Why is Bedford questioning task force’s money?

As everyone in Alabama knows, the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling has launched a full-scale attack on illegal gambling in the state. What everyone may not be aware of is some state politicians are trying to shut the task force down. One would have to wonder why those who are sworn to represent all the people of the state would want to stop what the Alabama Supreme Court has said is illegal gambling.

Sen. Roger Bedford, in a letter to task force commander John Tyson dated Feb. 2, 2010, requested an accounting of the expenditures and the source of funding for the task force. He has asked for man-hours, overtime, etc. There is nothing that I can see wrong with accountability. I believe state employees should be accountable to those of us who pay their salary through taxes. As well as how they spend tax money. After all, it is our tax money that they are living on and spending.

He states in his letter to Mr. Tyson that he is concerned that state budgets are in financial crisis, the Education Trust Fund is in proration of 7.5 percent, and that the governor is expected to prorate the General Fund approximately 12 percent later this year. So he wants to know where this task force money is coming from. Now that’s a fair question to ask. If that is the only reason he is asking for the information.

I believe Sen. Bedford (also an employee of the citizens of Alabama) should not ask Mr. Tyson to do something that he would not do himself. So, will Mr. Bedford also give the taxpayers an accounting of all the tax money he has given out. He is pictured weekly in local papers passing out checks two and three at a time, and has ever since he has been in office. The money he hands out is tax money--not money from his own little piggy bank. Mr. Bedford says this money is from the discretionary fund. Call it what he will, it is still taxpayer money. Why was such a fund established in the first place?

The people should wonder why any elected official would want to slow down or hinder law enforcement from shutting down so-called businesses the Supreme Court says are illegal. Every time the task force has gone before the Supreme Court, they have won again and again.

So how about it, Mr. Bedford: Will you admit that all the money you are dishing out is tax money? If state finances are so bad, why has your discretionary cash cow not dried up? Why should schools and law enforcement do without while you walk around with checks waiting for a photo-op? If there is some surplus, why not be a little less discrete and give all the people of your district a check and call it a tax refund instead of only a select few? That would help create jobs, stimulate the economy and keep the money in the state. After all, they all hired--I mean elected--you. Don't they deserve it?

Sincerely, I am,

Rev. Larry Harkness

1181 Rose Hill Road

Nauvoo, Alabama 35578

If we need to change, we can do it without any outside help

I am always amused at some people's interpretation of us people here in Marion County, Alabama. It seems they think we are a sweaty, stupid, backward, group of rednecks.

If so, that is the way I like it and most of us enjoy our lifestyle and don't want a change. If we do, we will change it. We are not that stupid. We can do it without any outside help.

Mules, William's Creek and mockingbirds--that's what Marion County is to me. I've traveled lots of other places, but there's no other place on this earth I'd rather be.

‘Cause there's no place like the William's Creek farm and plowing a mule on the side of a hill or sweeter'n the sound of a mockingbird singing perched on a limb of the tree by the old water mill.

Mules, William's Creek and mockingbirds . . . Who could ask for more? As I write this, I can see all three through a hole in my old log house door.

Joel Palmer

333 County Road 29

Hamilton, Alabama 35570


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