State ethics laws

The worst bill this legislative session (so far) is dead. Sen. Greg Albritton’s rewrite of state ethics laws — which all but eliminated ethics laws — will apparently never leave the Senate Judiciary Committee, chairman Cam Ward said Wednesday afternoon. “It’s dead in my committee,” Ward told APR. It was an odd turn of events … Continued

In a last-ditch effort to save the Business Council of Alabama from the dung heap of political obscurity, President and CEO Billy Canary was pushed out of the business association late last Friday after he waged an ugly and protracted battle to remain in power. Canary’s fight to keep his job has left the once … Continued

There are two members of the Alabama House of Representatives who go by the name Jack; one is Vestavia Hills Republican Jack “J.D.” Williams, AKA “Bad Jack” among his colleagues, and then there is Wilmer Republican lawmaker Jack W. Williams called “Good Jack.” Earlier this week, Bad Jack Williams was indicted on federal conspiracy charges. … Continued

As the 2018 legislative sessions sprints towards the finish line, it is too early to count the winners and losers accurately. Perhaps it is enough to identify the heroes and villains — or merely recognize survivors. But even those player categories are a bit elusive for now, but they are coming into focus in these … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter For several years, lawmakers from Birmingham, Jefferson and surrounding counties have engaged in a turf war to reform the Birmingham Waterworks Board (BWWB). Even now, as the much sought after reforms have become law, as of January 1, 2017, the fight to maintain the status quo continues in backrooms … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter OPELIKA—On Day seven of the Speaker Mike Hubbard criminal public corruption trail, we heard testimony from Bobby Abrams, Rob Burton, and Jimmy Rane. Abrams, who owns the company Capitol Cups, paid Hubbard $10,000 a month ostensibly to sell cups. Abrams admitted that if Hubbard had secured the letter for … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Senate Bill 279, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville), would make significant changes to the existing State ethics laws. The Senator says, after fully considering the bill’s scope, he feels a series of public hearings are needed to a enact a bill that protects public interest, and the integrity … Continued