>> GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE OMICRON VARIANT OF THE CORONAVIRUS HAS NOW BEEN DETECTED HERE IN ALABAMA, AND WE JOIN A MAJORITY OF STATES THAT HAVE SEEN CASES OF THE VARIANT, WHICH EXPERTS SAY WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN OUR COUNTRY.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT OUR FIRST CASE WAS IN WEST ALABAMA IN SOMEONE WHO HAD NOT TRAVELED ABROAD AND WHO HAD ONLY EXHIBITED MILD SYMPTOMS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKELY THIS PERSON GOT INFECTED THE FIRST DAY OR TWO OF DECEMBER.

THAT MEANS OMICRON WAS HERE MUCH EARLIER THAN WE KNEW ABOUT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF IT.

IT WILL OUT COMPETE DELTA AT SOME POINT.

IT WILL BE THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT AND REPLACE DELTA.

>> DR. HARRIS SAYS THE OMICRON VARIANT IS HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE BUT, SO FAR AT LEAST, ITS CASES HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY MILD.

BUT, HE SAYS THAT PROBABLY WON'T CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE.

THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND BOOSTED SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS, BUT DR. HARRIS IS URGING THE UNVACCINATED TO GET THE SHOTS.

HE'LL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

>>> GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SAYS SHE'S GIVEN INCOMING ALABAMA CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER JOHN HAMM SOME PRIORITIES TO FOCUS ON ONCE HE TAKES OFFICE AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

IVEY HAS NAMED HAMM TO SUCCEED THE RETIRING JEFF DUNN AS HEAD OF THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM.

HAMM IS CURRENTLY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

THE GOVERNOR SPOKE TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ABOUT HER INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HAMM.

>> I JUST TOLD HIM I WANTED TO DO A COMPLETE AUDIT, BOTH FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY ON THE PAYROLL IS IN FACT NEEDED AND WORKING.

WE STILL HAVE SOME CHALLENGES.

WE HAVE TWO PRISONS STARTING TO BUILD IN 2022.

AND THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING BECAUSE THEN WE CAN START PROVIDING TRAINING FOR AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.

GIVE PRISONERS AND INMATES A CHANCE TO BE REHABILITATED, NOT JUST WAREHOUSED.

>> HAMM WILL, OF COURSE, TAKE OVER AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM THAT IS ACCUSED IN A FEDERAL LAWSUIT OF PROVIDING UNSAFE, UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS IN OUR MEN'S FACILITIES, THINGS THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID NEW PRISONS CAN HELP ADDRESS.

AND HAMM'S APPOINTMENT HAS CERTAINLY GENERATED A LOT OF TALK AMONG STATE LAWMAKERS.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

>> CHANGE IS COMING WITH THE NEW YEAR, BUT THERE'S LITERAL CHANGE COMING FOR ALABAMA'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

COMMISSIONER JEFF DUNN HAS RESIGNED AND LAWMAKERS IN BOTH CHAMBERS REVEALED THEIR THOUGHTS.

>> HE'S BEEN A GOOD ASSET FOR OUR STATE AND LEADING US WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE SOLUTION TO THE PRISON PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD FOR SO LONG.

I APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP.

>> I THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

I THINK WE NEEDED TO CHANGE.

A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION.

NOT ONLY LOOKING AT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT BUT OF THE STATE.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT ATTAINABLE.

>> HIS RESIGNATION MARKS THE END OF AN ERA FOR THE AGENCY AND THE START OF A NEW SEASON.

LAWMAKERS IN THE LEGISLATURE DO NOT AGREE ON HOW TO FIX THE DOC BUT AGREE ON ONE THING -- CHANGE IS IN ORDER.

PLANS FOR NEW PRISONS ARE UNDER WAY.

>> IN MY OPINION, THE FACILITIES WE ARE IN IS THE FOUNDATION OR THE START OF THE SOLUTION.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH AND HIRING MORE OFFICERS, BUT IT'S HARD TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

>> WHILE OTHERS SUGGEST REFORMS ARE NEEDED.

>> THEY SAY OUR PRISON SYSTEM IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE BEING IN IT IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT ESSENTIALLY.

THE SUPREME COURT IN THE PAST HAS SAID THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT CRUEL AN UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.

SO, CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT BEING INCARCERATED IN ALABAMA, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS WORSE THAN THE DEATH PENALTY.

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

>> A BILL HAS BEEN PRE-FILED FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD MAKE STATE INMATES CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER INELIGIBLE TO SHORTEN THEIR PRISON SENTENCES BECAUSE OF SO-CALLED ‘GOOD TIM'' SERVED.

REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GREER OF ROGERSVILLE SAYS HIS LEGISLATION COMES AFTER THIS FALL'S MURDER OF A SHEFFIELD LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

>> WE ARE NAMING IT AFTER THE POLICE OFFICER SHOT UP HERE SERGEANT RISNER.

WHAT IT BASICALLY DOES, IF YOU GET A MANSLAUGHTER CONVICTION YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

MAKES SENSE.

JUDGES UP HERE ARE TELLING ME, LOOK, WE CONVICT MURDERERS AND SEND THEM TO MONTGOMERY OR TO PRISON AND THEY REAL SOON, RIGHT AFTER THAT, THEY JUST LET THEM OUT.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO STOP.

>> THE SUSPECT IN THE MURDER OF SERGEANT RISNER GOT OUT OF PRISON EARLY UNDER THE STATE'S ‘GOOD TIME' LAW.

REPRESENTATIVE GREER SAYS HE'S GOTTEN A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR HIS BILL.

>> ANOTHER STATE LAWMAKER SAYS HE WANTS TO BRING STATE RESIDENTS TOGETHER DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO SHOW CONCERN OVER GUN VIOLENCE IN ALABAMA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

REPRESENTATIVE AJ MCCAMPBELL OF GALLION TELLS "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT HE'S ASKING CITIZENS TO GATHER DECEMBER 26TH ON THE CAPITOL STEPS OR ON THE STEPS OF THEIR LOCAL COURTHOUSES TO SHOW SOLIDARITY.

>> A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I WAS LISTENING TO THE NEWS.

IN A 48-HOUR PERIOD, SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, IN BIRMINGHAM.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THAT IS SIX SHIFTS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S EVERY SHIFT THAT STARTED AT MERCEDES, IF YOU ARE RUNNING AN EIGHT-HOUR SHIFT, SOMEONE WAS BEING KILLED IN BIRMINGHAM IN THAT 48-HOUR PERIOD >> DURING THE GATHERINGS ON THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, REPRESENTATIVE MCCAMPBELL SAYS HE'D LIKE PARTICIPANTS TO SING “LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH.” >> FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE HUBBARD THIS WEEK REQUESTED TO ADDRESS A JUDGE ABOUT HIS EFFORTS TO GET OF PRISON EARLY.

HUBBARD IS SERVING 28 MONTHS FOR AN ETHICS CONVICTION AND THIS FALL SIGNED A LETTER OF APOLOGY.

THE STATE, BASED ON MONITORED PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS, CALLED HUBBARD'S APOLOGY INAUTHENTIC, AND WANTS HIM TO SERVE HIS FULL SENTENCE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL SPOKE TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> LET'S MAKE THIS CLEAR, THE REMEDY THAT SPEAKER HUBBARD IS SEEKING WOULD BE INCREDIBLY UNIQUE.

WHEN SOMEBODY IS SERVING A SPLIT SENTENCE, THE EXPECTATION OF THE COURT IS THAT SOMEBODY WILL SERVE THAT TIME AND ALTHOUGH THE COURT STILL HAS JURISDICTION, WHICH GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO MAKE THIS ARGUMENT HERE, IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND THE FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER AS A PROSECUTOR FOR 20 YEARS THAT I WOULD SEE A JUDGE GRANT RELIEF EARLY.

WE ASKED HIM TO KEEP THE ORDER IN PLACE.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE CASE.

MIKE HUBBARD'S LAWYER HAS ASKED FOR A HEARING ON HIS REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE JUDGE IN THE CASE.

>> IN OUR IN-DEPTH REPORT TONIGHT, EXAMINING THE CRITICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD CARE.

IT WAS THE FOCUS OF A SUMMIT MEETING THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH TAKES A CLOSER LOOK FOR US TONIGHT.

>> A ROOM FULL OF CHILDCARE AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS ATTENDED THE CHILDCARE WORKS SUMMIT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTMENT.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AGENCY SAYS CHILDCARE IS ONE OF SOCIETY'S TOP THREE ISSUES.

>> THERE'S REALLY NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWING OUR KIDS ARE SAFE.

THAT THEY ARE SOMEWHERE THAT SOMEBODY IS TAKING CARE OF THEM.

>> HE NOTED THAT CHILDCARE IS A CRITICAL WORKFORCE COMPONENT BECAUSE PARENTS RISK EVERYTHING, LEAVING THEIR CHILDREN IN SOMEONE ELSE'S CARE AND THEY MUST BE CONFIDENT THE CHILD IS BEING NURTURED SO THEY CAN WORK.

>> MAYBE IT IS MAKING A CAR OUT HERE AT HYUNDAI OR ONE OF THE SUPPLIERS OR HYUNDAI TRANSFORMERS, OR YOU ARE WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL AS A RN OR SURGICAL NURSE OR WHATEVER THE JOB MAY BE.

YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD IS CARED FOR.

>> THE MENTIONED THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY WAS NOT IMMUNE TO THE COVID-19 FINANCIAL IMPACTS.

>> WE LOST JOBS.

BUSINESSES WENT OUT.

CHILDCARE BUSINESSES WENT OUT.

THAT JUST EXASPERATED THE PROBLEM.

ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY CHILDCARE PLACES FOR FOLKS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS.

>> HE SAID HE HAS SEEN A COMPASSIONATE SHIFT AMONG BUSINESSES AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT GOVERNOR IVEY AND CERTAINLY SECRETARY IN OUR DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR IN EVERY DISCUSSION WE HAVE WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND BUSINESSES THIS IS PART OF THE TOPIC.

>> THIS IS ONE OF A SERIES OF EVENTS TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE STATE.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW SORRELL OF MUSCLE SHOALS IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME ON.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

I WANT TO BEGIN WITH CONSTITUTIONAL CARE WHICH SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE DOMINANT THEMES IN THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU ARE CARRYING COUNTRY OF A COUPLE OF CONSTITUTIONAL BILLS IN THE NEW YEAR.

TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE TABLE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I HAVE CARRIED CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, THIS WILL BE MY FOURTH YEAR.

I STARTED IN 2019 AND INTRODUCED THE BILL AND HAD A FEW LEGISLATORS CHUCKLING AT THE THOUGHT OF IT PASSING.

IT WAS NOT CONCEIVABLE.

FAST FORWARD TO 2022, OUR REGULAR SESSION, MY BILL HAS 38 CO-SPONSORS AND THAT INCLUDES THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF LEADERSHIP.

I FEEL LIKE THE SUPPORT IS THERE.

I THINK WE WILL SEE IT PASS THIS YEAR AND I'M EXCITED.

IT'S BEEN A FOUR-YEAR PROJECT FOR ME.

>> TELL US THE ESSENCE OF THE LEGISLATION.

>> BASICALLY YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PURCHASE A PERMIT TO BEAR FIREARMS.

THE CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR, IT SAYS THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.

HAVING TO PURCHASE A PERMIT IS A CLEAR AND OBVIOUS VIOLATION OF OUR RIGHTS NOW YOU HAVE TO BUY A PERMIT FOR 10 OR $20 A YEAR AND CONCEALED ON YOUR PERSON OR IN YOUR VEHICLE.

VEHICLE IS ALSO CONSIDERED CONCEALED CARRY.

YOU COULD CARRY AN AR-15, AK 47, NO PERMIT, PERFECTLY LEGAL IN ALABAMA.

IF YOU HAVE A SINGLE SHOT 22 DERRINGER AND YOU PUT IT IN YOUR CAR, IN YOUR GLOVE BOX YOU ARE A CRIMINAL UNDER ALABAMA LAW.

IF YOU WALK IN FRONT OF YOUR BUSINESS WITH A PISTOL ON YOUR HIP, PERFECTLY LEGAL AND IF YOU PUT ON A JACKET YOU ARE A CRIMINAL.

THESE BILLS ARE CRAZY AND NEED TO CHANGE.

>> YOUR COLLEAGUE IS CARRYING A SIMILAR BILKERS CORRECT?

>> WE HAVE BOTH SPONSORED EACH OTHER'S BILLS.

WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SEEING LEGISLATION BECOME LAW.

WE THINK IT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

SOME OF THE SAFEST STATES IN THE NATION HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, MAINE, THE HOME OF BERNIE SANDERS HAS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY AND ALABAMA DOES NOT.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT MAKES PEOPLE LESS SAFE.

I BELIEVE THE MORE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS THAT OWN GUNS THE SAFER WE ALL ARE.

I'M WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE STRINGER AND MAYBE HIS BILL THAT PASSES.

I'M FINE WITH THAT.

ANY GOOD, CLEAN, CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL I WILL SUPPORT.

I SAW SENATOR MELSON HAS PRODUCED SB-12 A WEEK OF WEEKS AGO.

WE NEED TO GET BEHIND THEM AND HELP THEM PASS.

>> YOU SAID YOU THINK 2022 IS THE YEAR FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY IN ALABAMA.

WHAT'S CHANGED?

LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS PUSHED BACK THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>> THEY HAVE.

ONE THING THAT CHANGED IS WE HAVE SEEN 21 OTHER STATES DO THIS.

WE ARE NOT GUINEA PIGS HERE.

DID PISTOL PERMITS GO TO ZERO, NO, THEY DIDN'T IN ARIZONA.

THEY PASSED IT IN 2011, THEY SELL THREE TIMES AS MANY AS IN 2011.

THEY STILL PURCHASE THE PERMIT BECAUSE IT IS RECIPROCITY IN OTHER STATES.

FOR STATES IN THE LOWER 48 I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST WE WILL SELES PISTOL PERMITS THAN AFTER WE PASS IT.

>> IS THIS MADE HARDER BY REPORTS COMING IN ABOUT GROWING GUN VIOLENCE AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> THE GUN CRIMINALS ARE NOT THE ONES GETTING PERMITS ANYWAY.

CRIMINALS WILL ALWAYS HAVE A GUN.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMIT TO CARRY THE GUN, THEY WILL STILL CARRY THE GUN BECAUSE THEY ARE PERMITS BY DEFINITION.

WE NEED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD SO LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS CAN CARRY A GUN.

SO I REALIZED ONE DAY -- I MARRIED A GIRL FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

SHE MOVED HERE.

SHE TOOK MY CAR TO WALMART TO GROCERY SHOP.

AND IT HIT ME, I HAVE A GUN IN THE GLOVE BOX.

IF SHE IS CAUGHT SHE IS A CRIMINAL UNDER ALABAMA LAW.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT MASKING IN SCHOOLS.

YOU ARE BRINGING BACK A BILL IN THE NEW SESSION WHICH PROHIBITS MASK MANDATES IN K-12 SCHOOLS.

THE SCHOOL BOARD PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT SAID THE DECISIONS WILL REMAIN LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS' DECISION.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO BRING BACK THE MASK MANDATES.

>> POPULAR DEMAND FOR ONE THING.

I ANTICIPATED BY THE REGULAR SESSION THE MASK THING WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE ANYMORE.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE GONE AWAY.

WE ARE SEEING MANY DISTRICTS CONTINUE WITH THE MASK MANDATES.

I HAVE ASKED BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE TO BRING IT BACK.

THE BILL IS NOT ANTIMASK, IT IS ANTIMASK MANDATE.

I WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IF THE SCHOOL MANDATED THEY COULDN'T WEAR A MASK.

THE DECISION IS NOT AT THE STATE LEVEL OR THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD LEVEL.

IT IS MORE LOCAL THAN THAT, THE INDIVIDUAL PARENTS OR GUARDIANS MAKING A DECISION OF WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

I SUPPORT THE PARENTS' RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

I WANT THE PARENTS TO MAKE THE MEDICAL DECISION FOR THEIR CHILD.

WHAT IF THEIR ALREADY HAD COVID.

WHY ARE THEY MASKING?

THE RISK IS LOW FOR CHILDREN.

I SAY LET THE PARENTS MAKE IT.

IF THE PARENT WANTS TO HAVE THEIR CHILD WEAR A MASK, I SUPPORT THAT DECISION.

AS I EXPECT THEM TO SUPPORT MY DECISION NOT TO MASK MY CHILD.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT WE MAY BE POISED FOR ANOTHER SURGE IN ALABAMA LIKE OTHER STATES?

>> WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER SURGE.

WE WENT FROM TWO WEEKS TO SLOW THE SPREAD AND TWO YEARS AND WE ARE STILL MANDATING MASKS.

AT SOME POINT THIS HAS TO END.

WE CAN'T LIVE LIFE WEARING A MASK FOR 30 YEARS.

WOULD MASK HELP WITH THE FLU SEASON?

I DON'T KNOW MAYBE.

THEY WOULD PROBABLY SAY YES.

NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE THEIR LIFE WITH A MASK ON THEIR FACE.

IT IS LIKE THE VACCINE BILL WHERE WE SB-9 WHERE PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO OPT OUT FOR RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL REASONS.

AS LONG AS WE PROVIDE MEASURE OF FREEDOM AND CHOICE IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS.

I'D VOTE FOR CHIP BROWN'S BILL.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

YOU ARE GIVING IT UP TO RUN FOR STATE AUDITOR.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT WAS WITH MIXED EMOTIONS.

I FEEL I HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE MOVING CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY FORWARD AND WORKING ON REFORM.

AND MIXED EMOTIONS WITH ME LEAVING BUT EXCITED TO RUN FOR STATE AUDITOR.

I HAVE THE MOST FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE VOTING RECORD IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE PERFECT PERSON TO SERVE AS STATE AUDITOR.

WHO BETTER THAN SOMEONE WHO'S CAREFUL WITH THE TAXPAYER MONEY.

>> HOW'S MOMENTUM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?

>> IT IS VERY GOOD.

SEVERAL OF MY OPPONENTS HAVE WON BEFORE.

SO I MIGHT HAVE AN I.D.

DISADVANTAGE.

I'M LEADING 5-1 ON FUNDRAISING AND I HAVE BEEN CRISSCROSSING THE STATE.

I'M GOING TO COMMUNITIES THAT DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED.

I'M LEARNING ABOUT SMALL AREAS OF ALABAMA AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYING CAMPAIGNING.

PROBABLY DID TEN CHRISTMAS PARADES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> OH, YEAH, THAT'S FUN.

PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

SO MUCH.

>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY WAS FOUNDED IN 1901, BECOMING THE NATION'S FIRST PUBLICLY FUNDED ARCHIVE AGENCY.

IT IDENTIFIES, PRESERVES AND MAKES ACCESSIBLE ARTIFACTS.

THE FIRST DIRECTOR WAS EXCEEDED BY HIS WIFE WHO HEADED THE ARCHIVES FOR 35 YEARS AND THE SECOND WOMAN TO LEAD A STATE AGENCY.

>>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MIKE JONES ANDALUSIA IS WITH US.

I WANT TO START WITH A BILL YOU CARRIED IN THE LAST SPECIAL SESSION.

IT DEALT WITH THE VACCINE EXEMPTION FOR WORKERS IN ALABAMA.

THEY COULD CLAIM MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS.

YOU HAVE SAID YOU HAD CONTACT WITH A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS DURING THIS DEBATE AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY SPURRED YOU TO SUPPORT.

>> CORRECT.

I WAS TASKED AS THIS JOB AS A SPEAKER TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE AND I STARTED TO GET CONTACT FROM CONSTITUENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE AND ONE THING THAT BECAME OBVIOUS TO ME IS PROTECTING ALABAMA JOBS.

I LOOKED AT IT FROM TWO POINTS OF VIEW.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHO ARE TERRIFIED ABOUT THIS VACCINE.

WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, AND I DID TALK TO MANY IN PERSON, IT WAS OF COURSE THIS WASN'T SOME POLITICAL THING.

IT WAS A SINCERE FEAR OF THE VACCINE R. I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE MANDATE FOR THINGS PEOPLE ARE TRULY AFRAID OF.

IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

THE OTHER THING IS FROM THE EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE.

A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES IN ALABAMA ARE OWNED BY ALABAMIANS.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LOSING SIGHT OF THAT.

THIS REQUIREMENT, THIS MANDATE WAS FORCED UPON THEM BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

A LOT OF ALABAMA BUSINESSES DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.

THEY DIDN'T FEEL THEY HAD A CHOICE.

THE WAY THAT I APPROACHED THIS LEGISLATION WAS TO PROTECT BOTH, ALABAMA JOBS AS A WHOLE FROM THE EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER SIDE.

THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO DO.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, THIS OBVIOUSLY WASN'T ON THE CALL AT THE LAST SPECIAL SESSION, IT WAS ABOUT REDISTRICTING BUT YOU MUSTERED THE VOTES TO GET IT ADDED.

>> YES, SIR.

IT WASN'T REALLY CLOSE.

THE VOTES CAME THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES TO SEND IT TO THE HOUSE.

PART OF IT WAS THE APPROACH.

WE TOOK A REALITY-BASED COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO THE PROJECT AND TO THE JOB.

WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE LEGISLATION ITSELF AS FAR AS WHAT THE WAIVER WOULD LOOK LIKE AND THE EXEMPTION WAIVER WOULD LOOK LIKE BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO GIVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.

WE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF DRAFTS AND LOOKED AT CASE REFERENCE AND REGULATORY LAW FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TRIED TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.

I THINK WE DID AS GOOD OF A JOB AS WE COULD GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCE.

>> THERE WAS INTENSE DEBATE SURROUNDING THIS AND SOME SAID THEY WERE ABUSING THE LAW.

THAT PEOPLE THAT WOULD FILE FOR THESE EXEMPTIONS.

THESE WORKERS WOULDN'T BE TRUTHFUL IN FILING FOR THE EXEMPTIONS.

>> ONCE AGAIN, THESE ARE EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING IN FEDERAL REGULATORY LAW.

I'LL BE SPECIFIC.

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH IS IF SOMEONE I CLAIMS IT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET INTO A DEBATE REGARDING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

THAT'S HOW THEY APPROACH THE ISSUE.

I ONLY FOUND ONE CASE IN THE UNITED STATES IN FEDERAL COURT IN MISSOURI I BELIEVE, BUT IT WAS A CASE THAT WAS TRULY ON ITS FACE AN ABUSE OF THE ISSUE.

OTHER THAN THAT WE COULDN'T FIND ONE OTHER REFERENCE TO THE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.

THAT'S THE WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PROCESSED IT.

THE MEDICAL EXEMPTION IS ONE THAT WAS MORE GRAY.

THAT'S ONE REASON WE SPENT MORE EFFORT AND TIME IN WORDING THAT LANGUAGE IN THE EXEMPTION FORM TO GIVE PEOPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE KNEW WERE REGULATED AND ENFORCED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO GAVE THEM A WAY TO EXPLAIN THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE KNOWN TO MOST PEOPLE.

WE TOOK SOMETHING THAT WAS A FIRST IMPRESSION ISSUE AND DID THE BEST WE COULD WITHIN THE TIME CONSTRAINTS.

SO FAR THE RESPONSE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD.

>> YOU SAID MOST OF THE PEOPLE YOU TALKED TO ABOUT THIS HAD WHAT YOU REFERRED TO AS LEGITIMATE FEARS.

THAT THEIR FEARS WEREN'T BASED IN POLITICS BUT GENUINE FEAR OF THE VACCINE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS SOME POLITICAL PLAY IN SOME OF THESE THINGS BY SOME PEOPLE BUT THE ONES I SPOKE AND MET WITH PERSONALLY, I KNEW SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.

SOME I HAD NOT MET BEFORE BUT WHEN YOU MEET WITH THEM FACE-TO-FACE AND SEE THE LOOK WHEN THEY EXPLAIN THEIR POSITION AND WHY, HONESTLY, I HAD NO PROBLEM CARRYING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION BECAUSE OF WHAT I WITNESSED MYSELF.

THESE PEOPLE WERE TRULY AFRAID OF IT.

>> LET'S TURN TO THE UPCOMING REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I IMAGINE SPENDING THE LATEST STIMULUS MONEY WILL BE FIRST AND FOREMOST.

>> BETWEEN THE BUDGET THANS MONEY COMING TO THE STATES WILL BE THE KEY ISSUES WE NEED TO TAKE UP.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE KEY IS TO BE EFFICIENT AND NOT BE WASTEFUL.

TO MAKE SURE IT GOES TO THINGS WITHIN THE RESTRICTIONS AND RESTRAINTS ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH THERE ARE QUITE A FEW AND THERE'S DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS AND RESTRAINTS DEPENDING ON WHICH POT OF MONEY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BRINGING DOWN TO THE STATES.

NOT AS EASY AS PEOPLE MAY THINK.

IT WILL BE MORE COMPLICATED BUT THAT'S PART OF OUR JOB TO WORK THROUGH THAT AND MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS WE CAN AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL TRY TO DO.

>> IT IS EXCITING THE POSSIBLE OF THIS MONEY AND THE DIFFERENCE IT COULD MAKE?

>> IT IS.

YOU AND I HAVE TALKED BEFORE, THE BIGGEST CONCERN I HAVE IS THE TIME RESTRAINTS.

THE GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING TIME CONSTRAINTS, TWO TO THREE YEARS THE MONEY HAS TO BE ALLOCATED AND SPENT.

WELL, WHEN ALL STATES, EVERY STATE IN THE NATION IS GIVEN THE SAME BUNDLE OF MACHINE AND TOLD TO SPEND IT IN THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY PEOPLE TO DO CONSTRUCTION AND PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES.

WE ARE COMPETING FOR THE SAME THINGS.

HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN THEY PUT IT TOGETHER.

I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE REALITY BASED ON WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THEY DUMP THAT MONEY ON TO US AS A NATION.

I HOPE AND WISH THAT THEY WILL MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS TO THAT, FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO MAKE MORE TIME TO HAVE IT SPENT MORE EFFICIENTLY AND WISELY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

YOU HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE THE ENTIRE TEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN HOST OF THE SHOW AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON THE SHOW OVER THE YEARS AND I WANT TO TELL A STORY ON YOU BEFORE WITH YOU GO.

YOU ARE ONE OF A COUPLE OF LAWMAKERS THAT HAD TO COMPETE WITH HOLMES WHO KEPT AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME ONE DAY DESPITE HAVING INJURED HIS FOREHEAD AND CAME IN WITH A BANDAGE ON HIS FOREHEAD AND CAME IN AND THE OTHER IS YOU.

YOU WERE SCHEDULED TO BE ON THE SHOW DURING AN ICE STORM.

I INTENDED TO CANCEL AND YOU CALL ME AND SAID, I'M STUCK HOTEL AND YOU WALKED OVER HERE DURING AN ICE STORM AND WERE ON THE SHOW THAT NIGHT.

YOU WON'T ABOVE AND BEYOND TO BE ON THE SHOW.

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I HAVE APPRECIATED WORKING WITH YOU.

YOUR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN DIRECT AND THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE WANT.

THE REAL NEWS AND REAL FACTS AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO YOU TO GET TO THAT.

>> APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON MY FINAL BROADCAST.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU COMING UP.

THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST YEAR IN THE HOUSE.

YOU ARE CAMPAIGNING FOR THE SENATE AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MIKE JONES THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.

>> A PLEASURE.

>> YOU BET.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, IT'S WEEKLY VISIT WITH STATE HEALTH OFFICER SCOTT HARRIS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

NICE TO BE YOUR TWIN AGAIN.

WITH HAVE OUR LIGHT BLUE SUITS AND THE SAME TIE AND THAT'S THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> IT WASN'T PLANNED BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT MANY TIES SO.

>> THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIES.

SO GOOD TASTE.

>> LOOKS GOOD ON YOU.

>> DR. HARRIS, LET'S START WITH OMICRON.

IT FINALLY REARED ITS HEAD IN ALABAMA.

IT PROBABLY HAS BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE BUT WE FINALLY DETECTED THE FIRST CASE.

>> IT HAD BEEN DETECTED IN THE STATES THAT BORDERED ALABAMA ALREADY.

WE KNEW IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT IT WAS COMING.

IT IS INTERESTING THE CASE WAS SOMEONE THAT TESTED POSITIVE A WEEK OR WEEK AND A HALF AGO AND WE INVESTED THE CASE AND TALKED TO THE PERSON.

SO WE KNEW ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL.

WE ONLY JUST FOUND OUT A DAY OR SO AGO IT WAS AN OMICRON VARIANT ONCE ADDITIONAL TESTING WAS DONE.

BUT THE PERSON THAT TESTED A WEEK AGO HAD SYMPTOMS, A FEW DAYS BEFORE THAT.

IT SEEMS LIKELY THE PERSON WAS INFECTED AROUND THE FIRST DAY OR TWO OF DECEMBER.

THAT MEANS THAT OMICRON WAS HERE MUCH EARLIER THAN WE KNEW ABOUT.

>> I KNOW YOU DON'T RELEASE MANY DETAILS ABOUT THESE PEOPLE BUT IT WAS A WEST ALABAMA, WAS IT NOT?

>> YES.

THE PERSON DID NOT HAVE ANY HISTORY OF TRAVEL OR EXPOSURE TO ANYONE WHO TRAVELED.

AT THE TIME WE INTERVIEWED THEM HASN'T BEEN SICK OR HOSPITALIZED.

IT IS INTERESTING THAT IT SHOWED UP PROBABLY TEN DAYS OR MAYBE MORE AGO AND YET IN A PERSON WHO HAD NO TRAVEL HISTORY AT ALL.

>> WE NEED TO POINT OUT A LOT OF CASES HAVE BEEN FROM PEOPLE WHO TRAVELED INTERNATIONALLY, SAY TO SOUTH AFRICA WHERE THIS FIRST TURNED UP BUT THIS WAS A CASE THAT WAS TRANSMITTED LOCALLY.

>> IF YOU REMEMBER, IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING, JUST REALLY THREE WEEKS AGO THAT WE EVEN KNEW OMICRON EXISTED ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

IT HAD NEVER BEEN DESCRIBED BEFORE.

WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF IT BEING DESCRIBED FOR THE FIRST TIME IS PROBABLY AROUND THE TIME THIS PERSON IN ALABAMA BECAME INFECTED.

IT JUST LETS YOU KNOW THESE THINGS PROBABLY CIRCULATE A LONG TIME AT LOW LEVELS UNDETECTED UNTIL IT FINALLY COMES ON THE RADAR.

>> CAN YOU TELL US THIS PARTICULAR PERSON, WERE THE SYMPTOMS MILD LIKE SO MANY CASES WE HAVE HEARD SO FAR?

>> I INTERVIEWED A FEW DAYS AGO AND THE PERSON SAID THERE WERE NO SEVERE SYMPTOMS.

THEY WERE QUARANTINING AT HOME WITH FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED BUT NO ONE WAS PARTICULARLY ILL. >> I KNOW WE ARE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR ABOUT IT, IT IS HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE.

>> IT IS SEVERAL TIMES MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN DELTA AND DELTA WAS MANY TIMES MORE THAN THE EARLIEST STRAINS A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS AGO.

JUST ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, THE CDC REPORTED THAT 99.9% OF EVERYTHING IN AMERICA WAS DELTA.

ALL THE OTHER VARIANTS PUT TOGETHER WERE 0.1%.

THIS LAST WEEK IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK, 13% OF THE CASES WERE OMICRON.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE OF IT.

IT WILL OUT COMPETE DELTA AT SOME POINT AND PROBABLY BE THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT AND REPLACE DELTA.

>> WE TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT A LOT OF OMICRON CASES HAVE BEEN MILD BUT WE CAN'T BANK ON THAT CONTINUING REALITY, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

WE HOPE WE WILL KNOW THAT SOON.

THAT INFORMATION WILL BECOME UNDERSTOOD FAIRLY SOON, AS SOON AS WE HAVE A BIG ENOUGH NUMBER OF PATIENTS TO STUDY.

RIGHT NOW THE ANTIDOTES WE HEAR WITHIN THIS COUNTRY AND OVERSEES IS PEOPLE DO WELL.

THERE IS ONLY A SINGLE OMICRON DEATH REPORTED THAT I'M AWARE OF ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND NOT MANY AT ALL.

WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT, AS IT BECOMES MORE INFECTIOUS IT LOSES THE ABILITY TO CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU SEE WITH OTHER TYPE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

>> NOW OMICRON HAS BEEN DETECTED IN ALABAMA WE WILL SEE MORE CASES IN THE NEXT DAYS AND WEEKS, RIGHT?

>> IT IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE AND EASIER TO SPREAD.

NO QUESTION THE VACCINES WORK AGAINST THIS OMICRON TO SOME DEGREE, ALTHOUGH NOT AS WELL AS THEY DID AGAINST DELTA AND OTHER STRAINS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF UNVACCINATED ALABAMIANS AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD RECIPE.

>> SPEAKING OF VACCINE PROTECTION FROM THE OMICRON VARIANT, WE HAVE HEARD STORIES FROM OVERSEAS, THE U.K. WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THEY GET THE BOOSTER.

THAT THE TWO REGULAR SHOTS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO PREVENT INFECTION FROM OMICRON BUT IF YOU HAVE THE BOOSTER THAT INCREASED YOUR CHANCES OF GUARDING AGAINST IT.

>> WE HAVE MANY REPORTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND SOMETIMES EVEN BOOSTED WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH OMICRON.

THE VACCINE STILL WORKS PRETTY WELL.

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TWO SHOTS AND NOT BOOSTED IT IS 50 TO 60% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING INFECTION.

FOR PEOPLE BOOSTED IT IS 75% AND SOMEWHAT HIGHER.

THAT'S A FALL OFF FROM WHAT WE WERE SEEING WITH DELTA, THE PROTECTION AGAINST DELTA BUT A VACCINE THAT IS 75% EFFECTIVE IS PRETTY GOOD VACCINE.

IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN INFLUENZA VACCINE.

>> SPEAKING OF VACCINES, THE ADVISORY PANEL TO THE CDC RECOMMENDED TO FOLKS CHOOSING PFIZER AND MODERNA OVER JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

>> THE RECOMMENDATION WAS BASED EXCLUSIVELY ON DATA WE HAVE NOW ABOUT BLOOD CLOTS THAT OCCUR VERY RARELY IN SOME PEOPLE THAT RECEIVE THE J.J.

VACCINE.

WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE HAVE A LOW RISK OF BLOOD CLOTS WITH THE J AND J.

THEY WERE STOPPED FOR A WEEK OR SO BACK LAST SUMMER WHEN THEY WERE FIRST RECOGNIZED AS A PROBLEM.

IT IS AN EXTREMELY RARE PHENOMENON AND DOESN'T HAVE COMMONLY AT ALL.

IT TENDS TO HAPPEN EIGHT OR NINE DAYS AFTER THE VACCINE.

ANYONE WHO GOT J&J A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR MONTHS AGO WAS IS IN THE CLEAR ON THAT TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE.

JUST BECAUSE THE OTHER VACCINES DON'T HAVE ANY COMPLICATION LIKE THAT, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS YOU SHOULD TRY TO TAKE AN MRNA VACCINE LIKE PFIZER OR MODERNA BUT IF YOU DON'T IT IS STILL A CHOICE.

>> IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD THE J&J VACCINE THERE IS NO OVER ARCHING CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

>> IF YOU ARE DOING OKAY YOU WILL DO OKAY FROM THAT STANDPOINT.

>> TO ILLUSTRATE HOW RARE THE BLOOD CLOT IS, IS THAT TEN OUT OF 10 MILLION MAY SUFFER THAT SIDE EFFECT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

COMPLICATIONS OF THAT SCALE ARE ON THE ORDER OF ONE DROP OF WATER IN THE SWIMMING POOL.

SO NOT VERY COMMON.

>> HOW ARE WE DOING ON CASES?

WE HAVE TALKED FOR WEEKS ABOUT THE STABLE NUMBERS.

ARE THEY INCHING UP?

>> THEY ARE INCHING UP A LITTLE BIT.

THE SLOPE IS NOT AS STEEP AS WE WERE SEEING WITH DELTA.

THEY ARE CREEPING UP IS HOW I WOULD PHRASE IT.

WE HAVE HAD A FEW HUNDRED MORE PER DAY THIS WEEK THAN A WEEK AGO.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE GONE UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE IN TERMS OF HOSPITAL CAPACITY BUT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT REACHING LEVELS WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER STATES WHERE THERE ARE ALARMING RISES RIGHT NOW.

>> NO QUESTION WE WILL HAVE INCREASES THAT CONTINUE FOR A WHILE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED.

WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST.

WE'RE AHEAD OF A FEW OTHER STATES NOW.

WE HAVE OVER HALF OF PEOPLE WITH AT LEAST ONE SHOT, OVER HALF OF THE ELIGIBLE PEOPLE.

THAT IS BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT A LONG WAY TO DO.

>> DR. HARRIS, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU OVER THE LAST ALMOST TWO YEARS OF THIS PANDEMIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT HAVE DONE FOR THE STATE DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE TO BE ON THE SHOW.

YOU HAVE HAD DONE A TERRIFIC JOB AND GREAT CAREER AND YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB PRESENTING THINGS IN A FACTUAL UNBIASED WAY.

YOU ARE A HERO OF THE PANDEMIC IN MY ICE AND APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU.

>> VERY NICE OF YOU TO SAY AND CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK, YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT.

SOME CHALLENGING DAYS MAY BE AHEAD.

>> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK WE KNOW HOW THINGS WILL GO, BUT WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM AND THEY HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB AS WELL AND WE WILL GET THROUGH IT SOMEHOW.

>> DR. SCOTT HARRIS, THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE, ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I'D LOVE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CHALLENGE COIN.

THAT IS A SMALL TOKEN OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM IN THE WAY YOU HANDLED THE POSITION THE LAST TEN YEARS BUT AS SOMEBODY THAT GETS TO COME ON YOUR SHOW AND TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE DAY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA WHY WE MAKE DECISIONS AND WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

YOU ARE ALWAYS PREPARED AND GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE COURTESY YOU HAVE EVER SHOWN ME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING THAT.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU ON MY FINAL BROADCAST AND A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE.

VERY KIND OF YOU TO SAY.

I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THE PUSH BACK ON THE FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATES.

YOU HAVE BEEN FIGHTING ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS AND THERE WERE SOME DEVELOPMENTS.

>> CONTINUE TO SEE POSITIVE MOMENTUM BUT WE HAVE SEEN SOME LIMITING ON WHAT THE COURT HAS DONE, SPECIFICALLY INVOLVING THE HEALTHCARE WORKER MANDATE.

THE FIFTH CIRCUIT, WHERE ALABAMA HAS A CASE SPENDING ALONG WITH 14 STATES UPHOLDING THE INJUNCTIONS THAT ALLOWS FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NOT TO IMPLEMENT THE PARTICULAR MANDATE THERE IS LIMITED TO THE AFFECTED STATES THAT WERE ORIGINAL PLAINTIFFS.

THAT INCLUDES ALABAMA.

WE ARE COVERED BY THAT MANDATE AND THAT APPEAL CONTINUES TO PROCEED AND THE PRIVATE EMPLOYER RULE, THE OSHA RULE INVOLVING EMPLOYERS OVER 100.

THEY HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE A PANEL OF THREE TO CONSIDER THE MERITS OF THE CASE.

HOPEFULLY THE COURT WILL ISSUE AN ORDER OR HAVE SOMETHING WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THAT MATTER.

AGAIN, ALL THREE CASES THAT ALABAMA HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN ARE SUBJECT TO INJUNCTIONS.

IN EACH OF THE CASES CAN, FEDERAL CONTRACTOR, HEALTHCARE WORKER OR PRIVATE EMPLOYER ARE PENDING FURTHER ACTION.

>> WE ARE ONE OF A NUMBER OF STATES INVOLVED IN THE CASE.

>> RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE STAYS IN ROUGHLY 25 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY ARE INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT ACTIONS.

THEY ARE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE ACROSS THIS ENTIRE SPECTRUM.

ONE THING WE ARE ASKED A LOT, BY THE WAY, IS THOSE WHO WERE ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER WHY IT WITH REGARD TO FEDERAL CONTRACTOR AND HEALTHCARE WORKER, WHY WERE THEY LATE IN COMING?

IT HAD THE IDEA TO DO WITH RIGHTNESS, THE LEGAL TERM.

ON THE FEDERAL CONTRACTOR SIDE ONE THING WE LEARNED -- I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT HERE, DIDN'T REALIZE THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA OR AUBURN HAD $600 MILLION TIED UP IN FEDERAL CONTRACTS THAT GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSERT ALABAMA'S INTEREST.

ONE THING I CAN SAY IS WE HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE ALONG WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PLEASED WHERE WE STAND AND BELIEVE WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN ALL THREE CASES MOVING FORWARD.

>> COVID IS SURGING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

IT'S EXPECTED IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT SURGES AGAIN IN ALABAMA.

WE HAVE HAD THE OMICRON VARIANT TURN UP IN ALABAMA.

DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS NOT NECESSARILY PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE VACCINES BUT THE MANDATES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND STANDING UP FOR THE RULE OF LAW.

IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORICALLY, WHERE THE STATES AND VERSUS THE FEDERAL ROLE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AREA, VACCINE REGIMES OR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR IMMUNIZATION HAVE HISTORICALLY ALWAYS BELONGED TO THE STATES.

ONE THING THAT IT IS ABOUT IS WHY WE ASSERT OUR INTEREST IN THE CASE IS TO MAINTAIN ALABAMA SOVEREIGNTY AND ROLE IN WHAT HAS BEEN THE ROLE OF THE STATES.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS CONCEPT OF FEDERAL I'M AND LOOK AT THE TENTH AMENDMENT, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU FIGHT THE SPECIFIC FIGHT IS NOT ONLY ON THE ISSUE AT HAND, IN THIS CASE THE VACCINE MANDATES BUT ALSO THE BROADER SPECTRUM OF WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT VERSUS THE STATES?

SOMETIMES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE REMINDED THAT THE STATES FORM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

WE WILL STAND UP FOR ALABAMA'S SOVEREIGNTY.

>> LET'S TURN TO THE CASE SURROUNDING MIKE HUBBARD.

HE IS SERVING PRISON TIME FOR ETHICS CONVICTIONS SURROUNDING ALLEGATIONS HE USED HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL GAIN.

HE IS PUSHING FOR AN EARLY RELEASE FROM PRISON.

HE ISSUED AN APOLOGY FAIRLY RECENTLY.

THE STATE HAS COME BACK AND SAID BASED ON MONITORED PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS THAT THE STATE DIDN'T FEEL THAT APOLOGY WAS AUTHENTIC IN NATURE.

FORMER SPEAKER HUBBARD THIS WEEK FILED A LEGAL BRIEF SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE JUDGE ABOUT THIS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE DEVELOPMENTS THIS WEEK.

>> THAT IS WALKER'S DECISION IN LEE COUNTY AND WHETHER HE SEES THE NEED TO DO THAT.

BOTH SIDES SUBMITTED THEIR ARGUMENT.

WE SUBMITTED AN EXPLANATION.

WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A COMPELLING REASON WHY THE COURT SHOULD DENY IT.

LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR, THE REMEDY THAT SPEAKER HUBBARD IS SEEKING WOULD BE UNIQUE.

WHEN SOMEONE IS SERVING A SPLIT SENTENCE, THE EXPECTATION IS SOMEBODY WILL SERVE THE FULL TIME.

THE COURT HAS JURISDICTION WHICH GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT HERE IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL AND THE FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER AS A PROSECUTOR FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS I WOULD SEE THE JUDGE GRANT RELIEF EARLY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.

DO YOU STAND FIRM BEHIND THE STATE'S POSITION THAT YOU FELT LIKE THE APOLOGY THE FORMER SPEAKER ISSUED WAS MAYBE INAUTHENTIC BASED ON THE MONITORING OF THE CONVERSATIONS.

>> AND BASED ON HIS OWN WORDS.

WE HAVE GIVEN THE COURT TO CONSIDER AND BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION AT THAT POINT.

>> IT WOULD BEHOOVE US THAT MONITORING CORRESPONDENTS LIKE SOMEONE IN PRISON, WHETHER A PHONE CALL OR E-MAIL IS PRETTY STANDARD PROCEDURE.

>> IT IS IF YOU ARE ON A PRISON CALL.

YOU ARE TOLD TO BEGIN WITH, THE CALL IS BEING RECORDED.

ANYBODY THAT IS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION IS FULLY AWARE THAT IS TAKING PLACE.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY ROOM FOR MAYBE WHAT HE SAID IN THESE RECORDINGS OR E-MAILS TO HAVE BEEN MISCONSTRUED OR ARE YOU CONFIDENT?

>> I THINK WE ARE CONFIDENT IN THE WAY WE INTERPRETED IT AND GIVEN THE JUDGE THE ABILITY TO DO THE SAME.

>> 28 MONTHS, I BELIEVE, WAS SENTENCE.

AND HE IS A YEAR IN AND YOU WANT HIM TO FULLY SERVE THE PRISON TERM.

>> LIKE ANY OTHER INMATE THAT WAS GIVEN A SPLIT SENTENCE.

>> AS WE WRAP UP THE YEAR AND AS I MENTIONED DURING OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT VACCINE MANDATES, THEN KNOWN IS STILL OUT THERE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.

I GUESS WE SHOULD SAY TO FOLKS, BE SAFE.

USE YOUR OWN BEST JUDGMENT BUT MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOURSELF VERSUS FOLLOWING A MANDATE THAT YOU BELIEVE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT I HEAR WHEN I TRAVEL THE STATE.

I SPOKE AT A MEETING IN LIMESTONE COUNTY.

ROUGHLY 150 PEOPLE CAME TO SORT OF HEAR WHAT THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE VACCINE MANDATE AND WHAT'S THE REQUIREMENT.

IN THE CONSTITUENT CALLS AND THE PEOPLE I COME IN CONTACT WITH SAY ALLOW ME TO MAKE THE DECISION.

DON'T ALLOW WASHINGTON TO MAKE IT FOR ME.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO THE BEST MEDICAL ADVICE OUT THERE.

YOU HAD DR. HARRIS ON HERE FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN SOME RESPECTS AND HE HAS SPOKEN ON WHAT HE IS BELIEVES IS THE BEST INTEREST OF INDIVIDUALS.

THAT NEEDS TO BE A DECISION WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR DOCTOR AND ALLOW FOR EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A CALL IN WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR PERSONAL HEALTH.

BEYOND THAT, AS A STATE WE NEED TO REPRESENT OURSELVES IN A WAY THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY, WHAT SHUTDOWNS OR ISSUES OF THAT AFFECT COULD DO TO JOBS WHEN RIGHT NOW ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL POSITIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK I SPOKE TO GOVERNOR IVEY ABOUT THE FACT THAT DIFFICULT DECISIONS ARE HAVING TO BE MADE EVERY DAY.

THE REALITY IS THAT ALABAMA HAS DONE WELL.

WE HAVE DONE WELL BY RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY RIGHTS, RECOGNIZING THE RIGHTS OF PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO STAY OPEN DURING A PANDEMIC AND TO DO IT SAFELY AND ASKING FOLKS TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL MARSHALL, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, BEST KNOWN FOR HER NOVEL FRIED GREEN TOMATOES HAD A LONG CAREER BEFORE DEDICATING HERSELF TO WRITING.

PUBLISHED IN 1987, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES IS TOLD THROUGH THE BONDS OF THE FEMALE CHARACTERS RESONATED WITH AUDIENCES.

IT STAYED ON THE "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLER LIST 39 WEEKS AND ADOPTED TO A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MOVIE.

>>> FINALLY ON THE BROADCAST, GOVERNOR IVEY IS BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME BACK.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, DON.

ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> GOVERNOR, I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THE ELECTION SEASON WHICH IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF IN FULL FORCE AND THE OTHER FOLKS RUNNING FOR OFFICE NEXT YEAR.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE?

HITTING THE TRAIL HARD?

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT HARD.

I'M PROUD OF THE RECORD WE HAVE TO OFFER THE PEOPLE.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE SAID YOU PLAN TO RUN ON YOUR RECORD.

THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK BACK ON IN YOUR FIRST FULL ADMINISTRATION AS YOU START CAMPAIGNING FOR YOUR SECOND FULL TERM IN OFFICE.

THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR GOT A LITTLE MORE COMPETITIVE.

ARE YOU READY TO MEET AT THIS AS WELL?

>> IT WILL BE A GOOD CAMPAIGN.

I'M PROUD OF MY RECORD AND WILL BUILD ON IT AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY HERE IN ALABAMA.

>> GOVERNOR, LET'S TURN TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH IS ALMOST UPON US.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE JUST FINISHED ONE AND WE DID.

WE HAD TWO SPECIAL SESSIONS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PRIORITIES INTO THE NEW SESSION?

>> I LOOK FORWARD TORE WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

WE HAVE STRONG LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY ARE EASY TO WORK WITH AND CAPABLE.

OUR BUDGETS WILL BE INTERESTING.

I JUST MET WITH THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE THIS MORNING AND BOTH BUDGETS ARE IN SOUND ORDER.

BOTH ARE FULL.

THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

WON'T ALWAYS BE THAT WAY.

WE ARE TRYING TO INVEST WISELY IN MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL YIELD DIVIDENDS GOING FORWARD.

>> BILL POOLE IS YOUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR.

HE'S BEEN ON THE JOB SEVERAL MONTHS NOW.

YOU MUST BE PLEASED WITH THE JOB HE IS DOING.

>> I THINK EVERYBODY IS PLEASED TO WORK WITH BILL.

HE KNOWS THE BUDGETS BACKWARDS AND FORWARD AND HE IS A TRUE STATESMAN AND HAS A SERVANT'S HEART.

>> YOU HAVE A NEW CHIEF OF STAFF NOW, RIGHT, JOE BONNER WAS LEAVING AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND FIRST FEMALE CHIEF OF STAFF.

>> SHE DOES GOOD WORK AND IS TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL AND ON TOP OF THE ISSUES.

SHE WILL MAKE A GOOD CHIEF OF STAFF.

>> SHE WILL DO GOOD.

>> RECENTLY, PRISON COMMISSIONER JEFF DUNN ANNOUNCED HE'S RETIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

YOU HAVE APPOINTED HIS SUCCESSOR IN JON HAMM, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

TELL US ABOUT THE TRANSITION HERE?

>> JOHN HAS A STRONG BACKGROUND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED SOME TIME AT THE DOC.

HE WILL COME ON WITH NEW EYES AND NEW IDEAS.

I TOLD HIM I WANT HIM TO DO A COMPLETE AUDIT, BOTH FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL AND TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE ON THE PAYROLL IS NEEDED AND WORKING.

WE STILL HAVE CHALLENGES.

WE HAVE THE TWO PRISONS START TO BUILD IN 2022 AND THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING.

THEN WE CAN START TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND GIVE PRISONERS AND INMATES A CHANCE TO BE REHABILITATED, NOT JUST WAREHOUSED.

>> YOU HAD SAID WHILE THANKING JEFF DUNN FOR HIS SERVICE THAT NEW LEADERSHIP MIGHT BE LOOKED FAVORABLY UPON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS BEEN WATCHING US CLOSELY WHERE OUR PRISONS ARE CONCERNED.

>> WE HAVE DONE THE BASIC PRISON PROGRAM WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AND MAYBE BRING IN NEW LEADERSHIP AND FRESH EYES WITH THE STRONG BACKGROUND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO JON HAMM BEING ON THE JOB THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

>> YOUR PRISON PLAN PASSING IN THE FIRST SPECIAL SESSION THIS YEAR.

DO YOU LOOK AT THAT AS ONE OF THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF YOUR FIRST TERM?

>> IT IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND AN ISSUE THAT PREVIOUS GOVERNORS HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND LOOKED AT BUT NEVER GOTTEN ANYTHING DONE ABOUT IT.

I WAS PLEASED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE EFFORT AND LEADERSHIP.

SO WE GOT IT DONE.

WE WILL HAVE TWO MEGA PRISONS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN 2022.

>> WHEN THE NEW SESSION STARTS, A LOT OF LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING ONE OF THE BIG TICKET ITEMS WILL BE HOW TO SPEND THE LATEST STIMULUS MONEY.

DO YOU SEE THAT BEING A TOP PRIORITY?

>> I DON'T WANT TO JUST SPEND IT.

I WANT TO INVEST IT.

IT IS ONE-TIME MONEY AND WE WANT TO INVEST IT IN PROGRAMS AND ITEMS THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE GOING FORWARD.

WE'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO SPEND THE MONEY BUT INVEST IT WISELY AND WE'LL DO THAT.

>> IT PRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, DOES IT NOT, FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL THINGS.

>> WHERE THERE IS ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY THERE IS ALWAYS MISCHIEF.

WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT AND KEEP OUR EYE ON THE RIGHT TARGETS.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW THEIR RULES AND REGULATIONS AND INVEST WISELY.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S VACCINE MANDATE FOR WORKERS.

ALABAMA HAS SCORED SEVERAL LEGAL VICTORIES RECENTLY.

YOU MUST BE PLEASED WITH THAT.

>> WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

MOMENTUM IS ON OUR SIDE.

WE WILL KEEP PUSHING.

THOSE MANDATES ARE JUST OUTRAGEOUS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS DOING THAT.

>> GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU GOT VACCINATED AND ENCOURAGE ALL OF THOSE WHO WANT TO GET VACCINATED TO DO SO.

THE BOTTOM LINE FOR YOU, AT LEAST, IS YOU SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO DO SO.

>> CORRECT.

THAT'S EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS.

ALABAMIANS HAVE COMMON SENSE.

I JUST CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

GET THE BOOSTER SHOT.

DO WHAT IS COMMON SENSE, MAKES GOOD SENSE, BUT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND DO WHAT THEY FEEL IS BEST FOR THEM.

>> DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS MOVING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND BEYOND THAT WE MIGHT SEE OR PROBABLY WILL SEE ANOTHER SURGE IN THE VIRUS?

>> THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY BUT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS NOW OVER -- ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW.

WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE KNOW HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

WE KNOW HOW TO LIVE WITH IT.

I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT PEOPLE WILL BE CAUTIOUS AND USE COMMON SENSE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> WE CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHAT TO DO AND MAYBE NOT TO DO MOVING FORWARD.

>> I THINK WE WILL HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY SEASON IF WE CHOOSE TO.

THAT TOO IS UP TO US.

>> INDEED IT IS.

>> GOVERNOR, THIS IS MY LAST BROADCAST AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW OVER THE YEARS.

>> THANK YOU.

IT HAS BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOU HAVE DONE A SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

>> THERE IS A CHALLENGE COIN TO WISH YOU WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN THE FUTURE.

AND BEFORE WE GO, I HAVE COMMENDATION FOR YOU.

>> OH, HOW NICE.

>> I WANT TO LEAVE THIS WITH YOU AND WISH YOU THE SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN YOUR FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

IT MEANS A LOT THAT YOU DID THIS AND YOU HAVE BEEN A CONSISTENT GUEST OVER THE YEARS MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> YOU TAKE CARE.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> AND THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

ACTUALLY, THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR THIS YEAR!

BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS, OUR PROGRAM WILL NOT BE SEEN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT, CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24TH, OR ON THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY NIGHT, NEW YEAR'S EVE, DECEMBER 31ST.

THE PROGRAM WILL RETURN WITH A NEW EPISODE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 7TH, WITH THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, INCLUDING A PREVIEW OF THE START OF THE 2022 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH WILL KICKOFF ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 11TH.

WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN THE PROGRAM THEN.

LASTLY TONIGHT, THIS IS MY FINAL BROADCAST.

AFTER TEN YEARS OF HOSTING 'CAPITOL JOURNAL,' OVER LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF EPISODES, I AM RETIRING.

AND MAY I SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED AND HUMBLED BY THE OUTPOURING FROM SO MANY SINCE MY RETIREMENT WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED.

IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH YOU EACH WEEK AND, DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, EACH NIGHT, TO BRING YOU THE NEWS ABOUT YOUR STATE GOVERNMENT.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN AN HONOR TO TALK WITH THE FULL SPECTRUM OF LEADERS WHO MAKE DECISIONS ON YOUR BEHALF.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM AND OF ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

MY SINCERE GRATITUDE GOES OUT TO PHIL HUTCHESON AND THE LEADERSHIP OF APT, AS WELL AS TO MY COLLEAGUES, AND MY FAMILY, HERE AT 'CAPITOL JOURNAL:' KAREN GOLDSMITH, RANDY SCOTT, JOHN HOLMAN AND ROD RICHARDSON.

THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

I HAVE HAD A FANTASTIC RUN IN BROADCASTING, A JOURNEY THAT BEGAN WHEN I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS CONTINUED FOR 40 YEARS.

AND WHAT A RIDE IT HAS BEEN!

AND WITH THAT, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US HERE AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

I'M DON DAILEY.

GOOD NIGHT.