Skip to content

public

News / State

Attorney paid by unnamed client to write, negotiate HB317

Is it appropriate for a lawyer working for an unidentified private client to write laws for a department of state government? Doesn’t the public have a right to know if a private individual pays for a bill to be written? How is it ethical for a piece of legislation to be sponsored by a member … Continued
April 17, 2018

Will Gov. Ivey unmuzzle Hart and Albritton?

Despite the Ivey Administration’s push to pass questionable ethics-busting bill HB317 or her public praise for its passage, the governor is now being counseled not to sign the legislation into law before hearing from those individuals muzzled during legislative debate. There is little doubt that Gov. Kay Ivey’s commerce secretary and the state’s attorney general, … Continued
April 3, 2018

Bentley appointees trick lawmakers into passing dangerous ethics, economic development bill

By Bill Britt  Alabama Political Reporter The passage of HB317 by the Alabama House of Representatives could easily be labeled legislation by deception. Not that lawmakers were lying, but rather they were on the receiving end of a lie. In a press statement on Thursday, appointed Attorney General Steve Marshall inadvertently confirmed how he and … Continued
March 9, 2018

Indictments in superfund bribery case no win for Alabama citizens

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter If you believed the bribery scandal that emerged from a scheme to undermine the cleanup of an EPA superfund site in North Birmingham would turn into a massive scandal that brought down the state’s biggest political operatives and deal a blow to political corruption in Alabama, well, you probably … Continued
September 29, 2017

Executive Order prohibits taxpayer funded lobbyists

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter After Governor Ivey signed Executive Order 706 on July 13, preventing all officials of the executive branch from appointing a registered lobbyist to any related agency, The Alabama Political Reporter asked the Ivey Administration about Governor Fob James’ Executive Order forbidding any State entity from hiring lobbyists. Governor James, … Continued
August 28, 2017

Tankersley Exit Interview Part 1: Success, collusion, and dismay

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter As a soldier, physician, and man of faith, Dr. Stewart Hill Tankersley holds firm to his beliefs on right and wrong. As he ends his five-year service on the State’s Ethics Commission, he’s convinced there has been progress, but there are still many obstacles to restoring public confidence in … Continued
July 31, 2017

“School choice” is an awful choice

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter “School choice” makes no sense. At least, it doesn’t the way the conservatives currently push it, and it especially makes no sense the way Alabama lawmakers push it. “School choice,” as it was originally intended, is not an alternative to fixing poor performing public schools. It was a choice … Continued
February 21, 2017

Thanksgiving Day brings little to be thankful for in State government

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter For those who honestly care about the future of our State, there are few bright spots this Thanksgiving. Even as we engage in polite conversation over turkey and dressing or pecan pie, the subject will naturally turn to the state of the State. While, “Who will replace Senator Jeff … Continued
November 24, 2016

Follow-Up questions to Gov. Bentley

By State Auditor Jim Zeigler A reporter for WSFA-TV news asked Gov. Bentley a simple, straight-forward question. Bentley’s reply was a Vesuvian eruption. Newsman Michael Doudna asked if Bentley were going to re-hire Rebekah Mason, former senior policy adviser and alleged girlfriend of Bentley. That simple question set off Bentley with his tirade about why … Continued
November 24, 2016

Dial Committee Gets To Work

By Larry Lee Education Matters The committee created by Senators Gerald Dial and Quinton Ross to find out how anonymous info given to the state school board made its way into public heard from their first “witnesses” earlier today. Senator Dial stressed again that the legislature has gone to great lengths to make sure anonymous … Continued
November 4, 2016