Secret Ballot Bill Headed to the Full House

For the first time in the three years, a constitutional amendment that would guarantee the right to a secret ballot including in votes of employee representation is on its way to full debate in the Alabama House of Representatives.

Business interests in the state have backed such a bill for several years, but were always unsuccessful getting it out of Democrat controlled committees because of heavy union pressure. But times have definitely changed with Republicans at the helm of House committees.

Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William Canary said the bill didn't come up for debate in 2009 and committee members voted to indefinitely postpone the bill in 2010, effectively killing it for the session. Canary was the proponent for the bill at Wednesday's hearing.

The House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee, in a voice vote, gave a favorable report to the bill. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Kurt Wallace, R-Maplesville, would amend Section 177 of the Official Recompilation of the 1901 Alabama Constitution.

Wallace told his colleagues that the right to vote by secret ballot "is as American as apple pie."

The amendment, which would have to be voted on statewide, would add the following language to the state constitution: "The right of individuals to vote by secret ballot is fundamental. Where state or federal law requires elections for public office or public votes on referenda, or designations or authorizations of employee representation, the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot shall be guaranteed."

Al Henley of Alabama AFL-CIO said told lawmakers that the bill was about union avoidance and would likely result in costly litigation for the state.

"We're all trying to save a little money these days, but a lot will be spent on litigation if this bill passes," he said.

-- posted by Markeshia Ricks

Sweeping Ethics Bill Goes to the Governor

At just before 3 a.m. Thursday, the Alabama Legislature passed sweeping changes to the Alabama ethics law that would limit spending by lobbyists, but also open the door for spending by other people and at other events.

House and Senate members concurred on changes to a bill sponsored by state Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, that is much changed from the original version that he introduced at the beginning of the special session called by Gov. Bob Riley to overhaul ethics laws in the state. It's even different from the two substituted versions of the bill that moved through the Legislature.

Taylor's original bill would have capped spending by lobbyists to $100 per year and required them to report everything that they spent. The first substituted version of the bill, which was crafted by state Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, would have kept lobbyists from spending anything, but would have allowed those who hired lobbyists, or principals, to spend up to $250 a day before they had to report it. The second substitute of the bill would also have stopped lobbyists from spending anything to influence lawmakers, but would have capped what principals could spend at $100.

If the governor signs the version of the Taylor bill that is coming to his desk, lobbyists can spend up to $150 a year, and principals, which currently don't exist as a defined class under the law, could spend up to $250 a year.

"Nobody can argue you had $250 per day that was brought down to $250 a year," Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said of lobbyist spending on public officials.

However, there is no cap on spending at an "educational function or widely attended event," where people can provide "hospitality, meals, and other food and beverages" to public officials. A widely attended event is one with more than 12 people.

Taylor said the law would still include the existing portion requiring any expense over $250 a day to be reported. He said it also stops unlimited hospitality, lodging, and travel for purely social reasons. So, there would still be no reporting of spending on public officials under $250 a day and that would not pertain to certain events.

The bill passed Thursday does not include its own reporting requirement, which was included in the original version. Marsh said they did not see the need for the reporting since the cap was so low. He said they could add in a reporting requirement later if people believe it is an issue.

Taylor said the version they passed restored some of the strongest portions of his original bill. He had said the first version of the bill passed by the Senate created a "huge loophole."

Marsh said he expects the seven ethics bills passed in the last three days to change how people conduct business in Montgomery. He expects the bills, like the one passed early Thursday, to curb the cozy relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers.

Marsh expects their action to limit some of the "wining and dining" of legislators.

Marsh said the Business Council of Alabama, whose President William Canary was at the State House until early Thursday, expressed concerns about the bill. But, he said, no lobbyists were allowed in the conference committee meeting between House and Senate members and he told BCA officials that they were not changing the bill after the committee met.

Senate Minority Leader Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, said he believes the passed bills give the state the most accountable, transparent government in the country.

The Legislature wrapped up the special session called by Riley at about 3 a.m. Thursday after passing the seven bills he was pushing.

-- posted by Markeshia Ricks and Sebastian Kitchen

BCA's Stacy dies unexpectedly

Ralph Stacy, an executive with the Business Council of Alabama, died unexpectedly on Tuesday.
"We are profoundly saddened by Ralph's death," BCA President William Canary said in a statement released by the council. "He was an important part of our senior leadership team, and everyone in the BCA, both staff and membership, as well as his extended network of personal and professional friends in The Partnership, will miss him. Our prayers are with Ralph's family as they suffer this loss."
Stacy has served as the senior vice-president for strategic communications at BCA since January. He also served as executive director of The Partnership, an organization that links more than 120 local chambers of commerce statewide and their nearly 50,000 business members with BCA.
Stacy was also the founding president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.
The Georgiana native recently received "America's Champion of Small Business Award" from the National Coalition of Capital and received the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama's Jamie Wallace Award for lifetime achievement in 2009.
"Ralph's contribution to the BCA, The Partnership, and their respective memberships went far beyond his daily professional work there," said BCA Chairman Sandy Stimpson. "He was our spiritual and temporal cheerleader, a constant, enthusiastic presence who urged us to do and believe the best of ourselves and our efforts. He will be missed."
He is survived by his wife, Angel Stacy, and his daughter, Savannah, both of Montgomery.
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen