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Alabama NewsAlabama Politics
Christmas Spirit Reigns in Alabama Legislature
By Sen. Bill Armistead
Posted on: December 26, 2001
The fourth and final special session of the legislature ended Friday with a special Christmas gift for public education in Alabama. After three weeks of negotiations during the special session, the legislature overwhelmingly approved measures that would prevent cuts in public education in our state for a second year in a row.
Gov. Don Siegelman railed against the legislature for not passing his tax plan claiming it was the only way to come up with the necessary funding for education. Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate overwhelmingly rejected his punitive plan to overtax companies in Alabama who are the lifeblood of our state’s economy.
The Siegelman tax proposal was so off base that the Democrat leadership in both the House and Senate led the efforts scrap his plan. Having done that, Republicans and Democrats in both houses worked together like I have never seen before to come up with a solution to the funding shortage in the education budget.
In prior sessions Gov. Siegelman had been so partisan in his legislative efforts that he pitted Democrats against Republicans. But this time, he pitted himself against the entire legislature. This probably explains why it was easier for Republicans and Democrats to work together in this session. Working in harmony to solve this problem was a refreshing change and maybe it is a sign of the times to come as we return to our regular session in January.
I, however, sensed that there might be more reasons for our spirit of cooperation. There is no denying that September 11 had an impact on all of our lives and I believe since that day there has been a greater understanding and sensitivity between members of the legislature. With a greater appreciation of how temporal things are on this earth, there tends to be a greater appreciation of one another as individuals.
Then, of course, there was the ever-present Christmas spirit that seemed to temper all of our attitudes. Just knowing that we were only days away from celebrating the birth of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, gave all of us optimism as we worked through the legislative process. When our focus is on Him, as it should always be, we can accomplish great things.
Not to be overlooked, also, was the fact that our opening prayers in the Senate during this special session were offered by various Senators as opposed to having clergy come in to pray for our proceedings. The sincerity of those offering the prayers was obvious, which I believe set the tone for our successful session.
There is something to be said about the transparency of going to the Father before your peers seeking His divine guidance and direction. But, we should not be surprised at the result of the outpouring of heartfelt prayers. Jesus says in the scriptures, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
As we all gather with family and friends this Christmas, let us remember that there are those who are not with their family this Christmas. Some have been separated because of the war that our nation is fighting abroad and others have lost their loved ones. We should especially remember the children who lost a parent or grandparent during the tragic event of September 11, for this will be a most difficult Christmas for them.
But more than anything, we should remember those who have never known the redeeming love of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate. And how can they know Him unless we tell them? This Christmas, may those of us who know Him share the greatest blessing ever known to mankind - the Messiah.
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