House Speaker McCutcheon downplays 2020 special session possibility — Cites election year, COVID

This year’s legislative session was cut short because of the threat of COVID-19. In the name of mitigating the danger of the virus, leadership in the House and the Senate opted not to return for the 2020 general sessions until the last few days and pass a budget.

Many legislative priorities went unfulfilled for 2020, including prison reform, which has been a hot button for state government, given the heightened federal government scrutiny. At the time of the postponement, many expected Gov. Kay Ivey to call a special session.

However, recently on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” House Speaker Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) dismissed those prospects given the election season and the threat of the coronavirus.

“When you look at the schedule for the next regular session, it’s going to be in February, and it’ll be early in the new year,” he said. “We’re looking at an election year. Campaigns are going on right now and presidential election in November. And when you add to that the number of cases we have from the COVID virus, and the situation that we’re in when it comes to trying to social distance, be safe, the public having access to the statehouse — when you look at all the issues that we’re facing of trying to come in for a special session, right now I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

McCutcheon said he hoped to wait until 2021 to tackle legislative work.

“I would like to see us wait until we get into the first of the year,” he stated. “Hopefully, and I say this with optimism — that there may be some type of vaccine that will help give some people some assurance to be able to help in this virus situation. Also, the cure status is getting better in the medical field for the people that have the COVID. I think waiting is something that I hope the governor would do until we get into the new year.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.