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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].

There’s very little difference 

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers You know the results of Tuesday’s primaries for our U.S. Senate seat.  I had to go to press before the vote.  However, the assumption was that there would be a runoff in the Republican primary.  It is safe to say that the winner of that runoff on September 26 … Continued
August 16, 2017

It’s looking a lot like Moore vs. Strange

By Steve Flowers Inside the State House Folks we are getting down to the proverbial lick log in the much-anticipated vote for the open U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions. After 20 years in the U.S. Senate as our junior U.S. Senator, Sessions left to become Donald Trump’s Attorney General. He probably regrets this … Continued
August 9, 2017

It’s not complicated

By Steve Flowers Inside the State House There is a proven theory espoused by political scholars that has prevailed in southern political history for decades. The premier political scholar, Dr. V. O. Key, first illustrated this repetitious theme that has weaved its way through the southern electorate. He called it “Friends and Neighbors” politics. It … Continued
August 2, 2017

What happened to BCA

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers During my tenure in the legislature in the 1980’s and 1990’s, political party affiliation was not as pronounced as it is today. We were identified within the Montgomery/Capitol arena as either a conservative pro-business legislator or a liberal pro-union/pro-trial lawyer legislator. Similar to when someone new arrives in Alabama … Continued
July 26, 2017

Down the homestretch in US Senate race

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers As the horse race for our open US Senate seat heads down the stretch, let’s look at the lay of the land. All indications are that Roy Moore and Luther Strange are headed for a one-two finish on August 15 and ultimately a runoff on September 26. The winner … Continued
July 19, 2017

Sprint to the primary

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers The race for our open U.S. Senate seat is evolving. Folks, we are in a brief 33-day sprint to the primary on August 15. The winner of the Republican Primary will be our next junior U.S. Senator. The December 12 General Election will be a coronation for the Republican. … Continued
July 12, 2017

Off to an eventful start

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers As we take a mid-year look at Alabama politics, it has been an eventful first half of the year. It is not every year that a governor resigns mid-term. Governor Robert Bentley’s resignation from office on April 10 will more than likely be the most newsworthy story of the … Continued
July 5, 2017

Landslide Luther?

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers In Alabama politics many times appointments to political offices filled by an acting governor have an adverse effect on that appointee if and when they seek election to that office for a full term. Every time George Wallace appointed someone to a political post, even in the prime of … Continued
June 28, 2017

One for the record books

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers The much-anticipated 2018 election contests have been pushed back by about three months due to the unanticipated race for Jeff Sessions’ senate seat. This ongoing contest will occupy the news through late September. It was previously thought that June 6 would be the opening bell since fundraising for next … Continued
June 22, 2017

Governor’s race shaped by unforeseen forces

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers Those of us who follow Alabama politics had circled June 6, 2017 as the beginning of the 2018 governor’s race. However, we did not foresee Donald Trump’s election as President in November and the subsequent appointment of our U.S. Senator, Jeff Sessions, as his Attorney General, thus, opening a … Continued
June 14, 2017