Chip Brownlee

News

Senate approves 3 percent pay raise for state employees

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Many state employees may soon receive a cost-of-living pay raise if a bill passed by the Senate Tuesday is approved by the House and signed by the Governor. The bill, which received a vote of 28-1 in the Alabama Senate this week, would provide all state employees working for … Continued

February 28, 2018

Senator says Ten Commandments in public schools could potentially prevent school shootings

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate on Tuesday approved a bill by Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, that would authorize a state referendum on whether to allow the display of the Ten Commandments on public property and public schools — a proposal he says may prevent some mass shootings. The bill passed the … Continued

February 28, 2018

Alabama Senate OKs one-time bonuses for retired educators, state employees

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate cleared a bill Tuesday that would give most retired state employees and retired educators a small one-time bonus. The two bills to authorize the bonuses, the size of which will depend on how long the employee or teacher worked with the state, slid through the Senate … Continued

February 28, 2018

Schools Transportation Association fears Senate bill might lead to aging school bus fleets

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter A bill passed in the Alabama Senate and awaiting action in the House Ways and Means Education Committee could reduce the amount of state funding school systems could receive to offset the costs of new school buses, the Alabama Schools Transportation Association has warned. Local school systems under current … Continued

February 28, 2018

Roy Moore endorses right-wing candidate in Missouri Senate race

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is wading back into the political waters — this time to support an anti-feminist candidate in Missouri’s Senate election who has called women’s rights advocates “career-obsessed banshees” and “she-devils.” On Monday, Moore endorsed right-wing Republican Senate candidate Courtland Sykes, a populist newcomer to … Continued

February 27, 2018

Bobby Bright to defend his GOP candidacy after challenges

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, now a Republican candidate for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, plans to defend his candidacy at an ALGOP meeting on Saturday after facing ballot access challenges accusing him of opportunistically switching parties. Two complaints were recently filed against him, Bright says. One of those complaints … Continued

February 23, 2018

Senate moves to make Alabama first to offer nitrogen executions to condemned inmates

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter A bill passed Thursday in the Alabama Senate would mark a new evolution in the history of the death penalty in Alabama. The state may soon add a third, untested option for death-row inmates deciding how they want their lives taken from them: a gas mask or gas chamber … Continued

February 23, 2018

Senate passes $2 billion General Fund but skips over employee pay raises for now

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Senators approved a $2 billion General Fund Budget, the largest in about a decade, but delayed voting Tuesday on the 3 percent pay raise for state employees Gov. Kay Ivey proposed earlier this year. The Senate voted 26 to 2 to pass the budget that will fund all of Alabama’s … Continued

February 21, 2018

Committee OKs bill to block state funds from being used in sexual harassment, assault cases

A bill passed unanimously out of an Alabama Senate committee Tuesday would block state funding from being used to pay for sexual harassment or assault claims against state employees and public officials. If the bill passes, those officials would have to pay out of their own wallets to settle any sexual harassment, misconduct or assault … Continued

February 21, 2018

Openly gay Marine Corps veteran hopes to fill Patricia Todd’s Alabama House seat

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Neil Rafferty spent years in the U.S. Marine Corps supporting the Global War on Terrorism. He describes himself as dedicated to public service and community health. And the Birmingham native — who also happens to be openly gay — is hoping to bring that dedication to Montgomery next year. … Continued

February 21, 2018