Rep. Cam Ward (R - Alabaster) offers his own top ten list of questions on people’s minds and “buzzing around the political circles” as next year’s legislative session quickly approaches.
Right now in our Posts from the Legislature.
Seems to be a poorly kept secret that Democratic attorney Joshua Segall is gearing up to challenge Republican incumbent Mike Rogers in Alabama’s Third Congressional District next year.
Enterprise Ledger - NOAA assessment of March 1 released. - Enterprise High School officials and students followed appropriate safety measures prior to and during the March 1 tornado outbreak which killed eight students, but the event ..further demonstrated the need for such facilities to have hardened safe rooms, according to a NOAA National Weather Service assessment released Thursday.
Decatur Daily - Saferooms too expensive, 2 local superintendents say. Saferooms were recommended in the NOAA report on the Enterprise tornado
Birmingham News - Presidential hopeful Huckabee sees gains among Alabama voters.
Birmingham News - State’s pension plans among best performing in nation in most recent year.
Birmingham News - Rep. Artur Davis (D) urges Jefferson County leaders to work together to avoid further erosion of Birmingham’s stature.
Birmingham News - The Birmingham News praises Public Safety’s recent holiday blitz, but reminds us that such activities only reinforces the idea that Alabama needs more troopers on the road.
Tuscaloosa News - Two Alabama nursing homes make list of nation’s 100 worst facilities.
Tuscaloosa News - Attorney General urges U.S. Supreme Court to deny request for stay of next week’s planned execution of Thomas Arthur.
Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News sees senator’s call for bipartisan effort to resolve state’s pending fiscal crisis as falling on deaf ears.
Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News argues that road and bridge maintenance shortfalls reinforces the need for comprehensive tax reform in state.
Anniston Star - Columnist James Evans explores the link between politics and faith.
Montgomery Advertiser - Environmentalist calls for Environmental Management Commission to “do the right thing” and adopt limitations on the level of carcinogens allowed to be discharged into state’s waterways.
Daily Home - Rockford textile mill closing.
Washington Post - Anti-Semitic church based in Talladega drops Nazi symbols, critics charge that group is seeking to ’sanitize hatred.’
(more…)
Well for better or worse the 2008 Legislative Session is getting closer.. For many people in Alabama this sends a chill of fear down their spine. For you junkies who enjoy watching a good political fight it is almost like a new holiday season.
As the session gets closer agendas for all the political parties, associations, special interests, and different branches of government will start to form. While many of the agendas will be some of the same issues that have been debated many times before in Montgomery, there are bound to be some new points of contention as well.
As we get started back into this process I have my first Top Ten List for the upcoming session. In this case it is actually a top ten questions that will be on a lot of folks mind at this point early in the season-
10. What will the decline in revenue growth do to the debate over the state budgets?
9. In light of slightly less growth than in years past, what will be done to shore the nearly $600 million shortfall in Medicaid?
8. Will there be a push for teacher pay raises again this year?
7. How will the race for the 2nd Congressional District play out in the halls of the legislature?
6. After several years of passing a ban on PAC to PAC Transfers in the House will the Senate pull the trigger this year too?
5. Will the issue of coastal insurance be resolved this session?
4. Does the stalemate in the Alabama Senate finally begin to clear?
3. What plans are worked out, if any, to start improving our overwhelmed infrastructure in Alabama?
2. Will ethics reform really stand a chance of at least getting a fair hearing in both chambers this time?
1. Will someone fess up to stealing Alvin Holmes football tickets?
These are just a few questions that will start buzzing around the political circles as plans are made and agendas are set. Regardless of how early it is, state politics is always getting geared up for the next big debate!
Prevailing rumors from the grapevine are that Rep. Greg Wren and Greenville businessman Tim James, both Republicans, will not run for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. I have not been able to confirm. Word is that James is particularly eyeing the 2010 Governor’s race.
Strongly sourced polling data indicate that state Sen. Harri Anne Smith on the Republican side and Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright on either side are the two names showing to be most competitive at this early date. Undecideds lead the way, and of course we are a long way off.
Indications are that Bobby Bright really wants to run as a Republican and is apparently trying to figure if he can make that work. He also is reluctant to announce his candidacy for the seat so soon after being sworn into a new term as Montgomery Mayor.
I continue to hear that Republican David Woods, President of WCOV-TV in Montgomery, intends to run.
Republican Wess Howell of Enterprise has served in Congressman Everett’s intern program and is telling people that he is going to run. (Someone has edited a Wikipedia entry to say as much). I expect his impact to be in William Boyd territory, i.e., small. Rep. Terry Spicer (D) defeated Howell handily in Spicer’s first re-election bid for House District 91 in 2002.
A commenter at the Parlor asked about Democratic lightning rod Larry Darby, the Holocaust denier and once-but-no-longer-atheist who ran for Attorney General in 2006. Darby told the Montgomery Advertiser in 2006 (link no longer available) that he would run for AL-02. He told the Parlor recently that he is reconsidering that though he “could beat any Democratic candidate.” He added, “It’s tempting to run for the sake of forcing the Marxists who own the Democratic Party into a position of trying to prevent me from being on the ballot.”
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The Alabama House Republican Caucus concluded a two-day retreat today. The annual event is intended to build some unity in the group and doesn’t particularly generate big news. Though the caucus’s legislative agenda will not be set until January, the Parlor hears that caucus members did agree that illegal immigration was the biggest issue facing Alabama right now. There was also near-unanimous support for ending annual reappraisals of property taxes.
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Sources tell the Parlor that the 60 Minutes segment on former Governor Don Siegelman is expected to air Sunday week or the next. Check your local listings.
The sources are solid, but it’s TV, so anything could cause a change.
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If you missed the CNN/YouTube Republican debate last night, or even if you didn’t, you may enjoy reading the account of it on Red State Diaries. The intrepid Alabama blogger live-blogged the event, updating continually during the debate.
To read his account chronologically, start at the bottom of the post and read paragraphs up to the top.
Or perhaps you would like to see CNN’s online videos of the debate.
Tim Lennox, host of For the Record on Alabama Public Television, started a personal blog this month. He says there that he expects to “stay clear of politics.” Many of you watch the man on APT and may enjoy seeing a bit of the moderator off-camera.
Which for some reason raises the question in my mind… is this the most famous person in Alabama to run a blog?
Glad to have you in the blogosphere, Mr. Lennox.
And thanks to Loretta Nall, also one of the more famous Alabamians to run a blog, for the notice.
Troy Messenger - Troy City Council votes to back local doctors plan to buy Troy Regional Medical Center.
The Cullman Times - Cullman County and City governments dispute water situation.
Birmingham News - Birmingham-Hoover’s unemployment rate nation’s lowest for metro areas of at least 1 million.
Birmingham News - State demonstrates Alabama Google Earth technology.
Birmingham News - Federal court asked to remove Riley appointee and allow election for Jefferson County commission member.
Birmingham News - The Birmingham News finds it “inconceivable that the state of Alabama won’t order DNA testing before executing a Death Row inmate who claims to be innocent.”
Mobile Press-Register - Medicaid commissioner says she still doesn’t know budget needs for next fiscal year.
Mobile Press-Register - Advocates concerned that state troopers’ participation in federal program to track undocumented immigrants will lead to racial profiling.
Montgomery Advertiser - U.S Rep. Artur Davis (D) see crisis coming state’s Medicaid program.
Montgomery Advertiser - Davis says he still considering possible run for governor in 2010.
Montgomery Advertiser - Water resources commission calls on Governor to develop statewide water usage plan.
Tuscaloosa News - County Commissioners continue to push for bond issue for bridge repair and replacement.
Times Daily - Death row inmate seeks stay of scheduled execution.
Times Daily - The Times Daily argues that state should expand the use of drug courts.
Birmingham News - Alabama’s housing sales drop, foreclosure increase.
(more…)
Gov. Bob Riley’s recent appointee to the Jefferson County Commission, George Bowman, is telling people that whenever an election is held for his seat, he will run as a Democrat. The special election scheduled by the Jefferson County Election Commission for February 5 looks to be on hold now that Riley claimed the authority to appoint the successor to the seat vacated by Larry Langford.
Like a similar case in Mobile, this one will wend it’s way through court. Motions for injunctive relief were filed today in federal court as a part of Plump v. Riley. Fred Plump’s original suit sought to prevent Gov. Riley from filling the seat.
State Democratic Party Chair Joe Turnham said today in a release, “This case is not about the distinguished record or character of General George Bowman. However, it is all about thwarting the democratic process that was already underway with an election set for February 5th. Now Governor Riley has pushed the issue into federal court and the aftermath of these actions only serves to rile the electorate and call into question his true motives.”
In the similar Mobile County situation, Riley appointed Republican Juan Chastang to fill a vacant County Commission seat. A special election was held this year after Montgomery’s U.S. District Court ruled that Riley’s appointment violated the 1965 federal Voting Rights Act. That case is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Attorney Ed Still has served in both the Mobile County and Jefferson County cases.
I think it’s fair to say that Democrats object more to the process than they do to the result.
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In case you were wondering…
Here are the names listed as the Host Committee on the invitation (pdf) for an upcoming Montgomery fundraiser for Republican Jay Love’s candidacy for the 2nd Congressional District.
Make of it what you will…
Mr. Tom Albrecht
Mr. & Mrs. John N. Albritton
Mr. & Mrs. Troy Amster
Hon. & Mrs. W. Mark Anderson, III
Mr. & Mrs. Chris Atkinson
Mr. & Mrs. Bowen Ballard
Mr. & Mrs. Terry Barber
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Bishop
Mr. Dave Borden
Mr. & Mrs. Dick Brewbaker
Mr. & Mrs. Bo Brown
Mr. Todd Butler
Mr. & Mrs. Perry Butler
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Campbell
Dr. & Mrs. Louis P. Chapman
Mr. Martin Christie
Mr. Gene Crane
Mr. & Mrs. Lanny Crane
Mr. & Mrs. Ed Crowell
Mr. Rusty Daniels
Mr. Russell Davis
Hon. & Mrs. Larry Dixon
Dr. & Mrs. Rick Dobbs
Mr. Ron Drinkard
Mr. & Mrs. Liston Eddins
Mr. & Mrs. Clark Fine
Hon. & Mrs. Emory Folmar
Mr. Mark Fowler
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Franz
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Frazer
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Gilliland
Mr. Robert Gilpin
Mr. & Mrs. Charles T. Gross
Dr. & Mrs. Chuck Hartzog
Mr. Horace Horn
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Hudson
Mr. Will Hudson
Hon. & Mrs. Reed Ingram
Mr. Mark Jackson
Dr. Rick Jackson
Mr. & Mrs. Guthrie Jeffcoat
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Jenkins
Mr. Taylor Jernigan
Mrs. Clair Kennedy
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Kyser
Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Kyser
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Larimore
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Lee
Mr. Billy Livings
Mr. & Mrs. Joey Long
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Love
Mr. Mark Love
Mr. Douglas Mannion
Mr. & Mrs. Everett Marshall
Mr. & Mrs. Les Massey
Mr. & Mrs. Si Mathison
Mr. Wayne McMahan
Mr. & Mrs. Ben McNeill
Mr. & Mrs. Pat McWhorter
Mr. & Mrs. Lee Meriwether
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Mitchell
Mr. & Mrs. Terry Mitchell
Mr. & Mrs. Dorsey Morrow
Dr. Thomas P. Moseley
Mr. & Mrs. Guy Nevins
Mr. & Mrs. Keith Newell
Mr. & Mrs. Scotty Parma
Mr. Ferrell Patrick
Dr. & Mrs. Matt Phillips
Hon. Dimitri Polizos
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Pope
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip C. Pouncey
Mr. Robert Ritchey
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Ridling
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Sasser
Mr. & Mrs. Ed Sauls
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Saunders
Mr. & Mrs. Dusty Smith
Mr. & Mrs. William R. Stevenson
Mr. Robin Stone
Hon. & Mrs. Todd Strange
Mr. & Mrs. Dax Swatek
Mr. & Mrs. Dale Walker
Mr. & Mrs. Claude Walker, Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Wallace
Mr. Ed Welch
Mr. & Mrs. Tommy West
Mr. Mark Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Williams
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The Troy Messenger - State Sen. Wendell Mitchell tells members of the Troy Rotary Club that partisan division is a serious concern, but hopeful the next legislative session will be less divisive.
Andalusia Star News - The Florala City Council voted Monday to ask the courts to decide how many council members should serve on the utilities board. Once a decision is reached, council members hope it will put an end almost two years of debate between the two entities. (more…)
 | Alabama Line |
(R) Jeff Sessions (1-19)
Would take a Larry Craig-type revelation to shake up this race.
(D) Vivian Figures (33-1)
Is anything shaking in this race at all?
(D) David Marsh (OFF)
A rumor here, a rumor there, but we haven’t seen that they have legs.
(D) Artur Davis (OFF)
Could have been strong underdog, but he’s out
(D) Jim Folsom (OFF)
No rumblings, whispers, or substantial rumors that he might run.
(D) Pete Johnson (OFF)
Said August 3 that he will not run. (B’ham News, 8/4/07)
(D) Ron Sparks (OFF)
Flirted with idea. Announced June 12 that he will not seek the office.
(R) Jo Bonner (1-29)
No obvious chinks in the armor.
(D) Benjamin Lodmell (>100-1)
Charge of soliciting more than votes gives him the longest of odds.
(D) Bobby Bright (3-2) NEW
Shoo-in for Democratic nomination, then the task toughens.
(R) Harri Anne Smith (3-1) NEW
Outright win only thing to keep her out of a GOP primary run-off.
(R) Jay Love (4-1) NEW
Easily the most viable of the Montgomery-area GOP candidates.
(R) David Woods (20-1) NEW
Is he crazy like a Fox-20 President?
(R) David Grimes (30-1) NEW
Showing least energy among those with some name ID.
(R) Craig Schmidtke (90-1) NEW
Oral surgeon will be able to numb the pain of loss.
(D) William Boyd (>100-1) NEW
Montgomery Mayoral hopeful will lose to Bright again.
(R) John W. Martin(>100-1) NEW
Army veteran will struggle to be competitive.
(R) Terry Everett (OFF)
The incumbent announced his retirement Sept. 26.
(R) Mike Rogers (1-11)
Heavy favorite but other incumbents have more favorably drawn districts.
(D) Josh Segall (19-1) NEW
District & early signs of professionalism up his chances a bit.
(R) Robert Aderholt (1-29)
Has built a base and enjoys powerful advantages of incumbency.
(D) Greg Warren (40-1)
It’s a sleeper race, and it’s still snoozing.
To be updated. See the AL-05 Big List.
(R) Ray McKee (tba)
The only announced challenger when Cramer announced retirement.
(D) Bud Cramer (OFF)
The incumbent announced his retirement on March 13.
(R) Spencer Bachus (1-70)
Most senior Republican in the state, in the most GOP District.
(D) Artur Davis (1-49)
Will be extremely difficult to unseat one of state Dems' leading lights.
(D) Jim Folsom (6-1)
LG has lots going for him, but plenty of obstacles until inaugural.
(R) Bradley Byrne (7-1)
Two year college ban is political gold. How rich is the vein?
(R) Troy King (17-2)
Top-ranking GOP candidate. Fierce detractors and fierce supporters.
(D) Artur Davis (9-1)
Little doubt that the popular Dem is considering a run.
(R) Mike Hubbard (13-1)
Party chair has nice launch pad but not committing to run.
(R) Jack Hawkins (15-1)
Transparent interest, would Riley's blessing be boon or bane?
(R) Kay Ivey (17-1)
Hitched her wagon to the wrong presidential candidate.
(D) Seth Hammett (18-1)
Maybe ties to 2-year college scandal are a little too close
(R) Tim James (19-1)
Announced, but politically inexperienced & has GOP detractors.
(R) Beth Chapman (20-1)
Too crowded. No reason for the SoS not to wait.
(D) Ron Sparks (20-1)
With Folsom & Davis obvious Dem frontrunners, he’ll likely pass.
(D) Mike Dow (22-1)
Too early to dismiss him from what may be his last shot.
(R) Tony Petelos (22-1)
Hoover Mayor focusing on re-election first.
(R) Luther Strange (22-1)
Might be more likely to run if King passes on this race.
(R) Charles Bishop (75-1)
Perennial possibility. Probably picked up pugilists’ support.
(R) Roy Moore (75-1)
Can’t rule him out until there is a stake in him. Is he still in GOP?
(R or I) Stan Pate (75-1)
Rumor says GOP curmudgeon considering. Perhaps as Independent?
(?) David Bronner (OFF)
He gets The Jimmy Rane TreatmentTM (See Rane below)
(L) Loretta Nall (OFF)
Tells the Parlor she won’t run for governor in 2010.
(R) Rob Riley (OFF)
The rumors are stale. Might run for AG.
(R) Harri Anne Smith (OFF)
She’ll be representing CD-2 or tainted by the loss.
(D) Susan Parker (OFF)
Democratic Party team player not needed off the bench.
(R) Jimmy Rane (OFF)
No indication that he is running despite earlier rumors.
(R) Richard Shelby (OFF)
Riley/Shelby office swap intriguing idea but no indication that he’ll run.
The Alabama Line and its contents are the creation of Doc’s Political Parlor, reflect consensus from insiders and well-connected folks on both sides of the aisle, and will be updated as conditions change. These odds are meant to inform, entertain, and provoke, not to serve as actual means for losing money. Permission granted to use this material if PoliticalParlor.net is cited as the source.
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