Alabama Senate filibuster going into second week (donor disclosure in ads)

[Robbien]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. A filibuster in the state Senate will stretch into a second week. The filibuster started Tuesday over a bill that has already passed the House. The bill would require groups to disclose their contributors if they run ads to influence the outcome of an election, referendum or vote on a bill in the Legislature.
The filibuster continued today for two and one-half hours before the Senate adjourned until next week, when the filibuster will resume.

Opponents say the bill is aimed at crippling the Christian Coalition. Its sponsor, state Representative Randy Hinshaw, says it would bring more openness to the political process.

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3149766

a very important one to watch

[Q3JR4]

1. Very interesting. n/t

[movonne]

2. It better get crippled...or America will be another taliban..

[AlCzervik]

3. Thank goodness for DU, otherwise i would have never

even heard about this story. this one could be used as precedent for other states and maybe even on a federal level.

[QC]

4. Democrats are fighting the good fight in Alabama.

Of course, there won't be much discussion of this, unless someone can figure out a way to work jokes about incest and trailers into it.

Fascinating story, though. The Christian Coalition funded a slanderous mailing against one of our candidates, a really egregious one, even by their standards. In fact, it was so bad that even many of the Republicans condemned it. This bill is a response. If the CC is forced to open their donor list it will hurt them badly, because they have been busted in the past taking money from the gambling interests and other such unsavory folks.

Here's hoping they can break the filibuster and get it the bill passed.

[QC]

5. Yep, what did I tell you?

No interest in this story. It doesn't fit the popular prejudices.

[Mojorabbit]

6. prejudices? explain? n/t

[QC]

10. Like I said, no trailer or incest angle to the story. n/t

[AZCat]

7. Hey! Some of us are just getting home from work.

Not everyone has the opportunity to log in more than once a day. I would wait for the evening crowd to come in before declaring this thread dead.

[unsavedtrash]

17. no clue

I actually live in Alabama and this is the first time I have heard anything about it. As far as I know it has not made it to local news. Learn something new every time I come here! :-)

[salin]

12. Didn't see the item earlier

the speed which with things fall off the first two pages of lbn tends to do that.

Question - if the ads are forthright - why the fear of disclosure (who donated to pay) - I thought transparency was important. But as you point out - some of the ads are quite egregious.. ergo folks (or organizations) don't want to be associated with the ads. But then - perhaps - they shouldn't donate until they know they can trust that the ads won't be embarassing/egregious.

Good for the Alabama dems fighting/fillibustering this. They should push the "personal responsibility" angle on this (if they are not - they might be) - that seems to work fairly well in turning some things back in this northern, midwestern red state.

[QC]

14. A few years ago the governor tried to get a lottery

for education funding. The Christian Coalition, predictably, opposed it on the grounds that gambling is immoral. Then it came out that the CC had been taking money for its anti-lottery campaign from the casino interests in Mississippi.

I think that sort of thing is why they want to keep their donors secret.

[salin]

15. all the more reason

for requiring transperancy... if they don't like the contradiction - they should stop donating. I know, I am talking to the choir. Again - good for the dems to force this issue.

[Eloriel]

27. I'll tell you what else they do --

they sell/give or rent their mailing lists to candidates, which is EXPRESSLY forbidden UNLESS the candidate pays "market value" -- and even then it's highly questionable at best since the CC is supposed to be a 501(c)(3) which in and of itself expressly forbids electoral politics (advocating for or against any candidate or party).

For further info, if you want to lobby, you need a 501(c)(4) organization, and if you want to engage in electoral advocacy politics, you need a PAC of 501(c)(5) organization. The funds raised and spent must be kept scrupulously separate and well-accounted for. Most groups like NOW, NARAL, Sierra Club, etc., are organized under all 3 designations.

I really know very little about the NEWER groups (527s and such).

The reason I know that the CC makes its mailing list available to selected candidates is because once upon a time I was a subscriber and made enough of a modification to my name that it would allow me to track how the mailing list was being used. Sure enough, when election season rolled around, I got a mailing with that modification from one of the fine Republican candidates in the state.

I took the evidence to a reporter at the AJC who wanted to know what my "agenda" was and apparently I never convinced him I was pure enough, and it never got used. Bah. THESE days I'd be smarter about it: what the hell does my agenda have to do with (probably) breaking the law? If I report that someone I despise has murdered someone else, does my "agenda" come into play (not unless I FRAMED the person).

Aw whoot. Now I'm mad all over again. :evilgrin:

[solinvictus]

8. Hey,,

Alabama is a blue state for local politicians. Our Dems are trying hard.

[Gold Metal Flake]

9. Hip a moron...

Who is responsible for the filibuster? Is the idea to not let the bill come to a vote? Does the bill have sufficient support to pass?

[QC]

11. Republicans are trying to keep it from coming up for a vote. n/t

[Robbien]

33. A bit more on why this bill is where it is now

Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega, said the Senate was unable to pass a single bill or resolution all week while the contributor identification bill inspired heated debate.

"We can’t do anything without passing that bill, voting it down or carrying it over," he said. "But we need 21 of 35 senators for a cloture vote, and with absences and whatever, we have not had that so far this week."

The bill would require full disclosure of organizations contributing to political campaigns. "That’s certainly not all bad," Preuitt said. "I believe people have a right to know who’s contributing and where the money comes from, whether it’s from the Christian Coalition of Alabama, from Indian gaming interests in Mississippi or from educators or any other lobby. I think politicians should be willing to identify and disclose where their money comes from, and I think Democrats generally support that. In fact, the Senate passed a version of this bill by something like 30-1 and sent it to the House. But the House substituted a different bill by Rep. Randy Hinshaw, D-Madison, and sent it back. At that point, CCA president John Giles got involved."

Giles is the real reason for the deadlock, Preuitt said he believes. "He’s been walking the halls because he apparently doesn’t want people to know where his money comes from," Preuitt said.

[southlandshari]

35. Head of nail, meet hammer.

You hit it exactly.

"Giles is the real reason for the deadlock, Preuitt said he believes. "He’s been walking the halls because he apparently doesn’t want people to know where his money comes from," Preuitt said."

The horrible irony of all of this is that the "Christian" Coalition of Alabama is being led by the anti-Christ, or something very close to it.

[AZCat]

13. Here's a link to Rep. Hinshaw's official page

REPRESENTATIVE RANDY HINSHAW (D) 21st District (Madison)

Representative Randy Hinshaw was elected to the Alabama House of Rperesentatives on November 5, 2002. He and his wife, Leslie, have five children: Anna, Alan-Michael, Jeremy, Whitney, and Morgan. Representative Hinshaw received his A.S. Degree from John C. Calhoun College and Athens State University. He currently works as an education specialist. He is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives, serving from 1994 - 1998. He is a past member of the Madison County Mental Health Board and past vice president of the Northeast Huntsville Civic Association. Representative Hinshaw is a member of the Alabama New South Coalition and Alabama Democratic Conference.

Committees: Vice Chair, Constitution and Elections; Education; Tourism and Travel; Madison County Legislation
</snip>


There's a local phone number, but no email. :shrug:


Update:
Hah - found it! This site lists an email address for Rep. Hinshaw, although I don't know how good it is. It's listed as: [email protected]

[southlandshari]

16. The Alabama Christian Coalition

is like a festering wart that just won't go away for all of us thinking people in Alabama (there are more of us than you might think!). Even the National Christian Coalition leadership came to Alabama and opposed its own chapter's stance against a desperately needed tax referendum in 2003 (which was, sadly, defeated with a lot of help from the decidedly NON-Christian Christian Coalition in this state).

The Alabama CC is neck deep into corruption that extends out to such national "treasures" as Ralph Reed and Tom Delay, has been involved in using Indian gaming funds for political causes - while staunchly opposing a lottery in this state - the b@#$s$%t John Giles (ACC executive director) is into is deep and wide.

There are people trying to clean house down here. Any of you who feel moved to cheer us on are greatly appreciated!

[Robbien]

18. I will definitely be watching from Chicago and cheering you guys on

This case is very very important because if you win it, it could be a tool which could be used in all states who wish to battle the crazy coalition. This was the only major case I could find where someone was trying to limit the coalition's power grab.

:yourock:

[southlandshari]

22. Thanks!

I know I speak for a lot of Alabamians when I say it sure would be nice to have our state held up as the winning test case against corruption and cronism!

I also know I speak for many when I say your support means a lot to us!

[QC]

24. Thanks for the support! n/t

[candy331]

20. Here's a cheer from your neighboring state of Georgia. We are being

pummeled here too with a sack of new laws by the 1st time dominated republican house and senate. Cheers to you and us too!

[southlandshari]

21. We'll cheer each other on!

What else can we do but fight the powers-that-be to insure that they will soon be the "powers-that-were-but-are-no-more"!

It is just always a little easier to work against all this craziness when you know you've got others on your side!

[Selatius]

25. You guys have my best wishes

We've got problems in Mississippi by the name of Haley Barbour, the man who chaired the RNC when NAFTA was passed into law.

[southlandshari]

28. If it is any comfort...

Growing up in Alabama, no matter how bad things seemed, we always found solace in saying, "Well, at least we're not from MISSISSIPPI!"

I've lived all over the world since, most recently in Jackson, MS, before moving back to Alabama after 20 years away. Among the interesting things I learned in my five years in Mississippi:

1) Native Mississippians said the same thing about Alabama growing up!

and

2) Mississippi has, in many ways, come further than has Alabama in overcoming evils like racial discrimination and big-boy-cronism. I'm not saying you guys don't have miles to go (as do we), and I don't know how far Barbour might set you back - just saying I was so pleasantly surprised at the number of truly progressive people I met all over the state. And the instances of genuine cooperation between blacks and whites I saw in some areas of Mississippi gave me hope.

Keep fighting that good fight - your neighbors here are cheering for you!

[Ripley]

19. Surprise, surprise!

The Christian Coalition is sneaky. These jerks convinced thousands of people to plaster NO LOTTERY and NO NEW TAXES bumperstickers on their cars. Yet the Greyhound racetracks are doing a brisk business and the schools are decaying.

Why can't people see how the CC is a fraud?

[Charlie Brown]

23. The real question is

If this bill passes in the Senate, will Bob Riley sign it? Since he's up for reelection next year, I'm sure the CC will demonize him if he does.

[southlandshari]

26. Riley and the Alabama Christian Coalition

have not exactly been big buddies during his first adminstration. The CC in Alabama was instrumental in defeating Riley's boldest policy move back in 2003, an overhaul of our abysmal tax code in Alabama. I've never voted Republican in this state, but I will say that Riley has impressed me greatly at times during the past few years - he is willing to stand up for what he believes is best for this state, even if it places him in direct opposition from the strongest of traditional Republican fatcats (like big business and the Christian Coalition).

If Roy Moore runs against Riley in the primaries, rest assured he will be the CC's man. And they can have each other. I just hope Alabama won't have to suffer either much longer. They have their supporters - I'm not denying it - but there are a heck of a lot of Alabamians, including Republicans and even some conservative Christians, that don't have much use for either.

On edit:

Good article that I think is illustrative of what I was trying to say above. The conrast between Riley and Giles - both of whom call themselves conservative Christian Republicans - is striking:

http://www.al.com/specialreport/?taxplan/taxplanb32.html

[MelissaB]

37. Thanks for the link.

[Dr.Phool]

29. Kick

[southlandshari]

32. Thanks!

This might get lost in the shuffle - it is, for most folks, important but not urgent news. Unfortunately, this is VERY urgent for us Alabamians - and will be for others in other states later if we don't nip it in the bud!

[colonel odis]

30. does this mean they might have to disclose the contributions

democrats and other left-wingers would make to roy moore's gubernatorial campaign?

[southlandshari]

31. Are you serious?

I'm not attacking you, I really want to know.

[colonel odis]

38. i'm very serious. i'd donate money to roy moore if he ran

for governor, president, or anything else.

i believe the best way to expose those types for what they are is to put them in the spotlight.

a roy moore candidacy would also siphon votes from any republican candidate. :-)

[struggle4progress]

34. kick

[Syrinx]

36. I've been following this in the news

But I haven't thought to make any phone calls. That will be rectified on Monday. :thumbsup:

[southlandshari]

39. We are now only one vote shy of cloture

Which will end the Republican filibuster and force a vote on the campaign funding disclosure bill!!!

I just sent an email to my Democratic senator who I know supports this bill to please add his vote for cloture today.

We've got a real shot at pushing back the far right-wing idiots and uber-fundamentalists on this one. Thanks to all of you who have posted words of encouragement here. I hope we'll have some good news from Alabama to share soon.