Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	The state budget crisis & Gov. Bentley
Date:	9/5/2015 1:20:20 AM

As October 1 approaches, so has Gov Bentley's reputation dropped like a stone as his divorce becomes public knowledge.   I never have been a Bentley fan, but I had hoped he would be successful in getting a budget together and avoiding this crisis.   Now, I'm not sure he will have the political clout to push thru the tax hikes really needed to adequately fund this state's infrastructure.    

I wonder how Alabamians are going to feel about not having our State Parks, less law enforcement, along with more cuts to Medicaid & entitlement programs if we don't  improve the tax base.   The majority of nursing home residents in Alabama are paid for by Medicaid, reductions there could easily mean that many families will be forced to take their elderly members back home... regardless of whether they can provide adequate care for them.   A huge portion of Medicaid goes to pay for children's health & treatment, too, in places like Children's Hospital... and even Children's Harbor.  

That said, I think more Alabamians will notice we have a problem when they see 'Park Closed' signs and wait longer for a State Trooper to take their accident report, or have to take a whole day off to get their driver's license renewed.

It would be great to think that funding for state services could come from voluntary donations, churches and charities... but its taxes that fund adequate government programs... whether they are entitlements, law enforcement, or infrastruture.  And Alabama has really, really low taxes.    Ask anybody from Georgia or my neighbors from Canada.  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	The state budget crisis & Gov. Bentley
Date:	9/5/2015 8:28:18 AM

No Bentley fan.  Looks like the Alabama State Legislature is no more effective than the U.S. Congress.  Once again, we are presented with the "fear factor" of what bad things will happen if taxes are not raised.  Bentley has said that the proposal by the Porch Creek Indians is off the table, but doesn't it at least require some consideration?  Despite the AG demented efforts to close the casinos (which has been knocked down at every legal level), they will remain open.  Why not let them expand their operations, attract gamblers to AL, instead of losing them to Biloxi, and accept the money?  I don't think the details of their proposal has been made public.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	The state budget crisis & Gov. Bentley
Date:	9/5/2015 10:58:49 AM

Per Bentley, Todd Strange, some on this Forum --the economy is booming--so one has to wonder why are we broke every time budget rolls around ??

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	The state budget crisis & Gov. Bentley
Date:	9/5/2015 11:13:17 AM

Because our elected officials have no idea what a budget looks like and what to do with it when you have one.  They continually overspend and get us into debt.  I think this is true at every level of government now.  Maybe instead of professional politicians and lawyers, we should start electing accountants.

Name:	copperline -	Reply
Subject:	The state budget crisis & Gov. Bentley
Date:	9/5/2015 12:07:17 PM

The economy might be improving, but it's not booming... that's for sure.   Alabama remains sorely unattractive to major new industries for every reason except the state is willing to forgo taxing any large corporation that will relocate here.   Too bad our education system hasn't turned out the needed work force to appeal to those new, high-tech employers. 

However, I think the belief that the economy can suddenly lurch into full tilt, and that this will shortly produce plenty of government revenue AND wealth for everyone else.... is a ridiculous myth.   Nothing can happen quickly, except when you run out of money to operate.

I think the only criteria for getting elected in Alabama has been that a politician can mouth the words "no new taxes & less government", without ever thinking about what this means, where it will lead or how it will end.   We've been continuing services year after year by reducing one program after another.... starting mainly with entitlements, but now moving on to those programs used by the middle class taxpayers.   The stated belief in Montgomery is that all you have to do is keep cutting programs,  characterizing them as wasteful & inefficient, and critical state programs can continue to be down-sized.     Nobody gets elected around here while proposing to improve government services, only to eliminate them by starving their funds.  Nobody is considering whether their campaign slogan has become outdated & useless.

I think it's critical that we take a longer term view and think about something beyond simply cutting taxes and complaining about government inefficiency.   We need to have a bigger conversation about what government funding is for, how cutting taxes reduces matching federal funds and magnifies the effect of Montgomery's cut-backs, and just how far you can go to eliminate govenment spending based on the belief that doing so will magically boost private sector businesses, employment and the tax base.

October 1 is only four weeks away.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	The state budget crisis & Gov. Bentley
Date:	9/5/2015 3:11:00 PM

totally valid points.   But then, there is the myth that everyone collecting any benefit from the government must be lazy and unwilling to work.  You are right about the schools.  They are awful.  Too much emphasis on sports and leadership "programs", but not much on academics.  Understand that efforts to improve the education system is met with resistance from parents (who just don't know any better).  BTW, last time I went to pay my property taxes, I was told to make sure I came back if my income fell below $12000 a year, because I wouldn't have to pay any property taxes.  Wonder how many people fall in that category?