02-18-2005, 11:56 AM
It's about time someone stood up to the backhanded treatment Birmingham has been receiving. Even those opposed to the dome in the Birmingham Metro acknowledge that the state has continued to ignore Birmingham. Some of you I'm sure will disagree, but I'm proud of Rogers and the rest of the Metro area representatives for standing up to the good ole boys in Montgomery.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dome `holy war' locks the House
Friday, February 18, 2005
KIM CHANDLER
News staff writer
MONTGOMERY - Jefferson County lawmakers shut down the House of Representatives Thursday over the state's refusal to help pay for a domed stadium in the county.
"This is holy war for us. We are not going to quit," said Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham.
Birmingham-area lawmakers formed a united front to filibuster for five hours to delay a bill that would give the State Port Authority $80 million from the Alabama Capital Improvement Trust Fund. Birmingham area lawmakers argued that the domed stadium project was equally deserving of funding.
"The dome is about economic development. This will create more jobs than Honda and Mercedes," Rogers said.
The filibuster began in the morning and dragged on until 4:30 p.m. The House is expected to move on to other bills Tuesday, but Rogers said he will start stalling tactics again anytime the port bill comes up.
"We want y'all to get your piece. We just want a little piece, too," said Rep. Priscilla Dunn, D-Bessemer.
The "piece" that domed-stadium backers want is $150 million from the state in the form of $5 million annual contributions for 30 years. Gov. Bob Riley has turned down the request, saying that much money was not possible but the state could support the project in other ways.
"Governor Riley has been consistent in his commitment to economic development for Birmingham and Jefferson County, as well as every other part of the state," said John Matson, Riley's deputy press secretary.
Matson said the state docks were specifically mentioned in the constitutional amendment voters approved when they created the Capital Improvement Trust Fund in 2000.
"This money was promised to the port," Matson said.
Feeling `left out':
The Jefferson delegation, which has often fractured along racial and party lines, was united Thursday in the filibuster.
Rep. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, said he wasn't for the dome project, but felt more money should be steered to the state's most populous county.
"I do firmly believe Jefferson County has been left out of the mix in economic development," Beason said.
He said the county has missed prospects. "We have lost out on many opportunities to bring in industry and business."
Rogers introduced a bill Thursday to direct the $150 million over 30 years from the Capital Improvement Trust Fund to the dome project. Lawmakers said they wanted that bill to move as a package with the port bill. The fund is projected to have a $150 million balance this fiscal year.
Speaker of the House Seth Hammett said he understood Jefferson County lawmakers' concerns, but feared the dome funding would create a free-for-all.
"Once you add moneys for Jefferson County for the project they want, then you'll have members adding other projects they want," Hammett said.
Rep. John Knight, chairman of the House General Fund, said the state simply couldn't afford the dome.
"I'm not opposed to a domed stadium or anything else that we'd like to try and do in this state, but at some point, we have to be realistic in terms of what we can afford," Knight said.
Rogers and other area lawmakers disputed the assertion that the state didn't have the money.
Supporters of the proposed $567 million, 65,000-seat stadium have been stuck trying to put together the final pieces of the funding puzzle. The project needs $10 million a year more in commitments, and backers had hoped to receive $5 million from the state and $5 million from the City of Birmingham.
Rogers said Jefferson County and its legislative delegation were being snubbed by state leaders.
"Give us some respect. We are 18 members strong, and we get no respect. We are the Rodney Dangerfield of the Legislature," Rogers said.
If the filibuster continues, an option available to House members is to vote to cut off debate. Rogers said if that happened, he would expand his stalling tactics to other bills.
"I promise you I'll go on a guerrilla mission for the next two years. I am determined to go down fighting," Rogers said.
E-mail: kchandler@bhamnews.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dome `holy war' locks the House
Friday, February 18, 2005
KIM CHANDLER
News staff writer
MONTGOMERY - Jefferson County lawmakers shut down the House of Representatives Thursday over the state's refusal to help pay for a domed stadium in the county.
"This is holy war for us. We are not going to quit," said Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham.
Birmingham-area lawmakers formed a united front to filibuster for five hours to delay a bill that would give the State Port Authority $80 million from the Alabama Capital Improvement Trust Fund. Birmingham area lawmakers argued that the domed stadium project was equally deserving of funding.
"The dome is about economic development. This will create more jobs than Honda and Mercedes," Rogers said.
The filibuster began in the morning and dragged on until 4:30 p.m. The House is expected to move on to other bills Tuesday, but Rogers said he will start stalling tactics again anytime the port bill comes up.
"We want y'all to get your piece. We just want a little piece, too," said Rep. Priscilla Dunn, D-Bessemer.
The "piece" that domed-stadium backers want is $150 million from the state in the form of $5 million annual contributions for 30 years. Gov. Bob Riley has turned down the request, saying that much money was not possible but the state could support the project in other ways.
"Governor Riley has been consistent in his commitment to economic development for Birmingham and Jefferson County, as well as every other part of the state," said John Matson, Riley's deputy press secretary.
Matson said the state docks were specifically mentioned in the constitutional amendment voters approved when they created the Capital Improvement Trust Fund in 2000.
"This money was promised to the port," Matson said.
Feeling `left out':
The Jefferson delegation, which has often fractured along racial and party lines, was united Thursday in the filibuster.
Rep. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, said he wasn't for the dome project, but felt more money should be steered to the state's most populous county.
"I do firmly believe Jefferson County has been left out of the mix in economic development," Beason said.
He said the county has missed prospects. "We have lost out on many opportunities to bring in industry and business."
Rogers introduced a bill Thursday to direct the $150 million over 30 years from the Capital Improvement Trust Fund to the dome project. Lawmakers said they wanted that bill to move as a package with the port bill. The fund is projected to have a $150 million balance this fiscal year.
Speaker of the House Seth Hammett said he understood Jefferson County lawmakers' concerns, but feared the dome funding would create a free-for-all.
"Once you add moneys for Jefferson County for the project they want, then you'll have members adding other projects they want," Hammett said.
Rep. John Knight, chairman of the House General Fund, said the state simply couldn't afford the dome.
"I'm not opposed to a domed stadium or anything else that we'd like to try and do in this state, but at some point, we have to be realistic in terms of what we can afford," Knight said.
Rogers and other area lawmakers disputed the assertion that the state didn't have the money.
Supporters of the proposed $567 million, 65,000-seat stadium have been stuck trying to put together the final pieces of the funding puzzle. The project needs $10 million a year more in commitments, and backers had hoped to receive $5 million from the state and $5 million from the City of Birmingham.
Rogers said Jefferson County and its legislative delegation were being snubbed by state leaders.
"Give us some respect. We are 18 members strong, and we get no respect. We are the Rodney Dangerfield of the Legislature," Rogers said.
If the filibuster continues, an option available to House members is to vote to cut off debate. Rogers said if that happened, he would expand his stalling tactics to other bills.
"I promise you I'll go on a guerrilla mission for the next two years. I am determined to go down fighting," Rogers said.
E-mail: kchandler@bhamnews.com
