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As Republicans across the country, and particularly in Alabama, embrace a platform that seeks to limit rights – what to read, who to marry, how medical care is provided – Alabama Democrats are taking the opposite approach.
The Alabama House Democratic Caucus unveiled its 2025 legislative agenda on Tuesday, dubbing it “Forward for Freedom,” and focusing on “preserving, protecting and expanding your freedoms,” House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels said.
“It’s a platform that really focuses on the issues that average Alabamians truly care about,” Daniels said. “It’s about giving people opportunities to succeed, to achieve the American Dream, and not about limiting their rights.”
The platform, admittedly, has many of the same issues that Democrats have focused on in years past. Daniels said it’s a policy of the caucus not to remove an issue until it has been properly addressed. So, longtime focal points, such as Medicaid expansion, voting rights and gun safety, are still on the list, albeit with some new approaches.
The Alabama Democrats last session found particular success when marrying longtime causes, such as childcare funding, with pro-business legislation. Daniels sponsored a childcare funding bill that gave tax breaks to private businesses that offered either on-site childcare for employees or that partnered with a private childcare provider to offer either free or reduced-cost childcare to employees.
The legislation sailed through.
Likewise, when looking for an opportunity to provide a middle-class tax cut to somewhat slice into Alabama’s regressive income tax structure. Daniels and Dems pushed forward a tax exemption on overtime pay. It, too, sailed through.
Rep. Barbara Drummond, who chaired the policy committee, made it clear that the House Democrats would remain focused on pro-growth, pro-worker policies that “expand economic opportunities for all Alabamians and focus on workplace safety.”
“We must continue to increase our investments in childcare, transportation and housing in order to level the playing field for all people,” Drummond said. That level playing should also be present in education funding and opportunities, said Rep. Tashina Morris. She said Democrats plan to focus on increasing teacher pay and resources while also striving towards a funding model for Alabama’s public schools that is more equitable to all districts.
“For us to move forward, we must ensure all of our children have the opportunity to succeed,” Morris said.
The platform also will focus on safety, particularly addressing the rampant gun violence that has left guns as the number one killer of Alabama’s children, outpacing traffic accidents and illnesses.
Rep. Neil Rafferty, a former Marine, said he plans to re-introduce legislation that will repeal Alabama’s permitless carry law – a controversial law that most law enforcement personnel across the state opposed and that they attribute to both a rise in gun violence and for making their jobs less safe.
“It’s time to put the political rhetoric aside and to take meaningful steps to address the problem before us,” Rafferty said. “We can do that without infringing upon the rights of responsible gun owners. It’s our responsibility to ensure that our children can go to school, our seniors can go to the grocery store without fear of gun violence.”
Another gun safety bill was filed Tuesday by Drummond. That bill, which she filed midway through the 2024 session, would require gun owners to lock up firearms in homes where children reside or face criminal charges if those weapons are used by the children. Drummond said she believes it will receive bipartisan support.
Other Democratic focal points included providing clean drinking water and fixing sewage issues in some parts of the state, revamping Alabama’s correctional system and making it easier for disabled, elderly and special needs citizens to cast ballots.
