Monday's Week in Preview . . .

A new Monday feature.  As always, you can add to the content by commenting.

Monday's week in preview  . . .
Stomping out ignorance early


1.  The bad news is that the Alabama legislature has only one day left in session and have yet to pass budgets or taken  action to reform the immigration bill.  The good news is the legislature has only one day left in session to consider strange legislation that has nothing to do with Alabama's looming financial problems.  Wednesday is the final day of the regular session and should be a wild one, with budgets being passed without opportunities to know what is really in them.  They may not want to know what is in the budget, because due to a revenue problem, all state services, including education, will take dramatic cuts.  A special session will probably be called immediately to consider re-drawing the legislative districts.

2.  It has been one year since Alabama's now  famous, or infamous,  immigration law, was signed into law.  There have been protests and litigation since that time.  It is in the news now not only because the Alabama legislature planned to take up some reforms this term.  It is in the news because once again farmers are having a difficult time finding enough workers, some cutting back or changing their crop plans.  Oneonta, Alabama, made the Washington Post again.

3. The Braves lead the National League East with hot offense.  The NBA play-offs continue.  Mo Williams, a former University of Alabama point guard, is a significant contributor to the LA Clippers, who advanced yesterday with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

4. Gasoline prices are falling despite everything Obama could do to keep them elevated.

5.  More and more will be heard from Congress about spending and taxes.  The results of the bipartisan agreement of last year regarding the national debt ceiling which required that cuts to the budget be made by agreement or automatic cuts would kick in (sequestration) will be coming home to roost very soon. Dramatic cuts, mostly in defense spending, will happen unless an agreement is reached.  This, in conjunction with the automatic expiration of the Bush tax cuts at the end of the year are, or should, cause panic among Congress, no matter the party affiliation.  The rhetoric will continue to get hotter.

6.  Presidential races are out of the starting blocks and getting up to speed.  So far, the campaigns can be summed  up by assertions of both sides of sage wisdom such as  "Liar,liar pants on fire . . ." and  "I'm rubber, you're glue, what you say bounces off of me and sticks to you . . ."

Feel free to supplement the preview if you wish.