Why Birmingham Bills have a Hard Time in Montgomery

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/03/bigcitybills.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:300;s:4:"file";s:24:"2014/03/bigcitybills.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"bigcitybills-336x168.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:168;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"bigcitybills-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"bigcitybills-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"bigcitybills-470x235.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:235;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"bigcitybills-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:146643;s:14:"optimized_size";i:102948;s:7:"percent";d:29.800000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/03/bigcitybills.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:40783;s:14:"optimized_size";i:27270;s:7:"percent";d:33.130000000000003;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/03/bigcitybills-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5772;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4201;s:7:"percent";d:27.219999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/03/bigcitybills-336x168.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:13937;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10013;s:7:"percent";d:28.16;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/03/bigcitybills-600x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:37824;s:14:"optimized_size";i:26957;s:7:"percent";d:28.73;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/03/bigcitybills-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:19289;s:14:"optimized_size";i:13612;s:7:"percent";d:29.43;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/03/bigcitybills-470x235.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24190;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17400;s:7:"percent";d:28.07;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/03/bigcitybills-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4848;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3495;s:7:"percent";d:27.91;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1636104378 
1394755200

Lawmakers from Birmingham have complained for years about their bills running into a buzz saw in Montgomery. In fact, it’s a common complaint made by big city lawmakers against state legislatures across the country. So University of Rochester political scientist Gerald Gamm and his research partner took a look at records from 13 states including Alabama. They found that while big city bills did have a harder time, none of the usual suspects added up such as party, race, or rural dominance. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with Gamm about his study and started by discussing how city bills fare versus those from rural lawmakers.

 

~ Andrew Yeager, March 14, 2014

 

Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes can proceed, a Pennsylvania judge says

Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta in Pennsylvania — ruling after Musk’s lawyers said the winners are paid spokespeople and not chosen by chance — did not immediately explain his reasoning.

Puerto Rico holds general election that promises to be historic

Puerto Rico is holding elections that will be historic regardless of which of the top two gubernatorial candidates wins.

Boeing machinists approve contract, bringing an end to a bruising seven-week strike

Striking machinists voted to approve an agreement that will hike wages by 38%. The deal was endorsed by union leaders, who warned that Boeing’s next offer might be worse.

States and cities beef up security to prepare for potential election-related violence

Washington state's governor activated the National Guard to stand by to help local law enforcement as needed. Meanwhile, extra security is in place at locations across Washington, D.C.

When will mail-in and absentee ballots be counted?

Various state rules regarding when election officials can process and count mail ballots means it will likely take some time after Election Day before the results from these ballots are fully known.

When do polls close in every state? Here’s a timeline

The Associated Press can't call any races until polls close in their respective state. Here's a breakdown of when that will happen.

More Government Coverage