Alabama Politics in
Doc’s Political Parlor
& Home of Lawn Mower Repair

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 links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.

Senate Sketches # 1064

By

Senator Hank Sanders

REVISED

************************************

My mother used to say, “Son, luck is when preparation and opportunity meet.” Well, opportunity has come to Alabama. The only question is whether Alabama’s preparation is sufficient to meet opportunity. Or will we, as we have done so often in the past, spit in the face of opportunity.

Alabama has a once in a lifetime opportunity: a $3.5 billion opportunity. Alabama has a hard earned, well deserved judgment of $3.6 billion. It is against the giant oil company Exxon for cheating the state out of oil royalties.

This is the second appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court which set aside the first jury verdict aside. This time the jury verdict was $11.9 billion, a lot more than the first jury verdict of $3.5 billion. The trial court, however, cut it down to $3.6 billion. The case has been pending in the Alabama Supreme Court since early 2004, over 3 ½ years. The Alabama Supreme Court has the first chance to make opportunity meet preparation. If it does, then we must also make preparation and opportunity meet. We do this by spending the $3.6 billion wisely. I want to share my humble vision for making the $3.5 billion opportunity meet real preparation.

I would give each family that qualifies the sum of $2,000 for IDAs (Individual Development Accounts). This sum triples to $6,000 with investments of $2,000 each from the Federal Government and each individual. By using $350 million, 1/10 of the opportunity funds, we promote three critical elements of life in one fell swoop: education, housing, and business.

Our children are our future. Alabama’s children are near the very bottom in so many categories. We need to fully finance the Children’s Trust Fund so we can sustain a myriad of programs to support and lift our children such as pre-k, foster care, college scholarships, etc. $350 million goes a long way toward this goal.

Few investments bear more fruit than an excellent education. It is a great gift because it keeps on giving for a lifetime. I would use some of these funds to build K-12 education so we would not lose so many of our children through high dropout rates, low graduation rates, and high incarceration rates. $350 million spent creatively would impact not only education, but workforce and crime.

I would set aside $350 million for preventive health. We concentrate on treatment of illness and not prevention of illness. I don’t know exactly how we would spend this sum, but I know prevention reduces high health care costs while making our people more healthy.

I would put $700 million in our school buildings. That’s about 1/4 of what the State Department of Education says is needed for adequate school facilities. This amount would go to meet critical needs for adequate learning environments for our children.

Then to get a jump on the rest of the world with which our children now compete, I would put $350 million into school and other technology. Instead of our children bringing up the rear as we have done for a century and a half, they would lead the way into the 21^st Century.

Then I would set aside $350 million for water and sewage. This impacts the health and safety of thousands of our citizens who still do not have public water or safe waste disposal. Water and sewage disposal are basic to a safe and healthy life.

We readily provide money to help huge industries locate and expand in our state. We do next to nothing for small businesses even though they generate most of our jobs. I would set aside $350 million for such assistance. This would help produce greater ownership, employment, and investment.

We have had great challenges completing certain major highways. In West Alabama, we have been trying to four-lane US Highway 80 for the last 50 years. There are other major highway challenges such as Highway 43 from Mobile to North Alabama. A major road from Florence in Northwest Alabama down to Mobile in Southwest Alabama is needed. I would invest $700 million in highway infrastructure that would produce great economic benefits for the entire state for years to come.

In my proposed spending of the $3.5 billion, I am keenly aware that these are one time monies. Therefore I have tried to propose investments in areas that secure our foundation so we can stand more firmly, reaching higher and seeing farther.

I know there are many other areas of need even more beneficial than those I have suggested. None, however, are possible if the Alabama Supreme Court spits in the face of this opportunity by giving the $3.5 billion back to Exxon Corporation.

Now I ask you, “How would you make this $3.5 billion opportunity meet preparation?”

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday - I traveled to Lowndes County, on to Montgomery, back to Lowndes County and on to Selma. I worked nearly until midnight on various challenges.

Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School and Radio Education. I traveled to White Hall to speak at the Unity Baptist Church during the 11 a.m. services. I returned to Selma to work into the night except for attending the play, Church Mess. I talked with various leaders including the following: former Lowndes County School Superintendent Eli Seaborn; retired teacher Deloris Seaborn; businessman Willie Thomas; and Dr. Carol P. Zippert of the Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF). Khadijah Ishaq was of special assistance on this day.

Monday and Tuesday - I was in Lowndes County both days from early until late. Among those I talked to were the following: Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd and his assistants, Yvette Patterson and Angela Martin; Senator Ted Little; and Barbara Brown of the Alabama Victims Compensation Commission.

Wednesday - I communicated with the following: Dr. Gertie Lowe of Gadsden; Ralph Paige of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives; Demopolis Mayor Cecil Williamson; Clark School Principal Wanda McCall; Rita Lett of Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS); Mary Ponds of the Association of County Commissioners of Alabama; Beverly Davis of the State School Superintendent’s Office; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); Lowndes County Commissioners Charlie King and Robert Harris; Thomas Figures of Mobile; Birmingham Businessman George McMillan; Lester Brown of Greene County; and Montgomery Businessman Milton McGregor. I shared lunch with Felecia Jones and Erica Williams and worked into the night on various matters.

Thursday - I met individually with the following School Superintendents: Dr. Fannie McKenzie of Dallas County; Dr. Verdell L. Dawson of Selma City; Scott Collier of Linden; Gerald Stephens of Clarke County; Dennis Mixon of Monroe County; Luther Hallmark of Marengo County; and John Heard of Perry County. I also communicated with the following: Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb; Selma Ministers Rev. Gary Crum and Rev. Ruby Stevenson; Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little; Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) National President Charles Steele and his wife Annette; Joyce Bigbee of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); Ginger Avery Buckner of the Alabama Association for Justice; Dr. James Mitchell President of WCCS; Wayne Vardaman of the Selma Centre for Commerce; Greene County School Superintendent Isaac Atkins; Elzora Fluker and Lester Brown of the Greene County School Board; and Malika Fortier of Selma Radio Station Z105.3. I participated in a session on Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome at the National Voting Rights Museum (NVRM) and worked until 11 p.m.

Friday - I attended a 7:30 a.m. meeting of Team Selma and participated in a conference call with six other Alabama leaders. I talked with business owner Yvonne Hatcher, Sadie Moss of Special Years, and Dr. C. A. Lett of Selma’s Calvary Baptist Church. I communicated with various other leaders including the following: Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr; George Alford of the Innovation Centre; Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard; Menzo Driskell of Craig Field Industrial Authority; Senator Linda Coleman; Norris Green of LFO; and Dr. Roberta Watts of Gadsden. I worked into the night.

EPILOGUE - Thoughts are powerful because they are necessary preludes to action. Our hopes and wishes are special thoughts. I hope my wishes for Alabama lead to action that is so powerful it transforms our state.

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