Doug Jones told Huntsville voters Wednesday that Alabama needs a different approach to state government as he fielded questions about health care, education and managing growth fueled by the aerospace industry.
Jones answered questions for more than an hour during the campaign stop, repeatedly calling for greater transparency in Montgomery and more collaboration with local communities.
“This election is about change,” Jones said. “This is about changing a whole different attitude in government … we’re going to change Alabama and make you have the voice and the power and not just the special interests.”
Audience questions highlighted concerns specific to North Alabama as well as statewide policy debates.
Health care was among the first issues raised. One attendee asked whether Jones supported expanding the role of nurse practitioners, repealing certificate-of-need laws and pursuing other changes to improve access to care, particularly in rural communities.
Jones agreed that Alabama’s health care system needs reform but said expanding Medicaid should be the state’s top priority. He described the state’s refusal to expand coverage as a political decision rather than a policy decision.
Alabama remains one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Supporters of expansion say the decision has contributed to rural hospital closures and limited access to care for low-income residents.
“I’m telling you guys, on day one, I’m going to start doing everything I can to expand Medicaid,” Jones said.
Jones said a governor willing to champion expansion could shift the debate in Montgomery.
“We’ve not had a champion in the governor’s office. You’re going to have that now. And I think once you get that state champion, you’re going to see others that will fall in line. And I really believe that the people in Alabama that have denied Medicaid expansion will come around,” Jones said.
The discussion later turned to Huntsville’s continued growth as federal investment in aerospace and defense reshapes the city.
One attendee asked how the state should prepare for economic opportunities associated with U.S. Space Command while avoiding rising housing costs and infrastructure strains that could make Huntsville less affordable.
Jones, who has supported locating Space Command in Huntsville, said the region’s success presents challenges that require coordinated planning.
“It’s amazing what’s happening here in Huntsville,” Jones said. “It’s going to take some strategic planning. It’s going to take some infrastructure work. It’s going to take housing, especially.”
Jones cited recently approved federal housing assistance programs as one way to increase affordable housing and reduce regulatory barriers to development. He also said local governments should have more authority to address infrastructure needs without relying on Montgomery.
“What they need in Montgomery is a partner, and I’ll be that partner,” Jones said.
Jones acknowledged that Alabama’s budget could tighten as one-time federal pandemic funding expires, but he said the state should continue investing in infrastructure to support growing communities.
Education generated one of the evening’s longest discussions. A Huntsville teacher described rising turnover among educators and asked how Jones would improve retention and support public schools.
Jones cited improvements in Alabama’s early literacy efforts, the state’s nationally recognized First Class Pre-K program and recent education reforms. However, he said lawmakers risk those gains by directing public money to private education.
Jones proposed phasing out the CHOOSE Act while allowing current participants to remain in the program. He said the state should reinvest the money in public education initiatives that have demonstrated success.
He also called for additional teacher pay raises, improvements to the Teachers’ Retirement System and incentives to recruit more students into the profession. Those efforts could include encouraging high school students to pursue education degrees, he said.
“We need to make sure that teachers are getting that salary that was gonna keep them in the classroom, and if they want to just be an administrator, we can deal with that, too. But so many of the teachers move on for the money, not because they want to get out of the classroom,” Jones said.
Jones also reiterated his support for a state lottery, saying the proceeds should supplement education funding rather than replace existing appropriations.
