October 2013 Group Watch: Special Elections

The results of an October 8 special election leave Charlotte Meadows and Dimitri Polizos competing in a runoff on on November 19. The two Republican candidates are vying for House District 74, which was left vacant when Rep. Jay Love announced he was resigning from the legislature earlier this year. Meadows is the former president of the Montgomery Board of Education. Polizos is a member of the Montgomery County Commission. A second special election was held on October 15 to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Jim Barton, who stepped down after serving House District 104 for 13 years to take another job. The race drew a Democrat candidate and multiple Republican candidates, so the October election served as a primary for the Republicans. After the votes were tallied, Susan Hightower had the most, but not enough to avoid a runoff with Margie Wilcox. The runoff will be held on December 3, and the winner will face Democrat Stephen Carr in January. Hightower is the wife of state Senator Bill Hightower. Wilcox owns Yellow Cab of Mobile as well as a pair of airport shuttle companies.

September 2013 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

This month brings good news for Alabama, including praise for cities across the state:

• Streamlining & Stimulating:In a recent speech in Hoover, Governor Robert Bentley delivered a message about streamlining state government and stimulating economic development. Speaking to a group of about 300 business leaders, the governor reflected on the state of government when he took office. He recounted that it came down to raising taxes or looking at the scope and size of government. He chose to not raise taxes and instead, achieve efficiencies by combining agencies and reducing the number of public employees through attrition and retirement. Bentley says the state’s economy is improving, as evidenced by the unemployment rate dropping from 9.3 percent to 6.3 percent. He says that sales tax receipts are up 7 percent from a year ago, and individual and corporate income taxes are up 10 percent. The governor lauds these indicators as proof we are going in the right direction and says his priorities are to continue workforce development initiatives, retain existing industry and stimulate job growth among existing companies.
• Alabama Cities Named “Top Places to Retire:” Fairhope has been named one of “America’s 100 Best Places to Retire.” The coastal city joins Auburn/Opelika, Florence/The Shoals and Huntsville as areas in the state recognized by “Where to Retire” magazine. Fairhope was named one of the 15 best low-cost towns for retirees, and Huntsville was profiled as a top retirement destination. The recognition considers taxes, climate, walkability, housing and health care.

September 2013 Group Watch: Governor Says No to Same-Sex Benefits for National Guard

Alabama’s governor clarified the state’s position on extending federal benefits to same-sex couples in the Alabama National Guard. The governor says that when the National Guard is under his command, they are subject to state law, which does not recognize same-sex unions. He pointed out when they are federalized, they are subject to federal law and regulation. After the United States Supreme Court struck down the Federal Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional, the Department of Defense took steps to make all federal benefits extend to same-sex couples who obtained their marriage licenses in a state where the practice is legal. Those benefits include health insurance, survivors’ payments and housing.

September 2013 Group Watch: Rep. Demetrius Newton Passes

Demetrius Newton, a civil rights attorney who represented icons like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. before becoming the first black person to serve as speaker pro tem of the Alabama House of Representatives, has died at the age of 85. Newton was a former city attorney for the city of Birmingham and served in the legislature since 1986. In the legislature, he was an outspoken critic of the state’s 1901 Constitution, which he described as too long and out of date. Governor Bentley, who served with Newton in the House, described him as a true gentleman and an effective public servant. Colleagues past and present voiced sadness over his death and praise for his distinguished career. Demetrius Newton will be missed, but we are glad we got to know and work with this fine person.

August 2013 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

This month brings another resignation, and as school begins, parents and educators brace for the new list of failing schools.

• Rep. Jim Barton Resigns: State Representative Jim Barton of Mobile announced his resignation from his House seat to take a job with a Montgomery-based lobbying group. Barton expressed appreciation to those who have supported him over the last 13 years while serving in the Legislature. Prior to his resignation, he served as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means General Fund Committee. Barton’s departure is the latest in a string of high-profile resignations among state elected officials. Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman and Representative Jay Love both resigned last month to take advantage of private sector offers. A few months ago U.S. Representative Jo Bonner announced his resignation from Congress to take a position as vice chancellor of government relations and economic development for the University of Alabama System. Barton, who is the owner of two Mobile-area businesses, thanked House Speaker Mike Hubbard for naming him to the committee chairmanship. Barton is prohibited from lobbying House members for two years, but can immediately lobby Senators.
• New Failing Schools to Be Announced This Fall:  Alabama will be facing a new list of “failing” schools before the end of the year, as the test scores from last spring are due to be released sometime this fall. The new round of test results will cause the state to recalculate the scores that led to the list of failing schools. Parents at any new failing schools will be eligible for a $3,500 tax credit to help pay for private school in the spring. Since the state does not release the scores of non-failing schools, it is impossible to guess if the state list will grow much longer, as we don’t know how many schools are on the brink of “failing.” Republican lawmakers through the Alabama Accountability Act chose to label as failing any school testing in the bottom 6 percent in reading and math at least three times over the last six years. The state listed 72 schools as “failing” for not meeting the testing standard. A third of those missed the mark for six straight years. That means they have no success to build on and no shot. Those schools will remain on the list for at least four more years no matter how well they score this year.

August 2013 Group Watch: Alabama AG Supporting Legislative Prayers

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has joined other attorneys general in filing a brief in a New York case asking the U. S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that prayer at the beginning of a government assembly violates the Establishment Clause. Strange and 22 other attorneys general filed briefs in the case.

The Supreme Court upheld the practice of opening legislative sessions with prayer in a case 30 years ago. The brief filed by the attorneys general asks the Supreme Court to reaffirm that ruling and to clarify that the Constitution does not require state and local governments to screen prayers for sectarian references. The State of Alabama has a long history of opening legislative sessions with prayer.

August 2013 Group Watch: PSC Lowers Power Rates

The Public Service Commission voted 2-1 to radically change how Alabama Power’s rates are measured and created more oversight, which will mean cheaper power bills for consumers. The PSC President said the changes allow the commission to measure Alabama Power’s profits by taking into account a wider array of its financial picture and will save customers an estimated $30 to $110 a year based power utilization.

Most regulated utilities are allowed a profit range based on a rate of return on common equity. Alabama Power’s range has stayed at 13 to 14.5 percent for the past few decades, while the ranges for similar utilities in other states have fallen. But the company argued at a series of public meetings that the figure paints an incomplete picture of its finances. The new formula takes into account the company’s debt structure and allows for a range of 5.75 to 6.21 percent.

July 2013 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

The governor is raising funds in hopes of retaining office, while another elected official announces his departure.

• Bentley Begins Run for Second Term: Alabama Governor Robert Bentley filed his first campaign finance report, which shows he has over a half-million dollars already on hand. The report shows he entered the campaign fundraising season with a beginning balance of $236,000 and raised $422,500, giving him a total of $545,000. A spokesperson for the governor said he is happy with the initial report and thinks it reflects the support he has based on his job performance to date. Alabama’s primary election is June 3, 2014.
• Rep. Jay Love Resigns: State Representative Jay Love, one of the most powerful members of the House of Representatives, announced he is leaving the legislature August 1 to pursue business opportunities and to promote education reform. Love is chairman of the House Ways and Means Education Committee, which writes the budget for all education functions in the state. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and during his stint in public office, ran unsuccessfully for congress and for chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. Love has owned several Montgomery area eateries and became a prominent legislative player after Republicans took control of the legislature in 2010. Love’s replacement will be selected in a special election that will be called by Governor Bentley.

July 2013 Group Watch: Trade Mission to Canada

The Alabama Department of Commerce will lead representatives from 10 state companies to Canada next week on a trip aimed at strengthening ties with that country. Canada, a North American Free Trade Agreement partner, is the top destination for Alabama products and the upcoming trip will capitalize on those current ties. Small businesses from across the state, mainly technology and research and development firms, will be a part of the trade mission. Canada continued as the state’s top export destination last year, with shipments valued at almost $4 billion. Alabama imports from Canada were valued at more than $258 million.

July 2013 Group Watch: Obamacare Reprieve

Employers will get a one-year reprieve from providing health insurance for their workers as the White House retools the mandate that critics have said is both costly and cumbersome. The delay was announced by Treasury officials and would push the requirement past the 2014 mid-term elections. Other aspects of the massive law wouldn’t be delayed. The employer mandate requires businesses with more than 50 workers to provide health insurance for their employees or face fines of up to $3,000 per worker. The change was supposed to become effective January 1, 2014, but will now occur in 2015. Government officials are strongly encouraging employers to maintain or expand health coverage during the transition period.