Commission to meet on bond issues

The state's 666 Bond Commission will meet Wednesday to finalize state bonds for several projects, including economic incentives to the Shoals' newest announced industry and to the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. modernization in Gadsden. The Amendment 666 Bond Commission could consider up to $40 million in bond authority for National Alabama Corp., the $350 million railcar company announced last week for Colbert County. In addition, bond authority for German steel maker ThyssenKrupp will be considered as well as for Goodyear. Gadsden officials have asked for up to $25 million for an economic development grant for Goodyear, which plans to invest $125 million to modernize and preserve 1,400 jobs. ThyssenKrupp is the $3.7 billion steel plant in Mobile and Washington counties. Voters approved a higher state bond authority ceiling on June 5.

The chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee issued a brief statement in response to a U.S. Department of Justice news release about the prosecution of former Gov. Don Siegelman. Four committee members, including U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., of Birmingham, said they were concerned about national news reports and by an affidavit by a Rainsville lawyer stating the White House was involved in Siegelman's prosecution. The Justice Department denied politics was involved. Siegelman is a Democrat who was convicted in 2006 during a federal trial.

There is an implication that U.S. Attorney Leura Garrett Canary, who was appointed by Republican Pres. George Bush, either directly or indirectly was told to prosecute Siegelman for political reasons. Canary said she recused herself from the case early to avoid an appearance of impropriety, and her office denied any political pressure. Siegelman was prosecuted by career assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Franklin and others.

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., did not directly respond to the contents of the Justice Department's press release. But he said in a statement, "The best way for the Department to respond to the various allegations of selective prosecution is to provide the materials requested by the Judiciary Committee.''

Former Mobile Press-Register reporter Martha Simmons has been named director of communications for the Department of Postsecondary Education, which administers two-year schools. Alabama College System Chancellor Bradley Byrne appointed Simmons, 53, to the post last week. She covered education for the Press-Register and most recently was community projects director for the Mobile County District Attorney's office. Simmons is a graduate of the University of South Alabam and has worked in corporate and public communications. "Martha and I have been acquainted since I served on the state board of education and she covered our meetings and interviewed me for a wide array of daily news articles," Byrne said. "She is quite familiar with many of the issues and personalities surrounding the Alabama college system and will provide critical support to our system-wide goals of becoming more transparent and accountable to the public."

Dana Beyerle is Montgomery Bureau chief for the New York Times Regional Newspapers. His e-mail address is dtb12345@aol.com.