The Alabama Legislature is back in Montgomery working on the General Fund Budget. But lawmakers are also turning their attention to the scandal that has rocked Governor Robert Bentley’s Administration.
Republican Rep. Ed Henry plans to introduce impeachment articles today. The action comes as Bentley admitted that he made inappropriate remarks to his former aide, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. However, Bentley denied suggestions that the two had an affair.
Henry says there is no time to waste on impeaching the Governor…
“Because the real issue is whether or not we, as the legislature, the house primarily right now believe that Robert Bentley is capable of filling that position and being a credible leader for the state of Alabama. And I’ll tell you, my answer is no, I do not believe he is.”
Henry says earliest chance to bring impeachment articles to the floor next week. Bentley says in statement on Twitter the press conference is nothing more than political grandstanding intended to grab headlines and take the focus away from important issues.
The Alabama Senate has voted to override Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley's veto on the general fund budget over Medicaid funding.
Senators voted 22-10 today to override Bentley and enact the spending plan against his wishes. The House of Representatives is expected to vote Tuesday evening on the veto override.
Bentley says the budget does not give adequate funding to the state's Medicaid program. The governor said Medicaid would have to cut services to "vulnerable" citizens and reduce reimbursement rates to doctors.
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh says lawmakers were not in the mood to raises taxes or cut education spending to provide more money to Medicaid.
The governor had sought an additional $85 million for Medicaid.
Active Duty and Veteran service men and women interested in agriculture are getting a helping hand.
The U-S-D-A is offering workshops to those who are or have served in the military and their spouses.
Cassondra Searight is a public affairs specialist with the USDA Farm Services Agency. She says the program helps because many veterans come from rural backgrounds…
“They plan to go back to those rural areas and are looking at a way to support their families when they get out and possibly be their own bosses and still be in public service. This is a great opportunity for particularly active duty to start a small farming operation.”
The workshops will take place today through the seventh in Montgomery with others across the state throughout the summer.