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Newsletter
January 2018 Newsletter
“Pass budgets and go home.” That’s the spirit in the air as Alabama legislators look to make quick work of the 2018 session. Even so, we still see some opportunities.
Blog
Alabama Senate passes public transportation trust fund bill
Public transportation took another step forward Thursday when the Alabama Senate voted 26-0 for legislation to create an Alabama Public Transportation Trust Fund. SB 85, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, moves to the House. A similar bill – HB 10, sponsored by Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills – won House committee approval last week. Alabama [...]
News Releases
CHIP renewal is overdue good news for parents of 85,000 Alabama children on ALL Kids
Arise Citizens’ Policy Project policy director Jim Carnes issued the following statement Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, in response to the U.S. Senate’s vote to renew federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years: “The parents of more than 85,000 children with ALL Kids coverage finally received some overdue good news today: [...]
Blog
Plan to shorten appeals process in Alabama death penalty cases clears House, Senate committees
The Alabama House and Senate soon could vote on a plan to shorten the appeals process for people convicted of capital murder in the state. Judiciary Committee members in both the House and Senate approved the legislation Wednesday. The House panel voted 9-6 for HB 216, sponsored by Rep. Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville. Earlier, the Senate [...]
Blog
Public transportation bills win committee approval in Alabama House, Senate
Public transportation advocates in Alabama got a double dose of good news Thursday when bills to create an Alabama Public Transportation Trust Fund won committee approval in both the state House and Senate. Arise members chose creation of a trust fund as one of our 2018 issue priorities. HB 10, sponsored by Rep. Jack Williams, [...]
Fact Sheet
A new way forward: The Alabama Public Transportation Trust Fund
Alabama is one of only five states with no state funding for public transportation. That lack of investment makes it difficult or even impossible for tens of thousands of low-income Alabamians to get to work, the doctor’s office or other places they need to go when they need to get there. It also means our [...]
News Releases
Alabamians must keep urging Congress to protect health care
Arise Citizens’ Policy Project policy director Jim Carnes issued the following statement Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, after the U.S. House approved a resolution that would make it easier for Congress to repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act: “Protecting access to quality, affordable health care is more important than ever. Congress voted this week to [...]
Blog
Bill to ease burden of cash bail on low-income Alabamians clears Senate committee
A bill that would significantly ease the financial burden on low-income Alabamians accused of municipal violations won unanimous Senate committee approval Wednesday. SB 31, sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, would be a major step forward on criminal justice debt reform, which Arise members chose as one of our 2018 issue priorities. The bill cleared [...]
Blog
Medicaid work requirements, ALL Kids, prison mental health funding among top 2019 budget challenges in Alabama
Alabama Medicaid had good news for legislators last week, but it won’t last long. Lower-than-expected prescription drug costs will help Medicaid carry $53 million forward into 2019, meaning the agency will need less General Fund (GF) money next year than initially expected, Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar said during state GF budget hearings Thursday. But that [...]
Blog
Budgets for FY 2018 fall short of real need
The Alabama Legislature last week passed 2018 state budgets that once again fall short of meeting critical needs. While lawmakers avoided a repeat of last year’s General Fund (GF) crisis, which required a special session to resolve, the new budgets highlight structural flaws that will continue to hinder public services in our state until leaders [...]