the 3:39 report
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
The consensus of legislators and politicos was that no legislative session that includes the adoption of budgets can be deemed a failure, but beyond that opinions on the success of the just concluded session of Alabama lawmakers ranged widely.
A Mobile Bay Times survey revealed the following:
"I would give the session a C+. We did pass the budgets in a timely fashion and some other worthy bills such as Rep. Jamie Ison's bill on sex offenders near college campuses. Also, a bill I sponsored for the last four years regarding the ban on profiting from artwork or other material by death row inmates (the Notoriety Act) was finally passed.
That being said, several issues once again were not addressed. Ethics reform was the biggest disappointment because it was not even allowed to come up for a vote. There was never a compromise reached on the removal of sales taxes from groceries.
In the end the legislature worked better than in years past so I guessed we proved we could walk, but not walk and chew gum at the same time."
-- state Rep. Cam Ward,
R-Alabaster
"B-plus."
-- Jim Folsom Jr.,
lieutenant governor
"B+."
-- state Sen. Trip Pittman,
R-Montrose
"I'd give this session a C+. The budgets are pretty sound. I wish we could have done something to resolve the uncertainty with PACT, but I think we
have that worked out. I also wish we had been able to get more of the insurance bills passed, especially my bill to fund a local captive. We really need a special session to deal with the insurance issue."
-- state Rep. Jim Barton,
R-south Mobile
"I would give it a 'C.' The budgets were passed but no ethics reform."
-- state Rep. Jay Love,
R-Montgomery
"On the final day of the legislative session, the House passed a great bill sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Martin that would make it easier for our troops to vote overseas while serving and fighting our country. Unfortunately, the Senate couldn’t pass that bill. The reason? A small band of Senators pushed to insert a provision into the bill that would ban the transfer of federal funds from a
federal account to a
state race. So instead of
helping our troops, they
killed this bill because it
didn’t help their own
political agenda. After
spending months in
Montgomery, these same
Senators couldn’t agree on common sense solutions for saving PACT, passing ethics reform, extending unemployment benefits or eliminating the grocery tax. But they did find time to play politics with the overseas voting bill that will ultimately make it harder for our troops to vote. All of this is one more piece of proof that Alabama politics can’t be trusted to the insiders whose actions have already eroded trust in government.
Not surprisingly, a legislature so consumed with insider games had little to show in this session. One major issue in this governor’s race will be the consistent failure of Montgomery politicians to produce solutions for the problems that plague our state."
-- U.S. Rep. Artur Davis,
D-Birmingham,
candidate for governor in 2010
"As a whole I would rate it a 'C.' The positives are that we passed a well balanced education budget. We prevented layoffs and kept the student-teacher divisor in place. The Reading Initiative and the Science Initiative were funded to an operational level that will keep them in place (though, unfortunately, not at the level requested by the governor). The House passed a respectable general fund budget which prevented layoffs and funded Public Safety and All-Kids at an acceptable level, two programs very important to me. However, the Senate 'porked' it up and cut Corrections significantly to balance it. Even though we relied greatly on stimulus funds, we balanced both budgets without raising taxes. Most states have not been able to accomplish that in this economic downturn.
The negatives ... Sen. Phil Poole held up Republican legislation until the last few days. This caused a lot of good Republican bills to die. Also, we failed to address ethics reform. Competing bills and those wanting to claim credit for the reform resulted in nothing being accomplished. I serve on the Judiciary Committee and I got the opportunity to witness the posturing first hand. It's truly one of the most disappointing things that I have witnessed in the last seven years.
On an individual level, it was probably my most successful legislative session. Sen. (Rusty) Glover and I passed legislation to increase the penalties for fleeing from the police. This was the number one issue for law enforcement this year. I also passed country of origin disclosure of seafood served in restaurants in Alabama. This could have a huge economic impact on my district. The entire delegation worked on the 'road maintenance' bill and we were able to pass it on a unanimous vote, even overriding the governor. It's permissive only and the now the county has the option of setting up procedures to address the issue. Legislation to expand representation on the County Commission passed the House. It was killed in the Senate, but we have made significant progress. The issue isn't going away."
-- state Rep. Spencer Collier,
R-Bayou la Batre
"D+. We passed some good legislation. The much needed PAC-to-PAC bill (banning such transfers) was again killed. The ethics reform bills, as well as most of the insurance bills, were again killed."
-- state Sen. Rusty Glover,
R-Semmes
"D-.
This past legislative session proves, yet again, that our legislators lack the intestinal fortitude to make the tough decisions that must be made. They slap each other on the back and proclaim that they staved off massive educational budget cuts and job losses. When in fact, without the Obama stimulus package, many teachers and county workers would be receiving pink slips. At least 40% of these same legislators will bemoan the deficits that Obama runs while they eagerly eat from the trough. How hypocritical! Obama stilled the storm for every legislator in Alabama this session. The hard decisions will come, and they should be forced to make those tough decisions next year. The 2010 election will be unfair if legislators are allowed to 'skate' again.
This legislature failed to remove a grocery tax that is insidious and regressive and greatly impacts those with the least among us. These legislators continue to make noise about standing up for the poor and forwarding their strong Christian ideals, but turn their backs on the neediest every session. Any person that campaigns on Christian ideals, and voted against the removal of this tax, should be ridiculed and turned from office.
This legislature failed to give the people the right to vote on a new constitution. It is long past time that Alabama leaves its past behind and that power be returned to the people. Our constitution continues to center power into the hands of the legislators. Any person that says they want smaller decentralized government OR power in the hands of the citizens, has no argument for defeating measures to a constitutional convention. Again, the light shines on the massive number of hypocrites that are elected by us. Also, it makes no since that the citizens of Mobile County have a say as to whether Limestone County can float bonds for a sewer system or create a retirement fund for its firefighters. Ridiculous!
This legislature refused to limit the amount of money that could be raised and spent in campaigns for jurist of the highest court in the State. Our highest court should not even be subject to the appearance of impropriety and partiality that naturally follows when huge sums of money are involved. This is why a majority of States appoint judges so that justice is blind!
This legislature went through another session with no real changes to our ethics laws or PAC-to-PAC transfers. The majority run promising to reform ethical and campaigning laws, yet there is no substantive change. Hypocrites of the highest order!
Please remember these are the same folks that thought so highly of what they were doing for three months out of the year, that they voted themselves a 62 percent pay raise!
Now, we all will be able to buy beer with higher alcohol content thanks to our legislators. They all know that we will need it when they, ultimately, will have to make the tough budget choices that President Obama helped them avoid.
Although the Democrats hold a majority, the Republicans act more and more like the Party in power in Montgomery. If this legislative session mirrors what a true Republican majority would look like, the voters of Alabama should be extremely fearful. I have always believed the middle and working class fares better with a Democratic majority and Republican minority in the legislative branch. Alabama Democrats just need to start acting like the Party in power."
-- Brad Warren, chairman,
Mobile County Democratic Executive Committee
"On education appropriation matters, I would give them an 'A.' They re-wrote the Budget to fund the Alabama Reading Initiative, Alabama Math, Sciences and Technology Initiative, Pre-K and kept all state funded personnel from being terminated. This kept class size manageable and kept school bus routes shorter for students."
-- Paul Hubbert,
executive director, Alabama Education Association
"Personally one of the best sessions I have ever had.
- Progress on the insurance issues;
- Gulf State park legislation;
- Increased penalties and closing loopholes pertaining to conviction of persons soliciting minor children using any form of electronic device;
- Allow property owners to obtain zoning prior to annexation into a municipality;
- Increasing size of small estates;
- Disappointed in the General Fund Budget outcome;
- Veterans' voting issues not resolved;
- No revised constitutional articles passed for voter approval.
Final grade for Legislature C+.
-- state Rep. Steve McMillan,
R-Bay Minette
"If you want to pick and choose particular issues, you could give the Legislature either an A or an F. But I would definitely give them a passing grade. There was less partisan bickering than in the past two sessions and, in the midst of unprecedented economic turmoil, they passed budgets that maintain essential services without raising taxes."
-- Ron Sparks,
state agriculture commissioner,
Democratic candidate for governor in 2010
"Pretty good ~ B to B+."
-- Steve Windom,
ex-lieutenant governor,
R-Montgomery
"I think A- is a good score, regardless of what the press says. They passed both budgets, thanks to the 'Stimulus Money.' Rep. Randy Davis passed the Veteran Cemetery legislation. Rep. Spencer Collier got his fish labeling bill passed. Sen. (Ben) Brooks got one small step on coastal insurance passed. Rep. (Yvonne) Kennedy and Sen. (Vivian) Figures passed legislation that updated the Harbormaster law and Sweet Home Alabama bingo monopoly legislation died. Lots more that you don't get a chance to read about unless you go online."
-- Taylor Harper,
ex-legislator/lobbyist
D-Grand Bay
"On a scale of one to ten, I would say eight!"
-- state Rep. Joe Faust,
R-Fairhope
"I had a very good session for the items I had on my district agenda. Veterans Cemetery Bill was tops. However, I would have to give the Session a C- to D+. Very little in the way of solving the insurance crisis and sickened by Gen. Fund rewrite after leaving the House. When I saw what happened I was amazed and somewhat dazed. I still shake my head in amazement."
-- state Rep. Randy Davis,
R-Daphne
"They passed budgets, so I can't fail them. I'd say a D plus is about right. Great session for Ben Brooks by the way."
-- Bradley Byrne,
outgoing state two-year college chancellor,
likely Republican candidate for governor in 2010
"105 + 35 - 2 - 3 = 135 all came together for a good Legislature debate and Budget fight. Then a love fest broke out. (It was) Caused by the Stimulus money the Governor and all federal senators and congressmen rejected, save one, (Artur Davis). Equated to a good B+."
-- Gary Tanner,
ex-state senator,
D-Theodore
"Ethics & Reform – F
- During the current legislative session, one Democrat state senator got convicted for basically stealing from the people of Alabama; another was indicted. Yet, there was no action on comprehensive ethics reform. The Democrats sat on it, thinking the people would forget. Double-dipping and double-dealing should be put in the past. The State of Alabama’s fiscal crisis demands that we clean house. Not only should we have zero tolerance for malfeasance, we can’t afford it.
PACT Reform – F
- There are some 50,000 families affected by mismanagement of the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program (PACT) and they’re being left in the lurch by lack of legislative action. These families enrolled in the program and paid their money believing the State of Alabama guaranteed the PACT. Now, their children and grandchildren may never go to college. That’s unconscionable.
Education Reform – F
- We had a tremendous opportunity to push through reform in the Education Trust Fund, given the state’s fiscal crisis. But, it was business as usual. Now, Alabama school children won’t have new textbooks next year. The legislature has their priorities upside down. It’s the school children whose interests must be Priority One.
Casino Gambling – C
- The legislature’s only passing grade is on casino gambling because they didn’t pass the bill that would have legalized gambling in Alabama. This isn’t to say some Democrat leaders didn’t try to pass a gambling bill. It’s a safe bet they’ll try again. It’s all the more reason we elect a conservative Republican legislature in 2010.
Tax Reform – F
- Democrats in the Senate tried to pass a Trojan horse of a bill that would have hiked income taxes on many Alabamians. Fortunately, it didn’t pass. What we need in Alabama are incentives to create jobs and help small businesses to survive in today’s harsh economy. Democrats in the legislature this session tried to grow government and raise taxes – two surefire ways to kill economic opportunity and jobs creation."
-- Tim James,
Greenville businessman,
Republican candidate for governor in 2010
"I think there were issues that we handled well and would be given an "A" and other issues that we 'dropped the ball' and would be given an 'F.' I should add that although one legislative body (the Senate or the House) may pass a certain bill and would, if being evaluated, receive a grade of 'A' on the bill. That very same bill may die in the other house giving the two house legislature a combined grade of 'F' for failure of that bill to pass both houses. So who is to blame? Half the legislature or the entire legislature? Another question to ask is: what more could the legislative house that passed the bill do to try to get the other body to pass the bill?
I also should mention that each House has very little influence over the other as we see year after year bills that pass in one House but die in the other. Legislators generally cast their vote based on the composition and interests of their district which vary across a county, region and the state. Legislators in casting their votes recognize that they are most responsible to their constituency, not to the wishes or desires of another legislator. Senate and House districts are not identical although there is some overlap. That is why there is often great disparity in the votes taken respective to each body on a given issue. (The bill passes one house with flying colors but doesn't even make it out of committee of the other house.) Once again, who is to blame? Half the legislature or the entire legislature?
A quick reminder on legislative process and operations concerning the independency of each House body ~ The two houses conduct their legislative meetings completely separate, have separate rules unique to each house to govern the legislative operations, have separate leadership directing each house and their respective committees and operate on their independent time schedules for convening or adjourning.
Furthermore, there are other factors that can derail legislation. As with the 'TVA' bill that passed both Houses near the end of the this session, the governor vetoed this bill after the session ended which effectively killed the bill. So who is to blame? The legislature or the governor? The bill did pass both houses but still died.
In light of my previous comments, to give an overall grade to the entire 2009 legislative general session is quite difficult as the two houses get lumped together regardless of the success or failure of a given bill within each body. With great reluctance, I would give the 'Session' an overall 'C+' primarily based on the Legislature passing both the Education and General fund budgets during the regular session to avoid a Special Session. I might add that I voted for the first House version of the General fund budget that left the House but voted against the modified Senate version that returned which added 'pork' monies to multiple legislative pet projects across the state at the expense of reduced funding to some vital state agencies by several million dollars.
Trying to give a subjective grade to multiple issues and to more than one body for their collective end result is extremely difficult and probably most unfair. Sometimes, it is not easy to answer a media question or survey with a simple 'Yes' or 'No' as there is need to elaborate. Likewise, attempting to give a one size fits all' grade to the entire session and to both Houses is most complicated."
-- state Rep. Alan Baker,
R-Brewton
"I would give this session a B-, mainly because I am very proud of passing a piece of local legislation that adds county representation to the City of Mobile Planning Commission.
I would have given the session a B+ but the ordeal that we went through to defeat the grocery tax bill on four separate occasions brought this session down. I would like to know when was the last time the same Republican bill has been placed on the calendar for a vote four times? Just a question to ponder!"
-- state Rep. Chad Fincher,
R-Semmes
"Well, we lost one for small business, when it failed on a party line vote in committee.
However, "SB204 passed the House of Representatives and is ready for Gov. Bob Riley’s signature to enact into law. SB204 (click here to view bill) by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur and House sponsor Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, will create an online database of all state expenditures including contracts and grants."
Big, real big."
-- Les Barnett,
Mobile businessman,
state GOP executive committee
"I'd grade the session a 70. Low average because the bingo bill and star bond did not pass. The slight passing mark comes from the passage of the land bank bill."
-- state Rep. James Gordon,
D-Saraland
""For the 48,000 citizens of Alabama that counted on the 'pre-paid' college tuition to be resolved by now, they receive a D-."
-- Kyle Callaghan,
chairman, Mobile County Republican Party
