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By Clay Redden Decatur Daily Staff Writer credden@decaturdaily.com · (334) 262-1104 April 13, 2003 MONTGOMERY — The president of a citizens group says it would still eventually like to see a complete rewrite of the state's constitution despite good but limited recommendations made by Gov. Bob Riley's reform commission. Samford University President Thomas Corts leads Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform and will conduct a forum at 6 p.m. Thursday at Decatur Utilities' auditorium, 1002 Central Parkway S.W. On March 27, Riley's commission released its recommendations, which included unearmarking new state revenue, recompiling the constitution, making it more difficult for the Legislature to raise taxes, giving the governor greater line-item veto powers and allowing limited home rule. Those recommendations require legislative acts or constitutional amendments approved by voters before taking effect. "We like better the idea of a constitutional convention," said Corts, referring to writing a new constitution. Corts has supported Riley's efforts — several ACCR members served on Riley's commission — and he acknowledges the fact that Riley said his commission's recommendations were merely a starting point for constitutional reform. However, Corts would like to see additional steps taken eventually. Corts said simply recompiling the constitution could be interpreted by the public to mean the problems with the constitution have been corrected when, in fact, they haven't. "Recompiling has all the same information (in the constitution); you just rearrange it and give it different page numbers," he said. Corts will be joined at the Decatur forum by Stanley Construction Co. Vice President Karen Stanley of Huntsville and Hartselle native William Stewart, who is professor emeritus of political science at The University of Alabama. Both Stewart and Stanley served on Riley's Alabama Citizens' Constitution Commission. Corts said he's discovered in previous ACCR forums that most people don't know a lot about Alabama's 1901 Constitution. The size of the document is usually the first surprise. Alabama has the longest constitution of any state with the most amendments, more than 700. "The average person doesn't realize that one amendment approves something for three or four counties, then 20 amendments later, one of those counties may be exempted from the original amendment," said Corts. "You've got to chase back and forth, needle-in-a-haystack style, to figure out what the constitution says on any given subject." Of the amendments to the constitution, more than 40 directly address issues in Morgan, Lawrence and Limestone counties. They range from levying a 1-mill property tax for malaria control to authorizing bingo games. "That is probably the most compelling reason for local people to be involved," said Decatur attorney Sid McAnnally, treasurer of ACCR. "Those are examples of some of the things local governments couldn't address because the constitution gives the Legislature control over those issues." McAnnally said if people want more local control over government they're going to have to get involved in constitutional reform, and that involvement can start at ACCR's forum Thursday. 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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