RILEY WISE TO TACKLE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
By: Sharon Childs-Long

Birmingham, AL -- The lack of constitutional reform is an albatross to the state of Alabama. It has continued to plague the state and rob municipal, county and state offices in areas of education, tax reform and economic development.

Following Governor-elect Bob Riley's election, he was quoted in the Birmingham News as saying that one of his first acts as Governor, after being sworn in on January 20, 2003, would be to appoint a Constitutional Reform Commission. This act will be a historical marking in Alabama.

The states 101-year old constitution is long, complex and confusing. It consist of more that 310,000 words and over 700 amendments (prior to the November 2002 elections.) It also consists of racist language, state-power concentration and irrelevant oversight of non-state related issues.

In a May 2002 Voter News Network article, prior to the general elections, Latoiya Stout properly stated that VNN supports constitutional reform and sees Alabama's 1901 Constitution as "outdated and unworkable". She went further to state that VNN believes that the Legislature's focus on this issue should be handled in a special session after the 2002 elections.

After the November 2002 elections, with constitutional reform as a key campaign issue, Governor-elect Riley stated "he would immediately appoint a Constitutional Reform Commission" upon taking office because he wants the commission to provide a recommendation to him no more than 90 days after the Commission is formed. He also added that he wants the report ready when the Legislature goes into session.

The commitment to tackle tough issues, such as constitutional reform, is the type leadership VNN recognized and supported when the screening committee endorsed Governor-elect Riley in the November 2002 election.

Alabama's strangling issues could be dissolved once the 1901 constitution is reformed.


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