Sen. Marc Keahey, Sen. Cam Ward, Rep. Joe Hubbard, and Rep. John Merrill will be blogging here during the 2011 Legislative Session.

New Year Observations

Tis the season. I’m not one to come up with poems of catchy jingles but I do have some New Year observations.

Christmas is now behind us and the presents are all unwrapped some political campaigns have to be feeling good while others are hoping 2010 is better to them.

Santa Claus was [...]

You Can Help Poll Alabama!

…or, at least, you can help see that Alabama is polled.

Public Policy Polling is asking readers to choose which of five states it polls next, and Alabama is one of them. Go vote now! Wouldn’t you like to see some numbers on the governor’s race?

Voting will be open until Monday [...]

Daily Headlines, Thursday, 12/31/2009

Montgomery AdvertiserTop 10 state stories of 2009

Montgomery AdvertiserPSC’s Parker decides not to run for District 5 seat

Montgomery AdvertiserRoss decries lawsuit against Montgomery Board of Education

Montgomery AdvertiserColonial BancGroup limps through bankruptcy

Montgomery AdvertiserUsing firearms to celebrate can be deadly

Huntsville TimesJournalists must sift through many forms of ‘no comment’

Continue reading “Daily Headlines, Thursday, 12/31/2009″

Small town political gazette

Selma Times-JournalJames Perkins drops out of Congressional race

Dothan EagleWiregrass Republicans oppose ban of gubernatorial candidate

Journal-RecordWinfield, Hamilton postpone wet/dry votes

The Arab TribuneDentist pushes for tax reform – Remember to pay use tax on those on line purchases

Continue reading “Small town political gazette”

AL-05: Susan Parker Out, Paseur Unlikely, Who's In?

PSC Commissioner Susan Parker says today she is focussing on her re-election to the Public Service Commission and will pass on AL-05. See her statement [.doc] in the Press Releases section of the Political Parlor. Ron Sparksstatement on the matter is also here [.doc].

We hear Deborah Paseur is unlikely [...]

Sparks Takes Some Hits

Swing State Project asks:

Who the hell does Ron Sparks think he’s fooling? Because he’s certainly not pulling a fast one on anyone who’s been paying attention to the political circus going on in northern Alabama over the past week. Let’s review the evidence.

and concludes:

It was bad enough that Sparks [...]

Daily Headlines, Wednesday, 12/30/2009

Montgomery AdvertiserRace takes on new meaning for Rep. Artur Davis

Montgomery AdvertiserSparks sticks with gubernatorial bid

Montgomery AdvertiserPACT will not pay full tuition

Montgomery AdvertiserJohnson banned by Autauga Co. GOP

Montgomery AdvertiserTop tri-county area stories of the decade

Montgomery AdvertiserUpset sister put Montgomery woman in mental institution

Continue reading “Daily Headlines, Wednesday, 12/30/2009″

Small town political gazette

Daily Mountain EagleTwo local soldiers die in Iraq

The Jacksonville NewsHD-40 candidates face voters in forum and provide answers to questionnaire

Eufaula Tribune$20,000 believed stolen in police lieutenant’s case

The Tuskegee NewsFinal Highway 80 easement in place

Continue reading “Small town political gazette”

Daily Headlines, Tuesday, 12/29/2009

Montgomery AdvertiserSparks to announce 2010 election intentions today

Montgomery AdvertiserRiley supports King’s inquiry into health care bill deal-making

Montgomery AdvertiserState education officials work on application for federal money

Montgomery AdvertiserGodbold made the judiciary better

Huntsville TimesMadison sets hearing on tax plan

Huntsville TimesNo GOP meeting on Griffith

Continue reading “Daily Headlines, Tuesday, 12/29/2009″

Small town political gazette

The Post - Cedar Bluff Council welcomes new members

The Arab Tribune - Landlord says discrimination charges ‘blown to hell’

North Jefferson NewsWarrior police tax angers Blount County residents

The Sand Mountain Reporter - Two die in Marshall County Jail

Continue reading “Small town political gazette”

Ron Sparks to Announce Tuesday Morning

Ron Sparks has scheduled Tuesday press conferences (.doc) at 10 in Montgomery, 1:30 in Birmingham, and 4:00 in Montgomery. Expect him to stay in the Governor’s race. For one, who would announce in Montgomery his candidacy for a race in north Alabama? I’m also starting to hear from folks that pass along that [...]

Sparks Decision on AL-05 in about Two Days

Associated Press:

State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks says he will announce within about two days whether he will remain in the Democratic race for governor or switch to the 5th Congressional District contest.

Related Articles:

What Dems Will Run in AL-05?

The 2010 Big List is updated with potential Democratic candidates for AL-05. Remember that the 2010 Lists have potential candidates in italics and announced candidates in bold.

Daily Headlines, Monday, 12/28/2009

Montgomery AdvertiserState education officials work on application for federal money

Montgomery AdvertiserRecyclers undeterred: Some Montgomery residents continue practice despite overall drop in participation

Montgomery AdvertiserCommission’s choice for ADEM critical

Montgomery AdvertiserState government faces sharp cuts

Montgomery Advertiser [...]

Daily Headlines, Sunday, 12/27/2009

Coffee cup Montgomery AdvertiserTroopers work to reduce road deaths amid budget worries

Montgomery AdvertiserUA eyes recycling championship

Montgomery AdvertiserRepublicans quickly change views on Griffith

Montgomery AdvertiserLongtime judge John C. Godbold, dies at 89

Montgomery AdvertiserPlasma plant presents powerful possibilities for Montgomery

Montgomery AdvertiserHow will economy be affected by health care reform?

Continue reading “Daily Headlines, Sunday, 12/27/2009″

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.

[...]

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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