I promised you a list of the Alabama House members who crossed party lines on HB 787, the bill to overturn the double-dipping ban. Here it is—along with an accounting of legislators’ “day jobs,” for context:

Republicans voting for the bill (i.e., to overturn the ban):
Rep. Spencer Collier (R-Irvington), executive director of the Alabama Safety Institute;
Rep. Blaine Galliher (R-Gadsden), director of business and industry training for Calhoun County at Gadsden State Community College;
Rep. Todd Greeson (R-Ider), farmer, insurance agent and workforce developer with Northeast Alabama Community College;
Rep. Jeremy Oden (R-Vinemont), CFO of Delta Discount Corporation, a remodeling and reconstruction contractor; and
Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris), a Birmingham police sergeant.

Democrats voting against the bill (i.e., to preserve the ban):
Rep. Richard Laird (D-Roanoke), president of Ranco Inc., a real estate and development company;
Rep. Frank McDaniel (D-Albertville), retired food distributorship owner;
Rep. Charles Newton (D-Greenville), president of Newton Oil Company; and
Rep. William Thigpen (D-Fayette), retired businessman (type of business unspecified).

Love or hate the double-dipping ban, say what you will about the folks above: At least they cast a vote.

That’s more than can be said for the following members -- six of each party—who took a pass and voted “present” on final passage:
Rep. Billy Beasley (D-Clayton), pharmacist and drugstore owner;
Rep. Robert Bentley (R-Tuscaloosa), a board-certified dermatologist;
Rep. Christopher John England (D-Tuscaloosa), full-time legislator;
Rep. David Grimes (R-Montgomery), insurance agent;
Rep. Mike Hill (R-Columbiana), insurance agent;
Rep. Randy Hinshaw (D-Meridianville), “education specialist;”
Rep. A.J. McCampbell (D-Demopolis), insurance agent;
Rep. Jim McClendon (R-Springville), retired optician;
Rep. Mac McCutcheon (R-Capshaw), law enforcement professional and associate pastor;
Rep. Joseph Mitchell (D-Mobile), researcher and musician;
Rep. Yusuf Salaam (D-Selma), attorney; and
Rep. Elwyn Thomas (R-Oneonta), Realtor and real estate evaluator.

Incidentally, there has been some discussion among Alabama politicos about whether to consider the BIR vote, the cloture vote or the final passage vote when determining who crossed party lines. I go with the final passage vote here, because it is what matters to Alabamians in the end.

I invite any and all legislators mentioned in this post to respond and provide explanations for their votes—or lack thereof—on HB 787. I pledge to post responses in full as I receive them.

Legislators owe the people of Alabama an explanation as to are voting the way they are—or why, in some cases, they are not voting at all—on this critical policy measure. I hope they take this opportunity to tell us.