Gov. Riley Details Government Reform, Public Safety and Quality of Life Agenda Items

GOV. RILEY DETAILS GOVERNMENT REFORM, PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AGENDA ITEMS
September 7, 2006

Huntsville - Wrapping up a three-day tour of the state during which he detailed the items in his Plan 2010 campaign platform, Gov. Bob Riley on Thursday unveiled initiatives that will continue to make state government more open and accountable, increase public safety and improve the quality of life for all Alabamians.

The agenda items, which join comprehensive plans for education and economic improvement announced earlier this week, include a Safe Roads Initiative, a plan to combat illegal immigration, citizen protections from eminent domain and improvements in human resource programs, to name a few.

"No candidate running for governor has ever spelled out their vision for this state more precisely or with more detail," Riley said. "The programs contained in our Plan 2010 will make historic reforms in state government while improving the quality of life for all out state's citizens. I invite everyone to read our plan and see for themselves how it directly touches and improves their lives."

Riley noted that his Plan 2010 requires no new taxes and only average economic growth in order to be implemented.

Bringing accountability to state government and transparency to the political process has long been a goal of the governor, and his plan to reform state government is intended to build upon his past successes in this area.

Important to this initiative is his plan to ban PAC-to-PAC transfers, an issue he has asked the Legislature to address for each of the past four years in order to bring transparency to campaign finances.

"During my State of the State addresses, I have asked the Legislature to end the practice of PAC-to-PAC transfers, and each year, I have had the legislation introduced," Riley said. "Unfortunately, Lucy Baxley and the legislative leadership have prevented this bill from becoming a reality each time I have pushed it. It is time for the public to provide us a mandate and a Legislature of lawmakers who are willing to close this loophole once and for all."

He also calls for an expansion of the highly successful and transparent SMART Governing performance-based budgeting program he implemented, a statutory ban on pass through pork and full disclosure of gift and entertainment spending by lobbyists.

In order to protect and improve public safety across the state, Riley proposes a Safe Roads Initiative that requires increasing the state trooper force by 50 percent, allowing local law enforcement to patrol interstates and toughening penalties for those who drive drunk or speed on roads designated as dangerous.

Drawing upon his experiences during Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, Riley proposes strict standards and continuing training for local emergency management directors, who performed admirably during the storms, along with the creation of special safe centers for seniors in disaster prone areas.

An aggressive program to combat illegal immigration in the state, along with reforms in corrections and programs to benefit and protect veterans and active military personnel, round out that section of his plan.

"Illegal immigration isn't just a national issue, it's one we have to address at the state level, and we are doing that," Riley said. "Illegal immigration threatens our homeland security, it drains our economy and it gives the impression that we believe breaking the law is acceptable. This plan discourages those who live in America illegally from setting up residence in Alabama."

Improving the quality of life for all Alabamians is another theme central to Riley's campaign platform, and he has proposed many programs that benefit a cross-section of our society.

Among Riley's proposals on this front are providing citizens with solid incentives to adopt, encouraging faith-based initiatives, closing loopholes in the statutory definition of gambling and protecting private property rights. He also advocates programs that encourages the development and use of alternative fuels and protect the coastal environment.

"The miracle turnaround Alabama has experienced in four short years is historic, but we must make sure everyone in our state feels and participates in that miracle," Riley said. "We have crafted a plan that gives all Alabamians the opportunity to learn, prosper and enjoy a better quality of life. By working together toward one purpose, we can make the promise of Plan 2010 a reality."

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