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 Posted by Danny, on April 8th, 2011, at 11:42 am
Alabama’s compensation is lower than any of its neighbors. Mississippi pays its chief executive $122,160, Tennessee $170,340, Georgia $139,339, and Florida $130,273. Related Articles: Posted by waltm, on March 2nd, 2011, at 8:29 amLast night, Gov Bentley gave the State of the State address, video and text at the Governor’s office. Wide debridement and vacuum assisted closure of the state budget seems the best summation. House Minority Leader, Craig Ford, gave the Democratic Party response, the text of which can be found at WHNT, (BTW, any one have a link to video of his speech) which noted the minimal to low taxes paid by large Alabama corporations and promised an end to the grocery sales tax. Always interesting to see such words but legislation (and the necessary consensus building) would be better. And FWIW, a Local copy of General Fund and Education Trust Fund Monthly net receipts report, which shows comparisons to last year’s receipts, etc. This is findable thru the Central Accounting Reports at open.alabama.gov/spending. Some of the reports there run to several hundred pages, so pack a large lunch.
Posted by Brian, on October 30th, 2010, at 6:54 am Candidates put all their cards on the table Both candidates know that 9% unemployment is unacceptable and that at least a quarter million Alabamians need jobs for our state to reach full employment (5.2%). However, they differ vastly in how the government can help Alabama’s unemployed get back to work. General PhilosophyRon Sparks believes that the government has a role in helping Alabamians in a tough spot. He plans to provide nearly 100,000 jobs and create over $900 million in new revenue for the state. His primary focus is to invest $1.4 billion in a road and bridge program and to regulate and tax gambling at least 25%. His economic development plan breaks down his outlook for job and revenue creation in Alabama. Robert Bentley believes that the best way for the government to create jobs is to create an environment that equips people and businesses with the tools to grow and create jobs. At the Athens State debate, he said, “We need to give tax breaks to businesses, especially local companies. We need to understand that jobs are created by free enterprise, not the government. We don’t need more government jobs.” Bentley details his entire plan in a 47 page PDF, “Putting Alabamians Back to Work“. Current and Pending LegislationBoth candidates are using current or pending legislation as active parts of their jobs platforms. Robert Bentley was the primary sponsor of the Reemployment Act of 2010 which has passed both houses of the legislature and been signed into law by Governor Riley. The law gives tax credits to Alabama employers who hire persons currently collecting (or with expired) unemployment benefits. The credits vary depending on the employee’s wage and can be claimed after the employee works 12 consecutive months. The credit does not apply if the employee hired makes less than $10 per hour. Bentley promotes the legislation as a short term solution to create 5,000 new jobs. Ron Sparks is promoting a $1.4 billion investment into road and bridge infrastructure. The $1 billion portion of his plan is in fact Amendment 3, to be voted on Tuesday, which you can read more about here. The additional $400 million in his plan is an initial surge of money to go into infrastructure immediately. Sparks claims that his plan will create 39,200 jobs and have a total economic impact of $2.7 billion. Gambling in AlabamaContinue reading “Sparks and Bentley on Jobs (and Gambling too)” Related Articles: Posted by Danny, on October 26th, 2010, at 11:35 amRon Sparks has two new TV ads that went up last night in what the campaign called “a major statewide buy.” __ The second ad hits Bentley on an issue that has already apparently cost him support, his campaign help from AEA and his difficulty explaining it. Continue reading “Two New TV Spots from Sparks Campaign” Related Articles: Posted by Danny, on October 25th, 2010, at 11:59 am
Quick hits:
Check out the whole story here. Related Articles: Posted by Danny, on October 20th, 2010, at 8:24 amI was unable to see the gubernatorial debate last night though I look forward to seeing it. What was your impression? Did anyone land any haymakers?
Posted by Brian, on October 19th, 2010, at 8:52 am
Education has been a polarizing issue in Alabama for years. Let’s consider the positions of Alabama gubernatorial candidates Ron Sparks and Robert Bentley. Education Lottery Ron Sparks has been adamant about the need for an education lottery to fund Alabama schools. On his website, he touts the potential for $418 million dollars of projected annual revenue to the state by instituting a lottery. Last year, Sparks told OurPrattville.com, “Less than 7% of our children get pre-K, we’re only graduating 60% of our children, and those who do graduate only 16% are going on to get a college education.” Sparks calls his initiative the LifeStart Education Lottery. At a debate in Arab, Bentley made controversial remarks about opportunities for children to get a college degree. Sparks responded in a TV ad saying, “Not every child will get a college degree, but every child rich or poor deserves a chance to go to College.” At the same Arab debate, Bentley said he is personally against the lottery and reminded attendees, “We have a governor sentenced to jail as a result of things he did connected to that lottery.” For those of you that haven’t yet decided how you feel on the lottery, Walt pointed out a great series by Left In Alabama on the issue that plays it straight throughout. Give it a read if you’ve got some time. Charter Schools Just Monday, Ron Sparks had an op-ed piece in the Montgomery Advertiser outlining initiatives, including his position on charter schools. In it he states the following: Continue reading “Sparks and Bentley on Education” Related Articles: Posted by Hilary, on October 17th, 2010, at 9:15 am
This morning, George Talbot of the Press Register reports that Pate provided emails showing Bentley’s campaign used him as a middle man to get direct assistance from the Alabama Education Association (AEA). Such assistance hasn’t been listed on campaign finance disclosures and has been routinely denied by Bentley and his campaign. In Talbot’s article, Pate alleges that Bentley’s campaign manager contacted him in order to set up a series of robocalls in the days leading up to the hotly-contested July 13 primary in which Bentley was being out-raised and out-spent by front-runner and AEA foe, Bradley Byrne. Pate says he then corresponded with a public relations manager at AEA, David Stout, who sent a proposed script for Bentley to record and that AEA would send out on its phone network, Talbot reports.
For people who follow Alabama politics closely, I don’t think today’s news is all that shocking as much as it’s another chapter in Pate’s wildcard vendetta-holding biography. That, and there’s nothing much else going on during this election season now that the AEA isn’t interested in the big state races anymore… hm. As recently as August 4, though, the Bentley-Pate thing started as a minor – if characteristically weird – public squabble when Pate accused sworn-enemy Governor Bob Riley of trying to curry Bentley’s favor by offering to raise money for Bentley’s campaign if he’d “look after” Riley’s children once he took office. Continue reading “The Pate Factor” Related Articles: Posted by Brian, on October 12th, 2010, at 9:39 amNote: This is intended to be the first in a series of posts looking at how the candidates compare on issues.
Sparks has said on video that he’d veto an immigration bill if it was like the new law in Arizona. When asked about this law and its application in Alabama at the gubernatorial debate held in Tuscaloosa he said that while he didn’t support Arizona’s law, he would pass, “one of the toughest laws in the country” and then goes on to say he would pass, “THE toughest immigration law in the country.” Below are a few additional notes from his comments:
Sparks does not target immigration as a key issue on his website. At the same debate in Tuscaloosa, Bentley said the federal government failed in preventing illegal immigration, citing a, “500% increase in illegal immigrants in this state in the last ten years.” Bentley also came out hard against illegal immigration in his first and second general election commercials. Below are some bullet points from his commercials and website:
If you have other notes about their records or statements, let us know in the comments. Also, you can view the full immigration segment from the Tuscaloosa debate here. Posted by Brian, on October 11th, 2010, at 11:22 amThe Sparks campaign put out a handout last week reminding us of the October 22nd voter registration deadline and highlighting some key platform points.
He’s also been on the radio for a few days with a new spot called “Just Ron”. He spends most of the ad time criticizing Bentley for adding “Doctor” to his first name in an unsuccessful effort to have it included on the ballot before the Republican primary. 
Note: The Sparks flier is best described as a handout and not a mail piece The post has been edited appropriately. Related Articles: Posted by Danny, on October 5th, 2010, at 10:07 am
For example, I heard the suggestion in this reader’s email first, but then more definitively later.
I bet there are readers who can elaborate. Posted by Danny, on September 28th, 2010, at 10:55 amRobert Bentley has a new ad out that touches on health care… 
What’s your takeaway from this ad? Republican Robert Bentley and Democrat Ron Sparks face off in the November election for governor. Posted by Danny, on September 24th, 2010, at 2:42 pmRon Sparks on what is ailing Alabama in a new TV spot from the campaign: 
The Democrat faces Republican nominee Robert Bentley. Posted by Danny, on September 17th, 2010, at 12:29 pm
I realize that this gives Riley an opportunity to heap ashes on his antagonist King, but some thoughts come to mind here. Let’s see if I can organize them.
Just thinking aloud… What’s your take? Related Articles: Posted by Danny, on September 16th, 2010, at 2:46 pmRemember that Republican Robert Bentley and Democrat Ron Sparks will debate tonight at the University of Alabama. You can see it on Alabama Public Television (also C-Span or online) at 7 pm. The nitty-gritty (cut and paste from email):
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Alabama pays its Governor $112,895 annually (
Did you see 
Immigration is a hot topic across the country, and Alabama is no exception. Both Robert Bentley and Ron Sparks have talked about how they will handle illegal immigration if given the opportunity by Alabama voters.
I have heard from several that Republican gadfly Stan Pate is no longer in the corner of GOP gubernatorial candidate Robert Bentley.
So… Riley is cutting funds to education because BP isn’t paying a $148 million claim from the state. The 
It will begin at 7 PM from the Moody Music Building on the campus of the University of Alabama. It will be broadcast on C-SPAN, Alabama Public Television (APT), Alabama Public Radio (APR), and AL.com. UA Graduate and current NPR Correspondent Debbie Elliot will moderate. The questions were submitted by Alabama voters through various websites. For more details on the debate, check out 
