By Staff
Grantland wrong to accept raise
Editor:
Ronald Grantland submits a guest column about the need for campaign finance reform, after he votes himself a 62 percent legislative pay raise. That's an oxymoron, if I ever heard of one. Sort of like talking out of both sides of your mouth at the same time. But, one must remember, he's a politician. I agree with him that there is a "veil of secrecy" in Alabama politics, but the secrecy is more like a tarpaulin, than a veil. This applies to Hartselle's politics, as well.
Looking at the latest "hi-jinks" that were pulled by our elected state level politicians, it is very evident how the time line comes into play here. It was their first vote in session.
This will allow 3 1/2 years to pass by, before they run for office again. By then, their hope is that you will forget about their shenanigans, like you did when reelecting Bob Riley. Mr. Grantland wrote about "shadows and concealment hurting the political process." What about the shadows and concealment regarding the pay raise, hurting the integrity of the position that he serves?
Statewide polls showed that approximately 75-80 percent of the people opposed this bill. These people knew full well when running for office, what the pay was. They want you to believe that it is a financial burden for them to travel to Montgomery for 35 days out of a year, and that they needed extra pay. What many of you don't know, is many of them get their motels, food, gas, etc., paid for them by lobbyists. Most of them have other jobs, which are high paying jobs as well.
Lastly, Mr. Grantland was a party to those who included another item in the bill that allowed them to have a yearly "cost of living" raise. If one would to use a low figure of a 2 percent yearly "cost of living" increase, in less than 10 years, they would be making almost $60,000 a year for 35 days of work, out of every year. If Mr. Grantland and others that voted yes for this bill are so worried about their finances, why don't they just go and get a secondary job at a two year college in Alabama.
I hear that there are many positions still open and are available, just for the asking. Mr. Grantland's column about campaign finance reform is merely nothing but a perfect example of smoke and mirrors.
Mike Dowdy
Hartselle
Clearing up Rountree confusion
Editor:
There has been some confusion about Rountree Field as the name of Hartselle’s Airport. The airport honors Asa Rountree, Jr., who was for many years director of aeronautics for the state of Alabama.
He was also the son of the founding editor of what is now the Hartselle Enquirer, Asa Rountree, Sr. I’m not aware that Mr. Rountree Jr. ever lived in Hartselle.
He grew up in Birmingham where his parents moved after his dad took a job with the Age-Herald. It may be presumptuous of me to say, but I don’t believe Mr. Rountree, Jr., would object to the renaming of the Hartselle airport.
He was always in favor of whatever would encourage aviation and never asked that the local airport be named for him.
Bill Stewart