The Anniston Star today published a short and simple rebuke of Democratic State Representative Alvin Holmes’ claim that House Speaker Mike Hubbard engaged in racist hiring practices when filling out his staff. The op-ed was penned by an Opelika man named Dan Broughton who pointed out the “strong stench of hypocrisy in Alvin Holmes’ accusations.”
From the Anniston Star:
State Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, is beating his racist drum again. In a recent story in the Montgomery Advertiser, he’s complained that House Speaker Mike Hubbard lacks racial diversity among his six employees. Holmes further charged that Hubbard hired more staff than previous speakers, even though the duties are the same.
Hubbard says he hired six people instead of four, but total salaries remain comparable. Holmes, who is a leader of the Legislative Black Caucus, is threatening a federal lawsuit if Hubbard doesn’t “correct the situation.” As usual, there is a strong stench of hypocrisy in Alvin Holmes’ accusations.
He and the Black Caucus were absolutely silent last time the issue of hiring practices made the news. It was early 2011 when Sen. Del Marsh took over as Senate president pro tempore. Marsh replaced Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham. During Smitherman’s tenure, he had 40 employees on his payroll. Media reports said Smitherman’s annual payroll was $1.8 million, including a $180,000 salary for his chief of staff.
These glaring issues provoked no comments from Holmes, even though Marsh needed only five individuals to do the job of the 40 “workers” in Smitherman’s office. Marsh’s common-sense hiring practice is currently saving Alabamians $1.4 million annually.
Let’s hope the U.S. attorney or Alabama’s attorney general will show more interest in protecting taxpayers than have Holmes, Smitherman and the Black Caucus.
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