MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, and House Majority Leader Paul Lee, R-Dothan, will join Capitol Journal this evening for a sit-down interview with host Todd Stacy.
With 11 legislative days remaining, the House leaders reflected on the session so far and talked about what’s still in store. The Legislature has yet to take on the state’s two operational budgets, which Ledbetter said will start happening next week.
The Education Trust Fund budget will start in the House this year, with the General Fund budget starting in the Senate.
Ledbetter also addressed a leaked audio recording of him telling members he “could give a shit” about the state party during a caucus meeting last month. He apologized for the language he used and likened his comments to a coach talking to their team in the locker room.
He said he was trying to express to caucus members that he has their back and to tell them not to worry about what was happening with the state party.
“The fact of the matter is my job is here (in the Legislature),” Ledbetter said. “My job is to be speaker and be over the House and to help you get reelected and to make sure you got the available funds and everything you need for the campaign. It was just reassurance to them that you’re my focus.”
Lee also said he’s been meeting with groups within the caucus to address “the facts of what’s been taking place.”
“Everyone in that group understands that what was leaked was not the actual verbiage. It was compressed, and there was a motive for that,” Lee said. “Obviously they’re not happy with it, because if it’s not the speaker, now it may be one of them or myself or someone else down the road. They take that personal, and so that’s key to finding out and making sure that we don’t get into the situation again.”
Looking ahead, Lee discussed how he is approaching his new role as majority leader. He talked about the change from serving as chair of the House Health Committee to managing the more than 70 members of the House Republican Caucus. Communication and trust are his priorities in the role, Lee said.
“I wanted to be able to make sure that the caucus feels freely in speaking in a group together and have different opinions but work it out and walk out of there and understand where our caucus is going,” Lee said.
Lee was elected last month as House Majority Leader after Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, stepped down to run for chair of the Alabama GOP.
Tune in to Alabama Public Television at 7:30 p.m. to see the full interview.