The Morgan County Republican Party is targeting a bill filed by State Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killen) that would bar state political parties from disqualifying potential candidates based on political contributions from individuals or Political Action Committees (PACs).
Pettus’ House Bill 6 (HB6) would codify into law that "a political party may not disqualify an individual for nomination to an office based solely on receipt by the individual of a campaign contribution from a particular person or a particular political action committee."
State political parties currently set their own qualifications for potential candidates. Those qualifications can include disqualification based on previous primary voting records, past affiliations and more. HB6 would change that provision at the level of state code.
Pettus filed an identical bill for the 2024 legislative session. However, it did not advance any through the legislative process.
Despite not living in the district, Pettus’ bill sparked controversy among the Morgan County GOP, which passed a resolution condemning it and asking for its withdrawal.
The bill was introduced in response to efforts by the Alabama GOP (ALGOP) to limit the contributions entities can make to their candidates.
In 2023, the ALGOP passed a resolution prohibiting Republican county and state school board and superintendent candidates from receiving campaign donations from the National Education Association (NEA) and the Alabama Education Association (AEA).
The decision received backlash during the meeting from lawmakers and political operatives who pointed out that state lawmakers should be included in such bans. ALGOP bylaws committee chairman State Auditor Andrew Sorrell suggested the executive committee might consider such a restriction in the future.
In its resolution, the Morgan County GOP claimed that 87 Republican candidates in the state received donations from A-VOTE, the AEA’s PAC.
The resolution claims that receiving those funds violated a 2013 ALGOP standing rule against taking funds from the NEA or its state affiliates like the AEA “because the NEA is a veritable adjunct of the Democratic Party.” The 2013 standing law does not offer official penalties, but instead states that “failure to heed this admonition shall be regarded negatively by the State Committee.”
The Morgan County resolution goes on to harshly condemn Pettus, calling on the ALGOP Executive Committee to “reprimand” Pettus.
“Representative Phillip Pettus, through the legislative process, is blatantly hindering the right of the GOP to oversee who may run under the umbrella of the party banner, and ensuring that true conservatives are vetted for candidacy,” the resolution reads.
It continues, “Be it resolved that the members of the Morgan County Republican Executive Committee call upon the Alabama Grand Old Party State Executive Committee to reprimand Representative Pettus in harsh terms for using his office and the legislative process to hamper party rights.”
Pettus did not immediately respond to request for comment from 1819 News.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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