Government

Alabama GOP Reps Vote Against Jan. 6 Commission

Alabama’s House congressional delegation split along party lines on the vote to create a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on Congress, with at least one Republican agreeing with the complaint that the panel wouldn’t consider political violence from the left. The six Alabama Republicans were among the 175 lawmakers who voted against the creation of the commission. All Democrats, including Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, voted for the bill. “I cannot vote in favor of a partisan commission that will not look at all political violence against Members of Congress and Capitol Police,” Rep. Mike Rogers , R-Saks, said in a statement. Read more.

by Brett Davis

New Challengers Enter Birmingham City Elections

New challengers have emerged in Birmingham’s upcoming municipal elections, which will take place Aug. 24. Since late February, 10 additional candidates have announced runs for council seats, with some races growing rather crowded; one new candidate, meanwhile, has thrown his hat into the ring for mayor. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Jeffco Considers $5 Million Pledge to UAB’s Genomics Sciences Program

The Jefferson County Commission will consider on Thursday a pledge of $5 million for the genomics sciences program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. At their committee meeting Tuesday, commissioners placed the proposal on the agenda for this week’s meeting. The county is set to pledge $1 million a year for five years to help UAB with the expansion and construction of a new genomics sciences and research building. The move of the action to Thursday’s agenda came after an appeal from UAB President Ray Watts, who said the building will span 540,000 square feet. “It is perfectly situated to take genomic information and data science and predict what kinds of treatments might be effective for cancers,” Watts said. “You can also predict what diseases we might be a risk for so we can control those risk factors and avoid ever having that disease. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Woodfin Promises “Recovery and Restoration” With Proposed FY 2022 Budget

Looking at Mayor Randall Woodfin’s proposed budget for the 2022 fiscal year, it’d be easy to imagine that COVID-19 — and the havoc it wreaked on Birmingham’s city coffers — had never happened. This year’s budget had dropped by nearly $29 million, largely the result of diminished business tax revenues. Woodfin’s proposed FY 2022 budget, by contrast, is the city’s largest to date. At $455.5 million, it’s nearly $3 million more than the pre-pandemic, $452.8 million FY 2020 budget. In a call with reporters Monday afternoon, Woodfin said the budget “doesn’t have any pain points,” in contrast to the austerity of the previous year. And though city finance director Lester Smith stopped short of saying the city had made a full financial recovery — revenue from business licenses is down about $5 million from last year — the proposed budget casts a rosy light on the city’s post-COVID future. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

No Gambling or Transgender Bills on the Last Day: Abortion Bill Passes the Legislature

The Legislature started its session with high hopes that this would be the year a gambling bill would pass, finally. But that hope officially died Monday night when the legislative session ended. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

$5 Million Loan Fuels Candidates Race for the US Senate

Lynda Blanchard, a Montgomery business executive who served as U.S. ambassador to Slovenia during the administration of former President Donald Trump, has begun her race to win the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Alabama in 2022 by borrowing $5.11 million for her campaign. Blanchard, 61, co-founder of real estate investment management company B&M Management, has loaned $110,000 to the campaign, which has also borrowed $5 million from Servis 1st Bank of Birmingham, according to the report she filed with the Federal Elections Commission for the first three months of this year. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks of Huntsville, the only other candidate to file with the FEC for the May 24, 2022, GOP primary for the seat being vacated by Sen. Richard Shelby, declared contributions of $274,152 during the period. A number of others are expected to join the field. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

‘Vaccine Passports’ Ban Passes Final Vote

MONTGOMERY — A bill that would prohibit the issuance of state or local government “vaccine passports” passed its final vote Thursday. Senate Bill 267 from Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, says state and local governments “may not require an individual to receive an immunization or present documentation of an immunization as a condition for receiving any government benefit or service or for entry into a government building.” The bill also says an entity or individual doing business in Alabama can’t refuse to provide goods or services or refuse admission or entry to anyone based on their immunization status or lack of documentation. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Ivey Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law

Alabama will now allow medical marijuana usage for patients with specific conditions. Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday signed Senate Bill 46, which outlines the usage of medical marijuana along with its regulation and distribution. "This is certainly a sensitive and emotional issue and something that is continually being studied. ... I am interested in the potential good medical cannabis can have for those with chronic illnesses or what it can do to improve the quality of life of those in their final days." Ivey Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Bill to Allow Citations Instead of Arrests Goes to Ivey

The Alabama Legislature moved to allow city police officers to issue citations for some misdemeanor offenses rather than taking offenders into custody. Senate Bill 59 now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Changes to Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Passes Final Vote

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Monday approved a bill changing how law enforcement can seize and keep property from low-level drug offenders. The House approved the bill unanimously and sent it back to the Senate with some minor changes that also were agreed upon unanimously. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. The bill is a compromise with law enforcement after several years of failed attempts by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and advocacy groups to change the law they said disproportionately hurts low-income individuals and minorities. “This will put better boundaries around the property of people and raise the bar for the government seizing it and forfeiting it for low-level charges,” Orr told Alabama Daily News last month. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News