Former Miss America Mallory Hagan announces campaign, will challenge Mike Rogers
Former Miss America Mallory Hagan on Tuesday announced she is running for the U.S. House of Representatives. The 2013 Miss America and an Opelika, Ala.-native will challenge 16-year incumbent, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers for Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District in the general election on Nov. 6, should she win the Democratic primary on June 5. Hagan, who currently works as co-anchor of the evening newscast on WLTZ in Columbus, Ga., had set up a campaign Twitter account last week announcing she’s “exploring candidacy” for Alabama’s 3rd District seat. She also set up a campaign website and a crowdfunding site that had now amassed over $10,000 toward her $20,000 campaign goal from 202 supporters. Hagan recently made headlines when news broke in December that she was one of the Miss America pageant winners to be targeted by the organization’s CEO and the lead writer of the pageant’s telecast in emails recently released by the Huffington Post. “I recently found myself at the center of a national controversy surrounding the Miss America Organization,” the 29-year-old former beauty queen posted on her website. “It was a painful experience, but it taught me a lot about the power of my voice.” “By telling my story, by petitioning for change, and by demanding resolution, I ignited a spark that fueled women–AND men– across this country to stand up, speak out, and believe that when people share their stories, positive change can occur,” she added. “I told my story. It was difficult, but it sparked meaningful change. This experience transformed me.” “I want to represent the people of this state because I want to be a voice for Alabamians that is clear and strong. I want to be a voice that sparks positive change,” she continued.
Arthur Orr files bill to allow counties to ask voters for gas tax increase
Alabama has some of the cheapest gas nationwide. The state hasn’t seen the state gas tax since 1992. Despite the need for funds to complete road projects across the state, proposals to increase the gas tax have been discussed and died in session for years. Which is why Decatur-Republican State Sen. Arthur Orr introduced SB89. Rather than putting forth a statewide tax, Orr’s bill would allow Alabama county commissions to ask voters in their counties to raise the gasoline tax with all of the funds going to specific road projects. The bill would county commissions to tax up to five cents, referendum, to be distributed on said transportation projects. Counties would have to present to their residents a resolution — including a list of projects the tax would fund, as well as the the amount of and the duration of the tax — on which they would vote and have the final say as to whether the tax would go through.The tax would expire after five years. Orr made the same proposal last year after a statewide gas tax failed to pass Legislature. While many Republican lawmakers balk at the notion of raising taxes, Gov. Kay Ivey considers it a business decision and has been a proponent of a gas tax in the past. “I strongly support the gas tax and I encourage the members of the House to do likewise,” Ivey said in May. “Our commerce needs good transportation. It’s a business decision. I’m a conservative. I’m a Republican. I got the facts. Who better to make a business decision than a conservative Republican who has all the facts? That’s the message and I hope all Democrats and Republicans will step up to the plate and let’s do business for Alabama.”
Alabama activist takes on Harvey Weinstein’s billionaire friend Paul Tudor Jones
A newly established group, Women United, has released local digital and TV ads in the Charlottesville, Va. in an effort to hold Harvey Weinstein’s billionaire friends accountable for aiding and abetting his pattern of abuse. The visionary behind the group is Birmingham’s own Catrena Norris Carter. The 30-year veteran of both the civil rights and women’s movements in America is seeking to take on one of the longtime members of The Weinstein Company board of directors, the billionaire Paul Tudor Jones. Women United describe him as “untouchable” saying he has “shown a pattern of belittling and disregarding women.” They continued, “Paul Tudor Jones was an enabler to his personal friend, Weinstein. As a long term and supportive board member, Jones aided and assisted Weinstein, allowing him to continue preying on woman after woman and making himself an accessory to the abuse and harassment.” Which is why Women United will be attending Wednesday night’s University of Virginia (UVA) vs. Louisville basketball game with petitions asking the public to join them in requesting the removal of the Jones name from all UVA buildings. Along with volunteers, Carter will be walking around UVA throughout the week to have the Jones name removed. In October 2017, the Harvey Weinstein scandal arose when over 100 women came forward with claims of sexual assault and abuse against Weinstein. These allegations go as far back as the 1970’s. Even after the allegations against Weinstein went public, Jones maintained a direct relationship with him both as a business partner and as a personal friend. Following the allegations he emailed Weinstein, proclaiming, “I love you,” and telling him that “everyone would soon forget about the allegations.” But his personal support of Weinstein isn’t the only reason Women United are taking a stand against him. They also say he has an outdated, sexist view on modern day women in the workplace. When asked at a UVA function why industrial trading was mostly men, he said when women have children, it becomes a “focus killer.” Specifically, Jones told an audience of University of Virginia students, alumni and others that it is difficult for mothers to be successful traders because connecting with a child is a focus “killer.” As long as women continue having children, he said, the industry is likely to be dominated by men. “As soon as that baby’s lips touched that girl’s bosom, forget it,” Jones said, motioning to his chest. In the video of the event Jones says, “every single investment idea . . . every desire to understand what is going to make this go up or go down is going to be overwhelmed by the most beautiful experience . . . which a man will never share.” As the video goes on, he says, “You will never see as many great women investors or traders as men — period, end of story.” But in the ad released by Women United, Founder Catrena Carter states, “No has always meant no. Now, we have to go further. No more excusing inexcusable behavior toward women. No more allowing those who protect monsters like Harvey Weinstein to go unnamed. No more looking the other way when billionaires choose predators over victims. It’s time to stand together and fight.” According to a press release, Women United is a next phase of the #MeToo movement. In addition to releasing ads, the group will also be launching grassroots efforts to shine a light on the structure of powerful and successful men that allow abuse to go unchecked and unreported. “Until these men are exposed, the culture of tolerating assaults on women will continue,” said Carter. Watch Women United’s video ad below: Learn more about Women United, watch the newly released ad, and sign the petition here: https://www.womenunitednow.org/
Will Davis: The state of our union is strong
When it comes to the annual State of the Union address, much is often said, but little is actually addressed. The event exists as an opportunity for politicians to repeat their favorite platitudes and for the D.C. political class to rub shoulders. What really matters is not the State of the Union address, but what proceeds it. We are now one year into Donald Trump‘s presidency and conservatives have to be happy, maybe even pleasantly surprised at what President Trump and this Republican Congress have been able to accomplish in one year. Conservatives are used to the Republican party letting us down, but this year has been different. We’ve seen one of the largest tax cuts in American history, which corresponded with the first remaking of the tax code since Ronald Reagan‘s presidency. We have already seen the results of this tax cut come to fruition, including in our home state of Alabama where Toyota and Mazda announced a new $1.6 billion plant in Huntsville that will create 4,000 new jobs for Alabamians. The United States also saw its first year of 3% GDP growth since George W. Bush‘s first term. In addition, we have also confirmed great constitutionalist judges, including Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Through remaking the courts, we have a chance to end judicial tyranny in this country and restore the rule of law. The promise of appointing judges after years of activist court rulings was a big reason why some skeptical conservatives held their nose to vote for Donald Trump. He has delivered in this area more than any of us could have expected. Lastly, many concerns about Trump’s presidency involved his foreign policy. Many folks were concerned that somebody with no experience would have significant trouble in the area where the President has the most power and the most responsibility. Yet Trump has assuaged those concerns in his first year in office. He has surrounded himself with some of the most brilliant minds in the country including the likes of Jim Mattis, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pompeo. In Trump’s first year, ISIS is all but done, Jerusalem has finally been recognized as the Capital of Israel, Syria has ceased use of their chemical weapons program, and Iran and Russia have been put on notice. Our foreign policy has made some of the greatest strides in a generation, thanks to this administration. With the economy roaring, the Middle East stabilizing, and the Supreme Court headed in a constitutionalist direction, it’s fair to say that the state of our union is strong. Welcome to Donald Trump’s America, where ISIS is dead and the economy is alive. ••• William Davis is a sophomore at the University of Alabama. There he is involved in various conservative groups and organizations.
Alabama lawmakers in train accident
A train carrying over 200 Republican members of Congress and their spouses derailed in Virginia Wednesday morning. Several people have been injured, according to reports. The Amtrak train struck a garbage truck in Crozet, Va., which is west of Charlottesville, at roughly 11:20 a.m. ET. Initial reports say one person has died in the incident and no one on the train suffered serious injuries. Alabama Today has confirmed that members of the Alabama delegation and their spouses were aboard the train. Here’s what we know thus far: U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01) was on the train with his wife Rebecca. They are both okay U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02) was aboard the train and is okay. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03) and his wife Beth were on the train. They are both okay. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04) was on the train with his wife Caroline. They are both okay. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05) was not on the train. He is safe in D.C. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06) was aboard the train and is okay. Alabama lawmakers quickly took to Twitter letting their friends, loved ones and constituents know that they’re okay. “I just wanted to send a quick note to let everyone know Caroline and I are fine. We were on the train headed to a Republican planning conference when the train collided with a truck. I’m told one person in the truck has died. Our prayers to that person’s family & any others hurt,” tweeted Aderholt. I just wanted to send a quick note to let everyone know Caroline and I are fine. We were on the train headed to a Republican planning conference when the train collided with a truck. I’m told one person in the truck has died. Our prayers to that person’s family & any others hurt. — Rep. Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) January 31, 2018 “The train carrying GOP members to our retreat had a collision, but Rebecca and I are both okay. Security and doctors on board are helping secure the scene and treat injuries,” tweeted Byrne shortly after the crash.” The train carrying GOP members to our retreat had a collision, but Rebecca and I are both okay. Security and doctors on board are helping secure the scene and treat injuries. — Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) January 31, 2018 Roby also tweeted her safety, “My family and I are safe, but please continue praying for all those involved in this terrible accident.“ My family and I are safe, but please continue praying for all those involved in this terrible accident. https://t.co/VJRhsOPXVT — Rep. Martha Roby (@RepMarthaRoby) January 31, 2018 “UPDATE: Mike and Beth are on the train, but are both OK,” tweeted Rogers’ press shop. UPDATE: Mike and Beth are on the train, but are both OK. https://t.co/6MUWh2MvYd — Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) January 31, 2018 The lawmakers were scheduled to spend the next several days at the West Virginia resort for their annual policy issues conference.
Doug Jones co-sponsors legislation to ensure equal pay for women
Newly elected U.S. Sen. Doug Jones is calling for an equal pay law. On Tuesday, the Democrat announced he will co-sponsor legislation designed to address the pay gap between men and women. S.819: The Paycheck Fairness Act, would strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and guarantee that women can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable. “Despite making up half the workforce, American women still routinely face obstacles to receiving the pay and benefits they’ve earned,” said Jones. “We have a duty to make sure that women are compensated fairly for the jobs they do. I’m proud to co-sponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act and I look forward to working with my colleagues to see this common-sense legislation passed.” According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), five decades after the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women continue make an average of 80 cents for every dollar earned by a man. The pay gap is even wider for women of color, with African American women making 63 cents on the dollar, and Hispanic women making only 54 cents, on average, compared with white men. The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen and close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by holding employers accountable for discriminatory practices, subject to the same remedies as discrimination based on race or national origin. The bill endeavors to end the practice of pay secrecy by easing workers’ ability to individually or jointly challenge pay discrimination, and strengthening the available remedies for wronged employees.
Alabama Senate increases penalties for child sex traffickers
As Human Trafficking Awareness Month comes to a close, Alabama lawmakers passed a bill on Tuesday to making a lasting impact in the efforts to stop the horrific and barbaric exploitation. The Alabama State Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that enhances the criminal penalties for those found guilty obstructing the enforcement of the human trafficking laws in Alabama. Sponsored by Alabaster-Republican state Sen. Cam Ward, SB179, is part of the Senate Republicans’ “Fighting for Alabama” 2018 agenda. “This issue is truly one of the most horrific blights on our society, and tragically, most often the victims are children,” Ward said. “Increasing penalties for those who would aid traffickers is a crucial step in ending this monstrous practice. This bill will hold them just as accountable as the traffickers themselves.” The bill would enhance the penalties already in place, increasing the offense to a Class A felony, with a minimum jail sentence of ten years. Under current law, the obstruction of an investigation into child trafficking is only a Class C felony – meaning conviction could result in merely one year in prison. According to the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, the average age of sex trafficking victims is between 11-14 years old. It is estimated that two children are trafficked into sexual exploitation every minute. “There is nothing more important than protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities, our children,” Ward added. “We want to give law enforcement every tool they need to ensure no child is ever harmed in this manner.” While many Alabamians are unaware of its ongoings, sex trafficking is actively happening not only abroad, but also in Alabama. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at least 36 human trafficking cases were reported in the Yellowhammer State in 2017. They also report more than 111 victims of human trafficking in Alabama have called its hotline for help this year.
Bill would encourage Alabamians to use of gold and silver as money
“Imagine if you asked a grocery clerk to break a $5 bill and he charged you a 35 cent tax. Silly, right? After all, you were only exchanging one form of money for another.” – The Tenth Amendment Center Communications Director Mike Maharrey The above situation may sound crazy to some Alabamians, but that exchange tax is essentially what’s happening to residents across the state who buy and use gold and silver. That would all change if a pair of bills made their way through the state Legislature this session. SB156 introduced by Florence-Republican State Senator Tim Melson and it’s House counterpart, HB19 introduced by Sylacauga-Republican state Rep. Ron Johnson would exempt gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion from the state sales tax for the next five years. The idea isn’t unheard of either. Many states don’t tax the sale of silver and gold at all, and similar bills have been introduced and passed across the country in recent years in effort to take the first step in breaking the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. The pair of bills would, in essence, allow Alabamians to use gold and silver as money without tax penalty. Others see gold and silver as an investment that ought not be taxed. “The simple reason why we need this bill is that we should not have a sales tax on investments,” said Graham Champion, a contractor and lobbyist pushing the bill told The New American, noting that there are no such taxes on real estate or other investments. “Precious metals are an investment, they aren’t a commodity that’s going to be consumed. And so it doesn’t make sense to treat these differently.” SB156 has been reported from Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee as favorable, meanwhile HB19 is pending its third reading on day from the House Ways and Means Education Committee with one amendment.
University of Alabama researchers seek spot-on way to weld super-strong steel
As cars have gotten sleeker and lighter over the decades, nostalgia about cars of yesteryear often romanticize their sturdiness – huge boxes of steel ready to take on any impact. It is a memory often not rooted in the reality of the safety of today’s vehicles. “People have dismissed the idea of lighter cars for decades because you feel safer in a big, heavy car, but that’s not always the case. If I can make something out of a stronger steel, I can use less steel,” said Dr. Luke Brewer, an engineering researcher at the University of Alabama. “It’s all about saving weight while maintaining crash worthiness.” Since humans began smelting iron and carbon in antiquity, steel has continuously become stronger. A new class of steel, known as advanced or ultra-high-strength steels, is emerging in auto manufacturing. Graduate student Tian Liu uses high-powered microscopes to see the structure of the steel before and after a weld. (University of Alabama) The stronger the steel, the less is needed. The less steel, the less weight. The less weight, the less the engine has to work to move the car. The less the engine works, the less fuel needed. And, voila, an improvement in fuel economy, something governments require to lessen emissions and consumers desire to cut operating costs. But transitioning to a new steel is not as simple as swapping out the metal at the factory. Ultra-high strength steels are different in their makeup from other steels, and so what works with the steel of today might not work with the steel of tomorrow. In making a car, steel needs to connect somehow through mechanical methods, such as fastening or interlocking, or through welding. A widely used joining method in modern cars is a type of welding known as resistance spot welding, but joining ultra-high-strength steels this way creates challenges. Changing welding methods at a factory would be a costly move, so the question becomes, can the steel be welded together using a carmaker’s existing technology? One of the companies working to understand and meet this challenge is Daimler, the German auto giant with a manufacturing plant a short drive away from the University of Alabama, Mercedes Benz U.S. International. Researchers in Germany and engineers in Alabama are collaborating with Brewer and others at the university to understand the welding of this new steel and whether it can be integrated into its production lines. “You’re trying to get into something that will get you higher performance, but you have to work around the welding challenges that higher-performance designs can create,” Brewer said. “Mercedes would like to do something even better, but one of the things getting in the way is the ability to weld this steel optimally.” Liquid metal Mercedes’ factory in Alabama uses robotic resistance spot welding to join the body in white, the unpainted car before adding mechanical or electrical parts. Resistance spot welding uses a directed electric current to generate heat and force that presses a metal together in – aptly – one spot, rather than using a welding torch to melt metal together along a seam. The welding process injects about 7,000 amps of currents through the steel in less than a second, leaving a circle no bigger than a dime. (University of Alabama) Spot welding is fast, powerful and clean. The robotic resistance spot welding machines used by Mercedes in Alabama inject roughly 7,000 amps of current through the steel in less than a second, leaving a circle no bigger than a dime in its wake. Each spot can hold up to 4,000 pounds, depending on use, and a vehicle has thousands of welds, as if the car was nailed together by electricity. To protect against corrosion, steels are often coated with zinc; however, during welding, cracks can form in the heated areas when the zinc coating melts and reacts with the underlying steel, a condition called liquid metal embrittlement. With ultra-high-strength steels, welding could exaggerate the embrittlement into a potential structural condition. If Mercedes is going to use resistance spot welding with ultra-high-strength steels, its researchers and engineers must understand the phenomena. “Universities are good at answering why,” Brewer said. “You could solve the problem in industry, but you may not have the opportunity to understand the fundamental reasons why it went away. If you want to be able to do it more efficiently in the future, you need to understand why.” Understanding the fundamentals To help with that understanding, Mercedes donated to UA the same resistance spot welding system used at its Alabama factory. “The point of using the same system is for the research project to be really well integrated into what happens on the factory floor,” Brewer said. With the same materials and same robot, UA researchers examine the welds using two approaches – at the microscopic level and with computer simulations. Dr. Mark Barkey, right, and undergraduate student Brian Fay performed spot welding simulations and then plotted, through changes in color, the levels of stress on cut-away. (University of Alabama) “We’re trying to better understand the fundamentals of what’s going on when you weld the steel, and then we hope to come up with conditions that improve welding and prevent embrittlement,” Brewer said. Welding samples are taken to the UA Central Analytical Facility, which houses high-powered microscopes and probes used to see the weld at the micron level. There, doctoral student Tian Liu can see the structure of the steel, which helps the team grasp how the steel and zinc behave during and after the weld. Also, Dr. Mark Barkey at UA and his students are building computer simulations of the welding process, using the welding system to validate the computer model. “We can save a lot of physical time by doing it on a computer because we can explore and investigate a lot more welding parameters,” Barkey said. “We can tell them the best or worse cases for a weld and use that information in the lab.” “After all, there is not a question of
Steve Flowers: Could 2018 be the Year of the Woman in Alabama politics?
This political year of 2018 may very well be the year of the woman in Alabama politics. In Alabama’s 200 year history, only one woman has been elected governor. Lurleen Wallace won in 1966. Only two women have served as governor, Governor Lurleen and our current governor, Kay Ivey. It may be a historic year. Sue Bell Cobb, the former Alabama State Supreme Court Chief Justice, and the first woman to hold that position, is hoping to be able to be the Democratic standard-bearer. She was elected Chief Justice in 2006, in a very expensive, high profiled battle with Republican Drayton Nabors. She had been a District Court Judge in her native Conecuh County for a long time before running statewide. She was elected to a six year term as Chief Justice in 2006, but quit after four years, inexplicably. Cobb, 61, is predicting that it will be an all female gubernatorial showdown. She believes that she will be the Democratic nominee and that Governor Kay Ivey will carry the Republican banner into battle. She says, “That’s never happened and my prediction is that is what it will exactly be.” However, first things first. Judge Cobb has to win the Democratic nomination. She is not the favorite in that primary. Tuscaloosa mayor, Walt Maddox, is the early favorite to win the Democratic nomination. Most political insiders suggest that Maddox is expected to get the overwhelming support of African American voters. The black vote makes up the bulk and majority of Democratic Primary voters in the state. This is no longer a monolithic vote. However, it tends to gravitate to one candidate in a primary. The few white voters who participate in the Democratic primary are young and they can more readily identify with Maddox who is 45. In addition, there is some disillusionment among Democratic voters that Cobb quit her term midway as Chief Justice and allowed Republican Governor Robert Bentley to appoint a replacement. He, of course, appointed a Republican. She was the only Democrat on the Supreme Court. Roy Moore won the seat of Chief Justice in 2012. Other Democratic partisans were dismayed that Cobb said she supported Donald Trump’s selection of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General. It may be perceived that her day has passed. Kay Ivey appeared to be headed for the house and her day may have passed when out of the blue Bentley resigns and she is plucked out of the obscurity of the Lt. Governor’s office and thrust into the governorship. She seems like a grandmother who sticks to her knitting and steadies the Ship of State, which has gone through stormy waters the past four years. Kay Ivey may indeed make it to the dance as the Republican nominee in November. She is in the catbird’s seat and favored to win the GOP Primary. However, she created a couple of stumbling blocks during the 2017 Senate election year that may thwart her reelection. Some GOP establishment stalwarts say that her changing the Senate election from 2018 to 2017 threw Luther Strange, their candidate, under the bus and gave the nomination to Roy Moore, which led to losing the seat to a Democrat. Her move also cost the state’s beleaguered General Fund $10 to $15 million. Some suburban women became disenchanted with her with she said she had no reason to not believe the women who accused Roy Moore of assaulting them as teenagers, yet she was still going to vote for him because he was a Republican. These two actions are only political stumbling blocks, not roadblocks. Therefore, what I see as a possibility is not an all female race for governor, but a possible triumvirate of females being sworn into the top three constitutional offices next January. You could see Kay Ivey sworn into the Governor’s office, Twinkle Cavanaugh sworn in as Lt. Governor, and Alice Martin sworn in as Attorney General. All three are Republicans. The Republican nominee goes into the general election with a 60/40 probability of winning. Currently, Kay Ivey is the favorite in the governor’s race. Twinkle is the favorite in the Lt. Governor’s race. Alice Martin or Troy King is favored in the Attorney General’s race. If you made me bet right now, I would bet that Alabama would at least have a governor and Lt. Governor that are women. That may be the story of the year in Alabama politics in 2018. See you next week. ••• Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Alabama reaction to Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address
President Donald Trump gave his first State of the Union address Tuesday night where he touched on everything from jobs and infrastructure to ISIS. The speech was one of the longer speech’s given by a Commander-in-Chief, spanning an hour and 20 minutes, and when it concluded Alabama’s congressional delegation and state politicians offered their reactions to the speech, falling mostly along party lines in terms of opinion. Here are of some of the highlights: Governor Kay Ivey – Republican: Tonight, President Trump made clear his commitment to the American people and to improving the quality of life for everyone. By protecting our borders, strengthening our military and creating an environment that enhances domestic economic growth, the president underlined his commitment to national security. I echo his call to further improve our economy through continued deregulation, low taxes and investment in infrastructure. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby – Republican: Tonight the President highlighted his many accomplishments and outlined his plan to continue advancing and unifying our country. From signing tax reform into law and eliminating restrictive regulations to growing our military and boosting support for veterans, President Trump has prioritized a conservative agenda that promotes a safe and strong America. I look forward to his promise of rebuilding our infrastructure, which would keep our economy on the rise and provide significant opportunities to foster local economic growth. 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne – Republican: The ‘state of our Union’ is strong. From a booming economy to greater respect around the globe, President Trump, his administration, and Congress have been able to turn our country around in a very short period of time. The good news is that things are just getting started. 4th District U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt – Republican: Despite resistance from the Washington establishment, President Trump’s first year has been marked with robust economic growth, job creation, record highs in the stock market and record lows when it comes to unemployment. Because of President Trump’s willingness to shake things up in Washington, and to step over entrenched partisan lines, the State of the Union is strong. 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer – Republican: President Trump ran on promises to make America more prosperous and more secure, and in his first year in office he has begun to deliver on those promises. As President Trump made clear tonight, he and the Republican majorities in the House and Senate are just getting started. 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell – Democat: The promises President Trump made tonight in his State of the Union Address are worth about as much as the promises candidate Trump made on the campaign trail: absolutely nothing. One year into this Administration, Trump has attacked Medicaid, which he promised to protect, he forced through tax cuts favoring the wealthy after promising tax relief for the middle class, and he eliminated coverage for millions of Americans after promising to expand healthcare access. President Trump is more focused on defending himself and attacking his opponents than helping the country. Alabama families need more jobs that pay better wages, and that is what I am fighting for in Congress.”
