Tom Surtees, who served under two governors as Revenue Commissioner and Labor Commissioner has died. The Alabama Department of Labor says Surtees died after a long battle with cancer. He was 66. Surtees was appointed as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Revenue in 2004 by Governor Bob Riley. He served in that capacity until 2007, when he was appointed…
Gov. Robert Bentley’s office says he has interviewed suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and 10 other people for the U.S. Senate seat now held by attorney general-designee Jeff Sessions. Bentley spokeswoman Yasamie August says Moore was interviewed at the recommendation of the Alabama Republican Party. Moore is fighting what amounts to a permanent ouster after being convicted of violating…
Alabama’s former law enforcement secretary is adding defendants to his wrongful termination lawsuit against Gov. Robert Bentley. Attorneys for Spencer Collier added Alabama Law Enforcement Agency attorney Michael Robinson and special agent April Bickhaus to the lawsuit in a document filed Wednesday. The amended lawsuit claims Robinson and Bickhaus were part of an effort to smear Collier. Neither filed immediate…
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s office is not releasing a set of documents it turned over to an impeachment committee. A spokeswoman for Bentley said Thursday that the materials “will not be made public at this time.” Several news organizations had requested copies of the material given to the House Judiciary Committee. The governor’s office cited a November letter from Attorney…
Gov. Robert Bentley is asking the Alabama Republican Executive Committee to suggest who should replace U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions. The governor sent a request to the 400-plus committee members seeking their input on who he should appoint to fill Sessions’ seat. President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Sessions to be his U.S. attorney general. Republican Party Chairwoman Terry Lathan said she…
Sometimes if you can’t say something nice, maybe you shouldn’t say anything at all. That’s some advice Governor Robert Bentley might have needed to hear before he spoke at the Alabama Association of Regional Councils Conference on Wednesday. Bentley made several comments about state education at this conference, including this quote: “Our education system in this state sucks. I don’t use…
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has signed a compromise bill to use the state’s oil spill settlement funds for debts, Medicaid and roads. Bentley signed the bill Thursday during a bill-signing ceremony at the Alabama Capitol. The Alabama Legislature gave final approval to the bill Wednesday night after lawmakers agreed to a compromise on how to use the money. The plan…
A key leader in the Alabama House of Representatives is turning down Governor Bentley’s request to suspend impeachment hearings. State Representative Mike Jones of Andalusia, who leads the House Judiciary Committee, issued an eight-page response denying the governor’s request. Governor Bentley’s attorneys had filed motions to try to stop the hearings. Jones also denied the governor’s request that certain committee…
Governor Robert Bentley on Monday released details of his call for the Special Session of the State Legislature. “This call is designed for the Alabama Legislature to address adequate support of essential state services including children, the elderly, people with mental illness and support for men and women in law enforcement,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “A primary focus of this…
Lawyers for Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley are telling an impeachment committee that only the most egregious offenses merit removal from office. The governor’s office submitted the filing on impeachment standards to the House Judiciary Committee last week as the committee begins a probe on if there are grounds to impeach Bentley. The attorneys wrote that impeachment is reserved for situations…
