Redistricting

Today I heard the rumor that the legislature would be taking a 2 week break in May to do townhall meetings for redistricting.  Thoughts on what if anything should be changed in political districts?

Alabama Department of Agriculture

Jon Beans and I interviewed the new Agriculture Commisoner John McMillan today for our show that will air Monday April 25th. He is concerned because his budget has been cut so much he is having to lay off numerous employees.  He told us that these employees are out there checking to see if our food is safe, doing inspections around the state.  He fears he will not have enough people to do the job that is needed to keep his department in good standing.  It is a hard year with lots of cuts in every department.  McMillian was hoping that the legislature would pass the furlough bill...this would have allowed him to keep enough employees to do the jobs needed.  Any creative ideas for extra money for state budgets?  How do you feel about not having enough inspectors for our food?  Or do you think government is too big...we need to learn how to do more with less?  Thoughts?

Ronnie Gilley going to Plead Guilty

Word has it that Ronnie Gilley is going to plead guilty...this will be the third person indicted for allegedly bribing lawmakers to vote for a gambling bill at the Alabama Legislature...I wonder what this will do for the rest of the people who are indicted?  No word if Milton McGregor will plead or if he has even considered it...but he was in the news lately...McGregor did fail to pay taxes on his dog track and it was auctioned...no one bid...so now the state is officially the owner of the property...Alabama owns a dog track???  McGregor has 3 years to pay the taxes...1.3 million I believe was the number he would have to pay for 2010 to get his business back.  Could he be doing this because he thinks it will never reopen and cheaper to let it go to the state than pay the taxes and have an empty buiding he will have a hard time selling?  Thoughts?

George W Bush in Montgomery

For those of you who would like to see the former President:  George W Bush...he will be in Montgomery in Oct. at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Montgomery.  Bush will be the featured speaker at Faulkner University's Benefit Dinner. 

Gulf Oil Spill Anniversary: 1 Year Later

Yesterday I interviewed Congressman Jo Bonner about the Gulf Oil Spill.  He is not happy with the way Ken Feinberg is handling the payments for BP to Alabamians who have lost income over the oil spill. 

According to Bonner, Feinberg just received a $400k a month...yes, you read that right...$400k a month raise...while only 54 of 2766 business claims have been paid...only 179 of 4146 interim claims have been paid...1007 of 10,813 individual full claims have been paid and only 403 of 7037 individual claims have been made...a bonus maybe for not paying out?

Thoughts on Feinberg/BP?

If you missed the interview on "Capitol Journal" last night...it will be on our website soon.  I will share the link when it is up.

Education Budget

The Education budget should pass sometime next week.  The word is another three day work week with the budget passing on Wednesday.  I spoke with (R) Sen. Rusty Glover about the budget today.  I enjoyed the interview as he has a perspective from inside the trenches...he is a teacher. 

Watch my interview with Sen. Glover tonight at 5:30pm on Alabama Public Television.