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August 23, 2007

State School Board Bans ‘Double-Dipping’

Filed under: AL Issues — Danny @ 12:45 pm

Associated Press:

The state school board voted Thursday to bar two-year college system employees from serving in the Legislature or holding any other elected state posts, signaling an end to so-called “double dipping” in a move likely to be challenged.

More details here.

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22 Comments »

  1. Anyone want to start a pool on how long it will be before the lawsuit is filed?

    Comment by Susan — August 23, 2007 @ 12:49 pm

  2. I bet its already been filed

    Comment by Anonymous — August 23, 2007 @ 1:09 pm

  3. Good job, school board!

    Comment by Anonymous — August 23, 2007 @ 2:04 pm

  4. When is the term up for democrat Ella Bell of Montgomery?

    Comment by OldCloverdale — August 23, 2007 @ 2:17 pm

  5. Bell’s term is up in 2008.

    Comment by Anonymous — August 23, 2007 @ 2:31 pm

  6. The taxpayers of the state of Alabama are victorious! Thank you to the following Alabama State School Board members…

    “Democrat Mary Jane Caylor of Huntsville, Riley and fellow Republicans Stephanie Bell of Montgomery, Betty Peters of Dothan and Randy McKinney of Gulf Shores.”

    Comment by Anonymous — August 23, 2007 @ 2:33 pm

  7. Now all we have to do is get rid of Republican Senator Larry Dixon who is salaried as the head of the State Board of Medical Examiners. That’s two state checks also.

    Comment by Terry — August 23, 2007 @ 2:47 pm

  8. Terry — that would’ve been done already if the Democrats had allowed the Governor’s bill to ban all double dipping to come up for a vote.

    Comment by Anonymous — August 23, 2007 @ 3:08 pm

  9. Regardless of race, party or class, this policy will apply to everyone from the governor to the legislative leadership to every lawmaker in Montgomery. It is a great victory for the taxpayers, the citizens, and, especially, the children of Alabama.

    These Alabama State School Board Members ROCK!
    “Democrat Mary Jane Caylor of Huntsville, Governor Bob Riley and fellow Republicans Stephanie Bell of Montgomery, Betty Peters of Dothan and Randy McKinney of Gulf Shores.”

    Comment by Anonymous — August 23, 2007 @ 4:22 pm

  10. Does Dixon’s salary for the State Board of medical examiners come from Taxpayers or from the fees Drs pay to the board? I think this came up in his last election and he demonstrated that he was not employed by the State of Alabama. But I could be wrong on that.

    Comment by Susan — August 23, 2007 @ 4:34 pm

  11. This move has the advantage of being very popular with the voters while at the same time being a calculated political power grab. It may be unconstitutional, but most of the people that will decide that work for either the Bush Justice Department or the Alabama Supreme Court. It even appears that the revised proposal gives current legislators some time to adjust to the new rules.
    I know it is blasphemy, but if the inevitable result of this is a diminishing of the power exercised by Drs. Hubbert and Reed in the Alabama Democratic Party, maybe Democrats should thank them for all their hard work and wish them well in their well-deserved retirements. The ADP could emerge with much more appeal to independents and centrist Republicans who can find common ground with particular candidates. If it doesn’t kill us, it will make us stronger. Collateral damage: The inevitable litigation might become an unfortunate political football in the 2008 Supreme Court race.

    Comment by Roy — August 23, 2007 @ 5:45 pm

  12. This is wrong. Voters should be able to elect whoever they want to represent them. If they select a double-dipping weasel then that’s who they get. What other group might the government decide shouldn’t be able to run for office?

    Comment by BR — August 23, 2007 @ 7:01 pm

  13. “Voters should be able to elect whoever they want to represent them.” They will no longer be holding “no work” jobs! The pigs will have to find another “tax payer” trough to steal food from.

    Comment by Anonymous — August 23, 2007 @ 7:15 pm

  14. Federal employees, convicted felons who have lost their right to vote, non-lawyers in judicial races, citizens under a certain age …

    Voters can still vote for a double-dipping weasel, but he would have to give up his other job in education. I bet a lot of employers don’t nercessarily want their employees taking off the kind of time required by a second job in the Legislature.

    If the voters don’t like it, they should vote out the SBOE.

    Comment by Roy, Jr. — August 23, 2007 @ 7:16 pm

  15. Using the Larry Dixon/Susan argument, the two year schools can pay legislators out of student fees and the problem will be solved.

    Comment by Anonymous — August 23, 2007 @ 8:57 pm

  16. Anonymous 15, I was asking a question. Sheesh.

    Comment by Susan — August 23, 2007 @ 10:47 pm

  17. Those who feel a debt of gratitude to the board members who voted for this ban may want to go to http://www.alsde.edu/html/boe1.asp?menu=boe and click on the members’ names under their photos and thank them.

    Comment by Don — August 24, 2007 @ 6:22 am

  18. Susan - in response to your question regarding Sen. Dixon’s position as the Executive Director of the Board of Medical Examiners. The statute creating this Board is a bit different from most regulatory bodies in state government. This Board operates from the revenues that it generates and controls (most other regulator boards do so also, but they must collect fees and then transmit them to the state and then seek an appropriation from the legislature in order to expend funds - Medical Examimners to not). The Board controls all expenditures and the appointment of staff. I suppose on one hand you could consider Sen. Dixon a state employee as he works for a statutorily created entity of the state; but if you use the question of whether legislatively appropriated funds are used to pay him for his services, then that answer would be no.

    Comment by Anonymous — August 24, 2007 @ 8:24 am

  19. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but the manner in which the AEAers showed their a$$e$ at this meeting shocking. The dimwit legislator from Elba shouldn’t be allowed near a classroom if she says such idiotic and rude things on a regular basis. AEA, consider your hand overplayed.

    Comment by JD Hogg — August 24, 2007 @ 8:35 am

  20. Anonymous 18–Thanks!

    Comment by Susan — August 24, 2007 @ 9:24 am

  21. […] A reader posed an interesting question: How many of the legislators affected by yesterday’s “double-dipping” ban by the State Board of Education represent districts that would have competitive races if the legislator chooses not to run again? That is to say, would one party have an opportunity to take a seat from the other in any of these districts? (Granted, the SBOE decision will face challenges.) […]

    Pingback by Districts, Parties, and the SBOE Ban » Doc’s Political Parlor — August 27, 2007 @ 10:09 am

  22. […] One legislative option is already being discussed as a response to today’s decision by the State Board of Education to prohibit two-year college system employees from serving in the Legislature. Those opposed to such a blanket ban have raised the possibility of a bill to create a separate board to oversee two-year colleges. The SBOE would continue to oversee K-12 schools but not two-year colleges. […]

    Pingback by Opponents of SBOE Ban Consider Options » Doc’s Political Parlor — August 27, 2007 @ 10:10 am

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