Ala Attorney General Criticizes Budget

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange says he is concerned about what lawmakers' proposed General Fund budget will mean for his office. The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee on Wednesday approved a budget that zeroes out the office's current $7 million appropriation. The budget bill says the office should instead use $7 million from the national settlement with five big mortgage companies. Strange says it is troubling that lawmakers would not guarantee full funding for the office that prosecutes criminals and is trying the BP oil spill case. Gov. Robert Bentley had first made the budget proposal. A Bentley spokeswoman says if the office does not have the money needed in 2015, that the governor will work with Strange to address the shortfall.