By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Legislature began its 2005 regular session Tuesday. House Speaker Seth Hammett gaveled the House into session at noon. Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley called the Senate to order at the same time. The Legislature will be in session for the next three and a half months. A major hurdle will be finding money to fill an anticipated hole of up to 300 million dollars in the General Fund budget. The General Fund provides money for most non-education services, such as prisons, state troopers and Medicaid.