When previewing the Republican primary for House Distrct 11 back in Novemeber, we pointed out that former Fairview Mayor Randall Shedd “may garner the backing of the AEA.” Shedd is now engaged in a runoff (TODAY!) with Danny Alldredge after no candidate was able to crack 50% in the primary, and AEA is leaving no […]

Alabama Accountability Act: We’ve talked about it ad nauseum, but how often do you get to tweet something like this? AEA Head Henry Mabry curses as he walks out of the room. “SH**” Just witnessed history. Major ed reform coming to Alabama today. #alpolitics — Yellowhammer (@YHPolitics) February 28, 2013 “Every parent deserves a choice, […]

Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist released his NCAA Tournament bracket yesterday, picking the Miami Hurricanes to win the national championship. But this isn’t your typical March Madness bracket, Norquist chose winners and losers based on states with the most competitive tax climates. Some key takeaways from Grover’s bracket: • Miami beats Gonzaga in […]

The following letter from Priscilla Yother, the Principal of Eura Brown Elementary School in Gadsden, appeared Tuesday in the Gadsden Times. After reading the full page advertisement that AEA printed in Sunday’s newspaper assaulting Sen. Phil Williams, I felt compelled to respond. The ad was a personal attack against a good man and a tactic […]

Senator Jeff Sessions delivered opening remarks yesterday evening as the debate began on the Senate Democrats’ budget proposal, the first budget they have offered in four years. The budget debate is expected to continue for the next few days, and Senator Sessions will be managing the debate for Republicans as the Ranking Member on the […]

The above AEA ad is set to start running this morning on radio stations around the state, and it appears their disdain for Republicans is starting to cloud their judgement. Attacking a Governor with approval ratings ranging from the mid-70s to low 80s is not the way to win a debate. And going after the […]

Senator Richard Shelby earlier this week held his 1,800th career town hall meeting. Since taking office in the Senate in 1987, Shelby has made an annual visit to each of Alabama’s 67 counties. “26 years ago, I promised my constituents the opportunity to have their voices heard on Capitol Hill. Visiting each county in Alabama […]

“Rumors and Rumblings” is a weekly feature that runs each Wednesday. It includes short nuggets of information that we glean from conversations throughout the week. Have a tip? Send it here. All sources remain confidential. 1. New ALGOP Political Director Sources on the ALGOP Steering Committee told Yellowhammer on Monday that Louisiana-based political consultant John […]

We heard time and time again from candidate Obama that he would “cut the cost of a typical family’s premium by up to $2,500 a year.” But as we inch closer to ObamaCare’s full implementation in 2014, it’s becoming abundantly clear that his promise won’t even come close to being true. In reality, premiums are […]

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted to approve a bill banning 157 so-called “assault style” weapons. The committee voted 10-8 along Party lines — all Democrats approved, all Republicans voted no. On top of banning certain gun models, the bill would also limit the size of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds. Freshman Senator […]

After over a week of confusion, lawsuits, court rulings and general chaos, Governor Bentley on Thursday morning signed into law the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013. Speculation that Bentley would send the bill back across the street with executive amendments was quickly put to rest as the Governor wasted no time in affixing his signature […]

The Alabama Education Association spent the weekend deploying their usual intimidation tactics against members of the legislature who support school choice. Radio ads have been running across the state since Friday, and over the weekend the AEA took out full page ads in newspapers accusing Republicans of “betraying” local schools. Anonymous robo calls have also […]

“Rumors and Rumblings” is a weekly feature that runs each Wednesday. It includes short nuggets of information that we glean from conversations throughout the week. Have a tip? Send it here. All sources remain confidential. 1. Foundation for Accountability in Education The biggest buzz around Montgomery right now is that Republican legislative leaders have launched […]

By Cameron Smith, Alabama Policy Institute Since its passage, plenty of ink has been spilled regarding the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013 (Accountability Act). Unfortunately, precious little has been devoted to examining the peculiar ruling by Montgomery Circuit Judge Charles Price. Judge Price recently issued an order preventing the legislature from transmitting the Accountability Act […]

Yellowhammer: What kind of impact do you think the Accountability Act of 2013 will have on education in Alabama, and why? Senator Scott Beason: The impact of the Accountability Act should not be underestimated. It fundamentally changes the discussion about education in Alabama. The question is no longer whether we will have some sort of […]

Late last week the Department of Agriculture released new statistics that illustrate just how massive the U.S. welfare state has become. 2012 was the biggest year yet for the food stamp program. An average of 46,609,072 people were on the program last year, and in December that number ballooned to a record 47,791,996. Defying all […]

I appreciate everyone who comes to Yellowhammer to get the latest news and conservative political opinion, and I don’t want to abuse the relationship we’ve forged over the last year by posting personal things. Yellowhammer has become more than I ever imagined it would, and I forget sometimes that this started as — and still […]

AEA radio ads attacking Republicans who supported the Alabama Accountability Act have now started airing across the state. The below ad is running in Cullman County in the districts of Rep. Ed Henry, Rep. Mac Buttram and Sen. Paul Bussman. Republicans have responded by releasing a “Fact Check” of the ad: AEA Claim: “Our public […]

Today The Daily Caller and Fox News have taken the GOP vs. AEA Status Quo fight national in two articles posted on their respective websites. Jeff Poor of The Daily Caller in an article titled, “How Alabama is on the verge of breaking one of the nation’s most powerful teachers’ unions,” said Judge Price’s attempt […]

By: Senator Phil Williams At a critical juncture in the Cold War President Ronald Reagan shocked the world with a call to Mikhail Gorbechev to “tear down this wall!” Members of Reagan’s own cabinet cringed and asked him to backpedal from such a strong stand. But his stand did not waiver and the winds of […]

“Rumors and Rumblings” is a weekly feature that runs each Wednesday. It includes short nuggets of information that we glean from conversations throughout the week. Have a tip? Send it here. All sources remain confidential. It’s a bit of a slow week outside of the ongoing shenanigans surrounding the Accountability Act of 2013… here are […]

According to campaign disclosures on the Alabama Secretary of State’s website, Judge Charles Price has received campaign contributions from AEA’s PAC, A-Vote, and all of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit on behalf of AEA last night. Price is the Montgomery Presiding Circuit Judge who is now hearing the AEA’s request for a temporary restraining […]

by Michael Ledeen This article originally appeared on PJ Media which you can see HERE. We found a leader, but hardly anybody noticed. Never mind Rubio and Ryan, or people named Bush. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama is the best we’ve got, and he’s plenty good. In fact, his words on the Senate floor when […]

The Alabama Education Association has filed a lawsuit and petition for a temporary restraining order to prevent Governor Bentley from being able to sign the GOP’s landmark education reform bill as planned on Tuesday. Democrats have been threatening to file suit since the moment the Accountability Act of 2013 made it to the Senate floor, […]