AL YMCA Youth in Government

Gov. Brannen McMahan, Montgomery (Trinity)
Lt. Gov. Logan Powell, Montgomery (Trinity)
President Pro Tempore Taylor Lollar, Montgomery (Trinity)
Senate Floor Leader Mary Parrish Cobb, Montgomery (LAMP)
Speaker of the House Whitney Lott, Montgomery (Trinity)
Speaker Pro Tempore Madison Singleton, Montgomery (Trinity)
House Floor Leader Trey Ingram, Montgomery (Trinity)
First Year Presiding Officer Chad Dubois, Montgomery (Catholic)
Secretary of State: Dakin Hill, Montgomery (Trinity)

Chief Justice:  Danielle Phillps, Birmingham (Spain Park)

2011 TOMORROW-TODAY CO-EDITORS: Barbara Bradley and Lexie Segrest, Montgomery (Catholic)

Governor’s Award for OUTSTANDING DELEGATION: Tuskegee

PASSED BILLS

FY3 - Thomas Stallings and Ashley Ann Adams, Montgomery (Trinity) - Decrease Illegal Immigration in the Workforce

FY 4 - Ashley Ann Adams, Lauren Kingry and Erin Williams, Montgomery (Trinity) - Industry Scholarship

FY 16 - Josh Donaldson, Enterprise - No Unemployment Tax for Employers under Unfortunate Circumstances Act

FY 58 - Read Mills, Birmingham (Spain Park) - The Clean Car Act

HB 7 - Madison Singleton, Montgomery (Trinity) - To Require a Person Receiving an Unemployment Benefits, Certain Public Aid, or Assistance to Submit to Drug Screening and Provide Penalties if He Fails This Drug Test

HB 40 - Mary Wills and Leighton Wilson, Birmingham (Oak Mountain) - An Act to Establish a Fiscal Year Appropriation Cap for the Alabama Education Trust Fund

HB 41 - Christian Harben, Mobile (UMS-Wright) - The Clean Air Act

HB 62 - Will Clayton, Birmingham (Oak Mountain) - Prison Construction and Funding Act of 2010

HB 65 - Lindsay Price and Bria Rashing, Montgomery - Tax Incentives for Recycling Centers

SB 1 - Brannen McMahan, Montgomery (Trinity) - A Comprehensive Revision of the Alabama State Constitution

SB 4 - Davis Vaughn and Lucy Jackson, Montgomery (Trinity) - Bill Mandating that English Be the Only Language Available for Those Taking the Alabama Driver’s Test

SB 5 - Sheldon Martin and Allison Riley, Montgomery (Trinity) - Prohibit a Registered Sex Offender from Accessing a Social Networking Site on the Internet

SB 22 - Georgia Cassady, Enterprise - Eat Green (Public schools forbidden to use strofoam)

SB 37 - Zach Grate, Montgomery (St. James) - Insurance Tags (external indication of insurance)

BEST BILLS

HOUSE:
HB 59 - Aaron DePiano, Birmingham (Oak Mountain) - Saving Lives of Working Emergency Responders Act (S.L.O.W.E.R. Act)

Honorable mentions:

• HB 16 - Sarah Strickland, Enterprise - The Fundraiser Disclosure Act
• HB 24 - Matthew Spivey and Wesley Peters, Ozark - Charity Bingo Act of 2010
• HB 40 - Mary Wills and Leighton Wilson, Birmingham (Oak Mountain) - An Act to Establish a Fiscal Year Appropriation Cap for the Alabama Education Trust Fund

SENATE:
SB 5 - Sheldon Martin and Allison Riley, Montgomery (Trinity) - Prohibit a Registered Sex Offender from Accessing a Social Networking Site on the Internet

Honorable mentions:

• SB 1 - Brannen McMahan, Montgomery (Trinity) - A Comprehensive Revision of the Alabama State Constitution
• SB 3 - Davis Vaughn and Lucy Jackson, Montgomery (Trinity) - A Proposal of a Statewide Lottery Benefiting Education
• SB 11 - Ann Elizabeth Stabler and Mary Frances Morris, Montgomery (Trinity) - Predatory Lending
• SB 25 - Catherine Irwin and Jillian Heaton, Enterprise - Double the Blood Alcohol Level, Double the Punishment

FIRST YEAR:  FY 16 - Josh Donaldson, Enterprise - No Unemployment Tax for Employers under Unfortunate Circumstances Act

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS for adult leadership:

• Cindy Somerville, Montgomery
• Kay McGaughey, Montgomery
• Catherine Jaime, Huntsville
• Blaine Wheeler, Lake City, Fla.
• Jimmy Dennis, Montgomery
• Sevanne Steiner, New Orleans, LA

OUTSTANDING LOBBYIST: Benjamin Richardson, Pike Road (St. James)

BILL BARRINGER SCHOLARSHIP: Chris Stokes, Oak Mountain

SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD: Amber Voss, Wetumpka (Edgewood Academy)
(paid trip to Values Conference)

JERE HARDY (Outstanding statesmen)

• House: Will Clayton, Birmingham (Oak Mountain)
• Senate: Patrick Donnan, Auburn

OUTSTANDING 1^ST YEAR PARTICIPANT: Zijie Yin, Mountain Brook

BETTY CARR AWARD: D’Jara Britton, Montgomery (Catholic)

FIRST YEAR AWARDS

Thomas Stallings, Montgomery (Trinity)   Hannah Masingill, Montgomery (Catholic)
Ben Garcia, Mountain Brook                            Vincent Mitchell, Mobile (UMS-Wright)
Jackie Gonzalez, Birmingham (Spain Park)  Lauren Petersen, Mobile (UMS-Wright)
Mary Catherine Conners, Enterprise              Jeff Rodgers, Mountain Brook
Holly Howell, Birmingham (Spain Park)        Allie Phifer, Birmingham (Spain Park)
Collen Anusiewicz, Mobile (UMS-Wright)     Zijie Yin, Mountain Brook
Read Mills, Birmingham (Spain Park)             Onur Oztas, Mobile (UMS-Wright)
Brittany Spears, Birmingham (Spain Park)   Ben Lacewell, Enterprise
Jordan Heymann, Montgomery (Catholic) Candler Reynolds, Montgomery (Trinity)

MEDIA AWARD: Danielle Carter, Wetumpka (Edgewood Academy)

2010 YOUTH CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS DELEGATES

Sen. Katie Bailey, Hoover
1^st Year Delegate Pranav Bethala, Mobile
Lt. Gov. D’Jara Britton, Montgomery
Finance Director Will Clayton, Birmingham
Sen. Patrick Donnan, Auburn
Transportation Director Elizabeth Finley, Millbrook
Communications Director Zach Grate, Montgomery
Tourism and Travel Director Dakin Hill, Montgomery
Rep. Eunji Jo, Birmingham-Oak Mountain
Public Safety Director Taylor Lollar, Montgomery
First Year Presiding Officer Whitney Lott, Montgomery
Sen. Cara McElroy, Birmingham
President Pro Tem Brannen McMahan, Montgomery
House Speaker Amanda Pfluke, Enterprise
Chief Justice Danielle Phillips, Birmingham
Speaker Pro Tem Logan Powell, Montgomery
Gov. Jonathan Quisenberry, Enterprise
Sen. Colette Robicheaux, Auburn
Sen. Chris Stokes, Oak Mountain
Asst. Senate Floor Leader Lizzie Terino, Montgomery
Mental Health/Mental Retardation Commissioner Emily Thompson, Troy
Sen. Maggie Touchton, Auburn
Senate Floor Leader Amber Voss, Wetumpka
Emergency Management Director Alison Ward, Dothan
1^st Year Delegate Zijie Yin, Mountain Brook

2010 YOUTH CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS ALTERNATES

1^st Alternate: Rep. Andrew Brane, Birmingham

2^nd Alternate: DIR Director Mallory Thompson, Birmingham

3^rd Alternate: Secretary of State Katherine Cordona, Enterprise

4^th Alternate: Asst. Sec. of State Mary Parrish Cobb, Montgomery

5^th Alternate: Rep. Aaron Depiano, Birmingham

6^th Alternate: Asst. House Floor Leader David Kinstley, Birmingham

7^th Alternate: Banking Director Elizabeth Roth, Enterprise

8^th Alternate: Rep. Andrew Godwin, Montgomery

9^th Alternate: 1^st Year Delegate Levi Waters, Auburn

10^th Alternate: Rep. Eric Tate, Birmingham

11^th Alternate: Lobbyist Benjamin Richardson, Pike Road

12^th Alternate: Sen. Hanson Schultz, Auburn

13^th Alternate:  Sen. Briana O’Neal, Tuskegee

14^th Alternate: Sen. Cara Macon, Mobile

15^th Alternate: 1^st Year Reading Clerk Mary Catherine Connors, Enterprise

16^th Alternate:  Rep. Benjamin Hubbard, Hartselle

17^th Alternate:  Corrections Commissioner Catherine Irwin, Enterprise

18^th Alternate:  Sen. Judge Tate, Birmingham

19^th Alternate:  Sen. Davis Vaughn, Montgomery

20^th Alternate:  Rep. Kaitlyn Rush, Enterprise

21st Alternate:  Rep. Daniel Stark, Auburn

By Barbara Bradley and Lexie Segrest
Tomorrow-Today 2011 Co-Editors

On Saturday afternoon, the Alabama Youth Legislature delegates came together for a joint session that focused on the election of the 2011 governor. The Tomorrow-Today newspaper staff composed questions for candidates Brannen McMahan and Ebony Moore to help voters make their choice. When asked about the programs strongest points, Moore replied that the people are what make Youth Legislature great. The staff also asked about the current gambling debacle to which McMahan replied that he strongly opposes gambling though he believes it is the people’s choice. At the conclusion of the questioning, the candidates both gave final speeches. Moore gave a heartfelt speech about her passion for this program and encouraged the delegates to “seek new places.” McMahan humored the crowd with a story from elementary school, but, on more serious note, reminded them that, “Every person owes service to their community.” The best of luck to both candidates!

Tomorrow-Today Staff

Each year, college students who have participated in Youth Legislature return to assist the new year’s delegates. They are always a huge help and enjoy the job immensely; the best part is meeting new people and getting to know them. There was a dance-off going on between the college staff in which they had 15 seconds to show everyone their best moves.The winner was Daniel Connors featuring vocalist Jessica Christie. Congratulations!

Daniel Connors

By Carrie Mason

Tomorrow-Today Newspaper Staff   

The earthquake in Chile Saturday morning was the most powerful to hit the country in half a century. Just the aftershocks had a magnitude of 6.9. So far the highest count of death is 122. The quake damaged the country’s infrastructure and set off a tsunami that is now threatening Hawaii.

Warning has been issued for Hawaii as well as across the pacific. Officials are preparing to evacuate the coastal areas. The United States is planning to help both Chile and Hawaii during these tough times.

Lt. Governor D'Jara Britton

By Tricia Ward

Tomorrow-Today Newspaper Staff

Q. How many years have you done youth in government?

A. 6 years

Q. What do you do as Lt. Governor?

A. You take over the Governor’s job if he can’t for any reason. Mostly though, your job is to preside over the Senate.

Q. What would be your advice for first years?

A. You should take chances. You should take chances in running for positions and meeting people.

Q. What was your inspiration for doing this?

A. My advisor commandeered me my freshman year to do youth legislature. After that, it was like a can of Pringles, once you start you can’t stop.

Q. What are your college plans and what do you want to major in?

A. I want to go to Sanford University or Springhill College and major in political science.

By Danielle Carter

Tomorrow-Today Co-Editor

With the weather hovering around fifty degrees, Youth Legislature fashion attire consists of clothing out of season. Girls have been spotted wearing spring and summer clothing. Yes, its cute, but how are you not freezing? These fashions were caught in candid shots throughout the weekend.

By Jessica Flournoy

Tomorrow-Today Newspaper Staff

Q. Have you enjoyed this weekend so far?

A. Yes! It’s been great.

Q. Do you plan on joining the college staff next year?

A. Yes I do.

Q. What kind of hard work did it take to obtain your position?

A. I set a goal when I was in Junior Youth Legislature, and I ran for office every year.

Q. What have you done as Governor so far?

A. My cabinet and I wanted to increase the number of participants this year. We did, the program became larger this year. It was 150 last year and it is 400 this year.

Q. Is becoming Alabama’s Governor one of your goals?

A. No, not in the real legislature. At one point I did, but I have realized it would take a lot of hard work.

Q. What is your advice for aspiring Youth Governors?

A. Don’t be afraid to aim high. Set goals and strive to reach them.

Governor - Brannen McMahan and Ebony Moore

Lt. Governor - Hastings Johnston and Logan Powell

Speaker - Whitney Lott and Elizabeth Roth

Sen. Pro Temp. - Taylor Lollar

House Pro Temp. - Madison Singleton

Senate Floor Leader - Mary Parrish Cobb

House Floor Leader - Michael Halvorson, Trey Ingram, and David Kinstley

First Year PO - Chad DuBois

Secretary of State - Dakin Hill and Patty Maxham

First Year

Presiding Officer - Whitney Lott

Pro Temp - Dakin Hill

Floor Leader - Ross Herring

Asst. Floor Leader - Lauren Petersen

Clerk - Jordan Haymann

Asst. Clerk - Chambrai Pettus

Reading Clerk - Mary Catherine Connors

Chaplain - Zijie Yin

Sergeant at Arms - Will Howell

House

Speaker - Amanda Pfluke

Pro Temp - Logan Powell

Floor Leader - Caroline Madison

Asst. Floor Leader - David Kinstley

Clerk - Patty Maxham

Asst. Clerk - Patricia Decker

Reading Clerk - Elizabeth Roth, Sarah Strickland, Amy Sims, and Paige Sormrude

Chaplain - Trey Ingram

Sgt. at Arms - Allison Judge

Senate

President - D’Jara Britton

Pro Temp - Brannen McMahan

Floor Leader - Amber Voss

Asst. Floor Leader- Lizzie Terino

Secretary - Lauren Wiggins

Reading Clerk -Amy Fleming

Champlain - Lizzie Terino

Sgt. at Arms - Taylor Lollar

Supreme Court

Chief Justice - Danielle Phillips

Justices - Ebony Moore, Michael Halvorson, Hastings Johnson, Haden Ellis

Attorney General - Lauren Riley

Secretary of State - Katherine Cardona

Asst. Secretary of State - Madison Singleton and Mary Parish Cobb