|  Alabama Treasurer, Kay Ivey, says she wants to save the PACT program. Why then, is she proposing legislation that gives the board the authority to dissolve it?
Her plan comes just two days after the board met, discussed options, and specifically rejected the option to dissolve PACT. Oddly though, minutes after that vote was taken, Treasurer Ivey presented an outline of 4 changes to the program that she wanted to ask the Legislature to make. #2 on her list was to give the board the authority to dissolve the PACT program.  In the video, you'll see where Ivey triumphantly announces that the PACT will not be dissolved, then moves into the legislative discussion. Bradley Bryne calls her on the request for authority to dissolve PACT, saying that it's directly contrary to the previous vote. She argues with him and tries to leave it in, but the board rejects her request.
Then, Ivey appoints a committee to deal with the legislature, consisting of herself, Lt. Governor Folsom, and Chancellor Bryne. The audience shouts out, asking for a parent to be appointed and Ivey brushes them off. Then, a parent asks to help write the legislation and Ivey gives that woman the equivalent of a pat on the head before brushing her off. Today, we learn from Huntsville Times reporter, Bob Lowry, that the draft legislation Ivey is shopping around still includes the authority to dissolve PACT. Bryne doesn't like it: But Byrne said he is concerned about language in Ivey's bill that could dissolve the PACT. She said that "would be a worst-case scenario."
It appears that Ivey's preferred scenario is the "worst case" option. Or maybe she just wants to be able to use dissolution as a bargaining chip to force her real preferred option down the throats of the parents: "Oh, you don't like what we're planning? Guess we'll have to dissolve the PACT!" Check out the video on the flip. |
