By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
The time has come for Rep. Mike Hubbard to resign as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.
Since his days as Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party until now, Hubbard has presided over a profane orgy of greed and corruption. He has practiced the worst form of crony capitalism, erecting a patronage system, worthy of a third-world despot. Hubbard has sold legislation to the highest bidder, accepted bribes, embezzled funds and ruled over the House Caucus like a mad king.
Hubbard’s leadership has brought about a catastrophic breakdown in the rule of law, leading to the odious decay of moral order within the halls of the State House. Hubbard’s ethical ambiguity and narcissistic behavior has created a government where only an elite few profit from a system of patronage and graft.
His hired and elected henchmen stalk the halls of the State House like a roaming gang of bandits, taking what they want without regard for what is best for our State. He has colluded with business interests and lobbyists to forge a shadowy coalition which ensures more profit for the wealthy, while guaranteeing ever dismissing returns for the poor and working class.
Thanks to the testimony of disgraced lawmaker, Greg Wren, the public learned how Hubbard sold legislation to benefit his clients. From the felony indictments of Rep. Barry Moore, it has been made known that Hubbard threatened to destroy economic development just to win an election. The audit of the ALGOP shows how Hubbard embezzled money from his own party, passing hundreds of thousand of dollars through a third party back to his own business interests.
And now, the current revelation that even the Republican State Leadership Committee, believes that Hubbard has crossed too many lines to be trusted.
He has used over $200,000 in campaign contributions to illegally pay his white collar defense team. This money is coming from corporations, lobbyists and wealthy individuals who have business before the State Legislature.
Hubbard is a lawless thug, who has and will continue to embarrass the Republican Party and the State of Alabama. It is time for honorable lawmakers like Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen Jeff Sessions and the Congressional delegation, along with Governor Robert Bentley, to call for Hubbard to stand down.
Considering his impending indictment, if Hubbard is allowed to remain Speaker, it will forever be a blemish on the good character of our best men and women.
It is often said that for evil to prevail, all that is necessary is for good men to do nothing.
Mike Hubbard, must go.
