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Alabama Political Reporter

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A Brief Comparison of Medicaid Services in Four Southern States

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Alabama lawmakers often hear that the State’s Medicaid program only provides the most basic services to its people. Comparing the most recent data on Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee, collected by The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation for FYI 2012, three of these southern states are similar in their … Continued
September 20, 2016

Medicaid Announces Delay in RCO Implementation

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Even after a lengthy Special Session dedicated to finding funds for Gov. Robert Bentley’s experimental Medicaid Regional Care Organizations, Alabama’s Medicaid Agency announced last week it has requested a delay in the implementation of the RCO plan. The Alabama Medicaid Agency officials, in a news release on their website, … Continued
September 20, 2016

Who Has the Moral Authority to Lead Ethics Reform?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Even before former Speaker Mike Hubbard’s conviction on 12 counts of public corruption, due to criminal ethics violations, his minions were spinning a narrative that the laws, under which he was indicted, were hastily prepared and passed without question (merely a deceptive plan to cast doubt on his indictment). … Continued
September 19, 2016

Budget Task Force Leaders Committed to Reform, But Can It Be Achieved?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Tackling budget reform is priority one, according to Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia). Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) called for reforms and voiced his commitment during the recent Special Legislative Session. During this Session, McCutcheon sponsored and passed JHR62, which establishes a task force with … Continued
September 16, 2016

Hubbard’s Lee County Trial Finally Ends in Silence

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The post-trial appeal of convicted felon and former Speaker of the House, Mike Hubbard, finally expired on September 8, in silence, according to the Attorney General’s office calculations. For almost four years, Hubbard, aided by his criminal lawyers, used the State House, the Governor’s Office and some within the … Continued
September 14, 2016

Victoryland Reopens With Blowout Attendance

By Susan Britt Alabama Political Reporter SHORTER—Starting before noon on Tuesday, people were lining up, along with the traffic, around Victoryland in Macon County, for its “Grand” reopening at 2:00 pm. People poured through the doors and flooded the lobby, as they all rushed to get their chance to gamble at Victoryland, again. At a … Continued
September 14, 2016

CARES: Ripe for Fraud and Identity Theft

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Due to gross mismanagement of the CARES system, not only are Alabama’s most needy citizens in danger of identity theft, but the system’s many failures also open a gaping door to unchecked, fraudulent claims for CHIPs and Medicaid. After publication of APR’s article, “CARES: A Massive Technology Failure Costing … Continued
September 13, 2016

Britt Puts Another Crack in the Glass Ceiling as Chief of Staff

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—At a time when Democrats are trumpeting the cracks made in the glass ceiling separating women from the highest positions in government, Alabama’s Republican Senior Senator Richard Shelby, quietly opened a new fissure by hiring Katie Boyd Britt as his new Chief of Staff. “Katie is a talented and … Continued
September 13, 2016

CARES: A Massive Technology Failure Costing Taxpayers Tens of Millions

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Under the banner of “streamlining government,” Governor Robert Bentley issued Executive Order 44 on June 30, 2014. EO44 combined various agencies into one software system to administer and enroll individuals, in state and federal benefit programs such as, Medicaid, children’s services, public health and senior programs. After two years, … Continued
September 12, 2016

Lovvorn’s Consultant Linked to Hubbard’s Machine

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The Republican primary to elect a replacement for disgraced lawmaker and convicted felon Rep. Mike Hubbard will be held on Tuesday. Jay Conner, Joe Lovvorn, Sandy Toomer and Brett Smith are all in the running to represent District 79, but parts of the former Hubbard machine are pushing Lovvorn … Continued
September 12, 2016