Wednesday 12/21/2005 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/051221/bid.shtml – Siegelman worried that trial will hamper his election efforts.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/051221/appeals.shtml -  Autauga County District Judge enters race for seat on Court of Civil Appeals.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1135160980210670.xml&coll=2 – Suit filed over voting rights of felons.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1135160433210670.xml&coll=2 – Counties file court motion to declare Department of Corrections Commissioner in contempt of court for extended housing of inmates in county jails.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/rdemonia.ssf?/base/opinion/1135160373210670.xml&coll=2 – Robin DeMonia’s commentary on efforts to increase the number of women elected to state government positions.

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1135160212210720.xml&coll=3 – Parties confirm that Roy Moore’s representatives suggested Riley use Alabama National Guard troops to prevent removal of Ten Commandments monument.

http://www.al.com/opinion/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1135160243210700.xml&coll=1 – Editorial commentary on Alabama ranking 43^rd in recent report on health status.

FROM TODAY’S ANNISTON STAR:

Christian Coalition has a bold proposal

In our opinion
12-21-2005

Recently, we noted editorially that the Christian Coalition of Alabama was one of a group of organizations that were not particularly interested in fully lifting the tax burden off our poor, nor overly concerned with efforts to fund services that would “provide all citizens the health, education, economic promotion and personal security a state should.”

John Giles, president of the CCA, responded with a letter that we published Monday.

In it Mr. Giles did not say, but strongly implied, that because the state had a $515 million dollar surplus in the Education Trust Fund (ETF) and a $34 million surplus in the General Fund, Alabama had more than enough money to do the things for its citizens that a state should do. What Mr. Giles did not point out is that some $269.9 million of the ETF surplus has already been allocated for the next fiscal year, so the real surplus (that remaining after what has been allocated is spent) is $265.2 million.

As for the General Fund, that surplus was generated by using more than $200 million in one-time money, which will not be there next year. That surplus will quickly disappear.

But we don’t want to quibble over how Mr. Giles reports his facts. Although Alabama’s coffers are not overflowing to the extent he said, $265.2 million is still a lot of money.

Instead, we want to underscore the bold proposal that John Giles made concerning how the state should use this surplus.

In his letter, he wrote that the CCA “supports lowering the income tax burden on low-income families,” and “proposes existing budget surpluses could make this a reality.”

Now there is an idea.

Take the surplus and give it to the poor in the form of tax relief. Gov. Bob Riley has suggested that the money be given back to “hardworking families,” and there are none working harder to get by than those making less than $20,000 a year.

In this holiday season, when want is felt more keenly and need becomes all the greater, it is heartwarming to see the leader of an organization committed to Christian principles come forward with such a plan.

We look forward to seeing this proposal prominently displayed on the CCA Web site (www.ccbama.org) as part of the organization’s legislative agenda for the coming year.