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Alabama Legislature

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Ivey righted the ship of state; now it is time to steer it audaciously

When Gov. Kay Ivey took the helm as Alabama’s 54th Governor, she promised to steady the ship of state. Over the last 622 days, she kept that promise. Gov. Ivey is signaling that she wants to tackle systemic problems that have been bandaged or ignored by her predecessors. Aided by a competent staff, Ivey’s administration … Continued
December 24, 2018

Could leasing be the answer to new state prisons?

Some lawmakers expressed alarm when Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn revealed at a recent Contract Review meeting that the state was looking to spend $1 billion to build three new mega-prisons. Less than two years ago, the Legislature rejected a plan by then-Gov. Robert Bentley to spend approximately $850 million on four mega-prisons. Now … Continued
December 19, 2018

Ethics Commission will hear Marshall/RAGA case on Wednesday

The case of Steve Marshall and the $735,000 in illegal campaign contributions will finally be heard by the Alabama Ethics Commission on Wednesday. Former Alabama Attorney General Troy King told APR on Tuesday that he had received a notice from the Ethics Commission that afternoon notifying him that the complaint he filed against Marshall, the … Continued
December 19, 2018

Inside the Statehouse: very few white Democrats left in Legislature

The Republican tidal wave that swept Alabama’s statewide officeholders to landslide victories filtered down to legislative races. Even though our legislature really didn’t need to become any more conservative or Republican, it did anyway. We had a super majority Republican State House and Senate. We now have a super, super GOP majority. Republicans picked up … Continued
December 18, 2018

Department of Corrections hints at billion dollar prison plan

At the most recent Legislative Contract Review hearing, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn revealed that the state is planning to build three mega-style prisons at a cost of approximately $1 billion. Less than two years ago, the Legislature rejected a plan by then-Gov. Robert Bentley to spend approximately $850 million on four new … Continued
December 17, 2018

Alabama House Rural Caucus re-elects David Standridge as chairman

This week, the Alabama House Rural Caucus held an organizational session for the upcoming legislative quadrennium. After being nominated by House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, Representative David Standridge, R-Hayden, was unanimously re-elected to a second term as Chairman of the Rural Caucus. “I appreciate the support of Speaker McCutcheon and my fellow members of the … Continued
December 14, 2018

Alabama’s infrastructure: A municipal perspective

Alabamians use municipal infrastructure throughout the state to access jobs, schools, grocery stores, hospitals, parks, entertainment venues and church services – making infrastructure a significant and urgent quality of life issue. The state’s infrastructure needs are at a critical point, especially relative to their impact on our cities. Alabaster, a medium sized municipality, is struggling … Continued
December 11, 2018

Should Medicaid expansion be on the 2019 legislative agenda? Experts say it has to be

In Alabama, Republican politicians have ignored the question of Medicaid expansion or rejected it outright, refusing to bring the issue to the floor of the state Legislature, but an outgoing Republican senator and hospital officials are pushing for it to be on the 2019 legislative agenda. Voters appear to be on the side against expansion, … Continued
December 7, 2018

Inside the Statehouse: Further analysis of general election – winners and losers

Now that the dust has settled on this year’s elections, let’s look back at who are the big winners and losers of the year. The obvious winner in the Heart of Dixie is the Republican Party. The GOP retained the reins of the state’s highest office and every other statewide Constitutional position. Kay Ivey was … Continued
December 5, 2018

Marsh taps Derek Trotter as new chief of staff

Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh has chosen a new chief of staff. Marsh’s office announced Monday that he has chosen Derek Trotter, a government relations adviser to the Butler Snow law firm and former director of legislative affairs to former Gov. Robert Bentley, to be his new chief of staff. Trotter previously served as … Continued
December 4, 2018