Vote on ‘Right to Work’ amendment stalls in Senate
A bill, which would put the idea of cementing Alabama’s status as a “Right to Work” state in constitutional statute up for a vote, stalled in the Alabama Senate Thursday as lawmakers attempted to make progress on less contentious issues. Alabama’s status as a “Right to Work” state is already enshrined as a statute, but this legislation would secure it via constitutional amendment. HB37 from Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Birmingham) has already passed the Senate, despite efforts by Democrats to derail the bill. In fact, Democrats succeeded in voting down the bill on a day that many House Republicans were absent, but the bill was brought up for reconsideration on a day when Republicans were better represented and passed by large margins. When it was brought up on the Senate floor Thursday by Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville), it was immediately opposed by Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro). Singleton railed against the legislation, saying the term “Right to Work” is misleading. “It’s says to Alabama workers that we want you to be on edge every day,” Singleton said. “The ‘Right to Work’ should be called the ‘Right to Fire.’ It is totally unfair to working class Alabamians.” Much the same argument was made by House Democrats, who said that the bill is a “union-busting” measure and overlooks the needs of Alabama workers in favor of incoming industries. But proponents argue that Alabama’s status as a “Right to Work” state has worked wonders in attracting jobs to the state, via large corporations like Polaris and Hyundai. Securing that status in the state’s oversized constitution would make it harder to upend in later years. Dial noted that the effort was part of House Republicans’ agenda. “It tells the world that Alabama is open for business,” Dial said. After a brief exchange between Singleton and Dial, Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) implored the Senators to carry the bill over so that action could be taken on other legislation. Senators agreed and a vote was delayed.
State legislative agenda preview: Feb. 29 – March 4, 2016
The Alabama Senate and House of Representatives will convene at 2 p.m. Tuesday for the fifth week of this year’s Legislative Session. Before the session gets underway, the Senate Committee on Fiscal responsibility and Economic Development will meet to discuss HB 37 from Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Birmingham), which will add Alabama’s status as a “Right-to-Work” state in the constitution. The legislation has already cleared the House. Committee hearings will go into full force on Wednesday, with Senate Committee on Tourism and Marketing meeting to discuss gaming legislation that would create a state lottery in conjunction with other multistate gaming operations. The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet to take up SB 231 from Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster), a bill that would clarify the definition of “moral turpitude,” crimes that now prohibit a person from regaining voting rights. The House Committee on Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure will take up the Interstate Power Compact, which would authorize states involved to set regulations regarding clean air policies without adhering to rules mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The House Committee on Health will take up HB 183 from Rep. Kerry Rich (R-Guntersville), which would require abortion providers to provide women seeking an abortion with a sonogram – the bill would further provide penalties for failing to do so. The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee will meet to discuss the ambitious prison reform plan from Gov. Robert Bentley and the House Committee on State Government will take up Sen. Gerald Allen‘s (R-Tuscaloosa) controversial Alabama Heritage Preservation Act, which is being carried in the House by Rep. Paul Beckman (R-Prattville). On the floor, the Senate will debate a bill requiring Alabama high school students to pass a civics test to graduate and a bill setting term limits for senators and representatives. The Senate will also take up a bill mandating all car passengers to wear a seat belt, as well as Allen’s Alabama Heritage Preservation Act. The House will debate legislation requiring wireless service providers to give location information to law enforcement upon request and the Fantasy Contest Act, which would regulate fantasy gaming in the state. Also on the House’s agenda is the allowance of a state lottery and the easing of regulations for in-state alcohol makers.
House members clash over 2 Republican-sponsored bills
House Democrats started today’s session by fighting vehemently against a bill brought forth by Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Birmingham), HB37, which would add Alabama’s status as a “Right-to-Work” to the state constitution. The bill would further prohibit employers from requiring membership in a union or dismissing employees for their status as a union or non-union member. Though a handful of House Republicans spoke in favor of the bill, noting that Alabama’s status as a “Right-to-Work” state has attracted large businesses like Polaris and Mercedes, the vast majority of comment on the bill came from House Democrats in opposition to the bill. Members of the party took turns at the podium, stalling a vote on the bill for more than two hours. “I know y’all call it ‘right to work,’ but it’s really ‘right to fire,’” Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) said. Several other opponents noted that Alabama is already a “Right-to-Work” state by statute and wondered why there was a need for the bill. Mooney clarified that having Alabama’s “Right-to-Work” status codified in the constitution would encourage more businesses to locate to Alabama. Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) also voiced opposition to the bill over the fact that Alabama’s constitution is already among the longest in the world, saying that while other states can carry a pocket-sized version of their constitution Alabamians would “need a cart to carry our constitution around.” Rep. John Knight (D-Montgomery) concurred, adding that there are many issues that are more deserving of codification in the state constitution. Knight offered an amendment to the bill guiding new businesses to give preferential hiring treatment to veterans. “This will send a strong message to veterans across this state that we support them,” Knight said before the amendment was approved, 67 to 28. According to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the three states with the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, North Dakota, Nebraska and South Dakota, are “Right-to-Work” states. Contrarily, the states with the highest unemployment rates in the nation, New Mexico, the District of Columbia and Alaska, are not. After a bit more discussion, Mooney’s bill was defeated by a margin of 60 to 24. Next the House took up HB45 from Rep. April Weaver (R-Shelby), which outlaws the sell of fetal tissue and provides parents with the right to respectfully dispose of a deceased child’s remains. Again only a few comments were made in support of the bill with the majority of comment coming from opposing Democrats, especially those who linked the legislation to the recently debunked Planned Parenthood sting videos. “I’m not going to argue the merits for or against abortion,” Todd said. “But I am going to point out the hypocrisy of this bill. It seems like (Republicans) only care about those nine months when they’re in the womb.” Todd added that the House should take up measures to ensure that children aren’t forced to live in poverty or go without basic needs. Though debate on the bill had not yet completed, the House adjourned until 1 p.m. Tuesday.
