Bedford Selected as Senate Minority Leader

The Senate Democratic Caucus has selected Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, as its minority leader, according to a press release from Bedford Wednesday.

"I am honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as minority leader," Bedford said in a statement. "The Democratic Caucus looks forward to working with the new administration to achieve strong ethics reform and to continue to ensure the well being of all Alabamians by creating new jobs and fighting to protect our children and seniors during these tough economic times."

Bedford is formerly the powerful chairman of the Senate committee that crafted the state's General Fund budget.

Republicans took control of both chambers of the Alabama Legislature for the first time in 136 years on Nov. 2.

-- posted by Markeshia Ricks