The Alabama legislative session has concluded, but tension between Republicans and Democrats are as high as ever. Democratic leadership said this was the worst session in decades; while Republicans leaders praised it as being one of the most productive.
Political parties will often disagree. In fact, disagreement is an integral part of our political process because it signals that various viewpoints are being communicated. But we have a serious problem when political, policy, and personal disagreements become so insurmountable that elected officials are no longer able to reach some level of compromise on major political issues.
When Democrats lost control of the state House and Senate in 2010 after 136 years of power, it signaled a major shift in Alabama’s political climate. But now, both parties have had a chance at bat, and both parties have ‘arguably’ struck-out. Many Alabamians now view party labels as misnomers, and no one truly knows what either political party stands for anymore.
So what’s the root of the problem?
Power has become the dominating motivator in Montgomery, and as a result, the concept of a “balanced” government is nonexistent in Alabama. But I have a crazy theory. This isn’t a party issue at all. This is actually a gender issue. Right now, women make up less than 12% of the Alabama legislature—and it shows.
Men have controlled the state legislature since…forever. Our state continues to be plagued by the same problems—poor education systems, low literacy rates, high obesity, and racial tensions—and we still hold our place at the bottom of every national list measuring the progress of our country. We’ve seen everything from physical fights on the House floor to grimy back-room political tactics.
The Alabama Legislature is in desperate need of a paradigm shift. The struggle for power must be balanced with compassionate governance. We need elected officials who understand the basic needs of Alabamians, and who are willing to work with their colleagues to meet those needs. Our best hope for change in Montgomery is for Democrats and Republicans to recruit more women to run for statewide office.
Research shows that at the federal level, electing more women to office improves cooperativeness and coalition building amongst elected officials. Additionally, Congresswomen cosponsor about 26 more bills per Congress than congressmen. Women also garner co-sponsorship support from a greater number of their peers, which suggests that women have stronger networks of collaboration with their colleagues than congressmen.
We have a great example of how female leaders collaborate in U.S. Representatives Terri Sewell (AL-D) and Martha Roby (AL-R). These congresswomen represent neighboring congressional districts in central Alabama. They recently co-sponsored a bill that created a website to preserve testimonies of congressional members about their contributions to the civil rights movement. Even though Congresswoman Sewell is a Democrat and Congresswoman Roby is a Republican, the two women were able to find some common ground for the good of Alabama.
We need that same attitude in Montgomery—intelligent and compassionate leadership. It is up to the citizens of Alabama to identify and recruit qualified and capable female leaders to run for office. Let’s turn the State House into a Home by electing more women to office. And if we work hard enough, perhaps one day we’ll see a woman in the Governor’s mansion too.
*This article previously ran in the Birmingham Times
Political parties will often disagree. In fact, disagreement is an integral part of our political process because it signals that various viewpoints are being communicated. But we have a serious problem when political, policy, and personal disagreements become so insurmountable that elected officials are no longer able to reach some level of compromise on major political issues.
When Democrats lost control of the state House and Senate in 2010 after 136 years of power, it signaled a major shift in Alabama’s political climate. But now, both parties have had a chance at bat, and both parties have ‘arguably’ struck-out. Many Alabamians now view party labels as misnomers, and no one truly knows what either political party stands for anymore.
So what’s the root of the problem?
Power has become the dominating motivator in Montgomery, and as a result, the concept of a “balanced” government is nonexistent in Alabama. But I have a crazy theory. This isn’t a party issue at all. This is actually a gender issue. Right now, women make up less than 12% of the Alabama legislature—and it shows.
Men have controlled the state legislature since…forever. Our state continues to be plagued by the same problems—poor education systems, low literacy rates, high obesity, and racial tensions—and we still hold our place at the bottom of every national list measuring the progress of our country. We’ve seen everything from physical fights on the House floor to grimy back-room political tactics.
The Alabama Legislature is in desperate need of a paradigm shift. The struggle for power must be balanced with compassionate governance. We need elected officials who understand the basic needs of Alabamians, and who are willing to work with their colleagues to meet those needs. Our best hope for change in Montgomery is for Democrats and Republicans to recruit more women to run for statewide office.
Research shows that at the federal level, electing more women to office improves cooperativeness and coalition building amongst elected officials. Additionally, Congresswomen cosponsor about 26 more bills per Congress than congressmen. Women also garner co-sponsorship support from a greater number of their peers, which suggests that women have stronger networks of collaboration with their colleagues than congressmen.
We have a great example of how female leaders collaborate in U.S. Representatives Terri Sewell (AL-D) and Martha Roby (AL-R). These congresswomen represent neighboring congressional districts in central Alabama. They recently co-sponsored a bill that created a website to preserve testimonies of congressional members about their contributions to the civil rights movement. Even though Congresswoman Sewell is a Democrat and Congresswoman Roby is a Republican, the two women were able to find some common ground for the good of Alabama.
We need that same attitude in Montgomery—intelligent and compassionate leadership. It is up to the citizens of Alabama to identify and recruit qualified and capable female leaders to run for office. Let’s turn the State House into a Home by electing more women to office. And if we work hard enough, perhaps one day we’ll see a woman in the Governor’s mansion too.
*This article previously ran in the Birmingham Times
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