In an ever-changing world, the way we connect with one another has also changed. To help you better communicate with the Alabama Legislature, the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives has produced a helpful application customized for your smart phone and tablet, just in time for the beginning of the 2013 Regular Session that convenes Tuesday, Feb. 5.
 
This application has an interactive directory of members of the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate, a legislative committee list, and links to the most current legislative action.  As a service to all Alabamians, AREA is offering this app for the low price of only $4.99, downloadable on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
 
"Politics controls every aspect of our lives," said Sean Strickler, AREA's vice president for public affairs, "and it is imperative that every citizen stay current on what is going on in the Legislature and contact their legislator when needed.

Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday provided an end-of-the-year update on the Road to a Billion Dollars in Savings, the state’s long-term effort to identify greater efficiencies and cost savings in government.

More than $750 million in current and projected annual savings have now been identified, up from $674 million in savings that had been identified when the plan was first announced in July.  The additional savings come through measures such as bond refinancings, contract renegotiations and workforce right-sizing.

“I am committed to an efficient state government, and we’re making great progress in saving taxpayers a billion dollars a year,” Governor Bentley said.  “The people of Alabama deserve a government that makes wise use of taxpayer dollars, and that’s what we’re giving them.  I am confident we will reach our goal of identifying a billion dollars in average annual savings by the end of this term.”

The additional savings, along with ad