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Editorial: Legislative Immunity

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By Collin Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 24 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-24 23:20:46 GMT
    Caps and gowns, tears and hugs, high fives and pumped fists – it is that time of year - graduation. All over our state this month young men and women are walking down the aisles with diplomas in hand
    Caps and gowns, tears and hugs, high fives and pumped fists – it is that time of year - graduation. All over our state this month young men and women are walking down the aisles with diplomas in hand

  • 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
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

I don't know about you, but every 111 years or so I like to dust things off a bit. This week's spring cleaning (knowing full and well we are still in winter) focuses on Article IV, Section 56 in the Alabama Constitution.

This is the law that allows for the immunity of legislators during session that states "in all cases, except treason, felony, violation of their oath of office and breach of the peace, members of the legislature shall be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same."

I think it's high time and not unfair to demand that we all live and are accountable to the same laws with no special privileges.

The 140 members of the Alabama House and Senate can surely appreciate and understand this viewpoint. A

s lawmakers your intention with the passing of a law is that people obey them.

If you speed – you should get a ticket – regardless of the position you hold in a legislative body.  It's fair and it just makes sense.

Something to consider as you prepare for the session to begin next week.

We appreciate and encourage your feedback.

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