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If we’re indicting people who fail to protect children, Republican lawmakers should be terrified

I would like to report a whole bunch of crimes.  Murders, actually. Hundreds of murders.  I want every Republican legislator, at least the last two Republican governors and a handful of Democrats charged with killing a whole bunch of babies. Babies that they had a responsibility to care for.  Following the indictment of Marshae Jones … Continued
June 27, 2019

Whose side is ADEM on?

Imagine this scenario: A thief calls the local police and tells them that he’s been stealing from local homes and businesses, and that he plans to steal more. He tells the cops when and where he’s been stealing, and when and where he plans on stealing from in the future. And the cops tell him … Continued
June 20, 2019

ADOC wants contract with communications company at center of multiple lawsuits, complaints

UPDATE: A Securus representative reached out to APR to share updates on two key issues related to the story. First, Securus, after a number of complaints and bad publicity, no longer offers location-based tracking services. Secondly, the company also doesn’t have any control over whether prisons elect to discontinue in-person family visits with inmates. It … Continued
May 2, 2019

Reps. Merika Coleman, Terri Collins introduce legislation aimed at fighting human trafficking

Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, introduced four bills aimed at fighting human trafficking on Wednesday in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Three of the bills passed unanimously through the committee. One, HB260, will receive a public hearing and will be voted on next week. “Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal … Continued
April 26, 2019

The bill that would have killed Alabama ethics laws is dead

The worst bill this legislative session (so far) is dead. Sen. Greg Albritton’s rewrite of state ethics laws — which all but eliminated ethics laws — will apparently never leave the Senate Judiciary Committee, chairman Cam Ward said Wednesday afternoon. “It’s dead in my committee,” Ward told APR. It was an odd turn of events … Continued
April 11, 2019

New ethics law: A brief analysis

An initial analysis of Senate Bill 230, which repeals and replaces sections of the Alabama Ethics Act as adopted in the 2010 special legislative session, finds that it makes two radical changes. First, it removes the section of code that governs using a public office for personal gain, and secondly, it essentially turns the Alabama … Continued
April 8, 2019

House passes safe harbor for economic developers bill

Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed HB 289, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton. The bill protects economic developers from having to register as lobbyists. HB289 is similar in some respects to last year’s HB317, which passed last year but has a sunset provision that it expires this month. HB289 has no sunset provision. … Continued
April 5, 2019

Former Jefferson County DA said he didn’t pursue indictments against Trump’s EPA administrator or associate

When Scott Phillips and Trey Glenn were charged with multiple counts of violating Alabama’s Ethics Act, it was reported that then-Jefferson County District Attorney Mike Anderton had asked the Alabama Ethics Commission to help him bring the case against the two men. However, in a sworn statement given on Feb. 9, 2019, Anderton said it … Continued
February 18, 2019

Send Mike Hubbard to jail

It is often repeated that we are a nation of laws and not men. We are also told that the law trumps politics. Both of these statements are mere platitudes that most often only comfort those who indulge in the shameful practice of rank partisan power politics. Such bromides might sooth the conscience of those … Continued
February 14, 2019

The secret to avoiding lobbying laws in Alabama

Attention, lobbyists: Stop registering as lobbyists. Look, I know you guys don’t need more money — and Lord knows you don’t need any additional breaks from the people who are supposed to be policing you — but I’m here with a little piece of advice that could provide you with more of both, money and … Continued
February 14, 2019