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

Schools Transportation Association fears Senate bill might lead to aging school bus fleets

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter A bill passed in the Alabama Senate and awaiting action in the House Ways and Means Education Committee could reduce the amount of state funding school systems could receive to offset the costs of new school buses, the Alabama Schools Transportation Association has warned. Local school systems under current … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 28, 2018

Sewell scores high, Republicans low on National Environmental Scorecard

By Staff Alabama Political Reporter Democratic U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is the only member of Alabama’s Congressional delegation that scored a passing grade this year on the League of Conservation Voters’ National Environmental Scorecard, a rating used to track lawmakers’ votes on environmental, public health and energy issues. Sewell earned the highest score among the nine … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 28, 2018

Roy Moore endorses right-wing candidate in Missouri Senate race

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is wading back into the political waters — this time to support an anti-feminist candidate in Missouri’s Senate election who has called women’s rights advocates “career-obsessed banshees” and “she-devils.” On Monday, Moore endorsed right-wing Republican Senate candidate Courtland Sykes, a populist newcomer to … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 27, 2018

Bobby Bright to defend his GOP candidacy after challenges

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, now a Republican candidate for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, plans to defend his candidacy at an ALGOP meeting on Saturday after facing ballot access challenges accusing him of opportunistically switching parties. Two complaints were recently filed against him, Bright says. One of those complaints … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 23, 2018

Senate moves to make Alabama first to offer nitrogen executions to condemned inmates

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter A bill passed Thursday in the Alabama Senate would mark a new evolution in the history of the death penalty in Alabama. The state may soon add a third, untested option for death-row inmates deciding how they want their lives taken from them: a gas mask or gas chamber … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 23, 2018

Senate passes $2 billion General Fund but skips over employee pay raises for now

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Senators approved a $2 billion General Fund Budget, the largest in about a decade, but delayed voting Tuesday on the 3 percent pay raise for state employees Gov. Kay Ivey proposed earlier this year. The Senate voted 26 to 2 to pass the budget that will fund all of Alabama’s … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 21, 2018

Committee OKs bill to block state funds from being used in sexual harassment, assault cases

A bill passed unanimously out of an Alabama Senate committee Tuesday would block state funding from being used to pay for sexual harassment or assault claims against state employees and public officials. If the bill passes, those officials would have to pay out of their own wallets to settle any sexual harassment, misconduct or assault … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 21, 2018

Openly gay Marine Corps veteran hopes to fill Patricia Todd’s Alabama House seat

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Neil Rafferty spent years in the U.S. Marine Corps supporting the Global War on Terrorism. He describes himself as dedicated to public service and community health. And the Birmingham native — who also happens to be openly gay — is hoping to bring that dedication to Montgomery next year. … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 21, 2018

Democratic candidate for governor Walt Maddox announces statewide lottery plan

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter The calls for a vote on a statewide education lottery are growing as another candidate for governor is promising to push for a vote if elected to the state’s highest office. Gubernatorial candidate and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said Monday he would push for a referendum on a lottery … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 20, 2018

Sen. Doug Jones to embark on first statewide tour this week

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Sen. Doug Jones, Alabama’s first Democratic senator in a quarter-century, is set to embark on his first statewide tour this week, planning to hit locations in Mobile, Montgomery, Mobile, Birmingham and Selma. Jones will visit military bases and installations, rural hospitals and clinics, infrastructure and military and military contractors. … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 19, 2018