By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The state Senate Constitution and Elections Committee voted without dissent yesterday for a bill that would allow Alabama's voters decide if they want to rewrite the state constitution. Lenora Pate, a leader of the group Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, described the committee's decision as a vote for the people. Her group believes Alabama's constitution is outdated and centralizes power in the legislature at the expense of local governments. Opponents are concerned that rewriting the document could lead to higher taxes. The legislation now goes to the full Senate. The committee vote, by the way, keeps the constitutional convention idea alive. The issue didn't make it out of a House committee last week.