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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

WE NOW HAVE A FINAL MAP FROM THE FEDERAL COURT WITH UPDATED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LINES FOR THE 2024 ELECTION.

THE THREE JUDGE PANEL THAT HAS BEEN HEARING ALABAMA'S REDISTRICTING CASE ON THURSDAY SELECTED ONE OF THREE PROPOSED MAPS DRAWN BY THE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL MASTER.

THE PROCESS WAS INTENDED TO DRAW A SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN WHICH BLACK VOTERS CONSTITUTED A MAJORITY OR SOMETHING CLOSE TO IT.

HERE IS THAT NEW MAP KNOWN AS REMEDIAL NUMBER 3.

AS YOU CAN SEE IT SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERS BOTH THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THE SECOND DISTRICT, WHICH HAS BEEN SOLIDLY REPUBLICAN FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, WILL NOW HAVE A BLACK VOTING AGE POPULATION OF 48.7%, UP FROM JUST 27% BEFORE.

THIS WAS ACHIEVED BY TAKING MOST OF THE WIREGRASS COUNTIES OUT OF THE 2ND AND PLACING THEM IN THE 1ST DISTRICT, THEN EXTENDING THE DISTRICT LINES WESTWARD ALL THE WAY INTO THE CITY OF MOBILE.

LET'S ZOOM IN ON MOBILE TO SHOW EXACTLY WHERE THOSE LINES WILL BE.

THE PINK AREA IS THE 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THE LINE STRETCHES DOWN INTO PRICHARD, AFRICATOWN AND DOWNTOWN MOBILE ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE DOCKS.

EVERYTHING ELSE WILL REMAIN IN THE 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THERE WERE SMALLER CHANGES TO THE REST OF THE DISTRICTS.

THE THIRD DISTRICT LOSES MACON, COOSA AND RUSSELL COUNTIES AND GAINS ETOWAH COUNTY.

THE 4TH DISTRICT LOSES BLOUNT AND ETOWAH AND PICKS UP LAWRENCE AND MORE OF LAUDERSAL AND TUSCALOOSA.

THE 6TH DISTRICT LOOSES BLOUNT AND PICKS UP AUTAUGA, ELMORE AND COOSA COUNTIES.

THE 7TH DISTRICT LOSES MONTGOMERY AND PART OF CLARK AND PICKS UP SOME OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

LET'S ZOOM IN TO SHOW THOSE DIVIDING LINES BETWEEN THE 6THS AND THE 7TH DISTRICTS ARE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

THE PURPLE AREA IS THE 7TH DISTRICT, WHICH WILL NOW EXTEND FURTHER INTO HOMEWOOD, MOUNTAIN BROOK, AND IRONDALE AND WILL CONTAIN THE ENTIRE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO ZOOM IN FURTHER ON THIS MAP TO SEE MORE DETAIL, YOU CAN FIND A LINK IN THE REDISTRICTING STORY ON ALDAILYNEWS.COM.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS STILL AN ACTIVE LAWSUIT ON THE REDISTRICTING ISSUE FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL.

THAT CASE COULD BE HEARD BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AT SOME POINT, BUT THE COURT HAS RULED THAT THE NEXT ELECTION WILL BE BASED ON THESE NEW DISTRICTS.

NEWS ON THE STATE'S MEDICAID PROGRAM.

MORE THAN 100,000 ALABAMIANS HAVE LOST THEIR MEDICAID HEALTH CARE COVERAGE OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS DUE TO A PROCESS KNOWN AS UNWINDING.

LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, ALABAMA IS REQUIRED TO REVALUATE MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY REGULARLY - BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE ROLLS HAVE BEEN CULLED SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

FEDERAL RULES PROHIBITED STATES FROM REMOVING ANYONE FROM THE MEDICAID ROLLS SINCE 2020, WHICH IS WHY THE NUMBER OF POLICIES BEING TERMINATED FOR INELIGIBILITY IS SO HIGH THIS YEAR.

HOWEVER, ALABAMA MEDICAID DIRECTOR STEPHANIE AZAR SAID MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPECTED TO REGAIN MEDICAID COVERAGE AND MANY HAVE ALREADY.

THOSE OFFICIALS NUMBERS AREN'T FINAL.

THIS WEEK IN THE STATE HOUSE, ANOTHER OVERSIGHT HEARING ON AGENCIES USE OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS.

THE STATE PLANS TO SPEND ABOUT $900 MILLION DOLLARS ON WATER, SEWER AND BROADBAND INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE.

HOWEVER, FEDERAL RULES REQUIRE THAT MONEY TO BE SPENT IN A TIGHTENING TIMEFRAME.

LAWMAKERS AND BUDGET EXPERTS MET THIS WEEK TO GET STRAIGHT ON WHAT BENCHMARKS HAVE TO BE MET TO ENSURE ALABAMA DOESN'T LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE.

>> YOU'VE APPROPRIATED ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE GOT.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPROPRIATION AND EXPENDITURE.

THERE'S A STEP IN BETWEEN THERE BASED ON WHAT THE TREASURY TELLS US RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF OBLIGATED.

THESE FUNDS HAVE TO BE OBLIGATED BY DECEMBER OF 2024.

>> BUT OUR OBLIGATION HERE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS BODY, THIS OVERSIGHT, IS TO ENSURE THAT THE MONEY ACTUALLY GETS SPENT BEFORE THE TIME FRAME GOES AWAY.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THE DETAILS OF THE MOAS, THE DETAILS OF THE PAYMENTS AND THE INVOICES AND THOSE THINGS, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO INTO THAT DEPTH.

THAT'S FOR THE AGENCIES TO HANDLE.

BUT OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROCESS IS ONGOING AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY HICCUPS, OBSTACLES OR SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE GET THE MONEY SPENT.

>> IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT IN EVERYONE AGREE WITH THAT?

>> IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROCESS OF ONLY DATING HAS TO HAPPEN BY DECEMBER OF '24.

ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS AND THE MOAS AND AGREEMENTS THEY'VE ENTERED INTO HAVE A MAY OF '24 DEADLINE.

WHY DID THEY DO IT THAT WAY?

THEY DID IT THAT WAY SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT PROGRAMS THAT HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE MONEY OBLIGATED OR THE MONEY IN THE PROCESS OF BEING SPENT AT THAT POINT IN TIME AND IF THERE IS A NEED TO REALLOCATE THE MONEY TO ANOTHER PROGRAM WHERE THE MONEY CAN GET OBLIGATED AND SPENT, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AT THAT POINT IN TIME AND DO IT.

>> THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL MEETING SPECIFICALLY ON BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE AS THE STATE CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE GOAL OF CONNECTING UNSERVED PARTS OF THE STATE TO THE INTERNET.

STATE SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON SAID HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE LAYING FIBER INTO LOWER INCOME RURAL AREAS AND NOT JUST AFFLUENT AREAS THAT MIGHT BE MORE LUCRATIVE.

>> -- ENTICE ISPS TO GO IN AND DO WORK BECAUSE ISPS AREN'T THERE.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN APPLICATION, THEY HAVE TO SAY, HEY, BEFORE YOU GO TO A SPECIFIC AREA OR COUNTY THAT YOU NEED TO GO INTO THESE AREAS OR WE'LL GIVE YOU EXTRA POINTS TO GO INTO THOSE AREAS.

WE'VE GOT TO CREATE SOMETHING FROM THIS BOARD TO GIVE THEM INCENTIVES TO GO INTO OTHER PLACES.

THAT'S WHAT THE LEGISLATURE INTENDED TO MAKE HAPPEN, OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO GET LEFT OUT.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THOSE SAFEGUARDS ESTABLISHED SPECIFICALLY FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION, LIKE THE ONES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> NO, I HAVEN'T.

WHEN I LOOK AT THIS FEDERAL MAP, MAY HELP SOME OF US AT SOME POINT.

WHERE I'M LOOKING AT IS THE UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED WHICH CAN DO AN OVERLAP MORE EXTENSIVE THAN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS.

AND THE CHALLENGE IS WE HAVE TO HAVE ISPS WILLING TO GO INTO THE RURAL AREAS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CLUSTERED AREAS, BECAUSE IT'S MORE SPARSELY POPULATE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF PEOPLE GET SERVED WE HAVE TO SAY TO THEM -- >> THIS WEEK, RANDY SCOTT CONTINUES HIS REPORTING ON THE EMERGENCE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN ALABAMA.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE LARGE CITIES THAT ARE SEEING MORE EVS.

HERE'S HIS STORY.

>> TUSKEGEE, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF HISTORY AND WE LIKE TO BE OUT FRONT ON ANYTHING THAT'S DEVELOPING, AND TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH, SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE WANT TO BE OUT FRONT ON.

>> TUSKEGEE MAYOR TONY HAYGOOD IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEW CHANGES COMING TO HIS COMMUNITY.

>> IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY BUT WE HAVE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST MAJOR INDUSTRY COMING IN, SAMKEE WHICH IS A SOUTH KOREAN INDUSTRY.

WE CAME IN FROM SOUTH KOREA WEEK BEFORE LAST AND MET WITH THEM.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A DIE CAST ALUMINUM COMPANY WHICH WOULD SUPPLY IKEA AND THE FORD F-150.

>> THEY'RE GIVING THIS ALABAMA AREA EXPOSURE, SAYS HAYGOOD.

>> THE FIRST INDUSTRIAL TYPE INDUSTRY.

THANKFULLY, WE HAD THE V.A.

HOSPITAL AND THE UNIVERSITY, BUT IT'S THE FIRST INDUSTRY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

THE FIELD WHERE YOU HAD THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AND WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE U.S. MILITARY AND THE WORLD WAR II AND THE OUTSTANDING JOB THEY DID WHICH MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL ASTONISHED TODAY ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THEY MADE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDERED THE BARRIERS THEY BASED.

>> TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA HAS DEEP ROOTS IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

NOW LEADERS WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A FIRM FOOTHOLD IN THE FUTURE, TOO, SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TAKING STEPS TO GET READY FOR IT.

ONE TO HAVE THE CHANGES IS GETTING READY FOR THE INCREASED NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES COMING HERE.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL SEE NEW TOOLS SUCH AS CHARGING STATIONS, SAYS MAYOR HAYGOOD.

HE HOPES FINANCIAL AID WILL COME FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP TUSKEGEE.

>> THE PLANNING OF THE CITY, WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BEFORE.

WE WANT TO PUT CHARGING STATIONS DOWNTOWN SO, WHEN PEOPLE COME DOWNTOWN, THEY CAN CHARGE THEIR CARS IF THEY WANT.

WE WANT TO WORK TO PUT IT ON CAMPUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AND OTHER HOUSES ON CAMPUS.

PEOPLE CAN SPEND TIME AND CHARGE CARS WHILE THEY'RE THERE.

>> ALSO HELPING EDUCATE CITIZENS ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> WE HAD A DEMONSTRATION ON THE CAMPUS BEFORE COVID, THEY BROUGHT EXAMPLES OF ELECTRIC CARS, TESLAS, CHEVROLET AND TWO OR THREE OTHER COMPANIES, AND THEY BROUGHT THEM ON THE CAMPUS FOR THE STUDENTS TO SEE, ESPECIALLY ENGINEERING STUDENTS.

>> HAYGOOD SAYS TUSKEGEE IS ALREADY SEEING ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON ITS CAMPUS AND AROUND TOWN.

>> SOME OF THE PROFESSORS HAVE THEM ON CAMPUS.

THEY'RE VERY QUIET.

YOU DON'T HEAR THEM COMING.

YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF THE BREEZE BUT NOT THE MOTE.

THEY'RE VERY QUIET, VERY FAST, AS I SAID, AND VERY NICE IN DESIGN.

>> THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE PLANS EXTEND FROM DOWNTOWN TUSKEGEE TO I-85.

>> THEN AT EXIT 38 WHERE THEY WILL BE OPENING A TRAVEL CENTER SOON, WE ALREADY PUT IN WHERE THERE WILL BE THREE OR FOUR CHARGING STATIONS THERE.

WE WELCOME IF NEW ALIEN OF ELECTRIC CARS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

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

>> IT WAS QUITE A WEEK IN WASHINGTON.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAS PLUNGED INTO CHAOS WHEN HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY WAS REMOVED FROM HIS POST.

THIS CAME WHEN A HANDFUL OF FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS MOVED TO OUST THE SPEAKER AFTER HE ALLOWED A DEMOCRATIC-SUPPORTED SHORT TERM BUDGET DEAL TO COME TO THE FLOOR AND PASS.

ALABAMA'S REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN WERE NOT AMONG THOSE SEEKING MCCARTHY'S OUSTER.

ALL SIX OF ALABAMA'S REPUBLICAN MEMBERS VOTED AGAINST TO MOTION TO VACATE THE CHAIR.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL VOTED WITH HER FELLOW DEMOCRATS TO REMOVE MCCARTHY SAYING IT WAS UP TO REPUBLICANS TO FIND A WAY TO QUOTE END THIS GOP CIVIL WAR.

COMING UP ON THE SHOW I'LL SPEAK WITH TWO MEMBERS OF ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ABOUT THIS EXTRAORDINARY WEEK IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL WASHINGTON.

U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT JOINS ME FROM WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS THAT SITUATION PLUS OTHER ITEMS ON HER PLATE.

CONGRESSMAN ROBERT ADERHOLT CALLS IN FROM THE ROAD TO OFFER HIS TAKE FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE.

AND LATER IN THE SHOW, CAM WARD, DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT A NEW INITIATIVE AIMED AT REDUCING RECIDIVISM IN ALABAMA.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. IS UNITED STATES SENATOR KATIE BRITT.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE ON.

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF TOPICS WE CAN DISCUSS TODAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BIG WEEK IN WASHINGTON.

MOST OF THE DRAMA IS HAPPENING IN THE HOUSE.

AN HISTORIC WEEK.

A SPEAKER REMOVED FOR I THINK THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT THIS MEANS IN TERMS OF CONGRESS FROM THE BIGGER PICTURE?

>> WELL, ULTIMATELY, IT IS A WIN FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND IT'S A WIN FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.

I AM DISHEARTENED BY WHAT I'M SEEING.

WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO BEING A PARTY THAT COMES TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN, NOT PUTTING EMPHASIS ON FIGHTING EACH OTHER.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN FRONT OF US, TODD.

LOOK AT THE NATION NOW.

TONS OF THINGS WE COULD TALK ABOUT.

RECORD INFLATION.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT LACK OF ENERGY.

NOT ONLY OUR LACK OF ENERGY DOMINANCE BUT INDEPENDENCE.

WE LOOK AT THE BORDER AND THE CRISIS THAT IS OCCURRING THERE EVERY DAY.

WE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING OVERSEAS, AND THIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUING TO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE PEACE, AND THAT IS THROUGH STRENGTH.

AND, YET, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON STOPPING JOE BIDEN IN HIS TRACKS, STOPPING THESE TERRIBLE POLICIES, ARE MORE INTERESTED IN FIGHTING EACH OTHER, AND I HOPE WE GET BACK TO FIGHTING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE VERY, VERY SOON.

>> WELL, I GUESS THE WHOLE SPEAKER SITUATION WAS ROOTED IN THE FUNDING SITUATION, RIGHT?

WE AVOIDED A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

CONGRESS PASSED A STOPGAP SPENDING BILL TO GET US BASICALLY TO NOVEMBER.

NOT A FULL APPROPRIATIONS PLAN, BUT A STOPGAP BILL TO GET US TO NOVEMBER, AND THAT KIND OF SOUND LIKE, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, A LONG WAY AWAY.

THE THINKING BEING, OKAY, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME TO NEGOTIATE A FULL SPENDING PLAN, YOU KNOW, BY NOVEMBER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THE CAPITOL AND SEE LOTS OF CHAOS IN THE HOUSE, YOU'RE AN APPROPRIATOR, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT AN ACTUAL LONG-TERM SPENDING DEAL CAN BE REACHED?

>> YOU KNOW, TO YOUR EARLIER POINT, I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN AND THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, THE CAPITOL POLICE DON'T GET PAID.

OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING IN OUR ARMED FORCES WOULD NOT GET PAID.

THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF OTHER CONSEQUENCES THAT OCCUR IF WE DON'T DO OUR JOB.

HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT -- I GUESS WE WERE GIVEN 47 DAYS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THOSE DAYS CONTINUE TO TICK DOWN.

CHUCK SCHUMER WILL HAVE US NOT HERE WORKING IN THE SENATE NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS WE NEED TO BE HERE.

I HAVE BEEN PROUD TO SIGN SENATOR PETE RICKETTS' LETTER TO SAY KEEP US AND MAKE US WORK.

WE DID PASS ALL TWELVE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

WE PASSED EVERY SINGLE BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE.

WE WERE ALLOWED TO AMEND THOSE BILLS.

THE HEARINGS WERE TELEVISED.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A NEW DAY WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING SURE THAT WE GET BACK TO UTILIZING TAXPAYER DOLLARS THE MOST EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, CHUCK SCHUMER HAS BROUGHT NONE OF THOSE BILLS TO THE FLOOR, INDIVIDUALLY BRINGING THEM AND ALLOWING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE THEM.

WE HAVE TO WAIT ON OUR HOUSE COUNTERPARTS.

YOU KNOW THIS ALL TOO WELL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US FOR THE 40-SOME-ODD DAYS LEFT.

WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH HOUSE BILL, SENATE BILLS, CONFERENCE THEM AND GET THEM BACK THROUGH EACH.

GIVEN THE FACT CHUCK SCHUMER DOESN'T SEEM MOTIVATED TO MOVE THOSE, I DON'T HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE WE WON'T BE BACK IN THE SAME POSITION WE FOUND OURSELVES IN LAST WEEK, AND WHO PAYS THE PENALTY AND PRICE FOR THAT?

IT'S THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

>> SO REALISTICALLY, ARE WE LOOKING AT ANOTHER OMNIBUS OR MINIBUS OR SOMETHING TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, I AM HOPEFUL WE CAN GET SOME OF THE WORK DONE TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE THINGS OFF THE TABLE.

I HAVE SAID I WILL BE A NO ON ANY OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL.

I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BENEFIT THERE.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO OUR JOB.

SO, AGAIN, WE NEED TO STAY IN SESSION, AND WE NEED TO WORK.

THAT'S WHY I WAS PROUD TO SPONSOR SENATOR LANGFORD'S PREVENTATIVE SHUTDOWN BILL.

IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WE DON'T ALLOW POLITICAL BRINKSMANSHIP TO RULE THE DAY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, THIS BILL I CO-SPONSORED, SENATOR LANGFORD'S BILL, WOULD HIT AN AUTOMATIC 14-DAY CR.

CRS ARE NOT THE ANSWER.

WE NEED TO GET OUR JOB DONE IN TIME.

BUT WHAT IT WOULD DO IS KEEP US HERE AND DEMAND THAT WE WORK.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN, WHETHER IT'S FOR ANY OF THEM, THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE DO OUR JOB TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY GET A PAYCHECK.

THEY HAVE MORTGAGES, THEY MAY HAVE A CAR LOAN OR A PLETHORA OF OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND THEY DESERVE CERTAINTY.

THAT'S WHAT THE PREVENTING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN'S ACT WOULD DO AND ALSO MAKE US DO SOMETHING UNFORTUNATELY WE SEE CHUCK SCHUMER NOT WANTING TO DO AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WORK AND DO OUR JOB AND PASS THESE BILLS AND GET THEM TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK AND FUND THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE, REST ASSURED, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A VOICE IN THAT, AS YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND THAT WE DON'T LEAVE THE DECISIONS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO INFILTRATE THEIR IDEAS, THEIR POLICY AND THEIR AGENDA INTO THE EVERYDAY SPENDING OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

LET'S SWITCH TOPICS.

YOU BROUGHT UP THE BORDER EARLIER, THE SOUTHERN BORDER, AND OBVIOUSLY SO MUCH GOING ON DOWN THERE.

IT'S BEEN ACCURATELY CALLED A CRISIS.

MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS TO IT.

YOU'VE HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT IT.

WE'VE AIRED SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK ON THIS SHOW.

BUT I'D LIKE TO SEPARATE RHETORIC FROM REALITY.

WHAT CAN REALISTICALLY BE DONE TO ACTUALLY STEM THE TIDE THERE?

IS IT LEGISLATION, IS IT EXECUTIVE ACTION, IS IT BOTH?

I'M STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT CONGRESS HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ACT ON IMMIGRATION REFORM BORDER THINGS REALLY IN SEVERAL YEARS.

SO WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY DO TO FIX THE BORDER SITUATION?

>> I'D LIKE TO OFFER A COUPLE OF SOLUTIONS TO THAT.

FIRST, TO YOUR EARLIER POINT, IT IS ABSOLUTELY A CRISIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS, AS THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS IN THE SENATE I HAVE BEEN MOST DISAPPOINTING ABOUT AND THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING IN MY TEN MONTHS IN OFFICE IS THAT WHEN WE HAD SECRETARY MAYORKAS IN FRONT OF US AND IN FRONT OF OUR COMMITTEE, I ASKED HIM IF THIS WAS A CRISIS.

HE WOULD NOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION AN REFUSED TO CALL IT THAT.

TODD, WHEN UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA, JUST 1,000 PEOPLE COMING OVER THE DAY, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY JEH JOHNSON SAID THAT DID WOULD BE A CRISIS, WE NOW HAVE TEN TO 11,000 PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER EVERY DAY.

THIS IS A CRISIS AND THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO HANDLE IT AS UP IS.

THEY NEED TO START ENFORCING THE LAW.

THAT WOULD BE A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THEY NEED TO END THE PRESIDENT OBAMA WHICH IS NOW PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CATCH AND RELEASE POLICY AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR ASYLUM CASE BE HEARD, A DECISION MADE AND, IF, IN FACT, THE ASYLUM CLAIM IS GRANTED, WHICH WE'RE A COUNTRY OF COMPASSION, IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN NEED, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE HELPFUL, BUT WE'VE SEEN ABUSE OF THE SYSTEM, PEOPLE CAUGHT AND RELEASED, NOT BEING PAROLED INTO THE SYSTEM, NOT HAVING A HEARING UNTIL TEN-SOME YEARS LATER AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

SO DOING THAT IS IMPORTANT.

ALSO, THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY, PUTTING THAT IN PLACE AND HAVING A SAFE THIRD COUNTRY.

IF THEY COME THROUGH A SAFE THIRD COUNTRY PRIOR TO GETTING HERE, HANDLE THAT ACCORDINGLY.

THAT POLICY CHANGE IN AND OF ITSELF WOULD BE A DETERRENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED TO COME HERE AND KNOW THEY WOULD PASS MUSTER WOULD CONTINUE TO COME, AND THOSE WHO LOOK TO ABUSE OR GAME THE SYSTEM WOULD BE DETERRED.

ADDITIONALLY UTILIZING THE FUNDING WE SAW UNDER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT ASIDE BORDER PROTECTION, MEANING BARRIERS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

OUR AGENTS ARE OVERWORKED.

THEY'RE HAVING TO BE PAPER PUSHERS, THEIR WORDS, AND PROCESSING PEOPLE, ACTUALLY PATROLLING THE BORDER.

FUNNELING PEOPLE TO CHECKPOINTS IS CRITICAL.

WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN ABLE TO REALLY TOUCH GLOVES WITH 1.5 PEOPLE ARE THE NUMBER WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE SEEN BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY WENT.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, YOU LOOK BACK UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ONLY EIGHT KNOWN TERRORISTS WERE CAUGHT AT OUR BORDER.

UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE HAD 244 KNOWN TERRORISTS IN JUST THE LAST FISCAL YEAR ALONE.

SO WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THESE -- WHO THESE 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE, WHERE THEY'RE GOING, AND ADD ON TOP OF THAT 18,000 CHINESE NATIONALISTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH OUR BORDER, WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB.

SO PUTTING UP THESE BORDER PROTECTIONS, THESE BORDER BARRIERS, UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY, ACTUALLY ENDING THE OBAMA ERA CATCH AND RELEASE, WE NEED TO ELEVATE OUR ASYLUM PROCEDURE WHICH WE CAN DO THROUGH POLICY.

RIGHT NOW IT IS CREDIBLE FEAR, IT NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO A REASONABLE FEAR STANDARD.

WE NEED MORE IMMIGRATION JUDGES, AND WE DO NOT NEED TO PLACE THEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WE NEED THEM RIGHT HERE ON THE BORDER SO THESE PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR CLAIM ADJUDICATED AND IF IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT, WE CAN SEND THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOME COUNTRY IN CASES WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO, AND IF THEY DO CLAIM THAT ASYLUM AND IT IS VALID AND GRANTED, THEN THEY COULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND BE IN THE U.S.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF WORK WE NEED TO DO.

WE'RE SEE AGO LOT OF TAXPAYER FUNDING GOING TO N.G.O.S.

WE'VE GOT TO ABSOLUTELY CUT THAT OUT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR GREAT STATE, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM, THAT WOULD LOVE THE KIND OF TREATMENT WITH REGARDS TO BEING PUT UP IN THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL, HAVING THEIR LAUNDRY DONE, HAVING THEIR MEALS PAID FOR ON THE BACKS OF TAXPAYERS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT, AND I'M CERTAINLY FIGHTING EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S THE CASE.

>> YOU MENTIONED ASYLUM AND THAT'S REALLY THE ISSUE, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING FROM THESE COUNTRIES, THESE CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES WHERE THEY'RE IN CHAOS, THEY FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES, THE CARTELS, GANGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IS THERE ANY TALK IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE ABOUT CURTAILING THE PROBLEM AT ITS ROOT, HELPING SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN CENTRAL AMERICA IN SOME OF THE GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE KIND OF CAUSING THE PROBLEM?

THERE'S CERTAINLY A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH THAT CAN BE TAKEN, BUT I THINK ONE THING WE'RE MISSING IS THE DRUG CARTELS ARE UTILIZING BIDEN'S OPEN BORDER POLICIES TO ENTICE MORE AND MORE OF THESE PEOPLE TO COME HERE.

WE HAVE SEEN AND IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THEY ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA TACTICS, THEY ARE USING TIKTOK AMONG OTHER MEANS TO SAY, HEY, HERE, WE CAN GET YOU HERE, WE HAVE YOU WORK.

IT'S EASY TO GET ACROSS THE BORDER.

YOU WILL NOT GET STOPPED.

THEY ALSO HAVE FOUND, WHEN YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ASYLUM, THEY KNOW EVERY CARVEOUT WE HAVE TO THAT, KNOWING IF A CHILD IS WITH YOU, OBVIOUSLY YOU GET DIFFERENT TREATMENT.

AND WHAT I'VE SEEN -- AND THIS IS JUST SO GUT-WRENCHING, TODD -- THERE WAS A WOMAN I MET WITH WHOSE DAUGHTER WENT MISSING.

SHE WENT OUTSIDE TO PLAY AND THEN WAS GONE.

WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN MEXICO THAT HAVE GONE MISSING, THAT NUMBER IS CONTINUING TO CLIMB.

THESE CHILDREN ARE BEING RECYCLED.

WE ARE SEEING THAT FROM LABOR TRAFFICKING AND SEX TRAFFICKING, FROM A NUMBER OF WAYS.

SO, YES, THERE'S A MULTI-PRONG APPROACH.

THERE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN DO THAT.

BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO BE REAL.

THE BORDER BEING OPEN IS GREAT FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKERS, FOR TERRORISTS AND FOR DRUG CARTELS AND, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS NOT THESE MIGRANTS BEING UTILIZED OR ENTICED ACROSS THE BORDER, IT IS NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT ARE WINNING, IT'S THE DRUG CARTELS.

THEY ARE MAKING MONEY OFF THE BACKS OF A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND WE'VE GOT TO STOP THEM DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS.

>> WELL, I HAVE TO ASK YOU, YOU WERE PROFILED RECENTLY BY JONATHAN MARTIN IN POLITICO MAGAZINE.

NOT TO MAKE YOU BLUSH, BUT IT WAS A PRETTY NICE PROFILE, BIG LONG PIECE TALKING ABOUT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT SO FAR IN THE SENATE, ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE IDEA OF YOU AN OTHERS LIKE YOU AS THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AGAIN, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR THE PIECE AND PROBABLY DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF LIKE THAT, BUT DOESN'T HE HAVE A POINT?

DOES JONATHAN MARTIN HAVE A POINT?

COULDN'T THE G.O.P.

BENEFIT FROM BROADENING ITS APPEAL?

>> I AM HUMBLED TO EVEN BE THE SUBJECT OF THAT PIECE.

HOWEVER, I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

LITERALLY, THIS MORNING, I JUST GOT CARDED, ESSENTIALLY, BY THE CAPITOL POLICE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO HEAD INTO THE CAPITOL.

SO THEY STILL DON'T KNOW I WORK HERE AN I'M A SENATOR.

SO CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF ME.

MY FOCUS IS ON HOW DO I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I HAVE SAID I WANT TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAKE ALABAMA HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR VALUES AND HARD-WORKING ALABAMIANS AND OUR NEXT GENERATION HAVE A VOICE AND SOMEONE WHO IS FIGHTING FOR THEM.

SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS PARENTS, IT IS HARD-WORKING AMERICANS, IT'S PEOPLE WHO LOVE THIS NATION AND WANT TO PRESERVE IT FOR THEIR KIDS AND FOR OTHERS.

AND, SO, TO BE A PART OF THAT, HOWEVER BIG OR SMALL, IS CERTAINLY HUMBLING.

IT'S CERTAINLY AN HONOR.

AND I GET UP EVERY DAY, AND, TODD, YOU WILL HEAR IT HERE FIRST, I WILL NOT GET IT RIGHT EVERY DAY, BUT IT CERTAINLY WON'T BE FOR A LACK OF TRYING.

I BELIEVE IN OUR STATE AND OUR NATION AND I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR IT VIGOROUSLY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> WELL, LOOK, LAST TIME I HAD YOU HERE AT THE DESK OR ONE OF THE TIMES I HAD YOU HERE AT THE DESK WAS WHEN YOU WERE A CANDIDATE AND IT WAS FAR FROM CERTAIN AT THAT TIME THAT YOU WERE GOING TO WIN.

NOW I'M TALKING TO YOU IN WASHINGTON, D.C., YOU ARE A SITTING SENATOR, AND IT FEELS LIKE SO LONG AGO.

THERE ARE SO MANY POLITICOS WHO WATCH THE SHOW, EVEN FROM HERE IN THE STATE, D.C., STAFFERS TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE, WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE TO GO FOR IT, TO WORK HARD, AND TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE THE GOAL, ONE YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, IT'S SURREAL.

I MEAN, SINCERELY, I STILL KIND OF LOOK AROUND AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE SAY, SENATOR, I'M, LIKE, WHERE IS THE SENATOR?

OH, WAIT, THEY'RE TALKING TO ME.

SO THERE'S STILL A EXTREMELY OF IT THAT JUST HASN'T SUNK IN, AND EVERY DAY THAT I WALK UP TO THE CAPITOL TO CAST A VOTE ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA, I AM BEYOND HONORED AND JUST HOW INCREDIBLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT OUR GREAT STATE.

IT'S BEEN A LOT, AS YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, WHEN I SAT IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THIS WASN'T POSSIBLE.

AND, SO, FOR THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE SEEKING TO DO, AND NO MATTER WHAT PHASE OF YOUR LIFE, I WOULD SAY DON'T LET YOUR OWN INSECURITIES LIMIT YOUR POTENTIAL BECAUSE THE WORLD DOES PLACE LIMITATIONS ON US, TODD, BUT IT'S THE ONES WE PLACE ON OURSELVES THAT ACTUALLY DO THE MOST DAMAGE.

WE NEED YOU.

WE NEED PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF OUR STATE STEPPING UP, WHETHER IT'S VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY -- WHETHER IT'S VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY OR JUST ELEVATING YOUR GAME IN THE CLASSROOM OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.

I BELIEVE IN WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR OUR STATE AND I KNOW OTHERS DO, TOO.

SO BUILD AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEME THAT ARE BUILT ON TRUST AND RESPECT.

CONDUCT YOURSELF IN A WAY THAT YOU CAN BE PROUD AND KNOW THAT IT TAKES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, STEPPING UP TO THE TABLE, IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OUR STATE IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE KNOW IT DESERVES.

SO THIS IS AN HONOR AN EVERYTHING THAT EACH ONE OF YOU OUT THERE IS DOING IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKING SURE THE NEXT GENERATION HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS.

>> A GREAT MESSAGE.

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I LOVE BEING ON AND LOOK FORWARD TO A MORE NORMAL WEEK WHERE I CAN BE THERE IN PERSON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS CONGRESSMAN ROBERT ADERHOLT OF ALABAMA'S FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> IT'S BEEN QUITE A WEEK IN WASHINGTON WITH THE REMOVAL OF HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY, JUST A TUMULTUOUS WEEK.

YOU ARE THE DEEP OF THE ALABAMA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, HAVING SERVED LONGER THAN ANYBODY ELSE UP THERE, SO YOU'VE SEEN LEADERSHIP BATTLES.

THIS SEEMS UNPRECEDENTED.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT THIS WEEK?

>> YEAH, NO QUESTION, TODD, IT'S BEEN A TUMULTUOUS WEEK.

IT'S DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER LEADERSHIP FIGHT THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THEM OVER THE YEARS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE RUN FOR SPEAKER AND LEADER AN FOR WHIP, WHEN WE HAVE BEEN THE MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY, AND FOR SOMEONE TO BE REMOVED AS SPEAKER IS SOMETHING THAT, QUITE HONESTLY, HAS NEVER HAPPENED.

SO THIS IS REALLY -- HISTORY WAS WRITTEN FOR THE BOOKS THIS WEEK.

AND, SO, HAVING A NEW SPEAKER IN A MATTER OF DAYS, HOPEFULLY, WILL -- LOOKS LIKE WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE CARDS.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A COUPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE RUNNING, JIM JORDAN, STEVE SCALISE.

HOW LIKELY IS IT LIKE THE CONFERENCE CAN ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY ELECT A NEW SPEAKER BY THAT NEXT WEEK GOAL?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, OUR SCHEDULE THAT WE'RE TO BE BACK IN WASHINGTON FOR -- ON NEXT TUESDAY, PROBABLY TUESDAY EVENING WE WILL HEAR FROM EVERY CANDIDATE THAT IS GOING TO RUN FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP, AND WE WILL THEN, NEXT WEDNESDAY, WILL GET TOGETHER AND VOTE AS A CONFERENCE WHO WE DECIDE WILL BE THAT SELECT PERSON FOR -- TO PUT OUT FOR SPEAKERSHIP.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, WHO WE DECIDE AMONG OURSELVES AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET TO THE FLOOR -- BECAUSE YOU DO NEED 218 VOTES BECAUSE BEING ELECTED AS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS NOT JUST BEING ELECTED AMONG THE REPUBLICANS, IT'S ELECTED AS THE WHOLE.

SO THERE HAS TO BE 218 VOTES THAT ARE CAST FOR THE SPEAKER HIMSELF OR HERSELF, WHOEVER IT MAY BE.

RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE COULD GET 218.

AND, SO, THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY ARDUOUS PROCESS GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

YOU KNOW, I COULD SEE THIS STRETCHING OUT FOR EVEN A WEEK OR TWO.

>> WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, LOOKING AT THE ELECTION OF MCCARTHY'S SPEAKER ELECTION, THAT WENT ON FOR 15 BALLOTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> IT WAS ABOUT A THREE- OR FOUR-DAY PROCESS, YEAH.

>> AND IT'S ONLY GOTTEN MORE TUMULTUOUS.

IT SEEMS TO ME, YOU HAVE A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS IN YOUR CONFERENCE THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR MUCH OF ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY ON APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

YOU COULD CALL THEM A CHAOS CAUCUS, RIGHT, THEY JUST SEEM TO WANT CHAOS, WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO MANAGE.

SO, WITH SUCH A THIN MAJORITY, LOOKING DOWN THE LINE, WHOEVER GETS TO BE SPEAKER, AREN'T THEY GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN TERMS OF PASSING ANY KIND OF SPENDING BILL, PROBABLY HAVING TO PASS IT WITH DEMOCRATIC VOTES?

DOESN'T THAT PUT THEM IN THE SAME BOAT AS MCCARTHY WAS?

>> I THINK THAT VERY WELL MAY BE THE CASE, TODD.

AND, SO, THAT'S WHY I THINK FINDING A PERSON THAT CAN REALLY THREAD THE NEEDLE AND PULL EVERYBODY TOGETHER IS GOING TO BE REALLY THE KEY HERE.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED STEVE SCALISE WHO IS OUR CURRENT MAJORITY LEADER AND ALSO JIM JORDAN WHO IS THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF JUDICIARY OR THE TWO LEADING CANDIDATES AT THIS POINT, AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE WORKED WITH STEVE FOR A LONG TIME.

I REMEMBER WHEN STEVE CAME AS A THAT YOU MEMBER TO CONGRESS, AND HE HAD JUST BEEN THERE A MATTER OF DAYS IF NOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND I HAD LUNCH WITH HIM, HE AND HIS WIFE -- MY WIFE AND I HAD LUNCH WITH HE AND HIS WIFE.

I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN WITH THEM, AND HE WAS JUST LEARNING THE ROPES.

BUT HE'S BEEN SOMEONE THAT'S REALLY PULL EVERYBODY TOGETHER, SO I'M REALLY HOPEFUL THAT HE'S SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY THREAD THE NEEDLE, AS I SAY, AND GET ALL FACTIONS OF OUR CONFERENCE TOGETHER.

JIM JORDAN IS A GREAT MEMBER AS WELL, AND, OF COURSE, HE IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THE -- AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY.

I THINK HE'S BEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY THAT WE'VE HAD IN QUITE SOME TIME.

QUITE HONESTLY, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE HIM LEAVE THAT SLOT BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW, WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BIDEN IMPEACHMENT, AS THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT, I THINK JIM JORDAN HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.

>> THERE'S BEEN THIS TALK OF NOMINATING DONALD TRUMP TO BE SPEAKER.

MAYBE THAT'S JUST ALL TALK.

HOW SERIOUS IS THAT?

>> WELL, I CAN'T REALLY IMAGINE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHILE -- THE RULES ARE VERY -- I SAY THE RULES -- THE CONSTITUTION IS A LITTLE UNCLEAR IN THE SENSE IT TALKS ABOUT THE PARAMETERS FOR VOTING FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND IT SAYS THEY SHALL ELECT A SPEAKER.

SO IT REALLY DOESN'T SAY THEY HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, BUT IT'S SORT OF IMPLIED THAT, AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED SPEAKER.

BUT, QUITE HONESTLY, OPIATE -- I COULDN'T IMAGINE TRUMP REALLY WANTING IT RIGHT NOW, RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE, QUITE HONESTLY, THIS WOULD BE A JOB THAT WILL BE ALL-CONSUMING, AND I JUST REALLY THINK HE NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON HIS PRESIDENCY AND TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO I'M VERY -- YOU KNOW, I HAVE ENDORSED TRUMP.

AND AS FAR AS THIS PRESIDENCY GOES.

SO I REALLY THINK HE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON THAT, WHICH HE REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE TIME TO REALLY GO AROUND THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY CAMPAIGNING FOR PRESIDENT IF HE WAS TIED UP IN THE SPEAKERSHIP.

>> MM-HMM.

YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER YEAR OR SO WITH THIS CURRENT CONGRESS AND WITH THIS CURRENT MAJORITY THE WAY IT IS, THAT RAZOR-THIN MARGIN.

AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THIS HANDFUL OF MEMBERS THAT TEND TO CAUSE OBSTRUCTION, RIGHT, REALLY DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR MUCH, IT STRIKES ME THEY WOULDN'T BE DOING THAT IF THERE WEREN'T SOME PRETTY STRONG INCENTIVES TO DO THAT.

THEY GET TO FUNDRAISE A LOT, RAISE A TON OF MONEY.

GREAT FOX NEWS AND CABLE NETWORK HITS, A LOT OF VOTERS TEND TO REWARD THAT KIND OF THING.

SO, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, HOW DOES THE HOUSE AS AN INSTITUTION AND MAYBE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GOING FORWARD CHANGE THAT INCENTIVE STRUCTURE TO MAKE IT ABLE TO GOVERN?

>> WELL, I THINK A LOT OF THE MEMBERS THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO -- AND I THINK IT'S A MIXED BAG, QUITE HONESTLY.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT WANT TO BE OBSTRUCTIONISTS FOR THE SAKE OF REALLY GETTING ON SOME OF THE NEWS CHANNELS AND BEING ABLE TO GET THE HEADLINES AND THE FUNDRAISING, I THINK THAT'S A PART OF IT, BUT I THINK THERE ARE TRULY SOME THAT FEEL VERY STRONG IN THEIR CONVICTIONS ABOUT THE SPENDING OF THIS COUNTRY, WHICH WE ALL DO.

WE'RE $33 TRILLION IN DEBT, AND THAT'S NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE BIDEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WE HAVE A DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED SENATE, AND THAT WE HAVE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I SHARE IN THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE DEBT IN THIS COUNTRY, CONCERN ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO I DON'T -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT EVERY MARGINALIZED, EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS IN THAT CATEGORY BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM HAVE SOME REAL STRONG CONVICTIONS.

MY ADVICE WOULD BE STAND STRONG ON THOSE CONVICTIONS AND DON'T COMPROMISE, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK WE CAN FIND SOME COMMON GROUND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT IS FINDING COMMON GROUND AND REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WITH RONALD REAGAN, IF YOU CAN GET 80% OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, THEN TAKE IT.

AND SOMETIMES, IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, WITH A DEMOCRAT WHITE HOUSE AND A DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED SENATE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET 100%, BUT IF WE CAN GET 80, AND UNTIL THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND IF WE GET A REPUBLICAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WOULD BE MAKING REAL PROGRESS.

>> WELL, SWITCHING GEARS TO APPROPRIATIONS, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, YOU ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION, COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS LABOR HHS.

SO I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY.

YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT HERE IN ALABAMA, HUDSON ALPHA, SOUTHERN RESEARCH, EVERYTHING GOING ON AT UAB.

IT'S JUST A REAL GROWING INDUSTRY.

AND, SO, FROM YOUR PERCH AS CHAIRMAN OF LABOR HHS, TALK ABOUT HOW TARGETED FUNDING FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CAN REALLY HELP THAT INDUSTRY AND MAYBE MAKE ALABAMA A REAL HUB FOR IT.

>> YEAH.

I'M REAL HONORED TO REPRESENT ALABAMA, BUT I'M ALSO HONORED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND CHAIR THE LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, AS YOU MENTIONED.

JUST, YOU KNOW, AS A RECAP OF WHAT THAT DOES, WHAT WE DO IS FUND PART HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, PART LABOR AND PART EDUCATION, THE THREE DEPARTMENT WE FUND THROUGH THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

AND DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH WE FUND, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 130 AND $200 BILLION ANNUALLY FOR THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS.

SO IT'S A BIG CHUNK OF WHAT OUR FEDERAL SPENDING IS.

BUT UNDER THE LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND PARTICULARLY UNDER THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AREA, WE DO FUND A LOT OF HEALTH-RELATED PROGRAMS.

OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, ALABAMA IS ONE OF THOSE HEALTH-RELATED STATES BECAUSE OF UAB AND BECAUSE OF HUDSON ALPHA AND BECAUSE OF SOUTHERN RESEARCH.

AND THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LIKE THE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY, IT'S KNOWN AS THE ARPA-H PROGRAM.

ALSO THERE'S THE BARDA PROGRAM WHICH IS THE BIOMED RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND THOSE ARE BOTH PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BIG POOLS OF MONEY FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.

NOT TO MENTION THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.

SO WHAT I'M HOPING TO DO IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED TO AN EXTENT WHERE PLACES LIKE HUDSON ALPHA AND SOUTHERN RESEARCH AND OTHER COMPANIES NOT ONLY IN ALABAMA BUT ALSO ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE TO TRY TO FIND CURES FOR A LOT OF DISEASES.

YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE TO SEE A CURE FOR CANCER AND I KNOW WHY WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED RESOURCES TO SPEND ON THAT.

I ALSO AM REMINDED THAT CANCER IS ONE OF THOSE DISEASES THAT AFFECTS ALMOST EVERY HOUSEHOLD AND WHILE EVERY DISEASE IS TRAGIC, CANCER AND THE RESEARCH THAT'S BEING DONE -- THE RESEARCH BEING DONE AT HUDSON ALPHA, THAT'S BEING DONE AT SOUTHERN RESEARCH AND SO MANY OTHER PLACES, AT UAB, ARE TRYING TO FIND THAT CURE.

SO IF WE CAN GET THE FUNDING TO AT LEAST JUMP START THAT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLAR.

>> QUICK WHILE I HAVE YOU, WE FINALLY HAVE A FINAL CONGRESSIONAL MAP FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

I KNOW THE LEGAL CASE KEEPS GOING FORWARD.

YOUR DISTRICT DIDN'T CHANGE A LOT.

I GUESS YOU PICKED UP ETOWAH COUNTY.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION IN GENERAL TO THIS BRAND-NEW HAPPEN?

>> ACTUALLY, I LOST ETOWAH COUNTY.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> I ACTUALLY -- BLOUNT COUNTY IS NOW PRETTY MUCH IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA OF THE MAP, IT MOVED FROM ETOWAH DOWN TO BLOUNT, BUT I REPRESENTED BLOUNT COUNTY FOR MANY YEARS, IN TIMES PAST, BEFORE THIS LAST REDISTRICTING.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH BLOUNT COUNTY.

IT'S A GREAT COUNTY TO REPRESENT.

ALL IN ALL, WILL NOT BE A BIG CHANGE.

OBVIOUSLY THE AREA WHERE IN MONTGOMERY AND THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IS WHERE MOST OF THE CHANGES WILL OCCUR.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE MAP A LOT DIFFERENT FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

BUT I FEEL GOOD THAT, AS A REPUBLICAN, THAT REPUBLICANS STILL CAN BE ELECTED IN THAT DISTRICT.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

CONGRESSMAN, I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE ROAD, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHECK IN WITH US, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU ON THE SHOW AGAIN SOON.

>> THANKS, TODD.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING WITH YOU MAYBE IN STUDIO NEXT TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> SOUNDS BOOED.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS CAM WARD, DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS, TODD.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECIDIVISM.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH REENTRY 2030.

>> A NATIONAL EFFORT GOING ON BETWEEN STATES, WE'RE THE THIRD COUNTRY TO JOIN IT.

WE'LL COMMIT TO A SET OF PRINCIPLES TO HELP US REDUCE RECIDIVISM IN ALABAMA.

IT'S NOW AT 30%, WHICH MEANS WITHIN THREE YEARS OF LEAVING PRISON OR JAIL, YOU RECOMMIT OR GO BACK TO PRISON OR JAIL.

>> SO 30% OF THOSE LET OUT COME BACK.

>> CORRECT.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO, MY GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER TO 15% OR LESS, AND IT REQUIRES CERTAIN PROGRAMMING TO DO THAT.

>> NOW, IS THAT 2030, IS THAT THE GOAL BY THEN?

>> YES, BY THE END OF THE DECADE, YES.

>> TALK ABOUT WHAT IMPACT -- I KNOW YOU DON'T RUN THE PRISONS, BUT TALK ABOUT WHAT CUTTING IN HALF OUR RECIDIVISM, HOW THAT MIGHT BENEFIT PRISONS BECAUSE WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT THE OVERCROWDING, IF WE COULD CUT RECIDIVISM WILL THAT HELP THE OVERCROWDING?

>> YES, IF 30% GO BACK TO PRISON, THAT'S ADDING TO THE OVERCROWDING PROBLEM.

IF WE CUT IT IN HALF, IT WILL HELP THE OVERCROWDING, AND, TWO, LESS PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BE HOUSED IN PRISON.

AND IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE.

IF WE HAVE LESS PEOPLE COMMITTING CRIMES ONCE THEY'RE OUT, IT'S A BENEFIT FOR SOCIETY, IT'S A BENEFIT FOR PROSECUTORS.

IT'S A BENEFIT FOR ALL THE CITIZENS.

>> I WAS LISTENING TO YOUR PRESENTATION AT THE OPIOID COMMISSION MEETING THE OTHER DAY, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT A THREE-LEGGED STOOL OF TRUCK TREATMENT, JOB TRAINING AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE?

>> JOB TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH, AND DRUG TRAINING.

>> MENTAL HEALTH.

OKAY.

WELL, FOR REDUCING RECIDIVISM, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT YOU SEE IN TERMS OF VIOLATORS.

IS IT A LOT OF DRUGS?

>> DRUGS DRIVE A LOT OF YOUR VIOLATIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED THE MOST IS DRUGS DRIVE PROPERTY CRIMES.

PROPERTY CRIMES TEND TO BE THE HIGHEST RATE OF RECIDIVISM.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO TEND TO COME BACK USUALLY BECAUSE A DRUG ISSUE IS UNDERLYING IT.

IF WE COULD TACKLE THAT, IT WOULD DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES.

ALSO, WE'VE HAD 15 PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS COME TO US AND SAY WE WANT TO HIRE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY LOW LABOR MARKET.

WE NEED LABOR.

WE WANT SKILLED LABOR.

WHAT WE SAW IN OUR ELEVEN FACILITIES THAT CONDUCT DRUG TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, AND JOB CERTIFICATES, THE RECIDIVISM RATE WENT FROM 30% TO 4%.

THAT'S A MODEL WE NEED REPLICATED IN EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE.

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT CAN HAPPEN, IT JUST TAKES REALLY INTENSE FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS.

>> PATIENCE AND A DEEP CONCENTRATION ON THESE ARE THE AREAS WE'VE GOT TO TACKLE.

BUT IF YOU TACKLE THOSE THREE, THAT STOOL WILL STAND UP, AS I SAID.

>> TALK AT PERRY COUNTY AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT FACILITY WILL BE.

>> IT'S A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY.

IT'S VERY INTENSE.

WE PROVIDE THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, THE DRUG TREATMENT, JOB TRAINING.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS WE HAVE THEIR ATTENTION 24-7 FOR 90 DAYS, TO 120 DAYS, WE HAVE THEIR ATTENTION.

IT'S WORKING.

WE SEE THOSE FOLKS LEAVING, ALMOST ALL HAVE A JOB WHEN THEY LEAVE.

IF THEY GET A JOB AND THE UNDERLYING ISSUE RESOLVED, THEY DON'T GO BACK TO PRISON, THEY DON'T HURT SOMEBODY.

I THINK THAT'S THE MODEL GOING FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR INVOLVED, SHE'S ALSO GETTING BEHIND THE INITIATIVE.

>> SHE'S BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.

SHE WROTE THE LETTER SAYING WE WANT TO JOIN THE EFFORT.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE GOVERNOR OR PARDON AND PAROLE, IT'S AGENCIES ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE TWELVE CABINET AND STATE AGENCIES INVOLVED WANTING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I THINK IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, BUT IF WE PUT OUR MIND TO IT, IF WE CAN REDUCE RECIDIVISM, IT'S A WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'VE MADE A LOT OF STRIDES IN THAT.

IF YOU THINK BACK 15, 20 YEARS, IT'S GIGANTIC STRIDES IN IMPROVING OUR MENTAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR PLATFORM.

IT WAS INTERESTING HEARING ABOUT THE DRUG TREATMENT THE OTHER DAY.

WE HAVE THIS POT OF MONEY COMING TO THE STATE.

DO YOU THINK THIS COMMISSION AN LEGISLATURE WILL HEAR THAT AND SAY, OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON TREATMENT AND ADDICTION ISSUES, YOU KNOW, FROM A STATE LEVEL.

AND WHO'S -- WHAT'S THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?

PUBLIC HEALTH, MAYBE?

>> AND I THINK TOO MANY TIMES I'VE SAID IN MY COMMENTS AT THE OPIOID COMMISSION MEETINGS, WE LOOK AT SILOS, IS IT PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH WHO SOLVES IT, MEDICAID, D.O.C., PARDON AND PAROLES, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S NOT JUST ONE AGENCY.

IF YOU TACKLE THE TRUCK PROBLEM WE HAVE TO TACKLE IT THROUGH ALL AGENCIES.

REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS WHO'S DONE A GREAT JOB IN PRESIDING OVER THE GROUP LAID IT OUT CLEARLY THAT HE WANTS TO SEE THE MONEY GO WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO, OPIOID ABUSE TREATMENT.

TOO MANY TIMES WE GET SETTLEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND LAWSUITS WE'RE INVOLVED IN, THE MONEY ENDS UP BEING A PORT BARREL PROJECT.

REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE IT GOES TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SUCH A PROBLEM.

THE DOCUMENTARY AND SERIES ARE OUT.

WALKER COUNTY IS THE FIFTH HIGHEST OPIOID EPIDEMIC COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY, THAT'S RIGHT THERE IN JASPER, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND REALIZE WE HAVE TO TACKLE THAT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT PAROLES.

I KNOW YOU DON'T CONTROL PAROLES.

YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU, BUT THE BOARD RECENTLY GAINED A MEMBER, AND, SO, THEY'RE STARTING TO ACTUALLY HAVE A FUNDING BOARD, BUT IT REALLY DWINDLED TO A VERY LOW PERSONALLY OF -- >> CLOSE TO ONE PERCENT.

>> WHICH IS KIND OF UNHEARD OF.

SO TALK ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE, AGAIN YOU DON'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, IT'S THE BOARD.

BUT IF THERE'S NOT A FUNCTIONING PAROLE PROCESS, DOES THAT ALSO -- I MEAN, I HEAR OF CASES OF INMATES THAT MAY JUST KIND OF LOSE HOPE.

>> YEAH.

>> DOES THAT CREATE A MORE DANGEROUS PRISON SITUATION.

>> IT DOES.

IT GREATS A PROBLEM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BECAUSE IF SOMEONE SAYS I'M NOT GETTING OUT ANYWAY, WHAT INCENTIVE DO I HAVE TO DO RIGHT?

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE REFORMED OR REHABILITATED.

WE HAVE 44,326 PEOPLE AS OF TODAY THAT ARE ON EITHER PROBATION OR PAROLE.

HOWEVER, THE BULK OF OUR SUPERVISION IS ALSO PROBATIONERS.

SO JUDGES SEND US, THAT 77% THEY SEND US, THEY SAY I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU IN PRISON SO YOU HAVE ONE CHAPS, PARDON AND PAROLES WILL OVERSEE YOU.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE COME INTO PLAY AND THE RECIDIVISM COMES INTO PLAY.

GABRELLE SIMMONS, THE NEW BOARD MEMBER, SEEMS TO BE DOING WELL.

THE PAROLE GRANT RATE HAS GONE FROM 1% TO 32%.

>> SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY FUNCTIONING AS A BOARD.

>> THEY ARE AND I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AS TO HOW THEY'RE FUNCTIONING NOW.

>> NOW, NOT ALL OF THOSE PAROLEES ARE MONITORED, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> I KNOW THE LEGISLATURE MANDATED SOME ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

>> WE DID, FOR EVERYBODY ON MANDATORY RELEASE.

>> IT WAS PROBABLY A CHALLENGE IMPLEMENTING THAT BUT IS IT COMPLETE.

>> YES, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 1,400 PEOPLE RELEASED TO MONITORS.

I WILL SAY THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN.

PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT CRIME RATES GOING UP.

THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THOSE ON ELECTRONIC MONITORS IS 11%.

>> WOW.

>> LESS THAN HALF.

>> LESS THAN THE AVERAGE.

>> THE ELECTRONIC MONITORS, THE LEGISLATURE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION WHEN THEY TOLD US TO PUT THOSE ELECTRONIC MONITORS ON THEM.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF GNASHING OF TEETH WHEN IT HAPPENED.

THE HEADLINES, THOUSANDS OF INMATES BEING LET OUT, BUT SOUNDS LIKE THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING, FOR THE MOST PART, HAS WORKED.

>> IT HAS.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

EAGER TO FOLLOW REENTRY 2030.

THERE'S CLEARLY PROGRESS THAT CAN BE MADE, SO GOOD LUCK.

THANKS, TODD, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME.

RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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