#24, I’m not sure what you mean. I covered it for my blog because there were lots of local officials there.

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

Regarding the jobs held by the five Republican legislators who voted for cloture, here’s the info I have:

Collier is the executive director of the Alabama Safety Institute; I have been told he is a former state trooper.

Galliher is director of business and industry training for Calhoun County at Gadsden State Community College.

Treadaway is a Birmingham police sergeant.

Oden’s bio says he is the CFO of Delta Discount Corporation, which is identified in a telephone directory listing as a “remodeling and reconstruction contractor” in Vinemont.

Greeson is the headscratcher. His bio says he “works as a farmer and insurance agent.” But according to the Birmingham News, Greeson also works at Northeast Alabama CC and Athens University. The News had an interesting editorial back in February on Greeson’s comments about the scrutiny he has drawn. Check it out here: http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1204017331105950.xml&coll=2.

I think it’s important to note that four Democrats — Laird, McDaniel, Newton and Thigpen — crossed party lines to oppose the bill on final passage.

Also, as I mentioned in my column tomorrow in the Opelika-Auburn News, 12 legislators voted “present.”

Finally, as for BIR vs. cloture votes, I have heard it both ways. Obviously both are important; you can’t bring a bill up without one, and you can’t pass it without the other. I went with the final passage vote because it is the bottom line for the public.

And does Jennifer Foster work for the O-A News or the GOP? Hard to tell which from reading what she writes. For some strange reason, I was under the impression that journalists are supposed to at least give the appearance of objectivity.

She does not pass this test.