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.

Sinner or Saint?

Minority Leader Craig Ford This has been a disheartening week for the State of Alabama. The news of Gov. Bentley’s relationship with Rebekah Caldwell Mason has embarrassed our state on a national level, and become a distraction for the Legislature at a time when legislators need to be focused on solving the state’s problems. Nobody … Continued

Craig Ford

April 8, 2016

Opinion

Gov. Bentley’s Actions Are Costing Alabama Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford Since Governor Bentley’s relationship with Rebekah Mason became public last week, there have been calls for him to resign. Those calls have not come just because of his relationship with Rebekah Mason. Governor Bentley isn’t the first person in Montgomery to do what he did, and he probably won’t … Continued

Craig Ford

March 31, 2016

Opinion

State Employees Deserve A Pay Raise, Too!

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford Alabama’s state employees are the unsung heroes who keep our state running. But they have also been neglected and left out for far too long. If Gov. Bentley can find a way to give his cabinet and staff members 80 percent pay raises, surely we can find a way … Continued

Craig Ford

March 18, 2016

Opinion

Warning Labels Crucial On E-Cigarette Advertisements

By Minority Leader Craig Ford Did you know that seven out of 10 children under the age of 17 are exposed to advertisements for e-cigarettes? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2014 more than 18 million middle and high school aged children in the United States were exposed to ads for e-cigarettes. … Continued

Craig Ford

March 11, 2016

Opinion

Why Alabama Should Allow Early Voting

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford This week, voters across Alabama went to the polls to cast their ballots and make their voices heard. In November, we will do it all over again. More than 3 million people are registered to vote in Alabama, and in the last Presidential election, 73 percent of those people … Continued

Craig Ford

March 3, 2016

Opinion

Robert Aderholt Has Some Explaining To Do

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford When Congressman Robert Aderholt speaks to the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, he has a lot of explaining to do. To start with, he should explain why anyone who wants to hear their congressman speak has to pay $25 per person. We elected him; we shouldn’t have to pay … Continued

Craig Ford

February 18, 2016

Opinion

When Ideology Becomes Idolatry

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford There’s a fine line between standing up for your principles and political extremism. These days, unfortunately, political extremism seems to be the standard. There’s no clearer example of this than the reaction Alabama House Majority Leader Micky Hammon (R-Decatur) to House Democrats’ legislative agenda last week. House Democrats’ agenda … Continued

Craig Ford

February 12, 2016

Opinion

Instead of Building Super Prisons, Let’s Build Super Schools

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford During his State of the State Address Tuesday night, Gov. Bentley laid out his four-year plan, which included spending up to $800 million to build four new super prisons. The next day, the governor announced that he wants to transfer $181 million out of the education budget and put … Continued

Craig Ford

February 5, 2016

Opinion

Is The Republican Lottery Bill Really Just An Attempt To Kill The Lottery?

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford There’s no doubt that momentum for the lottery is building in Alabama. A public opinion poll, paid for by the House and Senate Republican Caucuses, found that 62 percent of likely Republican Primary voters support the lottery, and 59 percent even support expanding gambling in Alabama. These strong numbers … Continued

Craig Ford

January 29, 2016

Opinion

Educators Deserve A Raise, But The Proposed Merit Pay Bill Has Serious Flaws

By Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford When the state Legislature returns to Montgomery in two weeks, one of the top issues will be a cost-of-living pay raise for educators. Both parties agree that the money is there, and now is the time. But there are some major differences between what both party’s are proposing. House … Continued

Craig Ford

January 22, 2016