lawmakers

State

Legislature ignoring charter school law

Our Montgomery lawmakers often labor long and hard at drafting a bill — and then ignoring what they wrote later on. There is no better example of this than the charter school law sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh and passed in 2015. This law sets up a 10-member charter school commission to govern charter schools. … Continued

Larry Lee

July 8, 2019

Opinion

Lawmakers failed children in their darkest hours

During the last legislative session, lawmakers could have shown the young girls and youths of our state that they cared about them in their darkest hours, but they didn’t. Two bills that could have sent that message to our young people failed to pass because lawmakers said they ran out of time. The truth is … Continued

Bill Britt

July 5, 2019

Opinion

Alabama lawmakers mostly silent on 3M revelations

If someone was poisoning your neighbors, would you tell them? Would you speak up? Would you try to stop them? Would you use whatever authority you had to make them stop? Would you hold them accountable? Would you make them clean up their mess? Would you help the people who had been poisoned? If you … Continued

Josh Moon

June 25, 2019

Opinion

What has your government done for you?

I’m going to ask you a question, and before you land on the answer that your chosen political affiliation has conditioned you to provide, I want you to think about it. Really think about it. For just a second or two. When is the last time the Alabama Legislature did anything for you, the common … Continued

Josh Moon

June 12, 2019

Opinion

Examining the “sanctity of life” in Alabama

We cannot give Alabama lawmakers (mostly men) and Gov. Kay Ivey a pass on their flippant claim they revere life, as they say they demonstrated in passing the nation’s most strict and unconstitutional anti-abortion law. Claiming they care a whit about the “sanctity of life” demonstrates total cynicism and disrespect to their constituents. Much of … Continued

Joey Kennedy

May 30, 2019

A special session on prisons is likely on the way

Brace yourselves, another special session is coming. At a press conference Thursday morning, Alabama legislators provided updates on the ongoing prison debacle and encouraged Gov. Kay Ivey to call a special session this fall to allow them to fully address the many issues. Ivey issued a press release later in the day saying she would … Continued

Josh Moon

May 17, 2019

Opinion

Legislature to women: Go to hell

Alabama did it. Once again, the state that remains in perpetual-stupid-repeat has passed an unconstitutional abortion bill that’ll be brutally aborted by federal courts as soon as it gets there. No heartbeat needed on this baby; Once it’s signed by the meek, go-along-with-whatever Gov. Kay Ivey, this law is deader than another executed inmate in … Continued

Joey Kennedy

May 16, 2019

Opinion

As the lottery push moves forward, a suggestion for a better bill

Now, the teachers have caught on. On Wednesday, social media posts from a number of teachers groups around Alabama highlighted the fact that a lottery bill set for a vote on Thursday in the state Senate offered zero dollars for education. Those social media posts also included the phone numbers for lawmakers, and by late … Continued

Josh Moon

April 25, 2019

What do Alabama Republican lawmakers and Trump haters have in common?

Alabama Republican lawmakers want the public to believe they are among President Donald Trump’s most avid supporters; however, many take money from those who back Trump haters. A look at campaign donations given by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians finds they financially back Trump’s most ardent enemies. From Hillary Clinton to Speaker of the … Continued

Bill Britt

April 24, 2019

Opinion

ALGOP poised to make law enforcement officers less safe

Alabama Republicans don’t seem to care much about the safety of law enforcement officers in the state. At least, it sure seemed that way on Wednesday, as sheriff after sheriff took time out of their days to explain to lawmakers how a bill that removes the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed firearm … Continued

Josh Moon

April 18, 2019