State Auditor speaks about special session at Kiwanis meeting

State Auditor Jim Zeigler spoke at the Homewood-Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club’s meeting Wednesday to inform community members about what he thinks is the best solution to the state’s Medicaid crisis.

Zeigler’s visit to the local club comes after the Alabama state legislature returned to Montgomery Monday for a special session to deal with budget issues.

Unlike Gov. Robert Bentley, Zeigler said he doesn’t think the only choice is between approving a lottery or cutting Medicaid funding.

“These are not the only two options,” Zeigler told club members and guests.

Zeigler explained a “compromise” bill currently making its way through the State House of Representatives that would split the funds from a BP settlement between Medicaid, repaying the state’s debt and the counties along the gulf coast that were directly affected by the 2010 oil spill.

Instead of what he called a “mad rush” to get a lottery measure on the Nov. 8 ballot and “making a mistake” with a major budget issue, Zeigler said he advocated the legislature pass the BP bill.

The bill would split the $639 million settlement and give $70 million to Medicaid, the amount Zeigler said is actually needed. Of the remaining, $191 million would go to Baldwin and Mobile counties, and $448 million would be paid toward the state’s debt.

By paying that debt, Zeigler said, a ripple effect on available funds would be felt across the state—even in smaller cities like Homewood.

Zeigler told the club members that this is “good news from Montgomery,” and that he hopes to see the compromise bill pass in the next week.