I think the Tuscaloosa News today has it right on constitutional reform:

Constitutional reform, to no one’s surprise, is dead in the 2006 Legislature.

[...snip...]

But constitutional reform may yet prove to be the long-distance champion of issues in the Alabama Legislature.

[Snip...] hope springs eternal. Sen. Ted Little, a proponent of the vote, says the reform movement’s [...]

You heard it here in the Parlor. Now the Tuscaloosa News has a similar take:

In one sense, the Legislature handed Gov. Bob Riley his head this week when it overrode his veto of the education budget.

At the same time, however, it handed him an election issue on a silver platter, if the [...]

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/114380075766940.xml&coll=2 – Summary of yesterday’s legislative activity.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/APN/603301075&cachetime=5 – Legislature gives final approval to Sentencing Commission bills.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060330/APN/603300765&cachetime=5 – Compromise reached on “unborn child” bill.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060331/NEWS/603310337/1001 – Landlord-tenant bill goes to Riley for signature.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060331/OPINION01/603310310/1012/OPINION – Editorial urges Governor’s approval of landlord-tenant act.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060331/NEWS/603310305/1012/editorial1 – Editorial in support of income tax reform measure, expresses [...]

If a governor introduces a measure so poorly received that it provokes boos from legislators, is that the mark of a governor that is out of touch with political realities? Or is it politically savvy? Or let me ask it another way…

Are Riley’s multiple clashes in this election year meant to demonstrate [...]

From today’s Birmingham News

Riley, a Republican running for re-election, wanted to expand the tax cut so it eventually would save taxpayers at least $133 million a year and give tax cuts to many more middle-class and upper-income people, said Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville.

Actually… Riley wanted to give a tax cut not to more people. [...]

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1143714175218550.xml&coll=2 – Legislators override Governor’s veto of Education Trust Fund Budget.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1143714079218550.xml&coll=2 – House committee approves General Fund budget.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1143713754218550.xml&coll=2 – Senate committee approves tax cut plan.

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1143713806218540.xml&coll=3 – Constitutional reform dead for this session, Sen. Little says this year’s efforts will improve chances of passage in 2007.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AL_XGR_EMINENT_DOMAIN_ALOL-?SITE=ALMON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT – Senate ends filibuster to [...]

The House Democrats’ Tax Fairness Bill passed out of Senate Committee today unanimously. There was no real opposition expressed or amendments offered – except there was one amendment of a procedural/technical nature (All the commas in all the right places, and all that.)

There was talk of how the bill passed the House unanimously, [...]

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1143628662184120.xml&coll=2 – Senate committee passes bill to add “unborn persons” to those who can be victims of assault, murder, etc.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1143627869184120.xml&coll=2 – Immigrant advocates rally in Birmingham for reform.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1143627929184120.xml&coll=2 – Editorial on Roy Moore’s opposition to proposal to register farm animals.

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1143627729184100.xml&coll=3 – Senate slows action yesterday to avoid eminent domain measure, today [...]

Two North Alabama ministers join a Washington, D.C., protest against proposed immigration laws.

“God’s people are called to welcome the stranger,” said the Rev. Gene Lankford, a Methodist minister from Marshall County, quoting Bible verses from Leviticus and Matthew. “You are to love the alien as yourself.”

Being faithful is not always easy…

The House bill would [...]

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1143540993107710.xml&coll=2 – Editorial on Roy Moore’s recent comments that the voters of Alabama are incapable of voting for a new constitution.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1143540965107700.xml&coll=1 – Alabama ministers join demonstrations against bill to tighten restrictions on support to undocumented immigrants, encounter with Sen. Sessions makes news.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/NEWS02/603280338/1009 – House expected to take up deadly force bill, Senate [...]

2003 gets a re-write, and so does my earlier message that I now believe could benefit from being more to the point. Where is the editor when you need him? [Ed. Note: I don't work weekends. - Doc] If you will indulge me, I will present the succinct version I should have posted [...]

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1143454765110060.xml&coll=3 – “The Political Skinny,” the Mobile Register’s weekly political roundup from Mobile, Montgomery and Washington.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1143454548110080.xml&coll=1 – GBM representative answers questions related to constitutional reform.

http://www.dothaneagle.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DEA%2FMGArticle%2FDEA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137834959724&path=!frontpage – Siegelman says that Riley is a “do nothing governor.”

http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060325/NEWS/603250307/1015/OPINIONS01 – Editorial on recent report that reveals that Alabama continues to lag nation in prenatal health [...]

I know that politicking involves taking complex issues and reducing them to overly simplistic, emotionally charged sound bites that diminish your opponent and anyone who disagrees with you. But dismissing the failed Amendment One tax proposal in 2003 as a “call for a 1.2 billion dollar tax increase” is a gross oversimplification.

Siegelman and Baxley [...]