Capitol Journal

We report on Attorney General Steve Marshall calling on the U.S. Senate to reject the articles of impeachment against President Trump. We’re joined by Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton of Greensboro, who discusses prison reform and a proposed expansion of gaming in the state. Rep. Mike Holmes of Wetumpka is also with us to talk about prison reform and his ‘fair tax’ bill. And Rep. Brett Easterbrook of Fruitdale joins us to discuss what he calls a serious lack of infrastructure spending in his southwest Alabama district.

We have Alabama lawmaker reaction to articles of impeachment against the president being sent to the U.S. Senate for trial. We’re joined by Sen. Cam Ward of Alabaster, who discusses the prison study group wrapping up its work on prison reform. We’re also joined by House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels of Huntsville, who says a he finds a Poarch Creek Indian proposal to expand gaming in the state "appealing." And Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa will be with us to discuss his bills to both require the playing of the national anthem in schools and to repeal the permit requirement for concealed carry of a handgun in the state.

We have Alabama lawmaker response to Iran’s attacking U.S. troops in Iraq this week. We’re joined by Alabama Dept. of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis, who will discuss services available to military families during these uncertain times. We’re also joined by Alabama Corrections Commissioner Jefferson Dunn, who will discuss the growing violence problems behind bars and prison reform. And Rep. Barbara Drummond of Mobile will be with us to talk about this week’s House education budget hearings, the turmoil in the state Democratic party and a bill she hopes to bring to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products in Alabama to 21.

Sen. Clyde Chambliss of Prattville joins us to discuss prison reform being a legislative priority in the new year. He’ll also talk about a bill he’s preparing that would propose removing the state sales tax on groceries. Guest analyst and former state Representative Paul DeMarco of Homewood will be with us to look back at the top legislative stories of 2019 and look ahead to the upcoming new session for lawmakers. And State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will join us to discuss his voting "no" on a proposed medical marijuana bill that was recently approved by a study group Harris sat on.

We’re be joined by Cong. Gary Palmer, who will discuss the House Judiciary Committee approving two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. We’re also joined by Attorney General Steve Marshall, who talks with us about a federal appeals court ruling in favor of the state in a case over our uniform minimum wage law. And Sen. Arthur Orr, chairman of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, and Jay Lamar, the group’s executive director, will join us to discuss the weekend’s activities surrounding the state’s 200th birthday.

We report on Congresswoman Martha Roby helping question witnesses at this week’s impeachment hearing. We also report on emotional testimony at this week’s meeting of the governor’s prison study group. We’re joined by University of Alabama System Chancellor Finis St. John, who will discuss tuition rates and the K-12/higher education funding split. We’re also joined by Peggy Wallace Kennedy, the daughter of former governors George and Lurleen Wallace, who will discuss her new book about growing up in the political family. And Alabama Young Democrats President Josh Coleman will be with us to talk about party strategy as Birmingham hosts a national Young Democrats meeting this weekend.

Guests:  Sen. Chris Elliott, (R) - Fairhope,   State Auditor Jim Zeigler;  Phil Williams from the Alabama Policy Institute;  Robbie McGhee from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

We’re joined by former U.S. Attorney General and former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions. He will talk with us about his decision to again run for his old Senate seat, his adversarial relationship with President Donald Trump and how Sessions hopes that he and Trump can "mend their political fences." We’re also joined by Nancy Worley, one of two people who now contends that they are the leader of the Alabama Democratic Party. Worley will discuss renewing a lawsuit over an opposing party faction voting her out of office and replacing her with Rep. Chris England. Worley says she views that election as illegitimate.

We’re joined by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who talks with us about his recent visit with President Donald Trump in Tuscaloosa. We’re also be joined by Rep. Kirk Hatcher of Montgomery, who discusses the turmoil in the state Democratic Party and this week’s historic inauguration of Steven Reed as Montgomery’s first African American mayor. And Sen. Tim Melson of Florence is with us to discuss his draft bill that would legalize the use of medical marijuana in the state. Melson is joined by Dr. Alan Shackelford, a Colorado physician who has treated patients with medical cannabis for many years.

We report on Jeff Sessions entering the race for his former U.S. Senate seat. We also report on President Donald Trump’s scheduled appearance at the Alabama-LSU football game in Tuscaloosa. We’re joined by Dr. David Hughes with Auburn University at Montgomery, who will help us analyze Trump‘s Alabama visit and Sessions’ Senate campaign. We will also be joined by U.S. Attorney Jay Town, who discusses his lead role in the Justice Department’s negotiations over Alabama prison reform. And Rep. Neil Rafferty of Birmingham is with us to talk about the new state Democratic Party leadership and it’s new LGBTQ caucus.