Two Alabama mothers seek assistance for ailing children
Kari Forsyth and Jody Mitchell, two mothers from Athens and Decatur respectively, travelled to Montgomery Tuesday to meet with Alabama lawmakers to discuss “Leni’s Law,” a bill from Rep. Mike Ball (R-Madison) that would decriminalize the possession of CBD oil and give caretakers the ability to discuss the use thereof with physicians. CBD oil came into the Alabama lexicon with the passage of “Carly’s Law” last year, a piece of legislation which provided the University of Alabama at Birmingham the ability to conduct clinical trials of the cannabis-based medicine. But “Carly’s Law” left out many desperate children in Alabama, including Forsyth’s daughter Chesney, who was deemed too sick to participate. Mitchell’s son, Robert, was forced to leave the trials because the oil was interacting poorly with his other medications. According to Forsyth and Mitchell, no Senators were available to meet with them and every Representative they met with mentioned UAB – the university at the center of the “Carly’s Law” trials but mentioned nowhere in Ball’s legislation. “Somewhere, everybody knows that UAB wants in it,” Forsyth said of the new bill. “All I’ve gotten today is that they’re trying to get UAB in it.” The prospect of involving UAB in Ball’s legislation concerns both mothers because the namesake of “Leni’s Law” was denied entrance into the CBD studies and forced to move to Oregon. “Anything that this bill does wrong, we’re out of here,” Forsyth said, who has already acquired a medical marijuana card in Oregon. “We can’t wait for them anymore,” Mitchell said. “We need help now, like yesterday.” According to the duo, Iowa has obtained a copy of “Leni’s Law,” edited it and plans to bring it before the legislature next week. For his part, Ball says his legislation, which is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee, should come up for a hearing next week. Currently, the two desperate mothers have more questions than answers, more concerns than assurances. The study at UAB, contrary to popular belief, was not established to test CBD’s efficacy but to test the effect of high doses on patients, Leni is currently receiving 45mg a day in Oregon, while Jody’s son was receiving 800mg a day before being pulled from the trials. The mothers were also curious as to how the $1 million pulled from the Education Trust Fund last year to fund the study was used, as GW Pharmaceuticals, who produced the Epidiolex used in the studies, generally funds its own clinical trials. Forsyth noted that she is in close contact with 25 to 30 parents of suffering children who have already given their children CBD oil illegally. She hasn’t, afraid that doing so would turn her into a criminal. “Leni’s Law,” in its original incarnation, would eliminate such fears. Only time will tell if that will be the case or if Alabama will lose more families opting to migrate to heal their children.
Debate continues over prohibiting city minimum wage increases
Hearty debate ensued Tuesday afternoon as the House of Representatives took up a resolution from Rep. Connie Rowe (R-Jasper) to urge Congress to improve the vetting process for refugees entering the country and allow for states to reject those refugees. Despite widespread opposition among Democrats, including Rep. John Knight (D-Montgomery) who noted that a resolution eliminating the sales tax on groceries would be a better use of time, the resolution passed. The first item on the agenda was the “Uniform Wage and Right-to-Work Act” from Rep. David Faulkner (R-Jefferson), which prohibits cities from increasing the minimum wage. The bill is in response to Birmingham’s recent vote to incrementally raise its minimum wage to $10.10 over three years. “We want to keep this state a pro-business, Right-to-Work state,” Faulkner said. “This bill will help to do that. This bill does not set, does not place a minimum wage level. It does preempt local efforts that attempt to raise the minimum wage and to provide other benefits.” Rep. Mike Hill (R-Shelby) was first to speak in favor of Faulkner’s bill, saying ” he was going to “start this filibuster off properly.” Hill noted that if one city is allowed to raise its minimum wage it will force others to do the same and create perpetual competition among municipalities. “I don’t know that I want to call this a filibuster as much as I want to call it an understanding of what we’re doing,” said Rep. A.J. McCampbell (D-Marengo). McCampbell’s opposition stemmed from the fact that Alabama legislators as a whole have, historically, held significant disdain for the overreach of the federal government. But, in McCampbell’s opinion, the state government is doing the same thing to city governments. “If you believe in home rule, then you have got to believe in home rule,” McCampbell said. “But if you believe a legislative body has more smarts than the people in these little cities, then we don’t need to be proclaiming and protesting when the federal government says ‘We are so much smarter than the people of AL.’” Rep. Juandalynn Givan (R-Jefferson) also rose to object to Faulkner’s bill, saying that the bill had no sponsor “who knows what it means to suffer, who knows what it means to be poor.” “Shame on you and shame on these sponsors,” Givan added. Faulkner clashed with a slew of Democrats for two hours before hearing his second word of support from Rep. Ed Henry (R-Morgan), who expressed appreciation for the bill and the stability it will provide to Alabama law. “I’m looking forward to seeing exactly how we manage the future if politics trend the way they have over the last 8 years,” Henry said. “If we don’t have this bill, there are people in Jefferson County who will lose their jobs and it will continue in a downward spiral that I can’t understand why people fight for.” The House is expected to motion for cloture after 5 p.m.
Barbara Bush to campaign with son in SC
Jeb Bush says that his mother, Barbara Bush, will campaign for him again in South Carolina with days to go until the state’s Republican primary. The former Florida governor said Tuesday that his mother, the former First Lady, would join him on the road as she did ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Campaign spokeswoman Kristy Campbell said Barbara Bush would come to South Carolina on Thursday and stay through Saturday when South Carolina votes for a Republican presidential nominee. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Donald Trump holds commanding lead in SC, says new CNN poll
South Carolina Republicans think Donald Trump has the best chance of winning the general election this November, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll. The survey found 53 percent of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters said Trump had the best chance of winning the general election in November. Nineteen percent of respondents said Ted Cruz had the best chance of winning the general election, while 16 percent said Marco Rubio. Trump continues to hold a commanding lead in the polls, with 38 percent of likely Republican primary voters saying they were backing Trump in the primary. Cruz was in second with 22 percent, followed by Rubio at 14 percent and Jeb Bush at 10 percent. Ben Carson is at 6 percent, while John Kasich, who placed second in the New Hampshire primary, is at 4 percent. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans said Trump would be the best person to handle the economy, while 53 percent said he was the best candidate to tackle illegal immigration. On social issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, Cruz came out on top, with 28 percent of Republicans saying he would be the best candidate to deal with the issues. In the Democratic race, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders in South Carolina, 56 percent to 38 percent. The CNN/ORC International poll was conducted from Wednesday through Monday. Results among likely Republican voters have a margin of error of 5 percent; while the margin of error for results among Democratic primary voters is 6 percent.
Committee gives favorable report to Heritage Preservation Act
In a 5-2 vote down party lines, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee gave a favorable report to SB 13, a bill from Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) that would prohibit the removal of historical monuments placed on public property. The bill would also create a committee tasked with reviewing the requests of municipalities interested in removing protected monuments. Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) voiced opposition to the bill on the grounds that, perhaps, the state should direct its edict only to state monuments, allowing local governments to act in the interest of their cities. Further, she noted the need to provide funding to municipalities to maintain such monuments. “I understand where you’re going with this bill and your intent,” Coleman-Madison said. “I agree with your intent. I don’t think we need to be about changing history or trying to cover it up. I’m not for taking those Confederate statues down, but I’m not for your bill because I do not believe this legislative body has more wisdom than the people who put [the monuments] there.” Sen. Dick Brewbaker (R-Montgomery) noted his agreement with most of Coleman-Madison’s comments, but added that the need for this bill has arisen out of the public’s disdain for the decision by Gov. Robert Bentley to remove the Confederate flag this year. Brewbaker said that disdain is currently manifesting itself in efforts to place a Confederate flag on a small lot near Alabama State University in Montgomery. “We’re dealing with an issue in Montgomery right now that’s not going to do anybody any good,” Brewbaker said. In response, Coleman-Madison again noted the need to provide funding for the monuments. “If we do this, the state best come up with some money to maintain them,” Coleman-Madison said. “I do think the backlash you’re going to have (will be) some vandalism of some things.” The committee then voted and gave the bill a favorable report, sending it before the Senate in the coming week.
In new ad Trey Gowdy says “no one is stronger” than Marco Rubio on national security
Marco Rubio is the best candidate to keep America safe. That’s the message U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy is sending in a new advertisement set to air in the Palmetto State. “I have spent my life fighting to enforce the rule of law and keep Americans safe. And no one is stronger for America’s security than Marco Rubio,” the South Carolina Republican is shown saying in the advertisement. “Marco Rubio will be a commander in chief who brings back American strength. I’m Trey Gowdy — that’s why I support Marco Rubio and that’s why the Democrats fear Marco the most.” The 30-second spot — called “Fear” — is expected to hit the airwaves South Carolina on Tuesday. According to a new Public Policy Polling survey, Rubio is currently tied for second in South Carolina. The Republican primary is Saturday.
2016 on way to break state voter turnout records
If previous elections are any indication, Alabama polls are likely to see an infusion of voters on Super Tuesday and again for the general election in November. Gauging data available through the Secretary of State’s website, which documents voter turnout for various elections since 1986, a clear trend emerges: Alabama voters swamp polls during big elections and tend to stay home for smaller elections. In 1986, 41 percent of eligible voters flocked to the polls to vote in the gubernatorial primaries in June. Just a few months later, 52 percent showed up to elect Republican Gov. Guy Hunt over Democrat Bill Baxley. By contrast, only 1 percent of voters showed up to elect an associate justice to the Alabama Supreme Court in June 1988. But the presidential election held only a few months later attracted 56 percent of eligible voters to elect President George H.W. Bush. In the November 1992 presidential election, 76 percent of eligible voters turned out and 53 percent showed up two years later to elect a governor. Contrarily, only 16 percent made it to the polls for a U.S. Senate run-off in June 1996, and only 20 percent for a June 1998 primary run-off for the governor’s seat. Fast forward to February 2008. The presidential primary drew more than 42 percent of voters to the polls, while a U.S. Senate election held only a few months later drew little more than 15 percent. Further, the July 2008 primary election for Public Service Commission (PSC) president drew less than 1 percent of eligible voters while the November general election that year brought in nearly 75 percent of registered voters. The same trend manifested in 2012 – again, less than 1 percent of registered voters showed up for an April primary run-off for PSC President and, again, more than 73 percent of voters showed up that November to elect a president. This year’s election is likely to be a repeat of the trends of the past. With a presidential election on the horizon, as well as a crowded field of candidates seeking to unseat Sen. Richard Shelby, this year is already set to attract large numbers of voters. Add to that the recent digitization of Alabama’s voter registration protocol and this year could be a record-breaking year in terms of voter turnout. Secretary of State John Merrill noted that since Jan. 22 more than 61,000 people have used the state’s electronic voter registration platform. The final day to register for the March primary was Monday and nearly 8,000 Alabamians did so. While not all of those were new voters, the chances are good that a large percentage were. “I think it’s very significant,” Merrill said of the digital platform and its effect on the number of eligible voters in the state. Though Merrill doesn’t think turnout will reach the high watermark of November 2008, he does think there will be an influx of voters and it will affect those “down-ballot” races that lack the appeal of a presidential race. “Having the opportunity to participate carries a lot more weight when people are excited about the election,” Merrill said. Though it’s too late to register for the upcoming primary, residents can register for the November election up until Oct. 24. “I think if somebody has taken the time to register to vote, or to update their information, they’re going to come back and vote,” Merrill said. “The most important thing in participating in the electoral process is getting registered. It distinguishes you from other people in our state and that’s what we want. We want every Alabamian to be involved in the process.”
Email insights: Richard Shelby’s new ad highlights strong opposition to rules, regulations
Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby is running for re-election this year against a bevy of challengers hoping to unseat him in the March 1 primary. In an effort to ward off his opponents, the Shelby campaign sent out an email showcasing his latest campaign ad Tuesday morning. Titled “Agriculture,” the ad highlights his history of fighting to overturn bureaucratic regulations that hurt Alabama farmers. “Barack Obama didn’t learn too much about farming in Chicago,” says Wallace Drury, a farmer from Greensboro, Alabama, in the ad. “His bureaucrats can regulate us out of business. They want us to ask permission to deal with the water in a pond in our fields.” Here’s the full text of the email and the new ad: Shelby Ad Highlights Strong Opposition to Burdensome Rules & Regulations BIRMINGHAM, AL – Tuesday, February 16, 2016 – Senator Richard Shelby, candidate for the United States Senate, today released a new ad featuring Wallace Drury, a farmer from Greensboro, Alabama, highlighting the Senator’s strong opposition to the Obama Administration’s burdensome rules and regulations on farmers. “The Obama Administration’s assault on farmers and businesses through his EPA is unprecedented and out-of-control,” said Senator Shelby. “One example of their egregious overreach is the rule redefining ‘waters of the United States.’ The WOTUS rule is yet another land grab by this Administration, which would place control of waterways across the country in the hands of Washington bureaucrats instead of Alabama’s farmers. I will keep fighting to put an end to the EPA’s broad, unchecked regulatory power that stifles economic growth.” Watch Senator Shelby’s new ad below:
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton maintain sizable leads in national NBC News tracking poll
Republicans nationwide think Donald Trump will be their party’s nominee, according to a new NBC News|SurveyMonkey poll. The survey found 56 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters believe Trump will be the eventual Republican nominee; while 22 percent said Ted Cruz would be the nominee. Ten percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters said Marco Rubio would be the nominee. The New York businessman continues to lead the Republican field with 38 percent support, followed by Cruz at 18 percent and Rubio at 14 percent. Ben Carson is at 8 percent, whileJohn Kasich is at 7 percent. Jeb Bush rounds out the field with 4 percent. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders, 50 percent to 40 percent. Sixty-six percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters said they believe Clinton will be their party’s eventual nominee. The NBC News|SurveyMonkey weekly tracking poll was conducted from Feb. 8 through Feb. 14. The online survey sampled 13,1
Ronda Walker: Taking a stand for Martha Roby
I have known Martha Roby for 20 years, since she was a smart, independent thinking undergraduate at New York University and I was a low-level staffer for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby in D.C. In a town given to fakes, I liked her immediately. Martha is, and always has been, one of the most genuine individuals I know. We both grew up in Montgomery, and we both settled back in our hometown after we got married. Martha’s passion for public service was cultivated throughout her childhood by parents who were leaders in their church and community. Volunteerism and giving back are a large part of who she is. Therefore, it was no surprise when she stepped up to serve her community on the Montgomery City Council. Her Council district was the most diverse in the City and she proved to be a dedicated servant leader to all of her constituents. She was well liked by those she served and was respected for being the type of leader who jumped into the trenches to fix problems. She is hard working, smart, and genuine and she took those attributes from Montgomery to Washington, DC to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. If you live in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District you know Martha Roby. You’ve met her, you’ve seen her at your community meetings, you’ve watched her on the 6 o’clock news, and you’ve bumped into her shopping for groceries at the local Publix. She is deeply rooted in her community and she genuinely loves the people of Alabama. I had the privilege of working for my friend Martha Roby for three years after she was elected to Congress. I often said of the long hours and stressful work that I would never do it for anyone I didn’t personally love and respect. As I sat in meetings with her, traveled the district with her and saw her interact with constituents her energy, passion, and likability never ceased to amaze everyone she met. I remember once when she walked into a room in her southern Alabama district a woman rushed to embrace her. They wept together as the woman told Martha of the recent loss of her husband. Another memory is of Martha standing on the tarmac giving handshakes and hugs to each member of the 908th Airlift Wing before their deployment, and as the plane taxied down the runway she did not leave, but stood arm in arm with the families being left behind. And there are many examples of Martha refusing to invite the media to cover her selfless acts, helping those in her district devastated by trial and tragedy. Many are the times someone has shared a deeply personal story of what Martha Roby has done for them. Martha is not only compassionate, she is a smart conservative. Alabama is a Republican state. But the irony of our current situation is a small group of individuals has decided to attack some conservatives in leadership for not being conservative enough. Martha Roby’s votes in Congress clearly reflect her conservatism and the values of her constituents. Moreover, she has proven to be a reasonable and likable voice on Capitol Hill. She consults with military leadership at Maxwell-Gunter and Ft. Rucker to ensure she supports legislation that strengthens our military and helps our veterans. She has veterans from across the United States calling her office for help because they know she is one of their strongest advocates in Congress. Her actions have proven her dedication to our men and women in uniform. Agriculture is the number one industry in the state of Alabama, and in the 2nd district specifically. Martha Roby has a great relationship with Alabama’s farmers and with the Alabama Farmers Federation and together they work hard to craft legislation that helps Alabama farmers. Martha Roby routinely meets with mayors, small business leaders, educations, and everyday Alabamians. She listens to their concerns and their ideas and she takes that information back to Washington and votes accordingly. Yet, a small group of DC political operatives has published a misleading “scorecard” attacking Martha Roby. It’s ludicrous, really. Thirty-six mayors in the 2nd Congressional District signed on to a letter of support for Martha Roby. Military leaders, farmers, and small business owners have all voiced their strong support for her. Martha Roby answers to the people of Alabama, not to D.C. political scorekeepers. It is easy to become frustrated with politics. Too often we see politicians making bad decisions in their public as well as their private lives. Our nation is in debt, some federally funded programs are on an unsustainable spending path, and we have enemies both foreign and domestic who wish to do us harm. Now, more than ever, we need leadership that is smart, aggressive, and in it for the right reasons. Martha Roby is that leader. When I am asked what kind of person I want to represent me in Washington my answer is Martha Roby. I know her as a wife, mother, daughter, and friend. She sat with me and prayed with me as I endured chemotherapy treatments and she loves my children like her own. But I do not support her simply because she is my friend. She is my friend because she is an amazing individual who happens to be the best leader in Washington, DC that Alabama has ever seen. She serves the people of Alabama proudly. And make no mistake, her service is not without personal sacrifice. The 2nd district is fortunate to have a leader like Martha Roby in Washington; she has earned our appreciation and continued support. • • • Ronda M. Walker is a member of the Montgomery County Commission, a wife and a mother of four.
