MONTGOMERY — Veterans rallied at the State House on Tuesday to oppose legislation putting the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) commissioner under the governor's control that passed the Senate last week by a 21-9 margin.
The bill shifts the ADVA commissioner's hiring and firing responsibility to the governor. The role currently answers to the State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA). The bill also turns the SBVA into an advisory board.
“You’ve followed the news the last few months. I don’t need to rehash that, and I don’t intend to do that, but I will simply say this: look at some of the emotions behind this bill. Anger is rarely a good motive for legislative action,” former ADVA commissioner Kent Davis told attendees on Tuesday.
The bill was amended last week shortly before being voted out of the Senate.
Davis said, “This bill was rushed through.”
“I’ve had legislators tell me this: they had about six minutes to consider that bill. Over 20 pages and they had six minutes to read an entirely new substitute bill and no motions were allowed. After announcing that the bill was going to be carried over, there was a forced vote shortly after it was introduced. I’m not sure that was a very thorough process given to our elected officials to consider that bill,” he added.
Davis continued, “What is the rush? There isn’t a rush.”
“The current process and structure has been around for 80 years. You’ve heard people talk about the successes, how happy veterans are with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. It ain’t me. I’m telling you there are some great people that work in that department. It is a good department that serves veterans well,” Davis said.
The legislation still has to pass the House before it can be signed into law by Ivey.
Gov. Kay Ivey has maintained the bill will "give our veterans an even stronger voice."
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