"As your State Senator, my top priorities will be fighting illegal immigration, addressing transparency in government, recruiting jobs and industry, returning honesty and ethics to government, and giving our children thepublic education they deserve.”
My years of experience as a leader in the community will help me lead our great state back on the right track and make our area stand out as a leader in industry, education and strong moral values!
Illegal Immigration
Perhaps no other area in our state has been more adversely affected by the illegal immigration issue than Senate District 9. The overwhelming presence of illegals hurts our economic development, increases our crime rates and reduces the quality of life for taxpaying citizens. When coupled with the burdens illegal immigration places on our public schools, hospitals and other infrastructure, it is an issue that can no longer be ignored. The federal government has turned a blind eye to the problem, so Don Spurlin supports a “get tough” policy on illegal immigration on the state level.
Don believes that we must give our local policemen and sheriffs the tools and training needed to enforce immigration laws during routine traffic stops and other calls, and he supports the placement of a special Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau in the district.
Because illegal immigrants and their allies are working to gather political power and influence in the area, we must prevent them from casting fraudulent ballots. Don believes any illegal immigrant who registers to vote, or attempts to, or casts a ballot should be convicted of a Class C felony. Anyone aiding an illegal immigrant in those efforts should be convicted of a felony, as well.
Our government can no longer afford to subsidize providing services to illegal immigrants who do not pay taxes. Don supports requiring proof of citizenship or legal residency before anyone can access government services or enroll in government programs.
Many cities and counties in our state are successfully fighting illegal immigration by impounding the cars of those found driving without licenses or proper insurance. The threat of losing property will drive most illegals to safer havens outside of Alabama, so Don supports a statewide law allowing officers to enforce vehicle impounds.
Though employers are responsible for thoroughly checking the backgrounds of those they employ, many say the current system of confirming citizenship is difficult to navigate. Don believes we should provide an improved E-Verify system and other tools in order to remove this excuse from those who employ illegal immigrants.
Ethics in Government
Don is running for State Senate in order to return honesty and integrity to Montgomery and to begin rebuilding the trust that our citizens and taxpayers have lost. We must elect a newcomer who is willing to implement the reforms our State House demands.
Don believes we must limit the influence of special interests and other lobbyists who control much of what happens in Montgomery. Under existing law, lobbyists are allowed to spend up to $250 a day on each public official without having to file an ethics report. Don supports Gov. Riley’s efforts to reduce the amount lobbyists may spend on public officials to only $25 per day with an annual cap of $500, and he believes all lobbyist spending must be reported – even down to a cup of coffee.
Alabama is one of only three states that do not provide subpoena power to its ethics watchdog agency, which makes it easy for public officials and others to hamstring investigations. Don not only supports subpoena power for the Alabama Ethics Commission, he also wants to provide the agency with a statutorily defined level of appropriation that can be cut only by a two-thirds vote of both houses. That way, no legislator can retaliate against the agency and its work by cutting its annual budget.
Too many legislators and other public officials have been caught double-dipping or holding questionable contracts with government agencies and those wishing to do business with the state. Don wants to require public officials and their spouses to disclose any contracts they hold with government entities, and he wants to toughen the ethics requirements for reporting income from outside sources.
Jobs and Economic Development
As your next State Senator, Don will play a lead role in bringing jobs to our area. To attract the jobs we need, we must provide what good employers seek, such as industry ready sites and a trained/educated workforce. This will take someone experienced in creating jobs and opportunity. Don has the experience, negotiation, creativity, leadership and sales skills to get the job done.
BRAC will play a major role in our job creation effort, bringing opportunity not only to the greater Huntsville area, but to the entire district. However, to take full advantage of the opportunities that BRAC can bring, we must find resources for road and infrastructure development needed to accommodate the growth. This must be a high priority.
Because small business owners provide the vast majority of jobs in our state, Don wants to make them our economic development focus. Don believes that low taxes and freedom from over regulation will allow small business to thrive.
We must also center our efforts on helping those who have recently lost a job get back to work. One proposal supported by Don is the Back To Work Tax Credit, which provides a $500 or higher income tax credit to a company or business for every new job provided to a currently unemployed individual. The tax credit lowers unemployment, reduces the cost of providing unemployment benefits and allows individuals to provide for their families.
Preparing our job force for 21st Century employment is a priority, and that is why Don has been so active working with the Albertville Aviation College facility at Albertville Regional Airport. Through the Homebuilders Association of Alabama and the Alabama Homebuilders Foundation, Don has supported scholarship programs that afford training in construction trades for deserving students. The various community colleges in our area, such as Snead State, Gadsden State, Northeast Alabama and the Marshall Technical School, are also essential to workforce training and will have Don’s full support.
Don believes economic development demands that we expand the reach of the Alabama Broadband Initiative so that rural areas of the state may have equal access to broadband services as metropolitan areas.
Public Education
The future of our area, and of our children and grandchildren, depends upon providing a quality public school education that recognizes the needs of the 21st Century workplace. The current economic climate and dwindling government revenues demand that we do everything possible to put education dollars directly into the classroom, where they matter most. Much progress has been made in public education under Gov. Bob Riley, but much remains to be done. Don is committed to implementing the education reforms we need.
The possibility of a pay raise in return for a job well done causes private sector employees to produce and compete and do their best. Don believes the same idea can work in the public sector, so he supports incentive pay for teachers and educators who work harder than their counterparts and excel. In addition to the basic salary provided to all teachers, Don wants to provide added compensation to those who set themselves apart by taking professional development courses, working after hours with students who need help and pursuing other job-related activities.
Because Alabama is one of only ten states the does not have a charter school law, Don supports their creation. Charter schools explore new ways of teaching, demand tough standards of accomplishment and put control of our children’s education directly into the parents’ hands.
The Legislature recently increased the minimum dropout age from sixteen-years-old to seventeen, but we must do more to keep our students in school and prepare them for the modern workplace. Don supports Gov. Riley’s effort to reach out to at-risk students and show them that a bad decision at a young age can doom them to a future of struggle, poverty and low-paying jobs.
Transparency in Government
Transparency in government is important to our district, cities and State. We are responsible for holding our elected officials “feet to the fire” when they step out of line and move unilaterally without daylight to check them on their actions. Don believes it is vitally important that your next State Senator encourage transparency when the people’s business is being conducted. This is accomplished on many levels with the most immediate being promoting key legislation that encourages transparency and enforces the laws already on the books. There are bills before the State Legislature in the current session that accomplish this and Don supports their passage. If elected Don would do all that he could do to encourage Transparency in Government for our district, our cities and the State.