By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—In what might be considered deja vu all over again, the governor visited several of Alabama’s radio talking-heads to find support for his executive amendment to the Alabama Accountability Act (AAA). The thrust of Gov. Bentley’s argument is that the state needs a two-year delay in offering tax credits to those in failing schools.
Political observers will remember that just a fews months ago the Governor joined the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tem in a victory lap at the same shows. At the time Speaker Hubbard, used his favorite pollsters McLaughlin & Associates to produces a glowing acceptance of the AAA.
However, since those heady days, it has become apparent that the bill is not receiving the universal appreciation Hubbard and Marsh had promised Bentley. Instead, school boards in heavily conservative districts like Madison, Baldwin and Elmore Counties have called for the repeal of the AAA. Today, the trumpet of victory has become a muted tin horn. Hubbard and Marsh have stuck the governor with a skunk, and he wants to give it back.
In his appearances, the governor talked about the need to be fiscally responsible. At the time of the grand switch-a-roo, I asked the question that was on the minds of many real conservatives:
“How is it fiscally responsible to pass a bill without knowing much it is going to cost?”
In February and March, that question was dismissed by almost everyone including the radio cabaret.
Often mistaken but never in doubt, the so-called conservatives and their lapdogs pushed ahead without a moment’s hesitation and without a clue.
It has become apparent that Bentley has come out from under the ether only to realize that Hubbard and company lied to him once again.
On the airwaves, Bentley sounded like the man the people elected governor and not the one who has been sucker-punched by Hubbard time and again. The governor says he is in favor of giving schools flexibility while taking time to find a responsible way to offer choice.
Marsh is saying the Governor’s amendment is DOA—his egos is too invested to backdown. And, sadly, he nor Hubbard respect this governor. Hubbard, looks at Bentley and sees a man standing in his way. As for Marsh, it is anyone’s guess as to his motivation.
Bentley also said he didn’t believe that the tax-credits should go to kids already in private schools, which would deny millionaire legislators from taking their tax breaks. It seems that AEA Boss Mabry’s “No rich child left behind,” is dawning on the Gov.
I noticed that none of the talking heads are calling Bentley a “whore,” a “ho” or an “ape,” for wanting to delay the AAA. They however could not show that same respect to a black circuit court judge.
Governor Bentley is a good man, who has too often listened to bad ones like Hubbard and company. Perhaps the governor has realized that for evil men to prosper, good men simply need to do nothing. Our state deserves real-conservatives with real reforms and not more corporatists.
The Hubbard, Marsh faction of the republican party is a morally bankrupt band of crony-capitalists. They strut and posture, drunk on power and greed. But in reality they are like a dog returning to its vomit they are foolish in their folly.
2014 is right around the bend, and conservatives will be blowing the trumpets to rally the troops to oust Hubbard and his kind. Then the victory laps will be real, because the people will have taken back the state.
It looks like Governor Bentley is once again joining the fight. Welcome back sir, we’ve missed you.
