Skip to content

Bill Newton

Tankersley Exit Interview: Final 

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter “Somebody should do something.” After nearly five years of being rebuffed for his common-sense stance on the Ethics Commission, Dr. Stewart Hill Tankersley is doing something significant: Exposing institutional corruption and the particular failings of the Commission, sworn to hold every public official to the letter of the law. … Continued
August 7, 2017

Do words have meaning? A closer look at Subsection (g)

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Subsection (g) of Section 36-25-13 of the Code of Alabama 1975, is often overlooked because, on its face, this portion of the Alabama Ethics Code seems pretty straightforward (if you are not a lawyer looking to help your client find an exception to the two-year revolving door provision of … Continued
July 12, 2017

Former Acting Finance Director wants an exception

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Former Acting Finance Director Bill Newton intends to open a consulting business. So, he asked the Alabama Ethics Commission to grant him permission to use his years in government service as leverage to provide professional services/advice, request information from public officials/employees, to aid his potential clients, all the while … Continued
June 8, 2017

Gov. Ivey’s Legal Advisor’s State filings lists, debt, income, and more

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter After taking the oath of office to become the 54th Governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey said, “The Ivey administration will be open, transparent, and honest.” Gov. Ivey’s top Legal Advisor, Bryan Taylor, listed his total personal indebtedness for 2015, between $600,000 and $850,000. His salary was around $145,000, with … Continued
May 2, 2017

More bailing on failed software

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter For over a year, Governor Robert Bentley repeatedly received warnings concerning the many technological and systematic failures under the leadership of Acting Finance Director, Bill Newton, and his assistant, Rex McDowell. The time and attendance management system eSTART is just one of several software solutions to fail so badly; … Continued
November 15, 2016

Hearing Wednesday in Zeigler’s challenge to Bentley’s $47 million STAARS software

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, September 21, a hearing will be held in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Robert Bentley’s (R) controversial $47 million no-bid contract for the purchase of the ,much maligned STAARS software. State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) filed suit alleging that the massive no-bid contract violates Alabama’s bid laws and the … Continued
September 21, 2016

Carter Returns to Finance in Troubling Times

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Former Deputy State Finance Director, Clinton Carter, is returning to the government service to advise on revenue and financial policy.  According to sources in Governor Robert Bentley’s inner circle, and those with close ties to Finance, Carter is being groomed to replace Acting Finances Director, Bill Newton. Reliable insiders … Continued
August 29, 2016

Attorney General’s Opinion Decides Round One in Technology Turf War

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—An Attorney General’s Opinion issued July 29, confirms the State Personnel Board (SPB) and the State Personnel Department (SPD) have the specific authority to “promulgate the manner by which State agencies are to maintain time and leave records.” The legal definition of promulgating means, “to formally proclaim or declare … Continued
August 3, 2016

Lawsuit Filed Over STAARS

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—A lawsuit was filed late Thursday night in Montgomery Circuit Court, over the $47 million dollar black hole known as STAARS. At the heart of the complaint is the no-bid contract entered into by Governor Robert Bentley and the State Department of Finance. The suit brought by State Auditor … Continued
July 22, 2016

Is eSTART the New STAARS?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Even though the shoddily implemented STAARS accounting software is still causing major headaches for agencies and vendors, the Department of Finances is doubling down on a troubled new time and attendance system named eSTART. All agencies, major and minor, are reporting unanimously: eSTART doesn’t lives up to the hype. … Continued
July 19, 2016