Rep. Jeff McLaughlin of Guntersville is back at work attempting to get legislation passed that would allow North Alabama counties to keep all funds paid by TVA in lieu of taxes.

The bill was overwhelmingly passed in the House on Tuesday, and now moves to the Senate.

McLaughlin pushed the same bill through in 2009, with strong support from both the House and the Senate, but Gov. Bob Riley let it die without his signature after the session had adjourned.

The bill was approved by the House on a 72-7 vote -- a veto-proof margin.

McLaughlin came into this session with the strategy of getting the bill moving early.

Getting the bill approved early increases its chances of winning final approval and averting a fate similar to 2009.

McLaughlin has indicated that with the early approval in the House, the bill will get through the Senate in time for the Legislature to take action and override a possible veto from Riley after the final passage.

McLaughlin's bill would repeal a 1978 law that allows 5 percent of the money paid by the TVA to be distributed to "dry" counties and cities that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages that are not served by TVA.

Fifteen dry counties and cities, some in South Alabama, share in the TVA money.

McLaughlin feels his bill is a good piece of legislation that is long overdue.

McLaughlin's bill would repeal a 1978 law that allows 5 percent of the money paid by the TVA to be distributed to "dry" counties and cities that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages that are not served by TVA.

Fifteen dry counties and cities, some in South Alabama, share in the TVA money.

McLaughlin and the Tennessee Valley Caucus have worked out an agreement with the dry counties so that the TVA money will be replaced by growth in funds from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

Several north Alabama Senators have said the bill will be fast tracked through the Senate in an effort to make it veto proof.

Riley has stated the reason he let the bill die last year was because it would have taken $6 million away from the state’s General Fund budget.

Riley mainly complained of it taking money away from prisons and mental health.

Local law makers disagree.

"It grows the ABC money and there's not a dollar lost to prisons, not a dollar lost to mental health or any other agency."McLaughlin says.