Greedy Alabama Gov. Says He Needs More Money to Pay His Chronies

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R)

(Any underlines are mine.)

On Tuesday, March 15, the Alabama House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2017 State General Fund Budget.  Along with the budget is a House amendment that would take money from the Governor's office and redirect it to the...State Medicaid Agency after it was reported that Alabama Governor Robert Bentley had written massive raises for members of his cabinet and his staff...

...Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Administrator Mac Gipson, Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Jim Byard, Revenue Commissioner Julie Magee, and Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling each received massive raises of $73,405 per year.  Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar received a $64,008 raise. Bentley gave raises to 14 members of his cabinet and a number of his staff also received incredibly large raises.  Six reported received raises ranging from $21,000 to $34,000 a year.

GOP candidate for state board of education Jackie Zeigler said, "The Bentley administration says the state is broke.  They have denied pay increases for teachers, state employees, and retirees.  They closed five state parks and cut back others.  They closed 31 drivers license offices.  They gutted the State Auditor's budget.  They took 100 state troopers off the road.  Meanwhile, behind the scenes, they were giving themselves huge pay raises... This needs to stop."

eye'm thynkin':  At least the Alabama legislature is exercising some common sense.  The article goes on to name other plans, including tax increases, that Mr. Bentley has for his state.  (Maybe he has a few more buddies who can use an extra $73,000/year?)

It will be interesting to see whether he accepts the obvious legislative reprimand to his free-spending administrative ways or if he tries to justify his obvious, greedy money-grab.

Read more at Alabama Political Reporter