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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

WE ARE JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM THE START OF THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

LAWMAKERS WILL GAVEL IN AT NOON ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH AND LATER THAT EVENING HEAR FROM GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AS SHE DELIVERS THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS FROM THE CAPITOL.

OF COURSE, WE WILL BE CARRYING THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH LIVE HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

OUR COVERAGE BEGINS AT 5:30 AND WILL INCLUDE THE SPEECH AT 6:00, THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE AFTER THAT AND THEN SOME REACTION TO ALL OF IT HERE IN OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" STUDIO.

HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US.

LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN BUSY THIS WEEK PREPARING FOR THE START OF SESSION.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CAUCUSES ROLLED OUT THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS WITH SOME COMPETING IDEAS BUT ALSO SOME SIMILARITIES.

RANDY SCOTT COVERS THE HOUSE FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT STADTHAGEN IS THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER AND SAID HIS CAUCUS IS READY TO UNVEIL THE ALABAMA VALUES AGENDA, COVERING ITEMS SUCH AS BOOSTING ALABAMA'S ECONOMY AND JOB NUMBERS.

>> ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE BUSINESS AND INCREASE JOBS THAT WE HAVE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> ACROSS THE AISLE, THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS RELEASED THEIR FORWARD FOR FREEDOM AGENDA, ALSO ADDRESSING ECONOMIC NEEDS.

>> WE'RE SUPPORTING AN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT BENEFITS HARD-WORKING ALABAMIANS, LIKE YOU.

THAT MEANS INCREASING INVESTMENT IN CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> BOTH PARTIES HAVE IDEAS FOR OTHER TOPICS, SUCH AS EDUCATION.

>> NOW WE'RE STARTING TO REALIZE YOU CAN LEAVE OR START A TRADE IN HIGH SCHOOL OR GET TRAINED TO DO A TRADE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN AFTER GRADUATION COME OUT MAKING REALLY GOOD MONEY.

>> WE SUPPORT INCREASING PAY FOR EDUCATORS AND ENSURING THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO HELP CHILDREN SUCCEED.

I REPEAT, WE SUPPORT INCREASING PAY FOR EDUCATORS AND ENSURING THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO HELP CHILDREN SUCCEED.

>> ALSO, FIGHTING CRIME AND GUN VIOLENCE.

>> PARTICULARLY IN TWO CITIES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, MONTGOMERY BEING ONE, BIRMINGHAM BEING THE OTHER, REAL EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THE PROTECTION OF OUR CITIZENS GOING AROUND THE CITY IS IMPORTANT.

>> WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT INFRINGING ON THE RIGHTS OF GUN OWNERS AND RECOGNIZING THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT OUR CHILDREN CAN GO TO SCHOOL, THAT SENIORS CAN GO TO THE GROCERY STORE WITHOUT FEAR OF VIOLENCE AND DEATH.

>> THE REGULAR SESSION STARTS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH.

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

>> THANK YOU, RANDY.

SENATORS SPENT THE WEEK PREPARING FOR SESSION, AS WELL.

JEFF SANDERS COVERS THE SENATE FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND CAUGHT UP WITH THE LEADERS OF BOTH PARTIES TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK.

>> WHEN LAWMAKERS GAVEL BACK INTO SESSION NEXT WEEK, LEADERS FROM BOTH PARTIES SAY THEY ARE READY TO GET TO WORK.

SENATE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER SAID IMMIGRATION REMAINS A PRIORITY, BUT WITH THE REPUBLICAN-LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STATE ACTION MAY NOT BE AS URGENT.

HE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS EFFORTS TO EXPAND RURAL HEALTHCARE AND IMPROVE SCHOOL SAFETY.

>> MAKING SURE ALL ALABAMIANS HAVE ACCESS TO RURAL HEALTHCARE.

SCHOOL SAFETY IS A BIG TARGET FOR US.

A CELL-FREE ZONE AT SCHOOLS, SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOUTH VAPING.

>> ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, BOBBY SINGLETON WARNS WHILE NATIONAL ISSUES COULD IMPACT ALABAMA, HE'S CALLING FOR STRONGER CRIME LEGISLATION AND GUN SAFETY MEASURES, POINTING TO RECENT VIOLENCE AS A SERIOUS CONCERN.

>> BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHOOTING JUST LAST WEEK AND NOT ONE MUMBLING WORD CAME OUT, WAS MORE ABOUT DETAINING PEOPLE VERSUS BEING ABLE TO DEAL WITH GUN CONTROL.

>> WITH NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE, SENATOR SINGLETON SAID HE EXPECTS BIPARTISAN COOPERATION TO CONTINUE.

>> I DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING IN TERMS OF CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIPS.

>> MEANWHILE, THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING COULD COME UP AGAIN.

SENATOR LIVINGSTON SAID ANY POTENTIAL LEGISLATION FACES A LONG ROAD AHEAD.

>> THE SPEAKER PUT US ON NOTICE.

HE SAID DON'T SEND US ANYTHING REMOTELY UNSIMILAR TO LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING IT UP.

WE'LL SEE WHAT WE DO.

>> REPORTING FROM THE STATEHOUSE, I'M JEFF SANDERS FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

THE NATION'S REPORT CARD WAS RELEASED THIS WEEK AND IT CAME WITH SOME GOOD NEWS FOR ALABAMA.

THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRESS IS GIVEN EVERY TWO YEARS TO A SAMPLE OF FOURTH GRADERS AND EIGHTH GRADERS TO MEASURE THEIR PROGRESS.

WHILE SCORES SHOWED STUDENTS IN MANY STATES CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE WITH LEARNING LOSS, ALABAMA SHOWED PROGRESS, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY GRADES.

ALABAMA FOURTH GRADERS MADE THE MOST GAINS IN MATH OF ANY STATE, CLIMBING EIGHT SPOTS TO RANK 32ND NATIONALLY.

THAT'S AFTER RANKING DEAD LAST JUST FIVE YEARS AGO.

READING SCORES AMONG ALABAMA FOURTH GRADERS REMAINED FLAT BUT STILL RANKED 34TH NATIONALLY.

ALABAMA IS ONE OF ONLY TWO STATES WHERE FOURTH GRADE READING SCORES ARE HIGHER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

NOT AS PROMISING NEWS FOR THE STATE'S EIGHTH GRADERS.

MATH SCORES FELL SLIGHTLY RANKING ALABAMA 49TH NATIONALLY.

AND EIGHTH GRADE READING SCORES DROPPED TO THEIR LOWEST LEVELS EVER, RANKING ALABAMA 47TH NATIONALLY.

AT AN EVENT ANNOUNCING THE SCORES, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY FOCUSED ON THE POSITIVE, SAYING THE PROGRESS MADE BY THE STATE'S FOURTH GRADERS SHOWS THE STATE'S INVESTMENT IN EARLY GRADE READING AND MATH ARE PAYING OFF.

>> EVER SINCE I'VE TAKEN OFFICE, WE HAVE PUT A STRONG EMPHASIS ON OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.

VERY APPROPRIATELY, I'VE OFTEN REFERRED TO LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACTS AS A BLOCKING AND TACKLING OF ALABAMA EDUCATION.

YOU CAN'T WIN WITHOUT THEM.

THANKS TO OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON THOSE FUNDAMENTALS, THE SCORE IS CHANGING.

WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, ALABAMA WAS 49TH IN READING.

TODAY, WE'RE AT 34.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND IN MATH, WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, ALABAMA RANKED 52ND.

AND TODAY WE ARE 32.

>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT ERIC MACKEY SAID THE STATE WILL NEED TO PLACE A GREATER FOCUS ON MIDDLE SCHOOL LEARNING SIMILAR TO HOW THE LITERACY AND NO NUMERACY ACTS FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT GRADES.

>> WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GROWTH WE WANT TO HAVE IN MATH AND READING AND ALL OF OUR OTHER SUBJECTS, BUT THE SCORES SHOW WE HAVE THE RIGHT STRATEGIES.

WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH.

WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.

WE KNOW FROM THESE SCORES ALSO THAT SOME OF THESE STUDENTS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE.

OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, ACROSS THIS NATION, CONTINUE TO BE FLAT AND WE WANT TO -- AS WE WORK IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME NEW INVESTMENTS.

ONE OF THE THINGS GOVERNOR IVEY AND THIS BOARD PUSHED LAST YEAR FOR US TO CREATE A NEW PROGRAM WE ARE CALLING STRUGGLING READERS BEYOND GRADE THREE TO MAKE SURE THOSE STUDENTS MOVING INTO THE MIDDLE GRADES AND ARE NOT YET PROFICIENT AND WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE WE ARE CONTINUING TO OFFER THEM EXTRA SERVICES.

>> COMING UP IN A BIT, APT SENIOR REPORT TRISH CRAIN WILL DISCUSS THE SCORES IN MORE DETAIL.

THIS WEEK SAW THE LATEST MEETING OF THE VETERANS HEALTH STEERING COMMITTEE THE GROUP IS FINALIZING PROPOSALS FOR HOW THE STATE CAN IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR VETERANS, INCLUDING IN AREAS LIKE ADDICTION, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES AND SUICIDE PREVENTION.

ALABAMA COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH KIM BOSWELL SAID THE TASK FORCE WILL OFFER THEIR RESEARCH BASED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE.

>> IT WOULD BE FABULOUS TO HAVE THE CENTER IN THE STATE.

IT IS A ONE-STOP SENATOR THAT HAS WORKFORCE REINTEGRATION FOR ALABAMIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IT WOULD INCLUDE INTEGRATED AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE AND ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR VETERAN-TO-VETERAN CONNECTIONS.

THE SECOND IS EXPAND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SERVICES IN ALABAMA.

WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS EXPAND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SERVICE TO PEOPLE REGARDLESS WHEN THEY SUSTAIN THE INJURY.

NO MATTER WHEN THE INJURY OCCURRED YOU WOULD RECEIVE THE SERVICES OF A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAM THAT OPERATES IN ALABAMA.

THE THIRD IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, RESTORING AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS TO ENHANCE RESILIENCY TOGETHER PROGRAM IN ALABAMA.

THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, WE KNOW FROM THE DATA, THAT THE MORE TIME YOU CAN PUT BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR ACCESS TO WEAPONS DECREASES THE SUICIDE RATE.

SO, WE ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S DRAFT LEGISLATION.

THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE FELT LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT ON THE COMPLETION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN ORDER TO MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND AS WE LEAD UP TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BEGINNING, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT THESE AS THREE PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.

>> ALABAMA WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATION ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THIS WEEK.

EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY GATHERED FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL AI SYMPOSIUM AT THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER SPACE CAMP CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE.

THE THREE-DAY EVENT EXPLORED HOW AI IS SHAPING INDUSTRY.

SUCH AS MEDICINE, LAW, CYBERSECURITY, SPACE EXPLORATION, AND EVEN BASEBALL.

SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DR. KIMBERLY ROBINSON SAID THE GOAL WAS TO HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF AI ON EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> WITH WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION AND BE THE HOME OF THE NEXT STRIDES FORWARD.

WE FEEL THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS THE NEXT GREAT LEAP WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

I HOPE THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON THEIR DAILY LIVES IN SO MANY WAYS.

WE'RE TRYING TO COVER THE GAMUT SO THEY CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FULL SPECTRUM OF AI.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BETTER STATS IN BASEBALL BUT A WAY OF LIFE AND HOW IT WILL INFILTRATE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD.

WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN IT IN SOME ASPECTS, IN SOME INDUSTRIES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE IT MORE AND MORE.

THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND IT, THE MORE WE CAN EMBRACE IT AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO HARNESS AND CONTROL IT, THE BETTER OFF WE WILL BE.

>> TURNING TO WASHINGTON WHERE IT WAS ANOTHER BUSY WEEK FOR ALABAMA'S TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS, BOTH SENATOR TUBERVILLE AND KATIE BRITT WERE IN THE ACTION TAKING PART IN CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR SOME OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL NOMINEES.

TUBERVILLE QUESTIONED ROBERT KENNEDY JR.

NOMINATED FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY.

BRITT QUESTIONED KASH PATEL.

WE HAVE A REPORT FROM CAPITOL HILL HOW THE SENATORS IMPACTED THE DEBATE.

>> THE LINE STRETCHED OUTSIDE OF HEARING ROOM DOORS AS THE NOMINEES TOOK THE STAND THIS WEEK.

THURSDAY WAS A BUSY WEEK FOR ALABAMA SENATORS.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT APPLAUDED KASH PATEL IN THE HEARING YOU SAID OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DESERVE THE BEST.

YOU SAID YOU KNOW AND WILL NOT ALLOW THERE TO BE VICTIMS OF OVERREACH BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU.

>> BRITT HIGHLIGHTED THE POSITIVE THINGS AND GAVE HIM A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN HOW HE WOULD RUN THE AGENCY.

>> ONE LET GOOD COPS BE COPS TO RESTORE THE TRUST IN THE FBI.

>> IN HER SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONING, SHE TOUTED HIS TIME AT RED STONE ARSENAL AND PATEL COMMITTED TO VISITING IT.

>> IT IS REMARKABLE.

>> WHILE BRITT WAS PRAISE WORTHY DEMOCRATS QUESTIONED ON PRAISING JANUARY 6TH RIOTERS.

TUBERVILLE SAID HE SUPPORTS R RFK'S STANCES ON VACCINES.

>> HAVE MY FIRST GRAND DAUGHTER IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MY SON AND WIFE HAVE DONE THEIR RESEARCH ABOUT VACCINES AND SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE A PIN CUSHION.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> TUBERVILLE QUESTIONED THE NOMINEE ON THE DANGERS OF RED DYE 3 AND THE OVER PRESCRIPTION OF DRUGS TO TREAT ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDERS.

>> WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP OUR PARENTS DIDN'T USE A DRUG, THEY WHIPPED OUR BUTT.

NOW WE GIVE THEMED A ROLL AND RITALIN.

>> THE COMMITTEES WILL VOTE ON THE NOMINEES.

KENNEDY HAD TWO HEARINGS, ONE THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND HEALTH COMMITTEE.

ONLY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON THE NOMINATION.

AFTER THE VOTE, BOTH WILL HEAD TO THE FULL SENATE FOR A VOTE.

REPORTING ON CAPITOL HILL, "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, ALEX.

ONE MORE UPDATE ON COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS FOR ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, THIS TIME SOME BIG PICK UPS FOR OUR SENATORS.

SENATOR TUBERVILLE WILL CHAIR THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, WHICH OVERSEES THAT AREA OF PENTAGON POLICY.

SENATOR BRITT WILL CHAIR THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, WHICH WILL BE A BUSY JOB CONSIDERING ALL THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE IMMIGRATION SPACE.

OKAY.

WE'LL TAKE A QUICK BREAK AND COME BACK WITH TRISH CRAIN TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION SCORES.

AFTER THAT HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER IS IN STUDIO FOR A PREVIEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT JOINS ME A LITTLE LATER TO TALK ABOUT AN AMBITIOUS IMMIGRATION PACKAGE IN THE WORKS.

AND FINALLY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYNN GIVAN WILL BE IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME IN ALABAMA CITIES.

STAY WITH US.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT APTV.ORG.

EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND OUR EDUCATION UPDATE WITH SENIOR EDUCATION REPORTER TRISH CRAIN.

TRISH, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TODD.

>> A BIG ONE THIS WEEK.

WE REPORTED EARLIER THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT CAME OUT THIS WEEK AND BIG NEWS FOR ALABAMA, ESPECIALLY ON MATH SCORES FOR FOURTH GRADERS.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S NOT A POSITION WE FIND OURSELVES IN OFTEN AT THE NAPE SCORE CARD BUT WE WERE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF GAINS.

>> IMPROVEMENT.

>> IMPROVEMENT, YES.

SO THAT WAS EXCITING.

EDUCATION FOLKS ARE VERY EXCITED.

GOVERNOR IVEY DADE JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH STATE SUPERINTENDENT ERIC MACKEY AT A LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THEY WERE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT FOURTH GRADE.

FOURTH GRADE DID REALLY WELL.

READING SCORES DIDN'T CHANGE A LOT, BUT THEY DIDN'T GO DOWN.

THE NATIONAL PICTURING IS PRETTY GLOOMY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL HEADLINES, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GOOD TO SAY ABOUT WHAT THE NAPE SCORES, WHAT THE TRENDS ARE SHOWING.

KIDS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.

TO SEE OUR SCORES IMPROVE WAS REALLY EXCITING.

>> YEAH, THAT IS EXCITING.

I KNOW WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TREAT IT LIKE THE AP TOP 25 RANKINGS OR WHATEVER, BUT HUMAN NATURE IS LIKE THAT.

WHEN I SEE THAT OUR FOURTH GRADE MATH SCORES ARE 32 IN THE COUNTRY OF 50 STATES, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

I THINK MOST ALABAMIANS, USED TO BEING RANKED, ALWAYS SEEING LOW RANKINGS, 32ND, THAT'S NOT BAD.

IT'S OUR HIGHEST YET.

>> IT IS FOR FOURTH GRADE MATH.

IT IS HUGE.

WE HAVE JUST NEVER BEEN THAT HIGH IN THE RANKINGS.

IT'S TRUE OTHER STATES HAVE FALLEN BUT WE DEALT WITH COVID JUST LIKE OTHER STATES DID AND OUR KIDS ARE STILL IMPROVING.

>> WELL, I KNOW -- WE'LL GET TO 8TH GRADE IN A MINUTE, BUT I KNOW THIS STATE, THIS LEGISLATURE, DR. MACKEY TALKED ABOUT IT, GOVERNOR IVEY HAVE ALL MADE A FOCUS ON MATH AND READING IN EARLY GRADE.

WE HAD THE LITERACY ACT AND THE NUMERACY ACT THAT FOCUSED ON THE EARLY GRADES.

YOU HAVE DONE A TON OF REPORTING ON THIS.

DO YOU THINK SOME OF THIS REALLY PROMISING NEWS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THAT FOCUS ON NUMERACY ACT, LITERACY ACT IN THE EARLY GRADES.

>> IT CAN BE.

I THINK IT IS OFFERING TEACHERS TRAINING, RIGHT?

TEACHERS ARE LEARNING A NEW WAY TO TEACH READING.

TEACHERS ARE LEARNING NEW WAYS TO TEACH YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT HOW TO MANIPULATE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW.

BUT WE ALSO CANNOT OVERLOOK THAT IN 2019, ALABAMA UPDATED OUR MATH STANDARDS.

IT WAS KIND OF CONTROVERSIAL AT THE TIME.

IT WENT THROUGH A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BUT DR. MACKEY WAS FAIRLY NEW AT THAT POINT AS STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND HE SAID WE NEED TO ALIGN OUR MATH STANDARDS WITH WHAT THE NAPE THINKS IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT TEACHING TO THE TEST BUT WHAT DOES NAPE SAY THAT OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO MATH WISE BY THE 4TH GRADE.

WE ALSO CHANGED THE TEST, GOT A NEW TEST, A MORE HONEST TEST.

>> THE ACAP, THE ONE THEY TAKE EVERY YEAR.

>> YES.

AND YOU MAY RECALL MATH SCORES DROPPED.

FEWER KIDS WERE PROFICIENT ON THE ACAP AND FOLKS WERE KIND OF UPSET.

I REMEMBER DR. MACKEY SAYING THIS IS A HARDER TEST.

I THOUGHT, HMM, OKAY.

YOU ALWAYS WONDER IS THAT TRUE BUT IT DOES APPEAR IT IS TRUE.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT ASSESSMENT AND THAT MEASURING STICK IN ORDER TO MAKE PROGRESS.

THE FIRST TIME MIGHT BE TOUGH BUT I DO -- I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS BUILDING IS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THESE NUMBERS, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALL ROSY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 8TH GRADE.

BOTH READING AND MATH.

WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE THERE.

WHAT WAS SAID AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE?

WHAT IS BEING SAID ABOUT THAT -- WE'RE NOT THE ONLY STATE BUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN 8TH GRADE WITH THOSE SCORES?

>> GOSH, IT WOULD BE LOVELY TO KNOW.

WE HAVE JUST NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE BOTTOM WRUNG OF STATES.

WE ARE 45TH, 49TH, DR. MACKEY DID TALK ABOUT WE NEED TO INVEST MORE HEAVILY IN THE MIDDLE GRADES, LOWER CLASS SIZES, HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS.

HE EVEN MENTIONED CELL PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA NOT BEING A GOOD INFLUENCE ON 13-YEAR-OLDS, 13, 14-YEAR-OLDS.

REALLY DOES WANT NEW FOCUS.

HE USED THE PHRASE WITH ME, WE NEED TO RETHINK 8TH GRADE EDUCATION.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE IN MIND.

>> THIS IS A FOURTH AND 8TH GRADE TEST EVERY TWO YEARS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> SO IN TWO YEARS, TODAY'S FOURTH GRADERS WILL BE IN THE 8TH GRADE.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS THEY HAVE MADE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR COVERAGE ON THIS.

IT IS AN EXCITING DAY.

A LOT OF PROGRESS AND WORK TO DO.

>> THANKS, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, NATHANIEL LEDBETTER, MR. SPEAKER, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

SEEMS LIKE WE ARE BACK.

EVERYTHING IS GOING FAST SPEED AGAIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SESSION IS A FEW DAYS AWAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ARE WE READY?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

OUR STAFF'S WORKED EXTREMELY HARD.

THE CHAIRMAN AND THE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE OFF SEASON AND HAD A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

SO, I THINK WE'RE READY.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT DOES IN TO PREPARING FOR A LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

30 LEGISLATIVE DAYS, MEANING THE DAYS YOU ARE IN THE CHAIR WITH THE GAVEL IN THE CHAMBER, THAT DOESN'T COUNT COMMITTEE DAYS, UNLESS YOU ALL CHOOSE TO, WITHIN 105 CALENDAR DAYS,, NEXT TUESDAY UNTIL MAY 19TH OR SO.

IT IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME RELATIVELY BUT A LOT HAS TO HAPPEN.

WHAT GOES IN TO PREPARING TO MAKE SURE THE DAYS ARE MAXIMIZED IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY.

>> WE WILL HAVE A PLAN GOING FORWARD.

WE HAVE THE SCHEDULE THE FIRST TWO WEEKS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

WE TRIED TO GET AHEAD OF THE GAME.

IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE STAFF.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN MONTGOMERY THE LAST THREE WEEKS, ESPECIALLY GOING OVER THE ISSUES WE WANT TO ADDRESS.

THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND I OPENED IT UP TO MEMBERS.

WE HAVE DONE THAT.

WE HAD A NUMBER OF MEMBERS COME IN AND SUGGESTION THE LEGISLATION THEY ARE INTERESTED IN.

IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO SET THE AGENDA AND FOCUS ON WHAT WE ARE HEADING INTO.

WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE A GREAT STAFF AND GREAT LEADERSHIP TEAM.

THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB.

WE HAD A RETREAT WITH OUR LEADERSHIP GROUP TWO WEEKS AGO, I GUESS NOW.

WE HAD THEM THERE.

WENT GOOD.

GIVES US A CHANCE TO -- WE DID IT AWAY FROM THE CAPITAL AND OUT ON A RURAL FARM AND HAD A CHANCE TO SIT BACK AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ON WHAT WE SEE COMING AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT BETTER AS SPEAKER, THAT'S MY QUESTION TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM IS HOW CAN WE MAKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING BETTER?

WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE TRACKS AND HEAR WHAT THEIR INTEREST IS AND WHAT THINK THEY MAY BE HAPPENING.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR QUITE SOMETIME NOW.

IT IS NOT LIKE IT IS JUST GOING TO START ON TUESDAY.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT A FEW MONTHS NOW.

WE'LL SEE THE WORK COME INTO PLAY STARTING ON TUESDAY.

THE CAKE'S ALREADY BEEN MIXED.

>> PEOPLE COME TO MONTGOMERY WANTING TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE THINGS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I WANT TO GET TO THE ISSUES BUT I'M REMINDED YOU HAVE A NEW COUNTERPART IN THE SENATE, GARLAN GUDGER.

THAT'S A BIG NEW ENDEAVOR FOR HIM.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY ADVICE FOR HIM?

NO, YOU CAME IN AS SPEAKER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BRAND NEW?

>> I DID.

I HAD WORKED CLOSELY WITH SPEAKER MCCUTCHEON, AND, AS A MAJORITY LEADER, I WORKED WITH HIM ON A DAILY BASIS.

GARLAN SO, GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN ON THE FLY.

I THINK HE IS SHARP ENOUGH.

HIM AND I HAVE TALKED A NUMBER OF TIMES AND I TOLD YOU, I WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST FAN.

I WILL HELP YOU ANYWAY I CAN.

HE'S GOT A GOOD HEART AND I THINK WILL DO A GOOD JOB.

I LOOK FORWARD TORE WORKING WITH HIM.

I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION GREG REED.

HE WAS A GREAT GUY AND I ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM IMMENSELY AND WE ARE CLOSE FRIENDS BECAUSE OF THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER.

WHEN GARLAN FIRST CAME IN, WE HAVE BECOME FRIENDS THEN AND HAVE BEEN FISHING A FEW TIMES TOGETHER AND HAVE DONE SOME FUN THINGS TOGETHER.

SO I THINK I KNOW HOW HE WILL BE.

I THINK HE WILL BE A GOOD, STRONG LEADER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM.

>> SO IMPORTANT THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, ESPECIALLY LATE IN THE SESSION AS BILLS START TO GET TENSE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES.

I KEEP HEARING ABOUT CRIME, ESPECIALLY VIOLENT CRIME IN CITIES AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT.

YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT IT NOW.

WHAT MIGHT WE SEE IN TERMS OF A PACKAGE OF BILLS ON THE ISSUE OF CRIME SPECIFICALLY?

>> I THINK WE WILL HAVE A PACKAGE OF NINE BILLS.

WE FINISHED THAT UP YESTERDAY AS FAR AS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

WE PIT DOWN, AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF TIME HOW WE WANT TO GET IT OUT.

WE'D LIKE TO GET THEM OUT BEFORE THE FIRST BREAK, I THINK WE CAN.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE FOR, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF WEEKS NOW.

CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF AND MY STAFF WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER TRYING TO COME UP WITH A PACKAGE WE FEEL LIKE WOULD BE GOOD FOR OUR STATE.

ONE OF THE THINGS, TODD, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS -- WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN ALABAMA WITH GROWTH.

WE CREATED OVER 80,000 JOBS AND INVESTED $50 BILLION IN OUR STATE, BUT THE CONCERNS WE ARE HAVING IS THE VIOLENT CRIME IN OUR STATE.

IT MAY SLOW THAT DOWN OR HALT IT.

HERE, IN THIS AREA WHERE IT IS GOING ON, IT HURTS PROPERTY VALUES AND RETAIL SALES.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT.

>> IT IS DEPRESSING AND A MORALE THING.

>> IT IS DEPRESSING.

AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE AND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MOVE COMPANIES INTO YOUR STATE SEE THAT AND GET RELUCTANT BECAUSE OF IT.

WE THOUGHT THEY HAVE PUT THE TASK FORCE TOGETHER HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

SECRETARY TAYLOR AND SHERIFF CUNNINGHAM ALONG WITH THE CITY HAVE DONE THAT AND DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB AND IT IS WORKING.

WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE.

EVERYBODY'S BEEN AT THE TABLE.

I COULDN'T COMPLIMENT THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF MORE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH US FROM DAY ONE WHEN WE STARTED THIS PACKAGE.

IT'S LIKE I TOLD THE GOVERNOR -- SHE CAME TO MY DISTRICT AND WE HAD LUNCH.

I SAID IT DOESN'T MATTER ABOUT THE CREDIT.

YOU CAN HAVE THE BILL THAT WE WORKED ON BECAUSE WHAT MATTERS IS WE GET IT ACCOMPLISHED AND SLOW DOWN CRIME IN OUR STATE.

I THINK IT IS A GOOD PACKAGE AND I THINK WE WILL.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE TASK FORCES.

IT'S LIKE THE STATE, THE COUNTY, THE CITY PARTNERING TOGETHER.

THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS IN A LOT OF LARGE CITIES.

IS IT POLICY AND FUNDING THAT THE STATE CAN LEND TO MAKE THESE TASK FORCES MORE OPERATIONAL.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE TASK FORCE FULL TIME.

I THINK IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT ACROSS THE STATE IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE WE HAVE A RISE IN CRIME OR VIOLENCE IS UP TICK.

IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO PUT THOSE GUYS IN THERE AND DO THEIR JOB.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE RETENTION FOR POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT AND PROTECTION OF POLICE OFFICERS.

LET'S FACE IT, WE HAVE VILIFIED THIS COUNTRY.

IF YOU SEE EVERYTHING GOING ON, WE VILIFIED POLICE OFFICERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT PROTECT AND SERVE US.

WE NEED TO SHOW IN ALABAMA WE DON'T FEEL THAT WAY.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT AND BACK THE MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE.

I THINK THIS PACKAGE WILL SHOW THAT WE DO THAT.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND EXCITED ABOUT THE OUTCOME.

>> SWITCHING GEARS TO WASHINGTON.

THERE'S SO MUCH FAST PACE COMING OUT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE NEW CONGRESS.

IT IS HARD TO KEEP UP WITH, HONESTLY.

BUT SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IN ALABAMA TRICKLES DOWN FROM THERE.

I'M THINKING OF IMMIGRATION POLICY.

I'M GOING TO TALK TO SENATOR ELLIOTT LATER ABOUT HIS PROPOSALS, BUT WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING IN TERMS OF THIS SESSION, MAYBE AS A REFLECTION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DC?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE WILL BE.

THAT'S ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE FACT THAT -- SOMEBODY ASKED ME A QUESTION SIMILAR TO THAT THE OTHER DAY.

THE THING ABOUT ALABAMA BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST YEARS WE ARE ALREADY DOING THE THINGS HE IS MOVING INTO.

MOVING AWAY FROM DEI AND PROTECTING THE BORDER.

WE HAVE PASSED BILLS TO PROTECT OUR BORDER.

APPLAUD HIM AND THE WORK HE'S DOING ON THE BORDER BECAUSE IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE ALREADY.

HE'S HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND WE WILL BE MINDFUL OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING AND WE WANT TO BE BENEFICIAL.

WE WANT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA TO BENEFIT OFF OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

I THINK WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.

SPACE COMMAND COULD COME BACK TO ALABAMA WHICH WOULD BE A WIN FOR OUR STATE.

THE GROWTH IN HUNTSVILLE, NORTH ALABAMA AREA HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL BUT IF WE HAD THAT IT WOULD BE A BIGGER STEP FOR OUR STATE.

THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE FOR OUR STATE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE HOW IT GOES.

>> I FOUND IT INTERESTING.

I WENT TO THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS PRESS CONFERENCE THE OTHER DAY.

A LOT OF WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY WAS IN REACTION TO TRUMP.

AND THEN I'M SEEING LEGISLATION ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

A LOT OF IT IS MIMICKING A LITTLE BIT OF TRUMP.

IT ALWAYS BLEEDS DOWN A LITTLE BIT, SOME PERFORMATIVE THINGS, BUT Y'ALL HAVE TO DO THE BLOCKING AND TACKLING OF THE LEGISLATION, THE BUDGETS, THE THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY HEADLINE GRABBING AND HOW DOES THAT WORK?

YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THE POLITICS, EVERYBODY'S POLITICAL THINGS AND ALSO THE GOVERNMENT, THE BUSINESS OF STATE GOVERNMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THAT GETS LOST IN POLITICS.

IT REALLY DOES.

I SEE THAT.

FROM MY STANDPOINT, I'M PROBABLY MORE OF ON THAT SIDE OF THE FENCE AS FAR AS POLICY AND GOVERNMENT AND BUDGETS THAN I AM THE POLITICS OF IT.

BUT IF WE DO A GOOD JOB HERE, IT HELPS THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND BUDGETING IS A TREMENDOUS PROCESS OF THAT.

REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S ALL OF OUR JOB IS TO PASS THE BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR MAKES THE RECOMMENDATION AND SENDS THEM ACROSS THE STREET.

OUR BUDGET CHAIRS AND COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN ENGAGED LOOKING AT THE BUDGETS TO MAKE SURE THEY FILL THE NEEDS OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT WASTEFUL WITH THE MONEY.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

CHAIRMAN GARRETT, CHAIRMAN ORR, ALBRITTON AND REYNOLDS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AND THEY ARE MINDFUL OF THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S FLATTENING OUT A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS ROBUST AS IT HAS BEEN.

I THINK WITH THAT COMES MORE CHALLENGES BUT THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND LIKE YOU SAID THE PROCESS STARTED MONTHS AGO.

AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE WHERE WE ARE AT.

I WISH WE WERE IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER SHAPE IN THE GENERAL FUND.

WE HAD SOME EXPENSES WE DIDN'T SEE COMING AND THAT WILL HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO KEEP MONEY PUT BACK AND WE HAVE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT RAINY DAY IS GOING TO COME AND YOU NEED IT.

I APPLAUD OUR MEMBERS AND BUDGET CHAIRS AND THEIR COMMITTEES FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

>> ONE MORE THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT AND THIS IS GOOD NEWS.

THE NAPE SCORES EDUCATION CAME OUT.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE FOURTH GRADERS, BEST GAINS IN THE COUNTRY IN MATH.

I KNOW THE LEGISLATURE HAD DONE WORK ON THIS WITH THE NUMERACY AND LITERACY ACTS.

DO YOU SEE THIS GOOD NEWS AS, I DON'T KNOW, PROOF POSITIVE OF WHAT POLICIES LIKE THAT -- NOT EASY BILLS TO PASS AND INVESTMENTS IN THOSE BILLS TO LAWMAKERS TO FINALLY SEE RESULTS.

>> 100%.

I REMEMBER WE WERE AT A MEETING TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO AND ONE OF THE SENATORS, I WON'T MENTION WHO IT WAS.

HE IS NOT IN THE SENATE ANYMORE BUT HE SAID I HAVE BEEN HERE 12 YEARS.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HELP EDUCATION EVER SINCE THEN.

I HAVE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON NOW, SINCE WE PASSED THE NUMERACY AND LITERACY ACT AND TO GET THE NUMBERS THAT WE GOT BACK IS EXCITING.

IT SHOWS THE POLICIES WE HAVE DONE AND WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO ACCOMPLISH IS WORKING.

TERRI COLLINS HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR A LOT OF THAT.

ALLEN BAKER HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH SOME OF THOSE POLICIES.

TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THE HARD WORK.

YOU ARE RIGHT, IT WASN'T ALL POLICY.

THEY HAD A LOT OF PUSH BACK, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TRY TO HOLD BACK SOMEONE'S CHILD IN THE THIRD GRADE.

IT WAS DIFFICULT BUT LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF IT.

I'M GETTING UP YESTERDAY MORNING ABOUT TO GET IN THE SHOWER AND MY PHONE DINGS AND IT IS DR. MACKEY, OUR STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

HE SAID YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS.

THIS IS AWESOME.

HE'S EXCITED ABOUT IT AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE JOB HIS BOARD IS DOING.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT RISE.

>> IT'S GOT TO BE SO ENCOURAGING.

IT DOES -- TURNING AROUND AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER KIND OF THING.

WHEN YOU SEE GOOD NEWS THAT IT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO POLICIES YOU HAVE PASSED HAS TO BE REALLY ENCOURAGING.

>> YES.

>> MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE'LL SEE YOU VERY SOON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> GOOD LUCK WITH THE SESSION.

>> THANKS, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO.APTV.ORG.

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>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT FROM BALDWIN COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Y'ALL THAWED OUT DOWN THERE?

>> WE HAD EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW IN ORANGE BEACH.

THAT IS SOMETHING I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER SEEN.

>> PROBABLY HAVEN'T SEEN.

I'M GUESSING THE ROADS WERE SHUT DOWN.

Y'ALL AREN'T BUILT FOR -- NONE OF US REALLY IN ALABAMA BUT CERTAINLY THE COAST NOT BUILT FOR THAT.

>> NOT SOMETHING WE SEE AND I HAD FOLKS GRIPING ABOUT WHY DON'T LOCAL FOLKS HAVE EQUIPMENT FOR THIS.

AND YOU WOULDN'T WANT YOUR GOVERNMENT TO INVEST IN EQUIPMENT THEY USE ONCE EVERY 18 YEARS.

THE SNOWMAN ON THE BEACH WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

>> SESSION AROUND THE CORNER.

BE HERE ANY MINUTE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION.

I KNOW WE HAVE DONE REPORTING ON YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOCUSING ON THIS.

YOU WENT TO THE BORDER INFORMING WHAT MIGHT HAVE GONE TO THE SESSION BUT EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.

THERE'S A NEW ADMINISTRATION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP THINGS THEY ARE CHANGING IN TERMS OF FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT.

THAT BEING SAID, WHAT MIGHT WE SEE IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION ON THE ISSUE OF LEGISLATION THIS SESSION?

>> THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

WE WERE ON THE SHOW JUST AFTER WE GOT BACK.

WE WENT DOWN THERE AND SOME HOUSE MEMBERS, AS WELL.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE THEN IS COLLABORATING ON WHAT WE, AS A STATE, CAN DO TO SUPPORT WHAT OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ARE DOING IN DC.

WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM FOLKS THAT DON'T LIKE IMMIGRATION ISSUES IS IT'S GOING TO COST SO MUCH MONEY TO ROUND UP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IS SAY, LOOK, WHEN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MAKES CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT MAKES CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE OR FINES FOLKS HERE ILLEGALLY, LET'S MAKE SURE TO ASSIST OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS OPPOSED TO NOT.

THERE'S A SLEW OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, TRYING TO COMBINE AND CONDENSE THAT OUR STATE LAWS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DETAIN, HOLD AND WAIT FOR OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS TO DO THEIR JOB ON OUR SIDE OF THINGS.

WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST AND COMPLEMENT WHAT THE FEDS ARE DOING.

>> ARE YOU SAYING IT WILL BE A PACKAGE OF BILLS, NOT JUST ONE BIG BILL.

>> I'M LOOKING AT 17 PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

I HOPE TOP CONDENSE IT DOWN TO FIVE OR SIX PER CHAMBER.

AGAIN, REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS, REPRESENTATIVE COLVIN AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON CONDENSING AND FINDING WHERE THERE IS COMMONALITY IN THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND I EXPECT WE WILL HAVE A DAY OR SO IN EITHER CHAMBER TO GO THROUGH THESE ISSUES.

EVERYTHING FROM MAKING SURE IF YOU HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE FROM ANOTHER STATE THAT IT IS FROM A STATE THAT FIGURED OUT IF YOU WERE HERE LEGALLY TO BEGIN WITH, RIGHT?

THERE'S SOME BILLS THAT DEAL WITH DNA SWABS OF FOLKS THAT ARE HERE ILLEGALLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THEY HAVE NO IDENTIFICATION.

WE HAVE NO WAY TO TELL THEM APART FROM SOMEBODY THAT SAYS THEY HAVE THE SAME NAME.

I KNOW SENATOR BELL IS WORKING ON THAT ONE.

SOME BILLS THAT DEAL WITH PRESENTING A FORGED INSTRUMENT TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE MEANT TO DISSUADE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM BEING HERE IN ALABAMA AND IF THEY STAY WE WILL HOLD THEM UNTIL THE FEDS GET AHOLD OF THEM.

>> WE WILL GET TO THAT.

YEARS AGO THE TERM SELF DEPORTATION WAS THROWN AROUND A LOT.

IT IS DIFFICULT, IN GENERAL, TO EXIST, TO LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE ALABAMA AS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AND YOU WOULD SELF DEPORT.

SOME CRITICISM OF THAT.

IS THAT THE POINT OR MORE OF AN ENFORCEMENT THING, IS IT A DETERRENT OR BOTH?

>> THE ANSWER IS IT IS BOTH REALLY.

IF YOU ARE AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN ALABAMA THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR AND THAT IS YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE.

YOU ARE GOING TO FACE A SLEW OF STATE PENALTIES IF YOU STAY IN ALABAMA ILLEGALLY AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO LIVE LEGALLY DAY IN AND OUT IN ALABAMA IF YOU ARE NOT HERE IN THE COUNTRY LEGALLY.

SO, YEAH, THANKS FOR COMING, YOU HAVE WORN OUT YOUR WELCOME.

IT'S TIME TO GO.

IF YOU STAY, THERE ARE A SLEW OF STATE LAWS THAT REALLY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE'RE GOING TO CATCH YOU BEING HERE ILLEGALLY, THAT WE ARE GOING TO DETAIN YOU FOR VIOLATING A STATE LAW AND HAND YOU OFF TO OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS TO HANDLE YOU THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION SIDE OF THINGS.

>> IT OCCURS TO ME WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

I REMEMBER 2011 VERY WELL.

IT WAS AFTER THE BIG 2010 ELECTION.

ONE OF THE TOP ITEMS ON THE LIST OF THE HANDSHAKE AGENDAS ALABAMA'S ENACTING WHAT IS DUBBED THE STRICTEST IMMIGRATION LAW IN THE COUNTRY.

CELEBRATED BY A LOT OF REPUBLICANS AND PROTESTED BY A LOT OF IMMIGRANT GROUPS AND THINGS.

WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THAT, COURTS GOT INVOLVED.

A LOT OF THE LAW WAS SCALED BACK.

A LOT OF IT FOUND UNWORKABLE.

THE LEGISLATURE HAD TO COME AND CLEAN SOME OF IT UP.

THE REASON I BRING IT UP, DOES THAT EXPERIENCE INFORM WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

ARE YOU TRYING TO AVOID MISTAKES MADE DURING THAT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS?

>> WE HAVE ANALYZED THE ACT AND WHAT WAS SUCCESSFUL, WHAT STAYED, WHAT WAS ENJOINED BY THE FEDERAL COURTS AND WHAT'S ON THE BOOKS STILL AND LOOKED AT THESE BILLS THROUGH THAT LENS, IF YOU WILL.

WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS -- AGAIN, INFORMED IS A GOOD WORD, BEING INFORMED BY THAT EXPERIENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LASER FOCUSED ON CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THE STATE DOES HAVE JURISDICTION.

IMMIGRATION IS A FEDERAL ISSUE.

PRESENTING A FORGED DOCUMENT OR FALSE DOCUMENT TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS CERTAINLY A STATE ISSUE AND CAN BE A STATE ISSUE.

WE'RE TRYING TO LASER FOCUS ON AREAS WHERE WE CAN PINPOINT ISSUES THAT ARE STATE ISSUES BUT THAT CERTAINLY RELATED TO IMMIGRATION STATUS.

>> IT DID KIND OF SEEM LIKE BACK THEN IT WAS AN EXPERIMENT.

THAT ALABAMA IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF STATES.

IT IS LIKE LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO THIS.

A LOT OF TIME HAS PASSED.

A LOT OF STATES LIKE TEXAS AND FLORIDA HAVE GOTTEN IN.

DO YOU THINK THAT HELPS IN TERMS OF THIS IS NOT A LEGISLATIVE EXPERIMENT FROM A THINK TANK.

THERE ARE SOME CONCRETE EXAMPLES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT IN THE COURTS?

>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

THAT WAS OUR POINT IN GOING TO THE BORDER IN TEXAS.

IT WASN'T TO GO AND SEE THE WALL OR A FIELD TRIP.

IT WAS TO GO AND TALK TO TEXAS LEGISLATORS AND SEE IN TEXAS WHAT THEY HAD DONE AS A STATE THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL, WHAT THEY HAD DONE THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND WHERE WE COULD PLUG INTO THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE ON THE STATE LEVEL THAT STAYED OUT OF FEDERAL JURISDICTION, FRANKLY.

AND TEXAS HAS BEEN EVEN DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, ADMITTEDLY HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DETERRING PEOPLE FROM COMING TO TEXAS.

YOU SAW ILLEGAL MIGRANTS GOING TO OTHER PLACES THAN TEXAS BECAUSE OF WHAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAD DONE.

OURS IS MODELED AFTER WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND FLORIDA AS WELL.

WE ARE TRYING TO BE CEREBRAL IN OUR APPROACH TO THIS.

>> LOOKING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, YOU CAN'T TURN ON THE TV WITHOUT SEEING ROUNDUPS GOING ON, I.C.E.

AND HOMELAND SECURITY SEEM TO BE TARGETED ON GANGS, VIOLENT CRIMINALS, THOSE WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, GOING AFTER THEM FIRST.

IT'S HARD TO REALLY HARD WITH THAT APPROACH, BUT THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT -- WELL, DOWN THE ROAD IT IS NOT JUST THOSE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD, BUT BASICALLY ANYBODY.

THAT BEGS THE QUESTION, SHOULD THERE BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE WHO'S COME HERE WITH COMMITTED CRIMES, GANG-RELATED, FENTANYL, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THESE ISSUES A LOT, VERSUS THE ONE THAT IS REALLY COMING TO WORK AND TRYING TO GET A ROOFING JOB AND HAS ROOTS.

I KNOW THAT IS A FEDERAL ISSUE BUT SHOULD THEY BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY IN YOUR EYES?

>> CERTAINLY I THINK THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE IN PRIORITIZATION AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSED ON VIOLENT OFFENDERS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

LET'S BE CLEAR, IF YOU ARE HERE ILLEGALLY IN THE UNITED STATES YOU HAVE BROKEN THE LAW.

IF YOU ARE HERE ILLEGALLY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA YOU HAVE BROKEN THE LAW AND IF YOU DO ANY OF THE THINGS WE'RE YOU WILL BE BREAKING THE LAW AS WELL.

SO TO SAY THESE ARE IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE HERE THAT HAVEN'T BROKEN THE LAW IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

I WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS AND TARGETED ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS, BUT I'M PRETTY FIRM ON THE FACT IF YOU ARE HERE AND BROKEN THE LAW IN ORDER TO BE HERE, YOU NEED TO GO HOME.

>> SWITCHING GEARS.

WHILE WE HAVE TIME, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REFORM SO MUCH AS BEEN UNCOVERED.

BOARDS AND COMMISSION HOW THEY ARE GOVERNED, HOW THEY ARE FUNDED, THE FEES THAT GO INTO ALL OF THIS.

IT IS A COMPLICATED SUBJECT.

CAN YOU GIVE THE HIGH POINTS?

I'M ASSUMING YOU ARE GOING TO BRING BACK THE LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.

>> I AM AND IT WILL ESSENTIALLY BE THE LEGISLATION THAT PASSED OUT OF CIVIC COMMITTEE LAST YEAR.

THIS HAS BEEN INCREMENTAL.

WE DIDN'T GET HERE OVERNIGHT AND WILL NOT FIX IT OVERNIGHT.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

IT IS A MESS.

IT IS A BLOATED GROUP OF BUREAUCRACIES WITHIN THE STATE GOVERNMENT THAT PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS ARE PREYING ON AND HAVE A PROFIT MOTIVATION.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THE SUNSET COMMITTEE AND CONTRACT REVIEW STARTS TO QUESTION THESE AGENCIES, QUESTION THESE BOARDS, QUESTION THESE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, YOU SEE SOME ABUSES.

>> INTERESTING.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO WATCH, AS IS YOUR IMMIGRATION PACKAGE.

WE WILL FOLLOW THAT CLOSELY.

SENATOR, WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON, WHEN THE SESSION BEGINS.

>> NEXT WEEK, HERE WE GO.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> SINCE 1997, ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS PROVIDED PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

VISIT APTV.ORG/EDUCATION TO LEARN MORE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYNN GIVAN FROM BIRMINGHAM.

REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU HAVE A LOT GOING ON.

>> I DO.

>> YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED YOUR CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR OF BIRMINGHAM.

IN YOUR CAPACITY AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE SESSION COMING UP WE ARE HEARING A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF CRIME, SPECIFICALLY VIOLENT CRIME IN CITIES.

YOU HAVE HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

WHAT DOES YOUR LEGISLATION ATTEMPT TO DO.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

LISTEN, CRIME IS AN ISSUE HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, IN PARTICULAR IN BIRMINGHAM AND CERTAINLY THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY.

LAST YEAR THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM ACTUALLY EXCEEDED ITS ALL-TIME HISTORY OF RECORDED KILLINGS WITHIN THE CITY.

SINCE 1933.

WE MOVED TO 159 PEOPLE THAT WERE KILLED IN THE CAPACITY OF GUN VIOLENCE AND VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM.

ALTHOUGH THERE'S AN ARGUMENT THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN, KILLING ISN'T.

KILLING IS THE CASE.

WE MOVED FROM BEING DUBBED LAST YEAR OF MURDERHAM TO KILLINGHAM.

BIRMINGHAM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AND RECOGNIZED AS BIRMINGHAM BECAUSE IT'S KNOWN AS THE MAGIC CITY.

A CITY THAT IN SOME INSTANCES WITH REGARD TO CRIME HAS LOST ITS LUSTER BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING IT BACK.

I SPONSORED LEGISLATION ON GUN VIOLENCE BEFORE BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT.

I'M STRUCTURING IT AROUND A CLASS 1 MUNICIPALITY FOR RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

BIRMINGHAM IS NOTED AS THE ONLY CLASS 1 MUNICIPALITY.

>> CERTAIN SIZE.

>> CERTAIN SIZE AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS THEREOF.

SO BIRMINGHAM IS A CLASS 1.

MY BILL IS TO ADDRESS THE BUMP STOCKS -- AND WE NOSE THOSE ARE THE APPARATUSES THAT YOU ATTACH TO A GUN, JUST A REGULAR GUN THAT WILL CREATE A HIGH-POWERED MECHANISM FOR SHOOTING OR SPRAYING.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT CREATES A MACHINE GUN EFFECT.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN BIRMINGHAM WITH THOSE, THEY ARE ALSO CALLED SWITCHES.

>> GLOCK SWITCHES.

>> SWITCHES.

WE ARE FOCUSING IN ON THE CLASS 1 TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT WOULD ADD A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR ANYONE WHO PURCHASES THOSE TYPE OF APPARATUSES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DOING VIOLENT KILLING AND CRIMES AND THEN HB-69, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ILLEGAL GUNS AND DISTRIBUTION.

LISTEN, BIRMINGHAM HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION OF GUNS.

UNTIL WE TREAT IT LIKE WE DID BACK IN THE DAY -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE CRACK COCAINE ERA.

IT WASN'T UNTIL IT WAS SO PREVALENT IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THERE WERE SO MANY TASK FORCES CREATED THAT WENT AFTER THE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE DRUGS.

>> NOT JUST THE USER.

>> NOT JUST THE USER, OR THE LOCAL DOPE MAN AS THEY USED TO CALL THEM OR THE SUPPLIER ON THE STREET.

IT HAD TO BE THE DISTRIBUTOR.

THAT'S THE PERSON WHO'S BRINGING IT IN.

THAT'S THE ONE GIVING IT TO THE PERSON ON THE STREET.

THAT'S THE PERSON NOT ONLY GETTING TO THE PERSON ON THE STREET BUT THE CONSUMER.

THEY HAVE TO BE THE SUPPLIER TO THE PERSON ON THE STREET.

SO, WE NEED TO GET TO WHO'S DISTRIBUTING THESE GUNS.

WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM?

WHY IS THERE SUCH A BLACK MARKET FOR THESE TYPES OF APPARATUSES AND STOLEN GUNS.

THIS LEGISLATION HB-69 WILL ADD AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR THE STOLEN GUN AND THE DISTRIBUTER AND CREATE -- IF IT IS PASSED IT WILL IMPOSE A CLASS B FELONY ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

UNTIL YOU ATTACK IT THAT WAY, I DON'T CARE WHAT LEGISLATION YOU PASS, IT'S FOR NAUGHT.

THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT, EVEN IF WE LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE A CLASS 1, THIS PERMITLESS CARRY.

IT IS CAUSING A HAMPER IN THE ABILITY OF THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO SEE A GUN, IF A GUN IS IN THE VEHICLE TO DO A CHECK AND RUN IT.

NOW THE LAW SAYS YOU CAN CARRY A GUN PERMIT PERMITLESS CARRY.

IF YOU STOP ME, FOR INSTANCE AND I HAVE A GUN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SEES IT, THERE'S NOTHING THAT TELLS LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY HAVE TO DO A CHECK ON THAT GUN BECAUSE WE ALLOW FOR PERMITLESS CARRY.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC.

>> WELL, I WAS JUST TALKING TO THE SPEAKER.

HE'S FOCUSED ON CRIME, TOO, INCLUDING SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOME BIPARTISAN NEXUS THERE.

>> WE ARE AT THAT POINT.

THERE IS AN EMERGENCY FOR THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM.

THE SPEAKER IS OVERTAXED WITH CALLS FROM CORRESPONDENT LEADERS AND INDIVIDUALS CALLING HIM TO SAY LISTEN, OUR BOTTOM LINE DEPENDS ON SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY NOW IS PLAGUED WITH THIS ISSUE OF THE CRIME IN BIRMINGHAM -- LISTEN, THERE'S ONE CODE THAT IS UNIVERSAL.

THAT IS GREEN.

IT IS NOT BLACK OR WHITE BUT MONEY.

WHEN YOU BEGIN TO IMPACT THE GOODS AND SERVICES AND MONEY AND DEMAND IN AREAS -- >> YOU ARE SAYING THE VIOLENCE IS IMPACTING THE ECONOMY.

>> IT IS IMPACTING THE ECONOMY TO A GREAT EXTENT.

THINGS THAT COULD COME TO BIRMINGHAM OR TO ALABAMA -- WHEN YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF ALABAMA, I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU ARE FROM.

YOU COULD BE FROM TIMBUKTU.

WHEN YOU SAY YOU LIVE IN ALABAMA MOST PEOPLE THINK BIRMINGHAM.

THAT'S A REALIZATION WHERE WE ARE.

YOU MAY GO TO A DEEPER CONVERSATION THAT YOU ARE FROM MONTGOMERY OR PICKENS COUNTY OR WHATEVER BUT THE REALIZATION, MOST PEOPLE UNIVERSALLY KNOW OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORY, THE SAME WITH MONTGOMERY.

THE REALIZATION OF WHERE WE ARE IS WE MUST CREATE AND MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN LIVABLE COMMUNITIES.

WE MUST PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

I DON'T CARE IF I'M A REPUBLICAN.

I DON'T CARE IF I'M A DEMOCRAT AND YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN, VICE-VERSA.

WE ALL HAVE A DUTY TO MAKE SURE WE CREATE AND LIVE IN AREAS AND MAKE SURE THE AREAS THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT ARE AREAS THAT ARE CONSIDERED SAFE.

RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE LITTLE OLD LADIES AFRAID TO GARDEN IN THEIR GARDENS.

YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT WOULD NORMALLY GO OUT AFTER 6:00 NOW ARE NOT GOING OUT.

WHY?

BECAUSE BIRMINGHAM AS A PROBLEM IN THEY ONLY HAVE ROUGHLY 300 AND CLOSE TO 70 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SWORN OFFICERS.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE DEALING WITH SWORN OFFICERS.

BIRMINGHAM ONLY HAS 300 AND SOMETHING SWORN OFFICERS AND FOR THE SIZE OF CITY, OF THE CITY THEY HAVE, IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE UPWARDS TO MORE OF 1,000 VERSUS 300.

THAT'S A POLICING ISSUE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE CRIMINALS KNOW IT.

IT'S NOT THAT BIRMINGHAM IS SO BAD.

IT'S NOT THAT THE WEST END IS SO BAD.

IT'S NOT THE WEST SIDE IS SO BAD, BUT TODD, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT BIRMINGHAM SHOULD NOT BE A CITY OF TWO SIDES, THE SOUTH SIDE VERSUS ALL OF THE OTHER SIDES OR DOWNTOWN AND THE SOUTH SIDE VERSUS ALL OF THE OTHER SIDE.

IT SHOULD BE ONE METROPOLIS AND CITY AND CRIME SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME WAY IN ALL OF THOSE 99 NEIGHBORHOODS AND 23 COMMUNITIES.

RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT THAT'S WHAT WE SAW WITH THE SHOOTING ON FIRST AVENUE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR STRUCTURE TO BE VIOLATED.

FRACTURE INFRASTRUCTURE IS EVERYWHERE.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN 23 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT BIRMINGHAM.

>> LOOKS LIKE VIOLENT CRIME IS SHAPING UP TO BE THE SIGNATURE ISSUE OF THE SESSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WANT TO GET AN UPDATE ON BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN.

>> WE ARE READY TO GO AND COMING TO DO OUR JOB FOR THE PEOPLE.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT ABOUT US, WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT WE FOCUS ON.

I'M ALWAYS DELIGHTED TO BE HERE AND SPEAK A WORD OF TRUTH.

I TELL ANYBODY WHEN I DO COME ON, DO YOUR RESEARCH, FACT FIND AND FACT CHECK ME AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE TRUTH AND ON POINT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

REMEMBER, STARTING ON MONDAY, "CAPITOL JOURNAL" GOES TO NIGHTLY COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE'S REGULAR SESSION.

WE WILL BE ON THE AIR MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AT 10:30 AFTER THE LOCAL NEWS HERE ON APTV AND THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WE WILL COVER IT LIVE.

OUR COVERAGE BEGINS 5:30 AND THE SPEECH WILL BEGIN AT 6:00 AND WE WILL HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE AFTER THAT.

JOIN US FOR THE STATE OF THE STATE TUESDAY NIGHT HERE ON A PUBLIC WORKS T. FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY, WE'LL SEE YOU