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Toxic Brew
The Anniston Stary Editorial Board
February 24, 2010
Every once in a while, Alabamians need a reminder about the priorities on Goat Hill.
Tuesday, that reminder arrived with a thud.
Despite so many reasons to support constitutional reform — unfair taxation and concentrated power in Montgomery, for starters — the state House again screamed no. Same story, same disappointment.
Unfortunately, representatives voted 58-32 against a resolution to hold a referendum on calling a convention to fix the worst and most unwieldy state Constitution in America.
Later Tuesday, the state Senate approved a bill that legalized the making of beer and wine at home for personal use. That bill, not yet law, now heads to the House — where representatives not bothered with lingering concerns about the state Constitution can get on to more important things like home breweries and wineries.
There’s your reminder.
Nothing against the home-brew bill; it seems legitimate. But the fact that a booze bill can make its way through the Legislature while a need like constitutional reform dies another death says a great deal about this state’s government and those who have its ear.
Those familiar with Alabama politics shouldn’t be surprised