In a time of tight budgets, difficult choices have to be made. We must make sure our very limited resources are spent on priorities. I believe we should have no higher priority than investing in our children's classrooms and in their future.

Support as well as opposition for this plan came from traditionally opposing forces in Alabama crossing party lines. Riley's opponents claimed that by doing so he raised taxes without a vote of either the Legislature or the people. Property Taxes
Property tax appraisals became a major campaign issue with Riley's opponents claiming that Riley acting through his revenue commissioner ordered that property tax appraisals be made annually rather than the quadrennial reappraisals that were establiBob Rileyd practice.

He was the 52nd Governor of Alabama first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.