Here are a couple of extra things I didn't have space to tell you about in print today:
- Rep. Terry Spicer (D-Elba) was presiding over Wednesday's hearing in the absence of the regular committee chairperson, Rep. Yvonne Kennedy, who was forced to retire following numerous investigations by state and federal officials over the past year. The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office has charged 27 people with the theft of more than $200,000 from the college, most of it financial aid, according to the Associated Press. I simply didn't have room to even begin to cover the idea that Kennedy presides over the Education Policy Committee.
- With regard to other people lobbying your bill for you, that brings us to Paul Hubbert, political boss of the Alabama Education Association, which is pushing Irons' bill. Hubbert offered his own explanation for Wednesday’s dust-up: Turnabout is fair play.
Spicer was given two minutes to speak at the SBE’s meeting last year, “and then the board immediately voted. …So I’m sure that had some effect on what happened out here today,” Hubbert said. “I understand his actions today because that is what happened to him when he went before the board.” - Irons, by the way, made it a point to tell me that she has no ties whatsoever to the two-year college system.
- State political blogs are burning up on this issue with posts from legislators who are writing from Montgomery. Check out the roundup of two-year college follies (so far) at Doc's Political Parlor (www.politicalparlor.net) and reaction to Wednesday's action from Rep. Mike Ball at Daily Dixie (www.dailydixie.net).
