Legislators pleased with
session
FROM STAFF REPORTS
(Updated: Tuesday, March 6, 2007
1:11 PM CST)
The Alabama Legislature’s recent
special session was deemed a success by the Shelby County
legislative delegation.
The session included two major legislative initiatives by Gov.
Bob Riley to promote economic development in Alabama and to
create a trust fund to help pay health insurance costs of state
teachers and other public employees.
Both the House and Senate passed a constitutional amendment to
expand the amount Alabama can offer in incentives to lure new
industry to the state to $400 million.
The state has been competing with Louisiana for weeks now over a
$2.9 billion steel plant.
“This legislation was critical as we continue our competition
with Louisiana to lure the ThyssenKrupp steel plant that will
employ over 2,700 people in Alabama,” said Rep. Cam Ward
(R-Alabaster).
The entire Shelby County legislative delegation voted in favor
of the incentive package as it passed both state house chambers
by overwhelming margins. The constitutional amendment will go to
the voters for approval in June.
In other action, the Legislature approved a local constitutional
amendment sponsored by Rep. Mike Hill that would expand Shelby
County traffic law enforcement coverage into platted
subdivisions.
This amendment was a follow up to a previous constitutional
amendment Hill passed in regard to traffic enforcement for gated
communities in Shelby County during the 2006 session.
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