AL YMCA Youth in Government

BETTY CARR AWARD
The Betty Carr Award, developed by the Anniston delegation in honor of longtime advisor Betty Carr, is presented to the Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature delegate who gives fully to the program, exhibits excellent debating skills, works diligently behind the scenes and stands for his or her beliefs. In 1988, when Mrs. Carr had been an advisor for 18 of the first 40 years of the program, she told the Tomorrow Today newspaper that the greatest accomplishment of Youth Legislature is the confidence it builds in young people: “They learn to speak on their feet, laugh at mistakes and realize that nobody is perfect.”

The Betty Carr Award winner for 2011 is Brett Johnson of Gadsden, who led a delegation of almost 20 to this year’s conference.

BILL BARRINGER SCHOLARSHIP

Every year since 1987, the Alabama Youth Legislature college staff has selected the Bill Barringer Scholarship recipient. The scholarship goes to a college-bound senior with a minimum three-year involvement in the Youth Legislature program, who exhibits exemplary Christian character, extensive behind the scenes work regardless of recognition, great dedication to the program, an attitude of encouragement and enthusiasm and who has gained respect of peers and adults.
In 2011, the scholarship named for former Youth Legislature Director Bill Barringer, went to Amber Voss of Wetumpka, a senior at Edgewood Academy.

Servant Leadership Awards:
1st Year: Joseph Stanford
Youth Legislature: Justin Gallagher, Montgomery, LAMP

Outstanding Lobbyist: Mason Hallford, Montgomery, Trinity

Press Award: Nancy Anne Turner, Wetumpka

Outstanding Delegation: UMS-Wright

Mirriam-Webster defines statesman as a wise, skillful and respected political leader. During each annual session of the Alabama Youth Legislature, adult advisors select one delegate from each of the legislative chambers as THE outstanding statesman for that chamber.

For the 2011 session, the Outstanding Statesman selected for the First Year chamber was Ben Jackson of Mountain Brook.

In the House and Senate, the award is named for Jere Hardy, one of the founders of the Alabama Youth Legislature program.

The Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature began in December 1948, when the Selma YMCA, under the leadership of Paul Grist and Jere Hardy, invited Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y representatives from throughout the state to a special meeting called to study the success and benefits of the Georgia Youth Assembly.

From this meeting, the decision was made to begin an Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature, in which young people could actually experience how the legislative process works and develop skills to become future leaders of our state and nation.

The young people who served in that tradition in their respective chambers this year were:
• Jere Hardy House: Pranav Bethala, Mobile, UMS-Wright
• Jere Hardy Senate: Benjamin Hubbard, Hartselle

FIRST YEAR

FY07 by Hayden McDaniel, Birmingham, Oak Mountain – all steel coils transported on Alabama roadways mandated to be secured using CoilSaver.

FY27 by Tillman Drew, Mountain Brook – elimination of continuing service status for educators in Alabama and require teachers to undergo parental, student and administrative evaluation annually based on work performance to ensure employment.

FY33 by Frank Phillips, Mountain Brook – Anti-Gouging Act for Prices of Food and Medicine in a State of Emergency – makes it illegal for any producer or seller of foods or medicines to raise prices by more than 25 percent during a state of emergency.

FY39 by Alyssa Harmon, Enterprise – Learner’s Permit Revision Act of 2011 – restricted permit holders only allowed to drive during the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., banned from driving during harsh weather conditions no matter the hour and allowed to transport a maximum of two passengers.

FY42 by Murray Manley, Mountain Brook – legalization of charter schools in Alabama

HOUSE

H6 by Kristian Duraski, Montgomery,Trinity – May I Help You, Please? – hands-on activities for mentally challenged students in public schools to increase social, verbal and occupational skills funded through a partnership with local businesses and private donors.
H12 by Whitney Lott, Montgomery, Trinity – Alabama Film Tax Incentive Act of 2011 – 25 percent tax incentive for all expenditures related to a $200,000+ movie, film, documentary or television series production filmed in Alabama. Additional 3 percent to 7 percent incentive if more than half of the labor for the production resides in Alabama.
H13 by Trey Ingram, Montgomery, Trinity – Mandatory annual drug testing for welfare recipients. Welfare payments denied for one year upon failure of second drug test, to be administered within one to three months from initial failed test.
H86 by Ben Andrews, Mobile UMS-Wright – Fair Tax Act of Alabama – Four percent income tax levied on all Alabama taxpayers beginning in 2014 with an exemption for those families earning an income below the poverty level.

SENATE

S22 by Thomas Stallings and Ashley Ann Adams, Montgomery, Trinity – Alabama’s New Deal – able-bodied Alabama citizens unemployed for more than six months and collecting welfare required to work in open, unwanted or created state jobs (i.e. road maintenance/cleaning, sanitation) to continue collecting welfare.
S25 by Jackson Britton and Thomas Stallings, Montgomery, Trinity – Cleaner Energy for a Cleaner Alabama – by 2030, 30 percent of energy generated in Alabama should be nuclear, 15 percent hydroelectric and 10 percent renewable energy.
S38 by Damien Moyer, Gadsden – Student Labor Reform Act – sets the maximum hours a minor in Alabama can work at 20 hours.
S45 by Maggie Touchton, Auburn – Profits for Educational Progress – permits public schools to sell corporate sponsorships of schools and/or school property. (Also named Senate Best Bill)

DELEGATES
Revenue Commissioner Ben Andrews, Daphne, junior
Senior Services Executive Director Katie Bailey, Hoover, senior
Rep. Pranav Bethala, Mobile, junior
ADECA Director Jackson Britton, Montgomery, Senate, junior
Sen. Floor Leader Mary Parrish Cobb, Montgomery, junior
First Year Presiding Officer Chad Dubois, Montgomery, sophomore
School Superintendent Justin Gallagher, Montgomery, sophomore
Sen. Andrew ‘Bubba’ Godwin, Montgomery, junior
Secretary of State Dakin Hill, Montgomery, junior
Rep. Helen Hinds, Mobile,
Sen. Benjamin Hubbard, Hartselle, junior
Banking Director Lauren Hunt, Dothan, Senate, senior
1st Year Ben Jackson, Mountain Brook, freshman
Communications Director David Kinstley, Birmingham, junior
President Pro Tem Taylor Lollar, Montgomery, junior
Speaker Whitney Lott, Montgomery, senior
Gov. Brannen McMahan, Montgomery, senior
Tourism and Travel Director Vince Mitchell, Eight Mile, junior, Senate
Chief of Staff Elizabeth Moulton, House Public Safety Committee Chairman
Lt. Gov. Logan Powell, Montgomery, senior
Sen. Colette Robicheaux, Auburn, senior
Speaker Pro Tempore Madison Singleton, Montgomery, senior
Sen. Maggie Touchton, Auburn, senior
Sen. Amber Voss, Wetumpka, senior
Rep. Zijie Yin, Mountain Brook, sophomore

ALTERNATES

1st Alternate Levi Waters, Auburn, junior
2nd Alternate 1st Year Pro Tem Jack Royer, Mountain Brook, freshman
3rd Alternate House Asst. Floor Leader Geraun Pogue, Mobile
4th Alternate Sen. Thomas Stallings, Montgomery
5th Alternate Rep. Michael Box, Birmingham
6th Alternate House Floor Leader Trey Ingram, Montgomery, senior
7th Alternate Rep. Lauren McLernon, Birmingham
8th Alternate Chief Legal Advisor Ashley Ann Adams, Montgomery
9th Alternate Industrial Relations Director Kathryn Trent, Oak Mountain, Senate, junior
10th Alternate Rep. Garrett Herring, Troy
11th Alternate Emergency Management Director Mary Catherine Connors, Enterprise, sophomore
12th Alternate Sen. Lauren Riley, Birmingham
13th Alternate Rep. Jeff Rogers, Mountain Brook, sophomore
14th Alternate Transportation Director Hannah Masingill, Montgomery
15th Alternate Corrections Commissioner Amy Sims, Gadsden
16th Alternate 1st Year Wayne Ingram, Mountain Brook
17th Alternate Read Mills, Birmingham
18th Alternate Justice Lauren Peterson, Mobile
19th Alternate Rep. Allie Phifer, Birmingham, junior
20th Alternate 1st Year Delegate Rebecca Fleisig, Mountain Brook, freshman

Jim Vickery, 1960 Alabama Youth Legislature Jere Hardy Award winner and former president of the University of Montevallo, presented the best bill awards during the joint closing ceremony Saturday, Feb. 26, in the House chambers.

Senate Best Bill:
SB 45 by Maggie Touchton of Auburn: Profits for Educational Progress

Other Outstanding Senate Bills
SB 51 by Levi Waters, Auburn: Tax Reform Act of 2011
SB 15 by Maacah Davis, Oak Mountain: Weapons Registration, and Firearm, Assault Rifle, or Shotgun Permit required to purchase and/or possess a firearm, assault rifle, or shotgun.
SB 41 by Vince Mitchell, UMS-Wright, Mobile: Attracting Tourism and Business to Alabama
SB 35 by Sarah Strickland, Enterprise, The Fundraiser Disclosure Act
SB 4 by Taylor Lollar/Turner Griffin, Trinity, Montgomery: State Mandated Prostitutes for Inmates

House Best Bill:
HB 23 by Allie Phifer of Spain Park: C.U.D.D.L.E. Right: Civil Unions Dedicated to Devotion, Love, and Equality

Other Outstanding House Bills
HB 49 by Aaron Cecil, Huntsville, to remove sales tax on all perishable and edible groceries
HB 19 by Ben Tamburello, Spain Park: Purge the Pages!: Let Your Fingers do the Clicking
HB 74 by Mary Catherine Connors, Enterprise: Mandatory Roadside Equipment
HB 53 by Ashtyne Cole and Haley McVay, Trinity, Montgomery: Calorie Content Displayed in Correspondence to Food Item

On Sunday, Hannah Haynes and Emory Johnston from the Montgomery/Trinity delegation received the First Year Best Bill Award for FY 17, Education Alternative.

Governor – Jackson Britton, Montgomery

Lt. Governor – Vince Mitchell, Eight Mile

Speaker of the House – David Kinstley, Birmingham

First Year PO – Jeff Rogers, Mountain Brook

Senate Pro Temp – Justin Gallagher, Montgomery

House Pro Temp – Chad DuBois, Montgomery

Senate Floor Leader – Mary Catherine Connors, Enterprise

House Floor Leader – Hannah Masingill, Montgomery

Tomorrow Today Editor – Tricia Ward, Wetumpka

Judd Powell, Montgomery, Trinity
James Sherman, Montgomery, Catholic
Hayden McDaniel, Birmingham, Oak Mountain
Wayne Ingram, Birmingham, Mountain Brook
Emily Allen, Birmingham, Spain Park
Murray Manley, Birmingham, Mountain Brook
Ben Jackson, Birmingham, Mountain Brook
Caroline Stewart, Montgomery, Trinity
Rebecca Fleisig, Birmingham, Mountain Brook
Aaron Tasseff, Montgomery, Trinity
Kemper Gokmen, Huntsville
Jack Royer, Birmingham, Mountain Brook

By Barbara Bradley, April Garrett & Katie Barbaree
Tomorrow Today Writers

Debate constitutes one of the biggest components of this conference, although debate takes the same basic format in all chambers, it varies widely in the different
chambers.

Debating in the Senate differs from the House, mostly because of size. With less people, the connection between senators is more casual, and the debates flow smoothly. People always want to voice their opinions and debate on a bill. If there is a time when people stop asking questions or questions are repeated, Senate Floor Leader Mary Parrish Cobb does a good job of keeping the debate moving. Although easygoing, Senate debate is still very professional and informational. The Senate debated bills on such issues as finance, education, welfare, tax decreases and eliminating certain taxes altogether.

In the First Year chamber, Presiding Officer Chad DuBois worked to bring the new delegates out
of their comfort zone. Although the delegates are young, they learned parliamentary procedure quickly and proved to be enthusiastic debaters with strong arguments. This weekend, they debated bills on abolishing the food tax and childhood obesity, to name a few. Hopefully, their work will encourage them to return next year and join the Senate or House.

When the House debates, the conversation may become far more intense than in the First Year chamber or the Senate. The House has many more delegates than the Senate, and the representatives have much more experience than the First Year chamber. With all the different representatives, bills can be debated much longer than in either of the other two houses. Since the number of members is greater, many different opinions are present. And because of the many different beliefs, debates can quickly become heated. During the past few days, a few bills with intense topics have been debated, such as the illegalization of abortion, the castration of sexual offenders and the legalization of homosexual marriage. With such controversial topics, as well as the variety of opinions, the debate can easily become intense. While the Senate may pass or fail a bill more quickly, the House explores a bill from every angle.

This weekend was full of some great debate in all the chambers. Hopefully, next year will be just as great, or even better!

By Rachel Hathcoat and Angie Lewis
Tomorrow Today Writers

During the opening session of AlabamaYouth Legislature, Gov. Brannen McMahan informed us about our special guests from Kazakhstan who would be observing our program throughout the weekend. The Tomorrow-Today staff sat down and asked them a few questions. The delegates from Kazakhstan include Olesya Anatolyevna Burgart-Balatskaya, Dzhandos Tulembekovich Kaltayev, Yerlan Zhagypparovich Karabalayev, Zhuldiz Sagyntaykyzy Smagulova, and Anatoliy Valsilyevich Zloy, along with Facilitator Zhanna Shakhi-Zidayevna Nurmakhanova.

Why did you choose Alabama’s Youth in Government program?

A few years ago, the Speaker of the Kazakhstan Parliament traveled to Washington, D.C., and witnessed their Youth Legislature conference. Upon returning to Kazakhstan, the Speaker met with the U.S. ambassador and began preparing for their own Youth Legislature program.

The preparation included coming back to the United States to observe other Youth Legislature conferences by working with the Open World Program.  According to Openworld.gov, the purpose of the visit was to view “accountable governance with the primary focus on youth legislature/parliamentary programs.”

What did you like about the program?

We are impressed with the professionalism of the students and how seriously they take the program. There is also a mutual feeling of respect between the students and adults, for the most part, they don’t even seem like students.

 What would you like to take back to Kazakhstan after observing Alabama’s Youth Legislature?

Well, since we have only been here 10 days, we aren’t sure yet. But we would like to bring back ideas of how to raise participation and enthusiasm of young people in Legislature.

The Kazakhtan delegates arrived in Montgomery on Friday, and will stay until Sunday , March 6. Over this 10=day period, along with the Alabama Youth Legislature conference, they will also observe many other youth programs such as The Optimist Club Youth City Government, Youth in Elected Office & the Media, as well as the Alabama Collegiate Legislature. We are so honored that they chose to visit our conference!

April Garrett and Katie Barbaree

                Since last year’s Youth Legislature conference, a few changes have been made. Most of the students enjoyed the changes, but some do not see the highlights of the changes. The most obvious change was the move to the Renaissance Hotel. Lieutenant Governor Logan Powell said,” The change in hotel has been for the better, and we have more room.” Senator Justin Gallagher agreed and said, “The hotel serves the program well.” Supreme Court Justice Lauren Wiggins said the change in hotel provided comfort for the convention to grow.

Although some like the hotel change, others did not. Representative Caroline Mahaney said the Embassy had larger rooms, free breakfast, and a friendlier staff. Another change was having opening session at lunch. Lt. Governor Powell also said this change provided more time for other, more important things. 

When asked about the changes, Governor Brannen McMahan replied, “I think the people are really enjoying the change. Everything is going smoothly.”