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Will Brooke

News / Legislature / State

McCutcheon says Hubbard ruling made it clear: ethics law has flaws

Friday, Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, R – Monrovia, issued a statement following the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling affirming five of the convictions of former Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn. “The Supreme Court’s ruling has made it clear that our ethics law has flaws that must be addressed,” said McCutcheon. “Our task … Continued
April 13, 2020

Alabama Supreme Court upholds Hubbard conviction on six counts

It took nearly two years, but the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled on former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s appeal of his felony ethics convictions. The court upheld six of the 11 counts previously affirmed by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. The Supreme Court reversed five of the counts upheld by the appeals court. … Continued
April 10, 2020

Bentley left office one year ago today. Still, rogues and scoundrels remain

Today marks one year since Alabama’s 53rd governor, Robert Bentley, left office in disgrace. In just the last two decades, two Republican and one Democrat governor of Alabama were proven crooks. Many more were no doubt rogues and scoundrels, but unlike Bentley, Guy Hunt or Don Siegelman, they never were convicted of their crimes. Of … Continued
April 10, 2018

Alabama politicians aren’t even trying to hide the corruption anymore

The corruption within Alabama’s state government doesn’t surprise me anymore. The brazenness of that corruption does. Seriously, these people aren’t even hiding it anymore. Former Republican majority leader Micky Hammon, before being busted, convicted and shipped off to federal prison, actually told a reporter about his illegal deal with a health care company. Former Republican … Continued
April 4, 2018

HB317: The players

Sometime after 10 a.m. today, the Alabama Senate will take up HB317, a bill to exempt a specific class of individuals from the state’s ethics laws. During a hearing on the bill before the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh told the committee members that the legislation was, … Continued
March 22, 2018

Some are using a stalking horse to undermine ethics laws

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter The greatest challenge before the Alabama State Legislature when it returns in February is not the budget, schools or Medicaid. It is the slight of hand chicanery used to undermine the State’s ethics laws. Since the conviction of former Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard on 12 felony ethics … Continued
January 10, 2017

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
December 8, 2016

Email Shows Plan in Huntsville Race

By Susan Britt Alabama Political Reporter Alabama Political Reporter has obtained an email in which members of a special interest group appear to openly discuss how they hope to influence the Huntsville City Council in return for their organization’s campaign donations. SEE EMAIL HERE SEE EMAIL HEADER In what looks to be an email from … Continued
October 3, 2016

BCA Today: Damaged Goods?

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—“Making a sweet home for business,” is the tagline for the Business Council of Alabama, commonly referred to as BCA around the State House and the Lee County Court House, during the trial of Mike Hubbard, who was found guilty of 12 felony counts of public corruption, with two … Continued
June 23, 2016

State May Come After Hubbard’s Assets

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Under the 2014 Forfeiture Act, the State can seize Mike Hubbard’s assets, because they were used in the commission of a crime. Hubbard, on June 10, was found guilty of twelve felony counts of public corruption for which he faces up to twenty years in State prison, and $30,000 … Continued
June 17, 2016