Top 10 Questions for Next Session

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.

Segall in AL-03

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.

Small Town Political Gazette 11/30/07

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Gazette logo 2Enterprise 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

Continue reading “Small Town Political Gazette 11/30/07″

Friday 11/30/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

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 NewsThe 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 NewsThe Tuscaloosa News sees senator’s call for bipartisan effort to resolve state’s pending fiscal crisis as falling on deaf ears.

Tuscaloosa NewsThe 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.’
Continue reading “Friday 11/30/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST”

As Session Gets Closer, Agendas Start Forming

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 [...]

AL-02 Race News

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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 [...]

House Republican Retreat Items

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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 [...]

Siegelman on 60 Minutes

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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.

Related Articles:

Miss the GOP Debate Last Night?

Huckabee and Romney at CNN/YouTube Debate

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 [...]

Tim Lennox Goes Off the Record

Tim Lennox

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 [...]

Small Town Political Gazette 11/29/07

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Gazette logoTroy 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.

Continue reading “Small Town Political Gazette 11/29/07″

Thursday 11/29/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

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 NewsThe 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 DailyThe Times Daily argues that state should expand the use of drug courts.

Birmingham News – Alabama’s housing sales drop, foreclosure increase.
Continue reading “Thursday 11/29/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST”

New JeffCo Commissioner a Democrat

Seal of Jefferson County, Alabama

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 [...]

Jay Love Host Committee

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…

Jay Love for Congress Host Committee

Mr. Tom Albrecht Mr. [...]

Small Town Political Gazette 11/28/07

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Gazette logoThe 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. Continue reading “Small Town Political Gazette 11/28/07″

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.

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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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