Trip Pittman

News / State

Senate committee gives favorable report to economic developer bill HB317

The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee gave a favorable report to a much-amended version of House Bill 317 after a lengthy discussion. House Bill 317 is sponsored by state Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton, and is being carried by Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, in the Senate. The Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 22, 2018

Senate to put economic developer bill on fast track

A bill that would create a new class of individuals dubbed “economic development professionals” and essentially exempt them from lobbying provisions in the state’s ethics laws is on the fast track in the Alabama Senate. A Senate committee will consider the bill, HB317 by Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton, on Wednesday, and Senate President Pro Tem Del … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 21, 2018

Gov. Ivey asks Pro Tem Marsh to press forward with controversial bill

Last week, economic development proposal, HB317, was left hanging while Republican Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh met with Gov. Kay Ivey to discuss the bill’s future. Bogged down in controversy, HB317 seeks to create a new class of individuals called economic development professionals who are exempt from state ethics laws. Currently, those who engage … Continued

Bill Britt

March 20, 2018

Lawmaker admits new ethics bill would have saved Mike Hubbard from prosecution

In what may be one of the most brazen acts of upending state ethics laws, Republican Rep. Rich Wingo admitted on Tuesday that his legislation, HB387, is designed to save others from being prosecuted like former Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard. Wingo, during a floor debate, unwittingly gave the real reasons behind HB387, which … Continued

Bill Britt

March 15, 2018

Marsh to meet with Gov. Ivey to decide fate of economic developer bill

Senate President Del Marsh, R-Anniston, asked the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee to hold over a bill Wednesday to exempt economic developers from the state’s lobbying requirements until after he meets with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on the matter today. House Bill 317, titled The Alabama Jobs Enhancement Act, is sponsored by State … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 15, 2018

House passes General Fund Budget

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama House of Representatives passed the state General Fund Budget on Tuesday. The General Fund Budget for the 2019 fiscal year is Senate Bill 178. It is sponsored by Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose. State Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, carried the budget on the House floor. Clouse chairs the … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 14, 2018

Legislature expected to deal with budgets this week

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama House of Representatives will meet today to consider the state General Fund Budget (SGF). The state of Alabama is unique among the states in that most of the money is earmarked for specific purposes allowing the legislature little year to year flexibility in moving funds around. The … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 13, 2018

Opinion

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

House makes effort reach bipartisan plan on school security, gun safety

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Thursday, there was an effort among Alabama legislators to craft a bipartisan piece of legislation to deal with school security and the potential of school shootings. Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, had a meeting in the speaker’s conference room with all of the various … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 9, 2018

Jason Fisher runs for State Senate

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Jason Fisher, a former U.S. Senate Candidate, launched his campaign for Alabama state Senate Thursday in District 32. Fisher said that he is receiving strong support from local Democrats. “It is an exciting time in Baldwin County,” South Baldwin Democrats member Pam Skaggs, said. “We have more Democrats on … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 5, 2018