Response to Governor Riley's State of the State Address

Thank you for the opportunity to blog during the 2010 Regular Session of the Legislature.  I enjoyed the experience last year.  It was my first time to blog.

Each year the House and Senate alternate giving the Democratic response to the Governor’s message.  The following my response on Alabama Public Television to the Governor Riley’s State of the State Address.

My fellow Alabamians, on behalf of the Democrats it is my privilege and honor to reply to the Governor’s message and to outline what we as Democrats believe is the best course for the state of Alabama at this critical time in our history.

First, and this is difficult to say as a graduate of Auburn University, congratulations to Coach Saban and the Crimson Tide Team on the national championship.  You bring honor to our state.  Roll Tide!

Today Alabama faces its greatest economic challenge since the Great Depression.  The percentage of Alabamians without jobs rose faster than almost any state in the nation last year.  In other words, more people in Alabama are looking for work today and cannot find it than ever before. From Madison and Shelby Counties with the lowest jobless number in the state, at 7.3%, to Wilcox County with the state’s highest percentage of our citizens without employment at 24.3 %, families across Alabama are suffering.

That is why Democrats in the legislature are making putting people back to work our top priority.

In addition to creating jobs, Democrats are committed to protecting Alabama’s families and children, insuring accountability and transparency in government and spending our education dollars wisely.

Democratic Senator Lowell Barron is sponsoring one such jobs bill.  It will provide $1 Billion for highway improvements over the next ten years.  When we build infrastructure we create jobs and protect our citizens.  All over this state there are roads and bridges that must be repaired.   Not only is there a need, but also now is the time to reinvest our public dollars providing private sector jobs to more Alabamians.

We must also make sure that those who serve and protect the public are secure in their jobs.  The state troopers who keep our roads safe, the prison guards who protect us against the most hardened criminals, mental health workers and teachers all deserve a priority in our budgeting process.

Education dollars must also be focused on preparing our students for the workforce.

Alabama’s Democratic legislatures for over 100 years have kept Alabama at or near the lowest taxed state in the nation.

However, this doesn’t mean our taxing structure is fair.  There are only two states in the nation that tax groceries.  Alabama is one.  It is not right or just to tax the food we eat.  This basic fundamental of fairness, not to tax what we require to live each day, is recognized by 48 states.  Democrats are leading the effort to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries.  This will put money back into the pockets of all Alabamians.

Last year House Republicans fought to defeat this effort.   On four occasions this bill came up for a vote and on four occasions House Republicans killed this bill.

We now call on all Republicans in the legislature to join with us, put party politics aside and once and for all eliminate this unfair and unjust tax.

The sole charge to the legislature in Alabama’s Constitution is to adopt a balanced budget.  This year the task is daunting. We must be cautious stewards with the limited resources of our state.  This legislature will craft a budget that neither this Governor nor his cabinet officers will have to live with but it will have long lasting consequences for the people of our state. Governor Riley’s term ends shortly after the new budget takes effect, so he will be long gone as the new legislature and the new administration try to make sure the people of this state are well served with the limited resources we have available.

The priorities of the Democrats in adopting a budget will be to focus our attention on those in our society less capable of caring for themselves:  the school children of our state who are truly the future of Alabama, those 25% of Alabamians who rely on Medicaid for health care coverage, and people with mental illness.  My faith teaches that the Bible focuses on three special classes:  children, the poor and elderly.  It is where we place our talents and our resources that reflect our values.

My children, J.K. and Emma Grace, are in the 7^th and 4^th grade respectively.  This year, as in years prior, the school sent home a list of needed supplies. On the list were wet-ones, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and other items, which should be supplied by the schools.  Schools in Alabama are woefully under funded, ranking near the bottom 46^th, 47^th or 48^th of 50 states depending on which survey you review.

It has been proposed that charter schools be established.  We aren’t doing a very good job now funding education.   How can we divert our precious education dollars for unproven experimental schools?  There was a time when schools were built in a communal classroom style because some education guru said it was the modern thing to do; there was a time when others promoted magnet schools, and now the new fad is Charter Schools because that’s what we hear from Washington. Just because Washington says its good doesn’t make it right for Alabama.

Almost one in four children live below the poverty line in Alabama.   My wife, Tanya, is a public school principal and is witness to some of the most abject poverty you can ever imagine.  Children living in overcrowded homes, with no access to running water or basic human needs.  She tells me stories of the heartbreak she and the teachers feel for these children. Knowing this, it is easy to establish priorities.

While countless Alabamians are without work, many children are cold and hungry,  health care is rationed, education is underfunded, our people are scared and worried about their economic future, this Governor is spending his time working on his political  legacy and what the polls tell him he should be doing to elect Republicans.

In 2002, a Riley for Governor campaign spokesman made the following comment about no-bid contracts in Alabama:  “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and the people of Alabama are choking on the smoke…” Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe those words are truer today than ever.

This administration has given more no bid contracts than any administration in history.  Candidate Riley ran on opposition to no bid contracts.  This administration recently gave a $13M contract to an out of state software firm called Paragon citing that Paragon was the only firm that could do the job, making them a single source provider.  However, The Huntsville Times recently reported an independent firm found that 115 Alabama software firms could have done the job, none were given the opportunity to bid on the contract.

The Paragon contract along with tens of millions of dollars more in no-bid contracts by the Riley administration is why Democrats will be supporting a bill to prohibit this type of abuse and eliminate no-bid contracts period.

This legislature passed a bill that would have required all lobbyists who lobby the Executive Branch of government, the Governor and his cabinet, to have registered with the Alabama Ethics Commission.  This Governor vetoed that legislation.  Democrats will send this legislation back to the Governor; we’ll put in the legislation an effective date of January 1, 2011, when this Governor’s term is coming to a close.  Governor Riley, neither you nor your political associates will be directly affected by this legislation. This legislation provides transparency in government. I implore you to sign it into law for the next administration.  It’s the right thing to do.

As I mentioned at the beginning, Alabama is facing the worst economic crisis in over 70 years.  Revenue from taxing and regulating gaming can go a long way to solving the budget issues we are facing.  At the very least the people of this state deserve the right to vote on the issue.

Governor Haley Barbour and former U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, both very conservative Republicans, are huge supporters of the gaming and the revenue that comes from the casinos in Mississippi.

While at the same time, this administration has been using the limited resources of the state to oppose gaming.  Gaming should be regulated and taxed, not protected for the few or the out-of-state.

I’m reminded of the story of Bill at the healing service.  Bill walked down the aisle and knelt at the alter.  The preacher knelt down beside him and said, “Bill can I pray for you?”

“Yes,” Bill said.

“What can I pray for Bill,” the preacher asked.

“You can pray for my hearing preacher.”

The preacher laid one hand on the side of Bill’s head with his thumb in Bill’s ear.  Then he laid the other hand on the top of Bill’s head.  The preacher then began to pray a mighty powerful prayer.  When he had finished he asked Bill, “How’s your hearing?”

Bill said, “I don’t know preacher, it’s not until Thursday.”

The Governor is like the preacher.  He doesn’t understand what the people of Alabama want.  Democrats understand what is important to the people of Alabama.

Democrats are committed to putting people back to work and providing job security to those who are employed.  We will protect families and children, provide accountability and transparency in government and spend our education dollars wisely to help the children of Alabama prepare for tomorrow.

There is hope for Alabamians, from global, to national and locally. Globally, the death toll in Iraq declined by more than half from the previous year.  Nationally, after a decline in the stock market in 2008 of over 40%, last year we saw an increase of 15%. Locally, Alabamians are hard working and inventive.  We rise when faced with adversity.

I am proud to live and work in this great state.

God Bless America and the Great State of Alabama.