URGENT - ACTION REQUESTED

["President's Office" <auemail@groupwise1.duc.auburn.edu>]

May 9, 2001

Dear Friend of Auburn:

	We have reached a crossroad in the funding crisis for higher
education. The Alabama Education Association, led by Paul Hubbert, and
the two-year college system in this state are aggressively pushing a
bond issue to provide "proration relief" for education entities.  This
bond issue, which cannot be spent on operations, is an attempt to
provide a short-term fix for a very serious revenue shortfall in the
Education Trust Fund and does not address the real problem of
disproportionate proration on higher education.  

	Your help is needed immediately.  Please call your state senator
and representative and express the following points:

	1.	Ask them to vote "NO" on the Budget Isolation
Resolution. (This resolution is a procedure by which the passage of the
two budget bills is given priority.  Passage of any other legislation
must be preceded by the adoption of a resolution exempting it from the
budget isolation process.  This type resolution is typically used as a
procedural maneuver within the legislative process.) A Budget Isolation
Resolution must be passed before the bond issue bill can be considered.

2.	Ask them to be present and vote "NO" on any cloture vote that
may be petitioned on the bond issue bill. (A cloture vote is a
parliamentary procedure that requires an agreement of a 3/5 majority of
the legislative body that debate on a given bill shall cease at a
specified time, thus forcing a vote.) If the legislator is unwilling to
vote "NO," then ask him/her to be present but simply abstain from the
vote.

3.	Finally, ask them to vote "NO" on the final passage of the bond
issue bill should it come up for final consideration.

	Time is very critical.  These bills are moving rapidly through
the process.  The bond issue not only hurts Auburn University's chances
of successfully seeking equal treatment through the Alabama Supreme
Court for the FY01 budget but also sets the precedent that future money
problems in this state can be solved by floating a bond issue to cover
shortfalls in revenue.  The State of Alabama simply cannot afford this
kind of fiscal irresponsibility.

	The efforts of these legislators are well intended.  However,
since the Supreme Court is expected to rule in late May, we firmly
believe that the legislature can wait these few weeks to know more
accurately the true financial status of the state. At that point, the
governor can call a special session to address the known fiscal problems
rather than taking "a shot in the dark" to fix the unknown problems
within the ETF budget.

	You may call the State House to reach both your Senate members
(334-242-7800) and House members (334-242-7600).  Senator Ted Little's
direct phone number is (334) 242-7865, or fax at (334) 353-3958.  Emails
may be sent to the attention of individual senators at
alsenate@mindspring.com or to individual house members at
house3@mindspring.com .  You  may also go to the legislative website:
www.legislature.state.al.us and look under the "Senate" or the "House"
to get individual telephone numbers or email addresses. If you do not
have the opportunity to speak with them personally, leave them a message
containing the three points outlined above.  Please make your calls to
the State House or email your legislator this morning.  
	
	Thank you for all you are doing for Auburn University. Your
efforts are helping Auburn University stand up for what is fiscally
sound for the State of Alabama.

Sincerely,

William F. Walker			
President