Governor's plans have slim chance of passage

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January 23, 2010

Anonymous The News Courier Sat Jan 23, 2010, 08:33 PM CST

By The Associated Press

A recent editorial from an Alabama newspaper:

Fort Payne (Ala.) Times-Journal on Gov. Bob Riley:

Gov. Bob Riley might as well go out with a bang or at least try to.

With a year left on his last term as governor, Riley laid out an ambitious — if not impossible agenda for his last legislative session. Riley wants smaller budgets, charter schools, no gambling, no tax increases, limited spending cuts and an ethics overhaul in Montgomery.

It all sounds good, but many of us have been around long enough to realize little, if any, of his plans have a chance of getting out of the House and Senate. But, that’s not really the point.

Over the years, Riley has consistently pushed us out of our comfort zone, a journey many in Alabama reluctantly make. We have disagreed with many of Riley’s plans, but we appreciate the debate.

It’s the talk that can often lead to compromised solutions for serious problems. Make no mistake, our state faces from serious, serious problems.

We cannot allow ourselves to be confused by the issues that provide the most sex appeal, like gambling. While we believe our state is ready to move forward with taxing an already explosive industry and we are prepared to calmly expand the options, it is not are most pressing concern as the session opens.

Our focus must remain on our state’s budgets. Many of us tune out any talk from Montgomery of General Fund or Education Trust Fund. Sure, the bickering that almost always accompanies our state’s money woes is interesting, but when serious talk begins we quickly get bored.

This year, more so than any other, we cannot let that happen.

Year after year, we have been saved by money surprises. We have used royalties to bail us out. Federal money has often saved the day. And, countless other “one-time” funds provided dressing for our financial wounds. Eventually, though, a true remedy will be needed, and we believe that day will come sooner rather than later.

We applaud Riley’s ambition, and we have never questioned our governor’s love for our state. While we may differ about his plans to move us forward, we are at least talking about moving forward.

The legislature needs to follow that path. Gambling and charter schools could be part of the solution and both deserve serious attention and serious debate. But, that debate needs to be part of the overall discussion of our budgetary concerns and how those two issues could help solve those problems.

Nothing should be dismissed, and every option should be painstakingly considered. If not, we will find us back here in the same position a year from now, no closer to solution and no closer to financial progress.

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