Alabama
Alabama workers slapped in the face with expiration of overtime pay tax cut: op-ed
This is a guest opinion column
Last year, when Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels led the bipartisan passage of the state tax exemption on overtime pay (the first of its kind in the nation), Alabama workers were ecstatic because it provided a meaningful way for them to combat the skyrocketing cost of living. They could immediately see the increase in their take-home pay– pay they earned by going above and beyond. Overtime pay that helped them offset rising grocery, utility, and rent bills. Maybe, even a little extra to put aside for the holidays.
But, with little warning, Republicans just slapped them in the face. Hard.
After voting unanimously last year to support the historic tax cut, including effusive praise from Governor Ivey and Republican leadership, they suddenly changed their minds this year and are now forcing the tax cut to expire in June.
Slap! How’s that feel?
You see, Republicans claimed without evidence that the tax cut was just too expensive, so instead of providing real relief to struggling Alabama workers and their families, they cravenly shaved another whole penny off the state’s regressive grocery tax. Talk about adding insult to injury at a time when eggs cost six dollars a dozen and ground beef is hitting historic highs— yeah, thanks a bunch guys for taking that one tiny penny off which will only save us one dollar for every hundred dollars we spend at the grocery store!
On top of that, they just increased the funding for the CHOOSE Act from $100 million to $180 million, which does nothing but divert even more public education money to for-profit private schools– schools with scant accountability that can raise their tuition at any time to increase their ever-growing profits.
Slapped again! And now we’re being told we should be grateful for that one bright, shiny penny and for helping rich kids continue their exclusive private education at “The Elite Academy for the Wealthy and Privileged!”
The irony here is overwhelming, especially as Republicans like Tommy Tuberville, have publicly stated that overtime pay should be exempt from federal taxes, as well. Like a broken clock that’s only right twice a day, Tuberville actually stumbled on a legitimate point here, because even he understands how more money in a worker’s paycheck goes right back into the local economy and still gets taxed.
The point is that Alabama workers need real relief in this time of historic economic uncertainty and fear. They don’t need to be slapped with what amounts to be the biggest tax increase on workers in Alabama history which will amount to over $300 million taken from their checks each year.
Not now, when Trump is telling us we can only buy two dolls and five pencils for Christmas because they’ll be more expensive— if we can even find them on the soon-to be empty shelves. Not now, when Alabama Republicans insist on using our public General Fund dollars to help finance billion dollar prisons that will be overcrowded and chock full of human rights abuses as soon as they are built. Not now, when we know that our state’s ETF budget is being played like three-card Monty at a carnival by some top Republican leaders and budget chairs to obscure how they are financing their own pet pork projects.
And it’s not just workers getting slapped around, it’s also employers and businesses that benefitted from the state tax exemption on overtime pay. That’s because it’s helped them keep trained, qualified workers on the production and service lines at a time when Alabama is facing labor shortages and low workforce participation rates.
Alabama Republicans made a serious mistake when they decided to slap Alabama workers with a big tax increase that they will immediately see in their smaller paychecks. On July 1st, that slap is really going to sting and Alabama workers aren’t just going to take that sitting down or let that slap go unanswered.
Alabama overtime workers need relief and we should be thankful for their extra effort, not penalizing them. Republicans better take heed and be careful when elections come in November, because they might just get slapped back hard– slapped right out of office and into reality.
State Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, has served in the Alabama House of Representatives since 2002.
Joseph Ionata, who spent two years with the Tide, will be joining former teammate Jaylen Mbakwe.
Georgia Tech fans celebrate during the second half against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)
A second former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is transferring to Georgia Tech.
Offensive lineman Joseph Ionata intends to play for the Yellow Jackets, according to On3. Ionata spent two years with the Tide and would be joining former Alabama defensive back and wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe.
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Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed Kristin Nelson in the upcoming special election for Alabama House District 38, a seat left vacant following the resignation of Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley). The district includes portions of Chambers and Lee counties.
Nelson recently secured the Republican nomination after winning a runoff election. The special general election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3.
“Kristin Nelson is a well-respected community leader in Chambers County, and we are proud to endorse her,” said Jason McKay, president of the Chambers County Farmers Federation. “We know she will represent us well in Montgomery and ensure District 38 gets the attention it needs in the business and agricultural arenas.”
Support for Nelson’s candidacy also came from farmers in neighboring Lee County. “Kristin Nelson is a strong conservative with incredible knowledge of House District 38,” said Robert Walters, president of the Lee County Farmers Federation. “There is no doubt she will work hard and represent the people of Lee and Chambers counties well in the Legislature.”
Nelson grew up along the Chambers-Lee county line and brings experience from both the public and private sectors. Her background includes seven years in city administration with the City of Valley and three years as a third-grade teacher with Lanett City Schools.
She has also been active in homeschooling through Classical Conversations, where she has served as both a tutor and a local representative supporting other families.
In addition to returning to part-time work with Harris Gray LLC, Nelson serves as worship leader at Fairfax Methodist Church, secretary of the Junior Variety Club and president of the EAMC Lanier Auxiliary Board.
She also founded the Chambers County Young Republicans and currently serves as the chair of the Chambers County Republican Party.
“The farmers of this district and I share the same strong work ethic and conservative values,” said Nelson. “It is an honor to have their support and to be able to represent them and all the people of this district in Montgomery.”
Nelson and her husband, Jeff, live in the Huguley community with their two teenage sons.
The Alabama Farmers Federation is the state’s largest farm organization, representing more than 360,000 member families. The organization uses a grassroots endorsement process that relies on decisions made by county Farmers Federation boards of directors in local elections.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
HOOVER, Ala. (WSFA) – Senator Tommy Tuberville officially filed the paperwork to run for governor at the Alabama Republican Party Headquarters in Hoover Monday morning.
“I want to make the lives of the people of this state better,” said Sen. Tuberville. “If I thought that staying in the U.S. Senate would be best for Alabama, I would’ve stayed. but I think the best thing for Alabama is for me to come back.”
He talked about the need to grow Alabama’s economy, with attracting manufacturers being a primary focus. Sen. Tuberville said that to do that, he would focus on improving the state’s infrastructure and making the state’s education and workforce systems more attractive to new residents.
When asked about cutting waste, fraud and abuse, a focus of his time in Washington, D.C., alongside President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, Sen. Tuberville said, he expects to make changes if elected governor.
“You have a lot of different agencies here, we want to make them all better,” he said. “We also want to make sure that we save the taxpayers’ money, that we use it wisely and we give it back to them.”
The former Auburn football coach said he did not expect to go into politics, but now, he is ready to transition from national to state politics.
“It’s time to come home, put together a staff and worry about the state of Alabama and the people here,” he said.
According to Alabama’s constitution, someone running for governor has to have lived in the state for at least seven years. Some have questioned whether Sen. Tuberville fits that requirement. He said during the candidacy filing that the Republican Party of Alabama says he does fulfill the requirement.
The filing deadline for candidates to qualify for a major political party is Jan. 23.
Alabama’s Democratic primary has the following candidates:
- Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones
- Dr. Will Boyd – businessman and engineer
- JaMel Brown – pastor and talk show host
- Chad ‘Chig’ Martin – businessowner
Alabama’s Republican Primary has the following candidates:
- Sen. Tommy Tuberville
- Ken McFeeters – former congressional candidate
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