Known for brazen corruption, Louisiana and Rhode Island may have nothing on Alabama. Is Alabama perhaps the most corrupt state in the union? Or is it just cravenly careless? Many Alabamians may be surprised to hear that, and that may be understandable because in Alabama everyone is polite, and we don’t speak openly about such ugliness. However, the ugly truth is Alabama has always been a one-party state and regardless of party, there is little accountability.

Not unlike the federal government, few elected state officials really know what the state bureaucracy is doing. The lobbyists know what the various agencies are doing because they know exactly where every dollar goes and how to get some of those dollars. In the murky workings of Montgomery, politicians either participate or turn a blind eye.

In this sad state of affairs, Governor Ivey is bullying the legislature to rapidly ram through her legislation to abolish the State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA) and completely overhaul the Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs (ADVA). Firstly, most Alabamians and apparently most elected officials know little or nothing about this 80-year-old agency.

A group of far-sighted Alabama Veterans returning home from WWII were concerned about how best to serve the unique needs of thousands of their fellow warriors returning from a long and gruesome war. They wanted to ensure the state of Alabama met those needs and was directly accountable and responsive to Alabama Veterans, so working with legislators, they crafted the framework of the current Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Board of Veterans Affairs.

Since 1945, the ADVA has worked to provide services that meet the needs of the state’s Veterans. In the last five years particularly, the ADVA has been highly effective providing services to thousands of Alabama Veterans, opening Veteran Service Offices in almost every county, building a much-needed new Veterans Home, and working with private organizations to finally deliver sorely needed mental health services to Alabama Veterans.

In its current configuration, the State Board of Veterans Affairs is comprised of 16 members nominated by various Veterans Service Organizations and then approved and appointed by the Governor. These Veterans serve selflessly as volunteers to ensure the specific needs and unique perspectives of Veterans are addressed by the ADVA. This diverse group of men and women come from across the state, and they represent every demographic and political party.

The ADVA and the SBVA have served our Veteran community well precisely because they were created to be nonpartisan and apolitical. The Department and the Board were intentionally designed to be independent of politics and the whims of changing administrations or different parties. Yet, here we are eight decades later trying to politicize them.

Alabama Veterans were surprised last week when SB67 and HB154 were introduced to completely overhaul what is perhaps the only state agency currently satisfying its constituents. Veterans were displeased to learn that this legislation strips the Veterans Service Organizations of any role in nominating members of the SBVA and instead makes them all political appointees. In reality, this takes away Veterans’ voices and direct input into matters directly affecting the well-being of Veterans. Veterans were further disappointed to learn that our input as Veterans was not only not solicited, it was shunned. To its discredit, the Senate rushed the bill through committee and deprived Veterans a chance to be heard.

Thankfully the Alabama House Military & Veterans Affairs committee is at least holding a public hearing, but Veterans are puzzled why such far-reaching proposed changes are being rushed without proper consideration and close consultation with Veterans. New legislation usually takes a session or two, so, what is the rush?

Alabama Veterans are generally pleased with the ADVA and SBVA and the way they are structured, so why are we even considering an overhaul of a successful system? We are told we need more diverse Veteran representation, but we already have diverse Veteran representation. We are told this change will make the ADVA more responsive. Does anyone suppose that installing purely political appointees will make the ADVA more responsive than oversight by the very Veterans to be served?

Alabama Veterans are closely watching these proceedings, and they are not fooled. They see the governor’s office and this legislature shoving this harmful legislation through at breakneck pace to make it law before Veterans can respond. This bill is bad for Alabama Veterans and the way it’s being handled tells us that the true intent is being hidden from us.

From the viewpoint of Alabama Veterans, this is retribution for standing up for our rights. This legislation is meant to silence Veterans asking for accountability and insisting we retain our rightful influence. Those are not good reasons to strip the SBVA of its oversight responsibilities and overhaul the ADVA.

Like our Founding Fathers who drafted the Constitution, the Alabama WWII Veterans who created the ADVA and SBVA gave us a lasting institution that is effective and that has successfully served Alabama Veterans for 80 years. Alabama Veterans do not see anyone in Montgomery now who knows better than those venerable WWII Veterans.

We can only speculate why the Governor is obsessed with this vendetta, but why are legislators trying to impose this injustice? Perhaps they also have a hidden agenda or more likely they are unaware of what the ADVA and SBVA have been doing. They need to pause and find out the truth for themselves.

The SBVA is comprised of noble servants and should be retained as originally established. The legislature should listen to Alabama Veterans and drop this shameful effort to shut us out.

“People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed” (Proverbs 10:9).

Pete Riehm is a Navy Veteran, conservative activist, and columnist in south Alabama. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.