I am sure this may chap some of you, especially those in the targeted professions like teachers, but I ask that you vote "NO" on the Alabama Trust Fund amendment.
Our representatives in Montgomery have overspent, and now want to take (not "borrow") money from the Alabama Trust Fund (royalty money paid by natural gas drilling). They already spend all of the interest; now they want to rob from the
principal. It is
like a farmer eating his seed corn. EVERYONE will go hungry after the
seed is eaten. If we allow Montgomery to pilfer the Trust Fund
principal, it will reduce the annual interest it produces, so they will
have to come back crying for more money from the Trust Fund.
It will also send the clear message that we do not hold them accountable for their overspending. "The constitutional amendment does not provide for the payback of the money, but Bentley said that’s his intention." I am thinking "roads" and "hell", here.
"Alabama voters rejected a constitutional amendment in 2010 that would have taken $1 billion out of the trust fund for road and bridge projects." Tuscaloosa News
Be as smart as you were in 2010.
Say NO. Don't let Montgomery eat the seed corn. (And be sure to check the wording on the ballot. Sometimes they get tricky to make a "No" be a vote "for" a thing.)
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Alabama Trust Fund amendment ballot wording
The precise language as it will appear on the ballot:
No tricks. Yes or no. PLEASE vote "NO".
It will also send the clear message that we do not hold them accountable for their overspending. "The constitutional amendment does not provide for the payback of the money, but Bentley said that’s his intention." I am thinking "roads" and "hell", here.
"Alabama voters rejected a constitutional amendment in 2010 that would have taken $1 billion out of the trust fund for road and bridge projects." Tuscaloosa News
Be as smart as you were in 2010.
Say NO. Don't let Montgomery eat the seed corn. (And be sure to check the wording on the ballot. Sometimes they get tricky to make a "No" be a vote "for" a thing.)
-------------------------------------
Alabama Trust Fund amendment ballot wording
The precise language as it will appear on the ballot:
Shall the following Amendment be adopted to the Constitution of Alabama?
Proposed Statewide Amendment
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide adequate
funding for the State General Fund budget, to prevent the mass release of prisoners from
Alabama prisons, and to pr
otect critical health services to Alabama children, elderly, and
mothers by transferring funds from the Alabama Trust Fund to the State General Fund
beginning with the state's 2012-2013 fiscal year and concluding with the state's 2014-
2015 fiscal year; to provide a new procedure for distributions made from the Alabama
Trust Fund beginning 2012-2013 fiscal year; to create a County and Municipal
Government Capital Improvement Trust Fund advisory committee; and to provide further
for distributions made from the County and Municipal Government Capital Improvement
Trust Fund. (Proposed by Act No. 2012-490)
Yes ( )
No ( )
No tricks. Yes or no. PLEASE vote "NO".
7 comments:
I can't remember where it happened, but just this year someone sued an AG who reworded a ballot initiative (N.W., like Oregon or Washington, maybe Montana) and forced the correct wording to be used. I don't know if you have an political alliance there, but it might be an idea to consider for you/them... If not this time, next time. Rewording is such crap.
We have had one-or-two cleverly-parsed ballots. I think a large stink was raised.
Uhrm, did.... I miss something? If that is the real wording you are showing... I'm thinking you guys are wayyyy too easy on your politicians. That is all but political blackmail. Or was that wording snark?
Sorry if I am misunderstanding. I'm half asleep or more most of the time, and some think I'm not even all that quick on my toes the rest of the time.
Yeppers! That's the wording. All that's missing is "for the children". Oh, wait!
OK, I'm still trying to figure out why it's necessary to establish a "County and Municipal Government Capital Improvement Trust Fund advisory committee". Doesn't (or shouldn't) the Alabama government already have some sort of oversight office or agency already in place to handle business like this?
But none PRECISELY like this!
I always love it when it's engineered where voting no means you want it & voting yes means you don't want it.
"For the children" is why I don't like kids.
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