What the Hell is Happening in Alabama?

Guest Opinion by Whitney Scapecchi

I talk about patterns a lot, y’all. And this legislative session? The patterns are stacking up.

We’ve got bills moving fast to “fix” things that were never broken. No public demand. No emergency. No collapse in government. Just sudden urgency.

And now, right in the middle of all the chaos surrounding the Lieutenant Governor race — we get SB271.

Let’s walk through what Is being proposed…

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐭. 𝐆𝐨𝐯. 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫

Before we even get to the bill, let’s acknowledge what’s already happened.

We’ve seen in recent weeks:

• Steering committee decisions leak before formal votes ever happened.

• Appeals hearings where members were reportedly told to vote “no” before deliberations were even complete.

That’s orchestration and control of who gets ballot access. If outcomes are being shaped before the process plays out, people notice. And trust erodes.

SB271 would amend the Constitution so that if the Lieutenant Governor’s seat becomes vacant more than 60 days before a general election, voters would elect someone to finish that term.  

Right now? If that seat becomes vacant, it can simply remain vacant until the next cycle. Government continues. Succession is already handled.

So this bill only matters if the seat becomes vacant. If no one leaves office, this bill does nothing.

𝐒𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

All of this happening in the same season where:

• Internal party decisions look pre-determined

• Steering committee votes appear directed

• Appeals processes feel controlled

We’re also adjusting constitutional vacancy rules?

That’s not random timing. They really believe we are this stupid? Naive? 

I think they’re just hoping no one pays attention. 🤷‍♀️ 

When I see process control inside the party structure and structural rule changes at the constitutional level happening in the same window, I’m going to ask questions.

That’s not being dramatic. That’s being responsible.

𝐈’𝐦 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞

But I am saying this: When power starts tightening its grip procedurally and then starts rewriting vacancy mechanics, without a clear public need, it feels like positioning.

And Alabamians are not crazy for sensing that.

If there’s a simple explanation, give it. If this is just housekeeping, explain why now.

Because from where many of us are sitting, it looks like the chessboard is being rearranged, not for stability or to create a needed solution — this feels like things are being rearranged for advantage.

I’m going to keep watching, I’d encourage others to as well. This is getting quite obvious.

The full text of SB271 as originally filed is at THIS LINK.

The above was originally published on Facebook, and is reprinted here with the permission of the author.

Whitney Scapecchi is an investigative journalist, the founder of Southern Freedom Press, the written arm of Southern Freedom Society, and candidate for the Baldwin County Board of Education, Place 5.

For more information on Scapecchi, follow her on Facebook.

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