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

Proving that a good story can provide almost endless material, the Birmingham News reports today that Gov. Bob Riley and Rep. Artur Davis chatted briefly by phone Thursday regarding their hired help. At issue was Davis’ hiring of fundraiser Gina Bailey McKell during the 2005 campaign season while she was also a full time employee of Alabama Southern Community College in Monroeville. Following the News’ two-year college story meme, McKell is cousin of former Gov. Don Siegelman aide Nick Bailey, who testified against Siegelman in his federal bribery trial. McKell is also daughter of Jake Bailey, retired president of Wallace State Community College; she therefore satisfies both the political intrigue and nepotism requirements of any News two-year college story. Davis, who has raised questions regarding the propriety of the Siegelman prosecution, took and returned criticism from Riley about his staff hiring practices. Hopefully the phone call smoothed over the ruffled feathers.

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As part of a five part series examining issues facing Birmingham, public radio station WBHM recently aired a segment called “Suburbanly Divided.” Produced by Steve Chiotakis, the piece examined the conflicts between Birmingham and the surrounding metro areas. The friction between the ‘burbs and Birmingham city government is nothing new, of course. Everyone from Alabama Power CEO Charles McCrary to Governor Riley have commented on the lack of leadership and cooperation of regional governments. The radio series and associated call-in show provide a spectrum of opinions from key players on what can be done to improve the stagnant situation. When I asked about the take home message of the segment, Chiotakis said,

I think the people I talked to in the piece about regional cooperation speak for themselves. They don’t see a historical pattern to it and therefore aren’t very optimistic about it. But there is hope. There are meetings taking place between state lawmakers (members of the Jefferson County delegation) and local officials (mayors, city councilors, civic leaders). These meetings have taken place before with little result, but who knows… There is also continued progress when it comes to things that everyone knows is beneficial to the entire community. Those things that are not so subjective but rather, as we say here in the South, “slapping us in the face.” UAB is one of those things. Jobs are another. When research dollars are on the line and economic development could bring dozens/hundreds/thousands of jobs to the community, people tend to think collectively and speak with one voice.

Chiotakis holds little hope for state help to improve the situation. That is, until the obstacles provided by the state constitution are overcome. He also sees the governor as unable to do anything in the face of local inaction. Progress will depend on local delegations to the state legislature becoming more effective, as Huntsville and Mobile have been able to demonstrate.

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This morning The Birmingham News describes how Alabama holds her own with other states in winning business contracts from the federal government. Over the past six years, Alabama private contractors have done almost $43 billion in business with Washington. Detail of this sort is made more accessible by a nonprofit group that has undertaken to make the federal contracting base searchable, in advance of what a new federal law will require starting in January.

It’s no surprise that high tech is responsible for a significant portion of federal dollars that make their way to Alabama. U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, when he’s not taking hostile fire aboard a C-130 in Iraq, seems adept at bringing defense and NASA contracts to his Huntsville district. That is not to say that aerospace is the only thing Alabama is good at. The state has become a leader in new automotive industries, of course, but Rep. Cramer recently announced a deal with National Steel Car of Canada to set up National Alabama Corporation, which will build railroad cars in the Shoals area. The new plant will be a mile long, and about 1,800 workers will produce 8,000-10,000 rail cars annually. The new jobs are also due to a large loan from the Retirement System of Alabama. The retirement system that serves state teachers and other employees stepped up to make it’s largest industrial loan ever for the project. RSA CEO David Bronner has made a habit of wise investment in Alabama businesses, including the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, and the Battle House RSA Tower in Mobile. Here’s to the continued success of Alabamians helping each other.

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Hello, all. Glad to be here! Mr. Briggs and Mr. Stratton have been very kind to me so far, but those Sta-bil fumes were getting to be a little much. So I’m glad Danny asked me to come up front for a bit.

Here’s something the boys in the back have been chatting about: Yesterday, Attorney General Troy King announced that the Alabama Presidential Primary will be held on February 5, 2008. The change began with HB 358, introduced by Representatives Guin and Hubbard. One of the few things the legislature got done this session was to pass the measure on May 31. But Alabama history being what it is, that wasn’t the end of the story. Changes in voting procedures require the approval of the U.S. Justice Department, a legacy of the discrimination of an earlier era.

While other states vie for “first in the nation” status (and risk their delegates’ convention votes in the process) Alabama has suddenly become a player in the primary game. Visits and fundraisers for presidential hopefuls have already risen to levels not seen in recent memory. Last Wednesday, Mitt Romney swept through Alabama in search of some quick cash. His son Tagg, one of the Five Brothers, was also scheduled to plunk down the $5000 registration fee at state GOP headquarters for his dad to appear on the February ballot, but was unaccountably postponed.

Mobile denizens will be glad to know there are special measures in place for them. Since Feb. 5 coincides with Mardi Gras next year, the new law provides for absentee voting and an alternative poll date for pre-Lenten revellers. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

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