Alabama voters to decide on several amendments

The first amendment, Amendment 1, is centered on the environment and will extend payments to the Forever Wild Trust for a 20-year period, ending in fiscal year 2031. Funds in the Forever Wild Trust, which was established in 1992, go toward purchasing lands for recreational use such as nature preserves and state parks. Lands acquired range from coastal areas to wetlands and mountainous areas.

Since its establishment, the program has acquired 74 tracts of wild lands and water areas, with 72 of those areas being open to the public.

The program is funded with a portion of the interest earned by the Alabama Trust Fund (the fund established in 1985 that holds oil and gas royalties). However, withdrawals are restricted to a cap of $15 million annually for the program.

A yes vote will allow this organization to continue to receive funding to match with federal grants in order to purchase private lands to increase the size of current state parks, wildlife management areas, create new recreational trails and nature preserves for future public use. A no vote will stop funding for this trust.

Amendment 2 relates to bond issues and would allow the issuance of general obligation bonds of no more than $750 million. Gov. Robert Bentley has touted this amendment as a job creator. The bond issues would provide funds for job incentives and new industry. It’s passage would also allow the refinancing of existing bonds at lower interest rates, which would save the state on interest.

Opponents say they don’t believe the government should interfere in the market and call for other measures for job creation.

A yes vote will allow the state to take advantage of the lower interest rates now available and refinance old bonds that were originally financed at a much higher rate. A no vote will leave the bonds at the higher interest rate.

Amendment 3 deals with land in Baldwin County. The passage of the amendment would define the Stockton Landmark District. This is a local issue pertaining only to the Stockton community and surrounding area of Baldwin County.

Amendment 4, if approved, would remove references to segregation in schools and the imposition of poll taxes from the state constitution. Though that sounds simple, this amendment is probably the most contested as the Alabama Education Association has come out disapproving the amendment they have called a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

The amendment will repeal portions of Section 256 of Amendment 111, which says all students have the right to a public education, but also includes that separate schools would be maintained for “white and colored children.”

While the amendment would remove the offensive language, it also would reinstate language that eliminates the state’s responsibility to provide education to all children. The amendment brings up the long-standing question of whether a public education is a right or a privilege.

Opponents have said removing the racist language is not worth reinstating language that says children do not have the right to a public, taxpayer-funded education.

The AEA has said the amendment would have “vast implications for the operation of schools and school funding in the future for hundreds of thousands of school children.” Supporters say keeping the language would deter new business in a state that is already struggling.

A yes vote would remove racist language regarding the separation of schools and other public institutions but would also leave intact the right to a “general” education. A no vote would leave all portions of Amendment 111 untouched including racist language related to the poll tax.

Amendment 5 deals with natural resources and the transfer of liabilities from the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board to the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System. Like Amendment 3, this is a local amendment and does not pertain to anyone other than those living in the city of Mobile or Prichard area.

Amendment 6 relates to the state’s health care and, if approved, would prohibit mandatory participation in any health care system. This amendment is an attempt to opt out of the Affordable Health Care Act passed in 2010. A yes vote will give the people of Alabama an “opt-out” alternative to Obamacare. The amendment would give citizens legal authority to not participate in the federal program. A no vote would make it mandatory for Alabamians to participate in the health care act.

Amendment 7 would allow for the use of secret ballots in union votes.

This will secure the right of individuals to vote for public office, public votes on referenda or votes of employee representation done by secret ballot.

If passed, it prevents unions from organizing through a card check system, where the majority of employees at a company check a box signifying they want union representation. It would also tell employers that Alabama is not a state that is going to allow unions to use bullying, coercion or high-pressure tactics to force employees that do not want a union into one.

A yes vote would make union organization have to be done through secret ballot.

Sponsor, Rep. Kurt Wallace, has said the amendment prevents employees from being harassed on whether they want to be a union member or not.

Opposition says the law, if approved, would be challenged in court because the law would violate how unions are organized as it is outlined in federal law. A no vote would leave the law as it currently reads.

Approval of Amendment 8 will see that Legislator’s compensation is not increased during their term in office. The measure also sets basic compensation of the Legislature at the median household income in the state and requires Legislators to submit signed vouchers for reimbursement for expenses. A yes vote will tie Legislators’ salaries to the median household income in Alabama and require the people of Alabama, not the lawmakers, to approve any change to legislative pay in the future. A no vote will leave salaries at the current rate, $11,000 higher than the current median income and allow the lawmakers to give themselves a pay raise at any time.

Amendment 9, if approved, updates the constitution to allow the Legislature to implement a business privilege tax on corporations among other provisions to reflect the many types of corporations that exist today. It does not impose or authorize any new taxes. A yes vote revises some of the language and seeks to remove the outdated language. It will make sure Alabama’s Constitution is updated, concise and reflects the changes in business that have occurred over the last 111 years. A no vote will leave the business entities as is.

Amendment 10 relates to the authority of the Legislature and banking in the state, updating Alabama’s current banking practices. A yes vote will prohibit the state from becoming a stockholder in any bank or banking corporation. A no vote will leave the banking language as is.

Both Amendment 9 and 10 are rewrites of the constitution to replace outdated language.

The final amendment, Amendment 11, pertains to Lawrence County and, if approved, prohibit any municipality outside the county from imposing any municipal ordinance. This amendment only pertains to those who live in Lawrence County.