High School Baseball, Softball: NHS, Tate, Jay
March 2, 2011
Here’s a look at high school softball and baseball action from Tuesday:
BASEBALL
Northview 17 Pensacola Christian 0
The Northview Chiefs defeated Pensacola Christian 17-0 in a district baseball game Tuesday at Northview.
Austin Arrington was the winning pitcher for Northview striking out 10 and giving up one hit. Zach Barrow closed out the game striking out three and allowing only one hit. Tyler Brooks had a double for the Chiefs, and Kaleb Purvis added a single as the Chiefs faced four different PCA pitchers, who walked eight and hit six Chief batters. Ten different Chiefs scored runs for the winning team.
Northview 4 Pensacola Christian 2 (JV)
The Northview JV defeated PCA 4-2 as Tristin Montgomery and Brandon Freeman stuckout 15 batters in six innings for the Chiefs. Hitters for the Chiefs were Pizzolatto and Snyder with a double each, and Freeman, Montgomery and Harrison with a single each.
Northview will be back in action Friday afternoon against the Baker Gators. JV plays at 4:00 and Varsity at 6:30.
SOFTBALL
Washington 5 Northview 3
The Washington Wildcats defeated the Northview Lady Chiefs Tuesday, 5-3.
Misty Doran pitched six for the Chiefs, walking five and striking out 11. Ashley Digmon was 2-3 for Northview with a triple and a double. The Lady Chiefs are scheduled to take part in a weekend tournament in Gulf Shores.
Navarre 4 Tate 3
The Navarre Raiders defeated the Tate Lady Aggies 4-3 Tuesday. Tate’s Heather Schaff was 1-3 with a homerun and three RBI. Allison Pettigrew took the win for hte Aggies, pitching seven.
Jay 12 Freeport 2 / Jay 12 Freeport 1
The Jay Lady Royals took a double header from Freeport Tuesday, 12-2 and 12-1. Camille Driver had five runs on four hits. Tessa Hendricks was 4-2 in the second game, with a triple, scoring four and driving in a run. Ashley Stokes was 2-4 with four RBI.
The Lady Royals will be in action again Friday against T.R. Miller as a weekend tournament gets underway in Brewton.
Louisiana College Students Use Spring Break To Help Molino Church
March 2, 2011
A group of Louisiana college students used their spring break to help a Molino church.
About 40 college ministry members of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, Louisiana, actually paid $100 each for the opportunity to travel to Molino and work around the campus of Highland Baptist Church. From painting, to replacing a rotten bathroom subfloor under a toilet, to creating a classroom for a new Sunday School group, to landscaping and a lot of energy efficient lighting upgrades, the students performed numerous tasks for the church.
“We feel like our spring break is better spent if we help others instead of if we just sit around and do nothing,” Louisiana Tech student David Hinds said. “It’s better to serve others.”
For the past eight years, the 1,000-member Louisiana church has sent spring breakers to places like Miami, Seattle and San Diego to serve. The Molino visit became a reality because of a friendship between Highland Baptist Pastor Brian Calhoun and a minister at Temple Baptist.
A project list was created and supplies were purchased prior to the students’ arrival. They worked Friday, Saturday and Monday at Highland. And yes, they did manage a brief two hour trip to the beach between Sunday church services — but they were hard at work ministering while they were there.
“We try to use our spring break to help others to further the Kingdom in whatever we do,” Hinds said.
“It was just a labor of love. We didn’t deserve this; it was selfless sacrifice,” Calhoun said. “It reminds me of the selfless sacrifice of Jesus.”
Tuesday, the students that worked at Highland joined about 20 other Temple Baptist members at the University of West Florida to cook lunch for about 350 UWF students before heading back to Louisiana for class.
K-9 Cops Place At Regional Certification Event
March 2, 2011
Three Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams recently competed in the United States Police Canine Association regional certification in Ft. Walton Beach. The handlers obtained their certifications and represented the agency against teams from Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.
Out of the 54 participants, Deputy Patrick Crossley finished in 17th place overall. Deputy Wayne Gulsby, a North Escambia resident, finished 3rd in agility, 4th in total search work, 1st in two man team (along with Lt. Jason Potts), and 13th overall for the entire event. Lt Potts finished 5th overall in total search, 1st in the control during aggression phase, 1st in obedience and aggression combined score, 1st in two man team (along with Deputy Gulsby), and 1st overall for the entire event.
“I am immensely proud of these handlers, as well as the rest of the ECSO K9 Unit,” Lt. Potts, head of the ESCO Unit said of the wins. “I am proud of this and of everything they do in our community.”
Pictured: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Wayne Gulsby during a drug dog search at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Willie Green Watford
March 2, 2011
Willie Green Watford, age 82, of Clanton passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2011.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Walter Anderson Watford and Alice Viola Cassidy.
Mr. Watford is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Huggins Watford of Clanton; sons, James Watford of Clanton, Jeffery Watford of Clanton, Robert Watford of Clanton; and daughter, Geneva Garrett of McDavid, Fla.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2011, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore with the Rev. Rusty Knowles officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in McDavid.
Temperatures Moderate; Rain For The Weekend?
March 2, 2011
Temperatures have moderated along the Gulf Coast, but our forecast is still a good one when you consider is really is still winter. We’ll have sunny skies through Friday, but rain creeps into the forecast for Saturday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. East wind between 10 and 15 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
$1.28 Million Available For Florida Organic Producers; Must Apply By Friday
March 2, 2011
Organic agricultural producers in Florida may qualify for technical and financial assistance through a National Organic Initiative — if they apply by Friday, March 4.
The 2011 Organic Initiative provides assistance to USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers transitioning to organic production. It also meets the Obama Administration’s promise to encourage more organic agriculture production.
In Florida, $1.28 million in funding for the Organic Initiative is available to qualified applicants as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which is administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. Applications for EQIP are accepted continuously, but for Organic Initiative funding consideration during Federal fiscal year 2011, applications should be submitted by March 4, 2011.
NRCS has offered this special initiative to organic producers for the last 2 years. “We want to help these farmers protect the natural resources on their land and create conditions that help foster organic production,” said Carlos Suarez, NRCS State Conservationist for Florida.
Under Organic Initiative contracts, producers are paid 75 percent of the cost for the approved organic conservation measures they implement. Beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged producers are paid 90 percent. The program provides up to $20,000 per year per person or legal entity, with a maximum total of $80,000 over six years. Producers are required to develop and carry out an Organic System Plan (OSP) or carry out practices consistent with an OSP. The assistance targets practices such as planting cover crops, establishing integrated pest management plans, or implementing nutrient management systems consistent with organic certification standards. For more information: www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov or at your local USDA NRCS office.
Photo Gallery: Relay For Life Mardi Gras Masquerade
March 2, 2011
A Mardi Gras King and Queen were named in Century last Saturday night as over $900 was raised in a silent auction to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Cesar Gonzalez and Lauryn Walker were crowned Century’s King and Queen of Mardi Gras in recognition of raising the most money during the Relay Mardi Gras Masquerade. The event also included entertainment from the Will Inspire band (complete with a conga line), gumbo, red beans and rice and the quintessential Mardi Gras dessert –moon pies.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured: Century’s Mardi Gras Masquerade King Cesar Gonzalez and Queen Lauryn Walker. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sea Of Purple: What’s That Purple Flower That’s Everywhere Called?
March 2, 2011
Ever wonder what the name of that that purple flower is that is blooming everywhere in North Escambia, often turning entire fields (or the corner of a neighborhood yard) into a sea of purple?
We posed the question to UF IFAS Escambia County Extension Agent Libbie Johnson and found out it’s called henbit (or more scientifically, Lamium amplexicaule):
Henbit is a cool season, annual broadleaf weed that germinates in the fall and continues to grow throughout the winter and spring. In some of Escambia County’s agricultural fields, it is currently one of the dominant species present.
Henbit is a member of the mint family. If you take a good look at it, you can see that it has square, slender stems. The stems can root at the lower nodes. Leaves are opposite, nearly circular, deeply veined, hairy and petioled. This isn’t a deeply rooted plant—roots are shallow and fibrous. The tubular flowers are generally purple to pink in color.
“Like most plants, the best control is achieved before the plants start to flower. Herbicides work better if you can spray when the plants are small and immature, but with the cold winter, scouting planted pasture for weeds may not have been on the top of the list of activities. For many, no control of henbit is necessary. Contact your local Extension agent to determine which herbicide would work best for your particular cropping system,” Johnson said.
Pictured: A sea of purple is formed by henbit in a field along Highway 97 at Tungoil Road in Walnut Hill.
Alabama’s State Of The State: Tough Times, Tough Cutbacks
March 1, 2011
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley delivered his first State of the State Address Tuesday night, painting a grim budget picture for the coming year. He’s recommending basic budgets and cuts to almost every state agency, and more state employee contributions toward health care and retirement funds.
“We will be called on to do without. But while there are sacrifices that must be made, I can tell you we will come out on the other side of this difficult time stronger than ever,” Bentley said, adding that Alabama will not lean on the federal government for a bailout.
Below is the full text of the governor’s State of the State Address, as prepared for delivery:
” Lieutenant Governor Ivey, Speaker Hubbard, President Pro Tem Marsh, distinguished guests, my fellow public servants and my fellow Alabamians:
It is with great honor and great privilege that I join you here tonight in this chamber to mark another milestone in our state’s history. I am humbled tonight to be addressing this joint session as your governor. As I deliver my first State of The State address, I do so with the humility of a public servant — but one who has been called to a great task. And I thank you for sharing this moment with me tonight.
As public servants, we are called to put others ahead of ourselves. And I don’t believe you’ll find anyone with a bigger heart and desire for serving others than your first lady — my wife, Dianne.
I would also like to thank members of my Cabinet here tonight. Thank you for serving and for joining me in meeting the challenges that lie ahead.
Chief Justice Cobb, distinguished members of the Alabama Supreme Court –thank you for the work you do, and for your service to the state.
Today we face great challenges in Alabama. Our state, like so many others in our country, finds itself at a pivotal point in time. We are at a time in our state’s history when we must make difficult choices. And what we choose to do — or not to do today — will have far-reaching effects on the future of Alabama and our citizens. But they are choices that must be made. And as your governor, called to serve our citizens, I am ready to make those tough choices.
I told you many months ago when I decided to run for governor, my highest priority for Alabama is creating jobs. That has not changed. Stimulating our economy and job creation for the people of Alabama is, and will remain, the focal point of my administration.
Here in Alabama, we have inherited a budget this year that, at best, is unrealistic. Both our Education Trust Fund and our state’s General Fund budgets are based on unreliable revenue projections. Now, five months into the 2011 Fiscal year, what we feared is true. We do not have enough money to sustain either budget.
Taxpayers deserve better.
One-time money from federal stimulus dollars propped up our struggling budgets. Today with stimulus money depleted, we are left with the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in both budgets.
We now face a $165 million dollar shortfall in the education budget, and a $110 million dollar shortfall in the General Fund Budget.
Now there is only one thing to do. Alabama state government must live within its means. We must do a better job of prioritizing our resources to get the most out of our state expenditures.
Year after year, it has been a recurring theme in our state government to adopt a budget that must be prorated. That must change. My goal is to never present a budget to you that must be prorated. That’s why the budgets I present will be balanced — they will be responsible and they will be conservative.
It will be a challenge. First we must balance our current education and General Fund budgets. Then we must look to the 2012 budgets, and prioritize what taxpayers can and cannot afford to keep funding.
We will be called on to do without. But while there are sacrifices that must be made, I can tell you we will come out on the other side of this difficult time stronger than ever.
Alabama will not look to the federal government for one-time funds to prop up an already unrealistic budget. We will not look to Washington to bail us out. Tonight in our Capitol city — in this chamber — at this moment — we take our future back!
Together I have been working with Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey, with Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, and with President Pro Tem Del Marsh to meet the challenges we face in crafting a state budget that lives within our means. I also want to thank our budget chairs — Representatives Jay Love and Jim Barton and Senators Trip Pittman and Arthur Orr — for working with us to craft responsible budgets. Ladies and gentlemen, I can tell you we have had unprecedented collaboration on this budget.
Together we will get this done. Tonight I share with you all, that regardless of what you may have heard or read, we are on the same page. We are working everyday — relying not on Washington, but on our own abilities as a state to accomplish the task set before us.
In the historic elections of 2010, the message from the people of this country was loud and clear. They expect us to govern right. They expect us to have an ethical government that is fiscally responsible and creates jobs. As Republicans we now have a tremendous opportunity. We would not be here without the hard work of Speaker Hubbard and the Republican Party, and I want to thank them for all they did.
But the election is over and now we represent all of Alabama. And together we will work hard to address the critical challenges before us. Now we must get to work.
The 2011 Education Trust Fund budget is based on revenues estimates that were wrong and artificially inflated with one-time federal stimulus dollars.
Yesterday I had no choice but to declare 3 percent proration in the Education Trust Fund. There were no other alternatives to make up for the hundreds of millions of dollars that just are not there.
But I will tell you tonight, as your governor this is the last time that will happen. Beginning with the 2012 budget, it is my goal that no budget in my administration will ever have to be prorated.
In order to make that happen, though, there are sacrifices that must be made. We will ask our teachers to contribute more to their individual retirement and to health care insurance programs.
I am also recommending the repeal of the DROP Program which has overly taxed our retirement system. The taxpayer simply cannot afford to sustain the continued high cost of teacher retirement and health care.
We are only asking our teachers to do what virtually everyone else has been forced to do in these tough economic times.
But you need to know within my budget, there will be no reduction in state-funded teacher units. Nothing is more important to me than protecting our classroom teachers. And though there will be sacrifices that must be made — I will not sacrifice one single teacher’s job.
Classroom sizes will not increase. There will be no cuts to the length of the school year or to contract days for teachers or support personnel.
We must redirect our priorities within the ETF. I, along with our leaders in our K through 12, postsecondary, and higher education systems have collectively taken a long hard look at the budget and determined what should be the priorities for this state.
The education budget I present will preserve, protect and bolster areas that should remain a priority for all of Alabama:
First, we will devote $5 million dollars in the education budget specifically for classroom t
eaching supplies. We expect our teachers to lead our children to succeed and excel in the classroom. By funding classroom supplies we are giving our teachers the resources they need to meet those expectations.
We will protect the Alabama Reading Initiative.
We will protect the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative.
We will protect the ACCESS Distance Learning.
We will expand our programs that prepare students for college by increasing the number of Advanced Placement teachers in our high schools.
We will strengthen our work force training programs in our two-year college system.
We will give flexibility to local school boards to prioritize and make decisions that affect the schools in their districts. We will remove restrictive language from legislation that dictates decisions made by these schools board and give them additional funding and flexibility so they can put the money to highest and best use.
We have made strategic investments in cancer research at UAB, the University of South Alabama and Auburn University.
We have increased state funding for higher education and given our presidents more flexibility in their budgets.
We have provided significant increases in state funding for disabled and special needs children and adults.
In the education budget I am presenting, we have done all these things while still balancing the budget — which will not have to be prorated — and without having to lay off one single teacher.
And now we must take steps to make sure we never find our state in such dire straits again. We must no longer base our education budget on unpredictable revenue projections. Rep. Greg Canfield, thank you for your leadership in writing legislation that will provide a sustainable funding base for the Education Trust Fund.
If we are going to solve the problems facing Alabama we must budget differently and we must budget responsibly. Send this bill to me and I will sign it.
One year ago, as a state representative from Tuscaloosa, I voted against our state’s General Fund budget because I knew the budget far exceeded realistic revenue. And I was right. We have now exhausted our Rainy Day Fund. And yesterday I announced my intention to prorate the General Fund by 15 percent for the remainder of this fiscal year.
Now we face the task of looking to our 2012 budget, where there are difficult decisions that must be made. In the budget I am presenting, there will be sacrifices. There are losses. But it’s what we must do to maintain and sustain a budget that taxpayers can afford — one that is responsible, realistic and balanced.
In the General Fund, we are asking state employees to do what we have asked of our teachers — increase their individual contribution to their retirement and health insurance programs.
Today the State of Alabama spends roughly $1 billion per year on pension costs and that number has been increasing in an unsustainable manner.
We will increase employee retirement contributions over three years. Once fully implemented, those increases will result in a savings of over $100 million for state government.
We will control taxpayer expenditures on public employee health benefits. State insurance boards will now be given the opportunity to make changes and come up with new ideas for health cost savings.
These are all sacrifices. But they must be made now, so we can rein in spending and responsibly operate state government. If we reform benefits now, this will prevent additional cuts to programs, services and employees in the future. And may well help these programs survive for generations to come.
Under the 15 percent proration of the General Fund for the remainder of this year, there are agencies that simply must be protected. Agencies that provide critical services will be protected through supplemental appropriations and prioritization of budgets.
We will protect our Medicaid Agency.
Medicaid which provides health care to approximately 1 million children, elderly and disabled people must be protected.
We must maintain necessary funding of the Department of Corrections.
But we also must be cost efficient in criminal justice spending. Twenty years ago the cost of corrections in Alabama was $133 million dollars. Today we spend more than four times that much. We must do better. A broad coalition of our top judicial and legislative leaders and members of my staff have been meeting to determine how we can do better. It’s time to deliver our citizens a better public safety return on the investment of our corrections dollars, and I urge the Legislature to act this year.
In the General Fund, we will protect our military. In the budget I present, there will be protection for our Alabama National Guard.
We will preserve and protect the ability to maintain and achieve an ethical state government, by fully funding the Ethics Commission.
The new laws passed in December’s special session will forever change how state government operates. The Ethics Commission now has subpoena power and must be given the resources it needs to enforce the new laws. I would like to take this moment and recognize the members of the Ethics Commission and commend them for the work they are doing. I want to ask Jim Sumner and members of the commission to stand.
The people of Alabama want their elected leaders to meet the strictest ethical standards, and we intend to offer the resources to make sure that happens. That is why we will also protect the Office of State Auditor to make sure we wisely use the assets we own.
There are hard decisions that must be made in order to balance the General Fund budget. While we are protecting these five areas I just mentioned, others areas will see deep cuts.
Aside from those protections, every agency in the state’s General Fund will be cut anywhere from 15 percent to 45 percent. Some will no longer receive General Fund appropriation and will be eliminated.
We have eliminated a total of 217 line items from the General Fund, including 185 earmarks and 32 entities such as commissions and boards. Many are worthwhile. Many are not. But in this day and time taxpayers cannot afford to continue to support nonessential programs. We must, in the 2012 budget, prioritize our resources and eliminate functions that are not part of the core mission of state government.
Historical sites, tourist attractions and Halls of Fame are wonderful for tourism and travel, but they are not as important as providing health care to low-income children and elderly or as to keeping state troopers on the road.
These are the hard choices I have had to make as your governor. We cannot continue to spend millions of dollars we do not have. The taxpayers deserve better.
It’s time for our addiction to federal stimulus dollars to end, and for this state to take up a responsible budget. I will send up a budget that lives within our means, that is realistic and most of all responsible. The numbers you will see are real. They are conservative. We will balance our budget. We will not outspend what we are given. Families across Alabama work hard to make ends meet and must keep their checkbook balanced.
Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for us to do the same.
Dark clouds have been looming overhead for some time. But, as I am so fond of saying, above the clouds, there’s always the sun.
Today, I truly believe our state is on the verge of a dramatic change. Jobs are coming to Alabama. These are jobs that will support families, stimulate our economic growth and truly help turn things around for our state.
Since you elected me governor, I have been to every corner of this state looking for ways we can create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Only a few days after the November general election, I was contacted by a company considering Huntsville as a site for its newest high-tech facility. This company would bring up to 100 Ph.D.-level employees to Alabama as part of its work force.
I knew Alabama needed this facility. I signed a letter to the company affirming my commitment to creating jobs and to helping them find the resources they needed to be able to choose Alabama. Since then I have not stopped in my mission to create jobs for our state.
Two weeks ago, we were in the Shoals where North American Lighting is located. The company is a leading manufacturer of automobile lighting. The Illinois-based business is expanding with a $35 million investment in Alabama that will create 250 new jobs.
Just last month we were in Troy, where CGI, a leading provider of information technology announced its expansion to provide even more jobs for the Wiregrass area.
And that’s just the beginning. In the days to come we will be able to announce even more new and expanding businesses bringing new jobs to Alabama.
As a former business owner I understand the important role small business plays in our economy. That is why I am creating an Office of Small Business Development. Small businesses are the engine of economic growth. They are the backbone of a robust and vibrant economy.
We will continue to aggressively pursue businesses that bring new jobs to our state. That means providing work force training and resources to support companies.
For the first time, our economic development and job creation strategy will include a plan for how we engage our universities and institutions of higher learning. Once we accomplish this, I believe we will forever change the economic landscape of Alabama.
I will not stop working to bring jobs to Alabama. To build on these successes I am offering legislation designed to create jobs. The Full-Employment Act of 2011 will help small businesses to create jobs and put people back to work. Under the Full-Employment Act business will be given a one-time tax credit for each new job they create.
This is an enhanced version of the Reemployment Act of 2010 and is the centerpiece of our legislative agenda, and it will create jobs.
I will work with you to provide health care for all our fellow citizens that is both affordable and accessible.
But it does not need to be forced upon us by the federal government. By now, if you have ever spent more than five minutes with me, you know my concerns with the current health care law in this country. There is no doubt the federal takeover of our health care system will kill jobs in the U.S. and further cripple our economy.
I know many of you will offer constitutional amendments that will allow Alabamians to opt out of the federally mandated government run health care. Know that I will cheer you on. Let me be clear — we will fight oppressive mandates on businesses and we will fight rationing of health care. For a free people there can be no other way.
States can be great laboratories for change. To that end, send me legislation that will offer tax incentives to employers who provide health insurance to their employees. I will sign your bill.
As a legislator, I supported efforts to curb illegal immigration in Alabama, as governor I will continue to do so. I understand the Legislature will take up the Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act. Send me that bill. I will sign it.
Days into our new administration, I signed an executive order creating the Alabama Commission on Improving State Government. Made up of the state’s leaders in the public and private sectors this commission will take a long hard look at state government, and provide a blueprint for how government should operate in the 21st century.
When the commission makes its recommendations, we will implement those changes wherever possible. I would like to thank President Pro tem Del Marsh for working with us to define the core functions of state government.
My fellow Alabamians, the hard truth is this. For too long, we have avoided the inevitable. Living within the flimsy outlines of an unrealistic budget has caught up with us. We have avoided making decisions for too long. Taxpayers deserve better!
The taxpayers of this country and especially this state sent a clear message in November. They expect us to make decisions.
The good and hardworking people of the great state of Alabama deserve better than for their state government to adopt another irresponsible budget, promising much in the beginning, but always falling short in the end. The taxpayers expect more and deserve for us to make these hard choices that lie ahead.
And it will require sacrifice.
Since I have been your governor I have made the commitment to visit with the families of our Alabama soldiers who died while serving our country. In the last month and a half, I have visited with two Alabama families whose sons gave their lives fighting for our freedoms. As I stood there at attention, by the side of the casket, and looked upon the fallen soldiers in their beautiful, formal, dress uniforms, I realized what true sacrifice is.
Those young fallen soldiers and their families gave so much so that you and I can enjoy our freedom. We’ve talked tonight about sacrifice. That’s the ultimate sacrifice. These soldiers are the true public servants, the real heroes, and to them and their families I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
So tonight I ask that you join with me as leaders of our state, in reclaiming Alabama’s future. Join with me in responding to what we, as a public servants have been called to do. Join with me in leading our state by doing whatever we must do to budget responsibly. Join with me in my commitment to stimulate our economy and to create jobs for our fellow citizens.
Today is the day, and now is the time to act. The people of Alabama expect it. And they deserve it.
Thank you. God bless you all. And God bless the great state of Alabama.”
Senators Sue Governor Over High Speed Rail Money
March 1, 2011
Two central Florida senators have asked the Supreme Court to block Gov. Rick Scott from dashing plans for a high speed rail project in central Florida by rejecting billions of dollars from the Obama administration.
“I think sending $2.4 billion to another state would be a colossal mistake,” said Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, one of two senators, one from each party, who filed the petition before the Florida high court Tuesday.
Florida officials have long argued over the efficacy of investing statewide dollars in rail, but lawmakers in 2009 passed legislation sealing a deal to build an Orlando commuter train, in part to show the federal government that the state was supportive of the additional rail initiatives that Washington might pay for. The U.S. Department of Transportation later announced Florida would receive money to build a high speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa.
But Scott, who vehemently opposed the President’s federal stimulus package, voiced doubts about taking the money and two weeks ago, officially announced the state would reject the $2.4 billion grant, about 90 percent of the total cost of the project. Scott said the project would be a boondoggle that would never generate more money than it would cost to operate, and said he predicted that the state would ultimately be left on the hook for cost overruns.
Scott’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the petition filed by Altman and Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.
The bipartisan duo argued the governor does not have the legal authority to unilaterally reject the federal money because the Legislature has already appropriated, and former Gov. Charlie Crist approved, some of the cash he’s now refusing.
“Importantly, both the applications for and award of these monies occurred and were completed under a prior Legislature and a prior Governor,” the petition says. “The legislation implementing high speed rail and the appropriations of the state and federal monies were fully accomplished prior to the election or inauguration of [Scott].”
At a press conference following the filing of the petition, Joyner said Scott also needs to understand there are three branches of government and he cannot run the government like he is chief executive officer of a business.
“This is not a monarchy. He is not a king,” Joyner said.
Scott’s decision to scuttle the money did not sit well with many other lawmakers either. Altman and Joyner were just two of 25 senators who asked U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for time to see if there was a state group that could accept the money outside of Scott’s authority.
But the full Senate won’t join in the lawsuit; Senate President Mike Haridopolos agrees with Scott.
“While Sens. Altman and Joyner are free to file their petition with the Florida Supreme Court, I do not support their efforts,” Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said in a release. “The Florida Senate will not join in their lawsuit For reasons I’ve previously explained, funding of the high rail project is not something we as a state and a country can afford. Is my intention to ensure that there is no money in the upcoming 2011-12 state budget to fund high speed rail…. State government should focus on its needs not its wants.”
LaHood has said he would begin considering transferring the federal rail dollars to other states if Florida did not reach an agreement by the end of the week.
Altman and Joyner, joined by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, are asking for LaHood to consider giving them more time.
“The court may need more time,” Altman said.
“The stakes are too high not to seek further review of his decision,” Nelson said in a statement. “We’re talking about $2.4 billion and 24,000 jobs.”
The Scott administration has until noon on Wednesday to file a response to the petition with the Supreme Court.
Other states, including California and New York, have already expressed interest in the federal pot of money, and several northeast senators have written a letter to LaHood saying the money should be sent there because they already have high speed rail that could be improved or expanded.
The battle over high speed rail is another piece in a growing narrative that pits the governor against fellow Republicans.
Haridopolos disagrees with the governor’s proposal to repeal a law creating a statewide prescription drug database aimed at combating doctor shopping at pain clinics. Senate Budget Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, has questioned Scott’s ability to unilaterally sell the state airplanes. And Republican House Speaker Dean Cannon and Haridopolos have expressed concern over the new governor’s budget proposal that includes deep tax cuts while the state faces a deficit.