Riley Still Undecided on Special Session Next Week

Gov. Bob Riley said Thursday that he's still leaning toward calling a special session of the state Legislature for Monday of next week, but he's not yet satisfied that all the kinks have been worked out of an agreement for Jefferson County.

Riley was touring Montgomery's new Johnnie Carr Junior High School Thursday and he said he's told legislators not to schedule anything for next Monday, but he's still not ready to pull the trigger on calling a special session.

"We're still working on the language of the bill and we're getting very, very close," he said. "I've talked with all the (Jefferson County) House and Senate members, and the speaker of the House and the leadership in the Senate to make sure that we're all on the same page. "

Riley said that doesn't mean there will be a unanimous vote on whatever bills are brought to address the financial woes of the state's most populous county, but he wants to make sure that the bills are something that enough legislators can support and pass in five days.

Riley said he intends to make any call to special session specifically about Jefferson County, and is not considering adding anything that would address the problems with the state's prepaid affordable college tuition plan.

"We can take up local bills, as long as they don't pertain to gambling," he said.

-- posted by Markeshia Ricks