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March is Women's History Month!

First Week of Ethics Trial Wraps Up

The first week of the felony ethics trial of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard wraps up today.  Prosecutors expect to call as many as nine witnesses on this day.  The testimony is expected to relate to Hubbard's consulting contract with a gas utility in southeast Alabama.  Yesterday State Medicaid officials said they opposed Medicaid language temporarily inserted in the 2013 budget that could have benefited a client of House Speaker Mike Hubbard.  Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar testified that officials were caught off guard by language added in the House setting requirements for any pharmacy benefit manager the state might hire.  Former State Health Officer Don Williamson testified that he was "surprised" when he learned Hubbard had a consulting contract with the only company that would qualify for the work.  Williamson said Hubbard agreed to remove the language when Medicaid officials raised concerns.  On cross-examination, defense lawyer Bill Baxley tried to suggest that a former lawmaker, who has already pleaded guilty to an ethics violation, was responsible for the language.