No compensation for work not performed

When the Alabama Legislature passed a strengthened open meetings law early in the 2005 general session, there was hope that other good government measures would follow. Those hopes were dashed when the Senate bogged down with filibusters of political disclosure bills, keeping even routine bills from going anywhere and ensuring that a special session must be called to get a general fund budget.

One of the bills that died at the hands of filibustering senators was one that would have required non-profit organizations to disclose their sources of funding when they try to influence an election. Sounds perfectly reasonable, since candidates and political action committees are already required to provide this information. The politically powerful Christian Coalition of Alabama opposed this effort to clean up state elections, however, since that organization would have to disclose that it accepts funds from out-of-state gambling interests for its efforts to oppose a state lottery. The Christian Coalition’s opposition was enough to sway some politicians who fear the wrath of the hypocritical and misnamed organization.

Another bill that would have eliminated the transfer of campaign contributions from one political action committee to another, so voters would actually know to whom candidates are beholden, also died.

The result of self-serving opposition to these public-serving proposals was to tie up the Legislature so that its only mandated function – to pass a budget – was not accomplished. Now the Legislature must return in a special session to do what it failed to do in the 3 1/2 month regular session.

Passing a general fund budget would have been a tough job since the Legislature has failed to provide funding for it. Now it will be even tougher, since a special session could cost as much as $430,000. That’s money that could have been better spent elsewhere.

Each year our own state senator, Gerald Dial, makes a show of returning his special session pay to the state treasury, saying he won’t accept payment for something the Legislature should have done the first time around. This is commendable, but as far as we know he is the only one doing this.

It should be required of all legislators. If attendance at special sessions was not compensated, maybe more would get done during the regular session.

Or maybe a majority just wouldn’t show up later.