Mike Hubbard: Legislative session most productive in years

The recently concluded 2009 regular legislative session proved to be one of the most productive in years. The successes, however, were tainted by the passage of a pork-laden General Fund budget and the killing of anti-corruption and ethics reform legislation.

Early long-term Senate filibusters over gambling issues indicated that little progress would be accomplished, but a last minute dam break resulted in several important bills passing into law.
Among those items was a $6.2 billion Education Trust Fund budget that was passed by both houses and forwarded to the governor for signature before the session’s end.

Gov. Riley’s proposed budget directed funding to some of our state’s nationally recognized education programs, such as the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) and the state’s innovative distance learning program.

The version passed by the Legislature reduced funding for both AMSTI and distance learning and, instead, used those dollars to prevent layoffs of teachers and education support personnel. The equally acclaimed Alabama Reading Initiative received level funding.

Republican House members offered several amendments to restore the program funding while also preserving much needed personnel, but our efforts were defeated on the floor along party-line votes.

We also passed a $2.5 billion General Fund operating budget for all non-education state agencies. The main conflict in this budget centered on the cutting of $9 million for the Department of Corrections from the House version. The Senate leadership, instead, directed that money toward funding community projects and festivals, such as the Fyffe UFO Days, Hackleburg Neighbor Day, the Henagar Sweet Potato Festival, and not one, but two, Mule Day events.

The budget eventually passed, but Republicans voted to oppose the budget in its final form because of the pork projects being put ahead of basic state services.

Much attention was also given this year to a Democrat-sponsored plan that would repeal the 4 percent state sales tax on food. Unfortunately, the bill’s advocates and much of the state media glossed over the fact that the Democrat plan also included a $400 million income tax increase on many of Alabama’s families and small business owners.

Because Republicans opposed the tax increase portion of the Democrat proposal, we offered our own plan, sponsored by Rep. DuWayne Bridges (R – Valley). The “Republican Targeted Tax Relief Plan” would provide tax rebates to families living below the federal poverty level.

This good faith and reasonable alternative to the Democrats’ plan is affordable, is targeted and does not demand new broad-based taxes on Alabama’s families or small businesses.

Unfortunately, Democrats refused to sit down and discuss the Republican alternative and neither plan passed. It is our sincere hope that Democrats and Republicans can come together before the next session and hammer out a compromise that addresses the food tax without punishing those who create jobs and drive our economy.

Just as important as what did pass this session, is what did not. Despite pleas from Riley and the Republican leadership, Democrats refused to consider a package of much-needed ethics reform and anti-corruption legislation. The package, which would limit the amount lobbyists could spend entertaining public officials and also provide subpoena power to the Alabama Ethics Commission when investigating questionable conduct, was brushed aside by the Democrat leadership.

I sincerely hope that when the Legislature reconvenes in 2010, we can build upon the successes of this past session and address the issues that were left unresolved.

Rep. Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) represents House District 79 in the Alabama House of Representatives and is the House Minority Leader. He also serves as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.