Montgomery, AL – Four leaders in the Alabama Legislature - two Republicans and two Democrats - have endorsed Gov. Bob Riley's plan to switch Alabama's tax on natural gas wells in coastal waters from a value-based tax to a volume-based tax.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr., Senate Minority Leader Sen. Jabo Waggoner, House Minority Leader Rep. Mike Hubbard and House Speaker Seth Hammett, a Democrat, joined Riley Tuesday at a news conference at the capitol.
The endorsements came as a House budget committee plans to vote Wednesday on the tax bill, which could raise as much as 40 million for the state's General Fund budget.
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. John Knight, has expressed concern there may not be enough votes on the committee to pass the measure.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)