Religious Group To Play Key Role In State’s 2001 Tax Reform Efforts

Tax reform efforts, heavily backed by the state’s Baptists, will take a step forward in Alabama during 2001, but the effort will not be completed next year, predicts a University of Alabama political scientist.

“You are going to see some movement on tax reform, but not closure,” says Dr. D’Linell Finley, a UA assistant professor of political science. “That movement will come about because Alabama Baptists and others have spoken out about the need for tax reform to alleviate some of the burden on the poor.”

While religion has always had some political influence in the state, Finley says a tax reform push by Alabama Baptists signals a more visible role for religion in Alabama politics in the coming year. “I think you will see the governor get with church leaders to discuss possible strategies for tax reform.”

After religious-backed opposition to an Alabama lottery helped defeat that proposal in 1999, churches were challenged to develop and support an alternative to the lottery, Finley said.

Another hot-button issue for Alabamians in the coming year will likely be teacher testing, Finley says. Like tax reform, this too will not be resolved in 2001, Finley predicts.

“I suspect that the question of teacher testing and competence will come up again as a way of improving our public school systems, but, as in the past, it will not be resolved.”

Voters’ approval of Amendment One – which diverted some of the state’s offshore natural gas and oil royalties for bonds to pay for various needs, including transportation upgrades and the recruitment of industry – will have a positive impact in the coming year, Finley said.

“People are going to be astonished at how much pressure will be taken away.”

The passage of Amendment One also increases the likelihood that the Rainy Day Fund will pass in an upcoming legislative session, Finley says. Amendment One ensures that the passage of Rainy Day savings will not come at the expense of any state programs, he says.