As the infection rates and deaths continue to increase in Alabama, Republicans have continued to push for the premature opening of many businesses and institutions, including the state legislature. AL House Speaker Mac McCutcheon and AL Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh have scheduled the legislature to reconvene on Monday, May 4th because they think it’s a brilliant idea to try to pass budgets without knowing the full effect the pandemic has had on Alabama’s tax revenue and economy.
The rush to call legislators back to session in the midst of a pandemic has left even those in the Governor’s office shaking their heads because they know it won’t be until after July 15th, the extended tax deadline, that lawmakers will have a clear view of the economic damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on the state’s coffers. Let’s also not forget how actually dangerous this may be to the lawmakers themselves. Does it really make good sense for elected officials and their staff, many of which come from areas that are currently infection hot spots, to convene right now and risk spreading the virus to each other?
The answer is obvious. No, it’s simply reckless.
AL House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels made this point eloquently and passionately during an internet press conference on April 29th saying, “We have so many more questions than answers. We won’t get state tax receipts for the year until July 15. What are you going to base the budget figures on — what projections are you using? It can’t be last year’s projections.” Daniels also pointed out the hypocrisy of lawmakers meeting during a public health crisis as they ask citizens to stay home, particularly because social distancing would be virtually impossible in Montgomery during a legislative session. Many legislators, Democrats and Republicans, are over 60 years old and have underlying health conditions. Furthermore, passing a budget blindly now will almost guarantee that a special session will have to be called to fix all the inaccuracies, which will cost Alabama even more money.
So, Daniels and other state Democratic leaders have made the decision not to attend. Of course, AL Republicans hold a Supermajority in the House and can conduct legislative business even if Democrats don’t show. Sadly, they probably will in spite of the fact that Gov. Ivey’s spokesperson said, “The governor agrees that elected officials must continue doing the people’s work. However, she was surprised they wanted to take up budgets ahead of having a full understanding of our financial picture..” Um, yeah, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that it’s hard to solve an equation without an accurate denominator. More simply, you can’t solve the puzzle if you don’t have all the pieces.
So, kudos to AL House Minority Leader Daniels for showing bold leadership during this crisis. He’s also spearheaded efforts with the Alabama House Democratic Caucus to hold weekly educational webinars that have focused on a wide range of issues facing Alabamians relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. He hasn’t stopped working for the people of Alabama or making his voice heard loudly, he’s just doing it in a sensible way that acknowledges the real danger and risk that this crisis poses to the people of our state.
Daniels knows that this pandemic will change everything. He also knows that Alabama needs major reform and changes in unemployment benefits, access to affordable healthcare including the expansion of Medicaid, and a host of other issues, like housing and education, that have adversely affected the poor and underserved under years of failed Republican leadership and policies. Daniels has made the right call to not participate in a rushed and reckless effort to pass budgets in the dark on Goat Hill.
Daniels showed courage and leadership by acknowledging the old adage, “Haste makes waste.” Let’s hope it doesn’t, but in this particular case, the rush to reconvene could have grave consequences for some lawmakers.
Daniels probably also knows another colloquial aphorism known to people who work with their hands, “Measure twice, but cut once.” Daniels makes good sense, let’s hope that more folks across the aisle will listen to him and heed his sound advice.