This Tuesday, API's Senior Director of Fiscal Policy Justin Bogie spent some time on 106.5's the Jeff Poor Show discussing Alabama's growing budgets.
Follow the Money and See Where It Goes: Alabama Citizens Pay for Big Government
This report, entitled “Follow the Money and See Where It Goes: ALABAMA CITIZENS PAY FOR BIG GOVERNMENT,” examines the alarming rising tax revenue and spending from the state’s General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets over the past several years. In ...
State Government Takes More Revenue From Citizens Than Ever Before
In 2021, Alabama’s state government took more money from taxpayers than ever before. The big question is, what will state government leadership do with it? It should be used to provide tax relief to citizens and businesses, not to continue to grow governm ...
Leaders of Birmingham Should Use Stimulus Funds to Make the City “Magic” Again for All Citizens
The City of Birmingham will use nearly a quarter of its first round of federal stimulus payments from the American Rescue Act to provide one time bonuses to all full and part-time city employees. The bonus payments received final approval from the Jeffers ...
Alabama Legislature Continues to Consider Medical Marijuana. Is it to Help People, or Make Money?
Late into Tuesday night, in the waning hours of the 2021 Regular Legislative Session, the House of Representatives spent nine hours passionately debating Senate Bill 46, which would legalize the use of medical marijuana in Alabama and create a cannabis co ...
Halfway through the legislative session, what have lawmakers done for the people?
Last Thursday marked the 16th workday of the 2021 Regular Legislative Session. With lawmakers over halfway through the regular session, they are pausing this week for Spring Break.Thus far, the legislature’s focus has been on raising revenues and expandin ...
As the 2021 Regular Session Commences, Will Lawmakers Continue Feeding Government or Focus on the People?
This week, lawmakers convened in Montgomery to begin the 2021 Regular Legislative Session. With much uncertainty in the air, one thing appears clear: state agencies are looking to expand both their budgets and reach. This became apparent on January 26th, ...
Alabama CARES Act Funding Feeds Government, Not Its People
In early 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread across the United States, impacting the lives of all Americans. In response, Congress passed a massive health and economic relief bill, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). ...
Inaction on Prisons Comes at a Great Financial and Societal Cost
At a time when political discord is at a high, there’s one thing that Alabamians should be able to agree on: Alabama’s prison system needs immediate reforms. The current system is outdated, understaffed, overcrowded, and plagued by violence. The proble ...
Despite Pandemic, Alabama Budgets are Fully Funded. The Governor and Lawmakers Must Keep It That Way.
As summer transitions to fall, Alabama’s state budgets also undergo a shift. On October 1st, the state government left 2020 behind and moved into fiscal year 2021. At this point, most everyone wishes they could forget 2020 and get a jumpstart on 2021. ...