• Registered: 03-27-2009
  • Posts: 35

Topic: Montgomery Update 1 (copied)-4/8/10 (times are appx)

10:39 am Rebecca Thrasher :  Ford is at the mic.

Ford: We do not want to go back home and tell these students we will not guaranteee their PACT
4 hours ago · Ford: I suggest that we pass this on to the Senate and go to conference committee
4 hours ago · 102:2 to pass budget and address the bill..

4 hours ago · Discussion has started --Mike Ball: UAH prior issues -- thinks that if this passes it will be ruled unconstitutional
4 hours ago · Ball: asks that we take the unseverability clause out
4 hours ago · Mitchell - Mobile - Concerned with other fees that are mandated by universities
4 hours ago · Bridges - Chambers Co - Thanks Ford for his work - wants the families of PACT have not been treated correctly. We need to honor the contracts for these families. This will set a record between AL and its families. We need a resolution to this issue
4 hours ago · Rodgers: Talking about SB322 -- off subject...threating to argue for SB322. Is this filibuster?
4 hours ago · Shannon Robbins Dalton Thank you for the updates....praying and biting my nails
3 hours ago · Gipson- Autauga- Compliment them SAP for tenasity - great to work with - etc.
Has a PACT holder that purchased 18 pacts - these people are concerned, well aware, and I ask that we get this to a conference committee to diiscuss further.
3 hours ago · Rebecca Thrasher Protem-WE need these people to work with us Constitutional reform as well. This group of PACT holders has been great - well informed, well spoken, good to work with.
I hope we have groups like this for other bills!
3 hours ago · Wren: Discusses PACT board and need for better goverance on the PACT Board of the fund.
3 hours ago · Wren: HB123 & 124 -- discusses this as the formerly passes bills that are related to PACT. I would hope that we would not go forward with the future of PACT without some fundamental changes to the PACT BOARD.
3 hours ago · Wren: Hopes the HB123 & 124 would move out of the SEnate committee --to move forward.
We need a solution to assist in disapating and remidiating the legal action that is stacking up against the state.
3 hours ago · Ford: Asking the House members to encourage the Senate membership to bring HB123 and HB124 to the floor.
3 hours ago · Galliher: I think Craig Ford has made a common sense arguement to pass this bill today and allow the Senate to go to a conference committee to discuss.
3 hours ago · Unanimous vote to allow the changes from the Education Appropriation Committee.

3 hours ago · Hubbard: He is from an area with a college - Auburn Universitiy - this would be burden to the Universities budget. I think it is a problem that other students will have to pay for the other class of students. Why should other families have to voer the costs of those students... I do not want to kill your bill.I want it to be fair and with no poison bill.
3 hours ago · I think we need to add an ammendment - to take the caps off of the universities - I am not an enemy.
3 hours ago · Ford - requests a copy of the ammendment.
3 hours ago · In Ford's opinion -this ammendment would kill the PACT bill. Hubbard - the Senate would not never turn their backs on Higher Ed.
3 hours ago · 50-37 Hubbard's 1st ammendment (removing the caps) defeated!
3 hours ago · Hubbard - ammendment to change language to be severable - from unseverable. Remove "the poison pill"
3 hours ago · Hubbard - 41-47 - Motion fails...Ford takes the bill off the table.
3 hours ago · They are entering a joint session - will be held until after that session.
3 hours ago · Senate and House of Reps -- they are honoring WWII Veterans
3 hours ago · Report

  • Registered: 03-27-2009
  • Posts: 35

Re: Montgomery Update 1 (copied)-4/8/10 (times are appx)

Rebecca Thrasher SAVE Alabama PACT!: Updates have been posted -- we are currently being held up by a Joint Session of the House/Senate.

The unseverability clause was removed - by Hubbard of Auburn.
3 hours ago
Christa Norris Davis Thank you for the updates. I had to leave for another appointment.
3 hours agoGwen Braden Rebecca - doesn't that kill the funding?
3 hours agoShannon Robbins Dalton Will be checking in every so often...Thanks for the updates and for fighting for My child's education
3 hours agoPaul Mcfillin Please explain "unseverability clause" Is that good or bad for PACT families?
2 hours agoJami Gigis Wetzel I'm not sure what the unseverability clause means. Will you explain it when you have time?
20 minutes agoJami Gigis Wetzel Also, what is the ETF fund?
19 minutes ago

  • Registered: 03-27-2009
  • Posts: 35

Re: Montgomery Update 1 (copied)-4/8/10 (times are appx)

Rebecca Thrasher SAVE Alabama PACT!: Committee is back in session...
McGlaughlin - Unseverability - Recommends that we keep the unseverability clause on the funding -- as without it - it could cause ETF to bankrupt in years to come - if the courts were to rule to remove the tuition cap from the bill.
about an hour ago (appx 1L54 pm)

  • Registered: 03-27-2009
  • Posts: 35

Re: Montgomery Update 1 (copied)-4/8/10 (times are appx)

Rebecca Thrasher SAVE Alabama PACT!: Make that Legislature back in session...
about an hour ago · appx: 1:56 pm

McLauglin discusses the ETF fund and the importance on the inseverability clause ...focusing on the future ETF dollars and its projected to have reduced costs already.
about an hour ago Ford - if we adopt this ammedment - the PACT program is back to the PACT board - and we will have refunds to parents, and we need a solution THIS session!
about an hour ago Voting...we want Aye - 57- ?? it passed.Cheering in the gallery
about an hour ago

  • Registered: 03-27-2009
  • Posts: 35

Re: Montgomery Update 1 (copied)-4/8/10 (times are appx)

Rebecca Thrasher:
SB162 was passed 102-0 by the House -- now will go the house. Reps Craig Ford and Butch Taylor spoke to the Save Alabama PACT members on the front steps of the legislature. Rep. Ford reminded that we have not won the war - just a battle. We MUST CONTINUE TO WORK, WORK, WORK the SENATE - VISIT, CALL, EMAIL.
WE HAVE TO W...ORK HARDER THAN EVEN NOW -- Lets Start NOW! We will be in a conference committee -- we need to specifically be working Sen. Zeb Little, Sen. Smitherman, Sen. Barron and Sen. Bedford and Lt Gov Folsom - as they will be selecting the Conference Committee Members.
Encourage them to find a SOLUTION to PACT in the conference committee and LETS SAVE ALABAMA PACT - THIS IS ON THEIR SHOULDERS!See More
18 minutes ago Protem: I love how people who have yet to ever practice law a day in their life can walk in here and say they KNOW that it will be ruled unconstitutional. I have yet to this day to be able to say I know what a judge will rule. I have taught constitutional law and I am concerned that we can march up here and say that it... will be voted unconstituional without any explaination.See More
about an hour ago ·
IF I say that you I have opinion then that is an opinion 0 then that is my right to an opinion - if I say it is a pronouncement then that is different Mr. Ball
about an hour ago · Kenneth Barber how many do you think are there with you?
what kind of amendment did they attach?
about an hour ago
Rodgers: Confused -what does this clause do to the bill?
Ford: This clause allows an estimate $990M problem - to be solved with $236M.about an hour ago
Lindsay - We have two more years let the economy grow and this will be a gradual expenditure - this is bond endebtness is coming down and this where this funding is...
about an hour ago · Rodgers: I understand- we need the unseverability - as we can not allow this bil to cause an open ended cost expenditure of the ETF...we do not have those funds.
about an hour ago · Ford: I did not do what all I have done for you in the gallary to let you down!
about an hour ago
Ward: Everyone is going to start pointing fingers - my grip is we are playing political sheraids. I think we are going to pay a price down the road for this.about an hour ago
Love: If the bill passes as is right now -- and any part of it is declared unconstitutional - then the bill is dead - do we understand that.about an hour ago ·

  • Registered: 03-27-2009
  • Posts: 35

Re: Montgomery Update 1 (copied)-4/8/10 (times are appx)

Sheila wrote:

Please explain "unseverability clause" Is that good or bad for PACT families?
2 hours agoJami Gigis Wetzel I'm not sure what the unseverability clause means. Will you explain it when you have time?

Most bills have a "severability clause." It just means that if any portion is declared unconstitutional (invalid), that section ONLY is removed.  An "unseverability clause" would throw out the whole thing if any portion is unconstitutional.  For example, if the tuition cap is ruled unconstitutional, the whole bill / law would be thrown out, not just the tuition cap, and...there would go the funding...out with the bathwater (said sarcastically).