By Staff
Bob Ingram, Alabama Scene
MONTGOMERY – Henry P. "Hank" Fowler Jr., a decorated hero of the Vietnam War, has announced his candidacy for a seat on the State Supreme Court.
Fowler made it clear where he stands. He is an admirer of Roy Moore and as a matter of fact currently serves as senior attorney for Justice Tom Parker of the high court. Parker was endorsed by Moore in his successful race for the high court two years ago.
Fowler was a fighter pilot in Vietnam where he was shot down and spent six years as a prisoner of war. He was awarded two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star.
He warned (not without justification) that in all likelihood the special interests in Alabama – the AEA in particular – would most likely elect a majority of delegates and write a constitution to their liking.
But I had scarcely put my words on paper defending Moore when he made an incredulous charge about the report of a mad cow being found in Alabama.
He suggested that the report of the diseased cow was a political conspiracy designed to give impetus to a bill pending in the legislature that he opposes. The measure would require the tagging of cows so it would be easier to track them in the event of an outbreak of the disease.
"I spoke out against this," Moore has said repeatedly. "All of a sudden it stalls a little bit in the Senate. Then we get this mad cow report that comes out in the paper. It's a strange coincidence."
This conspiracy he alludes to, if it were so, would give new meaning to strange fellows in the same political bed.
It would mean that Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks – who gives new meaning to "Yellow Dog Democrat" – was in cahoots with Republican Gov. Bob Riley and all the Republicans in Washington.
Sparks shook his head in disbelief at Moore's allegations.
"Do you think we wanted a case of mad cow disease in Alabama?" he asked. "The Lord knows we didn't."
He has now amended the bill so that its provisions will apply only to three lakes, Weiss, Martin and Lake Wedowee (Harris Lake.)
The amended bill includes the same "grandfather" clause as the earlier draft. People who presently own boats longer that the proposal allows would be permitted to continue to use them, but no new ones could be added.
A measure sponsored by Sen. Ted Little, D-Auburn, which would have called for a constitutional convention, died quietly in the Senate last week. Despite the setback, Little was upbeat about the future of this legislation. He noted that a Senate committee early in the session had unanimously voted in favor of the referendum.
This project has statewide implications because the local officials in Birmingham have asked the state to contribute millions in taxpayer dollars to the project.