Author

Craig Ford

Craig Ford is the owner of Ford Insurance and the Gadsden Messenger. He represented Etowah County in the Alabama House of Representatives for 18 years.

News

Rep. Jim Patterson Makes Misleading Statements in Editorial

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford I was amazed to read a recent editorial from Rep. Jim Patterson, R-Merdianville, in which he blasted Democrats in the Alabama legislature for having the nerve to propose a 5 percent pay increase for educators. Throughout his editorial, Rep. Patterson makes several statements that are either misleading or out-right … Continued

Craig Ford

April 24, 2013

Opinion

Education Budget a Slap in the Face

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford It has been a rough year for public education in Alabama. In fact, for the past three years, the Republicans in the Alabama legislature have been waging a war on public education. And because of the education budget that passed the state House of Representatives last week, next … Continued

Craig Ford

April 17, 2013

Opinion

The Accountability Act Cannot Be Fixed Repeal is the Only Solution

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford When Gov. Bentley signed the Alabama Accountability Act into law, he acknowledged that there were, in his words, “Some concerns [that] have been raised regarding the impact of this legislation.” The governor also said he believed those concerns could be fixed through more rules and regulation. At the same time, … Continued

Craig Ford

April 9, 2013

Opinion

Make Our Children’s Safety a Priority

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford The Bible says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” I believe in the truth of that scripture, and over the next couple of months we will see where our state’s leadership is putting their hearts. As the legislature returns for the … Continued

Craig Ford

April 2, 2013

Opinion

Be Careful What You Wish For…

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford We’ve all heard the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” It seems that Republicans in the Alabama legislature are learning the meaning of this saying the hard way after they failed to show up for work this past Tuesday and ended … Continued

Craig Ford

March 27, 2013

Opinion

Ugly Bill Passed in Ugly Way

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford It is amazing to read what some legislators have written in the weeks since the state legislature passed the so-called Alabama Accountability Act. The Republicans in the Alabama legislature who concocted this bill and the deceitful (not to mention illegal) tactics to pass it, are now trying to tell … Continued

Craig Ford

March 19, 2013

Opinion

Why We Have To Slow The Legislative Process Down

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford There has been a lot said over the past two weeks about the tactics used by Republicans in the Alabama legislature to pass the so-called Alabama Accountability Act. You have also read about how Democrats have responded by filibustering legislation and using the rules to slow the legislative process … Continued

Craig Ford

March 12, 2013

Opinion

Republicans in Montgomery Broke Their Promises, On Education and Ethical Government

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford If there was any doubt that the Republican leadership in Montgomery is waging a war on public education in Alabama, those doubts were put to rest last week. By passing the so-called school “Accountability Act,” and doing so in the way that they did it, the Republicans in the … Continued

Craig Ford

March 5, 2013

Opinion

Sequestration Would Be A Disaster for Alabama

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford If there has been a theme for the Republicans in Montgomery this legislative session, it would be that the federal government is bad and we don’t need the federal government’s money. While I am all for the state being in control of its own destiny, the truth is that … Continued

Craig Ford

February 26, 2013

Opinion

Governor, Legislature Treating State Employees Like Second-Class Citizens

By House Minority Leader Craig Ford I never thought that I would live to see a governor brag about how he has eliminated 4,000 jobs – especially in the middle of a recession! But two weeks ago that is exactly what Gov. Bentley did in his State of the State address. The only thing more … Continued

Craig Ford

February 19, 2013