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Group of senators criticize Corizon/YesCare’s bankruptcy maneuver

Facing tens of millions in lawsuits, prison health care provider Corizon utilized a complicated bankruptcy maneuver in Texas.
October 26, 2023

Has Alabama lost its independent streak?

What if I told you that Sen. Richard Shelby, outraged by the stories of laid off Alabama workers forced to camp out overnight to get unemployment compensation, was pushing his fellow senators to pump more money into states to rectify the situation?  What if I told you that Shelby had fought to get more funding … Continued
July 3, 2020

Doug Jones backs legislation to permanently fund HBCUs

Sen. Doug Jones today joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce a solution to both permanently fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and to take a first step toward simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process. Annual funding for MSIs expired on September 30, 2019. … Continued
December 4, 2019

State Sens. Whatley, Price commend USDOT for funds to replace six bridges on I-85

Two state lawmakers expressed gratitude over recent news that the U.S. Department of Transportation will fund bridge replacements that both say are sorely needed.  State senators Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, and Randy Price, R-Opelika,  both issued statements Thursday thanking U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for setting aside $10.8 million to replace three sets of bridges along … Continued
September 9, 2019

Education and state retirees also deserve a pay raise

Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but here we are once again. Another year, another budget, and another failure to provide our retirees with a cost-of-living pay raise. It’s becoming a disturbing tradition that every year I have to write about our State Legislature’s failure to treat our retirees with the respect they deserve. … Continued
May 17, 2019

Why we should avoid an immediate special session for the gas tax?

Many Alabamians, including the conservative-leaning Alabama Policy Institute, agree our state needs to increase funding for roads and bridges. And Gov. Kay Ivey hasn’t yet ruled out calling the state Legislature into a special session to raise the gas tax when lawmakers convene Tuesday in Montgomery. But, is fast-tracking a $300 million tax increase a … Continued
March 5, 2019

Inside the Statehouse: Senator Shelby appropriations

In my book, “Of Goats and Governors: Six Decades of Alabama Political Stories,” I suggest that based on seniority, tenure, power and prestige that Alabama’s greatest senators have been Lister Hill, John Sparkman, and Richard Shelby. Folks, Richard Shelby has probably forged to the front of that triumvirate with his elevation to the chairmanship of … Continued
May 30, 2018

Is leadership in the Alabama Legislature planning a bait-and-switch on HB317?

The wall is crumbling. Last week, a small group of senators held firm against an ethics bill, HB317, that would, among other things, exclude full-time and part-time “economic developers” from laws requiring them to register as lobbyists. Heading into what should be the final week of the 2018 session, sources say that small group has … Continued
March 27, 2018