>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, IN THE WAKE OF TUESDAY'S SENATE DEFEAT OF A SWEEPING GAMBLING EXPANSION BILL, SIX NEW LOTTERY-ONLY BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

THREE OF THEM ARE SPONSORED BY SENATOR DEL MARSH OF ANNISTON, WHO HAD BACKED THE BIG GAMBLING PLAN.

TWO OTHERS WERE INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON OF SPRINGVILLE, AND THE SIXTH BY SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER OF CULLMAN.

HE TELLS CAPITOL JOURNAL THAT HIS CONSTITUENTS WANT A CHANCE TO VOTE ON A LOTTERY.

>> MY DISTRICT AND DISTRICT 4, WHICH IS CULLMAN, PART OF MARION, LAWRENCE, AND WINSTON COUNTIES, HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR, EVERYWHERE I GO WITH THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, I HAVE OR ANY TIME I'M GOING TO DO A PUBLIC SPEECH THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION I THINK THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WHEN CAN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE LOTTERY.

I'M READY FOR THEM TO VOTE ON THE LOTTERY >> DON: GUDGER'S BILL WOULD SET UP A PAPER LOTTERY WITH PROCEEDS BENEFITTING EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS.

THE SENATOR WILL JOIN US ON THE BROADCAST SHORTLY TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

DON: THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE TODAY HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON A SENATE- PASSED BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR TIM MELSON OF FLORENCE, WHO IS A PHYSICIAN, AND HE WANTS TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITH QUALIFYING CONDITIONS TO PURCHASE MARIJUANA AFTER GETTING A RECOMMENDATION FROM A DOCTOR.

>> THERE'S A FEW STICKING POINTS BUT IT'S MORE CONCERNING LOCATION, DISPENSE REESE AND THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK ACTUALLY HAVE MUCH TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL BILL EXCEPT SOME PEOPLE QUALIFYING COMPANIES ONE OR TWO THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH BUT WE WILL ADDRESS THOSE AS WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW.

IT'S, LIKE I SAY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOVED ONE OR FAMILY MEMBER THOSE QUALIFYING CONDITIONS DON'T SEEM LEGITIMATE.

BUT WHEN YOU DO, YOU REALIZE.

>> MELSON'S LEGISLATION HAS ITS DETRACTORS WHO CONTEND, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FEAR THAT MEDICAL MARIJUANA COULD BE A GATEWAY TO INCREASED RECREATIONAL USE OF THE DRUG.

AND OPPONENTS LIKE MOBILE PEDIATRICIAN DR. SUSAN ASHBEE HAVE OTHER CONCERNS.

>> HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CONTROL THE ACCESS IN THE HOME TO YOUNGER CHILDREN WHO THINK IT'S FUN TO GET HOLD OF IT?

AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CONTROL OUR STREETS, OUR HIGHWAYS, FROM ACCIDENTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE USING MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND ARE ON OUR ROADWAYS.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ACCIDENTS.

DON: THERE WAS NO VOTE ON THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL TODAY.

THAT WILL COME NEXT WEEK.

DON: THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE TODAY ALSO HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON A CLOSELY WATCHED BILL THAT WOULD BAN CERTAIN TRANSGENDER MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR MINORS.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR SHAY SHELNUTT OF TRUSSVILLE, WHO GOT THE LEGISLATION PASSED OUT OF THE UPPER CHAMBER LAST WEEK.

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT 85 TO 90 PERCENT OF THESE KIDS GROW OUT OF THIS, MATURE OUT OF THIS, YOU KNOW, AND DON'T WANT TO BE THE OPPOSITE SEX BY THE TIME THEY REACH MATURITY.

THAT'S WHAT IS INTENDED, AS THIS LEGISLATION IS, WE WANT TO JUST PROTECT KIDS WHO CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES.

DON: SUPPORTERS OF SHELNUTT'S BILL HAVE CONCEDED THAT GENDER DYSPHORIA CAN BE AN ISSUE FOR YOUTH, BUT THEY BELIEVE THAT DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BODIES CAN WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE ADULTS.

ADVOCATES AND PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER TEENS HAVE ARGUED THAT THE BILL WILL HURT THE YOUTH AND INFRINGE ON THE DECISIONS OF FAMILIES AND DOCTORS.

DAVID FULLER AND HIS DAUGHTER, JESS, ARE AMONG THEM.

THEY SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL ABOUT DEPENDING ON THEIR DOCTOR'S ADVICE.

>> WE'RE NORMAL PEOPLE IN AN ABNORMAL SITUATION.

AND THEY GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARE FOR IN A WAY THAT I COULD NOT HAVE.

IF THIS BILL GOES THROUGH AND THESE KIDS END UP BEING DENIED THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED.

THE KIDS AREN'T DISAPPEARING AS TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

THEY WILL DISAPPEAR AS SUICIDE NUMBERS UNFORTUNATELY.

DON: THERE WAS NO COMMITTEE VE TAKEN TODAY ON THE TRANSGENDER YOUTH BILL.

THAT COULD COME NEXT WEEK.

DON: THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TODAY APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD SET UP A 200-DOLLAR LIFETIME CARRY PERMIT.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR RANDY PRICE OF OPELIKA, WHO ADDRESSED THE COMMITTEE THIS MORNING.

>> IT TAKES SOME THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT AS FAR AS PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER IN ALL 67 COUNTIES WILL HAVE THE SAME IDENTICAL CARD AND THIS IS GOING TO GIVE FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT TO WHERE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE THE SAME AND LOOK -- AND LOOK.SAME AS FAR AS IT'S CONCERNED.

THE ONE YEAR AND FIVE-YEAR PERMITS STILL STAY IN PLACE.

SO THAT REVENUE STREAM STILL STAYS THERE FOR THE SHERIFFS.

THE LIFETIME IS A $200 CHARGE.

>> DON: A BILL SIMILAR TO SENATOR PRICE'S LIFETIME CARRY PLAN PASSED A HOUSE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, BUT IT'S COST WAS $500.

BOTH BILLS NOW HEAD TO THE FLOOR.

DON: THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TODAY DELAYED CONSIDERATION OF A BILL THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN ALABAMA'S OPEN RECORDS LAW, TO GIVE OTHER GROUPS TIME TO PROPOSE CHANGES.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR ARTHUR ORR OF DECATUR, WHO ASKED THAT A VOTE NOT BE TAKEN TODAY.

HE OUTLINED HIS PLAN.

>> ESTABLISHING A RESPONSE TIME SO THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACTUALLY MORE QUICKLY RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR DOCUMENTS, REASONABLE CHARGES, AND FOUR OF THOSE DOCUMENTS IN AN APPELLATE PROCESS GOING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EXAMINERS AND THEN A PENALTY FOR FAILING TO PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTS WITHIN THE REQUESTED TIME AND THE TIMELINES.

DON: CRITICS HAVE CONTENDED THAT ALABAMA HAS ONE OF THE WEAKEST LAWS IN THE COUNTRY REGARDING REASONABLE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO PASS SUCH LEGISLATION.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> SENATOR, WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THE GAMBLING ISSUE.

YOU WERE A NO VOTE YESTERDAY WHEN THE SENATE REJECTED DEL MARSH'S PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD NOT ONLY BRING ABOUT A LOTTERY IN THE STATE BUT ALSO BRING CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING TO THE STATE.

TELL US ABOUT THE DECISION TO VOTE NO.

>> I THINK IT WAS VERY CLEAR BY THE TIME I WENT HOME THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND TALKING TO MULTIPLE CONSTITUENTS FROM DIFFERENT AREAS.

THEY WANTED TO VOTE ON THE LOTTERY BUT NOT ON HAVING CASINOS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND HOW THAT MONEY IS HANDLED THROUGH A COMMISSION THAT COULD IN THE END BOND A LOT OF THAT MONEY MORE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THEN TAXPAYERS WOULD BE ON THE LOOK FOR THAT.

HAVING TO WEIGH THOSE OPTIONS WEIGHED OVER HEAVY ON MY HEART.

BY HAVING TO VOTE, NO, I WAS VOTING AGAINST ALLOWING THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON THE LOTTERY BECAUSE OF THE CASINOS.

SINCE THAT HAS HAPPENED I FEEL LIKE I HAVE GOTTEN GREAT FEEDBACK FROM DISTRICT FOUR AND IT'S ALLOWED ME TO GO FORWARD AND BEING ABLE TO GO WITH ANY TYPE OF LOTTERY COMING UP TO ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.

>> SENATOR MARCH YESTERDAY IN DISCUSSING THE DEFEAT ON THE FLOOR FORE SHADOWED THE FACT A LOTTERY BILL COULD BE COMING.

HE SAID SOMEBODY ELSE COULD BE BRINGING A LOTTERY BILL.

SURE ENOUGH, YOU DROPPED ONE.

IT IS A LOTTERY ONLY PIECE OFS.

>> IT IS LOTTERY ONLY, PAPER LOTTERY.

AND I WAS VERY CLEAR WITH DELL, UP-FRONT, AND WENT WITH HIM BEFORE THE VOTE TO TELL HIM WHERE I WAS GOING TO BE AND MADE SURE THAT HE KNEW THAT BEFORE HE HIT THE FLOOR.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SURPRISE ANYONE.

AS YOU KNOW IN MONTGOMERY YOUR WORD HAS TO STICK OR YOU LOSE CREDIBILITY VERY QUICKLY.

SO HE KNEW WHERE I WAS.

I DID TELL HIM UP FRONT I HAD A LOTTERY BILL, THAT IF THIS DID NOT PASS AND I WOULD VOTE HIS BILL UP OR DOWN I WOULD DROP THAT BILL WHICH I D BUT HE KNEW THAT WAS COMING AND THAT FORESHADOWING ON DELL'S PART PROBABLY SO.

BUT HE KNEW IT WAS COMING AND AT THE SAME POINT I KNEW I HAD IT ON MY DESK READY TO GO IF THIS OTHER VOTE DID NOT PASS.

>> BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOU SAY YOU'RE HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME AS A LOT OF LAWMAKERS SAID THEY WANT TO VOTE ON AT LEAST A LOTTERY.

>> IS THAT CORRECT.

AND MY DISTRICT AND DISTRICT 4, WHICH IS CULLMAN, PART OF MARION, LAWRENCE AND WINSTON COUNTIES HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR EVERYWHERE I GO WITH THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT I HAVE OR ANY TIME I'M DOING A PUBLIC SPEECH, THEY COME TO ME AND ME THAT QUESTION.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION THROUGHOUT STATE, WHEN CAN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON A LOTTERY.

I'M READY FOR THEM TO VOTE ON THE LOTTERY.

I WANTED TO PROVE THAT BY DROPPING THAT BILL YESTERDAY.

AND I THINK THAT BILL HOPEFULLY WILL BE COMING BUT TALKING WITH DALE OBVIOUSLY HE WILL HAVE HIS FINGERPRINTS IN THAT AND I HAVE AMAZING AND HUGE AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR DEL MARSH IN THE THYME AND EFFORT HE PUT INTO THE OTHER BILL WE VOTED ON YESTERDAY AND PROBABLY WILL BE HELPING ON HIS OTHER BILL GOING FORWARD THAT HE CAN HELP WITH.

HE KNOWS THE PLAYERS.

HE KNOWS THE PEOPLE.

HE KNOWS HOW THIS MACHINE HERE WORKS.

AND I WOULD BE WELCOMING HIM TO COME IN AND US TALK BUT I DO TRUST HIM.

I THINK THERE WERE'SES TOWARDS HIM THAT WERE TOTALLY FRIVOLOUS AND FALSE THAT WERE PUT OUT THE DAY OR TWO BEFORE WE CAME BACK THIS WEEK.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LAWSUIT OVER THIS ISSUE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND I SEE WILL STAND BY DELL'S CHARACTER AND EVERYTHING HE SAID SHE GOING TO DO.

HE HAS DONE THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE HIS FRIENDSHIP HERE SOME THE SENATE.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOUR LEGISLATION WOULD SET UP A PAPER LOTTERY IN THE STATE.

AND I THINK THE CONDITIONS INCLUDE FUNDING POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS AND ALSO MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS; RIGHT.

>> THAT'S IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT'S CORRECT.

AND I THINK THAT THE BUCKETS WERE LAID OUT BY POLLS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS, TWO AND FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE NUMBER ONE REQUEST THAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR STATEWIDE IS THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S LOT A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS THAT COME TO SCHOOLS AND HAVE TO SPLIT SCHOOL SO FROM 8:00 TO 12 IN ONE SCHOOL AND 12:00 TO 3:00 IN ANOTHER.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT JOHNNY AND SUSIE TO CAN'T DEAL WITH SOMETHING AT 9:00.

EVERY SCHOOL IS DEALING WITH THIS, K-12 AND POST-SECONDARY SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO PLACE IN THERE, ALSO FOR EDUCATION.

LOOKS LIKE IT RELIEVED THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE PUTTING MONEY TO ETF AND AT THE SAME TIME TAKING MONEY AND RELIEVING PRESSURE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND SO IT'S A NICE BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> HAVE YOU DONE INITIAL GAMING OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD FEEL ABOUT YOUR BILL.

>> AFTER YESTERDAY'S BILL THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ON THE FLOOR.

IT DEPENDS WHAT THE FINAL VERSION WILL BE.

AS YOU KNOW I FEEL LIKE IT'S A SIMPLY SIMPLE BILL, ONLY TWO AND A HALF PAGES LONG.

THERE MIGHT BE AMENDMENTS ADDED TO IT BY THE TIME IT HITS THE FLOOR.

WE WILL SEE.

BUT I THINK THE PEOPLE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT MOVING AND VOTING FOR IT WHEN IT DOES HIT THE FLOOR.

>> I WANT TO TURN TO ANOTHER BILL THAT YOU HAVE GOING THIS SESSION.

IT DEALS WITH VISITING PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS IN NURSING HOMES.

THIS BECAME A BIG ISSUE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY SAD OF COURSE THAT WE WERE ISOLATED FROM OUR LOVED ONES IN NURSING HOMES OR HOSPITALS ALTHOUGH IT WAS DONE FOR THE GREATER PUBLIC GOOD.

BUT YOU WANT TO AT LEAST PUT SOME CAVEATS IN PLACE; RIGHT?

>> I DO.

FIRST I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WATCHING THIS SHOW AND YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT HEALTH PROVIDERS, THE HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES DID NOT DO THEIR JOB.

THEY'VE DONE THIS JOB.

THIS ONLY ENHANCES THEM TO DO MORE OF THEIR JOB BECAUSE IF A PATIENT ADVOCATE OR FAMILY MEMBER IS THERE TO HELP, SOMEONE IN THEFUL NURSING ROOM, THAT HELPS THE DOCTORS AND THE ADMINISTRATION BE ABLE TO DO MORE OF THEIR JOB.

ONE OF THE LARGE CHEST AND BIGGEST THINGS IN THE BILL IS TALKING WITH THE HOSPITAL SAY IS THE FACT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE PPE FOR EVERYONE THAT WANTED TO COME IN AT THE TIME.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE BILL STATES IF YOU CAN GO SEE YOUR FAMILY AND YOU HAVE FREE FROM AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND YOU PROVIDE YOUR OWN PPE TO GO INTO THE ROOM THEN IT'S OKAY.

BUT EACH HOSPITAL HAS THEIR OWN MANDATES THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR THEMSELVES.

AFTER 30 DAYS IT COMES DOWN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

FROM THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF THERE'S BEEN A LOVED ONE THAT HAS BEEN MARRIED FOR, SAY, 50 YEARS AND CANNOT SEE THEIR LOVED SOMEONE ABOUT TO PASS AWAY OR THAT THEY NEED HELP PROVIDING -- NURSES OR ANYTHING BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH A SHORTAGE OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL.

THE HOSPITAL WORKERS.

THINKS ALLOWS THEM IN THERE, BE WITH THEIR FAMILY AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE AND BE ABLE TO HOLD THEIR HANDS AND HAVE CLOSURE NUMBER ONE FOR THEMSELVES AND NUMBER TWO LET THE PATIENT HAVE THE PEACE THEIR FAMILY IS WITH THEM.

AS YOU SAW THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WERE LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS AND SCREENS TRYING TO SEE THEIR LOVED ONES, AND THEY JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO BE THERE IN PERSON.

BUT WORKING WITH THE HOSPITALS HAS BAN WAY THAT WE SAW ENHANCED THIS BILL TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> THAT'S OK. THAT YOU HAVE WORKED WITH THE HOSPITALS.

>> I WORKED WITH THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, THE NURSING HOME ASSOCIATION, AND I THINK IT'S VERY CRUCIAL PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS NOT AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY.

EVEN THOUGH THE BILL PASSES PEOPLE CAN'T WALK STRAIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL AND GO SEE.

THERE'S A PROCESS THAT STILL HAS TO HAPPEN FOR YOU TO GO INTO YOUR PATIENT'S ROOM WHETHER THAT'S A FAMILY MEMBER OAR LOVED ONE.

BUT IN THE END, EVERYONE NEEDS AN ADVOCATE FOR THEIR WHILE THEY'RE INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL AND THIS ALLOWS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE LOVE AND ATTENTION FOR PATIENTS, IF THE NURSES ARE SCARCE LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH COVID, AND THAT GOT WE HAD THE FIRST RESPONDERS OFTEN THE FLOORS WITH THE NURSES AND THE DOCTORS AND ADMINISTRATION AND EVERYONE THERE THE HAS WORKED THROUGH COVID.

AND THIS IS ONLY A BILL TO ENHANCE THOSE.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME UNFORTUNATELY SENATOR.

BUT I CAN'T CLOSE WITHOUT ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR BILL TO MAKE THE SWEET POTATO THE STATE'S OFFICIAL VEGETABLE.

>> FROM CULLMAN COUNTY, WE HAVE THE SWEET POTATO FESTIVAL.

AND THERE WAS A TEACHER IN HER CLASSROOM THAT REALIZED THE BE BICENTENNIAL THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A STATE VEGETABLE.

WE BROUGHT THAT TO THE SENATE AND THEY WANTED TO SEND TO IT CULLMAN.

THE SAME WAY WE GOT OUR STATE FRUIT FROM 2002 FROM A TEACHER IN BALDWIN COUNTY.

>> IT'S ALREADY MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> IT'S READY FOR THE FLOOR.

SO CROSSING MY FINGERS WE GET THAT SOON AND SEND IT DOWN TO THE HOUSE.

>> I HOPE.

SO I LOVE SWEET POTATO.

>> I DO.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME DOWN.

>> YOU BELT.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, THE NEWEST STATE SENATOR, KIRK HATCHER OF MONTGOMERY IS IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU DON.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU WERE JUST ELECTED LAST WEEK AND SWORN IN IMMEDIATELY AND WENT RIGHT TO WORK.

>> YES, YES.

>> NO TIME TO WASTE.

>> NONE.

WE'RE STILL GOING BREAK NECK SPEED.

BUT THAT WAS STRANGE.

SWORN IN AT NOON AND SEATED IN THE SENATE TO BEGIN WORK AT 4:00.

SAME DAY.

>> WHEN I SAY GO RIGHT TO WORK I MEAN THAT LITERALLY.

YOU HAVE ALREADY TACKLED SOME HEAVY DUTY ISSUES.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE LOTTERY YESTERDAY.

IT WAS DEFEATED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED.

YOU WERE A YES VOTE.

TELL US HOW YOU FELT ABOUT THAT LEGISLATION.

>> I THINK I HAD SOME CONCERNS SEVERAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.

BUT SENATOR MARSH WAS OPEN TO THE AMENDMENT THAT I OFFERED.

AND MY AMENDMENT APPROXIMATE OF COURSE WAS TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE LOTTERY GOING TO K-12.

AND SO, WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT 35 PERCENT OF THE PROCEEDS GOING TO GRADES K-12 AND 65 PERCENT IN POST-SECONDARY WORKFORCE.

SO THOSE WERE PIECES THAT -- THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.

I'M THE GUY WHO JUST COMPLETELY BELIEVES IN EDUCATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT BETTER.

AND WHEN YOU CONNECT THAT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I THINK YOU CREATE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED THE AMENDMENT FAILED?

>> THAT THE BILL FAILED?

>> YES, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT SENATOR MARSH WAS PROPOSING.

>> CORRECT.

YES, AND NO.

I STARTED HEARING RUMORS MORE DEPARTMENT OF ACTIVE RUMORS BY MONDAY.

THAT THERE WAS A REAL POTENTIAL THAT IF WE WILL BE HEM RIDGING VOTES CERTAINLY BY TUESDAY.

I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T GET TO DECIDE.

I'M GENUINELY DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.

THAT'S GENERALLY MY POSITION.

THE SAME POSITION I TOOK WITH THE SCHOOL FUNDING BILL LAST YEAR LOCAL BILL HERE.

MY POSITION WAS TO GET IT TO THE BATTLE.

>> I REMIND FOLKS THE BILL YOU MENTIONED LAST YEAR HERE IN MONTGOMERY ZERO WOULD SET UP A TAX INCREASE FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND IT DID PASS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT LEAST A $33 MILLION INJECTION INTO A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WAS SEVERELY UNDER FUNDED.

IN FACT YOU MIGHT RECALL MONTGOMERY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS FUNDED AT THE STATE-MANDATED IN MINIMUM OF 10 MILS.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD MOVE.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT -- THAT WAS, YOU KNOW -- WE'RE STILL WOEFULLY BEHIND IN TERMS OF FUNDING.

BUT THIS LOTTERY BILL WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE HELP.

SO I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT KEEPING PACE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING STATES WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS.

FOR THOSE THAT VOTED KNOW IT SEEMED TO COME DOWN FOR MOST OF THEM TO THE CASINO ISSUE, THE SPORTS BETTING ISSUE.

THEY SEEM TO BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO THE LOTTERY, AND I HAVE HEARD FROM MORE THAN ONE PERSON WHO VOTED KNOW SAYING IF IT HAD BEEN A SIMPLE LOTTERY BILL I COULD HAVE SUPPORTED IT.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN INTERESTING ISSUE.

AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT WAS THE PUSH BACK FOR PEOPLE ON THE CASINO, THE GAMING PORTION?

I DO THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I THINK THERE'S A DEMOGRAPHIC IN THE STATE, UNLIKE IN GOVERNOR SIEGELMAN'S ERA, WHO ARE AMENABLE TO BOTH LOTTERY AND GAMING.

>> I WILL REMIND FOLKS DURING GOVERNOR SIEGELMAN'S TIME WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD A VOTE FOR A STATE LOTTERY AND IT WAS VOTED DOWN.

>> O, GOD.

AND PART OF THAT WE HAD INDIVIDUALS FROM WHAT WAS CALLED THE MORAL MAJORITY, RALPH REED AND OTHERS THAT WERE ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THAT BILL.

>> NOW, LOTTERIES ARE THE NORM AND NOT THE EXCEPTION.

>> YEP.

AND THE NEIGHBORING STATES WHAT WE DO HAVE, I THINK MISSISSIPPI IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HE HAVE THAT HAS A GAMING LEGISLATION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO BETTER.

DON, IN THE LAST POWERBALL LOTTERY IF YOU HAD GONE TO ANY OF THE NEIGHBORS STATES YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU WERE STILL IN ALABAMA.

THERE WERE SO MANY ALABAMA LICENSE PLATES.

SO THERE IS AN APPETITE FOR THIS.

WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS IT.

>> SENATOR LET'S SPEND THE LAST FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE THANK YOU RAISED WHILE STILL A HOUSE MEMBER AND I WILL REMIND OUR AUDIENCE THAT DO YOU NOT KNOW, BEFORE YOU WERE SENATOR YOU WERE A STATE REPRESENT FROM THE MONTGOMERY AREA.

IN THE HOUSE YOU PREFILED A BILL DEALING WITH ATHLETE'S ABILITY TO PROFIT FROM THEIR NAMES AND LIKENESSES.

>> CORRECT.

>> THIS IS A GROWING ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

THERE WAS A SIMILAR BILL SPONSORED BY YOUR FORMER HOUSE COLLEAGUE, REPRESENTATIVE KYLE SOUTH OF FAYETTE.

THERE WERE DIFFERENCES IN WHAT YOU PROPOSED AND WHAT HE GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE YESTERDAY.

TO YOU HAVE STILL INTEND TO PURSUE THIS IN THE SENATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HOUSE BILL -- YOU'RE REFERRING TO HOUSE BILL 150 WHICH WAS MY BILL.

AND REPRESENTATIVE SOUTH'S BILL I BELIEVE IT WAS HOUSE BILL 404.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE JUST ALLUDED TO IS THE MOVE IN THE COUNTRY, I THINK PROBABLY STARTED IN 2018 APPROXIMATE WHEN, I BELIEVE, THE FIRST LEGISLATION WAS FILED NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS IN CALIFORNIA.

AND ASK AT THIS POINT, FAST-FORWARD, CONGRESS HAS TAKEN UP THE ISSUE.

LOOK WE HAVE NOW MOVED AS IT RELATES TO COLLEGE ATHLETICS FROM NEAR AMATEUR SPORTS TO SOMETHING THAT ALMOST RESEMBLES PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE REVENUE THAT IS GENERATED.

SO WHAT I THINK THE NCAA IS HAVING TO DO IS TO EVOLVE.

WHAT OUR LEGISLATION SEEMS TO DO IS TO NO CREATE GENUINE FAIRNESS.

A PART OF IT VERY QUICKLY IS, I BELIEVED THIS LEGISLATION TO BE BOTH PASSIONATE AND COMPASSION NATAL.

THERE'S A HUMAN ELEMENT TOILET.

AND PART OF THAT WAS TO SAY ALL OF THE ATHLETES -- NOT EVERY ATHLETE IS GOING TO BE A MARQUIS PLAYER.

BUT ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TO SPORTS IN THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY SHOULD RECEIVE SOMETHING FOR THE TIME INVESTMENT.

AND SO WE CAME UP WITH CRAFTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCLUDE AN ANNUITY FUND SO THAT WE SAY WE WANT STUDENTS TO HAVE A FULL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

IN MOST INSTANCES THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THESE WHO ARE ALMOST 100% FOCUSED BY NECESSITY ON THE SCOTT.

SO WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MONTGOMERY THINGS THAT ALLOWED ME THE FULL SPECTRUM OF THE EDUCATIONAL SINCE, THEY'RE FOCUSED ALONE ZERO THOSE OF THINGS THAT PREPARES THEM FOR THE SPORT.

I ABOUT THAT AS IT MAY.

WE CAN DO THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT CREATES A HOLINESS FOR THEM.

IS MY BILL ONE OF THE THINGS MENTIONED IS FINANCIAL HISTORIES.

AND THERE'S AN OPTION IN LINE AS OPPOSED TO 404, YOU CAN OPT INTO THE ANNUITY FUND AND YOU HAVE TO FORE GO THE NAME IMAGE AND LIKENESS OR TAKE THE OPTION AND TAKE THAT ROUTE.

BUT I HAD HAVE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE WORKING ON THAT WITH ME THAT WAS OF THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET INVOLVED.

HE IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS TO NOTRE DAME, TO GREG GILBERT, CLEAVE OF AP STEDHAM, ANNAL AWARD-WINNING SPORTS WRITER, ALSO ON THE HEISMAN BOARD.

THEY WERE ALL INVOLVED FOR NINE MONTHS OR MORE IN ME.

>> AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT.

>> 100%.

WE HAVE TO.

>> SENATOR KIRK HATCHER OF MONTGOMERY.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NICE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

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

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

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, INCLUDING THE HOUSE SET TO CONSIDER BILLS THAT WOULD BOTH EXEMPT VIRTUAL CURRENCY FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND WOULD ALLOW YOGA IN STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND OUR GUESTS WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVE KELVIN LAWRENCE OF HAYNEVILLE, WHO CARRIED THE HOUSE-PASSED BILL THAT WOULD GIVE STATE EMPLOYEES A COST-OF-LIVING RAISE.

HE'LL ALSO DISCUSS HIS BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING ON SIMULCAST HORSE AND DOG RACES IN WHITE HALL.

FOR ALL OF US AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL," THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.