We all knew someone was not going to be willing to just let this special session accomplish what it ineeded to and move on…someone needs to make a point…

But black caucus members, unhappy with the Senate’s failure during the regular session to pass a bill to repeal the state’s tax on groceries, said they could delay progress on the education budget during the special session.

“The caucus is going to have some further discussions, right after the session this evening, to take a position one way or the other” on a filibuster, Rep. James Thomas, D-Selma, said Wednesday afternoon. Thomas called repeal of the grocery tax “our number one priority.”

Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, who is also a member of the black caucus, said after the meeting that no decision had been made. She said that the caucus would continue to try to negotiate a compromise on the grocery tax bill without a filibuster.

The head of the state teacher’s union, a traditional ally of the caucus, expressed concern about the possibility of a filibuster.

“I don’t think the education budget should be held hostage,” said Alabama Education Association Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert.

I agree that the activity of the Alabama Senate during the regular session was shameful, and that letting the grocery tax bill tie was one of the worst things that happened, but holding the education budget hostage won’t accomplish anything.
Black caucus mulls filibuster- al.com

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