Take Back Action Fund elects Perry O. Hooper Jr. to its board
The board of the Take Back Action Fund (TBAF), which leads a 501(c)(4) dedicated to political reform, on Wednesday announced they elected Perry O. Hooper Jr. as its newest member. Hooper Jr., son of Hooper. Sr. who was the first Republican Chief Justice elected to the Alabama Supreme Court — will serve a one-year term. TBAF was founded 3 years ago by its President John Pudner, the Executive Director of Take Back Our Republic (TBOR), a 501(c)(3) organization, to advocate for policies and solutions that go beyond the scope of TBOR. “Perry Hooper has been a leading conservative figure for decades, and we are thrilled to add his wisdom and experience to our team,” said Pudner. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a genuine people-centric view of public service, and he has been a true reformer. His commitment to our cause, combined with the fact that he has been a part of nearly every major conservative success story in the modern era, makes him an ideal addition. Our vision of returning influence back to ordinary citizens now takes a tremendous leap forward, and we are grateful that Perry has come aboard.” Perry O., as he’s affectionately known, is a key power player in Alabama politics. First elected to the Alabama State House in 1983, Hooper helped guide the conservative movement in Alabama as a leader on tort reform, the creation of enterprise zones, banning partial birth abortions, and paving the way for new business development. Having a hand in most conservative victories in the state, he also was instrumental nationally as a 6-time delegate to the Republican National Convention, a National Board Member of the American Legislative Council, and a key advisor to national leaders like Jack Kemp and Bob Dole. Recently, he was instrumental in the Donald Trump victory as an early supporter and eventual Chairman of Trump Victory in Alabama. “Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to seeing conservative principles deliver results for the American people, but the ability of foreign entities to use political influence to steer policy in directions that hurt American industries and particularly American jobs is a growing plague on any ability for impact,” said Hooper. “In order for any real change to occur, we have to solve this problem, and I am honored to join the TBAF Board as we seek to address the foremost issue that is blocking good policy.” Hooper resides in Montgomery, Ala. He joins a distinguished board at TBAF that consists of Chairman Randy Brooks, Juleanna Glover, Charles Hellwig, and John Pudner.
Five things you need to know about Bobby Bright
The primary elections are over, but some highly sought after spots still remain open due to the primary races resulting in runoffs. One of those races is for the Alabama 2nd Congressional District seat. Bobby Bright faced-off against Incumbent Martha Roby and three other opponents in the June 5 primary election, Roby and Bright both pulled enough voter support to tip their race into a runoff set for July 17. Here’s five things you need to know about Bobby Bright before the July runoff: 5. He’s served in this office before, but as a Democrat. Prior to 2008 Bobby Bright had never claimed affiliation with any party. But that year, he decided to seek election for Alabama’s 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. When he approached the Republican party about joining the ticket, they told him they intended to support another candidate. So Bright joined the Democratic ticket, and won in 2008, but ultimately the decision to run as a Democrat came back to bite him. In Congress, Bright was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, and voted with Democratic leadership only 71.7% of the time which made him the second most conservative member of the House Democratic Caucus. Bright was also named the most conservative Democrat during the first session of the 111th United States Congress by the National Journal. In 2010, Martha Roby entered the scene and challenged Bright as the Republican nominee. She won. Flash-forward eight years later, and Bright is back to reclaim his former seat in the House. This time as a Republican. He announced his candidacy in February under the Republican ticket, saying he would be more effective in Washington as a Republican. Later that month, the Alabama Republican Party okayed his decision and let him remain on the ballot. 4. He was mayor of Montgomery for a decade. Before Bright became the U.S. Rep for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, he served as the mayor of Montgomery for a an entire decade. He was also the first mayor of Montgomery ever to be elected to Congress. Some of Bright’s most notable achievements during this time include the creation of almost 20,000 jobs, including the jobs added by the arrival of the Hyundai plant in Montgomery during his time in office. He also revitalized the city’s declining downtown area, and had implemented a rainy day fund of $30 million before he left for Congress. 3. He used to be a lawyer and is married to a former judge. Bright earned his M.S. in criminal justice from Troy State University in 1977. He went on to own his law practice in Montgomery, where he practiced for fifteen years before entering into politics. He was also chief counsel to the Alabama Department of Corrections (side note, talking about coming full circle: he actually began his career as a corrections officer). He is also married to former District Judge Lynn Bright. 2. Bright was one of 14 children, and grew up on a cotton farm Bright was the son of a sharecropper, and missed a week of school every year to bring in the cotton harvest. This firsthand knowledge made him a valuable asset on the Agricultural Committee in Congress. Of all 14 children in his family, Bright was the only one to graduate from college. He attended Auburn University and earned his bachelors degree in 1975. He then proceeded to Troy University, receiving a master’s degree in 1977 and a J.D. from Faulkner University in 1982. 1. He dug his own postholes for his campaign signs. Bright posted a photo of himself digging postholes for his own 4×8 campaign signs on Facebook, asking supporters to call or message his campaign if they had a suitable place for a sign that large. Looks like Bright’s years spent on the family’s cotton farm paid off in more ways than one.
U.S. DOT awards University of Alabama $6M infrastructure grant
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded the University of Alabama with $6.025 million grant for the construction of a vehicle and pedestrian overpass over the railroad crossing of Second Avenue, correcting a transportation in Tuscaloosa, Ala. From the $6,025,657 Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant, $22,608,175 will assist in the overpass construction. “I am proud to announce that the University of Alabama will receive a $6 million INFRA grant for a vital transportation project in the Tuscaloosa area,” said U.S. Senator Richard Shelby. “With ongoing growth and development throughout the state, Alabama’s transportation needs are rapidly changing, and it is imperative that we find the appropriate solutions. I look forward to working closely with my Senate colleagues and this Administration as we continue to address our nation’s critical infrastructure needs.” The $6,025,657 INFRA grant will provide funding for the construction of a bridge over an existing rail line, which will decrease traffic delays and improve safety for residents in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. Additionally, it will provide an alternative route for approximately 80,000 vehicles per day, reducing conflicts with the train and other vehicle-pedestrian traffic for those traveling on and off campus. The INFRA grants program was established by DOT in June 2017 to advance the Administration’s principles and help rebuild our nation’s infrastructure. Additionally, INFRA aims to increase the total investment by state, local, and private partners.
State Rep. Ed Henry indicted in federal pill mill case
Hartselle-Republican, State Rep. William “Ed” Henry, 47, has been arrested on charges stemming from his role in a medical kickback scheme. The indictment, announced on Thursday by Middle District U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr., names Henry as the fourteenth defendant to be indicted in connection with a federal pill mill case in Montgomery. It charges him with conspiracy to pay kickbacks to defraud the United States, unrelated to his position in the state Legislature. Background According to court documents, from 2015 through 2017, Henry was an owner of a health care company, MyPractice24, Inc. (MyPractice24). During some of that time, he also served as the company’s chief executive officer (CEO). MyPractice24 provided non-face-to-face chronic care management services to Medicare beneficiaries who had two or more chronic conditions. The company did so pursuant to contracts into which it entered with primary care physicians. Under those contracts, the doctors would pay Henry’s company to provide these chronic care management services to the doctors’ patients, the company would provide the services, the doctors would bill Medicare for the services, and then the doctors would pay Henry’s company a share of the reimbursements received from Medicare. The indictment alleges in 2016, Henry entered into an agreement with Dr. Gilberto Sanchez, a Montgomery physician who has subsequently pleaded guilty to drug distribution, health care fraud, and money laundering charges. Under that agreement, MyPractice24 would provide various kickbacks to Dr. Sanchez and his staff in return for the providers at Dr. Sanchez’s practice referring Medicare beneficiaries to MyPractice24 for chronic care management services. Among the kickbacks provided were direct payments to a member of the staff, free chronic care management services, free medical billing services, and free clinical services unrelated to the provision of chronic care management services. Additionally, Henry assisted Dr. Sanchez in paying kickbacks to patients who enrolled in the chronic care management program. Dr. Sanchez paid these kickbacks by systematically waiving copays—copays which Medicare required Dr. Sanchez to collect. The indictment The indictment charges Henry with one count of conspiring to pay kickbacks and to defraud the United States. It then alleges six counts of paying unlawful kickbacks — each count is based on a different type of kickback Henry paid to Dr. Sanchez and those who worked at Dr. Sanchez’s practice. Next, the indictment charges Henry with one count of conspiring to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. Those counts are based on Henry’s assisting Dr. Sanchez in unlawfully waiving copay obligations and then failing to report the copay waivers to Medicare. Last, the indictment alleges that Henry conspired to commit money laundering. The money laundering charge results from Henry’s using the proceeds of health care fraud to make payments to Dr. Sanchez’s staff members. If convicted If convicted of the most serious offense, Henry faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, significant monetary penalties, asset forfeiture, and restitution. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The investigation, the trial This case was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Opelika Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross is prosecuting the case. Doug Howard, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, told AL.com Henry pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Thursday morning and will be released on bond Thursday. Meanwhile, eight of the thirteen other defendants have pleaded guilty. The trial is currently set for October. Henry has not responded to Alabama’s Today’s request for comment. Read the full indictment below:
Annemarie Axon confirmed as U.S. District Judge
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby released at statement on Wednesday celebrating the confirmation vote for U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, Annemarie Carney Axon. Axon, who nominated for the position by President Donald Trump in 2017, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the consideration of her nomination this week. “It is critically important for a judge to be fair, open-minded, courteous, and respectful to the attorneys and parties in each case,” Axon told the committee; promising to “conduct [herself] and [her] courtroom in a manner that strives to leave people with the conviction that they were treated fairly, respectfully, and that [she] followed the law, regardless of the outcome.” She then ended her hearing with a statement, saying that “our democracy demands an independent judiciary whose decisions are based exclusively on the law, as it is written.” Shelby congratulated Axon in a news release, saying “Annemarie Axon is exceptionally qualified to be a U.S. district judge. Her strong, respectful temperament and commitment to impartiality make her well-suited for this esteemed position. Alabama’s district judges must be confirmed as swiftly as possible to ensure the efficiency of our judicial system. These judges serve as the backbone of the United States Judicial Branch, and I am honored to have played a part in Axon’s confirmation today.” Axon was one of seven Alabama judicial nominees awaiting confirmation from the Judiciary Committee. The other nominees include: Terry F. Moorer Jeffrey Beaverstock Emily Coody Marks Liles Burke Andrew Brasher Corey Maze Axon is currently a member of the Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff, & Brandt, LLC, legal team in Birmingham, where she focuses on fiduciary and probate litigation. Her legal career began in 2000 at the Edwards & Angell, LLP, firm in Rhode Island. She is still a member of both the Alabama and Rhode Island State Bar Associations. “We are extremely proud of Annemarie and congratulate her on her confirmation. Selfishly we hate to lose Annemarie as a valuable and integral member of our firm, but we know her temperament and sound judgment will make her a great federal judge,” said Jay Clark, managing member at Wallace Jordan. She also serves as the President of the YWCA Junior Board, a member of the Girls on the Run Board of Directors, and a member of the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation Board.
Five things you need to know about Martha Roby
The primary elections are over, but some highly sought spots still remain open due to the primary races resulting in runoffs. One of those races is for the Alabama 2nd Congressional District seat. Incumbent Martha Roby faced off against four opponents in the primary election, one of them, Bobby Bright, won enough votes to pull Roby into a runoff set for July 17. Here’s five things you need to know about Martha Roby before the runoff: 1. She’s one of the most vocal pro-life members in the House. Roby was one of the first to speak out on the House floor to raise awareness of Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvest and sale of aborted babies’ body parts for profit. She has fought to redirect taxpayer funding from Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, to comprehensive health care alternatives. She is also a co-sponsor of the Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2017, which would ban federal funding for research using fetal tissue from abortion victims. Recently, she spoke in support of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. She also co-sponsored the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and managed floor debate on the bill. 2. She endorsed, then un-endorsed now-President Donald Trump. In 2016, Roby had endorsed then-candidate Donald Trump for President. When the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape was published, in which Trump is heard saying demeaning things about women, Roby, now famously, retracted her endorsement. She said then that Trump’s behavior “makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president” and suggested he step aside to let another Republican lead the presidential ticket. 3. She’s a big proponent of veterans, and Veteran’s Affairs in particular. When Alabama Today asked Roby what her favorite area of service was, she replied: “Both my biggest responsibility and greatest joy in Congress is being in a position to fight for proper treatment for our nation’s veterans. We owe the men and women who have put their lives on the line in service to this great country the absolute best care available, but far too often we fall short. I remain committed to advocating for commonsense solutions to make the Department of Veterans Affairs work for veterans.” Roby has been instrumental in bringing military jobs to her district, including fighting to keep eight C-130 aircrafts at Montgomery’s Maxwell Air Force Base, and working in Congress to help the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker avoid crippling budget cuts that would have decimated training capabilities. She has also been an advocate for Veterans Affairs and has worked tirelessly to address some of the misconduct at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS). 2. She decided to run for office after hearing a graduation speech. Roby was in her third year at law school, almost ready to embark on her dream career in the music industry when she and her (now) husband Riley attended Roby’s younger brother’s high school graduation ceremony. “The commencement speaker talked about the ‘brain drain,’” Roby said. “He mentioned how important it is to go out into the world and do all the things you dream of doing, but then to return home to serve your community in whatever way you feel called. The challenge had a profound effect on both of us. Shortly thereafter I kicked off my first campaign in my hometown for the Montgomery City Council. 1. She got a puppy this year And she’s adorable. Also her name is Ruth Roby, how cute it that? Beyond being an adorable companion, research has also shown that owning a pet can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase social interaction and physical activity, which sounds like the perfect fit for an on-the-go Congresswoman. Meet Ruth Roby!!! Happy New Year! #puppy A post shared by Martha Roby (@martharoby) on Jan 2, 2018 at 8:45pm PST Ruth had a fun day at #DoggyDayCare #TiredPuppy #RobyOut A post shared by Martha Roby (@martharoby) on Feb 9, 2018 at 1:52pm PST
DOJ offers new briefing as lawmakers dispute Donald Trump spy claim
The Justice Department says it will offer a third classified briefing for lawmakers next week as House Republicans push for documents related to the use of an FBI informant who spoke to members of President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. The department’s late Wednesday offer comes as three Republicans who attended classified briefings on the subject last month have contradicted President Donald Trump’s claims that there was a “spy” in his campaign. Trump insisted in a series of angry tweets last month that the agency planted a spy “to help Crooked Hillary win,” referring to his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. At issue is the FBI’s use of a longtime government informant in its investigation into whether Russia was trying to sway the election. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., demanded documents on the informant and its contact with Trump campaign officials, while Trump dubbed the matter “spygate” and said it was “starting to look like one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history.” Under Trump’s orders, the Justice Department held two briefings May 24. But House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Wednesday that he agreed with House Oversight and Reform Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., that there is no evidence of a planted spy. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., also said he has seen no evidence of that. Still, Ryan said Congress has “more digging to do.” Nunes has said the committee is still waiting for documents after the briefings, and Ryan backed him on that Wednesday. “We have some more documents to review. We still have some unanswered questions,” Ryan said. Late Wednesday evening, a senior department official said the Justice Department and the FBI would offer an additional briefing to the so-called “Gang of 8” that includes bipartisan congressional leaders and the top Republicans and Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees. The official said they would provide new documents and also “the documents that were available for review but not inspected by the members at the previous briefing.” The official said they are prepared to “brief members on certain questions specifically raised by Ryan and other members.” The official declined to be named because the briefings are classified. The department originally denied Congress access to any of the documents, citing national security concerns. But they eventually relented after pressure from Trump, Nunes and Ryan. The Justice Department and FBI believe they “can provide information that is directly responsive to congressional inquiries in a manner that is consistent with its national security and law enforcement responsibilities, and is pleased to do so,” the official said in a statement. Though senators are invited to the briefing, there has been less interest in that chamber in prolonging the public fight over information concerning the informant. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the briefing that he learned “nothing particularly surprising.” On Wednesday, Burr appeared ready to move on, saying the briefing he attended “sufficiently covered everything to do with this right now.” After the original briefings, Gowdy was the first to disagree with Trump on the matter, saying days later that the FBI was doing its duty. “I am even more convinced that the FBI did exactly what my fellow citizens would want them to do when they got the information they got,” Gowdy said on Fox News last week. “And that it has nothing to do with Donald Trump.” Gowdy added, in a separate interview on “CBS This Morning,” that such informants are used all the time and “the FBI, if they were at the table this morning, they would tell you that Russia was the target and Russia’s intentions toward our country were the target.” Ryan told reporters on Wednesday that he thinks Gowdy’s “initial assessment is accurate,” and he has seen “no evidence to the contrary” of what Gowdy said. Hours after Ryan’s comments, Burr told The Associated Press that he, too, agreed with Gowdy. “I have no disagreement with the description Trey Gowdy gave,” Burr said. Democrats made similar comments immediately after the briefing. In a joint statement, the four Democrats who attended said “there is no evidence to support any allegation that the FBI or any intelligence agency placed a ‘spy’ in the Trump Campaign, or otherwise failed to follow appropriate procedures and protocols.” That statement was issued by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, and the top Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence panels, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and Rep. Adam Schiff of California. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
House Republicans in eleventh-hour attempt for immigration accord
Fractured House Republicans huddled privately Thursday as leaders tried pushing them toward consensus on immigration, racing the clock and trying to defuse a civil war within the party that threatens their effort to keep control of the chamber in November’s elections. But even as they gathered in a Capitol basement meeting room, there were no indications that a deal mending the party’s chasm over immigration was at hand and no definitive details of where middle ground might be. If leaders fail to find a solution, that would give momentum to moderates seeking to stage election-year votes in just three weeks on the issue, a showdown that leaders want to head off. Both conservative and moderate lawmakers, the two factions at odds over the issue, said they didn’t know what to expect as they entered the session. “I don’t know. That’s why I’m on time here, for once,” joked Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., a moderate who’s joined the leadership-opposed rebellion aimed at forcing immigration votes. GOP lawmakers emerged from the office of Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., on Wednesday saying he would present the rank and file with broad ideas for resolving a dispute that has split Republicans for years, damaging the party with Hispanic and moderate voters. “There’s some loose consensus right now,” said Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., a leader of centrists threatening to force votes if they can’t strike a deal with conservatives. He said leaders would unveil “an outline of a potential bill,” while conservative leader Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said Ryan would present “concepts.” Curbelo, Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., and other moderates need just two more GOP signatures on a petition to require immigration votes, assuming all Democrats sign on. If Thursday’s meeting doesn’t produce an accord, the moderates could reach that threshold quickly. The major hang-up in GOP talks has been how, as the moderates have demanded, to offer a chance for citizenship to young “Dreamer” immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Conservatives have opposed creating a special pathway for them to become citizens, calling it amnesty. “We’ve got the rule of law in this country, and nobody gets special consideration,” said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., said a large group of conservatives he leads has discussed providing a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers in exchange for giving President Donald Trump nearly all the $25 billion he wants to build his proposed wall with Mexico. In addition, the conservatives want to end a lottery that grants visas to countries with few immigrants to the U.S. and curb the relatives who can be brought over by immigrants, Walker said. Democrats and at least some moderates would likely oppose such measures, giving it little chance of surviving in the more centrist Senate. Walker said the more Dreamers who’d be given an opportunity for citizenship, the tighter curbs on family-based migration would be. Roughly 700,000 people are protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, an Obama-era policy that Trump has halted. But by some estimates, 1 million or more other people qualify for that program but haven’t applied. The moderates’ petition would force House votes on four immigration bills, ranging from a liberal one helping Dreamers win citizenship to a conservative version curbing legal immigration. GOP leaders and conservatives say the votes the moderates would force would probably produce legislation that is too liberal, with all Democrats joining a handful of Republicans to push it through the House. Senate Republicans would block such a measure, and Trump would veto it if it went that far. But such an outcome could alienate conservative voters, damaging GOP chances for holding the House. Because of those divisions, averting the issue completely unless an agreement is reached has been the GOP leadership’s preference all year, until their hand was forced by moderates wielding the rarely used petition process. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Donald Trump takes his own brand of diplomacy to North Korea summit
He hectored Mexico’s leader over border wall funding. Lobbed statistics at the Canadian leader without checking his facts. Cajoled the British prime minister to crack down on protesters. Had a tête-à-tête with Russia’s head of state on a whim. Bonded with France’s prime minister over military parades. President Donald Trump rarely conducts business-as-usual diplomacy when he interacts with world leaders. Heading into his expected summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump has a record on the international stage that suggests he’ll seek to charm the dictator and look for an agreement that he can pitch as a win — even if it’s more a triumph of appearance than policy. But never bet against the possibility that he’ll just walk away. Trump’s unpredictable negotiating style has been on full display in the run-up to the historic June 12 summit in Singapore. After months spent deriding Kim as “Little Rocket Man” and boasting about the size of his nuclear button, Trump has shifted tone in recent months, suggesting that a friendship was possible and agreeing to an unprecedented meeting. Even when Trump temporarily backed out of the talks, he spoke of a “wonderful dialogue” building between the two leaders. And now that the talks are back on, Trump is shelving the “maximum pressure” phrase he coined to describe his sanctions against the North. As he approaches the Kim talks, Trump’s avowed “America First” attitude has come increasingly to resemble “America alone.” His eagerness for a deal has unsettled Japan and South Korea. Elsewhere, talk of tearing up trade agreements and his imposition of tariffs to protect the American steel and aluminum industries have angered longtime partners. An overriding theme of the president’s first 18 months of foreign policy has been his willingness to go it alone as he seeks to fulfill his nationalistic campaign promises — even if it unsettles allies. “He just doesn’t care as much,” said Ian Bremmer, a foreign affairs columnist and president of the Eurasia Group. “In terms of postwar American history, no one has done more damage to American alliances than Trump has. All you have to do is talk to American allies.” Critics have labeled Trump an inconsistent force, prone to publicly hectoring friendly partners, embracing foes and resistant to much advice or counsel. His loyal supporters see it all as a mark of Trump’s willingness to hold firm to his promised policies even when the conversations get awkward. After nearly two years spent trying to understand the political novice, many world leaders are still struggling with how to engage Trump, though they have learned he is not easily moved from fulfilling the policies he promised to his most loyal voters during the campaign. Foreign diplomats in the U.S. and leaders overseas have gone to great lengths to charm Trump, a rookie president schooled in New York negotiating who promised a major shift in foreign policy. Those efforts have included getting their messages on to Trump-friendly TV shows like “Fox and Friends” and rolling out the red carpet when Trump visits. In France, Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron invited Trump to view a spectacular military parade on Bastille Day, one that inspired Trump to order up his own parade in Washington. In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fêted Trump with golf and American-style hamburgers. But those overtures haven’t always yielded policy results. Macron tried unsuccessfully to keep Trump in the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal. Abe wanted Trump to stay in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and has encouraged a more skeptical approach to Kim’s overtures. White House officials privately assess that the world leaders most solicitous toward Trump are rarely the most effective. Germany’s Angela Merkel and Britain’s Theresa May, for instance, have both largely refused to play into Trump’s love for pageantry and have been candid about their disagreements with the president. Indeed, even those who were inclined to buddy up to Trump appear to be changing course. During an April summit at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Abe and Trump engaged in what U.S. officials described as a heated economic dialogue over Trump’s tariffs. Just last week, Trump imposed new tariffs on the European Union, Canada and Mexico, despite furious lobbying from those countries. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “These tariffs are an affront to the long-standing security partnership between Canada and the United States.” Trump, meanwhile, has focused much of his attention on adversaries rather than allies, seeking to sit down with Kim and routinely praising Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fixated on his celebrity and tough-guy image, Trump cares deeply about the pageantry of his interactions with world leaders and also values what he considers respectful treatment. That tone was set on Trump’s first international trip, when Saudi Arabia gave him an opulent welcome. More than a dozen horses flanked the presidential limousine as Trump was slowly driven to the Royal Court in Riyadh. Trumpets played and soldiers stood at attention as the president arrived. Trump declared the spectacle “very impressive.” A key theme in Trump’s calls with foreign leaders has been his need for respect. He badgered Mexico’s president over funding for his border wall, which he views as a face-saving fulfillment of a campaign promise. He nudged the British prime minister to do something about potential protests should he visit the U.K., a potential embarrassment for a diplomatic visit. Trump rarely sweats the small stuff. When it comes to policy meetings and delicate negotiations, Trump is more likely to follow his instincts than stick to a scripted plan. His admission of stretching his information about trade in a call with Trudeau was in keeping with a seat-of-the-pants style that can leave advisers nervous. Advisers say Trump avoids spending extensive time in preparation. He grew frustrated with former national security adviser H.R. McMaster and his briefing style, though he is said to listen more to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Still, Trump is not a fan of detailed briefing books, preferring limited preparation and instinct. Those close to
Gadsden sheriff loses election amid jail program criticism
An Alabama sheriff who was criticized for making money from the county jail’s food program has been defeated in a primary election. In Alabama, it’s possible for sheriffs to personally profit from jail meals. In many cases, the less a sheriff spends on feeding inmates, the more he or she can make. Before Tuesday’s Republican primary election for sheriff, Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin released tax forms showing he made a profit of $672,392 from the jail kitchen in 2015 and 2016. Entrekin had made the documents public during a news conference where he denied allegations that prisoners were malnourished. Rainbow City Police Chief Jonathon Horton, who won the primary, tells Al.com that Entrekin called him and conceded the race after early returns showed Horton with a large lead. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Voters show confidence in opposed GOP incumbents by renominating all 15 candidates
All 15 incumbents up for re-nomination to the State House who faced opposition on the primary ballot won their races in Alabama Tuesday. Monrovia-Republican, Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon and Rainsville-Republican, House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter consider it a vote of approval, and attribute the victories to the hard work House Republicans put in since gaining control of the state Legislature in 2010. “Since gaining control of the Legislature in 2010, House Republicans have worked hard to bring unprecedented accountability to Alabama’s budgeting process, create an economy that provides our citizens with new jobs and opportunities, and implement commonsense conservative reforms that streamline state government and force it to operate efficiently,” the two said in a statement. “At the same time, we have sought to preserve the religious freedoms and gun rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution, worked to protect unborn life, and fought to shield Alabama’s historic monuments from the out-of-control censorship of political correctness.” They continued, “In Tuesday’s Republican primary election, all 15 of our House Republican incumbents with ballot opposition were successfully renominated for the seats they hold, which offers hard proof that the public approves of the work we are doing and the genuine accomplishments we are generating. “More work remains to be done, more reforms need to be implemented, and more efficiencies need to be put in place, but Tuesday’s results show that we are off to a strong and popular start. “We are hopeful that November’s general election will see us not only preserve our House Republican majority, but also build upon it, as we work with Gov. Kay Ivey to give Alabama a state government that is as honest, hardworking, and conservative as the citizens it seeks to serve.”
Daniel Sutter: More blockchain, less government?
Bitcoin’s price gyrations over the past year have attracted widespread attention. Even if we do not become Bitcoin billionaires, the blockchain technology behind Bitcoin will likely affect our lives by rendering some of government’s functions unnecessary. My Johnson Center colleague Malavika Nair and I explore these possibilities in a new paper we published in The Independent Review. Bitcoin is a crypto- or digital currency, meaning that instead of currencies they are entries on a computer. The blockchain is the ledger, containing the complete record of Bitcoin transactions. The ledger is updated every few minutes and stored on all of the computers running the system. The innovation can be understood even if you never managed to program a VCR. The blockchain is a distributed ledger, which contrasts with the centralized ledger of accounts used by banks, credit card companies and businesses. Centralized ledgers can be falsified or otherwise manipulated by whoever keeps the ledger. Fudging bank records, for example, can let someone spend the money in their account two or more times. We typically rely on third parties, like a bank to keep the ledger, or accountants to audit and verify the books. Every one of the computers running Bitcoin keeps the blockchain’s record of all transactions. Transactions are verified every few minutes, and there is no account keeper who can potentially falsify the record. What does this mean for government? America was founded on the principle that the government is supposed to work for us. Abraham Lincoln stated this succinctly: “The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves – in their separate, individual capacities.” Economists, political scientists, and political philosophers have subsequently elaborated on this approach. The blockchain allows individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations to do many things far more effectively on our own than before. Some of the things we have had government do through taxation and regulation we will now be able to do ourselves using the blockchain. This big picture takeaway should not be lost in almost daily news about new blockchain applications. Consider the case of corporations. Managers have been able to use their control over the transaction ledger to embezzle resources contributed by investors. We have relied on government regulators, like the Securities and Exchange Commission, to ensure corporations and their accountants keep the ledgers accurately. A corporation could now be built on the blockchain. Investors could readily scrutinize both the stock trades and other transactions for irregularities. No longer will unscrupulous managers be able to hide their misdeeds, reducing the need for government regulation. Smart contracts could allow citizens to fund projects where we have had to use government taxes. Crowd funding platforms like GoFundMe and Kickstarter provide a glimpse the possibilities. The blockchain could execute large-scale contracts where thousands of people agree to pay for bridge repairs or to widen a road. The contract could be automatically executed using cryptocurrency when enough people sign. Meanwhile, a new application called GiveTrack uses blockchain technology to increase the transparency of crowd funded charitable donations. The blockchain provides a new way to record property titles. Americans currently pay for a search of legal documents for outstanding liens or claims against a property’s title every time we buy a home. Titles on the blockchain could be instantly examined. In developing countries, on the other hand, even establishing who owns land is often challenging. Blockchain titles will provide clarity, and allow property to be used as collateral, which is an important contributing factor to economic development. Bitcoin may or may not survive, but the blockchain is here to stay. The opportunities being created are just now coming into focus. This is typical because no inventor can know all of the uses possible for a new invention. The blockchain will change your life, even if Bitcoin turns out to be a bubble. ••• Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.
