API report accuses GOP of allowing ‘big government’

0
51
Alabama capitol

The Alabama Policy Institute (API) released a new report evaluating the current fiscal state and uninhibited growth of Alabama’s government. API is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and research organization committed to free markets, limited government, and strong families. API reaches its goal of sound public policy through research, advocacy, and public education efforts.

The report entitled “Follow the Money and See Where It Goes: Alabama Citizens Pay for Big Government”, examines the rising tax revenue and spending from the state’s General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets over the past several years. According to the API press release, the goal of the report is to inform the citizens of Alabama so that they will obtain a better understanding of the budgeting and financial processes of state government.

In 2018, Alabama elected what was believed to be the most conservative legislature in state history. However, those same people have allowed state spending to rise by 17 percent in the last three years.

According to the report, state government is taking in and spending more of Alabama citizens’ money than ever before. Much of the new revenue has been reinvested back into government, rather than directly benefiting the citizens and business owners.

The federal government has awarded nearly $4 billion to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Only a small portion of the state funding has thus made it back into the private sector through grant programs. 

Lawmakers have continued to look for new revenue streams like raising the gasoline tax, allowing for the sale and taxation of medicinal marijuana, and attempting to legalize casino-style gambling and establish a state lottery. All of this is being done despite record state revenues over the last three years. 

The report states, “As Alabama begins fiscal year 2022 and begins planning for the 2023 budget cycle, there is an opportunity for the state to return to the limited government, fiscally responsible roots that flipped control of state government just a decade ago. But it will take strong leadership and courage from a coalition of current lawmakers or a generation of new lawmakers that want to change the status quo and transform state government to be less invasive in the lives of all citizens.”