Politics
Bentley's Plans
An outline of some of Gov. ...Read more
Alabama Bill
An Alabama House committee has approved a bill that would ban sending or reading text messages while driving. The bill by Republican Rep. Jim McClendon of Springville passed the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday. It would fine drivers $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense and $75 the third time caught texting while driving. ...Read more
Immigration Law
A Republican senator is looking to modify Alabama's tough and contentious immigration law. Sen. Gerald Dial of Lineville said Friday he has pre-filed legislation that he says will add common sense to the law, which has been described as the toughest in the nation. ...Read more
Teacher Pay
A Republican state senator told a prayer breakfast in Fort Payne that doubling teachers' pay would attract people to teaching who aren't qualified. Senator Shadrack McGill said, "It's a biblical principle. If you double a teacher's pay scale, you'll attract people who aren't called to teach." The freshman senator from Woodville said teaching is a calling, and people who are called to teach would do it regardless of the pay scale. ...Read more
Siegelman Appeal
Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman filed a new appeal of his 2006 federal government corruption conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, suggesting he was "convicted of things that are not crimes." Siegelman's attorney Sam Heldman said the appeal questions whether a campaign contribution can be used for a bribe. The appeal also questions whether there must be an explicit quid pro quo if a campaign contribution is offered as a bribe. Siegelman is appealing the latest decision of the 11th U.S. ...Read more
Gambling Trial
The Republican leader of the Alabama Senate has helped pay the legal bills of a Democratic senator acquitted of all charges in Alabama's gambling corruption investigation. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh of Anniston filed a campaign finance report showing he gave $5,000 from his campaign fund to a legal defense fund for Democratic Sen. Quinton Ross of Montgomery. ...Read more
Siegelman Appeal
Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman filed a new appeal of his 2006 federal government corruption conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, suggesting he was "convicted of things that are not crimes." Siegelman's attorney Sam Heldman said the appeal questions whether a campaign contribution can be used for a bribe. The appeal also questions whether there must be an explicit quid pro quo if a campaign contribution is offered as a bribe. Siegelman is appealing the latest decision of the 5th U.S. ...Read more
Bentley Budgets
Gov. Robert Bentley is backing off his proposal to combine the state education budget and General Fund budget into one unified budget and shift some education tax revenue to non-education programs. Bentley said Wednesday that he won't try to push the idea this year, but he may come back with it later. The Republican governor recently called Alabama's system of two budgets dysfunctional and proposed a single budget. ...Read more
Pensions
Republican state Sen. Arthur Orr of Decatur is planning a package of accountability bills for the legislative session starting next month, including one that would end state pensions for public employees or officials who are convicted of corruption in their public positions. Orr cited former two-year college Chancellor Roy Johnson and former state Rep. Terry Spicer as examples of former public officials who kept their pension benefits after pleading guilty to wrongdoing in their offices. ...Read more
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