>> FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACEY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

IT WAS A BUSY WEEK IN ALABAMA APPLICATION.

WE'LL START WITH THE BIG NEWS ON REDISTRICTING.

COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL MASTER RICHARD ALLEN THIS WEEK SUBMITTED THREE PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS TO THE FEDERAL COURT PANEL OVERSEEING ALABAMA'S REDISTRICTING CASE.

THEY'RE ALL SIMILAR IN THAT THEY ALTER THE FIRST AND SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TO BRING BLACK VOTING AGE POPULATION UP TO NEAR A MAJORITY IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.

THE FIRST DISTRICT WOULD EXTEND ALL THE WAY TO THE GEORGIA LINE, AND THE SECOND DISTRICT WOULD DIP INTO THE CITY OF MOBILE.

THE TREE-JUDGE PANEL IS EXPECTED TO RESPOND TO THE PROPOSED MAPS SOON.

AND ONE OF THESE MAPS IS LIKELY TO BE THE FINAL ONE USED FOR THE 2024 ELECTION CYCLE.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK DENIED ALABAMA'S EMERGENCY REQUEST TO PROCEED WITH THE MAPS DRAWN BY THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT RULING WAS A BIG WIN FOR PLAINTIFFS WHO BROUGHT THE CASE, ARGUING THAT ALABAMA SHOULD HAVE MORE THAN ONE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN WHICH BLACK VOTERS HAVE A CHANCE TO ELECT A CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE.

PLAINTIFF EVAN MILLIGAN CALLED THE RULING "A VICTORY FOR ALL ALABAMIANS."

ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL VOWED TO CONTINUE DEFENDING THE LEGISLATURE'S MAP AS THE FULL CASE PROCEEDS.

AND SAID WHAT THE COURT IS ALLOWING AMOUNTS TO A "RACIALLY GERRYMANDERED COURT DRAWN MAP."

WE WILL HAVE MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING ISSUE LATER IN THE SHOW.

ANOTHER STATE LAWMAKER HAS BEEN INDICTED, THE THIRD THIS YEAR SO FAR.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN ROGERS OF BIRMINGHAM HAS BEEN CHARGED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY WITH TWO COUNTS OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

THE CHARGES STEM FROM THE LONGTIME LAWMAKERS' INVOLVEMENT IN A KICK BACK SCHEME INVOLVING STATE GRANT MONEY AND A LOCAL CHARITY.

FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE FRED PLUMP RESIGNED FROM THE LEGISLATURE EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER BEING CHARGED IN THE SAME FEDERAL CASE.

ROGERS EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE AFTER THOSE CHARGES WERE ANNOUNCED TELLING REPORTERS THAT HE LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS DAY IN COURT.

THAT HOUSE DISTRICT 55 SEAT THAT PLUMP VACATED HAD A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL IT THIS WEEK.

THERE WILL BE A RUNOFF IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BETWEEN TRAVIS HENDRIX AND SYLVIA SWAYNE.

HENDRICKS CARRIED ABOUT 28 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO SWAIN'S 21 PERCENT IN THE BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT.

THAT RUN OFF WILL TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 24.

NO REPUBLICAN IS RUNNING.

THERE WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION IN HOUSE DISTRICT 16.

REPUBLICANS BRAD COX AND BRYAN BRINYARK EACH RECEIVED ABOUT 32 PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND WILL ALSO GO TO A RUNOFF ON OCTOBER 24.

THE WINNER WILL FACE DEMOCRAT JOHN UNDERWOOD.

THIS WEEK WE LEARNED THE FINAL PRICE TAG OF THE FIRST OF TWO NEW MEN'S PRISONS BEING BUILT BY THE STATE.

THE PRISON FINANCE AUTHORITY MET THIS WEEK TO FINAL EYES THE AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS THE STATE TO SPEND 1.08 BILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD THE ELMORE COUNTY FACILITY.

ALIN ARBUTHNOT OF MAYNARD NEXSEN WHO ASSISTED FINALIZING THE DEAL EXPLAINED THAT SOME OF THE INCREASED COST CAME FROM CHANGES IN SCOPE DURING THE DESIGN FACE TO ADD ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES AND SATISFY COURT DIRECTIVES.

>> IT'S BECAUSE OF CHANGES THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED AND ADJUSTMENTS THEY MADE TO CONTINUED DESIGN.

WHENEVER WE MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION WORK THAT CORRESPONDS TO A DESIGN PHASE AS WELL BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED TO DO ENGINEERING WITH RESPECT TO THAT.

>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE RECOLLECTION REYNOLDS WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE GENERAL FUND COMMITTEE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE COSTS WERE FAR GREATER THAN EXPECTED AND SAID THE STATE WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.

>> WELL, CERTAINLY -- I PUBLICLY AGREE WITH WHAT CHAIRMAN ALL BRIT TON SAID AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE SECOND PRISON.

IT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR CORRECTIONS SYSTEM OVER ALL.

WE HAVE ABOUT 1.35 BILLION DOLLARS CURRENTLY ON HAND TO PAY FOR THIS PRISON SO WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL SURPLUS AT LEAST AS TO WHAT IS ON HAND VERSUS WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO FINISH THIS PRISON UP.

SO ALL OF THAT WILL MOVE FOR THE SECOND PRISON.

WE WILL HAVE TO WATCH THE BOND MARKET, POTENTIALLY GO BACK TO BOND MARKET AND GAIN ADDITIONAL OVER 2 HUNDRED MILLION IF WE COULD FROM THE BOND MARKET AND THEN WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON -- WE'RE CERTAINLY UP IN REVENUE RIGHT NOW OVER 23 OVER 22 NUMBERS AND WE WILL HAVE TO CAPTURE SOME OF THAT SUPPLEMENTAL TO SET ASIDE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE SECOND PRISON.

BUT WE HAVE CASH ON HAND TODAY TO COMPLETE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WE HEARD TODAY SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ON.

>> LAWMAKERS TOOK A BIG STEP TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW STATEHOUSE THIS WEEK.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, A JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE PANEL THAT OWNS THE STATEHOUSE, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS OF ALABAMA FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HOME FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

STATE SENATOR SAM GIVAN, WHO CHAIRS THE COUNCIL, EXPLAINED THE CURRENT BUILDING IS IN DISREPAIR AND CANNOT ADEQUATELY ACCOMMODATE THE PUBLIC.

>> THIS BUILDING HAS TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS AND IS NOT FUNCTIONAL AND I THINK IT'S VERY WELL COVERED.

I THINK THE MEDIA HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE A GOOD PRESENTATION FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND TO MAKE THE COMMITTEE ROOMS ACCESSIBLE.

THERE ARE SO MANY COMMITTEE ROOMS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN'T GET IN WHEN THEY REALLY HAVE A KEMP ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEY CAN'T GET IN THE ROOM.

IT'S NOT RIGHT TO HAVE A STATED HOUSE WHERE BASICALLY A LOBBYIST THAT KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND TO GET HERE EARLY GET ALL OF THE SEATS.

IT JUST NEEDS TO BE THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

WE NEED SOME LARGE ROOMS.

RIGHT NOW HE WE ONLY HAVE ROOM 2 HUNDRED WHERE WE HAVE A LARGE CROWD IN THERE WHERE WE CAN ACCOMMODATE A DECENT SIZED CROWD.

SO I THINK WE WILL HAVE MORE CONFERENCE ROOMS.

WE ALSO HAVE A LOT LESS DEAD SPACE.

WE HAVE TO HEAT AND COOL IT AND MAINTAIN IT AND WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB OF MAIN TAKE ADVANTAGE IT.

DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON THIS BUILDING IS PUSHING A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AS I RECALL.

AND THAT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER ON THE ELEVATOR.

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE PARTS FOR THE ELEVATOR.

HOW MUCH LONGER ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE THOSE THINGS.

THERE'S THINGS LIKE HVAC UNITS, ARE THEY GOING TO BE CONTINUED.

SO IT'S TIME TO START A NEW BUILDING.

AND I THINK -- I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY PUSHBACKS FROM CONSTITUENTS ON IT.

IT'S BEEN COVERED PRETTY WELL IN THE PRESS.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PUSHBACK AGAINST IT.

I THINK PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING THEY CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> GIVAN ALSO SAID THE LEGISLATURE HAS A LOT OF TRUST IN RSA FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF THEIR TRACK RECORD WITH BUILDING SEVERAL OTHER SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY.

>> WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE RETURN THEY'VE GOT AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT MARKET INTEREST RATES ARE RIGHT NOW AND YOU LOOK AT EFFECTIVELY THEY ARE OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR A GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

THOSE RATES CAN VARY WIDELY BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE INTEREST AND THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR 8 PERCENT.

I THINK THAT IS OF VALUE.

AND I THINK YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS -- AND IT CAN'T EVER BE TOTALLY ABOUT PERSONALITIES.

RSA IS BIGGER THAN DAVID BONNER.

BUT THE FACT THAT REMAINS IS I THINK HIS TRACK RECORD HAS PROVEN THAT HE WANTS THINGS TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND HE WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, TO LIFT UP ALABAMA AS A WHOLE AND I THINK -- I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO.

THIS IS NOT SOME JOY RIDE HE HAS TAKEN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE BELIEVES SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONGS TIME AGO AND I THINK HE'S GOT THAT COMMITMENT TO IT, TO DO THE PROGRAM.

>> THIS WEEK SAW THE FIRST MEETING OF THE STATE'S OPIOID SETTLEMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

ALABAMA WAS AWARDED MORE THAN 270 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL.

THE 16-MEMBER COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE ON HOW TO BEST SPEND THAT MONEY.

THE PANEL HEARD PRESENTATIONS FROM SEVERAL STATE AGENCIES PLUS EXPERTS ON ADDICTION AND TREATMENT.

BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES DIRECTOR CAM WARD SAID ADDRESSING THE OPIOID ADDICTION IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO KEEP FORMALLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE FROM RE-OFFENDING AND GOING BACK TO PRISON.

>> IF YOU WANT TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CUT RECIDIVISM, MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG HEALTH AND JOB TRAINING.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL THREE, NOT ONE BY ITSELF.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR DATA, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE DRUG TREATMENT OR THE MENTAL HEALTH PLUS JOB TRAINING, THE RECIDIVISM RATE IN OUR JOB TRAINING HAS SHOWN YOU GO FROM 30 PERCENT TO 4 PERCENT.

IT WORKS.

TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION AND PROGRAMMING LIKE WE HAVE HEARD FROM PREVIOUS AGENCIES UP HERE, IT JUST WORKS.

>> WHEN WE LEAKS AT EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR JUST FENTANYL OVERDOSES, DRAMATIC SPIKE.

IT'S OVERWHELMING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS.

IT'S FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU DO.

I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD KNOW THAT ON THE STREET YOU WILL FIND ANY SUBSTANCE CONTAMINATED WITH FENTANYL FROM MARIJUANA TO COCAINE TO WHAT LOOKS LIKE A PERCOCET PILL, WHAT LOOKS LIKE A XANAX PILL, BUT THEY'RE ELICITLY MANUFACTURED AND PILL PRESSES USED AND IT'S GOT FENTANYL IN IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THEY'RE SEEING EVEN MORE POTENT SUBSTANCES.

>> I THINK THAT WE HAD SOME GREAT PRESENTATIONS TODAY.

I THINK THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO COME BACK TOGETHER IN PRIVATE, TALK ABOUT WHERE WE CAN PRAISE THE MONEY TO GET THE BEST RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT TO HELP THE MOST AMOUNT 6 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND BY DOING THAT, I THINK THAT WE'RE BEING ABLE TO INVEST THOSE DOLLARS WISELY FOR THE MUST BE THAT WE GOT IN.

IT'S NOT UNLIMITED FUNDS SO OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PLACE THE MONEY WHERE IT CAN HELP THE MOST PEOPLE.

>> TURNING TO WASHINGTON, WHERE CONGRATULATIONS APPEARS HEADED TOWARD A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THAT WOULD HAPPEN SUNDAY IF THERE'S NO LAST MINUTE SPENDING AGREEMENT.

SOME IN THE ALABAMA DELEGATION ARE SEEKING TO USE THE FUNDING NEGOTIATIONS TO ENACT POLICIES THAT BEEF UP SECURITY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BEFORE IT GAVE AN IMPASSIONED SPEECH ABOUT THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO TAKE IT MORE SERIOUSLY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TOUCHED ON IS THAT YOU SAY DEMOCRATS HAVE NO SOLUTIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS GROUP HERE WE HAVE PUT FORTH SOLUTION AFTER SOLUTION AFTER SOLUTION.

I MEAN YOU LOOK AT HR TOO AND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MOVE IN THE SENATE.

LOOK AT THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE.

I WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN THE BOARDER FIRSTHAND IF THIS WOMAN DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED TO SEE IT IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTERING THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

I FOLLOWED UP WITH A TRIP WITH JOHN CORN UNANIMOUS BECAUSE THEY CARE.

THESE PEOPLE DOWN THERE, SENATOR BLACKBURN WOULD TALK TO THEM.

SHE KNEW THEM.

WE WALKED THROUGH AND WE GOT TO HEAR WOMEN TELL US THEIR STORY.

AND THEIR STORIES ARE BRUTALIZING.

AND SO SENATOR CRUISE'S POINT IF YOU'RE NOT TELLING IT, THAT'S ON YOU.

BECAUSE WHEN A WOMAN SITS THERE AND SHE TELLS YOU NOT JUST ABOUT BEING RAPED BUT HOW MANY TIMES A DAY SHE'S RAPED.

WHEN SHE TELLS YOU ABOUT HAVING TO LAY IN THAT BED WHILE THEY COME IN AND OUT AND IN AND OUT -- IT'S DISGUSTING AND IT'S DESPICABLE!

FOLKS, LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED AT THE BORDER.

BECAUSE JOE BIDEN HAS MADE IT MORE AND MORE ENTICING TO COME HERE.

MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THIS IS A RESULT OF FAILED POLICIES.

WE COULD FIX THIS.

WE CAN'T THROW MONEY AT THIS AND FIX IT.

WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE POLICIES.

>> ON THE HOUSE SIDE, ALABAMA CONGRATULATIONS MAN MIKE ROGERS AND DALE STRONG GRILLED PENTAGON OFFICIALS ABOUT THE RECENT DECISION TO REVERSE COURSE AND PERMANENTLY LOCATE THE SPACE COMMAND IN COLORADO SPRINGS RATHER THAN HUNTSVILLE.

ROGERS, WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, CALLED THE DECISION BLATANTLY POLITICAL AND SAID HE WOULDN'T APPROVE ANY MORE FUNDING FOR BEING SEND TO OF SENT TO COLORADO FOR THE SPACE COMMAND.

>> WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT ABOUT WHY WE ARE NOW IS, WE DON'T LIVE IN A MONARCHY.

WE LIVE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.

THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T GET TO FROM HIGH ON DECIDE THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE AND WE ALL SIT BY AND SAY YES, SIR.

THOSE IN HIS EMPLOYEE MUST DO THAT.

BUT WE ARE AN EQUAL BRANCH.

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH NOW GETS ITS SAY SO.

THE PRESIDENT CAN INTERVENE AND TELL HIS DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

CONGRATULATIONS GETS TO DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO AUTHORIZE AND PAY FOR.

IT IS MY INTENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMPETITION RESULTS ARE HONORED AND THAT THE PERMANENT BASING HEADQUARTERS ARE AUTHORIZED AND FUNDED TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, AND DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, PROVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS IS FULLY FUNDED UNTIL THAT COMPLETION IS MADE.

BUT WE HAVE SEEN SOME REAL COCONCERNS RAISED HERE TODAY.

THERE IS, NO REASON TO JUSTIFY WHAT'S HAPPENED OTHER THAN IN MY VIEW, POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS SO I'M GOING TO DO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE FROM COLORADO SPRINGS HIS DELEGATION DID WHEN THEY FELT LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD INCORRECTLY INTERVENED AND I WILL ASK THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO INVESTIGATE THIS.

MEANTIME I WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE NO FUNDS WILL SPENT IN COLORADO SPRINGS FOR THE PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS.

>> IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MARKET IS GROWING.

WITH MORE EVS AND HYBRIDS HITTING THE ROAD EVERY DAY.

HERE IN ALABAMA, THE STATE IS TRYING TO PREPARE FOR A MORE ELECTION FUTURE.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

>> THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MOVEMENT IS ROLLING TOWARD ALABAMA.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY THAT CAR OR PICKUP TRUCK NEXT TO YOU MAY BE HYBRID OR EV VEHICLE.

THE POPULARITY IN ALABAMA IS RISING.

>> WHAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS.

AND GOVERNOR IVEY IS ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE ECONOMICS AND THOSE JOBS ARE KEPT IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> KENNETH BOSWELL SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS OR ADECA.

HIS AGENCY IS MONITORING EV USAGE IN ALABAMA.

>> BY SUPPORTING THE EV INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE EV INDUSTRY, THEN WE MAKES SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR ALABAMIANS THAT ARE EMPLOYED BY THE ANOTHER MANUFACTURERS GET TO MAINTAIN THOSE OR RETAIN THOSE JOBS AS WELL AS POSSIBLY BEING ABLE TO GROW JOBS INTO THE FUTURE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ALABAMA IS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING STATES IN AMERICA.

AND LIKE MANY OTHER COMPANIES, THE STATE IS ALSO TURNING ITS ATTENTION TOWARD ELECTION VEHICLES.

AND TO DO SO, ALABAMA WANTS TO UPGRADE IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THAT MEANS GRANT MONEY FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., TO MAKE CHANGES.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY CAME DOWN WITH THE NAVY FUNDS, NATIONAL, ELECTRIC, VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS.

AND IT'S 79 MILLION DOLLARS OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.

AND THOSE DOLLARS WILL CONCENTRATE ON OUR INTERSTATES.

>> IN OTHER WORDS, MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE WITH EVS TO RECHARGE THEIR VEHICLES.

>> THOSE CHARGING STATIONS WILL BE LOCATED 50 MILES APART, NO MORE THAN ONE MILE OFF THE INTERSTATE.

WE HAVE A SECONDARY PLAN THAT WE HAVE TURNED INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THEY HAVE ACCEPTED TO AMEND THE PLAN THAT IF THERE'S ANY DOLLARS THAT ARE LEFT OVER FROM THE NAVY FUNDING, THEN WE WILL USE THOSE ON STATE HIGHWAYS AS WELL AS COUNTY ROADS.

>> WITH MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES HITTING ALABAMA ROADWAYS THE STATE WANTS TO BE READY FOR RECHARGING ISSUES.

>> WE CALL IT RANGE ANXIETY.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DISPOSE OF IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW INDUSTRY AND THOSE EVS HITTING THE MARKETPLACE.

BUT THEM HAVING THE RESOURCES TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO -- IT'S LIKE GASOLINE CARS.

THERE'S A GAS STATION ON EVERY CORNER.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY AND THAT EV PURCHASER THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAP THEIR TRIP FROM POINT A TO POINT B WITHOUT ANY ANXIETY.

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

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON CHAIRMAN OF THE WAYS AND MEANS GENERAL FUND COMMITTEE.

MR. CHAIRMAN THANK YOU FOR COMING ON CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> WELL, I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON FOR A LOT OF REASONS AND TOP OF THE LIST IS TALKING ABOUT PRISONS AND SPECIFICALLY PRISON CONSTRUCTION.

WANT TO.

WE HAD THE PRISON FINANCE AUTHORITY MEETING THIS WEEK.

LEARNED THAT -- WELL, I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEEK WE LEARNED THAT COSTS FOR JUST THE ELMORE COUNTY FACILITY WERE GOING TO GO FROM 623 MILLION TO 975 MILLION.

THEN WE LEARNED THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO GO UP AND FINAL COSTS ARE GOING TO GO UP TO 1.08 BILLION.

THAT'S A LOT MORE THAN WE ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

WHAT WAS YOUR BASIC REACTION TO HEARING THAT FROM THE COMMISSIONER.

>> THANK GOODNESS FOR MY HEART PALPITATION MEDICATIONS.

NO.

YOU'RE CORRECT?

>> THE COST HAS GONE WAY UP: THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

BUT I WILL MENTION THE COST THAT WE GOT IN TODAY THE 1 BILLION 83 MILLION DOLLARS FIGURE IS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN THE PROMISED ESTIMATE THAT WAS SHARED BACK IN JUNE.

IN THAT POINT IT WAS 1.09 MILLION PHYSICIAN, WHICH WAS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT WASN'T TOO LONG BEFORE THAT WHEN WE WERE GIVEN THE 975 MILLION WHICH WAS TOUGH ENOUGH FROM THE -- THAT WAS A 30 PERCENT INCREASE OR SO.

SO IT'S BEEN AN ESCALATION THAT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BUT IT'S THERE.

>> AND REASONS THAT WERE MENTIONED, INFLATION, INCREASED COST OF MATERIALS.

WE HEAR THESE KINDS OF THINGS ALL THE TIME.

SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT STILL SEEMS TOUGH TO SQUALL, TAXPAYER DOLLARS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PRISONS.

IT'S TOUGH TO GET TAXPAYERS TO WANT TO PAY FOR PRISONS ANYWAY AND YOU TALK ABOUT THIS INCREASED COST.

>> PART OF THAT IF I MAY SPEAK TO THAT.

PART OF THAT WAS, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME.

I THINK FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TEST OUT THINGS AND WE HAD BILLS IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD SOMETHING AND THEN THE GOVERNOR HAD A RELEASE PLAN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THE.

BUT FROM THAT NUMBER AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE PASSED THIS IS BILL IN 21, IF YOU LOOK, THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAD INITIALLY, WHEN WAS THAT, 19 OR 16 I THINK IT WAS?

WHEN WE INITIALLY STARTED THIS ARGUMENT, WHEN WE FINALLY PASSED IT IN 21 THOSE NUMBERS HAD NOT CHANGED AT ALL.

VERY, VERY LITTLE CHANGE.

>> IT WAS BEFORE ININFLATION.

>> BEFORE INFLATION, BEFORE COVID, IT WASN'T BEFORE LOTS OF THINGS BEFORE ELSE.

BUT THERE WAS NO BUILT-IN MECHANISM OR NO RECOGNITION OF HOW CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CHANGE.

BUT WHEN THEY CHANGE, THEY CHANGE DRAMATICALLY.

>> I KNOW HINDSIGHT IS 2020 BUT I THINK MOST EVERYBODY WOULD SAY -- AND IF WE COULD GO BACK TO 2015, 2016 WHEN THIS STUFF WAS REALLY KIND OF GETTING STARTED, BUT EVEN GOING BACK TO 2019, THE GOVERNOR HAD HER LEASE TO OWN SORT OF SITUATION.

I DON'T KNOW IN THAT'S IT'S THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY IT.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE REALLY HAD A LOT OF RESIST RESISTANCE TO THAT.

IS THERE -- SHOULD WE HAVE GONE ALONG WITH THAT?

WOULD THAT HAVE FIXED A LITTLE BIT OF THIS?

>> 2019.

IN FACT I'M AFRAID IN WE HAD GONE WITH THAT WE MAY HAVE BEEN WORSE OFF.

BECAUSE AT LEAST WE'RE BUILDING ON OUR OWN LAND.

WANT TO EP DON'T HAVE THE COST OF CAPITAL PURCHASE OR PROPERTY THAT WAS IN THE LEASE PLAN.

NOR DO WE HAVE THE ESCALATION CLAUSES WHICH WE WERE REQUIRED TO PAY NOT ONLY THE COST OF THE CAPITALIZATION, BUT ALSO ADDITIONAL FEES.

I'M AFRAID THAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WORSE OFF IF WE HAD GONE WITH THAT PLAN AT THIS POINT.

SO I THINK WHAT WE DID WAS THE CORRECT THING TO DO.

AND THE MISTAKES WERE MADE.

WE HAVEN'T BUILT A PRISON IN 50 YEARS.

THERE WAS A LEARNING CURVE HERE.

AND WE HAD TO LEARN THAT.

SPEAKS OF THAT LEARNING CURVE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ELMORE COUNTY PRISON.

THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY, THE SECOND MEN'S PRISON IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY, YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS I KNOW THERE'S SITE WORK BEING DONE.

ARE THERE LESSONS FROM THE ELMORE PROJECT THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO ESCAMBIA TO AVOID COST OVERRUNS LIKE WE HAVE SEEN.

>> I THINK.

SO NUMBER ONE, ONE THING WE WILL HAVE AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT, IF YOU WILL, AND BY THAT I MEAN THE NEXT SIX TO EAT WEEKS, WE SHOULD HAVE ALL OF THE PLANS IN HAND.

AND THOSE PLANS WILL BE HOURS.

AND THEN WE CAN TAKE THOSE PLANS AT A DUPLICATION.

I'M A LITTLE PART-TIME LEGISLATURE.

I CAN'T TELL EVERYBODY WHAT TO DO IN THAT REGARD TO THIS.

BUT IT IS MY HOPE AND MY PLAN THAT WE DISCUSS AND USE THOSE PLANS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT AND PAID FOR AND ALL OF THE STUDIES FOR THAT AND APPLY IT DIRECTLY TO THE ESCAMBIA MINUS THE MEDICAL, MINUS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND THE TRAINING, ALL OF THAT WOULD BE SEPARATED OUT.

SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGH THE COSTS PLUS WE'RE BUILDING ON PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN BUILT AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THOSE PROM OF PROCESSES AND WE'RE AHEAD MORE THAN WE WERE WITH THE ELMORE.

>> OKAY.

SWITCHING GEARS BUT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THOSE PLANS.

INTERESTING WAY TO PUT IT.

WE HAD THE SUPREME COURT -- WE HAD THE MAPS FROM THE SPECIAL MASTER.

>> I SAW THOSE.

>> WITH THE SUPREME COURT DENYING THE STATE'S REQUEST FOR A STAY.

WHAT WERE YOUR BASIC TAKE AWAYS FROM THOSE MAPS?

I MEAN THESE ARE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE CONGRESSMEN.

>> CORRECT.

THE BEST WORD I CAN DESCRIBE IS DISAPPOINTMENT.

THIS -- IN SOUTH ALABAMA IT SEEMS LIKE NO MATTER WHAT DISTRICT LINE SOUTH ALABAMA IS THE SCAPEGOAT AND WHERE ALL OF THE LINES CHALLENGE THE WHOLE COUNTIES THAT GET BROKEN OUT.

IT'S A VOLATILE MATTER FOR US.

AND TO HAVE THESE CHANGES OCCUR AS TRAUMATIC AS THEY HAVE IS DISAPPOINTING.

IT CUTS MOBILE NOT QUITE IN HALF BUT IT JIGGLES THROUGH AND JERRY MANNEDDERS TO AREAS DOWN IN THERE AND REACHES ACROSS TO DOTHAN.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT WE HAVE BROKEN UP THE DISTRICTS IN SUCH A DRACONIAN WAY.

>> ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ANY REGRET OF TAKING THE COURSE THAT YOU DID INSTEAD OF TRYING TO GET CLOSER TO THAT ARE WHAT THE THREE JUDGE PANEL ORDERED?

IT SEEMED LIKE A RISK WITH 39 PERCENT IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT TODD.

BUT IF YOU LOOK ON SOME OF THAT.

BUT WE WERE GIVEN A TASK THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET.

AND MY PERSONAL ESTIMATION.

ASK.

>> WE WOULD HAVE IDENTIFIABLE TRENDS AND IDENTIFIABLE CONNECTIONS.

WE THOUGHT WE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

THE COURT DISAGREES.

SO WE HAD THE CONSTITUTION TOE DO SO.

EVIDENTLY, THEY FEEL THEY HAVE THE JUDICIAL REVIEW OPPORTUNITY TO DO DIFFERENTLY.

>> YOU HAVE HAD A LOT OF REVIEW HEARINGS ON ARPA FUNDS.

>> YES.

>> AND I'M CURIOUS, I HAVE HEARD YOU STATE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT DEADLINE THAT ONCE SEEMED VERY FAR AWAY ON 2026 -- IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT FAR AWAY WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM ADEM, FROM ADECA, ABOUT THESE PROJECTS.

IS THAT WE MIGHT LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE.

>> THEY ARE AWARE OF OUR CONCERNS THAT THE LAST THING WE WANT IS TO ALLOW MONEY TO GO UNUSED.

WE WANT THAT MONEY IN BIRMINGHAM.

WE HAVE WANT THAT IN THE GROUND IN ALABAMA.

THEY HAVE MADE PREPARATIONS AND DEVELOPED PROCESSES AND METHODS SO THAT AT PARTICULAR TIME POINTS WE CAN REDIRECT THEIR MONIES INTO MORE FEASIBLE METHODOLOGIES, THOSE ARE THAT ARE MORE PREPARED OR THOSE THAT ARE READY TO BE SPENT SO THAT WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS WITHOUT ANY OF IT GOING BACK.

THAT'S A VERY -- THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THE HEARINGS SO WE CAN KEEP THE LIGHT SHININGS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND IT DOESN'T GET ESCAPED AWAY.

>> IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT SUNSHINE AND THESE ARE AFTER ALL TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

AND FOR SUCH A MASSIVE INVESTMENT.

HE WE'RE TALKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU DO WANT THAT TO GO TO PUBLIC GOOD.

THERE WERE GREAT PROJECTS.

WE HAVE MORE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, THIS WOULD BE GENERATIONAL.

JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET IT IN.

>> THE CLOCK RAN OUT!

WE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE.

WE ALSO HAD THAT SAME RESTRICTION AND SUCH.

WE HAVE MEANS AND WE COPIED THAT SAME METHODOLOGY SO THAT WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDISTRICT SO THAT WE CAN SPEND IT.

WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.

I THINK WE'RE ON TARGET.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THAT YOU GENERAL FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON.

A MINORITY LEADER OF THE ALABAMA SENATE.

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

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT'S BEEN A BIG WEEK HERE AT ALABAMA POLITICS.

ONE OF THOSE CRAZY WEEKS WHERE ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.

I WANTED TO START WITH THE PRISON FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.

I GUESS FINALIZED -- WE GOT THE FINAL COST ON WHAT THIS PRISON IS GOING TO COST.

1.082 BILLION DOLLARS I THINK.

>> CORRECT.

>> BIG COST INCREASES.

YOU KNOW, SINCE WHERE WE STARTED AT 620 MILLION DOLLARS.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

DID YOU SEE THESE INCREASES COMING?

>> YES.

YOU KNOW, BEING A PART OF THE COMMITTEE AND BEING A MEMBER OF THE MINORITY PARTY, WE HAVE BEEN KIND OF WATCHING THIS.

WE PUT THAT MINORITY LANGUAGE IN THERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT -- SO I MEET WITH THE CONSTRUCTERS.

OUT ON THE SITE.

I MET WITH THEM AT LEAST TWICE THIS SUMMER.

JUST LAST WEEK PRIOR TO THE MEETING THAT WE HAD THIS WEEK.

AND I WAS LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF HEARING FROM THEM IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COST WAS BASICALLY INFLATION.

THEN THERE WAS COST OVERRUNS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND SO IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE FINALLY COMING TO A FIRM NUMBER.

SO WE STOPPED THE BLEEDING.

WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE COST AND WHAT WAS GOING UP THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

IT WAS GOING UP AND UP AND UP AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THE INFLATION STARTING TO GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE CAUTIOUS ABOUT AND SOMETHING I THINK WE'RE IN RANGE WITH.

>> DOES IT MEAN WE SHOULD TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO THE ESCAMBIA PRISON?

THAT'S THE NEXT ONE; RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> WE NEED TO BID IT OUT.

SO HE WHAT THE PRICES ARE GOING TO SHOW.

>> BOTH OF THESE FACILITIES ON BOTH CAMPUSES ARE GOING TO BE THE SAME MINUS THE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES THAT'S OVER HERE IN AUTAUGA COUNTY.

IF YOU TAKE THAT SAME DESIGN AND PUT IT DOWN THERE IN ESCAMBIA, MAYBE WE CAN SAVE A LOT OF COULD HAVES ON DESIGNING AND ENGINEERING.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE ENVIRONMENTALS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD DOWN THERE.

WE MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE A LITTLE MUFFIN HERE AND THERE BUT WE SHOULD NOT GO ABOVE THAT NUMBER.

>> SWITCHING GEARS YOU WERE ALSO -- ANOTHER MEETING THIS WEEK WAS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL.

KIND OF MOVE FORWARD, TOOK THE NEXT STEP ON FINALLY BUILDING A STATEHOUSE.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE THE VOTE TO BUILD ALABAMA STATEHOUSE.

MAYBE IT'S NOT POLITICAL POPLAR BUT GOODNESS IT'S NEEDED.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT IT'S THE UNANIMOUS VOTE.

EVERYBODY SEEMED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE ALLOWING RSA TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THIS PROJECT.

>> IT'S A GREAT APPROACH.

RSA, OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEMS HAS BEEN INTO THE BUILDING BUSINESS FOR SOME TIME NOW.

IF YOU COME AROUND MONTGOMERY, THOSE ARE BUILDINGS THAT RSA DOES AND OVER PERIOD OF TIME, ADVERTISING DOWN TO WHERE STATE GOVERNMENT CAN BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT GOING INTO BUDGET AND BE ABLE TO DO IT.

I APPLAUD DR. BRAWNER WHAT HE IS DOING TO BILL THE STATE WITH THAT KIND OF CAPITAL HE IS USING.

INIAL THE COLD AND WINTER AND HOT IN THE SUMMER SOMETIMES.

SO WE DO A NEW BUILDING PEOPLE GET SICK BECAUSE OF THE MOLD AND THINGS IN THIS BUILDING.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO HE SO.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT DR. BRONNER AND RSA.

FIRST CLASS ON WHAT THEY DO.

START REDISTRICTING.

THAT WAS THE BIG BOMB SHELL THIS WEEK.

WE HAD THE MAPS COME OUT FROM THE SPECIAL MASTER.

THEN THE NEXT DAY THE RULING FROM THE SPORT, WHICH ONE OF THESE ACHES AND GOING TO BE THE NEWEST.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTIONS SEEING THESE MAPS AND SEEING THE RULING AND KNOWING THAT WITH THE LEGISLATURE PASSED IS NOT GOING FORWARD.

IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

>> WELL, I WASN'T SURPRISED.

I WAS A PART OF THE COURT HEARING.

I WAS THERE AND I SAT THROUGH THE HEARINGS AND I HEARD THE STATE CASE IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY PRESENTED AND I HEARD THE JUDGE'S RESPONSES TO THE IS IT A IT AND HOW THEY SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND HOW THE MAPS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THEM AND THE EVIDENCE BEING PUT ON ABOUT A MILLICAN GROUP AND ALSO THERE WAS A HEARING ON THE SINGLETON CASE THE NEXT DAY THAT WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE JUDGE'S THOUGHT THAT HERE WE ARE WITH THE SAME INFORMATION EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DIFFERENT MAPS BUT WE TALK ABOUT THE SAME THING TRYING TO GET THE SAME RESULTS.

SO THEREFORE, THE STATE PUT ON THE SAME KIND OF CASE WITH BOTH OF THE CLIENTS.

SO I WASN'T SO MUCH SURPRISED OF THAT.

AND WE MUST BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW WE GO INTO IT AND BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS A NEW TERRITORY.

>> YOU TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND 'CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>> IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE -- IT'S MEANT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY DISTRICT FOR BLACK VOTERS.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 7 -- THE 7 IS ALMOST THE SAME.

YOU GET THE SAME COUNTIES, YOU'RE FAMILIAR, YOU WILL HAVE CONGRESS WOMAN SEWELL RUNNING IN THERE.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRAND-NEW DISTRICT BUT THERE'S NO INCUMBENT SO THERE'S FAIR PLAY IN IT.

WE HAVE TO GET IN THERE AND DO THE WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE WORK DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT OPPORTUNITY IS THERE AND THAT WE CAN WIN.

>> ALL THE WAY FROM RUSSELL COUNTY, PHENIX CITY ON THE GEORGIA LINE TO MOBILE ON THE MISSISSIPPI LINE.

THAT'S QUITE A DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

>> IT'S QUITE A DISTRICT BUT YET THE FEAT IS NOT IT POSSIBLE.

IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE THE WORK.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE CANDIDATES, GET PEOPLE IN THERE AND GET TO WORK AND GET NAME RECOGNITION AND BUILD A COMPLETE INFRASTRUCTURE, KNOWING THAT PEOPLE IN THAT DISTRICT HAVE NOT VOTED FOR AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN YEARS IN TERMS OF AT THIS LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I HAVE TO ASK YOU, SPEAKING OF CANDIDATES YOU MADE SOME WAVES THIS WEEK SAYING YOU'RE CONSIDERING AT LEAST RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN THE 7 DISTRICT POTENTIALLY CHALLENGING CONGRESS WOMAN SEWELL.

HOW SERIOUS ARE YOU?

>> I SAY I WILL STILL CONSIDER IT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT IT.

BEING FROM THE BLACK BELT, BORN AND RAISED AND BEING OF THE BLACK BELT -- I'M NOT JUST FROM THE BLACK BELT I'M OF THE BLACK BELT AND THERE EVERY DAY DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND HEARING THE CRY FROM FOLKS AND, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THE WORST TORNADOES AND NO ACCESS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

SO WHEN YOU'RE FROM IT YOU WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO IT YOU KNOW WHERE PEOPLE CAN TOUCH YOU.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS.

THAT'S WHY I PRESENTED A MAP SO WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON THE UNIQUE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR OWN.

SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN REPRESENT US.

I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY INTEREST BETWEEN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND THE BLACK BELT IS FAR APART.

WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT IT.

YET IT'S STILL -- BECAUSE WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE HERE NOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK I CAN GET IN THERE AND REPRESENT THAT DISTRICT AND DO A GREAT JOB.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M JUST STILL THINKING ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW.

>> WHAT'S YOUR TIMETABLE?

HOW SOON WOULD YOU HAVE TO DECIDE?

>> WELL, YOU GOT -- QUALIFYING LIKE IN NOVEMBER OR SOMETHING.

>> QUALIFYING HERE IN SEPTEMBER.

LIKE FRIDAY WEEK OR SO, LIKE THAT.

AND THEN IT ENDS LIKE NOVEMBER 10, SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA.

SO THERE'S TIME.

AND I'M PUTTING TOGETHER AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE TALKING TO GOOD FRIENDS AND PEOPLE AND CONSTITUENTS AND SEEING WHAT THEY WANT.

YOU KNOW, LOOK, THE CONGRATULATIONS WOMAN HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO LOVE HER ALSO, WHO TRUSTED HER AND BELIEVE IN HER.

AND WHO LOVE ME JUST THE SAME.

SO THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THE HOUSES MAY BE SPLIT.

I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT WE ARE AND DO THE BEST FOR IT.

I LOOK WHERE I AM IN THE STATE.

I MADE GREAT END ROADS AND HAVE BEEN A MINORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE AND I WORK WELL WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARTY MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNIST HERE.

GOING TO WASHINGTON IS SOMETHING THAT -- I WANTED TO DO.

BUT IF THE PEOPLE SAY BOBBY, WE WANTED YOU TO BE THERE, BASED ON THIS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE, WE WILL LOOK AT IT.

>> FASCINATING AND I'M HOPING TO HAVE HER ON THE SHOW NEXT WEEK.

BUT IT'S POLITICAL TIME.

WE IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE IT ALL STARTED.

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

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING KNEE.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE FROM MOBILE, THE SPEAKER PRO TEM OF THE ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MR. PRINGLE THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> I FINALLY HAVE YOU.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET YOU ON TO TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING FOR A WHILE BUT THERE'S A REASON YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK A LOT PUBLICLY ABOUT THESE MAPS AND THE WHOLE PROCESS BECAUSE OF LITIGATION; RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

IF YOU REMEMBER, I HAD LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST ME IN 2021 BEFORE I EVER EVEN INTRODUCED A MAP.

I MEAN THE LITIGATION WAS THERE.

>> SO THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL IS -- WHATEVER YOU SAY PUBLICALLY CAN BE PART OF THE COURT CASE AND ALL OF THAT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> WELL, NOW WE HAVEN'T COMPLETELY RESOLVED IT; RIGHT.

THE SUPREME COURT STILL COULD HEAR THE CASE BUT WE HAVE THE RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT SAYING THESE MAPS -- THE MAP THAT WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD.

WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH THESE SPECIAL MASTER PROPOSED BATTLES.

WE DON'T WHICH ONE YET.

GIVE ME YOUR BASIC REACTION TO THAT AND WHAT COULD YOU SEE ABOUT THE MAPS PROPOSED BY THE SPECIAL MASTER.

>> WHAT THEY RULED ORALLY WAS THERE WAS A LIKELY VIOLATION OF SECTION TWO IN THE ORIGINAL MAPS WE PASSED IN 2021.

WHAT WE PASSED IN THE SPECIAL SESSION DID NOT REMEDY THE PREVIOUS VIOLATION.

SO THEY APPOINTED A SPECIAL MASTER AND HE'S TURNED OVER -- WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE SPECIAL MASTER WAS GOING TO TURN OVER THREE DIFFERENT MAPS FOR THE COURT TO DECIDE AND WHAT THE SPECIAL MASTER ACTUAL DID WAS ATOMICS THE PLAINTIFF'S VRA PLAN AND GAVE THREE VERSIONS OF THAT PLAN.

>> THEY DO LOOK SIMILAR.

THERE ARE VARIATIONS IN HOUSTON COUNTY AND HOW MUCH DO YOU GO INTO MOBILE WITH THE SECOND DISTRICT.

BUT REALLY THAT'S KIND OF IT.

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY DECIDED TO RACIALLY GERRYMANDER.

I MEAN I THINK TWO OF THE PLANS RACIALLY GERRYMANDER HOUSTON COUNTY.

>> WELL, THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE INTERESTING PROCESS SECTION TWO CLEARLY SAYS NOTHING IN THIS LAW, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT SECTION 2 SAYS MINORITY SHOULD BE ENTITLED REPRESENTATION BASED ON THE PINCH OF THEIR REPRESENTATION.

NOW WE HAVE A COURT RULING THAT IS HE DOES SAID YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM REPRESENTATION BASED ON THE POPULATION.

THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT ALABAMA.

ALABAMA WILL BE RACIALLY GERRYMANDERED UNDER THE MAPS.

LOUISIANA WILL HAVE TO BE RACIALLY GERRYMANDERED AND ALSO SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> I WAS TALKING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT THIS AND I CERTAINLY THINK EVEN IF IT'S NOT ALABAMA'S CASE THE SUPREME COURT IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO FIGURE THIS OUT BECAUSE THERE ARE QUESTIONS AS TO SECTION TWO, AS TO THE 14 AMENDMENT AND HOW -- STATES NEED CLARITY.

WE DO HAVE CLARITY AT LEAST IN IN THE SHORT-TERM GOING FORTH.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE SPECIAL SESSION ON REDISTRICTING.

THAT WAS A SLUG; RIGHT?

IT WAS JUST MISERABLE FOR EVERYBODY.

I MEAN PROBABLY MOST OF ALL FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU WORK HARD OFTEN ALL OF THIS IS TRY TO GET IT ALL GOING.

IT WAS ULTIMATELY A DIFFERENT MAP.

IT WAS A SENATE MAP INFLUENCED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE THAT GOT PASSED.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT SPECIAL SESSION.

WHAT Y'ALL WERE TRYING TO DO.

WAS THERE ANY FRUSTRATION IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WERE Y'ALL TRYING TO DO WHAT THE COURT ASKED VERSUS TRYING TO GET A COURT CASE GOING?

>> IN WORKING WITH MY TOMIOGRAPHER AND MY LEGAL COUNSEL, LEADING UP TO THAT SPECIAL SESSION, WE PRODUCE A MAP, THE COMMUNITY OF INTEREST PLAN THAT WE THOUGHT COMPLIED WITH THE COURT ORDER.

IT GAVE THE DEMOCRATS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

AND WE HAD THE NUMBERS TO PROVE THERE WAS A 50/50 CHANCE THEY COULD WIN.

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE GOING TO GO WITH.

AFTER WE CAME OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE MEETING ON MONDAY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE DECIDED TO STARTED MEETING WITH THE SENATORS AND CONVINCE THE SENATORS THAT THEY HAD A BETTER PLAN, THAT THEY COULD PRODUCE A BETTER MAP, THAT COMPACTNESS WOULD OVERRIDE SECTION 2 VIOLENCES AND CONVINCE THE SENATORS TO GO WITH IT.

THE HOUSE PASSED MY PLAN.

AND THE SENATE PASSED THEIR PLAN AND THEY MADE IT CLEAR THEY WERE NOT GOING TO PASS MINE SO WE HAD TO -- THE HOUSE HAD TO ACQUIESCE AND PASS THE SENATE'S PLAN.

>> NOW, IN HILLS STATEMENT, AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULING THE ATTORNEY, SAID, IT'S CLEAR THAT ARE NO PROPOSED PLAN WOULD HAVE PASSED COURT MUSTER.

DO YOU AGREE WITH HIM?

OR DO YOU THINK YOUR PLAN WOULD HAVE GOTTEN CLOSE.

>> MY PLAN WOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER CHANCE.

AND I HAVE SAID THIS FROM THE START.

MINE WAS A 50/50 CHANCE AT BEST.

BECAUSE I HAD OTHER CONSTRAINTS.

I HAD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO APIECE AND 140 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE TO I A PIECE.

OUR GUIDELINES CLEARLY SAY WE NEED TO KEEP THE CORE OF THE DISTRICTS TOGETHER.

WE HAVE DON'T PAIR INCUMBENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THE SPECIAL MASTER DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> THAT'S REALLY THE BIG FACTOR THAT I SEE, WHEN THEY PUT COFFEE COUNTY IN THE FIRST DISTRICT ON ALL OF THE PLANS.

ON ALL THREE OF THE MAPS.

COFFEE COUNTY IS IN THE FIRST DISTRICT.

WELL, THAT'S ONE THINGS Y'ALL WERE TRYING NO TO THE DO IS PUT BERRY MOORE AND JERRY CARL IN THE SAME DISTRICT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE COFFEE COUNTY TO WORRY ABOUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF POPULATIONS YOU CAN SHIFT AROUND.

>> EXACTLY.

I MEAN, WE WERE UNDER MUCH TIGHTER CONSTRAINTS THAN THE SPECIAL MASTER WAS.

BECAUSE AGAIN OUR GUIDELINES AND TRADITIONAL REDISTRICTING PRINCIPLES, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINED THAT THE EXISTING DISTRICTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE -- REMEMBER, THESE EXISTING DISTRICTS WERE PUT IN BY THE COURT IN THE 90S.

ALL WE HAVE DONE SINCE THEN IS JUST ADJUST THEM FOR POPULATION DEVIATION.

IN FACT, I WANT TO POINT THIS OUT TO YOU.

WHEN ERIK HOLDER WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HE PRECLEARED OUR CONGRATULATIONSAL PLANS _SECTION FIVE WHEN WE STILL HAD SECTION FIVE PRECLEARANCE.

>> THIS IS THE 2011 PLANS.

>> YES.

>> ONCE HE LEFT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HE WAS HIRED BIFF THIS DEMOCRAT LITIGATION GROUP.

I THINK IT'S BEING FUNDED BY GEROGE SOROS.

THEY HAVE 3 HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO BRING THE LAWSUITS ALL OVER THE STATE.

ONCE HE PRECLEARED US AND SAID YOU'RE FINE WITH SECTION 2 AND THE 14 AMENDMENT, WENT TO THIS NEW DEMOCRAT CONGRESSIONAL LITIGATION THINGS AND THEN TURNED AROUND AND SUED ME AND SAID YOUR PLAN VIOLATES CERTIFICATION TWO OF THE 14 AMENDMENT.

THIS IS AN EFFORT ALL OVER THE NATION TO SUE EVERY SOUTHERN STATE AND FORCE THESE TYPES OF PLANS TO BE DRAWN.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BECAUSE I HAVE ASKED THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE THE QUESTION, LIKE WHY WAS IT OKAY FOR 20 YEARS TO HAVE THAT BURN MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICT AND NOW IT'S NOT OKAY.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO.

AND IT'S -- CHRIS ENGLAND SAYS POPULATIONS HAVE SHIFTED AND EVERYTHING.

I THINK THERE'S A SHIFT?

JURISPRUDENCE.

ULTIMATELY THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER.

AND I THINK THAT'S -- THAT MAY BE GETTING TO A PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW HOW THE DONEES DECISION FOR ABORTION WAS JUST THIS HUGE DEAL NATIONALLY.

WELL, WHENEVER SOMETHING GETS UP TO THE SUPREME COURT, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE THE ALABAMA CASE, MAYBE IT'S LOUISIANA, MAYBE SOUTH CAROLINA OR NORTH CAROLINA -- BUT IF THEY SENT CHANGE, YOU KNOW, HOW DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN AND EVERYTHING, IT COULD BE LIKE A HUGE NATIONAL SHIFT AS WELL.

IT COULD BE A HUGE IMPACT.

I MEAN DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAY.

>> IN THE '90S WHEN WE WERE DRAWING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND WE WERE DRAWING LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS WE WERE DRAWING MINORITY DISTRICTS AT 60, 64 PERCENT.

IF YOU GO BACKS AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CALLED THE BUSKEY PLAN, JOE REED AND JAMES BUSKEY, THE SENATORS HAD 60 PLUS PERCENT BDAP IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND IN 2000 -- >> BY DESIGN.

>> BY DESIGN.

WE WERE PACKING ALL OF THE BLACKS UNDER THESE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND REED SAID HE WOULDN'T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN 28 PERCENT OF THE HOUSE DISTRICTS BEING REPRESENTED BY BLACKS BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION IN THE STATE.

AND HE DID THAT IN THE 90S AND HAVE HELD THAT AS BEST WE CAN.

LET ME ON IT OUT WE HAVE TWO MAJORITY DISTRICTS WITH ELECTED WHITE MEN TO THEM.

>> THAT GOES TO SOME OF THE POLARIZED VOTING, AND WE CAN GET TO THAT.

LET ME JUST ASK IT WHY NOT?

WHY NOT HAVE -- BASED ON THE STATE'S POPULATION, 28 PERCENT BLACK -- >> 27.

>> 27, 28 -- OKAY.

BUT WHY NOT -- THAT'S A GOOD ARGUMENT?

WHY NOT HAVE TWO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT ARE MAJORITY BLACK OR CLOSE TO IT?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

BUT REMEMBER THIS: THE CENSUS CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF BLACK IN THE CENSUS.

NOW IF YOU HAVE ANY BLACK BLOOD IN YOU, YOU'RE CONSIDERED BLACK FOR THE CENSUS PURPOSES.

THEREFORE THE BLACK POPULATION INCREASED BECAUSE OF CHANGE IN THE CENSUS.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE 27 PERCENT COMPACTED CONTIGUOUS.

YOU HAVE A LARGE MINORITY POPULATION OUTSIDE OF ANNISTON.

YOU HAVE A LARGE MINORITY POPULATION OUTSIDE OF ANNISTON AND MADISON COUNTY THAT YOU CAN'T GET TO.

SO WHAT THEY'RE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION TO DO IS COME IN TO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, AND TWIST AND DISTORT AND RIP COUNTIES AND CITIES APART TO TRY TO FIND AS MANY MINORITIES AS THEY CAN IN ORDER TO -- THEY'RE NOT EVEN AT 50 PERCENT.

THEY'RE ONLY 48 PERCENT ON TWO OF THEM.

BUT THEY'VE STRETCHED AND TUGGED AND PULLED TO FIND BLACK VOTERS SO TIGHT AND THEY'RE USING A BUNCH OF COUNTIES THAT HAVE DECLINING POPULATIONS.

DALLAS COUNTY IN THE LAST CENSUS LOST 65 HUNDRED PEOPLE.

EVERY ONE OF THE COUNTIES LAST PEOPLE IN THE LAST CENSUS.

SO IN 2030 YOU HAVE MAXED IT OUT.

WHEN EBB WE GO BACK AND REDRAW IN 2030 THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO FIND BLACK PEOPLE SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADD WHITE PEOPLE TO GET THE DEVIATIONS BACK TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND A MAJORITY WIDE DISTRICT.

>> WELL, LET'S FAST-FORWARD TO THAT.

THE NEXT IS REDISTRICTING.

ANOTHER CENSUS.

MAYBE ALABAMA GROWS MORE.

POPULATION SHIFTS.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

ARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT WE DO HAVE MORE CLARITY FROM THE SUPREME COURT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO?

I JUST HEARD A LOT OF CONFLICTING THINGS FROM REDISTRICTING.

>> IT'S EXTREMELY CONFUSING.

AND I WILL -- THE GENIUS OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND THE SHARED GENIUS OF HAVING A CENSUS TO ADJUST FOR THIS CHANGE IN POPULATION, THAT'S MOVING AND SHIFTING OF, IN THE WHOLE REAPPORTIONMENT AND REDISTRICTING PROCESS WAS BRILLIANT.

IN 1947 THE SUPREME COURT SAID REAPPORTIONMENT IS A POLITICAL THICKENING TO WHICH THE JUDICIARY SHOULD NOT WADE AND THEY HAVE WADED INTO IT AND IT'S CONFUSING AND FRUSTRATING.

BECAUSE IN 2016 THREE FEDERAL JUDGES TOLD US WE WERE LIED TO ON RACE IN DISTRICTING AND NEED TO BE RACE NEUTRAL.

AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING NO YOU HAVE TO RELY ON RACE TO DRAW THEM.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THEY WON'T TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO.

THEY ONLY COME BACK AFTER THE FACT AND TELL YOU THAT YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG WITHOUT A LOT OF CLARITY OF WHAT YOU DID WRONG.

>> WELL, THICKET, THAT'S ACTUALLY WHERE WE DERIVE THE NAME ALABAMA.

SO THAT'S APROPOS.

WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE AND GO DEEPER IN THE WEEDS ON THE PODCAST.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

ENJOYED BEING BACK.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT YEAR MARKERS THE 80 ANNIVERSARY OF THE D-DAY INVASION OF NORMANDY.

AND THE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING PILOTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO GO TO NORMANDY, INSTANCE, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FESTIVITIES.

JOINING US ME TO TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW ARE BOAZ HIGH SCHOOL ALEX STEVENSON, THE BAND DIRECTOR AND LAUREN LINGER FELT THE ASSISTANT BAND DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS, IT WAS QUITE THE HONOR.

I HAVE HEARD OF THE MACY'S DAY PARADE AND I HAVE HEARD OF INAUGURATION FESTIVITIES.

BUT TO BE INVITED TO GO ALL THE WAY TO FRANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH A MEANINGFUL CEREMONY, I WILL START WITH YOU, TELL ME HOW THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME ABOUT.

>> WELL, WE APPLIED TO -- ACTUALLY MS.

LINGER FELT WENT THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS SO I MAY JUST LET HER EXPLAIN -- >> EVEN BETTER.

>> WE GOT AN APPLICATION.

WE FILLED OUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS, FILLED OUT A BIO, TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE ACCOLADES THAT WE HAD RECEIVED RECENTLY AND SUBMITTED A VIDEO PRESENTATION AND THEN WE WERE CONTACTED BY THE MUSIC SELECTION COMMITTEE CHAIR WHO WAS A RETIRED MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT'S UNITED STATES MARINE BAND AND NOTIFIED US THAT WE WERE SELECTED TO PERFORM.

>> WOW, SO WHAT ALL WILL THIS INVOLVE?

I MEAN TO GO ALL THE WAY TO NORMANDY, I KNOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE HUGE CEREMONIES AND CELEBRATIONS FOR THIS 80 ANNIVERSARY.

>> THERE ARE THREE PERFORMANCE ELVES.

THERE'S THE -- THE PARADE IN -- REMIND ME.

>> ST. MARY'S ELISE.

>> AND ALSO WE WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE TWO AMERICAN CEMETERIES.

>> I GUESS YOUR STUDENTS MUST OF COURSE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

WHEN YOU TOLD THEM WHAT WERE THEY THINKING.

>> THEY'RE OVER THE MOON.

WE ACTUALLY GOT IT ANNOUNCED -- WE HAD GOV.

IVEY RECORD AN ADDRESS, AND WE ANNOUCNED IT -- WE PLAYED THAT RECORDING OVER THE LOUDSPEAKERS AT THE END OF HALFTIME AT ONE OF OUR FOOTBALL GAMES LAST YEAR.

>> OH, VERY COOL.

>> SO THEY FOUND OUTDOOR, ALONG WITH EVERYBODY IN THE CROWD AT THE SAME TIME.

SO GAS A PRETTY KIND OF ELECTRIC THING TO HAVE HAPPEN.

>> OH, I BET.

SO IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT A TRIP LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY EXPENSIVE; RIGHT?

ARE YOU GOING THROUGH A LOT OF FUNDRAISINGS EFFORTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT SOME ONLINE EFFORTS?

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE DONE SEVERAL, SEVERAL, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDRAISERS, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF.

WE HAVE PROBABLY DONE IT.

IT'S GOING TO COST 4 THOUSAND 89 DOLLARS PER PERSON AND WE'RE TAKING 140 PEOPLE WITH US TO NORMANDY, SO IT'S ABOUT 6 HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO RAISE.

AND WE HAVE RAISED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT.

BUT YOU KNOW THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.

AND BOAZ IS NOT A WEALTHY COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS 71 PERCENT FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES WHICH MAKES US A TITLE ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SO WE ARE REALLY HOPING TO GET SOME OUTSIDE HELP.

>> SURE.

IF WE WILL THROW UP THE QR CODE WHERE FOLKS CAN GO AND CHECK OUTWEIGHS TO HELP, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I.

REMEMBER RAISING MONEY FOR THINGS I WANTED TO DO IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE CERTAINLY WANTED TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR YOU BUT THIS ONE TAKES THE CASE CAKE TO ME?

AN OVERSEAS TRIP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR STUDENTS NOT JUST THE PERFORMANCE.

THAT ALONE IS INCREDIBLE.

BUT FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO NORMANDY, TO BE A PART OF ALL OF THAT HISTORY.

IT MUST BE THRILLING FOR Y'ALL AS EDUCATORS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THIS BEING THE 80 -- YOU KNOW AS TIME PASSES FEWER AND FEWER OF THESE VETERANS ARE GOING TO BE LEFT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY EMPHATIC ON TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS WAS OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE KIDS TO PERFORM AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THESE HEROS THAT TURNED THE TIDE OF THE WAR.

>> RIGHT.

I'M SURE THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROUD PARENTS, A LOT OF PROUD GRANDPARENTS AND HOPEFULLY SOME BOOSTERS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP GET THE MARCHING PIRATES TO FRANCE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I HOPE YOU WILL PASS THAT ALONG TO YOUR STUDENTS.

AND KEEP US UPDATED.

AGAIN WE WILL THROW UP THE QR CODES AND FOLKS CAN GO DONATE IF THEY CAN.

BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING VIDEO FROM FRANCE OF Y'ALL PERFORMING IN THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENT.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME FOR NOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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