The Decatur Daily - Folsom Touts Bipartisan Approach

News Article

By Tiffeny Hurtado

Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. said his bipartisan approach to leading the state Senate will be necessary, especially if the November election turns it over to Republicans.

Folsom, the Democratic candidate up for re-election against Republican candidate Kay Ivey, touted his ability and experience in working between party lines during an editorial board meeting at The Decatur Daily on Friday. He also said he had no knowledge or involvement in a robocall, paid for by Alabama New South, in which state Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, says, "I ain't going back to the cotton fields of Jim Crow days. I'm going forward with Ron Sparks, Jim Folsom and others who would do right by all of us."

Republicans have called Sanders' message race-

"I don't think it's race-baiting, but it could have said in a more moderate fashion the importance of the African-American vote. I didn't know they would use my name, and they didn't discuss it with me."

The self-described "pro-business Democrat" also called for ethics and campaign finance reforms in the wake of a round of indictments that ensnared 11 people accused of involvement in a plan to trade cash for votes. Four state senators and two casino owners face charges in the federal probe.

"I think this shows everyone the need for campaign finance reform," Folsom said. "I hope it can become a reality next year in reaction to all this. It's certainly at the top of my list."

Folsom, who is the president and presiding officer of the Alabama Senate, said his opponent's approach to the office would make an already-divisive Senate more entrenched along party affiliation.

"In my time down there, I've developed a relationship with both sides, and I trust both sides," Folsom said. "If the Senate changes over to Republican, it's going to be important to make it work. My opponent has a more partisan course. That's not what being in charge of the Senate is about. She is going to have a tough time with that type of approach."

PACT program

Folsom said the state's Prepaid Affordable College Tuition, or PACT program, which he helped create in 1990, worked well for many years but needed more oversight to protect investors. Ivey has attacked Folsom on the issue, saying he neglected the PACT plan as a member of the board overseeing the program. Ivey, as state treasurer, was in charge of the day-to-day management of the tuition program.

"It happened on my opponent's watch, and she has to take responsibility for it," he said.

"I worked hard to bring a plan to save the program up for a vote in the Senate."

The Senate passed a $548 million bailout to keep the program going, and Save Alabama PACT, a group of parents who invested money in the program, has endorsed Folsom.

Amendment 3

Folsom said he also supports Amendment 3 which would take $1 billion from the $2.4 billion Alabama trust fund and put it toward road and bridge improvements in Alabama.

Opponents of the amendment, like David Bronner, head of Retirement Systems of Alabama, and Gov.Bob Riley, say the money would be spread too thinly to make an impact on the state's infrastructure problems.

"There would be a good federal match, somewhere around four to one, and it would put folks on the payroll," Folsom said.

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