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Del Marsh

News / State

Senate does not pass ETF after tensions with House

The Alabama Senate did not pass the Education Trust Fund and adjourn for the year on Wednesday after tensions between the House and Senate reached a boiling point. After surviving filibusters and delay tactics over the economic developer bill and the deer baiting bill, the Senate began to take up House bills that needed to … Continued
March 29, 2018

Senate delays vote on economic developer bill after negotiations

A controversial bill that would exempt a class of “economic development professionals” from having to register with the state as lobbyists appears to have made it through a round of intense negotiations and sits in a position to pass. Those negotiations, which took the better part of the weekend and most of Tuesday, produced a … Continued
March 28, 2018

Don’t look away just yet, HB317 is still around

House Bill 317, a controversial piece of legislation that has received pushback from both sides of the aisle and prompted threats of a filibuster, never made it to the Senate floor on Thursday, raising questions about whether the bill was still alive. It is. Even though lawmakers would need to raise to get the bill … Continued
March 23, 2018

HB317: The players

Sometime after 10 a.m. today, the Alabama Senate will take up HB317, a bill to exempt a specific class of individuals from the state’s ethics laws. During a hearing on the bill before the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh told the committee members that the legislation was, … Continued
March 22, 2018

Senate committee gives favorable report to economic developer bill HB317

The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee gave a favorable report to a much-amended version of House Bill 317 after a lengthy discussion. House Bill 317 is sponsored by state Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton, and is being carried by Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, in the Senate. The Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development … Continued
March 22, 2018

Senate to put economic developer bill on fast track

A bill that would create a new class of individuals dubbed “economic development professionals” and essentially exempt them from lobbying provisions in the state’s ethics laws is on the fast track in the Alabama Senate. A Senate committee will consider the bill, HB317 by Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton, on Wednesday, and Senate President Pro Tem Del … Continued
March 21, 2018

Lieutenant governor bill likely dead for this session

A bill that would place a referendum on November’s ballot to drastically redefine the role of the lieutenant governor and strip many of the position’s responsibilities is likely dead for this session. The bill, proposed by Republican Sen. Gerald Dial, has been on and off of the Senate floor for the past several weeks as … Continued
March 21, 2018

Doug Jones is selling out the people who elected him

It’s time for a reality check for Doug Jones. You’re not going to be re-elected to the U.S. Senate. Look, I’d love to think that there’s a chance, even a Lloyd Christmas “so you’re telling me there’s a chance” sort of chance. But there’s not. You were nearly beaten by a man who was widely … Continued
March 20, 2018

Debate over ethics is being watched nationally in the economic development community

On Wednesday, proponents of House Bill 317 argued before the Senate about passing the legislation that would exempt economic developers from Alabama’s landmark 2010 ethics bill. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said that the bill is necessary so that economic developers can do their jobs and continue to bring jobs and investment to Alabama. That … Continued
March 20, 2018