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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

RedState’s Exclusive Interview With Texas Governor Rick Perry

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  November 4th, 2011 at 05:00 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Tonight at 7:05 p.m. on the Erick Erickson Show, I’m going to play the audio of my interview with Texas Governor Rick Perry. The actual interview will start around 7:35 p.m. and then re-air in its entirety at 9:00 p.m.

You’ll be able to listen to the entire interview by clicking right here.

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COMMENTS

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  • bzip

    Good for Erick. Please make sure you ask Perry the toughest questions on the most important issues.

    Let’s not give any candidate a free ride on these interviews, I have full confidence in Perry. All his interviews have been spot on, out of the ball park interviews.

    Is there going to be any video for the interview?

  • avagreen

    I’m gonna be hugging my computer.

    THANKS!!!!

    Agree with bzip, “Will there be a video?”

  • craigbardo

    Never has a candidate received such frenzied support for so little reason as Obama but a close second may just be Rick Perry.

  • avagreen

    I’m in Central.

  • avagreen

    From a person who favors Socialism (and Communism?), that’s a compliment. ;)

  • craigbardo

    like arguing that opting out is the same as a non-mandate and in-state tuition rates for adult illegals?

  • avagreen

    ^^

  • avagreen

    (ugh!)

  • bs61

    That’s the Other Than Mexican’s on the border which account for 1/2 of the people in our AZ border towns. The are from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, and the Sudan.

  • avagreen

    Drones don’t know the dif between illegals.

  • avagreen

    he’s about to begin with Perry, just finished with the Cain issue.

  • bs61

    I’m good with that!

  • tjms

    guess if you call a high school senior that has attended at least 3 previous years of school an adult. And on the mandate, I had 2 daughters in TX schools and the schools never even mentioned the vaccine.

  • dirlie

    what exactly has Perry done in Texas regarding illegal immigration? Are there fewer illegal immigrants now than when he started? Isn’t Houston still a Sanctuary City? He states that he put Texas Rangers and the National Guard on the border. Did it work? Were more illegals caught and deported, were more drug runners caught? It is fine and dandy to say I am the only one on stage who has dealt with it but I have no sense that the illegal immigration situation is different in Texas than it was before or that it is different than other states. I am asking for real tangible results here, does anyone have them or can point me to them?

  • Carol Tarasewicz

    I heard Erick ask if people would return to Rick after Cain’s problem and I was always pro Perry. The immigration bothers me, but at least he sticks to his principals, unlike Romney, which we all know.

  • joayn

    there just waitin’ for ya.

  • avagreen

    Essentially, many, many of the questions you ask are related to the “numbers”……..how/where does an illegal go to be counted?

    They certainly don’t show up as illegals on the census.

    I’m getting together resources to answer the other type of questions you’ve asked, but it will be a LONG answer.

    Be patient.

  • retire05

    There are currently 150 Texas Ranger Recon Squad officers on the Texas/Mexico border. Those rangers have facilitated the capture of some major drug busts along with the apprehension of the drug runners, working along with the Border Patrol. But with an over 1,200 mile border with Mexico, there is not enough man power, even with the Texas Rangers, to totally patrol that border. To my knowledge, no other border state governor has ordered their crack state troopers to their borders, and if they have, nowhere near the force.

    Now, no state governor, not even border state governors, have the ability to deport anyone. When captured, illegals are turned over to the Border Patrol. Texas has also funded state owned drones who monitor the border with real time information relayed directly back to the Border Patrol. This is equipment that the citizens of Texas are paying for, which is a job the federal government should be doing. To my knowledge, Texas is the only border state using those drones. Also, Perry, as with any governor, has no authority to change immigration laws.

    Perry did seek, but did not get, a law in Texas that would have shut down sanctuary cities. The bill would have allowed the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, to prosecute any city official, like the mayor of Houston, that refused to abide by federal immigration laws or ordered it’s police department to not verify with ICE, the immigration status of someone arrested that was suspected of being illegal. Joe Strauss, Speaker of the Texas House, tabled the bill because he was threatened by H.E. Butt, Jr. with a withdrawal of campaign donations. Strauss has to go and we will try to primary him.

  • dirlie

    I started binging this and it is quiet a chore. I did find one site with estimated numbers from the 2000 census. It put the number at 4.554 illegals per 100 people. Here is the link:

    http://www.statemaster.com/graph/peo_est_num_of_ill_imm_percap-number-illegal-immigrants-per-capita

    Here is an article that claims that now it is about 6.7%.

    http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/number-illegal-immigrants-us-steady-112m

    I assume I can make the first number 4.554% and if the new number is 6.7% that is an increase. Now both of these numbers are estimates, as pointed out, there is no real census for illegal immigrants. Although this shows an increase, I would think it to be in line for the rest of the country for this time period 2000-2010. Perry probably did no better nor worse than other States and the only ones that would be comparable would be California, Arizona and New Mexico. That would take some time to analyze.

    retire05 you made some good points and I am glad you had the history on the sanctuary city issue. I remembered some of that, I had heard that the speaker of the House in Texas had torpedoed that legislation.

    Perry sounds good in the interview on the actual securing the border issue but maybe his team should show us some real numbers or highlight the Rangers with the border patrol work. Erick points out correctly that immigration is an important issue and you could hear Perry and think he is blowing smoke about closing the border when he really is in favor of some sort of Amnesty. This is a touchy subject for me, because I remember both of my RHINO senators Isakson and Chambliss having a laugh riot with Ted Kennedy as they tried to shove Amnesty down our throats. I burned up the phone, as did many other Georgians, but the fact is our own senators were going to sell us out. Bush and Rove tried to sell us out on this issue also and it is natural to look askance at Rick Perry. I am open to info though and Romney is just not a viable option to me.

  • westcoastpatriette

    After listening to his interview with Erick tonight, his answers confirmed my suspicions that personally, Perry is in favor of some form of amnesty. He knows at this point that to openly admit that could sink him so he is tiptoeing around the issue. Also, I think he probably truly believes that it is important to not alienate the Hispanic vote.

    In spite of this, I am afraid I still will support him (I say it like this because I am adamantly opposed to any form of amnesty) and don’t buy that “We can’t deport millions of people,” which is what he said in the interview tonight and is the tired excuse given by people who want to allow them to stay through various options such as permanent resident status, work visas, etc.

    However, Perry has shown the ability to listen when he is overruled by his constituents and has also indicated that he would not interfere with states who wish to handle the issue differently. Because of this, I will still support him and will continue to push and advocate against any kind of amnesty as uncontrolled illegal immigration simply must be stopped.

  • Melody Warbington (a/k/a rwm52)

    I haven’t listened to the interview yet, but I share your view on amnesty. Looking forward to giving it a listen.

  • gracie

    I do not know why he fails to mention this. Not only is it impossiboe to put a fence in the middle of a river, no matter which side you put it onyou will strangle the water rights of people on one side or the other.

    Let’s say you put it on the Texas side…sounds good, but it cuts those ranchers off from the water for their cattle., Nothing has been said that I have seen here that ranchers individuaolloy fight fencing the border for these reasons. How I would hate to live there! Constant strangers in your back yard or starvwe your land and cattle from water?/

    We found Straus in our county. We wrote called and had a 90 minute one on one with our Rep Lois Kolkhorst about voting for him. He has a sick kind of control on the legislators forcing them to sign pledge cards a session ahead for him. We have her holy he@@ about boting for him. Then at the end of the session where HER Healthcare compact legislation was chosen by Pwrry to get in the Special Sessin and Staus allowed it to come forward for a vote and it passed I gained a new understanding of what she was going through. She said she had been praying ab out her vote for Straus…what if it was about having to choose between coting for him and getting Health Care Compact passed? our only current defense frm Obamacare?

  • txindependent

    and I thought Perry’s answer on immigration was spot on. He believes in making the ones who are already here pay taxes (but NOT making them citizens), and closing the border so no more get in. In fact I want this guy elected soon. He’s the only one who really has an investment in this topic and I feel he will get started right away. Unlike the others who haven’t really lived this issue and will not put it high priority.

  • windwaker24

    It doesn’t make them citizens. The government can now keep track of them and they will have to pay taxes. If they want to stay, they have to apply for citizenship.

  • gracie

    Sorry for the garble I cannot fix. I guess you got it I meant we fought against Straus…our Tea Party in Austin County. I think few people outside of Texas realize how hard it is to mange the border. And when this year, Obama proclaimed NOBODY but criminals will be deported…what do we do with them? what does Perry? One committed a murder in our quiet county and it is breaking our bank just to prosecute him!

    So I am against amnesty with the rest of you! westcoastpatriotte I have read your thoughtful posts for some time now. I am not such a Perrybot that I think he can do no wrong. But I will tell you this…I admire that he did not run from the issue like everyone else does. Most people just say, “close the border then we will talk.” Yes,and WHAT will they say?? I think you will find that Perry will have a work program for the migrant workers we truly need. After that….well ask yourself…what will the rest of the candidates do with 12 million people? Even in our own home we have no answer.

    This is an impossibly hard question but I agree that Perry will listen to the people and have to listen to Congress before he will do anything.

  • windwaker24

    It frustrates me to no end. I think if he mentioned it, along with the land issue of private citizens, people would finally get it.

  • jakeofalltrades

    is the work part, and the visa part.

  • windwaker24

    I knew a couple of Malaysians who got work visas to come to the U.S. They actually had to have an employer to go to, and they thoroughly got their background checked. When their time was up, they had to leave.

  • westcoastpatriette

    your questions. Unfortunately, this issue is very complicated and can never be explained simply.

    Maybe I will come back tomorrow and answer as this is an area that I have researched a lot and enjoy sharing with others who are looking for answers.

    In the meantime, goodnight.

  • jakeofalltrades

    if they have skills no one in the U.S. can provide. I have had MBA’s in this economy doing monkey work for me at 17 an hour. With 10% unemployment, there are no such positions.

    The work part of the work visa is the problem.

  • bzip

    John King, USA: Perry’s economic world view
    http://youtu.be/iBaxYGqgUvw

    John King, USA: Perry: I know how to secure the border
    http://youtu.be/iwDxoEtIC-0

    Perry?s Iowa Debate Forum:
    http://youtu.be/FeKKY-sVLgU

    Governor Rick Perry Appears on Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace
    http://youtu.be/8TmzEeq5-FI

    Sean Hannity Interviews Rick Perry – November 2, 2011
    http://youtu.be/2uWmKCqwNlg

  • texasroots

    It’s frustrating to hear those who have not lived across/on/along the border criticize Perry on how he handles immigration. Perry is dedicated to protecting the border. I lived in the Rio Grande Valley, where there is a command center– (the center Perry showed Greta is in my hometown). No other person has done more to protect the border than Perry.

  • circlegranch

    Polling results from National Review online readers:

    Do you believe Perry leaked the Cain sex scandal to the press?
    (11,222 persons participated)

    NO—57%
    YES–43%

    Do you think the sex scandal accusations hurt Cain?
    (12,231 persons participated)

    YES–55%
    NO—45%

    thanks for posting these interview videos, bzip

  • don12345

    He has to be tough on immigration, because he’s offering 100k per child that makes it across that border. For the average illegal family that’s over half a million dollars. With that kind of education that is 1 million more in money earned over a lifetime which equates to 5 million dollars per family that makes it across the border. You’d have to be pretty tough to stop people from grabbing a cool 5 million dollars.

  • gekster

    You do know you are taking a Romney sound bite that isn’t true.

  • tyman

    I can’t remember the numbers, but very, VERY few go to state universities. So, the $100k figure is WAY off.
    And the number of participants in the plan is very small. The illegals don’t come here for college tuition, they come so that they can cut Mr. Romney’s grass (read: jobs and a better life).

    Besides this, since Texas has no state income tax, the parents pay into the system with the state sales tax on their purchases.

    The Feds mandate the State pay wellfare, but they won’t secure the border.

    Unfortunately, some folks will take the soundbytes as fact instead of investigating the matter further. With the internet, it’s not that hard to do.

  • gekster

    I was hoping to find out what collage charges 100K a year to go to.
    I was also wanting to find out how they finagle the money from the state when it is required that they have to pay for thier education.
    I wanted to find out since only 1% of the kids going to collage in Texas are illegals, how big of a magnet that really is.
    I also want to find out just what mr don would have Texas do with those kids since the state cannot deport them, must educate them, is required to give them welfare when needed, and free healthcare.
    I would like to find out mr dons program to deal with this.

    I think like most Romney supporters, it is just throw crap against the wall to see if it will stick.
    Prove me wrong mr don, reply.

  • tyman

    Just trying to help.

  • gekster

    how would you know. :)

    Uh, you don’t read minds do you, I got this poker game later and…
    well…never mind.

  • tyman

    and I have a terrible poker face.

  • tyman

    nt

  • gekster

    I can’t even guess whats she thinking.

  • avagreen

    and just went to bed early.

    Here goes and it may not even be readable. I was tired when I put it together.

    What exactly has Perry done in Texas regarding illegal immigration?
    JUST WHAT HE SAID, DIRLIE. BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
    http://www.texastribune.org/texas-mexico-border-news/texas-mexico-border/perry-sending-rangers-guard-to-the-border/
    “Gov. Rick Perry is expanding Operation Border Star, a multi-agency border security effort he launched in 2007, sending teams of Texas Rangers and National Guard troops to curb border crime and prevent spillover violence from Mexico.”
    HE SAID THEY ARE GETTING “SHOT AT”, THERE HAVE BEEN SHOOTOUTS ON THE BORDER WITH THE MEXICANS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER.

    OTHER THAN THAT,(FROM MY RESEARCH) ONLY THE FEDS CAN DO DEPORTATION, AND SO FAR, ICE HAS REFUSED TO DO THAT IN ANY STATE.
    http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/august-27-2010/ice-refuses-deport-non-violent-illegal-aliens.html

    AND THOSE THAT ARE DEPORTED BY ICE JUST COME RIGHT BACK IN THROUGH THE UNPROTECTED BORDERS.
    AND, talk to the ACLU who were right here on the money to sue Texas (and won) when Texas tried to cut off state subsidies to illegals.
    http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2011/may/ice-halts-deportation-aclu-s-request

    http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/program-to-id-illegals-using-fingerprints-draws-criticism—would-deport-more-illegals-than-arizona/blog-386847/
    Perry has repeatedly said that immigration cannot be effectively addressed until the flow across the border is stopped.

    WHAT HE HAS ADDITIONALLY DONE: Took out of the State budget ($400M last year) what the FEDS are supposed to do?protect and secure the border. The Rio Grande being that border between Texas and Mexico (which means fences where appropriate …not in the middle of the Rio and not at the bottom of ravines of the Big Bend where the Rio also flows,and the above mentioned troops.

    Are there fewer illegal immigrants now than when he started?
    REGARDING YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE # OF ILLEGALS BEING LESS……THAT’S KINDUV LIKE TRYING TO PROVE A NEGATIVE. HOW DO YOU COUNT PEOPLE THAT ARE INVISIBLE? AND, ARE THERE FEWER CRIMINALS SINCE CITIZENS HAVE BEEN ENABLED TO CARRY GUNS FOR PROTECTION? SAME QUESTION.

    Isn?t Houston still a Sanctuary City?
    YES, BUT PERRY TRIED TO PASS A BILL TO OUTLAW THESE CITIES, BUT WAS OVERRIDDEN BY THE LEGISLATURE.
    He added a bill prohibiting Sanctuary Cities as an emergency item in the regular session and added it to the call during the special session, but there wasn?t enough resolve in either the legislature or the Governor to overcome the business lobby that was adamantly against the bill. It died in the last special session.

    He states that he put Texas Rangers and the National Guard on the border. Did it work?

    HOW WOULD ONE DETERMINE THIS? WHO /WHERE ARE ILLEGALS GOING TO LINE UP TO BE COUNTED?
    CERTAINLY CAN’T CHECK THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSES ANYMORE EVEN WHEN PULLED OVER. THAT WOULD BE “PROFILING” ACCORDING TO THE FEDS.

    I DO KNOW THAT PERRY HAS INSTITUTED A LAW SO THAT ILLEGALS CAN’T GET DRIVER’S LICENSES, BUT IF THEY CAN STEAL/BUY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS FOR THOSE WILLING TO PROVIDE THEM (BOOMING BUSINESS), I DON’T KNOW HOW TO ENFORCE THAT. CAN YOU TELL AN ILLEGAL FROM A NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING LEGAL? HOW?

    Were more illegals caught and deported, were more drug runners caught?
    It is fine and dandy to say I am the only one on stage who has dealt with it but I have no sense that the illegal immigration situation is different in Texas than it was before or that it is different than other states. I am asking for real tangible results here, does anyone have them or can point me to them? Dirly, your questions overall assume that there is an easy way to count/track illegals on a daily or monthly or yearly basis. There just isn’t. Not in this state or any other state.

    You are asking impossible questions about the numbers. No definite numbers that anyone has in any state..

    What Perry is saying is how he would handle the policies on a national level (based upon his experience) and the changes he would make if elected (more money allocated to put boots on the ground and more drones to see the activity and stop it BEFORE they get into the country). I have no doubt that the next war we enter into will be on our Southern borders with the drug cartels and it will be on U.S. lands. El Paso is already getting drawn into this type of activity.

  • center77

    in Alabama. It’s funny, because we have a huge need for legal immigration, but some people are so caught up in bitterness they deny real facts. Tech vally in California can’t find enough U.S. citizens to fill their high tech job industries, so they get skilled immigrants to do the job.

    Perry talk about the border is practically the only real discussion going on, and if someone thinks we will deported all of them, the are fooling themselves. I we want to get serious, we have to secure border first, then find them, document, and send criminals home. that’s a firm immiggrant policy.

  • center77

    for Mitt Romney

  • thisisme7

    you will never, ever find a quote or bill or anyting else you could think of in any kind of way that proves my governor is for amnesty. Ever.

  • thisisme7

    you will never, ever find a quote or bill or anything else you could think of in any kind of way that proves my governor is for amnesty. Ever.

  • thisisme7

    first was a typo, because I do believe “anyting” is not a word… lol

  • thisisme7

    I feel the only candidate that will secure the border, which is what is needed way before we talk immigration reform, would be our governor. He has done the most any governor could possibly do in securing it already as governor. The sad, hard truth is, governor just cannot do it alone, so the fallacy that they are not doing anything at all comes up which is a shame.
    I feel with all my heart that if any other candidate is elected, and definitely if Obama gets re-elected, that the border will remain untouched, unfixed, and unnoticed by those who don’t have a clue a.k.a anyone not living in a border state acting like they know what it’s all about.

  • jakeofalltrades

    as I suspect most everyone is, despite the polls.

    My Family Feud thinking cap tells me that that’s where the final coalescing will happen.

  • thisisme7

    His interviews and speeches have been phenomenal as always, and I feel this coming debate will be just as good as his interviews and speeches. He has the absolutely best story to tell of all the candidates by far, and when he starts focusing on that, which he’s been doing, he’s gonna shine as the guy who EARNED all of his undefeated elections!

  • Scope

    I think you would see many more posting in favor of Perry, but they are all scared to death of being called Perrybots, or racists or something. LOL

    Agree, in the end when it’s time to be serious, and for cooler heads to prevail, they will pull the lever for Perry, but won’t admit it to too many. Then we will see all the comments about how they don’t know how Perry won, no one they know voted for him.

  • synergist777

    Perhaps if Tech Valley in California HR people wouldn’t automatically exclude anybody over 35, regardless of their knowledge and skill level, they might not have trouble finding people. Unless, of course, they are looking exclusively for people who will work 60 hour weeks for $25,000 a year and no benefits, which is the real reason they want to import immigrant labor.

  • jakeofalltrades

    I can literally program almost anything, and I spent almost a year without a real job (waiting tables doesn’t count – but I did). In California. It’s why I fled the state for Charlotte.

  • romansdaughter

    yep still bashing him on immigration like a stuck record but now some news pundits are starting to wonder why Mitt insists on going after Perry when Herman is in the lead?? Wonder why?? (sarcasm)

  • romansdaughter

    Good speech at Reagan Dinner there in Iowa. I just watched it on RickPerryReport.com. Good job!

  • Langley

    That’s Perry’s policy. How is this not reasonable and pragmatic?

    Considering the millions that are already here illegally (because the federal government hasn’t secured the border, and they acted in their own economic self interest given that lack of enforcement), giving them some type of legal status AFTER the border is finally secured seems to be a no-brainer to me.

    I’m not in favor of “comprehensive” legislation that is amnesty with an unfulfilled promise of securing the border, but securing then some form of legal documentation (in that order) seems to be the most realistic and pragmatic way to go.

    We aren’t going to deport millions of people. Not going to happen.

  • westcoastpatriette

    They can leave on their own.

  • jonathanmurray

    The overblown bias on this site is becoming unbearable. If you’re going to go so far in demonizing Cain, at least acknowledge when Perry looks and sounds like a drunken fool. Cain may not be the ideal candidate, but Perry is so very wrong to represent conservative Americans. Find us a candidate we can all agree on, quit backing so bad a loser; and quit attacking a man who at least wants to do the right things.

    Please!

  • jrmax13

    Incoming fire from Avalinsky’s Righteous Radicals. Prepare to fumigate !

  • bzip

    Rick Perry at Iowa Ronald Reagan Dinner
    I very good speech by Rick Perry at Iowa the other night.

    http://youtu.be/28yEPEPMWvY

  • gekster

    But don’t worry, pull a jr and run away.

  • bzip

    I can easily acknowledge that Perry isn’t perfect, he is no messiah and has his faults. I will NOT acknowledge any drunken state that you care to claim Perry was in. You either didn’t watch the entire NH speech and are taking the liberal media nonsense or you are in serious need of knowing what passion is.

    Care to come up with someone else that has a 10 year record who is consistent in his governing decisions. Perry is the ONLY true consistent conservative that has a record to back that up, NOT one other person can claim that and prove based on record and experience.

  • bzip

    A couple good articles on Rick Perry and Anita Perry’s faith;

    Rick Perry?s long faith journey culminates in presidential run
    http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/05/rick-perry%E2%80%99s-long-faith-journey-culminates-in-presidential-run/?hpt=hp_c1

    Rick Perry’s wife on her family’s faith
    http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2011/11/03/bts-anita-perry-family-faith.cnn

  • dcacklam

    Is that everyone keeps focusing on one little bit of border, rather than realizing that the US – with our 3 coastlines & 2 land borders (the larger one, up north, far more insecure than the southern) is IMPOSSIBLE to ‘lock down’.

    Plus over 40% (that’s almost HALF) of illegal immigrants NEVER MAKE AN ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSING – they come here LEGALLY and then become illegal by not going home when they’re supposed to.

    The solution to illegal immigration is

    1) Make it harder to forge our immigration and ID documents (driver’s licenses, etc). Every identification document should be electronically verifiable, and contain PKI encryption keys or similar technology. See the DoD’s ‘Common Access Card’ (current US military ID) as an example of how to do it right!

    2) Use tools like E-verify, in combination with the enhanced ID from (1) to ensure that you can’t get a job, wire money, open a bank account, a loan, or purchase titled property (car, house) if you’re not supposed to be here… With the right sort of ID, it’s as easy as inserting your card into a computer and entering a PIN or providing a fingerprint.

    3) Hold for deportation any illegal immigrant who is encountered by local or state LEOs

    4) Pull federal funding from any state that issues ID documents to illegals.

    Note that the word ‘Border’ is not anywhere in there. That’s the wrong place to be looking. We don’t need walls, and we certainly don’t need to waste the time & training of our combat-veteran troops chasing unarmed border-jumpers (if there’s no shooting to be done, then it’s not a job for the military. And there’s no justification to shoot unarmed civillians, border-jumping or not)…

  • dcacklam

    His advisers and the GOP establishment both see Cain as a ‘flash in the pan’, while Perry actually has the qualifications and experience to become a threat to Romney’s campaign again.

  • gekster

    Federaly enforce the laws on the books.
    We have the laws to stop the illegal immigration,
    we just don’t use them at the Federal level.