ALLIANCE FOR
CITIZENS RIGHTS 
ALLIANCE FOR
CITIZENS RIGHTS
TAX INCREASE WILL NOT BE CALLED TAX INCREASE ON BALLOT
Your Alabama Legislature is trying to deceive you.
From The Birmingham News
The July 6, 2003, edition of The Birmingham News contained the following article by Bob Johnson of The Associated Press:
When voters go to the polls on Sept. 9, they will be handed a ballot asking them to vote "yes" or "no" on establishing a fund to improve education and fund other programs, but opponents say the language omits two important words -- raising taxes.Alabama Christian Coalition President John Giles said the language is so confusing he is sending out e-mails and faxes to coalition members to make sure they understand that a "yes" vote is to raise $1.2 billion in taxes and a "no" vote is against passage of the tax increase.
The Alabama Legislature, in a special session, approved Gov. Riley's proposal to raise $1.2 billion a year in new tax revenue and to adopt various accountability measures. New tax revenue will go into the Alabama Excellence Initiative Fund, and the governor will recommend to the Legislature how the money should be spent. Voters will go to the polls on Sept. 9 to approve or reject the package.
One of the bills approved by the Legislature includes the wording to be used on the ballot. The Alabama secretary of state's office is preparing the ballot for the referendum, but spokesman Trey Granger said when the Legislature includes the ballot language in a bill, that's what appears on the ballot.
The ballot language proposes a constitutional amendment "establishing the Alabama Excellence Initiative Fund," which would be used to fund college scholorships and other programs. The language says the amendment would adjust "income and property taxes," but does not say those taxes and others will be higher for many Alabama residents.
"This is typical of the campaign that this is. They are not being straighforward with the people of Alabama about many things," says Roger McConnell, chairman of the Tax Accountability Coalition, the group that has organized to fight the tax and accountability package.
Riley's press secretary, David Azbell, said he doesn't think any voters will be confused when they get to the polling place. "Anyone who goes to the poll on Sept. 9, I'm sure will have already made up their minds," Azbell said. "This is just a diversionary tactic to take attention away from the accountability measures and fairness this plan brings."
Following is the text that will appear on the September 9 ballot:
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, establishing the Alabama Excellence Initiative Fund which may be used to fund programs including, but not limited to, the furtherance of excellence in public education, college scholarships, health care benefits for senior citizens and job training programs to attract new high paying jobs and otherwise provide for distributing state tax revenues; to adjust income and property taxes; to establish the General Fund Rainy Day Account; to provide for the replenishment of the General Fund Rainy Day Account and the Education Trust Fund Rainy Day Account.One might wonder why they just do not change the law to make available the more than $10 billion in surplus funds already showing on the books according to the state's own comptroller's report. For further information on this issue go to http://www.comptroller.state.al.us/cafr.htm and download the 2002 CAFR pdf file, and also visit http://www.cafrman.com/Articles/Art-AL-S1.htm
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