Tom Butler (politician)
Encyclopedia
Tom Butler was a Democratic
member of the Alabama Senate
, he represented the 2nd District from 1995 until 2010. Senate District 2 is one of the fastest growing regions of the state and encompasses most of Limestone County and western Madison County. It includes the cities of Athens, Huntsville and Madison. Senator Butler also served as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from 1982 through 1994.
A graduate of the University of Alabama
and Auburn University
, he is a pharmacist
and health underwriter. He is a member of Optimist International
, the North Alabama Health Underwriters Association, and the Alabama Pharmaceutical Association.
Senator Butler was an early enthusiastic supporter of making Automated External heart Defibrillators (AEDs) widely available in Alabama. He sponsored legislation that put AEDs in every public school in Alabama. He served on the Board of the Lord Wedgewood Charity in Birmingham, Alabama working to raise money to place AEDs in private schools in the state. He also sponsored the Automated External Defibrillator Act which allowed Defibrillators in public and private buildings in the state, provided for training and placement of AEDs in volunteer fire departments and most municipal fire departments across the state. He also proposed and helped pass an amendment to the Code of Alabama to protect anyone using a defibrillator in good faith to aid another citizen from lawsuits.
Senator Butler sponsored the legislation to establish the Citizenship Trust and American Village at Montevallo, Alabama with the mission "...to strengthen and renew the foundations of American liberty and self-government through citizenship education." Senator Butler serves on the Board of Directors for Citizenship Trust / American Village and was the Board Chair for 12 years.
At the request of residents and local business and political leaders Senator Tom Butler sponsored the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act
. The primary purpose of the legislation was to prohibit nude dancing in Alabama. The legislation also made it is illegal in the state of Alabama to "distribute any obscene material or any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs." Violators risk a $ 10.000 fine and a one-year jail sentence.
Senator Butler sponsored and helped pass the Dixon-Butler Permanent Contract Review Act. This legislation created a Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee to review certain state contracts. This was legislation was praised as tool for ensuring ethical standards were upheld in state contracts issued by the Administrative branch. Senator Butler served as chair and vice chair of this oversight committee.
As a supporter of veterans' issues, Senator Butler Sponsored legislation that resulted in the building of two State Veteran's Nursing Homes (in Huntsville and Bay Minette). His efforts were instrumental in building and funding the Veterans Memorial in Birmingham, the Veteran's Museum and Archives in Athens, the establishment of the Veteran's Living Legacy at the American Village at Montevallo and the creation of Alabama's Veteran's Assistance Fund.
Senator Butler authored and worked to pass the legislation that allowed the city of Madison, Alabama to establish its own school system. This school system has become one of the finest school systems in the state with some of its individual schools receiving national attention.
During his distinguished career Senator Butler served on numerous committees in the Alabama State House and State Senate. The following are some of the more recent committee assignments:
* 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
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Alabama Senate
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
, he represented the 2nd District from 1995 until 2010. Senate District 2 is one of the fastest growing regions of the state and encompasses most of Limestone County and western Madison County. It includes the cities of Athens, Huntsville and Madison. Senator Butler also served as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
from 1982 through 1994.
A graduate of the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
and Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, he is a pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
and health underwriter. He is a member of Optimist International
Optimist International
Optimist International is an international service club organization with 3,200 clubs and almost 100,000 members in more than 35 nations throughout the world. The international headquarters is located in St...
, the North Alabama Health Underwriters Association, and the Alabama Pharmaceutical Association.
Senator Butler was an early enthusiastic supporter of making Automated External heart Defibrillators (AEDs) widely available in Alabama. He sponsored legislation that put AEDs in every public school in Alabama. He served on the Board of the Lord Wedgewood Charity in Birmingham, Alabama working to raise money to place AEDs in private schools in the state. He also sponsored the Automated External Defibrillator Act which allowed Defibrillators in public and private buildings in the state, provided for training and placement of AEDs in volunteer fire departments and most municipal fire departments across the state. He also proposed and helped pass an amendment to the Code of Alabama to protect anyone using a defibrillator in good faith to aid another citizen from lawsuits.
Senator Butler sponsored the legislation to establish the Citizenship Trust and American Village at Montevallo, Alabama with the mission "...to strengthen and renew the foundations of American liberty and self-government through citizenship education." Senator Butler serves on the Board of Directors for Citizenship Trust / American Village and was the Board Chair for 12 years.
At the request of residents and local business and political leaders Senator Tom Butler sponsored the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act
Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act
The Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1998 is an Alabama statute that criminalizes the sale of sex toys. The law has been the subject of extensive litigation and has generated considerable national controversy.- The statute :...
. The primary purpose of the legislation was to prohibit nude dancing in Alabama. The legislation also made it is illegal in the state of Alabama to "distribute any obscene material or any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs." Violators risk a $ 10.000 fine and a one-year jail sentence.
Senator Butler sponsored and helped pass the Dixon-Butler Permanent Contract Review Act. This legislation created a Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee to review certain state contracts. This was legislation was praised as tool for ensuring ethical standards were upheld in state contracts issued by the Administrative branch. Senator Butler served as chair and vice chair of this oversight committee.
As a supporter of veterans' issues, Senator Butler Sponsored legislation that resulted in the building of two State Veteran's Nursing Homes (in Huntsville and Bay Minette). His efforts were instrumental in building and funding the Veterans Memorial in Birmingham, the Veteran's Museum and Archives in Athens, the establishment of the Veteran's Living Legacy at the American Village at Montevallo and the creation of Alabama's Veteran's Assistance Fund.
Senator Butler authored and worked to pass the legislation that allowed the city of Madison, Alabama to establish its own school system. This school system has become one of the finest school systems in the state with some of its individual schools receiving national attention.
During his distinguished career Senator Butler served on numerous committees in the Alabama State House and State Senate. The following are some of the more recent committee assignments:
* 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
External links
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Tom Butler (AL) profile
- Follow the Money - Tom Butler