Government

Iowa’s Election Problems Can’t Happen in Alabama, Merrill Says

Problems like the ones in the Iowa Democratic caucus cannot happen in Alabama because the state holds elections, not closed meetings of political parties to select candidates, the state’s top elections official said Thursday. “A caucus is not like any election that we have here,” Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said. “A caucus is administered and counted by (political) parties in Iowa and not by the secretary of state. It has nothing to do with the election process in that state.  “People running the election do not do so on a regular basis,” Merrill said. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Ivey Wants Facts on Gaming; Some Lawmakers Ready to Move Forward With Lottery

MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has told lawmakers she wants the facts on the financial impact of a lottery and expanded gambling in Alabama and is putting together a working group to get them. She won’t take any action on the matter until then, she said. But that information is months away, and a key lawmaker said Wednesday he’s moving forward with a proposal for a statewide lottery. Ivey’s working group also will analyze a possible compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. “I’ll give them to the year’s end, but if they get through sooner, that’ll be fine too,” Ivey told reporters Wednesday. “But I want them to be thorough and get the facts, that’s all I want is the facts, not recommendations. We just want the facts about how much money the state can expect to gain if we do a lottery or if we do expanded gaming or a compact and what the heck does a compact look like?” Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Bills That Would Deny Bail for Violent Offenders Face Constitutionality Questions

MONTGOMERY — Bills to deny bail for those accused of violent crimes were discussed in House and Senate committees Wednesday but did not advance. In the Senate, a constitutional amendment by Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, would automatically deny bail for six specific violent offenses: murder, first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, kidnapping, sexual abuse or sexual torture and human trafficking. The bill, which opponents say would unconstitutionally pre-convict a suspect, is being considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Ward is chairman.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones’ Speech on Trump Vote

This statement was provided by U.S. Sen. Doug Jones’ staff before his speech. All of these remarks were included in the speech, but Jones expanded on them considerably in final remarks.

by Robert Carter

Shelby, Jones Side With Their Parties as Senate Acquits President Trump of Impeachment Charges

Both United States Senators from Alabama cast their votes along party lines as President Donald Trump was acquitted Wednesday of both articles of impeachment filed by the House of Representatives. Sen. Richard Shelby voted with his fellow Republicans to acquit Trump, while Sen. Doug Jones went along with fellow Democrats and voted for conviction. The final total was 52-48 for acquittal on the abuse of power article and 53-47 on obstruction of Congress, far from the two-thirds majority required to remove Trump from office. Read more.

by Robert Carter

Jones Sides With Senate Democrats, Says He’ll Vote to Convict Trump in Impeachment Trial

UPDATED — Sen. Doug Jones joined his Democratic colleagues Wednesday morning, announcing he would vote to convict President Donald Trump of two charges in his impeachment trial. “After many sleepless nights, I have reluctantly concluded that the evidence is sufficient to convict the President for both abuse of power and obstruction of Congress,” Jones said in a copy of remarks provided by his office shortly before he made his speech on the Senate floor. “On the day I was sworn in as a United States Senator, I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. At the beginning of the impeachment trial, I took a second oath to do ‘impartial justice’ according to the same Constitution I swore to protect,” Jones said. “These solemn oaths have been my guides during what has been a difficult time for our country, for my state, and for me personally. I did not run for Senate hoping to participate in the impeachment trial of a duly-elected President, but I cannot and will not shrink from my duty to defend the Constitution and to do impartial justice.” Read more.

by Robert Carter

See Who Contributed to U.S. Senate Candidates

Candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat from Alabama collectively started the year with more than $11 million to fund their campaigns. See who recently has contributed to the candidates. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Ivey Calls for $1B School Bond, Lottery Study Group in Address to Legislature

Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday night asked lawmakers to support a $1 billion bond for K-12, community college and university construction projects and to slow down on proposals for a lottery or gambling in the state. The Alabama Legislature convened for its annual session earlier in the day. In her third State of the State address, Ivey touted the need for new prisons and more funding for mental and rural health and education initiatives. She’s also proposing pay raises for state and education employees. She said the school bond money could be used for new construction, safety improvements or technology upgrades “Equally important,” she said. “this bond will not include any legislative earmarks for pet projects Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Jefferson County Commission Debates Putting Victim Interview Offices in Eastern Birmingham

Efforts to establish a pair of new Jefferson County Sheriff’s offices in eastern Birmingham are at least on hold until law enforcement leaders in the city and county demonstrate they are in agreement on the move. Commissioner Lashunda Scales broached a discussion about the offices. They were on the Jefferson County Commission committee agenda as “substations,” but the discussion shifted to them being offices of the Sheriff’s Department’s Violent Crime Victim Unit, which now is based in the Sheriff’s office downtown. Scales told her fellow commissioners that Tony Serra, owner of Serra Automotive Management, had agreed to lease a pair of buildings to the Sheriff’s Office for $1 per year. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Prisons, Lottery, Raises, Mental Health on Legislative Agenda

Alabama's 2020 legislative session begins Tuesday in Montgomery, where the state's prison crisis and another effort to let Alabamians vote on a lottery promise to be must-watch issues. There's also the state's budgets, both with more money and more demands in 2021, and possible raises for state employees and teachers. Increased mental health services, which most agree haven't been properly addressed in years, and legalizing medical marijuana are also on the table. Gov. Kay Ivey will give her third State of the State speech Tuesday evening. Read more about some of the issues expected to be debated.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News