Kelly Butler Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

Ivey swears in Bill Poole as state finance director

Ivey also announced dates for the special election in House District 63 to fill Poole's former House seat.

August 3, 2021

Legislature told budgets are in good shape despite pandemic and economic downturn

Members of the Alabama Senate were in Montgomery Thursday for hearings on the budget, where Senators were told that both of the budgets are in good shape looking forward to 2021. The meeting was chaired by Senate Finance & Taxation Committee Chairman Greg Albritton. Kirk Fulford is the Deputy Director for the Fiscal Division of … Continued

July 13, 2020

Governor says there will be no special session before August

Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) told legislators that there will be no special session prior to August because the state’s budget numbers will not be in before July 15. The Governor told the legislators in a video conference that all options are on the table on whether or not there will be a special … Continued

June 11, 2020

Legislators briefed on coronavirus crisis

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and her team on Thursday briefed state legislators on the latest developments on the coronavirus crisis that has gripped the state for the last ten weeks. State Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris told legislators that the state has 13,058 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection. 528 Alabamians have died from COVID-19 … Continued

May 22, 2020

Ivey expected to announce reopening plan Tuesday

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, on a conference call Monday, told legislators that she will announce her plan to reopen the economy. Ivey was joined by her chief of staff, former Congressman Joe Bonner; State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris; State Finance Officer Kelly Butler; Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington; and Legislative Liaison William Filmore. Ivey told … Continued

April 28, 2020

Legislature returns to a much different Statehouse

The Alabama Legislature will return from their spring break vacation Tuesday, but nothing is the same as it was two weeks ago. Monday, the press was informed that the corps will be removed from the press rooms behind the chambers. Those rooms are being given to the legislators so that they can sit the necessary … Continued

March 31, 2020

State ramping up for COVID-19 fight

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, State Health Officer Scott Harris, Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield, Public Health Commissioner Lynn Beshear and Alabama National Guard Major General Sheryl Gordon briefed state legislators Monday about how the state intends to address the looming wave of COVID-19 cases as the virus spread across the state of Alabama virtually unchecked. Ivey … Continued

March 31, 2020

Legislation to abolish office of the auditor to go before committee

The Alabama State Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will consider a proposed state constitutional amendment Tuesday that would abolish the office of state auditor. Senate Bill 83 is sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Jones, a Republican from Centre. State Auditor Jim Zeigler told the Alabama Political Reporter that he has requested a 14-day postponement to give … Continued

February 11, 2020

Orr selected as chair of new government study commission

The newly established Commission on the Evaluation of State Services met for the first time on Monday for their organizational session. State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) was selected as the Chair of the new commission. Liz Filmore was selected as Vice-Chair. Filmore is the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff. The Commission is composed of six … Continued

October 1, 2019