SIMPLE QUESTION WAS, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FILM COMMISSION, STATE OF ALABAMA.

THE ANSWER TO THAT, YOU DO NOT KNOW.

THEY HAVE VERY LIMITED STAFF.

>> OKAY.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE DIRECTOR WORKS PART-TIME.

OKAY.

AND I EVEN SPOKE TO THE SPONSOR REGARDING THE BILL, WORKED ON IT FOR -- WELL SINCE FEBRUARY.

MAYBE LONGER THAN THAT.

TO TRY TO GET A BILL.

>> WELL, YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THE BILL.

>> I'M IN FAVOR OF THE BILL AS IT IS, NOT WITH THE UNLIMITED CAP >> THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED AND THE BILL PASSED 101-1.

IT NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

THE SENATE AGAIN BOGGED DOWN IN A LENGTHY FILIBUSTER TODAY.

THIS TIME, IT WAS OVER LEGISLATION MAKING UPDATES TO THE ALABAMA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, THE STATE'S ORIGINAL SCHOOL CHOICE BILL.

SENATE BILL 263 FROM STATE SENATOR DONNIE CHESTEEN WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN STRUGGLING SCHOOLS ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND TAX CREDITS TO ATTEND OTHER SCHOOLS.

IT WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIPS ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE AS WELL AS THE TOTAL AMOUNT THE STATE CAN LEVERAGE TOWARD TAX CREDITS.

DEMOCRATS, LED BY STATE SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON, ARGUED THE MEASURE TAKES AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> WHAT IF 50 EIGHTH GRADERS GO OVER TO THE SCHOOL AND THEY ALREADY GOT 50 AND THAT DIVIDES US 20 PER CLASSROOM.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE DIVISOR IS SO LOW, THEY CAN HAVE THAT ONE ON ONE INTERVENTION AND TEACH THE CHILDREN THEY WANT TO.

NOW YOU DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE CLASSROOM AND HOW DO YOU HAVE THE VET ON THAT?

>> WELL, THAT'S UP TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, THE CAPACITY, IF THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM TO TAKE 50 STUDENTS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE, THE LOCAL BOARD DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THEY HANDLE.

>> AFTER FIVE HOURS OF DEBATE, THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE STATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TOOK UP LEGISLATION CREATING NEW CRIMES AND PENALTIES FOR HANDLING ANOTHER PERSON'S ABSENTEE BALLOT.

REPUBLICANS SAY THE MEASURE IS NEEDED TO PREVENT BALLOT HARVESTING BUT DEMOCRATS SAY IT AMOUNTS TO VOTER SUPPRESSION, PARTICULARLY FOR THE ELDERLY.

HOUSE BILL 209 IS SPONSORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE KIEL, WHO AGREED TO AMEND THE BILL TO DOWNGRADE THE FELONY CHARGES.

THE AMENDMENT ALSO REMOVES DISTRIBUTING ABSENTEED BALLOT APPLICATIONS FROM THE ACTIONS DEEMED AS CRIMES AND MAKES SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> WE WANT TO BE SURE THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR CRIMINAL OR FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOR TO HAPPEN.

AND WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO BE UNDULY INFLUENCED WHILE EITHER FILL OUT THE APPLICATION OR WHEN THEY TAKE THE BALLOT.

WE DON'T WANT THE PERSON TO BE UNDULY INFLUENCED.

AND THE PEOPLE WE'VE LISTED ARE PEOPLE TO BE TRUSTED.

THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR SOMEBODY THAT LIVES WITH THEM OR IT'S BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THAT ARE ELECTED AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE.

HB-209 IS THE WORST THING I'VE SEEN SINCE SHELBY VERSUS HOLDER.

AND IT'S THE UNMANTLING OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU MAKE IT A FELONY TO HELP SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES VOTE.

>> THE BILL PASSED COMMITTEE AND NOW GOES TO THE FULL SENATE.

A SPECIAL EVENT TODAY HONORING A SPECIAL PUBLIC SERVANT.

STATE EMPLOYEES HAVE NOTICED A MASSIVE NEW PARKING DECK GOING UP BEHIND THE FOLSOM BUILDING ON RIPLEY STREET.

THAT WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF FORMER FINANCE DIRECTOR KELLY BUTLER, WHO RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR MORE STATE EMPLOYEE PARKING.

BUTLER RETIRED LAST YEAR, CITING A DIAGNOSIS OF ALS, SOMETIMES KNOWN AS LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE.

TODAY, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY OFFICIALLY NAMED THAT PARKING DECK IN HONOR OF BUTLER, WHO WORKED MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

IVEY APPLAUDED KELLY FOR HIS SERVICE AND FOR THE ALS AWARENESS WORK HE IS DOING IN RETIREMENT.

>> GOVERNOR: FOLKS, IT'S A REAL PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE ALABAMA'S VERY BEST.

HE SPENT HIS ENTIRE LIFE SERVING OTHERS AND WORKING FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

BUT WHETHER IT WAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OR SERVE AS MY FINANCE DIRECTOR, KELLY HAS CONSISTENTLY SET THE STANDARD FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EXEMPLARY PUBLIC SERVANT.

HE STEADIED ALABAMA'S FINANCIAL SHIP THROUGH SOME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIMES AND IS SOMEONE I KNOW I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON.

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND OTHER PLACES THAT WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS BUILDING.

AND THEY DESERVE A LOT OF THANKS ALSO FOR GETTING THIS ACCOMPLISHED.

SO, I GUESS TO SUM UP, IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM, TRY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, WAIT FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

AND THEN, MOST IMPORTANTLY, GO TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO REALLY KNOWS MORE ABOUT IT THAN YOU DO.

AND SEE IF IT WORKS.

[APPLAUSE] >> WE ARE PROUD OF YOU KELLY AND WE'RE ROOTING FOR YOU.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TODD STACY: JOINING ME NEXT STATE SENATOR DONNIE CHASTANG.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> YOUR BIG BILL REVISIONS TO THE ALABAMA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.

THIS WAS KIND OF THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL CHOICE BILL, LAW THAT WAS PASSED YEARS AGO AND YOUR BILL UPDATE ITS.

WALK ME THROUGH THE HIGH POINTS.

YOU ARE RIGHT WE PASSED THIS FIRST BACK IN 2013.

WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WITH THE MODIFICATIONS, EXPAND IT, GIVING STUDENTS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

STARTED WITH RAISING THE POVERTY THRESHOLD FROM 1985% TO 250%, SO A FAMILY OF FOUR IN THE ORIGINAL BILL COULD MAKE $51,000 A YEAR AND QUALIFY.

AND BY RAISING IT TO 250% POVERTY THRESHOLD, THEY CAN MAKE RIGHT AT $70,000 AND QUALIFY FOR A SCHOLAR SHIP.

DOING THAT, IT BROUGHT MORE STUDENTS AND MADE MORE STUDENTS ELIGIBLE.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE LOOKED AT DOING.

WE REMOVED THE FAILING LANGUAGE.

WE WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM THE FAILING AND USE THE STATE REPORT CARD, THE GRADE THAT GOES OUT TO SCHOOLS EVERY YEAR.

AND YOU USED THE D AND F, AND WE WERE CALLING HIS SCHOOLS PRIORITY SCHOOLS.

THE FAILING SCHOOLS IN THE PRIOR LEGISLATION, 79 SCHOOLS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

BY INCLUDING THE D AND F SCHOOLS, WE NOW HAVE 212 SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFY.

SO, BY DOING THOSE TWO THINGS ALONE, WE'VE EXPANDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY STUDENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY SCHOLARSHIP.

>> AND DRAMATICALLY EXPANDS THE UNIVERSE OF CHILDREN WHO UNDERSTAND IT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

AND LIKE YOU DESCRIBED, SOMEBODY IS IN A STRUGGLING SCHOOL AND THEIR PARENTS WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE CHILD TO A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, PRIVATE SCHOOL SCENARIO NOT ONLY ARE TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE BUT THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET THEIR KIDS OUT OF THAT SCHOOL TO A QUALIFYING PUBLIC OR NON PUBLIC SCHOOL.

AND ANOTHER CHANGE WE MADE, RAISING, PRIOR IN THE OLD LEGISLATION, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS QUALIFIED FOR $6,000, MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP WAS $8,000 AND HIGH SCHOOL WAS $10,000.

SO WHAT WE DID RAISED THE CAP UP TO $10,000 PER STUDENT REGARDLESS OF THE GRADE.

>> WHEN YOU TALKED TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THESE REVISIONS ARE GOING TO BE EXCITING FOR FAMILIES.

DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BUY INTO THIS AND PARTICIPATE AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST ONCE THE WORD IS OUT THAT'S -- >> THAT'S THE INTENT.

THESE PARENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR AS TO THE GRADE THAT THEIR SCHOOL MADE, WHETHER D, OR F, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

THE DEADLINE FOR THE PARENTS TO REGISTER FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS IS JUNE 30.

THEN AFTER THAT TIME, THE REMAINING SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE ARE THE FIRST TIME SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS FIRST 75 PERCENT AND REMAINING 25% IS FOR ANY SCHOOL THAT WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP.

>> WHEN IT CAME TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BILL, THE PRICE BILL, ONE OF THE BIG FAVORS AGAINST IT IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

FOLKS SAID LOOK YOU GOT TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY IN IT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRESS GOING ON.

WHAT'S ABOUT YOUR BILL?

FOLLOWING THE STUDENTS GOING FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER?

ARE WE ABLE TO TRACK THAT.

>> RIGHT, CORRECT.

WE KEPT THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE REVISION OF THIS AAA THAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL BILL.

PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE TESTED ON THE ACAP TEST THEY TAKE EVERY SPRING.

AND THE STUDENTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE TESTED ON WHATEVER NORM REFERENCE TEST IT IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN USING.

WE KEPT THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS IN THIS LEGISLATION AS WELL.

>> ON THAT SAME POINT, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE PRICE BILL AND CONSIDER IT, THAT'S THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL.

AND WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THE SESSION, AND IT DOESN'T PASS, YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR LEGISLATURE SAY THEY DIDN'T DO SCHOOL PASS.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE ARGUING?

>> THE PRICE ACT CAN STAND ON ITS OWN.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO, THE INTENT OF THAT LEGISLATION.

NOT AT ALL.

I THINK IT HAS SOME WORK TO BE DONE, AS FAR AS ACCOUNTABILITY SIDE.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO THE PLACE WHERE THERE ARE SOME STANDARDS IN THERE THAT WE KNOW HOW THESE KIDS ARE DOING.

RIGHT.

>> BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO PUSH THE ACCOUNTABILITY BILL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

ONE THING THAT I DID MENTION IS, WE INCLUDED IN THIS PIECE AN ESCALATOR.

IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE THE ORIGINAL PASSAGE OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT AND ONLY HIT THE CAP, $30 MILLION CAP TWO YEARS.

LAST YEAR, SENATOR ROBERTS PASSED THE LEGISLATION THAT EXTENDS THE TAX CREDIT UP TO $100,000 A YEAR.

WE'RE HOPING THAT WILL HELP THE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH THE GOAL TO HAVE THE $40 MILLION CAP.

AND IN ORDER TO GROW THE CAP ANOTHER $10 MILLION, THE SGOS HAVE TO HIT 90% OF THEIR GOALS THREE OUT OF FOUR YEARS.

WE BUILT IN A DOWN YEAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR INTENT TO KEEP IT FROM EXPANDING.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE CAP BUT THERE'S WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR IT TO HIT THE ESCALATOR.

>> TODD STACY: WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THE BILL AND THANK YOU, SENATOR, FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT, FORMER CONGRESSMAN JO BONNER, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> TODD IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BACK ON THE SHOW.

I THINK WHEN I LEFT GOVERNOR IVEY'S OFFICE AND WHEN YOU WERE ABOUT COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE IN MONTGOMERY AND TRAVELING THE STATE TODAY.

LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

I KNOW YOU ARE CELEBRATING 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND TELL ME ALL THAT'S HAPPENING.

ESPECIALLY, THE MEDICAL SCHOOL HAS JUST MADE HUGE STRIDES.

IT'S TALKED ABOUT HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

>> IT SHOULD BE, BECAUSE MONTGOMERY HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF SOME OF THE PLANS WE'VE GOT.

YOU ARE RIGHT, WE CELEBRATED EARLIER THIS MONTH, OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND JUST TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, TOOK THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ABOUT 141 YEARS TO GET OUR SIZE.

AUBURN ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS.

SO, IN MUCH LESS TIME, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 13,500 STUDENTS AND HOPING FOR A BIG ENROLLMENT THIS COMING FALL.

WE KICKED OFF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO IN MOBILE.

AND WE DID IT WITH A COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THOSE WHO HELPED US GET WHERE WE ARE, DOCTOR WHIDDON, PRESIDENT MOULTON AND DOCTOR WALTER.

AND WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE, THE NEXT 60 YEARS WHERE THIS UNIVERSITY CAN GO NOT ONLY A REGIONAL UNIVERSITY IN MOBILE AND BIBB COUNTY BUT REALLY AS A FLAGSHIP OF THE GULF COAST.

AND THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY WE SEE IN FRONT OF US.

HEALTHCARE IS A BIG PART OF IT.

BACK WHEN KNIVES THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND LONG BEFORE I KNEW THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO GO TO WORK AT SOUTH, GOVERNOR IVEY AND OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, BUTLER KELLY, WERE ABLE TO INVEST PREMIUM BOND MONEY IN THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL.

AND SENATOR SHELBY, AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS, HE HELPED US GET $60 MILLION.

AND THEN THE USA FOUNDATION -- USA FOUNDATION PUT IN MONEY IN THE BANK MORE THAN $45 MILLION.

AND THAT'S ALLOWED US TO HAVE THE MOST NEWEST, STATE OF THE ART MEDICAL SCHOOL IN AMERICA.

AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT 42% OF OUR STUDENTS COME TO SOUTH BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH PROGRAMS WHETHER IT'S NURSING -- WE HAVE THE LARGEST COLLEGE OF NURSING IN THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE A NURSING SHORTAGE NATIONALLY.

AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST NURSING GRADUATE PROGRAMS, ALLIED HEALTH, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH AUBURN UNIVERSITY.

AND HEALTHCARE IS WHAT WE BUILD ON FOR THE FUTURE.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO WAKE UP AND SAY, OH, WE'VE GOT TOO MUCH HEALTHCARE, WE'RE TOO HEALTHY AND WE DON'T NEED THAT.

>> YOU.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND NURSING PROGRAM AND WE'VE TALKED ON THIS PROGRAM FOR WEEKS, ABOUT DOCTOR AND NURSING SHORTAGE.

THEY PASSED BILLS HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO FIX BOTH OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

I KNOW YOU ARE RIGHT ON IT.

I KNOW YOU ACQUIRED PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL.

RIGHT, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF IT IT WAS ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO, A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

PROVIDENCE IS OLDEST HOSPITAL IN MOBILE BUILT IN THE 1850S.

BUT IT HAS BEEN A PART OF THE ASCENSION CATHOLIC NETWORK.

AND ASCENSION NOTIFIED US LAST APRIL THEY WERE GOING TO ACCESSES THE MOBILE MARKET.

THEY GAVE US THE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL AND WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

AND ON ANY GIVEN DAY, OUR HOSPITALS THAT WE HAVE, UNIVERSITY AND CHILDRENS' AND WOMEN ARE ABOUT 130% CAPACITY.

AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WAITING TO GET A ROOM.

THIS IS GOING TO OPEN UP ROOMS THAT WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO.

GO BACK TO THE TEACHERS, NURSING, AND DOCTORS, OTHERS IN THE HEALTHCARE, THIS IS GOING TO BECOME A TEACHING LABORATORY FOR THEM, ANOTHER REAL ASSET FOR US NOT ONLY IN MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTY BUT REALLY THE ENTIRE GULF COAST.

>> I KNOW YOU HAD A RECENT SIGNIFICANT GIFT, PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

>> RIGHT, AMAZING.

MITCHELL FAMILY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST GENEROUS, MAYER, BUBBA AND HIS WIFE, ARLENE, HIS SISTER, TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS NEVER TAKEN A SINGLE CLASS AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA AND THEY SAID THEY MADE THEIR MONEY IN SOUTH ALABAMA AND THEY WANTED TO DEDICATE ALL OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO HELPING THE REGION.

THEY CHOSE THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

AND ABE MITCHELL, WHO MADE THE $20 MILLION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, THINK HE HAS DONATED OVER $120 MILLION AND THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

COMING FROM CAMDEN, ALABAMA, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY ZEROS ON OUR CALCULATOR.

WE'RE ON 1200 ACRES OF LAND, USED TO BE WEST MOBILE AND MOBILE HAS GROWN REALLY TO THAT PART OF THE CITY OUT TO US.

THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS AND FACULTY BENEFIT FROM, BUT WHEN IT'S COMPLETED, WE THINK THE WHOLE REGION AND COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

I CAN'T TALK TO YOU TOO MUCH ABOUT FORMER WORK BUT IN CONGRESS THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

DEBT LIMIT, SENATOR TURBERVILLE MILITARY ON HOLD.

SPECIFICALLY ON THE DEBT LIMITS, YOU REMEMBER THE BUDGETS AND HOW TOUGH THEY COULD BE ESPECIALLY IN A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

WHEN YOU LOOK FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE NOW, ANY ADVICE YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUES?

OR IS IT MORE JUST BETTER TO LET THEM DO IT.

>> FAR BETTER FOR THEM TO DO IT.

I WILL TELL YOU, I WAS IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM WENT UP.

FEDERAL DELEGATION, GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THEM.

AND SEVERAL OF THEM ASKED ME, DID I MISS BEING IN D.C.

IT'S MOMENTS LIKE THIS, CLEARLY THE ANSWER IS NO.

I WAS HONORED, IN WORDS, TO BE A CONGRESSMAN FROM ALABAMA FOR THOSE SIX TERMS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'VE GOT TO BE CREDIT WORTHY, STAND BEHIND THE MONEY WE BORROW.

WHAT TROUBLES MANY OF US IS THAT WE'RE BORROWING MORE AND MORE MONEY FROM PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES THAT ARE LESS AND LESS OUR FRIENDS.

I THINK FROM THE LATEST THAT I HEARD, BEFORE I CAME BACK INTO THE STUDIO IS THAT SPEAKER MCCARTHY AND PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THEIR TEAMS ARE WORKING NON STOP BASICALLY ON IT.

WE CAN'T DEFAULT.

I MEAN, THAT'S A NON STARTER.

AND PEOPLE SAY A, LET'S JUST DEFAULT AND START OVER.

WHEN YOU OWING $31 TRILLION, $32 TRILLION, THAT'S A DANGEROUS THING BECAUSE THE DEBT AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH INFLATION GOING UP THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS COULD CRIPPLE AN ECONOMY.

AND NOTWITHSTANDING AROUND THE CONDITION, IF YOU WERE TO GO INTO A DEFAULT, YOU WOULD EXPECT THE WORST THINGS TO HAPPEN GLOBALLY.

WE CAN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

AND LOOK AT ALABAMA, LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT, 2.2%.

DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD SEE ANYTHING THAT LOW?

INTEREST RATES THAT HAVE GONE UP, COST OF LIVING GONE UP AND THE DEBT ISSUE THAT CONGRESS IS DEALING WITH IS A REAL CONCERN AND WE NEED TO GET OUR LEADERS ACT LIKE LEADERS AND GET IT DONE.

>> TODD STACY: WELL, WE COULD TALK FOR A LONG TIME BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

AND YOU WERE CHIEF OF STAFF AND YOU LED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR YEARS.

NOW, LIZ IS IN CHARGE, HAS IT BEEN FUN TO WATCH HER TAKE THE REINS AND GO.

LIZ IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB.

I SAW THE GOVERNOR AND I TOLD HER HOW PROUD WE ARE OF LIZ BEING A YOUNG AND UPCOMING LEADER FOR THE STATE.

AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH LIZ PHILMORE AND SHE'S TAKING THE CHALLENGES AND I'M NOT GETTING THE CALLS ANY MORE!

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

CONGRESSMAN, THANKS FOR COMING.

AND WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE ON THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

I'M TODD STACY AND WE'LL SEE YOU