GOV. RILEY DETAILS GOVERNMENT REFORM, PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AGENDA ITEMS
September 7, 2006
Huntsville – Wrapping up a three-day tour of the state during which he detailed the items in his Plan 2010 campaign platform, Gov. Bob Riley on Thursday unveiled initiatives that will continue to make state government more open and accountable, increase public safety and improve the quality of life for all Alabamians.
The agenda items, which join comprehensive plans for education and economic improvement announced earlier this week, include a Safe Roads Initiative, a plan to combat illegal immigration, citizen protections from eminent domain and improvements in human resource programs, to name a few.
“No candidate running for governor has ever spelled out their vision for this state more precisely or with more detail,” Riley said. “The programs contained in our Plan 2010 will make historic reforms in state government while improving the quality of life for all out state’s citizens. I invite everyone to read our plan and see for themselves how it directly touches and improves their lives.”
Riley noted that his Plan 2010 requires no new taxes and only average economic growth in order to be implemented.
Bringing accountability to state government and transparency to the political process has long been a goal of the governor, and his plan to reform state government is intended to build upon his past successes in this area.
Important to this initiative is his plan to ban PAC-to-PAC transfers, an issue he has asked the Legislature to address for each of the past four years in order to bring transparency to campaign finances.
“During my State of the State addresses, I have asked the Legislature to end the practice of PAC-to-PAC transfers, and each year, I have had the legislation introduced,” Riley said. “Unfortunately, Lucy Baxley and the legislative leadership have prevented this bill from becoming a reality each time I have pushed it. It is time for the public to provide us a mandate and a Legislature of lawmakers who are willing to close this loophole once and for all.”
He also calls for an expansion of the highly successful and transparent SMART Governing performance-based budgeting program he implemented, a statutory ban on pass through pork and full disclosure of gift and entertainment spending by lobbyists.
In order to protect and improve public safety across the state, Riley proposes a Safe Roads Initiative that requires increasing the state trooper force by 50 percent, allowing local law enforcement to patrol interstates and toughening penalties for those who drive drunk or speed on roads designated as dangerous.
Drawing upon his experiences during Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, Riley proposes strict standards and continuing training for local emergency management directors, who performed admirably during the storms, along with the creation of special safe centers for seniors in disaster prone areas.
An aggressive program to combat illegal immigration in the state, along with reforms in corrections and programs to benefit and protect veterans and active military personnel, round out that section of his plan.
“Illegal immigration isn’t just a national issue, it’s one we have to address at the state level, and we are doing that,” Riley said. “Illegal immigration threatens our homeland security, it drains our economy and it gives the impression that we believe breaking the law is acceptable. This plan discourages those who live in America illegally from setting up residence in Alabama.”
Improving the quality of life for all Alabamians is another theme central to Riley’s campaign platform, and he has proposed many programs that benefit a cross-section of our society.
Among Riley’s proposals on this front are providing citizens with solid incentives to adopt, encouraging faith-based initiatives, closing loopholes in the statutory definition of gambling and protecting private property rights. He also advocates programs that encourages the development and use of alternative fuels and protect the coastal environment.
“The miracle turnaround Alabama has experienced in four short years is historic, but we must make sure everyone in our state feels and participates in that miracle,” Riley said. “We have crafted a plan that gives all Alabamians the opportunity to learn, prosper and enjoy a better quality of life. By working together toward one purpose, we can make the promise of Plan 2010 a reality.”
Plan 2010’s ethics, public safety and quality of life proposals are:
Attached to this e-mail is the Governor’s complete 2010 plan.
REFORM STATE GOVERNMENT
SMART Governing
Implement a strategic management program to ensure that all state agencies are coordinating their efforts to efficiently and effectively meet the statewide goals set by the Governor.
Legislative Term Limits
Gov. Riley will once again challenge the Legislature to pass term limits.
Prohibit Legislators from Holding Two State Jobs
Gov. Riley will propose legislation to prohibit Alabama’s elected state officials from holding another paying job with the state.
Gubernatorial Veto Reform
Gov. Riley will once again ask the Legislature to pass a constitutional amendment that strengthens the executive veto by requiring a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the Legislature to override the veto.
Contingency Fund and Flight Logs on Internet
Gov. Riley will call on the Legislature to pass a bill that will require future governors to follow our practice of posting every flight log and contingency fund expenditure on the Internet for anyone to see.
Ban PAC to PAC Transfers
Gov. Riley will once again challenge the Legislature to pass a bill to ban all PAC to PAC transfers.
Ban Pass Through Pork
Gov. Riley will once again ask the Legislature to pass a bill to ban “pass through pork” in Alabama forever.
Lobbyist Ethics Reform
Gov. Riley will once again ask the Legislature to pass a bill that requires lobbyists to disclose every dime they spend on public officials.
Gov. Riley will also once again ask the legislature to pass a law to require individuals who lobby the executive branch to register with the Ethics Commission.
PROTECT ALABAMA
Stopping Illegal Immigration
Propose legislation to ensure that Alabama has the toughest illegal immigration laws on the books. This package will include verifying the citizenship of those seeking government services, requiring employers to prove they don’t knowingly employ illegal immigrants before in order to get a state grant or state contract, and requiring that government entities issue and renew commercial and professional licenses, permits, and similar authorizations for legal residents only.
Standards for EMA Directors
During the next four years, every county’s EMA director will be required to meet strict standards set by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.
Safe Centers for Seniors
We will build a minimum of seven Safe Centers for seniors in disaster prone regions across the state to meet their unique needs in case of an emergency.
Safe Roads Initiative
Begin a “Safe Roads Initiative” that will reduce traffic fatalities and make Alabama roads safer for our citizens.
Veterans Benefit Initiative
We will implement the “Veterans Benefit Initiative,” which is designed to let our vets know how much they mean to Alabama.
Ensure Active Duty Military Can Vote
By 2008, every Alabamian on active military duty abroad will have the opportunity to vote electronically over the Internet.
Reform the State’s Prison System
Over the next four years, we will reform our prison system and improve the safety of the public by reducing overcrowding, recruiting and retaining quality prison guards by making the pay competitive, investing in community corrections programs and transition centers, and putting more low-risk prisoners to work.
SECURE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
Conservation
Establish a Coastal Enhancement Fund to enhance our coastal resources. Gov. Riley will ask the Legislature to use some of the royalties from new oil and gas production in the gulf of Mexico to fund this initiative.
Alternative Energy
Propose the Alabama Farms and Fuels Act, which will seek to encourage commercial development and private use of alternative fuels. This legislation will include tax incentives for construction of biofuels infrastructure, biofuels production, sales of biofuels, and purchase of hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles.
Incentives to Adopt
Increase foster care board payments by a minimum of 25% in an effort to better compensate foster parents for the actual costs they incur in providing a stable home to Alabama’s foster children and offer an incentive for families to adopt children who are currently in state custody by providing the children a scholarship to one of our Two-Year Colleges.
Taking Care of Our Most Vulnerable
Establish a Family Services Center in each of Alabama’s 67 counties to increase coordination of state services and assist our families in need. Gov. Riley will also establish a web-based information system that will provide detailed information on state services and make it easier for families and those assisting them to gain access to those services.
Improve Access to Services for Mental Illness and Mental Retardation
Expand community-based services, such as crisis and in-home treatment for persons with mental illness, which will allow most of these individuals to remain in their homes and communities thus avoiding the more costly inpatient services.
Provide additional funding to reduce the waiting time for individuals with mental retardation to continue to live in and contribute to their community and, in many cases, avoid more restrictive and more costly institutional services.
Protect Private Property
Gov. Riley will once again ask the legislature to enshrine private property protections in our Alabama Constitution.
Tighten Gambling Loopholes
Pass legislation that clearly defines gambling, sets tough penalties for illegal casinos, and effectively stops the virulent spread of casino-style gaming in Alabama.
Expand Faith-Based Services
Continue to expand faith-based groups’ ability to work with state and federal agencies to care for and support Alabamians who are in need.