http://alabama.raycompolitics.com Politics and political news from around Alabama. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:58:32 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb's unexpected decision to exit the court more than a year before her term ends has people talking. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster), Cumberland Law School Dean John Carroll and Democrat activist and consultant Martha Bozeman talk about the current political shocker on Good ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/sue-bell-cobb-the-court-and-future-of-democrats The incoming president of the Alabama Bar Association says a $27,000 fix to extend Jefferson County court security for 3 more weeks is a way to buy time for a long-term solution. "Well-intended people are working on extending those 3 weeks," Jim Pratt says. Pratt, who moves into the president's role ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/new-bar-president-no-way-to-run-a-court-system Debriefing testimony from Rep. Barry Mask's 2nd day on the witness stand in the "Bribes for Bingo" case. Birmingham attorneys Roger Appell, Raymond Johnson Jr. and pollster/political observer Larry Powell of UAB talk about Mask's claims that he felt Milton McGregor was offering him a bribe. Read more of Rick Journey's ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/but-i-thought-thats-what-they-do-in-montgomery Attorney General Luther Strange says he wants to represent ratepayers in Jefferson County's $3-billion sewer debt crisis. Strange has asked a judge to let him intervene on behalf of the ratepayers. He hopes for a hearing soon. Strange says he wants a "seat at the table.... to be a catalyst" ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/ag-luther-strange-wants-in-jeffco-sewer-mess Her husband no longer serves as an economic development booster as governor or lieutenant governor in Montgomery, but former first lady Marsha Folsom takes on the role as the promoter with a new agribusiness. The future for Alabama's Black Belt Region? In a word, Marsha Folsom says... "bamboo." "It's the new cotton," ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/a-former-first-lady-promotes-the-new-cotton-in-alabama Lawmakers will return to the State House on May 24th for the final push through the final 7 meeting days of the Regular Session. Aside to trying to complete the complicated and politically charged reapportionment process, there are several bills that received much fan fare at one point or another during ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/key-bills-left-worth-mentioning Lawmakers will not convene for the next two week as they are in recess to hold redistricting hearings in their respective districts. Senate President Pro-tem Del Marsh and Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard said they wanted to address redrawing Congressional and school board lines during the Regular Legislative Session in ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/redistricting-recess Tough question for Alabama lawmakers to deal with this session. Perhaps tougher than many of you will realize. Here it is: when do you become a person? At birth or is it the minute the sperm fertilizes the egg? Now throw in this complication. What if the fertilized egg isn't in ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/personhood-bill-set-for-committee-vote George Altman reports in this morning's Press Register that a bill to strengthen Alabama's weakest in the nation cockfighting law may be doomed. Altman quotes Rep. Jim Barton (R-Mobile) saying "the sentiment of the House - particularly a lot of the north Alabama representatives (is that they) do not want to ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/humane-society-vs-cockfighting Well, did you expect Democrats to tell the new Republican majority "good job?" You can hear the fatigure when Democrats talk about the Republican "Handshake With Alabama," which was a mid-summer 2010 campaign promise. Recently, Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) quipped to me "the 'Handshake' is about to break my arm." Sunday, Dana Beyerle ... http://alabama.raycompolitics.com/dem-fatigure-with-the-handshake