Thursday 12/22/2005 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1135246929162390.xml&coll=2&thispage=1 – Health insurance for retirees is huge liability for state.

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1135246986162360.xml&coll=3&thispage=1 – Finance Director Jim Main says that Butts’ version of meeting about Ten Commandments Monument is only partially accurate; denies he stated that Houston Gorman had told him that the Supreme Court would order the monument moved after the removal of Moore.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/051222/pension.shtml – Retired public employees to seek 7% cost of living raise.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/opinion/editorials/051222b.shtml – Editorial critical of deficit cutting plan before Congress, calls to look at other options rather than cuts in programs for America’s low and middle income families.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051222/NEWS/512220329/1001 – Proposed Medicaid budget would hurt Alabama’s poor.

 

FROM TODAY’S ANNISTON STAR:

EDITORIALS

A new lease

In our opinion
12-22-2005

In recent years we have noted, far too frequently, how Alabama so often stands alone, or nearly alone, as a state that fails to pass legislation that would protect its citizens. Here is another to add to the list.

Only two states — Alabama and Arkansas — are without laws that define the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. As a result, Alabama and Arkansas renters often find themselves unable to get their landlords to make basic repairs and keep the living standards of the property up to code.

Why not? It can’t be too complicated. About half of the states have passed what is essentially the same law and they are pleased enough with the results. Why can’t we just do what they are doing?

Well, we almost did. Last year, the Alabama Law Institute drafted a landlord-tenant bill that actually made it out of a Senate committee — a first.

But it never came to a vote — a victim (like so many others) of filibustering Republicans determined to protect the donor list of their “non-partisan” public advocacy allies.

Would it have passed? Hard to say. As disappointed supporters of the legislation have pointed out, some 42 percent of our legislators recently disclosed that they own or invest in rental property — not much need for lobbying there. Still, having rental property does not automatically make one opposed to landlord-tenant legislation.

In 2006, we hope the landlord-tenant bill that almost reached a vote will be introduced again and that legislators will rise above personal, selfish interests to do what is fair for renters and owners alike.

Then Arkansas will be the only one.

EDITORIALS

Fat cats kept happy

In our opinion
12-22-2005

The Proud Alabama Conservative — a description we hear so often it ought to be trademarked — must be beaming today. His pledge to make the fat cats fatter received the Senate’s stamp of approval on Wednesday. Vice President Dick Cheney cut a Middle East tour short to come back to Washington and cast the deciding vote to reduce domestic spending by $40 billion over the next five years.

Think about it, Proud Alabama Conservatives (“Proud ACs,” for short), that’s a full one-half of 1 percent of the estimated $14.3 trillion the feds will spend in the next five years.

Hey, don’t forget the other bonus, the Proud Alabama Conservative says. The Congress in recent weeks approved almost $40 billion in more tax cuts that will primarily benefit the wealthiest Americans. This goes along with five years’ worth of tax breaks to keep the hefty felines full.

Cut government spending, the Proud ACs say, and his fellow Alabamians in Congress answer, “Yes, sir.” They love cutting government spending, generically speaking. The trick is cuts to domestic programs are done specifically, not generically.

Luckily for the Proud AC, he or she rarely contemplates the specifics of cutting government spending that goes to friends and neighbors. Keep your blinders on, Proud Alabama Conservative. Look away from the would-be college student no longer able to afford tuition. Ignore the senior citizen whose Medicare co-pay rises from $3 to $100.

The beloved fat cats, who are lovingly stroked by the White House and Republicans in Congress, need more Meow Mix.