ISIS-themed coloring book sent to Vestavia home
A company called Really Big Coloring Books is rankling some Alabamians with some unusual, unsolicited mail: a manila envelope with a coloring book called “ISIS: A Culture of Evil” inside. Henna Budhwani, a Muslim public health researcher in Vestavia, was one of thousands of unknowing recipients of the new Islamic terrorism-themed coloring book. At first Budhwani suspected an ethnically-tinged gesture in her direction, she told WBHM 90.3 FM in Birmingham. “I felt genuinely targeted,” Budhwani said Tuesday. “I thought that someone had pulled my name from a database and said you’re a Muslim living in Alabama, and we want you out.” Really Big Coloring Books published Wayne Bell, however, said she received the book because she worked on an earlier, more mainstream production published by the firm. Bell said he intends no offense towards Muslims or Islam, only to members of ISIS and related groups groups. “This is a pro-Islam book. There’s no doubt about it,” said Bell, who billed the book as “Truthful – Factual – Indifferent to Political Correctness.” Bell says he has plans to publish further coloring books in the series, with names like “We Shall Never Forget 9/11″ and “The True Faces of Evil Global Terrorism.” Bell and his publishing company have published books on a wide variety of children’s topics, though he says the ISIS publication is meant for adults, presumably adults who never lost their taste for coloring books.
New report ranks Alabama No. 29 in nation for business climate
A new report released Tuesday from the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation ranks Alabama at No. 29 in the nation in terms of business climate. The conservative-leaning group think-tank cited a high sales tax and middling rankings when it comes to the cost of unemployment insurance and the corporate tax rate when assigning the state its rating. Alabama’s relatively low property taxes and and personal income tax levels, on the other hand, were listed as better than average. The No. 29 slot was good for some ten spots better than neighboring Georgia, but considerably lower than its southern neighbors in Florida, which structures its revenue base primarily on tourism and real estate. Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska and Nevada rounded out the top five along with the Sunshine State, which came in at No. 4. Alabama border states Tennessee (No. 16) and Mississippi (No. 20) also scored somewhat higher in the foundation’s ratings. Fiscally liberal bastions like Rhode Island, Vermont, Minnesota, California, New York were at the bottom of the list. New Jersey took home the dubious distinction of coming in very last among all states. “The states in the bottom 10 tend to have a number of afflictions in common: complex, non-neutral taxes with comparatively high rates,” the study explained. “New Jersey, for example, is hampered by some of the highest property tax burdens in the country, is one of just two states to levy both an inheritance tax and an estate tax, and maintains some of the worst-structured individual income taxes in the country.” The news isn’t all bad for Alabama – the Tax Foundation authors said taxes aren’t everything, and that quality of life and infrastructure play a significant role in luring businesses as well. “…[P]olicymakers routinely overestimate the degree to which tax policy affects business location decisions and that as a result of this misperception, they respond readily to public pressure for jobs and economic growth by proposing lower taxes. According to [Syracuse economist Michael] Wasylenko, other legislative actions are likely to accomplish more positive economic results because in reality, taxes do not drive economic growth.” They do, however, remain a major factor. “The taxes paid by businesses should be a concern to everyone because they are ultimately borne by individuals through lower wages, increased prices, and decreased shareholder value,” the authors wrote. “Every change to a state’s tax system makes its business tax climate more or less competitive compared to other states and makes the state more or less attractive to business.”
Senate votes to repeal Obama admin’s Clean Power Plan
The Republican-led U.S. Senate voted to repeal the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan Tuesday evening. The resolution S.J.Res. 24, was approved by a 52-46 vote in the upper chamber of Congress. Discontent with the carbon-reduction plan had been simmering among conservatives in both the House and Senate, with business and industry groups as well as some unions saying the plan will hurt many local economies and increase energy rates. Ahead of the vote, the Senate Republican Policy Committee issued a statement saying the plan was a non-starter for the newly-emboldened caucus. “After seven years of review that yielded five favorable environmental reports, the administration rejected the Keystone XL pipeline – and all of its economic, energy security, and environmental benefits – for no reason other than to send a message to other countries that President Obama is a global “leader” on climate change,” read the report. “The CO2 rules for new and existing power plants are no different. Their most immediate purpose is to serve as a message that President Obama can tout as he seeks to win the approval of his international peers as a global “leader” on climate issues,” the GOP senators’ caucus stated. State officials, including Attorney General Luther Strange, have offered persistent resistance to the plan. Strange called the plan unacceptable, and said the administration’s efforts to support them amount to “propaganda.” “The Environmental Protection Agency’s new Clean Power Plan continues the Obama administration’s theme of ignoring the legal limits on its executive authority in order to satisfy a political agenda that places the lowest priority on the rights of coal industry workers and American consumers,” said Strange, who joined a national push to delay or cancel implementation of the CPP earlier this year. “Under the EPA rule, Alabamians’ average annual household energy bills could rise by more than $800 a year by the time the plan is fully implemented. This places an undue burden on those who can least afford it, including the poor, the elderly and others on fixed incomes. What’s more, it punishes as many as 16,000 Alabamians whose jobs are dependent upon the coal industry,” said Strange. A total of 27 states have filed lawsuits against the rule governing existing power plants, including Alabama under Strange. Both of Alabama’s senators, Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby have castigated the administration over the plan, saying it would kill coal-based jobs in Alabama and around the region, as have U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer and Mike Rogers. President Barack Obama has said he will veto any measure akin to the one passed by today’s vote. The status of a possible override remains uncertain. State utilities and the Alabama Public Service Commission have passed voluntary plans to help reach emissions standards, but call the EPA’s plan an example of executive branch overreach. See below for an image created by the Republican Senate Policy Committee on what they claim are likely rate changes should the Clean Power Plan be enacted.
Bobby Jindal suspends 2016 presidential campaign
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal Tuesday announced he was ending his presidential bid, saying “this is not my time.” Jindal is the third Republican to suspend his campaign, following former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker dropped out earlier this year.
Vote to repeal Clean Power Plan likely coming Tuesday
The GOP-led U.S. Senate will reportedly vote to repeal the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan in the coming days, perhaps as early as Tuesday evening. Discontent with the carbon-reduction plan has been simmering among conservatives in both the House and Senate, with business and industry groups as well as some unions saying the plan will hurt many local economies and increase energy rates. The Senate’s Republican Policy Committee has issued a statement saying that when it comes to waiting for the Obama administration to change its tune — following his recent rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline — enough is enough. “After seven years of review that yielded five favorable environmental reports, the administration rejected the Keystone XL pipeline – and all of its economic, energy security, and environmental benefits – for no reason other than to send a message to other countries that President Obama is a global “leader” on climate change. “The CO2 rules for new and existing power plants are no different. Their most immediate purpose is to serve as a message that President Obama can tout as he seeks to win the approval of his international peers as a global “leader” on climate issues.” A total of 27 states have filed lawsuits against the rule governing existing power plants, including Alabama. President Barack Obama has said he would veto such a measure. A veto override endeavor is unlikely, but the political fight over coal in Washington is likely to be fierce regardless. See below for an image created by the Republican Senate Policy Committee on likely rate changes should the Clean Power Plan be enacted.
James McGill announces run for Alabama State House
Former Russell County engineer James McGill officially announced his candidacy to run for the Alabama State House of Representatives in House District 80 Tuesday morning in a press release. McGill is seeking the nomination on the Republican ticket, which is vacant due to the passing of Representative Lesley Vance earlier this month. The seat will be filled during a Special Election that has been called by Governor Robert Bentley, scheduled for a Jan. 19 primary followed by the general election scheduled for April 12. “We need a strong, experienced conservative leader to represent us in the State House. I have a heart for this part of our state. This is my home and the people here are my friends and neighbors,” McGill stated. “I know how much we have to offer and I believe that I can provide the type of leadership that District 80 deserves.” Mcgill is an engineer and has served as the Director of Economic Development for the Russell County Chamber of Commerce for more than a decade where he had a track record of helping the area to grow. McGill points to Fort Mitchell’s commercial expansion and safer access to Fort Benning’s West Gate as examples of what he has helped to achieve. “It is critical that we continue the growth between lower Lee County, upper Phenix City and west Russell County. We need proven representation that can pull these three areas together and if we can do that, we can outgrow any region of the state,” McGill explained. “I know that I can make that happen.” Qualifying for the special election closes Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. EST. At the time of publishing, McGill’s only challenger is current Phenix City council member Chris Blackshear. Currently no Democrat had qualified, but Russell County Commissioner Tillman Pugh, who ran unsuccessfully against Vance in 2014, is considering it.
SEC Primary strikes again — Marco Rubio, Donald Trump to return to Alabama for campaign stops
The SEC Primary strikes again. This week, two of the GOP’s top-tier presidential hopefuls are making their way to the Yellowhammer State. Donald Trump will be in Saturday, and Sen. Marco Rubio Tuesday. Trump is heading to the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham this Saturday, November 21, 2015 where he’ll hold a rally at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are free to the general public and can be attained here. Saturday’s rally marks Trump’s second visit to Alabama. On August 21 he held a rally in Mobile, which Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said remains the largest attended political rally for any presidential candidate of either party. “We are excited to have Donald Trump bring his campaign to Birmingham! I am confident that Mr. Trump’s appearance will be welcomed with enthusiasm, just as it was in Mobile,” said Secretary Merrill. Sen. Rubio will make his way to the Guntersville Recreation Center Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 for a rally from 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. The rally will be open to the public. Rubio is also planning to hold two private fundraisers, one at Dream Ranch in Guntersville and a second at the home of state Senator Slade Blackwell (R-Mountain Brook). “Senator Rubio has energized the electorate during his recent debate performances, and there is no doubt that he will be very well received in our state!” said Secretary Merrill. Merrill continued, “We are very pleased with the way the SEC Primary has developed and what it means for our people to have personal interaction with these candidates. With the assistance and full support of the Alabama Legislature, one of the most significant things we have done in the Secretary of State’s Office is change the primary date to March 1.” “Since the March primary legislation passed, the top two Democratic candidates and eight of the top Republican candidates have made campaign stops in Alabama, which is unheard of for our state. As Secretary of State, I will continue to position Alabama and the South as a place where presidential candidates are willing to make an effort to visit and meet our remarkable people.” Alabama recently saw visits from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Dr. Ben Carson, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Ted Cruz, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Ohio Governor John Kasich, Senator Rand Paul, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and former candidate Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Alabama Officials: Too soon to determine teacher pay hikes
State government officials say that while there’s an interest in raising teacher salaries next year, it’s too soon to say what a pay raise would look like. Sen. Arthur Orr, who will take over as chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee next year, tells Al.com that revenue projections for fiscal year 2017 are still unknown. The fiscal year starts next October. On Thursday, Alabama Department of Education Superintendent Tommy Brice said the department would recommend raising teacher salaries 5 percent. Chairman of the House Ways and Means Education Committee Rep. Bill Poole says it’s premature to say what percentage a pay raise might be before official revenue projections, which will come early next year. Since 2008, educators have received one salary increase, which was a 2 percent raise in 2013. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Alabama lawmakers want Syrian refugee program halted
In the face of Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Alabama lawmakers are taking a stand against continued Syrian refugee immigration to the United States fearing a similar terrorist plot in the U.S. Reports claim at least one of the terrorists involved in the Paris attacks had slipped into the country with refugees fleeing the chaos in Syria. France has already shut its borders after terrorists killed at least 129 people on Friday, and several other countries in the European Union are reassessing their immigration protocols. Meanwhile, a daily flow of refugees fleeing a civil war in Syria continues. According to the United Nations, the civil war has displaced more than four million people since 2011 with refugees fleeing to neighboring Middle Eastern countries and Europe. Since the war’s inception, the United States has taken in 2,187 of the refugees and President Barack Obama has announced plans to take in an additional 10,000 in the next 12 months. The U.S. State Department said the refugees would be spread across the country. In the last calendar year, 1,928 Syrians relocated to the United States. While none settled in Alabama according to the Refugee Processing Center, 104 settled in Florida, 59 in Georgia and another 35 in Tennessee. Here’s what Alabama lawmakers have to say about taking in additional Syrian refugees: U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): We have no greater responsibility as a federal government than to ensure the safety and security of the American people. It is clearly in the best interest of the American people to halt the Syrian refugee resettlement program. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): As many as 10,000 Syrian refugees are reportedly about to start showing up in the United States in 2016 per President Obama’s directive. Are we really this naive? At least one of the Paris attackers came into that country via similar means, and ISIS has said they would actively try to game the refugee resettlement process to infiltrate western countries. This is not about keeping Syrians out of our state or even our country. We all hate what these people are going through and want to help them how we can. But amid the direct security threat facing our country from radical Islamic terrorism, we simply cannot risk our security by allowing thousands of Syrian refugees to resettle here, especially without a robust screening and security process in place. That’s just common sense, and I fear our president is too blinded by his worldview to see it. Returning to Washington this week I will be speaking out about this and getting answers on behalf of the people I represent. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03): I am very concerned about President Obama’s plan. Bringing any Syrian refugees to the United States could potentially put Americans and our homeland in serious danger. The Paris attacks suggest that ISIL is using the refugee situation as an opportunity to move around locations to spread terror. I am not willing to put compassion over our national security in this instance. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): Reports in the media indicate that at least one of the bombers in France was a recently admitted refugee. I am very concerned about whether our Administration has plans to seriously vet this proposed increase of Syrian refugees to the U.S. I support Governor Bentley’s actions.We need to be helping persons like the Yazidis and the Assyrian Christians who have been targeted for murder by ISIS. This should not be a general economic exodus from the Middle East. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05): It’s quite clear that Barack Obama and the White House have absolutely no idea how to confront the Islamic State Junior Varsity team, as Barack Obama likes to call them. And that incompetence and ineptitude in the White House is risking American lives and has already cost untold thousands of lives around the planet. If I were to sum up Barack Obama’s on the Syrian refugees, the word that comes to mind is masochism. But that’s not really fair to masochists because they only injure themselves. Barack Obama is surrounded by Secret Service, he’s protected. He’s not putting himself at risk, he’s putting Americans at risk. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): The State Department needs to his the pause button on this before we admit any new Syrian refugees. It is absolutely critical that we know who is coming in here. I think we ought to encourage other Middle Eastern countries to take those refugees. I think the assimilation process will be much easier. I understand there are differences between the various sects in Islam, but they should step up and take a much bigger role in this.
Lesbian mother appeals Alabama adoption decision
A lesbian parent in Alabama asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to review her case after Alabama judges refused to recognize her adoption that was granted in another state. The woman, known in court filings by her initials V.L, petitioned the high court to step in. She said the Alabama decision prohibits her from seeing the children she helped raise. Cathy Sakimura, of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, called the Alabama decision “terrifying” and said it illustrates the continued legal challenges facing gay and lesbian parents. She said the Alabama court had no legal authority to second-guess the decision of the Georgia court that had granted the adoption. “As a result of that serious constitutional violation, the children in this case have been wrongly separated from one of their parents, and the stability of adoption judgments across the country has been called into question,” Sakimura said. The woman and her former partner had three children, who were conceived with sperm donor assistance, during their 16-year relationship. A Georgia court in 2007 approved V.L.’s adoption of the children that her partner gave birth to. However, the Alabama Supreme Court in September struck down the woman’s visitation rights and ruled the adoption invalid, saying the Georgia court was wrong under that state’s adoption laws to grant it. The Alabama justices said “Georgia law makes no provision for a non-spouse to adopt a child without first terminating the parental rights of the current parents.” Sakimura said her client helped raise the children, now ages 10 to 12, since their births, but isn’t allowed to see the children because of the court decision. Her ex-partner fought her visitation saying the couple lived in Alabama, but only rented a home in Georgia because they believed the court there to be friendlier to adoption petitions by gay couples. The Alabama Supreme Court earlier this year directed probate judges to refuse marriage licenses to gay couples even though a federal judge ruled the state’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. The directive brought a stop to the weddings until the U.S. Supreme Court said gay and lesbian people have a fundamental right to marry. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
