Editorial: Let Us Know - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Let Us Know

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  • Editorials

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    •   

The Sweet Home Alabama Coalition wants to let us vote.

What exactly will we vote for?

If a current bill to expand and regulate electronic gambling in the state house is passed, it won't be a vote yes or no for it, but a yes only in pre-determined places.

We  don't really know who is funding the lobbying campaign for this bill so it will be hard to determine whose interests are represented.

That group has run ads accusing the governor of being against the bill because he was elected in part by funds from Mississippi Indian interests who don't want competition here.

That is hard to prove since campaign donations are routinely passed from one political action committee to another, making them  impossible to trace completely.

The loser here is the voter.

We are subject to ads with claims and charges that may or may not be credible.

Ad standards should include factual reporting and full substantiation.

Lobbyist donations should be transparent.

Neither is the case now.

Both should be before we consider this issue.