MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Special session number one is in the books. Bring on round two.
Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday ended a special session without a budget as lawmakers remained unable to agree on taxes or cuts to address a looming fiscal shortfall. Gov. Robert Bentley said he will call lawmakers back to Montgomery in a second special session, making another attempt at persuading them to approve $300 million in tax increases to avoid reductions in state services.
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Del Marsh speaks during the brief opening of the called special session of the Alabama Legislature at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala. on Monday July 13, 2015.“The Legislature was unable to do what their only job is and that is to pass a budget. That was the reason they were called in, and they have failed,” Bentley said in a news conference outside the Alabama Capitol.
“It really boils down to, are we willing to make these drastic cuts and hurt the lives of the people of this state? Are we willing to close down state parks? Are we willing to close down hospitals? Are we willing to tell the children of this state that they can’t get immunizations?”
The budget debate revealed a political chasm between Republicans willing to discuss revenue options and those taking a hard line against tax increases. The GOP has a supermajority in both chambers but hasn’t been able to agree among themselves or with the Republican governor on what to do. Senators passed a cut-filled budget that House members rejected by an overwhelming 92-2 vote on Monday night.