Author

Chip Brownlee

Chip Brownlee is a former political reporter, online content manager and webmaster at the Alabama Political Reporter. He is now a reporter at The Trace, a non-profit newsroom covering guns in America.

News / State

Jones: Alabama is one of the states with the most to lose if health care law is reversed

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, said Tuesday that Alabama would be one of the hardest-hit states if President Barack Obama’s 2010 health care law, the Affordable Care Act, is reversed by federal courts. “If the courts dismantle this law, Alabama is one of the states with the most to lose,” Jones said. “It’s already a challenge … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 27, 2019

Jones among three Democrats to vote against Green New Deal

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, was among three Democrats to vote against the Green New Deal, an ambitious plan to curb climate change by fundamentally transforming American infrastructure and the country’s economy. The legislation — a non-binding resolution — was proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put the plan to … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 27, 2019

Conservation Alabama celebrates 20 years

It has been 20 years since Conservation Alabama, one of the most influential environmental groups in Alabama, was founded. The group was founded as the Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters to give the environment a voice at the Alabama Statehouse. It was later renamed Conservation Alabama. Conservation Alabama has worked with environmental organizations, communities, … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 22, 2019

Bills setting legislative districts can be read aloud for hours on end. This would change that.

A robotic voice that reads long bills at length in the Alabama Legislature might have one less job if one lawmaker has anything to say about it. When lawmakers were working to approve redrawn legislative districts in 2017 after a federal court ruled them unconstitutional, the robotic voice echoed through the halls of the Alabama … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 21, 2019

Jones sponsors bill to fix GI Bill education benefits inconsistency

A bill cosponsored by Alabama Sen. Doug Jones would seek to extend GI Bill education benefits to foster children and legal wards, clearing up an inconsistency in the law when it comes to a veteran’s non-biological children. Jones cosponsored the new legislation, called the GI Education Benefits Fairness Act, to support military families by extending … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 19, 2019

Senate approves ALDOT oversight bill

The Alabama Senate has approved a bill that would provide additional oversight for the Alabama Department of Transportation as part of a set of bills accompanying the governor’s gas tax increase legislation. The bill — approved by a 30 to 0 vote on Friday — would require ALDOT to use objective criteria to prioritize road … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 11, 2019

Five major chambers of commerce join in support of Ivey’s infrastructure plan

Five major chambers of commerce and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama are joining with the Business Council of Alabama to support the Gov. Kay Ivey’s Rebuild Alabama Bill. The Birmingham Business Alliance, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 8, 2019

Prisons, pay raises and pre-K: Gov. Kay Ivey’s ambitious agenda

From prison construction to pay raises for teachers and state employees, Gov. Kay Ivey pitched a wide-ranging and ambitious agenda to members of the Legislature gathered in the Old House Chambers of the State Capitol Tuesday for her second State of the State address. Ivey’s main priorities are raising the state’s motor fuels tax and … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 6, 2019

Why Gov. Kay Ivey called a special session over the gas tax

Gov. Kay Ivey called a special session of the Alabama Legislature on Tuesday, just an hour after finishing her State of the State address and less than a full day into the Legislature’s 2019 regular session. Calling a special session within a regular session isn’t new, but special session are more commonly called during the … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 6, 2019

Democratic leaders say caucuses divided on gas tax

Democratic leaders in the Alabama House and Senate said Tuesday there is no consensus among their caucuses about whether to support Gov. Kay Ivey’s proposed gas tax increase. They say the debate will be a defining moment for their caucus nonetheless and will give them an opportunity to have some leverage as GOP leaders may … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 6, 2019