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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> TODAY WAS THE 25TH DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, LEAVING JUST FIVE MEETING DAYS REMAINING.

IT WAS ANOTHER BUDGET DAY IN THE STATE HOUSE WITH THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE AND THE GENERAL FUND IN A SENATE COMMITTEE.

WE'LL START IN THE HOUSE, WHERE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TOOK UP THE $8.8 BILLION EDUCATION BUDGET AND THE $2.8 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING PLAN.

THERE WERE FEW CHANGES TO THE BASE BUDGET PASSED BY THE SENATE, WITH SMALL INCREASES FOR UNIVERSITIES, MENTAL HEALTH AND FUNDS TO HELP REBUILD A SELMA SCHOOL DAMAGED IN THE TORNADO.

THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL, HOWEVER, SAW SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO WHAT THE SENATE PASSED.

THE PROPOSED ONE-TIME, TAX REBATE HAS NOW CHANGED FOR THE THIRD TIME.

IN THE COMMITTEE'S LATEST VERSION, THOSE REBATE CHECKS WOULD BE $210 DOLLARS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND $420 DOLLARS FOR COUPLES.

THAT'S UP FROM JUST $100 DOLLARS IN THE SENATE VERSION; AND REMEMBER, GOVERNOR IVEY ORIGINALLY PROPOSED $400 AND $800.

TO PAY FOR THAT, CUTS WERE MADE TO THE NEWLY PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES RESERVE FUND BRINGING IT DOWN FROM $500 MILLION TO $279 MILLION.

AND THE K-12 CAPITAL GRANTS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FUND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, WAS CUT DOWN TO $104 MILLION.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT, WHO CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE, TALKED ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE EDUCATION BUDGET AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL.

>> THE GOVERNOR RECOMMENDED $966 MILLION REBATE.

THE SENATE CUT THAT TO $275 MILLION.

AND THE HOUSE TOOK IT BACK TO $550 MILLION.

DOUBLE FOR THE REBATE THE SENATE HAD.

$210 PER PERSON, AND $420 PER COUPLE.

THAT'S IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

THEY MADE NO CHANGE TO THE DEBT SERVICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF RISK MANAGEMENT, THEY MADE A $10 MILLION CHANGE WHICH WE MAINTAINED IN THE HOUSE.

IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WE ACTUALLY ADDED, THE SENATE ADDED $4.7 MILLION, I BELIEVE, FOR THE NEW SCHOOL SYSTEM IN SOUTH ALABAMA, ORANGE BEACH.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CALCULATION TRUED THAT UP.

WE MAINTAINED THAT CHANGE.

FLEET RENEWAL, WE LEFT THE SENATE CHANGE $20 MILLION FOR RENEWAL BUSES AARON AROUND THE STATE.

CLASSROOM SUPPORT, WE MAINTAINED -- ACTUALLY, THE SENATE ADDED A PRE FUNDING OF CLASSROOM SUPPORT, $20 MILLION.

EVERY YEAR AS WE INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES INTO THE CLASSROOMS, FISCAL TIMING AND THE MONEY IS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR AFTER SCHOOL STARTS.

>> I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THE PROPOSED GROCERY SALES TAX CUT THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT THIS YEAR ALSO PASSED THROUGH GARRETT'S COMMITTEE TODAY.

THAT BILL AND THE EDUCATION BUDGET BILLS EXPECTED TO BE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TOMORROW.

ON TO THE SENATE, WHERE THE $2.9 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND $180 MILLION SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING BILL WERE IN COMMITTEE.

THE OVERALL AMOUNT WAS REDUCED BY JUST SEVEN MILLION FROM WHAT THE HOUSE PASSED, BUT THERE WERE SOME NOTABLE CHANGES.

THE CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL ONE MILLION DOLLARS AND TOURISM SAW AN ADDITIONAL $2.9 MILLION, WHILE OTHER AGENCIES SAW CUTS; NAMELY, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AT $3 MILLION, AND THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AT $21 MILLION.

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN GREG ALBRITTON SAID THE OVERALL DECREASE IN FUNDING FROM WHAT THE HOUSE PASSED IS DUE TO INCREASED PRISON CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

>> THOSE ALL HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BETWEEN NOT JUST THE SCHOOLS, NOT JUST THE PRISONS, NOT JUST THE PARKS, NOT JUST WATER AND SEWER; BUT OVERALL OTHER MATTERS.

Y'ALL ARE COGNIZANT OF HOW CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE SKYROCKETED SINCE WE HAVE BEGUN DOING THESE THINGS.

I WOULD SUGGEST THERE'S A MINIMUM OF 30% INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS TO BE ANTICIPATED.

THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD FEDERAL MONEY TO BEGIN WITH MUCH OF THESE, AND WE'VE HAD BOND MONEY TO BEGIN MUCH OF THESE.

WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THESE, THERE'S GOING TO BE OVER EXPENDITURES THAT WIND UP BEING PAID OR WE'RE GOING TO WIND UP WITH INCOMPLETE PROJECTS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE MONEY TO MEET THOSE OBLIGATIONS.

HENCE, THAT'S KIND OF MY CONSERVATIVE NATURE HERE IS TRYING TO PREVENT US FROM SPENDING EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE HAVE, TO PREPARE FOR WHAT WE KNOW IS ON THE HORIZON, THAT WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY CONTRACTED FOR, THAT WHICH IS ALREADY MOVING IN PLACE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE COSTS WILL BE.

WE CAN SEE WHISPERS OF THAT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT ASPECTS NOW.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE COMING HOME TO ROOST VERY, VERY SOON.

>> ALBRITTON ALSO NOTED THAT COST OVERRUNS AT THE TAYLOR HARDIN SECURE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN NORTH ALABAMA HAD COST THE STATE $20 MILLION.

SOME OF THAT CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND, BUT $12 MILLION WILL HAVE TO COME FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

>> LET'S NOT MAKE MORE OF IT THAN IT IS.

BE AWARE PART OF THAT WAS TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL THAT HAD $23 MILLION FOR THE RENOVATION COSTS OF TAYLOR HARDIN.

THAT DID NOT SURVIVE IN MY SUPPLEMENT -- OUR SUPPLEMENT I SHOULD SAY.

AND TO MAKE UP FOR THAT SOMEWHAT, WE PLUSSED UP ON THE BACK SIDE THERE AND THE GENERAL FUND TO MAKE UP FOR SOME OF THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETELY DO THAT BY THAT MOVE.

BUT I HOPE WE PREVENTED PROBLEMS THERE.

>> THE MOST NOTABLE ADDITION TO THE GENERAL FUND SUPPLEMENTAL BILL WAS THE ADDITION OF $20 MILLION FOR THE PORT OF MOBILE AND $5 MILLION FOR THE MOBILE AIRPORT.

ALSO IN COMMITTEE TODAY WAS A BILL SEEKING TO CODIFY IN STATE LAW THE BIOLOGICAL DEFINITIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN.

HOUSE BILL 405 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN DUBOSE WOULD LIMIT THE DEFINITIONS TO THE SEX INDIVIDUALS ARE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.

THE BILL PREVIOUSLY DREW PROTESTS FROM LGBT ACTIVISTS WHO CALLED IT DISCRIMINATORY.

>> ACCORDINGLY, THERE'S 150 DIFFERENT INTERSECTION CONDITIONS SO WHICH ONES ARE WE GOING TO DETERMINE?

HOW DO WE SUBJECTING ALL CHILDREN TO GET TESTED FOR WHEN THEY ARE BORN, CHROMOSOME, HORMONE LEVELS, HORMONE STIMULATION, SPECIFIC MOLECULAR TESTING, ENDOSCOPIC EXAMS OR AN ULTRASOUND OR MRI TO ACTUALLY VERIFY THE SEX OF THE CHILD?

OR PERSON.

>> OKAY.

YES, I SPOKE TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REGARDING THIS.

IN FACT, THEY SUGGESTED THE AMENDMENT WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE SUBSTITUTE BILL.

THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE AT BIRTH.

IT SAYS -- NO.

OKAY.

WE HAVE THE MALE, FEMALE AND UNKNOWN.

SO, THE SEX ON THE CHILD'S CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH WOULD BE UNKNOWN WHEN SEX IS NOT KNOWN FOR DEVELOPMENTAL OR OTHER REASONS AT THE TIME OF THE BIRTH.

THEN, AGAIN ON PAGE 55, THERE'S A LINE THAT SAYS, AN INDIVIDUAL BORN WITH MEDICALLY VERIFIABLE DIAGNOSIS OF DISORDER OR DIFFERENCE IN SEX DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, INTERSEX.

DOESN'T SAY THE WORD INTERSEX, BUT THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF INTERSEX.

SHALL BE APPLIED AND AFFORDED UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

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

TODAY WAS ALSO A FLOOR DAY IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE WITH SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION MOVING IN BOTH.

WE'LL START IN THE HOUSE WITH NOTABLE BILLS THAT ADVANCED THERE.

HOUSE BILL 473 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DONNA GIVENS WOULD EXPAND THE STATE'S SAFE HAVEN LAW TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO SURRENDER AN INFANT UP TO 45 DAYS OLD AT HOSPITALS AND FIRE STATIONS.

THE BILL IS SCHEDULED FOR A SENATE COMMITTEE TOMORROW.

HOUSE BILL 6 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE KENNETH PASCAL WOULD CODIFY IN ALABAMA LAW THAT PARENTAL RIGHTS ARE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS THAT CAN'T BE TAKEN AWAY UNLESS THERE IS A COMPELLING REASON.

THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

HOUSE BILL 304 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE NEIL RAFFERTY WOULD ALLOW FOOD TRUCKS TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITHIN ESTABLISHED ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS.

IT GOES TO THE SENATE.

AND TWO BILLS GOT FINAL CONCURRENCE VOTES TODAY SENDING THEM ON TO THE GOVERNOR.

HOUSE BILL 379, FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT STADTHAGEN, LIMITS WHAT LAND FOREIGN ENTITIES FROM COUNTRIES OF CONCERN CAN BUY IN ALABAMA.

AND HOUSE BILL 4, FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE PRINCE CHESTNUT, PROHIBITS COMPANIES FROM FORCING OR COERCING EMPLOYEES TO IMPLANT MICROCHIPS.

I'LL ACTUALLY SPEAK WITH MR.

CHESTNUT ABOUT THAT BILL HERE IN A BIT.

LET'S WALK THROUGH THE NOTABLE BILLS PASSING IN THE SENATE TODAY.

SENATE BILL 301, FROM STATE SENATOR JABO WAGGONER, WOULD PROHIBIT THE USE OF A HANDHELD DEVICE WHILE DRIVING IN ALABAMA.

AFTER AN AMENDMENT, MAKING PRACTICAL CHANGES, THE BILL PASSED AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

>> SENATE BILL 143, FROM STATE SENATOR WILL BARFOOT, IS AIMED AT CRACKING DOWN ON GANG CRIME.

IT TOO WAS AMENDED AS PART OF A COMPROMISE AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

SENATE BILL 320, FROM STATE SENATOR LANCE BELL, WOULD REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO COLLECT AND CATALOGUE, FINGERPRINTS AND DNA FROM ANY ILLEGAL ALIEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

HOUSE BILL 109, FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS, WOULD CREATE NEW PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS.

IT NOW GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT ADDED IN THE SENATE.

AND HOUSE BILL 364, FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEVE HURST, WOULD REQUIRE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC EVENTS TO ACCEPT CASH AS A FORM OF PAYMENT.

THAT'S THE FINAL PASSAGE, SO IT NOW GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STATE HOUSE TODAY.

IF YOU THINK THAT'S A LOT, JUST WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW WHEN THE BUDGETS WILL BE ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE FLOORS WITH MULTIPLE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES EXPECTED LATER IN THE DAY.

IT'S GONNA BE A LONG ONE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE PRINCE CHESTNUT.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THE SHOW REPRESENTATIVE CHESTNUT.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND YOUR MICROCHIP BILL IS GOING TO BE SENT UP.

AND IT'S A COMPLICATED SUBJECT SO WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE BILL DOES.

>> YES.

THIS BILL IS A BILL THAT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF MICROCHIPPING HUMANS, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT BUSINESSES DON'T COMPEL OR FORCE EMPLOYEES TO TAKE IT.

THE IDEA CAME FROM ME JUST READING, BEING INTERESTED AND CURIOUS.

I LIKE TO READ A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.

SO, I CAME ACROSS THE ISSUE.

THEN, I STARTED TO READ AND KIND OF CROSS REFERENCE.

THEN, I WAS, JUST, LIKE, WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS AN ACTUAL THING.

AND MY INSTINCTS WERE TO GO AHEAD AND PRE FILE A BILL AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT >> TODD STACY: HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

WOULD THIS BE LIKE, I KNOW THE CONCEPT LIKE, IN PETS SO THEY GET A MICROCHIP FOR THE VET.

IS IT THE SAME THING IN HUMANS, A COMPANY WOULD FORCE SOMEBODY AS PART OF THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR HEALTH STUFF?

IS THAT SORT OF THE WAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> WELL, THE COMPANY THAT I AM AWARE OF THAT IS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT UTILIZES THIS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CHIP IS PUT INTO THE HAND.

NOT NECESSARILY FOR HEALTH REASONS BUT TO MAKE IT EASIER OR TO FACILITATE GETTING IN AND OUT OF A DIFFERENT CHECKPOINTS.

>> LIKE, IN A BUILDING?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THEN BEING ABLE TO USE IT FOR OTHER THINGS, TOO, WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BUILDING.

SO, IT'S LIKE AN ACCESS THING.

IF YOU WATCH THE MOVIES AND SOMEBODY WALKS BY AND THEY MAY PUT THEIR HAND UP, SCANS IT, AND THEN THEY GO INTO THE NEXT DOOR AND SO ON AND SO FORTH >> TODD STACY: IT'S REALLY FASCINATING THAT THERE'S TECHNOLOGY DOING THAT BUT YOU GET INTO HUGE PRIVACY CONCERNS.

YEAH, THAT CHIP CAN OPEN THE DOOR AND TRACK YOU AND ALL THAT.

BUT IMAGINE ALL OF THE OTHER INFORMATION THAT IT COULD STORE.

HUGE PROPHECY CONCERNS, TOO.

IT'S A REAL THREAT TO PERSONAL PRIVACY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ONE THING, I MEAN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FREE WILL, A CHOICE.

THIS IS AMERICA, AFTER ALL.

I THINK IT PRESENTS A MAJOR PROBLEM.

IT'S LIKE BIG BROTHER.

WHEN YOU START TO SAY THAT AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO.

I MEAN, IT COULD BE A SUGGESTION BUT ALSO COULD BE A SUGGESTION THAT'S VEILED COERCION.

OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT, IF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FEED THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY, THEY MIGHT DO SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD NOT NORMALLY DO.

>> SURE.

>> UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE.

>> WELL, NOT HERE AS LONG AS THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BILL.

THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU HAVE A BILL DEALING WITH JUROR MILEAGE.

OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE COMPENSATED AND I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW LOW IT WAS!

>> YEAH, A NICKEL PER MILE.

AND THERE'S ENOUGH REASONS ALREADY FOR PEOPLE TO BECOME DISCOURAGED AND NOT WANT TO SERVE ON THE JURY'S.

WE DON'T NEED THIS TO BE ANOTHER ONE.

>> A NICKEL IS REALLY -- I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY LOW.

WE HAD TO DO MILEAGE THE OTHER DAY AND THE FEDERAL RATE IS 65 CENTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S CRAZY LOW.

YEAH, AT FIRST WE THOUGHT ABOUT 50 CENTS AND WENT BACK AND RECALIBRATED AND CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF GIVING THE SUPREME COURT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE, WITHIN THE BUDGET, HOW THEY WANT TO HANDLE IT.

OBVIOUSLY IF WE HAVE INFLATION IT WOULD GO UP AND COULD BE 50 OR 60 CENTS OR 62 AND A HALF CENTS OR WHATEVER.

LET THEM FIGURE THAT OUT.

THAT WAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, LIKE, IF WE HAD, SAY, LATELY LOTS OF INFLATION PROBABLY THE MOST IN DECADES.

AND SOME POINT IN TIME, COULD HAVE DEFLATION AND BETTER TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE POWER TO CONTROL.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR BUDGET IS AND THEY CAN MAKE WISE DECISIONS ON HOW TO DO THAT.

WELL, YOU HAVE BEEN BUSY AS A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN VERY BUSY THIS SESSION.

HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

YOU MET TODAY FOR THE BILL ON DEATH PENALTY SENTENCES, TRYING TO MAKE UNANIMOUS JURY VERDICTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

TALK ABOUT YOUR WORK ON THE JUDICIARY, AS AN ATTORNEY, AND THE ROLE THAT COMMITTEE PLAYS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT COMMITTEE IS REALLY, OUT OF ALL OF THE COMMITTEES, IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING COMMITTEE TO BE ON.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK IT'S BORING SITTING TALKING ABOUT LAW OR LEGAL ISSUES.

>> NOT A LAWYER!

>> NO.

BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY, I WOULD SAY THAT'S PRETTY BORING.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, THEY ARE ISSUES, COMPELLING ISSUES.

AND I'M THE TYPE OF LAWYER, I LOOK AT THINGS FROM THE FOUNDATIONAL ASPECTS, THE CONSTITUTION.

YOU KNOW, EVERY BILL I LOOK AT, I LOOK AT IT WITH THE LENSE OF, IS THIS CONSTITUTIONAL.

AND SECONDLY, I SAY, IF IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL, WHAT DOES THIS BILL, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL.

WHAT'S THE AIMS, GOALS OF THAT.

AND NEXT THING I DO, I SAY OKAY.

WELL, IF THESE ARE THE GOALS AND AIMS, ARE THESE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE METHODS TO GET TO THAT GOAL, ACHIEVE THAT PARTICULAR GOAL OR AIM.

I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE THOSE, ANALYZE THE ISSUES BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US AS LEGISLATORS TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

NOT JUST BRING BILLS BECAUSE IT MAKES US FEEL GOOD.

BUT TO BRING BILLS THAT ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT WILL ACHIEVE A GREATER GOOD.

AND IN TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE GREATER GOOD, THAT WE'RE WIN THE BOUNDARY LINES OF WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS WANTED US TO BE WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS.

AND HOW MANY TIMES, HOW MANY BILLS ARE PROPOSED THESE DAYS THAT ARE CLEANING UP BILLS THAT PASSED SOMETIME ELSE, RIGHT?

MAYBE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME IS SPENT CLEANING ALL THAT STUFF UP?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, WHAT I TRY TO DO IS LOOK AT THINGS ON THE FRONT END AND ASK THE QUESTIONS, LOTS OF TIME THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT I DO THAT'S PROBABLY NOT EVEN DONE IN COMMITTEE OR IN FRONT OF THE MIC, IF I SEE SOMETHING, I GO TO THE BILL SPONSOR, A LOT OF TIMES.

WE'LL TALK AND I'LL SAY, HEY, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE AN ISSUE.

I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

ET CETERA.

IF YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU WITH IT, I CAN HELP YOU WITH IT AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

SO.

RIGHT, WHEN FOLKS WATCH OUR SHOW OR WATCH THE HOUSE FLOOR OR COMMITTEE, YOU ONLY GET TO SEE ONE VANTAGE POINT, NOT ALL OF THE WORK GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENE.

AND WE SEE THE SPEAKER, THE TWO PODIUMS.

BUT WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE IF YOU ARE IN THE CHAMBER, Y'ALL MEETING IN THE HUDDLE, PLOTTING OUT THE NEXT TACTIC OR WHATEVER.

TALK ABOUT YOUR ROLE BEHIND THE SCENES, INSIDE THE CHAMBER, OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBER.

AND SOMETHING THAT THE TYPICAL VIEWER WOULDN'T REALIZE.

YEAH, SO I'M A LAWYER BY TRADE OBVIOUSLY.

AND I ALSO SPENT 11 YEARS ON THE BENCH.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK PRETTY MUCH IN ADVISING IN THREE DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

WHETHER IT'S EXECUTIVE, JUDICIAL, LEGISLATIVE.

SO, WHEN I SAY EXECUTIVE, I'M SAYING HELPING.

I'VE HELPED MAYORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHERS EXECUTE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE LEGAL SIDE, COUNTY LEVEL, MUNICIPAL LEVEL AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I'VE LEARNED TO DO THINGS IN ANONYMITY BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT TRYING TO GET A GREAT PRODUCT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, OUT THERE, TO PUT, LIKE, ON MY PRIVATE SIDE, TO PUT MY CLIENTS IN THE BEST POSITION TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO, I TAKE THAT SAME MINDSET TO THE HOUSE.

>> DOESN'T MATTER WHO GETS THE CREDIT.

>> DOESN'T MATTER, THAT'S CORRECT.

WHILE I HAVE YOU, I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD OFFER AND UPDATE ON SELMA AND THE RECOVERY EFFORTS SINCE THE TORNADO.

WHERE DO THINGS STAND?

>> SO, THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH FOR MANY, MANY, MANY MORE MONTHS IF NOT A FEW MORE YEARS.

A DEVASTATION LIKE THAT JUST TAKES SO MUCH OUT OF YOU.

WHEN I RIDE OVER TO MONTGOMERY, SOMETIMES I DRIVE BY PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT AND MARRED BY THE TORNADO.

THERE ARE SOME PLACES WHERE HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET SATISFACTION FROM THEIR INSURERS AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, CLEAN THINGS UP.

AND THERE ARE OTHER HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THE SAME.

WE HAD SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOLS TO BE HIT DURING THE TORNADO.

I'M THANKFUL THAT THROUGH MY WORK ON THE ETF COMMITTEE, BEING ABLE TO GO TO MY CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN GARRETT, AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES, FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN CORRECT SOME OF THE ILLS.

WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE SOME FUNDING THAT WE HOPE TO BE VOTED ON.

AND TO HELP OUT THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET TO BUILD BACK.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL BUILD BACK AND BE BETTER THAN WE WERE BEFORE.

I WASN'T GOING TO KEEP ASKING THE QUESTION, SOMETIMES WHEN IT LEADS THE HEADLINES PEOPLE FORGET THAT IT HAPPENED.

BUT WE DON'T NEED TO FORGET THIS.

I HOPE TO HAVE YOU ON AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY MORE PROGRESS THEN.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME, PRINCE CHESTNUT, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND THE 2:00 PM FEBRUARY 16, 1968, THE VERY FIRST 911 CALL WAS MADE IN HALEYVILLE ALABAMA.

CALL MADE BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE FIVE FROM THE OFFICE AND ANSWERED AT THE HALEYVILLE POLICE STATION BRIGHT RED GIVEN BY THE TELEPHONE COMPANY.

AND HALEY VILL SHARES IN THIS MEMORY WITH AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY, WE'LL SEE YOU