AL YMCA Youth in Government

Gov. Brannen McMahan, Montgomery (Trinity)
Lt. Gov. Logan Powell, Montgomery (Trinity)
President Pro Tempore Taylor Lollar, Montgomery (Trinity)
Senate Floor Leader Mary Parrish Cobb, Montgomery (LAMP)
Speaker of the House Whitney Lott, Montgomery (Trinity)
Speaker Pro Tempore Madison Singleton, Montgomery (Trinity)
House Floor Leader Trey Ingram, Montgomery (Trinity)
First Year Presiding Officer Chad Dubois, Montgomery (Catholic)
Secretary of State: Dakin Hill, Montgomery (Trinity)

Chief Justice:  Danielle Phillps, Birmingham (Spain Park)

2011 TOMORROW-TODAY CO-EDITORS: Barbara Bradley and Lexie Segrest, Montgomery (Catholic)

Governor’s Award for OUTSTANDING DELEGATION: Tuskegee

PASSED BILLS

FY3 - Thomas Stallings and Ashley Ann Adams, Montgomery (Trinity) - Decrease Illegal Immigration in the Workforce

FY 4 - Ashley Ann Adams, Lauren Kingry and Erin Williams, Montgomery (Trinity) - Industry Scholarship

FY 16 - Josh Donaldson, Enterprise - No Unemployment Tax for Employers under Unfortunate Circumstances Act

FY 58 - Read Mills, Birmingham (Spain Park) - The Clean Car Act

HB 7 - Madison Singleton, Montgomery (Trinity) - To Require a Person Receiving an Unemployment Benefits, Certain Public Aid, or Assistance to Submit to Drug Screening and Provide Penalties if He Fails This Drug Test

HB 40 - Mary Wills and Leighton Wilson, Birmingham (Oak Mountain) - An Act to Establish a Fiscal Year Appropriation Cap for the Alabama Education Trust Fund

HB 41 - Christian Harben, Mobile (UMS-Wright) - The Clean Air Act

HB 62 - Will Clayton, Birmingham (Oak Mountain) - Prison Construction and Funding Act of 2010

HB 65 - Lindsay Price and Bria Rashing, Montgomery - Tax Incentives for Recycling Centers

SB 1 - Brannen McMahan, Montgomery (Trinity) - A Comprehensive Revision of the Alabama State Constitution

SB 4 - Davis Vaughn and Lucy Jackson, Montgomery (Trinity) - Bill Mandating that English Be the Only Language Available for Those Taking the Alabama Driver’s Test

SB 5 - Sheldon Martin and Allison Riley, Montgomery (Trinity) - Prohibit a Registered Sex Offender from Accessing a Social Networking Site on the Internet

SB 22 - Georgia Cassady, Enterprise - Eat Green (Public schools forbidden to use strofoam)

SB 37 - Zach Grate, Montgomery (St. James) - Insurance Tags (external indication of insurance)

BEST BILLS

HOUSE:
HB 59 - Aaron DePiano, Birmingham (Oak Mountain) - Saving Lives of Working Emergency Responders Act (S.L.O.W.E.R. Act)

Honorable mentions:

• HB 16 - Sarah Strickland, Enterprise - The Fundraiser Disclosure Act
• HB 24 - Matthew Spivey and Wesley Peters, Ozark - Charity Bingo Act of 2010
• HB 40 - Mary Wills and Leighton Wilson, Birmingham (Oak Mountain) - An Act to Establish a Fiscal Year Appropriation Cap for the Alabama Education Trust Fund

SENATE:
SB 5 - Sheldon Martin and Allison Riley, Montgomery (Trinity) - Prohibit a Registered Sex Offender from Accessing a Social Networking Site on the Internet

Honorable mentions:

• SB 1 - Brannen McMahan, Montgomery (Trinity) - A Comprehensive Revision of the Alabama State Constitution
• SB 3 - Davis Vaughn and Lucy Jackson, Montgomery (Trinity) - A Proposal of a Statewide Lottery Benefiting Education
• SB 11 - Ann Elizabeth Stabler and Mary Frances Morris, Montgomery (Trinity) - Predatory Lending
• SB 25 - Catherine Irwin and Jillian Heaton, Enterprise - Double the Blood Alcohol Level, Double the Punishment

FIRST YEAR:  FY 16 - Josh Donaldson, Enterprise - No Unemployment Tax for Employers under Unfortunate Circumstances Act

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS for adult leadership:

• Cindy Somerville, Montgomery
• Kay McGaughey, Montgomery
• Catherine Jaime, Huntsville
• Blaine Wheeler, Lake City, Fla.
• Jimmy Dennis, Montgomery
• Sevanne Steiner, New Orleans, LA

OUTSTANDING LOBBYIST: Benjamin Richardson, Pike Road (St. James)

BILL BARRINGER SCHOLARSHIP: Chris Stokes, Oak Mountain

SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD: Amber Voss, Wetumpka (Edgewood Academy)
(paid trip to Values Conference)

JERE HARDY (Outstanding statesmen)

• House: Will Clayton, Birmingham (Oak Mountain)
• Senate: Patrick Donnan, Auburn

OUTSTANDING 1^ST YEAR PARTICIPANT: Zijie Yin, Mountain Brook

BETTY CARR AWARD: D’Jara Britton, Montgomery (Catholic)

FIRST YEAR AWARDS

Thomas Stallings, Montgomery (Trinity)   Hannah Masingill, Montgomery (Catholic)
Ben Garcia, Mountain Brook                            Vincent Mitchell, Mobile (UMS-Wright)
Jackie Gonzalez, Birmingham (Spain Park)  Lauren Petersen, Mobile (UMS-Wright)
Mary Catherine Conners, Enterprise              Jeff Rodgers, Mountain Brook
Holly Howell, Birmingham (Spain Park)        Allie Phifer, Birmingham (Spain Park)
Collen Anusiewicz, Mobile (UMS-Wright)     Zijie Yin, Mountain Brook
Read Mills, Birmingham (Spain Park)             Onur Oztas, Mobile (UMS-Wright)
Brittany Spears, Birmingham (Spain Park)   Ben Lacewell, Enterprise
Jordan Heymann, Montgomery (Catholic) Candler Reynolds, Montgomery (Trinity)

MEDIA AWARD: Danielle Carter, Wetumpka (Edgewood Academy)

2010 YOUTH CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS DELEGATES

Sen. Katie Bailey, Hoover
1^st Year Delegate Pranav Bethala, Mobile
Lt. Gov. D’Jara Britton, Montgomery
Finance Director Will Clayton, Birmingham
Sen. Patrick Donnan, Auburn
Transportation Director Elizabeth Finley, Millbrook
Communications Director Zach Grate, Montgomery
Tourism and Travel Director Dakin Hill, Montgomery
Rep. Eunji Jo, Birmingham-Oak Mountain
Public Safety Director Taylor Lollar, Montgomery
First Year Presiding Officer Whitney Lott, Montgomery
Sen. Cara McElroy, Birmingham
President Pro Tem Brannen McMahan, Montgomery
House Speaker Amanda Pfluke, Enterprise
Chief Justice Danielle Phillips, Birmingham
Speaker Pro Tem Logan Powell, Montgomery
Gov. Jonathan Quisenberry, Enterprise
Sen. Colette Robicheaux, Auburn
Sen. Chris Stokes, Oak Mountain
Asst. Senate Floor Leader Lizzie Terino, Montgomery
Mental Health/Mental Retardation Commissioner Emily Thompson, Troy
Sen. Maggie Touchton, Auburn
Senate Floor Leader Amber Voss, Wetumpka
Emergency Management Director Alison Ward, Dothan
1^st Year Delegate Zijie Yin, Mountain Brook

2010 YOUTH CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS ALTERNATES

1^st Alternate: Rep. Andrew Brane, Birmingham

2^nd Alternate: DIR Director Mallory Thompson, Birmingham

3^rd Alternate: Secretary of State Katherine Cordona, Enterprise

4^th Alternate: Asst. Sec. of State Mary Parrish Cobb, Montgomery

5^th Alternate: Rep. Aaron Depiano, Birmingham

6^th Alternate: Asst. House Floor Leader David Kinstley, Birmingham

7^th Alternate: Banking Director Elizabeth Roth, Enterprise

8^th Alternate: Rep. Andrew Godwin, Montgomery

9^th Alternate: 1^st Year Delegate Levi Waters, Auburn

10^th Alternate: Rep. Eric Tate, Birmingham

11^th Alternate: Lobbyist Benjamin Richardson, Pike Road

12^th Alternate: Sen. Hanson Schultz, Auburn

13^th Alternate:  Sen. Briana O’Neal, Tuskegee

14^th Alternate: Sen. Cara Macon, Mobile

15^th Alternate: 1^st Year Reading Clerk Mary Catherine Connors, Enterprise

16^th Alternate:  Rep. Benjamin Hubbard, Hartselle

17^th Alternate:  Corrections Commissioner Catherine Irwin, Enterprise

18^th Alternate:  Sen. Judge Tate, Birmingham

19^th Alternate:  Sen. Davis Vaughn, Montgomery

20^th Alternate:  Rep. Kaitlyn Rush, Enterprise

21st Alternate:  Rep. Daniel Stark, Auburn

Tomorrow-Today Staff

Each year, college students who have participated in Youth Legislature return to assist the new year’s delegates. They are always a huge help and enjoy the job immensely; the best part is meeting new people and getting to know them. There was a dance-off going on between the college staff in which they had 15 seconds to show everyone their best moves.The winner was Daniel Connors featuring vocalist Jessica Christie. Congratulations!

Daniel Connors

By Youth Governor Jonathan Quisenberry:

Welcome to the 62nd annual YMCA Youth Legislature Conference! You are in for a great experience this weekend as we take charge of our state government and learn the lessons of representative democracy. For those of you who don’t know me yet, I am a big John Mayer fan, and I believe he is right when he sings that “one day our generation is going to rule the population.” Our work here this weekend is very important because we are the future leaders of our state and nation.

I can assure you that your Youth Legislature experience will be a great one, if you have adequately prepared yourself for it. In other words, you will get out of this weekend whatever you put into it. I hope that you have worked hard crafting and polishing your bills! I challenge you to look for opportunities to speak in chambers! Step out of your “comfort zone” and participate in the democratic process in every way possible. Learn as much as you can, and have fun doing it. Most importantly, go out of your way to meet new people and build relationships with them. Realize that this opportunity is fleeting and rare, and make the most of it.

I look forward to meeting each of you during the conference. If I can do anything to make your Youth Leg experience better, please let me or any of the other officers know. I challenge all of you to step out of your comfort zone, actively participate each day, and of course, HAVE FUN!

Youth Governor Jonathan Quisenberry met with Governor Bob Riley today to discuss this year’s Youth Legislature.  When asked by Gov. Quisenberry for a piece of advise, Gov. Riley responded with a quote from Davy Crockett:  ” Be always sure you are right - then go ahead.”

Youth Governor Jonathan Quisenberry and Alabama Governor Bob Riley.

Youth Governor Jonathan Quisenberry has hired his staff and appointed the members of his Cabinet today.

Staff:

Cabinet:

Anna Alexander ~ Department of Human Resources
Will Clayton ~ Department of Finance
Elizabeth Finley ~ Department of Transportation
Katie Ford ~ Department of Economic and Community Affairs
Evelyn Hall ~ Alabama Military Department
Dakin Hill ~ Department of Tourism and Travel
Catherine Irwin ~ Department of Corrections
Lucy Jackson ~ Alcoholic Beverage Control
Taylor Lollar ~ Department of Public Safety
Damien Moyer ~ Department of Labor
Jenna Mullins ~ Department of Senior Services
Elizabeth Roth ~ Banking Department
Kaitlyn Rush ~ Department of Insurance
Megan Ryan ~ Department of Conservation
Alexandria Sims ~ Alabama Development Office
Cara Macon ~ Homeland Security
Ashley Smyre ~ State School Superintendent
Chris Stokes ~ Department of Revenue
Emily Thompson ~ Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation
Mallory Thompson ~ Department of Industrial Relations
Kathryn Trent ~ Medicaid Agency
Alison Ward ~ Emergency Management Agency
Sammy Woolard ~ Department of Children’s Affairs

From left: Pfluke, Lott, Powell, McMahan, Madison, Cardona and Britton

2010 Youth Gov. Jonathan Quisenberry takes the oath of office.

Jonathan Quisenberry, Youth Governor
D’Jara Britton, Lt. Governor
Brannen McMahan, President Pro Tem
Henry Weatherly, Senate Floor Leader
Amanda Pfluke, Speaker of the House
Logan Powell, Speaker Pro Tem
Caroline Madison, House Floor Leader
Whitney Lott, First Year Presiding Officer
Katherine Cardona, Secretary of State

Chief Justice D'Jara Britton presides over constitutionality arguments in the Youth Supreme Court.

By ASHLEY JOHNSON
Tomorrow-TODAY Staff Writer

The Supreme Court got serious Saturday morning when a question arose about the constitutionality of a bill banning the use of handheld firearms. Senate Floor Leader Charles Cardinal, the author of the bill, felt that this would lower the murder rate. The Supreme Court along with Chief Justice D’Jara Britton got exceptionally heated with the author and his bill. Sen. Cardinal’s bill was unanimously deemed unconstitutional, which really upset the patron. When asked how she felt about the patron throwing around the constitution, Chief Justice D’Jara Britton stated, “even though we’re only a mock Supreme Court, we hold the constitution in great esteem and we do not appreciate any physical or mental disrespect.”

Governor Roscoe Anderson speaks at Opening Session

By ELIZABETH VEASEY
Tomorrow-TODAY Co-Editor

The 61st annual Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature Conference is finally here! Our Alabama Youth Governor Roscoe Anderson started off with a quick but meaningful address. He encouraged all individuals involved in the program to “go out of your way and really immerse yourself in the experience of Youth Legislature.” Gov. Anderson also stressed the importance of going the extra mile and meeting new people. From the editors of the press, a warm thank you to the governor for mentioning the Tomorrow Today issues and our newly added blog. The final remarks made by the youth governor were, “Good luck, have fun, and I look forward to seeing you throughout the conference,” which adequately sums up the opening session.

Lobbyists Constance Taylor and Turner Pyle outside the Senate Chamber.

By ASHLEY JOHNSON
Tomorrow TODAY Staff

The 2009 lobbyists are Alex Carter, Taylor Davis, Turner Pyle, Constance Taylor and Kevin Varghese. The one question asked the most is “What in the world does a lobbyist do?” Well, lobbyists have important jobs that aren’t always recognized. They promote special bills, make posters and brochures, and communicate with all Youth Legislature participants. When asked altogether what they looked forward to, it was agreed that it would be talking and promoting your bills. They feel as though this year will definitely be “one to remember.”