November 2014 Group Watch: New Majority Leader of Senate

Senator Greg Reed of Jasper is the new majority leader of the Alabama Senate. Newly elected members of the Senate met and re-elected Senator Del Marsh of Anniston as Pro Tem and elected Greg Reed as majority leader. Reed replaces Senator Jabo Waggoner of Vestavia Hills (Birmingham). Waggoner recommended Reed for the job because he wants to devote more of his time to the Rules Committee and Confirmation Committee. Waggoner chairs both of these powerful committees in the Senate. Reed voiced excitement about leading the largest Republican majority in the state in modern times.

November 2014 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

Republicans dominated statewide races in the November 3 elections, many coasting to victories or running unopposed. Governor Robert Bentley, Lt. Governor Kay Ivey and Attorney General Luther Strange all handily defeated their Democratic challengers by double-digit margins. Click to see the full election returns below.

• Republicans Extend Majorities in Legislature: The Alabama Legislature, already a deep shade of red, became even more crimson on election day. They added six seats in the House of Representative, increasing their majority in the 105 member chamber from 66 to 72 seats. Republicans took four seats from Democrats, and picked up a seat being held by a retiring independent as well as an open seat in eastern Montgomery County. They added at least two seats in the Senate, increasing their majority from 23 seats to 25 seats. Democrats fell back from 11 seats to nine, while independent Harri Anne Smith, a former Republican, managed to win a second term as an independent.
• Mike Hubbard Will Stay Speaker: The Alabama House Republican caucus voted during a three-hour meeting to keep Representative Mike Hubbard of Auburn as Speaker. They also voted to keep Representative Victor Gaston of Mobile as speaker pro tem and Representative Micky Hammon of Decatur as Majority leader. The House will officially select the speaker in January during the organizational session of the new Legislature.

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October 2014 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

Budget news is front and center as we look ahead to the next Legislative session.

• House Speaker Says General Fund Issues Will be Resolved Without Raising Taxes: As the 2014 election cycle drawing to a close, legislators are already looking toward the 2015 regular session. The $1.8 billion General Fund is a small part of the total $28 billion state budget. Most of the total state budget is earmarked for specific purposes, which gives lawmakers very little flexibility. There have been discussions about combining the state’s budgets, increasing the tax on tobacco products and a state lottery. House Speaker Mike Hubbard says that while some lawmakers are not negative towards a tobacco tax, most ran on not raising taxes. He also points out that un-earmarking or combining budgets would require a vote of the people, which could be a huge obstacle to overcome. Lastly, he says a lottery will have a difficult time getting through the legislature but suggests that creativity and collaboration will be necessary as the state moves forward.
• State Pays Off More Trust Fund Debt: Governor Robert Bentley recently announced that the state has taken another step toward repaying money borrowed to fund education during the recession. At the end of the 2014 fiscal year, the state paid $70 million to the Alabama Trust Fund. That amount includes $35 million that was required in the budget, plus $35 million that was conditioned upon the availability of funds. Bentley said that together with a conservative Republican majority in the Legislature amd legislative budget chairs, the state has made substantial progress towards repaying the debt.

October 2014 Group Watch: Congressman Byrne Wins National Award

U. S. Representative Bradley Byrne of Mobile has received the National Association of Manufacturers Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence. Manufacturers in Alabama and throughout the country are making a comeback, creating jobs, making more products and making them better than ever before. Byrne has demonstrated an understanding of the type of policies needed to foster innovation, growth and competition. He is a strong advocate for the hard-working men and women who work in Alabama’s manufacturing industry. The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector.

October 2014 Group Watch: Incentives Aid Plant Expansion

The State of Alabama has pledged an incentive package worth more than $5.1 million for expansion at the Baxter International plant in Opelika. According to company officials, the $300 million project will add 200 jobs when complete. The expansion will increase the plant’s output of dialyzers, a key component of therapy for people with end-stage renal disease. The plant currently employs 170 people. The incentive package is structured to assist with screening and training of workers, industrial development considerations and performance incentives for increasing employment.

October 2014 Group Watch: Governor Joins 60 Plus Association

On Tuesday October 7, Governor Robert Bentley and leaders of The 60 Plus Association stood on the Alabama State Capitol steps to reveal a new study showing that new EPA regulations could negatively affect Alabama senior citizens. President Obama and the EPA’s Clean Power Plan goals are to reduce America’s carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent. But, as 60 Plus Alabama State Director, Apryl Marie Fogel, stated, “The EPA is pursuing sweeping new standards that do little to improve the environment and will disproportionately cost Alabama’s seniors more money.”

According to the poll by 60 Plus, “72 percent of seniors say they are living on fixed incomes with 73 percent concerned about the costs associated with new power plant regulations. Additionally, an average of 61 percent want Congress to focus on reducing energy prices rather than new regulations.”  The 60 Plus study found that the envisioned EPA regulations will likely raise power bills by more than 20 percent, which would add $25 or more to a monthly power bill! Alabama alone houses more than 447,000 seniors living on a $50,000 or less annual income. The proposed EPA rules would take money, essential to Alabama senior citizens, out of their hands by adding to the cost of producing electricity all in the name of “fighting climate change.” The 60 Plus study also discovered that the new Clean Power Plan could restrict the assortment of fuel supply in Alabama, causing energy prices to rise and possibly reducing disposable income by $2,000.

October 2014 Group Watch: Speaker Hubbard Indicted

Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard has been indicted on corruption charges by a Lee County Grand Jury. He maintains his innocence and claims the charges are politically motivated. Read Attorney General Luther Strange’s response to these claims here. Learn more about the specific charges here and here.

September 2014 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

More and more election news is rolling in as we near November.

• Governor Endorses Gary Palmer: Governor Robert Bentley has endorsed fellow Republican Gary Palmer in the race for the state’s 6^thCongressional seat, which is being vacated by longtime Congressman Spencer Bachus. Bentley says he has known Palmer for years, both during his time in the Legislature and as Governor. Bentley noted his appointment of Palmer to the Alabama Commission on Improving State Government, which helped to identify over $1 billion dollars in annual savings for taxpayers by reducing the cost of state government and increasing efficiency. The governor said this is the type of leadership needed in Washington and expressed pleasure endorsing Palmer for Congress. Palmer defeated State Representative Paul DeMarco in the July Republican run-off and will face Democrat Marl Lester in the November general election.
• Republican State Leadership Committee “Races to Watch” List: The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) included two African-American Alabama legislative candidates on “races to watch” lists it released as part of an effort to elect more minority and women candidates on the GOP side. Darius Foster, Republican nominee in House District 56 in Birmingham will face Democrat Louise Alexander and independent Ricky Leavins in the November general election. Tijuanna Adetunji, Republican nominee in House District 78 in Montgomery, will face longtime Representative Alvin Holmes. Holmes has served in the Legislature since 1974. The RSLC announced 14 minority candidates and 14 women candidates on “races to watch” lists for the 2014 legislative campaigns.

September 2014 Group Watch: Gov. Creates Small Business Commission

Governor Bentley has created The Alabama Small Business Commission with Executive Order 47 in recognition of the fact that there are approximately 400,000 small businesses in our state. According to the press release, the Commission will act as an advisory body to help come up with policies and discuss issues, “critical to the economic growth of small businesses.”  The Commission will also encourage innovation and promote policies to assist new business start-ups and the expansion of existing businesses. “Small businesses are the engines of job growth and an integral part of the framework that makes up the American economic system,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “Alabama’s continued economic progress depends on the prosperity of our small businesses.” Read more here.

September 2014 Group Watch: Cap Raise for Accountability Act?

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh of Anniston said he might propose raising the $25 million cap on the Alabama Accountability if the results show that it is warranted. The Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund, the largest scholarship granting organization created under the Accountability Act, reported it will put about 2,200 children on a waiting list because its funds will run out. It expects to award about 2,900 scholarships for this school year. The state can award up to $25 million each year in donor tax credits. It is that cap that Marsh said he might propose raising. The average household income of those receiving scholarships was $20,687. A Montgomery County Circuit judge ruled in May that the Accountability Act violated the state Constitution because of the way it passed. The state has appealed the ruling and the law remains in effect while the appeal is pending.