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Steve Flowers

Steve Flowers

Steve Flowers served 16 years in the state legislature. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve may be reached at [email protected].

Who will take Doug Jones out next year?

It is a foregone conclusion that a Republican will take out our anomaly liberal Democratic senator, Doug Jones, next year. The question is which Republican will be the nominee and capture the seat. The early favorite is U.S. Congressman Bradley Byrne. There is an old adage that often holds true, the early bird gets the … Continued
April 24, 2019

Legislative issues other than infrastructure, gas tax

There is no question that Gov. Kay Ivey’s Infrastructure/Gas Tax Program was the cornerstone issue of this legislative session. This monumental legislation will be a tremendous enhancement for Alabama’s economic development for decades to come. Ivey and the legislative leadership deserve accolades for addressing this important project. They were indeed thinking of the next generation … Continued
April 10, 2019

State budgets: Priority number one

After their successful special five-day Special Session, the Legislature has been in their Regular Session for a few weeks now. The session will end in June so it is about one-fourth over. Almost one-third of the members are new — freshmen if you will. Even though they are, for the most part, a bright and … Continued
April 3, 2019

Infrastructure: Alabama needs a road program. Wallace and Big Jim knew this.

One of the obvious political changes in Alabama government over the last decades with the Republican takeover of the Legislature has been the reluctance to raise new revenue to fund state government.  Many of the current Republican legislators came to Montgomery in 2010 with a no new tax pledge.  Voting for any kind of tax … Continued
March 27, 2019

Rural roads need fixing

Last week we talked about the importance that roads are to the economic development of our state.  We spoke about urban growth and expansion, especially the needs for highways in Huntsville and the improvement of the Port in Mobile. Well, I overlooked the needs and importance of our rural roads.  Make no doubt about it, … Continued
March 20, 2019

Governor and Legislature successfully pass infrastructure program. Timing is good

Gov. Kay Ivey made infrastructure improvement in the state her cornerstone issue for this year, and more importantly for her term as governor.  Within less than three months in office she and the Legislature have successfully accomplished this mission. Last Friday the Alabama House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed monumental legislation on an 84-20 vote.  It … Continued
March 13, 2019

State revenues up as Legislature prepares for Session and crafting of state budgets

The Governor has been inaugurated and the Legislature has had its organizational session. The quadrennium has begun. Therefore, it is time for our state officials to get to work. Among the three branches of government, Legislative, Executive and Judicial, our 1901 Alabama Constitution renders our Legislative Branch as the most powerful. Some of you who … Continued
March 6, 2019

New quadrennium, launch of 2020 campaigns

A lot has happened politically in the first quarter of 2019. The governor and all of our constitutional officials have been sworn in and have begun their four-year terms in office with Kay Ivey as Governor, Will Ainsworth as Lt. Governor, John Merrill as Secretary of State, John McMillan as State Treasurer, Rick Pate as … Continued
February 27, 2019