House reconvenes at 12:01 a.m., continues debate on ethics bill

Democrats in the Alabama House of Representatives pushed the special session on ethics to a sixth day by delaying action on a bill they believe would hurt the Alabama Education Association and other politically active organizations.
The House adjourned at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and reconvened at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
Democrats kept filibustering the bill for the better part of 12 hours on Tuesday.
They are fighting a bill they believe would be devastating to the AEA and the Alabama State Employees Association. The bill would prohibit the AEA, ASEA and other politically active organizations from collecting dues through automatic payroll deduction from state payroll.
Democrats believe the bill is politically motivated and aimed to destroy the AEA.
Republicans believe that state resources should not be used to collect dues for organizations that are politically active.
Republicans tried to shut down the debate on Tuesday, but did not have the necessary three-fifths vote required to stop debate on a bill.
The Senate adjourned closer to 11 p.m.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen