Local representatives provide update during luncheon
Only a few days after the Alabama legislature entered its annual session, local legislators joined the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce for a luncheon on Jan. 12. This gave area business owners and community members the chance to interact with and learn more from their representatives.
During the luncheon, present representatives — Jim Carns, R-District 48; Dickie Drake, R-District 45; Allen Farley, R-District 15; Matt Fridy, R-District 73; Corley Ellis, R-District 41; Arnold Mooney, R-District 43; and April Weaver, R-Distrcit 49 — and senators Jim McClendon, R-District 11; Jabo Waggoner, R-District 16; and Cam Ward, R-District 14 discussed plans for the session.
Weaver — chairman of the House Health Committee — opened the discussion by noting that Governor Kay Ivey has declared a state of public health emergency in light of the widespread flu outbreak.
“I’m pretty sure in a public health state of emergency, it is OK to breach business etiquette. You don’t have to shake hands,” she said, noting that other forms of greeting are acceptable.
She also said that because Medicaid had an amount of money “rollover” from their budget last year, they will not be needing an increase of funds this year.
“And that’s an exciting thing for all of us,” said Fridy later in the luncheon.
Other representatives addressed the budget too, with many adding that both the general fund and the education trust fund look to be in good shape this year. Ward said, however, that due to a federal mandate, the state will spend $30 million on top of the Department of Corrections allocated $413 million to address the state of mental health and health care services in prisons. This is part of the $1.96 general fund budget for 2018, and he expects another $50 million to be allocated next year.
Ward also said the state needs to create initiatives and put money back into local programs so people can get the help they need “before they’re in the adult correction system.”
Some of the representatives are looking to introduce bills during this session as well, although Waggoner said he doesn’t expect to see many.
New bills that were discussed aimed at making broadband available in rural Alabama; declaring child trafficking a capital offense; creating the program “Parks for Patriots,” which would allow veterans free access to state parks all year; raising the fine to $10,000 for attorneys who call victims of car accidents (the penalty is currently $500) and making accident reports only available to those who need them.
McClendon also plans on introducing a bill that would institute a “winner take all” system for elections, which is aimed at filling legislative seats that are vacant for one reason or another in one race. “The idea is to eliminate the expense of the elections, but more importantly, the idea is to get a representative or senator back in that spot [to represent his or her constituents],” he said.
Carns briefly spoke of a bill he expects to be passed that will allow Uber and Lyft, ride sharing companies, to operate in Shelby County, as well as the recent commitment of Jefferson County to a $30 million stadium complex in downtown Birmingham.
He said this development will not only attract visitors, but also aid area businesses and help increase the local economy.
“I feel very, very positive about 2018,” he said.