>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.
WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.
IT WAS COMMITTEE DAY IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS, THE HOUSE AND SENATE DID NOT ALSO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
BUT THERE WAS PLENTY OF LEGISLATION MOVING, GETTING MARKED UP AND IN SOME CASES GETTING HELD UP.
WE'LL START IN THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE, WHERE THE ISSUE OF TELE-HEALTH CARE WAS DISCUSSED.
STATE SENATOR DAN ROBERTS IS SPONSORING SENATE BILL 210, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE GROWTH OF TELE-DENTISTRY IN THE STATE.
THE PLAN WOULD DEFINE THE PRACTICE, ALLOW FOR ITS REGULATION BY THE BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS, REQUIRE AN IN-PERSON DENTAL VISIT BEFORE STARTING TELE-DENTISTRY, AND ALSO REQUIRE AN ANNUAL FOLLOW UP.
THE BILL WAS OPPOSED BY SMILE DIRECT CLUB BUT SENATOR ROBERTS USED A SURVEY BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTICS TO SUPPORT HIS POSITION.
> 77% OF ORTHODONTISTS WHO RESPONDED SEEN PATIENTS COMING TO THE OFFICE FOR RETREATMENT DUE TO THE HARM CAUSED BY MAIL ORDER ORTHODONTICS.
AND MAIL ORDER, TYPICALLY THEY MAIL A KIT TO THE PATIENT, AND THE PATIENT TAKES AN IMPRESSION TO THE TEETH SENDS IT BACK TO THE COMPANY PROVIDING THE TREATMENT.
AND THEN THE COMPANY SENDS THE DENTAL LINERS.
AND THERE'S NO X-RAY OR ANYTHING BEING DONE AS THE TEETH IS BEING MOVED.
THE PROBE IS WITHIN THE BILL THAT WE SUPPORT AND THERE ARE SECTIONS WITHIN THE BILL THAT ARE ANTICOMPETITIVE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO OPPOSE.
IT DISCRIMINATES THE USE OF INNOVATION, AFFORDABILITY AND ACTION TO CARE BY CREATING ABILITY FOR SERVICES SUCH AS THOSE PROVIDED BY THE BUSINESSES SUCH AS OURS.
>> THE BILL WAS AMENDED TO SAY THAT DENTAL INSURERS ARE NOT MANDATED TO COVER THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TELE-DENTISTRY THE COMMITTEE DID NOT ADVANCE THE LEGISLATION.
OVER IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, IT WAS ANOTHER ACTIVE DAY.
LAWMAKERS DEALT WITH AN ISSUE STEMMING FROM THE NEW PROHIBITED PERSON DATABASE SET UP LAST YEAR TO HELP POLICE DETERMINE IF DANGEROUS PEOPLE HAVE GUNS.
SENATE BILL 158 FROM SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT WOULD REQUIRE THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO ADD TO THAT DATABASE ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED BY A JUDGE'S ORDER.
BAY MINETTE POLICE CHIEF AL TOLBERT SAID HAVING THIS INFORMATION IN THE DATABASE WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS ENHANCING SAFETY FOR OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC.
>> YOU DON'T KNOW, EVEN IF YOU ARE BEING CORDIAL AND EVERYTHING GOING GREAT.
THE LEAST LITTLE THING CAN TRIGGER A VIOLENT REACTION.
ON OUR CASE IN AUGUST, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, IT WENT FROM ZERO TO A HUNDRED AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TRIGGERED IT IN THAT INDIVIDUAL.
SO, IF WE JUST HAD THAT FLAG IT COULD BE TREMENDOUS FOR THE OFFICERS AND FOR THE FAMILY.
AND I KNOW THE FAMILY PERSONALLY, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
THEIR SON THAT WAS KILLED, THE MOTHER SAID IT THE BEST TO ME WHEN WE WERE TALKING TO THEM.
MENTAL ILLNESS IS LIKE CANCER.
NOBODY WANTS CANCER AND NOBODY WANTS TO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.
BUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE TO HELP PEOPLE RECOGNIZE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, WE'RE DEALING WITH MENTAL PATIENTS EVERYDAY.
EVEN IN THE SMALL TOWN OF BAY MINETTE, WE'RE DEALING WITH NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
>> THAT BILL ADVANCED WITHOUT A DISSENTING VOTE.
THE COMMITTEE TOOK UP ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION RELATED TO FIREARMS.
UNDER CURRENT LAW, IT IS ILLEGAL TO DISCHARGE A FIREARM IN SCHOOL BUILDING OR SCHOOL BUS.
BUT THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST DISCHARGING A FIREARM ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.
HOUSE BILL 34 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRACEY ESTES WOULD CHANGE THAT DEFINITION TO INCLUDE SCHOOL GROUNDS.
>> AND FOR SCHOOL GROUNDS, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PLAYGROUNDS OUT THERE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT IS CLOSE THAT.
AND WE HAVE AMENDMENTS THAT WE CARRY ON THE FLOOR THAT MADE IT APPLY TO ADULTS, 19 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.
AND OH, YEAH, COULD APPLY TO PROPERTY OWNERS, 16 SECTION LANDS AND LOTS OF SCHOOL BOARD'S LEASE THOSE OUT FOR HUNTING GROUNDS.
AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT JUST SCHOOL GROUNDS.
>> THE COMMITTEE ALSO TOOK UP AND PASSED THE RETAIL THEFT BILL SPONSORED BY SENATOR CLYDE CHAMBLISS.
SENATE BILL 206 WOULD ELEVATE CHARGES FOR RETAIL THEFT TO A CLASS B FELONY WHEN AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, REGARDLESS OF THE VALUE OF THE ITEM STOLEN.
IT WOULD ALSO CREATE A NEW CRIME OF ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT, WHICH IS DEFINED AS STEALING WITH INTENT TO HARM THE RETAILER OR WITH THE INTENT TO SELL THE STOLEN ITEMS.
SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL, BUT IT WAS ULTIMATELY ADVANCED TO THE FULL SENATE.
THE HOUSE VERSION OF THAT SAME BILL WAS ON THE AGENDA IN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
BILL SPONSOR REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN TREADAWAY MADE HIS CASE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
>> GOING AFTER FOLKS WHO ARE FOLKS INVOLVED IN ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME AND IT'S A HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS ENTERPRISE AND IT'S BY SYNDICATED CARTELS AND CAUSES OTHER CRIMES SUCH AS HUMAN AND DRUG TRAFFICKING AND TERRORISM.
MANY BUSINESSES HAVE GREAT LOSS, PASSING THESE LOSSES ON TO THE CONSUMER OR JUST HAVING TO CLOSE DOWN THEIR BUSINESS.
THIS IS AN ALABAMA PROBLEM THAT COSTS ALABAMA JOBS.
THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD DECLINE RETAIL THEFT.
>> SOME MEMBERS SAID THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT GOING TOO FAR WITH RETAIL THEFT ISSUE.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON SAID HE WANTED TO STUDY THE BILL MORE AND MOVED TO HAVE IT SENT TO A SUBCOMMITTEE.
THAT WILL STALL THE BILL IN THE HOUSE TEMPORARILY.
ALSO IN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE TWO SIDES OF THE VAPING ISSUE SPARRED DURING A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT A BILL REGULATING VAPES.
HOUSE BILL 319 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA DRUMMOND WOULD PROVIDE STRICTER ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS AND PENALTIES FOR A PREVIOUS LAW THAT BANNED THE SALE OF VAPES TO MINORS.
IT ASSESSES NEW FEES ON THOSE WHO SELL VAPES AND CHANGES THE DEFINITION TO INCLUDE NON-TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
DRUMMOND ARGUED THAT HER BILL WOULD PROTECT CHILDREN, BUT THOSE FROM THE VAPING INDUSTRY SAID IT WOULD HURT THEIR ABILITY TO OPERATE AND HELP ADULTS QUIT SMOKING.
>> THIS BILL WILL SIMPLY NOW CREATE A MECHANISM BY WHICH ABC AND ALEA CAN NOW GO OUT AND ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT WE'VE PUT ON THE BOOKS, ESPECIALLY THE REGISTRY.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD ACTORS OUT THERE AND WE SEE THESE VAPE THINGS ON THE SHELF AND OTHER STORES AND THEY ARE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE SOLD BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EVEN ON THE REGISTRY.
AND WE NEED TO ENFORCE THAT.
>> I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO OPPOSE HB-139 BECAUSE IT DOES NOTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND NONE OF THESE STORES HAVE BEEN CONSULTED NOR ON THE BOARD CREATED BY THE LEGISLATION.
AND FOR SOME REASON, GIVES UNEXPLAINABLE DEFERENCE -- AND IT'S TO JOE BIDENS -- THERE ARE 674,000 SMOKERS AND THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SOMEWHERE SAYS THEY ARE LESS HAZARDOUS.
WE NEED TO SEND MORE AGENTS INTO VAPE STORES AND CONVENIENCE STORES, ET CETERA.
BUT THIS PROPOSAL IN COMBINATION WITH WHAT YOU ARE AMENDING WITH THE 2019 BILL IS A DISASTER.
>> THAT BILL WAS PASSED UP AND WILL BE VISITED AGAIN.
AN UPDATE FROM WASHINGTON INVOLVING ONE OF ALABAMA'S DELEGATION MEMBERS.
U.S.
SENATOR KATIE BRITT HAS PARTNERED WITH SENATORS TOM COTTON OF ARKANSAS, BRIAN SCHATZ OF HAWAII, AND CHRIS MURPHY OF CONNECTICUT, ON BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
THE PROTECTING KIDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ACT WOULD SET A MINIMUM AGE OF 13 TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA APPS AND WOULD REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT FOR KIDS 13 THROUGH 17.
THE BILL WOULD ALSO PREVENT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES FROM USING ALGORITHMS TO FEED CONTENT TO USERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
BRITT SPOKE FROM THE U.S. CAPITOL.
>> AS SOMEONE WHO WAS A HIGH SCHOOL YOUNG WOMAN AT ONE POINT IN HER LIFE, I CAN TELL YOU HOW CHALLENGING THAT TIME IS FOR ANYONE.
BUT THAT WAS 25 YEARS AGO.
AND YOU ADD IN THE COMPLICATIONS AND THE ADDITIONAL STRESSORS AND PRESSURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, IT BECOMES TOO MUCH FOR SOME TO BARE.
THIS BILL STEPS UP AND ALLOWS PARENTS TO COME BACK AND BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
IT ALSO MAKES SURE THAT BIG TECH CANNOT PREY ON THE EMOTIONS OF OUR YOUNG CHILDREN.
I'M PROUD TO SEE THAT WE'RE SOLVING PART OF THE PROBLEM AS THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GROW.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW.
AND WE MUST PROTECT THE CHILDREN SO WE CAN PROTECT THEIR FUTURE AND ULTIMATELY LET THEM HAVE THE APPROACH TO LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM.
>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.
>> JOINING ME ON THE SHOW IS STATE CURTIS TRAVIS.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW, THIS IS GOING WELL, JUST AS SOMEBODY WAS TELLING ME, WE HAVE A MEETING IN THE CLOAK ROOM.
AND WHERE'S THE CLOAK ROOM.
SO, SOMETIMES IT TAKES A REMINDER.
AND IT'S FINE, THE COMMITTEES I'M ON ARE REALLY MY INTEREST, THE PORT AUTHORITY, THE NEW PORT WATERWAY AUTHORITY.
TRANSPORTATION AND AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY.
AND THE COMMITTEES I'M ON ARE NOT WHAT YOU CALL, CONTROVERSIAL TYPE ISSUES, NOT TECHNICAL AND RIGHT DOWN MY LINE.
AND DEALING WITH THE HOUSE BILLS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE'RE GETTING USED TO HAVING THE FLOW AND DEBATE, STUFF LIKE THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT YOU ARE PLAYING.
AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S NEXT.
>> IT'S A PROCESS, THAT'S FOR SURE.
SO, GIVE ME INSIGHT AS TO WHY YOU DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
YOU DEFEATED AN INCUMBENT AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYDAY.
WHY DID YOU, FIRST, DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE?
>> WHAT HAPPENED, I GOT PEOPLE STARTED CALLING ME AND ASKED ME ABOUT RUNNING.
AND REDISTRICTING CHANGED SLIGHTLY, SOUTHERN TUSCALOOSA, HOUSE 72, AND AFTER PEOPLE ASKED ME I DID INQUIRING AROUND AND CHECKING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE INQUIRING THAT I WORKED IN THE PAST 22 YEARS WITH MY WORK AND THE ALABAMA EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
THEY KNEW ME AND I FELT LIKE I COULD BE SUCCESSFUL, BENEFICIAL AND GET THINGS WORKED OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO AFTER MUCH PRAYER AND TALKING TO OTHERS, I DECIDED TO DO THAT.
I LOST MY WIFE 18 YEARS AGO TO BREAST CANCER AND I RAISED MY TWO CHILDREN, 3 AND 6-YEARS-OLD AS A SINGLE FATHER AND NOW THEY ARE 21 AND 24 AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, I WAS NOT TIED DOWN.
>> AN EMPTY NEST.
>> EXACTLY.
EMPTY NEST.
>> AND YOUR DISTRICT IS LARGELY RURAL.
IT'S IN TUSCALOOSA BUT HALE, GREENE AND BIBB.
>> AND RURAL TUSCALOOSA.
>> AND I REMEMBER READING THE PROFILE AND YOU SAID THAT'S A BIG REASON WHY YOU ARE A BIG PROPONENT OF EXPANDING MEDICAID FOR COMMUNITIES AND HOSPITALS ESPECIALLY.
>> WELL, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT RURAL COUNTIES, LIKE, HALE COUNTY, GREENE AND BIBB COUNTY, YOU KNOW, HEALTHCARE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND IF YOU WANT ANY TYPE OF JOBS TO RECRUIT, YOU GOT TO HAVE HEALTHCARE AVAILABILITY AND ABILITY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES AND IF THE SYSTEM CLOSES DOWN, GUESS WHAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS COMPANIES LOOK AT TO RELOCATE.
NO HEALTHCARE OR EMERGENCY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY GET AN EMPLOYEE INJURED, THEY WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A WAY TO GET MEDICAL SERVICES AND AT LEAST SUSTAIN THE PERSON.
SO, NOT HAVING THAT, IN THE THREAD WE HAVE, BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN COSTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND THEN WE'RE LACKING HEALTHCARE MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND I THINK ALL OF THAT EXPANDING MEDICAID WOULD HAVE SOLVED THOSE PROBLEMS IN THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES.
>> OBVIOUSLY A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN RESISTANT TO IT, TALKING ABOUT THE COST AND YOU ARE HEARING SOME COST ABOUT NOVEL WAYS TO GO ABOUT, MAYBE NOT CALLING IT EXPANDING MEDICAID OR SOMETHING ELSE, ARE YOU HEARING THAT IN THE BUILDING?
ARE YOU MORE HOPEFUL THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
>> WELL, MORE TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES THE WAY THEY COME OUT SUPPORTING THE WAY WE NEED TO DO IT.
DOCTOR BRONNER IS A BIG COMPONENT OF IT AND YOU KNOW, MONIES, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT $1.4 BILLION THAT COMES TO THE STATE EVERY YEAR THAT WOULD BE COMING IN, YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU COULD DO IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE, IN PARTICULAR, THE COSTS, HEALTHCARE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE RURAL AREA.
COMES TO THE URBAN AREAS, THE TOWNS AND IT PUTS STRESS ON THAT HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
SO, IF WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN SO THE STRESS IS NOT THERE, THE COST BURDEN, IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT EDUCATION BECAUSE OF YOUR BACKGROUND THERE.
UPSTAIRS IN THE SENATE, THE COMMITTEE, THEY ARE DEBATING HAVING A HEARING ABOUT THE SCHOOL VOUCHERS, EDUCATION SAVINGS ALLOWING PARENTS TO TAKE TEXT MONEY AND GOING TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO, THERE'S SOME THAT SUPPORT THAT AND SAY IT'S ESSENTIAL, AND SOME THAT DON'T.
WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT CONCEPT?
>> I'M AGAINST IT.
WHEN YOU THINK OF IT, EVEN THE AMOUNT THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT ON THAT IS LIKELY THE LOCAL RULE SYSTEM.
AND FIRST OF ALL, YOU DEAL WITH THE TAX MILLAGE RATE AND OUR AMOUNT IS LOWER IN THE RURAL AREAS.
BUT TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, GREENE COUNTY, I GOT ONE ELEMENTARY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE FOR SCHOOLS TO GO FROM ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO ANOTHER.
USED TO BE WARRIOR ACADEMY AND IT'S CLOSED.
NO PRIVATE SCHOOLS SITTING THERE.
WHAT OPTIONS DO THE STUDENTS HAVE?
DO YOU SAY PARENTS COULD HOMESCHOOL.
WELL, MAYBE ONE OR TWO.
BUT GIVEN THE STANDPOINT OF MOST FOLKS, THEY HAVE TO WORK AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO STAY THERE AND DO THE HOMESCHOOL.
SO, IT'S NOT A HELP.
AND MY THOUGHTS ARE, IF YOU TAKE AND PUT THOSE EXTRA RESOURCES BACK INTO THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FIGURE OUT WAYS TO DEAL WITH THAT, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE EDUCATION.
AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PASS.
SO MY FEELING IS NO USE REINVENTING THE WHEEL AND WE TRIED AND SEE IT DIDN'T WORK.
KEEP THE DOLLARS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WE CAN BE SURE THAT WE GET THE QUALITY EDUCATION THAT WE NEED.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE HAVE IS EVEN TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT THE TYPE OF TEACHERS THAT YOU NEED TO COME TO THESE RURAL AREAS.
SO, THE ACT DOESN'T HELP ANY OF THOSE AREAS OR SOLVE ANY OF THOSE PROBLEMS.
>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME BUT I WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK, AND WE'LL HIT GAMBLING WHEN WE COME BACK NEXT TIME.
AND I HEAR YOU ABOUT ATTRACTING RURAL TEACHERS.
PAYING THEM MORE TO GO THERE, MATH COACHES AND LITERACY.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AGAIN.
REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> JOINING ME NEXT, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAMES LOMAX OF HUNTSVILLE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOU ARE A FRESHMAN LAWMAKER, FIRST TERM HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE.
I'M CURIOUS, IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS NOW IN THE SESSION.
WHAT'S YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION AND HOW IT'S GOING SO FAR?
>> HAVING A TON OF FUN.
IT'S A ROUGH AND TUMBLE WORLD.
STATE LEGISLATURES, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, REALLY THE MINOR LEAGUE OF POLITICS.
THAT'S WHERE THE GOOD PLAYERS COME OUT AND THE HIGHLIGHT REELS COME OUT OF AND GOOD STUFF COMING OUT OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND ALABAMA IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
GETTING TO KNOW THE OTHER PEOPLE, GETTING TO HEAR THEIR BACKGROUNDS, WHERE THEY ARE FROM, WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE, BEEN INTERESTING FOR ME, ESPECIALLY BEING FROM HUNTSVILLE.
>> WHY DID YOU MAKE THE DECISION, I WANT TO BE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
>> HOWARD SANDIFER, MY PREDECESSOR, GOOD PRESSURE WOUND OF MINE.
I WAS KIND OF BIT WITH THE POLITICAL BUG EARLY.
I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL WHEN I WAS 18-YEARS-OLD IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE.
I WAS THE YOUNGEST CANDIDATE TO EVER RUN IN CITY OF HUNTSVILLE.
AND THEN FEW MONTHS LATER, I WAS THE YOUNGEST LOSER AND I HAD THAT RUNNING OVER ME.
BUT I STUCK AROUND POLITICS, STUCK AROUND AND STAYED INTERESTED WHEN HE DECIDED HE WAS NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN, I RAN IT BY MY WIFE AND MY EMPLOYER AND THEY WERE BOTH OKAY WITH IT AND HERE I AM.
I WORK FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, BASED OUT OF COLUMBIA MARYLAND WITH OFFICES IN HUNTSVILLE, AND I HELPED TO DEVELOP THE OFFICE PORTFOLIO THERE AND IT'S COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.
>> HUNTSVILLE IS JUST AN EXPLODING AREA WITH SO MUCH GOING ON.
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE WE MISS IT DOWN HERE, BECAUSE WE'RE 3 HOURS AWAY AND IT'S HARD TO GET UP THERE ALL THE TIME.
TALK ABOUT THE DYNAMIC, COMING DOWN TO MONTGOMERY AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S SEEN WHERE SOMETIMES THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE.
>> I THINK IT'S A LOT OF EDUCATION, BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY FELLOW MEMBERS AND JUST TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN HUNTSVILLE.
HUNTSVILLE IS A BOOMING PLACE LIKE YOU SAID.
43 PEOPLE A DAY THAT ARE MOVING TO HUNTSVILLE.
IT'S JUST STAGGERING STATISTICS.
IT'S A HIGH TECH PLACE.
IT IS A FEDERAL TOWN.
I THINK IT GETS THAT LABEL QUITE A BIT.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRUTH TO IT.
BUT THEY WORKED HARD TO DIVERSIFY AS WELL.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE THE POLARIS, TOYOTA, AND WE'RE WORKING TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY AND CREATE A CITY THAT THE WHOLE STATE CAN BE PROUD OF.
>> I KNOW YOU HAVE LEGISLATION DEALING WITH DRONES.
THAT'S DEALING WITH DEFENSE.
>> RIGHT, MY DISTRICT ABUTS REDSTONE AND THE CITY IS NOT WHAT IT IS TODAY WITHOUT REDSTONE ARSENAL.
THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE G.D.P.
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, A LARGE AMOUNT OF I.
IT'S NOT JUST AN ARMY BASE.
BUT THE BILL I HAVE, IT'S A DRONE BILL TO PROHIBIT STATE LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT FROM PURCHASING DRONES MANUFACTURED BY COMPANIES ON THE DESIGNATED LISTS BY THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSET CONTROL.
SO, BASICALLY, LIKE, CHINA PUTTING THEIR DRONES UP AND YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE SURVEYING THE FARMLAND AND THEY MAY BE SURVEYING IT AS WELL, SO IT'S A NATIONAL AND STATE SECURITY AS WELL.
>> HAVE OTHER STATES DONE SIMILAR THINGS?
>> TENNESSEE HAD A SIMILAR THING, TYING IT TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
MY BILL IS MORE SIMPLE, A SEARCH TOOL PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF ASSET CONTROLS.
AND SAY, JUST WONDERING IF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER CAN BY A DRONE.
>> THAT'S INTERESTING, EVERYBODY HAS A HEIGHTENED CONCERN I THINK BECAUSE OF THE CHINESE SPY BALLOONS COMING OVER AND EVEN IF I BOUGHT A DRONE FOR RECREATION, I MAY NOT HAVE ANY IDEA OF THAT, THAT IT WAS PRODUCED IN CHINA.
I GUESS THAT'S THE POINT.
>> WE FOUND THAT A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES DON'T KNOW EITHER.
THEY ARE BUYING IT FOR, SAY, THE TAX ASSESSOR TO SURVEY LAND OR TAKE PICTURES OF THE TOURISM EVENTS AND THEY JUST NEED TO KNOW THAT.
>> SO, SPEAKING OF HUNTSVILLE, IT WAS KIND OF A BIG WINNER IN THE BUDGET THAT PASSED THE HOUSE YESTERDAY, HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL GOT SOME IMPORTANT WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AND OTHER LINE ITEMS.
IS THAT A WIN FOR YOU?
WAS THE DELEGATION EXCITED ABOUT THAT?
>> I DEFINITELY SAW IT AS A WIN.
IT REFLECTS THAT WE HAVE LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE THAT UNDERSTANDS HUNTSVILLE.
SPEAKER LEDBETTER IS FROM NORTH ALABAMA, MAJORITY LEADER IS FROM NORTH ALABAMA AND THEY BOTH UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF HUNTSVILLE AND REX REYNOLDS, GREAT COLLEAGUE OF MINE.
I WAS EXCITED.
AND SEEING THE NATIONAL GUARD GOT AN ARMORY THAT THEY ARE WORKING TO BUILD RIGHT NOW WHICH WILL BE IN HUNTSVILLE.
THE PREVIOUS ARMORY WAS IN DISREPAIR AND THAT'S GOING TO TURN INTO A SENIOR CENTER.
AND THAT WAS A BIG WIN.
EVEN $25,000 FOR THE HUNTSVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION FOR A TOURISM EVENT THAT IS GOING TO BRING CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT THERE FOR THE CUSA AND WE'RE TURNING INTO A SPORT CITY.
SEC TRACK TOURNAMENTS, SEC BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS THERE.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE TOURISM ASPECT AS WELL.
>> RIGHT, COUPLE YEARS AGO IN HUNTSVILLE, FOR "THE DAILY NEWS," I WROTE AND JOKED THAT SHELBY WAS MOVING THE NATION'S CAPITOL TO HUNTSVILLE AND A FEW PEOPLE FELL FOR IT.
>> WE ARE GETTING A NEW FEDERAL COURT!
>> AND THAT HAS SHELBY WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.
NOW, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT.
BUT DEALING WITH BILLS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE.
WHAT'S THAT DO?
>> SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE, WE HAVE A SMALL BILL REDUCING AMOUNT OF FILES THAT THEY KEEP.
BASICALLY, PHYSICAL FILES AND A LIBRARY, 10 KEEPS OF EACH OF THOSE.
WE'RE REDUCING THAT TO FIVE AND MAKING SURE THEY MAINTAIN THE COPIES BUT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SO CUMBERSOME AND SAVING THE STATE PHYSICAL SPACE.
I'M IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, I CAN TELL YOU SPACE COMES AT A PREMIUM.
I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THAT.
AND WORKING WITH THE PROBATE JUDGE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET POLL WORKERS, INCREASE IN PAY.
I HAVE A BILL, NOT BEEN FILED YET BUT THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
LOTS OF THESE PEOPLE ARE RETIRED AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO PAY FOR A STEAK DINNER AT THE END OF A LONG DAY OF WORKING.
>> WELL, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR LONG CAREER.
THANK YOU, TODD.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.
FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY, SEE YOU NEXT