August 10, 2009

Governor Riley Issues Call for Special Session

MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley issued the call, or agenda, for the special session beginning Monday at 6 p.m.

Governor Riley has kept the call limited to four bills in order to avoid an unnecessarily lengthy special session. The Governor said legislators should be able to pass all four bills within five days, which is the minimum amount of time it takes to pass a bill.

The call contains two measures related to Jefferson County’s financial crisis, one bill to provide an additional 20 weeks of unemployment compensation to eligible workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits, and one bill to clarify the authority of the Public School and College Authority to issue no-interest school construction bonds available through the federal stimulus.

“During this special session, legislators have the opportunity to end Jefferson County’s financial crisis and help unemployed Alabamians and our schools. I urge them to come together with an attitude of compromise and cooperation so the session can end as quickly as possible,” said Governor Riley.