The Alabama Senate has approved a lean General Fund budget that could mean cuts to Medicaid services in the state. Senators approved the$1.8 billion spending bill Thursday on a 24-10 vote, sending it to the Alabama House for consideration. The Senate-passed budget does not provide additional money for Medicaid. Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar says the agency needs an additional $100 million…
The Alabama House of Representatives has approved a bill to block cities from setting local minimum wages and to roll back Birmingham’s planned increase to $10.10 per hour. Legislators approved the GOP-backed bill Tuesday night on a 71-31 vote after cutting off a filibuster by House Democrats. The bill now moves to the Alabama Senate. Alabama has no state minimum…
The Alabama House of Representatives is expected to discuss proposed legislation that would prevent cities from setting local minimum wages. Lawmakers on Tuesday afternoon are expected to debate the bill filed by Republican Rep. David Faulkner of Mountain Brook. The Republican-backed bill is on the legislative fast track as Birmingham seeks to expedite a minimum wage increase approved last year…
Republicans were unable to muster enough votes to put “right-to-work” language in the Alabama Constitution saying workers can’t be required to join unions. The proposed constitutional amendment narrowly failed in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers were three votes short of the 63 needed. The proposal is largely symbolic since Alabama is already a “right-to-work’ state. State law for decades has…
A state Senate committee has made a key change to the Common Core repeal bill that would ultimately leave it up to individual school systems whether to adopt the education standards or not. Multiple media outlets report that the Senate Education Policy Committee didn’t vote on the bill Wednesday, however. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh offered the amendment. The…
Alabama’s general fund has suffered serious cuts over the last year, with lawmakers needing special sessions to make it work in 2015. This year the governor wants to add about 80 million dollars to the general fund, paid for partially by the education budget. “The governor’s budget proposal for the general fund for FY 17 includes un-earmarking 181 million dollars…
Indicted House Speaker Mike Hubbard is asking a judge to dismiss ethics charges against him after a political consultant said he discussed the grand jury with a state prosecutor. Hubbard’s defense filed the accusation in a motion Tuesday. Political consultant Baron Coleman said in an affidavit that he had between 50 and 100 conversations with prosecutor Matt Hart about the…
The 2016 Alabama Legislative session begins Tuesday. Last week, House Speaker Mike Hubbard and other Republican leaders spoke out about their goals. They say the budget is their main priority, after an extended budget battle in the 2015 session. Other bills on their agenda include teacher pay raises and setting up a school security task force. Governor Robert Bentley will…
