The World Around You

Same sex marriages performed in other states will be recognized in New York…my sincerest thanks to Governor Patterson for taking this stand so quickly following the California Supreme Court decision. I hope other governors will be as brave…

Birmingham Blues » Blog Archive » NY Governor Directs State to Honor Out-of-State Same Sex Marriages

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We all knew someone was not going to be willing to just let this special session accomplish what it ineeded to and move on…someone needs to make a point…

But black caucus members, unhappy with the Senate’s failure during the regular session to pass a bill to repeal the state’s tax on groceries, said they could delay progress on the education budget during the special session.

“The caucus is going to have some further discussions, right after the session this evening, to take a position one way or the other” on a filibuster, Rep. James Thomas, D-Selma, said Wednesday afternoon. Thomas called repeal of the grocery tax “our number one priority.”

Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, who is also a member of the black caucus, said after the meeting that no decision had been made. She said that the caucus would continue to try to negotiate a compromise on the grocery tax bill without a filibuster.

The head of the state teacher’s union, a traditional ally of the caucus, expressed concern about the possibility of a filibuster.

“I don’t think the education budget should be held hostage,” said Alabama Education Association Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert.

I agree that the activity of the Alabama Senate during the regular session was shameful, and that letting the grocery tax bill tie was one of the worst things that happened, but holding the education budget hostage won’t accomplish anything.
Black caucus mulls filibuster- al.com

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Rep. Artur Davis seemed to close the door on a cabinet position in the Obama administration today, alluding to announcing his run for governor in about seven months. I think there is an argument to be made that he would be in a stronger position to run for governor of Alabama after a stint as Attorney General of the United States, than he would be as a U.S. Representative…but he has to do what he believes is right.

I will state again, when he announces a run, I am there 100% in any capacity…

Left In Alabama:: Artur Davis: “I’m not interested in being in the Cabinet”

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Marc Ambinder has Obama’s short list this way:

Potential ticket-mates, in no particular order, include Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA), Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ex-Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), Ex-Sen. John Edwards, (D-NC), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS), Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ), Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) ex-Rep. Tim Roemer (D-IN), Gov. Ted Strickland (D-OH) and others.

Personally, I would strongly favor Napolitano or Sebelius…I think picking a woman would be a very smart move on his part, as well as picking someone with Chief Executive experience. The worst picsk would be Edwards (been there) and Biden (too much potential for gaffes).

Marc Ambinder (May 22, 2008) - Quietly, Obama Begins The Quest To Find A Running Mate

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It is shameful that the Alabama Senate was unable to accomplish one of only two requirements, passing an Education Trust Fund budget. The way they handled themselves this session is truly disgraceful.

Legislators will soon be traveling back to Montgomery for a special session estimated to cost taxpayers another $320,000 or so including staff expenses and office supplies. That’s on top of the $27.8 million the state has budgeted to fund the Legislature and supporting offices for a year.

House members, frustrated with Senate inaction on the education budget and other bills, joked Tuesday morning that they desired legislation to change Alabama to a unicameral legislature, but that the bill probably would die in the Senate.

“It’s a total shame and disgrace how they have acted,” House Majority Leader Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, said of the Senate. “I’m frankly embarrassed. I’m not going to refer to myself as a legislator any more, because that includes the Senate. I’m a House member.”

Factions blame each other for disappointing Alabama legislative session- al.com

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I applaud Governor Riley for his support of the Clean Indoor Act. I hope that this will provide the last little push to finally get it through the House on Monday.

Riley: I’ll sign indoor smoking ban if it passes - Breaking News from The Birmingham News - al.com

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The Birmingham News finally turns the spotlight on the three undecided superdelegates in Alabama: Nancy Worley, Joe Turnham and Rep. Bud Cramer. They will help decide not so much who wins the Democratic candidacy, but how quickly he locks it up.

It’s time for Worley, Turnham and Cramer to stand with Senator Obama and help end this marathon of a primary election season.

Alabama’s 8 superdelegates split over Clinton vs. Obama - three have yet to decide- al.com

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…and in the light of day I hope Senator Clinton recognizes that. A narrow victory in Indiana and getting trounced in North Carolina does not make for a formula to stay in the race. She fought long and hard to keep her slim chances alive and slim has turned to none.

I hope her advisors are able to recognize that the money flow is stopping and that they will not gain a single superdelegate following the results yesterday. Obama will see a flood of new commitments this week…but he has already ended any doubt.

If she’s in beyond the end of this week, I would be surprised…

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I’m a little surprised that Swing State Project still has Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District as likely Republican. It’s looking like Senator Harri-Anne Smith is going to end up in a runoff in the Republican primary against either David Woods or Jay Love. And on the Democratic side, you have a very strong candidate in Bobby Bright, especially against Love or Woods.

At best this is a Lean R, and depending on who the candidate ends up being it could become a toss-up.

Swing State Project:: SSP’s Competitive House Race Ratings (5/06/08)

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Obama is moving in the right direction at the right time…Zogby has Obama by two in Indiana and by 14 in North Carolina.

All eyes on Indiana tonight…my prediction: Obama wins and the long, long primary season will finally be over.

Pollster.com: POLL: Zogby IN, NC (5/4-5; Final)

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The constitutional reform bill died in the Alabama House yesterday. Why we go through this same heartbreak every year, I cannot understand.

The citizens of Alabama have demanded a new constitution and our legislature won’t give us the opportunity to craft one. It’s absolutely outrageous.

On Thursday, the House voted 46-44 for the measure, short of the three-fifths vote needed to bring it up for consideration.

The bill would have also allowed voters to approve the final version of the new constitution.

Newton said he doesn’t understand why legislators are not willing to let voters decide the issue.

“Those people who had the wisdom to elect you to this body ought to have the wisdom to decide on a new constitution,” Newton said.

House turns down effort to rewrite Alabama constitution - NewsFlash - al.com

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The grace period is over for red light runners at the intersections with cameras in Montgomery,

As of mid-afternoon Wednesday, the cameras had captured 1,620 possible vio­lations, and a week-by-week breakdown shows the number of offenses have in­creased significantly since the first week.

The first week 233 warnings were mailed out. Those warnings averaged 429 a week during the past two weeks.

“I’m kind of surprised that they are this high and also not that surprised,” said mayoral assistant Michael Briddell, who has overseen the project.

Briddell said a survey was done about four years ago at the intersection of East Boulevard and Vaughn Road — one of the busiest intersections in the city — and it was determined that on average, 105 peo­ple ran the red light each day.

“To see that they were this high at oth­er intersections is pretty disturbing,” Briddell said, adding that the numbers underline the extent of the problem of red-light running in Montgomery.

Mayor Bobby Bright attributes the high numbers to the fact April was highly publicized as being the grace period. He believes those numbers will drop now that warnings are no longer being issued.

“When they get a ticket that says they owe $50, that will have an effect on their behavior, I’m sure,” Bright said recently.

I certainly agree…that number will decline, but the public will also start getting much more vocal about this policy.

montgomeryadvertiser.com | Red-light camera fines start today

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