What could possibly go wrong?

Members of the Alabama House and the Alabama Senate have each introduced bills to create the "Association of Former Members of the Alabama Legislature."

Because they are so valued as statesmen - by themselves, anyway - that they need to stay rooted to their seats of power.

Great Scott.

The Association of Former Members of the Alabama Legislature would come complete with paid administrators, state retirement benefits for association employees, state-sanctioned sanctimony and the same travel expenses and per diem as state employees.

The Association of Former Members of the Alabama Legislature.

I remember when they just called that prison.

Or simply "out to pasture." Where these guys belong.

The bills - HB93 sponsored by Rep. Jack Williams and SB110 by Sens. Greg Reed, Jabo Waggoner, Del Marsh and Bobby Singleton - sets up the association that ostensibly would "work in cooperation with incumbent members of the Alabama Legislature, through the offices of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to create a better understanding of the legislative process throughout the state."

A better understanding? They can't do that as elected public officials. And now they want a state-approved association to fund their delusion?

This thing ought to be called the Unmitigated Gall bill. What could possibly go wrong?

Clockwise from top leftL Sens. Jabo Waggoner, Del Marsh, Greg Reed and Bobby Singleton. In the the center, Rep. Jack Williams.

This thing would have association members going to public schools, and private schools, and home schools and civic clubs "to engage the citizenry by increasing public awareness and understanding of the legislative process."

To be fair, the association would not be funded by state money. But the bill would allow it to "accept gifts, contributions, membership fees, donations of funds, real or personal property, bequests, grants, appropriations, or other forms of financial assistance for the purposes provided in this act, from any federal entity, from the State of Alabama, or from any state agency or political subdivision of the state, or from any foundation, corporation, private individual or other entity, and the board and the association may engage in fund raising to support the purposes of the association."

I guess walking around with your hand out is a tough habit to break.

The bill does not allow the association itself to engage in politics, endorse candidates or lobby, but it points out that as former legislators they would not be public officials. And therefore - it doesn't bother to say this - not subject to the pesky reporting requirements of public officials.

Did I ask what could go wrong?

Influence peddling and lobbying by another name, contracts and contacts and good old boys simply wasting money and state resources for personal and political gain. The possibilities are endless.

But hey, the bill would allow this association to change its name, if it wants. As long as it continues to include the phrase "former members of the Legislature."

I've got some ideas.

Just call it "another bad idea by soon-to-be former members of the Legislature."

Just call it "another way for former members of the Legislature to find themselves up to their ogling eyeballs in hot water."

Here we are, Alabama. Gobsmacked again by politicians who really ought to be former members of the Legislature.

SB110 by John Archibald on Scribd