republican supermajority

News / Stealing the Statehouse

Hubbard Emails Show Money Making Schemes

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Series: Emails on Hubbard’s Road to Perdition, Article 1 The emails below were released by the State on February 2015, in response to Hubbard’s demand for a more defined statement of facts concerning his indictments. MONTGOMERY—Emails to and from Speaker Mike Hubbard show him directing millions of dollars to … Continued

Bill Britt

February 23, 2016

Opinion

We Can Do Better Than Old Solutions to Old Problems: Let’s Look at Public Transportation

By Rep. Darrio Melton The 2016 legislative session is right around the corner, and the Republican Supermajority is already divided on the best approach to the budget blunder: increasing taxes or cutting services. Last session, many legislators considered an increase in the gasoline tax as a way to shore up the general fund, knowing the … Continued

Darrio Melton

January 5, 2016

Opinion

We Can’t Keep Cutting Our Way Out Of A Budget Crisis

By Rep. Darrio Melton As we’re moving into the New Year, Legislators are–once again–focused on old problems that have only been placated by patchwork solutions: namely, our state budget. The 2016 legislative session is right around the corner, and Republican leadership is wasting no time saying how this session is going to be exactly like … Continued

Darrio Melton

December 29, 2015

Opinion

Watch Out For The Second Year Of The Quadrennium

By Rep. Darrio Melton Each year, the joke around the State House is that the best time to slip something in the law and not be held accountable by media and constituents is the second year of the quadrennium. By this point, media attention has usually shifted to the upcoming presidential election, and 2018 is … Continued

Darrio Melton

December 8, 2015

Chief Justice Moore Will Address Impact of Budget Cuts

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Later today, Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy S. Moore will most likely reveal how the State’s Republican supermajority likes to talk about law and order, but they don’t want to fund the machinery that delivers it. Court Chief Justice Moore will speak to the press to discuss the impact … Continued

Bill Britt

December 1, 2015

Opinion

In the Heart of Dixie, Dixie is Gone and so, it Appears, is its Heart

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Our State will never reach its potential until we elect leaders who care more about doing what is right than winning the next election. We will never see greatness until men and women of integrity are willing to do the very thing that might cost them their next campaign. … Continued

Bill Britt

January 31, 2014

Opinion

Moral Leadership or Political Convenience

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter The Republican Party of Alabama is currently on a path that can mildly be described as an agonizing road of moral uncertainty. The general consensus among the Republican leadership is that if Mike Hubbard is indicted on only a few felony counts, he will be allowed to remain in … Continued

Bill Britt

December 3, 2013

Opinion

The 2014 Agenda: Doing Away with Oversight, Accountability, Scrutiny or Punishment

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Last year, Senate Bill 122 was placed on the legislative calendar under the guise of “streamlining government.” In reality, the bill was an egregious power grab by the leadership of the Republican Supermajority. There is already a plan in place to bring the bill back before lawmakers in 2014. … Continued

Bill Britt

December 3, 2013

Hubbard Furnishes Luxury Cloakroom for Legislators at Taxpayer Expense

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY–Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, (R-Auburn), championed the republican virtues of fiscal responsibility and limited government in his rise to power in 2010. However, under Hubbard’s leadership, lavish spending on offices, furnishing and salaries has increased dramatically. During the 2013 legislative session, Hubbard authorized tens of thousands of … Continued

Bill Britt

August 21, 2013

Opinion

Senate Democrats Applaud Amendment’s Passage, Vow to Repay Money and Develop a Long-Term Solution to State’s Budget Crisis

By Senate Democrats On Tuesday, Alabama voters approved a constitutional amendment, which allows the transfer of $437 million, over three years, from the Alabama Trust Fund to make up for revenue shortfalls in the state’s General Fund. The General Fund finances programs like Medicaid, mental health, prisons, the courts and many other state agencies. Democrats … Continued

Senate Democrats

September 19, 2012