A change of command ceremony was held at Maxwell Air Force Base Monday as the facility welcomed a new Commander and President of Air University. Lt. General Steven Kwast assumes command from the outgoing Lt. General David Fadok. General Kwast has served as military aide to the Vice President. General Fadok has plans to retire to Fairhope, Alabama.
Roby Comments
Military readiness was on the mind of Alabama Congresswoman Martha Roby Monday as she attended the change of command ceremony. Roby wants to see the new Republican majority push for increased defense spending. Roby last week won re-election as Representative of Alabama's Second Congressional District. She lists other priorities for the 114th Congress as: responsible budgeting, health care law repeals and rewrites, education tax credits, welfare reform and improvements to America's energy infrastructure.
Accountability Act
The Alabama Supreme Court will hear arguments in early December on the state government's appeal of a judge's ruling striking down the Alabama Accountability Act. The Accountability Act provides state tax credits for parents to move children from public schools rated as failing to private schools. It also provides tax credits for individuals and businesses that contribute to scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools rather than public schools. Members of the state teachers' organization challenged the law in court. Montgomery County Circuit Judge Gene Reese ruled it unconstitutional in May. State officials and some parents are appealing his ruling. The law remains in effect while the appeal is pending.
Perry at ASU
Dr. Steve Perry, a renowned education expert will be in Montgomery Tuesday as the guest speaker at Alabama State University's Education Leaders' Luncheon. The luncheon is part of a special Veterans Day event; its theme is Literacy: The Gateway to Success. The event will be held at ASU's John Garrick Hardy Student Center at 1 p.m.