Gov. Bentley

Reform Rollback: We’re Running Out of Options for Medicaid

By Representative Rep. Darrio Melton When Governor Bentley took office, I had high hopes that a doctor in the Governor’s mansion would mean improvements for Alabama’s health care. He had worked in the health care system, knew the pitfalls of Medicaid and Medicare, and would be able to see reform as a provider, patient, and … Continued

Darrio Melton

March 15, 2016

Opinion

End the Political Gamesmanship of Medicaid

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter For the poor child, the disabled, and the aged, Medicaid is not health insurance…it’s life insurance. It literally means the difference between life and death for almost a million Alabamians. Is there a sane person who believes that want, infirmity, or debilitating old-age are things we wish for? Yet, … Continued

Bill Britt

March 14, 2016

Opinion

Hubbard’s Devilish Audaciousness Snares More Victims

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In states across our nation, elected officials indicted on serious crimes are forced to step down from their leadership rolls in order to prevent them from using their position to fight the state’s justice system. Nothing has hindered the devilish audaciousness of the State’s Speaker of the House in … Continued

Bill Britt

February 22, 2016

Opinion

GOP Irony: Smaller government until we don’t get our way

By Representative Darrio Melton “More jobs. Less government.” -Governor Robert Bentley “Less regulation and a smaller government is better…” – Rep. David Faulkner We’ve heard these lines before, time and time again, from Republican candidates promising smaller government and more local control when they’re elected. Despite the campaign promises, the same Republicans whistle a different … Continued

Darrio Melton

February 16, 2016

2008 Memo States STAARS Must Be Bid

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The $47 million STARRS accounting software system was signed under a no-bid contract with CGI. Acting Finance Director, Bill Newton, claims the contract was simply an up-grade of the million-dollar-a-year maintenance contract the State has held with the company for over two decades. This is the reason Newton has … Continued

Bill Britt

January 20, 2016

Pallets of Phones Gather Dust Under Newton’s Orders

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Pallets stacked with expensive Cisco phones, perhaps representing millions in State tax dollars, sit silently gathering dust in a warehouse, because someone at the State Department of Finance thinks they have a better idea. After reporting on the botched rollout of the STAARS accounting system, more than two-dozen confidential … Continued

Bill Britt

January 19, 2016

Bentley Administration Doubles Down on STAARS: Spin or Cover-up?

By Bill Britt and Susan Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Late Friday evening, Gov. Robert Bentley’s administration published a lengthy press release announcing the “re-launch” of Open Alabama, and defending the $47 million STAARS software program. The carefully parsed statement from the Governor’s office was particularly nuanced and did not directly address the concerns that State … Continued

Bill Britt

December 21, 2015

Finance Director Threatens State Employees Who Speak with Media

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Acting Finance Director Bill Newton warned department heads to inform State personnel not to speak to the media, and report any contact to him immediately, or else. On Thursday afternoon, Dec. 8, alreporter.com published an investigative report chronicling the failing implementation of the accounting software known as STAARS—the story … Continued

Bill Britt

December 21, 2015

Shelby and Sessions Demand Administration Submit Refugee Report

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Thursday, December 3, US Senators Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) and Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) joined Congress members Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Lamar Smith (R-Texas) in a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell demanding that the agency submit a report on Refugee Resettlement which is ten months … Continued

Brandon Moseley

December 4, 2015

Bentley Announces $70 Million Repayment to Rainy Day Fund

Staff Report MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday announced the State’s ability to repay $70 million to the Education Trust Fund’s Rainy Day Account before the close of Fiscal Year 2014, which ended September 30. By law, Alabama was required to pay a minimum of $35 million to the debt in Fiscal Year 2014, … Continued

October 6, 2014