By Paul DeMarco, commentary
MONTGOMERY — When the Alabama Legislative Session adjourned in May there was a lot of talk of the unfinished business from the legislative session, and that it would take Governor Kay Ivey to call a special session to accomplish what had been on the agenda.
Paul DeMarco
Some of the items folks thought the governor might consider calling the lawmakers back into session this summer for include addressing the state’s chronic prison system problems, a constitution amendment related to gambling, and how to spend the millions of federal dollars sent to the state to address the pandemic.
After decades of debate and support from the governor, there was thought this may be the session that the parties reached some agreement on gambling.
As for Alabama’s corrections system, there is a federal lawsuit the state is fighting. Governor Ivey has had a proposal to build three new prisons to address this issue, but it has yet to materialize. Legislative leaders are working with the Governor now on a new proposal now that would get approval from the majority of the Alabama House of Representatives and Senators.
Yet, so far the Governor has not shown any inclination towards bringing the legislators back to Montgomery other than to draw up new Congressional, Legislative, and School Board Districts this fall, based on the new census data.
The next regular legislative session is six months away, so at this point, unless the Governor makes a decision soon, it appears it will be 2022 before all of these issues are back on the table for debate.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Proudly Managed & Hosted by Adam Black Media
Copyright © All rights reserved.
Paul DeMarco
DeMarco: No special session in the works yet for controversial issues
By Paul DeMarco, commentary
MONTGOMERY — When the Alabama Legislative Session adjourned in May there was a lot of talk of the unfinished business from the legislative session, and that it would take Governor Kay Ivey to call a special session to accomplish what had been on the agenda.
Paul DeMarco
Some of the items folks thought the governor might consider calling the lawmakers back into session this summer for include addressing the state’s chronic prison system problems, a constitution amendment related to gambling, and how to spend the millions of federal dollars sent to the state to address the pandemic.
After decades of debate and support from the governor, there was thought this may be the session that the parties reached some agreement on gambling.
As for Alabama’s corrections system, there is a federal lawsuit the state is fighting. Governor Ivey has had a proposal to build three new prisons to address this issue, but it has yet to materialize. Legislative leaders are working with the Governor now on a new proposal now that would get approval from the majority of the Alabama House of Representatives and Senators.
Yet, so far the Governor has not shown any inclination towards bringing the legislators back to Montgomery other than to draw up new Congressional, Legislative, and School Board Districts this fall, based on the new census data.
The next regular legislative session is six months away, so at this point, unless the Governor makes a decision soon, it appears it will be 2022 before all of these issues are back on the table for debate.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives