January 2019 Group Watch: Tweet of the Month

@conservativePTZ
“My daughter Abby and her soldier Lakyn.”

January 2019 Group Watch: Jo Bonner To Be Ivey’s Chief of Staff

Governor Ivey recently named former U. S. Representative Jo Bonner her new chief of staff, about a month after hiring him as a senior advisor. Bonner will succeed Steve Pelham, Ivey’s longtime chief of staff, who has accepted an executive position with Auburn University. Bonner represented the first congressional district, centered around Mobile, from 2003-2013. He left Congress in 2013 to become vice-chancellor for government relations and economic development for the University of Alabama.

January 2019 Group Watch: Congressman Aderholt Ranking Member on Important Committee

Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-4) has been named ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. “It is a great honor to be named the ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. This subcommittee is certainly important to America, but even more so for North Alabama,” Aderholdt said in a statement. Read more here.

January 2019 Group Watch: AL House of Representatives Committee Assignments

2019 regular session Committee assignments for The House have been released:

Rules

Chair: Rep. Mike Jones

Vice Chair: Rep. Paul Lee

Ranking Member: Rep. Barbara Boyd

Rep. David Faulkner

Rep. Victor Gaston

Rep. Ralph Howard

Rep. Ron Johnson

Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter

Rep. Jimmy Martin

Rep. Steve McMillan

Rep. David Standridge

Rep. Pebblin Warren

Rep. Randy Wood

Ways and Means Education

Chair: Rep. Bill Poole

Vice Chair: Danny Garrett

Ranking Member: Rep. Rod Scott

Rep. Alan Baker

Rep. Prince Chestnut

Rep. Terri Collins

Rep. Barbara Drummond

Rep. Corley Ellis

Rep. David Faulkner

Rep. Dexter Grimsely

Rep. Jamie Kile

Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter

Rep. Joe Lovvonrn

Rep. Steve McMillan

Rep. Debbie Wood

Ways and Means General Fund

Chair: Rep. Steve Clouse

Vice Chair: Rep. Kyle South

Ranking Member: Rep. Laura Hall

Rep. Napoleon Bracy

Rep. K.L Brown

Rep. Jim Carns

Rep. Victor Gaston

Rep. Lynn Greer

Rep. Kelvin Lawrence

Rep. Paul Lee

Rep. Arthur Mooney

Rep. Rex Reynolds

Rep. Chris Sells

Rep. Peblin Warren

Rep. Rich Wingo

Judiciary 

Chair: Rep. Jim Hill

Vice Chair: Rep. Tim Wadsworth

Ranking Member: Rep. Thad McClammy

Rep. Wes Allen

Rep. Mike Ball

Rep. Prince Chestnut

Rep. Merika Coleman

Rep. Dickie Drake

Rep. Chris England

Rep. Allen Farley

Rep. David Faulkner

Rep. Matt Fridy

Rep. Mike Holmes

Rep. Phillip Pettus

Rep. Matt Simpson

Economic Development and Tourism

Chair: Rep. Becky Nordgren

Vice Chair: Rep. Ron Johnson

Ranking Member: Rep. Berry Forte

Rep. Chip Brown

Rep. Corey Harbison

Rep. Rolanda Hollis

Rep. Gil Isbell

Rep. Neil Rafferty

Rep. Rep. Ginny Shaver

Rep. Andy Whitt

Rep. Rep. Ritchie Whorton

Rep. Randy Wood

Education Policy

Chair: Rep. Terri Collins

Vice Chair: Rep. Danny Garrett

Ranking Member: Rep. Rodd Scott

Rep. Anthony Daniels

Rep. Will Dismukes

Rep. Barbara Drummond

Rep. Brett Easterbrook

Rep. Tracey Estes

Rep. Bob Fincher

Rep. Tashina Morris

Rep. Kerry Rich

Rep. Proncey Robertson

Rep. Shane Stringer

Transportatoin, Utilities and Infrastructure

Chair: Rep. Lynn Greer

Vice Chair: Rep. Joe Faust

Ranking Member: Rep. A.J. McCampbell

Rep. Napoleon Bracy

Rep. Danny Crawford

Rep. Victor Gaston

Rep. Rolanda Hollis

Rep. Gil isbell

Rep. Wes Kitchens

Rep. Parker Moore

Rep. Neil Rafferty

Rep. Randall Shedd

Rep. Margie Wilcox

Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Chair: Rep. Howard Sanderford

Vice Chair: Rep. Mike Holmes

Ranking Member: Rep. John Rogers

Rep. Napoleon Bracy

Rep. Steve Hurst

Rep. Parker Moore

Rep, Proncey Robertson

Rep. Jeff Sorrells

Rep. Scott Stadthagen

County and Municipal Government

Chair: Rep. Reed Ingram

Vice Chair: Rep. Margie Wilcox

Ranking Member: Rep. Barbara Boyd

Rep. Chris Blackshear

Rep. Steve Hurst

Rep. Sam Jones

Rep. Steve McMillian

Rep. David Wheeler

Rep. Debbie Wood

Ethics and Campaign Finance

Chair: Rep. Mike Ball

Vice Chair: Rep. Rich Wingo

Ranking Member: Rep. Thomas Jackson

Rep. Allan Farley

Rep. Berry Forte

Rep. Kirk Hatcher

Rep. Demitri Polizos

Rep. Matt Simpson

Rep. Andrew Sorrell

Rep. Ritchie Whorton

Children and Senior Advocacy

Chair: Rep. K.L. Brown

Vice Chair: Rep. Randall Shedd

Ranking Member: Rep. Barbara Boyd

Rep. Jim Carns

Rep. Barbara Drummond

Rep. Tracey Estes

Rep. Tommy Hanes

Rep. Mary Moore

Rep. Ginny Shaver

Rep. Tim Wadsworth

Military and Veterans’ Affairs

Chair: Rep. Dickie Drake

Vice Chair: Rep. Connie Rowe

Ranking Member: Rep. Thad McClammy

Rep. Steve Clouse

Rep. Ralph Howard

Rep. Sam Jones

Rep. Phillip Petus

Rep. Allen Treadaway

Rep. Randy Wood

Insurance

Chair: Rep. Kerry Rich-

Vice Chair: Rep. Corley Ellis

Ranking Member: Rep. Chris England

Rep. Chris Brown

Rep. Louise Alexander

Rep. Chip Brown

Rep. Anthony Daniels

Rep. Brett Easterbrook

Rep. David Faulkner

Rep. Jamie Kiel

Rep. Jimmy Martin

Rep. Kyle South

Rep. David Wheeler

Health

Chair: Rep. April Weaver

Vice Chair: Rep. Ron Johnson

Ranking Member: Rep. Laura Hall

Rep. Matt Fridy

Rep. Jeremy Gray

Rep. Paul Lee

Rep. Craig Lipscomb

Rep. Joe Lovvorn

Rep. Rhett Marques

Rep. Arnold Mooney

Rep. Becky Nordgren

Rep. Ed Oliver

Rep. Neil Rafferty

Rep. Chris Sells

Rep. Pebblin Warren

Agriculture and Forestry

Chair: Rep. Danny Crawford

Vice Chair: Rep. Steve Hurst

Ranking Member: Thomas Jackson

Rep. Will Dismukes

Rep. Joe Faust

Rep. Bob Fincher

Rep. Dexter Grimsley

Rep. Tommy Hanes

Rep. Ralph Howard

Rep. Reed Ingram

Rep. A.J. McCampbell

Rep. Ed Oliver

Rep. Ginney Shaver

Rep. Jeff Sorrells

Rep. Rodney Sullivan

State Government

Chair: Rep. Chris Pringle

Vice Chair: Rep. Chris Sells

Ranking Member: Rep. John Rogers

Rep. Mike Ball

Rep. Barbara Body

Rep. Brett Easterbrook

Rep. Rolanda Hollis

Rep. Jamie Keil

Rep. Lawrence Kelvin

Rep. Connie Rowe

Rep. Harry Shiver

Rep. April Weaver

Commerce and Small Business

Chair: Rep. Jim Carns

Vice Chair: Rep. Dimitir Polizos

Ranking Member: Rep. Berry Forte

Rep. Louise Alexander

Rep. Jeremy Gray

Rep. Gill Isbell

Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter

Rep. Rhett Marques

Rep. Matt Simpon

Rep. David Wheeler

Rep. Andy Whitt

Rep. Ritchie Whorton

Local Legislation

Chair: Rep. Alan Baker

VIce Chair: Rep. Richie Whorton

Ranking Member: Rep. Thomas Jackson

Rep. Louise Alexander

Rep. Will Dismukes

Rep. Bob Fincher

Rep. Dexter Grimsely

Rep. Ralph Howard

Rep. Craig Lipscomb

Rep. Rep. Randall Shedd

Rep. Harry Shiver

Rep. Scott Stadthagen

Rep. David Standridge

Rep. Tim Wadsworth

Rep. David Wheeler

Internal Affairs Commission

Chair: Rep. Randy Wood

Vice Chair: Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter

Ranking Member: Rep. Laura Hall

Rep. Chris Blacksear

Rep. Anthony Daniels

Rep. Steve McMillian

Rep. Chris Pringle

Rep. Connie Rowe

Rep. Hoard Sanderford

Rep. Pebblin Warren

Rep. April Weaver

Technology and Research

Chair: Rep. Joe Lovvorn

Vice Chair: Rep. Corey Harbison

Ranking Member: Rep. Laura Hall

Rep. Alan Baker

Rep. Craig Lipscomb

Rep. Steve McMillan

Rep. Mary Moore

Rep. Howard Sanderford

Rep. Rod Scott

Rep. Andrew Sorrell

Urban and Rural Development

Chair: Rep. Randall Shedd

Vice Chair: Rep. David Standridge

Ranking Member: Rep. Prince Chestnut

Rep. Wes Allen

Rep. Chris Blackshear

Rep. Chip Brown

Rep. Sam Jones

Rep. TaShina Morris

Rep. Shane Stringer

Rep. Margie Wilcox

Rep. Debbie Wood

Constitutions, Campaigns and Elections

Chair: Rep. Matt Fridy

Vice Chair: Rep. Bob Fincher

Ranking Member: Juandalynn Givan

Rep. Wes Allen

Rep. Adline Clarke

Rep. Corey Harbison

Rep. Kirk Hatcher

Rep. Arnold Mooney

Rep. Dimitri Polizos

Rep. Chris Pringle

Rep. Howard Sanderford

Fiscal Responsibility

Chair: Rep. Chris Sells

Vice Chair: Rep. Mike Holmes

Ranking Member: Rep. Rod Scott

Rep. Lousie Alexander

Rep. Corley Ellis

Rep. Danny Garrett

Rep. Juandalynn Givan

Rep. Rhett Marques

Rep. Parker Moore

Rep. Ed Oliver

Rep. Rodney Sullivan

Financial Services

Chair: Rep. Chris Blackshear

Vice Chair: Rep. Jimmy Martin

Ranking Member: Rep. John Rogers

Rep. Reed Ingram

Rep. Kelvin Lawrence

Rep. Thad McClammy

Rep. Andrew Sorrell

Rep. Jeff Sorrells

Rep. Kyle South

Rep. David Standridge

Rep. Andy Whitt

Rep. Rich Wingo

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Chair: Rep. Allen Treadaway

Vice Chair: Rep. Allen Farley

Ranking Member: Rep. Thomas Jackson

Rep. Dickie Drake

Rep. Chris England

Rep. Tracey Estes

Rep. Jeremy Gray

Rep. Tommy Hanes

Rep. TaShina Morris

Rep. Phillip Pettus

Rep. Rex Reynolds

Rep. Pronsey Robertson

Rep. Harry Shiver

Rep. Shane Stringer

December 2018 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

• Governor Kay Ivey makes staff appointments. Governor Ivey announced that former Congressman Jo Bonner would serve in her administration as senior advisor. Bonner represented the 1^st Congressional District in southwest Alabama from 2003 to 2013. The governor also announced that Kelly Butler would be state finance director. He has been Acting Finance Director since August. Butler has more than three decades experience as a fiscal analyst with the state. His previous jobs include assistant finance director for fiscal operations and state budget officer.
• Marsh taps new chief of staff. Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh recently announced that he has chosen Derek Trotter, a government relations advisor to the Butler Snow law firm and former director of legislative affairs to former Governor Robert Bentley, to be his chief of staff. Trotter previously served as Marsh’s communications director from 2011 to 2014 and as a deputy communications director to U. S. Representative Bradley Byrne during his run for governor in 2009 and 2010. Trotter is a native of Trussville and a graduate of Auburn University. He is married and the father of two and lives in the Pike Road Township, just outside Montgomery.
• Shelby’s Chief of Staff chosen to lead BCA. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, recently announced the departure of his chief of staff, Katie Boyd Britt, following the official notice of her decision to serve as president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), a non-partisan business association representing companies throughout the state. Britt is a native of Enterprise. She’s served as chief of staff to Senator Shelby since 2016, following her role as deputy campaign manager and communications director during the senator’s most recent reelection campaign. Britt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a law degree from the University of Alabama.
• Check out the full list of recent House Committee appointments made by the Speaker. House Standing Committees with Chairs and Vice Chairs listed:

Rules

Chairman Mike Jones (R – Andalusia) and Vice Chair Paul Lee (R – Dothan)

Consent Calendar Subcommittee: Chairwoman Pebblin Warren (D – Tuskegee)

Ways and Means Education

Chairman Bill Poole (R – Tuscaloosa) and Vice Chair Danny Garrett (R – Trussville)

Ways and Means General Fund

Chairman Steve Clouse (R – Ozark) and Vice Chair Kyle South (R – Fayette)

 Agriculture and Forestry

Chairman Danny Crawford (R – Athens) and Vice Chair Steve Hurst (R – Munford)

Boards, Agencies, and Commissions

Chairman Howard Sanderford (R – Huntsville) and Vice Chair Mike Holmes (R – Wetumpka)

Children and Senior Advocacy

Chairman K.L. Brown (R – Jacksonville) and Vice Chair Randall Shedd (R – Cullman)

Commerce and Small Business

Chairman Jim Carns (R – Vestavia) and Vice Chair Dimitri Polizos (R – Montgomery)

Constitution, Campaigns, and Elections

Chairman Matt Fridy (R – Montevallo) and Vice Chair Bob Fincher (R – Woodland)

County and Municipal Government

Chairman Reed Ingram (R – Montgomery) and Vice Chair Margie Wilcox (R – Mobile)

Economic Development and Tourism

Chairwoman Becky Nordgren (R – Gadsden) and Vice Chair Ron Johnson (R – Sylacauga)

Education Policy

Chairwoman Terri Collins (R – Decatur) and Vice Chair Danny Garrett (R – Trussville)

Ethics and Campaign Finance

Chairman Mike Ball (R – Madison) and Vice Chair Rich Wingo (R – Tuscaloosa)

Financial Services

Chairman Chris Blackshear (R – Phenix City) and Vice Chair Jimmy Martin (R – Clanton)

Fiscal Responsibility

Chairman Chris Sells (R – Greenville) and Vice Chair Mike Holmes (R – Wetumpka)

Health

Chairwoman April Weaver (R – Brierfield) and Vice Chair Ron Johnson (R – Sylacauga)

Insurance

Chairman Kerry Rich (R – Albertville) and Vice Chair Corley Ellis (R – Columbiana)

Internal Affairs

Chairman Randy Wood (R – Anniston) and Vice Chair Nathaniel Ledbetter (R – Rainsville)

Judiciary

Chairman Jim Hill (R – Odenville) and Vice Chair Tim Wadsworth (R – Arley)

Local Legislation

Chairman Alan Baker (R – Brewton) and Vice Chair Ritchie Whorton (R – Valley)

Military and Veterans Affairs 

Chairman Dickie Drake (R – Leeds) and Vice Chair Connie Rowe (R – Jasper)

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Chairman Allen Treadaway (R – Morris) and Vice Chair Allen Farley (R – McCalla)

 State Government Chairman Chris Pringle (R – Mobile) and Vice Chair Chris Sells (R – Greenville)

Technology and Research

Chairman Joe Lovvorn (R – Auburn) and Vice Chair Corey Harbison (R – Good Hope)

Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure

Chairman Lynn Greer (R – Rogersville) and Vice Chair Joe Faust (R – Fairhope)

Urban and Rural Development

Chairman Randall Shedd (R – Cullman) and Vice Chair David Standridge (R – Hayden)

December 2018 Group Watch: Gov Ivey Announces Inauguration Theme

The inaugural theme for Governor Kay Ivey will be “Keep Alabama Growing.” Ivey and other constitutional office holders will be sworn into office on January 14. Ivey inaugural committee co-chairs Jimmy Rane and Cathy Randall say the theme underscores Alabama’s campaign promises on job growth and education. Ivey, who had been the state’s lieutenant governor, became governor last year following the resignation of then Governor Robert Bentley. She won the office in her own right in November after defeating Democratic challenger Walt Maddox. For more inaugural information, go to www.iveyinaugural.com.

December 2018 Group Watch: Tweet of the Month

@jayrayy7
Dec. 14
“My nephew got to open the only Christmas gift he asked for a few days early, and his reaction broke my heart.”

December 2018 Group Watch: Infrastructure Top 2019 Priority

House majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter and Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed both said recently that improving the state’s roads will be a major goal of the 2019 legislative session, which is critical to sustaining the state economy. Their remarks reinforced signals from the legislature that the state’s gas tax, the key source of money for road maintenance, will be a major focus when legislators convene this spring. Legislators have not addressed the 18-cent tax, a combination of three separate levies, since 1992.

December 2018 Group Watch: Happy Holidays!

Things never stop moving in Alabama politics and government, but we’re taking moment to soak in all the holiday spirit around us and hope that you do too. Everyone here at The Bloom Group wishes a Merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous New Year to you and yours!

November 2018 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

While midterm elections around the country had some interesting results, here in Alabama, things played out true to past form. Republicans kept their super majority in the legislature. They also retained all of the constitutional offices. Here’s a quick recap:

• Governor Kay Ivey became the first Republican woman elected governor in the State of Alabama. Lurleen Wallace who succeeded her husband George Wallace was elected as a Democrat in the 1960s. Ivey won a crushing victory over her Democratic challenger by a 60-40 margin.
• Will Ainsworth was elected Lt. Governor with 61% of the vote.
• Steve Marshall was elected Attorney General with 59% of the vote.
• Rick Pate was unopposed for Agriculture Commissioner.
• Greg Reed re-elected Alabama State Senate majority leader: The Senate Republican caucus met the day after elections for their caucus meeting and re-elected Senator Greg Reed of Jasper as the Senate Majority Leader. The vote was unanimous. When the legislature meets in its organizational meeting, Senator Del Marsh is expected to return as Senate Pro Tem.
• McCutcheon unanimously nominated as Speaker: The 77 members of the Alabama House Republican Caucus unanimously voted to nominate Mac McCutcheon of Madison to continue to serve as Speaker. The nomination is tantamount to election since Republicans hold a super majority. The caucus also nominated Victor Gaston of Mobile to continue to serve as Speaker Pro Tem.