Senate GOP announces “Fighting for Alabama” 2018 legislative agenda

0
31

The Alabama Senate Republican Caucus announced their legislative priorities for the 2018 legislative session at a press conference on Thursday morning at the Statehouse.

Anniston-Republican and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, Jasper-Republican and Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed, and other Republican state senators presented four legislative priorities, in addition to their primary objective of passing balanced budgets, for the new year. The “Fighting for Alabama” agenda will focus on legislation to spur economic growth, encourage infrastructure improvements, and protect children.

“An efficient and accountable state government is in the best interest of all Alabamians,” said Marsh. “We want to focus on good governance that will positively impact the lives of Alabamians.”

According to the news conference, bills accomplishing these goals will be given priority as they move through Senate committees, along with top placement on the calendar when debated on the Senate floor for final passage.

“Our top priority is passing balanced, responsible budgets. Beyond that, we have an agenda that’s focused on cutting taxes and bringing job growth to every part of Alabama,” stated Reed. “We are going to continue to focus on common-sense, conservative solutions to the challenges facing Alabama.”

The “Fighting for Alabama” Senate Republican Agenda includes the following items:

  1. Provide an Income Tax Break
    Expanding the adjusted gross income range for a maximum standard deduction on Alabama income tax would provide a significant tax break for hardworking Alabama families.
  2. Grow Broadband and Telecom Services in Rural Alabama 
    By providing incentives to telecom companies to invest in rural Alabama, we will ensure all of our citizens have fast and reliable access to the internet. Studies show that faster internet leads to more investment and higher paychecks.
  3. Make Child Sex Trafficking a Capital Offense
    This Legislature is committed to protecting the most vulnerable Alabamians. Making child sex trafficking a capital offense will help ensure that predators are never allowed to harm children again.
  4. Save Money in Alabama’s Biggest Budget Item – Medicaid
    The Alabama Legislature has worked diligently to be good stewards of the budgets we manage. Federal law requires state Medicaid agencies to recover from the estates of deceased recipients, but Alabama is the only state without a Medicaid estate recovery process – establishing a streamlined process for Medicaid to place liens on property to recover medical assistance payments will protect taxpayers’ dollars.

Watch the caucus unveil their agenda: