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Bringing It All Back Home: Campaign Launched for Constitutional Reform
From The Shoals Insider
Published: October 19, 2009

Evan Tidwell-Alabama Press Syndicate

The Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform (ACCR)kicked off their “Bring It Back Home” series of seminars and citizens’ panels Sunday afternoon at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library.

The campaign -- which will include an event in each of Alabama’s 67 counties -- is part of a grassroots movement by the ACCR to educate Alabama residents about the problems with their state’s governing document and to garner support for a Constitutional Convention to rewrite it.

Guest speakers for Sunday’s event included Dr. Kenneth Johnson, a Professor Emeritus of History at the University of North Alabama; Retired Judge Leslie Johnson; Attorney Stewart O’Bannon; State Representative Tammy Irons; and Lauderdale County Commissioner Rhea Fulmer. A citizens’ panel was conducted after the speakers’ presentations, consisting of law student Laura Morgan, business owner Allen Tomlinson, and retired teacher William R. Dean. ACCR “Bring It Back Home” Director Bob Jones hosted the event, and acted as moderator for the panel discussion.

The ACCR has also helped fund a documentary about the state constitution called “It’s a Thick Book.” The film highlights several problems with Alabama’s current constitution which was adopted in 1901 and contains language that is archaic at best, and at worst bitterly racist. According to the film there were two reasons for creating Alabama’s sixth governing document. One was to reduce or eliminate the influence of black voters and the other to grant as much power as possible to Legislators at the expense of the Executive and Judiciary branches. (The video is available for viewing on the ACCR website at www.constitutionALreform.org/IATB.shtml)

The Constitution also withholds a great deal of power from local governments which is needed to conduct everyday business. This lack of “Home Rule” means that in many cases local decisions have to be approved by the state legislature or be voted on as an amendment to the Constitution. For example, no less than seven amendments deal directly with ad valorem taxes (property taxes) in Mobile County alone. That’s important to residents of Mobile County, but voters throughout the entire state had to cast a ballot on each amendment. So far, over 800 amendments have been added to the constitution.

There is a wealth of information about the Alabama State Constitution and possible ways to reform it. But ACCR events like this should serve as a very useful and informative introduction to constitutional reform for someone interested in government on any level. Most importantly, it should help to inform Alabama’s citizens on the laws that govern their everyday lives.

 

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