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Lee Hedgepeth

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Bedford Prefiles Bronner Bill in Senate

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter The fight for control over investments of the Employees’ Retirement Systems and the Teachers’ Retirement Systems in Alabama has not yet reached its end. On December 16th, the Alabama Political Reporter reported on events leading up to an identical bill being prefiled on the House side in preparation for … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 30, 2013

Fielding in Nat’l News with Proposed Duck Dynasty Bill; Todd Reacts

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter Duck Dynasty actor Phil Robertson has come under serious scrutiny for his recent comments involving African-Americans and the LGBT community, and the fight has made its way to the Alabama legislature, before the 2014 session even begins. Robertson, in an article for GQ, said that a gay lifestyle is … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 30, 2013

Christmas Tidings Costly for Families of AL Inmates: PSC to Act Soon

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter This holiday season, families of the over thirty thousand people incarcerated in jails and prisons across Alabama will undoubtedly try their best to reach their loved ones, by phone, if by no other means. Many of these families, however, which are statistically some of Alabama’s poorest and most at-risk, … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 27, 2013

2010 Legislative Redistricting Upheld in Court, Black Democrats May Appeal

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter Last week a panel of three Federal judges ruled that Alabama’s 2010 legislative redistricting plan does not violate either the Voting Rights Act or the US Constitution. This ruling came as a big win for Republicans in the state, who had taken over the legislature for the first time … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 27, 2013

Right-Size Alabama: A Bentley Breakdown of $1.1 Billion in Spending Cuts

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter Yesterday in the Capitol, Governor Robert Bentley held a press conference with the theme “Right-Size Alabama Government,” in which he, Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey, House Speaker Mike Hubbard, and Senate Majority Leader Del Marsh laid claim to an annual $1.1 billion in savings for the state. “Alabamians elected us … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 24, 2013

2014 AL Candidates Must Qualify Earlier in Wake of US Gov’t Lawsuit

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter In response to a lawsuit by the United States Department of Justice, Alabama Secretary of State Jim Bennett has announced that he will notify the GOP and the Democratic Party in the state that qualifying dates for the 2014 election site must be moved up. The issue behind the … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 23, 2013

Bentley and Strange Join in Coal Wars

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter Talk of coal has dug deep in Alabama in recent weeks. Most recently, Senator Richard Shelby (R) called for investigations into allegations that Alabama nonprofits who receive taxpayer funds have lobbied state government officials to vote against coal interests. Other Alabama GOP leaders in the state express similar concerns, … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 19, 2013

AG Strange to SOS Bennett: “I’ll Handle Campaign Finance Fines.”

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter Earlier this month, with the 2014 general elections exactly a year out, monthly campaign reports were due in the state. On the finance report due date, the Office of Attorney General Luther Strange issued an official legal opinion to a question posed to him by Secretary of State Jim … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 18, 2013

PACs Behind Hubbard Campaign Cash

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter For weeks now, anticipation of public corruption indictments in Lee County has bubbled over in Alabama’s political community. The upcoming grand jury indictments, which will reportedly surround Republican Speaker of the State House Mike Hubbard, and may involve both lobbyists and politicians, have provided good reason for close scrutiny … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 18, 2013

Despite Unprecedented Public Corruption in AL, Ethics Commission Director Wins International Award

By Lee Hedgepeth Alabama Political Reporter Jim Sumner, director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, received the Council of Governmental Ethics Law’s annual COGEL award this year. He was presented the award while on a visit to their meeting in Quebec City on December 11th. Sumner has been the director of the ethics commission since 1997, … Continued

Lee Hedgepeth

December 17, 2013