456 percent should be illegal

Alabama law lets payday lenders charge an annualized percentage rate (APR) of 456 percent. Georgia, North Carolina and Arkansas have all said that consumer lending at triple-digit interest is an illegal exploitation of their residents.

This issue brief from ACPP and Alabama Appleseed outlines Alabama's payday loan problem and offers real solutions.

Immigration Policy Choices 2012

Alabama last year passed the nation's harshest anti-immigrant law, HB 56. Designed to make life difficult for undocumented immigrants and cause them to leave Alabama, the law has had a far broader impact, bringing national scorn, widespread economic harm and personal hardship to citizens as well as non-citizens. The law disproportionately affects low-income Alabamians, regardless of their immigration status.

Read issue brief here.

"Immigrants, Go Home!": Alabama's 2011 Immigration Law

Alabama has had its share of unflattering national spotlights. But it's been a while since the glare has been as widespread and piercing as it has been in the wake of HB 56, the state's new anti-immigrant law. Critics and supporters alike consider the new law to be the harshest among recent anti-immigrant measures across the country.

This fact sheet by ACPP policy analyst Stephen Stetson examines the socioeconomic and political factors that gave rise to the law and its far-reaching major provision.

Same Work, Less Pay: The Wage Gap in Alabama

Imagine the uproar if football officials suddenly were to declare touchdowns worth six points for one team but only five points for the other. Many workers both in Alabama and nationwide encounter just that sort of shortfall with every paycheck they receive. Despite decades of steady improvement, sizable earnings gaps remain between women and men and between racial minorities and non-minorities, both in Alabama and nationwide.

This fact sheet examines the history of wage discrimination, the scope of today's disparities and how an Equal Pay Commission could help Alabama close the gap.

Hard Cash: Predatory Lending in Alabama

On busy highways and run-down streets across the state, you can't miss them -- big, bright signs promising easy money. From payday loans to refund anticipation loans to title pawns, Alabamians face a dizzying array of credit services designed to trap consumers in financial quicksand.

This updated fact sheet provides new information on predatory lending in Alabama.

Don't Make Hard Times Worse

The U.S. economy has begun to grow since the Great Recession ended in June 2009, but economists predict unemployment will remain unacceptably high throughout next year.

This policy brief explains some of the ways the recession affected the country in general and Alabama in particular, and why Congress needs to continue for a full year the temporary unemployment insurance (UI) program scheduled to expire Nov. 30.

Legislative elections Nov. 2, 2010

Alabamians will elect new state officers and a new Legislature on November 2. ACPP does not endorse candidates, but we provide the following legislative candidates lists and urge you to get involved in your district's election. Choose your candidate, contact his or her campaign office to find out how to volunteer, and help put democracy in action!

2010 Alabama Senate candidates

2010 Alabama House candidates

ADECA letter to U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters

6-6-07 letter to ADECA highlights unmet Katrina recovery needs

Alabama Katrina advocates address unmet recovery needs in this June 2007 letter to Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Bill Johnson.

Read letter.

Read attachments to letter.