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Steve Flowers

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
March 18, 2015

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
March 11, 2015

Chickens Come Home to Roost

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The first regular legislative session of the quadrennium has begun. Legislators have arrived in Montgomery for their three and a half month session and they will face a myriad of problems and issues. The General Fund Budget has been in the doldrums for several years. The chickens have to … Continued
March 4, 2015

With Coming Session Bentley’s Legacy On Line

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The first legislative session of the quadrennium convenes next week. It is no secret that the state is broke. Fiscal problems left over from the Riley administration that were swept under the rug for four years are finally front and center. The chickens have come home to roost, so … Continued
February 25, 2015

Bentley Determined to Fix Problems

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The legislature and the governor are preparing for the first Regular Session of the quadrennium. The Session will begin March 3. Legislators need to arrive in Montgomery with their lunch pails and sleeves rolled up ready to go to work because the proverbial chickens have come home to roost. … Continued
February 18, 2015

Ominous and Obvious Problems

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers As the legislature and governor prepare for the upcoming initial legislative session of the quadrennium, they are facing ominous and obvious problems. The General Fund is in dire straits, primarily due to the escalating costs of Medicaid and prisons. The problems in the Prison System may be even more … Continued
February 12, 2015

Legislators Have Their Work Cut Out for Them

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The legislature completed their week long organizational session last month with very little fanfare or controversy. They will get to work on substantive issues beginning with the Regular Session in March. Their work will be cut out for them. They are facing a General Fund Budget that has at … Continued
February 5, 2015

Fixing Budget Hole a Big Task

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers The most pressing problem facing the governor and legislature as they enter this new quadrennium is the financial shortfall in the General Fund Budget. Last year the governor floated a trial balloon to see if there was any traction to combine the two state budgets in order to give … Continued
January 28, 2015

Inauguration Day

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Dr. Robert Bentley was inaugurated Monday as our governor for the second time. He and his lovely wife, Diane, are good people.  When you get to be my age, four years goes by in a hurry. It seems like only yesterday that Gov. Bentley was enjoying his first inauguration. … Continued
January 22, 2015

Tuscaloosa County’s Power Politicos

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE By Steve Flowers Throughout Alabama political history, certain cities, counties and enclaves have had a proclivity for having an inordinate number of their citizenry serve in Alabama politics. The most dominant example is the unbelievable number of governors produced by Barbour County. It is referred to as the Home of Governors. However, … Continued
January 14, 2015