Turnham Calls Riley Out
We are a few weeks away from finding out if the next legislative session will be as bogged down by bitter political gamesmanship as the last legislative session was.
On that subject and others, state Democratic Party Chair Joe Turnham weighs in, notes some saber-rattling by the GOP, and makes some noise himself with this release today.
MONTGOMERY – Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham today called on Governor Bob Riley to cease raising funds in his capacity as Chairman of the Republican Party’s Campaign 2010 until he signs a bill that requires disclosure of those who are lobbying his administration. Last year, the governor vetoed legislation that requires individuals who lobby the executive branch to register with the Ethics Commission. Currently, only those who lobby the legislative branch of state government are required to register as a lobbyist and submit quarterly reports. The bill, which Riley killed, was sponsored by Rep. Marcel Black and unanimously passed both chambers of the legislature. Riley talks the talk of reforming ethics in government, but failed when it came time to walk the walk.
Governor Riley was quoted by the Mobile Press-Register earlier this week saying that he was leading an effort to raise $7 million through the Alabama Republican Party to oust Democrats in the 2010 legislative elections. Campaign 2010’s highest level of giving is $40,000 over a four year period. Democratic Party Executive Director Jim Spearman observed “Few Alabamians believe someone giving that much money does not expect something in return from the Governor. Of course we cannot truly know if any of those in the ‘Governor’s Circle’ are lobbying on behalf of special interests because there is no disclosure thanks to Riley’s veto.”
“This initiative being led by the Governor is particularly troubling when we are only two weeks away from a new legislative session, and we are seeking to avoid the same partisan rancor that bogged down the State Senate last year,” said Turnham. “Therefore I think it is imperative that Governor Riley tone down the partisan rhetoric about taking over the legislature and instead give the people a transparent executive branch. He should commit himself to the passage and signing of Rep. Black’s ethics bill in 2008.”
The GOP’s track record of ousting Democrats in Alabama’s legislature has not been a good one, as they were unable to gain any seats in the last general election and have lost four of the last five special elections. Strong Democrats like Tammy Irons, Butch Taylor, and Pebblin Warren all won their contests despite saber-rattling by Republican Party Chairman Mike Hubbard and the personal involvement of Riley. During last year’s race to replace late Rep. Albert Hall, Hubbard claimed “the Democrats are scared to death about House District 22.” Democrat Butch Taylor went on to win that race by a wide margin of 16%. “If history is any indication, the Republicans face an uphill battle if they think money can trump Democratic ideas in the public debate,” concluded Turnham.
Finis.
that release sounds like they are grasping for straws, and the gop hasn’t had to oust most of them - i believe i read somewhere that Sen Holley was the 140th to switch from Dem to GOP vs. 1 the other way. wonder why that is?
Comment by cooper — January 18, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
Joe Turnham is just jealous.
Comment by Susan — January 18, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
How come I always see the Democrats’ spin and press releases on this blog, but never the GOP’s?
Comment by Anonymous — January 18, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Turnham is wrong.
Comment by JT — January 18, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
I, personally, hope that Riley gets involved in EVERY legislative race in 2010. It certainly helped Randy McKinney, Wayne Johnson, et al. Riley’s batting 0% so far. Keep up the good work!
Comment by Anonymous — January 18, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
Hm, an attempt to derail Republican Fund raising, some chest beating, naming the rising stars and implied if a meltdown occurs it be the other guys doing. About a C+ as agit-prop. Needs more repetition, shorter, simpler sentences and a slogan or three as take aways. Maybe split into three separate releases, one on ethics reform, one on the session and the other on electoral successes? Even messages to the choir should be short and simple.
Anonymous in #3, browse the past few months posts, GOP releases have been here and will probably continue to be here.
Comment by walt moffett — January 18, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
the response
http://www.algop.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=6823
Comment by anonymous — January 18, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
Walt,
Nice point. They really need to focus on one issue and hammer it untill something sticks. When dead, hammer another. I believe he wasted some ammo here. But, any response is better than none and he does showcase the fact that the Republicans have a hard time finding likeable or at least electable candidates. Even Albert Hall thought that district would turn when he left.
I expect some sort of quick response from Hubbard calling this “sour grapes” and focusing on how “worried” the Democrats are. Inevitably, he’ll allude to the 2-year scandal and how the Democrats are trying to shift the focus. Which they are. Hubbard’s releases stink of Beltway creativity — something he doesn’t posess.
If the Republicans don’t win House District 12, they really have no ground to stand on — cash or no cash. Oddly enough, that race is really tight. If the Democrats pull that one, Hubbard sounds and looks like hot air.
Comment by Gunney Highway — January 18, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Gunney Highway, Hubbard’s response is now up (see #7). I’d give it a B, short, simple, mildly humorous, but seems directed to the choir instead of the congregation.
Comment by walt moffett — January 18, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
I wish I could remember how much more money that Butch guy from Jackson County spent than the Republican did. It was really a significant amount. That probably goes further in explaining the outcome of the race as opposed to any differences in ideology.
Comment by margaret — January 18, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Damn, they must have read my post as I was writing it. At least I got the quick part right.
I’ll agree again Walt, Clinton is fodder to the choir, but he was good to most of the congregation.
I do particularly like the “corruption free and ethical Administration,” comment. I hope they don’t end up eating their words on that one. Watch out for career-tech to come back and bite em somewhere.
Comment by Gunney Highway — January 18, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
Here’s what the Decatur Daily editorial board said about this sham bill the Legislature passed. And the Daily is certainly no friend to the GOP:
DECATUR DAILY
June 22, 2007
Ethics bill was only a political charade
In politics, up is sometimes down, black is white, yes is no, and strengthening ethics laws is actually making them weaker.
Welcome to the Alabama Legislature where both houses unanimously passed legislation to expand the list of people who must register with the State Ethics Commission and file reports on their activities.
Now that sounds like a good idea in a state where lobbyists are so numerous they lobby each other. Actually, the bill Gov. Bob Riley vetoed this week is a cover-up for the Senate failing year after year to pass meaningful ethics and campaign financing legislation.
This legislation is so cumbersome that, if law, it would create a massive outcry from people who are on the periphery of lobbying and thwart attempts at real legislation.
Jim Sumner, who heads the State Ethics Commission and is a proponent of stronger ethics laws, quickly saw the bill’s flaws.
Legislators, he said, didn’t consult him before passing the legislation. If they had, Mr. Sumner would have told them the bill is virtually inoperable. The Legislature’s Contract Review Committee already reviews contracts called for in the bill.
Gov. Riley was right to kill this charade. Legislators should be ashamed, but then it’s difficult to shame that bunch.
Comment by Anonymous — January 18, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Republicans raise money, Turnham raises his voice.
Comment by Anonymous — January 18, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
I find the Democratic party particularly hypocritical on this issue since their leadership in the Senate routinely kills most any ethics legislation of substance.
Comment by margaret — January 18, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
Anonymous - “Now that sounds like a good idea in a state where lobbyists are so numerous they lobby each other.”
“Gov. Riley was right to kill this charade. Legislators should be ashamed, but then it’s difficult to shame that bunch.”
=====
If you don’t have the money and power to endlessly annoy legislators or to buy them off, you have to play by the rules enacted at the behest of the people who do. We are not a state of majority rule; we are ruled by lobbyists. The majority merely decides which politicians will pass the laws supported by lobbyists.
The expansion of lobbying simply creates the need for more people to engage in more lobbying. Nobody wins except the politicians and the lobbyists. Lobbying acts as a tax on productivity. It produces nothing except a reallocation of resources from the losers to the winners. It also creates inefficiencies which reduce our ability to compete globally.
Comment by Pookie — January 18, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
Anonymous in comment 3 wrote:
How come I always see the Democrats’ spin and press releases on this blog, but never the GOP’s?
It must be because you don’t come around very often.
Otherwise, you would have seen Charles Bishop’s release here yesterday, or Tim James here the day before on his campaign to the point that a commenter suggested I was his publicist. You would have seen Mike Hubbard’s glowing remarks about the GOP’s fundraising success last week, and you would have seen David Woods talking about running for AL-02. You would have seen news from Jay Love on fundraising, and recent news from Jim Main… when Harri Anne Smith was declaring her candidacy for AL-02, I was accused of being overly biased on her behalf… on and on… Mike Hubbard did a long three part interview…
Hard for me to know why you don’t ever see Republican viewpoints here - because others do. In fact, on the face of it, the question was silly enough that I almost just ignored it, but I hated for some first time reader to stumble on this post and think the question had merit.
Glad you are here. Keep reading. Some things you’ll like and some you won’t.
Comment by Danny — January 18, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
thanks for clarifying danny. I was beginning to think you were Joe Turnham’s puppet.
Comment by cooper — January 19, 2008 @ 11:29 am
Anonymous at #3 - a lot of us GOP types on here think Danny does a good job on being “fair and balanced.”
Comment by Anonymous — January 19, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
A totally fair and balanced headline (LOL).
Comment by Anonymous — January 19, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
Thanks, Anonymous in comment #18.
The really funny thing about the question in comment #3 was that I figured if anybody would be grumbling about the stories around here lately it would be the Dems. Been a little quieter here lately on that side of the aisle.
Then you have somebody like the commenter in 19 who thinks the headline is unfair, or biased, or partisan, or inaccurate, or something. You never know what you’ll get around here. LOL. The kids these days, I guess I don’t know all their hip lingo as well as I’d like. If “calling somebody out” is an insult, or an unfair description of the post’s content, or somehow inaccurate here, then I guess I need a crash course in how it’s used. Took 19 comments before anyone made mention of it, so I must not have butchered its use too terribly. LOL
Anyway, thanks again, #18.
Comment by Danny — January 20, 2008 @ 12:13 am