Alabama legislators file bills that seek to end grocery tax
A pair of Alabama legislators have introduced bills in their respective chambers that would eliminate the state’s sales tax on groceries. HB 174, sponsored by Rep. Mike Holmes, R-Wetumpka, and SB 43, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Montgomery, would eliminate the state tax on food. Both bills are designed to put more money in the pockets of state residents. The bills, however, would take different paths to being enacted. HB 174 would be enacted through ratification by the Legislature and Gov. Kay Ivey’s signature, while SB 43 would appear on November’s ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment. Under the state’s existing law, a sales tax of 4% is assessed on food sales. Counties and municipalities throughout the state, however, levy their own local taxes on food, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Under both bills, local municipalities would retain the power to excise taxes on food. Tuscaloosa and Cullman counties, according to the report, have the highest grocery tax rate in the state at 9%, which includes the 4% state grocery tax. Grocery taxes in the majority of the state’s counties are between 6% and 8%, while some counties have a 4% to 6% grocery tax. A handful of counties have a grocery tax between 8% and 9%. HB 174, if enacted, would exempt the sales of food from sales and use taxes beginning September 1. If SB 43 is enacted through a ballot referendum, it would go into effect on January 1, 2023. Holmes said he introduced the legislation to give state residents a tax break. “We wanted to be sure we didn’t try and replace the grocery tax revenue with a tax revenue stream from somewhere else,” Holmes said. “We didn’t want to shift a tax from one group to another.” Holmes said last year from tax sources, Alabama generated $7.6 billion in revenue. This year, he said, the state is anticipating $12.2 billion in tax revenue. “That is where it is going to hit the hardest,” Holmes said of the legislation benefiting all residents. “It will hit everyone equally. Everybody has to have groceries. That was a place I could go to help the working class, even down to the poverty level and even the upper class, to get everyone a tax break.” Holmes said counties and municipalities will still be able to have their own grocery tax. “I’m really hopeful we can get this done,” said Holmes, who is not running for re-election. “I’m hanging a lot on the fact we can get across-the-aisle support. We have a supermajority, but if we can get half of their votes, we can get it done and do it right.” The Alabama Policy Institute said it is in favor of repealing the grocery tax. “Groceries are exempt from state sales tax in most of the country, with only thirteen states taxing groceries at all,” API President and CEO Caleb Crosby said. “Out of thirteen states that do tax groceries, only Alabama, Mississippi, and South Dakota tax them at the full amount without any credit or rebate. “With state budgets hitting record high after record high, it is … time for Alabama to end this tax. The fact is that Montgomery is flush with cash. State leaders need not pretend that the sales tax on our bread and milk is essential.” Phil Williams, a former state senator who serves as the Institute’s chief policy officer, said, “it is time to pursue this matter without the old fallback of raising taxes elsewhere.” “This should be a matter of giving back, not amending to avoid a true tax cut,” he said. By Brent Addleman | The Center Square Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Steve Flowers: Incumbency prevails in 2022 State House races
Folks, believe it or not, we are closing in on six months before next year’s election year. The primary election is set for May 24, 2022. In Alabama, all our major constitutional officers are on the ballot next year. The governor’s office is the premier race in the state, and that coveted and powerful post is set for its four-year quadrennial run. Therefore, this big political year is referred to as the gubernatorial year. Those of us who follow Alabama politics have been salivating with anticipation for a cavalcade of great races. However, the power of incumbency has devasted the big year into a yawn. All the major state offices are held by popular incumbents, who are either running unopposed or have minimal opposition. The consolation prize was that there would be the legislative races. After all, this is where the real power in the state rests. You can simply look at where the special interest and PAC money is spent to verify that fact. However, the omnipotent power of incumbency has also encroached on those races. The Alabama House of Representatives has 105 members. There are 77 Republicans and 28 Democrats. The large majority of incumbents are running for reelection – both Republicans and Democrats. The overwhelming majority of these incumbents will have no opposition. However, in the House, there will be some major changes in leadership because of retirement or moving on to new posts. Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon is not running for reelection. This has created an interesting and spirited race within the Republican Caucus ranks for Speaker. In addition, Victor Gaston of Mobile, who is Speaker Pro Tem, is also retiring. Bill Poole of Tuscaloosa, who chaired the powerful House Ways and Means Education Budget Committee, has left the House to be the State Finance Director. House Rules Committee Chairman Mike Jones of Andalusia is running for the open Senate seat of retiring Senator Jimmy Holley. Two of the freshman House members are running for statewide office. Wes Allen of Troy is running for Secretary of State, and Andrew Sorrell of Tuscumbia is running for State Auditor. In addition, Connie Rowe of Jasper is leaving the House to become an administrative assistant to Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth. Some of the veteran House members who are choosing to hang up their legislative cleats include Howard Sanderford of Huntsville, Mike Ball of Huntsville, K.L. Brown of Jacksonville, Kerry Rich of Marshall, Allen Farley of Jefferson, Harry Shiver of Baldwin, Mike Holmes of Elmore, and Becky Nordgren of Etowah. The most noteworthy retiree may be Representative Steve McMillan of Baldwin County, who is retiring after serving close to 43 years in the House. Steve has been a quiet yet very effective voice for the people of Baldwin County. They all will be missed. Some of the high profile and powerful members of the House, who will return for another four years with no or token opposition, are Steve Clouse of Ozark, Nathaniel Ledbetter of Dekalb County, and Danny Garrett, Jim Carns, David Wheeler, and David Faulkner of Jefferson. Danny Garrett has ascended to Chairman of the House Ways and Means Education. Other leaders returning are Chris Pringle, Reed Ingram, Randall Shedd, Tracy Estes, Chris Sells, David Standridge, Ginny Shaver, Jim Hill, Alan Baker, Joe Lovvorn, Chris Blackshear, Kyle South, Paul Lee, Jeff Sorrells, Rhett Marques, Steve Hurst, Joe Faust, and Margie Wilcox. The Democratic leadership will remain intact. There is an illustrious array of House Democratic leaders, including Anthony Daniels, Chris England, Laura Hall, Peb Warren, Barbara Boyd, A.J. McCampbell, Berry Forte, Dexter Grimsley, Thomas Jackson, Kevin Lawrence, Mary Moore, Juandalynn Givan, and veteran John Rogers. Two of the Democratic House veterans from Jefferson County, Louise Alexander and Merika Coleman, are both running for an open Jefferson County Senate Seat, leaving both their House seats up for grabs. There may be an increase in the number of females in the House of Representatives. It has already begun with the election of Cynthia Almond of Tuscaloosa, who was elected without opposition to replace Bill Poole. In addition, Patrice Penni McClammy won the Montgomery District 76 seat of her late father, Thad McClammy. She won with no opposition. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama papers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Alabama House approves new congressional district lines
The Alabama House of Representatives on Monday approved new lines for the state’s seven congressional districts as lawmakers try to get required new maps in place for the 2022 elections. Representatives approved the plan on a 65-38 vote with about 10 Republicans joining with Democrats to oppose the new boundary lines for the seven districts. The plan now moves to the Alabama Senate. Some Democrats raised concerns that the process was rushed and that the map packs many Black voters into a single congressional district, preventing them from affecting elections in other districts. The handful of opposed Republicans expressed concern about various changes to the lines. Republican Rep. Chris Pringle, the co-chairman of the redistricting committee and the sponsor of the districting plan, said that lawmakers were careful to comply with the Voting Rights Act and court rulings. “It complies with the law. It complies with our guidelines to the committee. It’s a good plan. It’s a fair plan. It’s an equitable plan,” Pringle, R-Mobile said. Democrats have argued that Alabama, whose population is about 26% Black, should have a second congressional district with a significant African American or minority population. The seven-member delegation has for decades included a single African American, elected from the only district with a majority Black population. The district is now represented by Rep. Terri Sewell, the only Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation. The Republican-supported plan keeps Sewell’s District 7 with a population that is about 55% Black, while the other six districts are overwhelmingly white. “It also serves the other purpose to make sure that those folks can’t go into the Sixth Congressional district and have any real impact on what goes on there,” Democratic Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa said of the GOP-backed plan. Representatives in the evening also began debating new district lines for themselves. Several lawmakers in both parties argued that the process had been rushed. “It’s discouraging to me because we’re hurrying. We really don’t have the adequate, accurate information to make the kind of momentous decisions that we’re being asked to make,” said Republican Rep. Mike Holmes of Wetumpka. Pringle said lawmakers are under a time crunch to get the maps ready in time for next year’s elections after receiving their Census data late. The House of Representatives was resuming debate Monday evening. The GOP-controlled Legislature in 2017 had to redraw legislative maps under court order to fix racial gerrymandering in 12 districts. The ruling came after Black lawmakers filed a lawsuit challenging the maps as “stacking and packing” Black voters into designated districts to make neighboring districts whiter and more likely to elect conservative Republicans. Pringle said in drawing the lines this year that they did so without looking at race, based on the existing map and population changes. He said they later calculated the racial composition of districts. The Alabama Senate advanced new lines for state Senate and state school board districts. State senators voted 25-7 for new state Senate lines and 24-4 for new Board of Education lines. Those bills now move to the Alabama House of Representatives. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Kay Ivey hosts a ceremonial bill signing for 2021 legislative session
On Thursday, Governor Kay Ivey hosted a ceremonial bill signing for legislation passed during the 2021 Regular Session. The following bills will be ceremonially signed by the governor: House Bill 322 – This bill, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, Sen. Clyde Chambliss, and Sen. Tom Whatley, gives the responsibility of nominating members of the State Board of Registration for Foresters to the Alabama Division of the Society of American Foresters and any active state forestry organization that meets the criteria established by the Board. (Act 2021-433) House Bill 227 – Sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, Sen. Dan Roberts, and Sen. Tom Whatley, provides an income tax credit for the acquisition, construction, or installation of a qualified storm shelter. (Act 2021-540) House Bill 2 – Sponsored by Rep. Mike Holmes and Sen. Dan Roberts, HB 2 adds Tianeptine to the list of Class II controlled substances. (Act 2021-325) Senate Bill 261 – This bill, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss and Rep. Chip Brown, prohibits indemnification provisions for liability of a third party in contracts for design professionals. (Act 2021-318) House Bill 130 – Sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown and Sen. David Sessions, House Bill 130 is named after Aniah Blanchard and provides additional offenses that would allow a judge to deny bail to a defendant. (Act 2021-267) House Bill 136 – This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown and Sen. David Sessions, designates the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Alabama Aquarium as the official aquarium of Alabama. (Act 2021-411) House Bill 137 – Sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown and Sen. David Sessions, provides certain rights to victims of sexual assault and creates the Sexual Assault Task Force. (Act 2021-481) House Bill 166 – Sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson and Sen. David Sessions, creates a mental health diversionary program and funds a mental health court in Baldwin County. (Act 2021-154) Senate Bill 39 – SB 39, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price and Rep. Matt Simpson, establishes the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act and creates the crime of aggravated home repair fraud. (Act 2021-272) Senate Bill 308 – This bill, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price and Rep. Proncey Robertson, establishes the Alabama Uniform Concealed Carry Permit Act and authorizes lifetime concealed carry permits. (Act 2021-246) Senate Bill 43 – This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price and Rep. Joe Lovvorn, requires EMA to adopt guidelines for identifying and designating safe place shelters throughout the state. (Act 2021-165) House Bill 172 – Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond and Sen. Bobby Singleton, requires the Chief Procurement Officer and the Secretary of State’s office to collect data on minority and women-owned businesses in the state and the participation of those businesses in the state procurement process. (Act 2021-223) House Bill 274 – Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, this bill provides for the licensure and regulation by the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering of mobile hair salons. (Act 2021-406) House Bill 175 – HB 175, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, adds computer science teachers serving in underserved areas of the state to the current AMSTEP loan repayment program for public high school math and science teachers. (Act 2021-389) House Bill 153 – This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, expands eligibility of children allowed to receive tuition assistance from the Police Officer’s and Firefighter’s Survivors Educational Assistance Program. (Act 2021-425) Senate Bill 61 – SB 61, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen and Rep. Joe Lovvorn, establishes the Education Retirees Trust Fund in the State Treasury to fund periodic bonuses for education retirees. (Act 2021-464)
Lawmakers punt on repeal of law about Confederate monuments
Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday delayed action on a proposal to repeal protections for Confederate monuments and instead let cities give the statues to the state archives or another entity for preservation. The House Judiciary Committee sent the bill to a subcommittee for study. It is unclear when the bill would return for a vote. The bill by Democratic Rep. Juandalynn Givan of Birmingham would repeal the 2017 Alabama Memorial Preservation Act which forbids taking down longstanding monuments. Givan said her proposal would allow local governments to donate unwanted historic statues and monuments to the state archives or another entity for preservation. The 2017 law, which was approved as some cities began taking down Confederate monuments, forbids the removal or alteration of monuments more than 40 years old. Violations carry a $25,000 fine. Some cities have opted to take down Confederate monuments and just pay the $25,000 fine. “People want to have the authority to move these monuments without being taxed $25,000,” Givan said after the meeting. Democratic Rep. Merika Coleman of Pleasant Grove said Givan’s bill would put the monuments in a “spot where they actually could be preserved and not destroyed.” A Republican lawmaker is seeking to strengthen the law and increase the penalty on violators. Rep. Mike Holmes of Wetumpka filed a bill that would increase the fine from a flat $25,000 to $10,000 a day. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Here’s everyone the NRA has endorsed in the 2018 election cycle
An endorsement from the NRA‘s Political Action Committee, the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF), can be a game changer for many candidates. “When provided with the facts, the nation’s elected officials will recognize that “gun control” schemes are an infringement on the Second Amendment and a proven failure in fighting crime” says the fund. “The importance of this premise lies in the knowledge that, as one U.S. Congressman put it: ‘The gun lobby is people.’” The NRA-PVF makes its decisions based on voting records, public statements and their responses to their NRA-PVF questionnaire. Here are the candidates who the NRA has endorsed, who they believe will stand up for Alabamian’s Second Amendment rights: Statewide races Governor: Kay Ivey Attorney General: Steve Marshall Agricultural Commissioner: Gerald Dial State Senate Races District 4: Paul Bussman District 6: Larry Stutts District 8: Steve Livingston District 10: Mack N. Butler District 12: Del Marsh District 21: Gerald H. Allen District 22: Tom Butler State House Races District 10: Mike Ball District 12: Corey Harbison District 14: Tim Wadsworth District 16: Kyle South District 22: Ritchie Whorton District 23: Tommy Hanes District 31: Mike Holmes District 33: Ronald G. Johnson District 45: Dickie Drake District 48: Jim Carns District 49: April Weaver District 65: Elaine Beech District 88: Jeremy Arthur District 105: Chip Brown
Wetumpka TEA Party hosts GOP candidate meet and greet
The Wetumpka TEA Party will host the River Region Candidate Fair on Monday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for candidates running in the 2018 Republican primary election. Over 40 candidates have confirmed their attendance for the event, which will be held at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Advertised as a “meet & greet,” the event will allow Alabamians to meet each candidate individually and ask them questions about the position they are seeking, rather than listen to speeches and debates. The Wetumpka TEA party will also be conducting a straw poll at the end of the night, with results posted Tuesday morning. “Our mission at the Wetumpka TEA Party is to educate citizens on national, state and local issues and help them get involved in our representative government,” said Wetumpka Tea Party founder Becky Gerritson. “It is important that people vote for their elected officials because they know what the candidates stand for and do not just rely on 30 second commercials and attractive yard signs. This is a terrific opportunity to meet the candidates who are running for an elected position, to ask them questions and understand what each candidate stands for.” The following candidates have confirmed their attendance on Monday night: CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES Governor: Bill Hightower, Kay Ivey, Scott Dawson, Tommy Battle (will send a representative) Lieutenant Governor: Will Ainsworth, Twinkle Cavanaugh, Rusty Glover Attorney General: Chess Bedsole, Troy King, Alice Martin Auditor: Stan Cooke, Elliott Lipinsky, Jim Zeigler Secretary of State: Michael Johnson, John Merrill Treasurer: Stephen Evans, John McMillan Commissioner for Agriculture and Industries: Gerald Dial, Rick Pate (will send a representative) STATE LEGISLATURE Alabama House of Representatives 31: Dustin DeVaughn, Mike Holmes Alabama House of Representatives 88: Al Booth Alabama Senate 25: Will Barfoot, Ronda Walker Alabama Senate 30: Clyde Chambliss (Unopposed) ALABAMA COURT SYSTEM Supreme Court Chief Justice: Tom Parker AL Supreme Court Place 1: Sarah Stewart AL Court of Civil Appeals Place 1: Michelle Thomason, Pat Thetford Circuit Court 19 Judge: Bill Lewis (Unopposed) PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Public Service Commission Place 1: Jeremy Oden, Jim Bonner Public Service Commission Place 2: Chip Beeker, Robin Litaker LOCAL AND CIRCUIT RACES: Elmore County Sheriff: Bill Franklin (Unopposed) Probate Judge (Elmore): Vicki Bonner-Ward, John Thornton Elmore County Commission Dist 4: Bart Mercer (Unopposed) Coroner (Elmore): Brad Linville, Jody Jeffcoat Circuit Clerk (Elmore): Michael Dozier, Angie Cruise-Gardner FEDERAL RACE U.S. Congress Dist 2: Rich Hobson, Bobby Bright, Barry Moore A flier for the event may be viewed here: River region candidate fair.
