http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1143540993107710.xml&coll=2 – Editorial on Roy Moore’s recent comments that the voters of Alabama are incapable of voting for a new constitution.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1143540965107700.xml&coll=1 – Alabama ministers join demonstrations against bill to tighten restrictions on support to undocumented immigrants, encounter with Sen. Sessions makes news.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/NEWS02/603280338/1009 - House expected to take up deadly force bill, Senate to consider eminent domain in today’s activities.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/NEWS02/603280336/1009 - Senator calls for review of financial practices of Department of Corrections.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AL_MAD_COW_ALOL-?SITE=ALMON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT – Moore continues questions about proposed animal registration, draws ire of state Commission of Agriculture, others.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AL_BRF_UNEMPLOYMENT_ALA_ALOL-?SITE=ALMON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT – State’s unemployment rate drops in February.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/NEWS/603280330/1012/editorial1 - Editorial criticizes proposed general fund budget’s allocation of funds to Department of Corrections as inadequate.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/060328/fund.shtml - Knight says General Fund will be on House floor for debate on Thursday.

FROM THE DAILY MOUNTAIN EAGLE:

Guin: Legislative session may end 1-2 days early

ED HOWELL
The Daily Mountain Eagle
Published March 27, 2006 9:52 PM CST

House Majority Leader Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, feels good about the remainder of the regular session, adding Monday that the Legislature may take off a day or two early as a result.

"I think if everything goes well, we’ll be at least one day early, and hopefully a couple of days early," he said. "In the 12 years I’ve been here, we’ve only been early one time."

Guin, who is up for re-election this year, said with seven maximum days to work with, the session will hold three days this week and next week, take off 10 days to allow legislators to override any veto when they come back, and then hold a final day.

A resolution has already been passed to attempt trimming what would have been an eighth day, he said.

If legislators pass any bill on the last day, the governor has 10 days to sign the bill. If he doesn’t take any action on any bill passed on the last day, the bill is pocket vetoed after 10 days and does not go into law.

As for the House Rules Committee, Guin, who chairs the committee, said he usually carries over bills to the next day if they are not handled on the calendar as scheduled. With little time left, instead he is going to give each member of the Rules Committee one pick each day among the bills to put on the calendar. That will give more legislators a voice in deciding what comes up, he said.

Guin said he is hopeful of passing a number of bills with the time left, including one to keep career development centers throughout the state if some problems are worked out in the bill. The bill is on the calendar for Wednesday.

"This is a very important bill. These centers are very important to our area," Guin said.

A bill that would expand protections for self-defense for homeowners and which has garnered some publicity this year is another he hopes to pass. The House will take up the Senate version of the bill, he said.

"The General Fund is really looking pretty good," he said, adding the bill has been sent from the Senate to the House for approval.

Guin said he hoped to restore funding for child development centers that help at-risk children, as those centers received a substantial cut a few years ago. He also wants $4 million for mine inspections and mine safety.

"Overall, I think the General Fund looks good. We’ve still got a lot of agencies that are lean and need improvements," he said.

However, he said funding will be made in the budget for trooper raises already passed separately by the Legislature and he is confident state employees will have "a modest raise" passed.

Guin did not hold much hope for bills in both houses that could ban the use of certain types of boats on Smith Lake, as well as 10 other man-made lakes in Alabama. It would regulate the use of houseboats, vessels of large sizes and vessels with certain speed ratings on specified Alabama lakes that do not have locks available for river navigation. Existing law does not limit the type or size of vessels or the speed rating of vessels that may be used in Alabama lakes.

Criticism has grown around the state, and Guin said he has received negative calls about the bills.

"People have become unglued," he said. "In the calls I’ve received, no one has called with a boat that size, but they want to someday," said Guin, adding with a laugh he tended to sympathize as he’d like some boats that size, too, one day.

He said a bill that would add more controls on vicious dogs is "a bill that may need a little work," he said, adding he will be looking at that bill this week to see if it should be put on the calendar soon.

"There is clearly a need for some regulation of vicious attack dogs," he said, adding that there have been reports of attacks. "But there has to be a balance with preserving rights to protect property. We’re looking at this bill real carefully."

State Sen. Curt Lee, R-Jasper, could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.