Where on Earth is Joel Montgomery? Giuliani promises deflation. A political operative gets popped, and the Ala. Legislature poops out.

Alabamians must be getting screwed at the grocery store, because apparently New York prices are way, way better. Former New York mayor and presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani was in Montgomery today to speak to the Alabama Legislature and to hold a fundraiser, but not neccesarily in that order. While Hizzoner was at the capitol, WSFA blogger Helen Hammonds decide to quiz the candidate. On Goat Hill Gazette, she writes:

All politicians say they are in touch with the common man, so I thought a good question for a presidential candidate would be,”What’s the cost of a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread?” To his credit Mr. Giuliani did not do what most politicians do, look for someone else to answer the question or duck it entirely. He first asked, “Where, right here?” to which I replied clearly, “Anywhere.” The former mayor says, “A gallon of milk is probably about $1.50 and a loaf of bread about $1.25, $1.30, the last time I bought one…”

Thanks, Helen, for bringing Hizzoner back to Earth.

In Birmingham …

Councilor Joel Montgomery was absent from the Birmingham City Council meeting this morning. According to a report this morning in The Birmingham News, he has undergone surgery at Trinity Hospital on a vertebra he injured last Saturday night.

Montgomery’s absence was something of an elephant in the room at the meeting, with most city officials, including Mayor Bernard Kincaid and Council President Carole Smitherman, saying only that they wish him a speedy recovery. Mayor Kincaid did say that the mini-scandal poses a potentially complicated legal tangle for the city. The municipal court, which is appointed by the council, will have to recuse itself, he said.

Even with “Dr. No” missing, the meeting lasted until nearly 1 p.m.

In Jefferson County …

Political gun-for-hire Rick Spina pleaded guilty to two violations of the Alabama Fair Campaign Practice Act. He was fined $3,000 and given a suspended sentence.

Last year, Spina took out an ad in the Birmingham News that tried to tie then-Rep. Jim Carns to defrocked Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. The ad purported to be paid for by the Assembly of Republicans, a phantom political action group concocted by Spina.

Spina’s public relations firm had received business from Jefferson County under the previous administration, including his political patron, Rep. Gary White. Despite the ad, Carns defeated White in the Republican primary.

In Montgomery …

House Bill 527 was put on hold. The bill would make way for a constitutional amendment to legalize video gambling machines at all four of the state’s dog tracks. Such machines are currently legal at two of those dog tracks, already. If the bill passes, Alabama voters would approve or deny the amendment in a statewide referendum. The bill has received support from the reconstituted Alabama Christian Coalition, while Alabama Porch Creek Indians oppose it. Supporters say that the bill would contain gambling at the four dog tracks.

Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, withdrew the bill when it became apparent the bill did not have the votes to get past a B.I.R. resolution. Under Alabama law, the Legislature must pass the state budget before any other bills. However the Legislature my bypass that rule with a Budget Isolation Resolution. The resolution requires a two-thirds vote, and in effect, prevents any bill without such a super majority from passing.

Also, in Montgomery, a version of a PAC-to-PAC ban passed out of the Senate’s Government Affairs Committee. It is not yet known how badly the bill was amended before the vote, or whether it will pass a vote by the full Senate. In recent years, PAC-to-PAC bans have died in Goat Hill’s upper house.

— Kyle Whitmire