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re: Governor Bentley calls special session for Alabama lottery
Posted on 7/27/16 at 1:47 pm to The Spleen
Posted on 7/27/16 at 1:47 pm to The Spleen
quote:
he and the legislature have been in denial about the state of the budget for a few years now.
I'm out of state so I haven't paid great attention to politics there but I thought it was unusual that he ran on a no new taxes platform why staring a gaping deficit in the face.
But if we're honest, politicians in Alabama make their nut on promising no new taxes and fighting liberal Washington and Obama. And to their credit - they've done that. I looked on Shelby's website and the homepage brags about how he and Sessions are the senate leaders in voting against Obama.
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Posted on 7/27/16 at 1:47 pm to artompkins
crooked arse general fund? 
Medicaid bull shite?
I'm out, gheesh
Medicaid bull shite? I'm out, gheesh
Posted on 7/27/16 at 1:48 pm to McGregor
Posted on 7/27/16 at 7:46 pm to TideSaint
I want Bentley impeached so fricking bad. This moron is just trying to distract everyone from what's going on by bringing up something he's opposed since he took over. I want him gone and someone who would bring in a lottery for the EDUCATION, not medicaid.
Jesus, My old high school is going through budget cuts every year and have had issues with teacher salaries. Come the frick on!!!
Of course we have idiots who oppose the historic tax credit- the one thing helping out cities in Alabama rejuvenate their downtown.
Jesus, My old high school is going through budget cuts every year and have had issues with teacher salaries. Come the frick on!!!
Of course we have idiots who oppose the historic tax credit- the one thing helping out cities in Alabama rejuvenate their downtown.
Posted on 7/28/16 at 3:33 am to Cobrasize
quote:
Cutting off your nose to spite your face. That'll show em
I know, I know. Honestly, its downright shameful they've allowed the problem to get to this point. Deep down, I fully support a lottery. But I dont trust the State leaders farther than I can throw em.
In a perfect world, the lottery would have funded education...higher ed scholarships and k-12 infrastructure, a tax or two on certain goods & services for the GF (instead of raiding peoples salaries), and just accept the damn Medicaid funds. But obviously we prefer the dumpster fire route.
What should happen is for education to get a certain percentage or dollar amount every year, and protect that earmark in case revenues fall short of projections.
This post was edited on 7/28/16 at 3:34 am
Posted on 7/28/16 at 1:25 pm to Gary Busey
quote:
I want Bentley impeached so fricking bad. This moron is just trying to distract everyone from what's going on by bringing up something he's opposed since he took over.
Unfortunately, Kay Ivey is not an upgrade.
Posted on 7/28/16 at 1:31 pm to Gary Busey
quote:
That doesn't mean they'll necessarily put it to the education fund, but lord knows schools in AL need it.
This is not an education lottery. The money would go to the General Fund so they don't have to borrow from the Education Fund anymore.
Posted on 7/28/16 at 1:41 pm to Gary Busey
quote:
This moron is just trying to distract everyone from what's going on by bringing up something he's opposed since he took over.
He's said several times he doesn't object to it being put on a ballot for the people to vote on.
quote:
My old high school is going through budget cuts every year
Even though the education budget was reduced for several years after 2008, the biggest fiscal problem is that people refuse to allow local property tax changes to fund their individual systems.
Posted on 7/28/16 at 2:23 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 7/28/16 at 2:36 pm to Evolved Simian
quote:
Even though the education budget was reduced for several years after 2008, the biggest fiscal problem is that people refuse to allow local property tax changes to fund their individual systems.
Pretty much this. At the state level, education funding in Alabama isn't in bad shape. Pretty much all the growth revenue streams are dedicated to the education budget so as long as the economy is stable, that budget doesn't have problems. Teachers got a cost of living raise this year - something state employees on the general fund side haven't gotten in a decade.
Edited to add: Even with the economic downturn of the last few years, in 2013 Alabama still spent more per pupil than decidedly more affluent states like Texas, North Carolina, and Florida. We were within a few hundred dollars of California - and $9,000 goes a lot further in Lower Alabama than it does in Los Angeles.
This post was edited on 7/28/16 at 2:48 pm
Posted on 7/28/16 at 11:58 pm to The Spleen
quote:
I will be voting No on this if it's on the ballot. A lottery to fund the General Fund and Medicaid is a recipe for disaster.
Consequently, the only way I'm voting yes is if this goes to the General Fund. We don't have an education funding problem.
Posted on 7/29/16 at 12:08 am to imjustafatkid
quote:
We don't have an education funding problem.
We do, but it's at the local level.
Posted on 7/29/16 at 3:35 pm to Evolved Simian
quote:
We do, but it's at the local level.
There is certainly a vast disparity in local funding levels, but here's the rub - that disparity doesn't really correspond to results.
Here's a 2014 story that shows the funding level and source of funds for every school district in the state.
And here are lists of failing schools and how every school fared on the new common core standard tests.
For a couple of examples, Montgomery county spends $8,300 a student. Neighboring Elmore spends $7,300 and Autauga spends the least in the state at $7,200 - yet Autauga outperformed Montgomery on the tests by 16 percentage points (65-49 meets standards) in English, 13 (26-13) in math, and 11 (25-14) in science. Elmore was was slightly behind Autauga but also outperformed Montgomery by significant margins (15, 8, and 7 points). Montgomery landed 8 schools on the failing list. Autauga and Elmore had a combined total of 0.
Even more telling is Bullock county. Bullock County spends $9,700 per student - the 24th highest in the state. Eufaula City spends $8,200 (99th). The two systems are in the same county, serve an almost identical population size, and and have an almost identical demographic profile. Using the same metrics I used earlier, Eufaula outperformed Barbour county on the tests 51-40 in English, 15-2 in Math, and 13-0 (yes, 0) in Science and Barbour placed two schools on the failing list with Eufaula having none.
Once you get schools funded to a level where they can provide the basic needs, education quality and results become far less about the school's funding and much more about the parents, home life, and individual ability of the student.
This post was edited on 7/29/16 at 3:39 pm
Posted on 7/29/16 at 5:36 pm to JustGetItRight
March 2016
quote:
Bentley signed a bill banning Alabama cities from raising their minimum wages at all. Now, news has emerged that Bentley recently gave four of his cabinet members $73,405 raises — an 80 percent increase from the $91,000 salaries they were making previously.
quote:
How much money will political scandals cost Alabama taxpayers?
Alabama taxpayers are shelling out money for legal fees related to the state's ongoing political scandals and controversies.
quote:
Lawyers with the firm Maynard, Cooper & Gale are representing Gov. Robert Bentley and Alabama Law Enforcement Secretary Stan Stabler, who are defendants in a lawsuit filed by former ALEA Secretary Spencer Collier. The two contracts with Maynard, Cooper & Gale each call for legal fees of $195 an hour up to a total of $100,000 over two years.
quote:
The contract review committee will review a contract for John Carroll to serve as lead counsel for the Judicial Inquiry Commission in the case against suspended Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore.
Carroll will be paid $195 an hour and a total of up to $75,000 for his work on the case, including any related proceedings with the Alabama Supreme Court. The contract runs from this month until July 2017.
quote:
The contract review committee agenda also includes a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources contract with the law firm Ball, Ball, Mathews and Novak to represent DCNR Commissioner Gunter Guy in a lawsuit filed by former Commissioner Charles Grimsley. The contract will pay $195 an hour and a total of up to $25,000 over up to two years.
Posted on 7/29/16 at 7:06 pm to jatebe
quote:
Bentley signed a bill banning Alabama cities from raising their minimum wages at all. Now, news has emerged that Bentley recently gave four of his cabinet members $73,405 raises — an 80 percent increase from the $91,000 salaries they were making previously.
Holy shite.
Posted on 7/29/16 at 7:55 pm to jatebe
quote:
jatebe
I don't know what you're trying to say with your post. If you're expecting me to come to the defense of Robert Bentley, well I've got some bad news. My vote for governor has gone uncast in the last two elections because I cannot support the platform of the (D) party and Robert Bentley is an utterly amoral, corrupt individual who will be lucky to avoid becoming Don Siegleman's room mate.
If you're trying to say that the General fund has plenty of money if you cut the waste, well, that's just laughable. You've pointed out spending that might equal $250,000 for one year. Medicaid alone needs roughly $60 MILLION to simply maintain level services and you still haven't addressed the fact that our prison system is at 200% designed capacity and understaffed for the designed capacity, or that the state didn't hire a single new trooper from 2010 to 2015 and DPS (now ALEA) lost 250 employees during that time - and who the hell needs restaurant, food, and bridge inspections anyhow?
Posted on 7/29/16 at 8:53 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Now, news has emerged that Bentley recently gave four of his cabinet members $73,405 raises — an 80 percent increase from the $91,000 salaries they were making previously.
Posted on 7/31/16 at 12:35 pm to TideSaint
RESIGN BENTLEY!!!!!!!
Posted on 7/31/16 at 1:58 pm to The Spleen
To help the general fund, our choices are to :
A) raise taxes
B) implement a state lottery
I'm ok with doing both as long as some monies are earmarked for education. Our education in the state of Alabama is horrendous and a damn embarrassment.
A) raise taxes
B) implement a state lottery
I'm ok with doing both as long as some monies are earmarked for education. Our education in the state of Alabama is horrendous and a damn embarrassment.
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