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Time Expires on Gambling and Revenue Bills, House Passes Scholarship Reform

Capitol
Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery

Time has run out on a bill to legalize gambling and a state lottery in Alabama, and efforts to avoid deep state budget cuts may be too little too late as well.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh’s gambling bill didn't get a floor vote on the Senate yesterday, and legislative rules make it extremely difficult to pass controversial Senate bills in the final four days of the 30-day session.

Senators also adjourned yesterday before voting on a bill to transfer $100 million from the Education Trust Fund to the cash-strapped General Fund.

Marsh says yesterday was "frustrating." He doubts the Senate is willing to pass new taxes, and a special session is expected.

House Speaker Mike Hubbard encouraged Senators to approve an austere budget before addressing any short- or long-term revenue bills.

The House passed a general fund budget with $200 million in cuts earlier this month.

Gov. Robert Bentley says he will veto any budget that includes the severe cuts, but lawmakers will likely be able to rally enough votes to overturn Bentley’s veto.

The Alabama House has voted to expand a program that helps some families pay for private school.  The revisions will also make it more difficult for students to earn the scholarships.

The House of Representatives voted in favor of changes yesterday to the Alabama Accountability Act by a tally of 68-26.  The program provides tax credits in exchange for donations to the scholarship-granting organizations. Children in failing public schools have priority for the scholarships.

The approved bill expands the program by another $5 million. It would also tighten income restrictions on recipients and expand reporting requirements for the organizations that hand out scholarships.

The Alabama Senate sent the bill to conference committee to review a House change.  It will require the Department of Education to maintain a database of scholarship recipients' test scores.

You might say the Moundville Archeological Park outside of Tuscaloosa is going to the birds.

The facility is working with the Birmingham Audubon Society and the West Alabama Birding Trail to host its annual Bird Fest tomorrow. Visitors can see and hear about exotic birds as well as red-winged blackbirds and orchard orioles that can show up in your backyard.

Moundville spokesman Kenric Minges says this year’s event will also include some interactive crafts.

“We have two hands-on activities with take-away projects. We’ll have dinosaur fossils to make color rubbings with onion skin and crayon. We will also be making bird houses out of gourds. People can make those and decorate them and take them home and hang them up.” 

Birdfest will also include tips on what kinds of bird seed work best to attract birds to your backyard. The event runs from 10 AM to 2 PM Saturday at Moundville Archaeological Park.

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