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Alabama gets $34 million in energy revenue. Report finds oil companies using loophole to avoid paying billions

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Thursday that Alabama received $34 million this fiscal year from energy revenues produce on federal and Native American lands, and in offshore oil and natural gas collection.  A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, however, finds that the Department of the Interior has allowed oil companies … Continued
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October 28, 2019
Opinion

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The top 5 under-reported Alabama politics stories of 2018

In a state where political news comes fast and furious, and where newspaper and TV news staffs are steadily declining, it’s easy for a few stories to slip through the cracks. At this time each year, APR tries to go back and catch a few of those and give them the attention they deserve. And … Continued
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December 27, 2018
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2017 Steve Marshall vs. 2018 Steve Marshall

2017 Steve Marshall would really hate 2018 Steve Marshall. Do you remember 2017 Steve Marshall? That fresh-faced guy who rolled into Montgomery, appointed by Robert Bentley, and swearing to follow the law and exhibit ethics and morals and junk? He wasn’t going to compromise himself or operate a quid pro quo AG’s office. And the … Continued
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October 10, 2018
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Prevaricators fool Senate lawmakers again

In a stunningly shrewd move orchestrated by attorneys and lobbyists representing a tiny group of shadowy special interest lawmakers, on Tuesday, eliminated the part-time provision that plagued the so-called economic development HB317. But in doing so, they also removed specific language that defined a full-time economic development professional — potentially opening a loophole that may be … Continued
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March 28, 2018

HB317: The players

Sometime after 10 a.m. today, the Alabama Senate will take up HB317, a bill to exempt a specific class of individuals from the state’s ethics laws. During a hearing on the bill before the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh told the committee members that the legislation was, … Continued
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March 22, 2018

Gov. Ivey asks Pro Tem Marsh to press forward with controversial bill

Last week, economic development proposal, HB317, was left hanging while Republican Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh met with Gov. Kay Ivey to discuss the bill’s future. Bogged down in controversy, HB317 seeks to create a new class of individuals called economic development professionals who are exempt from state ethics laws. Currently, those who engage … Continued
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March 20, 2018

Curious case of Rep. Micky Hammon continues

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter At the sentencing hearing for former Republican State Rep. Micky Hammon, U.S. Federal Judge Myron Thompson denied the government’s request that Hammon only receive probation for stealing over $50,000 from campaign contributions. Alabama Political Reporter has learned that Hammon’s troubles may not have ended with the federal prosecution’s slap … Continued
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February 22, 2018

Ethics Commission could pull back veil on BCA conference donations

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Ethics Commission will vote on an opinion Wednesday morning that will change the way multiple-sponsor events report gifts to lawmakers and state employees, a ruling that would close a loophole in Alabama’s ethics laws that has benefited the Business Council of Alabama. For years now, the BCA … Continued
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February 7, 2018

Small Lending Act leaves gaping loophole: Update

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Like so many reforms in Alabama, the implementation of a statewide central database to track payday loans as ordered by Gov. Robert Bentley in 2013 fought its way through the courts to finally become operable in August 2015. The establishment of the database is seen as a real step … Continued
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February 14, 2017

Debate Over Design-build verses State Law Continues

By Bill Britt Alabama Politcal Reporter MONTGOMERY—The battle: Design-build vs State-Law-mandated Design-bid-build, for the $800 million prison project has become so contentious, that Gov. Robert Bentley is reportedly ready to kill the whole project if the contract for construction is not awarded under Design-build, rather than the traditional bid process. Gov. Bentley’s office has refused … Continued
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March 23, 2016