Goat Hill Tavern

[Southron]

Ron Sparks said he wasn't going to run for US Senate, so it looks like Sen. Sessions will get a free ride. State Senator Vivian Figures will probably run, but she won't be any competition.

[Southron]

It turns out that in addition to giving Alabama an international black eye by punching Sen. Lowell Barron on the senate floor, Sen. Charles Bishop has been a troublemaking hothead throughout his career in Montgomery, both as a Republican and a Democrat. According to an opinion piece in the Montgomery paper, he threatened Sen. Hank Sanders (D-Selma) and Sen. Larry Dixon (R-Montgomery). He challenged a woman, Sen. Ann Bedsole (R-Mobile), to a fight, as well as Sen. Zeb Little (D-Cullman), who is half his size. He pushed and hit an opponent's campaign manager when he was running for agriculture commissioner years ago.

Montgomery Advertiser: Why Bishop should resign

If all this is true, Senator Bishop should at least be severely sanctioned by the state senate, if not impeached.

[kayman]

Barrack Obama will be in both Birmingham and Huntsville today. There will be $25/plate fundraiser mostly aimed towards young people and college students to be held in Birmingham @ the Sheraton Birmingham tonight.

[Southron]

Good political news for the state: If present trends continue, Alabama will hold on to its current seven congressional seats, after reports in 2005 that the state would likely lose a seat. We certainly don't need to be losing political clout in Washington.

Birmingham News: Alabama unlikely to lose seat in U.S. House in next Census

[kayman]

Yeah, also it seems that the state isn't growing a slow as it used to. The growth rate has increased to 4.1%, so that means we will surpass the 5 million mark sometime within the next decade.

[kayman]

Recently as this week there has been talk in Montgomery about the possibility of the state's sales tax on groceries and drugs to be removed. This bill is being sponsored by State Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery and is being supported by House Speaker Seth Hammett, D-Andulusia. The bill would essentially remove the 4% sales tax and remove the income taxes on lower income households while removing the state income tax exemption that is given to the higher income individuals. The lost revenue would be replaced by enforcing the income taxes on high income individuals to pay their fair share. If passed by the state legislature it would be on the ballot November 4 for the state voters to pass or reject.

Tax plan up for debate could affect food bills

[Southron]

^ The bill passed the house! Maybe it'll get through the senate - fingers crossed.

[Southron]

An Alabama-based political social networking website, Politics4All, was recently launched and got some national press. The site was launched to audiences at the TechCrunch50 conference, highlighting the company as one of the top 150 Internet start-ups in the world. Check it out if you're into politics.

MSNBC: Politics4All Launches Political Social Networking Site

Politics4All

For news on Alabama politics, check out Doc's Political Parlor: Doc's Political Parlor.

[kayman]

Sounds like an interesting site, and hopefully it will grow with time