A state Senate committee has voted to remove the executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association from the board that oversees the state pension system for education employees.
The Senate Education Committee voted 4-3 Wednesday to approve the bill by Republican Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa. His bill removes AEA Executive Secretary Henry Mabry and one school support employee from the Teachers Retirement System board and replaces them with two members elected by higher education employees. The bill passed with Republicans supporting it and Democrats opposing it.
Democratic Sen. Quinton Ross of Montgomery said it is part of the GOP's obsession with attacking AEA. Allen said 34,000 university employees have no representation on the board, and his bill gives them a voice. The bill now goes to the Senate.