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Legislative Watch

Education reform group StudentsFirst at work in Alabama
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
An education reform group headed by Michelle Rhee, is working in Alabama toward changes in state education laws that would allow charter schools and revise tenure.
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Bill would streamline Alabama tax assessment process
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
A bill that has the backing of several prominent business groups has been pre-filed for the upcoming session of the Alabama Legislature.
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Studies, surveys examine immigration law's impact
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Alabama Agribusiness Council is conducting a nonscientific survey, asking farmers to provide information about the law's impact on agriculture.

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Alabama House speaker visits Ga. Legislature
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard visited the Georgia Legislature on Tuesday.
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Education policy director Emily Schultz outlines governor's education reform plan
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Emily Schultz, the governor's education policy director, outlined to more than 100 people tonight Gov. Robert Bentley's education reform plan -- including charter schools -- which many educators in the audience said will hurt public education at a time when the budget already is in dire straits.
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Tax Foundation: Alabama ranks 20th in 2012 business tax climate index
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Alabama ranks as the 20th best state for doing business in 2012.
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Group hopes reception marks start of united front for state support of regional mass transit
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The bipartisan group nearly packed the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority board room for a legislative reception hosted by the authority.
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Alabama's strategic plan for growth: Development office targets key sectors
Sunday, January 29, 2012
From autos and airplanes to steel and chemicals, the business sectors targeted for growth under Alabama's new strategic plan for economic development aren't strangers to the state.
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Alabama Economic Development Association outlines its 2012 agenda for the state Legislature
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Alabama's economic developers are pushing a raft of proposals that would create new tax incentives and put in place other measures that could help attract data centers, manufacturers and other businesses to the state.
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State immigration law to get rewrite, not repeal
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Alabama’s immigration law will get an overhaul in the 2012 legislative session, but Republicans last week vowed that it won’t be repealed, as some Democrats want.
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Alabama survey: Jobs are top worry
Saturday, January 28, 2012
A majority of Alabamians believe that state government can maintain its current level of service while cutting its budget, but they also strongly support expanding state-financed job creation programs.
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Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley warns of 'tough' state budget
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Gov. Robert Bentley on Wednesday said he will not try to shift money from the Education Trust Fund to the General Fund next year.
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New AEA head outlines priorities
Thursday, January 26, 2012
New Alabama Education Association Executive Secretary Henry Mabry says charter schools won’t work, merging the state’s general fund and education budgets is a terrible idea.
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Residents hear from lawmakers at 'Meet Your Legislators Night'
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Local lawmakers spoke and took questions from voters concerning issues likely to come up during the upcoming legislative session, which begins Feb. 7.
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Alabama GOP leaders make charter schools, other education issues priorities for session
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Alabama's Republican governor and GOP legislative leaders laid out an agenda Wednesday that includes two issues: Legalizing charter schools and including student achievement in teachers' annual evaluations.
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Editorial: Top Priority This Session is Job Growth
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
While we work to jump-start our economy in the short term, we cannot ignore some deeply rooted problems that perpetually hinder Alabama from strengthening our economic foundation.
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Legislative district changes could be late coming
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The state Legislature may not take up reapportionment until close to the end of the 2012 regular session.
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Groups unite to fight immigration law
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Hispanic grass-roots community leaders and supporters from across Alabama and throughout the nation gathered in Tuscaloosa on Saturday to form a stronger and more educated front in their fight.
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State's unemployment rate continues decline
Saturday, January 21, 2012
For the first time since he took office a year ago, Gov. Robert Bentley could say on Friday that Alabama's unemployment rate is below the national average.
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Obama Plays Politics with Immigration in Alabama
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Sen. Beason agreed with Congressman Robert Aderholt’s letter objecting to the Department of Homeland Security’s decision, “I think he [Rep. Aderholt] is right on. I applaud Congressman Aderholt for taking a stand.”
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Arizona Legislators Come to Alabama to Talk Immigration
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Miranda says immigration reform needs to happen, but not the way the government is trying to do it.
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Constitution Revision Commission takes no action on home rule proposals
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The commission, meeting for the last time before the start of the 2012 regular session, took no action on the proposals, and is not set to meet again until late May or early June.
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Alabama Department of Revenue won't mail tax booklets unless requested
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Alabama revenue officials this year won't be mailing state individual income tax instructional booklets and forms to taxpayers, except by special request.
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Alabama Legislature won't have pre-session budget hearings
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Alabama Legislature won't follow its usual practice of having budget hearings before the legislative session starts Feb. 7.
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Lawmakers: Support lacking for Bentley's plan to merge budgets
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Bentley said he's not surprised, but he's not giving up.
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Ivey: Legislature should look at all budget options
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey called Gov. Robert Bentley’s plan to create a unified state budget “an idea,” saying the Legislature should look at all options.
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Alabama House speaker wants changes to state retirement systems
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard said Friday taxpayers can't continue to support an investment strategy that cost the state $1 billion last year for public employees' retirement benefits and matching contributions.
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Alabama lawmakers cool to Gov. Robert Bentley's unified budget proposal
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday said he knows lots of state lawmakers oppose his plan to merge Alabama's two annual budgets, the education budget and the operating budget.
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Expert: Alabama's economy could grow 3 percent in 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
The economies of the United States and Alabama will likely see growth in the 2 percent range, and perhaps as high as 3 percent, in 2012.
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State of Alabama pushes for job creation
Thursday, January 12, 2012
House Speaker Mike Hubbard says the House is proposing a set of bills that will give the state more tools to recruit new industry.
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Bentley wants unified education, general fund budgets
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Bentley said that in the legislative session starting Feb. 7, he plans to propose a constitutional amendment that would end the tradition of Alabama having a budget for education and a separate General Fund budget.
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Alabama governor says he plans to ask voters to OK borrowing $2 billion for roads, bridges
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Gov. Robert Bentley said today he intends to seek voter approval to borrow maybe $2 billion to repair roads and bridges.
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Dues Check-off Lawsuit: AEA Says It Doesn't Contribute to Campaigns, But Are Those the Facts?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
It is understandable that the teachers’ union would become mired in the political system when a high level political player is its chief decision maker.
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Will Alabama Sen. Scott Beason try to unseat US Rep. Spencer Bachus?
Monday, January 9, 2012
We'll know for sure by Friday whether state Sen. Scott Beason, will challenge 10-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, for the 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley decision on proration not expected until February
Monday, January 09, 2012
Gov. Robert Bentley likely won't decide until February whether to cut General Fund spending across-the-board by declaring proration.
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More cutbacks, move toward responsible spending on tap for legislature
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
The approaching session of the Alabama Legislature promises to be a difficult affair as lawmakers face a $400 million shortfall in the General Fund.
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Alabama Legislature is not in session at this time
Monday, August 15, 2011
The next session of the Alabama State Legislature begins February 7, 2012. Please check this Web site for updates.
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