MONTGOMERY — Local legislation related to specific cities and counties across Alabama is expected to take up much of the Senate's last day of the legislative session next Wednesday.
The Senate made it through multiple calendars of bills on Wednesday, but was still slowed by filibusters from Democrats. State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) filibustered an amendment on an Archives and History Board bill for hours. Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) held up multiple House local bills in the afternoon due to the House not passing his Greene County historical horse racing bill.
State Sen. Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) told reporters on Wednesday that local legislation would be his main priority next week for the last day of the session.
"I think one of the decisions on cutting it off earlier today is for the fact we're trying to make sure that we keep the peace and by doing that maybe we get through every one of those bills, so I'm still optimistic that we'll get through them," Gudger said.
Gudger said, "The local legislation is my main priority because all politics is local and we want to make sure that we take care of our members here and our members in the House."
Singleton told reporters he'd continue filibustering if the House didn't pass his historical horse racing bill.
"Today was really one of the last days to get that bill out because the governor has said to leadership that there were certain bills that she was not going to sign. Those bills were bills like revenue bills, any bills giving raises or compensation to sheriffs or coroners or anyone like that. That's why you saw all of those on this (calendar) today because they needed to get out today, so that therefore they could override the veto on the last day if she decided to veto them. My bill is in that same position. She would not sign any gaming bill. The House knows that. That bill has been sitting there, they won't put it on the calendar," Singleton said.
Singleton continued, "They've got 40 more House bills. I'm willing to talk for 40 more hours. I'm going to be like Moses. I'm 40 days and 40 nights. That's what we will be. If that's what game they want to play, I'm willing to play."
"We probably have another 25 confirmations out there. Somebody is not going to get confirmed and some local bills will die," Singleton said.
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