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Ethics Commission withdraws McCalla opinion after charities line-up

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In a unanimous vote on September 1, 2016, the Alabama Ethics Commission issued advisory opinion 2016-24, which it believed clarified the question regarding public officials soliciting lobbyists and principals for contributions to a charitable organization, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The issue was raised by the nonprofit group, Friends … Continued
December 8, 2016

Children, Aged the Center of the Medicaid Debate: What the Numbers Show

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Today, the 2016 Legislative Special Session will continue its charge to find funding for the 2017 shortfall facing Medicaid. Gov. Robert Bentley proposes using money from the BP oil spill settlement as an immediate fix, for a program in dire need of a long-term solution. Currently, Alabama provides Medicaid … Continued
August 23, 2016

Ethics Commission Inserts Itself in Superintendent Selection, As Do Others

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Selecting the next State Superintendent of the Department of Education is playing out with Machiavellian intrigue, as an ethics complaint filed against Dr. Craig Pouncey, a candidate for superintendent, emerged to cloud the proceedings. Allegations made anonymously include falsifying authorship of his Doctoral Dissertation and a wide-range of conspiracies. … Continued
August 9, 2016

Dues Checks-Off Back On

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Now that the Republican supermajority has successfully brought the once powerful Alabama Education Association (AEA) to heel, it appears the organization will, once again, be allowed to deduct membership dues directly from employees paychecks. According to insiders AEA can still lobby and promote public education, but must “certify” that it … Continued
August 4, 2016

“We” Being The Operative Word

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Words are powerful. They can inspire hope or fear, pride or prejudice. Words can heal or destroy. As Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, “Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how … Continued
August 1, 2016

What Happened in Vegas: Troy Professor’s Mission to “Bring Down” RSA

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The leadership of the Republican supermajority wants to reform the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA). Along the way, their efforts have been buoyed by, The Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University. The Johnson Center is one of many institutions which is funded by the Charles … Continued
June 27, 2016

Report Finds Alabama State Courts Do Not Mirror Population

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY— A first-of-its-kind quantitative report found that Alabama’s court system is failing to adequately represent the diversity of the State’s population. The report entitled, The Gavel Gap: Who Sits in Judgement at State Courts?, was authored by law professors Tracey E. George and Albert H. Yoon, and published by … Continued
June 24, 2016

Republicans Aren’t Practicing What They Preach

By Rep. Darrio Melton As a member of the clergy, “practice what you preach” has a very literal meaning in my life. When I deliver a sermon or lead a Bible study, I’m called not just to be a messenger, but a teacher and example of the lessons set forth on Sundays. That’s not to … Continued
May 24, 2016

Bentley Wants His Prisons

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In an Op-Ed at al.com, Gov. Robert Bentley signaled, that he may call a Special Session to try, once again, to pass an $800 million prison construction project. Bentley said, the massive spending project failed because, “We simply ran out of time in this Regular Legislative Session to finally … Continued
May 10, 2016

Orr Says He Wants to Expose Donors

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Twin bills in the Alabama House and Senate would call for a Constitutional Amendment to “regulate the disclosure, raising, and spending of moneys to influence elections and governmental actions.” The constitutional amendment is the brainchild of Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), who says the primary purpose of the bill is … Continued
April 5, 2016