CAMPAIGNS OF 2003 ALABAMA TAX REFERENDUM: IS AL GOP TAKING CRAZY PILLS?

American Political Network

The Hotline

Volume 10 No. 9

Copyright (c) 2003 by American Political Network, Inc.

August 19, 2003

CAMPAIGNS OF 2003 ALABAMA TAX REFERENDUM: IS AL GOP TAKING CRAZY PILLS?

Washington Post’s Russakoff reports that “in a stunning

subplot to the fiscal crises roiling the states,” Gov. Bob Riley

(R) “is proposing to raise state taxes by a record” $1.2B,

“eight times the largest previous increase and almost twice what

is needed to close a” $675M budget deficit. AL GOP chair Marty

Connors: “We’ve got a conservative, evangelical Christian,

Republican governor, trying to get a massive turnout of black

voters to pass a tax increase so he can raise taxes on

Republican constituents.” Riley “says the state should act to

improve schools” and “lift the tax burden from poor people.”

Riley: “I’m tired of Alabama being first in things that are bad

and last in things that are good.” Now, the AL GOP’s own little

“battle is taking on” nat’l “dimensions, with conservative” GOP

groups in DC “mobilizing to defeat Riley’s plan.” Grover

Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform, the AmericanConservative

Union, Citizens for a Sound Economy, National Taxpayers Union,

Eagle Forum, Family Research Council, and “other grass-roots

conservative groups signed a letter with Norquist denouncing

Riley for a ‘grab for the special interests and unions’ that

‘will burden every segment of society”‘ (8/17). Connors

“expects” the AL GOP Exec. Cmte “to be presented with a

resolution opposing” Riley’s plan next weekend. Connors:

“There’s no question there’s a family feud going on in the

Republican Party.” Riley “is hoping” that the cmte will avoid

“creating a political storm over the” plan, which has passed the

AL legislature and goes to voters as a referendum 9/9. Connors

“says the difference of opinion is only over the tax package

and” GOPers “will come back together after the” 9/9 vote. Others

appear to disagree. State Board of Ed. member Betty Peters: “It

is going to be embarrassing for the governor. I do not see any

way he will be nominated again by Republicans” (Rawls, AP,

8/17).

8/19/2003 APN-HO 34

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