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

December 31, 2008

State Govt New Year’s Resolutions

Filed under: Legislative Dispatch — Rep. Cam Ward @ 12:08 pm

Happy New Year 2009! I hope that this New Year brings with it some needed changes in our state government but much like those watching the economy; my “consumer confidence” is low. That being said, it is time to set our state’s New Year resolutions.

First, on behalf of the entire Alabama House of Representatives I wish, no beg, the State Senate to please engage in a productive session. This is not finger pointing but just a realization of what everyone is already talking about, that the Senate is currently fractured into multiple groups with little sign of coming together any time soon. Some state senators have been advocating for a session that avoids some of the issues that have locked down the entire process in the past. I hope those senators from both sides of the aisle prevail in 2009.

This New Year also brings about an economic climate that we have known seen in a couple of decades. I hope that we can all resolve in Montgomery to make the necessary cuts in state spending to balance the budget while still preserving those services most vital to our children like the Kids First Health Insurance Program and Medicaid.

Not only does the economy require us to cut state spending it also means that we must develop a tax policy that puts more money in the pockets for people to spend. Two-thirds of Alabama’s economy is based upon consumer spending and we need to encourage more of it. How about raising the tax credits for families with two children and also eliminating the tax on groceries in the New Year without raising new taxes?

Alabama has always held out a reputation as being tough on crime but we still allow convicted murders to make money off of the crime they committed. In 2009 we should work to eliminate this practice where victims are held in less regard than the profiteering of criminals. If we are truly dedicated to making sure those who commit heinous crimes are punished then surely we can eliminate their profit making habits while they serve their sentence.

Finally in the New Year I would like to see our state take on an issue that it has long been neglected. When you drive a car in Alabama you should be held responsible when you damage another car in an accident. Sounds simple enough but under current Alabama law many drivers involved in car accidents end up not having insurance and providing false addresses to officers at the scene. These drivers are now found and the victim of these accidents is stuck with a bill they should not have to pay.

While there are other issues that need to be addressed by Alabama’s state government in 2009 I would like to at least see us use these relatively non-controversial goals above as a starting point. Some productivity out of Montgomery would indeed make for a Happy New Year.

Daily Headlines, Wednesday, 12/31/2008

Filed under: Daily News — H @ 6:10 am

Birmingham News - Birmingham City Council member calls for new appointee to resign

Birmingham News - BJCC head says minority firms to get work on dome

Birmingham News - New Year’s Eve sky show

Birmingham News - Alabama is hoping to ramp up executions in 2009 after 2008 proved a slow year nationally for capital punishment

Press-Register - Fund set up to benefit wounded woman shot in night of abuse at Rosinton, Ala., home

Press-Register - Rabid raccoon in Baldwin County prompts advisory

Press-Register - Don’t lose sight of common goals in’09

Huntsville Times - Riley takes notice

Montgomery Advertiser - Corruption was state’s top news

Montgomery Advertiser - Leaders remember Bevel for work

Montgomery Advertiser - Inmate backlog on the rise again

Tuscaloosa News - Riley should have a different approach to gambling

Florence Times Daily - Alabama has coal ash ponds at 9 locations

Anniston Star - An idea that’s sheer lunacy: Import no chemical weapons

Anniston Star - Alabamians worthy of applause

Anniston Star - Speaker’s Stand … Funding issues for 2009

Decatur Daily - 2009 resolution: Embrace limited legalized gambling

Opelika-Auburn News - Fredonia residents plan to appeal to commission first

Associated Press - Justice sues Ala. agency for delay in soldier hire

Washington Post - Alabama AG’s office to review Smith situation

Small Town Political Gazette 12/31/08

Filed under: Small Town — waltm @ 6:07 am

Cullman Times - Hanceville’s former mayor disputes deficit

The Brewton Standard - Audit reveals shortcomings in Escambia county’s district attorney’s bad check unit

Dothan Eagle - Assistant city attorney faces harrassment charge

The Randolph Leader - Randolph Medical struggles financially

(more…)

December 31

Filed under: TDAH — waltm @ 12:01 am
Happy New Year!

December 30, 2008

Daily Headlines, Tuesday, 12/30/2008

Filed under: Daily News — H @ 6:00 am

Birmingham News - Alabama lawmakers, Jefferson County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins in talks on sewer crisis resolution

Birmingham News - Federal inspectors want Alabama health officials to repay $5.7 million

Birmingham News - Samford poll eyes image of Birmingham

Press-Register - State took drug companies to woodshed for a reason

Press-Register - Wallowing in fear is not a smart response

Montgomery Advertiser - Legislator hopes Houts Act will save lives

Montgomery Advertiser - Governor forms task force to investigate gambling

Montgomery Advertiser - State makes environmental progress

Tuscaloosa News - Alabama should pass filmmaking incentives

Tuscaloosa News - State made great strides to be green

Anniston Star - Mourning for the departed: Preserving Anniston’s relics

Opelika-Auburn News - Baxley back at work at PSC after fall

Los Angeles Times - Gimotive/Stankiewicz, German auto supplier with sites in Ala., S

Small Town Political Gazette 12/30/08

Filed under: Small Town — waltm @ 5:58 am

Arab Tribune - ER use is on the rise

Troy Messenger - Troy area officals decide what road projects qualify for the upcoming stimulus bill

The Post - High School football more than a pastime to many

December 29, 2008

Mock Constitution Convention Deadline This Week

Filed under: AL Issues — Danny @ 8:33 am

Alabama Citizens for Constitution Reform (ACCR) is putting together a mock constitution convention next month. If you want to participate as a delegate, time is fast running out to get in your application. The deadline to apply is December 31.

Daily Headlines, Monday, 12/29/2008

Filed under: Daily News — H @ 6:10 am

Birmingham News - Executions, death sentences down in 2008, but Alabama has set 5 executions for 2009

Birmingham News - Birmingham city councilors demand authority in dome spending, selection

Birmingham News - Alabama has an environmentally friendly year

Birmingham News - Civil rights movement leader Shuttlesworth in Birmingham hospital ICU

Birmingham News - Shelby organization offers safe haven, counseling for youths

Birmingham News - Proponents of a `multipurpose facility’ tried in vain to persuade people not to call it a dome; now, as long as you know what it is, you can still use …

Birmingham News - Birmingham City Council should have vetted its newest member

Birmingham News - The Jefferson County Commission’s new fees for copying public documents are exorbitant

Press-Register - Pollard is a tiny town but it has a big history

Press-Register - Moon Pie hailed as ‘idea for the ages’

Huntsville Times - School-merger chances grow

Huntsville Times - Mulching Christmas tree a perfect end to holidays

Huntsville Times - Laidlaw injury claims still pending

Huntsville Times - A 2009 state tax cut?

Montgomery Advertiser - State lacks incentives for film projects

Montgomery Advertiser - First reports show reduction in energy used, money spent

Montgomery Advertiser - Official ‘concerned’ about health system

Montgomery Advertiser - Councilman wants to improve residents’ quality of life

Tuscaloosa News - Roy Moore for governor in 2010?

Tuscaloosa News - Our community wish list for the new year

Tuscaloosa News - Coal ash options must be discussed

Florence Times Daily - 2008 brought change to local, national politics

Anniston Star - Sweet home Alabama

Anniston Star - We’re a competitor

Anniston Star - Opportunity, yes

Decatur Daily - With gas prices down, will drivers keep conserving?

Decatur Daily - Recession should trigger increase in some funding

Small Town Political Gazette 12/29/08

Filed under: Small Town — waltm @ 6:09 am

The Selma Times Journal - Editorial reminds to Give more than money

BaldwinCountyNow - Former Loxley Municipal Court Clerk pleads guilty to unauthorized disclosure of criminal records

December 29

Filed under: TDAH — waltm @ 12:01 am

1835: The Cherokee Indian Treaty Party signs the Treaty of New Echota, ceding their lands east of the Mississippi River to the U.S. government. The Cherokees were to receive five million dollars and land in the western Indian Territory. Alabama created the new counties of Cherokee, DeKalb, and Marshall from the ceded land and the Cherokees began their infamous “trail of tears.”

1841: Howard College was founded in Marion. In 1887, it moved to the Eastlake area and eventually became Samford University.

1894: Politician, J. Lister Hill, was born in Montgomery

1959: Musician Eric Essix was born.

1959: Actress, Paula Poundstone, was born in Huntsville
1982: The Bear Bryant era at Alabama ended with his final game, his 323rd victory.

1995: The last episode of the Country Boy Eddie Show aired on WBRC.

Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History, Bhamwiki

December 28, 2008

Daily Headlines, Sunday, 12/28/2008

Filed under: Daily News — H @ 5:55 am

Birmingham News - Last of nine rural Alabama churches struck by arsonists finally to be rebuilt

Birmingham News - About a dozen people are discussed as possible candidates as Alabama’s next governor

Birmingham News - Homewood family of soldiers gets ready to send mom off on another tour

Birmingham News - Outside Looking In - Alabama factory workers the conservatives columnist meant were most charitable

Birmingham News - On the Record with Grayson Glaze, director of the University of Alabama Center for Real Estate

Birmingham News - Cleaning up Alabama elections takes more than proposed bill offers

Birmingham News - Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford faces an ethics complaint

Birmingham News - ADEM needs multi-pollutant approach

Birmingham News - Preparing to face hard times

Press-Register - Canadians pass through Mobile on trek to raise $1M

Press-Register - A dangerous exercise

Press-Register - A legacy with a big heart

Press-Register - Campaign donation caps not the answer

Press-Register - Republicans can work effectively with new administration

Huntsville Times - Pinchpenny session ahead

Huntsville Times - Meetings to sift health care reform views

Huntsville Times - How bad will it get?

Montgomery Advertiser - Time fleeting for ‘09 Medicare enrollment

Montgomery Advertiser - First reports show reduction in energy used, money spent

Montgomery Advertiser - Ivey fans take to Internet to persuade candidacy

Montgomery Advertiser - Better monitor state’s air quality

Montgomery Advertiser - RANTS AND RAVES: Perks shameful for bailout executives

Decatur Daily - Recession should trigger increase in some funding

December 28

Filed under: TDAH — waltm @ 12:01 am

1857: Physician and co-founder of  Children’s Hospital, Thomas Duke Parke was born.

1950: Former U. S. Ambassador Margaret Tutwiler was born in Birmingham.


December 27, 2008

Daily Headlines, Saturday, 12/27/2008

Filed under: Daily News — H @ 6:10 am

Birmingham News - I-65/Corridor X interchange work slated to start in spring

Birmingham News - U.S. Postal Service wants its crates back

Birmingham News - Alabama VA seeking management bids for three state veterans homes

Birmingham News - Roebuck Springs watercress darters monitored after pond-draining disaster

Birmingham News - Huntsville firm proposes plasma plant to dispose of St. Clair garbage

Press-Register - State setting pace in key education survey

Huntsville Times - State’s hospitals on sick list

Montgomery Advertiser - RANTS AND RAVES: Perks shameful for bailout executives

Tuscaloosa News - Utility doubles estimate of Tennessee ash deluge

Florence Times Daily - Members to rebuild Ala. church after fire

Anniston Star - It is coming down to jobs: The need to help workers

Decatur Daily - Christmas is over, but charity must continue

Small Town Political Gazette 12/27/08

Filed under: Small Town — waltm @ 6:05 am

Demopolis Times - Linden sees decline in sales tax revenue

Troy Messenger - Farmers celebrate end of drought

Clanton AdvertiserSome of the state still drier than normal

BaldwinCountyNow - Fairhope Council may have violated Opening Meeting act

(more…)

December 26, 2008

Daily Headlines, Friday, 12/26/2008

Filed under: Daily News — H @ 6:30 am

Coffee cup Birmingham News - More amateur shoplifters try their luck as economy worsens

Birmingham News - The Birmingham Race Course is trying a new alternative to slot machines.

Press-Register - Mysterious ‘angel’ brightens spirits of grieving family in Mobile

Press-Register - In Baldwin, former DA’s DUI a disgrace

Huntsville Times - Obama plan could rev city’s road work

Huntsville Times - Families give themselves the gift of serving others

Huntsville Times - Alabama may miss the jobs of tomorrow

Huntsville Times - More natural lands

Montgomery Advertiser - Dow adds name to list for mayor

Montgomery Advertiser - Ethics agency joins computer age

Florence Times Daily - Business not booming for Montgomery payday lenders

Anniston Star - A glorious day

Anniston Star - Phillip Tutor: The lexicon of 2008, Alabama style

Anniston Star - James L. Evans: Hopes, prayers for the new year

Decatur Daily - Christmas is over, but charity must continue

Associated Press - Mobile pharmacy fills need as last resort for some

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