Posted by The future of many state regulatory agencies were discussed this week as the Senate dealt with sunset bills. Unless you are involved with the agencies whose future is shaped by the outcome of these votes, few people have an interest in sunset legislation. The only concern most lawmakers and lobbyists have with the sunsets bills are the length of time it takes to pass them. The sunset bills must be dealt with before any other bill can be brought forward.
There was much attention paid to the public hearing dealing with restrictions on illegal immigration. Following an enthusiatic rally on the steps of the State House, the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability Committee conducted a public hearing on SB 426 which drew around 150 people. The original meeting room was too small to accommodate the large number of concerned citizens. Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Little(D-Auburn) then moved the hearing to the largest venue in the State House for this standing room only crowd.
Sen. Scott Beason (R-Gardendale) promoted and defended his bill for over 90 minutes. As one of the many co-sponsors, I decided to attend the hearing that attracted Alabamians from across the state. Many people like myself were looking forward to a committee vote that would send the bill toward Senate passage. We were very disappointed in that the committee lacked the sufficient number in attendance (or quorum) for a vote. There is a great deal of speculation over why some members failed to show. Hopefully the required number will be present for an upcoming commititee vote. The citizens of our state realize that inaction on this developing problem within our borders will lead to increasing numbers of undocumented immigrants entering Alabama from states who took the problem more seriously and passed needed legislation. Maybe I’m too optimistic, but I feel that constituent pressure on lawmakers to pass this bill will prevail. We shall see.
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This was an obvious attempt to avoid a quorum by playing (non)-musical chairs by certain legislators who do not appear to support the bill. This is one of those issues that will fire up the public. You may be correct that pressure will lead to the eventual passage of the bill, but the ramifications of this “political manipulation” leaves a bad taste in the mouth of conservative voters. The following morning, on WVNN here in Huntsville, Dale Jackson was on fire against certain local legislators who avoided the meeting.
Don’t ever doubt that the chairman of this committee is the maestro of this bit of musical chairs. Like so many of the democrats, Ted Little is nothing more than a lapdog for the Senate leadership.
He uses the immigration issue and constitutional rewrite as his “feel good” legislative agenda. Makes him look to his constituents, all the while knowing the Senate leadership will find some nefarious way to avoid passing the legislation.
Little is a classic example of “form in lieu of substance”.