It is not unusual for Alabama's highest-paid bureaucrat to use the Retirement Systems of Alabama's monthly newsletter, The Advisor, as a personal mouthpiece to spout off about his views on matters unrelated to RSA, and his January screed was no exception.

Bronner, whose monthly column is featured prominently below The Advisor nameplate in nearly every edition of the newsletter, dedicated this month's 300-plus words to attacking "conservative organizations" that opposed last session's so-called comprehensive gambling bill — one that would have picked winners and losers in the realm of casino gaming and created a behemoth state bureaucracy to regulate gambling that was championed as a bill that would "give the people the right to vote on a lottery."

"A handful of conservative organizations, like ALFA, Alabama Policy Institute, 1819 News, and Eagle Forum, make a habit of being argumentative about everything. That is perfectly fine, but for Alabama to improve, it needs these very smart conservatives to push forward some reasonable solutions to our problems," Bronner wrote. "Alabama has old problems, such as overcrowded prisons, underfunded State Troopers and mental health systems, and underperforming schools. Now we have new problems, like failing hospitals and overcrowded interstates. We need to continue funding workforce development efforts, while funding increases are needed for retirement and healthcare benefits."

According to Gov. Kay Ivey's gambling task force's 2020 report, revenue estimates ranged between $510 and $710 million. The task force acknowledged costs associated with legalized gambling "including government-sponsored treatment, prevention, and education services costs; societal family, economic, and judicial costs; and displaced tax revenue costs." However, it did not offer a precise dollar amount.

Assuming the revenue generated is on the upper side of that projection, $710 million, minus the costs of instituting legalized gambling in Alabama, would barely put a dent in the price of Alabama's grossly underestimated $2 billion prison problem and satisfy an insatiable education constituency and bureaucracy.

Regardless of how the revenue is generated, government handouts to failing hospitals would, at best, create underutilized zombie hospitals in rural areas with declining populations, thus no customer base, and, at worst, an environment ripe for waste and fraud.

As for our overcrowded interstates, maybe we can start by rethinking a West Alabama Corridor that exceeded its $800 million price tag and will now assume a federal-unmatched $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion burden on the state's General Fund budget.

If Bronner were sincere about solving the state's old and new problems, he would look beyond harping on a solution that applies the State of Alabama seal to legalizing and legitimizing a vice that contradicts millions of Alabamians' religious, moral and ethical beliefs.

It is not up to citizens or conservative organizations, like ALFA, Alabama Policy Institute, 1819 News and Eagle Forum, to provide solutions to the state's problems. When the duly elected legislature rejects a harebrained proposal like last year's gambling legislation, it's not up to very smart conservatives to provide solutions for problems, some of which are government-created. It is up to elected government officials and very smart liberal bureaucrats like Bronner to offer viable alternatives.

Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.

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