Alabama Republicans Set Agenda

Last week, Republicans in the state legislature announced an agenda for 2005 that includes:

Enacting a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage

Stopping the Revenue Department's plan to convert every county to annual property reappraisals. Property would instead be reappraised every four years, as it was prior to an order by the Riley administration.

Combining the two boards that oversee the health insurance programs for state workers and education employees and no longer allowing active and retired employees to control a majority of the seats on the board.

Giving new power to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to close colleges.

Setting a cap on how much the Legislature can appropriate each year by not letting it exceed the average of the revenue estimates by the Executive Budget Office and the Legislative Fiscal Office.

Banning "pass-through pork" projects.

Banning the transfer of money between political action committees.

Strengthening the state's open meetings law and increase the fines for a violation.

Placing public school administrators and assistant administrators on contracts rather than being given tenure.