From The Birmingham News

September 24, 2009

"Those records will include salaries of employees in state agencies, K-12 school systems and two-year colleges. State colleges and university records will be available soon after Oct. 1, he said.

Users will be able to type in a name and view all checks, leases or contracts associated with that name. State financial records showing a listing of state checks, contracts and leases are available online now, but are not searchable by an individual name.

Alabama is poised to become the leader of the South, Riley said, but can only do so with a more transparent government. He spoke during a luncheon of business and civic leaders, called The Partnership, at American Village.

Riley touted Alabama's gains in education and economic development, but said a third component is holding the state back: the state's ethics code. He likened the situation to a three-legged stool and said, "We will never be as great as we can be" until all three legs are in place.

Riley said he will push to rewrite the state ethics code "once and for all" during the next legislative session.

Though fewer national and international businesses have sought opportunities in Alabama during the past year, that trend is beginning to reverse itself, Riley said. He said he will announce three major business prospects in the coming weeks that will create "thousands of new jobs.""