Author

Steve Flowers

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

Why Pick-on VictoryLand?

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Last week’s verdict that VictoryLand be allowed to reopen is justice served. The people of Macon County voted for a constitutional amendment to allow for electronic bingo. The issue of pari-mutuel style casino betting and the closing of the ultramodern and successful luxury gaming resort in Macon County has … Continued

Steve Flowers

July 2, 2015

Opinion

Facing Grim Reaper Budget

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Alabama is only one of a handful of states that work out of two budgets. We have a General Fund Budget and a separate Education Budget. Our General Fund is where the severe problem rests. The reason is that the General Fund gets none of the growth taxes so … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 24, 2015

Opinion

Everything on The Table

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The regular legislative session ended without a General Fund Budget. As we look back politically on the first half of the year, the dilemma with the General Fund has been the dominant issue. It has been at the forefront since the beginning of the year and it is not … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 17, 2015

Opinion

The Coming Train Wreck

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers As I was walking out of the Statehouse recently someone asked me, “Do you think we will have gambling in Alabama”. My response was simple. We already have gambling, the state just does not derive any revenue from it. Indeed gambling proliferates in our state just as it does … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 10, 2015

Opinion

Bentley Not Crying Wolf

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers We are in the final days of the first regular legislative session of the quadrennium. The session constitutionally has to end June 15. The governor and legislature are at a standoff. The financial dilemma in the State General Fund has not been addressed and the budgets are up in … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 3, 2015

Opinion

Prediction: Same sex marriage will be the law of the land

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers This has been an eventful year. Thousands of tourists have flocked to Alabama to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March for Civil and Voting Rights. The events that happened in Alabama spurred the enactment of the landmark acts that broke down the legal barriers prohibiting … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 27, 2015

Opinion

Prison Reform a Major Accomplishment

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The hallmark accomplishment of this year’s legislative session will be a comprehensive prison reform package. This legislation is the one long-term substantive issue tackled by the super majority Republican legislative body. This comprehensive prison project has been in the works for a while. A lot of research and planning … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 20, 2015

Opinion

Righting the Titanic

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers You would have to have been under a rock for the past six months to not have heard that the State General Fund has a shortfall and Gov. Robert Bentley has proposed a $540 million tax increase solution to resolve the problem. This crisis has been formulating for close … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 13, 2015

Opinion

Redistricting Case Cloud Over Session

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers There is an ominous cloud hanging over this legislative session. Last year the U.S. Supreme Court surprisingly agreed to hear a Hail Mary complaint filed by the black legislative caucus over the 2014 redistricting plan. In an even more surprising opinion, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 6, 2015

Opinion

Nice Guys Finish Last

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Recently, at a forum I was asked the question, “Which governor made a difference in Alabama politics?” The question caught me off guard because I really had not thought about that obvious inquiry. My knee-jerk reaction and answer to the insightful questioner was George Wallace and I gave a … Continued

Steve Flowers

April 29, 2015