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Billing records show Balch attorneys played substantial role in state superintendent search, alleged smear campaign

Billing records obtained by the Alabama Political Reporter show that attorneys from the law firm Balch & Bingham were heavily involved in the Alabama State Department’s flawed superintendent search that landed Michael Sentance and was paid thousands of dollars to counsel and coach department lawyers and a state school board member. Those records, provided to … Continued
March 20, 2018

Gov. Ivey asks Pro Tem Marsh to press forward with controversial bill

Last week, economic development proposal, HB317, was left hanging while Republican Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh met with Gov. Kay Ivey to discuss the bill’s future. Bogged down in controversy, HB317 seeks to create a new class of individuals called economic development professionals who are exempt from state ethics laws. Currently, those who engage … Continued
March 20, 2018

AG, commerce secretary hide real problem with economic development bill

During a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the controversial economic development bill, HB317, not a soul present addressed the critical problem with the bill — the gaping loophole created by allowing individuals to work as part-time economic development professionals. Of course, the bill doesn’t use the words part-time. Instead, it calls this individual a “less … Continued
March 16, 2018

Collier v. Bentley: Former ALEA head says Bentley attorneys fishing for info in ongoing grand jury probe

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter The former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency believes attorneys for former Gov. Robert Bentley are trying to use a court proceeding to gain inside knowledge of an ongoing criminal investigation possibly involving Bentley, according to a court filing. The filing from Spencer Collier, the former ALEA secretary … Continued
February 23, 2018

Curious case of Rep. Micky Hammon continues

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter At the sentencing hearing for former Republican State Rep. Micky Hammon, U.S. Federal Judge Myron Thompson denied the government’s request that Hammon only receive probation for stealing over $50,000 from campaign contributions. Alabama Political Reporter has learned that Hammon’s troubles may not have ended with the federal prosecution’s slap … Continued
February 22, 2018

Prison healthcare contract could be a fool’s errand

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Whether through ignorance, graft or just an unwillingness to look past the second ripple in the pond, the state’s current plan to address the prison healthcare crisis is a boondoggle. That’s where the Alabama Department of Corrections is with its attempt to secure a new contractor to provide medical … Continued
February 19, 2018

Is HB317 a return to the orgy of greed and corruption? 

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter At least it seemed for a moment that the cancer eating away at Alabama’s state government was in remission. The rise of Gov. Kay Ivey and Speaker Mac McCutcheon after the removal of Gov. Robert Bentley and Speaker Mike Hubbard appeared to herald a new day in state politics. … Continued
February 6, 2018

A man of faith

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Walt Maddox has faith in Alabama voters. A lot of faith. So much faith that the Democratic mayor of Tuscaloosa will officially qualify on Friday to run for the governor of the state, believing that the voters of the state will overlook that “D” beside his name and cast … Continued
January 26, 2018

Commission for “Ethics Reform and Clarification” is pure fantasy

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter A Senate joint resolution creating The Code of Ethics Reform and Clarification Commission sponsored by Republican Senators Arthur Orr, President Pro Tem. Del Marsh and Majority Leader Greg Reed has been submitted to the Rules Committee and could be making it’s way through the Senate soon. Creating a commission … Continued
January 26, 2018

Alabama “corrupt?” Well, it does add up

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Hello, from one of the most corrupt states in the nation. That’s according to a variety of studies – Harvard University among them — on both illegal corruption and legal corruption. Like the University of Alabama in college football, the state Alabama is a national Top 10 in corruption; … Continued
January 25, 2018