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Overdue Reform
The Randolph Leader
March 3, 2010
Alabama's constitution was created in 1901 and now has 836 amendments, making it by far the largest such document in the country. Another 25 amendments will be on the ballot this fall, many of them strictly local issues that should not require a constitutional amendment or a statewide vote.
Under our 1901 constitution, we are not allowed to change it unless our legislators allow us to vote on it, which they have been unwilling to do. A majority of them like things the way they are since the constitution puts all the power in their hands.
A resolution that would allow voters to decide whether to allow a constitutional convention to write a new constitution was voted down by the House last week 58-32. And that resolution would only have allowed us to vote on whether or not to convene a convention to discuss changes.
Electronic bingo is the big issue before the legislature now, and for some legislators it provides a welcome distraction from constitutional reform. With proponents and opponents rallying in the streets outside the Alabama Statehouse and with our top elected officials at odds as to electronic bingo's legality, this issue can't be ignored.
It's too bad constitutional reform has never received the same attention. Reforming our constitution could do more in the long run for our future and economy than any decision that is made concerning bingo.