April 15, 2009
The bombshell announcement by Jim Folsom, Jr. that he will opt to run for reelection as Lt. Governor, rather than make the plunge into the Governor’s race, reveals a pivotal piece of the 2010 election puzzle. It clears the field and reshapes the deck. It also opens the floodgate. You will now see the field begin to take shape over the next two months.
Read more
April 08, 2009
Next year will be a big year for Alabama politics. Besides the Governor’s race, all of the other constitutional offices are up for grabs. In addition, all of the 67 sheriffs and 140 members of the Legislature are elected. It is a much bigger year for Alabama voters than a Presidential year.
Read more
April 01, 2009
An issue has arisen during the past month that has moved to the head of the class so to speak when it comes to hot potato issues. It is one that needs addressing and is now issue number one on the minds of a good many middle class, hardworking, taxpaying Alabamians. They want their state government to make good on a promise they believe was made to them.
Read more
March 25, 2009
As the aspirants for the 2010 Governor’s race begin gearing up for the challenge, one of the initial endeavors they will embark is a Benchmark poll. This first test will cost them or their supporters a little money. Polling is not cheap, especially if it is done by a reputable pollster. To their dismay or chagrin they will discover that very few Alabamians know who they are.
Read more
March 18, 2009
For several years there has been an outcry to pass legislation to stop PAC to PAC transfers. This is something that should be addressed because this deceptive practice has rendered Alabama’s campaign finance laws useless. We may as well do away with the law that requires PACs and candidates to report contributions if we do not close this glaring loophole.
Read more
March 11, 2009
Slings and arrows have been hurled at Russellville State Senator Roger Bedford for over a decade because of his legendary ability to get extra state dollars for his northwest Alabama district. As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee he has had immense power appropriating and distributing taxpayers’ money to his constituents. It is because of the largesse of political bacon brought home to his area that he has been dubbed by the state media as the Pork King of Goat Hill.
Read more
March 04, 2009
The Legislative Session is a month old. One third of the legislative days have been spent. The national economic recession has had a devastating effect on the state’s two budgets. It has cast an ominous cloud over everything legislators try to undertake. They are wrestling with the crafting of an Education Budget that is currently under 12.6% proration and facing a $300 million shortfall in the next fiscal year. However, the legislature may be saved by the federal stimulus spending package. There may be as much as $3 billion of one time money coming to Alabama in the deal. Santa Claus may have come early in the form of one Uncle Sam.
Read more
February 25, 2009
In last year’s U.S. Senate investigations surrounding the convictions of the infamous duo Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon, it was revealed that Bob Riley’s 2002 Election Campaign received at least $600,000, and probably close to $2.5 million, in contributions from out of state gambling interests. This is a lot of money, even in today’s political environment. It would easily be the largest contribution to Riley’s campaign, if not the largest to any campaign in Alabama history.
Read more
February 18, 2009
The most effective and powerful governor in the last sixty years, and probably Alabama history, would be Gov. George Wallace. This was especially true when it came to getting his programs through the legislature. However, when you look at the other governors he was competing with over the last sixty years, there were not very many because Wallace was governor for practically one third of those sixty years. So you might say he was successful because he had a lot of experience being governor and dealing with the legislature. Although that is true, Wallace’s success went deeper. He worked hard at it.
Read more
February 11, 2009
Last year’s announcement by Volkswagen to locate their American plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, rather than Alabama, was a disappointment. Although a lot of Alabamians who live in the Tennessee Valley will land good paying jobs in the plant, which will be just over the state line. In addition, there will be satellite component plants that will locate in our state to supply the major facility. This same scenario holds true for the Kia plant being built on the Georgia/Alabama border near Valley. The Kia plant will employ almost as many Alabamians as Georgians.
Read more