Opposition groups rise to fight new constitution

Editor's note: Notice the real reason for Constitutional Reform - raise taxes to fund more and more inept government programs . . . . . . THOMAS SPENCER News staff writer The movement to rewrite Alabama's 100-year-old constitution is showing one sign of success: It's provoking opposition. The current legislative session likely will end this month without passage of any of the proposals aimed at editing or rewriting the document, which critics describe as bloated with amendments and inadequate for modern government. But the increasing attention to the constitution has awakened the interests of some conservative groups that are mobilizing against a revision of the document. In the most recent edition of Alabama Citizens Watch, the state chapter of the Christian Coalition warns that a constitutional rewrite likely would lead to higher taxes and more gambling. And the Association for Judeo-Christian Values, a group with ties to Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, kicks off a series of educational seminars around the state Wednesday with a rally in Elmore County. The rally, organizers say, is intended to educate voters on what the group believes to be the underlying motives of reformers: increasing taxes, legalizing gambling, stripping citizens of rights and even paving the way for a United Nations takeover of the state. "We have probably one of the most solid constitutions in the United States," said Sandra Lane Smith, executive director of the association. "It gives us protection. ... It puts chains on the Legislature, and the governor to keep down the taxes." The length and complexity of the constitution, with its 705 amendments, is one of the complaints of those wanting to rewrite the document. To opponents, the amendments are democracy in action. Many are property tax increases or amendments allowing government to borrow money, and individuals were able to vote on each. "Thank God for these amendments," Mrs. Smith said. Eunie Smith, president of the Alabama Eagle Forum, said reformers complain that the state has the lowest property tax in the nation, but she views that as Alabama's being No. 1 in tax relief for property owners. Raising property taxes could hurt low income people who are seeking to own their first homes, she said Another argument for change is that Alabama's tax system should be fairer, Eunie Smith said. "Everybody wants to be fair, but to whom?" she asked. "You have to look long and hard before we could justify tax increases." She said she saw no reason for rewriting the constitution wholesale. Any changes that need to be made should be made one at the time, she said. "I like to see issues debated on their merits one at a time. We don't see that there is any urgency to this issue." The conservative Christian groups are at odds with statewide religious groups including the Alabama Baptist Convention, United Methodists, South Alabama Catholics, the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama and the Presbyterian Church (USA). All those groups have endorsed revision of the tax system embedded in the state's constitution. Samford University President Thomas Corts, chairman of Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, said he is encouraged that more people are paying attention to the issue. But he said he is disturbed at "misinformation" linking efforts to rewrite the constitution to limiting citizen rights or removing the constitutional prohibition on gambling. "I don't think that is on anyone's agenda," he said. Corts said the movement to revise the constitution presents an opportunity for those who fought the lottery in 1999 and who oppose other forms of gambling to take a stand toward improving the state. Corts disagrees with the assertion that there's no pressing need to rewrite the constitution. The funding crisis in education and the shortage of money for state prisons and state troopers make it apparent that something is fundamentally wrong with Alabama government, he said. "The need for reform is becoming more and more urgent," © The Birmingham News

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