Montgomery, AL – A special session of the Alabama Legislature to approve a package of bills aimed at ending financial turmoil in Alabama's most populous county has begun.
House Speaker Seth Hammett gaveled the House to order to begin the session at 6 p.m. and Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. began the session in the Senate at about the same time.
The session started in the House and Senate with the reading of Gov. Bob Riley's call for the special session.
Riley called legislators to Montgomery for the special session to plug a $75 million budget hole caused by court rulings that struck down an occupational tax. Riley has asked lawmakers to complete their work by Friday in five days, the minimum time required to pass a law.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)