Latest news with #ChrisPringle
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Back to the Supreme Court: Alabama plans 3rd appeal in congressional redistricting suit
Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard (left, at podium), speaks to Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile during a special session on redistricting on Friday, July 21, 2023 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Attorney General's Office plans to go to the U.S. Supreme Court a third time in an ongoing lawsuit over Alabama's congressional districts. The office filed notice of an intent to appeal Friday. Late on Monday, the office and plaintiffs who successfully challenged a 2021 state congressional map said in a court filing they had failed to reach an agreement in the ongoing lawsuit. While the state has indicated it will stick with a court-drawn congressional map that includes two districts with majority or near-majority populations of Black voters, the state and the plaintiffs disagreed on whether the court should oversee any future problems or challenges related to congressional redistricting after the 2030 Census. 'What we've always requested with respect to preclearance is that Alabama be put under preclearance for congressional maps through the post-2030 redistricting cycle, and that's to confirm that there's no backsliding after 2030 with any new district lines that get drawn,' said Deuel Ross, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund representing the plaintiffs, in a phone interview Tuesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A three-judge panel in the U.S. Northern District of Alabama, which includes two judges appointed by President Donald Trump, has repeatedly ruled that the 2021 congressional map approved by the Alabama Legislature violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by failing to give Black Alabamians a meaningful opportunity to elect their preferred leaders. The panel has cited racial polarization of voting in the state — where white Alabamians tend to support Republicans and Black Alabamians tend to support Democrats — in ordering the state to draw districts that give Black Alabamians the ability to substantially participate in the process. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2023 twice upheld the lower court rulings. Federal court: Alabama Legislature intentionally discriminated against Black voters in redistricting Messages seeking comment were left with the offices of the Alabama Attorney General and Secretary of State on Tuesday. 'They're saying they're not going to redistrict before the 2030 census, but they're obviously challenging the map as well, so it's not as if they're giving up,' Ross said. Alabama has until June 16 to file a brief on the position. The plaintiffs will have until June 23 to file a response, and any reply should be filed by June 27. If the three-judge panel decides a hearing is necessary, they will schedule it for July 29. The three-judge panel has repeatedly criticized the Legislature for drawing a map in a 2023 special session that it said did not follow its guidance on drawing congressional districts. The court appointed a special master to draw the map that will now be used for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 election cycles, as well as any special election. That map was also used in the 2024 elections, when U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, won in the 2nd Congressional District last November. That election marked the first time in history that Alabama elected two Black U.S. Representatives at the same time. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Alabama shoppers could see savings under a proposed cut to the sales tax on food
Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a series of tax cuts, including a 1% reduction on the state sales tax on food, as lawmakers in both parties said families are being hurt by soaring grocery prices. The four Republican-sponsored bills total about $192 million in tax cuts, most of which comes from the proposed 1% cut to the grocery tax. Another bill would allow people 65 and older to withdraw more money from retirement accounts without paying state income tax. 'Today we have the opportunity to reduce taxes on just about everyone in the state of Alabama,' said Rep. Danny Garrett, the Republican sponsor of the bills. The Alabama House of Representatives approved the bills without a dissenting vote, sending them to the Alabama Senate. The proposed cut on the grocery tax would from reduce the state sales tax on food from 3% to 2%. Lawmakers in 2023 reduced the tax from 4% to 3% in 2023, but an additional reduction to 2% was hinged on budget growth that did not materialize. The latest bill would reduce the tax to 2% on Sept. 1 regardless of budget growth. Nine states place a sales tax on groceries. Lawmakers in several of those states have proposed cutting or removing the tax on food. The proposed tax cuts come despite uncertainty surrounding state budgets because of possible cuts or changes to federal programs. But supporters said families are being hurt by rising grocery prices now. 'I think this is going to go a long way toward helping our citizens balance their budgets and save money that they preciously need to help raise their children," House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle said during debate. Alabama lawmakers for years explored the removal of the entire state sales tax on food, but the efforts faltered because of how much it would reduce education funding. The state's Education Trust Fund is fueled by income and sales taxes. The Legislative Services Agency estimated that the 1% reduction will cost almost $122 million. Rep. Laura Hall, a Democrat, noted that Republicans created a $100 million school voucher program, which will let eligible families tap state dollars for private school or home school expenses. She said removing the sales tax on food entirely would help all families. 'Food continues to go up, and it is a challenge at best to go to the market,' Hall said. Representatives also approved a bill to allow people over 65 to tap an additional $6,000 from defined contribution retirement plans without paying state income tax. The bill would exempt the first $12,000 of taxable retirement income. The current exemption is $6,000. The tax cut would cost about $44 million each year. Another bill would increase the state's standard deduction and the income threshold for the maximum dependent exemption.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama shoppers could see savings under a proposed cut to the sales tax on food
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a series of tax cuts, including a 1% reduction on the state sales tax on food, as lawmakers in both parties said families are being hurt by soaring grocery prices. The four Republican-sponsored bills total about $192 million in tax cuts, most of which comes from the proposed 1% cut to the grocery tax. Another bill would allow people 65 and older to withdraw more money from retirement accounts without paying state income tax. 'Today we have the opportunity to reduce taxes on just about everyone in the state of Alabama,' said Rep. Danny Garrett, the Republican sponsor of the bills. The Alabama House of Representatives approved the bills without a dissenting vote, sending them to the Alabama Senate. The proposed cut on the grocery tax would from reduce the state sales tax on food from 3% to 2%. Lawmakers in 2023 reduced the tax from 4% to 3% in 2023, but an additional reduction to 2% was hinged on budget growth that did not materialize. The latest bill would reduce the tax to 2% on Sept. 1 regardless of budget growth. Nine states place a sales tax on groceries. Lawmakers in several of those states have proposed cutting or removing the tax on food. The proposed tax cuts come despite uncertainty surrounding state budgets because of possible cuts or changes to federal programs. But supporters said families are being hurt by rising grocery prices now. 'I think this is going to go a long way toward helping our citizens balance their budgets and save money that they preciously need to help raise their children," House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle said during debate. Alabama lawmakers for years explored the removal of the entire state sales tax on food, but the efforts faltered because of how much it would reduce education funding. The state's Education Trust Fund is fueled by income and sales taxes. The Legislative Services Agency estimated that the 1% reduction will cost almost $122 million. Rep. Laura Hall, a Democrat, noted that Republicans created a $100 million school voucher program, which will let eligible families tap state dollars for private school or home school expenses. She said removing the sales tax on food entirely would help all families. 'Food continues to go up, and it is a challenge at best to go to the market,' Hall said. Representatives also approved a bill to allow people over 65 to tap an additional $6,000 from defined contribution retirement plans without paying state income tax. The bill would exempt the first $12,000 of taxable retirement income. The current exemption is $6,000. The tax cut would cost about $44 million each year. Another bill would increase the state's standard deduction and the income threshold for the maximum dependent exemption.
Associated Press
18-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Alabama shoppers could see savings under a proposed cut to the sales tax on food
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a series of tax cuts, including a 1% reduction on the state sales tax on food, as lawmakers in both parties said families are being hurt by soaring grocery prices. The four Republican-sponsored bills total about $192 million in tax cuts, most of which comes from the proposed 1% cut to the grocery tax. Another bill would allow people 65 and older to withdraw more money from retirement accounts without paying state income tax. 'Today we have the opportunity to reduce taxes on just about everyone in the state of Alabama,' said Rep. Danny Garrett, the Republican sponsor of the bills. The Alabama House of Representatives approved the bills without a dissenting vote, sending them to the Alabama Senate. The proposed cut on the grocery tax would from reduce the state sales tax on food from 3% to 2%. Lawmakers in 2023 reduced the tax from 4% to 3% in 2023, but an additional reduction to 2% was hinged on budget growth that did not materialize. The latest bill would reduce the tax to 2% on Sept. 1 regardless of budget growth. . The proposed tax cuts come despite uncertainty surrounding state budgets because of possible cuts or changes to federal programs. But supporters said families are being hurt by rising grocery prices now. 'I think this is going to go a long way toward helping our citizens balance their budgets and save money that they preciously need to help raise their children,' House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle said during debate. Alabama lawmakers for years explored the removal of the entire state sales tax on food, but the efforts faltered because of how much it would reduce education funding. The state's Education Trust Fund is fueled by income and sales taxes. The Legislative Services Agency estimated that the 1% reduction will cost almost $122 million. Rep. Laura Hall, a Democrat, noted that Republicans created a $100 million school voucher program, which will let eligible families tap state dollars for private school or home school expenses. She said removing the sales tax on food entirely would help all families. 'Food continues to go up, and it is a challenge at best to go to the market,' Hall said. Representatives also approved a bill to allow people over 65 to tap an additional $6,000 from defined contribution retirement plans without paying state income tax. The bill would exempt the first $12,000 of taxable retirement income. The current exemption is $6,000. The tax cut would cost about $44 million each year.
