Constitutional Reform Gathers Steam
Michael Maetz
Birmingham News Editorial Page
March 9, 2008
It is easy to become cynical about the performance of the Alabama Legislature when the intimate linkage of special interests and self-interest is so regularly demonstrated by our elected officials.
This isn’t to say there aren’t honorable, ethical men and women in the House and Senate who try to do what is right in representing their constituents; it’s just they too often seem to be voices crying in the wilderness.
This does tend to beg the question: Why not simply replace the poor performers in the next election cycle? Isn’t that what the democratic process and ”representing the people” are all about?
There clearly are multiple reasons why this, in fact, doesn’t occur often enough, including the short memory of the electorate and an all-too-common belief/ resignation that the system is what it is, and what can one person do anyway?
Unfortunately, reasons such as these are reflective of citizen laziness; an unwillingness to exert the proactive, persistent effort required to bring about needed change.
Nonetheless, if there was ever a cause deserving of such effort it is the one, currently under consideration (again) by the Legislature, that would allow Alabama voters to decide whether a constitutional convention should be held.
Those who minimize the influence a voter can have should take note. Constitution reform is an issue that has garnered the active support of many individuals across the state, and it has generated significant organizational support.
A coordinated effort In 2005, representatives of more than 35 nonprofit organizations in the state came together to plan a coordinated effort on constitution reform, and under the leadership of Greater Birmingham Ministries, the Constitution Convention Coalition was established.
This coalition ultimately has become an efficient mechanism by which multiple constituencies could be educated about the need for constitution reform and in turn empowered to influence the process that will bring it about.
The coalition epitomizes diversity, but to understand each organization’s rationale for membership, one only needs to appreciate major shortcomings of the current constitution.
Illustrative of coalition member concerns, the Alabama Parent Teacher Association undoubtedly has been frustrated by the constitutional mandates that too often allow funding decisions for local schools to be influenced by ”disinterested parties” elsewhere in the state, leading to decisions that don’t represent the wishes of those served by the schools.
The Alabama Poverty Project and Greater Birmingham Ministries are intimately familiar with the unfair, highly regressive system of taxation in Alabama that is embedded in the constitution, a system that hits lowest-income citizens the hardest and hinders economic development in the state.
Finally, the League of Women Voters of Alabama lists among many concerns the need for a broad grant of authority for local governments wishing to adopt a plan for home rule that would enable them to address their problems independent of the state Legislature (e.g., school funding previously noted).
The support for constitution reform by these organizations and many others clearly has had an impact on moving convention legislation closer to passage. This wouldn’t have happened, however, without the commitment of individual Alabama citizens who believed they could change the status quo.
Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform represents one avenue for getting involved, and there are no restrictions on membership. It goes without saying that the behavior of our state legislators is guided by the pressures and rewards they perceive in doing their jobs. Since they work for us, we should not hesitate to communicate both our expectations and the consequences if they are nonresponsive.
We owe this to ourselves and to those who will follow us.
Michael Maetz serves on the board of directors at Greater Birmingham Ministries. E-mail: maetz169@bellsouth.net.