The Alabama Legislature convened for its 2008 session Feb. 5. To begin their work, the 35 senators and 105 representatives heard the governor’s State of the State message with his view of the key issues and recommendations for them.
There is an old saying: “A governor proposes but the legislature disposes.” Lawmakers have 105 days each year to develop state budgets and pass new laws, and they may use only 30 actual voting days within that time frame.
This amounts to an average of two “session” days a week for the 15-week session, normally Tuesdays and Thursdays. Legislative committees typically meet on Wednesdays to hear and shape proposed bills for formal votes “on the floor.”
In Alabama, as in most states, legislative service is not considered a full-time job. Legislators balance their duties with other means of earning a livelihood. Theirs is a well-paid second job when all types of compensation are considered. While the salary is only $1,050 a year, lawmakers also receive a monthly expense allowance of $3,850, which the Internal Revenue Service considers income because no vouchers are required to document its use. However, they do not have access to health insurance and a retirement program, as do their counterparts in all but one other Southeastern state. They also have to rely on their allowance if they want staff to handle issues raised by constituents; in several other states, better staffing is provided by the Legislature.
The public’s opinion
Alabama legislators are elected to four-year terms. In the last elections, held in 2006, almost a third were elected without any opposition and almost another third without a close race; the remaining third survived a very competitive contest. More than one-fifth of all seats turned over in those elections, a higher rate than in the typical state.
The most recent PARCA Quarterly contains information on legislative pay, staffing and competition (see http://parca.samford.edu). We also have surveyed public opinion on the Legislature. A third of respondents have contacted a legislator; they are divided on evaluating the legislative body but positive about their own representatives and about the state’s direction.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Jim Williams is executive director for the nonprofit, nonpartisan Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.
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