Alabama Arise – a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of congregations, organizations and individuals promoting public policies to improve the lives of low-income Alabamians – is already planning ahead for 2019. The organization set their 2019 legislative priorities at its annual meeting Saturday in Montgomery, Ala.
More than 200 Arise members picked the organization’s issue priorities, which include Medicaid expansion and legislation to end the state sales tax among the top goals for 2019.
“Public policy barriers block the path to real opportunity and justice for far too many Alabamians,” Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden said. “We’re excited to unveil our 2019 blueprint to build a more just, inclusive state and make it easier for all families to make ends meet.”
The seven issues chosen were:
- Tax reform, including untaxing groceries and closing corporate income tax loopholes.
- Adequate funding for vital services like education, health care and child care, including approval of new tax revenue to protect and expand Medicaid.
- State funding for the newly created Public Transportation Trust Fund.
- Consumer protections to limit high-interest payday loans and auto title loans in Alabama.
- Legislation to establish automatic universal voter registration in Alabama.
- Reforms to Alabama’s criminal justice debt policies, including changes related to cash bail and civil asset forfeiture.
- Reforms to Alabama’s death penalty system, including a moratorium on executions.
