Alabama Legislature

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Last opponent Cecil Murphy endorses Dial for Republican ag commissioner runoff

Republican Agriculture Commissioner candidate Sen. Gerald Dial has now received endorsements from two of his former opponents. Republican candidate Cecil Murphy who carried 77,000 votes in the June 5 primary election for Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries on Monday endorsed his former rival. Dial will face Lowndesboro Mayor Rick Pate in the Republican primary runoff … Continued

July 10, 2018

Opinion

Groups, initiatives align under AlabamaWorks! success plus

Alabama is moving quickly in developing a trained workforce that meets the needs of business, with major changes in recent years in how our workforce development system operates. The process began four years ago when the Alabama Workforce Council recommended a re-alignment of our workforce programs. The Alabama Legislature responded by passing legislation to make … Continued

Ed Castile

July 10, 2018

Opinion

Birmingham superfund scam extends well beyond federal courtroom

A scam took place in Birmingham. It involved an EPA superfund site. It involved political corruption. It involved poor, mostly black people getting the absolute shaft by the people who swore oaths to protect them. No, this scam isn’t part of the ongoing Oliver Robinson federal corruption trial. It is very specifically not part of … Continued

Josh Moon

July 5, 2018

Opinion

Elect women to change the conversation

Many years ago, back in the last century, I was writing editorials in Alabama supporting a program known as Children First. There was plenty of opposition. But Children First eventually passed, and while the ultimate credit goes to the Alabama Legislature, many good women led the effort for our state to do better by its … Continued

Joey Kennedy

June 28, 2018

Opinion

The BCA mess isn’t difficult to unravel

It’s been a rough week for the Business Council of Alabama. The top lobbyist group in the state has been decimated by big-name defections. It started with Alabama Power and PowerSouth. Then Regions Bank. Then Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. And now Protective Life Insurance. And there are strong rumors that Drummond Coal and … Continued

Josh Moon

June 22, 2018

Opinion

We could do worse than John Merrill

I’m going to do something that my progressive friends will mostly not like. I’m going to say nice things about Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill. I know. I know. But hear me out. Because part of the reason that I’m doing this is I believe politics at every level has devolved into such a … Continued

Josh Moon

June 18, 2018

Opinion

Letter to the Editor on FCPA and the Ethics Commission

In the 2015 Alabama Legislative Session, the Legislature passed legislation that required all county candidates and political action committees running for public office to file campaign finance reports with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office. The 2015 legislation did not change the requirement for all state candidates to file with the Alabama Secretary of State’s … Continued

John Merrill

June 13, 2018

Opinion

Ed Henry was the latest victim of Republican greed problem

Another Alabama Republican has been indicted. Another Alabama Republican was caught (allegedly) enriching himself at the expense of taxpayers. Another Alabama Republican who spent his days in the Legislature harping about personal responsibility, bemoaning the moochers who dare utilize America’s social services and looking down on the no-good citizens who had the gall to be … Continued

Josh Moon

June 8, 2018

Ethics Commission again rewrites campaign finance laws

Ignorance of the law is no defense, unless you happen to be a person who makes the laws. The Alabama Ethics Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to — for the third time — wipe away the fees levied against politicians, donors and political action committees who violated campaign finance laws by filing reports late. In … Continued

Josh Moon

June 7, 2018

Opinion

Inside the Statehouse: Buck’s pocket

You voted Tuesday on a crowded ballot. Historically, in Alabama we have voted more heavily in our Governor’s race year than in a presidential year. That is probably because we were more interested in the local sheriff and probate judge’s races, which run in a gubernatorial year, than who is president. The old adage, “all politics is … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 6, 2018