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Kent Faulk News Staff Writer January 24, 2003 HUNTSVILLE Alabama Gov. Bob Riley set up a commission Thursday to look at five areas of possible changes to the state's 102-year-old constitution, including giving counties more self-governing powers. In his first executive order since being sworn into office Monday, the Republican governor created the Alabama Citizens' Constitution Commission. "This commission will be tasked with looking at some of the basic flawed provisions in our current constitution and making recommendations for reform," Riley said in the signing ceremony at Alabama Constitution Village, the site in downtown Huntsville where the state's constitution was formed. Riley named former Alabama Secretary of State Jim Bennett as chairman of the new commission and Birmingham lawyer Lenora Pate as its vice-chairman. He said he would name the other commission members in the next few days. Riley is asking the commission to give him suggestions in five areas that he could present to the state Legislature and ultimately voters for possible approval. Those are: Home rule Finding the best method to give counties limited authority to address things such as zoning, economic development, and fire and police protection, but not the authority to impose local taxes without voters' approval. Earmarking Changing the system of setting aside certain money for specific purposes while making sure it doesn't hurt education. Much of Alabama's state budget is earmarked, which Riley said gives the governor and Legislature little room to set priorities. Line item veto Examining whether to expand the power of the governor to veto line items in the state budget and whether a three-fifths supermajority vote of legislators should be required to override it. Imposing taxes Considering whether it's appropriate to require a three-fifths supermajority vote of the Legislature to impose taxes. Constitution length Determining whether it's appropriate, and if so the best method, to cut the length of the constitution, which has 742 amendments. The commission won't address reforming the state's tax structure, the most often criticized aspect of the constitution. Riley said tax reform is an issue that will be looked at by a separate group, including his Cabinet, the state's Finance Department and experts. The five areas Riley asked the new commission to look at are not the only constitutional reform issues that will be considered, Riley said. "But it is a great first step of a process that I see as an on-going process," he said. The commission will hold public hearings. Within 120 days of its first meeting, it is to report its recommendations to Riley, who will take proposals to the Legislature. If lawmakers give their OK, the changes would be submitted to voters for approval. Voters could see the proposed constitutional changes on their 2004 general election ballots, Bennett said. Bennett was chairman of the 21-member Alabama Citizens' for Constitutional Reform, which last week released its recommendations for changes to the constitution. He said that report would be a valuable tool for the new commission. Riley, Bennett and Pate said they believe the time is right for constitutional reform. Pate urged Alabamians to get behind the effort. "It is time for this old, outdated, immoral, irresponsible and fundamentally flawed document to be reformed, and this governor is going to do it," she said. Riley said in his executive order that the reform process must be designed to keep beneficial provisions of the constitution and to protect against special interest manipulation. The order also says "all Alabamians should recognize the value of certain important provisions of the constitution, such as the Declaration of Rights and the prohibition on lotteries, and demand that they remain at the heart of our constitution." Return to: Constitutional Reform ~ In the News Return to: Editorial Index |
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| Alabama Citizens for
Constitutional Reform Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 34 Montgomery, Alabama 36101-0034 E-mail: accr@constitutionalreform.org |
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