Capitol Journal

Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon talks with us about legal filings which contend that former Speaker Mike Hubbard may have sought legislative help in his bid to get out of prison early. Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington joins us to discuss the effort to quickly put in place an appeals process under the state’s new vaccine exemption law. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk with us about coming COVID booster shots for all adults. Rep. Shane Stringer of Citronelle will join us to discuss bringing back his constitutional carry bill next year. And Rep. Merika Coleman of Pleasant Grove will talk with us about leading the effort to remove racist language from the state constitution.

Attorney General Steve Marshall joins us to discuss the state’s lawsuits over the federal vaccine mandate and the litigation over reapportionment. Rep. Louise Alexander of Birmingham will talk with us about her concerns with the redistricting maps and with legislation concerning vaccination exemptions. Sen. Will Barfoot of Pike Road will discuss his co-sponsoring the bill that would allow for certain worker immunization exemptions. And Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson will join us to talk about the state’s still stable COVID numbers, despite some hotspots around the country.

We wrap up this week’s special legislative session with Sen. Chris Elliott of Fairhope, who will discuss passage of his bill that would allow those who work in Alabama to claim medical or religious exemptions from getting COVID vaccinations. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels of Huntsville joins us to discuss passage of legislation that will redraw district lines for state congressional, legislative and school board seats. Daniels predicts further litigation over the issue. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk with us about this week’s state pushback on the federal vaccine mandate, and about the rollout of new COVID shots for young children. And Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson joins us to talk about legislative priorities for NEXT year, and about local issues like a new downtown airport project.

We discuss the start of a new special legislative session on redistricting with Reapportionment Committee co-chair, Rep. Chris Pringle of Mobile. We will also talk with Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton of Greensboro, a committee member and a plaintiff in a redistricting lawsuit. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle joins us to discuss how reapportionment will affect his area, which has seen tremendous growth. Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl of Athens talks with us about the GOP’s push for legislation against vaccine mandates. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris is with us to discuss the mandate pushback, new COVID booster shots and looming shots for young kids.

House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter of Rainsville joins us to discuss next week’s start of a special legislative session on reapportionment and the possibility that an anti-vaccine mandate bill could be added to the call. Senator Clyde Chambliss of Prattville will be with us to talk about how the recently passed prison plan will affect his district, which is home to three prisons. State Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate will join us to discuss medical cannabis and ongoing licensing for industrial hemp growers. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk with us about the rollout of new booster shots and about how Alabama’s COVID death rate may have finally peaked.

Sen. Kirk Hatcher of Montgomery joins us to discuss both the upcoming special legislative session on reapportionment and the state school board voting to codify its opposition to teaching Critical Race Theory. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk with us about more COVID booster shots that are coming. Alabama Sentencing Commission Executive Director Bennet Wright will join us to discuss the prison reform measure recently approved by lawmakers. Alabama League of Municipalities Executive Director Greg Cochran will talk with us about how the new prison construction plan will affect some cities and towns. And Rep. Tommy Hanes of Bryant will join us to discuss his pre-filed bill dealing with possible lawsuits over the president’s vaccine mandate.

Attorney General Steve Marshall joins us to discuss his concerns with the prison reform measure passed by the legislature last week. Rep. Connie Rowe of Jasper will talk with us about new prison construction and about leaving the legislature for a job with the Lieutenant Governor. Sen. Del Marsh of Anniston will be with us to discuss gambling prospects next year. He says he won’t personally sponsor another gaming bill. Sen. Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham will join us to talk about a redistricting lawsuit in which he is a plaintiff. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk with us about declining virus cases and hospitalizations, but a still worrisome death rate.

We have a complete wrap-up of the special legislative session on prisons. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth will join us to discuss the plan to build several new prisons. Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa, the chair of the Alabama Democratic Party, will talk with us about his contention that new prisons won’t solve our problems behind bars. House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Hill of Moody will join us to discuss the pair of prison reform measures he sponsored in the special session. And Alabama Hospital Association President Dr. Don Williamson will be with us to talk about continued concerns over our COVID death rate, as well as our decreasing case counts and hospitalizations.

We have a comprehensive preview of next week’s special legislative session on prisons, including conversations with Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield of Guntersville and House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels of Huntsville. Both say they are optimistic about a prison construction bill and reform measures being passed. Secretary of State John Merrill will join us to discuss the "legislative blackout period" for campaign fundraising during the special session. Merrill will also talk about Alabama election integrity issues raised by My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk with us about our COVID death rate now being the highest in the nation, while the numbers of cases and hospitalizations are improving.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris joins us to discuss mounting COVID cases and growing hospital stresses. Senate General Fund budget chair Greg Albritton of Atmore will talk with us about new prison construction negotiations. Rep. Barbara Drummond Mobile reflects on the death of Rep. Thad McClammy. Rep. Ben Robbins of Sylacauga discusses his work on the commission working to remove racist language from the state constitution. And Carla Crowder with the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice joins us to talk about prison reform.