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March is Women's History Month!

Lawmakers Give Final Approval to Education Budget

Montgomery, Alabama –
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A summary of action in the Alabama
Legislature on Thursday, the 25th meeting day of the regular
session:
HOUSE
-Gave final approval to a bill to complete deregulation of the
phone business in Alabama. Goes to governor.
-Gave final approval to a bill to require hospitals to report to
the state health department when patients acquire infections inside
the hospital. Goes to governor.
-Approved a bill to permit construction of a building to replace
the Legislature's Statehouse. Goes to Senate.
-Voted to override the governor's veto of a bill that would
allow small towns in dry counties to legalize liquor sales. Goes to
Senate.
SENATE
-Blocked consideration of a bill to expand Alabama's worker
compensation program.
-Gave final approval to a $6.2 billion education budget. Goes to
governor.
-Received a visit from officials of Montgomery's new sister
city, Pietrasanta, Italy, including Mayor Massimo Mallegni.
-Passed a revised bill to provide new ways for voters overseas,
including the military, to obtain and cast absentee ballots. Goes
back to House to review Senate changes.
COMMITTEES
-House Judiciary Committee approved legislation to limit how
much lobbyists can spend on public officials and make other changes
in the state ethics law. Goes to House.
AGENDA
-Senate meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday and House at 1 p.m.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"All school systems will know what they are working with and
will not unnecessarily send out pink slips to their employees." -
Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, describing the education budget.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)