House passes legislation requiring first graders to go to kindergarten or pass skills competency test
On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives voted in favor of legislation requiring all incoming first graders to have either attended kindergarten or pass a test proving that they have the competency to enter first grade. Children who fail the test will be forced to attend kindergarten rather than first grade with their peers. House Bill 43 (HB43) is sponsored by State Representative Pebblin Warren, who has carried this legislation for the last few years. “I am back again. I am back with the kindergarten bill again,” Warren said. “This bill is what is referred to as a First Grade readiness bill.” “This issue has become a really important issue in the State of Alabama,” Warren said. “It is a tragedy that we would let a child reach third grade without being able to read competently.” “This bill does not make kindergarten mandatory,” Warren continued. “A child can attend kindergarten or may be in homeschooling, private schooling, or religious schooling. As long as they demonstrate competence, they can enter into first grade.” Rep. Mary Moore asked, “Will this make it mandatory?” Warren answered, “It does not make it mandatory, but the child must pass a skills competency test to be admitted into first grade.” “If their parents aren’t education-oriented, that is the group that is always going to be behind,” Moore said. “We need to make K-4 and K-5 mandatory instead of leaving that up to the parents.” “I agree,” Warren said. “It should be mandatory, but this is a process. This is our beginning step to making it mandatory.” “What I want to see is Alabama’s ranking improved,” Warren said. “It is that foundation that is going to build the foundation of Alabama.” “We need to go back to K to 8,” Moore said. “They get to sixth grade, and they have been left behind, and they just look for that crack to get out without even going to go to high school.” “We are not giving up. We are going to continue fighting,” Warren said. “I have prayed to God, asking him what I can do to get this bill passed.” “I think unless we are going back to a time where a three-year-old goes to pre-K, we need to get that four-year-old in K4,” said Rep. Kyle South. The House voted to adopt the substitute version of the bill that Warren had prepared in the Education Policy Committee in a 92 to 7 vote. Rep. Phillip Pettus said, “I would like to see us mandate kindergarten.” “If this goes through, let’s come back next time and mandate kindergarten,” Warren said. Rep. Danny Garrett said, “The synopsis says that this mandates kindergarten. A lot of people in my district do not want to be mandated kindergarten.” There was some discussion on whether or not a parent could enroll the child in first grade even if they did not pass the skills competency test that will be required for children who did not have kindergarten before first grade. Rep. Terri Collins stated, “I have an actual amendment that spells it out that if they are not ready for first grade that the child shall enroll in kindergarten.” “This is mainly those children who have never been in any kind of organized program before,” Collins explained. “They do not know their numbers. They do not know their letters. They are not ready for first grade.” “Legally, you have to go to school as a six-year-old,” Collins stated. “This amendment says that if that child comes to school as a six-year-old and is not prepared to start in first grade, then they will be enrolled in kindergarten. It will be the best thing for the child at that point.” Rep. Barbara Drummond asked, “Will the parent have the option of placing them in the first grade?” “No, they will start at the most appropriate place,” Collins answered. “This is a friendly amendment,” Warren said. Collins explained that the Alabama State Department of Education would write the first-grade readiness test. The House voted to adopt the Collins Amendment 92 to 5. The House voted to pass HB43 in a vote of 87 to 12. This is the fourth year that Warren carried similar legislation. It has not passed the Senate in the past. Governor Kay Ivey endorsed the bill in her State of the State speech. It has been referred to the Senate Education Policy Committee. Tuesday will be day 14 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 limits the legislature to no more than 30 legislative days in the regular session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama House passes bill to cut back ‘good time’ incentives for inmates
On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives voted to pass legislation that would decrease the amount of time inmates of Alabama’s prisons can get reduced from their sentences for good behavior while incarcerated. It also further limits which prisoners are eligible for good time incentives. Senate Bill 1 (SB1) – the Deputy Brad Johnson Act – is sponsored by State Sen. April Weaver. The legislation was carried in the House by State Rep. Russell Bedsole. SB1 is titled in remembrance of Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Johnson – who was gunned down by a dangerous felon released by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) on good time. Bedsole – a Shelby County Deputy – said that passage of SB1 would make Alabama communities safer. “We know that we can’t totally solve crime in our communities. Just incarceration alone is not the answer.” SB1 reduces the number of reductions in sentences served that a prisoner can earn for good behavior, further limits the number of prisoners eligible for good time incentives, and requires ADOC to make reports on the application of good time incentives. “The reporting will come back to the legislature,” Bedsole explained. “We are not putting a mandate on them to go out and buy new reporting software.” House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels said that the abuses in the system occurred during the previous ADOC leadership. “It is not fair to hold the current leadership responsible for the failings of the past leadership,” Daniels said. State Rep. Phillip Pettus told Bedsole, “I appreciate what you have done on this. I hope that we don’t have another picture up here of another law enforcement officer up here.” State Rep. John Rogers called the bill “Overkill.” Rogers said the real problem is the lack of rehabilitation of prisoners in ADOC custody. “You have countries all over the world that rehabilitate prisoners, but we do not do it here in Alabama,” Rogers said. “Why would you punish the entire system? I hope that you pull this bill.” “You have got one guard for every 200 prisoners,” Rogers said. “We have had four women get pregnant in prison in a women’s prison. How does a woman get pregnant in all women’s prison?” “We need new prisons, but you have to have money to pay guards a decent wage,” Rogers said. Bedsole said, “Did you know that a person who commits a murder in prison can still get good time?” Rep. Christopher England said, “For 100 and some years, Democrats controlled the Legislature. You know one thing that Democrats absolutely screwed up? Prisons and justice. Then Republicans got in there. For six years, we created class D felonies – everybody doesn’t like that now – Community corrections, drug courts, and we worked on releasing prisoners. You know what happened? Crime went down, and the number of prisoners went down. We had a horrible tragedy happen in Marshall County (the Jimmy Spencer slayings of three people while on parole). In November 2019, we reformed the parole system. Now we aren’t letting anybody out. The new Republicans that are here have completely unraveled how we deal with prisons. The prison population has also skyrocketed. You know what also happened: crime skyrocketed. Now it has gotten to the opposite extreme where we don’t let anybody out. The parole board is only giving parole to ten percent of prisoners eligible for parole.” “You know what else has happened – crime has gone up,” England said. “We need all the space and resources we can get, and we are wasting it on people who are no danger to the community.” England said that releasing prisoners on parole where they are under supervision is better than waiting for the end of their sentence and then releasing them with no supervision requirements. “Over 90% of the people that go into the prison system get out,” England said. “Would you rather them get out with supervision or with no supervision?” Rep. A.J. McCampbell said, “As a former law enforcement officer, we recognize that every day we are putting our lives on the line. I hate what happened to Officer Johnson. I really do.” “We have got a lot of calamity and failure of our whole (prison) system,” McCampbell continued. “We don’t have any real solutions.” “It is unreal how many people have been denied,” McCampbell said. “Parole is supposed to be at a time where we have an opportunity to look at people while they are out in the community.” “The mistreatment that they receive in these institutions dehumanizes these people,” said Rep. Mary Moore. Bedsole said that SB1, “Revises our good time statute that has been in place since 1980. We are changing the amount of good time days we are offering. We are lowering them.” After a lengthy debate, the House of Representatives passed SB1. As it has already passed the Senate, it now has gone to the Governor’s office for her consideration. According to the synopsis, SB1 would, “Reduce the amount of correctional incentive time a prisoner receives; to require a prisoner to remain in a certain classification for a longer period of time before moving up to a higher classification; to provide for additional circumstances in which a prisoner may be required to forfeit his or her correctional incentive time; and to require the Department of Corrections to provide annual reports to the Legislature, the Governor, and the Attorney General regarding correctional incentive time. Thursday will be day 10 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. The Alabama Constitution limits the Legislature to no more than thirty legislative days during a regular session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Nathaniel Ledbetter announces fourth and final round of committee chair appointments
On Wednesday, State Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, the House Republican Caucus nominee for Speaker of the Alabama House, announced the final seven representatives he plans to appoint as committee chairs if elected as the next Speaker. “These committee chairs will handle some of the most important issues that affect the daily lives of Alabamians – health, public education, election integrity, veterans affairs, accountability to taxpayers, and local measures,” Ledbetter said in a statement. “And because the ability to easily transport goods plays such a vital role in Alabama’s economic development efforts, the new House committee on ports and waterways will be especially important in keeping our state growing.” Ledbetter created the new House Ports, Waterways, and Intermodal Transit Committee. State Rep. Chip Brown will be the inaugural chair of this new committee. Brown was elected to the Alabama House in 2018. He previously held a seat on the agenda-setting Rules Committee and served on the body’s Economic Development and Tourism, Urban and Rural Development, Insurance, and Mobile County Legislation committees. Brown is a commercial realtor and entrepreneur and served in the Alabama Army National Guard. He was deployed with the U.S. Army at the Central Command Forward Operations Headquarters in Southwest Asia during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was also twice deployed as a military advisor in Afghanistan. Ledbetter said he created the new House committee because Alabama possesses more than ten percent of our nation’s freshwater. When combined with the expansion of the State Docks in Mobile, the Tennessee/Tombigbee Waterway, the ports of Huntsville and Birmingham, and the port being constructed in Montgomery, that transportation hub can be leveraged into one of the state’s strongest economic assets. State Rep. Phillip Pettus will remain as the House Fiscal Responsibility Committee Chair. Pettus also held seats on the Judiciary Committee, the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee in the previous quadrennium. Pettus is a retired Alabama State Trooper Captain. Following 25 years of service, he retired from the Alabama Department of Public Safety in 2013. State Rep. Bob Fincher will return as the House Constitution, Campaigns, and Elections Committee chair. Fincher was elected to the Alabama House in 2014. He previously held seats on the House Education Policy, Agriculture and Policy, and Local Legislation Committees. Fincher is a retired educator who taught at Woodland High School and New Hope Christian School and twice served as one of Alabama’s presidential electors. State Rep. Ed Oliver will chair the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. Oliver joined the Alabama House in 2018 and previously held seats on the Agriculture and Forestry Committee, the Fiscal Responsibility Committee, and the Health Committee. The former Chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee –Rep. Dickie Drake was defeated in the May Republican primary. Oliver is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He served as a military helicopter pilot and inspector general and devoted 31 total years to active duty, reserve, and National Guard service. He was employed for 15 years as a civilian helicopter air ambulance pilot. State Rep. Alan Baker will return as the chair of the House Local Legislation Committee. During the prior quadrennium, Baker also served as vice chair of the House Education Policy and the agenda-setting House Rules Committee. Before his election to the Alabama House in 2006, Baker worked for 27 years as an educator and football coach in Alabama public schools. While coaching at T.R. Miller High School, he won five state championships in football and five in track. State Rep. Terri Collins will return as chair of the House Education Policy Committee. Collins sponsored and passed the landmark Alabama Literacy Act in 2019. Throughout the prior quadrennium, she held a seat on the House Ways and Means Education Committee and chaired the Alabama School Safety and Student Security Task Force. Elected to the House in 2010, Collins is a retired marketing executive and businesswoman who enjoyed a 16-year career in the banking industry in Decatur. Retaining Collins is by far the most controversial committee chair choice by presumed Speaker Ledbetter, as Collins has often incurred the anger of social conservatives for her defense of the controversial Alabama College and Career Ready Standards – which many on the ultra-right feel are too tightly aligned with the Barack Obama era Common Core educational standards. State Rep. Paul Lee will return as the chair of the House Health Committee. He has served as a member of the committee since first winning election to the Alabama House in 2010. Lee is a former Dothan city commissioner. He retired from Sony’s Magnetic Tape Division as a senior production specialist following 31 years of service. He is currently the executive director of Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center in Dothan. It is highly likely that Ledbetter will be elected as the Speaker of the House during the organizational session in January, as he is the choice of the House Republican Caucus, which holds a 77 to 28 supermajority in the Alabama House of Representatives. Ledbetter defeated State Rep. Steve Clouse for the open Speaker position in a vote by the Caucus during a November meeting. Ledbetter is the former mayor of Rainsville. He follows Rep. Mac McCutcheon as Speaker. McCutcheon chose not to run for the legislature again. If elected, Ledbetter will be the third Republican Speaker of the House since the GOP’s takeover of the state Legislature in the historic red wave election of 2010 following 135 years of uninterrupted Alabama Democratic Party legislature control. Ledbetter is part of a new generation of Republican lawmakers who have never experienced being in the minority. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
The NRA Political Victory Fund announces primary endorsements
The NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) has announced its endorsements for the May 24 primary in Alabama. The NRA-PVF is NRA’s political action committee. The NRA-PVF ranks political candidates – irrespective of party affiliation – based on voting records, public statements, and their responses to an NRA-PVF questionnaire. Mo Brooks received the endorsement and A rating for the U.S. Senate seat and incumbent Rep. Mike Rogers got an A rating and was endorsed for the U.S. House of Representatives. For the governor’s race, the group gave an A rating and endorsement to incumbent Kay Ivey. Incumbents continued to take the top spots in the Attorney General, State Senate, and House of Representatives elections. AG Steve Marshall received an A rating along with incumbent State Senators Tim Melson (Dist. 1), Tom Butler (Dist. 2), Steve Livingston (Dist. 8), Randy Price (Dist. 13), Dan Roberts (Dist. 15), Shay Shelnutt (Dist.17), Tom Whatley (Dist. 27), and Mike Jones (Dist.31). For the State House of Reps., the following incumbents received an A rating and endorsement: Phillip Pettus (Dist. 1), Parker Moore (Dist. 4), Proncey Robertson (Dist. 7), Tim Wadsworth (Dist. 14), Tommy Hanes (Dist. 23), Nathaniel Ledbetter (Dist. 24), Gil Isbell (Dist. 28), Debbie Wood (Dist. 38), Ginny Shaver (Dist. 39), Dickie Drake (Dist. 45), Jim Carnes (Dist. 48), Brent Easterbrook (Dist. 65), Jeff Sorrells (Dist. 87), Will Dismukes (Dist. 88), Rhett Marques (Dist. 91), and Matt Simpson (Dist. 96). State House of Rep. candidates that are not incumbents that received an A rating and an endorsement include Michael Hart (Dist. 49) and Troy Stubbs (Dist. 31). For the Sheriff’s elections, the following candidates received an A rating and endorsement: Max Sanders (Lawrence County), Joshua McLaughlin (Limestone County), Eric Balentine (Colbert County), and Matt Gentry (Cullman County).
Kay Ivey signs Nick Risner Act into law
On Wednesday, Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 143, the Nick Risner Act, a bill named in honor of Sheffield K-9 Sgt. Nick Risner. The 40-year-old police officer was killed while pursuing a suspect last year. The man who shot him, Brian Lansing Martin, was previously convicted of manslaughter after killing his father. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2013 and was released three years later on “good time.” The Nick Risner Act, which is sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, prevents convicts who used a deadly weapon to kill someone from being released early under Alabama’s “Good Time” law. Governor Ivey previously met with members of the Risner family and offered her full support for this legislation as it moved through the process. “I’m bringing this bill, so hopefully another family will not have to go through what they did,” said Rep. Pettus, a former state trooper. “Standing up for our men and women in blue is a top priority for my administration,” stated Ivey. “Sergeant Risner’s killer should have never been released from prison in the first place, and while there is nothing that can be done to reverse this horrific tragedy, this legislation will go a long way in ensuring violent offenders remain off the streets. I’m especially thankful to Representative Phillip Pettus, and the members of both the House and Senate for ensuring this life-saving legislation got across the finish line. My prayers remain with the Risner family.”
House advanced bill named for slain police officer, Nick Risner
The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday voted to restrict the use of good behavior incentives to shorten prison sentences, a bill brought in reaction to the slaying of a north Alabama police officer. Representatives voted 99-1 for the bill seeking to prohibit anyone convicted of manslaughter from qualifying for “good time” incentives. The bill now moves to the Alabama Senate. The bill is called the Sergeant Nick Risner Act. It is named after the 40-year-old Sheffield police officer who was killed while pursuing a suspect last year. Risner’s widow watched from the House gallery as lawmakers voted on the bill. “I’m bringing this bill, so hopefully another family will not have to go through what they did,” said Republican Rep. Phillip Pettus, the sponsor of the bill and a former state trooper. Brian Lansing Martin is charged with killing Risner, the father of one, and William Mealback Jr. of Cypress Inn, Tennessee. Martin had been released from prison in 2016 after serving a little over three years of a 10-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his father. Alabama currently allows some inmates sentenced to 15 or fewer years in prison to qualify for good behavior incentives. Good time is not given for Class A felonies such as murder and rape. The bill also would prohibit inmates convicted of manslaughter from qualifying for good time. “If you kill somebody, you do not get good time,” Pettus said of his bill. Behavior incentives are commonly used to try to combat prison violence by giving inmates a reason to follow rules. Pettus said Martin had his good time taken away, but it was later restored to him by a prison official. “Whoever let him out ought to take his place,” Rep. Lynn Greer, a Republican from Rogersville, said. While the bill had near-unanimous support, a few lawmakers questioned if the problem was with the good time statute or how it was applied in Martin’s case. They asked if it would be short-sighted to make the change. “I’m just concerned that we are going to take away the hope that those people have, and then where is the incentive for them to behave,” Rep. Charlotte Meadows, a Republican from Montgomery, said. Pettus responded that inmates convicted of manslaughter would still be eligible for parole. He said the legislation didn’t change anything else in the good time law, beyond making inmates convicted of manslaughter ineligible. Representatives stood to applaud Risner’s family after the vote. “Mrs. Risner, you have our respect and our prayers,” House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama Farmers Federation announces newest round of legislative endorsements
The Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) announced its 11th slate of endorsements for candidates seeking election to the Alabama House of Representatives, Yellowhammer News reported. FarmPAC, ALFA’s political arm, helps determine who to endorse. ALFA is Alabama’s largest farm organization representing agricultural and associate members in all 67 Alabama counties. State reps. Phillip Pettus (R-Killen), Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika), and Prince Chestnut (D-Selma) are all incumbents now endorsed by FarmPAC. ALFA also announced its endorsement of Helena City councilwoman Leigh Hulsey for House District 15. “Rep. Pettus is a good public servant for our district,” commented Lauderdale County Farmers Federation president Joe Dickerson. “He cares about the needs of his constituents and represents them well in Montgomery.” Jamie Lazenby, Lee County Farmers Federation president, praised Gray’s work ethic. “Rep. Gray is a leader in the House of Representatives, and we appreciate his service to our district,” advised Lazenby. “He works hard to make sure our needs are represented in Montgomery.” Dallas County Farmers Federation president Jimmy Holliman commented, “Rep. Chestnut is a hard-working representative, and he does a fine job for us at home and in Montgomery representing our needs. We are honored to support his reelection bid.” John DeLoach, president of the Shelby County Farmers Federation, praised Hulsey’s leadership skills, stating, “Leigh Hulsey is a strong business leader who understands the needs of the people of this district. She is also a strong conservative who will work hard representing the needs of our district in the Legislature.”
Alabama House GOP Caucus passes resolution supporting UNA Student Government President
University of North Alabama Student Government President Jake Statom gained recent support from the Alabama House Republican Caucus following student-led efforts to demand his resignation. Political pressure unsued following Statom’s repost of an Instagram post on his personal social media account about the “LGBTQ” agenda, adding a statement that sought to promote traditional morals and biblical values. Student activists responded to this by crafting a petition demanding his resignation from the student government presidency by June 30 and threatening impeachment proceedings if he failed to concede to their demands. Following this, Statom released a video apologizing to those who might have been hurt by his online comment and committing to being more thoughtful and considerate of differing perspectives, according to a recent press release from the Alabama House Republican Caucus. “My Republican colleagues and I recognize the courage it takes for college leaders to promote biblical principles and traditional values on campuses that are increasingly embracing the Cancel Culture and its ‘woke’ demands,” State Rep. Jamie Kiel said. “Because our founding fathers considered the freedoms of speech and religion so important, they made them the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, and Jake Statom was simply exercising the liberties that are guaranteed to him.” Kiel sponsored a resolution in support of the student leader with House Republican Caucus members from across the state voting its approval. Other members of the local legislative delegation including State Reps. Lynn Greer (R – Rogersville), Phillip Pettus (R – Killen), Andrew Sorrell (R – Muscle Shoals) and State Sens. Larry Stutts (R – Tuscumbia) and Tim Melson (R – Florence) have also expressed strong support for Statom, according to Kiel. “Whether someone agrees with or opposes the stand that Jake Statom has taken, his constitutional right to speak freely and promote his religious beliefs must not be abridged with threats of impeachment and baseless attacks on his character,” Senator Stutts added. The text of the House Republican Caucus resolution reads: WHEREAS Jake Statom, an engineering major from Tuscumbia, was elected as president of the University of North Alabama Student Government Association in February; and, WHEREAS Statom reposted an Instagram post about the “LGBTQ” agenda and added a statement that sought to promote traditional morals and biblical values; and, WHEREAS some students responded to Statom’s comment, which was made on his personal social media account, with a petition demanding his resignation from the student government presidency by June 30 and threatening impeachment proceedings if he did not concede to their demands; and, WHEREAS Statom released a video statement apologizing to those who might have been hurt by his online comment and committing to being more thoughtful and considerate of differing perspectives; and, WHEREAS a student-led counter petition supporting Statom’s right to free speech and expression garnered more signatures than the one that issued threats of political reprisals; and, WHEREAS the university environment is traditionally one which promotes the free and open exchange of ideas – both conservative and liberal – and protects an individual’s right to their own religious beliefs, values, and moral standards; and, WHEREAS the dangerous “Cancel Culture” atmosphere that predominates on college campuses both in Alabama and across the country seeks to silence opinions that are deemed to be politically unacceptable to leftist ideologues and punish those who continue to adhere to traditional values, especially those rooted in fundamental religious teachings; and, WHEREAS, Statom committed no impeachable offense by simply exercising the basic freedoms of opinion, expression, and religion that are guaranteed to all Americans under the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Alabama House Republican Caucus, support Jake Statom’s right to express and promote his personal beliefs in the public forum and recognize his voluntary willingness to apologize to those he might have offended; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we strongly oppose any effort to impeach, remove, or apply political pressure intended to force Jake Statom from the presidency of the University of North Alabama Student Government Association. Given under our hand and the seal of the Alabama House Republican Caucus on this 30th day of June, 2021. House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter House Majority Caucus Vice-Chair Connie Rowe
Steve Flowers: Road rage and deer hunting bills take center stage in legislature
Over 20 years ago when I was a legislator the State Trooper assigned to my county asked if he could come visit with me. “Of course,” I said. When he came he had a somber look on his face. I thought maybe he had a serious personal problem or had lost a loved one. He began, “This may not sound like a major highway problem, but one of the things that causes a good many accidents and incidents on our roads is people driving slow in the left lane and not moving over.” I never pursued legislation to this effect. However, he made me aware of the need to remedy this problem. Well, finally, a legislator has taken up this legislation. Rep. Phillip Pettus, a Republican from Lauderdale County, who by the way retired as a captain in the Alabama State Troopers after a 25-year career, has passed legislation to remedy this problem. He calls his Bill, “The Anti-Road Rage Act.” The Bill would prohibit drivers from staying in the left most lane on interstates for more than a mile and a half without passing another vehicle. Pettus explained, “People get ill when they come up behind people driving slow in the left lane and they are wanting to get by. Interstates were set up for the movement of traffic. This will make interstate traffic move better if the said road rage causes more wrecks than accident records would indicate, like when angry drivers cut in front of another vehicle and cause that vehicle to run off the road.” The House has passed the Bill on a 61-24 vote. It awaits action in the Senate. It has been 20 years since I was in the Legislature, and during the entire time I was there we had a perennial issue that would surface every year; whether or not to let deer hunters hunt deer with dogs. Today the issue has evolved into whether or not to allow hunters to use bait to attract deer. This Bill has become an annual debate in the Legislature. Both sides are ardent and take their deer hunting seriously. Well it looks like the baiters have finally won. Rep. Danny Crawford (Republican-Limestone) has passed legislation that gives hunters the option of hunting over bait. The bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers. The deer hunting issue has been around forever. During the 1950’s and 60’s there was a legendary legislative sage named Rankin Fite of Marion County. Ole Rankin had been in the Legislature a long time. He was actually Speaker of the House well into the 1970’s when the first Ethic Laws were passed. Rankin was one of only six House members to vote against the Ethics Law. After the vote the media asked the former Speaker why he voted against the Ethics Law. He wryly replied, “It wasn’t tough enough.” He further pontificated this advice, “I voted for every tax, voting for taxes won’t beat you.” “I just voted against the Ethics Bill, voting against ethics won’t beat you.” “The issues you need to avoid are voting on daylight savings time or hunting deer with dogs.” Gov. Kay Ivey has done a good job with her judicial appointments throughout the state. In 2017, she appointed Circuit Judge Brad Mendheim of Dothan to the Supreme Court to fill a vacancy. Mendheim is a very well qualified jurist to sit on the state’s highest judicial tribunal. Mendheim is extremely well liked and respected in his native Houston County. In the 2018 elections, Mendheim lost a close election to Judge Sarah Stewart of Mobile. Gov. Ivey wisely reappointed Mendheim to the Court in the place of Justice Tom Parker who was elected Chief Justice. Former Chief Justice Lynn Stuart, who Tom Parker replaced, has taken a seat on the State Ethics Commission. Judge Stuart was a Baldwin County Judge for 12 years prior to being elected to the Supreme Court in 2000. She served 18 years on the Supreme Court. Her term on the Ethics Commission is for four years, through August of 2023. Gov. Ivey has set the Special Election dates for the seat of Dimitri Polizos in Montgomery. Dimitri, a popular restaurateur in the Capital City, died in March. The first primary is June 11 with a runoff on August 27. It is a Republican seat, which has drawn a crowded field of candidates. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Senate committee greenlights Ten Commandments for display on school, state property
With little discussion, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to SB97 from Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) allowing the Ten Commandments to be displayed on state property and at public schools. Committee chairman Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) noted that the bill has passed out of committee several times over the years and always stalls in one of the legislative bodies. Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Fairfield) lodged the only opposition to the bill. “Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?” she questioned. Despite the limited opposition, the bill was OK’d within seconds of being brought up.
