By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – The state school board voted Thursday to bar two-year college system employees from serving in the Legislature or holding any other elected state posts, signaling an end to so-called ''double dipping'' in a move likely to be challenged.
The board approved the policy in a 6-1 vote. It also voted 5-1 to adopt a revised flextime policy that affects the way 13 legislators take time off from two-year system work to serve in the House and Senate.
The revised proposal says lawmakers who work in the post-secondary system would have the option of using annual vacation days in such a way that they could attend to legislative work and keep both jobs until their terms end in 2010.
Democrat Ella Bell of Montgomery voted against both proposals, which were pushed by new Chancellor Bradley Byrne and Republican Governor Bob Riley.
Another Democrat, Sandra Ray of Tuscaloosa, was absent, and Republican David Byers of Birmingham abstained on both votes.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)