By State Representative Danny Garrett
The Legislative Special Session called by Governor Robert Bentley to address a Medicaid funding issue concluded on September 7, 2016. The Special Session can best be described as “lively” and productive.
Following the resignation of former Speaker Mike Hubbard, who was convicted on ethics charges, the first order of business for House lawmakers in the Special Session was to elect Representative Mac McCutcheon (R-Madison) as the new Speaker of the House. Representative McCutcheon previously chaired the House Rules Committee. He is well-respected on both sides of the aisle, and is known for his fairness and ability to work with others. Rep. McCutcheon has already taken steps to redefine the Speaker’s role and made changes to expand the input and participation in decision making to include more representatives.
More controversial was the contentious and extensive debate in both the House and Senate concerning Governor Bentley’s lottery proposal. Although the House passed the bill by a very slim margin, the bill failed to receive the necessary votes in the Senate, and the proposed lottery legislation died. (see my previous Trussville Tribune article, “The Governor’s Bad Lottery Bill”, August 30, 2016, for more details).
Following the failure of the lottery proposal, the Legislature passed a bill which will monetize the future stream of $850 million in payments from British Petroleum (BP) to the state of Alabama over the next 20 years. The payments from BP were the result of a lawsuit filed on behalf of the citizens of Alabama by Attorney General Luther Strange to compensate for statewide economic damages (for example, loss of income tax and sales tax revenue) because of the oil spill in the Gulf. Because The House and Senate passed separate versions of “The BP Settlement”, a Joint Conference Committee was appointed to try and reach a compromise acceptable to both bodies.
Speaker McCutcheon appointed me to serve as one of three House members to serve with three Senators on the Conference Committee. The Conference Committee recommended a compromise to allocate $400 million of the settlement to reducing the state’s debt; $190 million to fund projected Medicaid needs; and $120 million for road repairs in Baldwin and Mobile counties. The House approved the compromise by a vote of 87-9 and the Senate approved the measure by a 22-7 vote. Although the state continues to face a daunting challenge regarding Medicaid, the BP legislation will at least insure adequate funding for the next two years.
Following the Special Session, I was appointed by the Speaker to a Joint Task Force to consider reforming Alabama’s current archaic budget process. Other House members serving on the Task Force are Rep. Rich Wingo (R-Tuscaloosa), Rep. Kyle South (R-Fayette), Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile), Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville), Rep. Allen Farley (R-McCalla) and Rep. John Knight (D-Montgomery). Senate members are Sen. Bill Holtzclaw (R-Madison), Sen. Bill Hightower (R-Mobile), Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro), Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville), Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) and Sen. Phil Williams (R-Rainbow City). At the first meeting of the Task Force, the members elected Sen. Chambliss and me to serve as Co-Chairman of the Committee.
The Budget Reform Task Force will meet regularly and will report to the Legislature the first week of the 2017 Session, which will begin in February. The Task Force will be focused and gathering information on five broad areas:
- Bi-Annual Budgeting versus current annual budgeting
- Reviewing performance and program results of major state agencies
- Un-earmarking of budget funds
- Tax credits, exemptions and deductions
- Possible ways to provide tax relief for working families.
Our first meeting was held in Montgomery on September 28 with an estimated crowd of 200 people on hand. Governor Bentley, Speaker McCutcheon and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh all spoke to the Task Force and the attendees and voiced strong support for the Committee and our mission.
Closer to home, we were pleased to receive a letter from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) describing a Consent Order applicable to the Eastern Area Landfill, which is located in the city limits of Birmingham adjacent to the Magnolia South subdivision in Trussville. The Magnolia South Homeowners’ Association contacted me several months ago for assistance. We are pleased with ADEM’s prompt response and directives to the landfill to resolve concerns.
There are many community events during the fall season throughout District 44 and I hope to attend as many of these as possible. It is a privilege and an honor to serve as your representative.
Rep. Danny Garrett represents House District 44, which includes Trussville, Clay and parts of Pinson. He can reached at 205-410-4637 and dannygarrett44@gmail.com. He regularly posts updates on his Facebook page “Representative Danny Garrett” and on Twitter “@dannygarrett44”.