The full text of Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth’s 2019 inaugural speech
Will Ainsworth took the oath of office Monday afternoon, that officially marked the beginning of his term as the state’s lieutenant governor. Read Ainsworth’s prepared remarks for his inauguration speech on the Capitol steps below: Gov. Ivey, constitutional officers, legislators, and my fellow Alabamians. Let me begin my remarks by expressing some deeply felt and sincerely expressed words of thanks. I would not stand here today without the support of my parents, Billy and Sharon Ainsworth, who taught me important life lessons, showed me faith by example, and continue to give me their unconditional love. My wife, Kendall has stood by my side, been my biggest supporter, and has shown tremendous grace and class. We are fortunate to have three great children…Hunter, Hays and Addie. They embody the words in Psalms 127:3 that read “Children are a blessing from the Lord..”. The more than one million Alabamians who used their votes to express their faith in our vision have our everlasting thanks, and I pledge to work everyday to earn the trust and confidence of those who supported my opponent. The campaign is over, the ballots have been cast, and now is the time for us to come together as proud and united Alabamians who are dedicated to making an already great state even better. Today we gather at the literal crossroads of history in the shadows of two buildings – one that gave birth to the Civil War and another that launched the Civil Rights Movement. For much of Alabama’s existence, the rest of the country has viewed us through the prism of these two events. And while it is right for us to recognize our history, we must not settle for being defined solely by our past. In this 200th year of Alabama’s founding let us resolve to give the nation a fuller, more vibrant, and well-defined view of who we are as a state and a people. Let us work to be known as the state that leads the U.S. in job creation and economic development because our citizens possess a work ethic second to none and our workforce development efforts provide an army of job ready applicants. Let us work to be known as a state that demands excellence in the classroom and is willing to take the steps necessary to provide a world-class public education system. Our “First Class” Pre-K program already leads the nation and provides a model that other states are following, so we should resolve to top every measure in our K-12, post secondary, and four-year offerings, as well. Let us work to be known as a state whose government is as hardworking, honest, and effective as the citizens it seeks to serve. We must no longer accept corruption as a natural by-product of public service, and we must punish those who violate the public trust from the local courthouse to the Alabama State House. If all of us in the shadow of this magnificent dome dedicate ourselves to achieving these high standards, our children, our grandchildren, and their grandchildren after them will look back and say that this was the moment that Alabama turned a corner and began the journey to reaching its full potential. This was the moment that we embraced Alabama’s future as well as its past. This was the moment that dawned a New Day in Alabama. With your continuing prayers and support, I know we can make Alabama an even better place for all of its people to live, work, and worship. May God bless each of you and may God bless our beloved state of Alabama.
Funeral set for Larry Langford, ex-Birmingham mayor convicted of bribery
Services are being held for a former Birmingham mayor who died just days after being released from federal prison, where he served time for bribery. A statement from the city says a funeral mass for former Mayor Larry Langford is set for noon Monday. The service is public, and the city plans to livestream the event. Hundreds paid tribute to Langford as his body laid in repose at a city arena on Sunday. The 72-year-old Langford died last week after being released from federal prison because of his failing health. His political career ended in 2009 when he was convicted of taking bribes as a commissioner in Jefferson County, which later filed for bankruptcy. Investigations revealed a string of corrupt deals. A judge sentenced Langford to 15 years in prison. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Congress to face same question: When will shutdown end?
Congress returns to Washington for its first full week of legislative business since control of the House reverted to Democrats, but lawmakers will be confronted with the same lingering question: When will the partial government shutdown end? One Republican senator says he’s offered President Donald Trump a possible solution, though it may just be wishful thinking. Sen. Lindsey Graham is encouraging Trump to reopen government for several weeks to continue negotiating with Democrats over the border wall Trump wants to build on the U.S.-Mexico border. If there’s no deal at the end of that time, Graham says Trump would be free to take the more dramatic step of declaring a national emergency to build it. But the South Carolina Republican says Trump still wants a deal on funding for the wall before agreeing to reopen shuttered government departments. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, insists Trump reopen the government first. Their weeks-old standoff led to the partial government shutdown, now on day 24 without a clear end in sight. Trump insisted on Twitter Monday that he wanted to deal, declaring: “I’ve been waiting all weekend. Democrats must get to work now. Border must be secured!” Targeting Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Trump also argued that the shutdown “has become their, and the Democrats, fault!” Trump weeks ago asserted that he would “own” the shutdown and polls show that he is taking most of the blame. Graham, who has publicly pushed Trump to use his authority to declare a national emergency to build the wall, is suggesting a short-term fix. “Before he pulls the plug on the legislative option, and I think we’re almost there, I would urge him to open up the government for a short period of time, like three weeks, before he pulls the plug, see if we can get a deal,” Graham said. “If we can’t at the end of three weeks, all bets are off. “See if he can do it by himself through the emergency powers. That’s my recommendation,” added Graham, who has publicly pushed Trump to use his authority to declare a national emergency to build the wall. Such a step would allow Trump to bypass Congress and tap various pots of unspent federal money, including for military construction and disaster relief as well as from assets seized by law enforcement, to pay for the wall. Trump has kept Washington on edge over whether he would resort to such a declaration, citing what he says is a “crisis” of drug smuggling and the trafficking of women and children at the border. The president initially sounded as though such a move was imminent, but then pulled back. He has said several times since he first mentioned the idea in public this month that he prefers a legislative solution. A key question is how much more time is Trump willing to give lawmakers. Graham, who spoke with Trump by telephone on Sunday morning, said the legislative path “is just about shut off” and blamed intransigence by Pelosi. The speaker’s office had no immediate comment. Democrats oppose an emergency declaration but may be powerless to block it. Some Republicans are wary, too, fearing how a future Democratic president might use that authority. Such a move, should Trump ultimately go that route, would almost certainly be challenged in the courts. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., called Graham’s idea to reopen the government a “great place to start.” “I do think if we reopen the government, if the president ends this shutdown crisis, we have folks who can negotiate a responsible, modern investment in technology that will actually make us safer,” Coons said. Trump says technology is nice, but that the border can’t be secured without a wall. The White House has been laying the groundwork for an emergency declaration, which is feared by lawmakers in both parties. Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he’d “hate to see” a declaration issued because the wall wouldn’t get built, presumably because of legal challenges. Democrats voted in the past for border security and should again, he said. “I actually want to see this wall get built,” Johnson said. “I want to keep pressure on Democrats to actually come to the negotiating table in good faith and fund what they have supported in the past.” Graham favors a declaration and said the time for talk is running out. “It’s the last option, not the first option, but we’re pretty close to that being the only option,” he said. Graham and Coons spoke on “Fox News Sunday” and Johnson appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to be sworn in for first full term
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who said she “steadied the ship of state” after taking over for a scandal-battled predecessor nearly two years ago, will be sworn in for her first full term Monday. Ivey takes the oath of office during inauguration festivities at the Alabama Capitol. She is the state’s second female governor and the first Republican woman elected to the position. Ivey, 74, who had been lieutenant governor, automatically became governor 21 months ago when then-Gov. Robert Bentley suddenly resigned in the midst of an impeachment investigation partly centered on his relationship with an aide. Ivey won a term in her own right after easily defeating Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox in the November election. In her 2018 campaign Ivey largely focused on her brief record as governor and emphasized the state’s recovering economy and restoring trust to state government. She told voters she had “steadied the ship of state.” She is expected to begin her second term with a number of initiatives and pressing issues before the state, including some that could be difficult political waters to navigate. Ivey has been in discussions with legislative leaders about a possible gasoline tax increase to fund road and bridge construction. The state has not had an increase in the statewide gasoline tax since 1992. Legislative leaders have said they are gauging the temperature of members about a possible increase. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said last week that the governor wants “a reasonable increase in a fuel tax.” ″As you know, we haven’t had an increase since ’92. It’s been 26 years,” said Marsh, R-Anniston. Prisons will remain a pressing issue for state officials as Alabama tries to comply with a federal judge’s order to improve “horrendously inadequate” mental health care in state prisons. “The hiring of officers in order to comply with Judge Thompson’s order will be the key,” said Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster. Ward said the construction of new prisons, or the renovation of existing facilities, will be have to be addressed at some point. State Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, said she has been working with Ivey’s office on education issues, including an initiative to focus on improving reading ability of students in kindergarten through third grades. “I see it as an enhanced version of the reading initiative,” Collins said. The governor made children’s literacy a theme of her pre-inauguration activities, including hosting book drives. The inauguration ceremony is at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a parade. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
GOP rejected Barack Obama’s executive reach, but accepts Donald Trump’s
President Barack Obama stunned Republicans when he bypassed Congress and, relying on what he called his pen and his phone, used executive powers to enact his agenda, including protecting millions of young immigrants from deportation. Now, with President Donald Trump proposing an even more dramatic end-run around Congress to build his promised border wall with Mexico, many Republicans are uneasily cheering him on. The potential use of a national emergency declaration by Trump for the border wall shows the extent to which the party is willing to yield on treasured values — in this case, the constitutional separation of powers — to steer clear of confronting the White House and give the president what he wants. It’s a different accommodation from just a few years ago. Then Republicans often called out Obama as overstepping his authority in using executive actions when Congress failed to act on White House priorities. They complained about Obama as “king,” ”emperor” or “tyrant.” Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a leader of the House Freedom Caucus, said most conservatives would go along with Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency as “the last tool in the tool box” for building the wall. “Does the president have the right and the ability to do it? Yes. Would most of us prefer a legislative option? Yes,” Meadows told reporters this week. “Most conservatives want it to be the last resort he would use. But those same conservatives, I’m sure, if it’s deployed, would embrace him as having done all he could do to negotiate with Democrats.” Other Republicans say Trump has few options left after talks broke down at the White House over his long-promised border wall. “This is not something you would want to do,” said Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, now the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee. “But we’ve been put into this position,” he said. “The Democrats are forcing him into a choice of doing the national emergency because they won’t sit down and discuss it.” On Saturday, the partial government shutdown will stretch in its 22nd day and Trump’s plans for ending the stalemate are shifting yet again. Trump indicated he was slowing what had appeared to be momentum toward the national emergency declaration as the way out of the stalemate. Invoking the power would allow him to tap unspent Defense funds to build the long-promised wall along the border that was central to his presidential campaign. On the campaign trail, the president often said at rallies that Mexico would pay for the wall. But Mexico has refused forcing Trump to ask Congress for the money instead. Trump walked out of negotiations this week when Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats refused to give, saying they support dollars for border security just not the big wall Trump envisions. They call the wall ineffective and say it’s a symbol that does not reflect the nation’s values. After having talked for days about invoking the national emergency power to unleash the funds, the president hit pause Friday. “I’m not going to do it so fast,” Trump said during an event Friday at the White House. Experts have said even though the president may have the authority to invoke powers under the 1976 National Emergencies Act, using it will almost certainly bring on a court battle. The courts did not allow President Harry Truman to nationalize the U.S. steel industry during the Korean War. Moreover, they say, it could lead the country into uncharted areas. Declaring an emergency could give the president access to many other powers, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. “The president thinks that he can do whatever he wants by declaring something a national emergency,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii who serves on the Judiciary Committee. “I think it’s a very dangerous thing.” But what cuts to the core of the concern on Capitol Hill is the executive branch wading into legislative domain to shift money Congress has already approved to the wall. The constitution provides the Congress, not the White House, the power of the purse, and lawmakers are not eager to cede their role to the president, even for a wall many Republicans support. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill objected to the administration eyeing shifting unspent disaster funding Congress approved last year for Army Corps of Engineer projects to help hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, Texas and other areas to pay for the wall. By Friday, lawmakers said they were being told those projects will not be touched and the White House was now looking for other funds to pay for the border wall. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, part of the GOP leadership, said at a forum Friday in Austin that the lawmakers “worked very hard to make sure that the victims of Hurricane Harvey – their concerns are addressed and Texas is able to rebuild.” He said, “I will tell you that I will oppose any reprogramming of Harvey disaster funds.” Republican Richard Shelby of Alabama, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the dilemma, especially as the shutdown continues with no end in sight. Trump invoking a national emergency “might break an impasse and it needs to be broken one way or another,” Shelby said as the Senate adjourned. But he prefers a negotiated settlement with Congress. “I’m still hoping we’ll have a breakthrough, but right now I don’t see one.” Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
John Giles: Alabama is O-KAY with Kay
At high noon, Monday, January 13, 2019, Alabama will swear in the Honorable Kay Ellen Ivey as our 55th Governor. Ivey has selflessly dedicated her entire life to public service. After being appointed by Governor Guy Hunt in 1989 as Alabama’s Small Business Advocate for the State of Alabama; and being new to state government, I was making the rounds getting familiar with all functions of government. I was seeking resources and how we might work with other agencies to benefit small businesses. I was scheduled early one morning to meet with Dr. Sutton, Executive Director of the Alabama Commission of Higher Education. The moment I introduced myself to the receptionist; popping out in the hall from one of the back offices was this lady with a bright smile, a glowing personality and a strong southern Alabama accent. She reached out to shake my hand and said, “Hello John Giles, I am Kay Ivey, we have been looking forward to your visit, could I get you a cup of coffee?” As one can imagine; a first impression like this last for decades. Ivey was raised on a farm in Camden, Ala. After graduating from Auburn University, she began serving the public as a school teacher and then a local banker. She was Reading Clerk in the Alabama House of Representatives serving under the infamous Speaker of the House, Joe McCorquodale. She then learned to recruit industry as Assistant Director of the Alabama Development Office. Her first election was in 2002 statewide as Alabama’s first Republican State Treasurer since reconstruction. She served there until 2010, when elected as Lieutenant Governor. On April 10, 2017, with a notice of three hours, she ascended as Governor of the state after Governor Robert Bentley resigned. I recall her statement as if was yesterday, “We are going to steady the ship of state.” Her new public service assignment was on the heels of a turbulent ride with Bentley and steady the ship of state she did. Working for two governors, I realized the inherent characteristics of the state’s Chief Executive Officer is to be a consistent coalition and consensus builder, have clear communicated priorities, maintain a high ethical and moral ground, stern, gracious, humble yet tough. She is also Alabama’s number one Ambassador and under her leadership we have had banner industrial investments and job creation. Like most, I am on the sidelines now observing the news on the internet, but I can tell you, Ivey, even though she is 74, has all the right stuff for the job. Her leadership is admired by Alabamians, and accordingly she was recently ranked the 3rd most popular governor in America. My dad always taught us; there is your side and their side — find what is right and don’t budge. Here are three recent examples when she was under tremendous pressure and did not budge. The Republic establishment in DC wanted her to abandoned the state GOP party nominee for U.S. Senate in the 2017 special election for U.S. Senate, Chief Just Roy Moore, she did not waiver one click. She held fast to the notion that the Trump tariffs would hurt some Alabama industries; even though she loves Trump, she did not budge. Then the Pardons and Parole Board got on a path of insanity and she wasted no time reeling them in and put them in checkmate. I would be remiss in not mentioning three key men that have helped her immeasurably over the years. Will Sellers, who is now an Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court has been with her from the get-go when running for State Treasurer. Steve Pelham has been with Ivey since she was elected Lieutenant Governor and serves as her Chief of Staff. And last, but foremost is her long time pastor, Jay Wolf at First Baptist Church in Montgomery, who has been her spiritual pillar for years. It’s safe to say, Alabama is O-KAY with Kay. John Giles runs and operates Agnus Dei Farm — Latin for “Lamb of God” — in Luverne, Ala. with his wife Deborah. They’ve been married in 1972.
Bradley Byrne: Get the show on the road
It is time for the Democrat leaders in Washington to stop posturing when it comes to border security and end the government shutdown. The old expression “get the show on the road” is very apt in this situation. But, truth be told, the show is already on. There is no better way to describe the Democrat strategy right now than as a show, playing to their audience. The Democrats have lost touch with what matters to Americans outside of their bubble. They continue to play to the far-left base of their party in order to placate the loudest voices. But the loudest voices don’t always have the best interests of the American people at heart. President Donald Trump has made many efforts to work with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on a deal, but those efforts have fallen on deaf ears. Last Wednesday, the President asked Speaker Pelosi if she would be willing to negotiate for a deal to open the government quickly and provide funding for border security at a later date. Speaker Pelosi answered “no.” If Democrats aren’t willing to negotiate, then what is President Trump to do? He can’t negotiate with himself. I have heard from many folks in Alabama expressing their disbelief that Congress has not yet provided the necessary funds to secure our border, build a wall, and reopen the remaining 25 percent of the federal government. I cannot help but echo the sentiment of my fellow Alabamians: why would a Member of Congress not support something as commonsense as border security to end the partial shutdown? In the past, Democrats have supported these commonsense national security priorities such as fencing, barriers, and increased border funding, but there is something different going on here. It appears that it is not enough for the Democrats to earn a win. Instead, it must be that President Trump gets a loss. And the sad part is, the people that lose the most in this situation are the hardworking American taxpayers contributing their time, efforts, and skills to the betterment of our communities. Roughly 800,000 federal employees are currently on furlough, some continuing to work without pay. Last Friday, many of those people missed a paycheck. That is simply unacceptable, especially when the solution is one that both puts these people back to work and improves our national security. More than this, Americans have been greatly affected already by illegal immigration and the crisis taking place on our southern border. A big issue is the flow of illegal drugs. Hundreds of thousands of men and women in the United States have fallen victim to the evils and unbelievable effects of drug addiction and overdose. Many of those illegal drugs have their origins in Central and South America. All throughout the country, we have heard horror stories of illegal immigrants committing horrendous crimes. We had an illegal immigrant in Shelby County, Alabama rape a young girl, and everyone has heard the story of the police officer in California who was murdered by an illegal immigrant. In many of these crimes, the illegal immigrant had even been deported before and managed to reenter the country illegally a second time. Crimes happen every day, but these crimes were preventable. We must act, we must enforce border security, and we must provide the funds necessary to get the job done. I call on Democrats to stop with the show, come to the table, negotiate with President Trump, and let’s get the government back open. Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
