“Montgomery Politicians Ignored the People”

From the Bowling campaign

Alabama Senate candidate JR Bowling is speaking out against SB360, a bill that would expand the Alabama Public Service Commission from 3 members to 7 and add more government bureaucracy.

“This bill is being sold as reform, but it’s really just more government and more political appointments while Alabama families are already struggling with high power bills,” Bowling said.

Bowling noted that lawmakers previously said similar legislation was dead after public opposition—yet SB360 was later introduced, fast-tracked through the legislature, and passed the Senate unanimously.

Bowling also pointed to what he described as a troubling pattern of dismissing public opposition. When citizens across the state spoke out against earlier proposals to restructure the Public Service Commission, Garlan Gudger publicly indicated that the legislation was effectively dead. 

“When the people spoke out, we were told the bill was dead. Then it shows back up and moves forward anyway,” Bowling said.

Bowling warns the bill creates a cabinet-level Secretary of Energy appointed by the governor, who would control PSC meeting agendas and personnel.

“In my opinion, this suspiciously looks like a way to appoint officials who may lose their primary races.”

“That’s not power to the people—that’s a backdoor takeover of utility regulation,” Bowling said.

“If elected, I’ll fight for transparency and make sure government answers to the people—not the insiders in Montgomery.”

James R. “JR” Bowling is a North Alabama manufacturing manager and volunteer firefighter running for the Alabama Senate in District 4. His campaign emphasizes conservative principles, government accountability, and local economic support.

For more information on Bowling and his campaign, visit https://jr4district4.com or follow him on social media.