Newly-elected ALGOP chairman calls for more reforms, not tax increases

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March 5, 2015

ALGOP Chairwoman Terry Lathan (Photo screen captured from video)

MOBILE, Ala. — Alabama Republican party chairwoman Terry Lathan, a Mobile native, sat down with Mobile CBS affiliate WKRG earlier this week to discuss her thoughts on the Governor’s $541 million tax increase proposal.

“No new taxes. That’s pretty much the bread and butter of our party,” Lathan said during the interview.

“Our state has been called the ‘reddest’ state in America, and we’re proud of that. We’re not going to back away from that.”

Lathan believes that the fiscal problems facing the state today are the result of bad policy enacted during the 136 years of Democratic control of the state.

“Republicans have only been in charge the last four years,” she said, “and we have done some phenomenal things in just four years.”

The ALGOP chairwoman went on the praise the work by the Governor and State Legislature to “right size” state government since being elected in 2010.

“It’s my understanding in four years, the Republican legislature, along with Governor Bentley, has cut $4 billion,” Lathan said. “That is amazing. According to some of the legislators that I’ve spoken to, that they’re quite finished doing that yet.”

The Alabama State Legislature convened for the 2015 session Tuesday, and already has a full slate of reforms on its agenda.

House Speaker Mike Hubbard has said he will give the Governor’s proposal a fair hearing, but is doubtful it will pass as is.

“I don’t see that the Governor’s package will pass in its entirety, and you know it never does,” Hubbard said in a recent interview with radio talk show host Matt Murphy, adding that the Governor can only propose a budget while it is the Legislature’s job to introduce and pass a bill.

“We have some ideas and some things that we can do, that also includes, quite frankly, shrinking government even more, and making it more efficient and more consolidation.”

Similarly, Alabama Senate Republican proposals focus on consolidating state agencies and departments, making continued adjustments to Medicaid, and reforming the prison system.

With the State Legislature and ALGOP leadership considering a completely different approach than the Governor’s to shoring up the $265 million hole in the general fund budget, chances that the state’s executive branch will get what it wants are looking increasingly slim.