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The real danger for small loan borrowers

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In this Legislative Session, the fight to further restrict payday and other small lending operations began with half-truths, false claims of support, and conservative lawmakers making common cause with the State’s most liberal organization. Under the notion of protecting lower income families, single mothers, and minorities from themselves, a … Continued
April 26, 2017

Politics, public opinion permeate Moore suspension

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter If there was any question that the removal of Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was politically motivated, the ruling by the Special Supreme Court’s 45-minutes before his press conference last Wednesday should remove all doubt. Mere minutes before Moore’s press conference where he intended to shame the Special … Continued
April 24, 2017

Roy Moore maintains innocence even after court rules against him

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Tuesday, April 19, 2017, suspended Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Roy Moore (R) had intended to chastise the Special Supreme Court for not deciding his case; but 45 minutes before the scheduled press conference in the old Alabama Supreme Court room in Alabama’s 1859 Capitol complex, the … Continued
April 20, 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

Official State Republican women’s group denies support for small lending legislation

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter Recently the word has gone out that the “Republican women” are supporting legislation to further regulate small lenders and place a 36 percent cap on all loans. In the political arena, there are often strange alliances created to accomplish a given task. Shay Farley, representing the Southern Poverty Law … Continued
March 1, 2017

Prison construction bill to be considered by Senate Committee in March

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Senate version of the bill authorizing the Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 1, the bill’s sponsor said Thursday. The plan would authorize the Department of Corrections to issue an $800 million bond to construct three new 4,000-bed men’s … Continued
February 17, 2017

$800 million prison construction plan to be a top priority in 2017 session

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Robert Bentley’s plan to build four new State prisons through an $800 million bond issue will be a top priority for legislators with the start of the 2017 Regular Session today. On Tuesday, Sen. Cam Ward, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, proposed a 2017 version of the … Continued
February 7, 2017

SPLC: Prison building initiative doesn’t solve underlying problems

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Southern Poverty Law Center, a Montgomery-based civil rights legal organization, doesn’t believe Gov. Robert Bentley’s plan to build four new prisons to replace Alabama’s aging corrections infrastructure solves the State’s underlying problems. Bentley and Corrections Commissioner Jefferson Dunn plan to push for the Prison Transformation Initiative again during … Continued
January 31, 2017

Prison mental health lawsuit moves forward as class action

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter A federal judge ruled Friday that a lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center against the Alabama Department of Corrections can move forward as a class-action lawsuit. US District Judge Myron Thompson ruled that the case, which alleges that Alabama prisoners have been denied mental health care, can … Continued
November 29, 2016