RILEY'S TAX PLAN: ALABAMA DIVIDED
By Latoiya Stout

Governor Bob Riley's $1.2 billion dollar tax plan, which was approved by the Legislature in June, is expected to generate new tax revenue to fill a $674 million deficit in the state's budgets and provide additional money for college scholarships for high school graduates with at least a B average. It is also expected to shift the tax burden off of low-income families with children. Alabama's tax programs are in dire need of improvement, and working families are definitely feeling the sting. So why is the state of Alabama divided on the decision to approve Riley's tax plan?

Many Alabamians feel that the state is already taxed enough and that his plan will hurt more than it will help. On the other hand, there is a large amount of people who believe that voting "yes" on September 9th to Riley's plan is only the beginning for a bright and promising future for the state of Alabama.

Surprisingly, the Alabama Democratic Party's executive committee board has endorsed Riley's tax and accountability package. The Democratic Party especially applauds the section of the plan that gives a tax break to lower income citizens of Alabama. "It's a rarity when we are able to put aside politics and come together as Alabamians," stated David Azbell, Riley's press secretary. Azbell also stated that this is one of those issues that rises above party politics for the betterment of our state as a whole.

The Republican governor wasn't surprised by the state Republican executive committee's 122-100 vote against his tax and accountability plan. However, he was surprised by the closeness of the vote. He said he didn't expect to have that much support within his party.

Riley stated that if voters do not approve his tax plan, he is left with no choice but to cut school funding and state programs and services. He emphasized that this cut could possibly lead to crowded classrooms, fewer officers in prisons that already suffer from overcrowding, and the release of some impoverished residents from nursing homes. Riley recently stated, "If you say 'no,' if you say 'get by on what you've got,' we've got to do what you say."

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September Headlines...

RILEY'S TAX PLAN: ALABAMA DIVIDED

100 BLACK MEN OF BIRMINGHAM: PLAYING A ROLE IN INCREASING THE
VALUE OF THE COMMUNITY

OUTSPOKEN AND INDEPENDENT SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICIAN,
PATRICIA DELILLE MAKES HISTORICAL VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM

THE CHRISTIAN COALITION OF ALABAMA

VOTER NEWS NETWORK SUPPORTS AMENDMENT ONE
Read Jennro's report

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