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Riley: 2nd term is 'humbling honor' Governor talks of strides made in first four years
01-16-2007 - from Huntsville Times, BOB LOWRY Times Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY - Gov. Bob Riley said Monday the state had improved significantly during his first term and credited Democrats for helping him forge "a new beginning" for Alabama.
At the same time, the Republican governor used his inaugural address to publicly remind Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, Senate President Pro Tem Hinton Mitchem and House Speaker Seth Hammett - all Democrats - of their pledge to give his proposals a fair hearing in the 2007 Alabama Legislature.
"All of you have assured me that our proposals will receive a fair and full hearing before the Legislature," Riley told the crowd of about 3,500. "Gentlemen, I thank you for that commitment and I pledge to work with each of you to keep Alabama moving forward."
State Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, called Riley's remarks "a very good speech by the governor."
But, he added, "I hope he will stop his partisan attacks in the Senate and join with us in a bipartisan manner to help Alabama and its people."
Riley paid homage to the history of Alabama's 155-year-old state Capitol, which saw the beginning of the Civil War and the civil rights movement.
Riley took the oath of office only a few steps away from the bronze commemorative star where Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederacy in 1861.
The steps of the Capitol were also where the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march ended in 1965.
Before Riley and other constitutional officers were sworn in, a tribute was paid to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday was celebrated Monday.
"To stand here in the presence of such history and such promise and accept the mantle of responsibility that has once again been granted to me is a humbling honor," Riley said.
The governor didn't talk about his Plan 2010, which outlines his legislative goals for the next four years. Instead, he dwelled on the accomplishments of the past four years.
"We took a government mired in historic deficits and made it financially sound," Riley said. "An economy that was lagging behind other states now ranks at the top of virtually every list and it is the envy of every state in the union."
Riley also touted the 2006-07 state education budget, the income-tax cuts for the working poor and the state's first sales-tax holiday.
The governor drew his loudest applause when he said, "Alabama stands behind and fully supports our troops in the fight to protect us from the enemies of freedom."
The governor didn't expand his comments, however, about the war in Iraq or President Bush's plans to send additional troops to Iraq.
Rep. Mike Ball, R-Huntsville, said he noticed a profound difference in Riley's second inauguration from the first one.
"Four years ago, he kind of reminded me of a deer in the headlights," said Ball. "Now, he knows what he's up against. His staff is more experienced, and I think the next four years we can move Alabama forward more than we have the last four."
Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, said it was good idea for Riley to mention the commitments he has from the Democrats to give his proposals a fair chance in the Legislature.
"It was a good kickoff," said Butler. "He emphasized the House and Senate leadership had agreed to put his program out on the floor of the full House and Senate for a vote, and that's good."
Butler, who was burned when he tried to organize the Senate around a bipartisan coalition, said he hoped the commitments made to Riley would stick.
"If that commitment has been made to him, and I take his word at that, I think people ought to live up to their commitments," he said. "I've certainly tried to do so, and I hope they will too."
All of the state's constitutional officers were sworn in before Riley, although many had already taken their oaths in private ceremonies in their Capitol offices and elsewhere.
Among those in the audience were Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a likely 2008 GOP presidential candidate, and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who is considering entering the Democratic race for president. Clark swore in Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks for a second term.
Security was tight for a three-block area surrounding the Capitol, with state troopers, police and conservation officers manning intersections. Sharpshooters were posted on top of the Capitol and surrounding buildings.
A pair of large klieg lights lit up the Capitol steps. The rain held off, but the weather was overcast, warm and humid. Temperatures in the upper 70s were some of the warmest in inauguration history.
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