Tom Albritton

News

Piecemeal approach to ethics reform continues, and it’s questionable

Two bills designed to dramatically alter current ethics laws were approved by the House Ethics Committee last week. As introduced in the House, HB387, sponsored by Republican lawmaker Rep. Rich Wingo, would among other things allow public officials to hide potentially illegal acts under a new notifications rule. Wingo’s bill is companion legislation to SB221, … Continued

Bill Britt

March 12, 2018

Opinion

Commission for “Ethics Reform and Clarification” is pure fantasy

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter A Senate joint resolution creating The Code of Ethics Reform and Clarification Commission sponsored by Republican Senators Arthur Orr, President Pro Tem. Del Marsh and Majority Leader Greg Reed has been submitted to the Rules Committee and could be making it’s way through the Senate soon. Creating a commission … Continued

Bill Britt

January 26, 2018

Tankersley Exit Interview Part 2: No rules, no order

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter “Our State needs so much help. There is such a lack of confidence in our elected leaders. The Ethics Commission can help restore that lost confidence,” said Dr. Stewart Hill Tankersley in a recent interview with the Alabama Political Reporter. Tankersley Exit Interview Part 1: Success, collusion, and dismay … Continued

Bill Britt

August 1, 2017

Tankersley Exit Interview Part 1: Success, collusion, and dismay

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter As a soldier, physician, and man of faith, Dr. Stewart Hill Tankersley holds firm to his beliefs on right and wrong. As he ends his five-year service on the State’s Ethics Commission, he’s convinced there has been progress, but there are still many obstacles to restoring public confidence in … Continued

Bill Britt

July 31, 2017

Senator Dial’s Joint Legislative Committee sends report to the State Bar Association

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter An internal Alabama State Department of Education report will now head to the Alabama State Bar Association following a Joint Legislative Committee meeting. The committee, headed by State Senator Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) and Quinton Ross (D-Montgomery), met Tuesday to review new materials in a report by ALSDE Attorney Michael … Continued

Sam Mattison

July 26, 2017

Opinion

Will the Ethic Commission’s political parlor tricks doom Bentley?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter What the public learned from the Ethic Commission hearing surrounding accusations against Gov. Robert Bentley, is that he may have violated the Ethics Code and the Fair Campaign Practice Act (FCPA). What observant politicos witnessed was an Ethics Commission that is political, ineffectual, and has long outlived its sell-by-date. … Continued

Bill Britt

April 7, 2017

Opinion

The irony of righteous indignation

Education Matters By Larry Lee When State Superintendent of Education Mike Sentance told the State School Board Dec. 8, that the Office of Inspector General of the US Department of Education had determined that the State’s high school graduation rate was inaccurate, reaction was swift and true to form. Members of the Legislature who consistently … Continued

Larry Lee

December 16, 2016

Ethics Commission withdraws McCalla opinion after charities line-up

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter In a unanimous vote on September 1, 2016, the Alabama Ethics Commission issued advisory opinion 2016-24, which it believed clarified the question regarding public officials soliciting lobbyists and principals for contributions to a charitable organization, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The issue was raised by the nonprofit group, Friends … Continued

Bill Britt

December 8, 2016

Opinion

Doing it for the kids

By Larry Lee Education Matters “I did not know the rules.” These words won’t leave my head. Round and round, “I did not know the rules.” The reply given by state school board member Mary Scott Hunter to State Senator Gerald Dial when asked in a Nov. 10 committee meeting if she knew the Ethics … Continued

Larry Lee

November 14, 2016

Opinion

Dial Committee Meets Again as The Plot Thickens

By Larry Lee Education Matters The committee set up by Senators Gerald Dial and Quinton Ross held their second session Nov. 10 to question State school board members and others in the on-going effort to determine how an anonymous “smear sheet” discrediting Jefferson County school superintendent Craig Pouncey became public knowledge. Pouncey, a former chief … Continued

Larry Lee

November 11, 2016