The 2024 legislative session begins next week. It will be difficult to repeat the success of last year's regular meeting. 2023 was a great year for the first year of the Quadrennial. Indeed, it may be one of the most important in the state's history. This was historic because huge amounts of money were appropriated. When asked at the end of Congress what grade I would give it, I gave it a B+, the highest grade I have ever given. It would have earned an A grade, but with so much money at their disposal, the MPs were in a very advantageous position, and it was as if they could sit the final exam as an open-book exam. Last year's education budget was a historic $11.5 billion. The general fund budget of $3 billion was also a record.

Congress granted all Alabama taxpayers a one-time tax refund of between $150 and $300. All education employees, including state employees and all teachers, received a 2 percent cost-of-living increase.

The legislative leadership for the next three years of the four-year term was established. In the state Senate, Pro-Tem President Greg Reed (R-Jasper), Education Budget Chairman Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), Rules Chairman Jabo Wagoner (R-Vestavia), and General Fund Budget Chairman Greg Reed (R-Decatur). Albritton (R-Escambia) will be the central figure. In the House, key roles are played by Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-DeKalb), along with Education Budget Chairman Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and General Fund Budget Chairman Rex Reynolds (R-Trussville). (Republican, Huntsville). and Rules Committee Chairman Joe Lovborn (R-Auburn) are the leaders.

The Big Three leaders at the bottom of Congress are Greg Reed, Arthur Orr, and Nathaniel Ledbetter. Mr. Reid and Mr. Orr are veteran Senate leaders. Senator Reid has great power because he is the leader of the Senate. As the longtime and veteran chairman of the Senate Education Appropriations Committee, Sen. Arthur Orr has established himself as a force to be reckoned with. He has created so many education budgets that he wields great power over his pencil.

The notable newcomer to this power triumvirate is first-term Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter. Speaker Ledbetter is very likely the most powerful person in the Alabama Legislature. He has shaped the House around him. His internal team of Garrett, Reynolds and Lovborn, all in their first year as major committee chairs, are fiercely loyal to Ledbetter, as are all the other major committee chairs and nearly all House Republicans. He also has the support and trust of House Democrats. I haven't seen this kind of bipartisan cooperation and harmony in the House of Representatives in a long time, if not before.

Mr. Ledbetter's calm, quiet, honest and caring leadership has benefited the success of not only the state but also the Legislature. Ledbetter enjoys unprecedented loyalty among the 30 freshman senators. The reason is simple. He, along with his friend and cunning and intelligent Huntsville political guru Steve LaVey, elected most of the members of Congress. He and Lavie raised most of the money and organized the campaign. People do not forget such help, but their loyalty is also based on the fact that they like and trust Ledbetter. He is genuinely interested in them. He wants the House to function and be successful because he wants the state to succeed. He doesn't have a big ego either. He is not driven by complacency or satisfaction.

Nathaniel Ledbetter was born and raised in DeKalb County. He was first elected to parliament in 2014. So it was only nine years ago that he, like the members of Congress he leads, was a freshman. Ledbetter was elected House Majority Leader in 2017, just three years after he took office. For five years, he worked very closely with his ally, former Speaker of the House Mac McCutchen. He was selected to replace Mr. McCutchen as chairman.

Prior to being elected to Congress, Mr. Ledbetter also served on the City Council and as Mayor of Rainsville. He is close friends with Alabama's legendary lead singer, Randy Owen. We both love our Sand Mountain home.

Nathaniel Ledbetter will continue to provide calm, level-headed, rational leadership this year, the rest of this four-year period, and likely for many years to come.

see you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama's leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in more than 60 Alabama newspapers. He served in the state legislature for his 16 years.Steve can be reached at www.steveflowers.us.