2009 Legislative Session Begins

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Legislature has begun its
2009 regular session.

It started at noon Tuesday when Speaker Seth Hammett gaveled the
House into session. Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. called the Senate to
order a few minutes later.

The Legislature will be in session for the next three and a half
months.

Key business will be to pass budgets to fund education and other
state services like state troopers, prisons and Medicaid. Lawmakers
expect to have to make major cuts in both spending plans because
tax revenues are down due to the recession.

Other major issues facing lawmakers include proposals to expand
and tax gambling, ethics reform, and legislation to remove the
state's four percent sales tax on groceries.

Governor Bob Riley will deliver the State Of The State tonight at 6:30 in the Old House Chamber of the State Capitol. You can watch it live on wkrg.com.

Wednesday would normally be a busy committee meeting day, but the Legislature is postponing the meetings to Thursday to allow lawmakers to attend former Governor Guy Hunt's funeral. Hunt died Friday in Birmingham. He was 75.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)