We must all have great sympathy for Governor Riley at this point. He is a good man, and I believe that he will do only that which he sincerely believes to be right and good for our state-- at least insofar as he is in control of affairs.

But his control is limited, limited by the powerful special-interest forces in Montgomery. And none is more limiting than that of the teachers union headed by AEA/NEA Czar Paul Hubbert.

This week reports from Montgomery, once again, have shown just how powerful Hubbert is. Mobile Register reporter Bill Barrow, for example, writes that Riley has been working on a deal with Hubbert for weeks, paying scant attention to legislators, and none to you and me. And not until he "struck [a] deal with AEA chief Hubbert" did he issue a call for a special session. Riley dared not move until Hubbert blessed his plans.

Read Barrow's Articles
May 13	May 14
May 15	May 16

According to reporter Barrow the visible part of this deal includes a proposal for the largest tax increase in Alabama history, and an overall agenda for increased taxing and spending of which any good Democrat could be proud. (I want, as much as possible, to keep these messages focused solely on the need to curb the AEA, but the issue of taxation is so closely intertwined with every political question that it is impossible to avoid discussing it. For a more detailed discussion see my article on SuppressedNews.)

It is hard to believe that this is really Riley's agenda. It's easy to believe that it is Hubbert's agenda. And that, of course, begs the question: Who is in fact the governor of our state? Is it the man we elected, or is it the one who has amassed enormous power through skill and chicanery in organizing the largest union in the state, the teachers union?

Even granting any exaggeration of which I may be accused, this is a regrettable state into which we have fallen. But we should not blame Bob Riley. We should blame ourselves, blame us Republicans. It is our natural duty to counter such aberrations as Mr. Hubbert. But year by year we have sat respectfully silent, watching his power grow, and grow, and grow, our voices muted by his bountiful money which he gave and we accepted.

It is time, and indeed past time, that we did our duty. Let us curb Czar Hubbert. And let us begin by rejecting his briberous money.

Sincerely yours,

Hugh McInnish
Madison County, Place 1
State Executive Committee