Capitol Journal

Rep. Steve Clouse joins us to look ahead to a meeting he and other legislative leaders will have with Gov. Kay Ivey next week to discuss options for building new state prisons after Ivey’s private lease deal fell apart. We’re also joined by Cong. Jerry Carl, who will talks about a bill he is drafting that would call for the resignation of President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci. And Alabama Hospital Association President Dr. Don Williamson will be with us to talk about what MIGHT could cause our stable COVID numbers to start spiking again. 

We report on the governor vetoing a bill to delay a Literacy Act hold-back provision. We will be joined by Rep. Wes Allen of Troy, who will discuss his bill to ban curbside voting in the state becoming law. We will also be joined by Rep. Ginny Shaver of Leesburg, who will talk about the governor signing into law her so-called ‘born alive’ legislation. Alabama GOP Chairman John Wahl of Athens will join us to discuss the passage of party priority bills, including one that bans vaccine passports. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will be with us to talk about the looming end of the governor’s pandemic health orders.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed joins us to look back on his first legislative session as Senate leader. Sen. Del Marsh is with us to discuss plans to bring back gambling legislation next year, after it failed to pass this year. Atty. Gen. Steve Marshall talks with us about his concerns over both gambling and the medical marijuana measure that was signed into law this week. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris joins us to discuss the passage of a ban on so-called "vaccine passports" in the state.

We will preview the upcoming final day of the legislative session. Sen. Clyde Chambliss joins us to discuss a possible special session on prison construction if a private lease deal falls apart. Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington is with us to talk about the state ending its participation in federal pandemic unemployment compensation programs. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris joins us to discuss new masking recommendations and vaccine eligibility for adolescent children.

Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon joins us to discuss the gambling plan stalling and its future prospects. Senator Tim Melson of Florence will also be with us to talk about final passage of his bill to legalize the use of medical marijuana in the state. Congressman Gary Palmer of Hoover will join us to discuss a power struggle for a key U.S. House leadership position. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will talk with us about continued vaccination declines and the prospect of virus herd immunity.

We report on the House approving the bill to legalize medical marijuana and on the last-minute negotiations over a comprehensive gambling plan. We’re joined by Rep. Allen Treadaway, who will discuss his support of medical marijuana, his concerns with the gambling plan, and his disappointment over the death of his riot bill. And we’re also joined by Rep. Jim Carns, who discusses his opposition to medical marijuana and his concerns with the gambling plan.

We report on preparations for a very busy penultimate day of the legislative session, including expected Thursday House action on both medical marijuana and gambling. We’re joined by Rep. Jim Hill of Moody, who will discuss both issues, as well as his criminal justice reform measures that he hopes the Senate will take up tomorrow. We’ll also be joined by Rep. Terri Collins of Decatur, who will discuss medical marijuana, gambling, proposed changes to her Literacy Act legislation, and final passage of her direct shipment wine bill.

Passions run deep on both sides as the House takes up medical marijuana; House committee okays the main bill in the comprehensive gambling plan; Rep. Reed Ingram of Montgomery joins us to discuss his opposition to medical marijuana and his opposition to the gambling plan, as proposed; and Rep. Thomas Jackson of Thomasville joins us to discuss his support of medical marijuana and his reservations about the gambling measure.

We will preview the upcoming legislative week, including House committee action on gambling bills and possible House floor action on medical marijuana and transgender youth medical bills. We will be joined by Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington, who will discuss continually declining jobless numbers and some employers having a hard time filling jobs. And ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell will be with us to talk about the state’s census effort that helped us avoid losing a congressional seat.

We’re joined by House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter, who will discuss the prospects for gambling and medical marijuana in the final days of the session. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels of Huntsville is also with us to talk about those issues and about voting and criminal justice reform legislation. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris joins us to discuss a continued decline in our vaccination rate.