Senate Tied Up to Consternation of House & Others
A State House insider tells the Parlor this afternoon that it “looks like the Senate is going to filibuster the State Education Budget all the way until just before midnight. They would then pass it and send it to the House and kind of force the House to pass their changes and then the Senate will not have to deal with any other bills that are up there.”
“They have had hundreds of House bills all session and now they are going to ‘pork’ up the budget and then tell the House to pass it with their pork (and this is bipartisan pork) or else force a special session.”
Special session or last minute budget, either way a lot of legislation important to a lot of people may wither on the vine.
Sounds like our State Senate is has decided on what’s truly important.
Comment by walt moffett — May 19, 2008 @ 8:25 pm
I am really sick of this. I keep thinking on how to galvanize people to change things…but stuff is so screwed up here that it is difficult to know where to start.
We simply cannot go on like this.
Comment by Loretta Nall — May 19, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
Looks like bad news for Harri Anne. The senate is goimg to get the blame for this and I wouldn’t want to be her in this race.
Comment by houston county peanut — May 19, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
by your philosophy, guess parker smith will be at greater risk? considering he’s a member of the majority, and they could end this..but the leader of the majority won’t give up 1/3 of 1% of his power to higher ed ($25million)
Comment by Anonymous — May 19, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
Probably all of the incumbents will be given a pass on this once the voters see the shiny new swing set at the park, work beginning on that bypass, a good word put in for cousin Jim when he applies for that state job/college, and so on. 2010 is a long time away.
Comment by walt moffett — May 19, 2008 @ 9:38 pm
I think the House ought to call their bluff and head to a special session. This is absolute BS, and a special session looks like the only way to publicize what BS it is.
Comment by The Sandman — May 19, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
I’m about to the point of sharpening my pitch fork. Obviously, there is no reasoning with the majority of the members of the House and Senate.
To be fair….the House did work hard this session and passed many bills. It was their colleagues upstairs who trashed this session.
Phil Poole needs to be drizzled in honey and staked over a cow ant bed…for starters. I would hope that worthy opponents in his district are lining up to challenge him in 2010. What a PUNK!
I have tons of audio from yesterday. It will take me a while to process it but I will have some of the really good stuff up on Legislative Outtakes later today.
Comment by Loretta Nall — May 20, 2008 @ 6:13 am
Like most of you, I am disappointed and dismayed at the Senate’s refusal to perform its most basic functions. The Senate had an opportunity to effect real change that could positively impact the lives of Alabamians in a meanigful way. The Senate had a chance to help hard working Alabamians by allowing them to vote on removing the regressive sales tax on groceries and yet there was not enough support to get the bill out of committee. I attended a meeting in Lowndes County last night and listened as friends told stories of families who are now faced with the very real decision of whether to spend money on groceries or on gas so that they can drive to work. Members of the Senate refused to allow the people to even consider for themselves whether they want to change this practice, and why? Are they afraid that some among us may lose a tax deduction only three other states allow. I would say that this goes far deeper. It stems from the same fear that gripped those members of the House who refused to allow the people to consider whether to reform our antiquated Constitution. Ultimately they fear the people. They are afraid that the electorate of Alabama might have the opportunity to make decisions that can have meaningful results. The longer I observe Alabama politics, the more I respect Rueben Kolb who at least had the courage to mount a wagon across from the capitol and denounce a corrupt system that subverted the will of the people.
Comment by Fo-fiver — May 20, 2008 @ 8:56 am
Why did Barron put the “non-controversial” gambling bill on the calendar before the budgets? I have a limited knowledge of how the Senate works, but it seems to me that gambling is really controversial in this state and anyone would know that a bill on it would turn into a major brawl.
Comment by Margaret — May 20, 2008 @ 9:46 am
Looks like Hubbert didnt get what he wanted….tee hee hee….his grip is slipping. Joe Fine showed him that he is not King of the Hill like he thinks he is!!!!
And about the grocery tax…its only 4% on certain items….read the bill…not on all groceries. And the state stands to gain more (higher tax for you) by getting rid of the state deduct for federal taxes than what it loses in taxes on certain groceries…This is a ploy to raise taxes, and they are hiding behind the poor too do it. Disgusting. Alabama is poor because God sees how we patronize and hide behind the poor to get more money for our state government, not because our tax system is regressve. All taxes are regressive eventually.
If you wanna do something for the poor do away with the 4%tax and cut spending elsewhere….like dont build the new junior College in Hank Erwin’s district….waste…or better yet, nix the plans for a new statehouse…Superwaste.
Comment by The Rabbi — May 20, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
Congratulations to Joe Fine and the Senators who put a chink in Hubbert’s armor (assuming that wasn’t part of a deal). Shame that it only lasted the weekend and that Hubbert showed everyone who was boss on Tuesday. Luckily for the school children (note the sarcasm), he saved the day by pushing around our poor excuses for representatives once again.
By the way, are the people of AL aware that lunch ladies, PART TIME bus drivers, PART TIME custodians, etc… get FULL benefits in our state (thanks to AEA). Are there any other PART TIME employees getting that?
Comment by Embarrased — May 29, 2008 @ 5:04 pm