2004 Archived Articles and Editorials
On Amendment TwoConstitutional reform group to be out at polls
Mobile Register, October 22, 2004
By Sallie Owen
A group dedicated to holding a constitutional convention to rewrite
Alabama's governing document will begin a year-long petition drive at
the polls Nov. 2. Volunteers across the state hope to collect 50,000
signatures that day.
learn more »
Is it time for a rewrite?
Andalusia-Star News, October 15, 2004
By Kim Henderson
The "current" version was written in 1901. It's not so current
by 2004 standards. What's known as Alabama's highest code of law - the state's
constitution - to this day carries a plethora of strong racial and sexist
language.
learn more »
Group
still pushes new constitution
Huntsville Times, October 12, 2004
By John Ehinger
When Hartwell Lutz tries to persuade people to sign a petition in
favor of creating a new state constitution, he shows them a big fat book.
Then he tells them that the tome he's holding is the Alabama Constitution.
Then he says it's an old edition that lacks 150 of the latest amendments. "I
say it's just a mess, and it needs to be replaced," he
said.
learn more »
Plus or minus
One — Our problems are still with us
Anniston Star, September 6, 2004
By Sid McAnnally, special to The Star
Across the state, editorial writers will be looking back to Sept.
9, 2003, and a vote that rejected the boldest single initiative ever on an
Alabama ballot. Many will see the vote as the end of a reform movement, but
a closer look shows that the issues raised by Amendment One have dominated
the past year, and continue to drive politics in Alabama.
learn more »
State's
husky constitution could add 35 amendments
Birmingham News, August 9, 2004
By David White, staff writer
Alabama's constitution, already the biggest
in the nation, may be about to get bigger. Alabama voters will face 35
proposed amendments to the state constitution on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Since November 1998, they have considered more than 140 such changes
to the bulky document.
learn more »
Reform revitalized
Dothan Eagle, April 18, 2004
If Bailey Thomson had a dream, it was almost certainly to see the
people of Alabama governed by a fair, efficient and thoughtfully conceived
constitution. Perhaps more than any other Alabamian, he knew the shortcomings
of our 103-year-old constitution, its checkered history and dubious origins.
learn more »
Constitution
reform takes a back seat
Huntsville Times, April 11, 2004
By Anthony McCartney, correspondent
From the lack of discussion about tax and constitution reform since
the failure of last year's Amendment One and the subsequent budget crisis,
one might think that the efforts didn't just get pushed to the back seat
of politicians' agendas -- they got run over.
learn more »
Senate
approves limited home rule for counties
Associated Press, April 1, 2004
The Alabama Senate is ready to give limited home rule to counties
to control weeds, stray animals, public water and sewer services, and
some noise problems. The Senate voted in favor of a limited home rule
bill, which will now go to the House for consideration.
learn more »
Group
rallies support for constitutional reform
Times Daily, March 4, 2004
By Michelle Rupe Eubanks, staff writer
The hefty weight of Alabama's constitution was lifted several times
Wednesday to illustrate its bulk. Dr. Thomas Corts lifted the weighty document
throughout his speech Wednesday afternoon at a rally for constitutional
reform.
learn more »
Suppressing silliness
Birmingham News, March 5, 2004
There it is, in black and white in Section 86 of the 1901 Alabama
Constitution: "The legislature shall pass such penal laws as it may
deem expedient to suppress the evil practice of dueling." Apparently,
the Legislature has done a pretty fair job of suppressing dueling in Alabama.
When's the last time we've had a good duel?
learn more »
Home rule amendment
to be presented once again
Crimson White, January 28, 2004
A bill presented last year that would give Alabamians the power
to decide whether to grant home rule to counties may come up again in
this year's legislative session.
learn more »
;
Group
rallies support for constitutional reform
Times Daily, March 4, 2004
By Michelle Rupe Eubanks, staff writer
The hefty weight of Alabama's constitution was lifted several times
Wednesday to illustrate its bulk. Dr. Thomas Corts lifted the weighty document
throughout his speech Wednesday afternoon at a rally for constitutional
reform.
learn more »
Suppressing silliness
Birmingham News, March 5, 2004
There it is, in black and white in Section 86 of the 1901 Alabama
Constitution: "The legislature shall pass such penal laws as it may
deem expedient to suppress the evil practice of dueling." Apparently,
the Legislature has done a pretty fair job of suppressing dueling in Alabama.
When's the last time we've had a good duel?
learn more »
Home rule amendment
to be presented once again On Amendment
Two Constitutional reform group to be out at polls Is it time for a rewrite? Group
still pushes new constitution Plus or minus
One — Our problems are still with us State's
husky constitution could add 35 amendments Reform revitalized Constitution
reform takes a back seat Senate
approves limited home rule for counties Group
rallies support for constitutional reform Suppressing silliness Home rule amendment
to be presented once again
Crimson White, January 28, 2004
A bill presented last year that would give Alabamians the power
to decide whether to grant home rule to counties may come up again in
this year's legislative session.
learn more »
Huntsville Times, October 12, 2004
By John Ehinger
Given the relentlessly negative tone of the national presidential
campaign, it's easy to be cynical these days over any debate that purports
to be about one thing when it, in fact, could be about another.
learn more »
Mobile Register, October 22, 2004
By Sallie Owen
A group dedicated to holding a constitutional convention to rewrite
Alabama's governing document will begin a year-long petition drive at
the polls Nov. 2. Volunteers across the state hope to collect 50,000
signatures that day.
learn more »
Andalusia-Star News, October 15, 2004
By Kim Henderson
The "current" version was written in 1901. It's not so current
by 2004 standards. What's known as Alabama's highest code of law - the state's
constitution - to this day carries a plethora of strong racial and sexist
language.
learn more »
Huntsville Times, October 12, 2004
By John Ehinger
When Hartwell Lutz tries to persuade people to sign a petition in
favor of creating a new state constitution, he shows them a big fat book.
Then he tells them that the tome he's holding is the Alabama Constitution.
Then he says it's an old edition that lacks 150 of the latest amendments. "I
say it's just a mess, and it needs to be replaced," he
said.
learn more »
Anniston Star, September 6, 2004
By Sid McAnnally, special to The Star
Across the state, editorial writers will be looking back to Sept.
9, 2003, and a vote that rejected the boldest single initiative ever on an
Alabama ballot. Many will see the vote as the end of a reform movement, but
a closer look shows that the issues raised by Amendment One have dominated
the past year, and continue to drive politics in Alabama.
learn more »
Birmingham News, August 9, 2004
By David White, staff writer
Alabama's constitution, already the biggest
in the nation, may be about to get bigger. Alabama voters will face 35
proposed amendments to the state constitution on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Since November 1998, they have considered more than 140 such changes
to the bulky document.
learn more »
Dothan Eagle, April 18, 2004
If Bailey Thomson had a dream, it was almost certainly to see the
people of Alabama governed by a fair, efficient and thoughtfully conceived
constitution. Perhaps more than any other Alabamian, he knew the shortcomings
of our 103-year-old constitution, its checkered history and dubious origins.
learn more »
Huntsville Times, April 11, 2004
By Anthony McCartney, correspondent
From the lack of discussion about tax and constitution reform since
the failure of last year's Amendment One and the subsequent budget crisis,
one might think that the efforts didn't just get pushed to the back seat
of politicians' agendas -- they got run over.
learn more »
Associated Press, April 1, 2004
The Alabama Senate is ready to give limited home rule to counties
to control weeds, stray animals, public water and sewer services, and
some noise problems. The Senate voted in favor of a limited home rule
bill, which will now go to the House for consideration.
learn more »
Times Daily, March 4, 2004
By Michelle Rupe Eubanks, staff writer
The hefty weight of Alabama's constitution was lifted several times
Wednesday to illustrate its bulk. Dr. Thomas Corts lifted the weighty document
throughout his speech Wednesday afternoon at a rally for constitutional
reform.
learn more »
Birmingham News, March 5, 2004
There it is, in black and white in Section 86 of the 1901 Alabama
Constitution: "The legislature shall pass such penal laws as it may
deem expedient to suppress the evil practice of dueling." Apparently,
the Legislature has done a pretty fair job of suppressing dueling in Alabama.
When's the last time we've had a good duel?
learn more »
Crimson White, January 28, 2004
A bill presented last year that would give Alabamians the power
to decide whether to grant home rule to counties may come up again in
this year's legislative session.
learn more »