Author

Joey Kennedy

Joey Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize winner, writes a column each week for the Alabama Political Reporter. You can email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter.

Lessons from Home

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter HOUMA, La. – I’m in what I call my hometown. Deep south Louisiana, about 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. Yes, SOUTHWEST! In Terrebonne Parish. A hurricane alley. We’ve had many hurricanes down here. Hurricanes that played with us. Hurricanes that hurt us. Hurricanes that made us better … Continued

Joey Kennedy

August 19, 2015

Opinion

Epic fail and other clichés

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter They met. They adjourned. They met again. And they failed. Nearly a half-million dollars down the toilet. Now, another half-million will be spent again. That’s what a special session of the Legislature costs Alabama taxpayers. That the Legislature, whose primary duty is to pass state budgets, can’t pass a … Continued

Joey Kennedy

August 12, 2015

Opinion

The squirrels and others

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Legislature came back into special session this week, after a three-week pause to build consensus on solving the state’s $200 million deficit in the state General Fund budget (SGF). Lawmakers are rested and ready to get to work. They are focused, committed to finding a solution to … Continued

Joey Kennedy

August 5, 2015

Opinion

So, Who Wants to Govern?

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Can they govern? That’s a fair question. After all, Republicans have a supermajority in both the House and Senate. They have the governor’s office. And, yet, they are apparently unable to govern. Republicans, if they were on the same page, could do whatever they wanted. There aren’t enough … Continued

Joey Kennedy

July 29, 2015

Opinion

Let’s Roll Them Bones Anyway

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter The Legislature’s special session is under way. OK, it’ll eventually it’ll be under way when lawmakers return from vacation on Aug. 3. Lawmakers were called into special session last Monday. Then they adjourned until Aug. 3. Too many vacations, apparently, to do the state’s business. Too many other … Continued

Joey Kennedy

July 22, 2015

Opinion

Back in The Arena

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter I’ve been writing about Alabama politics and policies for more than a quarter of a century, most of that time as a member of The Birmingham News editorial board. Since leaving The News in February, I’ve been writing the back-page column for B-Metro magazine in Birmingham; filming a … Continued

Joey Kennedy

July 15, 2015