Tuscaloosa, AL – Republican Lt. Gov.-elect Kay Ivey won't have the power of many of her Democratic predecessors even though she will be presiding over the first Republican majority in the Alabama Senate in 136 years.
Key Republican senators say the new Republican majority plans to keep the system used in recent years that puts most of the Senate's power in the hands of senators, not with the lieutenant governor. The Senate went to that system in 1999 when Steve Windom became the first Republican lieutenant governor since Reconstruction and Democrats were in control of the chamber.
Ivey spoke Monday at the new Legislature's orientation meeting in Tuscaloosa. She said she's not trying to grab power. But she said she wants to make sure the public starts getting advance notice on bills the Senate will consider.
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