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A weird legislative session rolls on

Ah, the freedom of being unconcerned with election consequences. That’s what we’re seeing in the Alabama Legislature this session — this weird, strange, oddball session. This session where everything is turned upside down, with Republicans pushing tax increases and marijuana and Democrats playing key roles in crucial votes. The Montgomery Advertiser’s Brian Lyman first mentioned … Continued
May 8, 2019

State revenues up as Legislature prepares for Session and crafting of state budgets

The Governor has been inaugurated and the Legislature has had its organizational session. The quadrennium has begun. Therefore, it is time for our state officials to get to work. Among the three branches of government, Legislative, Executive and Judicial, our 1901 Alabama Constitution renders our Legislative Branch as the most powerful. Some of you who … Continued
March 6, 2019

Remembering Feb. 28, 2013, and the politics of contempt

Feb. 28, 2013 was just another late winter’s day in Montgomery.  The temperature was in the 50’s, the Legislature was in session and the State Board of Education was having a work session. State Superintendent Tommy Bice was at the work session with no clue that Hell was about to break loose two blocks away … Continued
February 11, 2019

Senate committee assignments released leave Democrats spread thin across multiple committees

New committee assignments in the Alabama Senate have been decided as the Legislature heads home from its organizational session and prepares for the upcoming regular session, which will begin in March. Members assigned to standing committees will serve on those committees until 2022, the end of this legislative term. The Alabama Senate Committee on Assignments determined … Continued
January 10, 2019

Inside the Statehouse: very few white Democrats left in Legislature

The Republican tidal wave that swept Alabama’s statewide officeholders to landslide victories filtered down to legislative races. Even though our legislature really didn’t need to become any more conservative or Republican, it did anyway. We had a super majority Republican State House and Senate. We now have a super, super GOP majority. Republicans picked up … Continued
December 18, 2018

Alabama board of education member says school choice is trying to “destroy a whole race of people”

Alabama board of education member Ella Bell, D-Montgomery, spoke out during a work session Thursday claiming that Alabama’s landmark tax credit scholarship program for low income families was part of an effort to “destroy a whole race of people.” “They took money from the poorest counties in the state to send kids to private school,” Bell claimed, … Continued
November 13, 2018

What’s next for Congress?

The House returns to session this week after the month-long August District Work Period, and there are many important legislative items that need our attention. August was a busy time back in Southwest Alabama listening to the people I have the honor of representing. I appreciate all those who took time to visit my office, … Continued
September 4, 2018

Touring Southeast Alabama farms with AG Chairman Conaway

With Congress recently out of session for the Independence Day district work period, I took the opportunity to travel throughout Alabama’s Second District to share an update from Washington and hear directly from the people I represent. I spent time in Clayton, Eufaula, Andalusia, Montgomery, Troy, Slocomb, and Brundidge, just to name a few. Throughout … Continued
July 9, 2018

Sponsor says better House leadership could have saved racial profiling bill

A piece of legislation that would have implemented a method to track racial profiling data in police stops didn’t make it out of this year’s legislative session after House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, pronounced the bill dead on a radio show Thursday morning. Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, who sponsored the legislation, said better leadership in … Continued
March 30, 2018

Lieutenant governor bill likely dead for this session

A bill that would place a referendum on November’s ballot to drastically redefine the role of the lieutenant governor and strip many of the position’s responsibilities is likely dead for this session. The bill, proposed by Republican Sen. Gerald Dial, has been on and off of the Senate floor for the past several weeks as … Continued
March 21, 2018