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1901 Constitution

Inside the Statehouse: Races to watch

Our antiquated 1901 Constitution was designed to give inordinate power to the Legislature. During the Wallace years, the King of Alabama politics, George Wallace, usurped this power and controlled the Legislature from the Executive Branch of Government. Over the last couple of decades the Legislature has wrestled this power back and pretty much excluded the Governor from … Continued
April 18, 2018

Attorney General “commutes” death sentence without authority to do so

According to lawyers for convicted murderer and death row inmate Doyle Lee Hamm, he and the state of Alabama entered into a “confidential settlement agreement…preventing any further execution attempts” by the state on March 26. The offices of Attorney General Steve Marshall handled the arrangements for Hamm’s settlement. However, there is no provision in state … Continued
April 2, 2018

Executive Order prohibits taxpayer funded lobbyists

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter After Governor Ivey signed Executive Order 706 on July 13, preventing all officials of the executive branch from appointing a registered lobbyist to any related agency, The Alabama Political Reporter asked the Ivey Administration about Governor Fob James’ Executive Order forbidding any State entity from hiring lobbyists. Governor James, … Continued
August 28, 2017

Does the State know best?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In a complex world where the government continues to play an increasingly larger role in the lives of its citizens, it is often necessary to step back and ask: when is it appropriate for the government to limit individual liberty? The latest fight over decriminalizing midwifery is an example … Continued
March 7, 2017

Dunn hopes Legislature is not just going through the motions on Impeachment

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter While Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) continues to push his ambitious $800 million prison building on credit scheme, most of the talk in the Montgomery Statehouse continues to center around whether or not the House of Representatives will impeach the Governor. No Alabama Governor has been impeached under the … Continued
February 28, 2017

The shadowy autocracy of the JIC, the State Supreme Court and the legal elites

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Two State Senators are offering constitutional amendments that would rein in the Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) and the Court of the Judiciary (COJ). The JIC was created to investigate, receive, initiate complaints leveled against sitting judges, and the COJ was formed to hear cases that the JIC felt needed … Continued
November 29, 2016

Thompson Praises House Passage of Bill Merging Auditor and Dept of Examiners of Public Accounts

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Adam Thompson, a Republican candidate for State Auditor, issued a statement applauding the passage of House Bill 350 by the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday. HB350 is sponsored by Representative Ed Henry (R) from Hartselle.  If passed HB 350 will place the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts … Continued
March 17, 2014

Commission continues work on rewriting 1901 Constitution

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The commission to rewrite Alabama’s 1901 Constitution is at steady work toward an uncertain end because voters will have the ultimate say. On Monday, December 3, 2012, the commission will reconvene to continue its work on constitutional reform. In the next legislative session, the commission led by former Governor … Continued
December 3, 2012

AEA Calls Amendment Four: “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” Senator Ward Says AEAs Fears are Not Based in Fact

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Education Association is asking voters to vote “NO” on a measure that is ostensibly designed to remove racist language from Alabama’s 1901 Constitution.    The AEA is saying that removing that language from the Constitution would weaken or eliminate the state of Alabama’s commitment to provide a … Continued
October 15, 2012