ETF

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Senator Orr Sees Teacher’s Pay Raises As Priority

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—In a recent interview with Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), the new Chairman of the Education Trust Fund, he told the Alabama Political Reporter that one of his top priorities for the 2016 Legislation Session is a pay increase for teachers: “If the unpublished or unofficial projections bear out, and … Continued

January 26, 2016

Zeigler Comments on Bentley Statement on Tax Proposals

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Politcal Reporter On Monday, January 4, Alabama Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) issued a statement in response to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley’s statement that he would make no proposals on taxes before the 2016 legislative session. Zeigler said that Bentley has changed positions yet again. Auditor Zeigler said, “Gov. Bentley has changed … Continued

January 5, 2016

Legislature Considering Raising Taxes on Fuel

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama State Legislature is gearing up for another busy regular legislative session and one proposal that is being bandied about by legislators is raising gas taxes so that more money can be spent building and repairing more roads around the state, On Saturday, January 2, State Representative Mack … Continued

January 4, 2016

Alabama’s Unites for Education May Be Best Hope

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Last week, Dr. Robert E. Witt, Chancellor of The University of Alabama System, announced the formation of Alabama Unites for Education (AUE), an association building “a strong grassroots coalition” to “protect school funding, support a quality education system for all in Alabama, and to avoid any further cuts to … Continued

December 8, 2015

API Says $710 Million Estimate is Likely Low

On Wednesday, December 2 the ‘Alabama Political Reporter’ reported that the Alabama Policy Institute (API) had warned state decision makers that expanding the expensive Alabama Medicaid program would cost tax payers another $710 million over six years. That is in addition to the $1.9 billion a year that the state already spends each year paying … Continued

December 3, 2015

Expanding Medicaid Would Cost Taxpayers $710 Million, According to Think Tank

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter It took months of vigorous debate, the 2015 Regular Session, and two Special Sessions to final resolve the budget crisis in the State’s General Fund (SGF). Virtually of that $200 million shortfall can be blamed on out of control costs with the State’s long troubled Medicaid program. Now Alabama … Continued

December 2, 2015

Bentley Requests Budget Language Opinion of Alabama Supreme Court

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, September 25 Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) on Wednesday sent a letter to the Alabama Supreme Court requesting an Opinion of the Justices on the constitutionality of certain provisions of the state general fund (SGF) budget he recently signed following Alabama’s Second 2015 legislative special session. Governor … Continued

September 28, 2015

Budget Passed, Crisis Averted, Few Happy with Outcome

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the 2016 fiscal year General Fund Budget (GFB) passed. The Governor had wanted to pass Draconian tax increases on the people of Alabama to deal with the shortfall. Some Legislators wanted to balance the budget with massive cuts to the State General Fund … Continued

September 17, 2015

Senate Passes Tax Increases: Budget Deal Appears In Sight

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Tuesday, September 17, the Alabama Senate passed a tax increase on cigarettes as well as taxes on nursing home beds, and pharmacies. Tax increases on car titles and auto rentals appear likely when the Senate convenes on Wednesday. The cigarette tax, HB3, was passed on a 21 to … Continued

September 16, 2015

House and Senate Deadlocked on How Much Money to Raid from Education

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Monday, September 14, the Alabama Senate approved a plan to move $100 million from the education trust fund (ETF) to the troubled State General Fund (SGF). Both the House and the Senate have already approved transferring use taxes from education to the General Fund. What the two … Continued

September 15, 2015