Birmingham News - Battle over Air Force tanker contract evolves into a war of words.

Mobile Press-Register - “The Political Skinny,” the roundup from Mobile, Montgomery and Washington for readers of the Press-Register.

Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register says that there’s “still time to pass public smoking ban,” urges House to approve Senate-passed measure on last legislative day.

Tuscaloosa News - Most proposed immigration bills remain unpassed as session nears end.

Tuscaloosa News - Arkansas joins other states in providing financial support to working poor families.

Tuscaloosa News -The Tuscaloosa News says that the legislature has missed many opportunities for reform this session.

Gadsden Times - The Gadsden Times reviews legislature’s aciton on proposed immigration measures, concludes that this issue is only one of “a long list of priority issues lawmakers all but pledged to resolve in this legislative session, and thus far, have failed to bring to resolution.”

Decatur Daily - The Decatur Daily is pleased to see bill that would have gutted “double-dipping” ban die for this legislative session.

Washington Post - Spider discovered in Jefferson County named after song writer-singer Neil Young.

Huntsville Times - The Huntsville Times says that legislature should give Governor’s tax proposal a fair hearing.

Mobile Press-Register - Former President Carter to build houses in Mobile on Tuesday.

Mobile Press-Register - Work progress on Thyssen-Krupp facility in Mobile County.

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Birmingham News - The Birmingham News says that proposed compromise on ban of PAC-to-PAC transfer doesn’t fix the problem and should be rejected.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News comments on recent guilty plea by son of former Fire College director in continuing corruption probe.

Montgomery Advertiser - Sebastian Kichens’  weekly update of legislative activities for readers of The Montgomery Advertiser.

Montgomery Advertiser - The Montgomery Advertiser is pleased to see bill to overturn ban on “double-dipping” die, but cautions that it will be back.

Tuscaloosa News - A year after indictment, no trial date set for former state trooper accused of 1965 killing that led to historic Selma to Montgomery march.

Tuscaloosa News - Hospitals moving to ban smoking in private vehicles on their property.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News reviews legislature’s missed opportunities for reform this session.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News says this week’s vote shows that for state senators “fairer taxes is not among their goals.”

Tuscaloosa News - “Alabama Exposure,” Dana Beyerle’s weekly political roundup for readers of the NYTimes regional papers.

Daily Home - Daily Home urges legislators to find compromise to remove sales tax from food purchases.

Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register’s assessment of 2008 regular legislative session:  “it could have been worse.”

Mobile Press-Register - Commentary by leaders of the Democracy Defense League argue that voter ID is needed in state.

Washington Post - Internal memo shows frustration by staffers with Special Counsel.

Tuscaloosa News - Move to four-year property tax reappraisals dead for this legislative session.

FROM TODAY’S ANNISTON STAR:

State Senate to tackle education budget May 19

MONTGOMERY — The state Legislature will take a week-long break from lawmaking next week, leaving one of its two constitutional responsibilities to the last day of the session.

Senators will tackle the proposed $6.3 billion education budget when they return May 19, in hopes of passing a budget that Gov. Bob Riley either will have to accept or veto.

Waiting to the last day is a strategic move that gives Riley little room to make significant changes to the budget.

The state’s proposed $2 billion general fund budget, which pays for all non-education-related services, already has cleared both chambers and awaits Riley’s signature.

Jeff Emerson, director of communications for the governor, said Riley hopes to avoid calling a special session to address the education budget, and he isn’t making any plans to call for one on that issue.

“Obviously, a lot depends on what happens on the last day of the session,” he said.

What could happen if higher education has its way, is that the education budget could grow by an additional $25 million.

The state’s four-year colleges have been working to get their appropriations increased for the next fiscal year, and those negotiations continued during the last meeting day before the break.

Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, has been adamant that the bottom line for the education budget not move.

Sanders is the chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education committee, which handles the education budget in the upper body.

Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, a minority leader in the Senate, said in a previous interview that negotiations still were ongoing over bills that would force 44 companies to pay state corporate income taxes, and provide a tax break for small businesses and their employees.

Without the corporate income tax bill, $67 million would have to be cut from the education budget.

Speaker of the House Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia, said during his weekly press briefing that an agreement had been reached, but the additional $25 million for higher education remains a sticking point.

“I do not support that increase because the money is not there,” Hammett said.

The education budget isn’t the only issue legislators might try to tackle before the session ends.

Bipartisan efforts were ongoing Thursday to work out a compromise to move a bill that would allow Alabamians to vote on removing the state portion of the sales tax on food.

Hammett said a concrete agreement hadn’t been reached, but bill sponsor Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, still was working to try to get the bill before the Senate again.

An effort to bring the bill up for debate failed, but Sanders vowed to try to bring it back on the Senate’s calendar before the session ends.

For the most part, Democrats supported the measure, while Republicans voted against it.

Riley has urged Sanders and Knight to accept a compromise proposal that would cut the state sales tax on groceries, but keep the federal income tax deduction for most Alabamians.

The governor’s plan would reduce the state portion of sales tax on food by 3 percent, and raise the threshold at which people pay state income taxes from $12,600 to $15,500 over the next five years.

Riley’s proposal also would allow Alabamians to vote on returning to four-year property appraisals.

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Eufaula Tribune Barbour County moves closer to a local sales tax increase

Prattville Progress Forum set for Autauga County School Superintendent candidates

News Courier Alliance for Limited Government to hold candidates forum in Athens

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Birmingham News - Scrushy asks for third time to be released from prison pending appeal of conviction.

Birmingham News - DHR child welfare workers piloting use of GPS cell phones.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News comments on AEA’s decision to not pursue legislative change to “double-dipping” ban.

Montgomery Advertiser - Katrina housing crisis persists.

Montgomery Advertiser - Governor vetoes measure that would mandate criteria for selection of school superindents, two-year college chancellor.

Associated Press - State Board of Education adopts new high school graduation standards.

Tuscaloosa News - Court officials face layoffs, reductions in services if conditional appropriations aren’t released for next year’s budget.

Tuscaloosa News - Legislature approves small increase in unemployment benefits, still among lowest in nation.

Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News says that reports that investigation of Siegelman prosecution suddenly halted is another indication that former presidential advisor Karl Rove “must be called to testify.”

Birmingham Business Journal - Despite closures, manufacturing still strong in Alabama.

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The party’s Diversity Chairman George Williams, a retired Army Major in Bay Minette, says in the release, “I look forward to working with all minority groups within the state; educating them on the history of the party, the party’s vision for the future and helping tear down the stereotypical walls that have been built around politics in Alabama for too long.”

The party’s new “Victory Director,” Michael Joffrion, started last week. According to that release, “As Victory Director, Michael will be responsible for building the grassroots organization of the ALGOP and managing the get out the vote efforts for the 2008 election cycle. This will include structuring a statewide volunteer organization and managing the voter registration and ballot security programs.”

Joffrion was Field Director for Rudy Giuliani’s Iowa Campaign Committee and most recently served as Political Director for “Charlie Ross for Congress” in Jackson, MS.

FWIW, I have heard from Republicans around the state who opine (and typically in an abrupt change of subject from the topic at hand) that the GOP grassroots efforts around the state are not strong.

One Montgomery insider told the Parlor about the efforts of the Business Council of Alabama to counter grassroots strengths of AEA and ALFA by using local Chambers of Commerce. Though BCA is a major player in Alabama politics, BCA has never been strong in the grassroots, and the business people and professional people involved in local Chambers of Commerce are “typically opposed to AEA and represent the potential for a Republican base, an embryonic grassroots movement.” The BCA effort - initiated by BCA head Bill Canary - can “use the Chamber to communicate with the community and with legislators.”

Don’t they meet some resistance to use the Chambers of Commerce toward this end, I ask? There are a lot of Democrats in these communities and in the Chambers.

“They are not going to be 100% successful in every county, and they are being very sophisticated about it. They are not saying, ‘This is what we are going to use to kick Paul Hubbert’s ass.’ No. It’s an opportunity to participate in BCA, the brotherhood. It’s about jobs. Preserve and protect the brotherhood. You want a local mailing list, a database? Then you want the Chamber. You got contacts. You got troops. Troops to rally.”

AEA has its fundraising and grassroots strength. ALFA, he said, had increased dues to hire John Pudner (Director of External Affairs) to work its grassroots. BCA’s interests are not the same as ALFA or AEA. This “embryonic grassroots movement” is BCA’s effort “to create grassroots pressure to offset the pressure that legislators get from AEA.”

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Related Articles:

• Top 40 Most Influential Non-Elected Alabamians, Part 4

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel last year shut down a previously undisclosed investigation into the federal prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, according to an internal memo made public Wednesday.

The investigation was being conducted by a task force formed at the agency a year ago to pursue high-profile political investigations in Washington, most notably whether the White House played politics in firing U.S. attorneys. It began gathering information on the Siegelman case in September and was planning to request documents from the Justice Department in October before Special Counsel Scott Bloch ordered the case closed, according to the Jan. 18 draft memo, made public by the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group.

This is all the more interesting given that Bloch, the agency chief, is being investigated for claims of both dismissing cases without adequate examination and obstruction of justice. Related to that investigation, federal agents seized computer files and documents from his Bloch and his staff this week.

Wall Street Journal this week:

Mr. Bloch, who was appointed by President Bush, has been under investigation since 2005 by the Office of Personnel Management for employee claims that he abused his agency’s authority, retaliated against its staff and dismissed whistleblower cases without adequate examination. Mr. Bloch couldn’t be reached to comment.

The Justice Department joined the case as the inquiry was widened last year to include possible obstruction of justice, which is a criminal offense. The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 28 that in the midst of the inquiry Mr. Bloch used an agency credit card to hire a commercial firm, Geeks on Call, to erase data from his computer and those of former staff.

Bloch said that Geeks on Call removed a computer virus. The WSJ looked pretty firm on its take. On that particular incident, enough people are involved that you would think the truth can be established.

It’s bad enough that one of our foundational institutions, the Department of Justice, is off-track enough to merit the attention of the independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency that is the Office of Special Counsel. But that Office is not looking so independent.

Now our watch dogs need watch dogs.

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A trio of Republicans running in next month’s primary election brought their campaigns to Huntsville.

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, a candidate for Public Service Commission president, and Mary Windom and Chris Mixon, rivals for the Place 2 position on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, were guests at a luncheon Tuesday hosted by the Huntsville Republican Women.

A reader close to a rival campaign tells the Parlor that GOP PSC presidential candidates Matt Chancey and Jack Hornady were not aware of the event. Looks like Cavanaugh is starting out as the presumptive nominee or her campaign is doing a terrific job of creating that impression.

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Related Articles:

• Race for the PSC Presidency
• Host Committee for Cavanaugh Fundraiser
• Cavanaugh's Inside Track

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Birmingham News - Son of former Fire College director pleads guilty in continuing probe of corruption in two year college system.

Birmingham News - Conference committee working on watered-down ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers.

Birmingham News - Senate refuses to take debate plan that would remove sales tax from food purchases.

Birmingham News - The Birmingham News comments on former chief financial officer of state’s two-year college system now under scrutiny by federal prosecutors.

Mobile Press-Register - Lt. Governor announces commission to study feasibility of major highway connecting Mobile and Florence.

Mobile Press-Register - State official tells Congress that another $100 million needed for Katrina-related housing repairs.

Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register blasts Senate for adopting resolution against non-existent conspiracy to create a “North American Union,” urges House to reject resolution, concluding that we “need legislators who are still in touch with reality. ”

Huntsville Times - Wrangling over Limestone County bill to regulate rock quarries delays consideration of measure to end sales tax on food.

Tuscaloosa News - Bill to expand state’s hate crimes law to include sexual orientation among protected groups in line for final legislative approval.

Anniston Star - The Anniston Star looks at the legislative session, says that there is “still time for good things to happen, if only the people Alabamians elected will let them.”

Decatur Daily - The Decatur Daily calls for the appointment of special prosecutor to investigate claims that Siegelman prosecution was politically motivated.

Montgomery Advertiser - Legislature gives final approval to measure to increase minimum auto insurance requirements.

Montgomery Advertiser - Legislature gives final approval to “captive insurance” bill.

Montgomery Advertiser - Commentary by DHR commissioner warns that new Medicaid regulations will shift millions of dollars of costs to state government.

New York Times - Critics question Sen. Richard Shelby’s ties to real estate industry as Senate begins consideration of bill to help struggling homeowners.

Associated Press - Summary of yesterday’s legislative action.

FROM TODAY’S ANNISTON STAR:

Film incentives bill likely dead this session

MONTGOMERY — An effort to attract the film and television production industry to Alabama is dead, at least for the 2008 regular session.

Sponsors of the House and Senate versions of a bill that would provide tax breaks for production companies that make movies in the state said time was the enemy of the legislation, not special interests.

“We’ve simply run out of time,” said Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre.

The bills would have provided incentives to companies that incur between $500,000 and $10 million in production expenditures.

Companies would have received an income tax credit equal to 25 percent of production expenditures, plus 35 percent of all payroll for wages and benefits paid to Alabama residents.

The legislation also would have granted state sales and lodging tax exemptions to film and television companies that spend more than $150,000 in Alabama.

Lindsey’s version of the bill made it to the floor for debate last week, but was killed when the House voted to adjourn before it could move to final passage.

The Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Senators Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, and Tom Butler, D-Madison cleared the upper body, but stalled in a House committee.

Butler said the bills already have been taken to the Legislative Reference Service to be updated and prepared for the next regular or special session.

“They just got caught up in the mechanics of the legislative process,” Butler said. “Things simply went awry in the Senate and then in the House.”

The Senate shut down during a five-week filibuster over bingo bills for Macon and Greene counties.

The House went into a slowdown during the discussion of the education budget.

That slowdown killed Lindsey’s version of the film incentives bill on the same night that House passed the education budget.

Alabama is among about 15 states that offer no incentives to attract the film industry.

The state offered incentives until 2006, when the tax breaks expired.

Butler said to get the new tax breaks passed, the sponsors will have to be persistent and less concerned with attaching some kind of revenue measure to the passage of the bill.

The Alabama Education Association wants lawmakers to link some revenue measure to the passage of any bill that would provide tax breaks to recoup any school funding lost.

“Any amount of revenue that the film industry generates would more than pay for any lost funding,” he said.

Lindsey said he’s inclined to tie it to some kind of revenue measure since that was one of the major sticking points earlier this year.

The Joint Powers Authority, which oversees the development of the former Fort McClellan, had hoped that incentives would help attract the film industry here.

Pete Conroy, JPA board member and director of Jacksonville State University’s Environmental Policy and Information Centers, said he’s optimistic that the tax breaks will come through, possibly in a special session.

“We have on record support from the House, the Senate, AEA and every media outlet that has reported on this bill,” Conroy said. “The stars have never lined up like that.”

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