Mr. Riley Goes to Washington

Bob Riley

This is as good a point as any for a bit of clarification. I never believed (or said) that the quote attributed to the Cullman County GOP source was evidence of Rove’s participation in a conspiracy. [...]

The Alabama Blogosphere

Digital Newstand

Crossed my radar screen of late…

  • A Birmingham man is not leaving his home until he counts to a million. Live on the internet. Watch him here. Read a little about it here or here. I find it odd and interesting. Enough even that I have considered buying an ad [...]

NY Times Calls On Congress to Investigate

In part because “the United States attorneys scandal has made clear that partisan politics is a driving force in the Bush Justice Department,” The New York Times is calling this morning for a Congressional investigation into the Siegelman conviction.

Congress, though, should not wait. It should insist that Mr. Canary and everyone on [...]

Saturday 6/30/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

Birmingham News – Lawyers for Siegelman and Scrushy file for emergency hearing before 11th Circuit seeking immediate release pending appeal.

Birmingham News – Environmental Management Commission unanimously rejects proposal to reduce carcinogens in state’s waterways.

Birmingham News – State program attempts to match career skills with employers.

Mobile Press-Register – Attorney say affidavit alleging political implications in Siegelman case won’t be issue in appeal.

Mobile Press-Register – Six qualify for Senate District 32 vacancy.

Montgomery Advertiser – Riley’s office denies that Washington trip has anything to do with Siegelman verdict.

Tuscaloosa News – Democrats dismayed at Siegelman sentence, GOP remains silent.

Opelika-Auburn News –  The Opelika-Auburn News contends that Siegelman, Scrushy got what they deserved.  
Continue reading “Saturday 6/30/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST”

ADEM Won’t Lower Cancer Risk

Today, “the Alabama Environmental Management Commission voted unanimously this afternoon to defeat a proposal to lower the cancer risk allowed from chemicals poured into Alabama’s waterways.” The Alabama Environmental Management Commission oversees the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM).

Twenty-eight other states and nearly two-thirds of the country’s population live with [...]

Friday 6/29/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

Birmingham News – Two community college presidents retire rather than face firing.

Birmingham News – Chancellor prohibits college presidents from spending state funds on lobbying firm.

Birmingham News – Report reveals that House Majority Leader Ken Guin (D-Carbon Hill) received payment from Shelton State Community [...]

Siegelman Sentence Sends Riley to DC

Former Democratic Governor Don Siegelman was sentenced to more than seven years today. Former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy was sentenced to more than six after their bribery convictions.

The Cullman Times:

Unexpected business will keep Gov. Bob Riley from attending the Cullman County Republican Party dinner tonight as planned.

[Treasurer Brenda] [...]

Alabama Water: Questions and Cancers

A coalition of groups has presented petitions asking the state to adopt more protective recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency, as most of our neighboring states have already done. Adam Snyder, director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance, has said, “The goal is to improve the regulations at ADEM and get them to comply with their own policies. We want them to meet the recommended standards that EPA has produced,” and added that “existing laws do not protect the residents of Alabama as well as they deserve.” [...]

Thursday 6/28/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

Birmingham News – Sentencing guidelines for Siegelman could lead to prison sentence of 10-12 years.

Birmingham News – Monitor’s report reveals poor conditions at state’s prison for women.

Birmingham News – Shelby County House members blast Senate counterparts.

Birmingham News – Federal judge questions plea agreement [...]

Sessions’ Democratic Challenger(s)

The Political Parlor has it on good authority that Democrats on the national level are still trying to persuade Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks to run against Senator Jeff Sessions in 2008. The local take is that will this not happen, Sparks has made his decision, and that Sparks would not look good in reversing [...]

Alabama Budget Process in a Nutshell

When I was first elected to the Alabama House five years ago the budget process seemed like the equivalency of studying soil on Mars. It just didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Five years later I have a good grasp of the process despite the fact that the outcome is not always to [...]

Wednesday 6/27/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

Birmingham News – Sentencing hearing begins in former governor’s corruption conviction.

Birmingham News – U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear case challenging state’s property tax system.

Mobile Press-Register – Mobile legislator’s trial on misdemeanor charges delayed until September.

Mobile Press-Register – State [...]

Distance Learning Program a Bright Spot for Alabama

Recently I had the opportunity to speak on a panel along with other leaders from around in the country, including the first lady of West Virginia, about innovative education programs in the United States. While the media has focused a great deal of attention on the antics of “the punch” in the closing [...]

Siegelman Plot Going Mainstream

The story that Siegelman may have been the target of a Republican plot is beginning to get wider play. Today the Los Angeles Times had a story.

I had a longer post on this earlier today that got lost in one of those computer headaches, so for now it will suffice simply to [...]

Tuesday 6/26/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

Birmingham News – Two-years college presidents take on ethics commission chief over comment that “it would be hard to find” an administrator not tainted by ongoing criminal investigation.

Birmingham NewsThe Birmingham News contends that if the action of legislators sending $1 milllion to two-year colleges employing [...]

Legislative Dispatch

A Look from the Rearview Mirror

This Thursday will mark the last day of the legislative Session.  For some, it was a Session that seemed would never end.  For others, it was one that ended much too quickly.  It may be early, yet, to write an obit on this Session, but as we approach the finish line, some perspective may be in order.

[...]

Putting Students First

As you know, a very important piece of legislation will be presented for our consideration in the House tomorrow in Montgomery – Senate Bill 310 – the “Students First” tenure and fair dismissal reform bill. Like me, many House members have been inundated with phone calls and emails from opponents of this bill, and some have been [...]

Legislative Transparency

There are a lot of issues to debate before we begin the final days of this session. In fact, I am quite certain there will be some comments on this post debating many of them. Before we get into the last seven day of the session I wanted to bring up a topic that [...]


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