♪ ♪ >>> HELLO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M WILSON STRIBLING WHERE WE DISCUSS THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACING THE CITY OF MISSISSIPPI AND HOW THESE ISSUES IMPACT YOU.

LAWMAKERS HAVE ENDED THE 2021 SESSION.

THEY ADJOURNED YESTERDAY AFTER PASSING THE 2021 BUDGET AND HE SAYS THAT THE BUDGET INCLUDES EDUCATION.

>>> IT WAS A GOOD DAY FOR EDUCATION AND $102 MILLION AND A $100 MILLION INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR.

HALF OF THAT WAS TEACHER PAY RAISE.

TEACHER PAY RAISE WAS TEACHER ASSISTANCE.

THERE ARE OTHER LOADING COLLABORATIVES AND ANOTHER FOR $16 MILLION AND AN INCREASED SUPPLY FUND, AND ANOTHER INCREASE FOR TEACHERS AND WILL INCREASE THESE AMOUNTS OF $275,000 TOTAL.

PUT $570 MILLION INTO MATH COACHES.

WE HAVE TEACHER SHORTAGES AND MATH IS ONE OF THEM THAT OUR STATE IS LACKING IN.

AND WE PUT MONEY INTO HELPING DISTRICTS IMPROVE YOUR MASK SCORES.

AND WE PUT MONEY IN CTE AND WE HAVE A GRANT PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM FILTER GAPS.

WE'VE GOT $25 MILLION OF LAUNDRY MONEY TO FIGURE IN THOSE GAPS.

WE'RE TREATING IT AS ONE TIME REVENUE BECAUSE THE LOTTERY WILL FLUCTUATE.

WE'RE NOT CERTAIN IT WILL BE BACK AND WE HELD BACK TO ABOUT $10 MILLION.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS BESIDE THE BUDGET AND TEACHER RECIPROCITY BILL.

>> AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP TEACHERS MAKE MORE MOTIVATIONAL TO BE HERE AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP TEACHERS RAISE THE BAR FOR EDUCATION.

>>> HE SAYS THEY WERE ABLE TO TIGHTEN THE GAP FOR THE EDUCATIONAL BEER EDUCATIONAL BEER.

HE AUTHORIZED A $100 MILLION FOR NEW TEACHERS.

SOME TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO SEE A $3% INCREASE IN 3% INCREASE IN 2022.

>>> IT'S BASED ON A SYSTEM WITH THE PERSONAL BOARD AND THE IDEA IS THAT IT WILL BE AT 3% ACROSS THE PAY RAISE AND IT WILL BE BASED FOR MARKET RATE FOR THAT PARTICULAR JOB SO IF SOMEONE IS AT MARKET RATE, THEY MAY NOT GET A RATE AND THOSE WILL BE ABOVE THE PAY RATE.

>> WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE AND MAKING SURE OF THAT IS TO MAKE SURE OUR PAY WILL BE FAIR AND COMPETITIVE AND KEEPING OUR BEST EMPLOYEES HERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT IS WE HAVE GREAT TIMING WITH MISSISSIPPI AND PAY MAY BE LACKING IN BEHIND AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUR BRIGHTEST AND BEST HERE IN MISSISSIPPI.

>>> HOBBES SAYS THAT MOST COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY STAFF WILL RECEIVE A 1% PAY RAISE UNDER THIS PLAN AND A TEACHER WILL RECEIVE A 5% PAY RAISE.

AND HOPKINS WILL LEAD THAT UP TO THE HEADS OF EACH CONSTITUTION TO DECIDE WHO GETS WHAT.

>>> FOR THREE MONTHS MANY ENDED UP GOING NOWHERE IN THE FINAL DAYS.

AND HOUSE SPEAKER DU GUN INTRODUCED THE FREEDOM TAX.

GUN SAID IT WOULD ELIMINATE THE TAX FOR OVER THREE YEARS.

THE SPEAKER REJECTED THE PLAN.

GUN SAYS HE'S DISAPPOINTED THE ORDER DID NOT PASS BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT MISSISSIPPIANS FEEL STRONG ABOUT.

>>> FOR ME IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

I SAID IT THEN AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW ANY POLICY ITEM THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE PEOPLE MORE OR COULD BENEFIT THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR THE ECONOMIC INCOME TAX.

WE'RE GOING TO GET SUPPORT FOR THE SENATE IN AND THE PLAN THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD RECEIVES SUBSTANTIAL BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

I HAD ALMOST 90 VOTES FOR THAT BILL.

IT'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO THROW ROCKS AT IT.

AND THE ONLY OBJECTIONS THAT WE FIND ARE NOT POLICY RELATED.

THEY'RE EITHER POLITICALLY RELATED OR I THINK THE POLICIES THAT YOU PASSED IS A SOLID ONE AND WE'LL TRY TO ADDRESS EVERY CONCERN AND ARISE OUT OF THAT AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS BUT THAT WILL BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUES.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING MOVING FORWARD TO BE MORE IMPACTFUL THAN THAT.

>>> SO WE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT LAND DID NOT PASS AGAIN AND DIDN'T KNOW THEY'LL RECEIVE ANY POLICY AS TO WHY IT WAS BAD.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

THAT WILL BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR US MOVING FORWARD.

AND THE HOUSE KILLED A BILL DEALING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE INFLUX PLAN WOULD DEAL WITH INCENTIVES TO LURE BUSINESSES IN THE STATE.

HE SAYS HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE HOUSE PASSED IT AND WOULD BE A PRIORITY IN NEXT YEAR'S SESSION.

>>> WE HAD A PROGRAM CALLED IN-FLEX PASSED BY THE HOUSE.

IN-FLEX WOULD HAVE GIVEN US THE TOOLS TO MAKE US MORE TRACTIVE TO THE STATE ATTRACTIVE TO OTHER BUSINESSES.

MORE JOBS ARE COMING BACK AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT PROVIDING A SIMPLIFIED AND EASIER UNDERSTOOD WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL COMPANY CAN BENEFIT SOMEWHAT COMPANIES COMING TO MISSISSIPPI AND TO HIRE THEM WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

IN ACTUALITY, THE CAUSE WAS EITHER THE SAME OR LESS THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING NOW BUT THE RECESSION FOR COMPANIES THAT WANTED TO COME TO MISSISSIPPI THAT LOOKED AT THE IN-FLEX PLAN HAD UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR MD AND EVERY ECONOMIC DEVELOPER DID NOT PASS OUT OF THE HOUSE.

>>> SO WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL TRY TO FIND OUT THE REASONS THAT WILL OCCUR AND WE'LL ADDRESS THEM.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND REPUBLIC TENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO PASS A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN INTO EFFECT ONLY IN THE MISSISSIPPI COURT DECIDED TO STRIKE IT DOWN.

HERE'S REPRESENTATIVE CORINTH ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

>>> AND THIS IS A CONFERENCE REPORT ON HARPERS GRACE LAW.

MANY OF YOU KNOW THIS WAS THE BILL THAT THE SENATE PUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN.

THEY BROUGHT ME AT LEAST CONFERENCE REPORTS AND EVERY TIME IT GOT A LITTLE BIT LESS WITH THE LAST ONE REALLY JUST BEING 65 LONG.

BUT I'VE HAD A DOZEN OR MORE MEMBERS THAT HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT THIS BILL THAT HAVE ASKED ME TO UPHOLD THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND I KNOW THE CHAIRMAN LAMAR STOOD UP HERE AND SAID HE WOULD DO THE SAME AND I KNOW THE SPEAKER HONORS THAT.

AND IN THAT LINE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING REGARDING MEDICAL MARIJUANA AGAIN.

AND WHAT THIS CONFERENCE REPORT DOES IS EXTEND THE REPEALER ON HARPER GRACE'S LAW OUT UNTIL 2024.

THAT'S WHAT THE HOUSE PASSED FOR THE EARLY PART OF THE SESSION AND ESSENTIALLY AND MARIJUANA JUST EXTENDED IT.

>>> A PLAN TO EXPAND POST PARTUM LEGISLATION PASSED.

AND LAWMAKERS STUDIED THE WAY THE PROGRAM WAS OPERATED.

THE SENATE THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE BILL FROM 6 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS POST PARTUM DIED.

SHE WAS A POST DEVELOPER FOR A RESEARCH COMPANY AND SAYS THAT MISSI MISSISSIPPI RANKS THE HIGHEST PROPORTIONATELY WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS.

>>> WHAT'S DISHEARTENING IS THAT THE MISSISSIPPI MORTALITY RATE WAS MANDATED IN 2019.

THE LEGISLATION CAME BACK IN 2019 FOR POLICIES TWO WEEKS IN MEDICAID AT LEAST FOR THAT 12-MONTH POST PARTUM PERIOD.

SO THIS WHOLE COMMITTEE TAKES THE TIME TO REVIEW THAT MATERNAL DEATH AND IT CAN BE WORTH TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED AND THEN PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND IT'S STRIPPED AWAY.

THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PUTTING THESE IN PLACE AND THERE ARE OTHER EXPANSIONS AND THE DATA IS THERE TO PROVE.

AND THE DECISION TO EXTEND THE 12-MONTH POST PARTUM DECISION WILL CHANGE LIVES.

>>> AND THEY HAVE DIFFERING VIEWS ON THE EXPANSION OF MISSISSIPPI WHICH IS STILL THE POOR AREA IN THE NATION.

GUNN IS NOT OPEN TO LEGISLATION SAYING THEY CAN NOT AFFORD IT.

GOVERNOR HOSEN NEVER SAID THE WORDS BUT WILL BE LOOKING AT THE DELIVERY TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE POST SESSION.

LAWMAKERS HAVE SET THE GOVERNOR A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE MOST BILLS TO THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

THE HOUSE BILL PASSED LEGISLATION ALSO KNOWN AS THE EARNED PATROL ACT.

BUT SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL WILL NOT SAY WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN IT.

HE VETOED A SIMILAR BILL LAST MONTH.

>>> THE CURRENT LAW SAYS A PERSON CONVICTED OF A NONVIOLENT CRIME MUST SERVE 25% OF THE SENTENCE BEFORE ELIGIBLE FOR A HEARING.

>> AFTER THIS LAW, AFTER 1995, AN INMATE WILL HAVE TO SERVE 10 YEARS OR LESS BEFORE THE HEARING COMMITTEE FOR A NONVIOLENT CRIME.

>>> HE TELLS THE PRODUCE ASHLEY NORWOOD THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVICTED ARMED ROBBERY BUT PEOPLE CON VIVICTED OF MURDER, G TRAFFICKING AND SEX CRIMES WOULD BECOME INELIGIBLE.

>>> ARMED ROBBERY IS ONE THING AND I KNOW YOU THINK OF ARMED ROBBERY IS A LOT OF THINGS AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND A ROBBER CAN BE ACTUALLY, PUT YOUR HAND IN YOUR COAT POCKET AND MAKE IT APPEAR LIKE YOU HAVE A GUN AND YOU CAN ROB SOMEONE FOR $10 AND YOU CAN GO TO JAIL FOR YEARS FOR THAT.

AND A LOOK BACK FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS A LONG SUSPECTED BACK INTO THE 80S AND THIS GOES BACK TO FICTION FOR THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTED TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

>> SO WE JUST HAVE TO -- GOING FORWARD, MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN A PLACE FOR THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE AS A FREEDOM TO DATE.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

>> I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW.

WHAT DOES THIS MOMENT FEEL LIKE TO KNOW THAT THE SENATE HAS BEEN.

>> IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE SENATE IS PASSED.

AND WE PASSED THIS WITH MORE FOLKS THAN WE HAVE DONE BEFORE.

SO IT LETS ME THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT SHARES THIS WITH YOU.

AND WHEN WE'RE THIRD IN THE NATION AND INCARCERATED, UNITED STATES IS SECOND IN THE WORLD FOR INCARCERATION, THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT MISSISSIPPI.

I THINK THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION GIVES US A REASON NOT TO DO THAT.

SO I HOPE EVERYONE WILL LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.

AT SOME POINT, WHEN DO WE GET TIRED OF BEING LAST.

WHEN DO WE GET TIRED OF US REFERRED TO US AS THAT RED STATE.

I'D LIKE TO STOP US BEING REFERRED TO AS THAT RED STATE.

>>> MORE THAN 2 MILLION DOSES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED WITH AT LEAST 100,000 MISSISSIPPIANS HAVE GOTTEN ONE SO FAR AND 500,000 MISSISSIPPI RECEIVING VACCINES.

AND THREE RELATED DEATHS BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 503 CASES AND MORE THAN 5,003 CASES OF DEATH SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

>>> SO LET'S GET TO THE POINT.

BRANDON JONES IS A FORMER DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

AUST AUSTIN BARBOUR IS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

>>> SO BRANDON, WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TAKE AWAY.

WHAT SAY YOU?

>> WELL, WE SAW IDEAS AND ALTERNATIVE, MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

THESE TAX CUTS THAT WERE REVERBERATED AND THIS IS A BIG TAKE AWAY.

AS WE SURVEY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE OTHER STATES WHEN WE'RE PASSING OVERWHELMING VOTER SUPRESSION BILL.

AND I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T DO THAT AND WE KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>>> AUSTIN, BIGGEST TAKE AWAY.

AND ON THE RIGHT FOOT AS WE'RE COMING ALONG THE DAYS OF COVID WHEN WE'RE ALL LOCKED DOWN AND WE'RE STRUGGLING SO MUCH AND THERE WERE SIGNS FOR THAT AND $102 MILLION FOR EDUCATION.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE EMPLOY.

AND I HEARD YOU WHEN YOU HAVE EXTRA MONEY, PAID EMPLOYEES FOR ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COSTS.

SO THOSE ARE GOOD THINGS.

IT MEANS THAT THE ECONOMY IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THEY'RE USING EXTRA DOLLARS TO DO THINGS THAT MATTER.

>> SO THIS IS AN UNUSUAL THING COMING UP AND FISCAL YEAR COMING UP THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH IN THE BUDGET THAT THEY GOT TO ACCOUNT FOR.

>> OKAY, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT THAT IS COMING IN AND THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE SMART WITH BOTH TRAILER AND JOSH HARKINS.

THEY LOOKED AT THE PROJECTS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THEY WANTED TO FUND AND SAID LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT WASTING OUR DOLLARS THAT COULD BE FUNDED FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS.

I THINK THAT WAS A LAST MINUTE LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MONEY WENT TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

>>> HEY, I HOPE THAT DURING THIS OFF SEASON, GOVERNOR REEDS, SPEAKER GUN ALL RIGHT A NICE LETTER TO SPEAKER JOE BIDEN AND THE ONLY ONE WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS MONEY GOING TO THE STATE.

THE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS VOTED AGAIN IT BUT YOU'RE RIGHT AUSTIN, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IT TO GOOD USE.

>>> YOU MENTIONED THAT THE SPEAKER AND GOVERNOR PUT A LOT OF ENERGY BEHIND IT THAT WENT TO PROGRAMS THIS YEAR.

WHO HELD THE POWER?

WAS IT THE SPEAKER?pWAS IS THE ?

WAS IT A DRAW WHERE YOU HAVE ALL THREE ARGUING THEIR CASE?

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS THAT NOBODY HOLDS THE POWER IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND IT WILL BE A NEGATIVE WAY WITH HOW MUCH POWER WHO HAS THE POWER IN THE HOUSE.

AND THE GOVERNOR HAS THE ABILITY TO ADVOCATE THE BILL.

THE SPEAKER WANTS TAX CUTS.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

I'M PROUD THAT HE PUSHED THAT AND HE PUSHED BACK AND THAT'S A GOOD THING AND HE HAS A STUDY PLAN AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AND STUDY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO REGARDING THE INCOME TAX.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HE WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT A PLAN THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS COULD USE FOR TAXES AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT IN MISSISSIPPI.

AND HE SAID 52-0 IN THE SENATE AND IT FAILED THE HOUSE.

I'M SURE THAT CAN BE STUDIED THIS YEAR AND THAT WILL BE HELD IN THE DISTRICT.

>>> WHO HOLDS THE POWER BRANDON?

>> AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR AND WHY THEY'RE NOT TALKING -- I THINK IN BOTH INSTANCES WITH THE GOVERNOR WHAT'S SHOCKING IN BOTH PARTS OF THE PROCESS IS GUNN WILL TRY TO PROVOKE THE CONVERSATION AND NOT TALK TO THE GOVERNOR.

THAT'S STRANGE.

I DON'T CARE WHAT BUSINESS YOU'RE IN.

BUT YOU CAN HAVE A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH GOVERNOR HOSEN.

AND YOU HAVE A STATE BY 75% AND YOU DON'T RUN THAT PAST THE SPEAKER WHEN YOU DO THAT.

WEIRD STUFF.

I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BIZARRE BY ALL STANDARDS AND IT WAS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL POLICIES THAN IDEAS.

BECAUSE IF YOU WANT THE PROCESS TO PASS THERE'S THINGS YOU DO TO MASSAGE THE PROCESS.

IT FELT A LOT LIKE GRANDSTANDING TO ME, AUSTIN.

AND IN THE END, BOTH DIES.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU SEE SPEAKER GUN SEVERAL TIMES, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO IS PASS AN INCOME TAX CUT AND THERE WAS A POLICY AGAINST IT.

BOTH OF THOSE STATEMENTS ARE AGAINST IT.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR IT?

>> AND THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT WAS REVERBERATING THROUGH THE HALLS.

WE DID IT.

LESS MONEY GOOD.

BUT WE CAN'T PAY OUR BILLS.

WE STRUGGLED TO PAY OUR BILLS.

AND WITHOUT FEDERAL INJECTION LAST YEAR, WE WOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS.

AND PAY FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES AND PAY FOR THESE THINGS.

>> I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH MY FRIEND ACROSS THE TABLE.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE MORE MONEY COMING IN WITH THE GENERAL FUND COMING THROUGH TO FIND PROGRAMS IN THE STATE TO FIND THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND ROADS.

WE HAVE MORE MONEY.

WE SPENT $102 MILLION ON EDUCATION THIS YEAR.

THE ONLY REASON I WOULD AGREE IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND JACKSON IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT WHERE THEIR PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE HOW DO WE GET OUR WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY UP TO THOSE STANDARDS.

THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE I WOULD AGREE ON THAT, CERTAINLY NOT STATE LEVEL.

>>> AND THE STATE IS GIVING THE CITY $3 MILLION AND THERE WILL BE MILLIONS FOR THE GREATER JACKSON AREA.

AND MARPA IS THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT MOST RECENTLY PASSED FOR CONGRESS AND SCI-FI AND IT'S SENDING $64 MILLION TO HINES COUNTY.

AND THOSE DOLLARS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT ON THINGS AND THEY CAN'T BE SPENT WITH THINGS LIKE WATER AND SEWAGE IN THE BOND.

AND THERE WAS NOT A $3 MILLION CHECK AND IT WAS A $3 MILLION CHECK AND A LOT IS DIRECTLY EARMARKED FOR THOSE DOLLARS, BUT THERE WAS A WAY TO DO THIS AND WE HAVE TO FIND SOME LEADERSHIP FOR THE MAYOR AND JACKSON TO PUT A DEAL TOGETHER WHILE THIS WINDOW IS STILL OPENING.

>> SO WHAT YOU SEE IS A PACKAGE THAT'S COMING WITH THE WISDOM IS SOMETIMES STATES PLAY POLITICS IN CERTAIN REGIONS OF THE STATE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THESE PLACES WHICH IS RIGHT MOVE.

AND THE STATE IS PROVIDING WE'RE GOING TO PLAY THOSE GAMES.

AND I'LL JUST SAY IN DEFENSE OF THE LOCAL JACKSON, IT'S UNIQUE AMONG ANY MUNICIPALITY AND IT HAS TO DO WITH DECISIONS YEARS BEFORE THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

AND WE HAVE TO PUT THE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND WE WANT A GREAT CAPITOL CITY AND WE'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>>> SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS IDENTICAL.

>> WELL, I THINK AUSTIN AND I AGREE, WE WANT THE STATE TO GET IT RIGHT.

THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT MANY OF US WERE UPSET ABOUT.

WE THOUGHT THAT BILL HAD PASSED WITH THE 23-24 BILL.

WHAT WE HAD HERE WAS A DRASTICALLY MODIFIED VERSION OF THAT.

IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO VIOLENT CRIMES BECAUSE OF IT.

>> SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE LEADING TO THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

SO WHAT IT DOES DO IS CREATE A PATH FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A PATH NOW.

AND IT'S A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE BILL THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

IT'S NOT AS PEARL AS WE ASKED FOR BUT I HOPE THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN IT BECAUSE IT'S AN INCREMENTAL STEP.

>> BRANDON KNOWS THIS.

YOU'LL NEVER GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT BUT IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND TWO-THIRDS IN THE SENATE WERE AGAINST THIS LAST YEAR.

THERE WERE ONLY 13 NO-VOTES AND A HANDFUL WERE 13 DEMOCRATS.

SO THE HANDFUL, THEY'RE SUPPORT IN THIS ISSUE.

AND I KNOW HE IS STUDYING IT.

I KNOW HIS STAFF IS LOOKING AT IT ON BOTH SIDES.

>>> AUSTIN, 30 SECONDS.

>> WELL, ALL OF THE POLITICAL VIEWS ARE REDISTRICTING AND IT IMPACTS THE LIVES AND DISTRICTS.

BUT CERTAINLY IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT TAXES.

AND THAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN THE SENATE FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>>> WELL, PUTTING ON THIS REFORM AND WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED IT, THERE'S STILL ROOM TO IMPROVE.

I HOPE WILSON, THAT'S IN THE CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU AND THERE'S ALWAYS A GREAT SEASON AND DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN WATCH THIS ONLINE OR LISTEN TO THE PODCAST AT MPBONLINE.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.