By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Governor Bob Riley has lost in his effort to call lawmakers into a special session to consider his accountability bills.
In a special session, the Governor would have more control over the legislative agenda ... control the Alabama Legislature yesterday refused to relinquish. Riley's legislative allies pushed for votes in the House and Senate on whether to recess the regular session until March 9th for a special session. The Senate voted the move down 16 to 19. The House defeated the measure 39 to 50. The vote fell largely along party lines with some Democrats crossing over to support the effort.
But Democratic Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley says it was divisive to push for a vote. Governor's spokesperson Jeff Emerson says the governor pushed for a vote because he wanted to see who was serious about accountability and who was not.
Senate budget committee chairman Hank Sanders says special sessions are for extraordinary emergencies, and the Governor's legislation did not qualify as that.