Category Archives: politics

Smoot to be interviewed during live blog tonight

Sheila Smoot campaign imageBirmingham, AL-based political blog The Progressive Electorate plans to interview congressional candidate (and current Jefferson County CommissionerSheila Smoot this evening beginning at 8 p.m. on Daily Kos.

They’ve already posted three questions they plan to ask during the chat and they’re asking for folks to consider submitting others to the thread (thinking it means you may be able to submit your questions as comments to the post announcing tonight’s discussion too).

Photo: Courtesy of the candidate’s Fan Page on Facebook.

Bachus holds town hall tonight

spencerbachus2U.S. Congressman Spencer Bachus is holding a town hall meeting of his own this evening, August 17, at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center beginning at 7 p.m. He hopes to give the folks he represents in Alabama’s 6th Congressional district an opportunity to voice their concerns over the current national debate about an overhaul of our health care system. He also recently released a statement about how some are trying to discredit the town hall meetings that have already been held. Tonight’s event will no doubt bring out vocal supporters to the two main camps that have developed during the national discourse.

Photo: U.S. House of Representatives.

Share your thoughts on the mock draft constitution – before midnight!

Tonight at midnight is the deadline to offer your comments and opinions about the mock draft constitution created as part of the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform (ACCR) Foundation‘s Mock Constitutional Convention.

The public comment period has been going on for some time now and the deadline is for your submission of comments considered in the document’s reworking. Doc’s Political Parlor is hosting the commenting period – click here to get started.

Doc also has some additional information about the goals of the exercise – and if you need incentive to check that link out, how about taking a look at the world’s largest constitution (that would be Alabama’s) digitally compared to the U.S. Constitution.

No sales tax holiday from JeffCo this year

This morning the Jefferson County Commission voted 3-1 to opt out of this year’s back to school sales tax holiday, scheduled for August 7-9 (Commissioner Carns was not present for the vote). The commission says that the move would save the county approximately $200,000 and at least seven jobs. The Birmingham News posted a list of cities that will participate in this year’s holiday on Monday; Birmingham has announced that it will be participating this year. The repeal will only affect the collection of the state’s 2% worth of taxes, including the 1% educational tax.

It is interesting to note that yesterday was the deadline to notify whether or not cities or counties in the state would participate. You may also want to check out the list on the state department of revenue website to find out just what items are tax exempt during the holiday.

Davis hosts health care summit tonight

U.S. Representative Artur Davis

U.S. Representative (and Democratic gubernatorial candidate) Artur Davis is staying busy here in Birmingham today. At 2 p.m. he’ll be taking part in a press conference at HUD’s Birmingham Field Office in part to watch HUD Secretary Shaun present a grant award to the City of Birmingham and “…highlight the city’s innovative plans to create jobs and help low-income families with its Recovery Act funds.”

Congressman Davis will then host a health care summit at the Alys Stephens Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. tonight. The folks over at Left in Alabama do a great job of describing the format and give you a glimpse of the opinions out there here in Alabama and nationwide while The Birmingham News gives us a look at Davis’ opinions about the issue.

Photo: Congressman Davis’ congressional website.

Who do you trust politically, Birmingham?

The question of trust when considering our local politicians has been one on the minds of many recently, especially in light of the recent trial and conviction of former Birmingham City Councilor and Jefferson County Commissioner John Katapodis on federal charges. Birmingham Weekly‘s Kyle Whitmire wrote an extensive piece on the issue of political corruption in Alabama for last week’s edition while The Birmingham NewsJoey Kennedy decided to ask “Who’s your favorite convicted Jefferson County commissioner?” on his al.com blog. The poll’s still open…

So we were wondering…

Which politician in metro Birmingham do you trust the most? Share your answers on Magic City Question.

A new way to Empower Alabama

empower-alabama-logoYesterday statewide nonprofit organization Empower Alabama announced that it would be closing its doors at the end of the month via email. Local progressive blog FreeThinkBham shared the news with folks in metro Birmingham via the posting of the email sent by the organization‘s executive director, Bradley Davidson. According to the note, many of its supporters have already created a political action committee, Front Door Democracy PAC, to focus on the 2010 general election.