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

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Birmingham News - Alabama sees resurgence in meth labs.

Birmingham News - Battle over Air Force tanker contract evolves into a war of words.

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

Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register says that there’s “still time to pass public smoking ban,” urges House to approve Senate-passed measure on last legislative day.

Tuscaloosa News - Most proposed immigration bills remain unpassed as session nears end.

Tuscaloosa News - Arkansas joins other states in providing financial support to working poor families.

Tuscaloosa News -The Tuscaloosa News says that the legislature has missed many opportunities for reform this session.

Gadsden Times - The Gadsden Times reviews legislature’s aciton on proposed immigration measures, concludes that this issue is only one of “a long list of priority issues lawmakers all but pledged to resolve in this legislative session, and thus far, have failed to bring to resolution.”

Decatur Daily - The Decatur Daily is pleased to see bill that would have gutted “double-dipping” ban die for this legislative session.

Washington Post - Spider discovered in Jefferson County named after song writer-singer Neil Young.

Huntsville Times - The Huntsville Times says that legislature should give Governor’s tax proposal a fair hearing.

Mobile Press-Register - Former President Carter to build houses in Mobile on Tuesday.

Mobile Press-Register - Work progress on Thyssen-Krupp facility in Mobile County.

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1916: Writer, Albert Murray, was born in Nokomis.

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Birmingham News - Alabama’s superdelegates split over Clinton vs. Obama.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News says that proposed compromise on ban of PAC-to-PAC transfer doesn’t fix the problem and should be rejected.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News comments on recent guilty plea by son of former Fire College director in continuing corruption probe.

Montgomery Advertiser - Sebastian Kichens’  weekly update of legislative activities for readers of The Montgomery Advertiser.

Montgomery Advertiser - The Montgomery Advertiser is pleased to see bill to overturn ban on “double-dipping” die, but cautions that it will be back.

Tuscaloosa News - A year after indictment, no trial date set for former state trooper accused of 1965 killing that led to historic Selma to Montgomery march.

Tuscaloosa News - Hospitals moving to ban smoking in private vehicles on their property.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News reviews legislature’s missed opportunities for reform this session.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News says this week’s vote shows that for state senators “fairer taxes is not among their goals.”

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

Daily Home - Daily Home urges legislators to find compromise to remove sales tax from food purchases.

Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register’s assessment of 2008 regular legislative session:  “it could have been worse.”

Mobile Press-Register - Commentary by leaders of the Democracy Defense League argue that voter ID is needed in state.

Washington Post - Internal memo shows frustration by staffers with Special Counsel.

Tuscaloosa News - Move to four-year property tax reappraisals dead for this legislative session.
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The Clanton Advertiser Editorial recommends checking the voter list when it is published

Eufaula Tribune Barbour County moves closer to a local sales tax increase

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1811: The first newspaper in Alabama, The Mobile Centinel, is published at Fort Stoddert

1949: Federal Court of Appeals Judge, Janice Rogers Brown, is born in Greenville.

Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History

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Birmingham News - Proponents assess tax plan’s chance on final legislative day.

Birmingham News - Scrushy asks for third time to be released from prison pending appeal of conviction.

Birmingham News - DHR child welfare workers piloting use of GPS cell phones.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News comments on AEA’s decision to not pursue legislative change to “double-dipping” ban.

Montgomery Advertiser - Katrina housing crisis persists.

Montgomery Advertiser - Governor vetoes measure that would mandate criteria for selection of school superindents, two-year college chancellor.

Associated Press - State Board of Education adopts new high school graduation standards.

Tuscaloosa News - Court officials face layoffs, reductions in services if conditional appropriations aren’t released for next year’s budget.

Tuscaloosa News - Legislature approves small increase in unemployment benefits, still among lowest in nation.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News says that reports that investigation of Siegelman prosecution suddenly halted is another indication that former presidential advisor Karl Rove “must be called to testify.”

Birmingham Business Journal - Despite closures, manufacturing still strong in Alabama.

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Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom is starting some movement on a plank from his 2006 campaign: a Mobile to Florence highway through west Alabama. A joint legislative commission is to report recommendations to the 2009 legislative session. Not only is this touted as a boon to economic development - especially in the Black Belt counties it would traverse, but Folsom would no doubt like to undergird that rumored run for the governorship in 2010.

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The state GOP picked up a “Diversity Chairman” and a “Victory Director” in recent weeks according to releases from the state party.

The party’s Diversity Chairman George Williams, a retired Army Major in Bay Minette, says in the release, “I look forward to working with all minority groups within the state; educating them on the history of the party, the party’s vision for the future and helping tear down the stereotypical walls that have been built around politics in Alabama for too long.”

The party’s new “Victory Director,” Michael Joffrion, started last week. According to that release, “As Victory Director, Michael will be responsible for building the grassroots organization of the ALGOP and managing the get out the vote efforts for the 2008 election cycle. This will include structuring a statewide volunteer organization and managing the voter registration and ballot security programs.”

Joffrion was Field Director for Rudy Giuliani’s Iowa Campaign Committee and most recently served as Political Director for “Charlie Ross for Congress” in Jackson, MS.

FWIW, I have heard from Republicans around the state who opine (and typically in an abrupt change of subject from the topic at hand) that the GOP grassroots efforts around the state are not strong.

One Montgomery insider told the Parlor about the efforts of the Business Council of Alabama to counter grassroots strengths of AEA and ALFA by using local Chambers of Commerce. Though BCA is a major player in Alabama politics, BCA has never been strong in the grassroots, and the business people and professional people involved in local Chambers of Commerce are “typically opposed to AEA and represent the potential for a Republican base, an embryonic grassroots movement.” The BCA effort - initiated by BCA head Bill Canary - can “use the Chamber to communicate with the community and with legislators.”

Don’t they meet some resistance to use the Chambers of Commerce toward this end, I ask? There are a lot of Democrats in these communities and in the Chambers.

“They are not going to be 100% successful in every county, and they are being very sophisticated about it. They are not saying, ‘This is what we are going to use to kick Paul Hubbert’s ass.’ No. It’s an opportunity to participate in BCA, the brotherhood. It’s about jobs. Preserve and protect the brotherhood. You want a local mailing list, a database? Then you want the Chamber. You got contacts. You got troops. Troops to rally.”

AEA has its fundraising and grassroots strength. ALFA, he said, had increased dues to hire John Pudner (Director of External Affairs) to work its grassroots. BCA’s interests are not the same as ALFA or AEA. This “embryonic grassroots movement” is BCA’s effort “to create grassroots pressure to offset the pressure that legislators get from AEA.”

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Related Articles:

• Top 40 Most Influential Non-Elected Alabamians, Part 4

Associated Press this week:

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel last year shut down a previously undisclosed investigation into the federal prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, according to an internal memo made public Wednesday.

The investigation was being conducted by a task force formed at the agency a year ago to pursue high-profile political investigations in Washington, most notably whether the White House played politics in firing U.S. attorneys. It began gathering information on the Siegelman case in September and was planning to request documents from the Justice Department in October before Special Counsel Scott Bloch ordered the case closed, according to the Jan. 18 draft memo, made public by the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group.

This is all the more interesting given that Bloch, the agency chief, is being investigated for claims of both dismissing cases without adequate examination and obstruction of justice. Related to that investigation, federal agents seized computer files and documents from his Bloch and his staff this week.

Wall Street Journal this week:

Mr. Bloch, who was appointed by President Bush, has been under investigation since 2005 by the Office of Personnel Management for employee claims that he abused his agency’s authority, retaliated against its staff and dismissed whistleblower cases without adequate examination. Mr. Bloch couldn’t be reached to comment.

The Justice Department joined the case as the inquiry was widened last year to include possible obstruction of justice, which is a criminal offense. The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 28 that in the midst of the inquiry Mr. Bloch used an agency credit card to hire a commercial firm, Geeks on Call, to erase data from his computer and those of former staff.

Bloch said that Geeks on Call removed a computer virus. The WSJ looked pretty firm on its take. On that particular incident, enough people are involved that you would think the truth can be established.

It’s bad enough that one of our foundational institutions, the Department of Justice, is off-track enough to merit the attention of the independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency that is the Office of Special Counsel. But that Office is not looking so independent.

Now our watch dogs need watch dogs.

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Here’s another event where Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh was the sole Republican PSC presidential candidate invited though all GOP candidates (or, in this case, both) for another position were invited. How does she do that?

A trio of Republicans running in next month’s primary election brought their campaigns to Huntsville.

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, a candidate for Public Service Commission president, and Mary Windom and Chris Mixon, rivals for the Place 2 position on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, were guests at a luncheon Tuesday hosted by the Huntsville Republican Women.

A reader close to a rival campaign tells the Parlor that GOP PSC presidential candidates Matt Chancey and Jack Hornady were not aware of the event. Looks like Cavanaugh is starting out as the presumptive nominee or her campaign is doing a terrific job of creating that impression.

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Related Articles:

• Race for the PSC Presidency
• Host Committee for Cavanaugh Fundraiser
• Cavanaugh's Inside Track

Loretta Nall has started a new blog, Alabama Legislative Outtakes, with audio clips of Alabama House debates. Only one more day is left in the session, so enjoy it while you can.

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Birmingham News - State Board of Education adopts new high school graduation requirements.

Birmingham News - Son of former Fire College director pleads guilty in continuing probe of corruption in two year college system.

Birmingham News - Conference committee working on watered-down ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers.

Birmingham News - Senate refuses to take debate plan that would remove sales tax from food purchases.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News comments on former chief financial officer of state’s two-year college system now under scrutiny by federal prosecutors.

Mobile Press-Register - Lt. Governor announces commission to study feasibility of major highway connecting Mobile and Florence.

Mobile Press-Register - State official tells Congress that another $100 million needed for Katrina-related housing repairs.

Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register blasts Senate for adopting resolution against non-existent conspiracy to create a “North American Union,” urges House to reject resolution, concluding that we “need legislators who are still in touch with reality. ”

Huntsville Times - Wrangling over Limestone County bill to regulate rock quarries delays consideration of measure to end sales tax on food.

Tuscaloosa News - Bill to expand state’s hate crimes law to include sexual orientation among protected groups in line for final legislative approval.

Anniston Star - The Anniston Star looks at the legislative session, says that there is “still time for good things to happen, if only the people Alabamians elected will let them.”

Decatur Daily - The Decatur Daily calls for the appointment of special prosecutor to investigate claims that Siegelman prosecution was politically motivated.

Montgomery Advertiser - Legislature gives final approval to measure to increase minimum auto insurance requirements.

Montgomery Advertiser - Legislature gives final approval to “captive insurance” bill.

Montgomery Advertiser - Commentary by DHR commissioner warns that new Medicaid regulations will shift millions of dollars of costs to state government.

New York Times - Critics question Sen. Richard Shelby’s ties to real estate industry as Senate begins consideration of bill to help struggling homeowners.

Associated Press - Summary of yesterday’s legislative action.
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The Randolph Leader Roanoke’s mayor pleads guilty to willful violation of the competitive bid law and knowing use of offical position for personal gain. He has resigned as mayor

Madison County Record County Commissioners question the way bids for county business are issued.

St. Clair News-Aegis Paper begins a two part series on the status of transportation in the county

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This was a productive week in the State Senate. Although there are a number of disagreements on some tax bills, many other bills were passed on Tuesday and Thursday. At the time of this writing, we have passed 102 bills on the 29th day. I will describe some of the bills that will have the most impact on Alabamians following the last day on May 19th.

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