taxpayers Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

FBI, DOE investigating potential fraud in Alabama virtual schools

The investigation of the virtual schools, and the allegations of improperly boosting enrollment figures to generate more tax dollars, would be similar to federal investigations of virtual schools in other states. As in those investigations, the alleged wrongdoing in Alabama involves tens of millions of dollars in tax money.

August 11, 2020

Group names Rep. Mo Brooks a “Taxpayer Super Hero”

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste on Thursday named U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, a 2019 “Taxpayer Super Hero.” Only 27 members out of 435 voting members of the U.S. House of Representatives were named a 2019 “Taxpayer Super Hero.” Only members with a perfect 100 percent score on CCAGW’s 2019 Congressional Ratings received … Continued

May 22, 2020

Alabama taxpayers will pay to defend Trump administration rollback of Endangered Species Act

Alabama taxpayers will pay as much as $30,000 to a Los Angeles law firm to defend President Donald Trump’s substantial weakening of the Endangered Species Act, according to state records. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall led a coalition of 13 states in the Dec. 9 filing in a California district court in defense of the … Continued

January 9, 2020

Alabama’s charter school law has a number of problems

The Alabama charter school law is an absolute mess, filled with loopholes and nonexistent instructions that make it possible, if not likely, that the state will endure countless bad charter schools that rob taxpayers and leave Alabama school children worse off. Those were not the words of Alabama superintendent Eric Mackey. But you could draw … Continued

July 30, 2019

Heated lottery debate revealed the secrets of the Alabama Legislature

In the debate Thursday in the Alabama Senate over a proposed lottery bill, there was one conversation that stood out. Yeah, there were plenty of arguments and creative amendments pushed. There were angry senators and accusations of nefarious intentions tossed around. But the back and forth between Sen. Bobby Singleton and Sen. Greg Albritton, the … Continued

April 26, 2019

Heifner releases issue priorities in HD 74 seat

Local family law attorney Jesse Heifner released a list of his issue priorities in his campaign for the open House District 74 seat on Friday. Heifner qualified for the seat in the Alabama House of Representatives formerly held by Rep. Dimitri Polizos, R-Montgomery, who died suddenly from a heart attack. “After much thought, prayer and … Continued

April 15, 2019

Jones partners with GOP senator to stop tax refund theft

Tax filing season has officially begun, and that means tax returns and tax refunds — not all of which are real. Tax filing season creates an opportunity for con artists to file fraudulent tax returns in an effort to steal real refunds that are owed to other taxpayers. Theft of tax refunds cost victims a … Continued

January 30, 2019

Byrne: Democrats have shut down the government for “open borders”

Thursday is day six of the partial government shutdown and there is no resolution in sight. Congressman Bradley Byrne, R-Montrose, blames the Democrats. “Democrats are so committed to open borders that they have shut down the government instead of supporting common sense immigration priorities,” Rep. Byrne said on social. We must hold strong and continue … Continued

December 27, 2018

Maddox is right: The state shouldn’t pay for Bentley’s attorneys

Should the state be footing the bill for attorneys to defend former Gov. Robert Bentley in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency head Spencer Collier? Gov. Kay Ivey says it should, that the state has an obligation to do so under the law. Her challenger for the seat she currently … Continued

September 19, 2018