Next Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., Commissioner of Ag and Industries Ron Sparks will hold a meeting that the House Tourism and Travel Committee hopes will end in a strongly worded resolution to the state's Congressional delegation urging them push the federal to open up more travel and trade opportunities with Cuba.
T & T Committee Chair Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, said there is a potential to attract millions from the Midwest , down I-65, divert them to attractions all over the state and then put them on a cruise ship to Cuba.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A Reversal of Roles
While the House bogged down on bills that impact the Education Trust Fund, the Senate passed several pieces of noteworthy legislation.
Including the following:
Sen. Parker Griffith: Excluding federal tax rebates from state income tax
Sen. Vivian Figures: Indoor smoking ban
Sen. Hinton Mitchem: Sex offenders restricted from college and university property
Sen. Roger Bedford: Unemployment compensation bill that saves businesses more than $700 million in taxes, and a bill that provides tax breaks to attract the film industry.
As busy as the Senate was passing bills they also killed one that many had their eyes on: a bill to remove the state-portion of the sales tax on food.
But even when the House is in a slowdown, they eventually get some things done.
The House finally passed a bill that adds $67 million to the proposed spending plan for education, along with bills that provide a tax break for small businesses and their employees on health insurance.
Both chambers were still in session as of 6:43 p.m. There is some buzz that they could be here all night.
Including the following:
Sen. Parker Griffith: Excluding federal tax rebates from state income tax
Sen. Vivian Figures: Indoor smoking ban
Sen. Hinton Mitchem: Sex offenders restricted from college and university property
Sen. Roger Bedford: Unemployment compensation bill that saves businesses more than $700 million in taxes, and a bill that provides tax breaks to attract the film industry.
As busy as the Senate was passing bills they also killed one that many had their eyes on: a bill to remove the state-portion of the sales tax on food.
But even when the House is in a slowdown, they eventually get some things done.
The House finally passed a bill that adds $67 million to the proposed spending plan for education, along with bills that provide a tax break for small businesses and their employees on health insurance.
Both chambers were still in session as of 6:43 p.m. There is some buzz that they could be here all night.
Senate: Back to Work
After a bit of partisan bickering this morning, the Senate passed a bill Wednesday that will keep Alabamians from paying taxes on the economic stimulus checks that they will start receiving tomorrow. The vote was 32 to 0.
But the vote might not stand because as a revenue measure, the legislation should have come from the House.
But the vote might not stand because as a revenue measure, the legislation should have come from the House.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Kumbaya? Not Exactly.
Members of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee seemed cheery--almost giddy--during its Wednesday meeting.
Could it be that a session marked by tension over local bills could be smoothed out with a friendly game of baseball?
It's doubtful whether they will break into renditions of Kumbaya, but senators seem to be in a better mood after their Tuesday softball game.
When the FTE Committee took up a non-controversial House bill that establishes a Virtual Library and an executive council for that library Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, made this quip to bill sponsor Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattvile:
"Do you see how fast that passed," asked Smitherman, who is helping to keep the existing filibuster that's slowing down the Senate alive. "You don't have to worry downstairs. We're going to get this done quick."
Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, who lead a filibuster earlier in the session, jokingly added: "Unless it's a local bill. That might take some time."
The Senate lost to the House 15 to 16, so senators ribbed Gipson a little because of the controversy in the House over a bill that would remove the state-portion of the sales tax on food.
But only tomorrow will tell if the goodwill lasts beyond Wednesday.
Could it be that a session marked by tension over local bills could be smoothed out with a friendly game of baseball?
It's doubtful whether they will break into renditions of Kumbaya, but senators seem to be in a better mood after their Tuesday softball game.
When the FTE Committee took up a non-controversial House bill that establishes a Virtual Library and an executive council for that library Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, made this quip to bill sponsor Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattvile:
"Do you see how fast that passed," asked Smitherman, who is helping to keep the existing filibuster that's slowing down the Senate alive. "You don't have to worry downstairs. We're going to get this done quick."
Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, who lead a filibuster earlier in the session, jokingly added: "Unless it's a local bill. That might take some time."
The Senate lost to the House 15 to 16, so senators ribbed Gipson a little because of the controversy in the House over a bill that would remove the state-portion of the sales tax on food.
But only tomorrow will tell if the goodwill lasts beyond Wednesday.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Siegelman Speaks to PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley Tonight
Former Gov. Don Siegelman will sit down with PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley tonight.
From Smiley's Web site: "Siegelman served in Alabama politics for 26 years. He's the only person to be elected to serve in all four of the state's top offices: secretary of state, attorney general, lieutenant governor and governor. He was noted for his work in improving education, children's services and promoting anti-crime initiatives. In '07, the once-popular Democrat was convicted of corruption charges and sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison. Siegelman was recently released pending his appeal."
Show airs at 11:30 p.m. on Alabama Public Television.
From Smiley's Web site: "Siegelman served in Alabama politics for 26 years. He's the only person to be elected to serve in all four of the state's top offices: secretary of state, attorney general, lieutenant governor and governor. He was noted for his work in improving education, children's services and promoting anti-crime initiatives. In '07, the once-popular Democrat was convicted of corruption charges and sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison. Siegelman was recently released pending his appeal."
Show airs at 11:30 p.m. on Alabama Public Television.
Watch out Senators, Rep. Alvin Holmes is coming for you!
Black Caucus member Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, is calling out senators who are holding up bills hundreds of bills including the General Fund with a filibuster.
Holmes, who has been in the Legislature for 34 years, said that the black senators who represent Macon, Greene and Montgomery counties (the core folks leading the filibuster) could expect Republicans to unseat them in the 2010 elections if they continue.
He also predicted that any white senators helping them keep the filibuster alive can expect to turn their seats over to someone else during the next election cycle.
Why? Because he's going to come to their districts and help campaign against them.
Ironically enough, Holmes' remarks came during the House's own slowdown with members filibustering a bill that would force 44 companies that are not based in the state to pay Alabama corporate income taxes.
Holmes, who has been in the Legislature for 34 years, said that the black senators who represent Macon, Greene and Montgomery counties (the core folks leading the filibuster) could expect Republicans to unseat them in the 2010 elections if they continue.
He also predicted that any white senators helping them keep the filibuster alive can expect to turn their seats over to someone else during the next election cycle.
Why? Because he's going to come to their districts and help campaign against them.
Ironically enough, Holmes' remarks came during the House's own slowdown with members filibustering a bill that would force 44 companies that are not based in the state to pay Alabama corporate income taxes.
Keep Your Hands To Yourself!!
Rep. Duwayne Bridges, R-Valley, informed Rep. Randy Hinshaw, D-Meridianville, and any other member of the House who is thinking of voting for him without his permission to keep their hands to themselves.
Bridges formally registered his dissent on a bill that would remove the state-portion of the sales tax on food (HB274) into the Journal of the House.
"Let the Journal record that I did not vote in favor of HB274 and that I remain personally opposed to the measure," he wrote in a letter to the clerk of the House. "Let it further lodge my official complaint that my machine was voted contrary to my position by a member of the opposite party without permission or authority and at a time when it should have been locked and protected from abuse."
Hinshaw has admitted that when the final vote came, he voted for absent members which caused the bill to pass with the 63 votes necessary to pass the measure.
Bridges was on a job recruitment mission to Korea and China on that day, and he said if he had been here he would not have voted for the measure.
Bridges wrote in his letter that House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, had made the motion that his machine and the machines of other absent House members be locked for the remainder of the meeting day.
When House Rule 32 (requires members to vote their own machines) was invoked and then rescinded by Rep. Jack Williams, R-Birmingham, that should not have affected Hubbard's motion, he said.
"If I asked someone to vote my machine and they did, I thank you for that," Bridges said from the House floor Tuesday. "But when someone from another party votes for me while I'm gone--I find that wrong and I think it's wrong for someone to do that.
Bridges said at first he believed that the leadership in the House orchestrated the move, but now he believes that Hinshaw was simply being sneaky.
"I never authorized that gentleman to vote my machine," he said. "Unless I ask you to vote my machine, keep your hands off of it, and to that individual--don't you ever touch my machine again."
Whether Bridges' complaint is too little, too late remains to be seen.
The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee on Education voted Tuesday to give HB274 a favorable report, which means that it could go to the full Senate as early as this week.
Bridges formally registered his dissent on a bill that would remove the state-portion of the sales tax on food (HB274) into the Journal of the House.
"Let the Journal record that I did not vote in favor of HB274 and that I remain personally opposed to the measure," he wrote in a letter to the clerk of the House. "Let it further lodge my official complaint that my machine was voted contrary to my position by a member of the opposite party without permission or authority and at a time when it should have been locked and protected from abuse."
Hinshaw has admitted that when the final vote came, he voted for absent members which caused the bill to pass with the 63 votes necessary to pass the measure.
Bridges was on a job recruitment mission to Korea and China on that day, and he said if he had been here he would not have voted for the measure.
Bridges wrote in his letter that House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, had made the motion that his machine and the machines of other absent House members be locked for the remainder of the meeting day.
When House Rule 32 (requires members to vote their own machines) was invoked and then rescinded by Rep. Jack Williams, R-Birmingham, that should not have affected Hubbard's motion, he said.
"If I asked someone to vote my machine and they did, I thank you for that," Bridges said from the House floor Tuesday. "But when someone from another party votes for me while I'm gone--I find that wrong and I think it's wrong for someone to do that.
Bridges said at first he believed that the leadership in the House orchestrated the move, but now he believes that Hinshaw was simply being sneaky.
"I never authorized that gentleman to vote my machine," he said. "Unless I ask you to vote my machine, keep your hands off of it, and to that individual--don't you ever touch my machine again."
Whether Bridges' complaint is too little, too late remains to be seen.
The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee on Education voted Tuesday to give HB274 a favorable report, which means that it could go to the full Senate as early as this week.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Hey Batter, Batter!
It will be the House versus the Senate as state lawmakers square off Tuesday.
No, it's not a contest of which body can do more work on the 23rd legislative day of the session. We already know which one is winning that contest, don't we?
Legislators will square off in the Legislative Softball Game at 6 p.m. at the Auburn Montgomery baseball complex.
That is if the filibuster over bingo is ended by then.
No, it's not a contest of which body can do more work on the 23rd legislative day of the session. We already know which one is winning that contest, don't we?
Legislators will square off in the Legislative Softball Game at 6 p.m. at the Auburn Montgomery baseball complex.
That is if the filibuster over bingo is ended by then.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Sir Charles for Governor?
In 2014, some star-power could come to the race for Alabama's highest office.
Basketball Hall of Famer and Leeds native Charles Barkley told NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno Wednesday that he plans to run for governor of Alabama that year.
"They need my help," he said, with all seriousness. "It's still like 1977 in Alabama."
Barkley said the late 1970s was around the time that he was a public school student in Leeds, and not much has changed in his opinion.
Leno asked him why he's waiting until 2014 to run, and he said he needed to meet the residency requirement for the job. Alabama's Constitution requires that you live in the state for at least four years before running.
Barkley, who lives in Arizona now, said he recently purchased his mother's house so that he could meet that requirement.
He also might be trying to get his political resume together with a possible run for mayor of Leeds. Friends and family have apparently asked him to run and he's considering it.
Barkley told Leno that if he decides to run for governor he will make his announcement on The Tonight Show.
I wonder where he stands on constitutional reform?
Check out this link about the would-be politician: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/02/15/charles-barkley-promises-to-run-for-alabama-governor-in-2014/
P.S. The post mentions that Barkley has recently lost a signifcant wad of money gambling. I wonder how he'd resolve the bingo dispute that's currently shutting down the State Senate if he were governor?
Basketball Hall of Famer and Leeds native Charles Barkley told NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno Wednesday that he plans to run for governor of Alabama that year.
"They need my help," he said, with all seriousness. "It's still like 1977 in Alabama."
Barkley said the late 1970s was around the time that he was a public school student in Leeds, and not much has changed in his opinion.
Leno asked him why he's waiting until 2014 to run, and he said he needed to meet the residency requirement for the job. Alabama's Constitution requires that you live in the state for at least four years before running.
Barkley, who lives in Arizona now, said he recently purchased his mother's house so that he could meet that requirement.
He also might be trying to get his political resume together with a possible run for mayor of Leeds. Friends and family have apparently asked him to run and he's considering it.
Barkley told Leno that if he decides to run for governor he will make his announcement on The Tonight Show.
I wonder where he stands on constitutional reform?
Check out this link about the would-be politician: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/02/15/charles-barkley-promises-to-run-for-alabama-governor-in-2014/
P.S. The post mentions that Barkley has recently lost a signifcant wad of money gambling. I wonder how he'd resolve the bingo dispute that's currently shutting down the State Senate if he were governor?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tainted Vote?
Goat Hill has been all abuzz today about Tuesday's historic House-vote to remove the state-portion of the sales tax on food.
The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, just eked out of the House with exactly 63 votes. That was the number needed for it to pass the House.
But how the House got to that magic number is creating much controversy because several of the legislators who voted "yes" weren't even in the chamber--nay not even in the country--when their votes were cast.
At least two House members are on a international trade mission, according to Gov. Bob Riley's Office.
The thing is, members of the State Legislature have a friendly agreement among each other, as one legislator put it.
If a member is absent, but wants to have his or her vote counted, he authorizes another legislator to vote on his or her behalf. The key is the House member has to authorize someone to vote for them.
Some say that agreement didn't happen before the final vote for the Knight Tax Plan.
In the House, a member can invoke Rule 32 to force members to vote on their own machines. Rep. Jack Williams, R-Birmingham, did so during the time that the House voted on the budget isolation resolution, or BIR.
After reaching an agreement with Knight, Williams rescinded the rule, which many believed helped the measure pass because legislators could vote for absent members.
Because of the questions about the voting, Rep. Robert Bentley, R-Tuscaloosa, attempted to bring the matter up for a re-vote, but couldn't get the necessary votes.
The Knight Plan is headed for the Senate.
The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, just eked out of the House with exactly 63 votes. That was the number needed for it to pass the House.
But how the House got to that magic number is creating much controversy because several of the legislators who voted "yes" weren't even in the chamber--nay not even in the country--when their votes were cast.
At least two House members are on a international trade mission, according to Gov. Bob Riley's Office.
The thing is, members of the State Legislature have a friendly agreement among each other, as one legislator put it.
If a member is absent, but wants to have his or her vote counted, he authorizes another legislator to vote on his or her behalf. The key is the House member has to authorize someone to vote for them.
Some say that agreement didn't happen before the final vote for the Knight Tax Plan.
In the House, a member can invoke Rule 32 to force members to vote on their own machines. Rep. Jack Williams, R-Birmingham, did so during the time that the House voted on the budget isolation resolution, or BIR.
After reaching an agreement with Knight, Williams rescinded the rule, which many believed helped the measure pass because legislators could vote for absent members.
Because of the questions about the voting, Rep. Robert Bentley, R-Tuscaloosa, attempted to bring the matter up for a re-vote, but couldn't get the necessary votes.
The Knight Plan is headed for the Senate.
Say What?!?
As you know immigration reform is a hot button issue in Alabama these days.
People start to foam up when they talk about lost jobs, overcrowded schools and people abusing the system.
But just when you think you've heard it all, somebody raises the bar on the outrageous things they can and will say in public.
I'm all about free speech, hence this whole journalism thing, but during a discussion of two English-only bills being sponsored by Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, a member of the Senate Government Affairs Committee actually used the term "wetback."
Sen. W.H. "Pat" Lindsey, D- Butler, in his opposition to Beason's bills, said that the German and Korean workers who have made Alabama their home in recent years, "are not wetbacks trying to slip across the Rio Grande...this legislation is an insult to them."
I don't know about south Alabama, but where I'm from, calling somebody a "wetback" is insulting, even if it's aimed at people who are here illegally.
The bills as an insult was the same point that a representative from the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce was trying to make, but she was able to make it without calling anybody names.
People start to foam up when they talk about lost jobs, overcrowded schools and people abusing the system.
But just when you think you've heard it all, somebody raises the bar on the outrageous things they can and will say in public.
I'm all about free speech, hence this whole journalism thing, but during a discussion of two English-only bills being sponsored by Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, a member of the Senate Government Affairs Committee actually used the term "wetback."
Sen. W.H. "Pat" Lindsey, D- Butler, in his opposition to Beason's bills, said that the German and Korean workers who have made Alabama their home in recent years, "are not wetbacks trying to slip across the Rio Grande...this legislation is an insult to them."
I don't know about south Alabama, but where I'm from, calling somebody a "wetback" is insulting, even if it's aimed at people who are here illegally.
The bills as an insult was the same point that a representative from the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce was trying to make, but she was able to make it without calling anybody names.
Very Concealed
It could become a lot more difficult to find out who is carrying a gun in your county.
This week the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee green-lighted a bill that would prohibit the disclosure of information contained in gun permits.
While the purpose of the bill is to protect personal information that is often collected when a person applies for a permit to carry a gun, it could cover up which one of your elected officials (or neighbors for that matter) is packing heat.
No objections from the Alabama Press Association though since the bill was amended to allow for the release of statistical information on gun ownership.
This week the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee green-lighted a bill that would prohibit the disclosure of information contained in gun permits.
While the purpose of the bill is to protect personal information that is often collected when a person applies for a permit to carry a gun, it could cover up which one of your elected officials (or neighbors for that matter) is packing heat.
No objections from the Alabama Press Association though since the bill was amended to allow for the release of statistical information on gun ownership.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Isn't that a coincidence?
Protesters around the world have drawn attention to China's poor record on human rights this week by making it very difficult for the Olympic torch to make its trip around the world.
Candidates for the nation's highest office are demanding a boycott of the ceremonies.
All this negativity couldn't come at a worse time for Alabama.
Gov. Bob Riley is busy promoting Alabama's products and firming up trade relations with China.
This has got to be an editorial cartoonist's dream.
Candidates for the nation's highest office are demanding a boycott of the ceremonies.
All this negativity couldn't come at a worse time for Alabama.
Gov. Bob Riley is busy promoting Alabama's products and firming up trade relations with China.
This has got to be an editorial cartoonist's dream.
Statwide Water Management Plan Committee Clears Legislature
MONTGOMERY A joint resolution that creates a committee that will develop a statewide water management plan is on its way to the governor's desk.
Sponsored by Rep. Greg Canfield, R-Vestavia Hills, and Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland, the resolution creates a 14-member committee will include seven members from each chamber, and representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey and the ADECA Office of Water Resources.
The committee will be responsible for assessing water resources, conservation practices and technology to recommend the most efficient and effective use of the state's water resources.
Benefield said the move would not only help the state get a handle on its water resources, it might also help the state in its long-standing water feud with Georgia and Florida.
Sponsored by Rep. Greg Canfield, R-Vestavia Hills, and Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland, the resolution creates a 14-member committee will include seven members from each chamber, and representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey and the ADECA Office of Water Resources.
The committee will be responsible for assessing water resources, conservation practices and technology to recommend the most efficient and effective use of the state's water resources.
Benefield said the move would not only help the state get a handle on its water resources, it might also help the state in its long-standing water feud with Georgia and Florida.
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