Black caucus shutting down Alabama House

Members of the black caucus in the Alabama House of Representatives are shutting down the chamber today over frustration that they did not have the votes earlier in the week to bring up a bill that would allow people to decide if they want to remove the state's 4-percent sales tax from groceries. The revenue would be replaced by not allowing wealthier Alabamians to deduct the federal income tax they pay from their state income tax.
Several members of the caucus are speaking against the failure to bring the bill up on Tuesday. They have said the bill is one of their highest priorities.
Republicans have said the bill would be a tax increase on their constituents.
The sponsor, state Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, said people are spreading misinformation.
He said poor farmers were told their taxes would go up and lined the halls of the State House. Knight said baby chickens are exempt from taxes, but baby food is not.
Many members expect the shut down to keep the House from moving forward with other legislation.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen