State Sen. Albritton: Ivey executive action ‘a transfer of legislative power to the executive and that makes me very uncomfortable’

Last week, Gov. Kay Ivey announced she would exercise power granted to her under a state of emergency to extend the expiration date on economic incentive packages and waive tax liabilities on CARES Act benefits.

Those actions taken had broad support from members of the legislature, as Ivey had pointed out in a tweet. However, it has also raised questions about the erosion of legislative powers and gains made by the state government’s executive branch.

State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), the chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, said he was concerned about the trend and describe Ivey’s decision as something that made him “very uncomfortable.”

“They’re very helpful to some of the people that have had to receive some of those benefits — I have no real issue,” Albritton said during an interview on Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5. “If bills came up, I would vote for those particular bills — yes, I’d vote for those. My concern is using her emergency powers. This is a transfer of legislative power to the executive, and that makes me very uncomfortable.”

“[R]ight now, the year 2020 has set a precedent of having fear control our lives almost completely,” he added. “When you have fear that is governing, you’re going to put the power in one hand, and then you’re on a road that concerns me.”

Albritton also spoke about what 2021 could have in store for the Alabama Legislature, arguing that the body should meet in February for the regular session without hesitation.

“We’ve got to do our job, though,” Albritton added. “We can’t just wait for somebody else to fix the problem before we start coming back into doing our jobs. We’ve got to find a way to do the job. And that’s what I’m pushing for.”

@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.