Donald Trump issues disaster declaration for Ala. counties following delegation letter
Following a letter from the Alabama delegation, President Donald Trump directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make federal disaster aid available to the State of Alabama to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and tornadoes during the period of March 19, 2018 through March 20, 2018. The congressional delegation letter — led by Sen. Richard Shelby, signed by entire delegation including U.S. Sen Doug Jones, along with U.S. Reps. Bradley Byrne (AL-01), Martha Roby (AL-02), Mike Rogers, (R-Ala.), Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Gary Palmer (AL-06), and Terri Sewell (AL-07) — encouraged the President to issue the disaster declaration that would trigger the release of federal funds to help people and communities recover from the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred March 19-20, 2018. During the night of the 19th into the morning of the 20th, severe storms spawned tornadoes, damaged homes and downed trees as they moved across the Southeast. “This disaster declaration is critical following the significant destruction that occurred throughout the state, but specifically in these four Alabama counties,” said Shelby. “I am grateful that the President has decided to send federal recovery resources to assist in the rebuilding of our communities.” Gov. Kay Ivey also requested Trump grant disaster assistance. “The recovery process following a disaster is a long and tough road and I appreciate President Trump for approving this major disaster declaration request,” Ivey said. “This declaration will provide much needed assistance to Alabamians affected by the March 19th storms and will ease the burden on local governments as they continue the recovery process.” The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individual homeowners and renters in Calhoun, Cullman and Etowah counties. Residents within the counties may now apply for federal disaster assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from the March 19th storms. Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses. Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may also be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and that do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. “I cannot thank our federal partners enough for their support during the joint damage assessments as well as the constant communication as we awaited final approval,” Director Brian E. Hastings said. “Recovering from disasters requires the whole community. Volunteers, first responders and local Emergency Management officials have done an exceptional job during the response phase and now we are pleased to have federal assistance to help with the long recovery process.” For information on how to register with FEMA, you can do so by phone or online: Online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or On the FEMA Mobile App, or by Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 directly; for those who used 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures. The purpose of the program is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster. Read the letter from the Alabama delegation: Mr. President: As members of the Alabama delegation, we write in strong support of Governor Kay Ivey’s request for a federal disaster declaration for Cullman, St. Clair, Calhoun, and Etowah counties. On March 19, 2018, severe storms and tornadoes touched down in the eastern part of Alabama and caused catastrophic damage in 27 counties across the state. In less than 24 hours, Governor Ivey declared a State of Emergency. Local emergency management agencies aided the impacted residents and, with assistance from regional FEMA officials, prepared their Preliminary Damage Assessment. State officials have estimated substantial damages across these counties. Considering the scope and intensity of this natural disaster, we ask that you carefully review Governor Ivey’s request and approve a federal disaster declaration. In doing so, you will allow thousands of Americans to begin the slow process of rebuilding their lives after this terrible incident.
Ten Commandments Bill to be Amendment One on November’s election ballot
Amendment One for November’s upcoming elections has been set. Alabamians across the state will have the opportunity to cast their ballot for or against Amendment One, which if approved by the voters would add an amendment to the state constitution that would give properties belonging to the state, such as court rooms and schools, the option to display the Ten Commandments. Secretary of State John Merrill held a press conference Friday morning at the State Capitol in Montgomery to sign a proclamation announcing the amendment. Lineville-Republican State Senator Gerald Dial shepherded the proposed state constitutional amendment through the 2018 session of the Alabama Legislature. He believes the amendment should be passed, as “it is proper that Alabama schoolhouses and courtrooms be permitted to acknowledge God and his moral law.” “Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., and there is a marble engraving in the courtroom depicting Moses holding the Ten Commandments,” Dial explained. “Virtually all of our nation’s founding fathers recognized that the Ten Commandments are the basis of our Judeo-Christian legal foundation, and it is proper that Alabama schoolhouses and courtrooms be permitted to acknowledge God and his moral law.” Republicans supporters of the proposal say it will reaffirm religious liberty, which is already under law. Meanwhile, Democratic opponents of the proposal think it would end up doing more harm than good; that it violates the separation of church and state, and would motivate federal lawsuits that could cost the state money. Amendment One will be joined by three additional constitutional amendments on the November 6 general election ballot.
2018 gubernatorial ad roundup: April 27 edition
The June 5 Republican and Democratic primary is only 39 days away and Alabama’s gubernatorial candidates have taken to the internet and the airwaves with campaign ads in hopes of swaying Yellowhammer State voters to their side. Yet again this week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb were the only two candidates to release new television ads. In her new ad, Ivey mentions “mountain oysters” for the second time this campaign season, saying “don’t give me a mountain oyster and tell me it’s seafood.” Cobb’s new ad takes a stab at the minimum wage reading, “anyone who works for a living; deserves a wage she can live on.” She has released new campaign ads for six weeks in a row, so while viewers might be tired of seeing the other gubernatorial candidates ads on repeat, hers ads are likely to be a breath of fresh air for voters across the state. Republicans Kay Ivey: Title: Seafood Published: April 25, 2018 Tone: Playful Democrats Sue Bell Cobb: Title: Minimum Wage Increase Published: April 25, 2018 Tone: Promising
Gubernatorial hopeful Bill Hightower releases medical records, calls opponents to do same
Gubernatorial hopeful, State Sen Bill Hightower (R-Mobile), released his medical records Friday, calling on his fellow candidates for Governor of Alabama to do likewise. Hightower’s personal physician in Mobile, Ala. writes that the 58-year-old Hightower is in “excellent physical health.” Dr. Gamil S. Dawood says Hightower “has undergone a number of tests resulting in acceptable/normal ranges.” Among the tests mentioned were a routine colonoscopy, a cardiac calcium scan, a cardiolite Myocardial Perfusion Exercise stress Test, and blood panel. “These tests did not indicate or raise any concerns about Mr. Hightower’s health,” Dr. Dawood concluded. Hightower said he’s releasing his records because he believes the job of a Governor is “is a physically demanding role and there is much work to do.” “I am releasing my medical records because I believe the voters of Alabama have a right to know that the candidates they are voting for not only have the right experience and vision, but the physical ability to lead,” said Hightower. “The job of Governor is a physically demanding role and there is much work to do. It is critical that our next Governor has the stamina to meet the needs of the people of this state, and I urge my fellow candidates to join me in providing the voters with the information necessary for them to make a decision this June.” View Hightower’s medical records below:
House panel officially clears Donald Trump in Russia probe
The Republican-led House intelligence committee on Friday officially declared the end of its Russia probe, saying in its final report that it found no evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 presidential campaign. The report’s conclusion is fiercely opposed by committee Democrats, who say the committee did not interview enough witnesses or gather enough evidence to support its finding. The investigation began with bipartisan promise but ultimately succumbed to factional squabbling. Republicans had already announced the main findings last month. An investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller is ongoing, as are probes led by the Senate intelligence and judiciary committees. The House panel did find that Russia sought to sow discord in the U.S. through cyberattacks and social media. Some portions of the public report are redacted for national security reasons. Republicans say they will pressure intelligence agencies to be able to release more information. Trump has repeatedly said there was “no collusion.” In a statement, Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, who has been leading the investigation, said he was “extremely disappointed with the overzealous redactions” made by the intelligence agencies. He said many of the blacked out details include information already public such as witness names and previously declassified information. Conaway said the committee had pledged to be “as transparent as possible” with the report. “I don’t believe the information we’re releasing today meets that standard, which is why my team and I will continue to challenge the IC’s many unnecessary redactions with the hopes of releasing more of the report in the coming months,” he said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Women-owned businesses get energized by business opportunities at Birmingham conference
Female-owned business learned what it takes to do business with energy companies like Alabama Power at the Women’s Business Enterprise Council South’s Second Annual Power Industry Summit in Birmingham. “This is the first time we’re having this conference in Birmingham,” said Phala Mire, president and CEO of WBEC South. “It’s our second Power Summit, but it was so successful the first time, we wanted to bring it to Birmingham because we felt it was really important to be able to connect with some of our major power companies. “Alabama Power is a huge supporter of the Women’s Business Council. They are absolutely committed to doing business with women-owned businesses across our region.” In addition to Alabama Power, representatives of other Southern Company business units also took part. Glenda Thomas, a board member at WBEC South and supplier relations and diversity manager at Alabama Power, helped bring the event to Birmingham. “I thought it was very important to have an industry-focused group – this is our second annual power summit – and I thought it would be great if Alabama Power hosted and brought our Southern Company partners,” she said. “So, we’re fortunate to have Gulf Power, Southern Nuclear, Southern Company Services and the newly added Southern Gas.” CenterPoint Energy, Entergy, TVA, Mobile Area Water and Sewer System, Cleco and the U.S. Department of Energy were other participants in the conference. The Small Business Administration, Birmingham Business Alliance, South Region Minority Supplier Development Council and Edison Electric Institute Business Diversity were also involved in the summit. Scott Vowels, supplier diversity manager for Apple and author of “Hacking Supplier Diversity: Cracking the Code for the Business Case, Revenue Generation, Economic Impact, ROI,” was the keynote speaker. “This is imperative because this is where we get to meet the diverse suppliers,” Vowels said. “This is where we get to understand who they are. Because I always believe that people do business with people they know and people they like.” Vowels said for small, female-owned businesses, events like the summit can be eye-opening. “I think women-owned businesses have so much power and so much leverage that at times they don’t really understand the power that they possess,” he said. Vowels said he hoped minority businesses came away with a better understanding of the opportunities and that the corporations better understood the business case for hiring these 1q`firms. “Any businesses from staffing to IT to environmental – we have a wide variety of women-owned businesses here today networking together for the Power Industry Summit,” said Kristina Bridgeman, sourcing agent with Southern Company Services. Bridgeman said the conference was successful in making those connections. As for what female-owned businesses can bring to a company like Alabama Power, Vowels said the value of a different perspective should never be discounted. “I think those unique perspectives are what help with innovation because I believe the more inclusive you are, the more innovative you can be,” he said. Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
Alabama teacher told to change ‘just pray’ t-shirt
Usually it’s the students in a school who find themselves in violation of a school’s dress code policy, but on Monday one unsuspecting Alabama teacher found herself in the same position. Mobile, Ala. teacher Chris Burrell picked out a shirt to wear to teacher to class that had “just pray” on it. She had bought the shirt to help raise funds for Aubreigh Nicholes — a young girl from Semmes, Ala. who was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare and inoperable brain tumor, in September of 2017. Burrell said she chose to wear the shirt because her students were testing that day and it was her “Monday feel good shirt.” Nevertheless the school’s principal didn’t approve of the shirt and asked Burrell to change it. “Getting sent home from work today to change my Just Pray. shirt. I purchased this shirt to raise money for #AubreighsArmy. I thought it was fitting to wear today since my kids were testing. I didn’t think twice about it. I wasn’t trying to promote religion, it was just my Monday feel good shirt. In my 15 years of teaching this has never been an issue. My heart hurts. #knowwhatmatter,” Burrell posted on Facebook after being told to change the shirt. Martha Peek, superintendent of Mobile County Public Schools said the shirt violated the dress code policy, which states teachers and students are not allowed to wear clothes that reflect particular beliefs. “We have to be cognizant of everyone’s beliefs or everyone’s thoughts in a public school,” Peek explained. No disciplinary action has been taken against Burrell.
Donald Trump says of James Comey: ‘He’s either very sick or very dumb’
President Donald Trump insists he “won’t be involved” in any attempt to interfere with the investigation into Russian election meddling — unless he changes his mind. Trump also is renewing his attacks on James Comey, the FBI director he fired last year, accusing him of lying about Trump’s trip to Moscow in 2013 that has received fresh scrutiny. Early Friday, Trump accused Comey in a tweet of leaking classified information. “He’s either very sick or very dumb,” Trump tweeted. On Thursday, the GOP-led Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure that would safeguard special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired. The move came shortly after Trump, in a television interview, blasted the Justice Department, which oversees the special counsel’s investigation. “I am very disappointed in my Justice Department. But because of the fact that it’s going on, and I think you’ll understand this, I have decided that I won’t be involved,” the president said in a telephone interview with “Fox & Friends.” But then he added: “I may change my mind at some point, because what’s going on is a disgrace.” The Mueller legislation approved by the Senate panel may be largely symbolic, since Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he won’t bring it up for a full Senate vote. But it shows there are limits to Republican support for Trump when it comes to the president’s attacks on the special counsel’s probe. Four Republicans joined Democrats in a 14-7 committee vote to approve the measure. Nearly all GOP senators say Trump shouldn’t fire Mueller. And Republicans who support the legislation say it’s necessary to guard against presidential interference by giving Congress more oversight power. “While my constitutional concerns remain, I believe this bill should be considered by the full Senate,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the committee, adding to pressure on McConnell. Trump has increased his criticism of the Russia investigation since the FBI’s raids on the office and hotel room being used by Michael Cohen, a Trump personal attorney who is under federal criminal investigation in New York for unspecified business dealings. Trump again called the investigation “a witch hunt” and insisted there was “no collusion” with Russia. Much of his vitriol in his TV remarks was directed at Comey. He laced into the former FBI director as “a leaker” and “a liar.” He disputed Comey’s claim that Trump told him he did not spend the night in Moscow during his 2013 trip to attend the Miss Universe pageant. “He said I didn’t stay there a night. Of course I stayed there,” Trump said. “I stayed there a very short period of time but of course I stayed.” Comey last year created a series of contemporaneous memos — some classified, some not — to document his interactions with Trump. He wrote in the memos that Trump repeatedly brought up allegations contained in an unverified document that explored ties between Trump’s orbit and Russia. Among the most salacious details was a report that Trump consorted with prostitutes overnight on that trip, a claim Trump has denied. Comey wrote in the memos that Trump told him that he’d never stayed the night in Moscow. Flight records and social media posts from that week indicate that Trump did spend at least one night in Russia. Comey said on a CNN program that aired Wednesday — watched by Trump — that he was always concerned when someone lied to the FBI, particularly if it was about something that an agent never asked about, as he said was the case with Trump. “It tends to reflect consciousness of guilt as we would say in law enforcement,” Comey said. He added: “If they bring things up you didn’t ask about, and if they bring it up and make a false statement about it, that’s — it’s not definitive, but it certainly makes you very concerned about what might be going on there.” Trump denied having that conversation with Comey. “You look at the corruption at the top of the FBI. It’s a disgrace,” Trump said. “And our Justice Department, which I try and stay away from, but at some point I won’t.” He also suggested Comey leaked classified information in the memos. Comey has denied that allegation. He has acknowledged that the Justice Department’s inspector general, who has been investigating FBI actions during the Hillary Clinton email probe, was examining whether Comey complied with FBI policy in how he produced and stored the memos. He said that inquiry is not looking at whether he mishandled classified information, “because that’s frivolous.” “The bottom line is, I see no credible claim by any serious person that that violated the law,” he said on CNN. A conscious effort by Trump to mislead the FBI director could lend weight to the allegation, contained in the private research dossier compiled by a former British spy in 2016, that Trump engaged in compromising activity during the trip that exposed him to potential Russian blackmail. The Mueller probe has already led to the indictments of several former Trump campaign officials, including onetime campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who is charged with engaging in conspiracy and money laundering. Trump, who recently added former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to his legal team, has not committed to sitting for an interview with Mueller’s investigators. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Donald Trump’s VA choice bows out in latest Cabinet flame-out
President Donald Trump’s White House doctor reluctantly withdrew his nomination to be Veterans Affairs secretary Thursday in the face of accusations of misconduct, the latest embarrassing episode highlighting Trump’s struggles to fill key jobs and the perils of his occasional spur-of-the-moment-decision-making. The weeks-long saga surrounding the nomination of Navy Dr. Ronny Jackson leaves the government’s second-largest agency without a permanent leader while it faces an immediate crisis with its private health care program. And it abruptly tarnished the reputation of a doctor beloved by two presidents and their staffs. White House officials say they are taking a new look at the way nominees’ backgrounds are checked — and they believe they will persuade Trump to take additional time to ensure that a replacement is sufficiently vetted. The leading person now under consideration for the VA post is former Rep. Jeff Miller, who chaired the House Veterans Affairs Committee before retiring last year, according to White House officials. Miller is a strong proponent of expanding private care for veterans, a Trump priority. Trump quickly selected Jackson, a rear admiral in the Navy, to head the VA last month after firing Obama appointee David Shulkin following accusations of ethical problems and a mounting rebellion within the agency. Jackson, a surprise choice who has worked as a White House physician since 2006, faced immediate questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers as well as veterans groups about whether he had the experience to manage the massive department of 360,000 employees serving 9 million veterans. Then this week’s unconfirmed allegations by current and former colleagues about drunkenness and improper prescribing of controlled substances, compiled and released by Democrats, made the nomination all but unsalvageable. “The allegations against me are completely false and fabricated,” Jackson said in a statement announcing his withdrawal. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Jackson was back at work at the White House on Thursday. But his future there remains uncertain. He had stepped aside from directing Trump’s medical care and leading the medical unit while his nomination was being considered. “I would hope the White House would closely consider whether he is the best person to provide medical care for the president,” said Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware. Trump himself praised Jackson, saying, “He’s a great man, and he got treated very, very unfairly.” Then the president went after Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, who released a list of allegations against Jackson that was compiled by the Democratic staff of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Trump aides said the president was furious with Tester, who faces a tough re-election fight this fall, and plans to aggressively campaign against him. “I think Jon Tester has to have a big price to pay in Montana,” Trump warned on “Fox & Friends” on TV. Tester, meanwhile, called on Congress to continue its investigation of Jackson. “I want to thank the service members who bravely spoke out over the past week. It is my constitutional responsibility to make sure the veterans of this nation get a strong, thoroughly vetted leader who will fight for them,” he said. Elsewhere in the capital, Congress was questioning another Trump official whose job appears in jeopardy. Scott Pruitt, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, was questioned closely by House Democrats about revelations of unusual security spending, first-class flights, an advantageous condo lease and more. Even Republicans who support Pruitt’s deregulation efforts, said his conduct needed scrutiny. Tom Price, Trump’s first secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, resigned last year after criticism of his use of private charter flights and military jets. The turmoil at the VA comes as it faces a budget shortfall for its private-sector Veterans Choice program, a campaign priority of Trump’s, with lawmakers deadlocked over a long-term fix due to disagreements over cost and how much access veterans should have to private doctors Veterans are “exhausted by the unnecessary and seemingly never-ending drama,” said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “VA’s reputation is damaged, staff is demoralized, momentum is stalled and the future is shockingly unclear.” The VA issued a statement late Wednesday that it would push to have Congress move on an expansion of Choice next month. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, said Thursday he would “work with the administration to see to it we get a VA secretary for our veterans and their families.” White House officials were visibly dismayed Wednesday and Thursday as they watched Jackson suffer the blows of the allegations. The doctor, who is well-liked by and has personal relationships with many White House staffers, cited the withering pressure for withdrawing from consideration for the post, but maintained he had done nothing wrong. Trump said on Fox that he has an idea for a replacement nominee, adding it will be “someone with political capability.” Miller, the former congressman who was described as the leading candidate, is a strong proponent of expanding private care for veterans, Miller led the push to create Choice in 2014. However, major veterans groups and Democrats stand opposed to an aggressive expansion of Choice, seeing the effort as a potential threat to VA medical centers. Dan Caldwell, executive director of the conservative Concerned Veterans for America, urged the White House to take more time “to carefully select and vet a new nominee” who could head VA. “The VA currently has a competent Acting Secretary in Robert Wilkie who can manage the VA along with the rest of his leadership team,” he said. “Considering the tremendous challenges that the last three VA secretaries have faced, it is important that a capable individual with a high level of integrity is selected.” During the presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to fix the VA by bringing accountability and expanding access to private doctors, criticizing the department as “the most corrupt.” At an Ohio event last July, Trump promised to triple the number of veterans “seeing the doctor of their choice.” Currently, more than 30
Daniel Sutter: A permission slip to work
All states license many occupations. Licensing, essentially a government permission slip to work, emerged in the early 20th Century and is now more extensive than ever. A new report by the Alabama Policy Institute and Johnson Center, “The Costs of Occupational Licensing in Alabama,” provides an evaluation of the current extent and costs of licensing in our state. Occupational licensing protects consumers from the consequences of high cost information. We hire expert doctors, architects, and electricians to do things we cannot. Our lack of expertise means that we also have difficulty distinguishing knowledgeable experts from quacks and charlatans. And the consequences can be deadly: a treatable illness becomes life-threatening, or faulty wiring causes fires. Under occupational licensing, a state-appointed board sets fees, training, experience, and exam requirements for each profession. Individuals not meeting the standards cannot legally practice the trade. Driving out quacks and charlatans ensures consumers that all chiropractors or massage therapists are knowledgeable professionals. Over 800 jobs are now licensed in at least one state, covering about 30 percent of the national labor force, compared with 6 percent in 1950. Today licensing extends to professions not connected to safety, like florists, barbers, and interior designers. A bad haircut might be disappointing, but hardly represents the harm caused by incompetent architects. The authors of our new study, led by Dan Smith and Courtney Michaluk Joslin of the Johnson Center combed through Alabama’s laws and regulations. Alabama currently licenses 151 professions, covering 430,000 workers, or 21 percent of our labor force. Initial fees, which average over $300, reach $1,565 for interior designers, and licensees pay additional annual fees. Currently licensed Alabama professionals paid an estimated $122 million in initial fees, plus another $45 million annually. Education and training requirements can include college and graduate or professional school (e.g., medical school). Education has explicit costs (tuition, books, materials), and less visible costs (salary not earned while attending school). Using the lowest cost training or college available in Alabama, Smith and Joslin estimate the cost of initial training for current professionals at $65 billion; continuing education costs another $243 million annually. Much of this training and education is undoubtedly necessary. No one wants to be treated by a “doctor” who merely stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. Rapidly expanding professional knowledge increases needed training and continuing education. To create value, however, each element of training must be worth the cost. This is where occupational licensing fails. The voluntary market offers many forms of training and product testing, which economists have found quite effective. Examples include Underwriters’ Laboratories for products and the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist program. The crucial factor for quality in markets is voluntariness. This seems backward. Shouldn’t valuable training be mandatory, so people can’t avoid it? While plausible, mandates lead professionals to merely satisfy the requirements, or check all the boxes. No one asks, Is this worth the time and cost? By contrast, professionals and the firms who employ them will only pay for voluntary training which is worth the time and cost. Market feedback is not instantaneous and exact, but typically someone will halt voluntary training which is not creating value. Low value training persists under legal mandates. Increased training and education requirements reduce the number of licensed professionals, resulting in higher rates and benefitting current professionals. Economists’ research consistently finds that licensing raises prices for consumers. And continuing education in some fields is little more than a racket, as continuing legal education illustrates. The lawyers giving talks at continuing education seminars are themselves earning credit, and are not paid much for their time. Lawyers pay a lot and spend their valuable time in boring seminars teaching little of value. Occupational licensing addresses a real problem – assuring the quality of expert services. But like much of our legal and regulatory system, it has evolved into elaborate box checking, which does not create prosperity. Licensing costs Alabamians billions, and yet is poorly designed for delivering high quality services. ••• Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.
