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Chip Brownlee

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Bill to expand driver’s license office hours passes Senate committee

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A Senate bill that would expand hours of operation at many rural and largely minority driver’s license offices got a favorable report in committee Tuesday. SB90, sponsored by Sen. Hank Sanders (D-Selma), received a unanimous favorable report from the Senate Committee on Government Affairs and will now … Continued
March 1, 2017

AG declines to issue opinion on Bentley’s Senate Special Election

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Attorney General Steve Marshall has declined to issue an opinion on Gov. Robert Bentley’s Senate Special Election date — a request of State Auditor Jim Zeigler, an outspoken critic of the Governor. Earlier this month, Zeigler requested an Attorney General’s Opinion on Bentley’s Special Election schedule. Marshall … Continued
February 28, 2017

Democrats Rep. Merika Coleman is House Assistant Minority Leader

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday accepted the appointment of Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, as Assistant Minority Leader. “I am honored to serve the members of the caucus and the State in this role,” Coleman said. “To truly make progress for the people of Alabama, we must … Continued
February 24, 2017

Governor skirts the details on education budgets at Higher Ed Day rally

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Speaking to a crowd of college students gathered on the steps of the Alabama State House on Thursday, Gov. Robert Bentley promised to continue his support for higher education. “We have great universities in this State,” Bentley said. “Funding for universities has to be adequate. It’s never enough, … Continued
February 24, 2017

Bill to end judicial override in Alabama clears Senate

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A bill that would end Alabama’s judicial override sentencing system, which allows judges to override juries and impose the death penalty, passed the State Senate Thursday with a near-unanimous vote. Sen. Dick Brewbaker (R-Montgomery), sponsored the bill, which would prohibit a judge from overriding a jury’s sentence. Under … Continued
February 24, 2017

Senate passes broader tax credits for Alabama Accountability Act scholarships

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Senate has narrowly given the go-ahead to a bill that would double the tax credit cap for contributors to the Alabama Accountability Act’s private school scholarship program. The Senate approved the bill by President Pro Tempore Del Marsh (R-Anniston), which would increase the cap on income tax … Continued
February 24, 2017

Some legislators are considering an alternate route to impeach the governor

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Several Alabama lawmakers are considering an alternative route to get around the stalled House Judiciary Committee charged with investigating and recommending possible charges for impeachment against Gov. Robert Bentley. The plan, which could begin as early as next week, would bring articles of impeachment before the full House. At that point, a majority of … Continued
February 15, 2017

The next Attorney General: Who will Bentley pick for his own oversight?

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Newly appointed Senator Luther Strange’s departure for Washington on Thursday leaves a vacancy at the top of Alabama’s Attorney General’s Office, begging the question: Who will replace Strange, and what will he or she do about the investigation into Gov. Robert Bentley, if there ever was one? … Continued
February 10, 2017

Governor appoints Attorney General Luther Strange as Alabama’s next US senator

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Robert Bentley will appoint Attorney General Luther Strange as Alabama’s next US Senator. Strange’s appointment comes after the Senate confirmed Jeff Sessions as the next US Attorney General last night. Sessions, who served as a Senator for more than two decades, delivered his resignation to Bentley late … Continued
February 9, 2017

Prison reform takes the forefront in Bentley’s annual address

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Robert Bentley wasted no time during his annual address Tuesday night in placing his prison construction plan at the forefront of this year’s legislative agenda. Bentley told lawmakers, officials and judges gathered for the State of the State Address that Alabama’s prisoners are forced to live in … Continued
February 8, 2017