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Sen. Arthur Orr

The legislative session has restarted. So have the shenanigans

Let the shenanigans begin! You had to know that when Republicans — not exactly known for their courageous governance in the best of times — kept pressing for a shortened legislative session in the middle of a pandemic that something … shady was afoot.  It has taken less than two days for that shadiness to … Continued
May 6, 2020

Orr wants more Sanders/Warren-style regulations

Once again, Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, will join forces with left-leaning organizations to impose more regulations on payday lending in the upcoming legislative session. While the Trump Administration over the last three years has taken giant steps toward rolling back Obama-era regulations, Orr is taking a page from Democrat senators and presidential hopefuls, Bernie Sanders … Continued
February 3, 2020

There is already a fix to clarify and strengthen the ethics laws

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Before then Attorney General Luther Strange took his ill-fated appointment to the U.S. Senate, his office prepared legislation to clarify and strengthen existing ethics laws. Amidst all the nascent posturing about a dire need to, “Reform and Clarify” current ethics laws, there seems to be a pretense that no … Continued
February 1, 2018

Senate moves to cut back unemployment benefits

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter Those who receive unemployment benefits may soon lose that safety net much sooner under a bill approved by the Alabama State Senate Thursday. The Senate approved a bill that would reduce the number of weeks someone can draw unemployment compensation by nearly half under current economic situations. Under existing … Continued
January 26, 2018

House passes Civics Test Bill

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Legal residents seeking US citizenship have to pass a test in order to become citizens. On Tuesday, April 18, 2017, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to require that Alabama students pass a similar test in order to become Alabama High School graduates. Senate Bill 32 by … Continued
April 25, 2017

Bill authorizing reallocation of judgeships approved by the Legislature

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A State authority may begin shuffling circuit and district judgeships soon following a vote by the House of Representatives Tuesday. A bill that would authorize a new commission to reallocate circuit and district judgeships based on need, which legislators hope will alleviate caseload pressure on some circuit and district … Continued
March 1, 2017

Six person jury bill receives favorable report by Judiciary Committee

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, February 22, 2017, the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to a bill that would allow many Alabama Court proceedingss to have just six person juries rather than the traditional 12 person jury trials. Senate Bill 197 was sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur). Orr said … Continued
February 27, 2017

Bill to reallocate judges based on need passes the Alabama Senate

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A bill that would give an authority power to reallocate judges based on demonstrated need, which senators hope will alleviate pressures in some circuits and districts, cleared the Alabama Senate on Tuesday. Senate Bill 90, passed without any debate, would give the Judicial Resource Allocation Commission the authority … Continued
February 15, 2017

Legislators consider “new” budgeting methods

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The regular legislative session of the Alabama Legislature is set to convene in less than two weeks, but legislators are already considering another change to the State’s budgeting models in both the General Fund and the Education Trust Fund. On Tuesday, members of the House and Senate General Fund … Continued
February 1, 2017

Alvin Holmes should get Sessions’ seat … sort of

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter There’s a standard practice in the news business around this time of year. Cheap hits. That’s right. We have families and holiday parties and dinners and gift-openings too. And we have to fit it in around still producing content that draws eyeballs to webpages. So, we need a few … Continued
December 27, 2016