I was honored several weeks ago when Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard asked me to serve on his new Commission on the Protection of Alabama Values & States Rights. The Speaker told me his goal was to engage with conservatives all across Alabama to find out what issues are important to us — to give us a seat at the table in helping shape the agenda for the 2013 legislative session.

The vast majority of Alabamians are growing more and more concerned with the federal government’s increased intrusion into our lives — not to mention our pocket books. Whether it’s the Obamacare mandate, or the President’s decision not to defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, or his Justice Department’s incessant challenges to state voter-ID and immigration laws — it’s obvious that the states rights component of the Speaker’s Commission could not come at a better time.

President Obama is also clearly out of step with the values of the majority of Alabamians. Pastor Rick Warren tweeted this in opposition to the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate:

I’d go to jailrather than cave in to a govement mandate that violates what God commands us to do. Would you? Acts 5:29

— Rick Warren (@RickWarren) February 8, 2012

…and Alabama Democrats have blocked pro-life legislation from passing for decades. I appreciate Speaker Hubbard’s commitment to Alabama values and he assured the members of the Commission in our first meeting that pro-life legislation will be a priority in the coming session.

The Commission is currently working on ways to engage with conservatives across the state, compile your input, and present our recommendations to the Speaker later this year. In the mean time, I’d love to hear what issues are important to you. Leave a comment below or shoot me an email here.

Press Release
From the Office of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard

SPEAKER’S COMMISSION ON THE PROTECTION OF ALABAMA VALUES & STATES RIGHTS HOLDS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING IN MONTGOMERY

The Speaker’s Commission on the Protection of Alabama Values & States Rights, a new study panel created by House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R – Auburn) and charged with ensuring that conservative social issues and 10th Amendment safeguards are given prominent attention during the upcoming 2013 legislative session, held its initial meeting this week with members from around the state gathering in Montgomery.

“It should come as no surprise to anyone who follows the national news that the individual rights of Alabamians are under attack from an ever-expanding and encroaching federal government, committed liberal activists, and entrenched special interests fighting to preserve the dysfunctional status quo,” Hubbard said. “I have asked this commission to search for ways the Legislature can help preserve the 10th Amendment rights guaranteed to Alabama by the U.S. Constitution while, at the same time, suggesting bills and other measures that will repel the federal assault on our citizens’ freedoms and liberties.”

Hubbard said the panel will seek input from conservative activists, Constitutional authorities and other experts on matters including, but not limited to, taxpayer rights, religious liberties, pro-life initiatives, Second Amendment protections, and Obamacare.

The appointed members of the Speaker’s Commission on the Protection of Alabama Values & States Rights are:

Rev. John Killian Sr. of Birmingham, Alabama
Lynn Mitchell Robinson of Addison, Alabama
Cliff Sims of Homewood, Alabama
Representative Ed Henry of Hartselle, Alabama
Representative April Weaver of Brierfield, Alabama
Representative Barry Moore of Enterprise, Alabama
Representative Kurt Wallace of Maplesville, Alabama
House Majority Leader Micky Hammon of Decatur, Alabama

Additional meetings will be held in the coming months as the commission works to present its final report to Hubbard prior to the commencement of the 2013 regular legislative session.