Editorial: New State Constitution - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: New State Constitution

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  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:20:04 GMT
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that

  • 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;
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It's a good thing we will be able to get our weeds cut more quickly now in Montgomery.

It's a shame we needed a recent special session of the state legislature to get permission to do it.

Local governments should be able to have more control over affairs affecting them.

That's not the case now.

Our state constitution made sure of that, consolidating special-interest power in Montgomery.

The constitution was written to take away voting rights from the poor and from minorities.

It requires counties and cities to get the state legislature to approve entirely too much.

It is past time to rewrite it.

Why should legislators representing other regions in the state decide whether our local government can enact a weed ordinance that makes more sense?

Let local governments govern.

Rewriting the constitution does create concerns but the possibilities it creates to pave the way for a more efficiently run state should win out.