The Alabama House Democratic Caucus used its response to Governor Kay Ivey’s State of the State address this week to argue that while the state has made progress, everyday life is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many Alabamians.
Delivering the caucus rebuttal, Adline Clarke, D-Mobile, said constituents across the state are struggling with rising costs for housing, utilities, groceries, health care and education, and that state policy choices are making those pressures worse.
“We can find common ground with several of the points the governor made, and we recognize the progress that has been made, but it’s time to speak plainly: the state of the state is rapidly becoming unaffordable,” said Clarke.
Clarke framed affordability as the central issue facing Alabama families, citing higher grocery prices, rising rent, increasing home prices, and soaring utility bills. She shared anecdotes from communities across the state, including families who can no longer afford health insurance, students who may be unable to pursue nursing degrees due to changes in federal student loan rules, and would-be first-time homebuyers who cannot save for a down payment while paying rising rent.
“These aren’t abstract numbers,” said Clarke. “They’re real people, real families, and real choices about whether to pay rent, buy groceries, or see a doctor.”
Clarke and the Democrats’ criticisms also centered on Republican lawmakers for allowing the expiration of a temporary state tax exemption on overtime pay, which they said had provided meaningful relief to working families.
They also sharply criticized Alabama’s school choice voucher program, arguing it diverts public funds to private schools with limited accountability and rising tuition. The caucus pointed to Florida as a cautionary example, noting that the state now spends billions annually on school vouchers with mixed academic results.
Democrats also criticized the state’s continued investment in new prisons, arguing that building more facilities will not solve overcrowding or address systemic problems in Alabama’s correctional system.
Health care affordability was another major focus of the rebuttal. The caucus highlighted the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Democrats said have caused premiums to double or triple for many families.
Affordability, Democrats pointed out, is not only about prices, but also about access, including access to the ballot. They criticized voting restrictions, absentee ballot rules and district maps they described as politically drawn, arguing that these policies make participation harder for elderly, disabled and marginalized voters.
The caucus said its 2026 legislative agenda will focus on economic growth and innovation, investments in public education, expanding access to affordable health care, protecting voting rights and reforming the criminal justice system, framing the platform as a course correction aimed at building “an Alabama we can all afford.”
Democrats closed their response by calling for bipartisan cooperation and a shift away from what they described as divisive or symbolic political battles.
“People aren’t interested in political distractions,” said Clarke. “They’re interested in whether they can afford their bills, see a doctor, educate their children, and trust that their government is working for them.”
