federal

State / Legislature

Constitutional amendment would limit voting rights to citizens

Alabama Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, proposed a constitutional amendment that passed the state Legislature and will appear on the November 2020 general election ballot. If approved by voters, the amendment will limit municipal, county, state and federal voting in Alabama only to legal citizens of the U.S. Marsh’s bill went through the Senate … Continued

Jessica Ballard

May 31, 2019

Poarch Creeks subject of multiple federal probes, White House is watching

UPDATE: Late Friday evening, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians released a statement disputing that the tribe is under investigation, calling the comments from sources cited in the story below “untrue.” Tribal chairwoman Stephanie Bryan called the story an “attack” on the Poarch Creeks and said the tribe operates its businesses “with the highest degree … Continued

Bill Britt

May 9, 2019

Wall bill passes Senate but money can’t be used to build President Trump’s wall

A bill introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, to fund President Trump’s border wall passed on a partisan vote Thursday. Senate Bill 22 allows Alabama citizens to check off a portion of their income tax refund as a contribution to We Build the Wall, Inc. The organization began as a GoFundMe page, … Continued

Bill Britt

March 22, 2019

Appeals court to reconsider decision in Birmingham minimum wage lawsuit

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said on Wednesday that it will rehear arguments on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging an Alabama law blocking cities — namely Birmingham — from raising its minimum wage. The decision to rehear the dismissal motion comes after a three-judge panel ruled that the lawsuit could move … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 31, 2019

Jones calls for Trump to approve individual assistance for Alabamians affected by Hurricane Michael

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones urged President Donald Trump last week to push for approval of individual assistance grants for Alabamians impacted by Hurricane Michael. While a Major Disaster Declaration was approved last week, it only provides public assistance grants. Public assistance grants help local governments and community organizations, but can’t be disbursed to individuals recovering … Continued

Chip Brownlee

November 12, 2018

Rep. Randy Davis claims prosecutor misconduct, seeks dismissal of charges

State Rep. Randy Davis, a Republican from Daphne, and former state Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors are seeking to have their indictments dismissed by the federal courts on claims that prosecutors engaged in misconduct during the grand jury hearings. Davis and Connors were indicted on federal bribery charges in July. In a filing Tuesday, Davis’ … Continued

Chip Brownlee

September 26, 2018

Opinion

In politics, more than ever, conversations are important

Terry Lathan was not happy with me. That tends to happen, I guess, when you say in a column that someone believed a dumb thing. The believer of that dumb thing, it seems, very rarely shares the opinion that what they believe is, in fact, dumb. And that was pretty much Lathan’s position. In a … Continued

Josh Moon

August 8, 2018

Republican State Rep. Randy Davis indicted in wide-ranging federal public corruption probe

A federal grand jury indicted another Alabama Republican lawmaker this week as part of an ongoing public corruption probe that has already seen the indictment of Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills. Rep. Randy Davis, R-Daphne, who is 66, was arrested and indicted Wednesday on charges of conspiracy and bribery. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office … Continued

Chip Brownlee

July 26, 2018

Breaking News: Alabama Power withdraws from BCA

This morning, a letter was delivered to the Business Council of Alabama stating that Alabama Power is withdrawing its membership from the business organization, “effective immediately.” Alabama Political Reporter obtained a copy of the letter in which Alabama Power CEO Mark Crosswhite makes clear to BCA Chairman Perry Hand and Executive Committee members why the … Continued

Bill Britt

June 18, 2018

Day Care regulation bill becomes law with governor’s signature

A bill that would license many more currently unregulated religious day care facilities in the state has been signed into law by the governor. The governor’s spokesperson said Thursday that she signed the bill into law this week after it passed out of the Legislature on March 15. The bill, which was proposed following the deaths and … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 23, 2018