Capitol Journal

Lawmakers return to Montgomery to resume their regular session. Sen. Jim McClendon introduced lottery legislation today, and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh introduced a bill to repeal common core in Alabama. And we’re joined by Rep. Mike Holmes of Wetumpka, who will discuss his "no" vote on the gas tax increase and the storm damage in his district.

We preview the week ahead at the Statehouse, including the expected rollout of Gov. Kay Ivey’s proposed budgets and the introduction of a new lottery bill. And we’re joined by Rep. Will Dismukes of Prattville who will discuss his "no" vote on the gas tax increase, saying it was in response to the will of his constituency.

We report on Congressman Bradley Byrne becoming the first person to formally challenge U.S. Senator Doug Jones next year. We’re joined by Rep. A.J. McCampbell of Gallion, who will discuss the uproar over what has been labeled a racist newspaper editorial in his district. Former Sen. Phil Williams of Rainbow City, who is now with the Alabama Policy Institute, will be with us to talk about the group’s position on a proposed gas tax increase. And Alabama Hospital Association president Dr. Don Williamson joins us to discuss Medicaid expansion and another rural hospital closing.

Rep. Bill Poole of Tuscaloosa joins us to confirm that he will carry a gas tax increase bill this year. Sen. Clay Scofield of Guntersville will be with us to talk about the plan Gov. Kay Ivey announced this week to build three new state prisons. We’ll also report on how Alabama lawmakers voted on the deal to avert another federal government shutdown, as well as the DNC ordering the Alabama Democratic Party to hold another election for chairman.

We have a full report on the Attorney General ruling that a Hoover police officer was justified in the fatal shooting of an armed man at an Alabama mall late last year. We also report on the protests that have followed the AG’s decision. We will be joined by Sen. Jabo Waggoner of Vestavia Hills, whose district includes Hoover (where the mall is located.) He predicts more protests over the shooting case. We will also be joined by new state Rep. Shane Stringer of Citronelle. As police chief of Satsuma, Stringer will talk about the challenges surrounding officer-involved shootings, as well as last month’s murders of two Alabama police officers.

We report on this week’s legislative budget hearings. We’re joined by Senate education budget chairman Arthur Orr of Decatur, who will discuss a lot of excess money in the school spending plan and how he thinks some of it should be used for another teacher pay raise. We’re also joined by new Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton of Greensboro, who says that he thinks a lottery could supplement a possible gas tax increase in funding the state’s pressing infrastructure needs.

We have Alabama reaction to a deal to reopen the federal government for three weeks while both sides hammer out an agreement on border security. We’re joined by former Congressman Jo Bonner, who will talk about his new job as Chief of Staff to Governor Kay Ivey. We will also be joined by the Alabama legislature’s two youngest members: newly-elected Representatives Will Dismukes of Prattville and Wes Kitchens of Arab, ages 28 and 29. They will talk about their priorities for the new term.

We have a complete wrap-up of this week’s inauguration of Gov. Kay Ivey and the other state constitutional officers. We’re joined by Alabama Corrections Commissioner Jefferson Dunn, who will talk about prison improvement discussions he’s having with the governor, improvements Ivey made a priority in her inaugural address. We report on former state Rep. Ed Henry pleading guilty in a healthcare fraud case. And we’re joined by Rep. Kyle South of Fayette, who will talk about his bill to provide more oversight of the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Inaugural Ceremony - January 14, 2019

We report on Gov. Kay Ivey looking ahead to Monday’s inauguration. We also report on this week’s legislative organizational session. We’re joined by both House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels of Huntsville and House Rules Committee Chair Mike Jones of Andalusia, who discuss controversial rule changes approved by the lower chamber this week. We will report on a court ruling in the much-watched Maori Davenport case. And we will be joined by Alabama Pardons and Paroles Board Chairman Lyn Head for her first interview with us since the controversy over the board’s early parole considerations.