Alabama Politics in
Doc’s Political Parlor
& Home of Lawn Mower Repair

The Senate filibuster over electronic bingo in Macon County ended yesterday amid controversy. Read all about it in the Birmingham News.

Afterward, Rules Chair Lowell Barron (D - Fyffe) tried to organize “baseball,” a tradition in both houses. (You may read here Rep. Cam Ward’s account of baseball in the House last year.) In a nutshell, in 10 minutes everybody in the Senate would get to present one bill. If anybody objects to the bill, it’s killed. The idea is that Senators will bring non-controversial bills that no one objects to, perhaps of local interest to the home district, and everybody has the opportunity to take at least some little success home.

Tensions were high because of the controversial end of the filibuster, and Sen. Ben Brooks (R - Mobile) was unhappy that his bill to reform coastal insurance was not coming up. Baseball was not a hit.

One lobbyist’s observation…

The anger from ending the filibuster certainly spilled over, and will be lingering today.

They attempted to work a “non-controversial” 10 minute calendar that had at least one bill for every senator, and they couldn’t even do that. If they can’t make a 10 minute calendar work, I think they may as well go home. The confrontation between Barron and Brooks was really pretty ugly - Barron kept saying that Brooks couldn’t harass him into putting his bill on the calendar, even saying at one point that he’d never do it. Tension is very high.

The take here is that Brooks may have misplayed the hand. No question he is quite committed to the bill regarding coastal insurance. But with most of the session gone in most unproductive fashion and many folks in the chamber already agitated about the end of the filibuster, what is the harm in taking 10 minutes to zip through some non-controversial bills where every Senator can get something passed? Can anybody find me three Senators who would believe that trying to bully Lowell Barron is a good way to get your bill passed?

Another observer agreed that if the Senate can’t even play their traditional baseball, it really doesn’t look good for the session.

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Regarding the post in which Rep. David Grimes recounted an exchange on the House floor with House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard relating to a filibuster over HB350, Rep. Hubbard states that there was no “conversation.” “I [Hubbard] just asked him if his light was on. He said ‘yes’ and I said ‘OK.’”

Alabama GOP Communications Director Philip Bryan is also clear that the state GOP and Mike Hubbard as state party chair will absolutely not support any particular candidate over another in a GOP primary and look forward to supporting enthusiastically their primary winners in the general election.

Check back here for any update as I will offer Rep. Grimes the opportunity to comment.

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Related Articles:

• Grimes on House Filibuster, 2nd Congressional Race

Birmingham News - Birmingham mayor blasts U. S Securities and Exchange Commission, accuses agency of “smear campaign.”

Birmingham News - Senate break logjam, some senators accuse Lt. Governor of violating state law in handling voice vote to carry over Macon County gambling bill.

Birmingham News - New report shows Alabama’s high drop out rate is the state’s biggest economic development problem.

Birmingham News - Plaintiffs decide not pursue appeal, state’s long-running child welfare case ends after 20 years of litigation. ,

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News calls for legislature to strengthen state Ethics Commission.

Mobile Press-Register - Senate Rules Chair, bill sponsor argue over consideration of proposal to provide insurance relief to Mobile and Baldwin county residents.

Huntsville Times - Study shows that earnings are not keeping pace with rising health insurance costs.

Tuscaloosa News - Alabama GOP plans to push for tougher voter ID requirements.

Tuscaloosa News - Travel restrictions placed on Siegelman.

Tuscaloosa News - Summary of yesterday’s legislative action.

Tuscaloosa News - Delaying tactics continue to hold up Education budget in House.

Tuscaloosa News - Judge refuses to delay order that $63 million governor had planned for next year’s General Fund budget must be deposited in Alabama Trust Fund.

Tuscaloosa News - Legislative leadership say chances of special session growing.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News cautions that state “should be careful with voter ID requirement.”

Gadsden Times - Rep. Craig Ford (D-Gadsden) sponsors bill to raise salaries of governor, appointees.

Montgomery Advertiser - The Montgomery Advertiser warns that legislature may not avoid special session in spite of breaking filibuster in Senate.

Birmingham Business Journal - Nursing home costs rise by double digits.

Senate Sketches - “Senate Sketches,” the weekly column for his constituents from Sen. Hank Sanders (D-Selma).

News link - Air America has hour-long interview with Siegelman.
(more…)

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The Andalusia Star-News Florala National Guard troops back from Iraq

The North Jefferson News Cane Creek firefighters walk out

Dothan Eagle Dale County campaign signs vandalized

(more…)

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1863: The Battle of Day’s Gap is fought in Cullman County between the cavalry forces of Union Col. Abel Streight and Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. The engagement was the first in a series of skirmishes between Streight and Forrest during Streight’s Raid across north Alabama.

Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History

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In Dothan this morning, 2nd Congressional District candidates attended the last of three debates/forums sponsored by AARP, the National Federation of Independent Business, Troy University, and WSFA-TV. The first one was televised, and State Sen. Harri Anne Smith garnered attention for missing the only televised debate in the AL-02 race. The last two forums featured questions from the audience.

The word this morning is that as soon as questions from the audience started, Sen. Smith got up and left, saying she had a prior commitment. The legislative session starts up again today, but the Senate begins an hour later than the House. She left Representatives David Grimes and Jay Love sitting there answering questions, leading Grimes to ask, “Why does it take longer for a Senator to get to Montgomery than a House Member?”

Sometimes perception and reality are the same, and sometimes they are not, but the perception that Smith may have to address is that she is ducking public appearances particularly that involve public interaction.

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Update: There is a follow-up to this post here.

The House Republican caucus officially ended its filibuster of HB 350 last week, but several Republicans intend to continue the filibuster, Rep. David Grimes (R - Montgomery) has told the Political Parlor. [Proponents of HB350 say the bill makes multi-state corporations pay the Alabama taxes they have owed since 2001. Opponents claim the bill represents a retroactive tax that attempts to tax companies on past earnings.]

[Thursday,] I pressed my ‘Speak’ button along with several others and Mike Hubbard [R - Auburn] says, ‘What are you doing? The filibuster is over. We want to pass a couple of Jay Love’s bills.’

I said, ‘What? So Jay Love can get some headlines?’ He said, ‘No, it’s not just that. The Governor wants them passed.’

I am not going back on my word [to try to stop HB350]. If it was a bad bill yesterday, it’s a bad bill today.

Sounded like he was suggesting that Hubbard and Riley are trying to help Love win the 2nd Congressional District.

That’s exactly what they are doing. That’s exactly what they are doing. Maybe not Riley so much. But they want to allow a retroactive tax so Love can get some headlines. Love didn’t even write those bills. Someone in the Governor’s office did.

But I’m in good shape. The more they help Love, the more it helps me. Love doesn’t understand the [AL-02] district. It’s a rural district. That’s my people. He’s a city guy. Love was born on pillows. I was born on the ground.

He was getting warmed up.

Listen, did you know that I was instrumental in passing the first middle class tax cut in 70 years? I am going to let people know that I was instrumental in passing the first middle class tax cut in 70 years. Ever heard that before? All of Jay Love’s campaign material has that he was instrumental in passing the first middle class tax cut in 70 years. It was John Knight’s plan. Love voted for it, and so did I. Love’s bills died in committee. He gave Knight’s bill one vote. I gave it one vote. Then I guess I was instrumental in passing the first middle class tax cut in 70 years.

I don’t have to beat everybody in the primary. I just have to beat him to make the run-off with Harri Anne Smith. I’ll be in good shape.

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Related Articles:

• Follow-up to Grimes' Comments

Our state pushes a disproportionate share of the tax burden off of the wealthiest and onto the poorest, to the point that “Alabama has the most regressive tax system in the United States,” according to Gov. Bob Riley and others. The Press-Register calls this “morally indefensible.”

Scott Stantis of The Birmingham News has a particularly nice illustration of the point in an editorial cartoon last week. I reprint it here with permission. Click on it to see a larger image.

Rep. John Knight has offered a proposal (HB 274) that would remove the state portion of sales tax on groceries (4%) and offers other tax relief for all Alabama tax filers, and would remove the state income tax deduction for federal income tax paid. General details are here and specifics are here.

Three points about the proposal:

1. Most Alabamians would overall pay less or break even in state taxes.
2. The proposal from Rep. John Knight “will lower overall state taxes by about 1% of income for those at the bottom, lower them slightly for those in the middle, and increase them by nearly 1% for those at the top.” Which, as you can see from the illustration, is a slight move toward tax fairness.
3. Alabama has the lowest tax burden per person in the nation, and of course this proposal does not change that. We will still have the lowest tax burden per person if this passes.

The bill has passed the House. If it passes the Senate and is signed by Riley, the proposal will face a vote of the people in November.

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Related Articles:

• Considering the Vote on HB 274
• HB 274 Passes
• Removing Sales Tax on Groceries on House Floor Today
• Proposal to Eliminate Grocery Tax is in Committee

Birmingham News - Poll shows Alabamians overwhelmingly support McCain for president, but almost half want troops withdrawn from Iraq.

Birmingham News - Alabama’s Tennessee Valley likely focus of attention by Volkswagen in search for location for new facility.

Birmingham News - Birmingham has one of the lowest foreclosure rates among large cities.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News comments on announced retirement of president of Gadsden State Community College, calling action a “much-needed change in leadership.”

Mobile Press-Register - With Senate stalemate continuing, Mobile area senators call for special session to pass bills aimed at insurance relief for Mobile and Baldwin county residents.

Mobile Press-Register - Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) reports campaign contributions in her race for U.S. Senate, still lags far behind opponent.

Huntsville Times - The Huntsville Times says that increased growth in county demands increased home rule.

Tuscaloosa News - Major legislation remains in limbo as both House and Senate return to filibusters.

Tuscaloosa News - Business and anti-tax groups rally at State House in opposition to proposal to change state’s gas severance tax.

Tuscaloosa News - Homewood mayor apologizes for discount given to McCain campaign for use of city facility.

Tuscaloosa News - Son of former congressman named campaign chair in David Woods’ race for 2nd congressional district seat.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News hopes that tax reform measure won’t be among casualties of continuing legislative stalemate.

Anniston Star - The Anniston Star calls proposal to create a separate board for state’s postsecondary system “a move in the right direction.”

Decatur Daily - The Decatur Daily contends that Democratic legislators have “lost their vision.”

Times Daily - The Times Daily sees battle over state’s severance tax as further evidence of flaws within state’s tax system which underscore need for major tax reform.

Opelika-Auburn News - The Opelike-Auburn News  says that proposed English-only bills would “move the state backward.”

Daily Home - The Daily Home urges legislature to exempt federal stimulus payments from income tax.

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I have observed at least two occasions in the press when House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard (R - Auburn) has said that he asked for the voting machines of some absent Republicans to be locked on the day that the House was discussing HB 274, the proposal from John Knight related to removing the state sales tax off grocery purchases, but that to Hubbard’s surprise the machines were unlocked when Rep. Jack Williams withdrew the request to invoke Rule 32. (I can’t find a news link at the moment with Hubbard’s comments. Rep. Mike Ball mentioned it here, and a commenter mentioned it here.)

I asked the Clerk of the House, Greg Pappas, for some explanation on how and when legislators’ machines are locked to prevent others from voting on them.

Pappas said that when a legislator asks that his or her own machine be locked, that machine is not unlocked until that legislator personally requests it.

Regarding Rule 32 (which says in part, “No member shall vote for another member, except by unanimous consent; nor shall any person not a member cast a vote for a member.”), Mr. Pappas explained that “unanimous consent” is assumed unless someone objects. If there is no objection, members may cast votes on others’ machines, though not on one locked by the legislator who uses it.

What about Rep. Hubbard’s request to lock machines of some of the Republican legislators who were not there, I asked.

Pappas said that he is willing to lock machines at the request of other legislators because such a request is in keeping with Rule 32. The act of asking indicates that there is not unanimous consent to allow members to vote for other members.

Why were they unlocked then? Pappas explained that because the machines were locked in keeping with Rule 32, they were unlocked when Rep. Williams withdrew the request to invoke Rule 32. He added that any legislator could have then stepped forward to invoke Rule 32, but none did. And, for example, Merika Coleman’s machine was not unlocked because she personally had requested that it be locked.

What is the consequence for voting another machines when Rule 32 is in place? According to Pappas, there is no consequence for violating Rule 32, though any member of the House may challenge the vote before the outcome is announced. If a representative looks at the board where votes are recorded next to legislators’ names and believes a vote is unfair or not accurate, that is his or her best option.

Pappas added that a video showing Texas legislators voting others’ machines had caused a public uproar there. Texas may be moving toward using voting machines with fingerprint readers that would allow only the proper legislator to vote the machine. Pappas believed that we might be moving toward that here in Alabama also.

From my perspective that sounds like a solution in search of a problem. Judging from conversations I have had with legislators here, many of them like having someone they trust who will vote their machines. A legislator told me that there are so many votes, and occasionally you need to step outside to greet a constituent or to go to the bathroom. One doesn’t want to give an opponent the opportunity to say, “Rep. So-and-So did not vote 20% of the time,” though the legislator concluded, “if you are going to do what Hinshaw did then it might be best to just stop people from voting other people’s machines altogether.”

I believe it more likely that if legislators wanted to prevent a repeat of Duwayne Bridges’ machine being voted while he was in South Korea, they would address it without involving fingerprint readers. And if a legislator doesn’t want anyone to vote on his or her machine, the solution is already there: lock your own machine.

Tuesday the 22nd, Rep. Duwayne Bridges addressed the House.

I said, ‘No one better not ever touch my machine again. It’s not your machine, so keep your little grimy hands off of it.’ I think I made a strong enough point, and other members applauded me.

The odd thing there is that tough talk is not necessary. The solution, same as before, is to lock his machine.

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Related Articles:

• Considering the Vote on HB 274
• HB 274 Passes
• Removing Sales Tax on Groceries on House Floor Today
• Proposal to Eliminate Grocery Tax is in Committee

Some thoughts and observations on the House vote for HB 274 in which Randy Hinshaw (D - Meridianville) has been criticized for voting other legislators’ machines… Duwayne Bridges (R - Valley) has filed a complaint saying that Hinshaw voted Bridges’ machine as ‘yes’ on HB274, contrary to the way Bridges would have voted. Even Speaker Seth Hammett (D - Andalusia) recognized that Hinshaw was wrong on this one, according to Bridges.

• Voting a legislator’s machine contrary to the way that legislator would want is particularly repugnant. The several legislators I talked to about this all agreed that it is common for other members’ machines to be voted the way the members who are away would have wanted, but I could not find even one on either side of the aisle that would defend Hinshaw.

  As odious as voting a legislator’s machine contrary to that legislator’s wishes is, Hammett could say that House rules were enforced fairly - because Rule 32 was not invoked. Voting others’ machines is permitted unless Rule 32 is invoked. Early in the process, Jack Williams (R - Birmingham) had requested that Rule 32 be invoked but withdrew his request prior to the final vote. As an aside, why didn’t any other House member ask that it be invoked?

• FWIW, Greg Wren (R - Montgomery) also voted another’s machine that morning - even when Rule 32 was in force and contrary to the absent legislator’s wishes. David Grimes (R - Montgomery) had stepped out of the chamber (he was “frustrated,” he told the Parlor), when a vote for the BIR on HB 274 came up. (The BIR vote determines if the bill has enough votes to be brought to the floor before the budget is passed. Failing to pass the BIR vote typically kills a bill.) According to Grimes, Greg Wren tried to help Grimes by voting Grimes’ machine ‘No’ even though Grimes actually intended to vote ‘Yes’ on the BIR.

• Could the bill have passed without the vote from Bridges’ machine? Was the will of the legislative body subverted? Merika Coleman (D - Birmingham) didn’t vote on the bill and she would almost certainly have supported it. Laura Hall (D - Huntsville) had stepped away, did not vote and has gone on the record saying she wanted to vote for the bill. A better question might be the one proposed to me by a House opponent of the bill who wondered why proponents weren’t counting better since they had the votes. Rep. Grimes volunteered to me his opinion that if the bill came up in the House again (for example, if the Senate sent back a slightly different version) that he felt sure it would pass. (63 House votes are necessary for a bill involving a constitutional amendment; HB 274 passed 63-38.)

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Related Articles:

• HB 274 Passes
• Removing Sales Tax on Groceries on House Floor Today
• Proposal to Eliminate Grocery Tax is in Committee

Birmingham News - Legislative logjam threatens budgets, tax relief.

Birmingham News - Alabama’s retiring congressman poised to leave office with millions in campaign accounts.

Birmingham News - State’s fire chiefs battle homebuilders over proposed state building code.

Birmingham News - Availability of workforce may impact Volkswagen location decision.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News says legislature should reject current proposal to create separate board for postsecondary colleges.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News calls for House vote to approve constitutional convention proposal.

Mobile Press-Register - Federal judge allows Poarch Indians to join lawsuit over gambling filed by Attorney General against U.S. Department of Interior.

Mobile Press-Register - “Political Skinny,” the weekly roundup from Mobile, Montgomery and Washington for the readers of the Press-Register.

Montgomery Advertiser - The Montgomery Advertiser contends that pending bill that would provide a tax break to small employers and their workers for health insurance “makes sense.”

Anniston Star - The Anniston Star speculates on the possibility of a Tim James - Jim Folsom race for governor in 2010.

Associated Press - Environmentalists hoping for more recycling in Alabama.

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The Outlook mildly amusing editorial cartoon

Prattville Progress Tensions grow between Prattville’s Fire Department and rural volunteer Fire Departments.

Journal-Record “No history-making news this day”. (scroll past the nursing home story).

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1926: Harper Lee is born in Monroeville. Her famous novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, was published on July 11, 1960, and sold more than two-and-one-half million copies in the first year. On May 1, 1961, To Kill A Mockingbird was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Letters. On November 5, 2007, Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History

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Look out! That is a good way to describe the debate over House Bill 350. The House has run relatively smooth over the entire session avoiding some of the major controversies that have overwhelmed the Senate. Last week we finally found a land mine when we began the debate on this bill. House Bill 350 is an extremely complicated bill that in essence creates a retroactive tax for 44 businesses who are based out of state but do have locations in Alabama. Some of the more well known of these businesses include Home Depot and Lowes. In short, the bill says that these companies were supposed to be paying corporate income taxes under a 2001 law but found a legal loophole to avoid this tax and therefore they should be required to pay these supposed back taxes now. There is a lawsuit pending on whether or not these companies should pay for these last seven years or not. Sound confusing? Well that is just a scratch on the surface. There are multiple sides to this argument. The Governor, AEA, the business coalition, the House Republican Caucus and the House Black Caucus all have differing views of this bill and at any one time this past week were all working with or against each other to hammer out some middle ground.. After two days of intense debate it looks like we will pick up again on this issue Tuesday. Higher education now appears to be wading into this debate as well because of House Bill 350 does not pass then there will likely be a $27 million cut in the Education Trust Fund Budget with the bulk coming out of Higher Education.

Just when you think you know what is right around the corner some issue like this will always jump up and surprise you in the legislative process. Stay tuned because this bill could very well determine whether or not several agencies in the Education Budget survive to see another day or suffer major cuts.

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Birmingham News State Ethics Commission struggles with avalanche of paperwork, no technology and limited staff.

Birmingham News - State Supreme Court considering fewer cases, taking longer to render decisions.

Birmingham News - Proposed bill would make it harder for immigrants not in the country legally to get bond for felony offenses.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News comments on the announcement that Alabama is in the running for proposed VW facility.

Birmingham News - Commentary says proposed bill would “make the VictoryLand gambling facility in Macon County an unregulated Mecca for gambling.”

Birmingham News - Commentary by Sen. Hank Sanders (D-Selma) contends that ongoing battle in Senate reflects strength of gambling interests in legislature.

Birmingham News - Commentary says that eminent domain has historically been used against minority landowners.

AL.com - Robin DeMonia says that those accused in probe of postsecondary system are following strategy of former Governor in claiming politics are behind criminal investigations.

Mobile Press-Register - Airbus CEO says that planned facility “will transform Mobile.”

Mobile Press-Register - Commentary by Attorney General Troy King defends his actions in filing suit against the Department of the Interior, stating he  ” will not allow Alabama’s sovereignty to be diminished by anyone not the federal government and not the Indians.”

Montgomery Advertiser - Senate stalemate likely to continue.

Montgomery Advertiser - The Montgomery Advertiser says legislature should act in final days of session to exempt federal economic stimulus checks for state income tax.

Montgomery Advertiser - State Board of Education member Randy McKinney uses the case of  Rep. Yvonne Kennedy (D-Mobile) as an example of why “double-dipping” is harmful to postsecondary system.

Tuscaloosa News - New report shows Alabama taxes businesses at rates lower than most states.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News says that state lawmakers “act like children” while pressing issues pile up.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News comments on continuing battle between state superintendents and Senate Majority Leader Ken Guin (D-Carbon Hill).

Tuscaloosa News - “Alabama Exposure,” Dana Beyerle’s weekly political roundup for readers of the NYTimes regional papers.

Tuscaloosa News - Tommy Stevenson looks at Siegelman’s continuing efforts to clear his name.

Decatur Daily - The Decatur Daily says opposition to gambling measure is “irrational.”

Times Daily - The Times Daily  calls for bingo proponents to admit defeat, allow Senate to move on to other issues.

Daily Home - The Daily Home says that congress should reject proposal by Bush administration to cut Medicaid spending.
(more…)

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Times-Journal “Why can’t it stay the way it used to be?”, Covington County voters protest voting precinct changes at County Commission meeting

Madison County Record City of Madison to build school in Limestone County possibly financed by a tax collected solely in Madison County.

(more…)

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1941: Football player, Lee Roy Jordan, was born in Excel

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Birmingham News - Homewood mayor contends that he has authority set rates for using public facilities, council disagrees.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News argues that judges should not be free to ignore the recommendations of juries in capital murder cases.

Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register think that Senate committee acted “wisely” in effectively killing English-only bills for this session.

Associated Press - Bill to exempt federal stimulus tax from Alabama income tax stalled in House.

Daily Mountain Eagle - School superintendents say House Majority Leader Ken Guin (D-Carbon Hill) threatened them if they did not support PE and nutritionist bills.

Opelika-Auburn News - The Opelika-Auburn News says that it’s time for Senate to move on to other issues than Macon County gambling.

Washington Post - New report show many state governments - including Alabama’s - are in recession.

News link - DC gossip sheet takes a look at McCain-Homewood controversy.

AL.com - Joey Kennedy recalls 1990 series on tax reform, which led to a Pulitzer for The Birmingham News.

Birmingham Business Journal - Tourism contributed $9 billion to state’s economy in 2007.

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Alabama has 60,000 acres of an invasive and intensely flammable weed: cogon grass. From the Washington Post this week:

“Don’t buy it, don’t dig it up, don’t plant it and just let somebody know if you see it,” said Laurie Reid, forest health specialist for the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

Nationwide, over 1 million acres are infested, “and experts say the Southeast’s drought makes the highly flammable intruder more threatening than ever.”

“I don’t think there’s anything more flammable in our environment’s landscape. I don’t know anything that burns as hot in our ecosystem as cogon grass,” said Jim Miller, a regional invasive plant scientist with the federal Agriculture Department.

A native of southeastern Asia, cogon grass was once used as packing material that arrived in Mobile, Ala., on ships in 1912. It chokes all competing vegetation _ it kills off pine seedlings in forests and overtakes grazing land where most animals won’t give it a second look because of its saw-toothed leaves.

You have to be impressed by a grass that will take over kudzu.

“It’s actually got to epidemic proportions,” said Ed Brown, a spokesman for the Mississippi Forestry Commission. “I call it a super weed. I have seen it grow on some of the driest sites that wouldn’t hardly grow anything and I’ve seen it growing down the edge of water. I’ve actually seen it taking over a patch of kudzu.”

[…]

Alabama has formed a cogon grass task force. Officials there hope to determine where in the state cogon grass can be wiped out _ and where it can only be contained.

“We are trying to figure out where we can kind of draw a line in south Alabama and say, ‘On this side of the line there’s not a lot we can do. But on the other side of the line we are going to do everything we can do eradicate it,’” said Forestry Management Division Director John Pirtle.

The second picture is a picture of a cogon grass fire near Auburn.

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Two Alabama Political Blasts from the Pasts have released new books. While both pols were once at the top of the state’s political heap, the books could not be more different.

The more traditional release is a biography of former Alabama Governor John Patterson. The book Nobody But the People is actually written by Warren Trest, but Patterson worked closely with Trest and has been on the circuit promoting its release. From his role in cleaning up organized crime in Phenix City, to a tumultuous term as governor, to the transition to a respected jurist Patterson’s political career has had many acts and Nobody But the People chronicles them all.

Former State Senator Bill Drinkard has also become an author recently. Drinkard served three terms in the Alabama Senate and chaired the powerful Rules Committee before leaving the Senate to become an influential lobbyist. In the mid 1990s Drinkard pled guilty to a corruption charge and dropped off the political map before recently resurfacing as an aide to the Senate Democratic Caucus.

However, while Drinkard probably could pen an interesting biography about his ups and downs in Alabama politics, that is not what he’s done. Drinkard’s book Elom is a sci-fi novel that introduces (according to Publisher’s Weekly):

a low-tech world where human reproduction is controlled to concentrate desirable traits. Life is regulated by the scriptures of Geerna, a primitive human who long ago reached a covenant with the goddess Shetow. The wise women of the Medora Council interpret Geerna’s words and protect her secret prophecies, overseeing the competitions where adolescents demonstrate their skills and suitability for mating.

Drinkard’s book while obviously aimed at a specific market has met with at least some critical success as prominent sci-fi author David Drake said the book contains “engaging characters in a story told with the feel of a myth passed down by word of mouth.”

Whether or not either of these books is your cup of tea, it’s good to see two Alabama politicians enter the world of the published word. Now if only we could get more Alabama pols to blog…

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Julian Smith, a vice-president at Alabama Power and recently named on the Political Parlor’s list of the Top 40 Most Influential Non-elected Alabamians, is retiring effective June 2. The announcement from Alabama Power is below.

(more…)

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Related Articles:

• Most Influential Non-Elected Alabamians - Complete

Tuskegee News Editorial about the various political issues in Macon County, from school superintendent selection to gaming

Selma Times Journal Editoral and article about gang activity in Selma

(more…)

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Birmingham News - Sponsor says that delay by Senate committee effectively kills bills that would require state to provide driver’s license exams and conduct other state business in English-only.

Birmingham News - Alabama identified as a “high activity” state for number of immigration bills considered by legislature.

Birmingham News - City of Homewood gives McCain campaign big discount on meeting space, provides free inmate labor for meeting set-up.

Birmingham News - Former interim chancellor of postsecondary system announces resignation as president of Gadsden State Community College.

Birmingham News - State Examiners of Public Accounts begins collecting financial information on school superintendents, their staff members.

Birmingham News - Experts say competition for Volkswagen facility to be battle between Alabama and Tennessee.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News calls for Senate to “put aside its disputes” long enough to vote for tax reform plan.

Huntsville Times - The Huntsville Times praises actions of state’s Environmental Management Commission is setting new standards reducing the amount of carcinogens allowed in waterways.

Montgomery Advertiser - Atmosphere strained as Senate continues filibuster over Macon County gambling bill, proponents threaten disrupt remaining days of session if bill dies.

Montgomery Advertiser - Debate on bill to modify state’s corporate income tax keeps House tied up for second day.

Montgomery Advertiser - Head of state’s workforce development efforts says Alabama must find new ways to prepare workers if economic development is to continue.

Montgomery Advertiser - The Montgomery Advertiser calls for legislators to recognize their obligation to provide adequate funding for Department of Corrections.

Tuscaloosa News - Governor meets with legislative Democratic caucus, seeks help in settle tax battle with ExxonMobil.

Tuscaloosa News - Summary of yesterday’s legislative action.

Tuscaloosa News - House committee approves measure to give tax break to small businesses, their employees for health insurance costs.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News calls for legislature to address funding needs for state’s prisons.

Anniston Star - The Anniston Star questions Governor’s opposition to tax reform plan.

Daily Home - The Daily Home  calls for Governor to continue his fight for expansion of pre-K.
(more…)

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1944: The United Negro College Fund is established by Tuskegee president F. D. Patterson, after convincing 26 other black colleges to “pool their small monies and make a united appeal to the national conscience.”

Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History

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Politics and strange bedfellows…

Among the many proposals to get the Senate unjammed, here’s one interesting story. At least it is to me…

An unlikely Senate coalition came to life last week and quickly died.

The Senate has been hogtied in a filibuster over the bingo bills for Greene and Macon County. A proposed coalition would have had Democratic Senators Myron Penn, Quinton Ross, and Bobby Singleton along with the Senate minority coalition (Republicans and dissident Dems) move those bills forward and end the filibuster. In return, GOP Senators Scott Beason and Ben Brooks would get considerations to move bills important to them, namely on immigration and insurance reform respectively. Republicans would have some language in the bingo bills about holding back expansion of gambling and could ostensibly say they were “containing gambling.”

It’s not difficult to see why this coalition “blew up,” in the words of one Montgomery insider.

The short-lived coalition was driven more by pragmatism than ideology and faced considerable obstacles. For example…

• ALFA - ALFA is one of the strongest political groups in the state, especially on the Republican side. It does not want immigration reform or insurance reform, two raisons d’etre for the coalition. One insider believed that ALFA would prefer the entire session is killed so that there is a special session for budgets - the idea being that there would be less chance of something going against ALFA in a special session focused on budgets.
• AEA - Paul Hubbert and Gov. Riley have worked on an education budget that includes large cuts to higher ed. AEA would not want any re-shuffling of the deck that could give a strong hand to anyone proposing to put money back into higher education at the expense of K-12.
• Governor Riley - Riley also does not want to unravel the progress made to this point (such as it is) on the education budget.
• Senate Democrats - Senate Democrats would not be eager to see a new majority diminish the role of the Rules Committee in setting the agenda. Since the new coalition would be motivated by pragmatism and not ideology, a real consideration would be the ire that the three Democratic Senators would draw from their Democratic colleagues.
• Gambling considerations - Many Republicans particularly want to insulate themselves from the gambling issue and want to be certain they cannot be viewed as promoting gambling.
• Senate Rule 9 - The coalition would have enough votes (18) to prevent the Senate from adopting the special order calendar from the Rules Committee, but without other votes it would not have enough (21) to substitute another special order calendar. Without a special order calendar, the regular order is used, and that is not typically a particularly productive means of getting to a bill that’s important to you.

A Senator here or there peels off, and the whole idea doesn’t hold together. But for one brief shining moment last week… you had the possibility of two most unusual sets of bedfellows - one in the coalition and one aligned against it.

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I am sorry to hear that the mother of Bradley Byrne, chancellor of the 2-year college system, died unexpectedly. May we remember the family in prayers.

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     The Senate is still bogged down on SB 191. Tuesday and Wednesday  are the last days that bills originating in the Senate can pass without unanimous consent. Many suspect that if SB 191 is still around after Wednesday, the session will be dead.  The only way that important legislation could pass this year would then be during a special session.

     It has been said by many that the budgets may need to be delayed so that future revenue reports from the next couple of months can be examined. They may reveal that many noted budget cuts could be avoided. That is if those reports show positive gains.

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The Selma Times-Journal Dallas County candidate may have violated party’s Radney Rule

Northwest Alabamian Crowd gathers to voice opposition to repeal of the Posey Amendment

The Arab Tribune Marshall County Board of Education files a complaint with the Ethics Commission against a former superintendent

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Birmingham News - Alabama one of three states in running for Volkswagen assembly facility.

Birmingham News - Senate committee approves measure to place two-year college system under separate board.

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Huntsville Times - Chief Justice warns of cuts in programs and staff unless court system gets $8 million increase in budget.

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Tuscaloosa News - Postsecondary system reaches agreement with AEA that will allow criminal background checks of employees to continue.

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Montgomery Advertiser - The Montgomery Advertiser praises recent governmental actions that will improve environment.

Opelika-Auburn News - Advocates push statewide smoking ban.
(more…)

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