Things could get ugly in Alabama:
With voters overwhelmingly rejecting a massive tax hike, it’s up to legislators to figure out how to run schools and government for another year despite a $675 million deficit.
With 100 percent of the precincts reporting Tuesday, 866,623 people, or 68 percent, opposed Gov. Bob Riley’s $1.2 billion tax plan, while 416,310, or 32 percent, voted for it.
The governor was expected to call the Legislature into special session Monday to deal with the red ink. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Riley and several leading lawmakers have said they would follow the voters’ wishes and make cuts if need be. The governor has said cuts could include releasing 5,000 inmates, ending nursing home care for hundreds of elderly citizens, and curtailing prescription medicines for the mentally ill.
State Sen. Hank Sanders, chairman of the Senate education budget writing committee, said he can’t imagine legislators raising taxes now.
be the first to find a lefty blog blaming this directly or indirectly on Bush.