Politics and problem-solving
as practiced in Montgomery
The Alabama House, while a majority of Democrats is NOT a democracy. Even within the Democratic majority, democracy is not how it works.
I think it is fair to say that throughout governance - municipal, state and federal - "the democratic way " that is described in grade-school text books (is not how it works).
In reality only a small group -- nowhere near a majority and by no means uni-partisan -- decide what will be "important" for legislative consideration. For everything that anyone thinks is important to be considered to actually be considered would be too much like .... well, like representative government.
In session, those of us who have been there more than one term have learned to feign either intelligence or stupidity with the hope of cajoling the House leadership (who House Members elected) into supporting our local legislative proposals just to get that local proposal on a calendar for full House and then Senate consideration.
What this means gives greater significance to the notion that law-making is a deliberative process. In short, when things don't happen, it is deliberate.
For point of information, the Mobile House Delegation has not met to discuss the Speaker's inquiry regarding our interest in a special session.
With particular attention to home-owner and business insurance legislation, not a mumbling word has been heard. That is unfortunate. If I might borrow and paraphrase from another adage: "The Speaker may not always be right but he is always The Speaker!" That cuts both ways because I vote for him in order that he serve my interests and, ergo, the interests of my district. To purposefully avoid a special session on insurance reform is a deliberate affront to South Mobile County, which from my perspective is that part of Alabama that starts just south of the center line on Government Street.
And the State Legislature has YET to offer anything except for what is sent through ADECA by FEMA.
When the tornado touched down in North Central Alabama, legislators spent days 'deliberating' on how to help. Another natural calamity occurs and state leadership cannot see a need to meet? And since when was a consensus needed to ignore doing the right thing?
It is not a threat to expect that the next regular session will not go smoothly as South Alabama folk just-south-of-center-line-Government Street, help in the 'deliberation.'
Joseph Mitchell, Member
Alabama House - District 103
P.S. Who do you think will insure home owners in the proposed development along the Three-Mile Creek flood plain? Who will be able to afford to live there at some astronomically high flood insurance price. Do you think the GM&O building will EVER get maximum tenants?
