Left In Alabama - Cam Ward

News From the Front: Alabama GOP War on Women

julie — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:38:04 GMT

The Alabama Ayatollahs are going full throttle in your legislature this year. It's disgusting, really - legislators who were elected to serve the interests of the People are devoting 90% of their time to subjugating them instead.

I suppose it's because solving economic issues, raising revenue, dealing with the sequester, keeping the roads safe and the schools functioning and ridding the Alabama Constitution of laws enacted by 150 years worth of Shadrack McGills and Mary Sue McClurkins is a very difficult job. Sitting on your favorite religious hobby horse and Smiting the Heathen is child's play - all the hard work is done by legal teams in a state far, far away, and the headlines are glorious.

They really ought to be fired and replaced by someone who IS willing to do the hard work, but that ain't gonna happen, so let's have a look at how these Servants of the People are spending our money.

HB57, sponsored by Mary Sue McClurkin (R-Indian Springs) will have its third hearing in the Senate this Wednesday. This bill, which is part of the overarching agenda of AUL, will result in closing down most if not all of the five remaining women's clinics in the state. Everything in the bill that actually pertains to health and safety is already existing code - the part that isn't existing code is what will shut them down. It will impose regulations for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (which they aren't), requirements that every doctor have hospital admitting privileges (which is impossible), and a fire code designed for facilities that have four or more heavily sedated patients on gurneys lying around in recovery (which they don't).

Kerry Rich (R-DeKalb) has just introduced a new bill, HB 360, which will pave the way for personhood and require a lot of state-imposed delays between a woman's decision and a doctor's procedure. It also seeks to make darned sure that SUICIDE RISK cannot possibly be a factor when the uterus in question is being controlled from the Legislature. Ain't that a kick? The guy doesn't give a toot in a windstorm if the girl kills herself, even though that would KILL THE FETUS, too. What a prince.

"No condition shall be deemed a medical emergency if based on a claim or diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct which she intends to result in her death or in substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function." - text, HB360

Did y'all read that? It doesn't matter to Kerry Rich if she performs a DIY Caesarean on the Capitol steps - it mattereth not to the August Lawmaker from DeKalb County. He will happily slide through her blood on his way to the next fundraiser.

Here's another gem: there aren't any fetuses or zygotes in Rich's bill - nope, they are "unborn children" before they even implant in the womb. That has grave implications for fertility treatments. I just want to know one thing: the anti-abortion, anti-birth control faction constantly quotes one verse from the Old Testament to justify everything they do:

New International Version
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant. Such use or prescription is not an abortion if done with the intent to save the life or preserve the health of an unborn child, remove a dead unborn child, or to deliver an unborn child prematurely in order to preserve the health of both the mother (pregnant woman) and her unborn child. - See more at: http://www.openbama.org/bill/7970/text#sthash.HodHdZlZ.dpuf

"(1) ABORTION. The use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device with the intent to kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant or with the intent to prematurely terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant. Such use or prescription is not an abortion if done with the intent to save the life or preserve the health of an unborn child, remove a dead unborn child, or to deliver an unborn child prematurely in order to preserve the health of both the mother (pregnant woman) and her unborn child. - See more at: http://www.openbama.org/bill/7970/text#sthash.HodHdZlZ.dpuf

No condition shall be deemed a medical emergency if based on a claim or diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct which she intends to result in her death or in substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. - See more at: http://www.openbama.org/bill/7970/text#sthash.HodHdZlZ.dpuf

and yet it is a medical fact that about 1/3 of all fertilized eggs are expelled from the uterus in natural, unnoticed "abortions" that occur during the normal monthly cycle. There is something wrong - the DNA is incomplete or some other anomaly is present that makes Mother Nature determine it's a no go. SO, if God "knew you" before you were formed, then personally "formed" you, and then SHOT YOU RIGHT BACK OUT - what does that say about God? Is He then the Biggest Abortionist in the Universe? Are abortion docs to be granted the status of Deity? Does that make GOD a MURDERER OF UNBORN CHILDREN?

See what I mean about child's play? This stuff is easy - anybody can do it. The answer is that God was addressing Jeremiah personally in this quote. Jer. was a major Prophet, and God was basically telling him that he was created for that purpose. In no way does the verse in context attempt to define the beginning of life, but try telling that to a Talibangelist. The ignorant so and so's not only want to trash the US Constitution, they can't even make sense of the Bible. Lord, save us from the stupid, for they know not what they do. Never stops them from firing up a coupla witches, though. asshats.

AND SPEAKING OF ASSHATS, Cam Ward (R-Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton) has produced a real beauty, too, SB 251. Cam wants to make your life more miserable and dangerous by allowing doctors, pharmacists, and probably bus drivers to determine whether you can fill a prescription or receive treatment for a "morally questionable" disease like AIDS, or fill a "morally questionable?" prescription for birth control. Now THERE is a Death Panel for you. There are numerous horror stories available from the unfortunates who reside in states where this horse hockey has already been enacted. Cam can't wait to jump on board. Imagine dropping by your usual drug store to get your birth control scrip filled, only to hear the smug little shite on the other side of the counter tell you he has "moral objections" and therefore won't hand them over. The law goes further, and makes sure they don't even have to recommend an alternate provider.

HB108, a "Hobby Lobby" sort of bill sponsored by Lynn Greer (R-Rogersville), will make sure you can't get birth control from your own health insurance, either. Nope, there's another smug little shite sitting between you and your pill - your employer. This bill, which has already passed out of committee in the House, will make sure JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA WILL GET A SAY ON WHETHER YOU CAN PRACTICE BIRTH CONTROL.

Why not cut to the chase, kiss the Pope's ring, and tithe ten percent of all state revenues to the Vatican? Seriously, why the heck not? At least we could be granted absolution for strangling these idiots with our pantyhose!

It's All In Your Priorities. Confederate Memorial Park Is Safe!

countrycat — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:01:18 GMT

Alabama's GOP super-majority doesn't know nuthin 'bout raising no taxes to help feed poor folk. But they're downright committed to preserving the honor of the Confederacy. You see fellow rebels.... some legislators had this foolheaded idea that the money earmarked for the Confederate Memorial Park could be used to help other struggling state parks upgrade their facilities - or at least keep the buildings from falling in.

States parks around the country are reeling from budget cuts & Alabama is in the same boat. But one park is definitely worth saving. With the speed & ferocity of a Confederate cavalry charge, Senator Cam Ward & Rep. Kurt Wallace joined the battle:

“Not only is the Confederate Memorial Park a part of our heritage as Alabamians, it is a tourist attraction for families traveling throughout the state,” Ward said. “The park brings tourism money to our county that is essential to our families’ livelihoods.”
In the Alabama House of Representatives, House Bill 610 would have taken 80 percent of the funding from Confederate Memorial Park and redistributed that money to five other parks, according to Wallace.
“It would have completely destroyed the park and forced it to close,” said Wallace. “We have some hard choices to make in our state budgeting, but cutting tourism dollars for Chilton County is not a choice we are willing to make. Our heritage and our way of life must be defended.”

You got that campers? We have to make "hard choices" with our budgets but we must defend our heritage at all costs. Well damn. Who can argue with that, right? Pesky little tasks like dialysis for kidney patients, prescriptions for mentally ill patients, nursing home care for our grandparents... all that pales before the priority of "our way of life" and "Confederate Honor" doesn't it?

We're not talking chump change either:

Confederate Memorial Park is funded, in part, by a property tax that was once used to support Confederate veterans and their wives.
The tax was also used to operate the Alabama Confederate Soldiers’ Home, which was located on what is now park grounds. The veterans home closed in 1939.
According to an Associated Press report from July 2011, the tax brings in more than $400,000 annually for the park.

After all, what wars did our grandparents fight in? WWII? What's a fight to save ~~Europe~~ the world compared to the defense of slavery & state's rights?

Here's an idea Let's continue to fund the Confederate Memorial Park - with Confederate money.

Alabama House Approves HB421 - A Bill to Outlaw Bestiality In Alabama

countrycat — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:50:40 GMT

How is is possible that "bestiality" is not a crime in Alabama already? And will this bill get jammed up in the Senate by Jabo Waggoner? He's already sitting on the anti-cockfighting bill, but perhaps he has an extra place to stick HB421 as well.

The Democratic minority leader, Rep. Craig Ford, sponsored the bill, whose text is almost too creepy to believe:

(1) SEXUAL CONDUCT. Any touching or fondling by a person, either directly or through clothing, of the sex organs or anus of an animal or any transfer or transmission of semen by the person upon any part of the animal for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal of the person.
(2) SEXUAL CONTACT. Any contact, however slight, between the mouth, sex organ, or anus of a person and the sex organ or anus of an animal, any penetration, however slight, of any part of the body of the person into the sex organ or anus of an animal, or any penetration of the sex organ or anus of the person into the mouth of the animal for the purpose of sexual gratification or sexual arousal of the person.

There are other animal protection bills pending this term:

Mandatory Animal Abuse Reporting (HB439), sponsored by Rep. Jack Williams, is up for a vote in the House on Thursday, 4/19.
The anti-cockfighting bill (SB175), sponsored by Senator Cam Ward, is being held up by Senator Jabo Waggoner - 334-242-7892 jabo.waggoner@alsenate.gov
Low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic Bill (HB156), sponsored by Rep. Patricia Todd, needs a vote in the Senate. Call/email your representative and ask for his/her vote.

Contact info for Alabama State Senators is on the flip, courtesy of the Alabama Voters for Responsible Animal Legislation. Visit their Facebook page for legislation status updates.

Certainly, we can't take the pressure off the legislature about cuts to education, Medicaid, health care, and other services. But animals depend totally on us for protection. I've had people get snippy about animal issues and say "I care about people!"

Well, so do I. And it's been my experience that there's a direct connection between concern for animal welfare and concern for humans. You either care about helping the vulnerable or you don't - no matter what the species.

Alabama State Senators

SENATORS:ALLEN, Gerald (R) 21 334-242-7889
BEASLEY, Billy (D) 28 334-242-7868
BEASON, Scott (R) 17 334-242-7794
BEDFORD, Roger (D) 6 334-242-7862
BLACKWELL, Slade (R) 15 334-242-7851
BREWBAKER, Dick (R) 25 334-242-7895
BROOKS, Ben (R) 35 334-242-7882
BUSSMAN, Paul (R) 4 334-242-7855
COLEMAN, Linda (D) 20 334-242-7864
DIAL, Gerald (R) 13 334-242-7874
DUNN, Priscilla (D) 19 334-242-7793
FIELDING, Jerry (D) 11 334-242-7898
FIGURES, Vivian Davis (D) 33 334-242-7871
GLOVER, Rusty (R) 34 334-242-7886
HOLLEY, Jimmy (R) 31 334-242-7845
HOLTZCLAW, Bill (R) 2 334-242-7854
IRONS, Tammy (D) 1 334-242-7888
KEAHEY, Marc (D) 22 334-242-7843
MARSH, Del (R) 12 334-242-7877
McGILL, Shadrack (R) 8 334-242-7858
ORR, Arthur (R) 3 334-242-7891
PITTMAN, Trip (R) 32 334-242-7897
REED, Greg (R) 5 334-242-7894
ROSS, Quinton T., Jr. (D) 26 334-242-7880
SANDERS, Hank (D) 23 334-242-7860
SANFORD, Paul (R) 7 334-242-7867
SCOFIELD, Clay (R) 9 334-242-7876
SINGLETON, Bobby (D) 24 334-242-7935
SMITH, Harri Anne (I) 29 334-242-7879
SMITHERMAN, Rodger (D) 18 334-242-7870
TAYLOR, Bryan (R) 30 334-242-7883
WAGGONER, J. T. "Jabo" (R) 16 334-242-7892
WARD, Cam (R) 14 334-242-7873
WHATLEY, Tom (R) 27 334-242-7865
WILLIAMS, Phil (R) 10 334-242-7857

Alabama House Member Contact Info

The Unicorn Police: Senator Cam Ward Wants To Protect Us From "Sharia Law" in Alabama

countrycat — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:19:58 GMT

AL State Senator Cam Ward seems sure that the Alabama Constitution doesn't have enough amendments and the Legislature doesn't have real problems to deal with this session. Why else would he be sponsoring yet another Constitutional amendment to ban - get this - "Sharia Law" in Alabama?

Ward pre-filed the "American and Alabama Laws for Alabama Courts" amendment (SB33) in the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 4th.The text of the bill mirrors model legislation written by David Yerushalmi, president of the "Society of Americans for Natural Existence." Its Web site is only accessible by username & password. According to the SPLC:

Ideally, he would outlaw Islam and deport Muslims and other "non-Western, non-Christian" people to protect the United States' "national character." An ultra-orthodox Jew, he is deeply hostile toward liberal Jews. He derides U.S.-style democracy because it allows more than just an elite, privileged few to vote.

This isn't the first such attempt to address a ~~Muslim unicorn~~ non-existent problem:

Ward is not the first Alabama lawmaker to introduce an anti-Shariah measure. In 2011, Republican state Senator Gerald Allen sponsored SB 62, a virtual replica of Oklahoma’s notorious anti-Shariah “Save Our State” amendment, which was struck down on Tuesday by the 10^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Allen’s proposal, which singled out Shariah law as its principle target, was not taken up for consideration before last year’s legislative session ended.

Yerushalmi/Ward's bill is much more broadly written than the Oklahoma bill and is raising alarm among religious leaders. The March 2012 issue of First Things, a journal published by the Institute of Religion and Public Life has an article on the dangers of anti-Sharia laws:

Though popular with secularists and religious conservatives, anti-Sharia legislation does not defend against theocracy but calls into question our society’s fundamental commitments to meaningful religious liberty and meaningful access to the courts. These commitments have been relied on by generations of Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, and Jews, and to try to remove them for Muslims both is unjust to Muslims and sets a dangerous precedent for other religious groups.

The entire article is worth a read - particularly by Senator Ward and his co-sponsors - because it illustrates how this legislation can easily be used against people of all religions.

For instance, the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony includes the signing of the ketubah - the marriage contract - that spells out the obligations of the groom to the bride. It governs behavior, support, and monetary obligations. Muslim weddings have similar contracts. These are religious not legal documents, but their breach often forms the basis for secular divorces.

When bankruptcy courts apply canon law in determining property rights for a diocese or when courts enforce arbitration agreements based on biblical principles pursuant to widely invoked rules of “Christian conciliation,” the rule of law is not jeopardized. Anti-Sharia legislation proposes an unconstitutional double standard. Canon law and biblical principles are not dirty words in the American court system, and Sharia should not be either.

It would surely be delicious if this amendment passes and the first group to be caught up in it is a Baptist church in conflict with a pastor or something similar.

Senator Ward should remember the auto executives picked up as part of the immigration law and consider what "unintended consequences" will result from this latest piece of ill-considered legislation.

Alabama Republican Legislators: Killing Osama Takes National Focus Off Alabama

mooncat — Tue, 03 May 2011 01:38:30 GMT

I find this attitude from Sen. Cam Ward and Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin extremely offensive:

“From a national standpoint, I think his death does affect our recovery efforts here,” said state Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster. “At least temporarily, it does take the focus away from the devastation we suffered here.”
...
“We, as a people, are news cycle-driven. Whatever is on the news, that is where our focus is going to be,” Ward said. “The biggest thing is to keep the national attention here on us. The more people know what is happening down here, the more help we can get.
“I feel like the Osama assassination has taken it off of us, but I hope it is only temporary.”
State Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Indian Springs, said bin Laden’s death has not taken local news coverage off the tornado damage, but agreed it has taken the country’s eyes off Alabama.

Yes, instead of giving the Joint Special Operations Command the go-ahead to kill or capture Osama bin Laden last Friday before coming to Alabama to look at tornado damage, President Obama should have said, "Hold off another few weeks until Alabama is cleaned up."

Heck, look at this from the point of view of Sen. Ward and Rep. McClurkin -- Osama had been walking free for almost 10 years, why not wait a little longer when we have him in the crosshairs? There might be other opportunities before Osama expired from old age.

This smells of sour grapes on the part of these Republican legislators --unfortunately they are not alone -- and on the part of the Shelby County Reporter. Can't we all just be Americans for a little while and be relieved the guy who killed almost 3000 Americans is finally where he deserves to be? Please?

Apparently not ... or not if you're a Republican.

SB19 & SB33 - Revenue Producing Bills from Republicans

mooncat — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:22:14 GMT

We've previously discussed proposed Republican legislation that will increase costs to state or local governments, or both, without identifying any way to pay those increased costs. At last we have a Republican proposal to increase revenue, at least for local governments: Reinstitute small town speed traps on Interstate highways in Alabama. As it stands now, officers of any town with less than 19,000 inhabitants cannot give speeding tickets on Interstate highways.

The two speed trap bills are essentially the same, except Cam Ward's SB19 would restrict officers to ticketing within their own police jurisdiction -- which extends past the town limits, btw -- whereas Gerald Dial's SB33 takes out the entire line referencing jurisdiction. Would that allow law enforcement officers to issue speeding tickets anywhere, even outside their own police jurisdiction?

I recall back in the early 90's when I-565 opened in North Alabama. The city fathers of Madison, Alabama thought they'd died and gone to heaven -- solving all their town's budget problems by stationing a couple of police cars up on the Interstate and issuing each officer a stack of ticket books and a case of fresh pens. At that time the city population was about 15,000 so the 1996 prohibition on small town speeding tickets caught Madison.

When they were once again allowed to police the interstate after the 2000 census they seemed to take a more responsible attitude toward the job. Here's hoping all small towns in Alabama will -- but you have to admit it's a real temptation to line the city coffers with out of town money.

Health Care Costs are Busting the Budget: Reform Needed!

mooncat — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:06:18 GMT

Did Republican State Rep. Cam Ward just inadvertently make the case for health care reform in the context of the Education Budget?

• In 2010 it will cost the State of Alabama $750 a month for each employee in education while the employee with single coverage will pay $2 toward this cost. Family coverage will be considerably higher as will the amount paid out by the employee.
• From 2005 to 2010 the state saw the cost of health insurance per education employee go from $6,996 to $9,024 per employee.
• Overall the cost of the entire health insurance benefits package for education employees will cost $960 million in 2010.

One thing both parties agree on: Something has to be done to control cost. Unfortunately, at the federal level, only one party is genuinely trying to forge legislation to do that ... and it isn't the ~~GOP~~ Party of NO.

Here's a thought provoking illustration -- we spend huge amounts on health care, but we don't get great results.

Read more about the chart here and here.

Trashtalker Michael Savage Dumped in Mississippi, Still Talking in Alabama

mooncat — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:48:48 GMT

As of yesterday, rightwing trash talker Michael Savage has lost 2 sponsors (AFLAC and Home Depot) and 9 radio stations over this remark on July 16:

"Now, you want me to tell you my opinion on autism? ... A fraud, a racket." Savage went on to say: What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, "Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot."

I hope all the parents listening to Savage realize his show is nothing more than (sick?) entertainment -- DO NOT PARENT LIKE THIS AT HOME! The big news to me is that 7 of those stations are in Mississppi, one is in Virginia and the other is in Ohio -- not exactly bastions of liberalism. Taking the microphone away from guys (or gals) like Savage is not a liberal vs. conservative thing -- it's about maintaining some basic standards of decency and honesty on the airwaves. Savage's comments on autistic children and his refusal to apologise was apparently the last straw for some advertisers and station managers.

Bad news is that Savage is still stinking up the airwaves in Alabama on WAPI-AM (Citadel Broadcasting) in Birmingham, WLWI-FM (Cumulus) in Montgomery, WNTM-AM (Clear Channel) in Mobile, and WRJM-FM (Stage Door Development) in Ozark and possibly others. This despite the fact that autism is a growing problem in Alabama. State Representative and Alabama Autism Task Force Co-Chair Cam Ward (R, Alabaster) was strongly critical of Savage's remarks.

"The last thing any parent with an autistic child wants to hear is that it's their fault somehow," Ward said Tuesday. "It's difficult enough without having to worry that you're constantly being judged. What this guy said is the worst kind of ignorance, because it's so hurtful."

In case you were wondering, no, Rep. Ward is not particularly liberal either, but he is the parent of an autistic child and knows first hand that Savage is just making this stuff up. I would go so far as to suggest Savage makes up a large proportion of what he says on-air (he has to fill 3 hours a day, after all) including most of his claims about Democrats and Barack Obama. The autism line struck a nerve because it's so obviously wrong, tasteless and hurtful, but Savage's political trash talk is hurtful to democracy, too.

Media Matters has this handy tool making it easy to contact these stations. Click the links below to tell them you're fed up with trash talkers like Michael Savage on your airwaves. Where are our standards? If Mississippi can get this guy off the air, surely Alabama can do the same!

WAPI-AM	Birmingham	Citadel Broadcasting Corporation
WLWI-FM	Montgomery	Cumulus Media Inc
WRJM-FM	Ozark	Stage Door Development

House did not vote on Constitutional Reform

mooncat — Wed, 02 May 2007 18:11:04 GMT

The Alabama House did not vote yesterday on HB98, the bill that would let voters call for a Citizen's Convention to rewrite the state constitution. Doc had the scoop from Rep. Cam Ward over at The Political Parlor. The bill was discussed for about an hour, then sponsor Rep. Demetrius Newton (D, Birmingham) moved to delay HB98 because he could see there were not enough votes to pass a budget isolation resolution or BIR. A three-fifths majority must vote to adopt the BIR if a bill is to be considered before the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets have been dispensed with. This requirement is in the Alabama Constitution, apparently to make sure the Legislators take care of important business like the budget first. Of course, if they leave the budgets until the end of the session, they can avoid sticky issues (like Letting the People Vote on Constitutional Reform) altogether.

HB98 could come up again this session, but insiders say it is unlikely. "I would say it would be very difficult to have the time to spend on this issue this session. I think today was the best shot," said Rep. Marcel Black (D, Tuscumbia) who supports rewriting the Constitution.

In case you are wondering, Constitutional Reform is not a party line issue, either in the populace or in the legislature. While I know many Democrats who support this issue, one of the most ardent Republicans I know is adamant that Alabama needs a new constitution. Yesterday, Rep. James Buskey (D, Mobile) opposed the bill, saying "You will have consequences that will take 125 years to unravel if you do this." On the other side, Rep. Mac Gipson (R, Prattville) supported HB98 because he doesn't want his grandchildren to have to leave Alabama in search of good jobs. For me, a new Alabama Constitution boils down to an issue of quality of life and quality of government. I don't say that to imply that Alabama is a bad place to live, but because we have the potential to be so much better, and it's a crying shame to waste that potential.

By the way, since there was no vote yesterday, individual representatives did not have to go on the record as either supporting or opposing HB98. Do you know where represenative stands? In addition to politely urging him or her to support something you care about, it is also perfectly acceptable to ask "What is your position?" That should earn you a reply. Contact information for representatives is included in the previous post on this issue.