1st Arrivals for Grand Jury and One “Party Crasher”

FOX6 News Reporter Alan Collins tells me the first people have arrived and left for a federal grand jury in Montgomery.
Alan and other reporters observed lobbyist John Teague, Tom Coker and communications consultant Rick Heartsill entering the federal courthouse with what appeared to be documents, though none offered any detail of why they were there.
“I [...]

Gateway to Goat Hill (Legislative Week in Review)

 
 Black bails on BINGO vote 

The issue that dominated this legislative session died in the House of Representatives and thus will never receive a vote of the people. The lead sponsor of BINGO legislation in the House, Marcel Black (D), addressed the House on Wednesday afternoon. Black assured the body that a vote to pass the [...]

Final Days: Senate Leaders Expect PACT, Road Passage

With e-bingo one of the remaining major bills with a chance of passage in the final two days of the legislative session, House Majority Leader Ken Guin (D-Carbon Hill) says he would prefer to not bring it up if the votes are not there.
Rep. Marcel Black (D-Tuscumbia) says he is still working to secure the [...]

The Final 4

Alabama lawmakers enter the final 4 working days of the legislative session.
Among the bills pending are a bailout of the state’s PACT plan and a ban on texting while driving.
Road and Bridge Bond
Today House members face that billion dollar road and bridge proposal in the full House.
This morning on FOX6 News Good Day Alabama, two [...]

Majority Leader Expects Quick Passage of Alabama Budgets

House Majority Leader Ken Guin (D-Carbon Hill) expects smooth sailing for the Special Education Trust Fund.
Debate begins on the House floor today. The nearly $5.5 billion dollar budget, buoyed by extra millions from a lawsuit and a bond, should cover all teacher slots the state provides. Earlier this session that was not expected to [...]

Hinton Mitchem calls it quits

By Bob Howell – WSFA 12 News
State Senator Hinton Mitchem announced today he will not seek reelection.  Mitchem is the longest serving member of the state legislature, having first been elected 36 years ago.  Mitchem served four years in the Alabama House of Representatives before moving up to the Alabama Senate in 1978. 
Here’s his Senate bio:
Born [...]

An e-Bingo “No” Vote Proposes New Plan

Sen. Paul Sanford (R-Huntsville) exchanged sharp words with e-bingo sponsor Sen. Roger Bedford before the failed vote this morning. Sanford voted “no” on the procedural vote after Bedford claimed he had his support a day earlier.
In a statement released since that vote, Sen. Sanford says he’ll offer a new bill this week that will “simplify” [...]

Click Your Remote Control

It seems absurd to think that families on the same street could pay different tuition at identical state schools

Alabama Republicans pick up 45th House seat in special election

By Bob Howell – WSFA12 News Anchor – Montgomery, AL
State Republicans celebrate the outcome of a special election for a House seat in District 40.  Here’s Phillip Bryan’s release from the State GOP:
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Republican K.L. Brown Wins Special Election; GOP Picks Up 45th Seat in Alabama House
JACKSONVILLE, AL -Following a hard fought election and a critical [...]

Tim James responds to $1-billion highway bill’s fate

By Bob Howell – WSFA 12 News Anchor – Montgomery, AL
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James responds after a bill to spend $1-billion over ten years for highway and road construction did not make it up for a vote in the Alabama Senate.
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Statement by Tim James concerning defeat of the Senate Democrats’ attempt to raid the [...]