Line in The Sand

The Senate Democratic Caucus and Gov. Bob Riley have each drawn a line in the sand over the issue of reversing annual property tax appraisals, and they are each daring the other to cross it.

Last week the Dems vowed that until Riley uses his executive order to reverse the annual property appraisals that he signed into law, they will pass a resolution every day the State Legislature meets calling on him to make the change.

Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little, D-Cullman, said Riley signed annual property appraisals into law with the stroke of a pen and he can undo them the same way.

"Gov. Riley instituted the largest tax increase in the history of the state without a vote of the people, and without the vote of the Legislature," Little said.

But Little and the members of the caucus aren't the only ones with a good memory.

According to a press release from Riley's office, 547 days ago the Dems promised to pass a bill and change the law on annual appraisals.

"They didn’t promise to pass resolutions urging others to take action," Riley said in the release. "Resolutions cannot change the law. Only legislation can change the law, and they promised specifically to 'introduce legislation' and 'vote to enact' a bill changing property reappraisals."

With each side continuing to stand its ground, Alabamians might need to get their checkbooks ready so they can continue to pay their annual property tax bills--at least until it's politically expedient to change the law.

Does it matter to you who changes the law? Let me know what you think with a post.