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Common Core is a failed, Obama-era relic that must come to a quick and immediate end

Alabama took a strong step toward independence in its public schools this week when the State Senate approved legislation to repeal the Obama-era curriculum mandates known by most as Common Core. Everyone agrees that Alabama needs strict academic standards that our children must meet. It is vital to economic development, it is vital to our … Continued
March 22, 2019

Sources: More ‘tribe-friendly’ gambling bill on the way

On Wednesday, numerous lawmakers told APR that they had been informed by lobbyists working for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians that Senate President Del Marsh was expected to sponsor a “more tribe-friendly” gambling bill after meeting with PCI leaders. That bill would counter one offered on Tuesday by Sen. Jim McClendon. Oddly, Marsh is … Continued
March 21, 2019

Committee approves bill to repeal Alabama’s Common Core standards

Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh introduced a bill, SB119, into legislative committee on Wednesday that would indefinitely repeal Common Core standards and all of its practices in Alabama public schools. Common Core, also known by its state version, Alabama College- and Career-Ready Standards, has been a point of controversy among legislators and educators since … Continued
March 21, 2019

A mother fights for hands free legislation

Wednesday, Michelle Lunsford was at the Alabama Statehouse to urge legislators to pass legislation that would make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a cell phone in your hands. “On February 22, 2018, my daughter, Camryn Callaway, was driving on I-65,” Mrs. Lunsford told the Alabama Political Reporter. “She was on her phone … Continued
March 21, 2019

Ivey submits $7.1 billion education budget, $2.1 billion state general fund budget

Wednesday, state Finance Director Kelly Butler briefed the Alabama Capital Press Corps on the state budgets. The economy has been doing really well and this means that Gov. Kay Ivey is anticipating substantially larger state revenues in the coming fiscal year. The legislature passes two budgets each year. One is for schools, the Education Trust … Continued
March 21, 2019

Sewell to meet with state legislators on healthcare

Congresswoman Terri Sewell, D-Selma will meet with state legislators and health care stakeholders in Montgomery Wednesday about making health care more affordable and innovative in Alabama. Sewell is hosting a bipartisan group of state legislators and health care stakeholders to discuss ways to shore up rural hospitals, improve health care affordability, access and quality and … Continued
March 20, 2019

Lottery constitutional amendment, enabling legislation filed

A constitutional amendment filed Tuesday morning by State Sen. Jim McClendon, if approved by the Legislature, will allow for the people to vote on a statewide lottery by this time next year. Polling data from multiple reputable sources finds that an overwhelming majority of voters wants an opportunity to vote yes or no on the … Continued
March 19, 2019

Passing gambling legislation should be easy

Don’t screw this up. Gambling legislation is coming — again — during this legislative session, and the decisions should be so easy, so clear for our lawmakers that they only have to worry about one thing. Don’t screw it up. Don’t overthink it. (Which has rarely been a problem for us.) This is so easy … Continued
March 19, 2019

McClendon to introduce lottery legislation

State Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, has announced that he will release the details of his lottery bill at a press conference today. The 2019 Alabama regular legislative session resumes today after it was interrupted by Gov. Kay Ivey’s call of a special session to pass her gas tax increase to pay for infrastructure. That passed … Continued
March 19, 2019