Taylor Dawson: It’s time for New Year’s resolutions
Ah, January, the make-or-break month for New Year’s resolutions. Don’t you think that our elected officials—members of the legislature, state school board, executive branch, and others—should adopt some resolutions? I’ve got a few ideas for them. 1. Commit to protecting taxpayers. Want to raise taxes? Meet them with an offset elsewhere. Want to accept additional federal funding? Ask your constituents what they think, and make sure the program for which you’ll be accepting funding won’t put the taxpayers on the hook for an additional financial burden down the road. Want to help more Alabamians find jobs and start businesses? Consider doing something about burdensome occupational licensing restrictions. Fiscal responsibility and standing strong against policies that hurt taxpayers requires resolve, but it isn’t difficult. 2. When we’re talking about matters of education, put schoolchildren first. For the longest time, matters of education in Alabama have been far too political. This year, as we look for a new state superintendent of education and the state school board continues to make decisions on programs and curriculum in our public schools, remember that the needs of our schoolchildren should come first before political games. Children’s education is one of the most important things our state can give them. Their futures deserve to be taken seriously, not sacrificed in the interest of politics. 3. Think long-term. Alabama’s elected officials are historically really good at kicking the can down the road in terms of the problems facing our state. Short-term “fixes,” like the lottery proposal to “solve” the budget “crisis” in 2016, just aren’t going to cut it anymore. Alabama is my home, and it’s a place where I want to raise my children and grandchildren. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that for those of us who share that sentiment, we’re not too happy with the idea that our future generations might have to be saddled with financial burdens that we created—or allowed to persist—during our time. 4. A year without a scandal would be the dream. I’ve sure had enough for a lifetime. Haven’t you? This is an election year, so I think—or at least I hope—that most folks in public office will use that, if no other reason, to keep their noses clean this year. We’ve all seen and learned that Alabamians are none too fond of scandals. Every state has their problems, so let’s let the national media focus somewhere else for a bit, shall we? And for the rest of us? We should resolve to ask our candidates and elected officials the tough questions, expect more from them, and hold them to the values they claim. ••• Taylor Dawson is Director of Communications for the Alabama Policy Institute (API), API is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to strengthening free enterprise, defending limited government, and championing strong families. If you would like to speak with the author, please e-mail communications@alabamapolicy.org or call (205) 870-9900.
State Auditor Jim Zeigler announces 2017 New Years Resolutions
While 2017 may be considered a political “off year,” with no state or national elections, Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler is ready to make the new year turning point for the Yellowhammer State, or in the very least a prelude to a turning point in 2018. On Tuesday, he listed 12 resolutions for the state government in 2017. “I will add more to this 2017 commonsense wish list as the February regular session of the Alabama legislature draws near,” Zeigler explained in a news release. Here’s Zeigler’s current list of 2017 New Year’s Resolutions: Commonsense prison reform, not dollars and cents. Gov. Robert Bentley say he will try again for an $800 million bond issue to build four super-prisons at sites Bentley will select, closing 14 existing prisons. Zeigler says that move would in-debt the state for the next 30 years. Zeigler has presented an alternative to fix prison overcrowding and safety problems. He says his Plan Z would cost 75% less than the Bentley plan. Control the skyrocketing costs of the state’s Medicaid program, with block grants, per capita caps, or other new approaches under the Trump administration.”Without radical changes, Medicaid alone has the ability to bankrupt state government,” Zeigler said. Move forward with the plans of new State Superintendent of Education Michael Sentance to make our school system “the jewel of the South.” Use Alabama’s new influence with the Donald Trump administration to quickly start the widening of the Mobile BayWay and the new I-10 bridge. “Build the bridge.” Use Alabama’s new influence with the Trump administration to quickly fix the traffic congestion on Highway 280 in Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Election of a new U.S. Senator to replace Jeff Sessions, which would not then allow Gov. Bentley to name a new attorney general of Alabama.”If the present AG were elected to the U.S. Senate, Bentley would then name a state AG,” explained Zeigler. “The naming of a Bentley lawyer as state AG would be during a time the Bentley administration is under possible investigation. That trap can be avoided only by electing someone other than the present AG as U.S. Senator.” Avoid costly special sessions. A victory in Zeigler v. STAARS, the legal challenge to the STAARS software contract. This would allow the state a return of all or part of $47 million and a fix of a failed accounting system. Pass legislation allowing farms that do not abut the major rivers to access abundant water for irrigation. (Farmlands adjacent the rivers can already do this.) The Cahaba does not have sufficient flow for this access, but the Tennessee, Alabama, and Tombigbee systems do. After the drought of 2016, access to abundant water flowing through Alabama makes sense. Identify enough inefficiencies and mismanagement in government to afford pay raises for state employees, teachers and retirees. Complete the investigation of Gov. Bentley and the Bentley administration.”Sadly, this will likely have to be done by the Feds,” Zeigler conceded. “The House impeachment committee halted their proceedings at the request of Attorney General Luther Strange. Now, Strange says he never said he has an active investigation of Bentley. That leaves the Feds. I hate it when the Feds do our business for us, but it may happen again with the Bentley case.” Re-open the state parks needlessly closed by the Bentley administration, either under state or local control.”Our state parks do not need to be a political football used by the Bentley administration to press for their legislative agenda” Zeigler said.
