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Sen. Cam Ward

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A new prison debuts, but more changes are coming

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter A new prison bill made its anticipated debut Tuesday, but by the time it hits a Senate committee on Wednesday, it’s likely to have some company in the House. The new bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Cam Ward, removed the State from most of the process, allocating just … Continued
March 15, 2017

The bumpy road to a prison bill

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter When Sen. Cam Ward left Montgomery for a trip to DC on Wednesday evening, there seemed to be a tentative agreement among Senate Republicans and various lobbyists, special interest groups and public watchdogs on a prison deal. That agreement, spelled out in a new bill Ward floated to the … Continued
March 10, 2017

Prison Bill compromise would reduce number of new prisons

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A toned-down version of the bill authorizing the construction of several new prisons with a bond issue is expected to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, the bill’s sponsor said. The new plan, shepherded by Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) who has been the bill’s sponsor in the … Continued
March 9, 2017

Prison construction bill sponsor considering a smaller alternative

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Robert Bentley’s $800 million prison construction initiative has raised some eyebrows among lawmakers at the Alabama State House, prompting the proponent of the Governor’s plan to consider a smaller alternative. Sen. Cam Ward, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and sponsor of the bill authorizing the … Continued
March 3, 2017

Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearing on prison reform

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, March 1, 2017, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on Governor Robert Bentley’s controversial plan to borrow $800 millions in bonds in order to build four massive new prisons. Senate Bill 70 is being sponsored in the Senate by Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster). Sen. Ward said, … Continued
March 2, 2017

Bill to end judicial override in Alabama clears Senate

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A bill that would end Alabama’s judicial override sentencing system, which allows judges to override juries and impose the death penalty, passed the State Senate Thursday with a near-unanimous vote. Sen. Dick Brewbaker (R-Montgomery), sponsored the bill, which would prohibit a judge from overriding a jury’s sentence. Under … Continued
February 24, 2017

Constitutional Amendment to Strip Power from the Chief Justice Stalls in Committee

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, February 22, 2017 the Senate Judiciary Committee failed to give a favorable report to a proposed constitutional amendment that would have taken the power to appoint the Administrative Director of the Courts away from the Chief Justice. Instead the administrator would be appointed by a vote of the … Continued
February 24, 2017

Bill allowing adoption agencies to discriminate is all that’s wrong with Alabama government

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter In order to prevent discrimination, we need to discriminate. That seemed to be the message Wednesday morning in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee meeting, as Sen. Bill Hightower pushed a bill that would purportedly protect religiously-affiliated adoption agencies from discrimination by the State. Or to put that … Continued
February 23, 2017

Senate committee to begin considering impeachment trial rules

MONTGOMERY — The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin considering procedures for a possible Senate impeachment trial of Gov. Robert Bentley, the committee’s chairman said Tuesday. Sen. Cam Ward, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, said he was looking to start a subcommittee to gather information on what rules would need to be established for a Senate impeachment trial, … Continued
February 22, 2017