The World Around You

Roy Moore goes on trial before the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission on November 12th (as reported by WSFA.com). I can hardly wait.

Steven is covering all the angles (here, here and here) on last night’s debate. I only caught bits and pieces of the debate and saw a little of the coverage this morning. It seems to me like it has only exacerbated the perception that this whole experiment is just a circus.

Roy Moore is continuing his stall tactics. He remains convinced the Supreme Court will vindicate him, so he continues to attempt to keep the proceedings he faces before the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission from going forward. The fact is, he continues to collect his over $170,000/year salary while he is suspended and the Commission should move forward to determine whether he should be removed from office.

At today’s hearing on whether Moore should be allowed another extension to file his response to the charges, the AP reports,

Moore’s attorney, Terry Butts, first asked the court to agree that by arguing the extension motion before the eight judges present Thursday, Moore was not waiving his right in the future to ask some of them to step down.

Several of the judges testily told Butts his request was inappropriate, and that he should have sought recusals before filing any other motions. Butts responded that he needed more time to determine whether any recusals were necessary.

“I think I have the right at the appropriate time to ask any member of this panel, `Have you discussed this case with anyone, or made comments about Roy Moore or the Judicial Inquiry Commission?’” Butts told the judges.

Without assurance from the court that he could ask for recusals later, Butts declined to speak about the time extension motion. The judges indicated they would rule shortly on whether to extend the Sept. 29 deadline.

It’s not a good sign for Roy that the panel reacted “testily”. I don’t think he’s going to get another extension, nor should he.

The Mobile Register reports this morning,

Lawmakers sent the governor a bill Wednesday that would speed the release of more than 5,000 state inmates and ease voter registration for certain felons who have completed their sentences. The bulk of Alabama’s two main budgets also won approval.

Differences between the House and Senate on the spending plans will likely be resolved today, according to legislative leaders. That would put lawmakers in a position to finish most of the special session’s work by Friday.

Legislators are pushing to write the operating budgets before the new fiscal year begins Wednesday. If the budgets are not finalized by Friday , state employee paychecks could be delayed, officials said.

My congratulations go out to the legislators for doing the right thing and making the tough choices for once. The days of patching the budget with additional regressive taxes must end. I hope that when the regular session begins in February, the legislature will discuss all options, but choose only the best options for all Alabamians.

I only hope those who oppose change don’t find themselves in a position of needing assistance from the state government this year, only to find that they cannot receive it due to the budget cuts.

UPDATE: Both budgets have received final approval in the Legislature and are on their way to the Governor, AP reports,

The Alabama Legislature gave final approval Thursday to austere budgets that will cause layoffs of some state employees and leave most public school children without new textbooks.

In the wake of a Sept. 9 statewide vote rejecting new taxes, the House gave final approval to a $1.2 billion General Fund budget that cuts funding to most state agencies by 18 percent. The Senate, meanwhile, passed a $4.2 billion education budget that allows teachers to retain their jobs, but cuts money for textbooks.

The education budget cut out all money for legislators’ special projects in their districts, despite attempts in the House to restore it.

“I think given the revenue available, the Legislature did the best they could do. There are a lot of cuts and a lot of agencies are going to have difficult times,” Hammett said.

“We tried to minimize pain and spread pain around,” said Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, chairman of the Senate education budget writing committee.

The budgets now go to Gov. Bob Riley, who has indicated he could return one or both budgets to lawmakers with suggested changes. The budgets are for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.