MONTGOMERY — Members of the Alabama House Democratic Caucus met in Montgomery on Tuesday to lay out the party's "Forward for Freedom" party platform in the upcoming legislative session.
First to speak was House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville), who gave an impassioned opening statement lamenting the current state of national politics and how that plays into the state.
Daniels juxtaposed President Donald Trump's ongoing administrative actions, suggesting Alabama's Republican supermajority may try to mimic the president's actions, requiring Alabama Democrats to "play more defense" in the upcoming legislative session.
"While it's not my job or my role to really talk about the federal government or what's going on there, but I think that it's extremely important that the citizens of Alabama not just lay down and allow the things that are happening at the federal level without saying anything," Daniels said.
He continued, "But to see some of the executive actions that have taken place is unconscionable. It's disheartening. And, in some articles and to some people I've talked to, it's scary. But I know that we've stood the test of time before, and we can do it now, but we cannot do it by sitting down."
The Democrat party platform for 2025 will include the following:
Promoting job growth, raising wages, and increasing childcare, transportation, apprenticeships, career training, and housing investments.
Healthcare reform, specifically targeting so-called healthcare deserts and other areas with limited or no healthcare. Including increasing preventative care, behavioral health services, substance abuse treatment and recovery, and resources that enhance public health. The healthcare reform also involves improving maternal and infant care.
Improving public education investments include pay raises for teachers, violence prevention initiatives, and expanding career and technical programs.
Maximizing voter turnout, which includes "efforts to increase voter participation and oppose unnecessary obstacles to voting, including voter suppression, gerrymandering, and burdensome mandates." The platform also stated it would "counter the spread of misinformation relating to the integrity of our elections and protect our election workers from harassment and threats of violence."
Repealing the state's permitless carry law.
Reforming the prison system and the pardon and parole process.
Repealing Alabama's "Draconian abortion ban."
Decriminalizing recreational marijuana.
Repeal the state's (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) DEI bans.
While Daniels expected House Democrats to be on the defensive in the upcoming session, he seemed unmoved by the House Republican Caucus's recent release of its legislative priorities, which he said had no teeth due to the lack of specifically mentioned legislation. However, he stated again that he believes many priorities will mirror actions taken by the Trump administration, specifically surrounding immigration policy.
"I anticipate pieces of legislation that deal with immigration and other issues coming up; I've heard the conversations," Daniels said. "So, we'll be looking at any piece of legislation that's coming from the federal level, that the noise from the federal level is impacting at the state level. I can't tell you exactly what that's going to be, but I anticipate to play some extreme defense based upon the conversations I've heard this weekend, and conversations that I've heard over the last couple of weeks."
He continued, "Let me say this about immigration: If we as a state have a high unemployment rate in the state of Alabama, if you start focusing on deportations and other things, then who are you going to have left to work in certain areas and certain jobs? The hospitality industry and other industries where individuals have come to the state to get an opportunity for them and their families. So I think that one of the things that we have to look at is, we have to look at the risk versus the reward."
While Daniels did stress the defense of the Democratic Party in 2025, members also hinted at offensive steps they intend to take to further the party's platform during the session, including targeting the state's school choice law, the CHOOSE Act.
"There'll be a surprise; I can't talk about it right now," Daniels said, earning laughter in the room. "There will be a surprise coming in the next couple of weeks."
With the session beginning in less than a week, speculation has abounded about whether or not lawmakers will pursue gambling legislation. The Democrats backed a comprehensive gambling bill package during the 2024 session, but it failed to reach the finish line after stalling in the Senate.
Daniels echoed sentiments similar to those of other House members on both sides of the aisle, putting the onus of any gambling progress on Senate members.
"We had it on our platform last time, and we pushed it out of the House," Daniels concluded. "It remains in the Senate, and that's where it died. And so, until the Senate decides that they want to prioritize it, we're not going to even think about it."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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