Republican Representative Phil Williams of Huntsville says he is challenging Mike Hubbard to be speaker of the House, saying he, and others, believe the House needs fresh leadership.
A letter to house members come as several Republican legislators called for Hubbard to step down as he heads to trial on ethics charges.
Williams shares a sentiment that the House can't operate effectively with current leadership.
Representative Allen Treadaway says the ethics case has become a distraction and that Hubbard should step aside. Treadaway is bothered by emails included in court filings that show Hubbard soliciting work.
The call to step down is a contrast to how lawmakers rallied around Hubbard after his indictment.
Hubbard blamed the division on recent budget fights.
G-O-P presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is making a campaign stop in Alabama today.
The former Arkansas Governor will make an appearance to speak with residents in Florence, Sylacauga, Selma, and Dothan during his visit.
Terry Lathan is the chairwoman of the Alabama Republican Party. She says Huckabee will likely play up his well-known conservative status.
“I’m assuming he will be talking to Alabamians about things we are interested in he’s a very strong conservative he’s made no bones about that. Alabama is a very conservative state in fact it’s named one of the reddest states in the nation.”
Governor Huckabee is the seventh republican to visit the state thus far. Democratic contender Hillary Clinton will be in Hoover later this month.
Shopping could be a little different in Alabama starting today.
October first is the deadline for retailers to start accepting a new kind of credit card called a chip and pin card. The cards look the same. But, each one has an embedded computer chip and a pin number that customers have to use to buy something.
Nancy Dennis is with the Alabama Retail Association. She says card holders have to watch out for cards that are chip and signature, which aren’t as safe as chip and pin cards…
“The standard is that if there are two steps, there are two things you need to do to verify the card, then that is a much more secure system. It takes a little longer, it requires that customers remember their pin number.”
Retailers have to buy new machines that recognize the chip and pin cards. If they don’t have the equipment, they can be held liable for fraudulent transactions. The new machines also cost store owners about three hundred dollars each.