Week 9

March 9- March 12

It looks like I might possibly be back on track. After all, today is Friday, it is still before noon, and I am writing this week’s update. Speaking of writing, I think I could get the hang of this on a more permanent basis. In fact, every day I read the Philadelphia Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki and it makes me quite jealous. Think about it, he gets to go to the ballpark and hang out around the Phillies clubhouse everyday and then he gets paid to write about it. That might be the most awesome job ever. Todd, if you are looking to give up your job, I want it. I’m just sayin’, that’s all.

Oh yeah, the state legislature, I almost forgot. I’ve enjoyed the Senate so far this year, at least from an entertainment standpoint. As long as they don't do something stupid and irrevocably destroy the state, I think I can continue to find their antics amusing and entertaining. Maybe it’s because they are a smaller body than the house or maybe it’s just the personalities that are there right now, but they sure do seem to take everything personally. Every other day someone else is mad and upset and starts yelling from the microphone. It kind of hurts my ears sometimes.

Anyway, after not having the votes on the Bingo bill last week, the Senate Democrats brought back the roads bill from earlier in the session and passed it 25-10. This is a Constitutional Amendment and has much further to go before we would take $100m out of the Alabama Trust Fund each year. To see the bill you can click here. After passage of this bill there was some of that aforementioned infighting before the Senate adjourned until after Spring Break.

As usual, the House operated in a much different fashion than the Senate this week. After a relatively short session on Tuesday they convened on Thursday with a 10 minute calendar intended to pass a large number of good bills. Many are bills that have been passed through in other years and either died in the Senate or on the Governor’s desk.

There were a number of bills by members of our delegation that saw action this week in either the House or even in the Senate. Representative McClurkin passed HB334 relating the Women’s Commission through the House this week. Our friend at the southern end of the county, Representative Jimmy Martin, passed both HB52 relating to animal traps and HB168 relating to motor vehicle salvage titles this week also.

Representative Jim McClendon has been busy with his bill to ban texting while driving again this year. The bill, HB35, has been read a second time in the Senate and could come up for debate in the near future. Representative McClendon also passed HB323 through the House. This bill is known as the Access to Eye Care Act .

No matter what is going on, Representative Cam Ward always seems to be right around the corner with another bill to pass. This week was no different. Mr. Ward passed both HB522 relating to the Dental Examiners Board and HB529 giving citizens the ability to voluntarily contribute to the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association for the Spay-Neuter Program on their state tax return. Cam also passed HB213 known as the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act through the Senate. This bill will now go to the Governor for final approval.

Spring Break does not just exist for students around the state; it also exists for our state legislators. The next week will be a quiet one around the State House. Both houses will reconvene on Tuesday, March 23. Until then, enjoy March Madness and Spring Training. Have a wonderful Spring Break.

Stephen Frey
Legislative Director