Alabama Legislature Bears Watching

It's the time of year and the right year in Alabama's budget cycle (the one before an election year) to begin keeping an eagle eye on activities in the Alabama Legislature. State employees' salary increases and an unexpected budget surplus of some $250 million are on the line. And competition from Paul Hubbert, powerful executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association, is bearing down on higher education in the state.

Hubbert announced before the holidays that he was seeking a 7 percent raise for the 70,000 active and 20,000 retired public education employees — not including employees in higher education. Several weeks after that, junior colleges and four-year colleges and universities announced that they would present a united front and demand a 7 percent raise for their employees as well.

In recent history, K-12 educators, led by Hubbert, and higher ed employees have been pitted against each other for funding. During those years, UA and The University of Alabama System, as well as other higher ed institutions, thought it prudent to create PACS, lobbying groups that could present the needs of higher ed. Also, the statewide Higher Education Partnership was created to be a voice for higher ed. Both entities need support from those higher ed employees who see the need to become politically active in order to receive fair funding from the Legislature.

As Bill Jones, UAS government relations director, has reminded UA employees, "the days of cheap political campaigns and no involvement with the legislative process are over." Employees can join HEP and contribute to the UAS PAC for as little as $1 a month. For more information, visit the websites at www.higheredpartners.org and www.governmentrelations.ua.edu.

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