Stealing the Statehouse

By Beth Clayton Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY–A newsletter went out Thursday announcing that Jason Isbell will be leaving the office of the Speaker of the House sometime mid-September. The newsletter, sent by the Alabama Bankers Association, announced that Isbell will be joining ABA as the Vice President of Legislative and Governmental Affairs. Isbell currently serves … Continued

By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—On the same day the Clerk of the House certified a bill that would allow for what may become the largest tax increase in the history of the city of Auburn, Auburn Network, owned by Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, received a contract giving his company exclusive rights to … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard is in deep trouble. His Storming the Statehouse political action committee—named after his vanity tome—raised only $1000 in July. Hubbard’s Network PAC which was his big fundraising vehicle in 2010, didn’t raise a dime. In June, Hubbard arrogantly proclaim he had $10 million … Continued

By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Storming the Statehouse PAC, led by Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, raked in only $1000 in campaign contributions for the month of July. Not exactly in line with the promised $10 million he told Young Republicans he had raised back in June. According the the most recent filing with … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Political Reporter has obtained an email from Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) sent to fellow republican senate members, telling them to “get started earlier as opposed to later” on their campaign fundraising; but only from local donors. This letter, and similar communications, has senators privately grumbling over … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—In late June, Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard told Young Republicans gathered in Birmingham that he had raised $10 million to protect GOP incumbents in the 2014 primaries. Mandatory June campaign filings show that Hubbard doesn’t have even a fraction of this amount in his possession. In … Continued

By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Speaker Mike Hubbard cast repeated votes in favor of House versions of a bill giving exclusive rights to manage Alabama’s Medicaid prescription drug purchasing to a company that employs Hubbard under a lucrative public relations contract. In a series of eleven YES votes cast on April 23rd on state House … Continued

By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter Alabama Ethics Commission Director James L. Sumner approved a lucrative contract between House Speaker Mike Hubbard and a company seeking favorable Medicaid legislation, even though Sumner never saw the contract and relied entirely on Hubbard’s verbal characterization of the business arrangement. According to Sumner, Hubbard informed him after-the-fact of a … Continued

By Bill BrittAlabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Political pressure and Attorney General Luther Strange’s campaign connections to Speaker Mike Hubbard have not slowed down a Special Grand Jury investigation into potentially corrupt business deals involving Hubbard’s media companies. “The political pressure surrounding this case is enormous…Imagine the calls the AG has gotten.” This, according to one District Attorney familiar … Continued