Rep. Craig Ford

News

Educators, retirees deserve a pay raise

By Rep. Craig Ford Eleven years is a long time to go without a pay raise. But for educators, state employees and retirees in Alabama, that’s how long it has been. And for retirees and many state employees, they have actually had their pay cut during those eleven years. You may be thinking that educators, … Continued

Craig Ford

February 9, 2018

Opinion

Legislators should not ignore infrastructure, education and jobs just because it is an election year

By Rep. Craig Ford The legislative session began this week and, by all accounts, it’s expected to be an uneventful year. The only goal lawmakers seem to have is to pass the budgets and go home. But there is a lot of work that can and ought to be done instead of just kicking the … Continued

Craig Ford

January 11, 2018

Opinion

All I want for Christmas is… for every child to have a good education

By Rep. Craig Ford When my kids were growing up, I don’t know who was more excited on Christmas morning: the kids opening their presents or me and Gwen watching them! Ever since God gave us the original and best Christmas gift, our lord and savior Jesus Christ, giving gifts has been a part of … Continued

Craig Ford

December 14, 2017

Opinion

State leaders have lost their credibility on prisons

By Rep. Craig Ford With all the attention being given to the special election for the U.S. Senate, you may not have seen what has been happening in Montgomery with the prison crisis. Last year, Gov. Bentley proposed a plan to build four new “super prisons” at a cost of about $800 million. At the … Continued

Craig Ford

November 29, 2017

Opinion

Should Superintendent Sentance be fired?

By Rep. Craig Ford On Thursday, the State Board of Education will meet to discuss terminating State Superintendent Michael Sentance’s contract. Politics has surrounded Sentance’s time in Alabama, starting even before he was hired. And if the Board decides to fire him, his supporters will claim that politics was the driving factor. Sentance was the … Continued

Craig Ford

September 13, 2017

Opinion

An agri-business center would be a great addition to the mega sports complex

By Rep. Craig Ford State House of Representatives Tourism and hospitality are a $13 billion a year industry in the state of Alabama. That number comes from the Alabama Department of Tourism, and it was included in a press release Gov. Ivey put out last month. But tourism and hospitality don’t just come from our … Continued

Craig Ford

September 8, 2017

Opinion

If Etowah County Commission won’t step up for The Mega Sport Complex, Legislative Delegation should

Guest Editorial by Rep. Craig Ford Every day I run into people who tell me how much they want Etowah County to have its own sports complex. And in almost every single one of these conversations, I always get asked, “But Craig, do you really think we will ever actually get it done?” I do … Continued

Craig Ford

July 27, 2017

Opinion

Replacing ACT Aspire with the actual ACT is as dumb as it gets

By Rep. Craig Ford Last week, our State Superintendent of Education announced a decision that is so spectacularly stupid you almost have to assume the intention is to hurt our schools. That decision is to replace the ACT preparation exam, called the ACT Aspire, with the actual ACT as a measure of school accountability. Think … Continued

Craig Ford

July 20, 2017

Opinion

Can’t never could

Rep. Craig Ford One of the things I learned from my dad when I was young, is that you can accomplish the things that may seem impossible; things that other people tell you can’t be done. More than once, somebody (sometimes even me) would tell my dad that something couldn’t be done. But dad would … Continued

Craig Ford

July 6, 2017

Opinion

The Legislature needs to pass the Lottery in the Special Session

Guest Editorial from Rep. Craig Ford The Alabama Legislature is quickly running out of excuses for failing to let the people vote on a State Lottery. Last summer, Gov. Bentley called a Special Session specifically for the purpose of passing a Lottery. After passing out of the State Senate, the Lottery went to the House … Continued

Craig Ford

June 8, 2017