Ala. lawmakers begin budget hearings ahead of regular session
Alabama lawmakers heard budget goals on Monday ahead of the legislative session that begins next week. In the preliminary budget hearings, Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar told lawmakers the state’s Medicaid agency will look for an estimated $44 million this legislative session. She noted the figure is subject to change, dependent upon what happens in Washington, D.C. “We need to make sure we are at the table and make sure the state doesn’t end up in a worse position from a financial standpoint,” Azar told the room. The 2017 regular session is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Donald Trump mulling fate of young immigrants protected by Barack Obama
Missing from President Donald Trump‘s blitz of immigration orders was any mention of the fate of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants protected from deportation by former President Barack Obama. That omission has left immigration advocates hopeful Trump has softened his opposition to what he once derided as “illegal amnesty,” while others say he has quickly abandoned a core campaign pledge. Trump and Republican leaders in Congress have said they are working on a plan that will address the status of the roughly 750,000 immigrants currently protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. The program allows young people who were brought into the country illegally as children to stay and obtain work permits. Neither the president nor GOP leaders have disclosed details on their discussions, although both have suggested those currently protected under the program won’t face immediate deportation. Whether they will be allowed to continue to work remains unclear. Trump said this past week he intends to reveal a proposal within a month. “They shouldn’t be very worried,” Trump told ABC News. “I do have a big heart. We’re going to take care of everybody. … Where you have great people that are here that have done a good job, they should be far less worried.” Trump’s delay and the tone of his remarks were a striking shift from the campaign, when he promised to quickly end the program and labeled it amnesty. “We will immediately terminate President Obama’s two illegal executive amnesties, in which he defied federal law and the constitution to give amnesty to approximately 5 million illegal immigrants,” Trump said in August. His current approach appears to be a concession to Republican leaders in Congress who have called for a less aggressive stand on an issue that has pushed some Latino voters away from the party. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has argued for a more compassionate approach in dealing with these young immigrants. He has discussed the issue privately with the president and recently said congressional Republicans had been working with his team on a solution. DACA was arguably the most significant and high-profile change Obama made to immigration policy, one he said he made only after Congress failed to enact a broader immigration overhaul. The status of the immigrants, some of whom have little or no connection to the country where they were born, has been a focus of advocates’ anxiety and activism since Trump’s election. The program would be relatively simple for Trump to reverse. The policy does not require an executive order. As of Friday afternoon, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it was still processing DACA-related work permits. Trump’s White House is thought to be divided on the how to handle the issue. Those who have pushed Trump to embrace more restrictive immigration policies, including policy guru Stephen Miller, are said to prefer a harder line. On the other side are those in the White House considered more moderate, including chief of staff Reince Priebus, who said recently that the White House is planning to work with House and Senate leadership “to get a long-term solution on that issue.” Under a draft executive order first published by the news site Vox, the government would immediately halt processing new DACA applications, but would allow those who already have work permits to retain them until they expire sometime over the next two years. Trump faces pressure from GOP hard-liners, including Iowa Rep. Steve King, who has chafed at signals from Trump aides that immigrants covered by DACA are not a priority for deportation. King said Trump risks a backlash from his political base if he doesn’t act swiftly “because it was a clear and definitive promise that he made.” “And when you hear these kinds of statements coming out of the chief of staff and some of these statements that echo pretty closely out of the speaker of the House, it gives real pause to rule of law conservatives,” he said. Advocates on both sides are expecting a compromise in which the president perhaps ends DACA and then works with Congress on a permanent solution that allows these immigrants to stay in the country. Mark Gonzales, the president of the Hispanic Action Network, said Trump’s actions this past week have “definitely shaken up our Hispanic community and the immigrant community in particular.” But he said that he’s confident from Trump and his aides’ rhetoric that young immigrants currently protected by DACA don’t have to be alarmed. “He’s making clear that even though they’re going to repeal DAPA and DACA, the Dreamers are not the ones they’re going to be coming after,” said Gonzales. “They’re going to find a way to deal with the Dreamers in the way that is not deportation. That’s good news to our ears.” Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the conservative Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for tighter restrictions on immigration, said he’s open to a compromise in which, for instance, those previously covered by DACA receive green cards in exchange for other concessions. “Suspending DACA processing is an extremely simple, clear-cut thing. And if they haven’t done it by now, there’s some reason for it,” said Krikorian. Young people covered by the program have been glued to their televisions anytime Trump takes action, said California lawyer Sergio Garcia, who estimates he’s handled more than 15,000 DACA applications. There’s “a lot of anxiety, uncertainty of not knowing what tomorrow holds,” he said. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Bradley Byrne: Pro-life policies in the spotlight
Last Friday, thousands of people arrived in Washington, D.C. to march for an important cause: pro-life policies. The annual March for Life brings together people from all different backgrounds: Democrats and Republicans, men and women, young and old, southerners and northerners. This year’s march was especially notable as Vice President Mike Pence spoke, marking the highest ranking United States government official to ever address the March for Life. The crowd was really energized, and I was especially excited students and pro-life advocates from Southwest Alabama traveled to D.C. to take part in the march. Pro-life issues have always been very important to me. One of the greatest joys of my life has been to experience the miracle of birth. As the parents of four wonderful children and a grandparent to an adorable grandson (with another grandchild on the way), Rebecca and I have been blessed to watch our children grow and mature into talented and unique individuals. More than anything, this has reinforced my strong belief that every life is truly precious. One of my first official acts after being elected to Congress was to join the Pro-Life Caucus and sign Online for Life’s “Pro-Life Declaration,” which outlines that the right to life should be protected and defended. I have also made it a priority to support pro-life policies throughout my time in Congress, earning a 100% rating for National Right to Life. In fact, just last week in advance of the March for Life, I joined 237 of my House colleagues in voting to pass H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017. This legislation amends Title 1 of the United States Code to implement a ban on all taxpayer funding of abortion, regardless of the funding sources. A similar provision, known as the Hyde Amendment, has been included in annual government funding bills for decades, but H.R. 7 makes the Hyde Amendment permanent. I know the abortion debate can be especially heated and personal. However, regardless of your views on abortion, I believe we should all be able to agree that taxpayer money should not be used to perform abortions. Another important victory for the pro-life movement came when President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the “Mexico City Policy.” This policy, started under President Ronald Reagan, has been instituted by every Republican president since. The policy blocks federal funding for non-governmental organizations that provide or promote abortions overseas. A recent poll found that over 80% of Americans oppose their taxpayer money being used to support abortion in other countries, so I was very pleased to see President Trump reinstate this policy. These were two victories for the pro-life movement, and I am hopeful for another positive step as President Trump nominates someone to fill the seat of Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. He has pledged to nominate a judge who values human life and supports pro-life policies, and I look forward to his decision. Ultimately, I expect there are great opportunities, as well as challenges, ahead for the pro-life movement, but there is no greater cause to fight for. I pledge to continue working every day to represent our common-sense, pro-life Alabama principles in Washington, and I am optimistic we will continue to make strides to create a culture that values life and opportunity for all. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Email insights: Auburn University tells students, faculty to stay in country
Alabama’s Auburn University is recommending its students and faculty stay in the country until further notice in reaction to President Donald Trump‘s Friday Executive Order on immigration. Auburn President Gogue and Provost Boosinger have issued a statement regarding the Executive Order on immigration. https://t.co/6WaEOzrelf — Auburn University (@AuburnU) January 30, 2017 Auburn President Jay Gogue and Provost Timothy Boosinger made the recommendation Monday morning in an email to the campus, noting that traveling internationally could result in denied re-entry back into the United States. “We also encourage international students, faculty and staff with questions about immigration or H-1B/green cards to contact the Office of International Programs at (334) 844-5001,” the Auburn officials said in their joint letter. Read the full statement below: Dear Auburn Family: President Trump on Friday issued an Executive Order regarding immigration that impacts our campus community. We are closely monitoring the situation and will promptly provide updated information as it becomes available and respond to your questions. We recommend that students, faculty, staff or dependents who might be affected refrain from travel outside of the United States until further notice as you may be denied reentry into the country. We also encourage international students, faculty and staff with questions about immigration or H-1B/green cards to contact the Office of International Programs at (334) 844-5001. The Association of Public & Land Grant Universities, of which Auburn is a member, is an advocacy group in Washington, DC. Please click here for its statement issued over the weekend. Auburn is an international university. Students, faculty and staff from all backgrounds strengthen our campus, and we remain committed to fostering an environment that upholds our values of inclusion and diversity. Jay Gogue, President Timothy Boosinger, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Senate procedural vote sets up debate over Donald Trump travel ban
A procedural vote in the Senate on Donald Trump‘s secretary of state nominee sets up an extended debate over the president’s executive order barring refugees for at least four months and the direction of U.S. policy toward Russia. Rex Tillerson needs the backing of 51 senators Monday evening to put his nomination on track for confirmation later this week in the Republican-led chamber. Although many Democrats oppose Tillerson, they’ll need at least several Republicans to join them to derail the nomination. That appears unlikely even after two of the Senate’s leading GOP voices on national security criticized Trump for failing to consult with key federal agencies before issuing the travel ban. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have tepidly endorsed Tillerson, Exxon Mobil’s former CEO. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Kremlin says Vladimir Putin-Donald Trump meeting in the works
The spokesman for Vladimir Putin says a meeting between the Russian president and U.S. President Donald Trump is in the works. Trump and Putin had a much-anticipated hour-long discussion on Saturday, the first since Trump assumed office last week. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday lauded the phone call as a “good, constructive conversation” but dismissed suggestions of Trump and Putin may have reached deals in that phone call. Peskov said Kremlin and White House staff have been instructed to prepare a meeting between the two leaders and added that the leaders could reach practical agreements only after they see each other. Speaking earlier in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the conversation showed that Russia and American interests “overlap in a number of areas” including fighting terrorism. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Donald Trump campaigned as a disrupter, begins governing by chaos
Trump’s temporary halt to the U.S. refugee program — the most consequential policy he’s unveiled in his presidency’s opening days — wreaked havoc at airports and sparked protests across the country. The order left Trump’s own government agencies scrambling, his Republican Party divided and allies around the world uneasy. A federal judge issued an emergency order temporarily blocking part of the measure, setting up a legal battle ahead. Trump could have avoided at least some of these consequences. He could have consulted significantly with the agencies tasked with implementing the order. He could have delivered a speech explaining his action and its intent in detail to the American people. His team could have prepared a contingency plan for the newly banned travelers already en route to U.S. as Trump signed the order. Instead, Trump showed that not only does he intend to follow through on his controversial campaign promises, he plans to do so in the spirit of the mandate his advisers believe he has: disrupting Washington and setting fire to the playbook its leaders have long relied on. It’s not clear whether the White House acted Friday knowing the consequences that would follow. But Saturday, as protesters crowded U.S. airports where legal U.S. residents were stuck in limbo, the president declared he was pleased with the results. “It’s working out very nicely,” Trump said Saturday. Trump is known to tolerate considerable instability and fluidity in his inner circle. His campaign was often improvisational and unpredictable, driven at times by the split decisions of the candidate. As a chief executive of a private company, Trump rarely had to contend with the complexity or scrutiny involved in operating the federal government. Even before the chaos surrounding the refugee restrictions, Trump was sowing confusion in his first days in office. He announced an investigation into voter fraud — on Twitter — but a scheduled signing of the executive action was canceled at the last minute. He clashed with the president of Mexico, one of America’s most important international partners, over his planned southern border wall, prompting President Enrique Pena Nieto to cancel a visit to Washington. A spokesman raised the prospect of paying for the wall with a 20 percent tax on all imports from Mexico, only to quickly backtrack. As the weekend wrapped up, Trump’s White House appeared to be acknowledging the trouble with governing by decree. Top aides scrambled to explain the policy and offer guidance to those implementing it. A statement from the president sought to clarify that Trump was not intending a ban on all Muslims. Aides also backed off earlier assertions that a full ban on entry from seven Muslim-majority countries applied to those with U.S. legal permanent residency “green cards.” The White House, which was largely silent about details of the refugee restrictions after Trump signed the order, hastily arranged two briefings for reporters over the weekend. Still, Trump heads into his second full week in office facing a test on which presidencies can rise and fall: selling a controversial and complicated policy to the public. He’ll do so against the backdrop of a steady stream of sympathetic stories about families split up by the refugee ban, and children and the elderly detained at U.S. airports. Meanwhile, experts dispute Trump’s assertion that the policy is needed to keep Americans safe. Recent acts of deadly extremist violence have been carried out either by U.S. citizens or by individuals whose families weren’t from the nations singled out. Many of Trump’s loyal supporters no doubt back his actions and his decisive, urgent approach. As a candidate, Trump called for a full ban on Muslims coming to the U.S., then shifted his focus to temporarily halting entry from countries with terror ties to give the government time to implement “extreme vetting” measures. Some Republicans also leapt to Trump’s defense, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said it was “time to re-evaluate and strengthen the visa-vetting process.” But Trump is otherwise left with few defenders, even within his own party. The White House spent little time briefing lawmakers on the order before the president signed it, leaving even those who might be inclined to support the directive with little information to help make Trump’s case. Other Republicans were willing to publicly break with their party’s new president. “This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country,” Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham said in a joint statement. “That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.” The business executives and Silicon Valley moguls whose support Trump has been trying to cultivate also appeared caught off guard. Some issued statements criticizing the directive, noting the positive impact immigration has had on their businesses. And allies— including British Prime Minister Theresa May, who spoke warmly about building a relationship with Trump after a visit to the White House Friday — panned the measure. For world leaders who depend on America’s stability, Trump’s action seems likely to only deepen their leeriness of his vows to govern unpredictably. “This will be one particularly egregious piece of evidence of their judgment of the whole man — and it’s a pretty negative judgment,” Eliot Cohen, a State Department counselor under former President George W. Bush, said of the world’s response. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Conservative Kochs condemn Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown
Charles Koch first likened candidate Donald Trump‘s plan to ban Muslim immigrants to something Adolf Hitler would have done in Nazi Germany. The billionaire industrialist and his chief lieutenants offered a more delicate response this weekend when asked about President Trump’s plan to block immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. They described Trump’s plan as “the wrong approach” that violated its dedication to “free and open societies.” The criticism comes as the Koch network, among the most powerful conservative groups in the nation, works to strike a delicate balance in the early days of the new administration. The Kochs refused to support Trump’s candidacy last fall, but they now see a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to influence the White House and the Republican-controlled Congress. Their optimism is fueled by strong relationships inside the administration, despite their vow to oppose Trump’s policies if they deviate from the Koch brothers’ conservative priorities. Trump critics were easy to find at the California desert resort this weekend, where attendance at a semi-annual conference was limited to the 550 people who donate at least $100,000 each year to the various conservative political and policy groups backed by Charles and David Koch. The critics included Charles Koch himself, although the conservative patriarch did not mention Trump by name Sunday as he warned that the nation is facing a moment of “tremendous danger.” He said the nation could “go the authoritarian route … or we can move toward a free and open society. So this is our opportunity.” Still, the Koch network says it’s confident about its ability to shape the direction of the Trump administration’s policies from the inside. “Many former network staffers that are in the White House now remain good friends of ours. So we’re in constant contact with them,” said Koch spokesman James Davis. “Conversations have been open and continue to be.” There is perhaps no bigger Koch ally than Vice President Mike Pence, whose staff and ideology has been in close alignment with the Kochs for years. Charles Koch spoke directly with the vice president on the phone days before his inauguration as Pence considered hiring a Koch communications staffer, Stephen Ford, to serve as his chief speechwriter. Ford was soon hired, along with former Koch chief Marc Short, who now serves as the White House legislative director. “The reason we’re optimistic … is really Mike Pence,” said Doug Deason, a prominent Trump supporter and major Koch donor. “If you think Cheney had power in Bush White House, just watch and see what happens with Mike Pence.” Several reporters, including one from The Associated Press, were invited to attend the weekend conference. As a condition of attending, photographers were not allowed and reporters were not permitted to identify any donors without their permission. Koch and his powerful allies insist they will challenge Trump when his policies don’t align with their conservative vision. The network plans to spend between $300 million and $400 million over the next two years to shape policy and politics, much of it devoted to its nationwide grassroots network. While there has been much talk of Trump allies creating an outside group to help promote his agenda, the Koch network’s capacity to communicate directly with voters on the ground in key states has no political rival. The Koch’s “secret sauce,” Holden says, is “the accountability play.” “We’re principled. And if we can’t get comfortable with the policies that are in place, then we’re not going to support them. But if we can we will support them, regardless of who’s in office,” he said. Like Trump, the Kochs favor efforts to cut government regulation and replace the federal health-care system. They do not share the president’s plans for a massive infrastructure spending or his crackdown on immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. “The travel ban is the wrong approach and will likely be counterproductive,” network co-chair Brian Hooks said Sunday. “Our country has benefited tremendously from a history of welcoming people from all cultures and backgrounds,” he said. “This is a hallmark of free and open societies.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
White House defends strategist’s clout on national security
The White House on Sunday said the addition of President Donald Trump‘s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, to regular meetings on national security was essential to the commander in chief’s decision-making process. Trump took steps Saturday to begin restructuring the White House National Security Council, adding the senior adviser to the principals committee, which includes the secretaries of state and defense. At the same time, Trump said his director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would attend only when “issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed.” Bannon served in the Navy before attending Harvard Business School, working at Goldman Sachs, starting his own media-focused boutique investment banking firm and later heading the ultraconservative outlet Breitbart News, which has been condemned for featuring racist, sexist and anti-Semitic content. “He is a former naval officer. He’s got a tremendous understanding of the world and the geopolitical landscape that we have now,” White House press secretary Sean Spicer told ABC’s “This Week.” Spicer said “having the chief strategist for the president in those meetings who has a significant military background to help make — guide what the president’s final analysis is going to be is crucial.” But to Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, the NSC “sadly has some really questionable people on it,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” citing Bannon among them. And Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called Bannon’s appointment “a radical departure from any National Security Council in history.” He told “Face the Nation” on CBS: “The role of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been diminished, I understand, with this reorganization. One person who is indispensable would be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in my view. So, it’s of concern, this ‘reorganization.’” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
First-known combat death since Donald Trump in office
It’s been described as the greatest burden any commander in chief must bear. Just days into his young presidency, a U.S. service member has died in military action authorized by Donald Trump. It’s the first known combat death of a member of the U.S. military since Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20 and underscores the gravity of the decisions he now makes. Three service members were also wounded Sunday during the firefight with militants from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula’s branch in Yemen. The raid left nearly 30 others dead, including an estimated 14 militants. A fourth U.S. service member was injured when a military aircraft assisting in the mission had a “hard landing” nearby, according to U.S. Central Command. “Americans are saddened this morning with news that a life of a heroic service member has been taken in our fight against the evil of radical Islamic terrorism,” Trump said in a statement. “My deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member,” he said. The names of the casualties were not released. Planning for the clandestine counterterrorism raid begun before President Barack Obama left office on Jan. 20, but Trump authorized the raid, according to a U.S. defense official, who was not authorized to discuss details beyond those announced by the Pentagon and so spoke on condition of anonymity. The U.S. has been striking al-Qaida in Yemen from the air for more than 15 years, mostly using drones. Sunday’s surprise pre-dawn raid could signal a new escalation against extremist groups in the Arab world’s poorest but strategically located country. The action provides an early window into how the new president will put his campaign rhetoric into action when it comes to foreign intervention. Trump had promised an “America first” approach and an end to the “era of nation building” if he won the White House. Many interpreted his language as isolationist and expected Trump to be more cautious about where the U.S. intervened. At the same time, Trump had broadcast a stronger posture on the world stage. He pledged to beef up the military and said he aimed to achieve “peace through strength.” Sunday’s raid was not the first time that the United States had conducted a counterterrorism raid on the ground in Yemen, but it was not the usual approach of striking from the air, the defense official said. The raid was planned as a clandestine operation and not intended to be made public, but the loss of a service member changed that, the official said, adding that no detainees were taken in the operation. An al-Qaida official and an online news service linked to the terror group said the raid left about 30 people dead, including women and children. Among the children killed was Anwaar, the 8-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Yemeni-American cleric killed in a U.S. airstrike in Yemen in 2011, according to the girl’s grandfather. Nasser al-Awlaki told The Associated Press that Anwaar was visiting her mother when the raid took place. She was shot in the neck and bled for two hours before she died, he said. In addition to killing the militants, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said U.S. forces “captured a whole host of information about future plots that’s going to benefit this country and keep us safe.” The president “extends his condolences,” he said on ABC’s “‘This Week.” ”But more importantly, he understands the fight that our servicemen and women conduct on a daily basis to keep this country safe.” Just over a week ago, suspected U.S. drone strikes killed three other alleged al-Qaida operatives in Bayda in what was the first-such killings reported in the country since Trump assumed the U.S. presidency. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, long seen by Washington as among the most dangerous branches of the global terror network, has exploited the chaos of Yemen’s civil war, seizing territory in the south and east. The war began in 2014, when Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies swept down from the north and captured the capital, Sanaa. A Saudi-led military coalition has been helping government forces battle the rebels for nearly two years. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
