Alabama Constitution Amendments November 6th

The common theme of calendar making is the desire to organize units of time to satisfy the needs and preoccupations of society. In addition to serving practical purposes, the process of organization provides a sense, however illusory, of understanding and controlling time itself. Thus calendars serve as a link between mankind and the cosmos. It is little wonder that calendars have held a sacred status and have served as a source of social order and cultural identity. Calendars have provided the basis for planning agricultural, hunting, and migration cycles, for divination and prognostication, and for maintaining cycles of religious and civil events. Whatever their scientific sophistication, calendars must ultimately be judged as social contracts, not as scientific treatises. Calendar Magnetic for Real Estate Cheap It was earlier interpretations of other Mayan calendars that gave rise to the Internet-fueled doomsday scenarios of the past few years — mostly because one calendar cycle the Mayans computed ends Dec. 12 (though no one paid much attention to the fact that another one was supposed to begin immediately after that). If people can stay focused on the science this time though, they'll find a lot to be impressed by in the new findings.

Tea Party Groups and ALFA leading the charge against the Forever Wild Amendment 1

There was an attempt to pass an amendment by Rep. Wes Long, a new Republican member from Guntersville, to change the renewal period to five years, but that amendment was defeated. Some House members said 20 years was too long to renew anything in this economy. But proponents said all these attempts to cut short the renewal period, or reduce the acreage that could be bought, were an attempt to redirect the funds from offshore gas royalties to other purposes. No other constitutional amendment has been proposed to change the funding coming from the oil and gas trust fund either, which would seem to be the logical starting point. Tea Party activists across the state, including those locally, supported non-renewal of the program. That didn't fly because most lawmakers noted that even with the 220,000 acres the program has already set aside, Alabama remains at the bottom of all Southeastern states in pubic-access lands. Only about 4 percent of the state's land is open for public access. That's one reason why hunting licenses are not generating the revenues they once did for the state Department of Conservation. People do not have places to hunt. Most hunting land is leased or tied up in private hands and the cost of seasonal access is too high. State land that is open to public access carries a fee and is usually is contained in a state park, and there is no hunting in these areas, only environmental and recreational benefits. Forever Wild gets 10 percent of the interest and capital gains from the Alabama Trust Fund up to a maximum of $15 million a year, according to The Birmingham News. It reported the program received $10.1 million in the last fiscal year and $12.9 million the year before.
http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/opinion/article_09235aaa-67a3-11e0-875e-001cc4c03286.html

Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, questioned the wisdom of renewing a program that could spend another $200 million to $300 million over 20 years for land preservation, especially when tight state budgets threaten layoffs of many employees of public schools or state agencies. Lindsey said lawmakers instead might want to ask voters to rewrite the state constitution to spend some or all of the money now devoted to Forever Wild on other uses. "The program has been good. But we're at a critical time in our history with our expenditure of state dollars," he said. >

Tea Party activists across the state, including those locally, supported non-renewal of the program.

Liberal VS. Conservative
Liberal groups are aggressively pushing a YES VOTE to Amendment 1 Who are these liberal groups pushing a Yes vote?
Liberal Groups like liberal newspapers , tree huggers, Alabama Business Council

The act of outlawing the magnet c calendar the Creator established at Creation is a deed of such heaven-daring defiance that it is held up in scripture as one of the most treasonous acts against the government of Heaven. The Bible reveals that Lucifer's stated goal to establish his own times of worship was one of the main areas in which he wanted to be like the Most High. (See, When to Worship | The Battle for Your Soul!) This right is also claimed by the little horn power of Daniel seven: "He shall insult the Most High, he shall torment/wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and he shall attempt to change the calendar and the ordinance" Daniel 7:25, Knox' translation. The Roman Catholic Church is very open that she is solely responsible for changing the Sabbath to Sunday; a day which bears no divine credentials whatsoever. In a series of articles, published in The Catholic Mirror, the office of Cardinal Gibbons made a compelling case against the inconsistency of Sunday-keeping Protestants. In the following passage, the Catholic Church is adamant that she is responsible for this change:

Local Alabama Constitution Amendments 2012

Madison Co. Amendment Admin. of gov't. Would implement a procedure on how to handle dangerous dogs.
Recommend NO, too much government regulation already.
Montgomery Co. Amendment Term limits Would reduce term length for county officials from six to four years.
Recommend YES
Baldwin Co. Amendment Taxes Would prohibit the imposition of an occupational tax.
Recommend YES
Baldwin Co. Amendment Property rights Prohibit the annexation of any property into any municipality.
Recommend YES
Tuscaloosa Co. Amendment Taxes Would prohibit the imposition of an occupational tax.
Recommend YES

Alabama voters will decide on several constitutional amendments for the November 6 election. with above being voted on by that county.

Alabama Constitutional Amendment September 18, 2012

Why is this called the Alabama Medicaid Amendment?
The majority of these funds will pay for Medicaid cots. Medicaid is a welfare type program to pay medical expenses for those on Welfare. Not clearly explained is that this amendment will fund other pet projects.

Alabama voters will get the chance this September to decide the fate of the linchpin of the Legislature's budget, something state officials say is necessary to prevent even cuts to Medicaid welfare program and prisons. Since the Alabama Legislature could not make the tough choices to scale back on spending, the decision was made to raid the Alabama Trust Fund and punt the decision to the voters.

The Legislature on May 16 passed a $1.67 billion budget to fund most non-education state services in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. The General Fund budget is about $67 million less than the current fiscal year. Lawmakers debated further cutting Medicaid and prisons, but could not make the hard choices to cut the budget and ended up pushing the decisions to citizens as a vote Sept. 18 on a constitutional amendment authorizing the annual transfer of $145.8 million from an oil and gas trust fund to the General Fund. The same amount would also be transferred in 2013 and 2014. It is called the Alabama Medicaid Amendment, as the bulk of the funding goes to Medicaid, a medial program for those on welfare. Scare tactics include comments from the Bentley Administration like: "I think you are then beginning to see the dangers we're talking about, which is doctors leaving, hospitals closing, patients on Medicaid in nursing homes no longer being able to be maintained in the nursing homes," he said. "And then it's not just a problem with Medicaid, it's become a problem with the whole health care system." Alabama Governor Cabinet member Dr. Williamson said even if the constitutional amendment passes, Medicaid will still be funded at $16 million less than last year. The constitutional amendment, which also was pushed by Republican leaders in the Legislature, would take nearly $146 million a year for three years from a state savings account called the Alabama Trust Fund. The total amount equals more than one-sixth of the savings account. The account holds royalties the state receives from oil companies that drilled natural gas wells in state-owned waters along the Alabama coast. The money would be used each year through 2015 to help balance the state General Fund budget. By then, Bentley predicts new use taxes and Internet sales taxes going to the General Fund budget will be sufficient to replace the $146 million. Tim James' father, former Gov. Fob James, and former Gov. George Wallace persuaded Alabama voters in the 1980s to set up a trust fund for money the state got from natural gas wells on the coast. Both said state politicians would fritter away the money if it were not protected. The trust fund was set up so that the money is invested, and the earnings support the General Fund budget. James said taking more than $430 million out of the Alabama Trust Fund with no requirement that it be paid back is bad policy and will lead to more raids on the fund. "Every time you do it, it certainly becomes easier," Tim James said. Bentley, who is making speeches around the state promoting the election, said, "I'm not making this part of a replay of the last election." Instead, he's explaining that if the measure fails, he will be forced to cut next year's $1.67 billion General Fund budget by 12 percent, which would mean drastic reductions in state services, particularly in health care for Alabama's poor. He says that could result in some hospitals closing. The Alabama Hospital Association and the Alabama Nursing Home Association say they plan to help him reinforce that message as the election draws closer. Bentley said that if essential state services begin to crash, he could be forced to call the Legislature into a special session where "everything has to be on the table," including higher fees, elimination of tax breaks, and a reduction in tax incentives that Alabama uses to lure new industries. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Jun/24/ala__amendment_vote_looks_like_gop_race_replay.html

Alabama Tea Party Groups RECOMMEND a NO Vote.

See list of over 60 Alabama Tea Party and Conservative groups who recommend a NO Vote.
Constitution, Defend The Alabama

Alabama Eagle Forum produces Fact Sheet, provider in depth info and reasons to Vote NO on Sept 18
Alabama Eagle Forum Medicaid Amendment of Sept 18

Conservative Vs. Liberal

YES from LIBERAL Democrat groups, NAACP, welfare advocates, Alabama Arise known for pushing the liberal Obama agenda, hospital and medical groups are actively supporting the Alabama Medicaid Amendment for Sept 18, 2012.

Vote NO from Conservatives. A N0 vote is recommended by Ala Tea Party groups from all over the state, from Conservative Christians of Alabama, from Ala Eagle Forum, and 60 other conservative groups across the state. See more Alabama groups on above link.
Medicaid is simply Socialism. Alabama conservatives by voting NO to the Alabama Constitution Amendment Election to be held on September 18, 2012. Additional information at http://ccofal.org/alabama/alabama-constitution.phtml

Why VOTE NO:

1. Medicaid is Socialism, not a function of constitutional government. Medicaid provides medical services for those on federal government assistance known as welfare.

2. The Federal Government cannot afford to fund Medicaid, 40 cents of every dollar of the current federal budget is borrowed money.

3. Alabama cannot afford it. There is not enough revenue to pay current requirements including the Alabama Medicaid Program, and we should not raid the Alabama Trust Fund.

4. Liberal groups, like the AEA and NAACP are recommending a Yes vote for Amendment 1 of the Sept 18, 2012 election. The AEA is concerned that since 80% of current revenue pays for government education, that any forced cuts will be shared or imposed on programs the AEA favors. The AEA and previous Democrat Legislature have been expanding and bloating our government schools programs for years, and it is now time to cut them back.

5. The Alabama state budget needs to be cut, cut social programs like Medicaid a welfare medical program, and most important, cut the bloated education budget. Passing this amendment allows the weak Republicans in the Legislature to get off the hook from making the tough cuts. It allows them for 3 years to raid the Ala Trust Fund and to ignore the tough cuts, avoid reforming the budget, and to allow them to live on borrowed money and continue to squander money beyond our means.

6. Stop Obama Care Health Care Expansion. Cutting back on the Alabama Medicaid Program now, will prevent Alabama from expanding or adding another 500,000 people to the existing Medicare Program as being pushed by the Obama Administration and Obama Care. Medicaid provides medical services for those on federal government assistance known as welfare. It is on a cost sharing basis with the federal government and the state sharing the costs. A NO Vote on September 18, is a NO Vote to more federal Obama Care Expansion.

Medicaid Amend Sept 18, 2012

"It's a ponzi scheme," said one senior financial executive in Alabama state government. He was referring to the constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot September 18 to authorize the state government to take money out of a state savings account, simply to balance the budget approved this last spring. Without voter approval, the lawmakers will be forced to meet in another special session to create a balanced budget for the state. The issue on the ballot is called the Alabama Medicaid Amendment. It would authorize the transfer of $145.8-million from the oil and gas trust fund to the General Fund to balance the $1.67-billion General Fund budget that takes effect October 1. The amendment also allows additional $145.8-million transfers to happen in 2013 and 2014. The amendment further allows another one-time $50-million transfer of funds October 1. The idea would have the money eventually repaid to the oil and gas trust fund with revenues from the Education Trust Fund rainy day account. The initial $195.8-million in transfers are to cover the spending gap lawmakers left in the 2013 state General Fund Budget. The proposal was approved after Governor Robert Bentley called on lawmakers in May to avoid a Medicaid spending budget crisis. "We have more than $200 million sitting in a savings account in the Education Trust Fund," Governor Bentley said. "Rather than let that money sit in a savings account, we can use that funding to sustain Medicaid." Medicaid spending is a perennial problem in the Alabama. The state gets roughly $3 in matching federal funds for the program, but the state's share of the costs continue to rise. The approved $603-million budget plan is more than 4% higher than the 2012 budget. "If the constitutional amendment fails, we are looking at a $100 million shortfall minimum," says State Health Officer Dr. Don Williamson. "Even if we eliminate all optional services, that will only provide $83 million in savings, $70 million of which would be drugs for adults." When Medicaid spending cuts have been made in the past, federal officials have filed lawsuits to force the state to keep the system solvent. The state lawmakers on May 16 created a financial Catch-22 for many voters. The amendment allowed legislators to dodge the responsibility to make deep spending cuts voters have asked happen for years. If voters say yes September 18, the spending whirlpool continues to swirl. The measure moves paying the bill for excessive spending down the road. It also leaves less of an economic cushion for use in emergencies, like money needed for the April 2011 storms.

If voters say no, it will make the General Fund Budget the lawmakers approved illegal. Lawmakers will have to meet in a hurried special session of the legislature and create a balanced budget by just days before it would be due.

Should the state use the Alabama Trust Fund to balance the General Fund budget for next three years?

SYNOPSIS: The State General Fund (GF) budget for FY 2012-2013 of $1.67 billion is short $145.8 million. The State must either cut more spending or find funds to cover this deficiency.
The Legislature voted to balance the 2013 GF by taking money from the Alabama Trust Fund (ATF), CONTINGENT on voters passing a Constitutional Amendment (CA) on Sept. 18.
The CA has become controversial for several reasons:
(1) It takes money from the principal but there is no legal obligation to repay it.
(2) It asks voters to approve using ATF funds to balance the GF budget for the next three years, not just for 2013 — by $145.8 million each year.
(3) The $437.4 million effectively redirects the repayment of $437.4 million owed by the Education Trust Fund to the ETF Rainy Day fund within the ATF. This ETF debt must be repaid over the next three years. The Governor has stated that if the CA fails, he will likely call a special session of the Legislature to find additional cuts to balance the 2013 budget.

Medicaid fraud costs Alabama taxpayers hundreds of millions

Cutting Welfare Fraud
Medicaid fraud costs Alabama taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimated that the national improper payment rate for Medicaid was 9.4%. The total net payments made for Medicaid in Alabama in 2011 were $5,234,351,464. Using the 9.4% estimate by HHS, Alabama had approximately $492,029,037.61 in Medicaid fraud in 2011 alone. As a taxpayer, I am outraged at the amount of fraudulent money paid to Medicaid beneficiaries and providers in Alabama. This is a blatant abuse of hard-earned tax dollars. Moreover, the dollar amount of Medicaid fraud in Alabama is significantly greater than the $437 million that the statewide constitutional amendment plans to transfer from the Alabama Trust Fund to the Alabama General Fund. This leads to the next question. Why don't we address the fraud in Medicaid before we take money from the ATF? This is a HUGE red flag.
What are practical solutions to the General Fund crisis?
1. Crackdown on Medicaid fraud in Alabama. In FY 2010, the Alabama Medicaid Agency reviewed 48 medical providers and 424 pharmacies, and they recovered $1.3 million in Medicaid fraud. This action led to a cost savings of $8.1 million. Also, the Alabama Medicaid Agency suspended 132 Medicaid beneficiaries for abuse and locked 840 Medicaid recipients into one doctor and pharmacy to prevent potential abuse. Medicaid fraud cases are referred to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Office of the Alabama Attorney General (AG). In fiscal year 2010, the AG's office handled 32 civil and seven criminal cases regarding Medicaid fraud in Alabama. These cases resulted in the return of $5,238,079 to the Alabama Medicaid Agency. The Alabama Medicaid Agency and the Office of the Alabama Attorney General are cracking down on Medicaid fraud, but it is not enough. With estimates of nearly $500 million in Medicaid fraud in a given year in Alabama, the Medicaid Agency and the AG's office need to step up their investigation and prosecution of Medicaid fraud. The hard-earned dollars of Alabama taxpayers should NOT fund Medicaid fraud anywhere in the state.

Alabama Conservative Candidates 2012 November Election Recommendations For a list of recommended conservative candidates in Alabama for 2012, state wide and local, visit:
Alabama American Conservative

What people tell me is that it's time for the politicians to live within their means. Fiscal discipline is the order of the day, especially as we face uncertain economic times ahead. The days of a flush state treasury may well be behind us and not return for some time. State officials tell us tax revenues are declining and we may well be facing proration.

Please write your local newspapers and tell them your stand on this issue that affects everyone in Alabama.

Do we need a new Alabama state constitution? What are the arguments for reform? Alabama Constitution Reform

Ten Commandments Information

Bill Pryor & The Ten Commandments