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Advisory

Legislative Session Begins; Thanks Due to Governor and Legislators
Higher Ed Day Set for Feb. 21

Legislative Session Begins; Thanks Due to Governor and Legislators

The 2002 session of the Alabama Legislature began Jan. 8 and will continue through April 22. As legislators address the education budget and other issues, UA Director of Government Relations Bill Jones says Gov. Siegelman and the Legislature deserve a round of applause for averting a crisis in education funding by raising taxes to avoid a second round of proration.

"The December special session marked the first time the governor and the Alabama Legislature have passed taxes to avoid proration -- and they did it in an election year. We are very appreciative of their efforts. Without this legislation, higher education would have faced additional proration this year that would have resulted in job cutbacks," Jones said.

Jones urged faculty, staff and students to contact their legislators to thank them for their efforts on behalf of higher ed.

"We can expect budgets to be tight again this year," Jones said. However, budget recommendations are not expected until late in the session. Legislators will probably wait until the February and March revenue numbers are available to get a better picture of the state’s economic outlook before making budget decisions, Jones said.

In addition to thanking legislators, faculty and staff who support the University’s legislative effort, are encouraged to take action:

Make plans to attend Higher Education Day in Montgomery on Feb. 21. Last year’s crowd of 3,500 made a big impression on legislators.
Join the UA System PAC and the Higher Education Partnership. An enrollment form is located at http://governmentrelations.ua.edu. Some 33 percent of UAH’s faculty and staff have joined the PAC. UA has less than 10 percent. Join today!

Higher Ed Day Set for Feb. 21

Higher Ed Day is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Capitol Building. For information, contact Scott Bridges at 348-5027 or Margaret Garner at 348-1255.