Senate Sketches # 1043
NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and therefore a link to the publication is not available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.
Senate Sketches # 1043
By
Senator Hank Sanders
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Lock Down Broken Up! If I had to write a headline about this week’s Senate, it would be: Lock Down Broken Up!
For months, the Senate has been locked down by the Senate Minority. It started on March 6 and continued through April and on to May 22. Only five bills not related to Sunset Legislation have passed. It was a total lock down – no budget for education; no budget for the rest of Alabama government; no nothing for anyone.
This was Tuesday, May 22. Just five legislative days remained in the 2007 Regular Session. It was now or never. We had to act this day or be forever derelict in our legislative duties.
The concept was conceived some time ago. The plan was flushed out the night before. It was finalized that morning. We were ready, all 18 Majority Senators on one accord.
We filed into the Senate Chamber. I immediately perceived the Minority did not suspect anything. They were completely relaxed. I was amazed because even the best-kept secrets always seem to leak out in the Alabama Legislature.
Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little stood at one microphone. Senate Deputy President Pro Tem Wendell Mitchell stood at the other. Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. sat in the chair presiding. One motion was made by Senator Little and a substitute motion was made by Senator Mitchell. Lieutenant Governor Folsom said, “Call the roll.”
We were well into the roll call before Minority Senators realized what was happening. The second bill was handled likewise. Just that quickly, the instruments used to lock down the Senate were cast aside. Both Sunset bills continuing certain State regulatory boards were indefinitely postponed – killed. It was too bad the bills had to die, but it was the only way.
The Majority Senators wanted Sunset bills to pass. We voted 480 times to pass the bills. The Minority voted 480 times to block them. Because the procedure required a 3/5 majority vote, the Minority overruled the Majority time and time again. The only way out was to kill the bills, making sure these regulatory boards would sunset (no longer see the light of day) as of September 30.
The attacks, especially on Lieutenant Governor Folsom, by the Minority commenced before the first vote was completed. They continued long after the second vote was completed. Folsom’s demeanor never changed. He calmly explained that the Senate had carried over BIRs and pending bills on many occasions. It had indefinitely postponed BIRs and pending bills on other occasions. He further explained that the Alabama Constitution made budgets the “Paramount Duty” of the Legislature. He was fulfilling his constitutional duty under the law.
The attacks continued. One Senator said, “Either you are one of the smartest Lieutenant Governors we have ever had or the dumbest. I’m not sure which one.” I knew Lieutenant Governor Folsom was one of the smartest, but I did not extend the fray.
We had been negotiating for months. Each time an agreement was almost reached, it was sabotaged. The one time a limited agreement was reached, it was broken within hours. Now, the situation was different. The Majority could operate the Senate.
The pressure on both sides had been tremendous. The prospect of not passing budgets to keep education and other governmental entities operating was a heavy load. However, the prospects of not passing local bills weighed even heavier on some senators. Take Senator Bobby Denton of Muscle Shoals. He had several local bills that would insure a 1600-jobs industry located in his Senate District. All four bills were caught in the lock down. Still, our folks were strong. They stood until the victorious end. I was so proud of each Senator.
Now, the dynamics of the Senate were transformed. The Minority were no longer empowered by the lock down. The two budgets and related bills for the state of Alabama, passed weeks ago by the House, were assigned to committees. So were the $1 billion bond issue and other bills of importance.
The next day, in less than an hour, the two negotiating committees forged a resolution to the nearly three-month long impasse. No Senate Rules were changed as the Minority requested. No money in the budgets was promised. In effect, we promised to live and let live. We even agreed that the two bills continuing the State regulatory boards would be revived and passed.
The Senate is now operating. We will have budgets and other critical legislation. We, however, will not have peace because the power struggle continues. It will manifest itself in other ways. I wish it were otherwise. Still, we must celebrate the lock down being broken up.
Now on to the Daily Diary.
Saturday – I was in Birmingham for the funeral, burial, and other gatherings around the death of Mother Dear (Mrs. Ora Lee Gaines). I spoke at the funeral and talked with many from around the state. I returned to Selma, arriving well past midnight.
Sunday – I participated in Radio Sunday School and Radio Education and Sunday School. I handled various matters relating to the death of Mother Dear before working into the night on the Senate Lock Down, Sketches, and other matters.
Monday – I handled various matters before traveling to Greene County, back to Selma and then on to Montgomery for a Senate Democratic Caucus meeting where we laid the foundation to break up the Senate Lock Down.
Tuesday – I was at it by six something this morning, drafting talking points for the media concerning the Senate Lock Down. I participated in the Senate Democratic Caucus meeting and the Senate Session where the breaking up the lock down were key action items. I met with numerous citizens, legislators, lobbyists, etc. I worked into the night.
Wednesday – I chaired a meeting of the Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE), which reported the $6.8 billion Education budget and other bills. I participated in the meeting of the Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, which reported the $1.8 billion General Fund Budget and related bills. I talked to many persons about budgets and other matters. I also met with the negotiating committees about the Senate Lock Down. I worked into the night on the budget and other matters before returning to Selma.
Thursday – I was up and back in Montgomery by 7:30 a.m. I met on the Budget until the 9:00 a.m. Senate Democratic Caucus meeting. I participated in the Senate Session but I spent most of my time talking with individual Senators and others about the budgets and bond issue. I slipped away to meet with United States Presidential Candidate John Edwards. I returned to continue meeting with Senators and the others. Representative Richard Lindsey, Chair of the House Budget Committee for Education, and I met with the new chancellor of two year colleges, former Senator Bradley Byrne. I met with Joyce Bigbee about the budget a second time before traveling to Notasulga to speak at a high school graduation. I returned to Selma.
Friday – I was at my office before 7:00 a.m. I commenced writing Sketches and talked to the following: Dr. Carol P. Zippert of Alabama New South Coalition ; Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); Carolyn Wheeler of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Becky Nichols of the Selma Public Library; Representative Richard Lindsey, Chair of the House Education Budget Committee; Consultant Rick Heartsill; Senator Bobby Denton; and Joyce Bigbee of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO). I attended an event of youth at the National Voting Rights Museum that night.
EPILOGUE – Struggle is a gift. When we embrace our struggles, the gift is revealed. We senators have embraced our struggles. The gift has been revealed.
Index of Sanders' Senate Sketches
