A Montgomery judge has sided with a lawsuit that creates a $63 million hole in the state General Fund budget. Circuit Judge William Shashy issued a preliminary injunction today against Gov. Bob Riley's transfer of $63 million to the state General Fund budget. The money came from Alabama's litigation with Exxon Mobil over natural gas royalties. Tuscaloosa businessman Stan Pate sued the governor over the transfer. Pate argued that Riley should have put the money into a state savings account known as the Alabama Trust Fund. Shashy issued an order today agreeing with Pate's arguments.
Is this the beginning of another run for the Governor’s office in 2010 by Stan Pate of Tuscaloosa, well it look like it to be. I strongly believe that Mr. Pate will use this on the campaign trail if he decides to run in 2010.
