From the Center for American Progress: " ECONOMY - ALABAMA LIVES WITH ITS VOTE: Just six weeks ago, Alabama <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A51143-2003Sep9?language=printer";>shot down</A> an attempt by Gov. Bob Riley to reform taxes in an attempt to stem the hemorrhaging state budget. Although the state currently has "the nation's least equitable tax system" and the new system would have eased the tax burden on the poor, shifting it to "undertaxed business interests," a hard push from the conservative right - including the Christian Coalition - scared low-income Alabamians into voting against their best interests. And now there is no money. According to the <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/20/opinion/20MON3.html";>NYT</A>, as a result, "the carnage is piling up." State agencies have been cut by 18%, while other recipients of state funds lost three-quarters of their budgets. Currently, Alabamians are losing access to AIDS medication, after-school tutoring, special-needs camps and slashing jobs such as probation officers and health investigators. And that's just the start. "Next year agencies are bracing for a 56% hit . If the state cannot find more revenue — and Governor Riley is searching — it may be nearly impossible for basic services, including courts, prisons and police, to operate." "
Somewhere, a disgusting monster named Grover Norquist is happily chortling to himself over the "great thing" he thinks he's accomplished. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans not sophisticated enough to understand how their misery contributes to Norquist's grand plan, are suffering as their communities crash into ruin. <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A51143-2003Sep9?language=printer";>Tom Beck www.prydonians.org www.mercerjewishsingles.org "I always knew I'd see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed I'd see the last." - Dr Jerry Pournelle</A>
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