Montgomery, AL- Legislators and Senators

The past 2 days I've been in Montgomery, Alabama for the Chamber's 2009 Montgomery Trip. We toured several buildings, had speakers, and then went over to the Alabama State House to observe our House of Representatives and Senators at work. I must say that this is my second trip to Montgomery in the past 3 weeks and I go again next Tuesday for my third trip down.

The first trip down I went with all the Tourism Industry people for "Tourism Rolls." We went down to hold up picket signs for 3 Tourism issues (Film, 7 day Sales, and school start date). After we held up the picket signs we went into the house gallery to watch the house at work. We lucked out and were able to see them pass the Film bill. This was my first time to see the the Gallery for a brief minute or two.

On this current trip with the chamber I was able to watch the house in action for a long time. After watching them it makes me a little bit uneasy about where my tax dollars are going. The house floor is like a beehive with people swarming around all over the place, talking on cell phones, and watching 1 Representative lock in votes for another. Can't that Representative lock in his own votes? I watched them pass a bill that would increase alcohol content in gourmet beers, the debate before the vote was ridiculous. Basically, the opposed rep. was Church bashing- I don't know what you do in your Church, but we don't do that in ours. They act like first graders! Just when I thought it could not get any worse we went upstairs to watch our Senators. All I can do is shake my head after that. One man was going to stop all local bills from going through because he could not get his bill on the list to be voted for. He also said, are you going to vote for my bill if I vote for yours? What kind of people do we running the State of Alabama.? Don't you fill good about your hard earned money at work? I DON'T!

Anyway, I go back to Montgomery next Tuesday for the annual Tourism Bash. It is a reception for Tourism Industry people to talk with our legislators and senators about the issues that we are facing. I hope it goes well and we have a large crowd of our elected officials. I believe I finally have enough knowledge on the issues at hand and how thing work that I can talk to our elected officials with no problem. You know like Children!