Hubbard, Marsh Applaud Work Going On In Legislature
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: March 8, 2011
House Speaker Mike Hubbard and Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh today
applauded lawmakers in both chambers for extraordinary legislative productivity in the second week on the 2011 Regular Session.
The Alabama Senate voted to end
the
state's Deferred Retirement Option Plan, or DROP, which incentivizes
government workers to delay retirement by allowing them to participate
in a luxurious benefits plan in the latter part of their careers. The
House passed the Responsible Budgeting and
Spending Act, which will allow Alabama to craft proration-resistant
budgets by ensuring a
more stable stream of school funding year-to-year, even during difficult
economic times. Both proposals were highlights
of Governor Robert Bentley’s State of the State Address.
“Today’s
legislative productivity should signal to all Alabamians that their
state government is wasting no time doing the people’s
business,” Speaker Hubbard said. “Senator Marsh and I, along with the
Legislative leadership, are working closely with Governor Bentley to
pass bills that move this state forward. I want to thank Representative
Greg Canfield for his hard work on this bill.
It’s a common sense reform that improves the budgeting process. I look
forward to seeing its final passage in the Senate, and standing with the
Governor as he signs it into law.”
Senate President Pro-Tem Del Marsh said the Senate body should be proud of its work on Tuesday.
“We
have an obligation to look out for the interests of Alabama taxpayers,”
Senator Marsh
said. “That’s exactly what this bill does. By moving a repeal of DROP
closer to final passage, we are balancing the budget and making sure
essential services are funded. I urge the House to quickly pass this
proposal before we adjourn for the week-long break.”
The
House passed the Responsible Budgeting and Spending Act by a vote of 67
in favor and
33 opposed, with all Republicans voting for the measure. The Senate
passed the DROP repeal bill by a vote of 23 in favor and 12 opposed,
with all Republicans voting for the bill.
