ARTK

Whistling Past the Fiscal Graveyard

info@alabamapolicy.org — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:39:00 GMT

by Gary Palmer

With all the talk of proration and deep cuts in state spending, most people in Alabama are well aware of the dire financial condition of the state of Alabama. What they probably do not realize is that the situation is even worse than it appears and is getting worse.

Alabama, like almost every other state, is carrying massive unfunded liabilities for state and education employee pensions and health benefits that are requiring massive payments to remain solvent. Almost $1 billion of the $5.6 billion 2011 education budget passed during the last legislative session was to keep Alabama’s pension programs funded. Just over $1 billion more was appropriated to keep the health benefits programs funded.

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OUR VIEW: The Alabama Right to Know project provides a great public service

info@alabamapolicy.org — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:27:00 GMT

By Birmingham News editorial board

May 13, 2010, 5:45AM

Here, courtesy of Thomas Jefferson, is further proof our Founding Fathers got this whole representative democracy experiment right:

"We might hope to see the finances of the Union as clear and intelligible as a merchant's books, so that every member of Congress and every man of any mind in the Union should be able to comprehend them, to investigate abuses, and consequently to control them."

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EDITORIAL: PACs a recipe for deception

info@alabamapolicy.org — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:59:00 GMT

It's a nearly extinct virtue when it comes to who is behind many campaign advertisements. A simple warning to voters as Alabama's election season kicks into high gear: Groups identified in the disclaimers may not be who they portray themselves as.

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