Agenda Of The Alabama Democratic State Legislators

[Syrinx]

From here: http://www.aladems.net/

Overall, I'm really disappointed. My comments are in italics.

ETHICS & ELECTION REFORM

1. Stop all PAC to PAC transfers

It seems obvious. Just do it.

2. Require registered lobbyists to report to the Alabama Ethics Commission all expenditures related to appointed or elected public officials.

Ditto.

3. Pass legislation to strengthen the law against nepotism in state hiring

Again, obvious.

4. Eliminate all “pork” projects from state budgets

I'm not sure what this really means.

TAX REFORM

1. Stop annual property tax increases by returning property reappraisals to a four year cycle

Why? I don't feel strongly about this one way or the other.

2. Oppose any increase in taxes without a vote of the people

Irresponsible demagoguery.

3. Eliminate the sales tax on food

Excellent. Why not medicine too?

4. Further reduce the state income tax on all working families and individuals earning less than the Federal Poverty Level

A good start. But why should impoverished people pay any income tax at all?

5. Create the Alabama Energy Independence Act with tax incentives for Alabama farmers and refineries, providing Alabama jobs, and making Alabama less dependent on foreign oil

I really hate those oil rigs off Dauphin Island. I guess more of those are on the way.

EDUCATION

1. Pass a constitutional amendment to prohibit the use of Alabama Education Trust Fund money for non-education purposes

Seems self-evident, doesn't it?

2. Pass budgets that increase funding for the following education priorities:

- Classroom discipline

- Emphasis on “back-to-basics” education

- Technology in the classroom

What do they mean by "discipline?" And don't "technology in the classroom" and "back-to-basics" seem a little contradictory?

- Support students and the work of teachers and other education personnel, instead of bureaucrats and “pork” projects

You mean they don't do that already?

FAITH & VALUES

Government has no business dealing in "faith and values."

1. Pass a constitutional amendment confirming that all life is a gift from God and should be protected; and that life begins at conception

If you want to have an abortion, you better get one now.

2. Require public schools to offer Bible Literacy as part of their curriculum

Unconscionable.

3. Defeat any efforts to redefine marriage or provide the benefits of marriage to a same-sex union

Pandering to haters.

SECURITY

1. Pass the Alabama Border Protection Act requiring immigrants to register for a work permit before working in Alabama and making it a felony for employers to repeatedly hire illegal immigrants

I like the second part of that one anyway. The first part is silly.

2. Provide funding to train Alabama law enforcement personnel to allow full enforcement of immigration laws including deportation of illegal immigrants

No comment.

3. Pass tough new laws to help apprehend and punish internet predators of children and fund enforcement of new child protection laws.

More pandering. Aren't child molesters dealt with pretty harshly already?

4. Pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting the sale of or transfer of authority of the Alabama State Docks in Mobile or inland river ports to any foreign entity

I kind of like this one, but couldn't the feds overrule it on a whim?

HEALTH

1. Establish the Permanent Joint Health Care Committee of the Legislature to guarantee

- Access to affordable, quality health care for every citizen

- Cost containment and access to affordable prescription medications

This one sounds good, but I'd like to know the details.

2. Create the Alabama Legislative Health Care Access Trust to provide scholarships for medical students who will serve in underserved areas

Excellent proposal.

3. Guarantee funding to keep the state’s Medicaid program viable

Good.

[shayes51]

1. I have been in contact with the national DLC about this.

The ad in the Tuscaloosa News had the DLC banner boldly at the top of the page--AL was added, also. My contact person at the national DLC got back to me right away and wanted me to fax the ad to him, which I did. Then, he said he wanted me to mail him the actual ad, which I will do this morning. He said the DLC was unaware of this matter and are looking into it. I especially was offended by the Faith and Values section.
To anyone else out there: Please don't let this stand. These people do not speak for Alabama Democrats as far as I am concerned. You can email the legislators and get in contact with the national DLC.

[Syrinx]

2. good for you

Please report back when you hear something.

[jody]

3. RE: DLC speaking for Alabama Democrats. I'm not sure what AL Dems support

since the state party appears to be in disarray.

IMO, DLC positions for are attractive to the majority of Alabama Democratic and Independent voters.

[No Exit]

4. Time out!

Please! You may not feel strongly about stopping the annual property tax "assessments" (increases) by returning property tax assessments to a four-year cycle, but OTHERS do!!! It's truly a horror to see one's house note (even after homestead exemption) rise year after year, in spite of low interest rates and interminable shopping for low-priced homeowner's insurance. Please support this point!

And yes, why the hell do those robbers in Montgomery and elsewhere insist on taxing FOOD and MEDICINE?? Bastards!

[Syrinx]

5. like I said, I don't feel strongly about this issue

But Alabama does have the lowest property taxes in the nation. And if I understand correctly, the law says that property is to be appraised every year, only previous administrations have not enforced that law.

Our schools are funded by property taxes. So, having the lowest property taxes in the nation, is it any wonder that, overall, our schools are so bad? The schools need more money. I don't care if we get more money by raising property taxes or raising income tax on the wealthy, but I do think we need to increase the money available to the schools to at least average.

If nothing else, I'd like to see the education dollars doled out on the basis of need -- that is population of students in a given district, as opposed to the local tax base. It's appalling. We have some of the finest schools in the country in Mountain Brook, and other wealthy Birmingham suburbs, and yet in, say, Greene County, are schools that could be described accurately in third-world terms.