WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.Editorial: Alabama State Budget

Editorial: Alabama State Budget

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By Collin Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Friday, May 18 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-18 23:20:53 GMT
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident. The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident.  The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are the other motorists on the roadways.

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-15 23:20:31 GMT
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments: "If the budget is passed at this severely cut rate, the shortage of physicians, hospitals, and clinics
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments:

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-01 23:20:35 GMT
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"

  • Friday, April 20 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-04-20 23:20:42 GMT
    For the next sixty seconds I want you to give yourself permission to push pause on whatever you are doing and listen and reflect for a moment. I did this recently after reading an article titled "Top five

  • Wednesday, April 18 2012 7:27 PM EDT2012-04-18 23:27:31 GMT
    Representative Christopher John England (Tuscaloosa) has sponsored a bill in the Alabama legislature that would allow convicted felons of drug crimes to receive food stamps under certain circumstances.
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

The Alabama Senate approved $1.76 billion General Fund budget in the 2nd week of the 2011 Regular Session.  This budget now moving to the House for consideration is proposed at an increase of $177.5 million or plus 11.2 percent from this year's prorated level.

The General Fund, which provides appropriations for all non-education entities for the 2012 fiscal year passed the Senate with funding protected for Medicaid, Department of Corrections and The Ethics Commission.  Prisons would receive a $62.6 million increase in funding and Medicaid a $247 million to maintain services that had been financed with federal stimulus funds, which are running out this year.

Regarding cuts, the Senate version of the General Fund Budget eliminates at least 186 line-items from the budget completely.

The two agencies that will receive some of the most substantial cuts are the Judiciary and the Department of Public Health.  The Judicial Department will receive an 18% cut and the Alabama Department of Public Health a 37% reduction.

Challenging as the 2012 budget will be 2013 is even more daunting. $263 million from the oil and gas trust fund in the 2012 budget will not be available in 2013.

Now more than ever we encourage all House and Senate members to engage in meaningful debate and collaborate across party lines.  Have the courage and wisdom to make the tough decisions and then back it up with a sound plan to keep our state strong.

I'm Collin Gaston – we welcome your feedback.