Steve Flowers

Righting the Titanic

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers You would have to have been under a rock for the past six months to not have heard that the State General Fund has a shortfall and Gov. Robert Bentley has proposed a $540 million tax increase solution to resolve the problem. This crisis has been formulating for close … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 13, 2015

Opinion

Redistricting Case Cloud Over Session

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers There is an ominous cloud hanging over this legislative session. Last year the U.S. Supreme Court surprisingly agreed to hear a Hail Mary complaint filed by the black legislative caucus over the 2014 redistricting plan. In an even more surprising opinion, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 6, 2015

Opinion

Nice Guys Finish Last

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Recently, at a forum I was asked the question, “Which governor made a difference in Alabama politics?” The question caught me off guard because I really had not thought about that obvious inquiry. My knee-jerk reaction and answer to the insightful questioner was George Wallace and I gave a … Continued

Steve Flowers

April 29, 2015

Opinion

2018 Derby for Governor

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers On a picture perfect sunny January day Governor Robert Bentley was sworn in for his second term as governor, along with all of the other constitutional state officeholders. Taking their oath of office on the same day were Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, Attorney General Luther Strange, State Treasurer Young … Continued

Steve Flowers

April 22, 2015

Opinion

Barking at The Moon

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers As the world turns in Alabama politics, a lot has happened in the first three months of 2015. After Inauguration Day, a federal judge in Mobile ruled Alabama’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was not constitutional under federal law. In appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court it was obvious … Continued

Steve Flowers

April 15, 2015

Opinion

Honors and Posibilites

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Alabama’s senior and premier political reporter, Phil Rawls, has retired. Phil spent 35 years reporting on Alabama politics for the Associated Press. He was simply the best. He was fair and accurate. His 40 years of covering the State Capitol made him easily the longest serving member of Alabama’s … Continued

Steve Flowers

April 8, 2015

Opinion

The Charter School Options

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers In recent years, the Republican Party has taken control of the legislatures in all of the southern states. Alabama’s legislature is overwhelmingly Republican. The GOP holds a 25 to 9 majority in the State Senate and an equally dominating 72 to 33 majority in the House of Representatives. Our … Continued

Steve Flowers

April 1, 2015

Opinion

Calling Dr. Bentley

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Our good doctor governor, Robert Bentley, has done a thorough physical exam on the state’s finances and his diagnosis is that the General Fund needs additional revenue. His Republican comrades in the legislature have been trying to starve the patient for the past four years. If the patient is … Continued

Steve Flowers

March 25, 2015

Opinion

Alabama the Generous

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Alabama may be in the lower tier of the country in some categories but not when it comes to providing health insurance for children. In that one category we excel. Brian Lyman with the Montgomery Advertiser provided an excellent study revealing that Alabama leads the south in taking care … Continued

Steve Flowers

March 18, 2015

Opinion

Common Core Politicly Hot

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE by Steve Flowers March 11, 2015 The Common Core education topic is not only a hot political issue in Alabama, it has become a political football nationwide and it appears to be a hot potato in the looming 2016 GOP presidential contest. As soon as Jeb Bush announced that he would “actively … Continued

Steve Flowers

March 11, 2015