Montgomery has never been known as a city that’s free from corruption, but neither is Washington, D.C. However, Washington does not currently have representatives taking pleas on corruption charges and others being investigated for corruption. Rep. Greg Wren, R-Montgomery, pled guilty to using his office for personal gain and has to pay $24,000 in restitution. That plea is part of a corruption investigation that has charged Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, as well. Additionally, Attorney General Luther Strange has also come under attack for likely illegal PAC-to-PAC contributions to his ?reelection campaign, which he returned.
That corruption only adds to the problems that our state already has in regards to the Alabama Constitution and the budget requirements. Unlike the federal government, any increase in taxes or real attempt to fix problems in this state have to be approved by an amendment to the constitution that is put before the entire state. If the federal government had that requirement, it’d be even more useless than it already is. There’d be a whole new meaning to a do-nothing congress.
Additionally, the federal government is not required to have a balanced budget. Alabama is a perfect example of why there’s a good reason for that. Alabama’s budget requirements in practice mean that corporations get money for “economic incentives” while education and prison budgets are cut further. The tax system is set up perfectly to put more of the burden on the poor while the wealthy in the state can hold large amounts of land without doing anything with them or paying taxes on them.
Even our judiciary has its problems. We have a system with elected judges where strange factors including contributions and electoral demands can influence the judge. For instance, we are the only state in practice where the judge can override the jury’s ?suggestion in a capital murder case. If all jurors come back that the accused should receive life without parole, the judge can overrule that and sentence the accused to death regardless of their decision. That judge’s decision will inevitably be influenced by electoral ?campaign factors.
There are issues in all parts of the Alabama government that shouldn’t be copied by anyone. Even regarding jobs, this governor and legislature has seen the unemployment rate increase rather than drop. We should at least expect our representatives’ statements to be aware of reality, but this was clearly an example of when it wasn’t. Even by Alabama standards.
Matthew Bailey is a third year law student. He also filed an ethics complaint against Attorney General Luther Strange for illegal PAC-to-PA C ?contributions.
