MONTGOMERY — Alabama Senate Pro Tem Greg Reed said during an interview with The Community Journal in his Montgomery office, he was pleased with the results of the 2023 legislative session.
“It’s been a kind of solid, steady year,” Reed said. “I’ve been very pleased. I mean, I can’t say enough positive things about the members of the Senate. I have great relationships with my members, Republicans and Democrats. We work very closely and carefully together.”
Reed said his three main priorities for the session were:
- Distributing the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds
- Renewing the state’s incentive packages for businesses
- Passing a budget that invests in education and infrastructure
Reed said the Senate was successful in all three areas.
“We were able to distribute all of the ARPA funds,” Reed said. “We renewed the state’s incentive packages, which have been very successful in attracting new businesses to Alabama. And we passed a budget that invests in education and infrastructure.”
Reed said he was particularly pleased with the way the Senate was able to work together, despite their political differences.
“We had a couple of pieces of legislation to where Republicans or Democrats would had said, ‘I hate that,'” Reed said. “But through a negotiation process with very learned folks, looking at the real issue you wind up with good legislation.”
Reed said he is also working closely to market outdoor recreation in the state, which he said will positively impact Walker County.
“One of the things we’re trying to navigate is to come up with a listing of state, as well as private business opportunities, for outdoor recreation all across Alabama,” Reed said. “I think it’s a healthy focus for people to be out and about in the outdoors, doing fun things.”
Reed said he is confident that the state is on the right track.
“I think we’re in a good place,” Reed said. “We’ve got a lot of things going for us. We’ve got a great workforce. We’ve got a great business climate. And we’ve got a great team working together in the state legislature.”
