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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

THIS WEEK, WE GOT AN UPDATE ON THE ALABAMA'S PRISONS, INCLUDING WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE TO BUILD TWO NEW, STATE OF THE ART MEN'S PRISONS.

IT HAPPENED AT A MEETING OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE PRISON OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER JOHN HAMM TOLD LAWMAKERS THAT THE ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PROJECT HAVE INCREASED DRASTICALLY.

THE ELMORE PROJECT ALONE IS NOW PROJECTED TO COST $973 MILLION.

THAT'S UP FROM THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE OF $623 MILLION WHEN THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE PLAN BACK IN 2021.

AND WITH INFLATION AND THE RISING COST OF MATERIALS, THE PRICE TAG COULD EXCEED $1 BILLION IN THE END.

THE COMMITTEE'S MEETING WAS A LONG ONE - MORE THAN TWO HOURS.

BUT WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUES THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS FACING AND ITS PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THEM.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT WAS THERE AND TAKES US DEEPER INTO THE STORY.

>> LAWMAKERS FORMING THE STATE JOINT PRISON OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE RETURNED TO MONTGOMERY TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF ALABAMA'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND SEVERAL KEY ISSUES FACING IT INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION TIMETABLES.

>> ELMORE SPECIALIZED MEN'S FACILITY, SOME OF THE ACTIVITY GOES ON BECAUSE WE'RE STILL GETTING CHATTER THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, AND THAT IS VERY FAR FROM THE TRUTH.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY INSTALLED A LOT OF THE -- ALL OF THE STORM ORDER PIPE AND SANITARY SEWER, DONE SOME CHASE MOCKUPS, THE PRE-CAST SALE MOCKUPS.

>> A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS ARE UP FOR DISCUSSION INCLUDING EQUAL CONTRACT BIDDING, COST AND STAFFING.

>> I WAS OUT THERE YESTERDAY, AND I'M STILL NOT TOTALLY HAPPY WITH THE MINORITY PARTICIPATION PIECE BECAUSE THERE IS A PIECE IN THE LEGISLATION THAT SPECIFICALLY LAYS OUT A PROGRAM FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION.

BUT WE DID HAVE A REAL FRANK AND HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT IT YESTERDAY.

>> BUT I THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB ON SETTING A PRECEDENT AND A TEMPLATE FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO USE ON THE MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE ON ANY FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OR CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS.

THE LAST AMENDMENT BY CIFO WAS $973 MILLION.

>> SO ARE WE ANTICIPATING IT BE MORE THAN THAT WHEN WE MEET AGAIN?

>> IT COULD BE MORE THAN THAT.

BUT WE'RE CLOSE.

WE'LL KNOW TUESDAY AT 2:00.

>> SO IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE NORTH OF A BILLION?

>> THIS SITE IS 300 ACRES INSIDE THE FENCE, AND IT WILL HAVE 50-PLUS BUILDINGS ON IT, FROM, YOU KNOW, WALKING IN THE FRONT GATE TO THE BACK BUILDING, YOU KNOW, WHERE HOUSING INMATES IS GOING TO BE ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 4,000 INMATES IN THIS FACILITY.

>> LIKES LIKE FROM THIS QUARTER FROM THE NUMBERS I CAN SEE, YOU'VE GAINED ONE OFFICER IN THE MONTH OF MAY, YOU GAINED FIVE OFFICERS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE AND YOU GAINED 33 OFFICERS IN THE MONTH OF JULY.

SO YOU GAINED ONE OFFICER BETWEEN MARCH 31ST AND APRIL 30TH.

YOU GAINED FIVE OFFICERS BETWEEN APRIL 30TH AND MAY 31.

AND YOU GAINED 33 OFFICERS BETWEEN MAY 33 AND JUNE 30TH.

>> BECAUSE IF I TOLD YOU, AT SOME POINT -- IF I EXPLAINED TO THE PUBLIC AT SOME POINT IN SOME FACILITIES YOU MAY HAVE 750 INMATES AND FOUR GUARDS, THAT PAINTS A PICTURE.

THAT MAKES YOU UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE.

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

>> GOVERNOR KAY IVEY THIS WEEK CONTINUED PROMOTING HER TURNAROUND SCHOOLS INITIATIVE.

SHE BEGAN THE EFFORT LAST YEAR AS A TOOL TO TRANSFORM LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND THEIR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

EDUCATORS FROM THOSE TURNAROUND SCHOOLS GATHERED IN PRATTVILLE THIS WEEK FOR A SPECIAL ACADEMY HOSTED BY THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.

IVEY, A FORMER TEACHER HERSELF, ENCOURAGED THE ATTENDEES TO WORK AS A TEAM TO LIFT UP SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

>> WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER, STRONG STUDENTS RESULT IN A STRONG STATE.

NOW, BEING IN A ROOM FULL OF EDUCATORS, IT'S SAFE TO SAY EVERYONE HERE CAN APPRECIATE A GOOD ACRONYM.

THE ONE I'D LIKE TO REFER TO, ALSO, IS TEAM -- TOGETHER EACH ACCOMPLISHES MORE.

MY TURNAROUND SCHOOL INITIATIVE IS TARGETED AND COLLABORATIVE IN APPROACH.

AND I STAND HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU JUST HOW CONFIDENT I AM THAT WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALSO BRAGGED ON THE EARLY SUCCESS THAT SOME TURNAROUND SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY SEEING, WHICH HAD THE TEACHERS FROM THOSE AREAS EXCITED.

>> THIS SCHOOL KICK OFF, MY FIRST STOPS WERE TO ABC ELEMENTARY AND J.E.

HOBBS.

[CHEERING] IN MY HOMETOWN OF WILCOX.

AND THEY HAVE SEEN THE HIGHEST PERCENT INCREASE IN THIRD GRADE READING SCORES OUT OF ANY DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] JUST THIS WEEK, I VISITED A COUPLE OF MY TURNAROUND SCHOOLS IN BIRMINGHAM, BOTH BROWN AND HELP HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT -- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] -- BOTH BROWN AND HEMPHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MATH PROFICIENCY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NOT FAR FROM HERE, IN OUR CAPITAL CITY, DOZIER ELEMENTARY NOW HAS WHAT IS CALLED A STEAM LAB WITH A FULL-TIME TEACHER THAT SERVES ALL STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL.

WE'VE SEEN MORE OF A FOCUS ON THE ARTS.

[APPLAUSE] WE'RE SEEING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND D.H.R.

WE'RE SEEING GREATER PARENT ENGAGEMENT, AND ALL OF THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A TURNAROUND SCHOOL INITIATIVE, AND I SURE AM PROUD OF THAT.

>> TURNING NOW TO WASHINGTON, WHERE CONGRESS HAS YET TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT WITH JUST A WEEK LEFT UNTIL THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS.

SHOULD THEY NOT PASS AT LEAST A STOP GAP SPENDING BILL BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, THE GOVERNMENT WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY AND MANY AGENCIES WILL SHUT DOWN.

WHILE MOST OF THE GRIDLOCK IS IN THE HOUSE, U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT THIS WEEK SINGED ONTO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT FUTURE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS.

THE BILL WOULD TRIGGER AN AUTOMATIC 14 DAY CONTINUING RESOLUTION KEEPING FUNDING AT CURRENT LEVELS SHOULD CONGRESS NOT PASS APPROPRIATIONS BILL ON TIME.

BRITT SAID, "THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF SEEING CRITICAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES BEING HELD HOSTAGE WHILE CONGRESS IRRESPONSIBLY PUSHES TO PASS MASSIVE SPENDING BILLS AT THE LAST MINUTE.

SHE CONTINUED -- TAXPAYERS SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO KEEP PAYING THE PRICE FOR THIS BUDGETARY POLITICAL BRINKSMANSHIP."

U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE CLAIMED VICTORY THIS WEEK AS THE SENATE MOVED FORWARD WITH CONFIRMING THREE TOP MILITARY LEADERS: GENERAL CQ BROWN AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS, GENERAL RANDY GEORGE AS ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF, AND GENERAL ERIC SMITH AS COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.

TUBERVILLE HAS BEEN BLOCKING THE SENATE FROM CONFIRMING GROUP MILITARY PROMOTIONS AS A PROTEST OF THE PENTAGON'S NEW POLICY TO PAY FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR OUT OF STATE ABORTIONS.

HE HAS ARGUED THAT THE SENATE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH INDIVIDUAL PROMOTIONS, BUT THAT HIS HOLD ON GROUP PROMOTIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE PENTAGON CHANGES ITS POLICY BACK.

>> THERE'S AROUND 300 OF THEM, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE LOWER LEVEL GENERALS AND ADD MILLIONAIRES.

BUT WE HAVE SOME AT THE TOP THAT ARE MAIN LEADERS SUCH AS THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINES.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL SHOW HIM HOW YOU DO IT, HOW YOU GET IT DONE.

EVEN PEOPLE ON HIS SIDE OF THE AISLE WANT TO GET THINGS DONE, ESPECIALLY THE UPPER LEVEL GENERALS AND ADMIRALS.

SO THIS COMMANDANT, AS WE'VE SAID EARLIER, HAS ALREADY TAKEN HIS JOB.

HE'S RUNNING IT EVERY DAY.

WE WANT TO GET THIS DONE AGAIN TO GET THE COMMANDANT PROCESS IN THE RIGHTLE SITUATION AND SHOW CHUCK SCHUMER WE WANT TO GET ON WITH THIS.

IF THEY WANT TO DO 300 AT THE SAME TIME, LET'S CHANGE THE POLICY AND HAVE A VOTE ON THE FLOOR, AND WE COULD REMEDY IT IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

BUT CHUCK SCHUMER, HE WANTS TO USE IT AND HOLD IT AS HIS POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONER KIM BOSWELL TO DISCUSS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.

LATER IN THE SHOW, I'LL BE JOINED FROM WASHINGTON BY STEPHEN BOYD TO GET HIS TAKE ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT NEXT IN THE BUDGET SHOWDOWN.

AND FINALLY, WE'LL PREVIEW THE UPCOMING PAT DYE DOCUMENTARY WITH THE FILM'S DIRECTOR SLATS SLATON.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.

JOINING ME NEXT TO TALK ABOUT IT IS KIM BOSWELL, COMMISSIONER OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

COMMISSIONER, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD, I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON TO ADDRESS THIS VERY SERIOUS TOPIC.

TALK ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH AND WHAT THIS MEANS IN TERMS OF RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> SO IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND JUST A LOT OF FACTS AROUND SUICIDE AND SOME OF THE REASONS, SOME OF THE RISK FACTORS, SOME OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS.

THIS YEAR, WE REALLY KICKED OFF SUICIDE AWARENESS WORK WITH OUR VETERANS ORGANIZATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

IN ALABAMA, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF SUICIDE AMONG VETERANS, AND, SO, THAT IS A REAL ISSUE IN OUR STATE.

AND, SO, WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO REALLY ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO VETERAN SUICIDE.

SO THAT WAS QUITE A GOOD EVENT.

THEN WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER EVENTS ACROSS THE DAYS THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON SUICIDE PREVENTION, AND THERE ARE MANY ACTIVITIES THAT ARE ALL DESIGNED TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF SUICIDE AND THE RISK FACTORS AND HOW TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO MAY BE CONSIDERING SUICIDE OR IN A SUICIDAL CRISIS.

>> MM-HMM.

YEAH, I REMEMBER TALKING TO KENT DAVIS ABOUT THAT -- I GUESS WE WERE KIND OF PREVIEWING THE EVENT AS I WAS COMING UP, AND YOU HAD A COUPLE OF THEM.

REALLY SOME INTERESTING WORK GOING ON THERE.

I IMAGINE IT'S THE PTSD, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THAT FROM VETERANS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO SUICIDE, IT HAS BEEN SUCH A TABOO SUBJECT.

I MEAN, I JUST REMEMBER GROWING UP, YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT, RIGHT.

BUT THAT SEEMS TO MAYBE HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT WITH MORE AWARENESS.

ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT JUST TO BE ABLE TO TALK OPENLY ABOUT IT IN ORDER TO PREVENT TRAGIC SITUATIONS?

>> ALSO.

I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR MISCONCEPTION ALSO PEOPLE HAVE IS IF YOU ASK OR TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT SUICIDE THAT THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE THEIR RISK.

IT REALLY DOESN'T.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO IS TALK TO INDIVIDUALS, ASK THEM HOW THEY'RE FEELING, ASK THEM IF THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, OFTENTIMES, PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU, IF YOU ACTUALLY ASK THEM, THEY WILL TELL YOU HOW THEY'RE FEELING AND WHAT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, FOR A LONG TIME, IT HAD A HUGE STIGMA ATTACHED TO IT, AND IT ALSO CREATES, IF SOMEONE HAS A FAMILY MEMBER WHO DIES BY SUICIDE, OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY MYSTERIOUS THING, HOW THEIR LOVED ONE DIED.

AND, SO, WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT IT, TO TALK TO SOMEONE IF THEY THINK THEY'RE AT RISK, TO TALK TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT BECAUSE IT IS VERY ISOLATING TO FAMILY MEMBERS.

I THINK YOU HEARD ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS PAST YEAR TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WITH HER HUSBAND, AND THEIR FAMILY HAD HAD SOME EXPERIENCES OF THEIR OWN WITH THEIR DAUGHTER, AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HER HUSBAND IS ALSO IN A SITUATION WHERE HE DID WIND UP HAVING A SUICIDAL CRISIS.

AND TALKING TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND BEING OPEN ABOUT THAT IS HUGE BECAUSE ISOLATION AND DISCONNECTEDNESS ARE REALLY VERY DETRIMENTAL TO PEOPLE.

AND, SO, THE MORE THAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT, THE BETTER.

ONCE A FAMILY MEMBER, YOU KNOW, HAS A SITUATION, A SUICIDAL CRISIS, THEN IT'S OFTENTIMES OTHER FAMILIES DO, UNFORTUNATELY, BEGIN TO CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, ONCE AGAIN, PUTS THEM AT RISK OF A SUICIDAL CRISIS, AS WELL.

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO INCREASE SOMEONE'S RISK OF SUICIDE IF YOU TALK ABOUT IT OR YOU ASK THEM HOW THEY'RE FEELING.

SO WE REALLY DO WANT PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> WE TALK ABOUT ISOLATION AND MAYBE LOSING A LOVED ONE.

THAT MAKES ME THINK OF YOUNG PEOPLE, KIDS, YOU KNOW, AND JUST THE PREVALENCE THERE IS FOR ANXIETY, INCREASED ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, MAYBE EVEN REALLY BROUGHT ON IN PART BY THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND JUST THE PREVALENCE OF IT AND THE DIFFERENT PRESSURES THAT COME IN WITH HIGH SCHOOL.

TALK ABOUT THE SUICIDE RISK AMONGST YOUTH.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HUGE CONCERN ABOUT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, PARTICULARLY COMING OUT OF COVID.

WE HAVE SEEN DRAMATIC INCREASES IN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL CRISIS WITH KIDS, AND IT'S A COMBINATION, IT REALLY IS A VERY COMPLEX SET OF REASONS AS TO WHY A YOUNG PERSON, IN PARTICULAR, MIGHT CONSIDER THAT.

BUT, NEEDLESS TO SAY, SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT HELPING US AT ALL.

OFTEN, KIDS GET REALLY FOCUSED ON INFORMATION THEY'RE SEEING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THEY BEGIN TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LOOKS THIS WAY OR ACTS THIS WAY, AND I NEED TO LOOK AND ACT THIS WAY.

IT'S REALLY JUST VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THE OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH OF KIDS TO BE REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO ISOLATION AND DISCONNECTEDNESS WITH THEIR ACTUAL PEERS.

INSTEAD OF GOING TO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT YOU'RE REALLY NOT MAKING THAT REAL CONNECTION, IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING TIME WITH OTHERS AND, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THEY CAN REALLY BE IN A SITUATION THAT THEY REALLY DIDN'T EVEN ANTICIPATE.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ISOLATED, THEY'RE EXPERIENCING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS OR THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD IS NOT FEELING THE SAME WAY, AND, SO, IF THEY'RE NOT TALKING TO THEIR PEERS, IF THEY'RE NOT TALKING TO THEIR PARENTS, THAT CAN BECOME A VERY DETRIMENTAL SITUATION FOR KIDS.

>> ARE THERE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS TO MAYBE UNDERSTAND HOW TO BETTER TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN IF THEY SEE SOME OF THOSE WARNING SIGNS?

>> THERE ARE A TON OF RESOURCES OUT THERE.

OBVIOUSLY, PART OF WHAT WE DO, AS YOU KNOW, IS SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH, SO WE PUT A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ED WHO HAS PUT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT COORDINATORS IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING DEDICATED TO AT-RISK KIDS WHO MAYBE AT RISK OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR SUICIDAL CRISIS.

I WAS PLEASED TO SEE DR. MACKEY TALK RECENTLY ABOUT DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY'RE PUTTING INTO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE COORDINATORS, SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF HIS REQUEST DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR.

AND, SO, REALLY GETTING THOSE FOLKS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT CAN IDENTIFY THOSE ISSUES AND TALK TO PARENTS IS REALLY HUGE FOR US IN ALABAMA.

AND THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER WAYS THAT PARENTS CAN GET ENGAGED AS WELL.

THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE.

YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEB SITE AT M.H.

ALABAMA.GOV.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES.

BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, AND I THINK HAVING THAT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE COORDINATOR AND THE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST IN A SCHOOL REALLY IS ABOUT IDENTIFYING THOSE KID, FINDING THOSE KIDS THAT SEEM TO BE DISCONNECTED.

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE TRAINED.

>> THEY ARE.

AND THEY CAN RECOGNIZE THOSE KIDS THAT REALLY ARE STRUGGLING.

THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE BIG ADVANTAGE ALSO TO HAVING THOSE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN HELP KIDS, IF KIDS ARE REALLY ENGAGED IN SPORTS.

WE KNOW THAT BUILDING RESILIENCY AND WELLNESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO OFFSETTING SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SO GETTING KIDS REALLY ENGAGED IN SPORTS OR IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES OR ANYTHING THAT REALLY GETS THEM CONNECTED IN A POSITIVE WAY TO THEIR PEERS AND TO THEIR FAMILY IS REALLY THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP PREVENT THESE KINDS OF ISSUES.

>> IT'S GREAT ADVICE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT 9-8-8.

>> YEAH.

>> THIS, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HAS BEEN A HUGE INITIATIVE, NOT JUST IN ALABAMA BUT NATIONALLY.

>> RIGHT.

>> I KNOW THERE ARE EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE 988 SERVICES.

TALK ABOUT 988, WHAT IT IS AND WHERE IT IS AVAILABLE IN ALABAMA.

>> SO 988 IS THE NEW THREE-DIGIT NUMBER.

IT REALLY STARTED OUT AS A TEN-DIGIT NUMBER FOR THE NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE, AND THAT NUMBER, THAT TEN-DIGIT NUMBER CONVERTED TO 988 NATIONALLY, AND THEN -- OF COURSE, THAT HAPPENED ON JULY 16, 2022.

JUST IN ALABAMA IN ONE YEAR, AS OF AUGUST, WE RECEIVED JUST IN ALABAMA OVER 52,000 CALLS.

>> AND THESE ARE CRISIS SITUATIONS, WHETHER ME PERSONALLY OR IF I HAVE A LOVED ONE OR SOMETHING, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

IT'S ANYONE IN CRISIS.

WE KNOW 23% OF THE CALLS CAME FROM VETERANS.

SO WE REALLY SEE 988 AS RECEIVING THE CALLS.

WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL CAPACITY WE NEED FOR 988.

WE ARE CURRENTLY FUNDING 988 THROUGH GRANT DOLLARS.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SUSTAIN 988 OVER TIME.

WE LOOKED AT THE CALL RATES TODAY, AND 68% OF OUR CALLS ARE STAYING IN STATE.

THE REST OF THOSE CALLS ARE ROLLING OUT OF STATE BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO 90% IN STATE ANSWER RATE.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY MUCH BETTER IF WE CAN ANSWER CALLS IN STATE AND NOT HAVE THE CALLS ROLL TO THE NATIONAL NUMBER.

>> SURE.

WELL, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS THE EFFORT IN THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR TO HAVE THAT FEE, YOU KNOW, ADDED ON TO A PHONE BILL WHERE, JUST LIKE A 911 FEE, WE ALL PAY THAT WITH OUR CELL PHONE BILLS, THIS WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL FEE FOR THAT CRISIS HOTLINE SERVICES.

IT GOT SOME TRACTION IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT ULTIMATELY DIDN'T MAKE IT.

IT WAS A PRETTY BUSY SESSION.

DO YOU SEE THAT BILL COMING BACK, OR SOMETHING LIKE IT, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE MEETS IN FEBRUARY?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN, HONESTLY, HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS SINCE THE SESSION ENDED.

WE HAVE A MEETING OF OUR LEGISLATIVE STAKEHOLDER WORK GROUP THAT'S LED BY REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS.

WE WILL BE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, AND THAT IS ON THE AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT AND TO CONSIDER SHOULD WE GO AHEAD AND DROP A BILL NEXT YEAR?

IF WE DO, SHOULD IT BE AT THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE HAD IN THE LEGISLATION LAST YEAR?

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ON THE TABLE.

I THINK DO WE ASK FOR 98 CENTS?

DO WE ASK FOR SOMETHINGLESS?

AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH TELECOM OVER THE SUMMER TO REALLY TRY AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THEY RAISED DURING THE SESSION.

>> YEAH.

>> AND REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS THE REVENUE FROM THAT PRIMARILY ON MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS AND THE 988 CALL CENTERS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT 911 WHICH IS FUNDED IN A SIMILAR WAY, OUR SORT OF COMPARABLE TO A 911 CALL CENTER IS THE 988 CALL CENTER, AND THE COMPARABLE COMPONENT TO THE E.M.S.

IS A MOBILE CRISIS TEAM.

SO IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, WE THINK, TO FUND THOSE SERVICES THROUGH THAT FEE THAT WOULD BE GENERATED.

>> YEAH.

WELL, SPEAKING OF CRISIS CENTERS, IS THERE AN UPDATE?

I MEAN, I KEEP LOSING COUNT.

IT'S GOOD NEWS.

OBVIOUSLY THE LEGISLATURE IS FUNDED AND Y'ALL HAVE REALLY SPUN UP THESE CRISIS CENTERS AROUND THE STATE.

WHERE ARE WE?

I KNOW YOU WERE ATTACKING EVERY REGION GETTING A CRISIS CENTER.

>> SO THE GOOD NEWS IS, ON OCTOBER 17, WE WILL BE OPENING A CRISIS CENTER IN TUSCALOOSA, AND THAT IS, LET'S SEE, OUR FIFTH CRISIS CENTER.

I LOSE COUNT SOMETIMES, TOO.

THAT'S OUR FIFTH CRISIS CENTER.

WE HAVE A CRISIS CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE, MONTGOMERY, BIRMINGHAM AND MOBILE.

SO INDIAN RIVER AND TUSCALOOSA IS GOING TO DO THEIR GRAND OPENING OCTOBER 17, WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

WE ANTICIPATE INSPECTOR KAREN DOTHAN TO COME ON THIS YEAR AS WELL.

THAT WILL BE THE FIFTH CRISIS CENTER WE HAVE OPENED.

THE REALLY UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER I TALK ABOUT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 18 MOVEMENTS OF THE OPERATION OF OUR CRISIS CENTERS, OVER 800 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT A CRISIS CENTER WHO WERE SUICIDAL.

AND, SO, THAT'S 800 PEOPLE THAT WE INTERVACCINE, THAT WE STOPPED.

IT'S LIVES WE'RE SAVING.

>> SAVE LIVES.

>> YEAH.

IT'S WORKING.

WHEN WE STARTED CRISIS CARE, WE FELT LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WE FOLLOWED SOME OF THE NATIONAL TRENDS BUT WE REALLY HAVE THE DATA TO SHOW CRISIS SERVICES 24/7 THAT IT REALLY SAVES LIVES.

UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE THE SERVICES IN ALL 67 COUNTIES.

>> WE'RE SHORT ON TIME BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE OPIOID COMMISSION.

THERE'S A MEETING COMING UP, AND THIS COMMISSION IS DEALING WITH HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY WE'VE GOTTEN IN THE SETTLEMENTS, RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> TALK ABOUT WHAT THE DECISIONS WILL BE LIKE FOR THE COMMISSION.

>> SO WE'VE SORT OF BEEN TASKED AS A DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE SETTLEMENT FUNDS.

SO PART OF WHAT WE WILL BE DOING AT THE MEETING IS REALLY LAYING OUT A SET OF PRINCIPLES THAT WE THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN CONSIDERING HOW TO SPEND THE SETTLEMENT DOLLARS.

FOR EXAMPLE, FIRST PRINCIPLE IS FIRST SAVE LIVES BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL OVERDOSING FROM OPIOID USE DISORDER, SO WE REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO INCREASE THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER.

A LOT OF THAT WORK AND A LOT OF THE PRINCIPLES AND A LOT OF THE THINGS WE WILL WILL BE TALKING ABOUT REALLY COMES OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OPIOID COUNCIL THAT WE REALLY RAN FOR FIVE YEARS.

AND, SO, WE REALLY FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION TO SUPPORT THAT COMMISSION AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION.

>> THAT'S NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL BE THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

>> THANKS AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, FOR COMING ON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN THE AWARENESS OF SUICIDE PREVENTION.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS ON THE BRINK OF A SHUTDOWN, AS CONGRESS HAS YET TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON SPENDING LEVELS AS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR APPROACHES.

JOINING ME NEXT TO TALK ABOUT IT IS STEPHEN BOYD, A VETERAN OF CAPITOL HILL AND A PARTNER AT HORIZONS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS.

STEPHEN, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANKS.

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, BUT I WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU A LITTLE BETTER.

THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED IN POLITICS IN ALABAMA AND CAPITOL HILL KNOW YOU VERY WELL, OF COURSE.

BUT FOR THE REST OF OUR AUDIENCE, I SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE HILL FOR 20 YEARS OR MORE, WORKED AS A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, CHIEF OF STAFF, BOTH ALABAMA MEMBERS AND SENATORS.

YOU WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AS ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES AND NOW ARE A PARTNER AT HORIZONS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS.

SO GIVEN ALL THAT EXPERIENCE ON CAPITOL HILL, I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN MANY BUDGET BATTLES.

I'M CURIOUS, DOES THIS ONE LOOK OR FEEL DIFFERENT TO YOU IN TERMS OF THE DIVIDING LINES AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS A FEW TIMES NOW SINCE I HAVE BEEN AROUND, AND, LOOK, THERE'S NOTHING NEW ABOUT CONGRESS WAITING TILL THE LAST SECOND TO TAKE ACTION.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HAPPENS FAR TOO OFTEN.

BUT, YES, THIS IS DIFFERENT.

THE DYNAMICS ARE A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER THIS TIME AROUND.

USUALLY, WHEN YOU GET IN THESE CRISIS SITUATIONS, YOU HAVE SOME REASONABLE PATH TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF IT AND, AT THIS POINT, WITH JUST A FEW DAYS REMAINING, I DON'T REALLY SEE WHAT THAT PATH IS AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT.

SPEAKER MCCARTHY AS YOU KNOW ONLY HAS A FOUR-SEAT MARGIN OF ERROR IN HIS VERY NARROW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, AND HE'S GOT FIVE TO TEN FOLKS ON THE RIGHT WHO WILL ESSENTIALLY ARE JUST OBSTRUCTING AND BLOCKING HIS PROGRESS ON PASSING THE SPENDING BILLS OR A STOP-GAP MEASURE THAT WILL KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN AND BUY CONGRESS A LITTLE MORE TIME BACK.

>> YEAH, I GUESS THAT WAS THE LATEST IS THEY WERE GOING TO PUP UP THE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL, WHICH USUALLY HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT TO PASS, BUT COULDN'T EVEN PASS THE RULE.

THAT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE AND THE SPEAKER SENT EVERYBODY HOME.

WAS THAT A SURPRISE TO EVERYBODY IN WASHINGTON?

I GUESS LEADING UP TO THAT, PEOPLE THOUGHT THERE MAYBE COULD BE A PATH FORWARD, BUT THAT KIND OF BROKE DOWN.

>> THERE WAS A SURPRISE, AND THE DEFENSE SPENDING BILL IS USUALLY ONE TO HAVE THE LESS CONTROVERSIAL SPENDING MEASURES.

THERE ARE 12.

UNDER THE REGULAR ORDER THE HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD EACH PASS 12 AND AMERICAN AT THE END AND GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR SIGNATURE.

CURRENTLY THE HOUSE PASSED ONE, THE SENATE PASSED NONE, SO THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO WITH A FEW DAYS.

THE DEFENSE SPENDING BILL, TO YOUR POINT, TYPICALLY HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WOULD PASS WITHOUT TOO MUCH FANFARE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

FUNDS MILITARY AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OPERATIONS, PAYS OUR TROOPS, THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT, YES, THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN A BIT SHOCKING IN THE FACT THAT THE PROCEDURAL MOTION WAS BLOCKED.

THESE VOTES ARE ALMOST PARTY LINE VOTES.

IF YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY, YOU VOTE YES, THE MINORITY YOU VOTE NO, THEN YOU GET IT TO THE FLOOR AND HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE.

THIS SMALL GROUP OF REPUBLICANS IS TAKING THIS MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SHOULD NOT MOVE ON THE BILL UNLESS THEY PLEDGE A PATH FORWARD ON THEIR DEMANDS.

>> I REMEMBER 2013, THAT GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN OVER DEFUNDING OBAMACARE.

THAT WAS SORT OF THE BIG DEAL.

EVEN BACK THEN, YOU HAD A MUCH LARGER MINORITY OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

I FORGET THE NUMBER, BUT AT LEAST 235, MAYBE MORE, SO THEY HAD THE NUMBERS.

BUT EVEN THEN, AS THAT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WENT ON, I THINK IT WAS 13 DAYS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ULTIMATELY, THOSE THAT WERE HOLDING OUT DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY WANTED.

I'M CURIOUS, WHY NOT LEARN THE LESSONS FROM THAT BECAUSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, DOES THIS SMALL BLOCK OF THOSE ON THE RIGHT, DO THEY STAND TO GAIN ANYTHING?

>> IT'S A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

THE SENATE WAS RUN BY DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRATS OWN THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

THE HOUSE IS RUN BY THE MAJORITY OF THE REB PARTY, BUT THE NARROW MARGIN REALLY LIMITS WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED, AND I THINK MANY, MANY MEMBERS ARE VERY HONEST ABOUT THAT WITH THEIR CONSTITUENCIES AND SAY WE HAVE TO TRY TO MAKE INCREMENTAL GAINS WHERE WE CAN BUT BE REALISTIC AND KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE THINGS WE BELIEVE IN.

OTHERS TAKE THE APPROACH WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T HAVE DRAMATIC CHANGE AND GET EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD UP EVERYTHING.

YOU'VE GOT A SITUATION NOW WHERE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE KEVIN MCCARTHY REFERRED TO SOME FOLKS IN HIS OWN PARTY AS WANTING TO "BURN THE WHOLE PLACE DOWN."

I THINK THAT STATEMENT ILLUSTRATES WHERE WE ARE.

>> WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE'VE ONLY GOT A HANDFUL OF WORKING DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN.

DO YOU SEE A PATH FORWARD?

OR HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT WE CAN AVOID A SHUTDOWN, OR IS IT INEVITABLE?

>> I SUPPOSE NOTHING IS INEVITABLE IN POLITICS.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S AROUND THE NEXT CORNER, BUT ANY SORT OF OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT AT THIS SITUATION, AT THIS POINT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SAY IT'S MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT THERE WILL BE A SHUTDOWN.

THE DEADLINE IS THIS COMING STAT DAY.

THE HOUSE IS SUPPOSED TO RETURN ON TUESDAY.

THAT LEAVES A VERY SHORT WINDOW TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT.

THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH VOTING ON SOME INDIVIDUAL BILLS, OR AT LEAST TRY TO.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT THAT'S A LITTLE PUZZLING, BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THOSE BILLS WILL PASS AND BECOME LAW BY THIS WEEKEND.

SO THEY PROBABLY WILL BE FORCED TO CONSIDER A CONTINUED RESOLUTION WHICH IS A STOP-GAP, TEMPORARY MEASURE THAT KEEPS FUNDING AT THE THE STATUS QUO LEVELS, GENERALLY SPEAKING, AND ALLOWS MORE TIME WHETHER TWO WEEKS, 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS FOR CONGRESS TO ACT.

>> LET'S SAY THAT THERE IS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

WE HEAR THAT TERM A LOT.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN?

HOW IS DAILY LIFE DIFFERENT FOR AMERICANS AND WOULD WE EVEN REALLY KNOW IT'S GOING ON?

WELL, YOUR AVERAGE TYPICAL AMERICAN WALKING AROUND, PROBABLY NOT IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS.

IF IT'S A SHORT SHUTDOWN, THREE, FOUR, FIVE DAYS, SEVEN DAYS, PROBABLY NOT A HUGE DAY-TO-DAY IMPACT.

IN 2018, THE SHUTDOWN WAS, I BELIEVE, 35 DAYS, AND BY THAT POINT, YOU CERTAINLY SEE IMPLICATION ALSO OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT BEING ABLE TO FUNCTION IN A WAY THAT IT SHOULD.

YOU SEE THAT IN TERMS OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT, POSSIBLY V.A.

BENEFITS, LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MILITARY DEFENSE ISSUES TO SOME DEGREE, ALTHOUGH MANY OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WILL BE DEEMED ESSENTIAL TO NATIONAL SECURITY PURPOSES AND THEREFORE GO TO WORK WITHOUT PAY DURING THAT PERIOD.

ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK IS NOT DISCUSSED ENOUGH ABOUT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS IS THE SIGNAL IT SENDS TO FRIENDS AND ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD PARTICULARLY SECURITY PARTNERS AND FIVE EYES AND THAT SORT OF SECURITY PARTNER, WHEN THEY PICK UP THE PAPER AND SEE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS SHUT DOWN, IS NOT OPERATING AT ITS FULL CAPACITY, THAT SENDS A BAD SIGNAL TO OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES AND SENDS A VERY BAD SIGNAL TO OUR ENEMIES AND POTENTIAL ENEMIES.

>> WELL, HOW DOES THIS END, YOU KNOW?

LET'S PLAY THE TAPE THROUGH THE END.

SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SPEAKER MCCARTHY, YOU KNOW, THE MATH IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE IN TERMS OF IF THE HANDFUL OF THOSE ON THE HARD RIGHT, THEY DON'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE, AND, SO, YOU CAN'T PASS A BILL.

DOES HE HAVE TO THEN LEAN ON DEMOCRATS?

THEN, IF SO, DOESN'T HE RISK LOSING THE GAVEL, BEING REMOVED AS SPEAKER?

HOW DOES HE NAVIGATE THAT?

WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE SENATE, HOW CAN THEY BE INVOLVED IN AN ULTIMATE SOLUTION?

>> YEAH, MCCARTHY HAS TO DEAL WITH THE POLITICAL WORLD AS IT IS, NOT AS PERHAPS HE WISHES IT WERE, AND THAT VERY NARROW MARGIN REALLY LIMITS WHAT HE'S ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH RIGHT NOW.

I THINK A LIKELY OR A AT LEAST A POSSIBLE OUTCOME WOULD BE THE SENATE TO TAKE A HOUSE PASSED BILL -- THESE MEASURES HAVE TO START IN THE HOUSE -- SO THEY'D TAKE SOMETHING ALREADY PASSED IN THE HOUSE, STRIKE OUT ALL THE SUBSTANCE OF THAT BILL, PUT IN A CONTINUED RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE GOVERNMENT FUNDING, KEEP IT CLEAN OF ANY OF THE CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENTS THAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE SOUGHT AND PROBABLY PUT IN MONEY FOR UKRAINE, WHICH IS NOT A POPULAR POINT IN THE HOUSE AT THIS POINT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND THEN SEND THAT OVER TO THE HOUSE, AND THEN MCCARTHY HAS AN OPTION, AND THAT OPTION IS EITHER TO IGNORE IT AND TROY TO PASS HIS -- TRY TO PASS HIS OWN WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY AND THEREFORE RISK A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AND BRING IT UP AND WITH A BIPARTISAN COALITION PASS A CR, KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN.

THAT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY INFLAME THE FIVE TO TEN MEMBERS OF HIS CAUCUS THAT ARE ALREADY HIS CRITICS, AND THEY WOULD PROBABLY, IN FACT MOST LIKELY, MOVE TO TRY TO TAKE HIM DOWN, REMOVE HIM FROM THE SPEAKERSHIP.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, BACK WHEN HE WAS SEEKING THE SPEAKERSHIP IN JANUARY, ONE OF THE CONCESSIONS THAT MCCARTHY HAD TO MAKE WAS TO CHANGE THE RULES TO ALLOW A SINGLE MEMBER TO MOVE TO CHANGE THE SPEAKER.

AND THIS WAS A DECISION THAT HE MADE THEN SO THAT HE COULD GET THE VOTES TO BECOME SPEAKER, FINE, BUT HE MAY NOW REGRET THAT DECISION HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>> YEAH, AND HOW MANY ROUNDS WAS IT, LIKE 15 ROUNDS OF VOTING OR SOMETHING IT TOOK FOR HIM TO BECOME SPEAKER.

OF COURSE, THAT WAS ONE OF MANY CONCESSIONS HE HAD TO MAKE.

I GUESS WHAT'S CURIOUS ABOUT THAT IS, LET'S SAY THAT DOES HAPPEN, WHO ELSE COULD BE SPEAKER?

I MEAN, THE MATH IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE, YOU KNOW.

>> WELL, YEAH.

I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET TO, WHICH IS, IF NOT MCCARTHY, THEN WHO IS THIS THE SOURCES ON THE RIGHT DON'T HAVE THE VOTES TO BE SPEAKER.

IT SEEMS UNLIKELY IN THIS POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT A MODERATE REPUBLICAN WOULD BE THE SPEAKER.

AND, SO, IF THEY DO MOVE TO VACATE THE CHAIR, AS IT'S CALLED, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY TO REMOVE MCCARTHY, THE CONFERENCE WOULD HAVE TO ASK, OKAY, THEN WHAT, AND THAT QUESTION WILL BE A FACTOR ON MEMBERS' MIND IF WE GET TO THAT POINT.

>> SWITCHING GEARS A LITTLE BIT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NDAA, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT, THE ANNUAL BILL CONGRESS PASSES.

I THINK IT'S GONE MORE THAN 60 YEARS IN A ROW PASSING IT WITHOUT FAIL, USUALLY A BIPARTISAN THING.

WE'RE GETTING LATER IN THE YEAR AND IT HASN'T PASSED.

ROGERS SEEMED FRUSTRATED.

WHAT'S THE LATEST ON NDAA.

CHAIRMAN ROGERS HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB AS A NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, WHICH BASICALLY OVERSEES POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

HE'S REALLY RISEN TO THE OCCASION AS CHAIRMAN AND GOTTEN A LOT OF PRAISE HERE IN WASHINGTON FOR HOW HE'S MANAGED THE COMMITTEE AND MOVED THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THE BILL HE PRODUCED OUT OF HIS COMMITTEE IS A VERY, VERY GOOD BILL.

LATER, IT WAS ADDED TO IN THE SENSE THAT CERTAIN CONTROVERSIAL SOCIAL AMENDMENTS WERE ADDED, WHICH REALLY, IN THE TRADITIONAL BIPARTISAN SPIRIT OF NDAA, HAS NOT BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN VERY TYPICAL OVER THE YEARS.

THIS IS IN CONTRAST TO THE SENATE BILL WHICH IS A MORE TRADITIONAL NDAA BILL.

THEY BOTH PASSED CHAMBERS.

THEY'RE IN A CONFERENCE PROCESS NOW THAT'S JUST BEGUN.

A LOT OF THAT WORK IS DONE AT THE STAFF LEVEL.

THEY'LL SAVE THE THREE TO SIX PERCENT OF THE BIG ISSUES FOR MEMBERS TO HASH OUT.

I THINK BY THE END OF THE YEAR THE NDAA WILL PASS AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL LOOK A LOT MORE LIKE CHAIRMAN ROGERS' ORIGINAL BILL AND THE BILL HE WANTS AS OPPOSED TO HOW IT GOT CHANGED THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THE COMMITTEE AND THE CONGRESS TO GET DONE.

FRANKLY, THAT BILL HAS A TON OF THINGS FOR ALABAMA IN ITS INDUSTRY AND OUR MILITARY FOOTPRINT IN THE STATE.

MAYBE THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO WATCH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU, BECAUSE OF ALL YOUR EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND ESPECIALLY ON CAPITOL HILL, HOW DOES THIS RANK?

ARE WE RIGHT UP THERE IN TERMS OF THE MOST, YOU KNOW, GRID LOCKED I'VE EVER SEEN?

WHERE DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER FIGHTS?

>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE CASE.

IT'S REALLY CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS.

THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO GET CERTAIN THINGS DONE HAS DIMINISHED, IN MY OPINION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD PEOPLE WHO SERVE IN CONGRESS, SOME OF THEM WHOM I CONSIDER TO BE A GOOD FRIEND.

THE ALABAMA DELEGATION IS A GOOD GROUP OF FOLKS THAT WORK TO GET THINGS DONE IN THE STATE AND ANYBODY IN THE STATE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT.

BUT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AS A WHOLE IS TOUGH, THE COUNTRY IS DIVIDED ON A LOT OF ISSUES.

CONGRESS IS A MIRROR OF THE COUNTRY AND THAT PLAYS OUT PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE JUST GENERAL OUTPUT OF THE CONGRESS IN TERMS OF THE BASICS, THE MECHANICS OF GOVERNMENT, IT'S NOT A PARTICULARLY OPTIMISTIC VIEW THAT YOU HAVE.

AND THAT EVEN SPEAKS TO LARGER ISSUES, FOR EXAMPLE, REAUTHORIZING THE FARM BILL WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BUT ALSO POLITICALLY AND SUBSTANTIVELY AND FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE COMPLICATED.

SO WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

WE'RE TALK ABOUT THE BASICS AND THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S HARD TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> A GREAT POINT.

INPUT MATTERS AS TO OUTPUT.

STEPHEN, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR WEEKLY UPDATES OR READING YOUR WEEKLY UPDATES THAT YOU PUBLISH, THE MONDAY BRIEF AND ALABAMA DAILY BRIEF.

THOSE ARE A POPULAR ITEM.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANKS, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THIS COMING MONDAY, ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION WILL AIR A NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FORMER AUBURN FOOTBALL COACH PAT DYE.

THE FILM IS CALLED "MIGHTY."

TALKING WITH ME IS "SLATS" SLATON, THE DIRECTOR OF THE FILM.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT.

>> WHEN COACH DYE PASSED AWAY, HE AND JIMMY RANE WERE GOOD FRIENDS.

JIMMY CALLED ME AND SAID HE WANTED TO PUT TOGETHER A DOCUMENTARY ON HIS LIFE.

WHEN I SAT DOWN AND TALKED ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT HE MEANT WE'LL GET GAME FOOTAGE, GET STILLS, WRITE A NARRATION AND THAT WILL BE DONE IN ABOUT THREE MONTH.

HE SAYS, NO, NO, HE SAYS, I'D HIKE YOU TO INTERVIEW SOME PEOPLE.

>> THE REAL DEAL.

>> YEAH, THE REAL DEAL.

ANYWAY, HE GAVE ME A LIST -- AT THAT TIME, THE LIST ULTIMATELY GREW TO BE 35 INTERVIEWS.

>> WOW.

>> BUT HE GAVE ME A LIST OF, LIKE, 20 PEOPLE.

THERE WERE PRETTY BIG HITTERS ON THAT LIST AND WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE OFFICE, I LOOKED AT THAT AND, YOU KNOW, BO JACKSON, BRETT FAVRE.

I CALLED BACK TO JIMMY'S OFFICE AND I SAID -- IT WAS JUST A PHONE NUMBER.

I SAID, SO WHEN I CALL THIS NUMBER, AM I GOING TO GET AN AGENT OR HOW DOES THIS WORK?

THEY SAID, I DON'T KNOW, THESE ARE JUST THE NUMBERS THAT JIMMY USES.

I SAID, OKAY.

THEY CAME WHERE I GOT TO SCHEDULE AND THE TOP TO HAVE THE LIST WAS BO JACKSON.

SO I JUST SORT OF TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND DIALED THAT NUMBER AND, ANYWAY, A SCARY THING HAPPENED WHEN I CALLED BO JACKSON.

I TELL PEOPLE, HE ANSWERED THE PHONE.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> YEAH.

ANYWAY, HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN NICER.

THAT PROCESS GOT EASIER AND EASIER.

WE MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE AND IT WAS A TWO-YEAR JOURNEY AND WE'RE REAL PROUD OF THE RESULT.

>> WE TALKED TO JIMMY RANE A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FILM AND SAID SOMETHING THAT STUCK WITH ME.

HE SAID, FEW PEOPLE HAVE HAD A BIGGER IMPACT OR DONE MORE, I THINK HE SAID, FOR AUBURN THAN PAT DYE.

THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE HE WASN'T JUST TALKING ABOUT FOOTBALL, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AN ENTIRE RANGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAT SCHOOL.

DID YOU HEAR A LOT OF THAT FROM THE FOLKS YOU INTERVIEWED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS FAR AS FOOTBALL GOES, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO PAT DYE'S ARRIVAL, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST SORT OF TOUGH TIMES.

THEY HAD THIS LOSING STREAK.

I TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AUBURN NEEDED A PAT DYE.

HE CAME ALONG, TURNED THE PROGRAM AROUND, ENERGIZED THE STUDENT BODY.

NEEDLESS TO SAY WITH THE STADIUM.

>> IT'S A DIFFERENT PLACE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU INTERVIEWED A LOT OF FAMOUS AND INTERESTING PEOPLE.

SO I WAS CURIOUS IF ANYTHING STOOD OUT IN TERMS OF MAYBE A STORY THAT YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING OR WERE SURPRISED BY.

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING, YOU START THIS PROCESS AND YOU THINK YOU KNOW -- YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE STORY.

YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HIS FOOTBALL CAREER, AND, THEN, OF COURSE, I DID MY RESEARCH.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU START INTERVIEWING PEOPLE, AND THEY WILL SAY, WELL, HAVE YOU TALKED TO SO AND SO?

THEY WERE, LIKE, WHO IS THAT?

WELL, YOU NEED TO TALK TO THEM.

YOU TAKE TO THEM AND THEN YOU LEARN A LITTLE PIECE OF COACH DYE'S LIFE THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

THERE WERE CONSTANT TURNS LIKE THAT.

I REMEMBER I WAS TALKING TO JANE SNELL WHO WAS COACH DYE'S SISTER.

SHE SAID HAVE YOU TALKED TO FRAN?

I SAID NO.

SHE SAID YOU NEED TO TALK TO FRAN.

THEY WERE ROOMMATES AND A DUO BACK IN THE '50S.

WE LINED THAT UP.

THERE WERE CONSTANT TWISTS AND TURNS AN JUST LEARNED SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THE MAN THAN WHAT I KNEW EARLY ON.

>> OH, I CAN IMAGINE.

WE'RE GOING TO SHOW A CLIP HERE IN A SECOND AND YOU CAN GET A FEEL FOR JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE -- AND THAT'S JUST A LITTLE TASTE.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I'M AN AUBURN GRAD, FAN ALL MY LIFE, GREW UP IDOLIZING PAT DYE, SO, OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO ENJOY THIS FILM.

I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OTHERS, MAYBE EVEN ALABAMA FANS.

IS THERE ANYTHING FOR THEM TO ENJOY AND APPRECIATE ABOUT THIS FILM?

>> YEAH, THE SECRET IS I GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

>> THERE YOU GO, OKAY.

>> BUT, ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE'S AN AUTOMATIC TIE WITH GEORGIA AND AUBURN.

PAT DYE SPENT NINE YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA COACHING UNDER COACH BRYANT.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, AND WAS A REAL GOOD RECRUITER.

ANYWAY, AND I THINK, YEAH, YOU HAVE YOUR HARD-CORE ALABAMA FANS, BUT I THINK THEY ALL RESPECT, YOU KNOW, PAT DYE.

>> YEAH, I AGREE.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES OF THOSE TWO BEING FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, EVEN AS THEY WERE COACHING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND WHEN PAT DYE CAME TO AUBURN.

SO, YEAH, I THINK THERE'S MUTUAL RESPECT THERE THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER FUN STORIES YOU CAN SHARE ABOUT THIS PROJECT, MAYBE SOME OF THE INTERVIEWS YOU HAD, WHAT YOU LEARNED?

>> YEAH, WELL, ONE INTERESTING THING WAS -- I MEAN, THIS IS HARD TO BELIEVE AND ESPECIALLY TO SAY IN ALABAMA, BUT I'M NOT A HUGE FOOTBALL FAN.

I WENT TO ALABAMA, CERTAINLY I WAS THERE IN THE LATE '70S AND '80S AND, YOU KNOW, I ENJOYED GOING TO GAMES, BUT I DON'T LIVE AND BREATHE, YOU KNOW, FOOTBALL THE WAY A LOT OF PEOPLE DO.

I TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN THE COUNTRY BEFORE SISTERS, SO FOOTBALL IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE.

BUT I JUST LEARNED SO MUCH, AND THE PEOPLE -- HIS FAMILY, I MENTIONED JANE SNELL AND HIS SON PAT, JR., AND WANDA DYE, HIS DAUGHTER, AND NANCY MCDONALD, HIS PARTNER.

PEOPLE SAY, WELL, IT WAS THE BEST INTERVIEW.

THEY WERE ALL TREMENDOUS.

A LOT OF BIG NAMES.

NANCY WAS REALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

SHE COULD TELL A STORY, AND SHE HAD SO MANY ON HIM.

ANYWAY, SHE'S FEATURED QUITE A LOT IN THE FILM.

>> MAYBE THAT'S A PART OF WHAT MAKES YOU PERFECT FOR THE ROLE, FOR THIS DIRECTING ROLE IS HAVING THAT -- IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, LIVING IT AND BREATHING IT EVERY MOMENT, MAYBE YOU HAVE A FRESHER PERSPECTIVE THAN A LOT OF US HAVE WHO WERE JUST SO BIASED.

YEAH, I THINK THAT PROBABLY DID HELP ME.

EVERY INTERVIEW, NORTON DILL WAS THE CINEMATOGRAPHER ON THIS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I WORK WITH, JOE BRIAN AND BRIAN COLLINS, THEY WERE EDITORS, IT WAS A REAL COLLABORATION.

JIMMY WAS INVOLVED, TOO.

>> WE HAVE A CLIP.

THIS IS "MIGHTY," A FILMILY "SLATS" SLATON, AND ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION ON MONDAY NIGHT.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON A FARM IN A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN.

>> DADDY WAS A COTTON FARMER, MAINLY.

FROM THE TIME THE BOYS GOT BIG ENOUGH TO WORK, HE WORKED THEM ON THE FARM.

>> THERE WAS NO SLACK GIVEN ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, NONE.

>> THE WAY HE HAD TO GROW UP, HE HAD TO BE TOUGH.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE LIVED THROUGH WHAT HE DID IF HE HADN'T BEEN TOUGH.

>> WHEN YOU'RE THE THIRD SON, YOU DON'T WIN AT ANYTHING.

YOU FINISH SECOND OR LAST AT EVERYTHING.

I DIDN'T LIKE FINISHING LAST.

I DIDN'T LIKE FINISHING SECOND.

AND LOSING MADE ME TOUGHER.

>> THE MAIN CABIN WHERE WE WOULD ALL SIT AND EAT AND LISTEN TO A STORY RIGHT BEHIND HIM IS A PITCHER.

THIS GUY LOOKED LIKE A HEAVY-WEIGHT BOXER.

I SAID, COACH, WHO'S THAT IN THAT PICTURE?

HE TURNED AND LOOKED AND SAID, OH, HELL, THIS IS ME.

AND WE SAID, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

HE SAID, HELL, I GOT OLD!

>> THE TWO GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYERS I'VE EVER PLAYED WITH, THIS WILL SHOCK YOU, IS PAT DYE AND MIKE DITKA.

>> IN 1959, 1960, MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME, NOW, BILLY, I WANT YOU TO WATCH PAT DYE.

BILLY, I WANT YOU TO WATCH NUMBER 60.

HE WANTED ME TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND WHAT EFFORT AND ATTITUDE THE DIFFERENCE THAT THAT MADE IN SOMEONE'S OUTCOME AND TALENT AND POSSIBILITY.

>> I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING AT AUBURN.

IT IS WHAT I CONSIDER ONE OF THE TOP JOBS IN THE SOUTH, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE AUBURN PEOPLE, ALUMNI, THE FORMER PLAYERS, THE STUDENT BODY, THE FACULTY, THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING THIS VERY FOOTBALL TRADITION BACK TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS.

>> HE IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY SET THE TONE AND SAID, NO, WE'RE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, AND HE MEANT IT, AND YOU KNEW HE MEANT IT BECAUSE WHEN THAT REPORTER ASKED HIM IN THAT VERY FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE, COACH, HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE YOU TO BEAT ALABAMA?

HE NEVER HESITATED, HE DIDN'T BLINK, HE SAID 60 MINUTES.

>> HE WAS OUT THERE MORNING AND NIGHT, AND HE WANTED TO WIN, AND HE WANTED TO GET THE RIGHT KIND OF PLAYERS, AND HE DID.

HE DIDN'T SUGAR COAT ANYTHING.

IF YOU VIOLATED HIS RULES, IF YOU BROKE HIS RULES, HE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE DOG.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID WHAT'S THE DOG IN THE DOG IS A GREYHOUND BUS AT THE BUS STATION.

>> COACH DYE WAS A HARD NOSED S.O.B., TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING A FOOTBALL COACH.

THAT WAS PAT DYE'S COACHING STYLE.

IF YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE WEEK, SATURDAY'S GOING TO BE DOWNHILL.

>> YOU BE, HE HAD A PRESENCE ABOUT HIM THAT I THINK A LOT OF THE GREAT COACHES, THE GREAT COACHES FROM THE PAST HAD THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN BUT YOU REALLY KNOW WHEN YOU SEE IT.

>> I THINK TO CALL PAT DYE THE BEAR BRYANT OF AUBURN IS NOT FAIR TO PAT DYE BECAUSE HE WAS SO UNIQUE.

IN THOSE EARLY YEARS, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A BETTER COACH IN THIS COUNTRY THAN PAT DYE.

>> HE'S A SCULPTOR.

HE WOULD TELL ME, I WANT TO PUT A POND HERE, A TREE HERE, ROCKS HERE.

HE HAD AN IMAGINATION AND A CREATIVITY.

>> LITTLE BY LITTLE, HE WOULD PLANT MAPLES HERE, HE WOULD ADD SOME MORE TO THE WATER FEATURE.

IT WAS AMAZING.

>> THE PERSON OF A MAN MAY GO, BUT THE BEST PART OF HIM STAYS, IT STAYS FOREVER.

AS LONG AS THEY PLAY FOOTBALL HERE AT THE STADIUM ON PAT DYE FIELD, AS LONG AS THAT AUBURN SUNSET IS ORANGE AND BLUE ON A FOOTBALL SATURDAY, PAT DYE'S SPIRIT AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THIS PLACE WILL REMAIN, AND IT WILL REMAIN STRONG.

THE YEARS MAY COME, THE YEARS MAY GO, BUT HIS INFLUENCE WILL REMAIN.

>> ONE OF MY FRIENDS TOLL ME ONCE, HE SAID, HE'S JUST A BIG TEDDY BEAR.

I SAID, THERE'S A GRIZZLY IN THERE, TOO.

>> THAT LOOKS GREAT.

I'M GETTING CHILLS HERE.

AND JUST IN TIME FOR AUBURN-GEORGIA WEEK.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE REAL PROUD OF THE FILM.

ANYWAY, JUST HOPE EVERYBODY ENJOYS IT, AUBURN AND ALABAMA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND TALKING ABOUT IT.

MONDAY NIGHT, 8:00 HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THANKS FOR COMING UPON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BACK NEXT WEEK WITH MORE "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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