Montgomery, AL – The office of Gov. Bob Riley and the chairman of a legislative oversight committee disagree over whether the state's payment to a law firm under an emergency contract is legal.
Jeff Emerson, communications director for Riley, says the governor signed a $50,000 emergency contract June 23 with the firm of Bainbridge, Mims, Rogers & Smith LLP.
State Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery, chairman of the legislative contract review committee, says the state made payments before the contract was submitted to the committee. Emerson says Holmes is wrong and that money was payment for another contract with the firm.
Holmes has asked Attor-ney General Troy King for an opinion on whether the $50,000 contract is being paid legally.
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