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January 17, 2003

In this issue:

• Alabama Citizens’ Commission on Constitutional Reform completes its final report
• Press Release on the Commission’s report
• Governor-elect Bob Riley sends letter of ‘sincere thanks’ to Citizens’ Commission

Alabama Citizens’ Commission on Constitutional Reform completes its final report

   The Alabama Citizens’ Commission on Constitutional Reform has completed a report of its recommendations to the people of Alabama and to their elected leaders. The Commission is an independent, privately funded body of 22 members, all volunteers, who come from many occupations and experiences. The Commission is diverse as well in its ethnic backgrounds and in its geographical connections. The chairman is Sec. of State Jim Bennett and the vice-chairman is businesswoman Sallie Creel of Birmingham.

   The report represents six months of study and deliberations on the commission’s part, with the support and technical guidance of nearly two dozen leading authorities within our state’s universities and its legal profession. They include top political scientists and legal scholars, as well as retired justices of the state’s Supreme Court. Many of the papers that these experts have prepared for the commission will be published in law reviews and similar journals, thereby providing an invaluable body of research to guide future reforms. Equally important, our commission has listened to extensive comments and concerns from citizens who spoke during the four meetings we held in different cities across Alabama.

Please use the link below to view the report in its entirety.
Click here for the full report

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Press Release on the Commission’s report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: KATHRYN BOWDEN
January 17, 2003
PHONE: 334.834.5495

CORTS RELEASES CITIZENS’ COMMISSION REPORT ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

   ACCR Chairman Thomas E. Corts today released the final report of the Alabama Citizens’ Commission on Constitutional Reform and presented it to Governor-Elect Bob Riley and members of the Alabama Legislature. The independent Citizens’ Commission, chaired by Secretary of State Jim Bennett, has been considering changes to Alabama’s antiquated 1901 constitution in a series of meetings held around the state over the last year.

   “Jim Bennett and the diverse group of Alabamians on the Citizens’ Commission have done an outstanding job of studying and recommending reforms for our outdated constitution,” said Corts. “Their report is an invaluable resource for serious proponents of reform. ACCR has always maintained that substantive constitutional reform must address the issues of local democracy, debt and taxation, education, government organization and economic development. The commission’s work on these areas provides a solid foundation for future reform efforts.”

   In a letter presenting the report to Governor-Elect Riley, Corts said, “while ACCR has not adopted a formal position on each item within the independent Commission’s report, we strongly urge you to consider these recommendations in pursuing constitutional reform.”

Among the reforms offered for consideration by the Commission are:
· Granting counties, cities and towns the necessary authority to decide local matters of governance without requiring prior approval of the State Legislature
· Requiring that a majority of the voters affected at the local level approve proposed local taxes when delegating the general authority to local governing bodies to impose taxes
· Strengthening the governor's veto powers, including item vetoes in budget bills, and requiring more votes for legislative override
· Addressing Alabama’s immoral and unwieldy tax structure
· Requiring the governor and lieutenant governor run as a team, much like the president and vice-president of the U.S.
· Granting legislative and executive branches the power, unfettered by the Alabama Constitution, to promote economic development

   Corts added, “For too long we have languished under a state charter that keeps us from adequately addressing the needs of our state, and we urge Governor-Elect Riley and all our elected officials to work to make reform a reality. Until we comprehensively reform our constitution, Alabama will never achieve its potential.”

   Corts sent copies of the Commission’s findings to Gov. Elect Riley, Lt. Governor-Elect Lucy Baxley, constitutional officers and members of the state legislature. The report is also available on ACCR’s website at www.constitutionalreform.org.
Click here for the online press release.

Governor-elect Bob Riley sends letter of ‘sincere thanks’ to Citizens’ Commission

   The members of the Alabama Citizens’ Commission on Constitutional Reform received some well-deserved praise from Alabama’s next governor last month. Secretary of State Jim Bennett shared a letter from Governor-elect Bob Riley with the Commission. In the letter, Riley conveyed his “sincere thanks for the hard work they have contributed.” He also stated that the work “will be invaluable to my administration and its efforts in revising our state constitution.”

Stay tuned for details and reaction to the Governor’s own Commission on Constitutional Reform as the plans begin to emerge.

Click here for the complete text of Gov. Riley’s letter

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