Arthur Orr

Fwd: Governor Bentley Declares State of Emergency in Preparation for Winter Weather

2015-02-24T14:30:00.001-08:00

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Governor Bentley Declares State of Emergency in Preparation for Winter Weather

MONTGOMERY—Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday declared a State of Emergency for all Alabama counties in preparation for winter weather that is expected to move through Alabama.

"With winter weather expected to impact Alabama, we are taking precautions to protect Alabamians," Governor Robert Bentley said. "By issuing a State of Emergency, I have directed all state agencies to take necessary actions to be prepared to respond to the anticipated winter conditions including sleet, ice and snow. We will actively monitor the storm as it begins to hit the state and are prepared to respond to any requests for assistance."

According to the National Weather Service offices in Alabama, various portions of the state are expected to experience ice, sleet, snow and freezing rain beginning Wednesday morning and lasting through Thursday. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency is activating the State Emergency Operations Center in order to monitor the storm and assist county Emergency Management Agencies as needed. State law enforcement agencies have coordinated state resources in order to respond to stranded drivers.

Governor Bentley has authorized 250 Alabama National Guardsmen to prepare to respond to any emergency requests for assistance.

The State of Emergency will be effective at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday.

A copy of the Governor's State of Emergency is attached.

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Fwd: Governor Bentley Declares State of Emergency in Preparation for Winter Weather

2015-02-24T14:29:00.001-08:00

Fwd: Governor Bentley Declares State of Emergency in Preparation for Winter Weather

2015-02-24T14:28:00.001-08:00

Fwd: Governor Bentley Announces Funding for Alabama Robotic Technology Park Phase III

2014-06-11T15:14:00.001-07:00

All done, at last!!

Subject: Governor Bentley Announces Funding for Alabama Robotic Technology Park Phase III

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Governor Bentley Announces Funding for Alabama Robotic Technology Park Phase III

MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday announced the release of $6 million needed for construction of a third building at the Alabama Robotic Technology Park in Tanner, across U.S. 31 from Calhoun Community College.

"The Alabama Robotic Technology Park is one of the biggest assets we can have for companies," Governor Robert Bentley said. "The park allows us to provide an opportunity for a technically trained, highly skilled and educated workforce for jobs in Alabama. The Robotic Technology Park is an opportunity that can help companies be successful in Alabama.

The planned 50,000-square-foot building is designed to let employees of companies train on new equipment and software before a company installs it in a factory. Using the park's planned Phase III building will let employees test ahead of time how well new products will work together.

The building also will include an area for training employees to use robots and manual spraying to paint vehicle parts or other products.

The building is expected to cost $9 million to build and equip and could be open in about 12 months, according to park project manager Rick Maroney.

AIDT (Alabama Industrial Development Training), the state workforce training agency that runs the Alabama Robotic Technology Park, got $3 million of the construction cost last year from a state bond issue.

The remaining $6 million, from another state bond issue, was released today by the Alabama Incentives Financing Authority, which is led by Governor Bentley.

About 75 employees sent for training by companies such as Honda, Navistar, Toyota and many auto suppliers, use the park in a typical month, Maroney said. They attend classes on safety, maintenance, welding or operating robots and programmable controllers. Most classes offer 40 hours of training.

A company must have a plant in Alabama to send employees to the park, which does not charge for the training. The park has been open since early 2011.

The park's Phase 1 building, which covers 60,000 square feet, cost the state $17.3 million to build and equip. In it, technicians learn how to maintain automated equipment. The building is equipped with 40 robots and has a lab for automated welding.

The park's Phase II building, which covers 43,000 square feet, cost the state about $8 million. In it, company workers test new robots or other automated equipment. Outside is a mile-long track for testing unmanned vehicles.

Besides the state dollars spent on those two buildings, companies have loaned equipment worth about $40 million for use at the park.

Business Facilities magazine in its March/April issue gave one of its annual economic development awards to the Alabama Robotic Technology Park, for achievement in workforce training. The magazine wrote that the park "is considered one of the world's most innovative and futuristic training centers."

Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield said, "There really is no other facility in the nation that can offer advanced manufacturers the level of hands-on training this one can. Expanding the center through this third phase will make its capabilities even more valuable to companies while giving Alabama another advantage in industrial recruitment.'' AIDT is a division of the Commerce Department.

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Also online: Real-time social media updates and a searchable database of all Governor Bentley news releases. Visit www.governor.alabama.gov

COUNTY LINE ROAD INTERCHANGE AT I-565

2013-08-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

I don't blog a lot but the attached notice from ALDOT is the final important step to get from the interminable planning and preparation stage to the actual construction stage. A stage where the residents of West Madison County and East Limestone can finally realize a long, long overdue interchange at County Line Road and I-565 is going to become a reality. A great day for the future development of this area!!! At last!

New no kill animal shelter

2013-07-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

No limits on what a dedicated group of individuals can do! Congratulations Robin Purdy and Morgan County Humane Society Board members and supporters on opening the new no kill animal shelter. It looks great!!!

Thank you!

2013-03-21T14:22:00.001-07:00

It is humbling when you receive an award that so many other people deserve even more so--particularly when it is a team effort like economic development. So much goes into landing projects that the ones holding the golden shovels on groundbreaking day or cutting the ribbon at an opening had very little do with all the details of getting a prospect to locate in Alabama. Nonetheless, it just an honor to be a member of the team in North Alabama and to improve the economic environment in the State along with so many others.

Press Release

For Immediate Release

March 20, 2013

For more information contact:

Valerie Gray
EDAA Board President
334.642.1413

Senator Orr Named EDAA Legislator of the Year

Montgomery, AL - The Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) honored State Senator Arthur Orr as its Legislator of the Year at their annual legislative appreciation luncheon in Montgomery on Tuesday.

"EDAA presents this award annually to a legislator who has aided the economic development community in its mission to grow the economy of Alabama through job creation and capital investment," said Valerie Gray, current EDAA Board President. Gray continued, "To remain competitive we must work closely with the legislature to evaluate and improve our economic development incentives."

Jeremy Nails, President of the Morgan County Economic Development Association, presented the award to Senator Orr and praised Orr's "active participation in recruiting projects and recent efforts in sponsoring and successfully passing new legislation to make Alabama more competitive."

"I am honored to be named EDAA's Legislator of the Year," Orr said. "I would also like to recognize and thank Governor Bentley, the other members of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Department of Commerce for working together towards the common goal of creating new jobs for the citizens of Alabama."

Senator Orr represents Alabama Senate District 3, which encompasses Morgan County and portions of Limestone and Madison Counties. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2006 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2010.

Founded in 1968, the Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) is a network of Alabama economic development professionals. Currently, EDAA has over 500 members, including directors and staff members from local economic development associations, as well as other individuals involved in economic growth in Alabama. The mission of EDAA is to provide the leadership to positively impact Alabama's economic development through education, networking and professional development.

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Economic Development Association of Alabama
210 Medical Center Drive • Prattville, AL 36066
phone (334) 358-7401 • fax (334) 358-7402 • info@edaa.org

Another Mardi Gras in Decatur

2013-02-09T16:27:00.001-08:00

There is no good reason not to vote YES on removing racist language

2012-11-05T07:57:00.000-08:00

Alabama suffered a damaging blow in 2004 when a worldwide audience learned that the state voted to keep racist language in our state constitution related to poll taxes and segregation in schools. The actual vote centered around the possibility of judicially-mandated tax increases, but stereotypical images of "Jim Crow" Alabama resulted when the outdated language wasn't removed. It's offensive that such language is allowed to remain in our state's governing document.

Additionally, in the competitive world of recruiting new jobs to Alabama, racist language in the state's Constitution is used against us by competing states – even though the language has been negated by U.S. Supreme Court rulings. Old stereotypes and perceptions are dredged up to cast our great state in a bad light, at times discouraging companies from bringing new jobs here because of our past.

That's one of the reasons why Dr. David Bronner, head of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, is encouraging his more than 300,000-member organization to vote YES on Amendment 4. The amendment has also received support from groups like the Alabama Retail Association and the Business Council of Alabama, who said they support Amendment 4 for the "sole purpose of enhancing the image of the state of Alabama in the recruitment of new business and industry to the state."

Last year the Legislature passed a very narrowly tailored bill to focus solely on removing the existing language and avoiding the controversial issues that led to the 2004 defeat.

But just three short weeks before the November 6^th vote, the state teachers' union began an orchestrated effort to defeat Amendment 4.

Much like in 2004, they're hoping to reopen court cases dealing with equity funding for schools based on whether or not the state Constitution mandates a "right" to a public education.

Though the Amendment 4 language makes no change to whether or not someone has a right to an education, opponents of Amendment 4 want to maintain the ability to raise taxes through the courts. In fact, an attorney working with the Alabama Education Association to oppose this amendment recently said in a New York Times article that the vote "could jeopardize future legal challenges to the state's school financing structure."

Nonpartisan, independent legal scholars at the Alabama Law Institute and Cumberland School of Law have said in very plain words that passage of Amendment 4 would only strike racist language from the Constitution and have no impact – in any way, shape or form – on public education as the AEA and other opponents suggest. Coincidentally, this very issue will be thoroughly examined in 2013 when the state Constitutional Revision Commission reviews the document's education provisions.

Alabama is a much different place than it was 50 years ago when this offensive language was inserted into our Constitution, a document the Legislature, through its Constitution Revision Commission, is reforming article by article. Even though we will continue to have struggles with poverty, injustice and educational funding, it's past time to take action on something we can easily control by removing racist language from our state's governing document.

While we can't change Alabama's history, passing Amendment 4 sends a strong message far and wide that this is a different state from the past and we are moving forward to a bright and prosperous future in which all of our citizens are valued and included.

The truth about Amendment 4

2012-10-31T07:10:00.002-07:00

Great news for Hartselle!

2012-10-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

Civil War reenactment this wknd

2012-09-01T12:29:00.001-07:00

Saturday and Sunday at Point Mallard Park. 2pm.

Robotic firefighting vehicle

2012-08-29T15:00:00.001-07:00

This vehicle manufactured in Croatia in partnership with SAIC was demonstrated today at the Robotics Technology Park along with a robotic minesweeper. Impressive stuff! Glad to have RTP here on the Tn Valley.

American Hero

2012-08-27T12:20:00.001-07:00

I had the great honor of presenting a signed Nick Saban football to SSGT Chris Walker on Saturday. Chris was seriously wounded in Afghanistan and is currently at Walter Reed receiving physical therapy. He is a huge Alabama fan. Many thanks to Sheree Brown, members of the Decatur VFW Post 4190 and all the volunteers who raised funds to help Chris construct a handicap accessible home. We are indebted to him and others like him for his service and sacrifice.

2012-07-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

Honored to be recognized with 2012 Senate Leadership Award for the Rural Conservation and Development Association of Ala.

Welcome Pickwick Belle

2012-06-07T14:08:00.001-07:00

To Ingalls Harbor in Decatur!

Limestone County EDA Award

2012-05-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

I was honored and humbled to receive the Binford Turner Award from the Limestone County Economic Development Association last week along with Limestone County Commssion Chairman Stanley Menefee and Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks. Under the direction of EDA Executive Director Tom Hill, we make an outstanding team. This team was responsible, along with others including Gov. Bentley and ADO Director Canfield, assisting the Carpenter Technologies decision to locate their $500+ million project in South Limestone County. Of course, the TRUE accolade goes to the great workforce of Limestone County and the greater North Alabama area that makes companies want to locate and expand here in the Tennessee Valley.

Alabama jubilee

2012-05-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

Too little wind this morning for flights. Good to be out of session and back with family!

Legislative Leadership Award

2012-03-02T08:05:00.000-08:00

Honored to recognized by the state regional councils of governments with their Legislative Leadership Award for 2011 at a breakfast in Montgomery yesterday. Just trying to do my job as best we can. Thanks to the organization for their efforts with senior services, planning, grant writing, etc throughout the state. It is all a team effort.

2012-02-22T16:00:00.001-08:00

Great first Mardis Gras parade in downtown Decatur sponsored by the Carnegie Visual Arts Center.

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Morgan County Schools FIRST robotics team!

2012-02-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

What a great group of students and teachers working on the first robotics project at Brewer HS. The team also has students from West Morgan, Danville and Priceville. (Priceville HS does the BEST competition). Good luck in Atlanta competition next week. Very impressive robot!

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Grant from ADEM

2012-02-01T06:23:00.000-08:00

Working with Commissioners Jeff Clark and Don Stisher and the great staff at Soil and Water in Morgan County (Brad Bole, et. al.), Lance Lefluer, ADEM Commissioner brought a $241,200 check to help with runoff prevention which has placed creeks in the Flint Creek Watershed in violation of EPA standards. The Morgan County Commission helped tremendously with a $100,000+ match.
Much thanks to our Commissioners, Soil and Water staff and ADEM for this possible.

Boeing 787

2012-01-30T09:43:00.000-08:00

With son, Jack, touring new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Thanks Boeing for all you do for the Tenn Valley.

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Fwd: Sen. Orr Proposes Accountability Package That Removes Legislator Perks

2012-01-26T13:50:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2012

Contact: Arthur Orr (334)242-7891

ORR TO INTRODUCE ACCOUNTABILITY PACKAGE THAT REMOVES PERKS FROM LEGISLATORS

Montgomery – State Sen. Arthur Orr (R – Decatur) on Thursday unveiled a package of strong accountability and transparency bills he plans to introduce in the upcoming legislative session, including at least two measures that remove perks and fringe benefits long enjoyed by state lawmakers while another would punish long-serving public officials who attempt to draw retirement benefits after committing serious crimes involving the public trust.

One bill in the package would abolish the legislative immunity granted to House and Senate members, which prevents law enforcement personnel from arresting them for any reason while the Legislature is in session. The blanket immunity, originally offered in order to prevent a rogue governor from ordering the arrest of political adversaries, has long outlived its usefulness, Orr said, and could result in lawmakers escaping punishment for crimes they commit or are suspected of committing. He added he also supports efforts by several of his Senate colleagues to roll back the 62% legislative pay raise passed by the Democrat leadership last quadrennium.

Orr said there is also a need for his bill that forbids any bridge, road or building to be named after a legislator or public official while they are serving in office.

"The Legislature should not be about entitlement, it should be about service," Orr said. "When you literally place legislators above the law, a certain air of self importance tends to develop, and that is the last thing we need in the Alabama State House. And, if a lawmaker is worthy of having something named after them, officials should wait until the end of their legislative career, when it can be judged in totality, not in the middle."

Orr is also proposing legislation that would prevent long-serving public employees and state officials from drawing taxpayer-funded retirement benefits after being convicted of or pleading guilty to felonious crimes involving corruption, bribery or other violations of the public trust. He pointed to former State Rep. Terry Spicer (D – Elba) and former Two-Year College Chancellor Roy Johnson as examples of officials who received benefits even after engaging in corrupt acts.

"Knowing that retirement benefits they earned over a decade or more of public service are on the line will make officials and employees think twice before succumbing to corrupt temptations," Orr said. "We should not continue rewarding corruption with taxpayer funded benefits, and the loss of them should simply be considered part of the punishment."

In order to shed even more light on the fundraising process for elections, Orr, who serves as chairman of the influential General Fund budget writing committee, will ask his colleagues to approve a measure that requires the occupation and employer of contributors to be included on the campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political action committees.

"Requiring candidates to disclose the occupations and employers of their donors will help show which special interest groups are trying to influence them, an important fact that voters should be able to easily learn," Orr said. "Now that political action committees can no longer launder money among themselves, such disclosures will bring even more light to a fundraising practice that operated in the darkness for far too long."

Since entering the Senate, Orr has developed a reputation for proposing and passing much needed accountability and transparency measures. He previously enacted legislation that resulted in Alabama's state government checkbook being posted online for taxpayer review, a bill that requires campaign finance reports to be filed electronically with a searchable database and other similar statutes.

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Airtran/Southwest

2012-01-20T11:11:00.001-08:00

Hate to see Airtran/Southwest leaving Huntsville Int'l Airport in August. We must continue working to get more flights/competition into Huntsville.

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