It has been nearly a week since Gov. Kay Ivey revealed a $200 million line-item proposal for a new statehouse in a so-called “wish list” the legislature offered for funds allocated to Alabama from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, done as a way according to some to embarrass members of the legislature in opposition to giving her sole discretion over an estimated $1.8 billion.
On Tuesday, State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Daphne), a member with a history of run-ins with the Ivey administration, criticized the move but noted the long-term consequences it would have for Ivey and her relationship with lawmakers.
Elliott told “The Jeff Poor Show” on Huntsville radio’s WVNN he saw the move by the Ivey as “disingenuous.”
“I think it’s very disingenuous to put that list out there in the manner the governor did,” Elliott said. “It was something that got her some short-term domination of that particular media cycle. But good gracious at the damage it has done behind the scenes. I mean, it has really poisoned the well when you start talking about the ability of the legislature, specifically legislative leadership, that was burned by that. They’re having an honest conversation trying to figure out what we can and can’t spend this money on. I don’t think anybody in the State House with the exception of maybe just a very few people are honestly talking about, still talking about whether or not a new statehouse is in order or whether or not CARES Act money could be used for that.”
He continued, “To take a brainstorming session, a spit-balling type of document between staff members and the highest levels of leadership trying to make the decision, or at least move the ball on what we can and cannot use this money for — I mean, there are dozens of those lists floating around right. But to use that in the manner in which it was used, and to act as though that is some list that has been approved or even known about by a number of members of the legislature is just flat disingenuous. I think it is unfortunate, and I think it bodes not well at all for the balance of the governor’s term and her interaction with the legislature.”
Elliott said Ivey’s decision to use the “wish list” as a political weapon went beyond hurt feelings and could threaten some of the significant initiatives she was pursuing, including the construction of new prisons and a once-and-for-all resolution on gambling in Alabama.
“It’s not just hard feelings,” Elliott said. “It’s a trust level that I don’t think will return, quite frankly, in time for the governor to finish her term in the next two years. It has, forgive the pun, burnt another bridge. And I think it is not going to come back.”
“[T] here’s not going to be a lot of working relationship in my opinion between this governor and the state legislature for the next couple of years,” he added. “It’s burnt, I’m afraid.
@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 Huntsville’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 2-5 p.m. on WVNN.
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