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Is The Budget Crisis Truly Insurmountable?

  By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter In the 2012 Legislative Session, the Alabama Legislature was confronted with a daunting choice: raise taxes or cut the State General Fund (SGF) budget by about $150 million a year, so that spending would be right-sized to fit income. Cut taxes or cut spending?  That was the question.  … Continued
July 13, 2015

Tea Party Groups Has Suggestions for Special Session

By Brandon Moseley  Alabama Political Reporter    Republicans hold crushing supermajorities in both Houses of the Alabama Legislature and every statewide elected office in Alabama. The Republican grass roots overwhelmingly opposes the controversial common core educational standards that are rewriting education as we know it in this country and the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee has … Continued
July 13, 2015

Bentley Two-Thirds Misdirection on Gaming Vote

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—In the Special Session called for July 13, Gov. Robert Bentley employed, what magicians call, misdirection when he referred to votes needed to pass gambling legislation. In Bentley’s proclamation he, “expressly excluded… gambling or games of chance commonly played at casinos or gambling facilities.” He further states that a … Continued
July 11, 2015

Budget Cuts Could be Devastating to Alabama Corrections System

By Brandon MoseleyAlabama Political Reporter The State’s Corrections system is about to be taken over by the federal government. That is a warning from State Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabama).  The system is at 185 percent capacity and that could actually increase next year due to anticipated budget cuts. It is a fundamental function of state … Continued
June 9, 2015

House Passes Austere General Fund Budget

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Tuesday, May 19, the Alabama House of Representatives passed HB135, the General Fund Budget. The so-called austerity budget cuts most general fund programs to balance the budget. The budget addressed the estimated $261 million shortfall by cutting almost all state programs. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) said that … Continued
May 20, 2015

House General Fund Committee Passes Lean Budget

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Thursday, May 14, the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee passed a budget with no increases. In 2015, the General Fund Budget was $1,915,706,787.  That number was vastly inflated by the 2012 raid on the Alabama Trust Fund.  Those raided funds are now gone. Alabama Governor Robert … Continued
May 15, 2015

Could Governor Veto Anti-Illegal Immigration Bill?

By Brandon Moseley and Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY–Both Houses of the Republican controlled Alabama State Legislature passed the same version of a rewrite of Alabama’s anti-illegal immigration law on Wednesday, the last day of the 2012 Alabama legislative session.  The new anti-illegal immigration bill and both budgets were then sent to Republican Governor … Continued
May 18, 2012

House Passes Both Education Budget and General Fund Budget

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY–The Alabama House of Representatives passed the Education budget late in the session on Wednesday by a margin of 96 to 4.  The budget had already passed in the Senate.  The General Fund Budget, the Court Cost bill, and the Constitutional Amendment (SB147) which would plug the shortfall in … Continued
May 17, 2012