Bronner quips he did better with less

Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks and a delegation of state lawmakers left last week for a trade mission to India. Accompanying Sparks were trade and market development director John Key and international trade specialist Srinivas Javangula, department spokeswoman Christy Rhodes said. Legislators accompanying the trade mission were Sens. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, Pat Lindsey, D-Butler, Ted Little, D-Auburn, and Hank Sanders, D-Selma. Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, also was in the group, Rhodes said. The trade delegates will meet business representatives and will open the Alabama India Trade Development Center. "This center will focus on promoting the sale of Alabama products in the Indian marketplace,'' Rhodes said. "Some of the products being promoted include value-added food products, poultry and pecans.'' Sparks has led trade missions to Cuba, encouraging agreements to buy Alabama agriculture products.

The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama's annual meeting is scheduled Thursday at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover. Gov. Bob Riley is the scheduled luncheon speaker. PARCA said the morning program will include accountability issues facing state government such as campaign financing, lobbying, judicial selection, official conflicts of interest, and state budgets and contracts. A PARCA public opinion poll also will be released as will an analysis of best practices in other states. Scheduled panel members include Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, House Speaker Seth Hammett, and former state Sens. Hap Myers and Tommy Ed Roberts. On the Web at parca.samford.edu.

U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, is a Southeast volunteer supporter of Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, of Arizona. Bachus will serve as McCain's Southeast co-chairman, said McCain spokesman Danny Diaz. Bachus represents Alabama's Sixth Congressional District and is the ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee. As Southeast co-chairman, Bachus will help guide McCain's exploratory committee, Diaz said. "Having served in the Congress with Sen. McCain, I can personally attest to his leadership skills and integrity,'' Bachus said in a statement released by McCain.

Procrastinators will love this one. The Alabama Department of Revenue said the income tax filing deadline for tax year 2006 is April 17 this year because the usual filing date of April 15 is on a Sunday. In addition, the federal Internal Revenue Service has set April 17 as its filing deadline, said Alabama DOR spokeswoman Carla Snellgrove. Returns must be postmarked by midnight April 17 to avoid being late. Six-month filing extensions can be requested from the Alabama Department of Revenue for state taxes by using Form 4868A. Federal filing extension forms are available at irs.gov, or many locations such as public libraries. While you can get an extension to file, you'll still have to pay estimated taxes on or before April 17 or face potential penalties and interest. Of course, you could get a refund, too.

Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham is seeking $40,000 in donations to "help keep the 2006 election momentum.'' Turnham noted that despite being outspent in some races, "Democratic ideas and energy trumped Republican big money and fear politics in many important races.'' Notable Democratic wins included Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr., Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, the election of Susan Parker and re-election of Jan Cook to the Public Service Commission. Democrats maintained majorities in the House and Senate and in local races, he said. Alabama at the local level remains a "Blue State,'' Turnham said.

Dana Beyerle is Montgomery Bureau chief for the New York Times Regional Newspapers.