Special Session
The fight over Alabama’s congressional redistricting now shifts back to federal court
The outcome could have consequences across the country as the case again weighs the requirements of the Voting Rights Act in redistricting. It could also impact the partisan leanings of one Alabama congressional district in the 2024 elections with control of the U.S House of Representatives at stake.
Black lawmakers say Alabama GOP’s proposed new congressional map insults the Supreme Court
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Senate advanced separate plans that increase the number of Black voters in the state’s 2nd congressional district, but do not establish the second majority-Black district sought by plaintiffs who won the Supreme Court case last month.
After court ruling, Alabama GOP criticized for rejecting 2nd majority-Black congressional district
Lawmakers must adopt new maps by Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld a finding that the current state map likely violated the federal Voting Rights Act.
Alabama rushes to adopt new congressional map amid disagreement on what district should look like
Alabama lawmakers convene in special session Monday tasked by the court with adopting a new map by the end of the week. The directive comes after a surprise U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the lower court's ruling that Alabama's existing congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act.
Alabama must move quickly to draw new congressional districts
The U.S. Supreme Court last week affirmed a lower-court ruling finding Alabama likely violated the Voting Rights Act with an Alabama congressional map that had only one majority Black district out of seven in a state where more than one in four residents is Black. The state must now draw a new map by July 21.
Special session underway on spending federal pandemic funds
On Thursday, an Alabama House committee passed a plan to spend about $1 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act on mostly health care reimbursements, water and sewer infrastructure and broadband expansion.
Gov. Ivey signs vaccine exemption bills, new legislative maps into law
The governor's actions cap a weeklong special session that ended late Thursday night.
Alabama says vaccine mandate will lead state employees to quit
Gov. Kay Ivey joined a lawsuit filed late Friday by Alabama and other states challenging the vaccine mandate on federal contractors.
Community leaders call for ‘fair maps’ ahead of special session on reapportionment
State legislators will meet Thursday for their second special session of the year. This time they'll vote on new legislative maps following the 2020 census.
State’s Proposed Gas Tax Bill Places Fees on Electric, Hybrid Car Owners
State lawmakers went into special session today to consider a proposed gas tax increase to fund road and bridge construction. The bill would impact all motorists -- but some would pay significantly more than others.
Special Session Ends with No Lottery and 2-year Fix for Medicaid
Alabama lawmakers are home again after wrapping up a special session on Wednesday. It’s a special session that began with Governor Robert Bentley wanting legislators to set up a lottery with the proceeds benefiting Medicaid and other general fund agencies. It ended with two lottery proposals dead and lawmakers using money from the BP oil spill settlement to fill financial gaps. To help us review the special session is Don Dailey. He’s host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.
Alabama lottery bill dies in Special Session
The proposed Constitutional amendment died Friday (Aug. 26), when Senators voted not to concur with changes made by the Alabama House of Representatives and give the bill final approval.
A Preview of the 2016 Special Session
A special session of the Alabama Legislature begins today (Monday, August 15). Governor Bentley called the special session to solve financial problems which he says, have held the state back for decades. Bentley is proposing a lottery which he says is expected to raise $225 million dollars. Don Daily is host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public […]
What can we Learn from Other States’ Lotteries?
Alabama lawmakers will meet in a special session Monday to take up a lottery proposal from Governor Robert Bentley. The governor wants lawmakers to pass a constitutional amendment setting up a lottery. The revenue would go to the general fund which supports agencies such as Medicaid, prisons, and mental healthcare. If passed, the plan would have to be approved by voters to go into effect. Alabama’s one of six states that doesn’t have a lottery, so to gain perspective on what’s happened elsewhere WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with Mary Borg. She’s a professor of political economy at the University of North Florida and studies lotteries.
Many Unknowns Around Governor’s Call for a Lottery
Proponents of a lottery in Alabama received a notable boost this week after Governor Robert Bentley announced he would call a special session on that issue. He wants lawmakers to pass a measure to create a lottery which would then have to be approved by voters. Bentley says it's up to voters to decide but calls a lottery the best remaining way to deal with persistent budget crises. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald offers his take on the proposal.
Governor Announces Special Session on Lottery
Governor Robert Bentley says he will call a special session in order for lawmakers to pass a measure that would allow residents to vote on setting up a state lottery. In a video released by the governor’s office Wednesday, Bentley says money from a lottery would fund “essential state services” for children, the elderly, the […]
Second Legislative Special Session Starts Tuesday
State lawmakers have hit crunch time. The next fiscal year starts October 1st and the state still does not have a General Fund budget. Lawmakers and Governor Robert Bentley remain at odds over what to do about a more than $200 million budget shortfall. Two legislative sessions have come and gone with without a resolution. So the governor has called another special session to start Tuesday.
Kyle Whitmire Draws Parallels from Special Sessions in 1975
One special session of the Alabama legislature is in the books, another is looming. That’s because the lawmakers were unable to agree on how to fund the state’s $200 million dollar shortfall in the General Fund. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for The Birmingham News and AL.com, and he talks about this issue and […]
Little Consensus Among Alabama Legislators During Special Session
Alabama Lawmakers are more than halfway through a special session designed to fix the state’s more than $200 million dollar budget shortfall. Legislators passed no new revenues this week, and agreed on very little. That means Alabama is likely headed to a special session. For more, we talk with Don Dailey. He’s the host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television. Dailey told WBHM’s Rachel Lindley what did and didn’t happen in Montgomery this week.
Lawmakers Appear Headed to Another Special Session
Time is running out for Alabama lawmakers to come up with a solution to the state's general fund budget shortfall. The general fund faces at least a $200 million gap and state legislators are meeting in a special session to figure out what to do about it. But with plenty of disagreement among legislators that's fueling talk of another special session. We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Does Anything Look Encouraging in the Special Legislative Session?
The special session in the Alabama legislature is underway, and it turns out to be not much different than the regular session. Lawmakers are unable to agree on how to fund the state’s $200 million dollar shortfall. Here to discuss this is Kyle Whitmire. He’s the state political columnist for The Birmingham News and AL […]
Alabama Lawmakers Return To Montgomery For Special Session Monday
Alabama Lawmakers return to Montgomery on Monday to tackle the state’s projected general fund budget shortfall of more than $200 million. Governor Robert Bentley and the legislature couldn’t agree on a budget during this year’s regular legislative session. State agencies have spent the summer anxious, not knowing what their budgets will look like come the start of Alabama’s new fiscal year on October 1. For more on this, we talk to Don Dailey. He’s the host of Capitol Journal on Alabama public television. Dailey will join WBHM each Friday during this special session.
Taxes, Gambling, and the Special Session
Governor Bentley calls a special session and then it was promptly adjourned for three weeks. And Republicans face a choice between new taxes or gambling. Here to discuss this (and other news)is Kyle Whitmire. He’s the state political columnist for The Birmingham News and AL dot com
