Alabama lawmakers should return to conservative principles, reject tax hikes (opinion)

One of the pillars of the Alabama Free Market Alliance is the promotion of pro-growth tax reform. As a result, we frequently convey the harmful effects of the tax and spend philosophy on our economy. Now, as Republicans in the Alabama State House of Representatives contemplate a proposal to raise taxes by more than $150 million, this is an important time to reflect on some of the fundamentals of conservative governance that have previously made our state a beacon of economic freedom as the rest of our nation’s prospects of prosperity slowly dim.

Smaller government should be aspirational, not a fear tactic.

During the recent government spending debate, we have heard from some state officials that revenues have remained level the last several years, while government has grown during the same time period. Therefore, they say, we need to raise taxes in order to match that growth.

An astounding – and baffling – assertion.

Since when is there a requirement in this state that government must grow? Our conservative leaders have done admirable work since 2011 of cutting waste and creating efficiency. However, now is not the time to stop. Obviously, there is more work to be done. The people of Alabama have allocated to our state government an amount certain in each of the previous years. It is incumbent upon those in public office to operate our government within the means of that amount.

Those in opposition to that idea have haphazardly thrown out consequences ranging from wide-spread disease to the closing of hiking trails. Those of us who view smaller government as a virtue look forward to a less burdensome regulatory environment and greater individual freedom. One day soon, we might even be able to enjoy a return of our own hard-earned money in the form of a tax cut.

Common sense conservatism often requires real work.

As a small business owner, I am partial to those of us in that sector of the economy and our ability to engage in the fiscal debate and serve in public office. The reason why is because we must know every aspect of our business and how each aspect interacts with the others. This is a lot different than learning out of a textbook, and it forces us to develop some common sense. Maybe more importantly, a small businessman employing his common sense has days where he just has to roll up his sleeves and work. Sometimes it falls on you to do the bookkeeping, drive the truck, or take out the trash.

Common sense conservatism in government takes work, too. There are ways the state can save money, but it’s going to be tougher than waving the tax wand whereby other people’s money magically shows up in the state’s wallet.

For example, Sen. Arthur Orr has a package of bills to reduce the taxpayers’ obligations under the state retirement system. Sen. Shay Shelnutt has legislation to require that individual counties take responsibility for the retirement costs of county officials (why in the world would the state pay for that, anyway?). Rep. Will Ainsworth has legislation to prohibit earmarking of revenue and allow more room for flexibility and better stewardship of tax dollars. There is even the idea that we rid ourselves of the last vestige of teachers’ union control and operate a single, unified budget. Placing all education dollars in a separate budget used to be a means by which the AEA could maintain its grip on state government. As we all know, times have changed.

Our Founding Fathers created a system of governance under which our elected officials respond to the will of the people, not the other way around.

Liberal pundits love to shower words of praise, such as “courageous” and “bold,” upon Republicans who propose liberal agenda items. It’s the liberal way of providing encouragement to someone who has made a proposal in complete contradiction to the will of the people who elected them.

Those same pundits also attempt to advance the faulty premise that being responsive to the principles, values and ideals of the voters is “caving to political pressure” or “letting politics dictate their actions.”

That’s silly – and wrong.

We have a representative democracy. Voters elect someone to go to Montgomery because they are too busy minding their stores, plowing their fields, or taking care of their children. However, here’s the deal that’s struck: the elected official must carry the collective ideals of the voters with them. In the present issue, that means a commitment to not raising the tax burden on Alabama families and businesses.

Rather than elected officials deciding which government programs the people of this state want, they should let us decide. If by some chance, during the downsizing of state government, the absence of some government program becomes too much to endure, then the electorate will let their representatives know and permit an allocation of revenue to pay for it. Unless and until that unlikely scenario happens, conservative principles should prevail. Having spoken to groups across the state this year, I can say definitively that voters have zero appetite for any tax hikes.

I usually conclude my columns with a call for interaction with elected officials to let them know how we feel on a certain issue. In this case, it would be unnecessary because the citizens of this state have already thanked our legislators for not raising taxes by way of their votes at the ballot box this past November.

I am proud to call many members of the Alabama Legislature my friends, and I am hopeful that they will put themselves in a posture that will allow them to serve for many more years.

Paul Reynolds is the founder of the Alabama Free Market Alliance and is currently serving his second term as the state’s National Committeeman for the Republican National Committee.