Lawmakers Meet A Third Time for Second Special Session
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State lawmakers met for the first day of the second special session Tuesday. They’ve 30 days to get a general fund budget passed. The situation is desperate now because if lawmakers don’t pass a budget, the state will shut down.
Is the third time really a charm? That’s what state lawmakers will find out in the next few weeks. After failing to pass a budget in the past two sessions, they’re back in the state house to try it again. Senator Clyde Chambliss is optimistic.
“We’re hoping to come together and find a budget that we can get the majority of votes on and continue to fund state government and go back to our jobs and our homes and our families. Hopefully we’ll get there this time. I think we will.”
Other lawmakers, like Senator Hank Sanders, aren’t so sure.
“I don’t know. We have a big failure of leadership.”
Sanders blames leadership in the House, Senate and the governor’s office for the state’s financial crisis.
“I’m tired of us robbing Peter to pay Paul and now we’re trying to rob Peter’s children to pay Paul. I’m tired of that.”
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh introduced gaming in the first special session. But he says he’s not pushing the issue this time.
“If a lottery bill comes out of the House, I won’t stand in it’s way but I’m not going to be pushing it either.”
I asked if he was confident that a budget will get passed this time.
“I was confident last time and we did. The senate will pass a budget. The question is whether or not the House will agree with it.”
Governor Robert Bentley wants to raise some taxes to fill the shortfall. One of the most talked about proposed taxes would be on cigarettes. Senator Marsh says he’s not convinced the support is in the Senate for that.
