From ou statehouse studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacy.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

We start our coverage this week in Washington, where Alabama's Senate delegation remains involved in negotiations over Presiden Donald Trump's big budget bill.

The legislation is still far from passing, but Alabama senators are usin their leverage to make changes they believe will benefit.

The state.

Capitol Journal's Alex Angle reports from Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers are busy putting their imprint on the One Big Beautiful Bill act this week, including Alabama Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville.

Lawmaker are racing to make these changes and get it passed by July 4th, which is their self-imposed deadline.

Senator Katie Britt successfully lobbied to expand the Child and Dependent care tax credit in the Senate's proposal, which helps families pay for child care.

That wasn't include in the House version of the tax cut bill.

She applauded the addition of those tax breaks.

This is a big moment.

This is Republicans stepping up and saying, if you were a hardworking American who was raising a family, we want to be a part of the solution when it comes to affordabilit and reliability of child care.

Britt says she wants to make a couple more tweaks to the tax credits.

The bill also expands two other tax provisions aimed to help make child care more affordable, which Britt also championed.

Senator Tommy Tuberville has been pushin for Senate Republicans to lower the cost share state would have to pay under the bill to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

He told me last week if he becomes Alabama's next governor, he doesn't want to have to pick up the bill for snap.

There' going to be some cuts in snap.

We want to make sure everybody's taken care of at the end of the day, but we also want to make sure that the states don' have to carry the heavy lifting, that we just don't shift spending from, from the federal government to the states.

You know, that's not going to work.

The Senate plan lowered the amount states would have to pay for Snap benefits based on the payment error rate compared to the House's proposal.

But Alabama would still be on the hook to pay millions of dollars for Snap benefit and more administrative costs.

Based on the Senate's proposal.

Britt says she's been having talks about what that cost sharing plan would look like in the state.

We've been having conversations with Chair Bozeman.

Who's been responsible for that section?

Looking at the error rate, looking at where that puts Alabama and what it actually means.

Other Republicans remain hesitant to support the bill over Medicaid cut concerns, while fiscal hawks worried there aren't enough spending cuts included.

But Britt says she's confident the Senate will get this bill passed.

Trying to figure out what is the pathway forward.

But we kno that failure is not an option.

These are the things that we promised the American people on and that they voted for on any changes the Senate makes will have to be sent back to the House for vote.

With Republicans razor thin majority in the House.

Plenty of hurdles remain before this bill gets passed and sent to Trump's desk.

Reporting on Capitol Hill Alex Angle, Capitol Journal.

Thank you.

Alex.

This week marked Juneteenth, a celebration of the effective end of slavery in America.

It was June 19th, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, the last Western holdout for slavery, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

The holiday has grown over the decades and this year is the first time the state of Alabam has officially marked Juneteenth as a state holiday.

After the legislature passed that law this past session, hundreds gathered here in the capital city for a concert and celebration put on by the Equal Justice Initiative.

The event featured songs from Jason Mack's and the Ferdinand Singers as participants reflected o the significance of the holiday.

We caught up with EJI founder Br Today is as Juneteenth.

It's a really important day in the life of our nation.

It is the day when 4 million enslaved people were emancipated, the last of them, which marked a new opportunity in America.

It was a new opportunity for freedom for formerly enslaved people but it was also an opportunity for every American to commit to an era where we live up to the promises in our Constitution, the promises in our Declaration of Independence.

Our nation is committed to equality and justice and liberty but we have yet to achieve that.

And what Juneteenth represents for me is a new chapter, a new opportunity in America to move toward that equality, a justice and liberty.

Millions of African Americans embrace that opportunity.

They built schools.

They built churches.

They committed to this country when they could have said we want revenge and retribution.

And that community continues t stride, stride toward progress.

Many parts of our nation, however, have failed.

After emancipation, we allowed lawlessness and mob violence to disrupt the commitment to equality and justice.

For 100 years, black peopl were pulled out of their homes.

They were beaten, drowned, tortured, lynched.

This memorial behind me is dedicated to documenting that horrific violence.

We codified racial segregation in this state, created racial hierarchy, didn't allow black people to vote, or to be treated fairly.

And 60 years ago, courageou people tore down those barriers, tore down those, and ye another opportunity was created.

Five years ago, there was a lot of talk about how we're now going to have to dig deeper t make racial justice a reality.

And today we're seeing some retreat from that.

So Juneteenth represents opportunity, opportunities for freedom, opportunities fo equality, justice and liberty.

And I think every every American should see this day as a day to reflect on the opportunity we have to create a nation that is stronger, healthier.

I still believe that there's something more like freedom, more like equality, more like justice waiting for us.

But we can't get ther until we fully embrace the power and the opportunity we have i America to do the great things our four parents and founders would love to us for.

Love.

Love for us to achieve.

Alabama's new law banning student cell phone use during the school day will take effect this fall, when school reconvenes.

That law requires schools across the state to adopt new policies aimed at keeping classrooms free of that cell phone distraction.

But one principal here in Montgomery County says her school is already seeing the benefits of a phone free campus.

Well ahead of the statewid mandate, Capital Journal's Jeff Sanders reports.

Across Alabama, school are getting ready for a new law that will soon change daily life for students.

At Pike Grove Junior High School in Montgomery County that change is already in place.

We just knew that the academic engagement could increase if we were able to get rid of distractions.

And cell phones are distraction no matter which way you look at it.

A year ago, the school began requiring students to lock up their phones in these yonder pouches when they arrive on campus.

That decision came before stat lawmakers passed the Focus Act this spring, sponsored by representative Lee Hulsey and signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey.

The law bans student phone use during the school day and takes effect this fall.

Pike road Principal Kristi Reich also spoke in support of the legislatio when it came before lawmakers.

It takes 15 minutes once a chil looks at a cell phone to be able to regain their focus, to be able to actually, comprehend what's happening in the classroom.

And so, we took that information in and decided that this would be a good step for Pike Road schools.

Wright says the change has been good for students, reducing distractions and encouraging more personal connections.

Socially, obviously, we have just an increase in our culture, just engagement in the hallways, talking deeper discussions, lunchroom.

Everybody's talking to each other.

You know, there's more connection being made on the academic end.

Our goal with the A+ College progra is to reach a 60 point increase.

We didn't just reach that.

We exceeded that with a 95 point increase, of our SAT data, which is huge.

Under the Focus Act, each school system will decide how to enforce the new rules.

Yonder pouches are not required, only that students keep phones off and out of reac unless needed for emergencies, medical reasons or teacher approved instruction.

And if parents need to reach their children, Wright says, they can always call the school office.

It is a process.

They do.

You know, just like with any policy, you know, you have to get used to it.

But, but things have really gone smoothly.

Still some lawmakers raised concerns about how the law might affect communication and debate on the Senate floor.

State Senator Chri Elliott voiced his opposition.

You're going to hear fro parents back home if this passes and they're not able to simply, you know, they're not able to communicate with their child about practice being canceled, car breaking down, tire goes flat, forgot the soccer cleats.

Wright says that clear communication with families about the new rules is key.

And she encourages other schools to take the same approac as they prepare for the new law.

We had a parent Q&A document.

They were able to ask us all the questions they wanted to, and we answered them.

We had a training for our lead learners and then we also had a training with our student.

Alabama schools have until July 1st to finalize their new policies.

So when classrooms reopen at the end of August, students will return to a phone free school day.

Reporting from the Statehouse in Montgomery.

I'm Jeff Sanders for Capital Journal.

Thank you Jeff.

New unemployment numbers are out today showing steadiness and some progress.

Alabama's unemployment rate for May was 3.3%.

That is unchanged since April.

And the number stat leaders are more keenly focused on the labor force.

Participation rat also remained the same at 58%.

However, that is an improvement from 57.4% from the same time last year.

Secretary of Workforce Gre Reed says now is the first time since 2012 that Alabama has seen that high of a workforce participation rate, which he sees as progress.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that bans transgender medical treatments from being administered to minors.

This is the case Alabama has been watching because our state passed a similar law back in 2022.

This ruling effectively cements Alabama's law, which was already in effect.

The court ruled 6 to 3 that the law banning hormone treatments, puberty blocker and surgeries from transgender minors doesn't violate the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.

Alabama Attorney General Stev Marshall celebrated the court's ruling, saying, quote, I applaud the Supreme Court for recognizing that the state governments have the authority and responsibility to regulate medicine in the face of medica interest groups that have placed radical gender ideolog over evidence based medicine and patient welfare in, quote.

The University of Alabama has named a new president.

Peter J. Mohler was introduced this week by the Board of Trustees as the 30th president of the University.

Mohler is currently Executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge at Ohio State University and chief scientific officer of Ohi State's Wexner Medical Center.

He said he was draw not only by Alabama's reputation for academic and athletic excellence, bu by its shared sense of mission.

He will succeed Stuart Bell, who has served as president since 2015.

And speaking of Tuscaloosa, there will soon be a special election for a new statehouse member from that area.

Governor Kay Ivey is appointment of former State Representative Cynthia Ormond to the Public Service Commission.

Created a vacancy in House district 63.

Ivey has now called a special election to fill that vacancy.

The primary election is se for September 30th of this year.

A runoff, if necessary, will be October 28th, and the general election is se for January 13th of next year.

Fun fact about that district 36 seat or 63 seat.

Rather, the last three people to hold that sea have gone on to higher office.

Robert Bentley went on to be elected governor, bill Pool became finance director and now Cynthia Ormond is the Public Service Commission president.

So it will be interesting to see who runs and who wins.

Governor Ivey has also appointed Michael Godwin to the Montgomery County District Court.

Godwin will succeed former District Judge Tiffany McCaw, who was appointed to serve on the Montgomer Circuit Court by Ivey in April.

The governor said Godwin's considerable legal experience and familiarity with the court will ensure he makes an effective district judge for the people of Montgomery County.

Godwin began his legal career as a judicial law clerk and mediation coordinator for the Montgomery County District Court back in 2008.

Increased food prices have contributed to supply shortages a some of the state's food banks.

As the summer heats u and the need for food remains.

Some Alabamians are workin to restore those supply chains and raise awareness about hunge in the state capital journal's Randy Scott reports.

That's our responsibility to do, to make sure that we deliver safe, nutritious and the right quantity of food to those in need.

Michael Coleman is talking about fighting a big problem in Alabama, fighting hunger.

Coleman is the CEO of a Heart of Alabama food bank in Montgomery.

We are a partner, food Ban of the Feeding America Network.

We have 35 counties assigned to us.

We cannot serve 35 counties out of this one facility.

So we're contracte with four additional food banks.

Coleman says besides Montgomery, they have four other food banks in Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Dothan and Selma.

So those four affiliated food banks is what they're called.

They help us with 23 of those counties, same standard same contractual requirements.

We serve 12 countie directly out of this facility.

However, across the 35 counties, we're responsible for all those counties.

Two Feeding America staff here a the heart of Alabama Food Bank say they can sum up their mission with this phrase, helping people at a time where prices for everything from gasoline to power bills have gone up.

They want to help people win the war against hunger in Alabama by helping them find food.

Coleman says they're a service organization whose goal is to lend a hand.

Do we have to treat, people, with timely service, with a proper attitude, with, showing dignity, showing appreciation.

Most importantly, getting them food.

We source food.

We go all over the state, and we source that.

We get some from the USDA, we get some from major, retailers such as Walmart and Publix and all the major grocery chains.

And we buy some food as well.

Their job isn't over when they do get food into their warehouse.

And then we distribute it out to our agency partners, a church pantry or other nonprofits who are dispensing in the community.

So our customer and direct customer is really our partner agencies that are helping distribute to the community with tough times all around.

Coleman says he's confident things will get better.

I'm somebody who tends to b optimistic regardless of what's happening, that, you know, we're going to find a way.

I'm a person of faith.

So, I very much pray about this.

I very much trust that that God's near, to thos who are hurting in Montgomery.

Randy Scott, capital Journal.

Thank you.

Randy.

We want to let you know about what we have coming up on next week's spotlight on education.

That's our quarterly deep dive into education issues here in Alabama.

For this upcoming episode, we are pleased to feature Alabama's Teacher of the year, Katie Collins and Alternate Teacher of the Year Aubrey Bennett, who spoke about the importance of shining a light on the good work teachers around the state are doing.

Here's a preview clip.

We recognize what a huge honor this is, and we recognize that this is not like we are the best teachers.

We know how to do everything.

We recognize that.

We recogniz that we are just representing.

I would like to sa the creme de la creme in French, like we are representing this profession and we believe in this profession.

We have dedicated our live to this profession, and we know that there are so many teachers out ther who are doing incredible work.

And so we want to shine a light on what is happening, the incredible things that are happening in the schools in Alabama.

So that's one thing we want to do.

But as you can see like we're a unit, we're coming like we believe in the power of, of a team.

And so I think that we would also like to talk about that this year, about how we all have different gifts and talents, and we've got to just leverage them for the greater good.

And so I think that's why we want to really.

He has experiences that I don't have and I have experiences that he doesn't have, but just going and just being real to faculties.

I mean, I kind of kid with him about, like, walking down hallways in Alabama and just finding that teacher and just reminding them, like, you make a difference.

And let them know we're proud of them.

Right?

Yeah.

And let them know their voice matters, right?

In all aspects of Alabama.

And that's one of the coolest things that again, I'm from New York.

So being here in Alabama, it's cool to see.

I want to see.

It's it's cool to see the different aspects of of education in Alabama.

Right.

From a rule to, to urban to, suburban and just a small swing at all and letting everybody know from all acros the corners of the state that, you know, we're proud of you.

We care about you.

We want your voice to be heard by everyone and not just in Alabama, but across the country, and let them know that you know, we're proud of them.

This upcoming episode of spotlight also features Mark Dixon of the A+ Education Partnership, who put into perspective the progress being made in reading and math at the third grade level.

Reading, as everyone knows is fundamental to all learning.

If you if we can't have kids reading well in the early grades, then we're going to be jus struggling all the way through and they have very little chance of graduating.

So implementing the Literacy Act well is so, so critical in this progress that we sa with 88% of students sufficient and ready to move on to, to fourth grade, is a huge ste over over last year, even with even with higher, a highe cut score that they had to meet.

But you know when we also compare ourselves to other states.

So if you look at the nation's report card last year, in 2024, that's the Nape assessment.

We were the one of only two states to actually excee pre-pandemic levels in reading.

So think about that.

How far we've come since 2019, prior to the pandemic.

And we were the only one of two states that have actually exceeded those levels.

And and this data from the state level right now shows that our third graders are continuing to move in the right direction and have the skills that they need to be successful.

And looking at that same national data, we're also seeing that we were the only state in the country that actually exceeded pre-pandemic levels in math.

So that's a real testament not only to having the right policies in place at the state level, but especially to the school leaders and teacher that have really worked so hard.

For our students over the last several years.

Well because it takes a lot, right?

It's not one silver bullet.

It takes different, you know, whether it's lawmakers doing their thing.

Folks at the Department doing their thing, you know, groups like yours and especially the teachers in the classroom, it's not just you don't pass a law and forget about it, right.

It takes a lot to actually make that work.

That's right.

It's like a three legged stool.

You know, when we think about policy change and want to see long term sustained change, it really takes three things.

One is that evidenc based student centered policy.

So take the literacy Act as an example.

Passing that law or passing a state board policy similar to that.

That's the first leg.

And that's got to be based on the right evidence.

Got to be got to be studen centered.

The second is funding.

If you look at literacy, for example, since we passed help pass the Literacy Act and 2019, funding for that has tripled, over that time.

And that's throug the commitment of state leaders like Governor Ivey and our budget chairman, and a lot of state legislators that have been very supportive of that work.

And then the third leg is strong implementation.

And if we don't do all three of those, well, then we might not, as you know, we might as well not do any of them at all.

And you can catch those interviews in their entirety, plus a lot more on Spotlight on Education this coming Thursday night at 8:00, right here on Alabama Public Television.

We'll also post that to our YouTube channel.

Also coming up next week here on APT is a new documentary called caregiving, created with executive producer Bradley Cooper.

Caregiving highlights the challenges and triumphs of carin for aging loved ones in America.

Here's that clip from birth to our last breath.

It affects everyone.

There are only four kinds of people in the world those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregiving.

But these heroes bear a burden that is often invisible.

This is my wife, Masumi, so it's been really tough.

The Americans are not prepared.

The cost of caregivin is completely unaffordable for most.

I mean, these are heroic people that are caregivers.

Period.

Startin during the depression to today, the decades long effor to provide care for Americans.

If we are a caring society, we end up with a country that's happier.

It's a country where more people have the ability to work and work well.

An empowering story of empathy.

Everyday people can make history.

And caregiving will air Tuesday night at 8:00 here on Alabama Public Television.

One of us that we'll be right back with this week's guests.

Stay with us.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online anytime at Alabama Public Television's website.

App tv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes o Capital Journal's Facebook page.

From its establishment in 1969 by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, also known as the Swampers.

Until the mid 1980s, the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield, Colbert County was one of the most sought after recording studios in the nation.

Muscl Shoals played a prominent role in American popular music, both as a production facility and as a stylistic embodiment of southern regional music.

The studio also held a unique place in the narrative of soul music in the early 1970s, from the Rolling Stones to Aretha Franklin.

Performers who recorded at the studio represent some of the most notable and popular recording artists of the time.

The remarkable consistency of the music created by the Swampers is a testament to the synergy of the players and their dedication to the art of recording.

The studio's legacy, which is internationally recognized, testifies to music's ability to bring people together.

Muscle Shoal Sound Studio was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 2nd, 2006.

You're watching Alabama Public Television celebrating 70 years of service to Alabama.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Last week, we reported that Governor Kay Ivey appointed Cynthia Ormond as president of the Public Service Commission.

And joining me next is Cynthia Allman, president of the Public Service Commission.

Thanks for coming on the show Thank you for having me, Todd.

I appreciate it and congratulations.

I said so on Twitter, but congratulations for this appointment.

Obviously ticking over for Twinkle Cavanaugh, who ha been there and went to the USDA.

So I'm sure you've heard from a lot of people who have congratulatory notes.

Well, it's been a busy, week or so, for me, but it's, people have been very kind.

And, yes, lots of phon calls and texts and from people all over.

So it's been it's been very nice.

Yeah.

Obviously you're coming from the state legislature.

You've been on the show a few times from that House seat there in Tuscaloosa.

How did this come about?

I mean, you know, you're serving in the legislature.

You know, the the vacancy comes open.

Was it on your radar?

I mean, how did that process kind of work?

This particular job was not on my radar.

No, it was not.

I did have the opportunity over the last four years in the legislature to work with Governor Ivey's staff and with her through her staff, on a number of different, legislative laws that we passed.

And for almost every single year I was here, I either carried one of her, her bills o worked with her staff on that.

So I got to know all of them and got to know her a little bit.

And, I guess through all of that, my, my name was, somehow came to the top, and I certainly am excited about it.

Well, remind our audience about what the Public Service Commission does, right?

Because it's not exactly in the news every day.

Remind us about the scope and role of the PSC.

So there's really sort of two parts.

There's a public service commission, staff that's there every day.

I was surprised to learn there's 65 to 70 staff people that work for the Public Service Commission, and there is their full time job every single day.

We have a, a commission, a three person commission.

That's an elected body.

I serve as the president, and I, you know, I will run again as as the president.

That's the slot.

And then there's place one in place, two and there.

But all three statewide positions.

And we actually, you know, preside over the hearings.

And we really are the interface, between the Public Service Commission and, and the and the public.

And we are there to, I think, protect the public and also, make sure our utilities ar supported and also are charging, fair price and all sorts of other things.

So things like your power bill, the power company, TVA, gas company, things like that.

You public utilities that require because the legislature, used to regulate those things and created the PSC to regulate it on its own.

Yes.

It's been around for a long time.

I think it started with the railroads.

And so we still regulate railroads in the state of Alabama.

The biggest one is Alabama Power.

We have two different gas companies.

We have transportation networ companies think Uber and Lyft.

We have wastewater, an we also have, safety pipelines.

And maybe a couple of othe things I don't even know about, but those are the main ones with all sorts of utilities that we regulate.

Interesting.

Well, it's going to be an interesting, path for you as you begin to lead the PSC.

And again, you talked about running.

That's not on the ballo until 28, right?

That's right.

So, miss, twinkle, miss Miss Cavanaugh, ran last year.

And so I'm appointed in my term.

Will, I'll continue to serve until 28.

I see that they're on the ballot again.

Yes.

Well, look ever since this was announced, it really has been, enthusiastic, enthusiastically received, and, across the board.

I mean, I'm just saying that as an honest observer.

But your house colleagues, and and just people from around the state House in general, I've all said also.

Oh, man, we're we'r we're losing a good one, right?

We're losing a good lawmaker.

And so they're happy to see you, you know, advance and have this, very important role.

But they're going to miss you in the House.

I guess that's gotta feel good hearin from so many of your colleagues and say, oh, well, congratulations.

But man, we're going to miss you.

Well, it does make me feel good.

And, you know, it's interesting I was here for years and that came and went pretty quickly.

And in my mind, but you do really get to know your colleagues really, really well.

I guess in part because even though we're only here part of the year, when we are together, we're together a lot.

And and so a person I like, the people I work with.

We didn't always agree, o policy or on in politics, but, I liked the people I served with, both in the House and in the Senate and of course, all the staff people there.

So, I will miss, miss the and miss being there for sure.

What are some of your takeaway from being in the legislature?

Obviously you come from a family history of service, but in your time in the legislature, what were some of the things you'll take away, either positive or negative?

Well, I you know, first of all, it's it's well, it's I served on the city council before as ag as you know, and and that's very local.

And this is one step removed from that in terms of being in the legislature.

But at the same time, it's still it's still within our it is still somewhat local.

We represent the people back home.

And I always say we were two hats.

And it's important to remember that both, a local hat and as well as a statewide hat, you know, we have the state is made up of, just different regions.

Is so interesting to study the history of how our state developed.

And you can look today at many of those regions and see how, how and why people sort of think the way they do and act the way to do and vote the way they do is quite interesting.

So we still have all of that in the statehouse today.

Differing opinions, differing backgrounds.

And and yet, you know our job is to come together and, and to, to move hopefully good legislation forward.

And, an so that can be difficult to do with different backgrounds.

But it's, it's just been a pleasure to work with my colleagues on that.

And so that's one of the takeaways is, is that, you know, how important it is for us to respect each other's opinions and understand that people com from different backgrounds and and we have to take all that into consideration.

Well, you will be missed here in the state House but good luck going forward.

Congratulations agai and look forward to having you back as president of the PSA as things get going.

Thank you very much.

Once I get my feet on the ground and learn what the ropes are, I'd love to come back.

All right.

Thanks again.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

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Tuskegee Institute track star Alice Coachman was the first black female athlete to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics.

Coachman set an Olympic record in the high jump with a leap of five feet, six and one eight inches.

She was one of 12 torchbearers for the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

Coachman was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is Josh Pendergrass, candidate for state auditor.

Josh thanks for coming on the show.

Hey, Todd.

Thanks for having me.

I appreciate it.

Well, we want to get to why you're running and all that, but I wanted to ask you first to kind of remind or tell our audience about yourself, your background as you're running for state auditor.

Sure.

Well, I, am a lawyer, by trade, by practice, and I'm also a pastor, so I have a law degree.

A seminary degree, and a long career in Albanian politics, going all the way back to the major republican elections in 2008 and 2010 and, of course, served as governor Irish communications director, for a time.

And so I've kind of got an eclectic background.

I like to tell people the best way to introduce me is to say, a lawyer, a pasto and a politician walk into a bar and everybody says, hey, Josh, that's kind of the the best way to do it.

So that's my general background, live in Prattville with my wif and our eight year old son and and just looking forward to the race and working hard to earn people's votes.

Okay.

Well, that's that's pretty good.

Well, okay.

So why do you want to be state auditor?

That's the most basic question, right?

Why are you running?

But more importantly, why do you want to be the Alabama State Auditor?

Well a lot of people have forgotten really, about the auditor's office.

And what it does over the years is its role has diminished.

Some of its ability to do some things has diminished.

But the auditor actually plays a very important role in protecting tax dollars.

And that's the main reason that I want to run about $1.3 billion worth of state property is under the auspices of the auditor's office, and it's the auditor's responsibilit to know where that property is, how that's being property is being used, and when it's destroyed or lost or whatever.

To understand where and how it's been lost and to hold people accountable if they've done something improper with state property.

And in a lot of ways, it's kind of a built in department of government efficiency.

It's ensuring that we as a state are taking and being good stewards of the things that we've been purchased that have been purchased with state tax dollars to ensure that the taxpayer investment is being protected.

Yeah, because I've always been a little bit confused between because there's you get the state auditor's job and that's constitutional written into the Constitution.

But you've also got the, Examiners of Public Accounts which is separate, but they do a kind of a lot of overlaps.

Talk about how that might work.

There is some overlap, but the best way to really understand the distinction distinction is that the examiner's office really deals with money in the most part, and the auditor's office mainly deals with property.

Okay.

And so that's reall the best way to distinguish it.

And so for example, if you're in a state building and you look at a table or even a an office chair or anything like that there's going to be a vehicle, there's going to be a little RFID tag on the bottom or on the sid or somewhere on that property, and that's the auditor's office.

They keep up with all of that property.

Having been in a state employee working in the governor's office, I've been on the other side of this, and I know what it's like to have the log, and you've been there to that.

You've got to sign out all the property, and then when you leave you've got to turn it all back in, and you have to make sure that it's all there.

And so I bring that perspective of having been a state employee, but also bring perspective as someone who's owned a small business and has to make payroll and do all that and can bring the idea of running the actual office there, give or take depending on, you know, the day and that kind of thing.

Somewhere between 10 to 15 employees and the auditor's office that is responsible for these, this $1.3 billion worth of property.

And so not only do I bring the understanding of the need to protect the property and the taxpayer investment, but how to run an office to deal with people and to manage it.

And that's really the auditor's role.

Well, you almost answere my question for me right there.

I was going to ask you, you know, your time in the governor's office, your other experience in politics and in business.

How do you think that tha prepares you, to take on a job?

I mean, this is a big deal.

It's a statewide office, constitutional role.

How do you think your previous experience would suit you?

Well, in terms of applying it to that role?

One of the things I learned a long time ago, and something that I saw Governor Avenue very effectively, is to understand that you have to let people do their jobs, trust that you've hired the right person and let them do their role.

And then the auditor's office, the men and women who work there.

I need to let them be the auditors to manage the property, to take care of the the sheets, the the inventories and do their job.

And then it's my job to manage them and the overall office.

And so I thin with my background as having run that communications office for the governor, of having run campaigns across the state, of owning a couple of different small businesses, I bring the managerial leadership mindset that doesn't just run the office but sets a vision for the office and can really work with other people and other individuals to ensure the auditor's office is as effective as it can be.

Okay, well, look, it's going to be a long campaign really 11 months now is when we're going to be voting, right?

So, what issues do you see arising in this?

There are I know there are a couple already announced candidates that are going to join you in this race.

So what kind of issues do you want to highlight as this campaign?

Because it's going to be a pretty crowded ballot.

You're right You get to, you know, stand out.

So what issues do you see, being a part of this campaign that you want to focus on o I highlighted in a minute ago?

But one of the biggest things is the idea that this office can really be a state level version of Doge or the Department of Government Efficiency to ensure that taxpayer dollars are protected, and to understand and to advocate for the idea that when taxpayer send their money into the state, they're investing in the property and the people and in the processes.

And so as the auditor I want to manage the property, manage the people and manage the processes.

And one of the things that's happened over the past several years is the role of the auditor's office, and even its budget has declined greatly because there hasn't been a very good relationship between previous auditors and the legislature.

Because of my background in politics in Alabama, I can pick up the phone and call several leaders of the legislature, the speaker and others, and they will answer my call.

And one of the things I want to do that I think is unique to me and my ability in this race is to mend those fences, repair those relationships with the auditor's office can be the important constitutional office, and it's meant to b under our system of government and not necessarily be relegated just to the side.

Well, as I said, it's going to be a long campaign.

I really appreciate you coming on and introducing yourself as a candidate for statewide office.

And we'll see you again on the campaign trail.

All right.

Great.

Thanks Todd I appreciate you having me.

All right.

Good luck.

We'll be right back.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online anytime at Alabama Public Television's website.

App tv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes o Capital Journal's Facebook page.

Hello.

I'm hearing my husband is hearing in.

Our child is deaf, and we enjoy a lot of the same things that other families enjoy.

Before PBS kids, I always had this feeling that I was letting her down because what we were watching wasn't really accessible to her.

She was only getting like a third of what it was about.

I was so surprised when my daughter first took concepts from this show.

Work it out, warm bath, sweat the interpreter about in and started applying them completely independently.

It was totally her ide to draw one of the characters.

Label steps one, two three four, and then start cutting out those body parts in the orde that she had planned in advance.

What an amazing skill that she's going to use for the rest of her life to take a project, break it dow into steps, and execute on it.

I know some families who a parent will get up and interpret next to the TV and you know, I don't have to do that.

Like, I want to just be able to sit and relax and enjoy a show together and know that she's understanding everything.

And I'm understanding everything, and we can enjoy it together.

And PBS kid has finally made that possible.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is historian doctor Richard Bailey.

Doctor Bailey thanks for coming on the show.

And thank you for having me.

Now, I should have also mentioned you are the chairman of the Alabama Historical Preservation Society.

Is that correct?

The Montgomery, Historic Preservation Commission.

Commission.

Okay.

Let's sort of get that wrong.

Well, wanted to have you on again, because this week we celebrated Juneteenth, and it's actually the first time it's been celebrated as an official state holiday enacted by the legislature.

Of course, the governor had given a second Floyd's off time before everything.

So it's a big deal.

But, I really wanted to ask you to walk us through the history of Juneteenth and why this is a significant moment that we mar now officially here in Alabama.

Than you so much for your question.

Let's go back to Galveston, Texas, June 19th, 1865.

General Granger had arrived there, and what he did was to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, the Emancipation Proclamation, having been, signed by Presiden Lincoln on New Year's Day, 1863, had emancipated slaves in the South, but they would not under Union control.

Right.

And it was not until General Granger arrives in Galveston that we could really say that that area of Texas was under Union control which means it was at that point that we could enforc the Emancipation Proclamation.

Now, let's talk abou a couple of things that happened that day.

Many persons may have read how General Granger stood on the balcony of the Aston Villa and read the proclamation.

Did not happen.

Okay.

What do you legend then?

Yes.

And then there are a bunch of them too.

And I'm just reading every day.

How about something that was supposed to have happened but did not happen?

What he did on that day was to post a copy of General Order Number three throughout Galveston, and one of the places where he posted that general orde was that the Black Army Church.

It wasn't A.M.E. church at that time, but i later became Reidy Chapel A.M.E. church on Broadway Avenue is still there today.

And he did that because that's where many black people congregated.

So they would be able to read it.

One myth regarding Juneteenth is that African-Americans in Texas and elsewhere had no idea that Lincoln had issued the proclamation.

Not so many Texas newspapers had broadcast the proclamation, and contrary again to popular belief, slaves had a network where word is passed among slaves.

So they knew about the proclamation.

But here's the catch there was no significant Union presence to enforce the proclamation.

That' why Juneteenth is so important.

Yeah.

So for all intents and purposes, the war was still going on or, you know.

Yes.

And, and I'm just thinking geographically, that's about as far west and about as far away from the nation's capital as slavery probably existed.

So that's the last corner right of the of the old South.

Yes.

And your point raises another concern for me and historians.

Another reason that Texas was so important is that as the Civil War progressed, many plantation owners carried their property slaves to Texas.

In 1860, there were basically 1000 slaves in the Houston and Galveston area.

1865 250,000 slaves in the state of Texas.

Wow.

Slavery was a refuge for plantation owners, so they just kept going west?

Yes, right.

As the war progressed.

Yeah, they kept going west, I see.

I had never I never knew that.

And that's why Galveston obviously was so important.

That's right.

It's interesting because I was talking to someone the other day who mentioned Juneteenth, somebody from Texas, and it was just so colloquial, about Juneteenth weekend and everything.

And it struck me it's like, well, you don't hear that around here very much in terms of, you know, like Easter weekend or something like that.

But it struck me that geographic Lee like, you know, in the Houston area, Galveston area that going back that is a big deal down there.

I think it's just now here more in recent year and decades become a bigger deal as people have become aware of the holiday.

In fact, we had our first what became a Juneteenth celebration in 1866, in Galveston.

The name itself, Juneteenth, was not applied until roughly the 1890s, but we had to celebration.

It just didn't call them Juneteenth.

But as African American in the Galveston area in Texas began to move about, they carried with them a concern and appreciation for Juneteenth.

And that's how I began to spread it.

That's interesting.

We'll talk about how, emancipation worked here in Alabama.

I know you've written a book about it.

Yes.

But, you know, Texas is one thing I'm imagining.

It happened here quicker.

We talk about emancipation in Alabama, how word spread, how it actually worked out, and what history tells us.

Well, there's there' so many components to that story regarding Alabama.

First of all, genera Lee surrenders to general Grant, Palm Sunday, April 9th, 1865, and he's he signed off on that around 4 p.m. that afternoon.

But the Civil War did not end in Alabama until May 4th, 1865, and the fighting, the surrender of Montgomery took place on April 12th, four years to the day of the orders to firing Fort Sumter.

Mobile surrendered to same day and that same General Granger, who is a central personality in, Galveston, was also important with the surrender of Alabama mobile area in 1865 also.

But the point of the matter is that historical marker is citronella, where that surrender, took place.

That marker is called surrender site.

And I would imagine many people in Alabama have never focused on tha historical marker as citronella.

That's title surrender site.

But the point is that most people are beginning to understand and appreciate when slavery ended, wherever it ended, many plantation owners refuse to emancipate their slaves.

I was going to ask you that because, you know, was there was there enough of a union presence to enforce that?

And was that their order to to go and enforc the Emancipation Proclamation?

But I'm guessing it took a long time, right.

In the first chapter carpetbagger book, I'd discuss how African-Americans responded to emancipation.

Number one, some remain on plantation voluntarily, others left in search of relatives, and others left for the nearest city or town nearby.

But for those plantation owners who refused to emancipate those slaves, those slaves were not emancipated unti those Union soldiers came there and watch them physicall walk away from that plantation.

We're here in Montgomery.

And let me just localize that point.

Henry Lovelace was bor outside of Union Springs, 1854 1865.

He's 11 years old.

The plantation where he lived, that owner refused to emancipate those slaves, and Henry Lovelace had to remain on that plantation for five years.

And he escaped to Montgomery.

That was the only way he was able to leave that plantation outside of Union Springs.

You can multiply that kind of circumstance all over the South.

Alabama in the South, as most of us know, was essentially a rural region.

Right?

So if those Union soldiers were not able to just come there and physically watch you leave that plantatio for those who wanted to leave, you were there.

And that's the whole point about Galveston.

We did not have a Juneteenth until we had a sizable union presence in the area.

We'll talk about it again.

They made it an official state holiday this year.

Legislation, had been discussed for years, and it's now official.

So talk about that significance of the actually being an official March state holiday for the state of Alabama.

That is that just huge?

It is so huge because when you look at one paradox, at one point, Montgomery wa the capital of the Confederacy.

Sure.

From February 3rd to May 1861, Montgomer was that capital city until the first white House over here.

That's right.

Capital.

That's right Until it relocated to Richmond.

So for the state of Alabama, to have a Juneteenth holiday is bad, is huge and paradoxical.

As an event can come.

Yeah.

I thought it was significant that they made it law again.

The governor had been basicall unofficially making it a state holiday for, several years.

But I think it's I think it says somethin about our about reconciliation and about where we are as a state that.

Yeah, it passed overwhelmingly.

No.

There was yes.

I'm so impressed with the fact that the state of Alabama has done that.

But for those historians who delve into the real meaning of Juneteenth they focus on three aspects one.

Celebrate.

We want people to celebrate the second component educate.

Ensure that people know what Juneteenth is all about.

The third component, agitate.

Make certain that as we celebrate Juneteenth, that we are doing something to ensure that that needle of progress moves in a direction that signal the advancement of black rights, that's what we need to make sure we're doing well, said.

Well, Doctor Bailey, again, I want you to hold up your book here so folks can, find it.

Neither carpetbaggers no scalawags, black office holders.

During the reconstruction of Alabama, 1867 to 1878.

Where can people find your book?

Where they can find it?

All of the bookstores and they can also find it at the library, and they can find it on, Amazon, I believe, but certainly all of the local bookstores.

Okay, great.

Well, I encourage that.

And again thank you for your time and in and explain some of this, really important history.

Thank you for having me.

We'll be right back.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online any time at Alabama Public Television's website.

aptv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes o Capital Journal's Facebook page.

Since 1997, Alabam Public Television has provided programs, services, and resources to childcare professionals, teachers and parents.

Visit AP tv.org/education to learn more.

Born Henry Louis Aaron on February 5th, 1934, in mobile.

Baseball icon Hank Aaron first honed his baseball skills while growing up in Alabama.

He is best known for breaking Bab Ruth's record of 714 home runs, ultimately hitting 755, a record that stood from 1974 to 2007.

During his career, Aaron was a member of the Milwaukee and then Atlanta Braves for 21 seasons and made the National League All-Star team every year from 1955 to 1974.

He won three Gold Glove Awards for outfielder, and his lifetime records for most runs batted in and most extra base hits still stand.

Aaron was elected to th Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, with 97.8% of the votes cast in 2002.

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

That's our show for this week.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back next week.

At the same time, right here on Alabama Public Television for our Capital Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.