Steve Flowers

News

Ain’t Alabama politics fun?

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Historically speaking, Alabamians have been more interested in the governor’s race than presidential politics. For years, from 1876 to 1964, we were a totally Democratic state, more so out of tradition than philosophically. The hatred for the radical Republican Reconstruction shackles invoked on the South made an indelible mark … Continued

Steve Flowers

December 21, 2016

Opinion

Prison central item for upcoming session

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers While the presidential race played out this year, several things happened in Alabama politics that went under the radar. First, a federal appeals court upheld the legislature’s banning PAC to PAC transfers. The new Republican legislative majority that marched into the Statehouse in 2011 set out to destroy and … Continued

Steve Flowers

December 14, 2016

Opinion

Ethics ruling risks charity fundraising

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers In a political season…giver beware!!! It is Christmas time, and since Alabama is one of the most charitable states in the nation, I would expect that many of us are in the giving mood and plan to help many worthy causes across our great state. Unfortunately, it appears that … Continued

Steve Flowers

December 7, 2016

Opinion

Sessions a shoo-in

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers It is definite, our Junior Senator, Jeff Sessions, is going to be President Donald Trump’s Attorney General, as well as his closest advisor. Sessions will be confirmed by the Senate. He has been a respected member of the Senate for 20 years. He has an impeccably clean history of … Continued

Steve Flowers

November 30, 2016

Opinion

Dewey didn’t win either

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers Donald J. Trump’s election to the presidency left the pollsters and pundits from every media outlet and news network with egg on their face. It also left them with their mouths ajar in shock. Every poll and every pundit had Hillary Clinton winning the presidency. It was assumed that … Continued

Steve Flowers

November 16, 2016

Opinion

Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the Electoral College

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers You know the outcome of the election. Unfortunately I had to go to press with the column prior to Tuesday. We will analyze the results for you next week. There should be very few surprises. The Electoral College System of selecting our President favors a Democrat winning the White … Continued

Steve Flowers

November 9, 2016

Opinion

There’s a Dimes Worth of Difference

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers We will vote to select the 44th President Tuesday. The next President will be a New Yorker. Whomever is selected will enter the Oval office with the most unfavorable poll ratings of any President in recent memory. This election will epitomize the old adage that George Wallace once told … Continued

Steve Flowers

November 2, 2016

Opinion

A Tale from ‘62

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers The year was 1962. John Kennedy was President. Camelot was in full bloom. The Congress was controlled by Democrats only because the South was solidly Democratic. The Southern bloc of senators and congressmen were all Democrats. Because of their enormous seniority, they controlled both houses of Congress, especially the … Continued

Steve Flowers

October 26, 2016

Opinion

Just a Good Ole Boy

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Ole Bill Baxley has been in the news a lot this year. He was the lead defense counsel for former Speaker Mike Hubbard’s ethics conviction trial over in Opelika. Baxley practices law in Birmingham and is one of the state’s premier and most expensive criminal defense lawyers. Like a … Continued

Steve Flowers

October 19, 2016

Opinion

Sessions: Conservative Stalwart

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers Our junior U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions has risen to national prominence in this pivotal presidential year. His arch conservative senate voting record and impeccable pedigree as one of the most rock solid Republicans in the U.S. Senate has made him a marquee persona among right wing Fox News conservatives … Continued

Steve Flowers

October 12, 2016