Busy Week Ahead
This will be the busiest week of the session so far for the House. We have a three day legislative work week which means we are in session for three days as opposed to two and a committee day.
Every hot topic imaginable is on the plate this week. Rep. John Knight’s bill to reduce sales taxes while increasing income taxes is up today. The Jefferson County financial crisis looks likely to spill over into the House Rules Committee this morning. Both of these bills mean that there is a real chance for some sparks to fly today because the votes on these issues are very close in my opinion.
Tomorrow I have a bill in committee to reduce the requirement necessary for third parties or independents to gain ballot access while at the same time the House Judiciary Committee has a host of hot button topics. Legislation to extend the hate crimes law to homosexuals, mandatory registration for stun guns, and a bill to eliminate Alabama’s ban on sex toys all await the committee members for Judiciary. That committee alone will give the reporters enough print to keep them busy for the week.
On top of all of this it sounds like the “Bingo for Medicaid” legislation is finally going to take a shot at getting a vote on maybe Wednesday or Thursday. This guarantees a hard fought showdown that will pretty much prevent anything else from coming up for debate that day should that bill be brought up.
One thing is for sure, there will be plenty to blog about at the end of the week.
Personally I do not think that the rest of the state should have to bail Jefferson County out of their mess!!! Why should people from south Alabama pay more for those in other areas who misued their taxes?
Comment by Anonymous — April 15, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
GREAT! Just what we need, Cam. A bill to make it easier for the Dems to win local elections. I know you think it noble to lower the bar for the nutcase crowd to have ballot access, but all you are doing is guaranteeing a loss in “purple” counties for your GOP brethren.
When you run for Governor one day and get beat in a close election because Matt Chancy secured votes from the Libertarian boobs that would have gone to you instead, maybe you’ll re-think idiotic legislation such as this.
Comment by Scorpius — April 18, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
Actually I believe your argument cuts both ways. won’t Green Party candidates take votes away from some Dem candidates? The only thing idiotic in this debate your opposition based upon the fear it might cut into the number of people who will vote for your candidate. If a so called political boob is a threat to good political debate in Alabama then maybe some people feel like their voice is not being heard. Besides I have seen enough boobs running in both party primaries to say that neither major party or third party has a monopoly on nuts.
Comment by Anonymous — April 18, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Actually, it doesn’t here in Alabama. Yeah, the Green Party whackos will take votes from the Dems—about 4 in all.
I’m not fearful for any particular candidate. What I’m concerned about is creating an imbalance that will create a huge advantage for the Democrat Party–you know, the folks who: blame America first, make it easier for the terrorists, hate anything related to God and Faith in the public square, coddle the criminal element, raise our taxes and advocate for “Leviathan.”
The problem is not that we can’t hear the voices of the boob class, it’s that you are giving them an inordinate amount of disruption in an election.
While I agree that both major parties do have their own respective resident nutjobs, third parties attract the majority share—usually dissatisfied weirdos who leave the major two parties to find sympathy and willing enablers found coalesced in loser groups.
Comment by Scorpius — April 18, 2008 @ 2:54 pm