May 21, 2013
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama House Democrats spent the day Tuesday making speeches on the House floor about how they felt they were run over last week when Republicans passed a school accountability act through the House and Senate.
Republican House Speaker Mike Hubbard allowed Democrats to each take "a moment of personal privilege" to express their displeasure with the way the bill was passed. It passed after being heavily rewritten in a conference committee.
The rewritten bill allows parents to receive tax credits to send their children to private schools. Democratic legislators said most parents would not be able to afford private schools even with the tax credits.
House Minority leader Democratic Rep. Craig Ford of Gadsden says the children of Alabama will pay for the way the bill was passed.
AP-WF-03-05-13 2300GMT
