Author: Virginia Martin
Candidates for Governor Pitch Ideas During PARCA Roundtable Forum
Six candidates vying to be the next governor of Alabama sat down for interviews with professors and professionals from across the state Wednesday night during a forum sponsored by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.
Three Republican candidates – Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Evangelist Scott Dawson and state Sen. Bill Hightower – and three Democratic candidates – former state Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, former state Rep. James Fields and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox – participated in the forum, held at Woodrow Hall in Birmingham’s Woodlawn community. Gov. Kay Ivey, who also is seeking the Republican nomination in the June 5 primary, was invited to the forum, said PARCA director of communications Marci Smith, but the governor declined.
Organized by the PARCA Roundtable group of young professionals, the forum featured 12-minute, one-on-one interviews with each candidate by interviewers who belong to or were selected by the Roundtable. After the interviews, the candidates took turns answering questions submitted by the audience. Read more.
Marshall Maintains Fundraising Lead in GOP Attorney General Race
Attorney General Steve Marshall has out-raised and out-spent his three rivals so far in May as he seeks the Republican nomination to run for a full term in the office. Read more.
Stuart Leads in Fundraising for GOP Primary for Chief Justice
Lyn Stuart continues to build her advantage over Tom Parker in their campaign for the Republican nomination for Alabama chief justice, according to financial reports filed this week with the Secretary of State’s Office. Read more.
Cavanaugh, Ainsworth Leading Hunt for Funds in GOP Lieutenant Governor Race
Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh outpaced her two rivals for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in campaign contributions during early May, according to financial reports candidates filed this week.
Cavanaugh, president of the Public Service Commission, raised $76,325 from May 1 to May 11. William Ainsworth reported contributions of $66,272, and Benjamin “Rusty” Glover III listed receipts of $18,393. Read more.
Republicans in Governor Race Eclipse Democrats in Spending
Gov. Kay Ivey has collected almost $100,000 this month for her campaign for governor, bringing her total to $3.78 million since the race for the June 5 Republican primary began last year.
In a report filed Monday with the Secretary of State’s office, Ivey said she raised $99,303 during the period of May 1-11. She has spent $2.52 million, leaving a balance of $1.27 million in her account. Read more.
Jim Baggett Responds
Daughter of Victim in Controversial 1931 Crime Critical of Book on the Subject
Neighborhood, Economic Development Groups Protest Woodfin’s Budget
May 14, 2018 – Mayor Randall Woodfin was not present Monday night at the public hearing on his proposed FY 2019 budget. If he had been, he would have faced complaints from a handful of organizations unhappy that their city funding had been cut or eliminated entirely.
The members of the City Council who were there — all but District 1 Councilor Lashunda Scales — appeared sympathetic to almost all of the parties who spoke at the hearing, and they even pledged to some organizations that they would advocate for them during the upcoming budget negotiations with Woodfin’s office.
Eliciting the most sympathy from the council were several neighborhood association officers, led by Central Park Neighborhood Association President Susan Palmer, who expressed anger that the new budget would cut funding to neighborhoods. Read more.
Congressional Votes for the Week of May 7
WASHINGTON – Here’s how Alabama’s members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending April 27. Read more.
Back in Limbo: Trump Reversal Could Endanger the Children’s Health Insurance Program
Just when CHIP recipients thought the health insurance program for children was safe, President Donald Trump cast its future in doubt.
The White House, which has previously signaled support for the program that provides funding to insure about 150,000 Alabama kids and millions nationwide, proposed cutting $7 billion from the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
News reports indicate that $2 billion of the cuts would come from a contingency fund originally designed to backstop shortfalls in state funding. That contingency fund was left standing after Congress authorized funding for CHIP.
The other $5 billion would come from funding that Congress authorized for CHIP but that states haven’t spent yet. CNN quoted one administration official as saying, “This is money that was never going to be spent.”
While the White House is not proposing cuts that would eliminate CHIP, parents and others who support the program have long held that CHIP is too important to endanger or use as a political football.
Read BirminghamWatch’s previous coverage:
