Marco Rubio on VP rumors: ‘I have never sought, will not seek and do not want to be considered’
Cross Marco Rubio off the list of possible vice presidential candidates. In a Facebook message Monday, the Florida Senator said he would not seek and do not want to be considered for vice president. The announcement came after some had speculated Rubio was in the running to join Trump on the ticket. “While Republican voters have chosen Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee, my previously stated reservations about his campaign and concerns with many of his policies remain unchanged,” said Rubio in a statement, which was first reported by CNN’s Jake Tapper. “He will be best served by a running mate and by surrogates who fully embrace his campaign. As such, I have never sought, will not seek and do not want to be considered for Vice President.” Rubio was one of more than a dozen Republicans vying for their party’s nomination, but suspended his campaign after a devastating loss in Florida. He said Monday he planned to focus on helping his constituents. “I will focus my attention on representing the people of Florida, retaining a conservative majority in the Senate and electing principled conservatives across the country,” he said in his statement. Rubio is not running for re-election. He is also the second Florida Republican who has said he wouldn’t run as Trump’s vice president. When asked last week about it, Gov. Rick Scott said he would “pass” on the nomination. “I’m flattered that people would even say things like that, but I like my job,” he said. “I got re-elected in 2014. I’m going to finish my job here. So I’ll pass.”
Jim Zeigler blasts Robert Bentley for invoking Bible in op-ed
State Auditor Jim Zeigler — he of multitudes of jabs at the governor — was back at it again Monday. Zeigler slammed embattled Gov. Robert Bentley for citing Holy Scripture in a recent editorial he wrote in favor of prison reform favored by his administration and his allies in the Legislature. Bentley declared in the memo he “does not intend to be a caretaker governor,” saying he will take bold actions to ensure a reform of Alabama’s ailing prison system is modernized and accountability is enacted. Borrowing a line from the Book of Proverbs, Bentley reminded readers: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Zeigler took umbrage that Bentley — currently under investigation by state authorities for making “inappropriate” comments allegedly of a sexual nature to a former staffer, who has since been fired — would invoke the Good Book to make a political point. “I wish he would read the verses about: Confession. Repentance,” Zeigler said in a memo released Monday. “Be sure your sins will find you out. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. Thou shalt not covet,” continued Zeigler. The comments left no doubt he was criticizing Bentley’s invocation on grounds of the governor’s personal peccadillos. The long and winding saga of Zeigler vs. Bentley is still very much ongoing. Bentley recently threw his weight behind legislation that would give the governor’s office authority to appoint — or, in this case, un-appoint — both the Commissioner of Agriculture and the State Auditor, the unique ombudsman-like Cabinet post Zeigler occupies. Zeigler, for his part, has proposed creating a “executive recall” mechanism that would allow 10 percent of registered Alabama voters oust the governor and hold a special election to replace him or her. Zeigler will also continue his public relations campaign against Bentley on a conservative Huntsville talk radio program Monday evening.
Presidential Primary Brief: 182 days until Election Day
182 days until Election Day Convention Dates: Republican July 18-21 2016, Democratic July 25-28 2016 Weekly Headlines: John Kasich suspends campaign for President Ted Cruz suspends his campaign for President Donald Trump says wealthy may see tax increase Press Clips: The GOP’s 24 hour meltdown (Politico 5/8/16) Donald Trump on Tuesday night assumed the mantle of presumptive nominee and declared: “We want to bring unity to the Republican Party. We have to bring unity.” Three days later, the GOP is tearing itself apart. Friday brought another day of incredible division and revolt with Jeb Bush and Lindsey Graham falling in line not behind Trump, but behind House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said a day earlier that he cannot yet support the brash real estate mogul as his party’s standard-bearer. Trump, instead of trying to make peace, lashed out. He fired off a vicious statement, calling Graham an “embarrassment” with “zero credibility.” Then he laced into both of his former rivals during his rally in Omaha, Nebraska, where he is continuing to campaign ahead of Tuesday’s primary, despite having vanquished the rest of the GOP field. Donald Trump’s latest campaign shifts are not likely to be his last (LA Times 5/8/16) One of the top reasons voters have flocked to Donald Trump’s campaign has been because the tough-talking businessman “tells it like it is,” polls have shown. But what, exactly, Trump stands for has become a shifting picture of policies and proposals that even he acknowledged Sunday may not produce the promised outcomes. It’s not just that the billionaire’s ideas are vague by traditional political standards: bring back jobs, build a “beautiful” wall, “make America great again.” The political newcomer does not appear grounded in an ideology beyond assuring that America is “winning.” Hillary Clinton Says She Is Available for F.B.I. Interviews Over Emails (NY Times 5/8/16) Hillary Clinton said Sunday that the F.B.I. had not asked to interview her as part of its inquiry into her use of a personal email server as secretary of state. But Mrs. Clinton reiterated on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that she would make herself available to law enforcement officials as necessary. The investigation into Mrs. Clinton’s email practices and her handling of classified intelligence has shadowed her presidential campaign, and CNN reported last week that she was likely to be interviewed soon by the F.B.I. Mrs. Clinton said on Sunday that no meeting had been requested or scheduled. Trump: My tax plan is negotiable (Politico 5/8/16) Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump said in an interview aired Sunday his tax plan was negotiable, explaining that taxes for the wealthy needed to “go up” — a stance that appears to contradict what’s in his plan. “For the wealthy, I think, frankly, it’s going to go up. And you know what, it really should go up,” Trump said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” His said his tax plan, which would lower tax rates for the wealthiest Americans, would be the opening bid of a negotiation with Congress and that his numbers were a “Floor.” Bernie Sanders rides ‘political revolution’ with thousands in N.J. (NJ.com 5/8/16) He’s down but not out, and his supporters are charged up. The math isn’t on U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ side when it comes to securing the Democratic nomination, but thousands of eager supporters welcomed the underdog White House hopeful to New Jersey on Sunday and enthusiastically cheered on to “Light back and make a political revolution.” The cheers that filled the room and echoed off the walls of Rutgers University’s Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway turned into roars of support when Sanders preached Lighting income inequality, the war or drugs and racial discrimination. “We have come a very long way in the past year,” Sanders said. “Real change is coming to America.” Nevada has option to vote ‘none of the above’ in 2016 presidential election (Las Vegas Now 5/4/16) The presidential race has narrowed and the only candidates still vying for the nomination are Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. Trump’s the only candidate in the race for the GOP, but for a lot of Republicans, he’s not their first choice. “I vehemently oppose our nominee in some of the comments and issues that he brought up during the campaign,” said U.S. Senator Dean Heller, R-NV. “Things he said about Muslims; issues he brought up about women and the Hispanic community — I just cannot agree with some of his positions, but I will tell you that I will not be voting for Hillary Clinton. I stated that early on, I will not be supporting a candidate that is nothing more than a third term of the Obama administration. So I will be looking else where in November.” Trump: I don’t know how people make it on $7.25 an hour (Politico 5/8/16) Donald Trump said in an interview aired Sunday he wants to see the minimum wage increased but would rather it be done by the states than the federal government. The presumptive GOP presidential nominee’s openness to increases in the minimum wage is a reversal from his previous stance that the minimum wage should not be raised, including when he famously pronounced during a debate last year that wages were “too high.”
Email insights: Auburn-based, national conservative group announces 10 new board members
In an email Monday, Auburn-based Take Back Our Republic (TBOR), a right-leaning campaign finance reform group that’s building conservative support for reducing the influence of private wealth in politics, announced new members selected to their National Board of Governors. Leading the Board is Chair Mark McKinnon, a seasoned political advisor and global vice chair of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Read the entire announcement email below. Distinguished business, political and community leaders from across the country accepted positions on the National Board of Governors for Take Back Our Republic, an independent nonpartisan group that is focusing on conservative solutions to problems with the campaign finance system. Please click the names of each of the 10 new members, listed in alphabetical order by first name, as well as Advisory Board member Abby Moffat, for their video introduction. Bruce McEver, NY, founded Berkshire Capital in 1983, pioneering the concept of providing independent merger, acquisition and strategic advisory services for investment managers and securities firms. Based in New York, Bruce is an avid biker, hiker and reader. He recently hosted a TBOR fundraiser in New York. Camille Solberg, WI, served with John Pudner on the National Faith and Values Coalition for Romney 2008. Camille is a Latina leader and a distinguished alumna of one of the most conservative Catholic college in the nation (Catholic University). Camille also serves as Regional Director for US Senator Ron Johnson. Francis Johnson, CA, was featured in Black Enterprise and Ebony Magazine as one of the top five Black Republicans in the country for his ability to raise money and organize grassroots. Francis runs a public affairs/public relations firm. Kahlil Byrd, NY, is a Republican whose expertise is building and leading large, disruptive, technology-based, bipartisan reform organizations. He was president of the education reform effort – StudentsFirst; and, cofounder and CEO of Americans Elect. His current firm, Forward Progress in Politics, is building a national bipartisan community of funders committed to essential and aggressive issue reform. Kathy Hayden, VA, has served as GOP National Committeewoman for Virginia since 2007; recently ending one of the longest serving committee member terms on April 29, 2016. She brings years of leadership, experience with grassroots efforts, and a wealth of knowledge about the workings of the American political system – all of which will help lead and direct TBOR’s current and future efforts. Kathy understands that sometimes we need to “roll up our sleeves and get to work” to affect much needed change. Kim Vaughn, AL, currently chairs the Women’s Committee of the Madison County Farmers Federation, part of one of the largest Farm Bureaus in the country, which also runs the largest insurance company in Alabama. Kim is also on the board of the Madison Farmers’ Market, which serves the thriving Huntsville market that is home to high-level engineers for thriving defense companies and NASA. Kim also runs hospitality for Providence Baptist Church. LaNell Morold, TX, is an operational and crisis management consultant assisting companies facing challenges during difficult financial and leadership circumstances. LaNell is also an author and talk radio personality. In the past she was a groundbreaking title insurance and real estate executive, who oversaw cash management and P&L, including an annual budget exceeding $100 million, and listed real estate in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and the Caribbean as well as her local market of Dallas/Fort Worth. Judge Ola Lewis, NC, made news by switching to the Republican Party as a judge. She recently felt the full blunt of huge dark money when she ran for State Supreme Court. Elected as the youngest District Court Judge, and first African-American in Brunswick County, North Carolina. Created five Speciality Courts (drug treatment, a true night court, mental health therapeutic, DWI therapeutic, sex offender accountability and rehabilitation court) Randy Brooks, AL, most recently built a real estate operation of more than 100 people, following years of experience having interactions with politicians involving development deals. Randy is one of the greatest promoters of multifaceted efforts, from Take Back’s mission to supporting youth sports. Robert Schaaf, MO, a graduate of Harvard College, has worked with his father, Republican State Senator Rob Schaaf, to prepare and promote the Missouri Anti-Corruption Act and other legislation. Some of his additional experience includes advising small business owners at the Cambridge Microfinance Initiative and working with a team to build a successful startup at TILLS Animal Health. The 10 new members join Chair Mark McKinnon, Juleanna Glover and Richard Painter, whose bios can be found, along with that of Executive Director John Pudner, here. In addition, the recently named Advisory Board was represented at the meeting by Abby Moffat, is Chaired by Beth Coulson (IL) and includes Peter Schweizer (FL), Ed MacDougall (FL), Curtis Colgate (VA) and Nick Bellas (NY). Abby Moffat (Advisory Board), MD, serves on the Board of Trustees for The Heritage Foundation. She is a former owner‐operator of an event planning business, and is chair of the Board of Trustees of the Media Research Center and a member of the Board of Overseers of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Abby is a veteran leader on the boards of nonprofits – currently, she runs the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation. As expressed on Take Back Our Republic’s website, “We believe that the way in which we elect our officials is not a partisan issue; it is an American issue. …Our organization was formed and is run by individuals who understand the political process from the inside out, and are now seeking to educate people about the power they have to shape the process from the outside in. Our staff members have participated in elections of all shapes and sizes across this great nation.” Take Back Our Republic (www.takeback.org), or TBOR, is based near the campus of Auburn University just 90 minutes from the Atlanta airport. Its mission is to conduct research, analysis and public education on conservative ideas for improving the financing of campaigns for public office. One such idea is to incentivize small campaign donations from private citizens. TBOR believes that if more Americans have a
Robert Bentley: There is much left to be done while I’m governor
Last August, while most of the attention in our state’s capital city was focused on the upcoming second special session and looming budget crisis, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Col. Jeff Dunn came to me with an idea. He shared a vision for solving Alabama’s lingering, dangerous and expensive prison-overcrowding problem. What Dunn had, though, was more than an idea. It was a solid solution to a problem that has plagued Alabama for decades, and a daunting task that neither a Legislature nor a governor has yet to tackle. The plan to construct new prisons and close and consolidate old and expensive facilities has become a part of our overall, long-term vision for the state. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” When you elected me to serve as your governor in 2010 and again in 2014, I told you I had no intention of being a “caretaker governor.” I believe — I know — in my heart that I am serving out God’s purpose for my life, and that He placed me here to work for you and to solve the problems that have held our state back for decades. The Lord gave me a job to do, and I always want to work it with all my might. And that takes vision. In February at the start of the 2016 legislative session, I delivered my State of the State address and shared with the Legislature our “Great State 2019” plan, a bold course of action that will guide our state over the next three years. Great State 2019 addresses the specific obstacles that stand in the way of our potential. Having been born and raised in Alabama, having practiced medicine for 35 years and now having had the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as your governor, I can honestly say we are blessed to live in a great state, filled with the most caring, hardworking people in the country. And I want to do everything I can in my time in office to make your lives better, whether it is helping you find a well-paying job, making sure you are cared for after a devastating tornado, or solving decades’ old problems that hurt our state and cost us too much money. The Great State 2019 plan is our solution. Last Wednesday night, we ended the 2016 legislative session the same way we began, solely focused on solving the real problems for the people of this state. And I want you, the people who elected us, to know what we’ve done. — Teachers in Alabama will get a pay raise this year. I have pushed for a pay raise for teachers and support personnel every year I’ve been in office. Two weeks ago I signed the Education Trust Fund budget in which the Legislature gave teachers up to a 4 percent raise this year. Today, we have the second largest education budget in the state’s history. — Thousands more 4-year-olds will get a solid foundation for a successful education and the opportunity to attend a First Class Pre-K classroom next year. We increased funding to pre-K by $16 million. By the time I leave office in 2019, I intend for every child to have the opportunity to attend a first class pre-K program. — We created scholarships for doctors, nurse practitioners and dentists who will serve in Alabama’s poorest counties so our people can have a doctor in their town and get the medical services they need to make our communities healthier. We’ll be able to provide low-interest loans to students studying to be physician assistants, as long as they commit to working in an underserved area. — Schools in some of Alabama’s poorest counties will soon be able to afford high-speed, higher-capacity Internet service because of our broadband initiative, creating greater opportunities for children in the most underserved areas. — We created the first state office in Alabama solely dedicated to serving minorities and women. The Office of Minority Affairs is one of only a handful of Cabinet-level offices in the country serving minorities. — We delivered the first U.S.-made Airbus jetliner built by the skilled hands of Alabama workers in Mobile. While so much was accomplished, there is still so much work that remains. We simply ran out of time in this regular legislative session to finally address the prison overcrowding problem. The Alabama Prison Transformation Act would have given the state the ability and means to construct four new state-of-the-art prisons, including a new, safer women’s prison. That legislation failed in the final minutes of this session. But that doesn’t mean we won’t reach that goal. It’s simply a problem we can no longer ignore. The Legislature and I are in complete agreement on this issue, and we have worked well for several months to reach a solution. We will build these new prisons to ensure the safety of our correctional officers as well as the safety and security of inmates. My administration began this session with a laserlike focus on solving the major problems our state faces, and we will never take our eye off the ball. I want to assure you, we are here solving the real problems that affect everyone in Alabama. We are here for one reason and one reason only, to make Alabama a truly great state. One thing I have learned in my five years as your governor, it isn’t easy going against the status quo. But I am reminded of what President Kennedy told those bold and brilliant scientists from Huntsville when he challenged them to put a man on the moon: “We will do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” It would be easy to be your “caretaker governor.” But that’s not what you elected me to do, and that’s not why God placed me here. We have come so far and have accomplished so much in the last five years, and
Robert Bentley throws support behind Donald Trump for President
According to reports from WSFA in Montgomery, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley told Raycom News Network he will throw his support behind presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. “So, he will be the one that I support, and I will do whatever I can to help,” said Bentley, who added he hopes the billionaire real estate mogul and reality TV star chooses a running mate who “compliments” him. This is the second endorsement Bentley has made during the 2016 presidential election cycle, first endorsing Ohio Governor John Kasich. With less than two months until the nomination is made official at the GOP Convention, Republican leaders are beginning to coalesce behind Trump, urging the party to “unite” in the cause of defeating Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee. Bentley is the third high-level Republican in the state to make his stance official, following Senator Jeff Sessions, who endorsed Trump in February, and GOP Chairman Terry Lathan who issued a plea for unification last week.
Bradley Byrne: Congratulating our service academy appointees
People sometimes ask me what part I enjoy most about serving as your Congressman. The answer may surprise you. My favorite part is calling young men and women from southwest Alabama to let them know they have been accepted into one of our nation’s military service academies. Each of our service academies offer students a first-class education while also helping equip the students with the skills needed to lead our nation’s military. Tuition, room, and board for the service academies are free as the academies are an investment in our military capability and leadership. The service academies include the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Military Academy (West Point), the United States Coast Guard Academy, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, is the oldest of our service academies. It was founded in 1802. The newest academy is the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which was founded in 1954. In order to attend most of the service academies, students must have a nomination. Congressmen, Senators, the Vice President, and the President are the only ones who can nominate a student to a service academy. That said, just having a nomination will not guarantee that a student is admitted. The admission process is incredibly competitive and the acceptance rate is less than 20% for each of the academies. Once students complete their education, they must fulfill a service commitment. Most of these commitments are at least five years active duty, but the service requirement may be longer for certain specialized fields. I hope you will join me congratulating these nine outstanding individuals from Southwest Alabama who received a service academy appointment this year: Travis Amsbaugh, a homeschool student from Mobile, received an official appointment to the United States Air Force Academy; Spence Chanthavane, from Davidson High School, received an official appointment to the United States Air Force Academy; Paul Clark, from the Alabama School of Math and Science, received an official appointment to the United States Naval Academy; Patrick Howze IV, from UMS-Wright Preparatory School, received an official appointment to the United States Military Academy; Connor Kusch, from Mc-Gill Toolen High School, received an official appointment to the United States Naval Academy; Jacob LaPorte III, from James O’Neill High School in New York, received an official appointment to the United States Military Academy; Miller Mosley, from St. Paul’s Episcopal School, received an official appointment to the United States Air Force Academy; Charles Reichley, from Fairhope High School, received an official appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy; and Sean Weathersby, from Daphne Nigh School, received an official appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. There is no greater calling than those who decide to serve our country. In order to maintain the greatest fighting force on the face of the Earth, we must have outstanding men and women who are willing to serve in the military. I have had the chance to visit with these young men, and they will be a great addition to our Armed Forces. If you or someone you know would be interested in attending a military service academy, feel free to reach out to my office for more information. Eligible applicants must be at least 17 years old, be a citizen of the United States, have good moral character, demonstrate strong leadership skills, and achieve impressive scholastic achievements. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Stunned Donald Trump foes face diminished options at GOP convention
Still shaken by Donald Trump‘s triumph, Republican and conservative foes of the billionaire can still cause headaches for the party’s presumptive presidential nominee at this summer’s GOP convention. But their options are shrinking by the day. With Trump’s last two rivals — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich — abandoning their campaigns, there’s no remaining talk of snatching the nomination away from him with a contested, multi-ballot battle when Republican delegates gather in Cleveland. Instead, anti-Trump forces are trying to figure out how to use this July’s GOP meetings to keep him from reshaping the party and its guiding principles, perhaps with fights over the platform or even his vice presidential pick. Many expect Trump to build momentum as the convention nears, narrowing his opponents’ options. Even so, here’s what may be in store: ___ IT’S OVER? WHAT NOW? Trump’s foes concede he’s likely to arrive in Cleveland exceeding the 1,237 delegates needed to become the nominee. Yet many are still reeling from the contest’s unexpected finale last week and are just starting to think about what they could do at the convention that would be productive. “There’s going to be a lot of thinking, a lot of praying and a lot talking between all of us,” said Kay Godwin, a Cruz delegate from Blackshear, Georgia. “I wish I could give you an answer right now but I think if I did, it would be out of emotion.” “There are probably some who hope Trump will stick his foot in his mouth or some scandal will come out and that they’ll be able to rally everybody at that point, but at this point there’s really nothing they can do” to block his nomination, said Jason Osborne, a GOP consultant. ___ CONTAINING THE DAMAGE Many Trump opponents see the Republican platform, the party’s statement of ideals and policy goals, as a place for a stand in Cleveland. The convention’s 2,472 delegates must approve the platform before formally anointing the presidential nominee. All — including those chosen to support Trump — can vote however they want on the platform. Many conservatives say they will use that vote to keep Trump from reshaping GOP dogma against abortion, for free trade and on other issues. While it seems likely Trump would prevail, a showdown could be an embarrassment he’d seek to avoid by not pushing divisive changes. “If the party walks away from any of its clearly cut social, family values issues, it will be an issue,” said Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council and GOP delegate from Louisiana. “We’re not just going to fall in line because he’s the nominee.” Trump has said he would seek to include exceptions for rape and incest to the GOP platform’s opposition to abortion. He’s also flouted the party platform by repeatedly criticizing trade deals and calling NATO obsolete. “We’d want to make sure the platform is protected from Donald Trump,” said Rory Cooper, senior adviser for the Never Trump political committee. Trump aides did not return messages seeking comment on his views about the platform. ___ A RUNNING MATE Trump has said he’d like a vice presidential candidate with government experience. Yet, as with the platform, delegates can vote as they please in choosing Trump’s running mate. Some opponents suggest they may challenge his choice, either as a protest or to try forcing him to make a different selection. Recent GOP conventions have formally approved vice presidential candidates by acclamation and no roll call. But if delegates make enough of a fuss, a roll call with plenty of votes for a rival vice presidential candidate is possible. “He’ll probably pick somebody, and that person is not going to have the automatic ratification status that’s been traditional,” said Roger Stauter, a Cruz delegate from Madison, Wisconsin, who said he would never support Trump. Others said the convention would likely defer to Trump’s thinking about a strategically smart choice. “He could pick somebody we’d all get pretty excited about,” said Shane Goettle, a Cruz delegate from North Dakota. Conservative talk show host Erick Erickson, a Trump opponent, said he expected delegates to accede to Trump’s selection, saying that by July, “the phases of depression and anger” will subside as Republicans accept “their coming defeat.” ___ MUST-WATCH TV? Many expect Trump — star of his own TV reality shows “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice” — to run a more watchable convention than usual. Beth Myers, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney‘s campaign manager in 2012, was not a Trump supporter during the primaries. But she said Trump knows TV and expects his convention to outshine the Democrats’ in stagecraft and draw millions more viewers than usual. “My guess is that the Republican convention will not be a chaotic, contested convention,” she said. “Rather, it will be a production of Trump, Inc., and it will be pretty good live television.” Some of that glitz may not be by choice. Many Republican bigwigs are expected to shun the convention and avoid giving primetime speeches on Trump’s behalf. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Chief Justice’s suspension adds to Alabama’s political mess
Alabama politics are at a low point even by Alabama standards: In a state that trails the nation in many areas, three top elected officials are embroiled in scandal or facing removal from office while a former governor serves time in federal prison on a corruption conviction. Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended from his job Friday and faces possible ouster over his attempts to block gay marriage following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. It’s familiar territory for the Republican Moore, a Christian conservative who was previously removed from the same position in 2003 over a Ten Commandments monument and easily won re-election later. Meanwhile, fellow Republicans tried to remove Gov. Robert Bentley by impeachment in the just-ended legislative session over a sexually charged scandal involving a top political aide, and an investigation continues. At the same time, GOP House Speaker Mike Hubbard awaits a state trial on 23 felony ethics charges that could result in his removal. If convicted, Hubbard could even join the ranks of the imprisoned like former Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat who was convicted on federal influence-peddling charges. All in all, it’s some of the worst of times for Republicans who promised to clean up state government after seizing control from Democrats who dominated for generations. “I never recall when the top leaders of all three branches of government were simultaneously accused of improper behavior,” Bill Stewart, a retired political scientist from the University of Alabama, said Saturday. It’s hard for state government to concentrate on issues like Medicaid or improving a dilapidated prison system when so many officials are fighting for their jobs, he said. “It’s definitely a traumatic time,” Stewart said. Among the nation’s poorest states, Alabama is troubled by problem areas including physical and mental health; comparatively low high school graduation rates; and too many occupational deaths, according to a report by the United Health Foundation. It consistently ranks high in college football – the University of Alabama is the reigning national champion – while struggling in so many other ways. Yet the ranking leaders elected to sort out the mess face confounding troubles of their own. In its list of civil charges against Moore, the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission said the 69-year-old chief justice abused his office by issuing an administrative order to probate judges in January telling them an Alabama court order and law banning same-sex marriages remained in effect despite the U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming same-sex marriage six months earlier. Most counties issued same-sex licenses anyway. In a statement after his suspension, Moore said the commission doesn’t have the authority to police the order he issued. As during a news conference last week, Moore criticized the Judicial Inquiry Commission by referring to a recent protest outside his office that included gay and transgender people. “The JIC has chosen to listen to people like … a professed transvestite, and other gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals, as well as organizations which support their agenda,” Moore said. “We intend to fight this agenda vigorously and expect to prevail.” The Court of the Judiciary will decide whether Moore violated judicial ethics, and he could be removed from office if found guilty. The same court removed Moore from office in 2003 for his refusal to follow a federal court order directing Moore to remove a washing machine-sized Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of the state’s judicial building. The governor faces very different problems. In March, Bentley admitted to making inappropriate remarks to an aide, Rebekah Caldwell Mason, in a scandal that has included the public airing of secret recordings that captured Bentley professing love to someone and telling her how much he enjoyed kissing her and touching her breasts, and referencing a need to start locking his office door. The admission came seven months after the former first lady, Dianne Bentley, filed for divorce after 50 years of marriage. Bentley has struggled to shake the scandal, and lawmakers obtained enough signatures to file impeachment articles during the legislative session that ended Wednesday. The House Judiciary Committee will review the claims to see if there are grounds to remove Bentley from office. Hubbard, the House speaker, is at risk of losing his job because of criminal charges. Hubbard is scheduled later this month on 23 felony ethics charges accusing him of using his position as speaker, and previous post as chairman of the Alabama GOP, to direct business to his companies, lobby the governor’s office and to solicit investments and clients for his businesses. Bentley could be among the prosecution witnesses. Hubbard, arguably the most powerful person in state government because of his influence and power to control the House agenda, argues the transactions were legal and separate from his public duties. Hubbard will be automatically removed from office if convicted on even one felony count. He would join the ranks of Alabama politicians convicted of ethics violations or corruption that includes two recent governors, Republican Guy Hunt and Siegelman, the Democrat. Hunt, a Primitive Baptist preacher, was convicted and removed from office in 1993 for using campaign and inaugural funds for personal expenses. He tried to mount a political comeback but failed before his death in 2009. Currently imprisoned in Texas, Siegelman was convicted in 2006 on federal charges of selling a seat on a state health regulatory board in exchange for $500,000 in donations to Siegelman’s campaign to establish a state lottery in 1999. A bipartisan group has asked President Barack Obama to pardon Siegelman, claiming his prosecution was unjust and tainted by politics.
