Bob Riley

This article is about Bob Riley, the governor of Alabama. On the governor of Arkansas, see Bob Cowley Riley .

Bob riley (2004)

Robert Renfroe "Bob" Riley (born October 3, 1944 in Ashland , Clay County , Alabama ) is an American politician ( Republican Party ) and former governor of the state of Alabama.

Early years and political advancement

Bob Riley was born in Ashland in 1944, where his family has lived on ranches and farms for six generations. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in business administration and then returned to his hometown to marry his high school sweetheart, Patsy Adams, with whom he now has four children. He then opened a small shop with his brother, selling eggs from house to house. The company grew and became one of the largest integrated poultry operations in the Southeast.

For the next 30 years, Riley ran a number of successful businesses including a grocery store, trucking company, car dealership, real estate company, and small pharmacy. He also ran cattle for more than 25 years .

Riley decided to embark on a political career in 1996 by being elected to the US House of Representatives as a representative of Alabama's 3rd Congressional District . He defeated the Democrat T. D. Little and the libertarian John Sophocleus . He served there from 1997 to 2003. Riley worked to get the first balanced budget of this generation, the first tax cut in 20 years, and stronger national defense off his seat on the House Armed Services Committee. He also fulfilled his promise to only serve three terms in Congress .

Governor of Alabama

Riley was elected governor of Alabama in November 2002 and sworn in in January 2003. He was re-elected in 2006. He improved education, put Alabama's economy on the right track, and encouraged openness in the governorship. Riley set up a leadership cabinet pledging to reform the state government. He made his administrative authority open and accountable. He also banned the passage of pork, securing the taxpayer $ 40 million. He also implemented a budget process called SMART Governing, which enabled taxpayers to see how their money was being used by each government agency.

Riley changed Alabama's economic development model. Alabama hit record low unemployment rates, created more than 100,000 new jobs, and ran a budget surplus. A strong and growing economy allowed Riley to increase education funding to more than $ 2 billion. He has invested in Alabama's Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, and record sums in their classrooms. The state had the highest final amount ever deposited into its emergency fund and allocation prevention account.

Riley was sworn in for his second term in January 2007. He had an agenda called "Plan 2010". He also recommended increasing funding for schools, including a loan to help the school system with construction projects and repairs. He also recommended pro-growing tax breaks that will help middle-class families make health care more affordable and create new jobs.

In the summer of 2008, Riley was targeted by Amnesty International when he withheld from death row inmate Thomas Arthur a potentially exculpatory DNA test to prove his innocence, stating "DNA evidence will not excuse Mr. Arthur" .

Web links

Commons : Bob Riley  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Bob Riley in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Bob Riley at the National Governors Association (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Spiegel Online , accessed July 23, 2008.