ALGOP Fails To Pass Resolution Opposing Restructuring of Veterans Affairs Board

A Resolution Opposing SB67 and the Restructuring of the State Board of Veterans Affairs Narrowly Failed at the ALGOP Winter Meeting

The Alabama Republican Executive Committee failed to pass a Resolution opposing the restructuring of the State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA) by a narrow margin on Saturday.

The Resolution was voted down 61-39%. A vote of 66.7% (two-thirds majority) would have been required for passage. 

The Resolution, ‘Keeping Alabama Tradition of Veterans Serving Veterans—“If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It”’ was brought from the floor during the New Business portion of the Winter Meeting held March 1 in Birmingham. It called for the Executive Committee to urge the Governor and Legislature to oppose any legislation:

—“that removes any of the authorities that are vested in the SBVA”

—“that changes the membership of the SBVA from veterans nominated by veteran service organizations to political appointees”

—“causing the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to report directly to anyone other than the SBVA”

The Resolution sparked the most vigorous debate of the day, with those in favor arguing that the present system has worked well for decades, and “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Those opposed stated they preferred to let the current legislative process play out without interference from the Executive Committee.

Absent from the debate was the fact that the Executive Committee routinely passes such resolutions as a way of making the position(s) of the Executive Committee known to the Governor and Legislature.

The Resolution arose in response to SB67, which has passed the State Senate and could be voted on by the House as early as Tuesday, March 4. SB67 would restructure the SBVA, transforming it into an “oversight” board and removing its ability to hire and fire the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. SB67 would make the Commissioner appointed by the Governor, would have the Commissioner serve at the Governor’s pleasure, and elevate the Commissioner to Cabinet-level status. It was introduced by State Senator Andrew Jones and is sponsored in the House by State Representative Ed Oliver.

Governor Ivey is known to actively support SB67, while Lt. Governor Ainsworth opposes it. Ainsworth was one of the first to describe his opposition as “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” 

Critics of the bill have described it as a “power grab” by the Governor. Some Veterans have alleged that the bill is a retaliatory move by Ivey as part of an ongoing spat between the Governor and former Commissioner Admiral Kent Davis over a mandatory ethics complaint filed by Davis against one of Ivey’s political appointees.

SB67 has been mired in controversy since its introduction. A Veterans-led rally against the bill was held in front of the State House on February 25th, with numerous community leaders speaking to explain why they oppose it. This rally occurred despite a phone call, allegedly from a person in the Governor’s office to one of the rally organizers threatening to have State Troopers “detain and arrest” rally participants. Fortunately, the threatened Troopers and arrests did not materialize, and the rally was held without further incident.

ALPolitics.com reached out to both the Governor’s office and State House Security about this threatening phone call and its investigation, but neither had responded as of this writing. 

The ALGOP Executive Committee Winter Meeting was streamed to the Alabama Straw Poll Facebook page, and the debate and vote on the Resolution begins at approximately 2:34:30. This video will be available for viewing through the end of March, as per Facebook’s 30 day maintenance policy before being automatically deleted.