Baxley criticizes Riley on taxes

Here's Lucy, quoted in the B'ham News:

"I have a better vision for the future that will make Alabama work for everyone by overturning Riley's property tax increase (annual property reappraisals) and raising the minimum wage," said Baxley in a written statement.

"This is just one more example of Bob Riley saying one thing when he campaigns and doing another as governor. Riley says he opposes taxes, but he proposed the largest tax increase in the state's history in 2003 and when voters rejected it at the polls, Riley increased our property taxes with the stroke of a pen by ordering annual reappraisals."

Riley may deserve to be criticized for his support of the Amendment One back in 2003, but Lucy Baxley is hardly one to be casting stones. She has previously stated that even though she didn't actively campaign for the amendment, she voted for it on election day because "we have needs that need to be addressed." If you vote for something at the ballot box, doesn't that mean that you support it?

(It should also be noted that Mrs. Baxley hasn't really campaigned for anything during her term as Lieutenant Governor. If she had a position on any of the major issues that the state has faced over the past four years, she did a good job of keeping it a secret.)

As far a yearly reappraisals go, Lucy Baxley only announced her position on the issue last month, in spite of numerous opportunities to do so before then. Her opponent in the Democratic primary, Don Siegelman, spoke out against annual reappraisals throughout his campaign, and at one point accused Baxley of supporting them herself. Baxley's response to Siegelman's accusation was characteristically evasive. From the Decatur Daily:

On Monday, gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley denied she supports annual property tax appraisals as her Democratic opponent Don Siegelman contends. ...

Baxley said she never supported annual reappraisals for Alabama property tax purposes.

"I resent Mr. Siegelman's comments that would attempt to characterize my position as having done so," Baxley said.

"It is apparent he is willing to say or do anything to be elected, including playing fast and loose with the truth. If, as I believe the people want, this campaign is about honesty and integrity in government, Mr. Siegelman once again fails to meet the standard."

Baxley said the appraisal should follow state law.

She asked state Attorney General Troy King for a legal opinion, but he refused to issue one.

In a letter written on King's behalf, Assistant Attorney General Brenda Smith told Baxley that state law doesn't authorize the attorney general's office to issue advisory opinions on actions already taken. ...

"Gov. Riley interprets the law one way, and other state officials interpret differently," Baxley said. "I am not in favor of raising property taxes on Alabama citizens already struggling to keep up with the rising costs of living."

She said court rulings require consistency in taxation in all counties, but not all counties are complying with the existing order to appraise annually.

"Therefore, it's not fair to taxpayers in those counties who appraise annually," Baxley said. "As governor, I will see that property tax appraisals are conducted according to the law. If changes are needed in the law, it will be up to the state Legislature to do so."

There's not much daylight between that position, which Baxley stated back in November of last year, and Gov. Riley's position today. Nonetheless, Baxley now says that as Governor, she will reverse the Governor's decision. You have to wonder: is Mrs. Baxley's new-found opposition to annual reappraisals evidence of principle or political expediency?