Solutions

Alabama Values

Bradley Byrne is Alabama born and bred. He grew up in Mobile, not much more than a stone’s throw from where his great-great-great grandfather settled when he came to America in the 1760s. Bradley was raised on Alabama values. He believes in an honest day’s work, the importance of faith and family, protecting the sanctity of life and keeping our children safe.

Constitutional Reform

The matter of Constitutional Reform has become an issue of significant concern to many Alabamians, and is one that calls for leadership and careful deliberation. I do not support the position of those who contend that the state should convene a constitutional convention for the purpose of rewriting the 1901 Alabama Constitution. I have long supported a constitutional recompilation carried out in an Article-by-Article approach.

Education

I’ve been an education reformer for many years, and I have learned what can and cannot work in what should be the core mission of the education system in Alabama – to prepare and educate our children.

Too many of our young people are dropping out of high school, and we cannot afford to continue losing one-third of our students every single year. Eighth graders need to read at grade level so they have a chance to succeed, and we must make high school math and science relevant so they connect the dots: A good education means a good job and a better life.

Ethics Reform

No one could have had the experiences I have had in reforming and cleaning up the two-year college system without coming out of that time with a complete appreciation and understanding of how vital strong ethical leadership is to every part of state government. We will commit this state to having a government that fosters a culture of integrity.

Fiscal Policy and Taxes

Just six weeks after the next Governor of Alabama takes the oath of office, he or she will be tasked with presenting the Legislature a balanced budget that will not only reflect lower revenues associated with our lagging economy, but also continuing and unsustainable increases in public healthcare and retirement costs, as well as the loss of $700 million in federal stimulus money that was available to prop up our current state budgets. And although the job ahead is not for the faint of heart, it can be accomplished with strong leadership, disciplined management and innovation. Some will likely argue that new taxes are on the only answer. They are wrong. Taxes are not the answer. In fact, they are part of the problem. As your governor, I will fight tooth and nail against any attempt to raise taxes on the people or businesses of Alabama.

Government-Controlled Health Care

The Democratic leadership in Washington wants to force states to participate in a government run, government funded health care program that would unleash a wave of burdens, high costs and confusion on the people of Alabama. As I have said in the past, if this dangerous, intrusive legislation passes Congress, I would opt our state out of the program, if faced with that choice as governor, because it will force more burdensome tax increases on the families and business of Alabama.

Illegal Immigration

I believe politicians who address the problem of illegal immigration only by deferring responsibility to the federal government, are failing their citizens.  As governor, I will work to equip our state and local officials with all available tools to combat illegal immigration.

The federal government has failed in its duty to enforce the nation’s immigration laws; and, as a result, Alabama, and other states across the country, face the burden of dealing with illegal immigrants and a variety of other costly issues.  I strongly believe that when the federal government fails to act on problems that put our state and citizens at risk, or when it over-reaches and intrudes inappropriately into our lives, it becomes the governors’ responsibility to serve as the first line of defense for their states. 

Jobs and the Ecomony

Download a copy of Bradley’s comprehensive plan for Alabama’s economy
New Jobs for a New Alabama

The people of Alabama have never been ones to duck challenges. In fact, some of the state’s very best moments have come in the face of adversity. Consider our proactive and concerted response to the rapid economic and technological changes that spurred the loss of our long prominent textile industry. A powerful combination of determination, vision, flexibility and innovation gave us the drive to become a worldwide leader in automotive manufacturing, launched us further in prominence as an aerospace innovator and gave us the confidence to pursue and win coveted economic development projects outsiders told us were unthinkable.

State’s Rights

I’ve had the opportunity in recent months to visit with thousands of Alabamians across the state; and repeatedly, one of the biggest concerns shared with me is the increasingly troubling trend by the federal government to invade their lives in unprecedented ways.

I share those concerns. Federal mandates, whether we’re talking about intrusive proposals that would require every person to buy health insurance coverage, force states to permanently expand their unemployment compensation benefit laws in exchange for short-term stimulus money, take away a worker’s right to private ballot voting in union elections, or force compliance with unfair, unproven and expensive environmental regulations, are cropping up everywhere.

Veterans and the Military

As Alabama’s governor, I will work hard to make sure our state is second to none when it comes to standing up for our veterans. I will commit the efforts of my administration to making Alabama the most welcoming state in the nation for veterans and their families.