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It is a priority for me to take any and all prudent steps to see that the Alabama Senate functions is such a manner as to be productive for the people of Alabama.
The issues facing the people of Alabama are too important to be lost in the shuffle of partisan infighting.
The minority has made it clear that one of the issues they are concerned about is redistricting.
Today, Senator Mitchem and I want to make it clear that redistricting will not be an issue that is allowed to stand in the way of the Senate functioning in a productive manner.
Likewise, I would hope that the Senators in the minority will accept this gesture of good faith in the spirit in which it is offered - and would commit to working through their other differences in a positive way, and not engage in any delaying or stalling tactics.
The people simply don't want anymore of the internal wrangling that we witnessed in the last session.
There is too much at stake.
The Education Trust fund and the General Fund are facing serious deficits and some very difficult decisions will have to be made.
To get to the other side of these and other problems, we will all have to work together-placing the public good above self interest.
If the Exxon verdict had not been overturned, it would have meant billions of dollars for our State.
It would have meant billions for Medicaid hospital care, prescription drugs, and nursing home care for thousands of Alabamians.
The legislature and the people of Alabama find themselves having to deal with these serious financial issues simply because Exxon was let off the hook. There is simply no other way to say it.
They rightfully owed that money to Alabama.
So, we will gird ourselves for difficult times and tough choices.
This effort today is designed to help smooth the path for doing the people's business.
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