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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