Attorney General plans to push for new voter ID law in Alabama

Indiana Republicans have won a battle over voter ID with the Supreme Court, now Alabama Republicans want to do the same with the legislature. The question is will it work?

Republicans in Alabama now want stronger voter ID laws somewhat like that of Indiana's.
The renewed push for a photo ID law comes after Monday's 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding an Indiana law.

Republican Attorney General Troy King says he plans to push voter identification legislation in next year's regular session or possibly in a special session. Democratic state Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery says requiring voters to have a photo ID would disenfranchise elderly, poor and black voters.

Some people are already speaking out saying a ID only bill would disenfranchise black voters and mostly the residents of the Alabama black belt area. Alabama's current voter ID law allows voters to show a wide range of identification including utility bills.

Majority of you said Yes

After reading an article in the Mobile Register in regards to a former candidate for Mobile County Public Schools District 3 seat who has filed a complaint with the Democratic National Committee over allegations of illegal candidate qualifying, I posted a poll right here on the Political Beacon to get your imput. Well the poll as been closed for now 3 days and here are the results.

53% of you said "Yes" you believe that political parties do unfairly qualify candidates of their choice in elections.

19% of you said "No" you do not believe that political parties unfairly qualify candidates in elections.

7% of you said "Maybe or you are Not Sure".

Another run by Tim James

He believes 2010 maybe his year

Businessman Tim James is looking at running again for the office his father, former Gov. Fob James, held for two terms and that’s Governor of Alabama. James, 46 who is now 46 said “I think we are in the right race at the right time.” James has already filed paperwork with the secretary of state to run in 2010 because, he said, he has started spending money on polling. It is clear that Tim would run as a republican and maybe under the “NO NEW TAXES PLEDGE.”
For any candidate to be competitive they must start early and this is what Mr. James is doing, he is out there crossing the State organizing a base.

Democratic lawmaker admits voting for absent House members

Rep. Randy Hinshaw admits he voted for absent House members to give a bill to remove the state sales tax on food the margin it needed to pass.Representative Randy Hinshaw of Meridianville said Wednesday he was only doing what was best for his House district when he cast the votes on Tuesday.

Republicans in the Alabama House claimed that some Democrats cheated by casting votes for members who were not present when a measure to remove the state sales tax on groceries was approved. "I voted some members' machines around me." He says he was simply following House rules that allow members to vote the machines of other representatives

The bill passed the House 63-38, receiving the exact number of votes needed to pass a constitutional amendment.

500 plus jobs to be cut

They can't seem to get the number right

They first said they would cut 200 jobs, then came 259 and now its 500 plus jobs.

The Mobile County School System has proposed to cut $36 million dollars worth of jobs in the upcoming school year. Many of the programs that have garnered the system local and national attention, including the transformation-schools plan, would be significantly cut. Superintendent Roy Nichols said he plans to go to Tuesday's school board meeting with lists of names of employees who will not be invited back next year or will be transferred to other positions. The school system has proposed to cut non-tenure and central office positions. If the proposal is approved by the school board, jobs to be lost include 173.5 classroom teachers, 86 special-education teachers, 107.5 special education aides and 32.5 assistant principals.

What’s happen to all this money and why the school system of Mobile County, Alabama the largest system in the State keep coming up with these budget shortages? Where is the citizen tax dollars going? We I have one simple answer to both of those questions, and that is the Board and the system officials keep mismanaging the citizens tax dollars and spending like crazy. They are not managing the money where it needs to be managed, instead spending the money on unneeded items of the annual budget.