Can I&R be magic wand to fix state government?
Sunday, October 03, 2004 If I had a magic wand, I’d fix state government in Alabama. One wave of the wand and the money bags and lobbyists who crowd the hallways in the State House would disappear. Another wave of the wand and, voila!, pork money tucked in state budgets would be gone. Taxes would be fair, schools adequately funded, and a new constitution would be only a twist of the wrist away. Unfortunately, there is no magic wand to fix what ails government in Alabama. Or is there? California’s amazing recall of Gov. Gray Davis has some people here looking to the Golden Gate state in envy. The fact that dissatisfied citizens could fire the state’s chief executive with three years still left on his term amazed people everywhere. But it’s not California’s ability to recall and replace public officials that has some people seeing green. It’s that state electorate’s ability to bypass its legislature to enact laws the lawmakers won’t. It’s called initiative and referendum, and it’s someth
