On a day when lawmakers kept weary watch over deteriorating weather conditions in much of Alabama, the Legislature passed its first bills of the session Tuesday and began work on the state’s General Fund budget.
The Legislature will shut down Wednesday because of weather and plans to return to work on Thursday.
Here is a look at Tuesday’s major developments:
The big story: State Sen. Trip Pittman (R-Montrose) introduced Gov. Kay Ivey’s proposed $2.01 billion General Fund budget, which includes a 3 percent pay raise for state workers and seeks to impose a work requirement on able-bodied Medicaid recipients.
“I am pleased to learn that my budget was introduced today by Senator Pittman,” Ivey said in a statement. “My proposed budget is a strong, manageable budget, and is highlighted by the bright spot of a lower than expected Medicaid appropriation. Improving Medicaid delivery and controlling costs is central to my budget; that is why I instructed Commissioner Stephanie Azar in October 2017, to begin working on implementing work requirements and increased copays for Medicaid recipients.”
President Donald Trump’s administration recently signaled that it would allow states to experiment with work requirements as long as such rules did not apply to children, the disabled or elderly beneficiaries.
Azar said in a statement released by the governor’s office that a work requirement and co-pays would make the health program more efficient.
“Thanks to the improved economy and continued efforts to seek efficiency and decrease cost in the program, Medicaid is requesting less money than expected,” she stated. “We are certainly moving in the right direction to take care of the Alabamians that depend on our services.”
It is unclear how many Alabama Medicaid recipients the work requirement would affect. The vast majority of recipients in Alabama are elderly, disabled or children. Only able-bodied adults with extremely low incomes qualify for assistance.
The budget assumes nearly $221.7 million in federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, although Congress has yet to actually reauthorize the national CHIP program. Many observers expect federal lawmakers ultimately to do so, but if they don’t, it would wreak havoc on the state budget.
Racial profiling: The Alabama Senate passed a bill to prohibit racial profiling and to require law enforcement officials to keep records of traffic stops. AL.com’s Mike Cason tweeted that the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham), said he had been stopped near his home because he is black. “It happens on a daily basis,” Cason quoted Smitherman as saying.
The vote was 27-0. It now goes to the House of Representatives.
Tax incentives: The Senate passed a bill related to the auto plant that Toyota and Mazda announced they will build in Huntsville. The bill, which now goes to the House, would allow local governments to charge lower property taxes under certain circumstances.
Fresh air for Vets: The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to give veterans and current members of the Armed Services free admission to state parks.
Alabama washing its hands of marriage? The Senate voted 19-1 to do away with marriage licenses and instead empower probate judges to accept affidavits from couples as official marriage records, according to Al.com. Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Bay Minette) has tried in the past couple of years to pass the bill, first proposing it after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. Under Albritton’s proposal, the state would not be required to solemnize a marriage.
Special elections: State Rep. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) said he plans this week to introduce legislation to change the way vacancies in the Legislature are filled, according to the Alabama Political Reporter. In the event of a death or resignation, an election would be held eight weeks later, with all candidates from all parties and independents sharing the same ballot.
“If a vacancy occurs in a legislative seat it can be months and months before it is filled,” he told the publication. “One of our districts in Montgomery. They are just without a senator.”
Trooper shortage? The Alabama State Trooper Association on Tuesday demanded that legislators address what it regards as a critical shortage. The Associated Press reported that David Steward, president of the association, said the state has about 250 troopers patrolling state highways but that studies indicate that it should have more than 1,000.
“Seconds count in an accident and troopers are having to cover hundreds of miles,” he said in a statement. “Often one trooper is handling multiple counties.”
Robyn Bradley Bryan, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, told the AP that the state has 268 troopers on the road and will add another 10 after they graduate from the training academy in May.
Paying condolences: Tuesday brought news of the death of state Rep. George Bandy, a Democrat from Opelika who had represented Lee and Russell counties since 1994.
“Rep. Bandy dedicated almost a quarter century of his life to serving his state, his district, and the citizens of Lee and Russell counties,” House Speaker Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) said in a statement. “The institutional knowledge that he gathered during his long service often provided needed insight and guidance to his colleagues. We will miss his presence in the hallways, committee rooms, and chambers of the Alabama State House.”
Brendan Kirby is senior political reporter at LifeZette.com and a Yellowhammer contributor. He also is the author of “Wicked Mobile.” Follow him on Twitter.
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