Corruption

Double-dipping is the practice of legislators to have full-time jobs as well as their legislative positions. Of course, they don't really DO anything for those other salaries.

May 7, 2008 - The Alabama Teacher's Association is giving up their legislative fight against "a so-called "double dipping" ban" that would keep educators from serving in the Legislature while employed at two-year colleges. They will pursue the issue in the courts.

Democrats Voting in the Senate committee to approve a bill to override the new policy were Sens. Linda Coleman, D-Birmingham; Larry Means, D-Attalla; Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham; Zeb Little, D-Cullman; and Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery.
Voting against it were Sens. Tom Butler, D-Madison; Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery; Jimmy Holley, R-Elba; and Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills.

The Republican governor promised a veto.

The bill would have allowed public employees to serve in the Legislature and other elected offices and guarantee they could use unpaid leave from their government jobs to perform elected duties.

Critics have complained that the association has used the two-year colleges as a source of patronage and power.
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TT - Ya think? A federal investigation of the two-year system has resulted in agreements to plead guilty by a former state representative and a former two-year college chancellor. Two current legislators have been charged and are awaiting trial while a grand jury in Birmingham continues to review the colleges. Previous TT coverage. Entry and Entry and Entry

Most of the decent newspapers in the state support the new reforms. The Alabama Educator's Association denies that being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by community colleges while voting on funding for the institutions is "double-dipping." A total of 43 legislators had financial ties to the two-year college system.

Alabama almost makes New Jersey look respectable.

May 23 - The Alabama Supreme Court has upheld a judge's decision to to temporarily block the implementation of the 2-year college system's double dipping ban.