WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.Editorial: Revising Alabama's constitution

Editorial: Revising Alabama's constitution

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By Mark Wilder - 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) -

For as long as I can remember, there have been pleas from concerned Alabamians for the revision of our state's 1901 constitution. 

Finally, our newly elected legislature and governor, making  good on one of their many campaign promises, have taken a huge step toward that revision, and kudos to them for it.

The Constitutional Revision Commission meets on Wednesday of this week for the first time.  Among the appointees is former Governor Albert Brewer, whose efforts led to the revision of the constitution's judicial article in 1973.  A good choice!

The commission will suggest revisions to 3 of the 18 articles each year for the next 4 years.  Some of the articles are off limits, among them the state tax code, badly in need of revision .

This year's revisions will address business and financial articles and the issue of home rule, allowing local governments to make local decisions, locally, which will also cut about half the bills out of the state legislative session each year. 

This commission has an opportunity to fix one of Alabama's most serious impediments to its progress.  It's a heavy lift, it will take time, and I urge them to consider it carefully.  It could be well worth the effort.