In detailing how three local lawmakers are denying home rule in the county, we’ve neglected to tell the whole story.
Yes, Rep. Steve Hurst, R-Munford, Rep. Randy Wood, R-Saks, and Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville, are holding up a bill that would allow the city of Anniston the ability to regulate the sale of alcohol.
Yes, the three are preventing a local government from making a purely local decision.
Yes, it’s bewildering that self-proclaimed conservatives have thus far denied this exercise of a very conservative principle — namely, that decisions affecting the grassroots are best made closest to the grassroots.
Yet, Mayor Willis makes a fair point when he notes that these lawmakers haven’t limited their naysaying to the people of Anniston. They are doing the same thing to Weaver. They are standing in the way of the wishes of not one but two city councils.
All is not lost, however. We encourage Hurst, Brown and Wood to allow this measure to go before the 105 members of the House of Representatives for a vote.
