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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MADE A VISIT TO ALABAMA THIS WEEK.

THE PRESIDENT TOURED LOCKHEED MARTIN'S MISSILE PRODUCTION FACILITY IN PIKE COUNTY, WHERE WORKERS ASSEMBLE THE JAVELIN ANTI-TANK MISSILES THE UNITED STATE IS SUPPLYING TO UKRAINE.

THE PRESIDENT SPOKE ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE THE MISSILES ARE PLAYING IN UKRAINE DEFENDING ITSELF FROM RUSSIAN INVADERS.

>> YOU REALLY ARE DOING IT.

YOU'RE MAKING A GIGANTIC DIFFERENCE FOR THE POOR SONS OF GUNS WHO ARE UNDER SUCH ENORMOUS, ENORMOUS PRESSURE AND FIREPOWER.

THOSE JAVEL INS I SAW, THERE'S 10 FOR EVERY TANK THAT THERE IS IN THE UKRAINE RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

WE BUILT THE WEAPONS.

THEY REALTY DO.

(APPLAUSE) >> THERE WERE SHOCKWAVES FROM THE SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK AS A LEAKED DOCUMENT SHOWED A DRAFT RULING OVERTURNING THE LANDMARK ROE VERSUS WADE CASE.

THOSE WERE FELT HERE IN ALABAMA, WHERE LAWMAKERS OVER THE YEARS HAVE PASSED VARIOUS LAWS RESTRICTING ABORTION, THE LAST OF WHICH BANNED ABORTION IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS SPONSORED THAT LAW, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BLOCKED BY THE COURT.

SHE SAID IF THE SUPREME COURT DOES FOLLOW THROUGH WITH OVERTURNING ROE, THE LEGISLATURE COULD REVISIT THE ISSUE AND POSSIBLY ADD BACK SOME EXCEPTIONS.

>> WHAT WE DID IN THE LEGISLATURE IN 2019 WITH A FULL BAN WAS WE CONCENTRATED ON THE ISSUE OF ROE VS. WADE WHICH WAS: IS THAT BABY IN THE WOMB A PERSON?

IS IT A CHILD?

IS IT A BABY?

THAT'S THE HEART OF THE ISSUE WHICH IS WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXCEPTIONS BECAUSE WE -- I DIDN'T MATTER HOW THE BABY WAS CONCEIVED.

IF THE BABY A PERSON?

THAT WAS THE WHOLE ISSUE OF ROE VS. WADE.

WE BELIEVE SCIENCE SAYS YES, IT IS.

WE BELIEVE ROE VS. WADE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PASSED AS CONSERVATIVES BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR THE COURTS WITH THE SCIENCE THAT WE HAVE NOW TO REVIEW AND TO LOOK AT THAT ISSUE AGAIN.

I DO THINK IT'S A STATE DECISION.

ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID EVEN BACK IN 2019, IN ALABAMA LAW, IF A DRUNK DRIVER KILLS A PREGNANT WOMAN THEY'RE CHARGES CHARGED WITH TWO HOMICIDES.

SO IN ALABAMA LAW WE FEEL LIKE THAT LIFE IN THE WOMB IS A CHILD.

AND I WOULD LIKE ALL OF OUR LAWS TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> STEPHEN STETSON OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS REMINDING ALABAMIANS THAT ABORTION REMAINS LEGAL AND AVAILABLE IN THE STATE.

HE SAID HIS ORGANIZATION WOULD ENGAGE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IF THE QUESTION OF ABORTION IS SENT TO THE STATES.

>> WHAT WE'RE TELLING EVERYONE EVERYBODY IS ABORTION IS SAFE STORE NOW.

SO HE FOR ANYONE COMING IN NOT DONE DETERRED BY THE LEAK.

AND THE FACT IS IT IS JUST A LEAK.

JUST BECAUSE AUBURN'S PLAYBOOK LEAKS BEFORE THE GAME DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THOSE PLAYS.

THERE COULD BE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ALITO OPINION.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO WITHHOLD EXACT OPINIONS ABOUT IT.

WE FIND IT DEVASTATING IF THAT LEAK BECOMES LAW THAT'S TRAGIC AND IT'S GOING TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO HEALTH FOR PEOPLE IN ALABAMA.

WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE FACT THAT MOST ALABAMIANS DO WANT TO SEE ROW STILL BE LOW.

DESPITE THE REFORM ACTIVE LAWS IN THE PAST, THE REALITY IS WHEN THEY TALK TO CONSTITUENTS ABOUT REAL LAW, I THINK A LOT OF LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO REALIZE THAT OVER 70 PERCENT OF ALABAMIANS STILL WISH THAT ROW WAS LAW.

IT'S 08 PERCENT NATIONALLY.

SO WE ARE CONFIDENT BASED ON BOTH OUR WORK AND PUBLIC OPINION THERE IS AN APPETITE FOR KEEPING ABORTION SAFE AND LEGAL.

>> IN 2018, ALABAMA VOTERS APPROVED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ESTABLISHING RIGHTS FOR THE UNBORN AND PROHIBITING STATE DOLLARS FROM FUNDING ABORTION.

THAT AMENDMENT COULD IMPACT ANY FUTURE ACTION THE LEGISLATURE TAKES ON THE ISSUE.

ALABAMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS AT A HISTORIC LOW.

HOWEVER, MANY BUSINESSES ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING WORKERS FOR AVAILABLE JOBS.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'"S RANDY SCOTT HAS THE FULL STORY.

>> CHANGING SEASONS BRINGS CHANGES IN FORECAST -- NOT JUST FOR WEATHER.

THE OUTLOOK FOR JOBS IS A HOT TOPIC >> WE JUST ANNOUNCED WE HAVE RECENTLY TIED OUR RECORD-LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 27.9 PERCENT WHICH IS WHERE WE WERE AT PRE-PANDEMIC.

SO IN ORDER TO GET BACK TO THAT PRE-PANDEMIC RECORD LOW IT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW QUICKLY ALABAMA HAS RECOVERED FROM THE DEVASTATING EFFECT -- ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DIRECTOR TARA HUTCHINSON SAID IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY YEAR OF CHANGES >> WE HAVE MORE JOBS AVAILABLE NOW THAN WE HAVE HAD IN SEVERAL YEARS.

OUR JOB COUNT CONTINUES TO INCREASE.

WE'RE BACK OVER 2 MILLION YEARS WHICH PRE-PANDEMIC WAS A HUGE LANDMARK FOR TO US REACH.

WE PASSED THAT YET AGAIN SO IT'S LOOKING WELL FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR WORK HERE IN ALABAMA >> IN RECENT BUSINESS AND MONETARY NEWS A LOT OF CONCERN HAS BEEN PLACED ON INFLATION.

AND JOB NUMBERS.

WHAT IS DONE HERE IN ALABAMA AND OFFICE THE UNITED STATES TO IMPROVE THOSE NUMBERS?

>> THE OVERWHELMING CRUSH OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS HAS RECEDED WHICH WE'RE ALL THANKFUL FOR BUT WE HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES THERE'S STILL A BACKLOG IN UNEMPLOYMENT DEBT.

UNFORTUNATELY IT'S DUE TO HOW MANY CLAIMS WERE FILED >> HUTCHINSON SAID THE PLAN TO REPLY MORE JOBS TO THE STATE INCLUDING HOSTING NEW JOB FARES >> NEXT WEEK WE'RE GOING TO JUMP BACK INTO THE LARGE ORGANIZED JOB FAIRS IN TUSCALOOSA ON TUESDAY.

WE'RE HOSTING A VERY LARGE JOB FAIR THERE WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED EMPLOYERS AND MORE THAN 3,000 AVAILABLE JOBS AT SHELTON STATE NEXT TUESDAY FROM 9:00 TO 1:00 >> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE SIGNING DAY CEREMONIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES CHOOSING A COLLEGE.

ONE LOCAL SCHOOL IS CELEBRATING STUDENTS CHOOSING CAREERS PATHS OR JOB TRAINING TO CELEBRATE AND ENCOURAGE PROGRESS.

CAPITOL "JOURNAL'S KAREN" GOLDSMITH HAS THE STORY.

>> IN MONTGOMERY THIS WEEK IT WAS SIGNING DAY BUT NOT THE KIND THAT REVEALS A STUDENT'S COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CHOICE.

IT WAS THE SECOND ANNUAL CAREER SIGNING TAKE >> WEE TALK ABOUT ACT AND GPA AND ALL OF THAT IS SO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

NOW YOU'RE MAKING THE NEXT STEP AND WE START GETTING ANOTHER -- CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

GREAT JOB >> THE MONTGOMERY PREPARATORY ACADEMY FOR CAREER TECHNOLOGIES WAS THE SITE FOR ONE OF THE CAREER SIGNING DAYS.

STUDENTS THERE PARTICIPATE IN 10 CLUSTERS THAT INCLUDE DOZENS OF PROGRAMS SUCH AS PLANT SCIENCE, FIRE SCIENCE, WELDING, ADVERTISING AND DESIGN AND ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY.

THEY CAN ALSO BE A PART OF THE JOBS FOR ALABAMA GRADUATES INITIATIVE OR JAG.

DUWAN HOPPER WITH THE HIGH ED HELPS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL >> 1 THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND IS IF YOU'RE A JUNIOR, GOING TO SENIOR YOUR, JANUARY OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR YOU SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHETHER YOU WANT TO TRANSITION >> THE ASSIGNEES COMMITTED TO THE MILITARY, TWO AND FOUR-YEAR SCHOOLS AS WELL AS TWO AND FOUR-YEAR EMPLOYERS >> SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY HIRING SOME OF OUR STUDENTS AND THESE ARE DISTRICT HIRES WE HAVE STUDENTS GOING DIRECT RELY INTO THESE POSITIONS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAKING NORTH OF $30,000 WITH BENEFITS.

ALL OF THE THINGS WE DIDN'T HAVE WHEN WE HAD THAT STUDENT >> THADDEUS SNEED IS THE TECHNOLOGY POLICEMAN.

HE HAS ALREADY EARNED TWO COMPUTER SOFTWARE CERTIFICATIONS.

HE WILL CONTINUE A TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND IS ALREADY ENROLLED.

THERE WERE TWO DOUBLE SIGNEES.

JAKALINE JACKSON IS GOING TO WORK FOR BUFFALO ROCK AND ATTEND TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY.

MCKAYLA MCCOY IS ATTENDING MARION MILITARY INSTITUTE AND WILL JOIN THE ALABAMA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD >> A LOT OF TIMES OUR STUDENTS HERE GET JUST AS MUCH MONEY TO GO INTO THE WORKFORCE GO TO A TWO YEAR TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND THIS SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE TO BUILD ON.

LAST YEAR IT WAS 12.

THIS YEAR WE'RE OVER 30, HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR WE CAN GET THAT NUMBER AROUND A HUNDRED >> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANY TIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY STATE FINANCE DIRECTOR BILL POOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" >> THANK YOU FOR, TODD.

GOOD AFTERNOON >> LET ME 1ST START WITH ASKING YOU ABOUT PRISONS BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE NEWS.

THE STATE HAS SIGNED THE CONTRACT WITH CADDELL CONSTRUCTION, $663 MILLION, TO BUILD THE 1ST OF THE PRISONS -- I THINK THREE PRISONS, THIS WOULD BE A MALE PRISON IN ELMORE COUNTY.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE PRISON COMMISSIONER BUT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE FINANCING.

ARE YOU PLEASED WITH HOW IT'S COMING ALONG?

>> I AM PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS HERETOFORE AND ELMORE PRISON IS THE SPECIALIZED PRISON SO IT WILL HAVE ENHANCED HEALTH CARE, MENTAL HEALTH, TRAINING ASPECTS AS WELL.

IT'S THE LARGE EVER OF THE TWO ANTICIPATED PROJECTS, THE MORE COMPLEX, THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF THE TWO, SO I'M PLEASED WE REACHED A FINAL AGREEMENT WITH THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND I THINK IT'S FAIR WITH THE STATE STATE'S INTEREST AND I LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING THAT PROJECT >> WHEN THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN PART OF IT WAS ARPA MONEY AND BART OF IT WAS BORROWED MONEY.

IS THERE A NORM LA FOR HOW MUCH IS WHAT OR IS IT ALL JUST IN ONE BIG PILE >> IN THE CONTRACT IT DOES NOT PRESCRIBE WHICH FUNDS ARE USED FOR WHICH?

SO THE STATE USED ARPA FUNDS OUT OF THE LOST REVENUE COMPONENT, AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION, DIRECT CASH FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND WE WILL FINANCE THE BALANCE VIA A BOND ISSUE >> AND SPEAKING OF THAT, THERE WAS PUSH BACK ON THE USE OF THOSE LOST REVENUE ARPA FUNDS, MOSTLY FROM DEMOCRATS HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND IN WASHINGTON SAYING THERE WAS NOT RIGHT SPENDING PANDEMIC RELIEF MONEY ON PRISON MONEY.

SOME SAID WE ARE GOING TO PROTEST TO THE POINT IT WON'T GO FORWARD AND THEY CAN'T BE SPENT AND YET THERE'S BEEN A CONTRACT SIGNED.

IS THAT AN INDICATION THAT THE STATE'S IN A GOOD PLACE >> IT IS.

WE FELT LIKE WE WERE ON SOLID LEGAL GROUNDS IN EVERY ASPECT RELATIVE TO THE ARPA FUNDS OR WE WOULD NOT HAVE PROCEEDED IN THAT REGARD.

WE HAVE LEGAL OPINIONS AND CHECKED WITH THE VARIETY OF RESOURCES THAT WE NEEDED TO CHECK WITH SO WE FELT LIKE WE WERE ON VERY SOUND GROUND.

AT THAT POINT WE WERE IN AN INTERIM GUIDANCE FROM TREASURE.

AND THAT WAS EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS AGO AND THEN THE FINAL GUIDANCE ISSUED, IT DID NOT CONSTRICT WHAT THE STATE HAD APPROPRIATED AND WE BELIEVE WE CONTINUE TO BE ON VERY SOUND GROUND AS IT RELATES TO THOSE FUNDS.

SO UNLESS CONGRESS OR THE TREASURE CHANGES THE RULES, THEN THE RULES AS THEY WERE PRESCRIBED AND ARE PRESCRIBED WE BELIEVE WE'RE ON SOUND FOOTING >> WELT SPEAKING OF ARPA, IN JANUARY OF LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED MORE THAN $700 MILLION OF THOSE FUNDS.

IT WAS A LOT OF BROADBAND INTERNET, WATER AND SEWER, SO YOU COULD SAY THE APPROPRIATING WAS THE EASY PART: THERE WERE UNANIMOUS PAST BILLS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO GO SPEND THIS MONEY.

THAT'S THE HARD PART.

HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK >> IT'S AN ARDUOUS BUT IMPORTANT PROCESS.

WE MADE SURE IN THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE AND FINANCE OFFICE THAT WE WERE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AS IT RELATES TO COMMUNICATING HOW THE DOLLARS WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THE VARIOUS STOCKHOLDERS AND PARTICIPANTS AND HOW ALLOCATIONS WOULD BE SCREENED AND THAT WE WOULD DEPLOY THE FUNDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AS BECAUSE THESE ARE RELIEF FUNDS AND THEY'RE FEDERAL ONE ADVERTISEMENT FUNDS AND IT NEEDED TO GET INTO THE FIELD.

WE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS AND GOT ALL OF THE HEALTH CARE FUNDING OUT.

WE'RE WORKING ON NOW S. WE WILL SOON SEE FORTHCOMING ON THE INITIAL WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.

THE BROADBAND ISSUES ARE COME ELECTION.

THEY WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER BUT WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN TERMS OF THE BROADBAND PLAN.

AND AS IT RELATES TO ALL OF THOSE ISSUES -- AND THERE ARE OTHER ARPA FUNDS APPROPRIATED AS WELL AND WE'RE ADMINISTERING THE VOLUNTEERS FIRES DEPARTMENT, TELEMEDICINE, A VARIETY OF PUBLIC NEEDS, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE STATE AS RELATES TO THESE ONE TIME IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND INVEST IN HEALTH CARE, BROADBAND BUILT OUT IN RURAL AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE BROADBAND, WATER AND SEWER AREAS IN AREAS THAT NEED TO SEE GROWTH OR AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE CLEAN WATER OR FUNCTIONAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO USE THESE DOLLARS.

BUT EVERY STATE HAS THESE DOLLARS.

SO WHETHER WE AGREE OR NOT WITH THE FEDERAL DECISION TO PROVIDE THESE DOLLARS.

EVERY STATE IS PLAYING BY THE SAME RULES AS WHAT IT IS ABLE TO SPEND.

IT'S CRITICAL WE SPEND THE DOLLARS IN A MANNER THAT LEAPS US FORWARD COMPETITIVELY AS IT RELATES TO OTHER STATES SO THAT WHEN THE DUST SETTLES AND THE FEDERAL MONEY DRIES UP AND IT'S GOING TO RUN OUT AND WE KNOW OF THAT AND WE'RE PLANNING FOR THAT IN TERMS OF ONE TIME INVESTMENTS AND NOT PUTTING OUR ECONOMY OR CITIZENS IN A DIFFICULTY SPOT, WE HOPE TO BE IN A POSITION TO HAVE IMPROVED OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION AS RELATED TO OTHER STATES THAT WE'RE COMPETING WITH FOR JOBS, HEALTH CARE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HIGH WAGES, QUALITY OF LIFE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS >> SO WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY SPENDING THESE FUNDS, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT STATED AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, ADEM, ON THE WATER AND SEWER SIDE, ADECA ON THE BROAD BAND SIDE.

HOW MUCH OF IT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SPENDING THE MONEY VERSUS THE AGENCIES?

AND DO YOU WORK TOGETHER AND >> WELL, WE WORK TOGETHER BUT THE LARGE CHUNKS HERE IN TERMS OF BROAD BAND AND WATER AND SEWER ARE BEING ADMINISTERED BY ADECA IN THE CASE OF -- AS IT RELATES TO WATER AND SEWER, THOSE ARE VERY, VERY TECHNICAL ISSUES WE HAVE WATER SYSTEMS ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE HAVE OVER 1100 WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM SYMPTOMS.

IN FINANCE WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WHO IS IN TROUBLE, WHO IS NOT, WHO NEEDS GROWTH AND WHAT THE COMPLICATIONS ARE BUT ADEM IS SO THEY'RE THE NATURAL AGENCY TO ADMINISTER THOSE OF FUNDS PURSUANT TO SOME OVERSIGHT AND DIRECTION FROM FINANCE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE COMPLIANT WITH TREASURY REGS, REPORTING REGS, THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO IN THAT CASE AND ADECA IT'S A TEAM EFFORT BUT WE'RE RELYING ON THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE OF THE RESPECTIVE AGENCIES >> LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE WE TALKED ABOUT SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND INFLATION AND HOW THAT COULD AFFECT THESE FUNDS.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN BUT INFLATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND IS GETTING WORSE.

IS THERE A CONCERN AT ALL THAT THESE DOLLARS WON'T GO AS FAR AS MAYBE WE EXPECTED THEM TO?

>> WELL, NO DOLLARS, WHETHER THEY'RE PRIVATE DOLLARS, FAMILY DOLLARS OR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO AS FARCE AS THEY WERE GOING TO GO DO YOU KNOW WHO OR THREE YEARS AGO.

IN MY JUDGMENT, INFLATIONARY ISSUES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RAMP UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS RELATED FEDERAL POSITION, THE ISSUE WITH YOU COMPLAIN RUSSIA, ECONOMIC COMPONENTS, ALL OF THESE FEDERAL STIMULUS PULSING THROUGH THE ECONOMY IS DRIVE DRIVING UNDER DEMAND IN TERMS OF SUPPLY CHAIN INTERRUPTIONS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO, YES, I DON'T THINK THE DOLLARS WILL BUY AS IT RELATES TO THE BROAD BOND AND SUER AND WATER AS MUCH AS IT WOULD HAVE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.

THAT'S BEYOND DISPUTE.

BUT UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE WE HAVE A LIMITED TIME TO SPEND IT.

THE FEDS PUT IN PLACE CERTAIN RULES.

WE WILL ABIDE BY THOSE.

BUT AS STATES EXPEND ALL OF THESE ARPA DOLLARS, THAT'S GOING TO FURTHER EXACERBATE SOME INFLATIONARY ISSUES, SOME SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO COMPLETE THE PROJECTS WITHIN THE STATUTORY TIMELINE AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CONGRESS.

SO THE TIME LINES MAY HAVE TO LOOSEN UP.

SO IT IS AN UNUSUAL AND CHALLENGING POSITION THAT THE FEDS HAVE PUT US IN AS A STATE, AS ALL STATES ARE GOING THROUGH THIS, MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT HE IS THE HAVE RECEIVED ARPA FUNDS AND ARE GRAPPLING WITH THE SAME THING BUT WE MUST ADMINISTER THE FUNDS PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL RULES AND WE WILL DO THAT >> LET'S LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEXT ROUND OF ARPA FUNDING.

WHAT WE'RE TALK ABOUT NOW IS ONLY HALF.

WE WILL GET THE SECOND HALF -- 1.1 BILLION -- THIS SUMMER SOMETIME.

THERE'S TALK OF A SPECIAL SESSION BEING CALLED TO APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS.

SO WHAT IS THE CONVERSATION?

WHAT PRIORITIES ARE IN THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU, THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS NEXT TRANCH OF MONEY MIGHT BE SPENT ON?

>> A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

ONE, THERE'S BEEN NO DECISION AT THIS POINT IN TIME AS TO WHETHER OR NOT OR WHEN WE HAVE WOULD HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION.

I THINK THOSE DECISIONS REMAIN OUT THERE IN THE SUMMERTIME AFTER FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP WHICH NEEDS TO OCCUR 1ST.

SECONDLY, I THINK GOVERNOR IVEY TO HER ENORMOUS CREDIT, MADE VERY CLEAR AS RELATES TO THE 1ST ROUND OF ARPA, A GENERAL PRINCIPLE WHICH WAS THAT WE NEED TO INVEST THESE DOLLARS WISELY AND NOT SPEND THEM CASUALLY.

THESE ONE TIME FUNDS, NOT REIMBURSING REF NEWS >> THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND NEED TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.

AS STATE WE NEED TO INVEST THEM FOR A PURPOSE AND NOT JUST CASUALLY SPEND THEM.

I THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF STICKING TO THOSE PRINCIPLES AS IT RELATES TO THE 1ST ROUND OF ARPA APPROPRIATIONS.

WE NEED TO ADHERE TO THOSE PRINCIPLES AGAIN WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISE AS IT RELATES TO THE NEXT ROUND OF ARPA SO THAT WOULD FORE SHADOW ME AS FURTHER INVESTMENTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT INVESTMENTS, HEALTH CARE, BROADBAND, WATER AND SEWER, ISSUES LIKE THAT, THAT, WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS, THEY'RE TANGIBLE AND THEY EXIST FOR GENERATIONS.

WHEN WE BUILD OUT OR IMPROVE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS IT'S THERE FOR 40, FEIST, 60 YEARS.

WHEN IMPROVE BROADBAND ACCESS, THE IMPACT IS LASTING.

IT DOESN'T GO AWAY AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

IT LASTS AFTER LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENS, OUR PROSPERITY, OUR ABILITY TO HAVE ECONOMIC SUCCESS, TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER STATES.

SO I WOULD HOPE AND I WOULD EXPECTED THOSE SAME PRINCIPLES WILL APPLY IN THE SECOND ROUND AS THEY DID IN THE 1ST ROUND >> WE OBVIOUSLY SAW RECORD BUDGETS, RECORD GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND EDUCATION TRUST FUND BUDGET AND THEY PUT MONEY AWAY IN RAINY DAY ACCOUNTS AND THEY WERE BEING RESPONSIBLE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

WE TALKED ABOUT INFLATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN IN TODAY'S ECONOMY THIS INFLATION COULD CAUSE A RECESSION DOWN THE ROAD.

WE REMEMBER HOW PAINFUL THAT RECESSION BACK IN 2010 WAS.

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED THAT A RECESSION IS COMING?

>> WELL, I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.

IF WE'RE NOT WE'RE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE.

BECAUSE WE KNOW A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS IN MY JUDGMENT IS A LOT OF THINGS ARE OCCURRING IN THE ECONOMY THAT ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE.

YOU NAME IT AND IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.

THE RATE OF INFLATION IS RISING AND HOME PRICES.

WE SEE A GLOBAL CONFLICT ACROSS THE ROAD.

WE SEE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND THE COST OF GASOLINE GOING UP -- ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE AT THE CURRENT TRAJECTORIES.

COMPOUND THAT WITH THE FACT THAT WE KNOW A LOT OF THE BUDGETARY FUNDS IN THE STATE WERE ANOMALIES AND DRIVEN BY THE STIMULUS AND NOT SUSTAINABLE.

WE KNOW THAT LEVEL OF GROWTH YEAR OFFER YEAR HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT.

I THINK GOVERNOR IVEY TO HER CREDIT AND TO THE LEGISLATURE'S CREDIT ALSO FOR A STICKING TO THOSE PRINCIPLES, FUNDED RESERVE ACCOUNTS, PAID OFF DEBT, AND IS REALLY PREPARING, I THINK, THE PHYSICAL HOUSE OF THIS STATE FOR ECONOMIC HARD TIMES THAT ARE AHEAD.

I BELIEVE THEY ARE AHEAD.

I HOPE THEY'RE NOT ACUTE BUT ANY RESPECTIVE VIEW OF THE ECONOMY AT THIS POINT, STATE, NATIONAL, GLOBAL -- IT TELLS US THERE ARE PROBLEMS ON THE HORIZON.

THIS LOOK LIKE A LOT ABOUT THE 07-'08 TIME PERIOD.

WE HAVE BEEN ON 13 YEARS OF GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY WITHOUT ANY RECESSION.

FACTUALLY, YOU JUST KNOW THAT CAN'T LAST.

SO I SAID THE FOLLOWING JOKINGLY BUT I THINK IT DEMONSTRATES THE POINT SOONER OR LATER THE SUGAR HIGH IS GOING TO END AND WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO NORMALCY.

WHEN DOES THAT OCCUR?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TIME, TRYING TO ANTICIPATE THE FUTURE.

TRYING TO PROTECT THE STATE AND ITS POSITION FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENS' WE NAVIGATE -- WE NAVIGATED COVID EFFECTIVELY.

WE'RE NAVIGATING VERY UNUSUALLY ECONOMIC TIMES EFFECTIVELY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES AHEAD THAT WE WILL NEED TO NAVIGATE.

THINKING THROUGH THOSE AND BEING RESPONSIBLE AND CONSERVATIVE IS THE APPROPRIATE TACT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE THAT AN A PRIORITY.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF STICKING TO THE PRINCIPLES.

I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT >> WELL, YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB AS FINANCE DIRECTOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW ARE YOU GLAD YOU MADE THE CHANGE FROM LEGISLATIVE TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH?

>> I AM.

I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT AND I'M THANKFUL TO GOVERNOR IVEY FOR HER TRUST AND CONFIDENCE SHE HAS PLACED IN ME.

IT IS A BIG ROLE.

I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF, GREAT EMPLOYEES, GREAT TIME.

I'M PROUD OF THE GOVERNOR AND HER LEADERSHIP AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH HER AND HER STAFF.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN MY NEW ROAM.

THE LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS ARE COLLEAGUES OF MINE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I HAVE THAT PERSPECTIVE.

I HONE THAT BENEFITS ME IN THIS JOB AND ENABLES KNEE PERFORM WELL ON THE WATCH OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND GOVERNOR IVEY BUT I HAVE ENJOYED IT AND LEARNED.

IT'S BEEN VERY CHALLENGING.

IT'S VERY FAST PAVED.

BUT I HAVE CERTAINLY ENJOYED THE CHALLENGE >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND INFORMING OUR VIEWERS OF ALL OF THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES >> THANK YOU >> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY KIM BASWELL, COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" GOOD ZERO SEE YOU.

>> YOU SEE.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR YOU OR BIG NIGHT.

YOU'RE HAVING THE BISCUITS GAME.

THE STRIKEOUT BISCUIT NIGHT.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS?

>> IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXPOSE PEOPLE TO THE IDEA OF MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLNESS.

IT CERTAINLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS AT THE BISCUITS GAME THAT CAN TELL FOLKS ABOUT SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET ACCESS TO CARE IF THEY'RE HAVING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUE, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT IN PUBLIC AND REALLY PROMOTE MENTAL WELL BEING.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO BE SINGING TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME?

>> I COULD SING THAT BUT I'M NOT.

>> WELL, IT'S ALSO A BIG WEEK FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE EARLIER THIS WEEK IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT TWO MORE COMMUNITY CRISES CENTERS ARE GOING TO BE COMING ONLINE.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE FOCUS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WHERE DOES THAT BRING US STATEWIDE?

>> THAT WOULD BRING US TO SIX CRISES CENTERS STATEWIDE.

THE NEW CRISES CENTERS WILL BE IN TUSCALOOSA AND IN THE DOTHAN AREA AND WE'RE JUST REALLY, REALLY EXCITED AND VERY THANKFUL TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HER SUPPORT.

THAT WAS A PART OF HER BUDGET AND THEN OF COURSE THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORTED THAT PROPOSAL AS WELL AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE SIX CRISES CENTERS IN OUR MORE URBAN AREAS IN THE STATE.

>> WALK ME THROUGH WHAT HAPPENS AT THESE CRISES CENTERS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

>> SURE.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, IT'S A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OUT OF JAILS AND OUT OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WHERE THEY OFTEN GET BOARDED.

AND ONE OF THE REALLY EFFECTIVE WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO HAVE SERVICES AVAILABLE WHEN THEY ARE IN CRIES.

SO THESE CRISES CENTERS REALLY PROVIDE A LOT OF SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

IT COULD BE JUST AS SIMPLE AS THEY NEED A GOOD QUALITY SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT.

YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHEN SOMEONE SOMETIMES PICKED UP BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR WINDS UP IN THE ER IS IF WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE.

SO ONE OF THE EFFECTIVE STEPS IN THAT PROCESS IS TO GET A GOOD SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT SO THAT YOU KNOW ACTUALLY WHAT YOU NEED TO ADDRESS.

THEY ALSO CAN RECEIVE SERVICES IN WHAT WE CALL 23-HOUR OBSERVATION BEDS.

SO, AGAIN, IF THEY'RE JUST KIND OF HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY AND WE'RE APPLYING TO SORT IT, IS IT A MEDICATION ISSUE?

HAVE THEY TAKEN A DRUG THAT IS CAUSING SOME BEHAVIORS THAT ARE CONCERNING?

THEN THEY CAN BE ASSESSED IN THE 23-HOUR OBSERVATION SETTLING.

IN ADDITION HAD TO THAT, IT PROVIDES CRISES STABILIZATION SERVICES.

SO FIVE TO SEVEN-DAY STAY AT THE CRISES CENTER IS POSSIBLE.

NERDS IF WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT, WE DO HAVE OBSERVATION AND YOU'RE STILL NOT WHERE YOU NEED TO BE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY STAY IN A FIVE- TO SEVEN-DAY CRISES STABILIZATION UNIT THERE AT THE CRISES CENTER.

SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS, INSTEAD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TAKING THIS TOMORROW JAIL, THEY CAN DROP THEM OFF AT THE CRISES CENTER, TAKING THEM TO THE ER WHERE THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BUT THEY CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THE CRISES CENTER OR A FAMILY CAN BRING THEM AND THEY CAN GET THE CARE THEY NEED IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS.

>> HAVING THEM AROUND THE STATE PUTS THEM CLOSER TO DRIVING DISTANCE ALMOST ANYWHERE.

>> RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE CENTERS IN HUNTSVILLE, BIRMINGHAM, WE WILL HAVE ONE IN TUSCALOOSA, MONTGOMERY, MONTGOMERY, AND DOTHAN.

AND AS YOU KNOW WE FELT LIKE IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR DOTHAN IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO DOTHAN YOU KNOW THERE'S NO EASY WAY TO GET TO MOBILE.

THERE'S NO EASY WAY WITHIN A TWO HOUR DRIVING DISTANCE TO GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND SO DOTHAN IN PARTICULAR WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISLAND BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET TO A MOBILE OR TO A MONTGOMERY.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE WERE REALLY WHITE EXCITED ABOUT, ONE, BECAUSE IT'S GEOGRAPHICALLY HARD TO GET TO AND, TWO, THERE'S BEEN SUCH POPULATION GROWTH IN THE DOTHAN AREA.

>> DO YOU FORESEE ANY FUTURE MORE THAN SIX?

IS THERE ANY MAGIC NUMBER YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO?

>> WE'RE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THAT WITH THE POPULATION DATA AND OUR MORE RURAL AREAS.

WE TALKED ABOUT MOBILE CRISES TEAMS IN THE RURAL AREAS.

WE MAY NEED ADDITIONAL CRISES CENTERS BUT WE'RE GOING TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE POPULATION, WHAT DOES A REALLY GOOD RURAL MODEL LOOK LIKE FOR COMMUNITIES THAT WAS MEDIUM SIZED?

DO WE NEED OPERATE MORE LIKE AN URGENT CARE SETTING?

THAT'S ONE OF THE MODELS THAT WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS THE NATION THAT IS EFFECTIVE IN A MORE RURAL AREA IS SORT OF THAT URGENT AREA MODEL BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WE NEED HAD TO LOCK ANOTHER, POPULATION, JUST THE IDENTIFIED NEED AND AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS TO OTHER SERVICES IN THE AREA.

SO WE ARE GOING TO STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT AS WE BEGIN TO DEVELOP OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND LOOK AT THOSE AND REALLY SORT OF REFINE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THOSE ORDINARY CRISES CENTERS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE BUDGET.

AND IT'S JUST SIGNIFICANT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GROWTH AND ESTABLISHING THESE CENTERS AS OPPOSED TO 10 YEARS AGO, YOU'RE TALKING DRAMATIC CUTS, PAINFUL CUTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THE BUDGET SITUATION HAS REALLY TURNED AROUND.

AND THAT'S IT.

ARE YOU IN A GOOD PLACE NOW?

DO YOU SEE THE NEED FOR FURTHER BUDGET INCREASES IN THE FUTURE?

>> WE DO SEE A NEED FOR FURTHER BUDGET INCREASES.

WE ARE BUILDING AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WHAT WE CALL THE ALABAMA CRISES SYSTEM OF CARE.

AND THAT REALLY IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE STATE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS IN THE STATE.

UNFORTUNATELY AS YOU KNOW WITH COVID, IT'S NOT LIKE THE NEED DECREASED.

THE NEED ACTUALLY WENT UP.

AND SO THE OTHER AREA THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT VERY CLOSELY IS THE CHILD AND DEFINITE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN SUCH A DRAMATIC NEGATIVE IMPACT ON KIDS THROUGH THIS COVID CRISES THAT WE REALLY KNOW THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO CHILD AND ADOLESCENTS.

>> ALSO PASSED IN THIS PAST SESSION WAS A LAW CHANGING THE COMMITMENT PROCESS, PARTICULARLY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDGES.

HOW WILL THAT -- WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS CHANGE?

>> IT WAS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THE MENTALLY ILL HERE IN ALABAMA AND SUPPORTED BY PROBATE JUDGES AND ALSO THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

IT REALLY DOES EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF TIME A PROBATE JUDGE CAN LOOK AT THE BEHAVIORS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SO IT GAVE THEM A LIMB LATITUDE IN TERMS OF WHAT HAS THE PERSON EXPERIENCED THE LAST TWO YEARS INSTEAD OF JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL.

IT ALSO CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF PRE AND PRESENT DANGER TO SEE IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS ABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEREFORE IN DANGER OF BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

THAT'S WHAT WE SEE SO OFTEN WITH OUR INDIVIDUALS IS, BECAUSE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION, THEY'RE UNABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THAT'S WHEN WE OFTEN SEE THEM VICTIMIZED BY OTHERS BECAUSE THEY'RE UNABILITY TO FUNCTION AND TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

PREVIOUSLY THAT HAD NOT BEEN A PART OF THE COMMITMENT LAW.

BUT IT'S SUPPORTED BY ALL OF THE ADVOCACY GROUPS.

A LOT OF STATES HAVE DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR.

AND THE ADVOCACY GROUPS FELT STRONGLY ABOUT EXPANDING THAT DEFINITION SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND TAKEN CARE OF AND GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

>> ALSO IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR WAS THE FUNDING FOR EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS AT LEAST ONE MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR.

IS YOUR DEPARTMENT INVOLVED IN THAT?

>> WE ARE.

WE HELP TRAIN THE SERVICE COORDINATORS.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SO OPERATE WHAT WE CALL A MULTI TEARED SYSTEM FOR KIDS IN SKILLS.

THAT'S WHAT WE CALL WE-TWO INTERVENTIONS.

TIER ONE -- THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOSE A LOT OF WORK AROUND SUICIDE PREVENTION AND AT RISK AT THAT TIER ONE LEVEL.

CARDS COORDINATORS ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY KIDS THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND GET THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

WE RECEIVED T3 INTENT MENTION -- SO IF THE SERVICE COORDINATOR IS IDENTIFYING A KID THAT SEEMS TO NEED MORE INTERVENTION OR NEEDS SOME INTENSIVE INTERVENTION THEY'RE REFERRED TO THE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST TO DO KNOWS INTERVENTIONS.

SO ALL OF THAT REALLY, THAT MULTI TEARED SYSTEM MEANS ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT TIERS ARE COORDINATED REALLY BY THAT SERVICE COORDINATOR.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS REPRESENTATIVE LEDBETTER AND OTHERS REALLY WANTED TO ADD THAT SERVICE COORDINATOR IS THAT YOU REALLY NEEDED THAT PERSON WHO WAS TRYING TO HAVE THAT COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF SERVICES WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> ALSO I NOTED THAT THIS IS THE 1ST TIME THAT THE STATE HAS APPROPRIATED FUNDING FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE REALLY SINCE THE 1970S?

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT SEEMS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT?

>> IT'S HUGE.

I WAS EXCITED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS IN THE BUDGET BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REALLY HUGE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT TO ADD RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BEDS TO OUR, YOU KNOW, LIST OF SERVICES WHERE IT'S FOR CENTERS AROUND THE STATE, 16 BEDS, FOUR IN DIFFERENT REGIONS AND SO WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED TO ADD THOSE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BEDS IN OUR STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE LONG WAITING LISTS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, AND THOSE BEDS CAN MAKE A HUGE POSITIVE IMPACT FOR PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS IN THIS STATE BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT ABLE TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES.

SO WE STILL HAVE A HUGE OPIOID PROBLEM THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

AND OTHER DRUGS AS WELL, SO THOSE CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ALABAMIANS.

>> AND FENTANYL SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT IN TERMS OF OVERDOSE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE CONVERSATION HAS SHIFTED FROM LOCKING PEOPLE UP TO TREATING THEM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING A SERIES CALLED STOP JUDGING, START HEALING.

SO AND WE HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD AND IT TIES BACK TO THE STIGMA TO SAY, WE NEED TO BE HELPING THESE INDIVIDUALS, AND IT'S NOT A CHARACTER ISSUE.

IT'S AN ADDICTION.

IT'S A PHYSICAL ADDICTION TO A DRUG.

AND OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN IT NOT BECAUSE THEY MEANT TO.

MAYBE THEY HAD A HEALTH ISSUE AND WERE PRESCRIBED AN OPIOID.

SO REALLY TRYING TO HELP FOLKS UNDERSTAND THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF COMPASSION NEEDED TO ADDRESS ADDICTION AND THAT REALLY IT'S NOT CHARACTER ISSUE; IT'S A HEALTH ISSUE AND WE REALLY AT THIS POINT WORK HARD TO KEEP FOCUS ALIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GO TO TREATMENT AND THAT'S REALLY OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS SO MANY PEOPLE WIND UP OVERDOSING THAT ONE OF OUR GOALS IS SORT OF HARM REDUCTION.

CAN WE KEEP THEM ALIVE LONG ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A TREATMENT BED?

AND OBVIOUSLY HAVING FOUR 16-BED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN THE STATE MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIT ON A WAITING LIST FOR A LONG TIME TO GET TREATMENT.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALKED TO CAM WARD AT PARDONS AND PAROLES AND WHEN I TALK TO LAWMAKERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE PRISON ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY, THEY CALLS BRING UP MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, FAILING TO GET IT RIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH IN THE FRONT END CAN LEAD TO INCARCERATION WHERE PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO BE INCARCERATED.

THEY NEED TO BE TREATED.

>> RIGHT.

>> THERE'S A NEW MEN'S PRISON IN ELMORE COUNTY AND PART OF THAT IS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A FACILITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

IS YOUR DEPARTMENT INVOLVED WITH THAT?

>> YOU KNOW WE ARE INVOLVED WITH PARDONS AND PAROLES.

OUR ROLE REALLY IS ON THE FRONT END AND KIND OF ON THE BACK END.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE -- THAT CASE IS GOING TO BE THEIR HUB FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND WE'RE VERY ENGAGED WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ISSUE AN RFP FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDES TO PROVIDE THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THERE.

SO REALLY FOR US WE TRY TO PREVENT THAT PERSON FROM GOING TO PRISON.

THAT'S LOT -- THE CRISES CENTERS AND SOME OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.

THEN WHEN THEY COME OUT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH DIRECTOR WARD.

WE HAVE HAD.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE DAY REPORTING CENTERS, ABOUT THE PERRY COUNTY FACILITY, AND HOW CAN WE REALLY WRAP AROUND THOSE MENTAL HEALTH AND CONSTITUTION SERVICES?

SO WHEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS LEAVE PARTICIPATE, THEY'RE CHARGED IN THE COMMUNITY, HEALTHY AND ADDRESSED THEIR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> A LOT GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

COMMISSIONER, THAT YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> SURE, THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT I'M JOINED BY BRUCE ELI OF THE BRADLEY ERRANT LAW FIRM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GOOD SO SEE YOU.

IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH YOU GROW UP.

I WARREN MY AUBURN TIED, FOR YOU.

AS CLOSE AS I COULD GO ANYWAY.

>> YOU'RE A WELL-KNOWN TAX ATTORNEY, ESPECIALLY IN LEGISLATIVE CIRCLES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND HERE IN MONTGOMERY BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK AND ADVISORY CAPACITY ON TAX LEGISLATION.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WORK IN THAT AREA?

>> I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO SERVICE AT COUNSEL AND TAX REVISOR TO EVERY TAX REFORM COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE HAD SINCE AT LEAST '92 WITH THE COR BUT COMMISSION AND THAT GAVE ME AN INTEREST IN LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.

I DID SPEND IN TIME WITH WASHINGTON WITH SENATOR SHELBY ON AND OFF BUT I FOUND OUR ALABAMA LEGISLATURE TO BE INCREDIBLY PROTECTIVE, FRIENDLY PEOPLE TO WORK WITH AND IN NEED OF SOME TAX EXPERTISE.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS NOW FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF LEGISLATORS, A LOT OF GOVERNORS AND A LOT OF COMMISSIONERS OF REVENUE BUT I HAVE BEEN PROUD TO SERVICE EITHER THROUGH OF THE BIRMINGHAM CHAMBER OR SIMPLY MY LAW FIRM, THE ALABAMA LAW INSTITUTE WHICH IS ANOTHER GREAT GROUP GOING ON.

SO YOU SEE ME POP UP IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND SEE MY FINGER PRINTS IN A LOT OF BILLS THAT PASSED THE LAST 38 YEARS AT LEAST ON THE TAX SIDE, BUT I GUESS I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE INCENTIVE BUILT THAT WE PASSED FOR THE MERCEDES PROJECT MANY YEARS AGO AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS THAT HAVE BECOME LONG-STANDING LEGACY TYPE BILLS.

SO NOW I WASH THIS REGULARLY.

I'M THANKFUL CLIENTS HIRE KNEE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE BILLS AND SOMETIMES DRAFT THEM FOR THEM AS WELL.

SO I'M SORT OF TASKED WITH KEEPING UP WITH THE THINGS THAT FILTER THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE ON THE TAX SIDE.

I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT PERMITLESS CARRY AND KNOWS THINGS BUT I CAN SPEAK TO THE ABOUT THE TAX LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THIS LAST SEX.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS HOPING BUT IT WAS AN ACTIVE SESSION FOR TAX LEGISLATION.

THEY -- IT WAS PURPOSE.

THEY CAME IN WITH A LOT OF REVENUE AND WANTED TO GIVE SOME BACK IN THE FORM OF TAX CUTS, DIFFERENT KIND OF INCENTIVES.

LET'S START WITH THE 1ST ONE.

HOUSE BILL 82.

THIS IS CALLED THE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF AND REVITALIZATION ACT.

WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THIS DOES.

>> IT'S A GREAT TITLE.

YOU START OUT WITH A TITLE LIKE THIS IS AND EVERYBODY FALLS FROM THERE.

IT ACCOMPLISHES FOUR THINGS.

WHAT OF ONE IS -- LET ME GO BACK.

LAST SESSION THE LEGISLATURE PASSED SOME BILLS THAT CLEARED UP SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE STIMULUS LEGISLATION THAT COCK BUYER OR BIDEN PASSED.

A LOT OF THESE THINGS MAYBE TAX FREE TO YOU FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES BUT TAXABLE TO YOU FOR ALABAMA PURPOSES BECAUSE OUR LAWS DON'T QUITE SYNCH.

SO LAST SESSION, AND ONE ANY OTHER-PAGED BILL THEY CORRECTED A LOT OF THESES TO MAKE THEM TAX FREE AND ONE OR TWO SLIPPED THROUGH.

THE RESTAURANTS AND THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS THEY CAN'T CATCH UNTIL THIS TIME PASSED.

THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS WHO RECEIVED A PAYCHECK ELECTION LOANS, WHEN THOSE ARE CANCELED, THAT CREATES INCOME TO THE BORROWER AND THE LEGISLATURE HAD TO STEP IN AND SAY, NO, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL RULE WHICH MEANS IT'S EXEMPT AND THE MONEY YOU BORROW FROM THE PPP PROBLEM OR SPA AND YOU SPEND ON CROPS OR ANIMALS OR EQUIPMENT YOU CAN DEDUCT THOSE SENTENCES WHICH YOU COULDN'T.

SO IT'S JUST CLEANING UP THINGS FROM LAST SESSION.

THE OTHER THING AND THIS WAS A BIG DEAL FOR MY FRIEND ROSEMARY ELBASH, IT WAS EXEMPT THE $4,040,000 FROM PROPERTY TAX.

THE EXEMPTION IS ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF ALL ALABAMA BUSINESS.

FROM THIS.

SO IT'S A PRETTY BROAD-BASED EXEMPTION EVEN AT $40,000.

THAT'S NUMBER 2.

NUMBER 3 WAS, A NUMBER OF RETAILERS HAVE TO SEND IN A MONTHLY AMOUNT OF SALES TAX WHETHER THEY COLLECT IT OR NOT, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T.

SO THIS CHANGED THE EXEMPTION SO THAT IT'S $5,000 IF YOU COLLECTED $5,000 IN SALES TAX IN PRIOR YEARS THEN YOU HAVE TO REMIT THAT AMOUNT ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS AND THEN TAKE A DIFFERENT ON WHAT YOU ACTUAL CORRECTED BY THE IT HELPS SMALL RETAILERS HERE.

ALABAMA RETAIL ASSOCIATION, NFIB MOVE.

FINALLY THE LAST THING I WORKED ON IS THE LAST ONE TO GIVE COMPANIES AND BANKS AN EXTRA 30 DAYS TO FILE THEIR TAX RETURNS.

WITH ALL OF THE FEDERAL CHANGES PEOPLE COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THEM.

I COULDN'T.

AND BY THE TIME YOU'RE FILING YOUR TAX RETURN YOU'RE ON THE LAST DAY.

YOU'RE APRIL 15 AT 11:59:00 P.M. AND THE BIG CORPORATIONS COULDN'T GET THEIR ARMS AROUND ALL OF THE STATE RAMIFICATIONS.

SO THANKFULLY THE LEGISLATURE GAVE THE COMPANIES AN EXTRA 3 DAYS.

THEY HAVE TO PAY THE TAX BUT THEY HAVE 30 DEGREES TO TRUE UP THE RETURN AND MAKE SURE THE I.T.

SYNCHS AND IS CORRECT.

>> I LISTED SOME COMPANIES AND MANUFACTURING GROUPS THAT SUPPORTED THESE BILLS AND GOVERNS, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SO IT WAS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK SORT OF BILL.

>> THERE WAS ALSO LEGISLATIVE FROM RON GREER.

HE LABELED IT AS A -- HOW BILL 162.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

>> I'M NOT A RETIREE.

BUT I AM 65.

LYNN TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THIS BILL THROUGH AND OTHERS TOO.

BUT JUST A BACKUP, MANY YEARS AGO, THE AEA, DR. HUBBARD AND ROY JOHNSON AND FOLKS PASSED A DISTRIBUTION FROM PENSION PLANS.

IT SO HAPPENS TO BE STATE AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, MILITARY EMPLOYEES AND EXPERIENCE.

>> DEFINE CONTRIBUTION; RIGHT?

>> SO A PENSION PLAN MEANS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN "X" AMOUNT DEFINED BENEFIT REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO THE WORK WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU.

THOSE WERE -- SINCE THEN WE HAVE SEED WHAT ABOUT BUSINESS PEOPLE?

WHY CAN'T WE RECEIVE SIMILAR DISTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR PROFIT PENSIONS OR MY IRA OR 401K.

SO FINALLY WITH LYNN'S HELP AND A NUMBER OF EARS, THIS BILL VOTED AT 100 TO NOTHING IN THE HOUSE, SO IT WAS PRETTY POPULAR.

THEY REDUCED THE NUMBER TO $6,000 A YEAR BUT I WILL TAKE IT.

IT'S A GOOD START TO BRING PARITY BETWEEN -- THAT'S ALMOST ALL 401KS ANYWAY SO HIS IS GOING TO BE A USEFUL EXEMPTION THAT STARTS NEXT YEAR, NOT THIS YEAR.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 65 SO I APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATURES HELPING ME OUT ON THAT FUN.

>> I'M GOING TO NED YOUR HELP ON THIS ONE.

WE HAVE REPORTED ON IT, AND TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT I HAVE -- IT'S HOUSE BILL 163.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THIS DOES?

>> WHEN IT STARTED OUT, IT SOAKED TO BE A -- INFLATION HAS NOT I DO THINK THEY HELPED LOW INCOME TAXPAYERS AND THEY GAVE THEM LARGE EXEMPTIONS FOR CHILDREN AND SO FORTH BUT IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS WITH INFLATION RUNNING AT 9 PERCENT, THEY BASICALLY JUST WENT BACK TO A NET NEUTRAL WITH THESE THINGS.

SO THE LEGISLATURE TRIED HARD.

YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU HAVE SEEN NORTH CAROLINA, LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI AND OTHER STATES GO THROUGH MASSIVE OVERHAULS TO LOWER THE RATE AND GIVE LOWER INCOME TAXPAYERS HELPFUL TAX BREAK.

I HAVE LEGISLATION WHERE WE REVISIT THIS IN NEXT SESSION.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS TARGETED TO MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME AND FOLKS THAT DON'T ITEMIZE?

>> YEAH.

YOU WOULDN'T US THE STANDARD DEDUCTION IF YOU WERE ITEMIZING OR HAD TAXES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

MOST PEOPLE IN ALABAMA DON'T ITEMIZE.

>> SO YOU SEE THIS MAYBE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR MORE TARGETED BROADER TAX RELIEF ON LOWER MIDDLE INCOME?

>> YEAH.

I HOPE WE SEE THAT.

IN WE FOLLOW MISSISSIPPI AND GUESS A' PATTERN WE WILL HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

WITH INFLATION RUNNING RAMPANT, THESE INCREASES WHILE THEY SOUND GREAT AND CERTAINLY WILL HAVE BEEN HELPFUL, THEY HAVE BEEN EATEN UP IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS BECAUSE OF JUST GROCERY PRICES AND GAS PRICES AND SO FORTH.

I HONE THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK AND TAKES A SECOND LOOK AT THE NEXT SPRING.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

EVERY YEAR FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN TALK OF ENDING THE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES.

AND EVERY YEAR IT DOESN'T PASS.

I GUESS THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT YOU HAVE TO THIS YEAR, IF THERE WAS EVER A YEAR FOR IT TO PASS IT WOULD BE THIS YEAR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE HANG UP IS?

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY.

AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO TILTED AT WIND MEALS SAYING THIS IS THE YEAR IT PASS.

WE WERE AWASH WITH MONEY, THE GOOD ECONOMY AND FEDERAL MONEY BUT IT STILL DIDN'T PASS.

TO TAKE THE 4 PERCENT OFF OF SALES TAXES AND MAKING IT FOR EDUCATION, WHICH MAKES IT MORE SPECIAL -- SO YOU COULD BE ACCUSED OF CUTTING MONEY FOR SCHOOLS?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HEAR.

MANY OF THE PRIOR BILLS HE WE SAID WE WILL STAY THE FOOD TAX OFF THE TABLE OR WE WILL EXEMPT THE FOOD AND IN RETURN WE WILL REFEEL YOUR FEDERAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION.

WE'RE ONLY ONE OF THREE STATES THAT HAS THAT LEFT.

AND MY POINT WAS, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO SKIN THIS CAT.

I DRAFTED A BILL SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT SAID LET'S FOLLOW IDAHO AND KANSAS AND GIVE YOU A REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT.

SO WE DON'T TAKE THE FOOD OFF OF EVERYBODY'S INCOME.

I DON'T DESERVE A BREAK O.

ON MY GROCERIES.

BUT LOWER PAIRS DO.

SO YOU COULD TARGET THIS TO -- NOT THE PEOPLE DRIVING TO THE BEACH WITH AN UNDER UNDERGROUND.

SOW JUST -- THE PHYSICAL NOTE ABOUT A 10TH OF WHAT THIS PHYSICAL NOTE IS.

IT'S LIKE 40 OR $45 MILLION ALSO HAPPENING.

IT'S $400 MILLION.

THE CITIES AND COUNTY ARE NOT NEUTRAL EITHER BECAUSE THE PRESSURE ON THEM IS IF WE REPEAL THE 4 PERCENT THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL PRESSURE TO REPEAL THEIR NUMBERS.

EVEN AT 8 PERCENT RATE YOU'RE LOOKING AT BILL TAX IN DOLLARS GOING AWAY IF THE CITIES OR COUNTIES WERE -- >> NO SMALL THING.

>> IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

AND I THINK THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO SKIN THE CAT AND I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WILL LOOK AT IT NEXT YEAR!

WELL, ONE OF THE BIG DEVELOPMENTS THAT MAYBE GOES UNDER NOTICED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN THE STABILIZATION IN THE GENERAL FUND.

THIS IS PART OF THE STATE THAT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS BECAUSE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE GROWTH REVENUE.

THAT CHANGED WITH THE SIMPLIFIED SELLER'S USE TAX.

IT GUESS IT PACED IN 2018 OR BEFORE.

>> I KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO I WAS HOPING HOW YOU COULD WALK US THROUGH HOW THAT IDEA CAME BACK AND HOW YOU GOT IT PASSED.

>> THERE'S A THING CALLED THE STREAM LINES TAX.

AND I PUSHED ALONG WITH THE BALTIMORE BE -- THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED GOOD THINGS AND BAD THINGS TO THE CITIES.

CITY COULD NOT AUDIT ANYMORE YOU.

WOULD HAVE ONE AUDIT FOR ALL OF THEM.

SO IF SOMEBODY WENT TO WALMART, THEY WOULD BE OUT OF STATE ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE COUNTIES AND CITIES.

THE CITIES REALLY DIDN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.

I GOT RUN OVER LIKE A OPOSSUM.

SO THE SIMPLIFIED SALES USE TAX CAME IN AS A RESULT OF THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING IN WAYFAIR SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT HAPPENED YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A WAREHOUSE OTHER AN OFFICE OR A PERSON STAY.

IF YOU SIMPLY HAVE A PERSONAL AMOUNT OF DOLLARS OF SALES IN THAT STATE AND THE STATE HAS A SIMPLIFIED MECHANISM NOR COLLECTING THE SALES TAX AND BEING AUDITED THEN WE'RE GOING TO LET THAT G IN MORE PHYSICAL PRESENCE.

JUST ECONOMIC NEXUS.

AND IN THAT CASE IT WAS $250,000 A YEAR IN SALES.

THE STATES JUMPED ON THAT AFTER WAYFAIR AND THE ALABAMA IS TO THE FOREFRONT TO THEIR CREDIT.

SO THE AMAZONS OF THE WORLD -- A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE TOTALLY VIRTUAL.

THEY'RE IN CALIFORNIA MANY.

THEY'RE NOW HAVING TO COLLECT SALES TAX FROM YOU AND ME AND REMIT IT TO THE STATE BUT THE DEAL IS IT'S ONE STOP SHOPPING.

THEY REMIT 8 PERCENT.

AUDITED BY ONLY THE STATE REVENUE OFFICE AND FILE ONE FORM, NOT ONE FORM IN COLUMBIA COUNTY AND MOBILE.

JUST ONE.

THE COMPANY SAID WE LIKE THAT.

THAT'S FAIR.

SAYS THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE FAIR RATE?

THERE ARE VERY FEW PARTS OF THE STATE THAT HAVE AN 8 PERIODS OF TIME TOTAL RATE IF IT'S 4 PLUS 3 PLUS 3 -- THE AVERAGE RATE IS 4.9 AND IN HUNTSVILLE AND OTHER PLACES IT'S 10 OR 11.

AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE THE BREAK WHY SHOULD AMAZON ONLY COLLECT 8 PERCENT ON A BOOK THAT I.

PURCHASED WHEREAS IF I GO TO BOOKS-A-MILLION I HAVE TO PAY YOUR 10ERS.

>> IN CITY THAT HAS A HIGHER -- >> YEAH.

THE CITY TOES AND COUNTY HAVE TO ADD A PERCENTAGE.

AND HALF OF THE MONEY AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO THE STATE AND HALF TO THE COUNTIES OF THE CITY BASED ON POPULATION.

AND THE HOOVERS OF THE WORLD ARE SAYING WE'RE A RETAIL MECCA.

WE SHOULD RECEIVE MORE.

TUSCALOOSA HAS THE SAME COMPLAINT.

A THE BIG 10 STILLS GOT TOGETHER AND THEY'RE PLANNING ON GETTING THE INTERNET TO INCREASE THEIR RATE UNTIL -- IT'S A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

IF I HAVE COLLECT 10 PERCENT FOR YOU IF YOU COME TO MY STORE AND AMAZON ONLY HAS TO COLLECT EIGHT IF YOU BUY FROM VIRTUALLY, THEN IN LARGE ENOUGH DOLLARS PEOPLE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHERE THEY WANT TO PURCHASE SO: SO IT'S BAN BOON TO THE STATE AND BROUGHT IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND BEEN VERY CERVICAL SUCCESSFUL.

BUT I THINK RATE IS PROBABLY BELOW AND THESE WOULD BE REGIONALIZED.

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO WATCH.

A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR SEEING YOU GOOD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

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