I think that’s giving the problem pretty short shrift.

The Montgomery Advertiser recently published a letter to the editor from me which is quoted below. The strategy I suggested in it to get the legislature to pass the I&R constitutional amendment could just as well be used in an effort to get the legislature to finally pass real ethics reform legislation.

“In an October 23 editorial the Advertiser urged Governor Riley to push ethics reform in possibly two special legislative sessions if the 2010 regular session again fails to pass real reform legislation.

History tells us that the legislature won’t pass real reform legislation in its 2010 session.

In that case, what Riley could do is to stump the state urging voters to demand that their legislators pass a constitutional amendment which would be the key to unlock the door to better government. Representative Mike Ball has introduced such legislation in each of the past few regular sessions. That bill was known as HB279 in the 2009 session. That amendment would make Alabama the 25th Initiative and Referendum (I&R) state.

I&R would allow Alabama voters to introduce legislation such as ethics reforms or other needed reforms that could bypass both the legislature and the governor and be put on a ballot for voters to accept or reject.

Voters should then tell the legislators who represent them that if they fail to vote for that bill they do so at the risk of being voted out of office.

Then Riley should call a special session before the November elections with passing that bill as the only issue. If the amendment isn’t passed, then voters should kick the rascals out.”

I have a similar fear that gambling is going to overwhelm the three E’s (Ethics Reform, Economic Development and Education) that Byrne and Davis agree are the key issues facing the next governor. I too hope that voters will demand ethics reform this session, no matter which party is in control of the legislature.

Maybe this election, we’ll see the word play and dialog that gets the voters excited enough to vote on the issue. Or maybe not, other issues (jobs, bingo, taxes) may take precedence. Won’t surprise me to see gambling as the big issue to the exclusion of all else soon.