The Birmingham News presents the case for tax reform very effectively in it’s lead editorial today. A special report commissioned by the governor states:

“The financial difficulties of the state are being met, not by distributing the burden equitably, but by throwing the burden upon a small number of people, including those least able to bear it”, the authors write.

The answer? Immediate tax reform.

“This suggestion will be met by the statement that the citizens of Alabama are firmly opposed to any increase of taxation and that to vote for such legislation would be political suicide to members of the Legislature,” the authors write.

Which governor commissioned this report? Governor Charles Henderson in 1919. The editorial also points out that Governing magazine has called Alabama’s tax system “ludicrous”.

We will soon see what our current Governor is going to propose, and I don’t think another elected official has ever experienced the firestorm from a variety of special interest groups that he will experience. The people of Alabama need to stand up and hold their elected leaders accountable for the decisions they make over the next few weeks. This is a crucial time that requires a great deal of fortitude and guts. Those who wither under the pressure should be removed from office at the next opportunity. It is time to do what is right, reform the system and make it work for all the citizens of the state.