state government

Groupthink voting is now literally killing us

I have many friends who can tell you the names of the offensive linemen who started last year for their favorite college football team. And most of them can also tell you who their backups are. Very few of these people can name off their state senator, their state representative, the city councilmen or their … Continued

Josh Moon

April 3, 2020

Jones says of stimulus bill, “We are going to get this done”

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, said Monday, “We are going to get this done,” when talking about a stimulus bill that both parties agree is needed to avoid an economic meltdown from the shutdowns that have been ordered by authorities to slow the spread of the coronavirus. “We’ve made a lot of progress in the … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 24, 2020

Opinion

How Alabama’s government stays broken

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist — or even any kind of scientist — to figure out that Alabama’s state government is broken. I mean, really, just look around. At the poverty, the poor education, the racism, the arrested public officials, the in-your-face public corruption and the complete disregard for the welfare of the majority … Continued

Josh Moon

February 19, 2020

Opinion

Partisanship that ruined Alabama’s state government has infected Congress

Oliver Robinson deserved to go to jail and I wouldn’t vote for him to be team captain in a pick-up basketball game. Good riddance to John Edwards. Bye bye to Anthony Weiner. So long to Jesse Jackson Jr. Don’t let the door hit ya, Rod Blagojevich. Crooks and scoundrels, all of them. And I wouldn’t … Continued

Josh Moon

December 12, 2019

Opinion

In the end, consensus

At APR’s morning teleconference call on Monday, I asked the staff if there was a unifying message we could send about the mass shootings that took place over the weekend. APR’s statement of purpose centers around the idea of covering state politics to inform, educate and alert our readers to what is happening in state … Continued

Bill Britt

August 7, 2019

Byrne introduces balanced budget amendment

Thursday, on the opening day of the 116th Congress, Alabama Republican Congressman Bradley Byrne introduced a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution, House Joint Resolution 6. The bill marks the first piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Byrne in the 116th Congress, which officially convened on Jan. 3. “We must balance the budget, … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 7, 2019

Opinion

A new quadrennium: Alabama potpourri and trivia

As we begin this New Year of 2019, Alabama begins a new quadrennium in state government. All of our Constitutional state officeholders begin their new four-year terms this month. Governor Kay Ivey will be sworn in for a four-year term on January 14. Also, being sworn in on Inauguration Day will be Will Ainsworth as … Continued

Steve Flowers

January 2, 2019

Opinion

Now, a Medicaid program built around families and communities

The elections of November 6th are over, and now, in Washington and in Montgomery legislators again take up the task of governing. As the leader of Alabama’s twenty-seven Republican state senators, my focus is on working with other lawmakers and Governor Kay Ivey to make state government more efficient and to keep job growth strong. … Continued

Greg Reed

December 12, 2018

Opinion

RIP, ethics

The hope for ethics in Alabama’s state government died on Monday. To be fair, it had been on life support for quite some time, having taken on several near-fatal blows over the last few years. But on Monday, after months of trying, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall finally took ethics out back, like Ol’ Yeller, … Continued

Josh Moon

November 20, 2018

Opinion

Will Republicans bring change or status quo?

For eight years, Republicans have dominated state government in Alabama, but those years are not a fair representation of Republican leadership because, for most of that time, corrupt, crazy or compromised men were at the helms in the State House, the governor’s office and throughout the political infrastructure. Already, Republicans are laying the groundwork for … Continued

Bill Britt

November 12, 2018