Education Budget Cuts, Cigarette Tax, and Winners and Losers

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The second special session of the Alabama Legislature could soon be in the books with a combination of cuts to the education budget and a cigarette tax. That combination avoids some funding cuts to state agencies —  Medicaid, corrections, mental health, human resources and the court system are all expected to be level funded. But cuts to other state agencies could amount to 5.2 percent or more.  Kyle Whitmire is state political columnist for The Birmingham News and AL.com he spoke with WBHM’s Michael Krall about the situation in Montgomery.

 

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