Capitol Letters

Senate Rejects Attempt to Debate Plan to Remove Grocery Tax

2008-05-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

A bill, sponsored by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, that would remove the state portion of the sales tax on food, and remove the state deduction for federal income taxes failed to get enough votes to move on to full debate.

In a 20 to 11 vote (with three abstentions), the bill fell just short of the three-fifths majority needed to debate the bill.

The Senate could bring the bill back up, and Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, who is handling the bill said he wants to bring it back before the Legislature adjourns May 19.

Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, said the bill would shift a $345 million tax burden to 35 percent of the people and he is opposed to it.

"This could have been phased in under the unprecedented growth we've experienced in previous years," he said.

How they voted:

Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, voted no.
Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega, abstained
Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland, voted yes

House Passes Bill on Economic Stimulus Checks

2008-05-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

After several hours of debate, the House passed a bill that would prevent the economic stimulus check that Alabamians began getting in the mail this month.

In a 101-0 the House passed the bill sponsored by Rep. Terry Spicer, D-Elba. The bill is designed to keep the state from applying income taxes to the rebate checks people are receiving from the government. Though some say it might be an unnecessary measure because the federal government has said that the rebate is not taxable.

A Senate version of the bill passed last week, but is likely unconstitutional because all revenue measures must originate in the House.

Senate Passes The General Fund Budget

2008-05-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

The Legislature is now halfway to meeting its constitutional obligation.

The Senate has passed with some amendments the House proposed $1.9 billion general fund budget.

The General Fund budget pays for all non-education related state expenses.

The House will have to concur with the amendments before the bill heads to Gov. Bob Riley's desk.

The Senate still has to tackle the education budget, which could come to the floor as early as Thursday for debate.

Update: The House concurred on about $6 million in additions to the General Fund Budget, bring the grand total to just over $2 million. The budget is now in the hands of Gov. Bob Riley.

Senate Committee Passes Education Budget

2008-05-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee gave a favorable report to the House generated $6.3 billion education budget.

The Committee also gave a favorable report to companion legislation that collects state corporate income taxes from 44 companies that don't currently pay those taxes, and provides tax breaks to small companies and their employees.

Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, announced to the committee that negotiations on the corporate tax bill were continuing, but he recommend that it get the bills out of committee and amendments would be offered on the floor.

Marsh has been actively involved with behind the scenes negotiations, but he's been mum about just what he is trying to work out.

Higher education is hoping that somebody works out a plan to add $25 million more to their appropriations, though Committee Chairman Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, said he is determined not to move the bottom line.

Seniors Support Knight Sales Tax Plan

2008-05-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

The state branch of the AARP and the Silver-Haired Legislature are urging the Senate to pass Rep. John Knight's plan to remove the state-portion of the sales tax on food.

In a press conference today, representatives from both groups stood with Knight, Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, and representatives from Alabama Arise.

Sanders sponsored the failed Senate version of the Knight plan.

Joan Carter, state director of AARP, said 9 out of 10 people who now live on a fixed income would benefit from passing the Knight plan.

"All of us will benefit because we all buy groceries," she said.

Bill Adams, Speaker of the House for the Alabama Silver-Haired Legislature, said if he were in the Legislature he would let the people vote.

Adams served in the House during former Gov. Fob James' administration representing Cherokee and Etowah counties between 1979 to 1982.

He said legislators "have no right to say to the people of Alabama that they are not smart enough to decide.

"They should pass this bill and give people and opportunity to vote," he said.

Knight said he doesn't see why anyone would vote against the allowing Alabamians to vote on the issue.

He also said he is against a Republican effort in the Senate to tie the passage of the grocery tax bill to a measure that returns property appraisals to every four years.

"I don't see how anyone could stand in the way of allowing people to vote," he said.

Sanders will handle Knight's bill in the Senate. He said he will do what has to get it through this year, but was vague on whether the bill would come up today or Thursday.

Constitutional Convention Bill Bites the Dust

2008-05-01T13:41:00.001-07:00

In what has become and annual tradition, a bill that calls for allowing Alabamians to vote on calling a constitutional convention made its way to the Alabama State Legislature this session.

Each year it advances a little farther in the legislative process.

This year the bill, HB308 sponsored by Speaker Pro Tem Demetrius Newton, D-Birmingham, made it to the floor of the House for the big dance on the fourth to the last day, only to have its' toes stepped on.

The bill failed to get enough votes to get past the budget isolation resolution, or BIR.

The purpose of the BIR is to force lawmakers to tackle their constitutional responsibility of passing operating budgets to pay for the state's expenses.

Lawmakers, however, often use the BIR as a political weapon to hold up, or kill legislation.

Though the House has passed both its' versions of the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets, they must still pass the BIR because the Senate has not passed those budgets and transmitted them to the governor.

For the call to convention bill to have made it to final passage, it would have needed three-fifths, or 60 percent of total members voting, not the full 105 members.

The vote was 46 to 44 against passing the BIR. There was one abstention, four members not voting and 10 absent.

Calhoun and Talladega counties' delegations voted as follows:
Boyd--Yes
Fite--No
Wood--No
Hurst--No
Johnson--No
Lindsey--Yes

Speaker of the House Seth Hammet, D-Andalusia, also voted against the bill.

Cruise to Cuba?

2008-04-30T16:46:00.003-07:00

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.

A Reversal of Roles

2008-04-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

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.

Senate: Back to Work

2008-04-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

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.

Kumbaya? Not Exactly.

2008-04-23T09:48:00.000-07:00

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.

Siegelman Speaks to PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley Tonight

2008-04-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

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.

Watch out Senators, Rep. Alvin Holmes is coming for you!

2008-04-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Keep Your Hands To Yourself!!

2008-04-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

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.

Hey Batter, Batter!

2008-04-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

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.

Sir Charles for Governor?

2008-04-17T05:27:00.001-07:00

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?

Tainted Vote?

2008-04-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

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.

Say What?!?

2008-04-16T05:46:00.001-07:00

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.

Very Concealed

2008-04-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

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.

Isn't that a coincidence?

2008-04-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

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.

Statwide Water Management Plan Committee Clears Legislature

2008-04-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

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.

Riley: No More Double Dipping

2008-03-06T13:46:00.001-08:00

So the legislators in the two-year college system won't feel singled out, Gov. Bob Riley has a bill in the House that would end double-dipping in all state agencies.

Check out this link at Riley's Web site:

http://governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2008-03-06-02-BanDoubleDippinALL.asp

Gov. Bob Riley to Weigh in on Northrop Grumman Contract

2008-03-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

Gov. Bob Riley will hold a press conference Friday about the Air Force Tanker Contract, according to his Press Office.

Riley will be joined by officials from Northrop Grumman, members of Alabama's Congressional delegation and Mobile city and county officials to discuss the $40 billion contract that was awarded to the Mobile-based company.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's ears will likely be on fire during the 2 p.m. press conference because of her call for congressional hearings on the awarding of the contract.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom and members of the State Democratic Senate Caucus have already blasted Pelosi this week over the congressional hearings into a deal that could create more than 2,000 jobs in the state.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, and U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, are expected to be on hand.

Ala. Dems to Speaker Pelosi: Leave Alabama Jobs Alone!

2008-03-06T13:00:00.000-08:00

With Alabama's Democratic Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom leading the way, the Alabama Democrats have collectively told their fellow Democrat Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to back off.

Earlier this week Folsom fired off a testy letter to Pelosi expressing his dismay and bewilderment over her call for a congressional hearing on the federal contract awarded to Northrop Grumman/EADS.

Under the new contract, Northrop Grumman/EADS will build the U.S. Air Force's aeiral refuleling tankers at Mobile's Brookley Field Industrial Complex, creating more than 2,000 new jobs in the state.

"Congressional hearings serve only to delay the positive impacts this project will have on our state and our people," Folsom said in his letter. "As you well know, the exhaustive bidding and vendor selection process required over twoyears to complete and should have answered any concerns you may now have. I find it hard to understand your sudden scrutiny of this selection."

The Alabama Senate Democratic Caucus is having the same time understanding and introduced a resolution criticizing Pelosi's call for congressional hearings.

Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little, D-Cullman, intoduced the resoluition and it was co-sponsored by a majority of the Senate, passed the Senate today with a unanimous vote.

Boeing Co. lost the $40 billion jet tanker contract to Northrop Grumman/EADS. Supporters of Boeing Co. in Congress want the contract suspended until lawmakers can review the decision.

“It is tough when you have to criticize a national leader of the Democratic Party, but this issue is not about political party. It is about what is in the best interests of Alabama and this nation," said State Sen. Pat Lindsey, D-Butler. "Speaker Pelosi should not play politics with Alabama jobs, and our Caucus will stand up to anyone, Republican or Democrat, who threatens jobs for our families."

“By every conceivable measure Northrop Grumman had the best proposal to build the tankers, and Alabama is certainly the best place in America to build the tankers. The best thing for this nation's security and the best thing for Alabama's economy is to leave this contract alone,” Lindsey said.

Little said the contract is a major coup for Alabama.

“The contract was won fair and square, and it’s time for Washington politicians to step aside and allow Alabama to get to work as soon as possible.”

State Sen. Vivian Figures of Mobile, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said the contract will have an immediate and long-term impact on Alabama.

“It was awarded on merit only, not politics, and that is the way it should be," she said. "Our military leaders made the best decision, Northrop had the best proposal and Alabama has the best workers. It's time to get out of the way and let us get to work.”

Riley Backs House on PAC-to-PAC Reject

2008-02-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

Check out this link to Riley's Office.

http://governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2008-02-28-01-pac.asp

No Dice on PAC to PAC Bill

2008-02-28T09:21:00.000-08:00

The House voted to non-concur with the Senate version of a bill that would stop the practice of transfering money between political action committees (PAC) to hide campaign contributions.

The bill will now go to a conference committee of members of the House and Senate where they will either negotiate a bill they can live with it or kill the bill again.

The Senate passed a much revised version of Rep. Jeff McLaughlin's bill that removed legislative caucuses from being defined as a PAC.

McLaughlin said he's happy that the Senate finally passed a bill, he's just frustrated it wasn't the bill that unanimously passed the House.

"The senate disregarded the work of the House, and substituted our bill and been changed significantly," he said. "We have unanimously voted a very clean PAC-to-PAC prohibition bill in this chamber, and we want a clean bill."

Represenatives McLaughlin (D-Guntersville), Mac McCutcheon, R-Capshaw, and Rod Scott, D-Fairfield, will be a part of the conference committee.

The Count Continues

2008-02-14T14:07:00.001-08:00

The Governor's Office has taken to counting the number of days its been since the Democratic Party promised to pass legislation to end annual property appraisals.

Apparently, the Dems made the promise in their 2006 campaign platform "Covenant for the Future."

Now if you've been reading this blog at all, you know the Dems have vowed to make Riley undo the annual property appraisals by executive order.

They allege that he is the one who used his executive order to institute annual appraisals in the first place.

Senate Republicans say no such executive order exists.

There is legislation afoot that would change the law, but if you've been reading this blog you know how far its gotten (nowhere).

So if you feel like it, count with the governor. He says its now up to 548 days.

On This We Can Agree

2008-02-14T13:12:00.000-08:00

There is one thing this legislative session that Gov. Bob Riley and the Senate Democratic Caucus can agree on: the stimulus rebate tax cut.

Both the governor and the caucus support passing legislation that ensures that the federal tax rebates that turn up in peoples' mailboxes don't get hit with state taxes.

But who gets to take credit for it is a whole different matter.

The Senate Democratic Caucus jumped out first by acknowledging the need to pass legislation to eliminate state taxes on the rebates.

The only problem with that is any bill that deals with money--the expenditure or approrpriation of state funds--has to originate in the House.

While the Dems were working up a bill, Gov. Riley began publicly prevailing on the State Legislature to take action urging them to pass a bill this week.

The problem with that is it takes roughly five legislative days to pass a bill, and that's only if things run smoothly.

As you know, the State Legislature has a problem with smooth.

The Dems finally got their bill together and it is being sponsered by Rep. Terry Spicer, D-Elba.

And just so Riley knows who the Dems think should get the credit for passing the legislation, they wrote himea little letter thanking him in advance for supporting their stimulus plan and urging him to call his fellow Republicans to ask them to support it.

It reads: "Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus look forward to attending our bill signing ceremony with you."

I don't know about you , but if I were a betting woman I would say that Alabamians aren't giving anybody any credit until a bill is signed and their untaxed checks are in the mail.

Line in The Sand

2008-02-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

The Senate Democratic Caucus and Gov. Bob Riley have each drawn a line in the sand over the issue of reversing annual property tax appraisals, and they are each daring the other to cross it.

Last week the Dems vowed that until Riley uses his executive order to reverse the annual property appraisals that he signed into law, they will pass a resolution every day the State Legislature meets calling on him to make the change.

Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little, D-Cullman, said Riley signed annual property appraisals into law with the stroke of a pen and he can undo them the same way.

"Gov. Riley instituted the largest tax increase in the history of the state without a vote of the people, and without the vote of the Legislature," Little said.

But Little and the members of the caucus aren't the only ones with a good memory.

According to a press release from Riley's office, 547 days ago the Dems promised to pass a bill and change the law on annual appraisals.

"They didn’t promise to pass resolutions urging others to take action," Riley said in the release. "Resolutions cannot change the law. Only legislation can change the law, and they promised specifically to 'introduce legislation' and 'vote to enact' a bill changing property reappraisals."

With each side continuing to stand its ground, Alabamians might need to get their checkbooks ready so they can continue to pay their annual property tax bills--at least until it's politically expedient to change the law.

Does it matter to you who changes the law? Let me know what you think with a post.

Change in the State of State Address Line Up

2008-02-06T13:35:00.001-08:00

House Majority Leader Rep. Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, will deliver the Democratic response following Gov. Bob Riley's State of the State address.

Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. was originally scheduled to do the job.

Remember, Riley's speech will be broadcast on Alabama Public Television at 6:30 p.m.

Hot in Here

2008-02-06T05:41:00.000-08:00

The flames have been officially fanned in the Alabama Senate.

Members of the Democratic majority passed a resolution Tuesday to discourage senators from punching each other out on the Senate floor.

While it might seem like senators would be on their Ps and Qs after the embarassing dust up between Sen. Charles Bishop, R-Jasper, and Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, wanted a little more security--from himself.

As he said after the resolution was passed, "I'm not sure I could have refrained from hitting back if he had hit me."

Mind you this resolution is not about punishing Bishop. It's about clamping down the potential Bishops that apparently lurks inside every State Senator.

Now, brawling senators will have a security escort whenever they're in the Senate chamber, and the Senate can vote to apply the resolution retroactively to Bishop.

The security detail could be lifted if a senator successfully completes anger management classes.

Bishop, of course, is taking it personal.

In an Oscar-worthy perfomance he declared on the Senate floor that Sanders drew up the resolution in retaliation against him for not supporting Sanders' slavery bill last session.

Then he stalked out of the room, saying he wouldn't return until he'd sought the advice of his lawyer. So he'll be back next Tuesday.

Republicans say the Dems are once again changing the rules.

If you will recall squabbling over the rules is what caused the shutdown in the Senate last year.

Senate rules allow for the Ethics and Conduct Committee to deal with senators behaving badly, Republicans say.

That committee was responsible for handling the complaint against Bishop, but only its members know whether Bishop was punished or not.

Will the drama ever end? Probably not. Stay tuned friends.

Riley's State of the State Address

2008-02-06T05:35:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to watch Gov. Bob Riley deliver his State of the State tonight.

Riley is expected to stress the need for perserving and expanding education programs such as the Alabama Reading Initiative, the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative and the ACCESS Distance Learning program.

He will also speak about his desire to expand the state's voluntary pre-K program to 21,000 4-year-olds by 2011.

Coverage of the address starts on Alabama Public Television at 6 p.m.

Riley's speech begins at 6:30 p.m., with a Democratic response coming from Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. immediately after.

Keep an eye on the Capitol Letters blog for interesting tidbits and observations. We'll also try to get you a copy of Riley's complete text.

I want to know what you think, so don't forget to post your comments.

Alabama Wins Critical Water War Victory

2008-02-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

MONTGOMERY—Gov. Bob Riley hailed a major victory today for Alabama in its long-running water war with Georgia.

The United States Court of Appeals in Washington ruled today that a secret settlement agreement between Georgia, the Corps of Engineers, and Atlanta-area water users is illegal under federal law.

The agreement, which was signed in 2003, would have allocated nearly 25% of Lake Lanier, a federal reservoir on the Chattahoochee River, for Atlanta’s water supply. This would have resulted in major reductions in water reaching Alabama downstream.

“This is the most consequential legal ruling in the 18-year history of the water war, and one of the most important in the history of the State of Alabama,” Riley said. “The ruling invalidates the massive water grab that Georgia tried to pull off. The ruling will have far reaching consequences.

"It establishes that the decades-old practice of Atlanta taking more and more water from the federal reservoirs in the Coosa and Chattahoochee rivers without any legal authority to do so will not stand,” Riley said.

In 1990, Alabama challenged the practices of the Corps of Engineers to elevate Atlanta’s water supply needs over downstream interests in Alabama.

Alabama is currently engaged in discussions with Georgia and Florida to reach a solution to the interstate water dispute.

“I hope this ruling will enhance the prospects for a fair and equitable deal among the three states,” said Riley. “The secret agreement that the appellate court threw out today had been a major stumbling block for the last five years in our efforts to work out a reasonable sharing deal for this precious resource.”

Embers still Warm

2008-02-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

A dispute that ended in fisticuffs between two senators on the last day of the 2007 session doesn't appear to be over just yet.

Senators are floating a resolution about the matter, and it could come up during today's session.

For those who might not remember, Sen. Charles Bishop punched Sen. Lowell Barron after Barron allegedly insulted his mother.

The Senate Ethics Committee decided Bishop's punishment in executive session Jan. 31, but Bishop is upset that the matter isn't officially history.

The committee refused to share what punishment Bishop will receive citing that under its rules such a complaint and its resolution are to be dealt with privately.

Bishop said while he's not mad at anyone on the committee of four Democrats and one Repbulican he believes that the matter has been mishandled.

Bishop said Barron should receive punishment because of his role in the dispute.

"We can't allow verbal abuse on the Senate floor," he said. "We certainly can't have physical abuse either."

The sponsor and the content of the resolution remain a mystery at this time.

Senate Remembers Ben Preuitt Stanford

2008-02-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

The Senate opened the 2008 session by passing a resolution recognizing the death of Sen. Jim Preuitt's grandson, Benjamin Preuitt Stanford.

The resolution was introduced by Speaker Pro-Tem Sen. Hinton Mitchem, and co-signed by all of the members of the Senate.

In a choked voice Preuit spoke of his gratitude to his fellow senate members for their outpouring of support.

"Ben was a grandson that his grandmother and I loved dearly," he said. "I thank this every member of this body and if there is anything I can ever do call on me anytime."

After mysteriously going missing, Standford was found dead near Villa Rica, Ga. in November 2007.