By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—In a private email, Rep. Phil Williams (R-Huntsville) explained to House members how he would fundamentally change the way the Speaker’s office would operate under his leadership. Williams says his plan would change the culture of the House of Representatives by adopting a Member-based system, and downsizing the role of Speaker.
Current Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) has controlled the House with a top-down leadership style, in which he has made all committee assignments, determining chairmanships, as well as membership. He has shaped legislation, and determined what bills would come to the floor for consideration. While other Speakers have employed this model, no one in recent memory has ruled as completely, and as ruthlessly as Mike Hubbard.
Williams says, this authoritarian model has led to an institution where members have little influence over the direction of the State.
Under Hubbard’s leadership, reports of alleged corruption led to him being indicted on 23 felony counts of public corruption.
“When one person has full discretion over committee assignments, committee chairs, legislation to be debated, daily schedules, etc., any casual observer of the Legislature knows, that there is really only one person that they need influence and that is the person sitting in the Speaker’s chair,” wrote Williams.
Under Williams’ leadership as Speaker, individual legislators would choose which committees they would like to serve, and the committee chairs would be elected by the members of that committee. “I will not select the committee Chair, but the committee members of each Committee will select their Chair. This will ensure that the Chair is responsible to the Committee and not responsible to the Speaker,” Williams wrote. “This further empowers each committee member and gives him or her a real voice in how the committees operate.”
Williams informed the members, “Every member will serve on two committees, and the Speaker will no longer make these assignments. For the first committee, the most senior members will get first choice for their assignment. Next, the newest members will get first choice at the second committee assignment. This empowers all members and will better match up the talents and expertise that all members bring to the House.”
Williams’ leadership plan would be a radical departure from previous Speakers, and a giant step toward giving all lawmakers a seat at the table.
In closing Williams states, “Remember that Power based politics and Principle do not co-exist. You have one or you have the other. For the past 141 years we have seen power centered around one person sitting in a chair at the front of the room. Let’s be the group that leads only on the Principles that all our citizens value, and when we do this, we will move our State forward like never before.”
