June 23, 2004
An interesting twist in Alabama political history has occurred in only recent years. That is the transformation of our Port City of Mobile from a political wilderness to a political oasis. Historically and throughout most of my lifetime, being a resident of Mobile was the kiss of death politically. Our second largest city had never had a Governor or Senator or even a major statewide office holder. Mobile was thought of by the rest of the state as an island which it basically is. It also is like another state or country. Being a port city it had a distinct New Orleans flavor with it’s Mardi Gras balls, New Orleans architecture, and lack of concern for or disdain for partaking of alcohol. It seemed like a loose party town and the rest of the state felt like it was a little odd and not really part of the rest of Alabama. This didn’t keep politicians from working the island feverishly for votes. Wallace and Folsom captured large pluralities in Mobile which carried them in good stead as they entered the rest of the state. Big Jim loved the social life of Mobile.
June 16, 2004
Now that the dust has settled on the June 1 primaries we will know who will be coming to the dance in November. Our primaries are too late to have an effect on the Presidential race. The race was over by the time it got to us in June. Therefore it was no surprise that Bush and Kerry got more than 90 percent of the balloting. The only real choice was who was to be elected as delegates to nominate Bush and Kerry in New York and Boston later this summer. There was little doubt that the incumbent congressmen from both parties would win. The size of their victories is startling. It shows the difficulty a challenger has in unseating an incumbent congressman. Incumbent Democratic Congressman, Arthur Davis, won an impressive victory over challenger Albert Turner, Jr. Davis' 88-to-12 margin showed strong support from blacks and whites in his 7th District. It is Alabama's only majority minority district. Likewise, 6th District Congressman, Spencer Bachus, trounced Roy Moore's attorney, Philip Jaurequi, by a similar 87-to-13 landslide in the suburban, overwhelmingly Republican, Birmingham-based district. Bud Cramer annihilated his democratic opponent 90-to-10 in the 5th District Democratic Primary. There is a runoff in the Republican Primary to challenge Cramer in November. Davis and Bachus are unopposed.
June 09, 2004
The recent indictment of former Governor Don Siegleman is a tremendous plus for one potential 2006 gubernatorial candidate, Lucy Baxley. Lucy's biggest obstacle was getting out of the Democratic Primary against Siegleman. If she escapes the trap of the Democratic Primary, she is an easy winner. The Democratic Primary was a trap for Lucy or any other Democrat running against Siegleman. Siegleman still has tremendous loyalty among African-American voters who make up the majority of the participants in a Democratic Primary. Lucy would have a real battle to wrestle the nomination from Siegleman, but polls show it is easy sailing for her in a General Election. She transcends ideology and party. She appeals to Independents and even Republicans. Siegleman did not enjoy this bipartisan appeal. He might have taken the Primary because of his fierce loyalty among stalwart Democrats, but he would have been very vulnerable to a Republican in November. Siegleman may very well avoid conviction but it will be a long drawn out battle and he will be weakened if not convicted.
June 02, 2004
The 2004 Regular Session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on May 17 and both state budgets have been put to bed for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2004.
As suggested in a previous column, the Legislature should base the state's budgets on the past or current year's actual revenue rather than projected revenues. By using projected revenues the Legislature can use optimistic revenue projections. This practice of basing budgets on rosy, optimistic figures has forced Alabama into proration and economic crisis time and time again. Without prior year budgeting the State will continue to live from crisis to crisis.
May 26, 2004
The Education Budget passed by the Legislature in the just completed Regular Session was the largest in the state's history, 4.5 billion dollars. It fully funds teachers' benefits including the absorption of the gigantic 70 million increased cost of health insurance for teachers and support personnel. It restores funding for libraries, fully funds textbooks, and expands the state's reading program which Governor Riley champions. State School Superintendent, Joe Morton, called the fully funding of the Reading Initiative as "the crowning achievement of the budget and the session." The Alabama Reading Initiative has proven to be very successful in improving statewide reading levels. It got 12 million this year. Governor Riley provided for and got an increase to 40 million which should allow the state to expand the program to every K-3 school within two years.
May 19, 2004
In Alabama political history the Lt. Governor's office has not been a good stepping stone to Governor. Attorney General has been the better springboard, but the best lauching pad especially in recent years has been to come out of nowhere.
May 12, 2004
Governors "Big Jim" Folsom and George Wallace were both renowned for calling the Legislature into Special Session. During their era the Legislature met in biannual sessions on every other year. Therefore, it might be necessary to call the Legislature into an Extraordinary Special Session.
May 05, 2004
As we head into the final days of the regular Legislative Session it seems that very little will be accomplished. One may argue that this may be a good thing. A point can be made that we have enough laws as it is and we don't need any more interference in our lives especially from the Alabama Legislature. There is even an old saying that nobody's life, liberty, or property is safe when the Alabama Legislature is in session.
April 28, 2004
One of the more powerful and skilled legislators I ever served with was Representative Roy Johnson from Tuscaloosa. My first term, 1982-1986, he was Speaker ProTem of the House. He was a school principal and a close ally of AEA and Dr. Paul Hubbert. He had been trained by Dr. Hubbert in legislative parliamentary maneuvers and knew the rules of the Legislature as well as anyone. In the eight years prior to 1982, the House of Representatives had been controlled by conservative special interests, primarily the Farm Bureau. The Speaker had been the very conservative Joe McCorquodale from Jackson. His chief lieutenant was Rick Manley, a skilled lawyer-legislator from Demopolis. Manley was McCorquodale's Speaker ProTem. In 1982, a gigantic battle was shaping up for Speaker. McCorquodale retired and the race was on between Rick Manley and Roy Johnson. The two most powerful and opposing interest groups drew swords. Manley was the Farm Bureau/ALFA candidate and Roy Johnson was the AEA/PAul Hubbert candidate. Each had about 35 votes locked up initially. In the 105 member House it was a three-way split, Johnson 35, Manley 35, and uncommitted 35. George Wallace had just been elected to his fifth term as Governor. He knew how to control the Legislature. With his aura and experience it should have been obvious to both sides that he would be a major player in the Speaker race.
April 21, 2004
One could hardly fault Governor Bob Riley for his adamant position of seeking cuts in state funding rather than increased taxes. He is still reeling from the 2-to-1 defeat his tax package received at the polls last year. He very well heard the message loud and clear from Alabamians. He is simply responding to their mandate.