>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, SOME LAWMAKERS TODAY KICKED OFF THE LAST FULL WEEK OF THE LEGISLATIVE WEEK A LITTLE EARLY.

THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS EDUCATION COMMITTEE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON ONE OF THE BILLS RELATED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PLAN.

THOSE BILLS MUST START MOVING THIS WEEK TO HAVE A CHANCE TO RECEIVE FINAL PASSAGE BEFORE THE SESSION ENDS ON MAY 17TH.

TODAY, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE ALABAMA LOTTERY ACT, WHICH WOULD EVENLY SPLIT THE PROCEEDS OF A PROPOSED STATE LOTTERY BETWEEN A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND STATE SCHOOLS.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL, ACCORDING TO REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BLACKSHEAR OF PHENIX CITY, WHO IS CARRYING THE LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE.

>> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE REALLY WANTING TO HELP OUR WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE SAYING, IF YOU GRADUATE FROM A FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, OBTAINING AT LEAST A BACHELOR'S DEGREE GOING TO WORK IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR $2,500 FOR THE FOUR YEARS.

AND IT CAN GO BACK FOR A LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

IT MAY HELP YOU RETIRE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL STUDENT DEBT, HELPING OUR UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS IN THE STATE AS WELL TOO.

>> DON: THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAS SCHEDULED A VOTE ON THE LEGISLATION TOMORROW.

OTHER GAMBLING-RELATED BILLS ARE ALSO SET FOR HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION THIS WEEK.

THE PUSH IS ON TO GET THE GAMBLING PLAN OUT, WITH ONLY THREE DAYS REMAINING IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON OF MONROVIA HAS SAID FOR SEVERAL WEEKS THAT HE EXPECTS THE GAMBLING MEASURE TO GO TO THE FLOOR, AND HE REPEATED THAT BELIEF LATE LAST WEEK.

>> I THINK IT LOOKS PROMISING, THAT WE SHOULD GET A VOTE ON IT BEFORE WE END THE SESSION.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK ON THAT BILL.

WELL, I SAY THAT BILL BUT ACTUALLY, THE BILLS THAT CAME DOWN FROM THE SENATE, THE ENABLING LEGISLATION.

>> DON: OF COURSE, AN ISSUE AS WEIGHTY AS GAMBLING WILL NEED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND ULTIMATELY, THE LEGISLATURE IN THESE FINAL DAYS OF THE SESSION.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS OF HUNTSVILLE TOLD CAPITOL JOURNAL LATE LAST WEEK THAT HE'S OPTIMISTIC, BUT THAT THE GAMBLING PLAN IS STILL VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KIND OF LEFT OUT ARE MADE WHOLE.

AND WE WANT TO CREATE A PROCESS WHERE ALL OF OUR CAUCUS CAN BE PROUD TO GET BEHIND A BILL, A BILL WE'RE ALL PROUD TO GET BEHIND.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THAT POINT, WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE WORK TO DO, HOPEFULLY GETTING TO THAT POINT NEXT WEEK, NEXT THURSDAY.

>> DON: THE GAMBLING PLAN, WHICH NOT ONLY WOULD SET UP A STATE LOTTERY, BUT ALSO ALLOW FOR CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING, MIGHT NOT COME UP FOR A VOTE UNTIL THE FINAL DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON MAY 17TH.

MEANTIME, OTHER WEIGHTY ISSUES REMAIN FOR LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER IN THESE FINAL DAYS.

A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE STILL NEEDS HOUSE APPROVAL, AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ON THE HOUSE'S AGENDA FOR TOMORROW, SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON SAID LATE LAST WEEK THAT HE EXPECTS IT TO ULTIMATELY BE CONSIDERED.

>> WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT BILL COMING TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE AS WELL.

SO, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW WE GO THROUGH TUESDAY AND THURSDAY TO DEPEND ON WHEN IT MAY, I CAN'T GUARANTEE AT THIS POINT, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GUARANTEE A TIMELINE AND TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT DAY EACH DAY THE BILL MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON THE FLOOR.

BUT I CAN SAY, THIS BILL IS ALMOST LIKE THE GAMBLING BILL, GAMING BILL WATCHING FOR IT TO COME UP FOR A VOTE.

>> DON: MEANTIME, THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER CLOSELY-WATCHED BILL THAT HAS YET TO COME TO A VOTE IN THE HOUSE.

IT WOULD BAN PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONAL TREATMENTS FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN THE STATE.

IT'S ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE, BUT HAS FACED SIGNIFICANT PUSHBACK FROM TRANSGENDER ADVOCATES.

SPEAKER MCCUTCHEON LAST WEEK WAS A LITTLE LESS COMMITTAL ON WHETHER IT WILL COME TO THE FLOOR.

>> THAT BILL IS ONE OF THOSE BILLS THAT WE'VE GOT ON THE PRIORITY LIST TO LOOK AT BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH SENATE LEADERSHIP.

SO, I CAN'T SPEAK AS FIRM ON THAT ONE AS WE CAN THE GAMING OR THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

BUT IT IS BEING CONSIDERED.

>> DON: THE TRANSGENDER YOUTH BILL IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE HOUSE'S WORK AGENDA FOR TOMORROW.

THE SENATE, MEANWHILE, HAS YET TO TAKE UP A HIGH-PROFILE, HOUSE-PASSED BILL THAT WOULD BAN CURBSIDE VOTING IN THE STATE.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED OF JASPER LAST WEEK WOULDN'T BE SPECIFIC ON WHAT THE UPPER CHAMBER WILL CONSIDER THIS WEEK, BUT HE DID MAKE SOME INFERENCES.

>> I THINK, IN THE SENATE, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON SOME HOUSE WILLS COMING TO US THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND TO THE SENATE.

EVEN THOUGH MAYBE A LOT OF THE FANFARE OR FOCUS, IF YOU WILL, WILL BE ON THE SENATE BILLS THAT ARE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THE BILLS IN THE SENATE TO PASS AS MANY OF THOSE AS POSSIBLE AS THE MEMBERS WILL AGREE TO AND THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE STATE.

>> DON: MEANTIME, THE STATE'S RECORD $2.4 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS HEADED TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VERSIONS PASSED BY BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT CONTAINS A TWO PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT BOTH HER PANDEMIC HEALTH ORDER AND STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL SOON BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

IN A STATEMENT, IVEY SAID THE HEALTH ORDER IS NOW SET TO END ON MONDAY, MAY 31ST, AND THAT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL EXPIRE ON TUESDAY, JULY 6TH.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, ALABAMIANS HAVE MADE SACRIFICES, THAT WE HAVE LEARNED MUCH, AND THAT THIS IS NOW ABSOLUTELY A MANAGED PANDEMIC.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP ON THE SHOW, FITZGERALD WASHINGTON BACK ON THE SHOW.

BLACK LABOR SECRETARY.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> AND THE JOB RATE IS AT THE LOWEST SINCE THE PANDEMIC?

>> YEAH, IT IS.

WE'RE EXCITED WHEN WE GOT TO ANNOUNCE IT DROPPED TO 3.8% WHICH IS THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

AND THIS REPRESENTS THAT ALABAMA HAD THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF ANY SOUTHEASTERN STATES IN THE AREA.

AND I MAY MENTION THAT FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE MONTHS IN A ROW HAD THE LOWEST OF ANY OF THE NEIGHBORING STATES.

IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR ALABAMA.

>> IT IS.

THE ECONOMY IS REALLY TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> RIGHT, BACK WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED IN MARCH, WE WENT FROM 2.6 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN MARCH SPIKING UP TO OVER 13% IN APRIL.

SINCE THEN, IT WAS TRENDING DOWN IN A VERY NICE AND VERY POSITIVE FASHION.

SO, WE'RE REALLY ENCOURAGED WITH HOW WE'RE TRENDING IN TERMS OF GETTING THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BACK TO PANDEMIC, PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> AND THEY SAY GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME.

AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE INCREMENTALLY.

>> RIGHT, MORE PEOPLE HAVE JOBS RIGHT NOW, OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE JOBS.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

AND VERY, VERY ENCOURAGING SIGNS FOR EVERYBODY IN ALABAMA.

>> AND WITH THE ECONOMY COMING BACK, SOME PEOPLE SAY, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN, WHAT'S IT MEAN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE MAYBE THAT GOT LAID OFF, HOURS CUT, ARE BEING CALLED BACK TO WORK.

MAYBE THOSE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS HAVE FOUND OTHER JOBS, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AND A LOT OF FACTORS, WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE FORCED TO BE LAID OFF THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN AND OFFERED FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT WEEKLY BENEFIT TO GO ALONG WITH THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT THAT COMES ALONG WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, 12, 13 MONTHS PAST THE PANDEMIC, AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING SOME SECTORS THAT ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND HELP AND OTHER SECTORS HAVE SORT OF RAMPED UP.

SO, IT JUST DEPENDS WHAT AREA YOU ARE IN.

>> Don: JUST TO PORTRAY HOW DRAMATIC IT GOT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE STATE FUND THAT PAID OUT GOT DANGEROUSLY LOW.

>> RIGHT, WE HAD A HEALTHY BALANCE IN THERE, UNEMPLOYMENT FUND $740 MILLION AND NOW IT'S DOWN TO $600 MILLION.

AND YOU CAN JUST SEE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE LAID OFF.

ANOTHER ENCOURAGING POINT IS THAT OUR INITIAL UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS HAS ALSO BEEN TRENDING DOWN REPRESENTING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY ARE FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN TRENDING DOWN.

SO, AGAIN, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SIGN THAT OUR ECONOMY IS TAKING A MUCH FASTER TURN TO GET US BACK TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, MR. SECRETARY, THERE'S CERTAIN SECTORS HAVING TROUBLE FINDING WORKERS RIGHT NOW.

IT'S SPARKED A DEBATE ABOUT, IS IT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE TO REMAIN ON UNEMPLOYMENT VERSUS GOING BACK TO WORK.

I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY HEAR A LOT OF IN YOUR OFFICE?

>> YEAH, I HAVE TALKED TO, AND HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF EMPLOYERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE FACING THE CHALLENGE.

IT'S A CHALLENGE.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LAID OFF, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THEY HAVE TO ACTIVELY LOOK FOR WORK.

AND WE PUT GUIDANCE OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, LAST YEAR.

SO, LET'S JUST SAY, IF SOMEBODY WAS LAID OFF, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, DUE TO COVID AND THE EMPLOYER STARTS TO RAMP OPERATIONS BACK UP AND THEY WANT TO REACH OUT AND HAVE THE EMPLOYEES COME BACK TO WORK.

AND LET'S SAY THEY REFUSE TO COME BACK TO WORK.

ALL THE EMPLOYER HAS TO DO IS LET US KNOW THAT THEY ASKED US TO COME BACK, AND REFUSED TO COME BACK AND WE CAN PUT A HALT TO THOSE BENEFITS.

>> THERE'S A FINITE POINT IN THE STATE BENEFITS AND AS YOU ELUDED TO EARLIER IN THE CONVERSATION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXTENDED THE BENEFITS AND EVEN WHEN THEY BENEFITTED FROM THOSE, THEY STILL CONTINUE TO DRAW?

>> YEAH, UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THE $300 WEEKLY DRAW THAT WE DRAW FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6.

WHEN YOU ADD THAT TO THE STATE BENEFIT, IT CREATES AGAIN, SOME CHALLENGES FOR SOME EMPLOYERS TO HAVE THOSE EMPLOYEES COME BACK TO WORK.

BUT THAT'S WHERE WE, WHY WE PUT THE GUIDANCE IN THOSE SITUATIONS, IN THOSE EXAMPLES.

THE EMPLOYER HAS TO REACH OUT TO US AND LET US KNOW.

AND WE MAKE SURE WE PUT THAT PATH ON THE WEB SITE TO MAKE IT USER FRIENDLY, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE EMPLOYERS TO ASK THAT THEY HAVE ASKED THE EMPLOYEES TO COME BACK AND THEY REFUSED.

>> THE ARGUMENT IS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE DELIBERATELY SITTING OUT AND NOT TAKING JOBS BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY ARE MAKING MORE WITH THE BENEFITS THAN THEY DO IN THE LAST JOB THAT THEY HAD.

AND THAT MAY IN MANY INSTANCES BE TRUE.

YOU DRIVE AROUND NOW AND YOU SEE SO MANY HELP WANTED SIGNS.

FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS SAYING THEY ARE HAVING TO CLOSE EARLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO KEEP THE RESTAURANT OPEN PAST A CERTAIN HOUR.

SO, ARE WE INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE NOT TO WORK?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT ARGUMENT.

>> I CAN SEE, AND I HAVE HEARD THAT CONVERSATION QUITE A BIT.

IT'S SIMPLE MATH FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE DISINTERESTED IN GETTING BACK IN THE WORK FORCE.

THEY MAY BE BETTER OFF.

BUT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WITH THESE EMPLOYERS WHERE THEY CAN EARN AND LEARN A SKILL WAGE AND MOVE UP IN THE RANKS FOR ADDED BENEFITS.

MY SUGGESTION TO ANY EMPLOYER IS THIS, WE, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WE MANAGE 53 SOMETHING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF THE AND WE HAVE A JOB DATABASE WHERE WE COLLECT INFORMATION ON A LOT OF JOB SEEKERS.

I SUGGEST THEY REACH OUT TO A CAREER CENTER AND FIND JOB SEEKERS LOOKING FOR WORK, AND MAKE THE MATCH, REFERRING THEM TO THE EMPLOYERS AND HELP THEM FILL THE VOID.

>> BACK TO THE ARGUMENT THAT MAYBE THERE'S CERTAIN ABUSE OF THE SYSTEM GOING ON THAT PEOPLE ARE PROLONGING THE TIME WHICH THEY DRAW EITHER STATE OR JOBLESS FEDERAL BENEFITS, OR BOTH, THERE'S MAYBE RULES IN PLACE TO GUARD AGAINST ABUSE OR OVERABUSE AS THEY CALL IT, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE STATE BENEFITS ARE CONCERNED.

AND YOU HAVE TO PROVE CONSISTENTLY THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WORK, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AND WE HAVE SYSTEMS AND PROTOCOLS IN PLACE AND WE DETERMINE THAT SOMEBODY NOT ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR WORK, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED.

AND ONCE WE'RE NOTIFIED, WE CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO DISQUALIFY THEM FROM RECEIVING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS.

>> AND AGAIN, IF IT'S A SITUATION WHERE THEY WERE LAID OFF, THEN CALLED BACK TO WORK AND THEN REFUSED TO RETURN TO WORK, THE EMPLOYER REPORTS THAT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> AND YOU CAN TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE BENEFITS ON THAT OCCASION BECAUSE THEY CAN'T JUST REFUSE TO NOT GO BACK TO WORK AND CONTINUE TO DRAW THOSE BENEFITS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WE'VE LEARNED A LOT IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO WITH THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE IT BROUGHT ON DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH HAVING SO MANY PEOPLE FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND OUR ROLE AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE BOTH EMPLOYER AND THE JOB SEEKER ON WHAT THE GUIDANCE IS AND FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

>> AND CORRECT ME, IT'S RESTAURANT, LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT'S REALLY SUFFERED IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK?

>> YEAH, BASED ON THE DATA, THEY WERE THE TWO SECTORS THAT HAVE HAD THE MOST CHALLENGE, IF YOU WILL, IN TERMS OF BRINGING PEOPLE BACK.

AND IF YOU DO THE MATH, BASED ON WHAT THE HOURLY WAGE IS, VERSUS FEDERAL AND STATE BENEFIT, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE DISPARITY IS.

>> AND YOU CAN WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES, THE DEPARTMENT CAN IN HELPING THEM TO RECRUIT FOLKS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED 53 CAREER CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WE HAVE JOB SEEKERS COMING IN ALL THE TIME LOOKING FOR WORK.

AND WE PULL FROM THE JOB DEBUTS AND MAKING THOSE REFERRALS TO THE EMPLOYER SO THEY CAN FILL THE POSITIONS.

WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE'VE ANNOUNCED TWO CAREER CENTER LOCATIONS IN THE STATE IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

ONE IN BLOUNT COUNTY IN ONEONTA AND THE CAREER CENTER NUMBER 53 IS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN THE TOWN OF CHATOM.

THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE HAD GAPS IN TERMS OF THE CAREERS.

AND NOT ONLY TO PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE JOB SEEKER BUT FOR THE EMPLOYER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FITZGERALD WASHINGTON, ALABAMA LABOR SECRETARY ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> STAY TUNED, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Don: NEXT UP, KENNETH BOWELL, DIRECTOR ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Don: HAPPY TO CELEBRATE GREAT NEWS WITH YOU OVER AT ADECA, ESPECIALLY AS LEADER OF THE ALABAMA COUNTS IN THE LAST YEAR, CHARGED WITH GETTING OUT THE CENSUS IN ONE WAY, AS WE PUT IT, BECAUSE SO MUCH RODE ON THE NUMBERS THIS YEAR.

WE HEARD LAST WEEK, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS THEY RELEASED SO FAR, THAT WE ARE NOT LOOSING A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

AND I KNOW THAT WAS A HUGE THING FOR US.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AND IT WAS MUSIC TO OUR EARS!

NOT ONLY DO WE KEEP 7 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN AND RETAIN FUNDING OF $13 BILLION COMING INTO THE STATE FUNDING NOT ONLY EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE AND MANY, MANY OTHER THINGS TO BE SURE WE HAVE KEPT IN PLACE.

>> AND A LOT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE CONGRESSIONAL REAPPORTIONMENT THAT SO MUCH OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE FROM WASHINGTON IS DEPENDENT ON THESE NUMBERS.

>> YES ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S VERY DEPENDENT UPON THE PROCEEDS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM MEDICARE, MEDICAID, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HOUSING ALLOCATIONS, WHETHER IT'S DIFFERENT MONEY OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT ALSO, THE EDUCATION APPORTIONMENT COMES FROM THAT.

LOTS OF EDUCATION DOLLARS.

WE'RE BLESSED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR SEVEN SEATS AND KEEP THAT FUNDING COMING INTO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> BUT A LOT OF THE ATTENTION LAST WEEK WHEN THE NUMBERS WERE RELEASED WAS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

WE HAD A LEGITIMATE FEAR THAT IF ALABAMIANS DIDN'T STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND GET COUNTED ACCURATELY IN THE CENSUS WE COULD LOSE THE SEAT.

>> RIGHT.

IT WAS.

AND IT WAS PREDICTED THAT WE WOULD LOSE ONE OF THOSE SEATS.

THEY ONLY PREDICTED US TO GROW 2.5%.

AND MR. PLEASANTLY WE GREW AT 5% RATE.

WE WENT FROM 4.8 TO A LITTLE OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE.

AN THAT WAS POSITIVE NEWS FOR OUR STATE.

>> AND I BELIEVE THE NUMBERS AS THEY CAME IN, LAST WEEK, THEY WERE AN UPDATE FROM THE FIGURES WE GOT EARLIER IN THE YEAR, WE WERE 109,000 PEOPLE HIGHER THAN THE INITIAL ESTIMATE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO GOVERNOR IVEY AND GETTING BEHIND THE INITIATIVE.

AS WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BORED, THIS WAS ONE OF HER MAJOR INITIATIVES WAS TO MAKE SURE.

AND SHE KNEW EARLY ON THIS WAS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR THE STATE OF RETAINING THAT SEVENTH SEAT AND THE FUNDING THAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT AND WOULD TELL YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE THE WEIGHT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE GOVERNOR HERSELF BEHIND IT, THINK IT PAYS REAL DIVIDENDS AND HELPING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE REASON THAT WE NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE.

GOVERNOR IVEY AMONG OTHER WAYS IS THE WAY SHE SUPPORTED YOU, MESSAGING, COUNTLESS TIMES WHEN SHE STEPPED UP TO THE MICROPHONE NO MATTER WHAT THE OCCASION WAS, AND SHE WOULD SAY, FILL OUT YOUR CENSUS FORM.

>> I WILL TELL YOU THAT I WILL BE EVER MORE INDEBTED TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HELPING WITH THE CENSUS AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE.

SHE'S THE GOVERNOR FOR THAT REASON.

SHE CONNECTS WITH THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THEY BELIEVE HER, THEY TRUST HER.

AND IT SHOWED THE RESULTS OF HER STEPPING UP TO THAT MIC ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CENSUS.

>> I KNOW THAT YOURS WAS A CHALLENGING JOB LEADING ALABAMA COUNTS.

BECAUSE IT WAS SO CRUCIAL GETTING PEOPLE TO FILL OUT THEIR CENSUS FORMS AS POSSIBLE.

WE DID SO IN A PANDEMIC YEAR AND THE FEARS MUST HAVE BEEN VERY REAL.

>> LET'S SAY THIS.

IT WAS A CHALLENGE IN THE LEAST THAT WE HAD PLANNED AS FAR AS GET OUT EVENTS AND SHAKING HANDS AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE ON A PERSON TO PERSON BASIS TO DO THAT WHICH WAS VERY MUCH A CHALLENGE.

WE DID IT ON A TURN OF A DIME, IF YOU WILL.

WE DID IT WITH A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE DID IT WITH A LOT OF GRASS ROOTS EFFORTS.

AND THAT, WITHIN ITSELF, GRASS ROOTS EFFORTS, AS WELL AS PAID CAMPAIGN THAT WE HAD GOING MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT TRUST ONE ANOTHER.

NATURALLY THEY LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER AND THEY ENCOURAGE THEM WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE LINE, THEY WENT AND FILLED IT OUT.

>> THIS CAMPAIGN WAS A SUCCESS ON TWO LEVELS.

A, YOU WERE SUCCESSFUL, YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WITH GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT AND B, ALABAMIANS RESPONDED.

>> THEY DID.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE ALABAMA COUNTS WAS THE BRAIN STORM OF GOVERNOR IVEY SHE PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE OF 200 INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE.

AND IT WAS A NETWORKING EVENT, IF YOU WILL.

THOSE 200 PEOPLE ACTUALLY NETWORKED WITH THEIR PEOPLE.

AND WHETHER IT WAS BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS OR WHETHER IT WAS SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, IT BECAME A VENUE THAT IT WAS A NETWORKING EVENT.

>> Don: THE CENSUS IS MOST FOLKS MIND IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR WITH THEIR FORM, LIVING IN A DIGITAL AGE AND FILLING OUT THE CENSUS FORM HAS BEEN AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR A WHILE NOW BUT NEVER SO IMPORTANT AS IT WAS IN THIS PANDEMIC YEAR.

>> THAT'S VERY TRUE, DON, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE COMPUTER AGE AND US NOT KNOWING WHAT WE ACTUALLY COULD DO FROM OUR FINGER TIPS AT HOME.

I THINK IT PLAYED A VERY BIG ROLE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SELF PARTICIPATION AS WELL AS JUST BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FROM HOME, FROM THE COMFORTS OF HOME AND DOING ONLINE AND AS FAR AS THAT.

BUT ALSO, BEING ABLE TO DO IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT ON THE COMPUTER.

WE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE CENSUS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP OUT AS WELL.

>> Don: EVEN SO, THE PANDEMIC DELAYED THINGS QUITE A BIT.

>> IT DID.

>> Don: AND I KNOW THAT MUST HAVE BEEN CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DRAMATIC WEIGHT FOR WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE THAT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

>> WELL, YOU FELT AT TIMES THAT YOU WERE GOING TO LOSE WHATEVER LITTLE MOMENTUM THAT YOU FELT LIKE YOU HAD BUILT.

AND IT WAS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER IF YOU WILL.

WE GET TO THE TOP, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE'D PLUNGE TO THE BOTTOM.

AND SWAY, SOME WAY, SOME HOW, WE WERE ABLE TO GET BACK TO THE TOP.

TO SAY I'M HAPPY IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

AND I'M HAPPY FOR GOVERNOR IVEY.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I WOULD SAY HAPPENED DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS THAT SHE HAD THE VISION AND THE FORETHOUGHT TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

WE WERE ABLE TO SET UP ASSEMBLANCE, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE NEXT DECADE, THOSE THAT ARE COMING INTO OFFICE.

WE NEVER HAD A TRUE PLAN OF HOW YOU APPROACH THE CENSUS AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE AND LEAVE SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT DECADE FOR WHEN IT COMES TIME TO DO THE NEXT CENSUS, MAYBE IT WILL BE A LITTLE EASIER.

>> WELL, TIME IS UP.

BUT BEFORE WE CLOSE, MR. BOSWELL WE'RE STILL BEHIND A LITTLE IN THE NUMBERS.

AND I KNOW ON REAPPORTIONMENT THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE NUMBERS.

>> BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER IS THE PREDICTED DATE, WITH THE EMPHASIS ON PREDICTED.

WE HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS HERE BY THEN SO THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE ABLE TO ACTS AND REACT ACCORDINGLY AND BE ABLE TO DRAW THE LINES SO WE CAN CONTINUE BUSINESS AS USUAL.

>> INDEED.

IT'S WIDELY EXPECTED THAT THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE, MANDATED TO GET REAPPORTIONMENT DONE SO THEY ARE WAITING ON THE NUMBERS.

AND ALSO, IT'S TIME OF THE ESSENCE KIND OF THING BECAUSE NEXT YEAR IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> IT REALLY IS.

AND THE GOVERNOR HAS REMAINED COMMITTED FROM DAY ONE, IF SHE DOES HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION, THAT SHE WILL, TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE REDRAWING OF THE LINES.

SO, YES, I EXPECT THAT ONCE THAT DATA IS BROUGHT IN TO WHERE THEY CAN REDRAW THE LINES, THEN A SPECIAL SESSION WILL BE HELD.

AND SHE ABSOLUTELY IS BEHIND THAT 100%.

>> KENNETH BOSWELL, DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON THE GREAT JOB WITH ALABAMA COUNTS.

>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

>> YOU BET.

CAPITOL JOURNAL WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, INCLUDING AN EXPECTED HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ONE OF THE GAMBLING BILLS.

AND WE'LL BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE REED INGRAM OF MONTGOMERY, WHO WILL DISCUSS GAMBLING, MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND MORE DOMINATING THE FINAL DAYS OF THE SESSION.

WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS OF DECATUR, WHO'LL DISCUSS A BILL THAT WOULD DELAY A KEY COMPONENT OF THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT WHICH SHE SPONSORED LAST YEAR.

COLLINS WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT FINAL PASSAGE OF HER BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW DIRECT WINE SHIPMENTS IN THE STATE.

FOR ALL OF US AT CAPITOL JOURNAL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.