Politics

Bentley: Amendment coming to Accountability Act

Monday, May 13th, 2013, 9:55am

Bentley: Amendment coming to Accountability Act

Times Daily

Gov. Robert Bentley said this morning he is working on an executive amendment to the state's new Accountability Act because he opposes public tax dollars being funneled to private schools.

"It has never been my goal to have a bill that supports private education," Bentley said while speaking at a breakfast for business leaders.

Later, he said he would have the amendment available for lawmakers by mid-week. A week from today is their final legislative session of the year.

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GOP bill would remove AEA leader from retirement board

Submitted by WAFF Web Staff

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013, 6:58am

GOP bill would remove AEA leader from retirement board

Times Daily

A bill to change the makeup of Alabama's Teacher Retirement System board was changed in a House committee this morning to remove the leader of the Alabama Education Association.

Republican-backed Senate Bill 303 would add two representatives from four-year colleges to the board that oversees educators' retirement funds.

[Read more...]

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Grissom defeats incumbent Mayor Oliver

Submitted by Lonnie Liebner, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012, 10:09pm

Times Daily

Challenger David Reed Grissom has defeated incumbent Mayor Troy Oliver.

According to final but unofficial totals, Grissom had 68 percent of the vote Tuesday night to Oliver’s 32 percent.

Grissom is nearing the end of his first term on the City Council.

In the City Council races: District 1: David Palmer (47 percent) and Jeff Masterson (34 percent) will be in a runoff. Terry Bolton finished third.

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Politics in Russellville

Submitted by Lonnie Liebner, Community Web Producer

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012, 5:00pm

Times Daily

Russellville

Registered voters: 5,829
Precincts: District 1, Russellville High School; District 2, College Avenue School; District 3, City Hall; District 4, Chucky Mullins Center; District 5, A.W. Todd Centre.
Mayor’s salary: $400 monthly expense account, plus $32,000 annual salary
Council member salary: $100 monthly expense account, plus $7,200 annual salary

MayorDavid Reed Grissom

Age: 39

Occupation: Business owner

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Republicans want to pay back fund transfer

Submitted by Lonnie Liebner, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, August 14th, 2012, 10:44pm

Republicans want to pay back fund transfer

Times Daily

The constitutional amendment that Alabama voters will decide in September would allow the state to transfer about $440 million over three years from its savings account to the General Fund — without having to pay the money back.

But last week, Republicans, who wrote the original bill to allow for the referendum, started talking about paying back the money. State Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, is sponsoring a bill that would require the money be repaid over 10 years.

The bill, expected to be filed this week, does not detail where the needed money would come from, but several Republicans said they support the idea.

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Bill to ban texting and driving up for debate in State House

Submitted by Lonnie Liebner, Community Web Producer

Thursday, February 16th, 2012, 5:00pm

Bill to ban texting and driving up for debate in State House

A bill that would ban texting while driving statewide is up for debate in the State House.

If passed, drivers would be fined $25 the first time they're caught, $50 for the second, and $75 for the next.

Drivers would also receive one point on the driver's license for each citation. If you don’t know, after 12 points you can lose your driver's license.

A similar bill was approved Wednesday in a senate judiciary committee.

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Catholic broadcaster in Ala. sues over Obama policy

Submitted by Lonnie Liebner, Community Web Producer

Thursday, February 9th, 2012, 1:39pm

Catholic broadcaster in Ala. sues over Obama policy

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WAFF) - A Roman Catholic broadcasting network based in Irondale is suing the Obama administration over its new policy on birth control funding.

EWTN Global Catholic Network filed suit Thursday in Birmingham over the rules. Network president Michael Warsaw said in a statement that the lawsuit is meant to defend Catholics and others from being forced to fund contraception.

[Click here to read lawsuit (PDF)]

Most employers and insurers have to cover birth control free of charge under the nation's new health care law. The administration recently announced that church-related institutions like charities, colleges and hospitals must comply after a one-year grace period.

The decision sparked an outcry from conservative Republicans and religious groups.

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