loopholes

Education / News / State

Alabama’s charter school law has a number of problems

The Alabama charter school law is an absolute mess, filled with loopholes and nonexistent instructions that make it possible, if not likely, that the state will endure countless bad charter schools that rob taxpayers and leave Alabama school children worse off. Those were not the words of Alabama superintendent Eric Mackey. But you could draw … Continued

July 30, 2019

Jones sponsors Paycheck Fairness Act in effort to close gender gap

Loopholes within the Equal Pay Act of 1963 that allow discrimination in pay due to gender would be no more if Alabama Sen. Doug Jones’ Paycheck Fairness Act passes. On Jan. 30, 2019, Jones and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, want the Paycheck Fairness Act to help dissipate the wage gap between men and women, focusing … Continued

January 31, 2019

Bentley investigation not the first time Ellen Brooks cited gaps in law to let perps walk free

If the findings of a special grand jury empaneled to hear allegations of wrongdoings against former Gov. Robert Bentley and his cronies sound familiar, it should. In 2012, after an eight-month investigation, a Montgomery grand jury found that the state’s ethics and campaign finance laws were not specific enough to indict former Gov. Bob Riley … Continued

April 9, 2018

There’s a reason so much anger is being directed at the Parkland kids

The kids are right That’s what makes the current gun debate, led by the teenage survivors of the Parkland school shooting, so vitriolic. The kids are right. Everyone knows it. Including the people who are arguing on the other side, slinging insults and ducking any meaningful debate. I’d probably duck debates, though, after what happened … Continued

April 3, 2018

Unknown and unbridled by law: Economic developers set to make millions off tax incentives

A new law establishing a class of individuals known as economic development professionals opens the door for profit-driven incentives paid with taxpayer funds to vaguely described, unknown agents not registered or held accountable to state law. There are many reasons to suspect that House Bill 317 is filled with loopholes not yet fully understood by … Continued

April 2, 2018

Lobbyists offer substitute to economic developer bill HB317

A substitute to controversial economic development House Bill 317 was written over the weekend. Individuals with knowledge of the substitute legislation say it amends some of the most egregious loopholes currently found in HB317, but they are not prepared to say the bill is without a hidden provision that, like its predecessor, would lead to … Continued

March 26, 2018

Are Hubbard-Riley emails key to answering the mystery surrounding HB317?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Controversy still clings to HB317, also known as The Alabama Jobs Enhancement Act, despite the substitute added Tuesday that, at first blush, appears to fix problems with the original bill. Concerns remain. The mystery of why a substantial change to the Ethics Act is linked to amendments addressing business … Continued

March 8, 2018

What kind of change will come?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter When the Alabama Republican Party swept into power during the November 2010 elections, they promised us change. In his book, Storming the State House, Mike Hubbard wrote of that November evening, “It would fundamentally change the direction of Alabama, and of my own life, forever.” Republicans have controlled Alabama’s … Continued

July 10, 2017

Ethics Commission: Not Subject to Ethics Laws

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Here’s a little-known fact: The Alabama Ethics Commission is not governed by the laws it is charged with enforcing. That was made abundantly clear when Commissioner Judge Charles Price voted with a conflict of interest at an Oct. 5th Commission meeting. The conflict arose when he voted yes on … Continued

October 12, 2016

Indians, Attorney General Take Aim At “McLottery”

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—A lottery bill sponsored by Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) is drawing fire from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI) and in a surprise press release from Attorney General Luther Strange. Lobbyists for PCI and Tribal Vice Chair Robbie McGee are confidently predicting the demise of any lottery bill … Continued

August 17, 2016