Steve Flowers

More Than Fireworks in July

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The week leading up to the Fourth of July had a lot of fireworks. In fact, my guess is that when we look back at the year 2015, we will look to that week as the most momentous of the year. It was like bang, bang, bang. The declaration … Continued

Steve Flowers

July 22, 2015

Opinion

A History of Legendary Battles for the Education Trust Fund

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers A good many of you let me know that you agreed with my column last week when I suggested that stealing from the Special Education Trust Fund budget to resolve the dilemma in the General Fund is not the solution needed during the looming extraordinary special session. This potential … Continued

Steve Flowers

July 15, 2015

Opinion

Three Trains Running Down Same Track

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers As the legislative session was winding down, it was obvious no solution was going to be found for the beleaguered General Fund Budget. The Governor’s $541 million tax increase proposal had been ignored. Although he still kept preaching that this was the prescription for the ailing General Fund, the … Continued

Steve Flowers

July 8, 2015

Opinion

Why Pick-on VictoryLand?

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Last week’s verdict that VictoryLand be allowed to reopen is justice served. The people of Macon County voted for a constitutional amendment to allow for electronic bingo. The issue of pari-mutuel style casino betting and the closing of the ultramodern and successful luxury gaming resort in Macon County has … Continued

Steve Flowers

July 2, 2015

Opinion

Facing Grim Reaper Budget

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Alabama is only one of a handful of states that work out of two budgets. We have a General Fund Budget and a separate Education Budget. Our General Fund is where the severe problem rests. The reason is that the General Fund gets none of the growth taxes so … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 24, 2015

Opinion

Everything on The Table

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The regular legislative session ended without a General Fund Budget. As we look back politically on the first half of the year, the dilemma with the General Fund has been the dominant issue. It has been at the forefront since the beginning of the year and it is not … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 17, 2015

Opinion

The Coming Train Wreck

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers As I was walking out of the Statehouse recently someone asked me, “Do you think we will have gambling in Alabama”. My response was simple. We already have gambling, the state just does not derive any revenue from it. Indeed gambling proliferates in our state just as it does … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 10, 2015

Opinion

Bentley Not Crying Wolf

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers We are in the final days of the first regular legislative session of the quadrennium. The session constitutionally has to end June 15. The governor and legislature are at a standoff. The financial dilemma in the State General Fund has not been addressed and the budgets are up in … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 3, 2015

Opinion

Prediction: Same sex marriage will be the law of the land

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers This has been an eventful year. Thousands of tourists have flocked to Alabama to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March for Civil and Voting Rights. The events that happened in Alabama spurred the enactment of the landmark acts that broke down the legal barriers prohibiting … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 27, 2015

Opinion

Prison Reform a Major Accomplishment

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The hallmark accomplishment of this year’s legislative session will be a comprehensive prison reform package. This legislation is the one long-term substantive issue tackled by the super majority Republican legislative body. This comprehensive prison project has been in the works for a while. A lot of research and planning … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 20, 2015