Skip to content
Chip Brownlee

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

House Majority Leader survives vote of confidence

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Alabama House Majority Leader Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, survived a vote of confidence and will continue as the Republican majority leader for this Legislative Session. The House Republican membership voted on Hammon’s leadership Wednesday in a Caucus meeting. The vote was said to be related to an investigation into … Continued
/
February 16, 2017

Fentanyl possession would become Class C felony under Senate bill

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A Senate Bill given a favorable report in committee on Wednesday would dramatically increase penalties for trafficking and possession of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50–100 times stronger than heroin and morphine. The bill would make fentanyl a class I controlled substance and change the penalty for … Continued
/
February 16, 2017

Selma Bloody Sunday and Selma-to-Montgomery March events planned for March

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — This year marks the 52nd Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma-to-Montgomery March and organizers are planning this year’s commemorative events. The Selma-to-Montgomery Commemoration Foundation will hold a series of events and educational activities from March 2–6, 2017, to commemorate the anniversary of the march and the … Continued
/
February 16, 2017

Some legislators are considering an alternate route to impeach the governor

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Several Alabama lawmakers are considering an alternative route to get around the stalled House Judiciary Committee charged with investigating and recommending possible charges for impeachment against Gov. Robert Bentley. The plan, which could begin as early as next week, would bring articles of impeachment before the full House. At that point, a majority of … Continued
/
February 15, 2017

Alabama House spends nearly four hours debating a pro-Trump resolution

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives spent nearly three and a half hours on the third day of the Legislative Session debating a resolution that urges Alabama’s majority-Republican congressional delegation to support President Donald Trump’s policy agenda. The nonbinding resolution, with no legal authority, passed the House along party … Continued
/
February 15, 2017

Senate passes bill to crack down on Medicaid fraud

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate passed a bill Tuesday intended to crack down on Medicaid fraud and reduce the burden on Alabama taxpayers. The legislation, Senate Bill 85, sponsored by Sen. Trip Pittman was included on the Senate Republican Caucus’ priority list. It strengthens penalties against those who knowingly commit … Continued
/
February 15, 2017

Bill to reallocate judges based on need passes the Alabama Senate

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A bill that would give an authority power to reallocate judges based on demonstrated need, which senators hope will alleviate pressures in some circuits and districts, cleared the Alabama Senate on Tuesday. Senate Bill 90, passed without any debate, would give the Judicial Resource Allocation Commission the authority … Continued
/
February 15, 2017