February 2019 Group Watch: News & Views From the State House

• Governor awards grant to help prosecute domestic violence offenders. Governor Ivey awarded a $144,000 grant to the Office of Prosecutions Services Domestic Violence Resource Prosecutor program to help train police in handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases. The funds will assist law enforcement agencies and non-profit organizations to investigate domestic violence and sexual assault cases and help victims recover. The Office of Prosecutions Services works with domestic violence agencies in how to meet the needs of victims and also teaches law enforcement officials how to respond, investigate and prosecute domestic violence offenders.
• Pay raise likely for Alabama teachers. State leaders seem to agree that a pay raise for educators is appropriate. It is, however, unclear how much of a raise legislators are likely to approve. Senator Arthur Orr, who chairs the Alabama Senate’s education budget committee, said that he supports a raise for teachers. Orr said it is too soon to say what percentage of pay raise is likely, but points to the fact salaries are lagging behind inflation since 2008. State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey supports a pay raise for teachers, but he declined to give a percentage. Mackey said that decision is up to the governor and legislature.
• Three new men’s prisons to be built. Governor  Ivey announced that her administration will seek bids for the construction of three regional prisons for men to replace aging, cramped facilities that the Alabama Department of Corrections has said are too costly to maintain and repair. The governor said new prisons are a necessary part of a larger plan to fix a system plagued by violence, a severe shortage of correctional officers, overcrowding, and what a federal judge ruled are unconstitutional deficiencies in mental health care. The financing arrangement is still to be determined. The options include an agreement under which the state would lease and operate prisons built by private companies, or a state bond issue to pay for construction.
• Education and workforce training remain a priority for businesses. Alabama business executives believe education and workforce training remains the top issue currently facing the state. Business executives are surveyed annually by the Center for Business and Economic Research in the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business on various topics related to issues facing the state and their companies. More than 70 business executives participated in the latest survey in November 2018. This survey has been conducted since 2013 and for the third consecutive year education and workforce training has topped their list. Eighty-nine percent of respondents listed their top priority as education and workforce development. Business leaders are concerned over the tightening labor market.

February 2019 Group Watch: Going Electric

Republic Services, an industry leader in recycling and waste solutions, recently announced a partnership with Mack Trucks to develop a fleet of fully electric Mack LR refuse trucks. Read more here. 

February 2019 Group Watch: AL Dept of Commerce Earns Award

Business Facilities Magazine has awarded its silver award for the 2018 Economic Development Deal of the year to Alabama’s Department of Commerce for landing the Mazda-Toyota auto plant in Huntsville. The award was announced in the magazine’s January/February issue and recognizes large scale economic development projects. The gold medal went to New York and Virginia’s teams for the Amazon HQ2 project. Bronze honors went to Michigan for revitalization of Detroit’s Michigan Central Station Depot.

February 2019 Group Watch: Tweet of the Month

@thebloomgroup
Feb 10
“Her Title: Cryptologic Technician. Her Occupation: Warrior. – The New York Times“

January 2019 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

• Marsh, McCutcheon re-elected as legislative leaders. Alabama legislators re-elected Rep. Mac McCutcheon as Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator Del Marsh as Senate President Pro Tempore. Alabama lawmakers took these actions during a recently completed organizational session for the four-year term. McCutcheon will continue in the role he took on in 2016 after then-speaker Mike Hubbard was convicted on ethics charges. Marsh is the longtime leader of the Senate, having served in the role in the Alabama Senate since 2010. McCutcheon was elected 98-1, and Marsh was elected 32-0.
• Victor Gaston elected House Speaker Pro Tem. During the recently completed organizational session, The Alabama House of Representatives  elected Victor Gaston of Mobile for another term as Speaker Pro Tem, a position he has held since 2010. Gaston was elected 84-13 with one abstention. The House Pro Tem assumes the authority and functions of the speaker in the event the speaker is unable to function and fulfill the duties.
• Charles Daniels appointed ADOC Deputy Commissioner of Operations. The Alabama Department of Corrections has appointed Charles Daniels as Deputy Commissioner of Operations. Daniels comes to the ADOC with more than 28 years of service with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He will oversee the ADOC’s daily operations of Alabama’s 23 male correctional facilities. Those facilities employ more than 1,700 security staff and house more than 18,000 inmates. He holds a degree in criminal justice and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1984 to 1988.

January 2019 Group Watch: Alabama Governor Takes Oath of Office

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, who said she “steadied the ship of state” after taking over for a scandal-battled predecessor nearly two years ago, was sworn in for her first full term on Monday, January 14. She is the state’s second female governor and the first Republican woman elected to the position. In her 2018 campaign Ivey largely focused on her brief record as governor and emphasized the state’s recovering economy and restoring trust to state government. Ivey has already been in discussions with legislative leaders about a possible gasoline tax increase to fund road and bridge construction.

January 2019 Group Watch: Tweet of the Month

@conservativePTZ
“My daughter Abby and her soldier Lakyn.”

January 2019 Group Watch: Jo Bonner To Be Ivey’s Chief of Staff

Governor Ivey recently named former U. S. Representative Jo Bonner her new chief of staff, about a month after hiring him as a senior advisor. Bonner will succeed Steve Pelham, Ivey’s longtime chief of staff, who has accepted an executive position with Auburn University. Bonner represented the first congressional district, centered around Mobile, from 2003-2013. He left Congress in 2013 to become vice-chancellor for government relations and economic development for the University of Alabama.

January 2019 Group Watch: Congressman Aderholt Ranking Member on Important Committee

Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-4) has been named ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. “It is a great honor to be named the ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. This subcommittee is certainly important to America, but even more so for North Alabama,” Aderholdt said in a statement. Read more here.

January 2019 Group Watch: AL House of Representatives Committee Assignments

2019 regular session Committee assignments for The House have been released:

Rules

Chair: Rep. Mike Jones

Vice Chair: Rep. Paul Lee

Ranking Member: Rep. Barbara Boyd

Rep. David Faulkner

Rep. Victor Gaston

Rep. Ralph Howard

Rep. Ron Johnson

Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter

Rep. Jimmy Martin

Rep. Steve McMillan

Rep. David Standridge

Rep. Pebblin Warren

Rep. Randy Wood

Ways and Means Education

Chair: Rep. Bill Poole

Vice Chair: Danny Garrett

Ranking Member: Rep. Rod Scott

Rep. Alan Baker

Rep. Prince Chestnut

Rep. Terri Collins

Rep. Barbara Drummond

Rep. Corley Ellis

Rep. David Faulkner

Rep. Dexter Grimsely

Rep. Jamie Kile

Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter

Rep. Joe Lovvonrn

Rep. Steve McMillan

Rep. Debbie Wood

Ways and Means General Fund

Chair: Rep. Steve Clouse

Vice Chair: Rep. Kyle South

Ranking Member: Rep. Laura Hall

Rep. Napoleon Bracy

Rep. K.L Brown

Rep. Jim Carns

Rep. Victor Gaston

Rep. Lynn Greer

Rep. Kelvin Lawrence

Rep. Paul Lee

Rep. Arthur Mooney

Rep. Rex Reynolds

Rep. Chris Sells

Rep. Peblin Warren

Rep. Rich Wingo

Judiciary 

Chair: Rep. Jim Hill

Vice Chair: Rep. Tim Wadsworth

Ranking Member: Rep. Thad McClammy

Rep. Wes Allen

Rep. Mike Ball

Rep. Prince Chestnut

Rep. Merika Coleman

Rep. Dickie Drake

Rep. Chris England

Rep. Allen Farley

Rep. David Faulkner

Rep. Matt Fridy

Rep. Mike Holmes

Rep. Phillip Pettus

Rep. Matt Simpson

Economic Development and Tourism

Chair: Rep. Becky Nordgren

Vice Chair: Rep. Ron Johnson

Ranking Member: Rep. Berry Forte

Rep. Chip Brown

Rep. Corey Harbison

Rep. Rolanda Hollis

Rep. Gil Isbell

Rep. Neil Rafferty

Rep. Rep. Ginny Shaver

Rep. Andy Whitt

Rep. Rep. Ritchie Whorton

Rep. Randy Wood

Education Policy

Chair: Rep. Terri Collins

Vice Chair: Rep. Danny Garrett

Ranking Member: Rep. Rodd Scott

Rep. Anthony Daniels

Rep. Will Dismukes

Rep. Barbara Drummond

Rep. Brett Easterbrook

Rep. Tracey Estes

Rep. Bob Fincher

Rep. Tashina Morris

Rep. Kerry Rich

Rep. Proncey Robertson

Rep. Shane Stringer

Transportatoin, Utilities and Infrastructure

Chair: Rep. Lynn Greer

Vice Chair: Rep. Joe Faust

Ranking Member: Rep. A.J. McCampbell

Rep. Napoleon Bracy

Rep. Danny Crawford

Rep. Victor Gaston

Rep. Rolanda Hollis

Rep. Gil isbell

Rep. Wes Kitchens

Rep. Parker Moore

Rep. Neil Rafferty

Rep. Randall Shedd

Rep. Margie Wilcox

Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Chair: Rep. Howard Sanderford

Vice Chair: Rep. Mike Holmes

Ranking Member: Rep. John Rogers

Rep. Napoleon Bracy

Rep. Steve Hurst

Rep. Parker Moore

Rep, Proncey Robertson

Rep. Jeff Sorrells

Rep. Scott Stadthagen

County and Municipal Government

Chair: Rep. Reed Ingram

Vice Chair: Rep. Margie Wilcox

Ranking Member: Rep. Barbara Boyd

Rep. Chris Blackshear

Rep. Steve Hurst

Rep. Sam Jones

Rep. Steve McMillian

Rep. David Wheeler

Rep. Debbie Wood

Ethics and Campaign Finance

Chair: Rep. Mike Ball

Vice Chair: Rep. Rich Wingo

Ranking Member: Rep. Thomas Jackson

Rep. Allan Farley

Rep. Berry Forte

Rep. Kirk Hatcher

Rep. Demitri Polizos

Rep. Matt Simpson

Rep. Andrew Sorrell

Rep. Ritchie Whorton

Children and Senior Advocacy

Chair: Rep. K.L. Brown

Vice Chair: Rep. Randall Shedd

Ranking Member: Rep. Barbara Boyd

Rep. Jim Carns

Rep. Barbara Drummond

Rep. Tracey Estes

Rep. Tommy Hanes

Rep. Mary Moore

Rep. Ginny Shaver

Rep. Tim Wadsworth

Military and Veterans’ Affairs

Chair: Rep. Dickie Drake

Vice Chair: Rep. Connie Rowe

Ranking Member: Rep. Thad McClammy

Rep. Steve Clouse

Rep. Ralph Howard

Rep. Sam Jones

Rep. Phillip Petus

Rep. Allen Treadaway

Rep. Randy Wood

Insurance

Chair: Rep. Kerry Rich-

Vice Chair: Rep. Corley Ellis

Ranking Member: Rep. Chris England

Rep. Chris Brown

Rep. Louise Alexander

Rep. Chip Brown

Rep. Anthony Daniels

Rep. Brett Easterbrook

Rep. David Faulkner

Rep. Jamie Kiel

Rep. Jimmy Martin

Rep. Kyle South

Rep. David Wheeler

Health

Chair: Rep. April Weaver

Vice Chair: Rep. Ron Johnson

Ranking Member: Rep. Laura Hall

Rep. Matt Fridy

Rep. Jeremy Gray

Rep. Paul Lee

Rep. Craig Lipscomb

Rep. Joe Lovvorn

Rep. Rhett Marques

Rep. Arnold Mooney

Rep. Becky Nordgren

Rep. Ed Oliver

Rep. Neil Rafferty

Rep. Chris Sells

Rep. Pebblin Warren

Agriculture and Forestry

Chair: Rep. Danny Crawford

Vice Chair: Rep. Steve Hurst

Ranking Member: Thomas Jackson

Rep. Will Dismukes

Rep. Joe Faust

Rep. Bob Fincher

Rep. Dexter Grimsley

Rep. Tommy Hanes

Rep. Ralph Howard

Rep. Reed Ingram

Rep. A.J. McCampbell

Rep. Ed Oliver

Rep. Ginney Shaver

Rep. Jeff Sorrells

Rep. Rodney Sullivan

State Government

Chair: Rep. Chris Pringle

Vice Chair: Rep. Chris Sells

Ranking Member: Rep. John Rogers

Rep. Mike Ball

Rep. Barbara Body

Rep. Brett Easterbrook

Rep. Rolanda Hollis

Rep. Jamie Keil

Rep. Lawrence Kelvin

Rep. Connie Rowe

Rep. Harry Shiver

Rep. April Weaver

Commerce and Small Business

Chair: Rep. Jim Carns

Vice Chair: Rep. Dimitir Polizos

Ranking Member: Rep. Berry Forte

Rep. Louise Alexander

Rep. Jeremy Gray

Rep. Gill Isbell

Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter

Rep. Rhett Marques

Rep. Matt Simpon

Rep. David Wheeler

Rep. Andy Whitt

Rep. Ritchie Whorton

Local Legislation

Chair: Rep. Alan Baker

VIce Chair: Rep. Richie Whorton

Ranking Member: Rep. Thomas Jackson

Rep. Louise Alexander

Rep. Will Dismukes

Rep. Bob Fincher

Rep. Dexter Grimsely

Rep. Ralph Howard

Rep. Craig Lipscomb

Rep. Rep. Randall Shedd

Rep. Harry Shiver

Rep. Scott Stadthagen

Rep. David Standridge

Rep. Tim Wadsworth

Rep. David Wheeler

Internal Affairs Commission

Chair: Rep. Randy Wood

Vice Chair: Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter

Ranking Member: Rep. Laura Hall

Rep. Chris Blacksear

Rep. Anthony Daniels

Rep. Steve McMillian

Rep. Chris Pringle

Rep. Connie Rowe

Rep. Hoard Sanderford

Rep. Pebblin Warren

Rep. April Weaver

Technology and Research

Chair: Rep. Joe Lovvorn

Vice Chair: Rep. Corey Harbison

Ranking Member: Rep. Laura Hall

Rep. Alan Baker

Rep. Craig Lipscomb

Rep. Steve McMillan

Rep. Mary Moore

Rep. Howard Sanderford

Rep. Rod Scott

Rep. Andrew Sorrell

Urban and Rural Development

Chair: Rep. Randall Shedd

Vice Chair: Rep. David Standridge

Ranking Member: Rep. Prince Chestnut

Rep. Wes Allen

Rep. Chris Blackshear

Rep. Chip Brown

Rep. Sam Jones

Rep. TaShina Morris

Rep. Shane Stringer

Rep. Margie Wilcox

Rep. Debbie Wood

Constitutions, Campaigns and Elections

Chair: Rep. Matt Fridy

Vice Chair: Rep. Bob Fincher

Ranking Member: Juandalynn Givan

Rep. Wes Allen

Rep. Adline Clarke

Rep. Corey Harbison

Rep. Kirk Hatcher

Rep. Arnold Mooney

Rep. Dimitri Polizos

Rep. Chris Pringle

Rep. Howard Sanderford

Fiscal Responsibility

Chair: Rep. Chris Sells

Vice Chair: Rep. Mike Holmes

Ranking Member: Rep. Rod Scott

Rep. Lousie Alexander

Rep. Corley Ellis

Rep. Danny Garrett

Rep. Juandalynn Givan

Rep. Rhett Marques

Rep. Parker Moore

Rep. Ed Oliver

Rep. Rodney Sullivan

Financial Services

Chair: Rep. Chris Blackshear

Vice Chair: Rep. Jimmy Martin

Ranking Member: Rep. John Rogers

Rep. Reed Ingram

Rep. Kelvin Lawrence

Rep. Thad McClammy

Rep. Andrew Sorrell

Rep. Jeff Sorrells

Rep. Kyle South

Rep. David Standridge

Rep. Andy Whitt

Rep. Rich Wingo

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Chair: Rep. Allen Treadaway

Vice Chair: Rep. Allen Farley

Ranking Member: Rep. Thomas Jackson

Rep. Dickie Drake

Rep. Chris England

Rep. Tracey Estes

Rep. Jeremy Gray

Rep. Tommy Hanes

Rep. TaShina Morris

Rep. Phillip Pettus

Rep. Rex Reynolds

Rep. Pronsey Robertson

Rep. Harry Shiver

Rep. Shane Stringer