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April
10, 2005 Grimes
revives red light bill THE CAPITOL INSIDER
Player of the Week: Rep. David Grimes, R-Montgomery State Rep. David Grimes pulled a Lazarus act with his bill to allow camera enforcement of red lights, resurrecting the measure from a Public Safety Committee panel in which it was buried. The subcommittee was dissolved and could not be reinstated because, under House rules, it had to meet within three weeks of being called upon to review Grimes' controversial bill. Grimes' bill met staunch resistance from some committee members and, ordinarily, would have died at that point. But the Montgomery Republican was able to have Public Safety Committee Chairman Thad McClammy, D-Montgomery, empanel an ad hoc committee comprising Grimes and Rep. Albert Hall, D-Gurley, to revive the bill. Grimes also busied himself meeting with members of the Public Safety Committee. "I have lobbied with them individually and they have given me their assurance" the bill will be reported out of committee for a floor vote of the whole House of Representatives, Grimes said. McClammy may have had additional reasons for pumping new life into the bill. At a Montgomery legislative delegation committee meeting earlier in the week, Grimes said he was reserving his right to contest legislation McClammy is proposing to create an outer loop toll road south of Montgomery. Because that is a local bill that requires unanimous committee support, Grimes' opposition would kill the bill. As it stands, McClammy will have to placate Rep. Jay Love, R-Montgomery, who contested the outer loop bill because he wants more input from city and state officials. The Pipeline While the Alabama House of Representatives pushed several bills down the pipeline, the Alabama Senate was stuck on a bill the Christian Coalition has been fighting since Day 1 -- House Bill 75. The upper chamber hasn't passed a measure since it returned March 9 from spring break. At issue is whether to approve or vote down a bill to mandate that groups or organizations disclose their funding sources when they run advertisements to influence an election or referendum. Senators remained at loggerheads this past week over the measure and are expected to continue their contentious debate next week. Then there's the tale of the two budgets. Gov. Bob Riley and his legislative allies want to use $70.2 million in education money to cover some expenses that in past years had been covered by the General Fund. Democrats, though deeming some expenditures education-related, largely have rejected the governor's spending plan.That showdown has yet to run its course, and some lawmakers are concerned if they will have passed the proposed $5.16 billion Education Trust Fund budget or the $1.53 billion General Fund budget by May 16. The state constitution mandates legislative work end by midnight that date. However, if lawmakers' primary responsibility is not complete by the deadline, a special session of the Alabama Legislature would be necessary. Lawmakers resume their work Thursday. The House convenes at 1 p.m. and the Senate at 2 p.m. Bills on the table Sex offenders HB 511 House passed a community notification measure that would reduce the number of days before sex offenders have to register with local law enforcement when they relocate. Current law allows 30 days for sex offenders to register when they move, but the proposed measure would require that they register within seven days. Goes to Senate committee. Paid political advertising HB75 Senate locked in filibuster over measure that would require groups to report their sources of funding for advertising designed to influence the outcome of an election or a referendum. Debate expected to continue when Senate work resumes next week. Winners and losers Rep. Ronald G. Johnson, Sylacauga: House passes Johnson's proposal, which would make endangering children through exposure to methamphetamine labs a class C felony, a crime punishable by one to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $5,000 for each count. Goes to Senate committee. Rep. Randy Hinshaw, D-Huntsville: Senate continued debate but failed to take a final vote on Hinshaw's controversial disclosure bill, and the measure remains before the upper chamber. Hinshaw's bill would require groups to disclose their funding sources when they run ads attempting to influence the outcome of an election or a referendum. Rep. Spencer Collier, R-Grand Bay: House approves Collier's bill to make it a crime to kill an unborn fetus. The measure would treat attacks on pregnant women not only as an assault on the mother, but also on the unborn child. What they said "There are enough people in these caucuses to hold up the democratic process. The Democratic Caucus can do it; the Republican Caucus can do it; and the Black Caucus can do it. In order for the state to be productive, the Democrats and Republicans, whites and blacks, have to work together." --Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, after Republicans had announced an agreement between the two parties on rules and procedures of the lower chamber. |