Tom Butler (Alabama politician)

Thomas Wayne Butler (born April 9, 1944) is a politician, and member of the Alabama Senate. He represents the 2nd District as a member of the Republican Party.[2] Senate District 2 encompasses east Limestone County and western Madison County. It includes the cities of Athens, Huntsville and Madison.

Tom Butler
Member of the Alabama Senate
from the 2nd district
Assumed office
November 7, 2018
Preceded byBill Holtzclaw
In office
November 9, 1994 – November 3, 2010
Preceded byJim Smith
Succeeded byBill Holtzclaw
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 6th district
In office
November 9, 1983 – November 9, 1994
Preceded byMax Newman
Succeeded byLee Jorgensen
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 17th district
In office
November 3, 1982 – November 9, 1983
Preceded byJim Smith
Succeeded byJack Lauderdale
Personal details
Born
Thomas Wayne Butler

(1944-04-09) April 9, 1944
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (since 2011)
Democratic (before 2011)[1]
SpouseKaren
Residence(s)Madison, Alabama, U.S.
Professionpharmacist, Medicare Health Plan manager

Biography

Prior to his term in the Alabama Senate, Butler served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1982 through 1994.

Butler graduated from the University of Alabama and then from Auburn University.[2] He works as a pharmacist[2] and health underwriter. He is a member of Optimist International, the North Alabama Health Underwriters Association, and the Alabama Pharmaceutical Association.

Butler was an early supporter of making automated external heart defibrillators (AED) widely available in Alabama. He sponsored legislation to place such devices in all Alabama public schools.[3]

Butler was the original sponsor of the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1998, a statute that prohibits the sale of sex toys. Originally intended to prohibit nude dancing,[4] the statute has subsequently become the target of controversy and litigation.[5]

Butler sponsored and helped pass the Dixon-Butler Permanent Contract Review Act,[6] which created a Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee to review certain state contracts. This legislation aimed to ensure that ethical standards were upheld in state contracts issued by the Administrative branch. Butler served as chair, and vice chair, of this oversight committee.

Butler sponsored legislation to construct two State Veterans Nursing Homes (in Huntsville and Bay Minette). He worked to fund the Veterans Memorial in Birmingham, the Veteran's Museum and Archives in Athens, the establishment of the Veterans Living Legacy[7] at the American Village at Montevallo, and the creation of Alabama's Veterans Assistance Fund.

Butler authored legislation that allowed the city of Madison to establish its own school system. This system has gained national attention for some of its schools.[8]

Butler served on several committees during his House and Senate terms. His Senate assignments included the following:

  • Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Alabama Senate
  • Children, Youth Affairs, and Human Resources Committee, Alabama Senate Chairperson
  • Commerce, Transportation, and Utilities Committee, Alabama Senate
  • Finance and Taxation Education Committee, Alabama Senate
  • Finance and Taxation General Fund, Alabama Senate
  • Health Committee, Alabama Senate Deputy Chairperson
  • Local Legislation No. 1 Committee, Alabama Senate
  • Industrial Development and Recruitment Committee, Alabama Senate
  • Rules Committee, Alabama Senate

In May 2019, he voted to make abortion a crime at any stage in a pregnancy, with no exemptions for cases of rape or incest.[9]

In March 2019, he voted to increase gasoline taxes by 10 cents per gallon over three years, up to 28 cents per gallon an effective tax increase of 55% over the previous rate of 18 cents per gallon.[10]

In March 2020, he voted against the legalization of medical cannabis. The bill passed the Senate 22–11.

See also

References
  1. "Former Sen. Tom Butler appeals to state GOP after being barred from primary ballot". The Huntsville Times. December 23, 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  2. Moseley, Brandon (19 September 2017). "Former state Senate Majority Leader Tom Butler to run for state Senate". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  3. "Code of Alabama - Title 16: Education - Section 16-1-45 - Automated external defibrillator requirements - Legal Research". Archived from the original on 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  4. Stevens, Challen. Sex toys never 'focus of bill'. Huntsville Times, May 21, 2007
  5. Reeves, Jay. Women Fight Alabama Sex Toy Ban, Chicago Sun Times, Feb 18, 1999
  6. "Dixon-Butler Permanent Contract Review Act". Law.onecle.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  7. "Veterans Living Legacy". Americanvillage.org. Archived from the original on 2010-12-12. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  8. AL, Madison City Schools. "Madison City Schools :: Madison City Schools". Madisoncity.k12.al.us. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  9. Durkin, Erin; Benwell, Max (15 May 2019). "These 25 white men – all Republicans – just voted to ban abortion in Alabama". The Guardian.
  10. "Gas tax passes: How did your legislator vote?". al. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
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