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Joey Kennedy

Important if true

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter One of my great editors from my newspaper days, Wendell Givens (God rest his soul), once showed me a copy of an old newspaper, probably from the Civil War era. The newspaper had a sensational headline in a large font across the top. Underneath was a smaller deck, but … Continued
September 2, 2015

Going to School on State Budgets

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Gov. Robert Bentley and the Alabama Legislature have pretty much shown they can’t write a state General Fund Budget that’ll wash. In truth, they haven’t done much better on the state Education Budget, either — though at least one of those passed the regular session. Lawmakers just finished an … Continued
August 26, 2015

Lessons from Home

  By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter HOUMA, La. – I’m in what I call my hometown. Deep south Louisiana, about 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. Yes, SOUTHWEST! In Terrebonne Parish. A hurricane alley. We’ve had many hurricanes down here. Hurricanes that played with us. Hurricanes that hurt us. Hurricanes that made us better … Continued
August 19, 2015

Epic fail and other clichés

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter They met. They adjourned. They met again. And they failed. Nearly a half-million dollars down the toilet. Now, another half-million will be spent again. That’s what a special session of the Legislature costs Alabama taxpayers. That the Legislature, whose primary duty is to pass state budgets, can’t pass a … Continued
August 12, 2015

The squirrels and others

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Legislature came back into special session this week, after a three-week pause to build consensus on solving the state’s $200 million deficit in the state General Fund budget (SGF). Lawmakers are rested and ready to get to work. They are focused, committed to finding a solution to … Continued
August 5, 2015

So, Who Wants to Govern?

  By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter Can they govern? That’s a fair question. After all, Republicans have a supermajority in both the House and Senate. They have the governor’s office. And, yet, they are apparently unable to govern. Republicans, if they were on the same page, could do whatever they wanted. There aren’t enough … Continued
July 29, 2015

Let’s Roll Them Bones Anyway

  By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter The Legislature’s special session is under way. OK, it’ll eventually it’ll be under way when lawmakers return from vacation on Aug. 3. Lawmakers were called into special session last Monday. Then they adjourned until Aug. 3. Too many vacations, apparently, to do the state’s business. Too many other … Continued
July 22, 2015

Back in The Arena

  By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter I’ve been writing about Alabama politics and policies for more than a quarter of a century, most of that time as a member of The Birmingham News editorial board. Since leaving The News in February, I’ve been writing the back-page column for B-Metro magazine in Birmingham; filming a … Continued
July 15, 2015

Kennedy Joins Alabama Political Reporter

Staff Report MONTGOMERY—The Alabama Political Reporter is pleased to announce Pulitzer Prize winning editorial writer, Joey Kennedy, as a featured political columnist. “Kennedy’s voice has been an important part of Alabama’s political discussion for many years. We are pleased and proud to share that voice with our readers,” said APR Editor-in-Chief, Bill Britt. Kennedy served … Continued
July 13, 2015

Kennedy Out But His Words Ring True

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter According to a Facebook post by Veronica Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Joey Kennedy has been fired from the Alabama Media Group. “For those of you who haven’t heard: My husband, Joey Kennedy, was fired by Alabama Media Group on Thursday for being ‘too personally involved’ in covering his … Continued
February 23, 2015