By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Some Republicans in the Senate and at least one Democrat in the State House of Representatives believe certain retired educators should receive a one-time, lump sum payment. Republican Senator Gerald Dial, who is leading the charge, is joined by Senate colleagues Jimmy Holley, Jim McClendon, Steve Livingston, Tom Whatley … Continued
By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Will blame, incrimination and meddling be the legacy of the circular firing squad known as the 2016 Special Legislative Session? Unrelenting lobbying by various groups helped kill Governor Robert Bentley’s lottery bill SB3, which was carried by Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville), namely, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, those … Continued
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Thursday, August 25, as the debate in the Alabama House of Representatives raged on, about what their version of lottery bill SB3 should look like, and as more amendments were added, it became increasingly doubtful that the House and the Senate would be able to bridge the chasm between … Continued
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Early on Friday, August 26, a jubilant Governor Robert Bentley (R) said, “We came out with a victory from the House, not us, but a victory for the people of this state.” That Bentley and Bentley’s staff have absolutely no idea what is happening in in the Alabama legislature, … Continued
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Friday, August 26, Judge William Shashy ruled in favor of the Chilton County Healthcare Authority and Sibley Reynolds who asked the court to make Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill (R) put the BIR amendment on the November 8 ballot. Shashy wrote: this court order and decrees that the … Continued
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Saturday, August 27, State Senator Paul Bussman (R-Cullman) said that lottery bill SB3, which was killed by the Senate on Friday, “Was filled with problems.” Sen. Bussman wrote in a statement, “Yesterday the Senate failed to concur with the House version of the lottery bill, killing the bill for … Continued
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter This is like a Western with no gunplay. Today, two roughly evenly matched groups of Republican lawmakers are going to square off in the Alabama House of Representatives to decide the fate of Governor Robert Bentley’s (R) State General Fund lottery constitutional amendment, Senate Bill Three (SB3). SB3 was … Continued
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, August 24, the Alabama House of Representative Committee on Tourism and Economic Development passed Alabama Governor Robert Bentley’s (R) lottery plan out of committee with a favorable report. Afterwards, Gov. Bentley spoke to reporters. The Governor said that today’s committee vote in favor of the lottery, “Was a … Continued
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate debated the lottery for four days of this Special Session. On Tuesday, August 23, it took the Alabama House of Representatives just a few minutes to effectively kill the lottery, without ever even discussing it in a committee. Freshly energized lottery opponents used the tight timeline … Continued