|
 Just two days after the PACT board voted unanimously to kick their problem into the lap of the Alabama Legislature, they find Alabama's newest political football sailing back into their territory.
Reporter Bob Lowry of the Huntsville Times reported this morning that two prominent Alabama politicos "see no need to fix PACT now." Two Statehouse figures normally at odds with each other agreed Wednesday there's no need for the Legislature to rush to fix Alabama's embattled prepaid college tuition program this session. Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, House minority leader, and Paul Hubbert, executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association, said there's plenty of time for lawmakers to take a thoughtful approach to the problem. It's not a "crisis situation," Paul Hubbert notes, "because we can pay tuition next year." Mike Hubbard is equally sanguine, pinning his hopes on a rebounding stock market. (Pssstttt…. Hubbard is also chair of the Alabama Republican Party. I guess he didn't get the memo about wanting Obama's stimulus package to fail.) I'm glad these guys aren't in charge of anything really important, like, say flood control. I can just hear them as the waters rise: "Well, before we take action, we need to know what's causing the flooding. But of course, we have enough sandbags to last a day or two. Oh, and the Farmer's Almanac says that next year is supposed to be a lot drier than normal. That would fix the problem without us having to throw a lot of money or effort into it. Everyone just be patient and hold your breath." Now, we've been all over the PACT board's inexplicable lack of interest in how the stock market crash was affecting the PACT trust fund and how the money was invested (see HaveALittleTalk's PACT posts for more info). It appears that they asked no questions and took no action until half the money was gone. Now, it's an emergency situation where options are limited and action is needed. Amazingly, Hubbard and Hubbert are using the same logic. "Hey, they've got enough money for next year so it's not a crisis." If anyone ever had any question about why the Alabama state government is so reactive and crisis-driven, here's your answer. Nobody is interested in long-range planning, transparency, and accountability. Our "leaders" in Montgomery don't want to act until the situation is so critical that taking just about any action looks like an improvement. It's like a doctor waiting to treat a patient until gangrene has set in, amputating both legs, then wanting accolades for saving the guy's life!  If Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. was waiting for an opportunity to step in and be the PACT hero, Hubbard and Hubbert have handed it to him on a platter.
As a board member, Folsom bears some responsibility for the problem, and he made a strong statement of support at the board meeting on Tuesday, pledging to work with the legislature to take quick action. In this battle of titans, who will emerge the victor? The 2010 governors race could depend on the outcome. Video of Folsom's statement on the flip.
|
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. 
