STATEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
HB276 BY THE
April 27, 2005
Mr.
Chairman, and Members of the committee:
Thank
you for allowing me to speak in support of House Bill 276, a proposed
constitutional amendment, which, if approved by this legislature, the governor,
and the voters of Alabama, would allow Alabama to become the 25th
state with some form of Initiative and Referendum.
I
am not a preacher, so I have only one short sermon which those of you who
attended the public hearing held by the Constitutional Revisions Sub-committee
on the 30th of March have already heard.
However,
I would like to preface those short remarks, today, with a personal observation
and opinion that I do not hold alone.
The
history of House Bill 276, and the fates of Initiative and Referendum bills that
have been introduced in this legislature in past sessions, do not speak well for
this body.
The
plain fact that all of these bills have died without a vote by the full House or
Senate because of stalling tactics employed to make certain that would happen,
indicates a lack of regard for a better government for Alabamians. I believe
that those who employed those tactics, and those who aided them to that end,
should be called into account by their constituents.
That
said, the reason for my support of this bill is not profound, but just simple
and straightforward.
I
support Initiative and Referendum, especially in the form House Bill 276 would
provide, for one basic, reason: It would be good for me, good for all
Alabamians, and good for our state government -- especially this legislature.
The
enactment of this bill would be a contributing factor toward restoring public
trust and confidence in our government, because it would send a message to your
constituents that you trust them enough to give them an opportunity to have more
of a voice in how the government they own operates than they have now - with
their only voice, now, being through the two legislators that they send here to
work in their behalf – just two out of the 140 members of the Alabama
Legislature.
This
bill, as written, is no more than an insurance policy that will insure that if
the legislature fails to work for the benefit the majority of the voters, then
those voters will have a means of doing it for themselves.
There
is nothing to fear about this bill, unless the legislators fear the voters of
Any
legislator who opposes this proposed legislation should look in a mirror and ask
themselves why they do. Aren’t
they sent here and paid do the will of their constituents?
And, if they fail to do that, haven’t they failed to meet that
obligation?
Unfortunately,
today, too many Alabamians feel that the legislature has failed them, and thus
they have lost respect for, and confidence in, their government. Initiative and
Referendum would help correct that.
I
ask any legislator who is not now willing to vote in favor of this bill to do
just one simple thing.
Go
home to you constituents and honestly, fully, and fairly, explain the provisions
of House Bill 276 to them; and then ask them if it is something they favor, or
not; and then do whatever your constituents ask you to do.
I
believe that the majority of the voters will ask that this bill be approved; and
I believe the majority of the members of this legislature already know that in
their hearts and minds.
Thank you, for giving your attention to my remarks.
(NOTE: It was not necessary to deliver this statement verbally as the committee apparently had already decided to cast a unanimous vote in favor of Representative Ball's constitutional amendment bill, but prepared copies of it were presented to the committee. --- Dr. I.Q.)
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