Sen. Steve French, Sen. Zeb Little, Rep. Ken Guin, and Rep. Cam Ward will be blogging here during the 2010 Legislative Session.

Senate Passes Ban on No-Bid Contracts--Makes State Government More Accountable

I am very pleased that Senate Republicans joined with the Senate Democratic Caucus this week to pass a major piece of our legislative agenda.  SB 52, sponsored by Senator Lowell Barron, will end the abuse that we have seen of the awarding of no-bid contracts.  During Governor Riley’s seven years in office, he has awarded [...]

Working in the Bubble

I often hear a lot of talk about the bubble of Montgomery. From time to time I am reminded about this and it could never be more glaring than the current debate regarding gambling. As the news media and political ads have taken to the air debating Governor Riley’s raid on Victory Land and Country [...]

Sprinting Through the Process

During each my last eight years in the House I have a routine where I like to move all of my bills early in the session. My reasoning for this is that somewhere around midway through the session the process gets snagged on some issue like gambling, sales tax on groceries or some proposed tax [...]

Debate on Road Bill ties up Senate

Thursday, the Senate will begin its 4th day of debate on a road construction bill that proposes to spend $100 million a year for 10 years in addition to the regular road program and any federal stimulus plans.  The billion dollars for this extra road program would come from the state’s savings account which is [...]

Filibusters in the Senate

One of the differences between the Alabama Senate and House are in the Rules regarding debate and the ending of debate.  The Senate is regarded as a more deliberative body and allows unlimited debate.  Senate Rule 39 provides:  ”No member shall speak more than twice on any question under debate and none shall, without leave [...]

From Ethics to Guns

Last week the legislature saw a lot of legislation surrounding the issues of ethics and transportation. This week we move on to another hot button topic for Alabama citizens- guns. State Representative Jeremy Oden has sponsored for the second year in a row legislation to allow for short barreled guns to be owned in [...]

Constituents talk about Roads and Jobs at Town Hall Meeting

I had my third Town Hall meeting last night in my district over the last eight days.  Roads, jobs and schools dominated the discussion.  I heard complaint after complaint about the terrible conditions of State and County roads in the Town of Colony.    I also heard from many who had either lost their [...]

House Passes PAC to PAC and Ethics

The House finished our second week of work with a couple of notable pieces of legislation passing. Rep. Jeff McLaughlin passed his bill to pass PAC to PAC transfers. Jeff has passed this bill out of the House every year I have served there and it always gets re-worked once it goes to the [...]

Republican Senators Kill Day 3

The Senate has adjourned on the 3rd legislative day after listening all morning to Republican Senators filibuster our Highway Jobs Bill.  Shortly before the Senate adjourned, I asked the Republican Senator who was filibustering if they had an alternate plan.  He confirmed that the only other proposal they had was one to borrow the money [...]

Republicans Against Highway Jobs Bill

At this very moment, Republican Senators are fulfilling a pledge that they made on Tuesday to filibuster today to block passage of the Senate Democratic Caucus plan to create jobs and improve our roads and bridges.  Senate Bill 121 will invest $1 billion dollars in road and bridge construction and create approximately 30,000 new jobs [...]

House Productive on First Full Day for Bills

The House had a typically productive day yesterday. I say typically because this early in the session is primarily devoted to legislation that has previously passed the chamber.
The only real controversies to arise yesterday dealt with Rep. Jim McClendon’s ban on text messaging and legislation I was sponsoring for a 7th year in a [...]

Leg. Session - Week 2

The second of legislative sessions tend be some of the more boring. Everyone is glad to see each other again on the first week of the session and by week two that fun has worn off. Since only resolutions can be passed in the first week it makes for a somewhat more ceremonial [...]

Week 1 in the Senate - Fighting for Alabama Families

The Democratic Caucus began this session right where it left off last session–working hard for Alabama families.  Last year, the Senate Democratic Caucus had great success in passing our agenda.  We passed a $50 million dollar tax cut, doubled the size of our nationally recognized Pre-Kindergarten program, increased the Children’s Health Insurance program (”CHIPS”) by [...]

democrat Legislators toe AEA line

In a largely partisan vote, democrat legislators in the Senate and then in the House quickly proved their loyalty to AEA (and to their large PAC) by nullifying the State Board of Education’s (SBOE) attempt to pass a “teacher Code of Ethics”.  The SBOE this summer asked the Legislative Council to approve a rule change [...]

Response to Governor Riley's State of the State Address

Thank you for the opportunity to blog during the 2010 Regular Session of the Legislature.  I enjoyed the experience last year.  It was my first time to blog.

Each year the House and Senate alternate giving the Democratic response to the Governor’s message.  The following my response on Alabama Public Television to the Governor Riley’s State [...]

Daily News

Daily Headlines, Monday, 2/8/2010

Montgomery AdvertiserSolution to PACT woes may squeeze state colleges

Montgomery AdvertiserState may not be true to song for much longer

Montgomery AdvertiserBlack history sites immortalize fights for freedom

Montgomery AdvertiserCity Hall beefs up security measures

Montgomery AdvertiserAN ADVERTISER EDITORIAL: [...]

Small Town News

Small town political gazette – 2/7/10

The News Courier - Bill would let Limestone county refinance $13 million bond issue

The Daily HomeIn depth look at proposed sales tax increase

The Selma Times Journal - Build a base for industry

Quiet day for news.  In the FWIW category, apears to be an uptick in arrests for sex crimes

See more Recent Small Town News

 


 

Legislative Dispatch

Senate Passes Ban on No-Bid Contracts–Makes State Government More Accountable

I am very pleased that Senate Republicans joined with the Senate Democratic Caucus this week to pass a major piece of our legislative agenda.  SB 52, sponsored by Senator Lowell Barron, will end the abuse that we have seen of the awarding of no-bid contracts.  During Governor Riley’s seven years in office, he has awarded [...]

Working in the Bubble

I often hear a lot of talk about the bubble of Montgomery. From time to time I am reminded about this and it could never be more glaring than the current debate regarding gambling. As the news media and political ads have taken to the air debating Governor Riley’s raid on Victory Land and Country [...]

Purple Dot Connection

HAPPY FEBRUARY

Under the “B” … June 1 

                 I’ve tried to follow BINGO rules and BINGO raids.  I’m not sure I understand the law, nor do I get the motives of many of the principal players.  I bet many of you know a heck of a lot more about this than I.  But one thing I am [...]


Back in the Day...

Dexter Avenue in Montgomery, 1950s

Vintage postcard