Issue Position: Fiscal Policy and Taxes

Issue Position

Just six weeks after the next Governor of Alabama takes the oath of office, he or she will be tasked with presenting the Legislature a balanced budget that will not only reflect lower revenues associated with our lagging economy, but also continuing and unsustainable increases in public healthcare and retirement costs, as well as the loss of $700 million in federal stimulus money that was available to prop up our current state budgets. And although the job ahead is not for the faint of heart, it can be accomplished with strong leadership, disciplined management and innovation. Some will likely argue that new taxes are on the only answer. They are wrong. Taxes are not the answer. In fact, they are part of the problem. As your governor, I will fight tooth and nail against any attempt to raise taxes on the people or businesses of Alabama.

The magnitude of the fiscal challenge ahead demands that the special interests that often drive lawmakers to "spend now and worry later," simply cannot prevail again. In addition to reforming old habits, the time has come to reform old practices. Our legislators must adopt more responsible budgeting practices that are based upon predictable and realistic assessments of the actual revenues available for spending.

In the past, lawmakers have turned a deaf ear to proposals that would lead the way to smarter budgeting. Until our lawmakers commit to writing sound, responsible budgets that are based on realistic revenue assessments, as opposed to special interest demands or wishful thinking, our students, teachers, senior citizens and indeed, all Alabamians, will be at the mercy of inadequate and unpredictable prorated budgets.

As a former state senator, I have seen these lapses of responsibility at work and have fought against them many times. As chancellor of Alabama's two-year college system, I faced a critical budget shortage, and with some great teamwork, reduced our system-wide budget by some $70 million without damaging key services or eliminating essential programs.

Clearly, the financial challenges we will face in January of 2011 will be greater than any we've faced recently. Our next governor must not only be ready, but also willing and able to do whatever it takes to address the problem and to make sure Alabama is stronger for having weathered it. As a result of my past experiences and willingness to fight status quo politics, I believe I am the person for the job.

As your governor, I will face the economic challenges before us by managing government with discipline and innovation, by using the people's tax dollars wisely and sparingly, by implementing sound budgeting processes, and by living within our means. As governor, I will run state government with the same sound financial practices the people of Alabama must use to run their homes and businesses during these lean times.

There are many things we can and will do to grow our economy, but there is one thing we will not do. We will not raise taxes on the people or the businesses of Alabama. More taxes are not the answer.

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