The
Associated Press
September 10, 2001
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- The Legislature wants Alabama voters to decide
whether the state gets a new constitution.
The House voted 93-0 Monday for a proposed constitutional
amendment by Rep. Jack Venable, D-Tallassee, that would require any
new constitution to be approved by Alabama voters in a statewide referendum.
The Senate approved an identical bill by Sen. Jimmy Holley,
D-Elba, 30-0. For the legislation to complete the political process,
the Senate must pass the House version of the bill, or the House must
pass the Senate's version.
Alabama's 1901 constitution does not say whether voters
would have any input after a constitutional convention writes a new
constitution. The legislation by Venable and Holley would require
that voters statewide would have to approve the product of a constitutional
convention.
"It should be the people who have the final say," Holley
said.
The legislation was endorsed by Gov. Don Siegelman and
Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform.
Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,
or redistributed.
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