Heads and tales: We dare defend
By Wade KwonIf Alabama hasn’t received enough national media attention lately, the drought is over, friends.
Exhibit A: Don Siegelman freed by “60 Minutes.” The former governor talked with the news magazine about seeing his story and his challenge for Republican operative Karl Rove.
Check out his brief interview from last Sunday’s broadcast …
• Siegelman Future Hinges On Appeal [CBS News]
Exhibit B: How bad is the state’s tax system? PBS news magazine “Now” investigates.
“Now” gets inside the lives of three Alabamian families — each in a different income bracket — to document the impact of regressive tax policies on people’s lives and wallets. The program follows a working mom to a grocery store, showing viewers how a 10 percent sales tax on groceries makes a significant difference in what her family eats.
Viewers travel to the backwoods to meet a couple who have always held jobs but still face hunger. They wonder why the government takes such a big share of the salary they earn. The program also spends time with a well-to-do suburban couple who benefit from a system that gives them huge tax breaks, and we hear their opinion on a tax hike.
The show airs at 8:30 p.m. Friday on APT-10 (a one-time only resurrection from its current time slot, 3:30 a.m. Sundays, banished there by the cowards at Alabama Public Television). Video and podcast will be available next week on the show’s site and on iTunes.
• Alabama Tax Policies [APT]
Exhibit C: As the corruption in Alabama’s two-year college system comes to light, lawmakers are running scared. Many “work” for the system, and are now being hauled before a grand jury to prove they’re not in it just for money. Oh, but think of the children poorly educated not-quite-collegians! (Hat tip to our pal Dave.)
• Fear, Paranoia and, Yes, Some Loathing in Alabama State House [New York Times]
Also:
- Rains bring nearly full capacity for local pollution- and pharmaceutical-tainted lakes
- Council approves mayor’s plan to beat council with pointy sticks
- Ah, spring, when a young man’s fancy turns to— er, fancy? Really?
• • •
