When elected officials dodge their duties, trust in democracy erodes.
In Washington, debates rage over whether an “autopen” signed critical documents like Executive Orders, pardons, and possible legislation, as well as who authorized the signatures.
Alabama faces a similar accountability crisis: Our legislators often allow others to vote on their behalf while absent from the State Capitol.
The Alabama Legislature meets just 30 days annually, with three-day workweeks leaving ample time for personal or constituent matters. Yet some representatives fail to show up for these brief sessions. While emergencies arise, excessive absences are unacceptable. No formal roll calls track attendance and proxy voting – where one legislator casts another’s vote – takes place, undermining democracy.
Compounding this, many legislators use private emails like Yahoo, Gmail, or business email services for public business, risking violations of the Alabama Open Records Act, which demands transparent records. These cloud-based services obscure communications, making accountability and retrieval nearly impossible, thereby shielding officials from scrutiny and deniability.
Alabamians deserve transparency and accountability from their elected officials. First, mandate roll calls to confirm attendance. Second, mark absent legislators’ votes as such – no more proxy votes! Third, enforce state email use for official business. These reforms would ensure accountability and restore confidence.
Many of these representatives are private business owners or work for corporations. They know that if they ran their private businesses as inefficiently as they run our government, they would be out of business in no time.
We, the citizens, must also do our due diligence, ensuring our representatives fulfill their obligations to us, the people who elected them.
We further need to demand that those who have taken an oath to faithfully and honestly discharge their duties actually uphold that oath. Alabamians must demand change by contacting their representatives, demanding transparency, and supporting candidates who treat public office with the seriousness of a well-run business.
Alabama’s democracy depends on leaders who show up and serve openly – let’s demand nothing less. If they don’t, then we hold the power to vote someone into the office that will. Term-limits and change start at the ballot box.
Charles "Kip" Kiplinger is Vice President of North Central Alabama Republican Assembly.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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