ALLEN FARLEY / GUEST COLUMNIST

Journalist Chuck Dean published an article on April 19 entitled “Gov. Bentley’s tax plan offers a solution to crisis but spineless legislators duck and cover (Opinion)”.  Chuck clearly states in his article that “much of our Legislature is made up of spineless men and women.”  However, he then talks about Governor Bentley’s upcoming trip to Lake Guntersville State Park where Chuck writes: “My guess is Bentley is going to do the worst thing a politician can do to other politicians – tell the truth about them.”
My first term in the Alabama Legislature began following the November 2010 general elections. That was also the election Robert Bentley began his first term as Alabama’s Governor. During that first term I made two trips over to talk privately with my friend Governor Bentley about things that were troubling me.
(You see, I look at Governor Bentley not only as our governor, but also as a Christian brother). So, I felt right at home talking, sharing and praying with our governor about things that I felt were vitally important to the future of my Jefferson County constituents and the citizens of the state of Alabama. Sadly, on both occasions, after leaving the governor’s office I never heard from him.
I don’t believe the conservatives currently serving in the Alabama Legislature are “spineless” for sticking to our campaign promises of “No new taxes” until we have had a chance to thoroughly discuss the 91 percent of our “earmarked” state budget. And, I also believe it would be the right thing for the governor to walk across the street and meet with the men and women of the Alabama Legislature before going to a state park and talk about us.

Genesis 42:31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.

God Bless America!!!

Allen Farley represents portions of Jefferson and Shelby Counties in the Alabama Legislature’s House District 15. He can be contacted at allenfarley@bellsouth.net, or (205)-960-7526.