>>> FROM ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION STUDIOS IN DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

BIG NEWS THIS WEEK HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

ALABAMA LAWMAKERS GOT THEIR FIRST PEEK AT WHAT THE PROPOSED NEW STATE HOUSE WILL LOOK LIKE.

ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS, COMMITTEE ROOMS AND OFFICE SPACE WAS RELEASED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ALONG WITH A CONCEPTUAL AERIAL VIEW OF HOW THE BUILDING WILL FIT INTO THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.

HERE'S THAT AERIAL VIEW WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE LOCATED BEHIND THE CURRENT STATE HOUSE, WHICH WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH GREEN SPACE.

RIPLEY STREET IN FRONT OF THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED OFF AND A ROUNDABOUT INSTALLED FOR PICK UP AND DROP OFF.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE BUILDING WHICH WILL HOUSE THE COMMITTEE ROOMS.

THE CURRENT STATE HOUSE HAS VERY LIMITED COMMITTEE SPACE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.

THE GOAL IS TO REMEDY THAT WILL LARGE MEETING ROOMS SIMILAR TO THOSE IN CONGRESS.

AND HERE YOU SEE LEVEL FIVE OF THE BUILDING WHERE THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS WILL BE LOCATED.

THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WILL FACE EACH OTHER, MUCH LIKE IN THE OLD CAPITOL BUILDING.

GALLERIES WILL SURROUND THE CHAMBERS, MUCH LIKE IN CONGRESS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS STILL NOT A DONE DEAL.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS ALLOWED STAFF TO NEGOTIATE WITH RETIREMENT SYSTEMS OF ALABAMA AND WORK WITH ARCHITECTS ON THESE PLANS, BUT THE BODY STILL MUST VOTE ON A FINAL PLAN.

THERE IS STILL NO FINAL PRICE TAG FOR THE WORK, WHICH WILL BE FINANCED BY RSA.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE TOLD "ALABAMA DAILY NEWS" HE ROUGHLY ESTIMATES SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $450 MILLION.

I'LL SPEAK WITH PAT HARRIS, SECRETARY OF THE SENATE MORE ABOUT THE STATE HOUSE PROJECT LATER IN THE SHOW.

>>> A DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY LAST MONTH FOR THE STATE'S EDUCATION REVENUE.

TAX REVENUES INTO EDUCATION TRUST FUND WERE DOWN 13.8% IN OCTOBER COMPARED TO THE YEAR PRIOR, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE DECREASES SHOULDN'T CAUSE ALARM.

CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER KIRK FULFORD SAID REVENUES WERE SO EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT A RETURN TO NORMAL WAS EXPECTED.

ALSO, THE ONE CENT REDUCTION TO SALES TAX ON GROCERIES, WHICH GOES INTO THE ETF, WENT INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER, WHICH COULD ALSO PARTIALLY EXPLAIN THE DIP.

STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT THE LEGISLATURE TO SPEND AROUND 8.8 BILLION ON EDUCATION WHEN THE SESSION BEGINS IN FEBRUARY.

>>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY COMMISSIONED A STUDY GROUP TO TAKE A LOOK AT STATE AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE DUPLICATION, WASTE AND INEFFICIENCIES INSIDE STATE GOVERNMENT.

THAT COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK IN THE STATE CAPITOL TO PRESENT FINDINGS ON WHAT ENTITIES COULD BE CONSOLIDATED.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH CHILD WELFARE THAT COULD BE MERGED, AND THE SAME GOES FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION ENTITIES.

ALSO DISCUSSED WAS THE IDEA TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THE MYRIAD OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING BOARDS THAT HAVE FRUSTRATED STATE LAWMAKERS RECENTLY.

STATE TREASURER YOUNG BOOZER CHAIRS THE STUDY GROUP.

>> I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE HAVE ACTED AND WORKED EFFICIENTLY BECAUSE THIS IS DUE IN DECEMBER, DECEMBER 15TH, BUT WE ARE DELIVERING IT HERE ON NOVEMBER 8TH.

WE HAVE ALSO IDENTIFIED THAT THERE ARE LONGER TERM ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THAT MAY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY LEGISLATION OR MAYBE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE.

>> THE PURPOSE OF OUR COMMITTEE WAS -- OUR SUBCOMMITTEE WAS TO MAKE SURE TO IDENTIFY THESE WAYS.

MAYBE LOOK AT WAYS WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO DO THOSE?

LOOK AT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES.

HOW ARE THEY DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE?

SO, WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH.

SOME OF IT INCLUDED GOING BACK AND LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE STATE PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR HIRING, RECRUITING AND PROMOTING EMPLOYEES.

SO WE DID A DEEP DIVE, WAY BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF HOW THE MERIT SYSTEM STARTED, HOW THE DIFFERENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WERE PUT IN PLACE, WHAT AFFECTED THOSE AND HOW WE GOT TO THAT POINT.

THE OTHER THINGS WE DID, WE LOOKED AT SOME NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT STATE ENTITIES AND HOW ARE OTHER STATES HANDLING THE SIMILAR ISSUES WE HAVE GOING ON.

ALSO, WE LOOKED AT FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH THEM, MAYBE TO GET A BETTER WORKFORCE, MORE EDUCATED WORKFORCE OR POSSIBLY RECRUIT THROUGH THAT ENTITY.

SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE BEGAN LOOKING AT.

AS WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE RESEARCH, WE FOUND THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO.

ONE IS TO HIRE AN INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE ENTITY TO LOOK INTO HOW WE DO THINGS.

WHAT IS BEST PRACTICES.

WHAT ARE OTHER ENTITIES DOING THAT COULD MAKE OUR STATE THE BEST IT CAN BE.

ANOTHER IS TO ENGAGE IN A STATEWIDE MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT STATE EMPLOYEES.

I'M A LIFETIME STATE EMPLOYEE JUST ABOUT.

I HAD A SMALL CAREER BEFORE THIS, BUT IT IS SUCH A VALUABLE AND REWARDING CAREER THAT WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS CAREER IS AND WHAT YOU CAN GET OUT OF THIS CAREER.

>> A SPECIAL PANEL OF LAWMAKERS MET THIS WEEK IN THE STATE HOUSE TO DISCUSS WAYS THE STATE COULD HELP GRANDPARENTS TASKED, SOMETIMES UNEXPECTEDLY, OF RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

ACCORDING TO THE GROUP GRAND FAMILIES, THERE ARE NEARLY 60,000 GRANDPARENTS IN ALABAMA FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AND NEARLY 160,000 CHILDREN LIVING IN HOMES WHERE A RELATIVE IS HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

THESE SITUATIONS CAN PRESENT SPECIAL CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH FIXED OR LOW INCOMES.

ONE PROPOSAL FLOATED WAS USING A PORTION OF THE STATE'S $270 MILLION OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY TO HELP SUBSIDIZE CHILD CARE.

>> I THINK OUR PRIMARY GOAL THAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN AND KNOW WHAT THEIR BARRIERS ARE, WHAT PROBLEMS THEY HAVE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE REMOVED BY PUBLIC POLICY, EITHER PUBLIC POLICY ITSELF OR EVEN LEGISLATION THAT MAY NEED TO BE PASSED TO ADDRESS SOME BARRIERS THAT THEY HAVE.

AS YOU HEARD FROM THE MEETING, IT'S A REAL PROBLEM ACROSS THE STATE.

I'M BLESSED WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN BEING RAISED BY THEIR PARENTS, BUT I KNOW IT IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I AM RETIRED FROM SENIOR SERVICES AND SAW IT FIRSTHAND WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'M APPRECIATIVE FOR ALL OF THESE COMMISSION MEMBERS THAT'S WILLING TO SERVE AND WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO FIND OUT SOLUTIONS FOR FOLKS.

>> THIS IS HISTORICAL FOR US.

GRANDPARENTS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

I KNOW I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR IT THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WE HAVE HAD OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

SO, THIS IS JUST A DREAM COME TRUE FOR US.

WHATEVER WE CAN GET DONE TO HELP GRANDPARENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS MORE THAN WE HAVE NOW.

GRAND PARENTS THROUGHOUT THE >> ALABAMA COULD BE THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO EXECUTE A DEATH ROW INMATE USING NITROGEN GAS.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY THIS WEEK SET A JANUARY 25 EXECUTION DATE FOR KENNETH EUGENE SMITH, WHO IS ONE OF TWO MEN CONVICTED OF A MURDER-FOR-HIRE SCHEME THAT KILLED ELIZABETH SENNETT IN 1988.

SMITH PREVIOUSLY OPTED FOR NITROGEN HYPOXIA, WHICH IS WHY THE STATE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE METHOD, BUT HIS ATTORNEYS ARE OBJECTING TO THE EXECUTION.

PROPONENTS OF THE METHOD SAY IT IS A PAINLESS WAY TO DIE, BUT OPPONENTS HAVE LIKENED IT TO HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION.

THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RECENTLY CLEARED THE WAY FOR NITROGEN HYPOXIA, BUT FEDERAL APPEALS ARE EXPECTED.

>>> TURNING TO WASHINGTON, U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE CONTINUED TO FACE PRESSURE FROM HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES THIS WEEK OVER HIS CONTINUED HOLD ON MILITARY PROMOTIONS IN PROTEST OF THE PENTAGON'S ABORTION TRAVEL POLICY.

IN A CLOSED DOOR MEETING OF THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, MEMBERS DISCUSSED VARIOUS WAYS FORWARD THAT COULD ALLOW MILITARY PROMOTIONS TO RESUME.

AFTERWARD, TUBERVILLE SEEMED MORE WILLING THAN BEFORE TO COMPROMISE.

>> WITH TALKED AS A GROUP.

THERE WAS 49 OF US.

IT WAS A WELL-ORCHESTRATED MEETING.

EVERYBODY HAD A PLAN.

EVERYONE THAT WANTED TO TALK COULD TALK.

I OBVIOUSLY STARTED IT OUT AND WE WENT THROUGH THE TIMELINE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

I HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED ON THE FLOOR 13 TIMES FROM DEMOCRATS OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS, SPENT HOURS ON THE FLOOR OBJECTING AND THEN WE HAD A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS LAST WEEK COME IN AND DO THE SAME THING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY EXPECTED.

PEOPLE HAVE REALLY KEPT UP AS MUCH AS OBVIOUSLY I HAVE BECAUSE I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF IT BUT I THINK MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL IS GOING ON BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THEIR JOBS TO DO UP HERE, BUT WE ARE PRETTY MUCH ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE WANT A RESOLUTION TO THIS.

WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS NEXT WEEK THEY ARE GOING -- SENATOR SCHUMER IS GOING TO BRING A NEW RESOLUTION TO THE RULES COMMITTEE.

THAT RESOLUTION IS WE NEED TO BYPASS ANY HOLD THAT THE MINORITY THROWS AT THE MAJORITY.

NOW, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH RULES, WHICH IT WILL IF IT MAKES IT THAT FAR AND THEN COME TO THE FLOOR AND BE VOTED ON.

IT WILL HAVE TO BE VOTED ON BY 60 VOTES.

DO THEY HAVE NINE VOTES WHICH THEY HAVE TO HAVE FROM THE REPUBLICANS?

I DON'T KNOW.

I WOULD HOPE OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES DOES NOT GIVE UP THE LITTLE POWER WE HAVE JUST BECAUSE OF THIS.

AGAIN, WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT THINGS IN OUR PARTY, WHICH IS PRO LIFE AND THE MILITARY.

I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO GIVE INTO THE DEMOCRATS.

WE MIGHT AS WELL GO HOME IF WE GIVE THEM THAT BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO CHALLENGE, WHATSOEVER FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF IF THIS HAPPENS.

>>> U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT IS ON TOUR PROMOTING HER NEW BOOK TITLED, "GOD CALLS US TO DO HARD THINGS, LESSONS FROM THE ALABAMA WIREGRASS."

BRITT MADE SEVERAL NATIONAL MEDIA APPEARANCES, INCLUDING "CBS MORNINGS" AND "FOX AND FRIENDS."

SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE BOOK'S TITLE ACTUALLY CAME FROM HER DAUGHTER.

>> MY CHILDREN ARE WHY I'M DOING THIS.

THAT'S WHY I'M SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

THAT'S WHAT PUSHED ME TO DO THIS.

IT'S THE NEXT GENERATION AND THAT IS WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT.

MY KIDS, WHEN I TOLD THEM I DON'T CARE IF I SHOULD RUN.

MY SON SAT ME DOWN FIRST AND FOLLOWED MY DAUGHTER AND WHEN I TOLD HER IT WAS HARD THING TO RUN FOR THE SENATE AND SHE LOOKED BACK AT ME AND SAID, MAMA, DOESN'T GOD CALL YOU TO DO HARD THINGS AND RIGHT NOW THAT MESSAGE IS HARDER THAN EVER.

REAFFIRMING THE VALUES THAT MADE THIS NATION SO GREAT, THOSE OF FAITH, FAMILY AND FREEDOM AND TELLING LIFE'S LESSONS.

A LOT OF THINGS WE SEE THE PEAKS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AREA AND IN THIS BOOK I TALK ABOUT MY VALLEYS.

THAT'S WHERE I BELIEVE GOD CARVES YOU UP AND IF YOU WERE HONEST YOU ARE MORE PREPARED TO WALK FORWARD AND PURPOSE.

IT IS MY HOPE THIS BOOK INSPIRES THE YOUNG AND THE YOUNG AT HEART TO HAVE A NEW LEASE ON LIFE AND BE ENGAGED BECAUSE WE NEED THEM.

>>> WORD IS OFFICIAL FROM THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: ALABAMA WILL HOST THE FOURTH GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

ON DECEMBER 6 IN TUSCALOOSA, THE TOP CANDIDATES, PROBABLY NOT INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WILL MIX IT UP ON STAGE ONCE AGAIN.

THE DEBATE WILL BE MODERATED BY FORMER FOX NEWS HOST MEGYN KELLY AND "WASHINGTON FREE BEACON" EDITOR ELLIANA JOHNSON AND WILL BE BROADCAST ON NEWS NATION.

>>> SATURDAY, NOVEMBER THE 11TH IS VETERANS DAY, A SPECIAL DAY SET ASIDE FOR AMERICANS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR THE SERVICE OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS ON WAYS SOME ALABAMIANS ARE MARKING THE DAY THIS YEAR.

>> ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY IS NOT A MILITARY INSTALLATION, BUT IT PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN PREPARING FUTURE MILITARY LEADERS.

THE AIR FORCE ROTC PROGRAM, BASED NEAR CAMPUS, IS PREPARING NEW LEADERS BY GIVING THEM EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SEASONED VETERANS.

>> THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS IS I GET TO INTERACT WITH CADETS THAT WANT TO TAKE THAT OATH AND WANT TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY.

SO, AT A CERTAIN POINT IN THE STANDPOINT, IT'S LIKE I'M PASSING THE TORCH ON AND THE CADRE I HAVE HERE, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET THEM TO BECOME LEADERS OF CHARACTER.

>> THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL LISA BOYER COMMANDS THE DETACHMENT.

SHE IS PROUD OF THE WORK HERE AND PROUDER OF THE WORK WORLDWIDE BY THOSE WEARING THE UNIFORM.

>> I'M AMAZED AT THE SERVICE MEMBERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THAT ESSENTIALLY TAKE AN OATH TO DEFEND ALL OF US, TO INCLUDE MYSELF, AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

THEY WORK HOLIDAYS.

THEY OFTEN SACRIFICE TIME IN ORDER TO SERVE THIS BIGGER MISSION FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> A 19-YEAR VETERAN IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, LIEUTENANT COLONEL BOYER SAYS THE OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY SPEAKS VOLUMES.

>> IT'S REALLY NEAT THE COUNTRY TAKES A KNEE AND RECOGNIZES THOSE WHO SERVE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES, FIR THEIR STATES AND FOR THE NATION.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING NEW CADETS ARE LEARNING SAYS AZA PAYNE.

>> I HAVE SEEN SO MANY LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES AND WORK LONG HOURS AND HARDSHIPS THAT NO ONE WOULD ENDURE IN THE WORLD.

SO TO SAY THANK YOU TO PROTECT OUR PEACE AND SERVE OUR CONSTITUTION, THANK YOU ISN'T ENOUGH.

I WISH WE COULD DO MORE.

>> CADET COLONEL PAYNE SAID IT IS INSPIRING TO HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE SO CLOSE TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

>> ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO SPEAK TO HIGH-RANKING OFFICERS AND THE EXPERIENCE.

THEY HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN THEIR CAREERS AND SEEN SO MANY PLACES.

BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEM EVERY DAY CONSISTENTLY IS A BLESSING.

>> WHENEVER SOMEONE SAYS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, I ALWAYS PAUSE AND THINK, WOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR TRUST.

YOUR TRUST THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS HERE.

I FEEL VERY WELCOMED IN THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN ALABAMA, IN MONTGOMERY, WHEN FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY COME UP TO US AND SAY, OH, WOW, THANK YOU.

>> LIEUTENANT COLONEL BOYER SAID THE PRIDE EXTENDS DEEP IN ALABAMA THROUGH SEVERAL GENERATIONS.

>> YES, GIANTS HAVE GONE BEFORE ME AND SOME ARE STILL IN OUR PRESENCE TODAY, BUT THE ONE THING THAT'S CONSTANT IS THIS OATH THAT BINDS ALL OF US.

ALL SERVICE MEMBERS SWEAR AN OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO NO MATTER HOW THE WORLD IS CHANGING, WE, AS A MILITARY AND I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, WE HAVE THAT OATH, THAT BINDING ELEMENT THAT WE ALL SERVE AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

>> BEING ABLE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON VETERANS DAY KEEPS INSPIRATION GOING.

>> IT WAKES ME UP, FIRES ME UP AND MAKES ME WANT TO COME BACK TOMORROW.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THIS WEEK'S GUESTS.

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KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

♪ >> JOINING ME NEXT IS PAT HARRIS, SECRETARY OF THE ALABAMA SENATE.

MR. SECRETARY, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, TODD, LOOKED FORWARD TO BEING HERE.

>> BIG WEEK FOR YOU, BIG WEEK FOR EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING BECAUSE YOU RELEASED THE FIRST ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS OF THE NEW STATEHOUSE.

WE SHOWED THE DRAWINGS EARLIER.

IT IS REALLY NEAT TO SEE.

BRING US UP TO SPEED.

WHERE ARE WE IN THIS PROCESS?

>> WHERE WE ARE NOW IS WE HAVE RELEASED A CONCEPTUAL DRAWING, WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING ITSELF.

THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS KIND OF LIKE PUTTING TOGETHER LEGOS.

YOU WANT TO DESIGN THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING AND THEN YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF SQUARE FOOTAGE AND SPACE YOU NEED ON THE INSIDE AND NOW IT IS A MATTER OF PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER ON THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUILD THE BUILDING AND THEN OCCUPY IT.

>> WE SHOWED THE DRAWINGS.

REALLY INTERESTING IN THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL FACE EACH OTHER, THEIR CHAMBERS -- LIKE IN THE CAPITOL.

>> JUST LIKE IN THE OLD CAPITOL.

>> TALK ABOUT THOSE SPACES AND WHAT YOU WANT THE SPACES TO LOOK LIKE IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ARCHITECT?

>> OF COURSE, WE ENLISTED OTHER STATES TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND WHAT THEIRS LOOK LIKE.

WE, OF COURSE, USED WHAT WE HAD IN THE OLD CAPITOL, BUT ANYONE WHO'S BEEN IN THIS BUILDING AND HAS LOOKED AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ESPECIALLY, REALIZES THERE ARE TWO LARGE SUPPORT COLUMNS IN THAT CHAMBER.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE DESKS ARE ALL PUSHED TOGETHER AND TIGHT.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO ROOM FOR THE MEMBERS TO DO THEIR WORK AND WORK ON THE FLOOR AND CONSEQUENTLY A LOT OF THEM DON'T STAY IN THE CHAMBER.

SO, THE IDEA, AT LEAST FOR THE HOUSE CHAMBER WAS TO INCREASE THE SIZE.

GIVE THE MEMBERS A LITTLE MORE ROOM TO MOVE AROUND SO THEY CAN CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS THERE.

THE SENATE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LARGER BUT YEARS AGO WE TOOK THOSE SUPPORT COLUMNS OUT.

SO WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE ROOM.

>> BECAUSE IT'S AT THE TOP OF THE BUILDING.

>> CORRECT.

THE COLUMNS SUPPORT ONE FLOOR FOR US AND WHERE DOWNSTAIRS THEY SUPPORT THREE FLOORS.

WE DID INCREASE THE SIZE, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS MORE MANAGEABLE WITH THE MEMBERS AND HOW THEY WORK ON THE FLOOR.

>> IT IS INTERESTING.

IT'S NOT JUST THE CHAMBERS.

PLENTY OF OFFICE SPACE FOR STAFF, PRESS.

THERE'S A STUDIO FOR ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT AND EXCITE ABOUT THOSE POSSIBILITIES.

THE QUESTION EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW IS WHEN WILL IT BE COMPLETE?

WHAT'S THE MOVE IN EXPECTATION?

>> WE'D LIKE TO BE READY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT QUADRIENNIUM AND MOVE IN AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY '27.

THAT WAY YOU BRING IN WHATEVER THE NEXT BODY OF THE LEGISLATURE IS.

HOPEFULLY WE'D LIKE TO BE THROUGH IN '26 SO WE WOULD HAVE THE SUMMER TO COORDINATE THE MOVE IN AND TAKE DOWN OF THIS BUILDING AND OTHER ASPECTS THAT WE WOULD DO WHILE EVERYONE'S REALLY OUT OF TOWN.

AND THEN AT THE BEGINNING OF '27 MOVE INTO THE NEW BUILDING.

>> WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN THIS BUILDING OR THAT DO WORK IN THIS BUILDING DURING SESSION IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.

BUT FOR THOSE THAT DON'T VISIT THE STATEHOUSE, TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM THE BUILDING HAS IN TERMS OF AGE AND WHY A NEW STATEHOUSE IS SUCH A NECESSITY.

>> ONE REASON PEOPLE HAVEN'T VISITED THE STATEHOUSE IS BECAUSE IT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL.

THEY EITHER CAN'T GET IN OR HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE FLOW OF THE PUBLIC IN AND OUT OF THIS BUILDING IS SEVERELY RESTRICTED.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN, ONE OF THE THREE OR FOUR REASONS THAT YOU NEED A NEW STATEHOUSE SO PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE AND WATCH GOVERNMENT FUNCTION, EITHER AS GOOD OR AS BAD AS IT MAY BE YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF IT.

THIS BUILDING IS OLD.

WE CAME HERE IN '85.

WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF -- WE HAVE HAD THREE FLOODS, TWO FIRES.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY FIXING LEAKS ON THE CEILING.

WE HAD ONE THIS WEEK WHERE IT FLOODED THE F & T OFFICE AND THEN IT TURNED AROUND AND FLOODED ANOTHER OFFICE.

MOLD CAUSES MILDEW.

THAT'S IN THE WALLS OF THE BUILDING.

IT IS AN OLD, TIRED BUILDING AND THAT NECESSITATED THE NEED.

THAT, SAFETY, ADA REGULATIONS, JUST THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT NECESSITATED THE NEED FOR A NEW STATEHOUSE.

>> I HAVE HEARD YOU TALK BEFORE ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE COSTS, TOO.

LIKE ALL OF THE THINGS YOU JUST DESCRIBED REQUIRES MAINTENANCE AND THOSE COSTS HAVE REALLY BUILT UP OVER THE YEARS, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> WELL, WE DID A STUDY A FEW YEARS AGO JUST ON BRINGING THIS BUILDING, NOT REALLY EVEN UP TO CODE BUT WITH NO COSMETIC OR INCREASE IN SIZE CHANGES AND THAT PRICE TAG WAS CLOSE TO -- IN TODAY'S DOLLARS IT WOULD BE CLOSE TO $70 MILLION.

>> WOW.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

>> JUST TO PUT A BAND-AID ON IT.

>> JUST TO PUT A BAND-AID ON THIS BUILDING.

>> I WAS HOPING YOU COULD WALK US THROUGH THAT HISTORY.

YOU TALKED ABOUT COMING IN 1985, COMING FROM THE CAPITOL THAT WAS RENOVATED.

TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY AND HOW WE GOT TO HERE.

>> IN '85 THE DECISION WAS MADE TO RENOVATE THE OLD CAPITOL.

IN ORDER TO RENOVATE THE OLD CAPITOL WE HAD TO MOVE OUT.

THIS WAS THE OLD HIGHWAY BUILDING HERE.

WE RENOVATED THIS AS A TEMPORARY LOCATION WHILE THEY RENOVATED THE CAPITOL.

WHEN THEY CAME OVER HERE, THEY REALIZED THEY HAD A LITTLE MORE ROOM FOR OFFICES FOR THE MEMBERS.

IN THE OLD CAPITOL, THE MEMBERS DIDN'T HAVE ANY OFFICES.

SO THEY HAD A LITTLE MORE ROOM AND COULD ADD MORE COMMITTEE ROOMS THAN IN THE OLD CAPITOL.

SO, THEY DECIDED TO STAY.

WHEN THEY DECIDED TO STAY HERE, THEY TOOK THE OLD CAPITOL AND MADE IT A HISTORICAL CHAMBER FOR CEREMONIAL SESSIONS IN THE OLD HOUSE CHAMBER AND RENOVATED THE OLD HOUSE TO THE HISTORICAL ORIGINS.

>> IT WAS KIND OF NICE IN BACK THEN WHAT WAS A PRETTY RENOVATED BUILDING.

>> IT WAS VERY NICE WHEN THEY CAME IN BUT THAT WAS IN '85.

AGAIN, THERE WAS REALLY NO DESIRE TO STAY HERE AS LONG AS WE HAVE STAYED HERE FOR 40, CLOSE TO 40 YEARS.

THIS BUILDING HAS JUST AGED OUT.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ITERATIONS OF BUILDING A NEW CAPITOL.

WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BUILDING IN YEARS PAST ABOUT USING ONE COURT SQUARE DOWNTOWN.

THE CITY AT ONE TIME OFFERED TO GIVE US THAT BUILDING AND USE ALL OF THAT PROPERTY.

THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS OF BUILDING A NEW BUILDING ACROSS THE BACK OF JACKSON STREET WHERE WHITE CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME WAS AT ONE TIME.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF BUILDING AN EXTRA WING ON THE CAPITOL BUILDING WHICH WOULD GO TO THE PARKING LOT WHICH YOU COULD SEE ON THE DRAWINGS WHERE THE BUILDING WOULD BE AN ANNEX OF THE CAPITOL.

THOSE HAVE BEEN FLOATED AND DISCUSSED.

NONE OF THEM WORKABLE AND ALL EXPENSIVE.

NONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE CORRECTED ANY OF THE LONG-RANGE PROBLEMS WE HAD.

THIS IS JUST THE RIGHT PLACE AND RIGHT TIME AND WITH THE HELP OF RSA WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ENTIRELY NEW STATEHOUSE.

>> SPEAKING OF RSA AND DR. BARNER.

HE DISCUSSED CONFIDENCE IN WORKING WITH RSA.

WE KNOW THE WORK THEY DO IN DOWNTOWN, THE STATE IS USED TO IT.

THERE IS A COMFORT LEVEL OF WORKING WITH THEM AND CONFIDENCE THEY WILL DO A TOP-NOTCH JOB.

DO YOU THINK THAT WAS A DIFFERENCE MAKER IN TERMS OF BUILDING SUPPORT AMONGST THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND RANK AND FILE SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT?

>> I WOULD HOPE SO.

I WOULD THINK THAT HAD A TREMENDOUS -- HIS EXPERIENCE AND RSA'S EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING BUILDINGS, WHETHER OFFICE BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY OR THE GOLF FACILITIES BUILT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OR ONE MOORE STREET IN NEW YORK CITY, HE HAS A TREMENDOUS REPUTATION AND ABILITY THAT WILL LAST FOR YEAR AND DONE THE RIGHT WAY, AT A VERY REASONABLE COST, I MUST SAY.

>> I'M EAGER TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT.

WOULD YOU SAY HE IS EXCITED IN TERMS OF -- IT'S A PRETTY BIG LEGACY MOMENT FOR HIM.

>> I THINK HE WOULD BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IN OUR EARLY MEETINGS WITH HIM AND AS WE PUT THIS PUZZLE TOGETHER, HE ALWAYS APPEARS VERY EXCITED, VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON.

AS ANYONE WHO'S WORKED WITH HIM KNOWS, HE WILL BE HANDS ON AND NOT LET THIS JUST FLOAT AROUND AND BE ANOTHER PROJECT.

IT WILL BE A SERIOUS LEGACY PROJECT FOR HIM, I BELIEVE.

>> HE PROBABLY CAN WATCH THE CONSTRUCTION FROM HIS OFFICE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I CAN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT ASKING THE QUESTION THAT ALL OF THE FOLKS IN THIS BUILDING WANT TO KNOW AND THAT IS PARKING.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE LOT WHERE THIS NEW BUILDING IS GOING IS NOW A PARKING LOT.

SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT BETWEEN STAFF AND LAWMAKERS AND ALL OF THAT.

I KNOW THERE WAS IN THE DRAWINGS SOME SPACE OVER BY THE PARKING LOT FOR A DECK.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE NEED FOR PARKING AND STAFF AND NOT WANTING IT TO BE A CLUTTERED URBAN SPACE?

>> I THINK THAT IS IN THE DESIGN PEOPLE THAT RSA WORK.

THERE WILL BE AN UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT THAT WILL PROBABLY PARK 180, 190 VEHICLES.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE CAREFUL ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE -- INSTEAD OF BEING AN URBAN AREA WE ARE ABLE TO PARK THOSE F-250S AND BIG FORD AND CHEVY TRUCKS AND SILVERADOS IN A SPACE THAT IS NOT BUILT FOR A SMALL CAR.

AND HOPEFULLY IN THE OVERALL CONCEPTION OF THE CAMPUS WHICH WE HOPE WILL BE THE END PRODUCT OF THE CAMPUS OF THE CAPITOL COMPLEX IS NOT GARAGE THAT WILL BE A TWO OR THREE-STORY GARAGE WHICH WILL HOUSE ANOTHER 300, 350 PARKING PLACES.

>> OKAY.

>> ON TOP OF THAT -- WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO ON TOP OF THAT FACILITY IS BUILD A PAVILION, WHICH GROUPS CAN COME -- YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE GROUPS THAT PITCH TENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AVENUE OF FLAGS OR TRY TO HAVE RECEPTIONS AND THEY CAN'T DO IT IN THIS AREA DOWN THERE BUT TO BUILD A PAVILION SO THEY HAVE A VIEW OF THE ENTIRE CAMPUS OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> INTERESTING.

WELL, MAYBE PAINFUL IN THE SHORT TERM BUT FUN TO WATCH IT BE BUILT.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU FOR UPDATES AS WE GO FORWARD ON THE NEW STATEHOUSE.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ >> JOINING MY NEXT IS KENT DAVIS, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> TODD, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK.

>> OF COURSE IT IS VETERANS DAY ON SATURDAY AND WE WANT TO HAVE YOU ON LOOKING AHEAD TO THAT.

SO MUCH HISTORY AND SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY.

THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

THE GUNS WENT SILENT.

I LOVE THAT HISTORY.

TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY AND WHY IT IS SO SPECIAL.

>> RIGHT.

THERE WERE ORIGINS IN WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II AND A DIRECT TIE TO ALABAMA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR.

NOVEMBER 11, 1918, THE ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED, THE WAR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO END ALL WARS.

WE KNOW THAT DIDN'T EXACTLY HAPPEN.

RIGHT AFTER WORLD WAR I, THE DAY BECAME KNOWN AS ARMISTICE DAY AND I WAS TO CELEBRATE THE END OF WORLD WAR I AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF VETERANS FROM THE WAR.

THEN WORLD WAR II OCCURRED AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE FIRST CELEBRATION OF WHAT WE CALL THE MODERN VETERANS DAY OCCURRED IN BIRMINGHAM.

A WORLD WAR II VETERAN, RAYMOND WEEKS PROPOSED A CELEBRATION IN BIRMINGHAM.

ON NOVEMBER 11, 1947, BIRMINGHAM PUT ON A PARADE THAT HAD GUEST SPEAKERS.

OMAR BRADLEY WAS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND A SERIES OF EVENTS IN BIRMINGHAM.

THAT WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION.

IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT RAYMOND WEEKS WAS FRIENDS WITH PRESIDENT EISENHOWER WHEN HE BECAME PRESIDENT.

HE HAD KNOWN HIM IN WORLD WAR II.

SO IN 1954, CONGRESS PASSED A LAW THAT MADE VETERANS DAY TO REPLACE OF ARMISTICE DAY.

SO NOVEMBER 11TH WAS NOW PERMANENTLY VETERANS DAY TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL OF THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN ALL WARS OR EVEN IN PEACETIME.

MR. RAYMOND WEEKS WAS EVENTUALLY RECOGNIZED IN 1982 BY PRESIDENT REAGAN WHO GAVE HIM A PRESIDENTIAL CITIZEN MEDAL, RECOGNIZING HIM AS THE FATHER OF VETERANS DAY.

I CAN SAY THE ROOTS OF VETERANS DAY WERE HERE IN ALABAMA.

WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT.

>> WE REALLY SHOULD BE.

I HAVE BEEN UP THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES TO THE VETERANS DAY, THE DINNER THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THEN THE PARADE.

IT IS REALLY SOMETHING.

IT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHATEVER I EXPECT.

>> IT'S BEEN A GREAT TRADITION.

I WILL BE AT THE DINNER THIS WEEK JUST BEFORE VETERANS DAY AND IT IS A BIG EVENT TO THIS DAY.

>> ONE THING I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY FOR FOLKS, ESPECIALLY MAYBE YOUNGER FOLKS IS THAT THIS ISN'T MEMORIAL DAY OR ARMED SERVICES DAY.

THOSE ARE SPECIAL DAYS BUT THIS IS SPECIAL FOR VETERANS.

>> IT IS.

VETERANS DAY IS SET ASIDE TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

IN MAY WE HAVE TWO CELEBRATIONS ARMED FORCES DAY WHICH CELEBRATES ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND THEN MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THOSE WHO DIED IN SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY.

LITTLE DISTINCTION THERE.

THERE ARE SOME SUBTLE DIFFERENCES BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WORKED IN CONGRESS YEARS AGO, WE WORKED ON A LOT OF VETERANS ISSUES.

THERE'S PLENTY OF WORK THAT GOES ON THERE.

NO MATTER WHAT THE REQUEST WAS OR THE ISSUE SO MANY VETERANS, IT SEEMED TO ME -- THIS IS MY OBSERVATION, A LOT OF WHAT THEY WANTED IS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED, TO BE SEEN, TO HAVE THEIR SERVICE TO THAT COUNTRY ACKNOWLEDGED.

TALK ABOUT THAT, THE IMPORTANCE OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SERVICE FOR ALL GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED.

>> MOST VETERANS ARE VERY PROUD THEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY.

I REALLY MEAN THAT.

ALL OVER THE STATE OF ALABAMA WHEN I MEET WORLD WAR II VETERANS TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS, THERE'S A SENSE OF PRIDE AND CAMARADERIE THEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY.

MOST DON'T EXPECT THANKS BUT IT IS NICE TO SAY, ESPECIALLY ON VETERANS DAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THERE ARE SO MANY EVENTS GOING ON THAT REGULAR CITIZENS CAN PARTICIPATE IN.

YOU MENTIONED THE EVENTS GOING ON IN BIRMINGHAM AND MOBILE, MONTGOMERY, THEY STARTED LAST WEEKEND, THE MONTGOMERY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAD A WONDERFUL VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ATTEND THOSE AND SAY THANK YOU TO A VETERAN.

AND WE HAVE A SAYING, BEYOND JUST SAYING THANKS, VETERANS SAY IF YOU WANT TO BE A VETERAN, BE THE KIND OF CITIZEN WHO'S WORTH FIGHTING FOR IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE NEED THAT IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WELL SAID.

THAT'S SOMETHING.

YOU MENTIONED THOSE EVENTS.

I KNOW YOU PARTICIPATED IN THIS IRON RUBBING EVENT.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

THIS IS AN AUBURN, ALABAMA THING.

>> IT IS.

ANOTHER GREAT TRADITION IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE IRON BOWL.

THE WEEK OF THE IRON BOWL, THE STUDENT VETERANS ASSOCIATIONS AT AUBURN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GET TOGETHER AND THEY CONDUCT A 151-MILE RUBBING MARCH, WHICH IS A MILITARY TERM, IT IS A MARCH WITH A RUCKSACK ON YOUR BACK AND THEY DELIVER THE GAME BALL WHEREVER THE GAME IS PLAYED AND THEY WILL DO THAT AGAIN NOVEMBER 22-24TH.

WE ARE DOING A SERIES OF PRESS CONFERENCES TO ADVERTISE THAT OPERATION IRON RUCK.

THE PURPOSE IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE VETERAN SUICIDE ISSUE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR VETERANS IN GENERAL.

IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR.

I'M GOING TO DO THE FIRST LEG.

I'M USUALLY GOOD FOR SEVEN MILES, BUT THESE KIDS GO OUT OF THEIR WAY, DURING THEIR VACATION TIME, TO DO THIS EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS.

IT'S A REALLY NOBLE EFFORT.

>> THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

THEY HAVE ALREADY SERVED AND NOW THEY ARE STUDENTS, MAYBE A LITTLE OLDER THAN YOUR TYPICAL STUDENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU SEE AN AGE RANGE.

YOU SEE SOME THAT SERVED ONE TERM OR OLDER GUYS LIKE ME.

>> THAT IS COOL, TO THINK OF SERVING YOUR COUNTRY, MAYBE OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND DELAYING THAT COLLEGE DECISION AND THEN GOING TO COLLEGE LATER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS AMAZING.

THEY PUT ASIDE THE RIVALRY AND MIX TOGETHER.

YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHO THE AUBURN AND ALABAMA STUDENTS ARE.

SOME WEAR THEIR JERSEYS BUT THEY ALL GET ALONG.

THERE IS A CAMARADERIE THAT IS HEARTENING.

>> YOU MENTIONED VETERAN SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEW OR ONGOING SERVICES AT THE DEPARTMENT DEALING WITH VETERANS THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF?

>> WE ARE DOING A LOT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON.

WE ARE BUILDING A FIFTH STATE VETERANS HOME, A LONG-TERM FACILITY.

IT IS ON TRACK AND WE EXPECT TO OPEN IT IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.

THAT WILL ASSIST WITH A BACKLOG THAT WE HAVE IN LONG-TERM CARE FOR VETERANS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

WE ARE DOING A MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE STATE VETERANS CEMETERY IN SPANISH FORT.

IT SHOULD BE FINISHED IN DECEMBER AND WE WILL ADD 4,000 BURIAL PLOTS IN THAT CEMETERY.

WE HAVE JUST CONVERTED OUR DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING ALABAMA SHOULD BE PROUD OF.

WE HAVE A GREAT SCHOLARSHIP THAT IS UNIQUE TO THE STATE THAT PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE DEPENDENTS OF SELECTED DISABLED VETERANS WE JUST TOOK THE PROGRAM ONLINE.

IT USED TO BE A PAPER-BASED APPLICATION AND NOW A PORTAL THAT IS EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT.

THERE IS SOMETHING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT IS A BENEFIT TO VETERANS.

FOR ABOUT A YEAR WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE PROMISE TO ADDRESS CONFERENCE ACT OR THE PACT ACT.

IT HAS HELPED VIETNAM, AFGHANISTAN AND SAUDI ARABIA VETERANS WHO SUFFERED TOXIC EXPOSURES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CLAIMS WE HAVE HELPED TO PROCESS.

THERE IS A NEWER LAW CALLED THE COMPACT ACT AIMED AT MENTAL HEALTH AND VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION.

IT ALLOWS A VETERAN TO GO TO A CIVILIAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL FACILITY IF THEY ARE IN SOME TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AND GET ASSISTANCE THERE AND THE FEDERAL V.A.

WILL PICK UP THE TAB FOR THAT.

THIS IS A HUGE DEVELOPMENT.

SO A VETERAN DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT TO GO TO THE FEDERAL V.A.

TO SEEK ASSISTANCE.

THEY CAN GO TO THEIR NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM AND GET IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

THAT'S ON TOP OF ALL OF THE OTHER MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES WE ARE GOING ON WITH MANY PARTNERS FROM THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH, THE FEDERAL V.A., HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THERE IS A NATIONWIDE PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT LIVE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO A V.A.

FACILITY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I KNOW THEY HAVE EXPANDED THOSE.

IT'S BEEN A CIVILIAN ISSUE HERE IN ALABAMA.

THEY HAVE BEEN POPPING UP, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SO THOSE WOULD QUALIFY, I'M GUESSING, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO WE ROLLED OUT THE 988 CRISIS LINE.

THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN A GOOD PARTNER WITH THAT.

THAT APPLIES TO VETERANS ALSO.

YOU DIAL 988 AND THEN DIAL 1 AND IT GETS YOU SPECIALIZED VETERANS SERVICES.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

SO THERE IS A SPECIAL DEDICATED LINE?

>> THERE IS AND IT WILL LINK THE VETERAN UP WITH SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR VETERANS BECAUSE THERE ARE UNIQUE ISSUES FOR VETERANS, PTSD AND THE COMPACT LAW GIVES MORE HELP.

IF YOU NEED TO GO TO A FACILITY AND GET IMMEDIATE FACILITY THIS COMPACT ACT WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO IT AT THE NEAREST EMERGENCY FACILITY.

>> THAT'S GREAT NEWS AND WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN THE MONTHS AND WEEKS TO COME.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE HOME THERE IN ENTERPRISE.

I KNOW IT IS MOVING ALONG.

YOU SAID THERE IS A BACKLOG, ALMOST A WAITING LIST.

WHO'S THE TYPE OF VETERAN THAT QUALIFIES FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> THE RANGE OF SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE ARE EVERYTHING FROM ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES THROUGH SKILLED NURSING CARE THROUGH WHAT WE CALL MEMORY CARE FOR ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA CARE RESIDENTS.

TYPICALLY ELDERLY OR SEVERELY DISABLED VETERANS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF OUR HOMES.

RIGHT NOW OUR HOMES ARE IN SUCH DEMAND WE ARE A WAITING LIST TO GET IN ALL FOUR HOMES AND IT CAN BE QUITE LENGTHY IN THE NEWER HOMES.

THE HOME IN ENTERPRISE WILL HELP ALLEVIATE A BIG PART OF THAT WAITING LIST.

SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ASSET COMING ONLINE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING AND WE WILL BE THERE.

>> WE WILL HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE CEMETERY EXPANSION IN 2024 AND LATE SUMMER A BIG GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR BENNY ADKINS STATE VETERANS HOME IN ENTERPRISE.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WOULD BE THE NAME.

A MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER.

>> ANOTHER ALABAMA HERO.

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT WITH DEEP ALABAMA TIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S REALLY COOL.

LOOK, APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE SHOW.

LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND LET ME SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TODD.

THAT MEANS A LOT.

IT REALLY DOES.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> IN 1947, BIRMINGHAM RESIDENT AND NAVY VETERAN RAYMOND WEEKS LED A DELEGATION TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO REQUEST GENERAL EISENHOWER'S SUPPORT FOR CHANGING ARMISTICE DAY TO VETERANS DAY TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II WITH EISENHOWER'S BLESSING IT STARTED THE WILL LARGEST AND OLDEST VETERANS DAY.

THEY PACK STREETS AND SIDEWALKS TO THANK OUR SOLDIERS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS JON BARGANIER, THE NEWLY NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MANUFACTURE ALABAMA.

JON, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO, INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF ALABAMA ON IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THE CITY.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, THE NEWS CAME OUT THAT YOU ARE THE NEW CEO AND GEORGE CLARK HAD BEEN THERE 27 YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I WAS HOPING YOU COULD REMIND OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT MANUFACTURE ALABAMA AND IT'S ROLE IN THE STATE.

>> MANUFACTURE ALABAMA WAS FOUNDED IN THE MID-'90S.

IT WAS THE ALABAMA MANUFACTURERS AND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND INVOLVED IN TO MANUFACTURE ALABAMA.

GEORGE CLARK, MY PREDECESSOR FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATION AND SET THE FOUNDATION IN THE STRUCTURE FOR WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

I CREDIT A LOT OF THE SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE ARENA AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING TO HIM.

WE'RE A TRADITIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION.

WE REPRESENT HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ALSO HAVE PARTNER MEMBERS THAT CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH INDUSTRIES IN THE DIFFERENT SECTORS.

YEAH, WE'RE JUST BLESSED.

I LIKE TO SAY THAT MANUFACTURING IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THE -- THE GOOD THINGS OF ALABAMA.

IT IS HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN.

IT'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT, $40 BILLION A YEAR, 270,000-PLUS EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE STATE.

SO, IT'S PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR FOLKS IN ALL OF THE COUNTRIES ACROSS THE STATE.

SO, WE'RE VERY BLESSED.

WE HAVE CHALLENGES.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE THERE AND WE ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP, THE GOVERNOR, OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WITH CAREERS IN MANUFACTURING.

>> RIGHT.

IN THIS BUILDING, I SEE YOU AND YOUR MEMBER COMPANIES VISITING THE LEGISLATURE.

ALSO REMEMBER YOU ALL COMING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., VISITING CONGRESS.

NOT JUST, YOU KNOW YOU AND THE REPRESENTATIVES, BUT ACTUAL MANUFACTURERS THEMSELVES COMING TO CONGRESS AND SHARING ABOUT WHATEVER IS GOING ON WITH THE DELEGATION.

>> YEAH.

WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT LEADERS HAVE REALTIME FEEDBACK ON THE ISSUES THAT THESE LARGE JOB CREATORS HAVE.

SO, WE DO VALUE OUR RELATIONSHIPS HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND IN DC, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT IN ALABAMA.

WE DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

WE WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THE POLICY AND DECISION MAKERS HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION THEY CAN TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE GROWTH OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE MANUFACTURERS.

>> YOU MENTIONED GEORGE CLARK.

LIKE I SAID BEEN THERE 27 YEARS.

KIND OF AN INSTITUTION THERE.

HE HAS NOW RETIRED.

TALK ABOUT THAT LEGACY AND MAYBE BUILDING ON IT.

>> YEAH, THOSE ARE BIG SHOES TO FILL.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

GEORGE HAS BEEN A STAPLE HERE IN THIS TOWN FOR DECADES.

HIS FOCUS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME HIS LIFE'S MISSION WAS TO FOCUS ON THE BEST TRAINED AND SKILLED WORKERS THAT THE INDUSTRY COULD HAVE.

HE HAS REALLY HONED IN ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES OVER THE YEARS.

HE HAS CULTIVATED A REMARKABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS PAID DIVIDENDS FOR OUR MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH CHANCELLOR BAKER AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS, AND OUR MEMBERS REALLY TAP INTO THOSE RESOURCES FOR FINDING WORKERS AND I'M SURE WE WILL GET IN TO SOME OF THE LABOR SHORTAGE ISSUES, BUT THEY ARE A KEY PARTNER IN THAT.

I CREDIT GEORGE FOR THAT AND ALL OF THE SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD TO THIS POINT.

GEORGE SHOULD GET A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT.

>> DEFINITELY WANT TO GET IN TO LABOR PARTICIPATION RATES.

I KNOW THE MANY ISSUES YOU ALL ARE DEALING WITH HERE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN THIS WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE.

ALABAMA HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY AT 57%.

YOU HAVE GOT LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, YES, BUT TOO FEW ALABAMIANS, NOT ENOUGH ALABAMIANS ARE DECIDING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKFORCE.

IT'S A PROBLEM FOR EVERYBODY.

YOUR MEMBER COMPANIES NEED WORKERS.

I KNOW IT'S NOT JUST Y'ALL.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE TRYING TO FIX THIS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THE STATE CAN HELP ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM?

>> I'LL START BY SAYING, I WILL FLIP THAT NUMBER OF 57% ON ITS HEAD AND EMPHASIZE THE NUMBER OF 43%.

>> WHERE THEY HAVE BARRIERS, RIGHT, TO GETTING A JOB.

SO WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME AS AN ASSOCIATION TALKING TO HERRING MANAGERS, HR PROFESSIONAL UNLESS THE INDUSTRY TO ASK WHAT ARE YOUR ISSUES?

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS?

WHAT CAN WE HELP TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR?

WE HAVE SEEN ALL OF THE HELP WANTED SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND HEAR ABOUT IT FROM HIRING MANAGERS.

WE HEAR THAT SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING EMPLOYEES.

SO WE WANTED TO GO A LEVEL DEEPER.

WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM JOB APPLICANTS?

WE HEAR ABOUT TWO BARRIERS IN PARTICULAR THAT WE FEEL WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

ONE IS IN THE REALM OF TRANSPORTATION.

A LOT OF US TAKE TRANSPORTATION FOR GRANTED, BUT IN RURAL AREAS, LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS, TRANSPORTATION IS NOT ALWAYS A GIVEN.

SO, GETTING PEOPLE TO AND FROM A WORKPLACE IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO WORK.

SO, THAT'S ONE BARRIER.

THE SECOND BARRIER AND THIS IS ONE WE ARE HONING IN FOR THIS YEAR AS AN ASSOCIATION IS THE CHILDCARE ASPECT.

WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT FROM HIRING MANAGERS WHEN THEY ARE TALKING TO APPLICANTS, IN PARTICULAR SINGLE WORKING MOMS OR SINGLE WORKING DADS FOR THAT MATTER OR DUAL INCOME YOUNGER FAMILIES WHEN THEY COME IN AND ASK ABOUT BENEFITS, TIME OFF, WHAT THE NATURE OF THE WORK IS.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY WILL ASK THE QUESTION, DO YOU OFFER A CHILDCARE OPTION?

I NEED A CHILDCARE OPTION SO I CAN ACTUALLY COME TO WORK.

THAT'S BECOMING A REAL HOT ISSUE.

IT IS NATIONAL.

I'M SEEING ARTICLES ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE CHILDCARE ISSUE AND IT STEMS FROM A LOT OF THINGS.

CHILDCARE IS EXPENSIVE.

THE COSTS HAVE RISEN.

THINK OF IT THIS WAY.

A YOUNG COUPLE HAVE BEEN THE WORKFORCE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND DECIDE THEY WANT TO START A FAMILY AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION OF ARE WE BOTH GOING BACK TO WORK?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH OUR BABY?

BOTH MAY WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK.

THEY START TO ASSESS THE CHILDCARE OPTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY START TO LOOK AT THE COST AND DO, LIKE WE ALL DO, WHICH IS GET TO THE KITCHEN TABLE AND BUDGET IT ALL OUT AND MAY NOT BE COST PROHIBITIVE FOR ONE OF THE MEMBERS TO SEND THE SALARY TO THEIR DAY CARE PROVIDER.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS, OUT-OF-THE-BOX SOLUTIONS TO OFFER THAT WON'T END UP WITH ONE OF THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

WE NEED TO RETAIN WHAT WE HAVE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO INCREASE OUR LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE AND BRING NEW PEOPLE IN TO THE WORKFORCE.

WE FEEL LIKE AN INCENTIVE TO BUSINESS THAT WOULD OFFER CHILDCARE AS A BENEFIT TO THEIR EMPLOYEE, LIKE THEY OFFER RETIREMENT OR HEALTHCARE IS A WAY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEWER GENERATION OF WORKERS COMING UP.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE FOLKS.

WE HAVE CRAFTED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT'S A TAX CREDIT THAT A BUSINESS WOULD RECEIVE IF THEY OFFER CHILDCARE AS A BENEFIT TO THE EMPLOYEE.

THE TAX CREDIT WOULD COME IN THE FORM OF A ONE-TO-ONE OFFER.

IF THE BUSINESS OFFERS X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO THE EMPLOYEE, THEY WOULD GET A TAX CREDIT BACK AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THAT INCENTIVIZES THE BUSINESS TO GET INTO IT.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE, BASED ON FISCAL IMPACTS WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS, IN TERMS OF A TAX CREDIT.

WE ARE A MANUFACTURER TRADE ASSOCIATION.

CHILDCARE IS NOT OUR BREAD AND BUTTER, RIGHT?

SO WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE A VERY UNIQUE AND PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA.

MELANIE BRIDGEFORTH AND HER TEAM IN BIRMINGHAM HAVE COME ON BOARD AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS OR SO NOW TO COME UP WITH THIS LEGISLATION.

WE LOOKED AT OTHER STATES.

23 OTHER STATES HAVE SOME SORT OF TAX CREDIT FOR BUSINESSES THAT OFFER CHILDCARE.

LIKE WE TYPICALLY LIKE TO DO, WE TRY TO FIND THE BEST ASPECTS OF THOSE LAWS AND CRAFT AN ALABAMA MODEL, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE REALLY STRONG LEADERSHIP WITH REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY DANIELS, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.

I KNOW HE'S BEEN HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

HE'S ALL OVER THE STATE TALKING ABOUT IT AND AN ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF THIS.

SENATOR GUDGER HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB GETTING UP TO SPEED ON THIS ISSUE AND IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

I'M ENCOURAGED, TODD, THAT WE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR SO MANY YEARS.

YOU KNOW THAT.

NOW WE ARE AT 2.1%, BUT THAT'S NOT THE MEANINGFUL MEASURE OF A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE.

SO, GOVERNOR IVEY, SPEAKER LEDBETTER, PRO-TEM MARSH, THEY ARE ALL WORKING IN CONCERT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE FROM 57% TO SOMETHING.

EVERY PERCENTAGE WE CAN MOVE THAT NEEDLE IS THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN ALABAMA.

SO, THAT'S THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WITH GOOD-PAYING OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S HUNDREDS OF COMPANIES WITH THE EMPLOYEES THEY NEED.

IT'S AN INCREASED TAX BASE AND IT'S AN INCREASED ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE.

SO, WE FEEL THIS IS A WIN-WIN AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THE STATE, THE EMPLOYEES AND THE BUSINESSES.

WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE SYNERGY THAT'S BEING CREATED BY THE LEADERSHIP AND THE STATE AND THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE.

>> YEAH.

IT'S A BIG ISSUE TO WATCH COME SESSION.

I THINK YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF AGREEMENT.

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION RATE VERSUS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

WE BOTH WORKED IN GOVERNOR'S OFFICES.

IT IS EASY TO SEND OUT THE PRESS RELEASE AND TOUT GOOD MOVES.

IT IS RECORD LEVEL EMPLOYMENT BUT A FEW MONTHS AGO THE GOVERNOR WAS PURPOSEFUL AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT NO, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT IS PRETTY BOLD.

YOU TALKED ABOUT LEADER DANIELS.

HE ALSO HAD THIS BILL DEALING WITH OVERTIME AND TAKING THE STATE'S PORTION OF INCOME TAX OFF OF OVERTIME.

ESSENTIALLY A PAY RAISE FOR A LOT OF WAGE WORKERS.

THIS IS YOUR WORKFORCE.

THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY.

SO, IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM YOUR MEMBERS, ARE THEY EXCITED ABOUT THEIR WORKERS GETTING THAT PAY RAISE?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIMISM AROUND THAT LAW.

I'D LIKE TO COMMEND REPRESENTATIVE DANIELS FOR THAT BECAUSE IT IS A NOVEL IDEA.

NO OTHER DATE STATE HAS ADOPTED A LAW LIKE THAT AND I EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF OTHER LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO LOOK AT ALABAMA AS THE MODEL.

YES, AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THIS LABOR SHORTAGE THAT WE HAVE, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PUTTING IN A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF OVERTIME.

THIS LAW PUTS MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS AND IT'S GOING TO ENCOURAGE OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO PUT MORE HOURS IN, TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.

SO, IT DOES HELP TO SUPPLEMENT THAT SHORTAGE WE HAVE OF A LACK OF INCOMING WORKERS.

I ACTUALLY BELIEVE IT CAN ENCOURAGE SOME THAT ARE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES TO MAYBE COME BACK TO THE WORKFORCE KNOWING IF THEY WORK OVERTIME IT'S NOT TAXED BY THE STATE.

AGAIN, IT'S INCREASED WAGES AT THE END OF THE DAY.

IT HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED.

OUR MEMBER COMPANIES ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, COMMISSIONER BARNETT AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB BECAUSE IT DOES CHANGE SOME THINGS OF HOW A COMPANY WOULD REPORT ON TAX FILINGS AND THAT NATURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR HOURLY WAGE EMPLOYEES AND THE OVERTIME THEY WORK.

SO, WE ARE CREATING THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE SURE THE COMPANIES UNDERSTAND AND ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE PAYROLL, TAX ROLL, IN THE BUSINESS UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WILL ADMINISTER THIS AND WE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED BY GOVERNOR IVEY.

HER LEADERSHIP, SHE HAS MADE IT CLEAR SHE DOESN'T WANT TO PUT AN UNDUE BURDEN ON BUSINESSES WITH THIS BILL AS IT RELATES TO MORE PAPERWORK.

WE ARE ENCOURAGED BUT WE FEEL LIKE, AGAIN, ANY OF THESE OUT-OF-THE-BOX NOVEL IDEAS, CHILD CARE, WILL MOVE THE NEEDLE.

NOT ALL A SILVER BULLET BUT IF WE CAN MOVE THE LABOR PARTICIPATION RATE BY 1%, THAT'S THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS.

SO, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT EVERYTHING WE SEE GOING ON IN THE STATE.

>> THEY ACTUALLY HAD A CEREMONIAL BILL SIGNING AT HYUNDAI.

WE WILL GO TO THAT IN A SECOND BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

APPRECIATE IT.

NOW OUT TO HYUNDAI MOTOR MANUFACTURING FOR THE CEREMONIAL BILL SIGNING OF THE STATE'S INCOME TAX CUT ON OVERTIME WAGES.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ALABAMA WORKERS THAT ARE WORKING OVERTIME HOURS WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A 5% PAY RAISE ON EVERY HOUR THEY ARE WORKING OVERTIME.

5% AT TIME AND A HALF IS BETTER THAN 5% OF BASE PAY.

THAT IS MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL THAN THE FIRST 40 HOURS.

THIS INCENTIVIZES INDIVIDUALS JUST TO WORK A LITTLE EXTRA.

WE ARE COMING UP ON CHRISTMAS AND FAMILIES ARE LOOKING TO BRING IN MORE MONEY.

IT WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY NEXT YEAR -- STARTING IN JANUARY, AN OPPORTUNITY BRING IN MORE MONEY SO THEY CAN SAVE MORE MONEY FOR CHRISTMASTIME OR OTHER PRIORITIES THEY MAY HAVE DURING THE YEAR.

SO 5% PAY RAISE WITHOUT YOUR EMPLOYER HAVING TO GIVE IT TO YOU IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR OUR ALABAMIANS, AS WELL AS FAMILIES THAT ARE IMPACTED.

>> SO WHENEVER A PERSON, AN HOURLY WORKER MAKES MORE MONEY, THEY SPEND MORE MONEY.

WE KNOW FROM STUDIES, THE SPENDING HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT MAKE MORE MONEY.

SO WHEN THEY SPEND MORE MONEY, YOU'LL START TO SEE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE MORE TAX REVENUE.

COUNTIES WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE MORE TAX REVENUE AND THE STATE.

SO YOU ARE NOT -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL COSTS, THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE LIABILITY.

>> BEFORE WE GO, I WANT TO OFFER AN UPDATE ON THE GROWING LIST OF CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES IN ALABAMA'S NEWLY DRAWN SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

14 CANDIDATES HAVE QUALIFIED THUS FAR.

THERE ARE A FEW MORE HOURS LEFT FOR CANDIDATES TO QUALIFY BUT HERE'S THE GROWING LIST.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, JAMES AVERHART, NAPOLEON BRACY, ANTHONY DANIELS, SHOMARI FIGURES, JEREMY GRAY, PHYLLIS HARVEY-HALL, WILLIE LENARD, LARRY DARNELL SIMPSON, VIMAL PATEL, MERIKA COELMAN, JUANDALYNN GIVAN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, GREG ALBRITTON, DICK BREWBAKER, CAROLEENE DOBSON, KARLA DUPRIEST, HAMPTON HARRIS, BELINDA THOMAS, STACEY SHEPPERSON, AND WALLACE GILBERRY.

THERE ARE A FEW HOURS LEFT TO QUALIFY BUT 14 CANDIDATES SO FAR HAVE QUALIFIED IN THE NEWLY REDRAWN SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.