After Senator Barron introduced his special order calendar from the Rules committee, Senator Singleton made a motion to bring up SB135 pertaining to bingo in Greene County. This motion did not receive unanimous consent to bring up SB 135 out of order because Senator Hank Erwin opposed.
Senator Singleton spoke to Lt. Governor Folsom stating that he would like the same consideration to bring up his bill without unanimous consent just like the AT&T bill came up without consent. Governor Folsom noted that no member raised his or her hand or stood at the mic to speak against the AT&T bill to request unanimous consent.
View SB135
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Is there any loyalty in the Alabama Senate?
The Alabama Senate convened this morning at 10:00 am CST. After recognizing two basketball teams for their accomplishments this season the 1st bill on the schedule voted out of order was the AT&T bill (SB 373). SB373 passed the senate as amended and Senator Bobby Singleton was livid. He took a point of personal privilege to convey to the body that SB373 is bad for the state of Alabama and its citizens. Senator Singleton said he is going to speak on every bill and that he was going to close down the Senate. Senator Singleton made a motion to adjourn which after a vote of 13 yeas and 16 nays did not pass the Senate.
Stay tuned for more updates from the Alabama Senate.
View SB373
Stay tuned for more updates from the Alabama Senate.
View SB373
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Teacher Jobs Saved by Stimulus Money
This morning, a joint education budget meeting was held where Jim Main, State Finance Director, Dr. Joseph Morton, state school Superintendent, and Justice Drayton Neighbors, appointed by Governor Bob Riley to oversee disbursement of the economic stimulus money coming into the state of Alabama, were present to give a report and answer questions on the effect the stimulus dollars will have on education.
Of the $3 billion allotted to Alabama, $1 billion will go to education. Per stipulations set in place by the federal government, 60% of the dollars will go to K-12 and 40% to higher education.
Dr. Morton reported that 100% of the dollars coming into the education budget will go toward saving teacher jobs. Because of the economic situation in the country as well as in Alabama, before the economic stimulus package was passed, state-wide we would have lost an estimated 3,790 teacher jobs. Now, most, if not all, of those jobs will be saved.
Dr. Morton further stated that as far as accountability is concerned, each school system is required to file an expenditure of federal funds before they ever get a dollar. Further, each district has to post and account for every dollar spent from the stimulus money.
The $1 billion dollars will go toward the 2010 and 2011 budgets. The state will not receive the $1 billion in on lump sum, however. Two draw-downs of equal amounts from the federal government will occur in July of this year and the following draw-down in July of next year.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Morton reminded everyone that the stimulus money is not a cure-all for our financial woes and that we are still, in fact, under proration
Of the $3 billion allotted to Alabama, $1 billion will go to education. Per stipulations set in place by the federal government, 60% of the dollars will go to K-12 and 40% to higher education.
Dr. Morton reported that 100% of the dollars coming into the education budget will go toward saving teacher jobs. Because of the economic situation in the country as well as in Alabama, before the economic stimulus package was passed, state-wide we would have lost an estimated 3,790 teacher jobs. Now, most, if not all, of those jobs will be saved.
Dr. Morton further stated that as far as accountability is concerned, each school system is required to file an expenditure of federal funds before they ever get a dollar. Further, each district has to post and account for every dollar spent from the stimulus money.
The $1 billion dollars will go toward the 2010 and 2011 budgets. The state will not receive the $1 billion in on lump sum, however. Two draw-downs of equal amounts from the federal government will occur in July of this year and the following draw-down in July of next year.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Morton reminded everyone that the stimulus money is not a cure-all for our financial woes and that we are still, in fact, under proration
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Continued frustrations and filibustering in the Senate
Frustrations ran high this afternoon when Senator Singleton stood at the podium for three solid hours. Senator Singleton yielded the mic but not his place at the podium for a number of local bills from both the House and Senate to receive final passage.
At 4:52 the Senate adjourned until this coming Thursday.
At 4:52 the Senate adjourned until this coming Thursday.
Whose Filibuster is it Anyway?
After the Black Caucus filibustered the special order calendar for the day, Republicans then began blocking the procedural vote that is required before a bill may be considered on the House floor.
According to a Republican source, they are upset that the Democratic leadership is not allowing their bills to come up for consideration on the floor and pointed out that the grocery tax bill has now come before the House three times. They feel that they are not able to represent their constituents well when their bills are not coming before the body for an up or down vote. Sources indicate that Republicans plan to continue blocking legislation until their bills begin to appear on the House calendar.
With two forces now filibustering in the House, one can’t help but wonder if an end is in sight, save for the end of the session coming in a few short weeks.
The House adjourned today at 3:15 to reconvene again on Thursday at 10:00.
According to a Republican source, they are upset that the Democratic leadership is not allowing their bills to come up for consideration on the floor and pointed out that the grocery tax bill has now come before the House three times. They feel that they are not able to represent their constituents well when their bills are not coming before the body for an up or down vote. Sources indicate that Republicans plan to continue blocking legislation until their bills begin to appear on the House calendar.
With two forces now filibustering in the House, one can’t help but wonder if an end is in sight, save for the end of the session coming in a few short weeks.
The House adjourned today at 3:15 to reconvene again on Thursday at 10:00.
Groundhog Day at the Alabama House
Borrowing an analogy used in the press room at the statehouse, the last two weeks at the Alabama House of Representatives is reminiscent of the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.
For those of you who may not have seen the movie, everyday that Bill Murray wakes up, it is Groundhog Day. He relives the same day over and over again.
If you were to visit the Alabama House today, the debate would sound almost identical to every other legislative day beginning two and a half weeks ago. The Black Caucus continues to filibuster over the House’s failure to pass HB 116 that would remove the state’s portion of the sales tax on groceries.
Those supporting and opposing this legislation have reached a stalemate. Proponents of the bill continue to argue that they owe it to the hardworking citizens of Alabama to give them a tax break on their groceries. Opponents are concerned about the effect HB 116 will have on small businesses in Alabama (including LLC’s, LLP’s, and S Corporations) that would bear the brunt of the tax burden created by removing the sales tax on groceries.
For those of you who may not have seen the movie, everyday that Bill Murray wakes up, it is Groundhog Day. He relives the same day over and over again.
If you were to visit the Alabama House today, the debate would sound almost identical to every other legislative day beginning two and a half weeks ago. The Black Caucus continues to filibuster over the House’s failure to pass HB 116 that would remove the state’s portion of the sales tax on groceries.
Those supporting and opposing this legislation have reached a stalemate. Proponents of the bill continue to argue that they owe it to the hardworking citizens of Alabama to give them a tax break on their groceries. Opponents are concerned about the effect HB 116 will have on small businesses in Alabama (including LLC’s, LLP’s, and S Corporations) that would bear the brunt of the tax burden created by removing the sales tax on groceries.
Senator Singleton Filibustering in the Alabama Senate
The Alabama Senate convened today at 1:00 pm. All moved smoothly, two locals bills were passed, until around 2:10 pm when Senator Bobby Singleton rose to the mic to filibuster because his local bill SB135 (Greene County Bingo Bill) has not passed the Alabama Senate. Senator Singleton threatened that he would filibuster the entire afternoon. He even encouraged other senators to go get some lunch, play some golf, get comfortable, etc. because he was going to be there for a while.
Yielding to let HB609 by Representative Hammet pass, Senator Singleton also yielded the mic for four of Senator Ted Little’s local bills.
Senator Singleton remains at the podium and it is still uncertain if the Senate will accomplish much on its special order calendar today.
Stay tuned for more up to date reports from the Alabama Senate.
Yielding to let HB609 by Representative Hammet pass, Senator Singleton also yielded the mic for four of Senator Ted Little’s local bills.
Senator Singleton remains at the podium and it is still uncertain if the Senate will accomplish much on its special order calendar today.
Stay tuned for more up to date reports from the Alabama Senate.
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