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ALEA having difficulty hiring qualified State Troopers

Wednesday, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency presented their 2020 budget request to a joint meeting of the Legislature’s budget committees. ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said that hiring more officers is his primary goal. Taylor said that finding qualified candidates who can pass the drug testing and screening process has become difficult. Taylor said he planned … Continued

February 4, 2019

Economic developers want to expand ethics law exemptions

The Alabama Code of Ethics Clarification and Reform Commission met in Montgomery for a public hearing on proposed “reforms” to the Alabama Ethics Law Tuesday. Many people in the economic development community were present to express their support for efforts to reform the state ethics law. They supported pending legislation to protect economic developers and … Continued

February 1, 2019

Corrections asks for $42 million budget increase

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn presented the ADOC fiscal year 2020 budget request to an Alabama joint House and Senate budget committee meeting in Montgomery. “The Department of Corrections is undergoing unprecedented change,” Dunn said. The ADOC is, “Transforming the department into the most respected and trusted law enforcement agency in the state.” … Continued

January 31, 2019

Department of Education makes budget request

Alabama Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey addressed the budget committees Tuesday for both the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate. Mackey appeared to be asking for more funds for almost every area. “There is nothing more important that we can do beyond getting the best prepared five year old that we can,” Mackey said of … Continued

January 30, 2019

Zeigler releases plan to better fund roads without a fuel tax increase

Monday, Alabama State Auditor and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Zeigler released a plan to fund Alabama’s road and infrastructure needs without raising fuel taxes on Alabama motorists. Zeigler calls his proposal “Plan Z,” which he said stands for “zero tax increases and zero congestion on our roads.” “Plan Z can provide about $900 million in … Continued

January 29, 2019

McCutcheon hopes road bill will be issue No. 1 in session

Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, told reporters that he is working on an infrastructure bill. “The work that is being done is between myself, the pro-tem (Del Marsh) and the governor (Kay Ivey). Gov. Kay Ivey promised roads that would be “the envy of the nation” in her inauguration speech. … Continued

January 21, 2019

Lieutenant governor picks deputy chief of staff

The lieutenant governor has selected his deputy chief of staff. Jess Skaggs, a former Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries administrator, will be Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth’s deputy chief of staff, his office said Thursday. “As lieutenant governor, I plan for my office to be the most active and engaged in Alabama’s history, and Jess … Continued

January 18, 2019

Sen. Cam Ward will again chair the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee

The senator largely responsible for rewriting many of Alabama’s antiquated sentencing laws and who has led an effort to reform Alabama’s prisons will again chair the Alabama Senate’s Judiciary Committee. Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, was selected to chair the powerful committee responsible for oversight of Alabama’s criminal justice system. Ward, who has served in the … Continued

January 17, 2019

McCutcheon announces standing committee assignments for 2019–2022 legislative term

The Alabama House of Representatives released committee assignments to the public this week. Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, R – Monrovia, made a statement regarding the member assignments for the 25 House standing committees. “Most of the hard, complex, and important work of vetting and amending the measures that come before the House is … Continued

January 17, 2019

Ainsworth pushes better education, more ethical government in inaugural speech

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth focused on education, job creation and ethics in government in his inaugural speech after being sworn in Monday in Montgomery. Ainsworth took the oath of office Monday during the inaugural festivities. Gov. Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall and other statewide elected officials also took their oaths Monday. On the steps … Continued

January 15, 2019