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By Representative Todd Greeson
Alabama House of Representatives
District 24
August 8, 2001

   For the past several years, I have proposed legislation calling for constitutional reform. So far, all efforts for constitutional reform have stalled. Nevertheless, the need for constitutional reform is great and every effort must be made to revamp the document.

   At the conclusion of the 2000 Regular Legislative Session, I again prefiled legislation, House Bill 7 (prefiled), which would call for an election to submit the question of whether to call a constitutional convention to the qualified electors of the state. If a majority of the citizens support such an idea, the legislation would provide for the election of delegates to the convention, provide for the holding of the convention, and would allow the proposed constitution to be submitted to the voters for ratification.

   In drafting House Bill 7, I listened to the concerns of fellow legislators and citizens and made every attempt to change my proposal to address those concerns. One such revision concerns contributions made to those wishing to be elected as a delegate to the constitutional convention. House Bill 7 specifies that no delegate may accept a contribution from a political action committee.

   I feel strongly that citizens of the state, not legislators, should be charged with the duty of rewriting the constitution. Unfortunately, a number of legislators felt as though delegates would be unduly influenced by special interests. To that end, I have attempted to reduce the influence of such special interest organizations by requiring that no delegate be allowed to accept contributions from political action committees. The phrase "money is power" is used often in the halls of the State House. In restricting such contributions, I hope to put the "power" back into the hands of the people.

   Alabama's constitution is socially, politically, and economically outdated. Although Alabama has seen a number of successes over the past several years, without a new constitution, she will never realize her true potential. Local governments must be given the opportunity to resolve local problems and incentives for economic development must be joint local and state initiatives. To move ahead culturally, we must rid Alabama's law of the outdated and contradictory amendments, which litter the document.

   We should take advantage of the public's support for revision of the document. If we allow this opportunity to pass, a number of years may pass before sentiment for such reform builds again.

   Rep. Greeson is a Republican from Ider. His number is 256-632-3963. You may e-mail him at todd.greeson@alhouse.org

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