Riley blasts bickering during visit

FLORENCE -- Gov. Bob Riley said he fears the state is about to squander its prosperity amid partisan bickering in a Legislature he characterized as "dysfunctional."

Riley made those comments in an address Tuesday to more than 200 Shoals political and economic leaders.

"There should be a call to arms in this state," Riley said, "We have had more opportunity than we've ever had in the history of this state and we're beginning to squander it."

His speech focused on the stalled legislative session. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you look at what's going on in Montgomery today, there is literally no reason that it should be happening," he said.

His speech was also a rally cry for the local leaders present to call their state legislators.

"Everyone of you should go home and call your senator and your representative and say, 'What in the world are you doing?' " Riley said.

With four days left in the legislative session, today presents a critical period since officials need three days to pass bills.

"We expect the legislators to go down to Montgomery and do what -- pass budgets," Riley said, "Sometimes it gets disheartening."

Riley's speech was bookmarked by standing ovations. His appearance was sponsored by the Shoals Chamber of Commerce and took place at the conference center.

Jay Klos, past chairman of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, said the key word in the room was "frustrated."

"We have a few people controlling the entire state," Klos said. He agrees that people need to call state representatives to express frustration about the deadlocked legislative session. "It's hurting all of us."

"We do have some critical issues," said Humphrey Lee, chairman of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce. "We have an interest in getting this log jam broken."

In his speech, Riley mentioned two pieces of legislation that have passed that included a legislative pay raise of more than 60 percent and a $400 million bond expansion for industrial development, which will go to statewide vote June 5.

Riley argued that in order to attract companies, Alabama "would have to build an education system here that'll compete not only with anyone in the South (but) anyone in this country."

Riley said that some of the interest generated from the proposed $1 billion school bond would pay for work force training, such as welding training for Project Tiger, a potential rail boxcar plant that could bring 1,500 jobs into the Shoals.

"Alabama truly is on the cusp of doing some things I don't think we could have dreamed of just a few years ago," Riley said.

"When you have a proposal that basically takes 50 percent of this state and they have no influence in it that's not democracy, that basically becomes a dictatorship."

Staff Writer Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com.