The steering committee of the Alabama Republican Party passed a resolution Sunday asking House Speaker Mike Hubbard to step down as speaker until his ethics case is resolved.

In a statement, Hubbard called the resolution "ill-advised and premature."

The resolution says the party does not want Hubbard's trial to be a distraction for Republican Party policy goals during this year's legislative session or during the 2016 elections.

"The Alabama Republican Party strongly believes the needs of our state must be the first priority of our elected officials," Party Chair Terry Lathan said in a news release. "The GOP controlled legislature needs full time focused attention on the people's business. The distractions of Representative Hubbard's legal situation will make it extremely difficult for him to meet the demands of his role as Alabama Speaker of the House of Representatives."

"At this time, we recognize that Representative Hubbard remains innocent on the charges brought against him," Lathan said. "We wish only the best for him and his family.

"We reached out to Representative Hubbard numerous times to meet with a small group of GOP leaders to discuss our concerns, to no avail.

"As a servant of the people, we urge Representative Hubbard to put the larger interest of Alabama first."

Hubbard responded with this statement:

"With several motions to dismiss yet to be ruled upon, and discussions of a continuance taking place in court just last week, Lathan's request is both ill-advised and premature, but this effort on her part is about something else entirely.

"During last year's budget crisis, Lathan was pushing for a shutdown of state government, and when the Legislature did the responsible thing and funded essential taxpayer services, she and a small group of her followers became angry.

"Her request is simply a symptom of lingering resentment against the leadership. The fact that Lathan's resolution was approved in a hastily called Sunday night telephone call with less than half the Steering Committee voting in favor shows she was desperate and lacked widespread support."

Lathan did not release a specific vote total. She said 20 of 21 members took part in the meeting, which was through a conference call, and that a majority voted in favor of the resolution.

Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, a member of the GOP steering committee, told the Montgomery Advertiser that he proposed the resolution asking Hubbard to step aside and that he voted for it.

"As things started coming out and we started seeing facts of the case, it didn't really match up," Henry told the Associated Press. "I don't think he can effectively lead the House with everything going on."

Henry told AP he will push for House members to vote on a new speaker when they convene in February.

Aside from Hubbard's ethics case, there was disagreement in the House GOP Caucus over tax increases last year.

Hubbard and the Republican leadership proposed several bills to raise taxes to help close a General Fund budget shortfall.

Most failed, but a bill to raise the cigarette tax by 25 cents a pack eventually passed.

The legislative session begins on Feb. 2.

Hubbard is scheduled to go on trial March 28 in Lee County.

Hubbard attorney Lance Bell said Friday he did not think the defense would be ready for trial by March 28. Prosecutors oppose a delay.

Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker issued an order Friday giving the defense until Jan. 15 to file a motion to postpone the trial date.

A grand jury indicted Hubbard in October 2014, charging him with 23 felony ethics counts of using his office as speaker and former position as state Republican Party chairman for personal gain.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, said this morning he expected conversations among House members and with the speaker over the issue during the next couple of weeks.

The House Republican Caucus meets on Jan. 18, Ball said.

Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, minority leader in the House, issued a statement saying that Hubbard's position is a Republican Party concern.

"In regards to the resolution from the Alabama Republican Party's steering committee, this is an internal fight among Republicans, Democrats are focused on creating jobs and passing a lottery," Ford said.

The House of Representative re-elected Hubbard speaker last year despite the indictment.

Rep. Phil Williams, a Republican from Madison County, wrote his colleagues a letter last year to put his name forward as a replacement for Hubbard.

The steering committee is a 21-member board that serves as the main governing body for the state party.

Updated at 12:25 p.m. to add statements from Reps. Mike Hubbard, Mike Ball and Craig Ford. Updated at 1:59 p.m. to add that Rep. Ed Henry sponsored the resolution. Updated at 3:08 p.m. to add information from Terry Lathan on vote count and information about House GOP tax proposals last year. Updated at 3:46 p.m. to add more comments from Henry from the AP.

