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.

Former congressional candidate Mallory Hagan signs on with “Draft Beto” group

Former Democratic congressional candidate Mallory Hagan, who ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers in Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District, is joining other Democrats to launch a “Draft Beto” campaign. The group is focused on raising at least $1 million for a future presidential campaign for Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke, whose 2018 campaign for Senate against … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 19, 2018

Shelby taps committee staffer Dayne Cutrell as new chief of staff

Alabama’s senior U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby has hired a new chief of staff. Shelby announced Monday that he’s selected Dayne Cutrell, a native of Mobile who previously worked as a top aide to Shelby on the Senate Appropriations Committee, to serve as his chief of staff beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Cutrell worked most recently as … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 18, 2018

Department of Corrections hints at billion dollar prison plan

At the most recent Legislative Contract Review hearing, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn revealed that the state is planning to build three mega-style prisons at a cost of approximately $1 billion. Less than two years ago, the Legislature rejected a plan by then-Gov. Robert Bentley to spend approximately $850 million on four new … Continued

Bill Britt, Chip Brownlee

December 17, 2018

Nearly $50 million awarded to assist low-income Alabamians with winter energy bills

Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded nearly $50 million in grants to assist with energy bills. The $46.6 million in grants was awarded Friday to help low-income families in Alabama with their energy bills. The grants, which were issued to 21 community service agencies throughout the state, provide emergency funds to help low-income families heat their … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 17, 2018

Jones appointed to powerful Senate Armed Services Committee

After a brief stint with no representation on the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, Alabama is back in the mix. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones has been appointed to the influential committee tasked with overseeing the nation’s armed forces, national security and military research and development. Jones will assume his position on the committee when the … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 14, 2018

Governor appoints two deputy chiefs of staff

Gov. Kay Ivey appointed two deputy chiefs of staff Wednesday as she prepares to begin her first full term as governor. In addition to naming two chiefs of staff, which is relatively uncommon, Ivey also made other changes to her top staff. “As the governor moves forward in implementing her vision for the state, she … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 13, 2018

Sen. Bobby Singleton to replace Sen. Billy Beasley as Alabama Senate minority leader

The small cohort of Democrats left in the Alabama Senate has elected a new minority leader. The eight members of the Democratic caucus elected Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, to serve as the Senate minority leader. Singleton, who was elected to the Senate in 2005, will replace outgoing minority leader, Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton. Beasley will … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 13, 2018

As lawmakers consider new gas tax, Alabama remains last in per capita state, local tax collection

As state lawmakers prepare to consider a gas tax increase during the next legislative session, a new report from the Public Affairs Research Council shows Alabama’s state and local governments collect less in taxes per capita than any other state in the country. Alabama has been behind in tax collection since the early 1990s, according … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 12, 2018

ADOC could be held in contempt for failing to meet mental health staffing requirements

The Alabama Department of Corrections could be held in more legal peril for failing to meet multiple deadlines for required mental health staffing in Alabama prisons. ADOC officials are appearing Tuesday at a contempt hearing before U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson. The hearing, which comes nearly 10 months after Thompson ordered ADOC to increase mental … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 11, 2018

Should Medicaid expansion be on the 2019 legislative agenda? Experts say it has to be

In Alabama, Republican politicians have ignored the question of Medicaid expansion or rejected it outright, refusing to bring the issue to the floor of the state Legislature, but an outgoing Republican senator and hospital officials are pushing for it to be on the 2019 legislative agenda. Voters appear to be on the side against expansion, … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 7, 2018