Montgomery, AL – A partisan fight is brewing in the Alabama Legislature over bills that would restructure the boards that oversee the retirement funds for teachers and state employees.
The bills would give the majority of appointments to the two boards to the governor, the speaker of the House and the president pro-tem of the Senate - all Republicans. It would remove slots currently designated for teachers and for employees and retired employees.
The minority leader in the House, Democratic Rep. Craig Ford of Gadsden, says he sees the bills as an attempt to limit the influence of longtime Retirement Systems of Alabama CEO David Bronner and Alabama Education Association executive secretary Paul Hubbert.
The sponsor, Republican Rep. Phil Williams of Huntsville, said the intent is to put investment experts on the boards.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)