Dear Alabama Republican legislators: Are you kittens, or lions? We’re about to find out

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September 10, 2015

Dear Alabama Republican legislators,

I, like many conservatives around the state, watched in exasperation Wednesday as a committee dominated by Republican lawmakers approved tax hike after tax hike over the objections of Democrats.

After pushing through $130 million in tax increases, House General Fund Budget Chairman Steve Clouse was clearly pleased. He has one of the toughest jobs in state government trying to navigate Alabama’s dysfunctional budgeting process. And the last several months have been particularly frustrating for him as he and other legislative leaders have pursued tax increases with reckless abandon.

After months of bludgeoning conservatives into submission, they now sense that victory may be within their grasp.

Here is how Rep. Clouse described his efforts in an interview with reporters Wednesday afternoon:

This whole process has been like herding kittens. Every time you think you’ve got them all in the basket, one jumps out. Right now the kittens are all in the basket, but who knows when they might start jumping out later this afternoon.

Of all the commentary I have heard surrounding this week’s action at the State House, Rep. Clouse’s metaphor stuck out to me the most. I believe it is a vivid illustration of what has already taken place, and what is still yet to come.

On Thursday, House leadership’s enormous package of tax increases will come before the full House for a vote. Depending on how that plays out, the bills could ultimately make their way up to the Senate where the process will repeat itself.

In light of Rep. Clouse’s comments, I believe the question each Republican — each conservative — in the Legislature should ask themselves is, “Am I a kitten, or am I a lion?”

Will you be “herded” into the basket of go-along-to-get-along tax raisers? Or will you stand firm and continue being the Lions of reform you have shown yourselves to be in years past?

Some of the Lions are already making plans to roar onto the floor of the House and Senate, providing their constituents with the conservative voice they elected Republicans to be.

And do you know what they call a group of lions? A pride. Could any title be more fitting?

The average pride of lions in the wild consists of about 15 individuals. If that is enough for a pride to fend off attacks in Sub-Saharan Africa, surely that number — and I believe there are many more of you than that — is plenty to beat back unnecessary tax hikes being pushed by defenders of the status quo in the Alabama Legislature.

So, kitten, or Lion? The choice is yours, at least until the next election day.