Bedford, Barron fighting for north Alabama while in Montgomery

By Staff
Jason Cannon, FCT Publisher
Getting state funding to Franklin and other North Alabama counties has been a fight, President Pro Tempore of the State Senate Lowell Barron told the Rotary Club of Franklin County Monday, but it's a fight Barron said he and Sen. Roger Bedford have been fighting for the last 24 years.
"We have to really work hard to bring your fair share back to North Alabama," the Democratic Senator from the 8th legislative district said. "But you've got Sen. Bedford on your side and he's one of the best at making sure that happens."
Both Barron and Bedford noted several accomplishments in last year's legislative session, but both were also looking forward to the next session in February.
Chief among Barron's priorities was the creation of the Center for Rural Alabama, which he described as a "clearing house to work out rural problems."
Barron said Franklin and surrounding counties, all of which are classified as rural, would stand to benefit from such a center. The bill to establish the center passed the House last year but was killed in the Senate on the last night by Gerald Dial. Dial was voted out of office earlier this month, so Barron said he was looking forward to putting the bill back on track.
"The center will work 24/7 for rural Alabama," he said. "The big towns and cities have a tremendous sales tax, which generates tremendous revenue…but you get out into rural Alabama, they're struggling."
Barron said he would also like to see a $1 billion bond issue for education pass and will work to create better health coverage for the uninsured.