Airbus supplier adding second painting facility in Mobile
The northern Gulf Coast’s burgeoning aerospace sector grew a bit more Tuesday when a German company that paints aircraft said it would expand its operations near the Airbus plant under construction in Mobile. Maas Aviation will construct a $39 million, twin-bay hangar for painting aircraft at the Mobile Aeroplex site at Brookley, the Mobile Airport Authority said. The project is expected to create 80 jobs. The new facility will be used to service the market for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhauls in the Americas. Construction is expected to begin this fall and take about one year. The company has another facility for painting aircraft that will be assembled at the Airbus plant in Mobile. Maas won that contract in April 2014. Roger Wehner, the authority’s executive director, said he has been impressed by the company so far. “The design process has included many embedded quality and efficiency elements which we believe contributes to their ability to compete on quality and speed, providing considerable value to operators,” Wehner said in a written statement. The new project was announced in conjunction with the Paris Air Show in France. A French Airbus supplier, insulation fabricator Hutchinson Corp., announced plans Monday to locate in Mobile. Airbus began construction in 2013 in Mobile on its first assembly plant in the United States. The factory will produce A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. Assembly is expected to begin this year, with delivery of the first aircraft constructed in Mobile scheduled for next year. The $600 million plant is expected to employ as many as 1,000 people once production begins. More than 90 aerospace companies are currently operating on the coast in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, according to Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor, an industry website operated by specialty publisher and consultant David Tortorano. North of the coast, central Alabama also is trying to attract work linked to Airbus. The city of Birmingham, Airbus, and a regional chamber of commerce, the Birmingham Business Alliance, plan to hold a conference this fall for Airbus suppliers. “We hope to create opportunities for Birmingham businesses and give the opportunity for the city to develop a closer relationship with Airbus,” Birmingham Mayor William Bell said in a statement from the air show in Paris. “This is a very exciting opportunity and an opportunity to create jobs in our city.”
Terminal management company expanding in Mobile
State port authority officials say a terminal management company is planning to expand operations at the Port of Mobile. Officials said in a statement Tuesday that APM Terminals is planning to add two new cranes and expand the container facility at Choctaw Point. Port officials say the company is investing $40 million in the 20-acre expansion. Officials say the state has invested $50 million to build an intermodal transfer facility that offers access to five railroads. The intermodal transfer facility is expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2016. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Scott Walker’s record as governor takes hits this year
While Scott Walker‘s fellow Republicans groused about his budget plan and part of his proposal to overhaul higher education, the governor was more than 1,000 miles away, gripping the wheel of the Mt. Washington cruise boat on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee. When lawmakers met Monday night to reach a final deal on other elements of that budget, the likely presidential candidate was in Canada on his fourth international trip in less than five months. Absentee governors are part of the political landscape when a presidential campaign begins and some want to run. There’s no getting around the need to raise money, make national appearances and organize early in important states. What may distinguish Walker, though, is the grief he’s getting from his own party. One GOP lawmaker has dissed his spending plan as a “crap budget,” and it gets worse than merely a rhetorical slap. While Walker has been courting voters, party activists and donors in advance of his expected announcement that he’s running for the 2016 party nomination, state GOP lawmakers, in concert with Democrats, have crushed some of his biggest ideas this year. That works against one clear advantage governors such as Walker can take to national politics: a record of achievement in public policy that many candidates coming from the Byzantine, often gridlocked chambers of Congress can’t match. Walker played into that theme this past week in addressing a Utah retreat held by 2012 nominee Mitt Romney. Walker said flatly of senators in the presidential race: “They have yet to win anything and accomplish anything.” That was a dig at Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. In Wisconsin, however, lawmakers voted to restore money the governor wanted to cut for K-12 schools. They rejected his proposed changes to a popular prescription drug program for Medicaid recipients, scrapped a merger of state agencies he wanted, and voted against the governor’s plan to make the University of Wisconsin system independent of state laws and oversight. Walker has benefited from a state Senate and Assembly controlled by Republicans his entire four-plus years as governor. When he won re-election in November, he predicted that decisive action on his budget by the enlarged Republican majorities in the Legislature would serve as a contrast to a dysfunctional Washington. “We’re going to be even more aggressive now because I think we have an even stronger ally in the Legislature,” Walker told the Cabinet. Now it’s a struggle to find agreement on Walker’s proposed $1.3 billion in borrowing for roads, likely to be reduced, and a financing plan for a new $500 million arena to keep the Milwaukee Bucks from leaving the state. “We may have a crap budget, but we’re going to make it better,” freshman Republican state Rep. Rob Brooks told fellow lawmakers in May. Walker says he’s as engaged as ever on the budget, and talks with his chief of staff more than a dozen times a day, no matter where he is. “The budget is a priority for us,” Walker said this month. But it’s clear he will not get as much as he proposed back in February, or have it done faster than usual. None of this has stopped Walker from making the rounds in early voting states such as Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire. In late May, he courted party activists aboard a sunset dinner cruise as a legislative committee back home rejected his plan to give the University of Wisconsin more independence or cut state support for it by $300 million. But the panel did agree on $250 million in cuts to the 26 campuses, including the flagship in Madison. “We are bowing to the pressure of a guy on a boat in New Hampshire,” Democratic state Sen. Jon Erpenbach said during that debate. “He’s not out there extolling the virtues of his idea of cutting $300 million from the university system because he’d probably be thrown off the boat. You don’t brag about the cuts.” The committee also kept Walker’s call to remove tenure protections from state law, a proposal that’s garnering attention nationally from academics who fear weakening tenure protections will catch on elsewhere. Even with delays and squabbling, Walker is likely to walk away with some big wins: on lifting an enrollment cap on statewide private school vouchers, on new drug screening for public aid recipients and on lower property taxes. Those are all sure-fire crowd-pleasers on the Republican presidential circuit. At least in Walker’s view, he’s getting enough done so that he could tell his lake cruisers: “If we can do it in a blue state like Wisconsin, we can do it in the Granite State and all across America.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Email insights: Governor Bentley Praises 2015 Legislative Session
Though there’s a lot of people unhappy with the way session ended Governor Robert Bentley is looking on the bright side. In a release Tuesday afternoon Bentley praised lawmakers for passing a significant portion of his legislative agenda this session. His email notes that in total, lawmakers passed 375 bills and 144 resolutions during the session. “Despite the failure to find a solution to the General Fund Budget crisis, I am proud of the work and the accomplishments achieved during the 2015 Regular Session,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “In my State of the State Address on March 3rd, I outlined a number of key initiatives that were designed to move Alabama forward and make our state an even better place to live, work and raise a family. I appreciate the Alabama Legislature supporting my agenda and working together to make Alabama better for generations to come.” Some of the key bills he’s highlighting are below. Made in Alabama Jobs Incentive Package HB57, HB58 and HB59 change the way Alabama incentivizes companies to relocate, reinvest and create jobs for Alabamians. This legislation will ensure Alabama remains a leader in recruiting new industry and helping our existing businesses continue to thrive. Fostering Hope Scholarship Legislation SB157 will offer children currently or formerly in Alabama’s Foster Care System the opportunity to receive a scholarship for a 2-year education, 4-year education or job training opportunities. Prison Reform Legislation SB67 is designed to significantly reduce the state’s prison population and bolster public safety through an overhaul of how people are supervised after being released from incarceration. Domestic Violence Legislation HB320 is aimed at strengthening domestic violence laws and providing more shelters and victim services in Alabama. Alabama Voluntary Pre-K Governor Bentley recommended and the Alabama Legislature supported a $10 million increase to Alabama’s Voluntary Pre-K Program. With the increase, more than 200 new grants were announced that will provide over 3,600 additional Alabama four-year-olds with access to high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten. Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees SB191 created a new appointed board to govern the state’s two-year college system. With a focus on strong workforce development for students, Governor Bentley appointed 8 new trustees who received Senate confirmation this session. Real Property Consolidation Governor Bentley commissioned a study last year to optimize the management of the State’s real property. SB76 will allow for the centralization of the management of the State’s real property into a singular division in the Department of Finance, saving millions of taxpayer dollars as the legislation is implemented. Workforce Consolidation Recommended by the Governor’s Alabama Workforce Council, HB554 streamlines workforce development efforts across state government, creating a one-stop-shop for job creation and meeting industries’ needs. Beyond the bills he’s passed he also made it a point to highlight the success of his appointments he made which were confirmed by the senate. He ended with some hope for the budget. We join him in sharing that sentiment. “This legislative session included significant victories for future job creation, opportunities to continue to make government more efficient and further strides related to an improved educational foundation. While much work remains to be done with the General Fund Budget before October 1, I am optimistic that lawmakers will be as committed to transforming the way state government budgets just as they were to passing important legislation in the 2015 session,” Bentley added.
Calling Gary Palmer: Broad coalition asks for congressman’s support to repeal Obamacare board
On May 5, more than 500 diverse groups came together to sign a letter urging members of Congress to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). The IPAB has been a constant target of conservatives since Obamacare was passed. The Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2015, U.S. House Bill 1190, repeals the IPAB board and is expected to come to the floor this week with 235 co-sponsors. From the Alabama delegation U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, Bradley Byrne and Martha Roby are co-sponsors. Missing from the list is Rep. Gary Palmer. The letter asks Palmer to join the rest of the delegation in co-sponsoring the bill before the vote. A Palmer spokesman said the congressman is, “Inclined to support the bill. He favors repealing Obamacare, however, he does not co-sponsor every bill that he supports.” That’s not stopping concerned groups from pressuring him. Ann Eubank from the Rainy Day Patriots, one signer of the coalition letter said, “As a senior, I am encouraged that our Alabama Republican congressional delegation is co-sponsoring, and voting for, HR 1190. This bill gets rid if the onerous bureaucratic board called the ‘death panel’ that restricts access to Medicare coverage for us. I don’t need anyone but my doctor deciding what medical treatment I need.” Having worked for a member of the Congressional Doctors Caucus before moving to Alabama, I have spoken with many in the health-care profession about the issue. Doctors and hospital administrators know firsthand the disastrous effects that the IPAB would have on the affordability and access of health care in our nation, and it’s important we listen to them. Palmer is my congressman and I join the calls to ask him to support and vote for this important piece of legislation. The letter 2015 HLC IPAB Repeal Letter says in part: The undersigned organizations – representing Medicare beneficiaries and patients, all sectors of the healthcare industry as well as employers and other purchasers of care – believe strongly that the Medicare program must protect patient access to quality healthcare. The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), not only poses a threat to that access but also, once activated, will shift healthcare costs to consumers in the private sector and infringe upon the decisionmaking responsibilities and prerogatives of the Congress. We request your support to repeal IPAB.
Business roundup: headlines from across the state
Here are some of this week’s top business stories from across the state: AL.com: Alabama Gas to return $9 million to customers this winter Alabama Gas Corp. customers will get a little relief on their bills this winter because the company’s earnings and projected earnings exceed the range allowed by the Public Service Commission. The adjustment, which will return about $9.1 million to customers, is part of the PSC’s normal review of the utility’s earnings. A typical residential customer will see a decrease of $3.50 per month from December through March because of the adjustment, according to the company. Savings will vary based on the amount of gas used. The PSC allows Alabama Gas a return on average common equity of 10.5 percent to 10.95 percent. The company’s projected return for the year ending Sept. 30 was above that range, 12.12 percent. At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, the PSC voted to delay the return of the money until the cold weather months because it would benefit more customers, Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh said. Alabama Gas has about 420,000 customers and has about a 4 percent increase in customers in the winter, according to the company. Birmingham Business Journal: Huntsville named possible location for Dream Chaser landing Huntsville will soon be the location for Sierra Nevada Corp. to conduct a feasibility study relating to a possible Dream Chaser spacecraft landing, which could result in more jobs for the Rocket City. City officials said the studies will begin soon, as SNC begins to examine the possibility of landing the spacecraft at the Huntsville International Airport, according to a report from AL.com. Depending on the results of the study, the Huntsville airport could be the first to accommodate landings, coming back from either the International Space Station or low-Earth orbit missions. SNC first opened in Huntsville in 2012 at 1525 Perimeter Parkway. The firm built their first Alabama-based office in the hopes of attracting a high-skilled local workforce and collaborating with partner companies. Areas of business for SNC include: Communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management, integrated mission systems and space systems. SNC primarily serves customers such as NASA, the U.S. Army and Missile Command (AMCOM) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Based in Sparks, Nev., SNC has more than 3,000 employees in 33 locations in 18 states The Dothan Eagle: Michelin to invest $22 million in Dothan plant, add jobs An additional 40 jobs are expected in 2016 at the Dothan Michelin plant in an effort to increase production at the facility by 10 percent, officials announced Monday. A news release from Michelin North America stated that the company intends to invest $22 million at the plant, which will include significant equipment upgrades in order to increase the production of its high-performance light truck and SUV passenger tires. The upgrades are expected to be completed by next summer. According to Michelin spokesman Tony Fouladpour, the company’s primary tire lines are the Premier LTX, LTX M/S2 and Latitude Tour. Dothan manufactures the Premier LTX, among other brands. The Michelin news release attributed support for the project to the local Industrial Development Board, which Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Parker said assisted the city and Houston County with putting together development incentives for the Michelin investment. Parker said one incentive includes employee training assistance through Alabama Industrial Development Training. “We’re constantly maximizing opportunity with Alabama incentives to keep our plants in operation,” Parker said. “I’m so proud that our community is very aggressive in supporting expansion.” The Dothan facility currently employs 560 people, according to Fouladpour. GulfLive.com: Paris-based aircraft support company opening facility in Alabama A French company says it will open a facility on the Alabama coast to support the new Airbus factory in Mobile. Hutchinson Corp. announced plans for a plant in Mobile on Monday at the Paris Air Show. The center will deliver thermal acoustic insulation systems for airplanes. It will include a repair center and a service center. The industrial development board in Mobile approved tax incentives for the $2 million facility last week. Airbus is a major customer of Hutchinson. The European airplane manufacturer is currently preparing to open an A320 assembly plant in Mobile. Mobile County Commission President Connie Hudson says officials expect other suppliers to follow Airbus into the American market. The Hutchinson facility is expected to being operating later this year in Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley.
Presidential TV ad roundup: June 16 edition
Jeb Bush: Title: Making a difference Published: June 14 Tone: Heartfelt on record as governor Rick Perry: Title: Hilary goes to the movies Published: June 14 Tone: Negative ad on Hillary Clinton Title: Where I came from Published: June 8 Tone: Positive; Reflecting on roots and record Title: Iowa Published: June 8 Tone: Focused on Iowa voters Rand Paul: Title: Standing Strong Published: June 1 Tone: Positive with donate request Title: Not going to take it Published: June 4 Tone: Passionate floor remarks Marco Rubio: Title: Yesterday is still over Published: June 13 Tone: Split, opens with Hillary then goes to positive message about future Hillary Rodham Clinton: Title: Fighter Published: June 12 Tone: Positive on background (5 minutes long)
Donald Trump running for president? 2016 race announcement expected today
With a presidential field approaching 20 high-profile Republicans, the GOP’s 2016 class offers voters a little bit of everything. There is the top-tier, a group that includes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who formally launched his candidacy on Monday. There are the single-issue candidates such as South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who talks about national security and little else. There are even the quixotic underdogs, such as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, ambitious against all odds. And then there is Donald Trump. The Donald, as he is known as a celebrity, will announce his 2016 intentions on Tuesday at a Manhattan skyscraper that bears his name. He is a businessman, a reality television star and a master of self-promotion. And should he decide to run,Trump is positioned to have a greater impact on the early months of the Republican presidential primary contest than many GOP leaders would like. Should he get in, Trump would be required to release a personal financial disclosure that would reveal intimate details about his personal finances. The disclosure would include his net worth, sources of income, liabilities and assets. He would have to reveal the same information for his wife and dependent children. Trump is ready to do so. On Tuesday, he will share details about his personal finances that reveal a net worth of $9 billion, according to a person close to his potential campaign who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt the announcement. The financial disclosure, required of all candidates for president, was thought to be the final obstacle blocking Trump from launching a 2016 campaign. Based on guidelines recently announced by the television networks, Trump could play a prominent role in the upcoming nationally televised Republican debate in August. Those who rank in the top 10 in national polls — and Trump currently does, although he’s close to the bottom — will earn a place on the debate stage. That could place Trump in a debate alongside leading candidates such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Bush. “Selfishly, the networks would put me on because I get great ratings,” Trump said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. Trump has teased presidential runs before, and always backed out. But there are signs that he’s more serious this time around. After forming a presidential exploratory committee in March, Trump says he has hired political operatives on the ground in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He has also been a frequent visitor to the early voting states in recent months. Perhaps most significantly, he said he would not renew his contract with NBC for his reality show, “The Apprentice.” He cannot appear on the network and run for president at the same time. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
U.S. House of Representatives: June 16-19
The U.S. House of Representatives returned yesterday to consider several minor bills naming post offices and other federal facilities. However the main legislative work begins today, when the House will take action on the Intelligence Authorization Act, which provides the Intelligence Community authorization needed to protect and defend the United States by supporting critical national security programs such as those protecting Americans against terrorism and cyberattacks. The Remainder of the week, the House will focus on a number of health care-related bills, including pieces of legislation that would repeal two contentious provisions of the Affordable Care Act, all the while Congress and the President wait patiently the Supreme Court’s ruling in King v. Burwell, regarding subsidies for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Legislation on the floor for a vote this week includes: H.R. 1190: Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2015 Alabama co-sponsors: Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-1), Rep. Martha Roby (AL-2), Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-4),Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-5) H.R. 160: Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015 Alabama co-sponsors: Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-1), Rep. Martha Roby (AL-2), Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-3), Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-4),Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-5), Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-6), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-7) H. Res. 233: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran should immediately release the three United States citizens that it holds, as well as provide all known information on any United States citizens that have disappeared within its borders Alabama co-sponsors: Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-3), Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-5) H.R. 2596: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 H.R. 2505: Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act of 2015 H.R. 2507: Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015 H.R. 2582: Seniors’ Health Care Plan Protection Act of 2015 H.R. 2570: Strengthening Medicare Advantage through Innovation and Transparency for Seniors Act of 2015 H. Con. Res. 55: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces deployed to Iraq or Syria on or after August 7, 2014, other than Armed Forces required to protect United States diplomatic facilities and personnel, from Iraq and Syria
New poll: Alabama parents support new national school lunch standards
Alabama voters across multiple sub-sections support newly-implemented federal school lunch standards, according to a poll released this morning by the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Program and The Pew Charitable Trusts. The national standards — which include components such as providing more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and limits on sugar and processed foods — find support from an overwhelming 75 percent of Alabamians, the poll found, including 71 percent of parents with children currently in public schools. “It is gratifying that parents across the state support the updated nutrition standards, which are driving our efforts to provide their children with the healthiest possible meals at school,” said Melinda Bonner, director of child nutrition services for Hoover City Schools and legislative chair of the Alabama School Nutrition Association. “Research shows that healthy school meals can help improve students’ diets and even reduce obesity. The 14,000 students in Hoover—and the more than 700,000 students across our state—deserve the best we can give them.” Among the key findings of the poll, which included an oversampling of parents: 95 percent of voters, and 96 percent of parents, support requirin schools to include a serving of fruits or vegetables with every meal. 71 percent of voters and 70 percent of parents think schools should provide foods made from whole grains with every meal. 73 percent of voters and 69 percent of parents say salt should be limited. 67 percent of voters and 64 percent of parents support the current nutrition standards requiring healthier snack foods and drinks. Amid a national debate over limits of vending machines in schools and the feds’ role in food policy, the children’s health group said the poll affirms ongoing efforts to transform school lunch into a diet lynchpin for Alabama’s youth. “Nearly all Alabama schools are serving the healthier meals now required, and this poll shows that parents are on board with these changes,” said Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project. “Good nutrition starts at home and continues at school. We’re pleased that parents and voters recognize that healthy food at school is critical for students’ health and their academic success.” According to a news release, Alabama districts participating in national school meal programs served more than 129 million meals during the 2013-14 school year, drawing down more than $272 million in federal reimbursements through the national school breakfast and lunch programs. Lunches served in more than 95 percent of districts statewide met the healthier requirements at issue in the new poll as of 2014. The study was conducted Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research Associates using a sample of 600 registered voters, including 222 parents or guardians of children in K-12 public or charter schools, with a margin of error of 4 percent.
Alabama rough on quality of family life, new study suggests
Of the all the major cities in America in which to raise a family, some of the most populous in the state of Alabama barely crack the top 150 according to a newly released study. And those both ranked near the bottom of the list, with Montgomery ranked 132nd, Mobile No. 145 and Birmingham — often thought to be a paragon of modern Southern livability — coming in at 149. That’s according new survey conducted by WalletHub, an Internet-based financial services company. The study took into account some 30 metrics using both self-reported responses and publicly available data to create a matrix of attributes such as unemployment, local air and water quality, childcare costs, and rates of divorce and separation meant to form a composite view of each city in brief. Huntsville put up a relatively strong showing, registering a No. 107 ranking in the survey, bolstered by high marks in affordability and “socioeconomic environment,” which takes into account things like income inequality and segregation among neighborhoods. Montgomery, for instance, did well according the survey’s health and safety criteria (No. 22), but not as well in education and childcare (No. 141). Huntsville cracked the top 50 in affordability (No. 44) but was dragged by middling scores in the other life quality aspects. Topping the list were a list of locales that might surprise you — Kansas’ Overland Park took top overall honors, followed by Plano, TX; Virginia Beach, VA; Lincoln, NE; Sioux Falls, SD; Madison, WI; and Fremont, CA. Chesapeake, VA, Colorado Springs and Grand Prairie, TX rounded out the top ten. See the full rankings here. The humble rankings come just weeks after voluntary pre-Kindergarten programs in the Yellowhammer State were ranked the nation’s very best, despite nagging issues related to access. As we wrote about last month, national best/worst rankings have largely been hit or miss affairs for Alabama of late.
