From the Alabama Public Television Studios in Montgomery.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

I'm Jeff Sanders filling in this week for Todd Stacey.

Coming up later, I sit down with the two candidates and one of Alabama's most closely watched races this election year.

Democratic Congressman Shamar figures is seeking another term in the second Congressional district, facing Republican challenger and state Representative Rhett Marcus.

We'll hear from both candidates about the issues shaping this race.

Be sure to stick around for that.

But first, Governor Kay Ivey is extending the state's relief program for Alabamians impacted by Hurricane Isaias.

As communities across South Alabama continue to assess the damage, the devastation has hit the state's agricultural industry especially hard.

Senator Tommy Tubervill met with farmers in the region to hear firsthand about their losses and the challenges they now fac as more damage comes to light.

So does the need for assistance.

Capitol journal's Randy Scott has the latest.

This is our first year over here, but, we had a pretty good looking crop here, and, the county got smote.

Ricky Wiggins feels the cotton crop he's growing here in Castleberry Alabama is about to bloom.

Then came Hurricane Isaias.

Now he and other people in this region are picking up the pieces trying to see what can be saved and what help they need to recover.

A lot of people think, well, you cover crop insurance and we do have crop insurance, but crop insurance does not cover our losses.

Oh, that.

That's a fairly involved topic on how crop insurance works, but it in no way covers the losses in a time like this.

You see, cotton on plants here in this field, but we also see cotton on the ground as well.

That cotton, according to farmers, isn't any good.

So if I need help fixing this problem and they have help coming from Montgomery and Washington, DC to solve this problem, Wigan's cotton crop serves as the background for a gathering of farmers, along with state and federal personnel, to talk about help coming to this region.

There's a number of spots that are significantly worse than others.

I would tell you, as I look at the whole state, I feel like we were blessed.

When you talk about a hurricane.

You normally see a path of just total destruction.

We don't see that with this one, but where it's bad is pretty bad.

Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell says things were tight before the hurricane.

Now they're trying to bounce back.

It was going to b a challenging year for the crop guys, particularly when they started this year.

So anything that comes along that complicates that and certainly a hurricane does, is a significant issue.

State leaders, including Senator Tommy Tuberville, say help is on the way.

We had this hurricane come through and just talking to people, whether it's power company or sheriffs who've done a great job, there's a 200 mile path of southern Alabama.

All the way up throug the central part of the state.

We've had damage.

You can see damage here to crops.

There's nothing more.

More important.

And I've told people this.

And our farmers, you know, behind every damage field is a family farm whose livelihood depends on this harvest.

This administration truly understands the challenges our farmers face between rising production cost, drought, and now this hurricane.

It is very evident that they realize what it takes to help our farmers.

Senator Tuberville toured the cotton field with Wiggins and the Booker family.

The farmers and Counterman told their guests what they've encountered and what they have to fix after Hurricane Isaias.

Mostly fences.

And I had one big barn blow away and a lot of roof damage.

And, but most nothing is going to be fences.

We were blessed.

You say we were blessed?

Yes, sir.

Yeah.

We were.

We can't replace material things, but family and everybody was blessed.

Nobody was hurt.

Yes, everybody was fine.

That's right.

It was.

That's all we cared about.

Safety.

That's right.

We just.

We're just rebuilding.

I mean, just rebuilding one tree at a time.

Getting it off the fence.

It'll take a lot of hard work but it's something worth doing and something we're going to do.

They don't want to hand out.

They want a hand up.

And it all comes from the farm, bill.

They can't do it on their own because you're going to have situations like this happen.

Our input costs have been just unbelievable in the last 6 or 7 years.

Everybody's talking about the gas and diesel prices as we have it today.

They are way too high.

We need to buy buy American Cotton Act passed.

That will incentivize manufacturers, retailers in the United States of America to it gives them a tax incentive if they buy American made cotton American grown cotton in Casselberry.

Randy Scott, Capital Journal.

And speakin of storm issues, some good news for those affected by the hurricane.

The IRS is giving Alabama taxpayers more time to file and pay federal taxes.

Individuals and businesses in 41 Alabama counties now have until February 4th, 2027, to meet certain tax deadlines that fall between October 7th and February 4th.

The relief also covers certain quarterl payroll and excise tax returns.

Taxpayers who receive late payment or filing penalty notices should contact the IRS using the number listed on their notice.

Meanwhile, Democratic candidate for governor, Doug Jones, is making public educatio a central issue in his campaign and an education town hal in Montgomery earlier this week.

The former U.S.

senator calle for higher teacher pay and said he wants to eventually phase out Alabama's Choose act.

It provides state funde education savings accounts that can be used for private school and other education expenses.

Jones says the state should be investing more in its public schools, and argue the Choose act is moving Alabama in the wrong direction.

I am so, in favor of public schools, and I'm running against a guy who does nothing but dog public schools.

He has criticized teachers.

He's criticized the entire system.

I have too much respect for the teachers.

And I am a product of public schools.

My kids are products of public schools.

My wife's a product of public schools.

I believe in them.

And so many of our kids are there and they need the money.

I want to phase out the Choose act.

I want to phase that out so that public money, taxpayer money is not going to private schools.

Just this last week, it was announced that we lost 12,000 students, in public schools.

That's going to mean about 800, teacher units.

That's going to hurt school systems across, the state.

I think we need to reverse that trend.

And I know tha everybody is doing on the other side is doing their best to tr to not pinpoint the choose act, but if you look at the enrollment numbers over the last 6 or 7 years, you're going to see the most dramatic drops in the last two years.

President Donald Trump is looking to a new diesel agreement with Russia, as part of an effort to bring down fuel cos ahead of the midterm elections.

But the deal may do little to lower prices at the pump for Alabama driver and is drawing strong reaction from lawmakers, including Alabama Senator Katie Britt.

Alexan Gill has that story from Washington.

President Donald Trump has stood by his deal to allow Russia to supply diesel to the United States in global marketplace, even as bipartisan lawmaker have called for the white House to scrap the agreement this week.

I think these are Republicans that can't really be serious.

It's not really a deal with me.

It's a deal for the rest of the world.

So anything that could help our farmers are ranchers.

I like two groups of bipartisan senators have pushed back on the plan.

They argue that the deal will help Russi finance its war against Ukraine.

But neither of Alabama senators are part of those statements.

Instead, Senator Katie Brit doubled down on her support for, quote, applying maximum pressure on Russia through sanctions.

This week.

She played a key par in helping to pass the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning a Russia and Iran Act this year.

But the Alabama Republican didn't go quite as far as some of her Republican colleagues.

In denouncing the plan, Britt's office said in a statement, quote, she believes the best way to end this senseless war and bring down prices is t stand up to Putin's aggression by cutting off his war machine, end quote.

The diesel deal will allow Russia to release more than 300,000 metric ton immediately, followed by 500,000 tons in November and potentially 4 million after that.

It's all an effor meant to bring down those costs.

But Troy University economics professor John Dove says the plan isn't expected to provide significant relief for Americans.

Obviously, increasing supply like that will put downward pressure on price, but in the grand scheme of things, we need to understand that this is really just a couple days worth of of U.S.

consumption.

And given the size of the actual global market that exists, this really is just a drop in the bucket.

Dove says most analysts predict prices would only go down b about a couple cents per gallon.

As of Thursday.

In Alabama, diesel prices averaged around $5.90 per gallon.

Reporting in Washington Alex Engle, Capital Journal.

Alabamians looking to start a new career or build skills for a better job now have more options for the state's community colleges.

The Alabama Community Colleg System is expanding its skills for success program with seve new workforce training courses.

The courses are develope by the ACC's Innovation Center, working directly with businesses and industry experts.

The seven new offerings include training for paver and screed operators, shuttle buggy operators, drone operators, asphalt lab technicians, veterinary assistants, bio technicians, and a course focused on customer service skills.

The program combines online instruction with hands on training through community colleges across Alabama.

For more information, visit skills for alabama.com.

Nearly a thousand peopl gathered in downtown Montgomery Thursday for the Respite for All Foundation's fifth annual Brain Science Luncheon.

The event featured brain health researcher and bestselling author doctor Mark Milstein, who shared practical ways to strengthen memory, improve brain health and reduce the risk of dementia.

The Montgomery based Foundation works to support people living with dementia and family members who care for them.

Co-Founder and Executive Director Daphn Johnston and board member Bishop Lawson Bryan sa that growth began with a simple effort to meet a very real need in the community.

So the ministry started 15 years ago in the basement of a church with two people with Alzheimer's and 14 volunteers.

And now we have thousands across the country, thousands participants, thousands of volunteers.

We are close to 80 new programs, new ministries in 20 different states, 14 denominations.

And we're breaking, breaking into triple AA, aging and senior centers.

This is a model that works, and our goal is to bring the latest information on brain health to the river region, because what we've learned through ministry is that there is hope.

There is a chance for people to find quality of life, even living with dementia.

So we're grateful that we get to be a part of this work that i spreading all over the country.

Alabama Public Television has also been proud to help share the story of respite for al with viewers across the state.

Last year, apt aired the documentary respite for All A Place of Belonging, which takes an intimate look at the program, the volunteers who make it possible and the families navigating the challenges of dementia.

The documentary has also been made available to public television stations across the country, and can be streamed through PBS here.

Now.

As a part of that documentary.

These people aren't going to be able to interact.

They're not going to be able to do puzzles.

They're not going to be abl to do a challenging art project.

But with the trus that they start to gain in us, they start to gain confidence in themselves.

What we see is people still unable to able to have joy, still able to call back some memories, sing music that they remember, enjoy and enjoy things still, and seeing the joy in thei faces, brings joy to everybody.

I realized that this program was something that we needed at Canterbury.

These programs are filled with happiness and genuineness.

It's just a beautiful thing to see.

They greet Bill with a smile.

They greet him with conversation, a pat on the back or or.

Hey, buddy.

What?

What kind of hat you wearing today?

It's a very good group.

It's kind of like a bond.

It could be like a little paternity.

And honestly, he needs that camaraderie with men.

He's around me all the time.

And he's not around.

Really?

Not around that many more people.

It's the people in in encore and the respite programs that that give him a social life.

He looks forward to going every every time we drive over there and he gets back in the car.

Talking about those are the happiest night people I've ever been around, man.

I just love it.

The friendships are fostered very easily.

The participants, they're really happy.

I've gotten so many responses from, caregivers about the change that they've noticed even in their behavior, how they're feeling.

They want to come.

They smile, they laugh.

They they're they're able to communicate better.

It's a very healing thing.

It's a it's a kind of a spiritual experience.

Even though this isn't necessarily, at least this chapter based on a religious program.

It still is a spiritual experience.

I think I feel every week that I come here, we have this sort of release that we get to feel.

And if yo know someone who could benefit from the respite program, you can find more information simply by visiting respite for all.org.

Straight ahead I sit down with the candidates and one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country, Alabama's second Congressional district, a contest that could help determine the control of Congress.

Democratic incumben Shomari Figures faces Republican challenger Rhett Marques.

We'll hear from both candidates next on Capitol Journal.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online anytime at Alabama Public Television's website.

App tv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes on Capital Journal's Facebook page.

During the American Revolution, Yankee Doodle served as an unofficial national anthem, but the United States did not have an official national anthem until the early 20th century.

The Star-Spangled banner was designated as the official tune on March 3rd, 1931.

More than 100 year after it was originally written, Francis Scot Key wrote the poem, originally titled The Defense of Fort McHenry, in 1814.

Fort McHenry was a political stronghold for the Americans that played a crucial role in protecting the port city of Baltimore from the British during the War of 1812.

On September 14th, 1814, Fort McHenry was pummeled with British morta shells and rockets for 24 hours.

When he awoke the next morning he saw the American flag flying high above the fort, signaling victory, and wrote down the words for a poem that would later become the lyrics for the famous song.

We have a labor gap.

We have the laborers that from the past, or they're getting ready to retire and there's nobody to take their place.

That's why friendship's important today, is because if we don't do that, this contract is already hurting.

To find qualified people to work for.

It's only going to get worse as these men retire.

It's really critical.

Just that we just some trained craftsmen out there.

And it's not just an electrical, it's in every field.

Tony is.

Mike started an apprenticeship program.

He was my teacher, an alum.

Thornton.

On the first, first two years in an apprenticeship program while I was in high school.

And I'm finishing the last two at art school.

And Mitchell Talbot, apparently an electrician.

My dad always done it.

I always wanted to do this.

And then he did my last grade year in an apprenticeship program, I went, I did like the core classes the second year teach about bab can't do it like learning stuff, and the third year is a lot more and lot mechanical.

My name is Tony Brown and I work at Allen Point Career Center, where I teach electricity.

With m teaching the kids during the day and on the high school level, I like Mitchell Talbot.

He completed his first year with me in high school.

So when he when he graduated high school, went into work.

He actually started at second year level.

I went to high school at 7:0 in the morning, got out of 1145, and I went to work from 1145 to 230, and I went to class.

The apprenticeship program at five, and then I wouldn't leave at about 8:00 at night.

It's basically you get paid to work, and I was going to save time and learn what you're doing for your trade.

Like in graduate already with one year of internship under their belt.

That's what you need to look at if you're looking to start.

You really need to get the local career to get involved in it and see if you can't work out a deal to where they can get credit for the work that they've done in high school.

And welcome back to Capitol Journal.

I'm joined now by Congressman Shomari figures represents Alabama' second congressional district, and he's up for reelection again this year.

Congressman, thanks for joining us.

Glad to be here.

Let's talk about it.

We're also interviewing your opponent, Rhett Marcus, on the Republican side.

This this district, a little different than the last time when you ran and won i with all of the legal challenges and the redrawing of the district.

How has that changed your campaign style this time around, or has it?

Well, listen, it really hasn't, as we, you know, get around this new district.

Look, 60% of the people in my current district are people.

They make up 60% of the people in the new district.

And so, the people aren't that different.

The issues are not that different.

The industries are not that different.

But at the end of the day, people around here, they want leadership that's going to be effective, that's going to be locally focused.

And that's the type of leadership and record that we have to be able to run on.

So we are getting around the district now.

When you look at some of the numbers, leans, what, five, 7% Republican i what the numbers would tell you.

You were getting some hel from kind of from the, from the, the national DC, I guess, Democratic establishment to help in campaigning.

What are you having to do?

You meant t some of those things right now.

But how do you kind of wor against that tide a little bit?

Listen, I mean, we have the benefit of having a record to run on, right?

A record of producing for the district, a record of delivering for the district, a record of working on bipartisan issues that hit us here locally.

The first bill I introduced as a member of Congress, Rural Hospital Stabilization Act, introduced that with a very conservative member of the Georgia delegation, because rural hospitals and saving them matter as it stands right now, when they get ready to go out of business, there's not a penny available to them from the federal government to help them stay open.

That program would change that.

All right.

So you you go to bat with your record, you sho that you stand up for the issues that matter the most and mean the most back home.

And that's most of the time, not a lot of the nonsense that we hear is, screaming and shouting about coming out of DC or on national new networks screaming and shouting.

You know, we're going to talk about bitter politics coming up in a little bit.

But right now, let's talk about you in DC, serving on the what the AG transportation infrastructure committees.

Correct.

They're Alabama is a it's a fairly red state.

Obviously we can talk about district two and then a Congresswoman Sewell's District bein the more Democratic districts.

But if there is more of a blue wave, which a lot of the national polling people think there will be and you were reelected, that puts you in a majority.

How will that so what's you pitch to those voters out there?

If Democrats win a majority, you you need someone like me as a Democrat in Washington.

Listen, it's good to have representatives from both parties, right.

And that's something that I would think that most common sens people can come to agreement on.

All right.

Like we look at, for instance, the, the $550 million mega grant that, was secure under the Biden administration for the big new bridge down in Mobil, right.

That would not have happened without a Democrat in the delegation, without a Terry soul in that delegation.

Right.

And that's just one example.

But at the end of the day, when we're in the majority, we always want the federal government to do what's best for the people of Alabama while we are here.

And having people, on both sides of the aisle ensures that we can do that.

And so we're looking forward to being in a majority where we can bring more resources back, and be able to amplify and advance more legislation that will be, be of a of a good thing here, for here in Alabama, a lot of folks in your district, a lot of farmers, a lot of rural areas and district two, diesel price have hit all time record highs.

You've been fairly critical, to say the least, of the president and his policies.

What do you say to those farmers out there?

And what are they telling you as far as how these high prices, cost of living are affecting them?

Listen, the a industry is the largest industry that we have in this state and that's not going to change.

We have to make sure that we are taking care of that industry, and we have to make sure we're taking care of the men and women and families who bolster up that industry here.

And regardless o of of whether or not you voted, Democrat or Republican, I can tell you one thing.

They're not happy with all time high diesel prices.

They're not happy with tariff wars that led to reciprocal tariffs, that now, makes it, nearly impossible for them to be able to sell to places like China, which is the largest export market.

And so I tell our farmers, as I told every Republican, you may have voted for Donald Trump, but I know that it is not what you voted for.

You voted for someone, that's going to stand up, for the people of Alabam and for the farmers of Alabama.

And that's what we're doing.

We're going to continue to push back.

We've introduced legislation, to push back against some of what's going on, that that's causing so much pain to our farmer in our ag community as a whole.

What do you think about this, deal that the president announced, with Russia and President Putin?

They're about, lifting some of these sanctions, especially with the recent legislation, the Lindsey Graham bill that Senator Britt helped push through, Congress as well.

What are your thoughts on that?

Look, I think this, administration has grossly failed in foreign policy, and it's hitting us in ou pockets at the end of the day, because he decided to start a tariff war.

Everything, almost everything that we import costs more, cost more money.

And that's that's for me.

That's for you.

That's for everybody in this state.

That's not where we want to be at.

All right?

You look at foreign policy decisions as they relate to the Iran war, right?

60% of the world's ammonia supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

What does that matter to us?

Here in Alabama, ammonia is the active ingredient in fertilizer, the fertilizer that our farmers need to produce.

The crops that feed America.

Right.

So those sorts of decisions from a foreign policy standpoint are not working for the state of Alabama.

They're not working for our largest industry.

They certainly aren't working for our farmers, and they aren't working for every, every day people who have to absorb these high costs.

Let's talk about and and move that that talk a little bit forward here.

When you speak to those voter and you speak to those farmers or they mentioning Democrat or Republican to you, or they really just talking about, dinner table issues.

No, they're not mentioning party labels at all, right.

And most people don' I think at the end of the day, the economics that matter the most people is my economics, right?

Is their own, economics.

And right now what is happening is not good economically for the vast majority of people in this state.

We're in a state with the individual media income is just $34,000, $34,000 before taxes, before, food, before groceries, before gas, you know, before childcare expenses, health care expenses, before anything.

And so this is not a place where we can just absorb and contrary, to some statements that we've heard, people here are not okay paying highe gas prices to facilitate failed foreign policy decisions.

At the end of the day, we have to stand up.

Right?

And if the white House is not going to do it, then we have to have people in Congress who are going to stand up for what's right in Alabama, because when we talk to these farmers and when we talk to a lot of Republicans, I am convinced to use the old Nixon coinage that there is a silent majority of people, who were tired of the foolishness that we're seeing coming out of this administration in the harmful economic policies, that are leading to continued inflation, that are leading to all these high prices on everything.

How does Congress work, no matter who wins here in the fall, moving forward?

Let's talk about the deficit a little bit here.

And I ask the same thing to your opponent.

Like, you know, he talked about tax cuts and helping out the average American, how they believe that will spur economic growth.

But the deficit continues to grow each and every day in exponential numbers.

How can someone like you work with your colleagues to really help rein in those those numbers?

And also with the social safety networks like Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare, I should sa that could really be in trouble if not taken seriously in the next few years.

Yeah.

Listen, I think, you know, it has to star with an acknowledgment of facts.

I mean, at the end of the day, I actually saw Thomas Massie, of all people, post it not too long ag that 10% of the nation's debt, all time debt, over 250 years, 10% of that was just added in the first 18 months of the Trump administration.

Right?

Just this current two years.

That is unacceptable, right?

That is unacceptable.

Assuming that those stats are true.

That shows you right, this one big bill that did a lot of things ba economically.

It did long term.

It added over $ trillion to the national debt.

And that's something that we have to have leaders in Washington that are capable of addressing those realities and sitting down, making the tough decisions that are necessary on the budget as a whole, to make us live within our means.

At the end of the day, you, myself and everyone, that calls Alabama home.

We're forced to live within our means every single day.

And the federal government should be no different.

We should only spend what we're capable of responsibly, spending and paying back.

And that's something that I'm committed to doing and committed to working for.

Your opponent has, talked about, Democrats, or socialist and, not necessarily saying you're socialist, but you vote with socialist policies.

How do you respond to that Listen, I think it's nonsense.

I think it's just deflecting, from the realities.

I mean, at the end of the day, you know, I'm running against Mr.

Marcus, who, you know, he was part of the group that led the effort to raise state gas tax by 67%, 67%.

Not something I would support.

And if you don't believe me, look at the family history on it, because my mother voted against it.

Right at the end of the day, we have to stand up for, for for what's right in Alabama.

If standing up for rura hospitals make me a bad person, then it makes a lot of people in the state of Alabama, bad people.

And I don't think that's the issue of standing up, and introducing legislatio like we've recently introduced to provide a tax break for the outrageous costs for child enrichment opportunities, child sports participation, giving a $5,000 tax break, to parents, absorbing those costs of activities that used to be, nearly fre when you and I were growing up there, spending so much money on it.

That makes me a bad person.

And there are a lot of bad people with, introducing legislation like we recently introduced to be able to provide educational benefits for the children of firefighters and police officers and educators and social workers who spend 20 years, in the field doing that tough work.

If that makes me a bad person, then there are a lot of bad people here in the state of Alabama that didn't make you a socialist.

That makes yo someone who's going to stand up for what's right here, at Alabama.

And I think the socialism tags is just, a sort of, part of the fear factor, that we see, you know, certain candidates and certain political, organizations trying to hide behind your two years in Congress.

What's the biggest lesson that you've learned from from day one to here?

Kind of getting close to the end of year two?

Yeah.

At the end of the day, I think the biggest lesson that I've learned is that there's still way to move the ball on a Whitfield.

We've been in Congress now in the minority as a freshman member from a very red state.

We were still able to deliver some of the most, the most, returned resources to our district of of any freshman member, I think the second most of any freshman in the in the entire minority, class, because we figure out ways to work across the aisle.

We we we've learned the lesso that it's important to listen to what's going on back home, and let that inform the work that you're doing in Washington, DC.

And that's why we were able to, bring millions of dollars back to Butler County to help them find, a new water source, as some geological things have changed the water table.

That's why we were able to, bring money back for law enforcement in Montgomery and money for our rural hospitals down in Jackson Alabama, and Eufaula, Alabama.

You got to listen to what's important locally.

And if you do that, you can most effectively represent the people in your district because at the end of the day, nobody in Washington, DC votes for you.

The people that vote for you and the people whose lives you're impacting the most every single day are the people in your district, and you have to be responsive to them.

You've mentioned this a couple of times, rural health care in the state.

We've recently had the issue of Jackson Hospital.

I know you were very involved in that, them staving off bankruptcy and hopefully rebuilding forward.

How big of an issue is that for Alabama?

And how worried are yo and what are voters telling you?

Voters are concerned about it.

I mean, rural hospitals are closin at an astronomically fast rate.

The current district that I'm in now, I represent 13 counties.

You can only have a baby in two.

Ten of them, either do not have a hospital or have a hospital that's on, on the verge of potentially closing, places like Macon County, Tuskegee.

They've not had a hospital since 1987.

All right, that is a problem.

And it's something that we have to be committed, to working long term to address people care about it.

Because beyond the health care access piece, it is a economic issue.

It's an economic issue at its core because no company, wants to remain in or expand in or move to, a plac where there is not a hospital.

I tell people, I don't care if your name is Nick Saban.

It is tough to close a recruiting pitch to a business, to a retiree, to a resident, to a developer or a builder.

When that pitch begins with we don't have a hospital, right.

And so we have to be serious about developing out a health care system across the state that reflects the realities of the communities in which we live in.

But that also prioritizes better health outcomes.

Our state has the third lowest life expectancy in America.

We can do better than that.

And we should be doing better than that.

Bitter politics.

It just seems like about when you and I were growing up, and you're a little younger than me, but it just seems like, it's so nasty these days.

I kid you, I was telling someone earlier, you go to YouTube to watch a video, and I'm going to see one of your ads.

You're going to see one of your opponent's ads.

How do we get past that?

How do we get past this age of just visceral to like, a better term nastiness in our political world?

Yeah, it takes courage.

At the end of the day, it takes people, that are more responsive and care more about what people as a whole think about them than they care about what a particular person thinks about them, or may say if they do a certain action.

We hear a lot of whispers on both sides of the aisle of people that are unhappy with certain things.

But at the end of the day, you have to put forth the effort to, to go beyond it.

I mean, I mentioned the bil that I just recently introduced to provide, college benefits and workforce, you know, certification benefits to the children of, firefighters and law enforcement and educators.

That's a bipartisan bill.

All right, with a Republican from Mississippi.

Right.

Leading that effort.

The real hospital Stabilization Act, a bipartisan bill, with the Republican from Georgia.

And that's because rural hospitals are an issue in Georgia, just like they are an issue in Alabama.

It's because law enforcement officers who do 20 years of service, or teachers who do 20 years of service in Mississippi, they worry about how they're going to be able to afford to send their kids to school the same way we do here in the state of Alabama.

And when you put the issues of home first, party lines will very, very rarely emerge less than three weeks to go on the campaign trail.

By the time this airs, two and a half weeks, roughly, what does it look like fo you over the next coming weeks?

Listen, you just got to continue to, to hit the streets, as they say.

You got to continue to beat the bushes, continue to meet as many voters as you can, continue to take your message to as many people as you possibly can.

And that's something we've been fortunate to be able to do.

The reception has been great.

The polling numbers, have been very favorable for us.

And so, you know at the end of the day, though, polls don't vote.

So we have to get out and motivate as many peopl and tell them about our record.

Tell them the the differences between, you know, somebody you know, mine, who's working to be able to lower costs.

And, and my opponent who unfortunately is supported efforts that are going to rais taxes over 22 times he's voted, for pieces of legislation that would increase taxes on peopl and drawing out that difference, a clear contrast and what the priorities are.

And most importantly, who are we responsive to?

Are you responsive to a people Are you responsive to a person?

And we will always be responsive to the people of Alabama.

And do you feel like that they get out the vote effort, especially among Democrat and maybe moderates, is working as opposed to maybe some of the Republicans are not satisfied staying at home?

Look, I think, you know, at the end of the day, you want as many people to participate in the electoral process as possible and give them a reason to do it, give them something to believe, then give them something that they can relate to.

Give them something that they feel connected to, and I feel like they'll show up for you.

And at the end of the day we think that we've been doing a good job of that, both as a representative and as a candidate, speaking to them about the issues that matter most to them.

And we think that's what's going to drive them to the polls.

In November.

Congressman Shamari figures.

We appreciate your time today.

As always.

It's good to hear from you.

As we said, less than three weeks to go until the Election Day in November.

I know you'll be very busy today, and we appreciate your time today.

Thank you man, thank you so much.

And stay with us.

There's more Capitol Journal right after this.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Free professional development for educators and childcare providers.

Access to free curriculum line videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Medi and all the PBS kids programs.

Parents know and trust.

Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP tv.org/education to learn more.

Brothers Allison and Raven Delmore of Elmont, Alabama, were early country music pioneers that had a profound impac on the history of country music.

I'm Debbie Delmore Alford, youngest child.

My father and uncles talented songwriting, intricate harmonies, and complex guitar rhythm influenced their contemporaries as well as generation of country and bluegrass stars.

The Delmore Brothers began in the 1920s, playing at local community events, but 1933 they became regulars on the Grand Ole Opry, quickly becoming one of the program's most popular acts.

Over the course of their career, they wrote more than 1000 songs, many of which were crossover hits.

Few country music acts can rival their sophisticated chord arrangements and lovely melodies.

The Delmore Brothers are members of the Nashville songwriters Alabama and Country Music Hall of Fame.

How did the founders come up with the famous line?

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

70 years before the revolution, 17th century English philosopher John Locke popularized the idea of natural rights.

John Locke believed everyone was born with inalienable natural rights that can't be taken away.

He described these right as life, liberty, and property life.

Everyone has the right and duty to preserve their own life.

Liberty.

Everyone should be free to make decisions about their life as long as it doesn't interfer with another person's liberty.

Property.

More than just land and goods, property referred to self-ownership and the right to personal well-being.

Later, Jefferson changed property to pursuit of happiness, which was a phrase Locke used to describe freedom of opportunit and the duty to help the needy.

That's how Locke's words became the foundation for American independence.

You're watching Alabama Public Television.

And you.

And welcome back to Capitol Journal.

I'm joined now by State Representative Rhett Marques.

He is the Republican candidate for the Congressional District two race.

Election day in Alabama less than three weeks away.

Mr.. Marcus, appreciate your time today.

Well, thank you for having me.

It's this has been a very interesting race with this district two.

Obviously, it would take us forever to go through all the legal battles about, having it redrawn that favored the, the Democratic candidate won that race two years ago, and then through the, the kind of the legal issue to get us back where we are at, where it probably slightl favors the Republican candidate.

Again, all that aside, out on the campaign trail, what are you hearing from voters?

What is their top of mind subject?

Well, obviously, affordability, because of the fact that things are more expensiv and that they are less expensive than when the Democrats had and, you know, under under President Biden's administration, gas was in 2022, gas was at 525.

There was no Iran war.

There was no other things that were there was no, other conflicts that were, causing that.

There's just because of the fact that, the Democrats don't like, being energy dependent or energy dominant.

Rather, they want to be energy dependent.

And they like the green New Deal, etcetera, which may cost go up.

Inflation was at a 40 year high.

We're working on that.

It is coming down.

It is it is a process, there's no doubt.

But just a couple months ago, Walmart, announced a 15% these crease in their in their prices.

So things are coming back to where they should be.

But, I mean, I drive a lot, obviously, and I know how you know the gas at $4 is is difficult.

Diesel at six is not good.

Not good for the farmers, etcetera.

But, you know, those things will come back.

A lot of people would argue for the Democratic side.

We were coming out of the pandemic.

You're lookin at artificially inflated prices.

It's not the same thing.

And some people say, well, you know, Biden has been president two years.

Obama hasn't been president in ten years.

We've had two years of Republican, white House, Republican, Senate, Republican House.

You know, what do you respond to those people as far as the prices with the war in Iran, this recent deal the president made with Russia about buying more, kind of relieving some of the sanctions against them to buy more diesel.

Are you in favor of that?

And how do you respond to that overall statement?

Well I think the president is trying to get the diesel prices down quickly.

And, you know that that is the answer to the the Russian, you know, trying to leverage that.

But I would I would counter, everything you just said about the Democrats not being in power for the last couple of years with well, under this administration, was the largest tax cut in American history with the work and family tax credit.

And that cut taxes on overtime, overtime and, and, taxes on Social Security, taxes on, other things for, for, for that.

And we've done the same thing here in Alabama.

Here in Alabama, we cut taxes by $1.5 billion.

But my opponent voted against that, the working family tax credit the one big, beautiful bill, as, the president likes to say, but he voted against that.

But we've done a lot of things to here in Alabama, cut the grocery tax in half.

You know, we've done a lot of things to make lif put more money in your pocket.

The working family tax credit that, my opponent, voted against it actually, put about $3,000 approximately in Alabama.

Families pocket every year.

And that is huge.

And I don't know why he voted against it.

That's a good question for him.

But he did.

And, that's things that have helped, where, the prices have have not been able to come down like they should like, like gas.

That's helped with people to offset that.

And those are, those are things that the Republican want.

The Democrats they don't wan they want to raise your taxes.

Let's talk about that.

You mentioned your opponent, some of his voting record here having a Democrat in that seat, Alabama is a very Republican state.

It very much is very dependable when it comes to that.

This district leans Republican now, although it maybe not as red as some of the other districts across the country.

How confident do you feel that the Republicans can take this seat back?

Obviously you're not running if you don't think you could do it.

And what are you hearing from from not necessarily those hard core Republican voters, but what are you hearing from some of the more moderate independent voters?

That's a great question, because, you know, in 2021, we had drawn a we had drawn the lines and, the three judge panel threw it out and said, no, y'all got to try again.

So we drew a map in 2023 that, made the second Congressional District an opportunity district.

It's also, about 5 or 7 point Republican leaning.

And, you know, the Supreme Court allowed us to use that, which is what you were alluding to earlier as far as the legal challenges.

So this is not a foregon conclusion that the Republicans are going to win.

I plan on winning, but it's going to take people going out to to vote.

Is the Republicans go out to vote, just like you said, this is a Republican state.

As Republicans go out and vote statewide, then Coach Tuberville wins.

And all the constitutional officers, they win, a lot of the state and House members, state House members and Senat members will win and will win.

But the people, especially the Republicans, sit at home.

Then we are givin an opportunity to the Democrats, you know, and that is right now the apathy is real.

And that's what I'm hearing the the, across not only the state but across the country, that people are worried that, that nobody's don't go to the polls or the there's going to be a lack of, people going there and which will creat an opportunity for the Democrat.

But I will say this.

Yes, we are Republicans say, yes, we have a lean.

But if people, just said it again, but if people do not go out and vote, then there is a good chance that, we, we let a Democrat take a very vital seat if we do not flip the seat, the second congressional seat from Democrat, Republican to.

Excuse me bac that up, Democrat to Republican.

Yeah.

Then there's no way that the leadership in Washington stays Republican.

This is very critical.

This race very wel may determine who is in power.

Do we want the democratic socialist, in leadership?

Well, if the Democrat, wins, then that's what's going to happen.

He votes for that way.

And it will allow the Democrat socialist who are very proud of being Democrat socialist, put them in leadership.

And that's scary.

We need Alabama common sense.

And that's what I represent cutting taxes, protecting our families, our children, making sure our law enforcemen has what they need, supporting our military, our veterans and our farmers.

And my opponent vote with the Democrats every time.

And, that is th democratic socialist right now.

Let's talk about, overall issues facing the state of Alabama.

If you go to Congress, you know, you're in the state House right now, but you'd be one of 435.

You mentioned making sure Republicans keep control of the House.

But there's a there is a probably a more than 5050 chance that that could be democratically controlled.

How do you fight for those interests?

How do you fight for those farmers and enterprise where you're from or Geneva or Henry Houston County?

How do you fight for those people to talk about those commonsense values?

Well, it's a great question.

And you do have to work together.

And, it's going to be difficult, with, if the Democrats do tak leadership, it will be difficult first day, if the Democrats take over the House, they're going to they're going to do impeachment proceedings against the president, which the the country does not need.

The country needs to be focused on getting, energy dominant again, like we were under the first administration with President Trump.

Make sure that we cut regulations on businesses, make sure that we cut regulations and start getting refineries back up and going underneath the the Democrats over the last 20 years, they've cut, the refineries and made it very difficult, to to refine fuel here.

Diesel and gas.

And now we're sittin and having to send it overseas and then bring it back.

Well, that's not cost efficient.

And that's making costs go up at the, at the grocery store and everywhere else.

So, it is vital tha the Republicans stay in power, just for the direction of this country.

One more point on President Trump.

Then we're going to move on to some more issues here.

Endorsed you.

Obviously you support him, but where are some issues that maybe you differ from the president there?

Maybe you differ with leadership in Washington that you think the Republican Party, could maybe work a little harder in helping the American people?

Well, I think the last two years you have seen under under the leadership of, Speaker Johnson and, Leader Scalise, the Republicans have taken, taken on, not only tax reform, as we've talked about with working families tax credit, but also election integrity, the Save America Act, how how much common sense is it to say you have to have an I.D.

and be a citizen to vote?

Well, that's in Alabama.

That' pretty pretty straightforward.

And we do that here.

And the Democrats voted against both of those bills.

Every one of them voted against cutting taxes and election integrity.

I think the I think the leadership in Washington right now is spot on.

I think, the fact that, they are doing everything they can to continue to put more money in the pockets of the American citizens and us here in Alabama I think they're doing it right.

And I think of it I think, time will tell.

But I think the prices will start going down drastically, very quickly when the civil war in Iran is over, which hopefully will be very, very soon.

Let's talk about the deficit.

It continues to grow with this country, and it is exponentially growing to the point that where social safety programs like Medicare are going to be in trouble, something's going to have to be done no matter who's in office.

You talk about these tax cuts and that does benefit people.

And I guess the thought process behind that is it spurs economic growth.

Right.

But the deficit does continue to grow.

How worried are you about that and what's being done.

We should all we all be worried about that.

It's $1 trillion just to pay the interest on the debt.

Right now.

But you have over the las few years, you've seen freight, waste, fraud and abuse rampant, the clearing centers in Minnesota is a perfect example of, I mean, they can't even spell learning, but, I mean, the learing centers in Minnesota, what's happening in California, the the the fraud alone.

You're talking almost they have projected almost $1 trillion worth of fraud.

I mean that's, that's, that' is taxpayer money being misused.

And so that is the answer is not Medicare Medicaid for all.

That's not the answer.

Because you know, underneath the working family tax, that the Congress passed on the Republican side, Democrats voted against it.

That bill said that if you're not an American citizen, if you're here illegally, you cannot, get you get Medicaid.

Well, that's common sense.

Well, the Democrats voted against that.

They want everybody, whether you're here legally or not, to have Medicaid.

Well, that is going to make everybody's costs go up and that's going to spend, taxpayer mone that we just simply do not have.

Let's talk about your time in the state House.

What are some of the things you're proudest of?

There are some of the experiences you've had here in Alabama that you think, or can you think of one particular thing that might translate to if you make the move to Washington?

Well, you know, I think my ability to work together as a team, because this is a team sport, you cannot do it alone.

But my ability to work with the other state representatives in this state, and senators has, I'm very proud of I call them my friends.

We have done a lot of great things.

You know, I've already said that we've got $1.5 billion in taxes, and we protected our, making sure boys don't play in girls sports and go into girls locker rooms.

And but, you know there's been a couple of bills that, I've passed that I'm very proud of.

One was, it was called save the Baby.

Bill, we passed this last, last session, to help mobile Bay with the dredging, but but overall, I'll tak the eight years that I was here as a whole and say, well, I'm most proud of is what we have done collectively together.

Not individually together.

And that's wha I'm going to take to Washington.

I'm going to work with that Alabama delegation and make sure that we move the state, make sure that we have, the, the priorities and, and opportunities that our citizens deserve right here.

One last questio here in our remaining minutes, I want to talk about bitter politics.

We live in a worl where it's bitter talking to you today, obviously you have you're talking points that you about your opponent who will have the same when it comes to you want to interview him.

So I get that.

But you mentioned something that you said my opponent and that for for years and years and decades, it seem like when you were in a political race that that's how you referred to your opponent.

You don't want to mention their name, you don't want to give them name recognition.

How do you how do we get back to a point where we disagree on policy, but we're not attacking character so much.

And there are obviously exceptions to the rule with people out there.

How do we get there?

How do you work across the aisle if you go to Washington?

Well, you know, that's a great question.

And here in Alabama, we are blessed.

We are blessed to have a lot of great people on both sides of the aisle who care about this state and and congressman figures, I'll say.

I mean, he everybod I mean, he's known I mean, we're not we're not talking name either here.

But congressman figures, as a person, we get along very well.

We have we differ on ideology.

We do not differ as as far as people.

He's, you know but I think it needs to get back down to the, the the, the level of.

We may disagree, bu we can shake hands and move on.

And across this country, it is not like that.

It is.

It is bitter and it is.

It's a shame.

But, luckily, here in Alabama, we we can be friendly to, to the other side.

Disagree and disagree vehemently, but, disagree as it is, but as but be respectful.

And I think that's an Alabama thing.

Other states do not have that.

I mean, here in Alabama I think we respect one another.

We disagree.

But, you know I wish him nothing but the best.

But I am to try to retire two and a half weeks ago.

Busy time these last two.

A lot of doorknocking, I'm assuming.

Yes.

Doorknocking, different meetings, getting into the communities, doing things like this, it's very exciting.

I can't believe that.

It's been a long journey.

We had six people, people to beat in the primary to get to this point.

And it lists and congressman figures he is he is good at what he does.

And, unfortunately, he votes the wrong way a lot of time.

But he is good at what he does.

And he is he has done a great job and, as far as this campaign, but, we just differ on we just differ on how we vote, and who knows?

It could be you.

It could be, Senator Barry Moore would have, Katie Britt, a lot of folks from enterprise, we have up in Washington.

Yes, sir.

Marcus, I appreciate your time today.

It's been great.

Thank you so much.

And good luck on the campaign trail.

Thank you so much.

And we'll be right back with more Capitol Journal.

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Cheaha Mountain, often called Mount Cheaha, is the highest natural point in Alabama at 2407ft above sea level.

It is located in north centra Alabama and Georgia State Park, surrounded by the Talladega National Forest in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

This dramatic landscape gets its name from the creek Indian name for the mountain char, meaning high place.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Free professional development for educators and childcare providers.

Access to free curriculum line videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Medi and all the PBS kids programs.

Parents know and trust.

Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP tv.org/education to learn more.

And that's all for this week's edition of Capital Journal.

Todd Stacy will be back in the chair for next week's episode.

And for all of us here at Alabama Public Television.

Thanks so much for watching We'll see you again next week.