Heart of Dixie

State budgets: Priority number one

After their successful special five-day Special Session, the Legislature has been in their Regular Session for a few weeks now. The session will end in June so it is about one-fourth over. Almost one-third of the members are new — freshmen if you will. Even though they are, for the most part, a bright and … Continued

Steve Flowers

April 3, 2019

Opinion

Inside the Statehouse: Further analysis of general election – winners and losers

Now that the dust has settled on this year’s elections, let’s look back at who are the big winners and losers of the year. The obvious winner in the Heart of Dixie is the Republican Party. The GOP retained the reins of the state’s highest office and every other statewide Constitutional position. Kay Ivey was … Continued

Steve Flowers

December 5, 2018

Opinion

Frank Johnson: the Legend and the Free State of Winston

Those of us who are Baby Boomers remember the tumultuous times of the 1960’s. We lived through the Civil Rights revolution. Those of us who grew up here in the Heart of Dixie witnessed the transpiring of racial integration first hand. Most of the crusades and struggles occurred here in Alabama, especially Montgomery. A good … Continued

Steve Flowers

October 24, 2018

Opinion

Democrats have three viable candidates, but Republicans will prevail

In politics, perception is reality. It is perceived and therefore factual that a Democrat cannot win a statewide race in Alabama. The proof is in the pudding. We have 29 elected statewide officeholders in the Heart of Dixie. All 29 are Republicans. In addition, 6 out of 7 of our members in Congress are Republican. … Continued

Steve Flowers

October 10, 2018

Opinion

Republican brand still strong despite corruption, convictions and copying Democrat predecessors

According to Real Clear Politics, Democrats in Alabama have little chance of making progress in November’s general election because the Republican brand is so strong. RCP polling shows Gov. Kay Ivey is a hands-down favorite to win against Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox in November’s general election even though she has only been governor for just … Continued

Bill Britt

August 21, 2018

Opinion

Inside the Statehouse: Primary political potpourri

Now that the dust has settled on the primaries, allow me to share with you some thoughts on the Alabama political stage. There is an old saying that says the more things change, the more they stay the same. This old adage is true in Alabama politics. First of all, “All politics is local.” In the … Continued

Steve Flowers

August 9, 2018

Opinion

Inside the Statehouse: Potpourri/Notebook from June 5 primary

You have the results of Tuesday’s runoff elections. I had to go to press with my column before the results were known. There are some fantastic runoff races which should be close and interesting. The four best will be Troy King versus Steve Marshall in the Attorney General’s race. The Lt. Governor runoff between Twinkle … Continued

Steve Flowers

July 18, 2018

Opinion

Inside the Statehouse: Primary runoffs next week

Well folks, if you vote in the Republican primary you may want to go back to the polls next week and finish selecting the GOP nominees for several important state offices. If you are a Democrat the only reason you will need to vote on Tuesday is if you have a runoff in a local … Continued

Steve Flowers

July 11, 2018

Opinion

Inside the Statehouse: Judicial races highlighted – June 5 primary

This is not just a gubernatorial year in the Heart of Dixie. We have every constitutional office up for election which includes Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor and Agriculture Commissioner. We also have a good many of the State Judicial races on the ballot. We have nine seats on our … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 19, 2018

Opinion

Inside the Statehouse: “Our Legislature is not only majority Republican, it is supermajority Republican.”

Republicans took control of federal offices and presidential races in 1964 in Alabama. It was referred to as the Goldwater Landslide. The Baxley-Graddick fiasco in 1986 was the game changer for governor. In the last 32 years there have been eight governor’s races. Republicans have won all of them, with one exception. Don Siegelman was an interloper in … Continued

Steve Flowers

April 4, 2018