On Friday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey spoke with Todd Stacy of the Capitol Journal about two of her most important legislative priorities. That means passing a landmark school choice bill and putting the issue of legal gaming back before voters in Alabama for the first time since 1999.

Governor Ivey's school choice bill would create education savings accounts that parents could use to fund their children's education. A parent who opts into this program can receive her $7,000 to send her child to an approved private, religious, or home school under the CHOOSE Act.

The proposal would prioritize $7,000 savings accounts for the first two years to families who cannot afford to send their children to their preferred school. Governor Ivey said after the first two years, the program will be available to all households.

Ivey worked extensively with lawmakers on the bill before formally announcing it during the State of the Union address earlier this month.

“We've been working on this issue for months because we want to get it right,” Governor Ivey said. “This will make Alabama the most school choice-friendly state in the nation and will greatly contribute to my goal of placing Alabama in the top 30 for educational outcomes. Therefore, education savings accounts are my top priority. .”

The first two years of the program will be means-tested before expanding to all Alabama states.

“In the first two years, they will be provided to the neediest families, at 300 percent of the poverty line,” Ivey said. “After the first two years, all families are eligible. The good thing about this is that it’s sustainable, so it’s not just a quick start. It’s sustainable over the years and that’s a really good thing.”

RELATED: Alabama school choice bill gets first hearing

State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) are sponsoring the bill in the Legislature for the governor.

“I also applaud Congressman Garrett and Senator Orr for their diligent work on this matter. But Chairman Ledbetter has been very cooperative on this,” Ivey said. “I am grateful to be able to work with legislators on issues like this that can truly move our state forward.”

School choice bills have been widely criticized by education special interest groups, including teachers unions, superintendents, and school board associations, who are concerned about parents having choices about their children's education.

“Those opponents probably haven't read the entire bill. But it doesn't affect public schools at all,” Ivey explained. “I think they're still continuing to do so because we're trying to get the best salary for beginning teachers in the Southeast. It also helps strengthen our public schools, so this bill is well thought out.” It's a solid bill, and I'm confident it can and should pass, making our system even more free.”

Another area where the governor is working with lawmakers is to advance the legal gambling proposal passed by the House last week.

RELATED: Ivey supports legal gambling and voting on state lottery: 'It's time for Alabama voters to have a different say'

“I may never buy a lottery ticket or bet on a football game. It's about making gambling accessible to the public,” Ivey said. “Illegal gambling is currently rampant in our state, and that is not a good thing. This measure will fix that and go a long way toward improving the system as a whole.”

“Well, they don’t need to gamble in the first place,” Ivey said in response to the naysayers.

“The purpose is to give people the right to vote and have a say on this bill. If we limit, regulate, control and enforce, it will work for the people of Alabama and Most importantly, I just believe we can build a system that will be a good deal for the state of Alabama. I'm working hard on this.”

The latest games package was quickly debated in the House of Commons last week after extensive cooperation among MPs. State Rep. Andy Witt (R-Harvest) and State Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City) have proposed an effort to remedy certain legislative hurdles that have caused the process to break down in the past few years. We have been promoting it. The proposal now heads to the Alabama Senate.

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