During an appearance on Huntsville radio WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show," State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) was asked to react to his colleague State Sen. Chris Elliott's (R-Josephine) comments regarding the so-called "woke agenda" as it pertains to public agencies.
Orr, who did not mention Elliott by name, argued that lawmakers willing to tackle "politically weak" entities, including the Department of Archives & History and the state's public libraries, should look to tackle the power structure within the Alabama Department of Public Health.
"Let me say this, Dale: The entities that you mentioned I would call politically weak," he said. "And one outlier there that needs addressed, and we haven't done anything — let me back up. If legislators are beating their chest over thumping libraries and the Archives & History, they need to take a hard look at themselves in the mirror when it comes to our state public health officer, who is unaccountable to the public via an elected body — be it the legislature, be it the governor. It's selected by a board who is unelected and therefore, in my opinion, very unaccountable."
"And that's not a jab at our current public health officer," Orr continued. "But it's just the system. And the system, controlled by the medical community, pushes back when legislators try to bring control and accountability over that position. And the legislators go weak in the knees and head for the hills. I find that very unfortunate and something we need to address."
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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