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Darrio Melton

Darrio Melton

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The Troopers are gone, but there’s still obstruction at the foot of the bridge: We must march on

By Rep. Darrio Melton This weekend, my small hometown of Selma got a little more busy than usual. An estimated 80,000 people–including members of Congress and the President and First Family–came to pay tribute to the legacy of Selma. As we gathered together at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, we talked about the … Continued
March 10, 2015

Democrats’ Response to State of the State

By Representative Darrio Melton Good evening, Alabama.  My name is Representative Darrio Melton, and tonight you’ve heard Governor Bentley’s proposals for our legislative session and the upcoming year.  On behalf of fellow Democrats, both in the legislature and across the state, I’d like to respond to the Governor’s address.  This evening, you heard many good … Continued
March 4, 2015

Budget Battles and the Future of Alabama

By Rep. Darrio Melton This week, elected leaders from all corners of Alabama will return to Montgomery to do the people’s business in the State Legislature.  We have some big issues to tackle together: a $700 million budget shortfall, a prison system on the verge of a federal takeover, a bankrupt healthcare system and suffering … Continued
March 3, 2015

The measure of our state: It’s time to increase the minimum wage

By Rep. Darrio Melton Last week, I announced that I’ll continue the battle to increase Alabama’s minimum wage. Last year, I sponsored HB279, which proposed increasing the minimum wage to $9.80 per hour over three years. This year, we’re going to give the new Legislature another chance to allow the bill to come to the … Continued
February 24, 2015

It’s about people: I’m excited to work with the Governor

By Rep. Darrio Melton The 2014 elections were bad.  Not just bad because Democrats lost, but bad because the hyper-partisan attacks reached a new low.  Any candidate who suggested finding a method to bring affordable, accessible health care to more Alabamians was attacked as a “Washington liberal who supports expanding Obamacare.” I have been a … Continued
February 17, 2015

Prison Pop Quiz: We have a problem, Alabama

By Rep. Darrio Melton Pop quiz: Which country incarcerates more of its citizens than anywhere else in the world? You’re probably thinking China? North Korea? Iran? Russia? Nope. Here’s a hint: It’s the land of the free, ironically enough. The United States of America. We have more American citizens sitting in prisons across the country … Continued
February 10, 2015

What the Super Bowl teaches us about our failing education system

By Rep. Darrio Melton There has been a lot of controversy around the Patriots’ appearance in Super Bowl XLIX. After their win in the AFC title game, “Deflate-Gate” broke, challenging the legality of their game balls. Some said that the Patriots broke the rules by under-inflating the balls, others said there was no way they … Continued
February 3, 2015

Alabama Is Missing the Mark on Christian Values

By Rep. Darrio MeltonLast week, a federal judge in Mobile struck down Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriages, generating a statewide conversation about family values. For many couples across the state, this meant that they are able to have their families validated by the state, allowing them to share benefits and adopt children. For others, this … Continued
January 27, 2015

Beyond Selma: The Next Phase of the Civil Rights Movement

By Representative Darrio Melton Alabama Political Reporter At the end of the Selma-to-Montgomery March, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Alabama Capitol and delivered a speech with a quote that is now etched on his memorial in Washington, D.C.: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends … Continued
January 20, 2015

We Have a Lot We Can Learn from “Selma”

By Rep. Darrio Melton Last week, the movie “Selma” opened in theaters across the country, sharing an important part of America’s history born right here in Alabama. While it’s been 50 years since the Selma-to-Montgomery March that eventually gave way to the Voting Rights Act, we’re still fighting many of the same battles in 2015. … Continued
January 13, 2015