The Alabama Taxpayer Bill of Rights passed out of the Alabama Senate Thursday after a prolonged debate and over the objections of Senate Democrats. The bill seeks to remove the Alabama Dept. of Revenue from the tax assessment appeals process because they essentially have a vested interest in siding with the state in such appeals. […]

Alabama’s Rainy Day Patriots (RDP) announced this afternoon that today marks their 5th anniversary as one of the state’s most active conservative grassroots groups. “It all started on Feb. 27, 2009 when 15 or so us original folks stood in a storm holding signs with no idea what we were getting into and how hard […]

Alabama’s state budgets are making their way through the house and senate this week as legislators scramble to appropriate the state’s limited resources. Much of the public debate has centered around the roughly $6 billion education budget, by far the largest pot of money in state government. The Alabama Education Association (AEA) called for an […]

The Alabama Senate passed a package of welfare reform legislation on Wednesday, including a bill prohibiting welfare recipients from spending public assistance benefits in certain ways. Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would prohibit welfare recipients from spending public assistance benefits on alcohol and tobacco, and at strip clubs and gambling facilities. […]

The Alabama Senate passed a package of welfare reform legislation on Wednesday, including two bills that would require applicants to put in some work before receiving their taxpayer-funded check. Senate Bill 87, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, requires able-bodied adult food stamp recipients without dependents to participate in at least 20 hours of work, […]

The Alabama Senate passed a package of welfare reform legislation on Wednesday, including a bill requiring drug testing of welfare applicants who have a drug possession or distribution conviction in the past five years. If the bill ultimately becomes law, individuals would be cut off from receiving benefits after three failed drug tests, but others […]

At a reception in honor of Black History Month on Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden said he hopes Congress will “modernize” the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to counter the “hatred” behind voter ID laws in Alabama, North Carolina and Texas. “These guys never go away,” Biden said of supporters of voter ID. “Hatred never, […]

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing today on Sen. Scott Beason’s, R-Gardendale, SB354, which would allow citizens to carry a loaded gun in their vehicle without a concealed carry permit. Under Alabama’s current law, individuals must obtain a permit to carry a loaded gun in their car, otherwise they must keep the […]

At a reception in honor of Black History Month on Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden said he hopes Congress will “modernize” the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to counter the “hatred” behind voter ID laws in Alabama, North Carolina and Texas. Alabama’s photo voter ID law kicks in this year, but voters without photo identification […]

Yellowhammer already told you which Alabama cities are the most dangerous, now let’s take a look at which are the most expensive. Using data compiled by NeighborhoodScout.com, here are the ten most expensive cities to live in the State of Alabama. 1. Mountain Brook Population: 20,369 | Median home value: $486,017 Mountain Brook was designed […]

Three Alabama cities are among America’s most dangerous, according a new study released by NeighborhoodScout.com, a site the provides comprehensive data information about communities all over the the nation. “Our research reveals the 100 most dangerous cities in America with 25,000 or more people, based on the number of violent crimes per 1,000 residents,” NeighborhoodScout […]

So called green energy companies have long been the beneficiaries of favorable treatment by the federal government. Tax breaks, subsidies, and often a total lack of regulation have given them a leg up on their heavily regulated fossil fuels competitors. But now that a bill to at least somewhat “level the playing field” is making […]

(Above: Rep. Alvin Holmes doubles down on his racist comments on the Hannity show) Alabama State Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, found himself in the spotlight last week when he called US Supreme Court Justice Clarence an “Uncle Tom” and criticized his interracial marriage while speaking at the mic on the floor of the Alabama House […]

So, you’re running for public office. It’s a crowded race in the middle of a packed election cycle and you’re trying to figure out how to cut through the noise and get your message out. How are you going to do it? Oh, and by the way, you’re in Alabama, the most Ro’ Tide’n, War […]

Alabama’s pro-life movement is gearing up for a couple of big weeks in the Alabama House of Representatives as four abortion-related bills navigate the legislative process. The bills on the calendar for tomorrow’s Health Committee meeting include The Fetal Heartbeat Act (HB490), The Woman’s Right to Know (HB489), The Perinatal Hospice Information Act (HB493) and […]

Over the weekend, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley voiced his support for the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act, which should be more approprietly named the Internet Sales Tax Mandate. Bentley estimated that Alabama’s beleaguered General Fund budget would gain roughly $150 million a year if online retailers were forced to collect taxes for things they sell online […]

Robert Bentley | Governor of Alabama Bentley is the most widely popular governor in recent memory. His job approval rating routinely rises into the 70s. His unrivaled influence on public opinion allows him to push through ballot initiatives and other policy priorities that other state leaders would struggle to achieve. His popularity is obviously one […]

Mike Hubbard | Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives The way Alabama’s government is structured places significant power in the legislative branch. The rules of the state legislature make the Speaker of the House its strongest position. Put a political tactician like Hubbard in that seat and you have all the makings of one […]

Sen. Del Marsh | President Pro Tem of the Alabama Senate Marsh pulled one of the all-time power moves in 2013 with the Alabama Accountability Act. The residual effect is that his power has been palpable on the 7th floor of the State House this year. Once he’s made up his mind on an issue, […]

Charles McCrary and Mark Crosswhite | Outgoing / Incoming CEO | Alabama Power The Alabama Power CEO has almost always been a major factor in state politics, but McCrary has taken it to new heights since he assumed the role just over a dozen years ago. He has used every bit of leverage available to […]

Sen. Jabo Waggoner | Chairman | Senate Rules Committee  The longest serving Republican in the Alabama Senate has been a player in state politics since the mid-60s. He’s currently serving his 6th term in the Alabama Senate. His position as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee gives him a lot of discretion over what bills […]

Richard McNider and John Christy are professors of atmospheric science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and fellows of the American Meteorological Society. While the mainstream media and leftwing political ideologues have declared the debate on climate change “over,” McNider and Christy have routinely and forcefully challenged their position. This past Sunday, U.S. Secretary […]

Sen. Clay Scofield, R-Arab, rose for a point of personal privilege on the floor of the Alabama Senate today and offered a blistering critique of the impact expanding Medicaid under ObamaCare would have on the state. “ACA expansion does not include ‘free money,’ as some say,” Scofield said. “It is our money taxed and borrowed […]

Sen. Arthur Orr | Chairman | Senate General Fund Budget Committee Orr is north Alabama’s most powerful elected official. That’s a big deal considering how quickly north Alabama is rising as a force in state politics. Orr has really become the Senate President Pro Tem’s right-hand-man in recent months. He is assuming more and more […]