BRAC bill wins final passage with assist from Folsom
MONTGOMERY -- With an assist from Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, the Alabama Senate
gave final passage Wednesday to the BRAC school bond bill.
There had been concern earlier that the bill might get stuck next week
behind the controversial bingo bill.
But after meeting with a delegation from Huntsville, Folsom convinced House
leaders to move the bill forward for a House vote Wednesday.
The House responded by approving the bill on a 99-0 vote and immediately
sending it back to the Senate. The Senate gave it final passage on a 26-0 vote,
sending it to Gov. Bob Riley.
The bill will provide a $175 million bond issue for BRAC-affected schools
in North Alabama that qualify with local support.
Joe Ritch, chairman of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee, led a
delegation from Huntsville that included educators and Redstone Arsenal officers
to meet with key lawmakers.
The delegation met with Folsom, but wasn't able to meet with House Speaker
Seth Hammett.
However, Hammett's chief of staff, Jeff Woodard, said there was such
widespread support for the bill that there was little doubt of the bill's speedy
passage.
Ritch had said earlier he had been concerned about the bingo bill, but he
praised the support of the Tennessee Valley Caucus and the assistance of the
Alabama Education Association in helping draft the bill.
"It's been a long, long process with many many changes," he said. "The
cooperation with the AEA was critical."
Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, sponsor of the bill, watched as the House
passed the bill, then rushed back to the Senate to make sure it was brought up
for a vote before adjournment.