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Dax Swatek

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Lovvorn’s Consultant Linked to Hubbard’s Machine

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The Republican primary to elect a replacement for disgraced lawmaker and convicted felon Rep. Mike Hubbard will be held on Tuesday. Jay Conner, Joe Lovvorn, Sandy Toomer and Brett Smith are all in the running to represent District 79, but parts of the former Hubbard machine are pushing Lovvorn … Continued
September 12, 2016

Ethics Commission Inserts Itself in Superintendent Selection, As Do Others

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Selecting the next State Superintendent of the Department of Education is playing out with Machiavellian intrigue, as an ethics complaint filed against Dr. Craig Pouncey, a candidate for superintendent, emerged to cloud the proceedings. Allegations made anonymously include falsifying authorship of his Doctoral Dissertation and a wide-range of conspiracies. … Continued
August 9, 2016

Contract Review Thursday

By Susan Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Alabama’s Medicaid agency is asking contract review to approve a $1,199,750.00 increase with Optumas an Arizona-based health care reform consulting group. The contract would total $3,199,250.00. Optumas reform proposals in 2013 led to 23 words which would have given American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc. (APCI) a monopoly over Alabama’s Medicaid pharmacy … Continued
August 3, 2016

Bentley, Canary, Riley Plan to Control Education’s Future

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—In June, Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) emailed members of the State Board of Education to encourage them to keep interim Superintendent Philip Cleveland, “a few more months to work on efficiency and effectiveness of the department and the programs.” But what Collins calls “efficiency and effectiveness of the department … Continued
July 5, 2016

Hubbard Trial Day Seven: Only The Jury Knows

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter OPELIKA—On Day seven of the Speaker Mike Hubbard criminal public corruption trail, we heard testimony from Bobby Abrams, Rob Burton, and Jimmy Rane. Abrams, who owns the company Capitol Cups, paid Hubbard $10,000 a month ostensibly to sell cups. Abrams admitted that if Hubbard had secured the letter for … Continued
June 3, 2016

Hubbard Trial Day Six: “Not no, but Hell No!”

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter OPELIKA—Day six of the Mike Hubbard trial, who is charged with 23 counts of felony corruption, began with a whimper, then exploded, and by mid-day it looked as if at least one more person might be going to jail. Yesterday’s witnesses were: Governor Robert Bentley, Kate Grant, Dax Swatek, … Continued
June 2, 2016

Who are the Players for Day Five?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Today begins the fifth day in the felony criminal trial against Speaker Mike Hubbard, who is charged with 23 counts of public corruption. The State, on Friday, released the names of twelve witnesses who will give testimony on a range of topics including Hubbard’s role in placing 23 words … Continued
May 31, 2016

US Attorney Says Request For Investigation Into Hubbard Case is a State Issue

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—In a brief, but thorough press conference, US Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, George L. Beck Jr., said, the request by a handful of House members, who called for a federal investigation of Attorney General Luther Strange, Deputy Attorney General Matt Hart, and the actions of attorney … Continued
February 22, 2016

Hubbard’s Scheme to Enrich Himself Was Aided Primarily by Former Gov. Riley

  By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Mere months after passing the self-proclaimed toughest ethics laws in the nation, it appears that Speaker Mike Hubbard colluded with former Governor Bob Riley to circumvent those very laws. This, according to the State’s response to Hubbard’s request to have the 23 felony charges against him dismissed on … Continued
September 23, 2015

Bentley Bows to “Obentley” Bashing Blogger

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—In a statewide email blast, Yellowhammer News announced, “Gov. Robert Bentley will join us this year for our inaugural Yellowhammer Power of Service event.” (Changed from Power and Influence)  Over the last month, Yellowhammer News has bashed Gov. Bentley by calling him a Democrat, a liberal and even giving … Continued
May 5, 2015