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Give to Caesar What is Caesar's

Just when you thought all the cameras were turned on California's recall, the Washington Post uncovers the plight of Southern Baptist Alabama Governor Bob Riley. Gov. Riley was faced with a giant $675 million deficit. He cut spending, but still found the need to quadruple taxes just to break even in accordance with the state's balanced budget requirement. He then decided it was time for a change in how the state raised, managed, and spent revenue. But in Alabama, the tax code is part of the state constitution and requires a referendum to reform it, instead of just legislative action. Riley now has until September 9th to convince voters this change is good for them.

Conservative tax policy guru Grover Norquist is already promising to sic the dogs on Riley, a Republican no less, for equating the GOP with tax increases. Riley responds that as a Christian he finds inspiration in the Bible to do what is he is doing. Norquist will likely gag, but for years, many Democrats turned Republican in the South because they found their socially conservative views to be partnered with the fiscally conservative ideology favored by Republicans in the West, Midwest, and Northeast. Now this is called into question if Nose-twist and the supply-side goons undermine Riley.

And what about God? Turns out the national Christian Coalition gives the Governor an "Amen" while the state chapter is busily opposing it as they try to keep the Ten Commandments up in the Alabama Judical Building. As they gleefully hope that the US Supreme Court will uphold their rights, there's the potential that the federal judge sitting in Montgomery, Myron Thompson, will impose daily fines for not removing the structure. Let's see Grover defend the state wasting thousands of dollars a day to thumb his nose at a federal judge and then call Riley fiscally irresponsible. Wait, he might delegate that responsibility to weekend rally speaker, Alan Keyes.

So while John Giles of the CCA appears to be Gov. Riley's biggest adversary, the Post reports it happens to be blacks, who find just about anything a Republican man says to be untrustworthy. The endorsement of the Alabama Democratic Party is helping to stem this, but it appears the measure is going down in flames, with over fifty percent opposed. So with this most radical of solutions to the nearly nationwide problems with budget deficits among states, why isn't Riley on Fox News Sunday or Meet the Press with Timmy Russert? Do you really think the national political establishments want to turn the deficits into an academic discussion as Riley has done, or keep it more reactionary?

The Economist has shown particular interest in illustrating Alabama's recent constitutional struggles. They went so far as to discuss the failings of the 1901 constitution over one year ago. They also have gone so far as to chronicle the recent shenanigans with characteristic British wit. When Bagehot's Boys beat the American press to a story that's usually a bad sign. Heck, Riley hasn't even been on C-SPAN yet. Of course, national media attention will soon be focused on Alabama. The USC Trojans are coming to Auburn courtesy of CBS. Hopefully, Dan Rather at least mentions this story on the Evening News the week prior. At least that would be giving God what is God's.


posted by Thomas at 7:18 PM 0 comments