Sewell’s annual job fair will be virtual this year
Job seekers will have the opportunity to connect with employers from 10 different industries.
Great Recession
GDP fell by an unprecedented 9.5 percent in second quarter
The Bureau of Economic Analysis released its advance estimate of U.S. GDP for the second quarter of 2020 reflecting the months of April, May and June dropped 9.5 percent in the second quarter, According to the BEA report, real GDP contracted at an unprecedented annualized rate of 32.9 percent. This is the largest quarterly decline … Continued
Brooks wants to suspend guest worker programs
Thursday, Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) announced that he and five other members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump (R). “38+ million Americans have lost their jobs in the last 2 months,” Rep. Brooks wrote on social media. “The April unemployment rate was 14.7%, the highest rate … Continued
State will not need to prorate the 2020 budgets
Two Senate committees met Monday on the 2020 budgets and moved the 2021 budgets. Despite the massive economic shutdown that has crippled the state economy and thousands of businesses, reporters were assured that there will not be any need to prorate either the general fund or the education trust fund budgets in 2020. Senate President … Continued
Sewell pushes tool for Alabamians who don’t ordinarily file tax returns to get coronavirus direct payment
Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell, D-Montgomery, announced tools Thursday to help Alabamians who do not normally file income tax returns the ability to still receive their coronavirus crisis direct payment. “The IRS has released important new information for Alabamians to access their coronavirus direct payments,” Sewell said in a statement. “Over 80 million Americans have received … Continued
State leaders unveil a major mental health legislative initiative
Wednesday, House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter, R – Rainsville, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth (R), Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, R – Monrovia, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R – Anniston, Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Lynn Beshear, State Education Superintendent Eric Mackey, House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, as well as the … Continued
House passes Tier III retirement for education employees
Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to expand retirement benefits for education employees. House Bill 76 is sponsored by State Representative Alan Baker (R-Brewton). Baker said that Tier III benefits for educators is necessary to encourage teachers to stay in education and to recruit new teachers to the state. Rep. Thomas Jackson … Continued
Trump administration plans to kick 3.1 million off of SNAP benefits
A change proposed Wednesday by the Trump administration could take away food assistance for 3.1 million vulnerable Americans. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, helps feed 36.3 million Americans, according to the United States Department ofAgriculture. That’s down from the 47.6 million who received that help just after the Great Recession. Agriculture Secretary Sonny … Continued
Alabama tax revenues are up but still below pre-Great Recession levels
Last year was a great year for most state governments, with a few notable exceptions. In Alabama, tax revenues are soaring, but have not entirely recovered from pre-Great Recession levels. According to a new study by the Pew Charitable Trust, 36 states collected more tax revenue than they did at their pre-Great Recession peaks, after … Continued
New residential construction is up from October
Privately-owned housing starts in November 2018 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,256,000. This is a 3.2 percent increase above the revised October 2018 estimate of 1,217,000. The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly made the announcement following the release of new residential construction statistics for … Continued