Most of the Senate's Republican minority have vehemently opposed the measure and have blocked debate. They've also tried to tack on amendments in an attempt to kill the measure.

The chance to pass this bill is not yet over! Please contact your Senator and encourage them to vote yes. Click here for your Senators contact information.

For your convenience, we have uploaded and listed sample ballots for each county here and you can also find a compiled list of Democratic candidates here.

Candidates should remember that the 10-5 day report is due between May 27-29.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us or your county chair. If you are a candidate interested in obtaining voter file access, you should email brannon [at] aladems.org.

**Siegelman also at annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner **

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a speech before Alabama Democrats on Friday night accused President Bush of leading the nation into war, into debt and politicizing the nation's Justice Department.

The charge that federal lawyers under Bush have played politics with the law sent a charge through the crowd of about 500 in a Birmingham ballroom that featured former Gov. Don Siegelman. He was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to almost seven years in prison in 2007 on federal corruption charges, charges that Siegelman and his supporters have maintained were politically motivated.

The House Judiciary Committee threatened Thursday to subpoena former White House adviser Karl Rove if he does not agree by May 12 to testify about former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman's corruption case.

In a letter to Rove's attorney, committee Democrats called it "completely unacceptable" that the Republican political strategist has rejected the panel's request for sworn testimony even as he discusses the matter publicly through the media.

"We can see no justification for his refusal to speak on the record to the committee," the letter states. "We urge you and your client to reconsider ... or we will have no choice but to consider the use of compulsory process."

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Spearman 334-262-2221

Montgomery, AL - Alabama Democratic Party Chair Joe Turnham today said that republican opposition to one of the most humane and basic public policy changes to help hurting Alabama families is shameful and unforgivable. "Republican rhetoric about wanting to cut taxes for working families and create tax fairness in Alabama just went out the door with this vote in the Alabama Senate today. All 11 opposing votes were republican. Governor Riley and his legislative leadership are taking the food out of the mouths of hurting Alabama families by opposing this measure." Turnham protested.

"This measure would provide immediate assistance to every Alabama consumer by reducing their food bill by 4 percent. It would be an overall tax savings to nearly 80% of Alabama families and would only be a net increase to families making over $150,000 per year. In this tanking George Bush economy, Alabama's Grand Ole Party has shown it is the party of the rich and powerful and no friend to the poor, the disabled, seniors and working class." Turnham exclaimed.

This vote combined with their opposition to making big out-of-state retailers like Wal-Mart (HB 350) pay up and republican legislative opposition to the big oil and gas tax (HB326) which benefits Exxon-Mobil will haunt all republicans in the 2010 elections. Their position on these fundamental issues sends a signal that republicans come to Montgomery to represent Exxon-Mobil, Wal-mart, and folks making over $150,000, not the 80% who need relief now. We urge Gov. Riley and House and Senate republicans to reconsider and get on the side of real people for a change.

xxxxxx

Turnham said revenue from big oil and gas interests should be used to fund children's health care, veterans care, roads and bridges and corrections. Turnham said the recent 8-1 decision by the republican Supreme Court to overturn two different jury awards of $4.5 billion against Exxon-Mobil and Exxon-Mobil's legal attempts to receive tax refunds from Alabama citizens shows that special interests are in charge of our courts. We can help change this in 2008 with the election of a new democratic justice on the Alabama Supreme Court.

We salute Rep Knight for attempting to rectify this awful situation and restoring accountability of big oil to Alabama taxpayers.

A proposed constitutional amendment to remove the state sales tax from groceries has one more legislative hurdle to clear.

The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve the proposed amendment, which passed the House on April 15. The proposal now goes to the Senate for a vote. If approved by the Senate, it will go on the general election ballot Nov. 4 to see if a majority of voters statewide will put it into the Alabama Constitution.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, called the committee's vote an important step "toward tax fairness."

Montgomery, AL - Only in Alabama and in the accompaniment of Republican Governor Bob Riley could the national GOP and their apparent Nominee for President come off the tracks of reality so boldly to reveal their political hypocrisy of 'word verses deed'. The Time for Action Tour takes Sen. John McCain and the Governor to the Blackbelt of Alabama to unveil a similar 'new compassionate conservatism' initiative first declared from the bowels of the Bush run for the White House in 2000.

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2008
Contact: Jim Spearman 334-262-2221

Montgomery, AL - A new television ad set to begin airing nationally Tuesday highlights how out of touch John McCain is with the financial challenges confronting average Alabamians. The ad, the first advertisement of the 2008 presidential election, shows the Republican nominee claiming we are "better off" after eight years of disastrous Bush Administration economic policies. The ad closes with the question all Americans must ask themselves as they choose our next president: "Do you feel better off?" The Democratic National Committee announced that the ad, entitled "Better Off?", will begin airing on cable networks nationally on Tuesday, April 22nd, including in Alabama.

Who: Speaker Nancy Pelosi
What: 2008 Jefferson Jackson Dinner
When: Fri. May 2, 2008 5:30 pm
Where: Cahaba Grand Conf. Ctr., Birmingham (map)
Tickets/Sponsorships: Click here

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Spearman 334-262-2221

Montgomery, AL - Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham today revealed that the republican appointments to registrar positions in 66 counties by Governor Bob Riley and Alabama State Auditor Samantha Shaw show that the Alabama Republican Party is not at all sincere in its rhetoric to be an inclusive party.

"The U.S. is wrestling with the worst food inflation in 17 years, and analysts expect new data due on Wednesday to show it's getting worse...U.S. food prices rose 4 percent in 2007, compared with an average 2.5 percent annual rise for the last 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the agency says 2008 could be worse, with a rise of as much as 4.5 percent."

In addition, according to this AP article, income for wealthy Alabamians has shot up consistently.

"The study ["Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends," by the Center on Budget and Poli­cy Priorities, a nonprofit based in Washington] shows that the wealthiest  20 percent of families in Alabama have seen their income increase by 42.7 percent over the last two decades, while the poorest 20 percent have seen an increase of only 5.6 percent. That gives the richest 20 percent of families aver­age incomes that are 8.5 times as big as those of the poorest 20 per­cent in Alabama.

Since the late 1990s, the picture has been even more bleak for Ala­bama's poorest families, who have watched their income drop 17.4 percent, while the top 20 percent saw an increase of 9.6 percent."

The Alabama Democratic Party Chair has called out Governor Riley and Republican Leaders on the food tax, and said that anyone opposing the bill, which would drop the sales taxes on groceries, is not serious about real tax cuts or assisting the working class in Alabama.

"Governor Riley and his republican legislative leadership want to cut taxes for the wealthiest of Alabama and leave working families who live week to week at the back of the grocery store checkout line without help. This initiative by Rep. Knight has been worked and perfected over the years and now is the time to get this measure passed. Every Alabama consumer will immediately see increased purchasing power for the most basic necessity - food."

At a time of rising food costs, stagnant wages, and a worsening of income inequality in Alabama, the time to pass this bill is now.  If this isn't a moral issue, I don't know what is.  So far, only a minority of republicans have been willing to do the right thing.  Will the rest of the ALGOP back the rich, or the least of these?

Local Democrats back plan; vote likely to be close

The Madison County House delegation is split along party lines on a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state's 4 percent sales tax on groceries and end Alabama taxpayers' federal income tax deduction.

A vote on the plan, which is supported by House Speaker Seth Hammett and most Democrats, could come as early as today in the House.