MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -
There's been a whole lot of flexing
going on over the past week. The first flex came from the Republican supermajority
as they pushed through HB 84 "The Alabama Accountability Act of 2013" which
authorizes the establishment of innovative schools and school systems in the
State of Alabama.
Hold your horses say the Democrats
sitting in the minority, as they quickly and angrily responded with a flex of
their own responding to what they best described as a "bait and switch" bill. The bill they thought they were dealing with
entering into committee (9 pages) and what they were dealt coming out of
committee (27 pages) left them scratching their heads as to what the
Republicans were trying to get away with.
Then the School Superintendents of
Alabama, the Alabama Association of School Boards and the AEA all flexed their
collective muscles by either urging the Governor to consider executive
amendments to six areas of the current bill or filing a lawsuit to block the
passage of the bill into law.
This is not an editorial today on
whether HB 84 will move Alabama's educational system in the right direction.
That discussion will come at a later time.
This is a commentary on how Alabama legislation comes together in the
first place. The transparency the supermajority campaigned on and the lack of
it as this bill came together is troubling.
The optics our legislators' screaming at each other during session is
not one that will put Alabama parents at ease.
As a matter of fact, it will do quite the opposite. So here's a thought, slow important
legislation down, debate it until you're red in the face and then and only
then, put it out there for a vote with everyone fully informed and on the
record. You may still disagree with the direction
of the bill but at least you and we will be confident in the process to enact
into law.
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