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Butch Ellis

Secretary Merrill: Ethics Commission undermined campaign finance law

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter The law doesn’t matter if you try harder not to break it the next time, according to the Alabama Ethics Commission. Earlier this week, the five-person commission voted 4-1 to dismiss fines levied by the Alabama Secretary of State’s office for the late filing of required campaign finance reports … Continued
December 6, 2017

Tankersley Exit Interview Part 2: No rules, no order

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter “Our State needs so much help. There is such a lack of confidence in our elected leaders. The Ethics Commission can help restore that lost confidence,” said Dr. Stewart Hill Tankersley in a recent interview with the Alabama Political Reporter. Tankersley Exit Interview Part 1: Success, collusion, and dismay … Continued
August 1, 2017

What’s the going rate?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter What are we to make of an Attorney General who takes campaign donations from a lawyer/lobbyist who would gut the State’s Ethics laws? In the political world, friends give campaign donations, but political action committees, lawyers, lobbyists, and businesses invest; and they expect a return on their investment. So, … Continued
July 27, 2017

Some are using a stalking horse to undermine ethics laws

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter The greatest challenge before the Alabama State Legislature when it returns in February is not the budget, schools or Medicaid. It is the slight of hand chicanery used to undermine the State’s ethics laws. Since the conviction of former Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard on 12 felony ethics … Continued
January 10, 2017

Ethics Commission withdraws McCalla opinion after charities line-up

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In a unanimous vote on September 1, 2016, the Alabama Ethics Commission issued advisory opinion 2016-24, which it believed clarified the question regarding public officials soliciting lobbyists and principals for contributions to a charitable organization, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The issue was raised by the nonprofit group, Friends … Continued
December 8, 2016