Stealing the Statehouse

Hubbard Routinely Takes Action Favorable to His Biggest Donors

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY— A recent disclosure of top donors to a secretive money machine operated by Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) has revealed a troubling pattern of quid pro quo. The 2012, 990 IRS forms for the Alabama Republican House Conference—a supposed non-profit/non-partisan 501(c) (4)—show a pattern of activities, … Continued

March 17, 2014

Hubbard, Hammon and Love May Face IRS Problem

By Susan BrittAlabama Political Reporter See full 990 here. MONTGOMERY—On Wednesday, the 990s filed with the IRS from the Alabama House Republican Conference, Inc., were made public by the Center for Public Integrity revealing the foundation’s donors. The Center’s story focuses on the report showing that the AHRC received a $5,000 from the AEA in … Continued

March 13, 2014

A Cautionary Tale

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In the last few minutes of the 1977 Frost/Nixon interview, a very human moment occurred when Richard Nixon said, “I let down my friends, I let down the Country, I let down our system of Government….” If you have ever viewed the tapes and/or watched the film, Frost/Nixon, it … Continued

March 12, 2014

Rep. Barry Moore Receives Thousands in Taxpayer Dollars

By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—In his vanity publication Storming the State House, Mike Hubbard spends six pages recounting the recruitment of candidate Barry Moore and his “fireball” wife Heather, as he described her in the book. Moore, who is the State Representative for District 91, has been one of Hubbard’s most loyal followers since winning the … Continued

March 10, 2014

The Clock is Ticking for Hubbard’s Incumbent Protection Plan

By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—February was a good month for former Gov. Bob Riley’s Alabama 2014 PAC, bringing in a total of $152,832.66 in campaign contributions. It was a pretty good month for Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard who raised $16,150, for his personal campaign. But, once again, Hubbard’s premiere “incumbent protection” fund, Storming … Continued

March 5, 2014

They Want More

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In the 1948 classic film Key Largo, there is a poignant scene between James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. Cagney plays the mobster Johnny Rocco and Bogie plays a weary war veteran named Frank McCloud. They are joined in the scene by Lionel Barrymore who plays Key Largo Hotel owner … Continued

March 5, 2014

2006: Riley Gets Donation/Hubbard Gets Cash

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—In a February 2014 article at AL.com, John Archibald follows the money from a wealthy Chattanooga developer, into the campaign coffers of then, Gov. Bob Riley. The report shows that in 2006, Franklin L. Haney passed at least $130,000 to Riley from PACs controlled by lobbyist Clark Richardson. Archibald … Continued

February 25, 2014

Hubbard and the Millstone of Justice

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Over the last eighteen months or so, the Special White Collar Crimes Division of the State’s Attorney General’s Office has been conducting an investigation into the possible wrongdoings of Alabama’s Speaker of the House, and those surrounding him. This investigation is being led by Special White Collar Crimes Prosecutor … Continued

February 10, 2014

Speaker Urges Members to Arrive Early in Montgomery Where He Will be Waiting in His Limo

By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) is urging many members of the Alabama House of Representatives to come to Montgomery on Monday night. This is to avoid the severe winter weather that is predicted to effect much of the Northern and North Central part of the state. The email asking legislators to … Continued

February 10, 2014

Hubbard’s Fundraising Efforts Wounded by Scandal

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Last year, Speaker of the House told the Young Republicans that he had $10 million in campaign funds on hand as part of his “incumbent protection plan.” To date, Hubbard has raised very little money and certainly nothing approaching $10 million. So, Hubbard either misspoke or outright lied to the Young Republicans. According … Continued

February 4, 2014