Club for Growth PAC makes final federal run-off endorsements
Today, Club for Growth PAC made two additional endorsements after already endorsing Bill Hightower in the primary for cogressional district 1. Today’s announcements include endorsements for Tommy Tuberville for U.S. Senate against Jeff Sessions and Berry Moore in congressional district 2 against Jeff Coleman. According to their website, “The Club’s Political Action Committee (PAC) endorses and raises money for candidates who stay true to the fundamental principles of limited government and economic freedom.” Pick ups in the one or both of the congressional seats would be a big change based on current members scores by The Club. Club priorities that drive their support and endorsements include education reform, regulatory reform, entitlement and spending reform and more. See the issues that matter to them on their site. Read their full endorsement of Tommy Tuberville here: Club for Growth PAC announced the endorsement of Tommy Tuberville for the Alabama Senate Republican primary runoff. Politico’s James Arkin published an exclusive report on the announcement. “Tommy Tuberville is a principled, free market conservative who has the support of President Trump and has put together a great campaign to defeat Doug Jones’ Senate.,” said David McIntosh, Club for Growth PAC President. President Trump endorsed Tuberville in a March 10 Tweet. Club for Growth PAC polling ahead of the endorsement showed Tuberville had a four-point lead on Sessions. The poll also showed Tuberville’s lead could increase to 24 points with Trump’s public support. The seat is currently occupied by Democrat Senator Doug Jones who defeated Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in a December 2017 special election 49.9% to 48.4%. In 2016, Donald Trump easily beat Hillary in Alabama by 62.1% to 34.4%, Club for Growth PACs support conservatives in key elections across the country. In 2018, Club for Growth PACs won 85% races in the election while maintaining 8.9% overhead. Read their full endorsement of Berry Moore here: Club for Growth PAC announced the endorsement of Barry Moore for the Republican primary runoff in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Moore will face Jeff Coleman in the primary runoff, and the seat is currently occupied by retiring Congresswoman Martha Roby. “Barry Moore is a veteran and a principled, free market conservative who hasn’t shied away from the big fights on taxes, deregulation, and term limits,” said David McIntosh, Club for Growth PAC President. “We look forward to supporting his candidacy and wining the seat in November.” Club for Growth PACs support conservatives in key elections across the country. In 2018, Club for Growth PACs won 85% races in the election while maintaining 8.9% overhead. They endorsed Bill Hightower July 21, 2019 that endorsement is here: Club for Growth PAC announced the endorsement of former Alabama State Senator Bill Hightower for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District. Earlier this week, Club for Growth PAC issued a poll showing Hightower has a commanding lead in the race. “Bill Hightower is a strong, pro-growth conservative with business experience who will fight for Alabama jobs and families in the House of Representatives,” said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. “As a State Senator, Hightower consistently supported reduced spending, lower taxation, and fewer regulations, and we look forward to him bringing those principles to Washington.” Hightower was first elected to the Alabama State Senate in a special election in 2013 with 64 percent of the vote even though he was heavily outspent by his opponent. He was later reelected to the seat in November of 2014.
Alabama local/state Coronavirus updates (March 16)
This is our fifth in a series of collective Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates from around the state. We will be contining them throughout the duration of the crisis. You can find the first here (March 10), second here (March 11) and third here (March 12), and fourth here (March 13). We can expect fewer statewide updates as they cover longer periods of time but we will continue to monitor and report them as they come in. This update includes Governor Kay Ivey’s guidance for state employees, Secretary of State John Merrill on the run-off election and updated confirmed cases numbers from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Late afternoon the Alabama Department of Labor also announced new guidelines (pending congressional action) we have included that below as well. We have also included an update from the city of Huntsville and will be adding more throughout the day. For up to the minute and detailed information from the Alabama Department of Public Health please visit their resource center here. For information from the Center for Disease Control that includes mitigation strategies visit their website here. Download full CDC Mitigation Strategy pdf here. Download CDC at home care guidance for those who have coronavirus but do not require hospitalization here. As of 1:49 pm central (March 16) there are confirmed cased of coronavirus in Alabama. The highest concentration is in Jefferson County, with a total of 17 individuals diagnosed. Governor Kay Ivey’s guidance for state employees was sent to agency directors on Sunday, March 15. Below is an excerpt and the full document can be found here: Coronavirus State Government Operations. On Friday, March 13 , 2020, President DOnald Trump declared a national emergency in response to the pandemic influenza outbreak of Coronavirus ( COVID- 19) . Due to the impending threat on our state, I have declared a State ofEmergency to deploy all state resources and lessen the impact of this virus on our state and its citizens. Theseactions are not out of fear, but out of an abundance of caution and pre pa ratio n for the public health crisis in our stateand nation. Effective on Monday, March 16, 2020, Departments providing public safety, direct care and other essential servicesmust plan and schedule t heir activities accordingly, with the directors of those departments determining staffing needsand work requirements to ensure the continued operation of essential and emergency services . Because the safety of state employees is of utmost concern, each department director is authorized to adviseemployees to work from ho me if possible. Directors should consider implementing telework, flexible workschedules, and other techniques for accomplishing necessary functions while minimizing employee exposure toCOVID-19 . If working from ho me is not feasible, the employee should remain away from the workplace and practice social distancing, as appropriate, for the next several weeks. Employees should plan to return to regular work schedules on Monday, April 6. These employees will be on paid emergency leave and will not be required to utilizetheir personal leave. The determination as to which employee is considered essential and non-essential should be exercised judicially andnot necessarily in blanket fashion. No employee is entitled to emergency leave me rely because another co-worker, with different circumstances, is granted leave. I am also directing all agencies to postpone all non-essential travel until further notice. John Merrill, Secretary of State addressing his efforts to request an emergency opinion on postponing the March 31, 2020 run-off election Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the State of Alabama and the declaration of a National Emergency by President Donald Trump and the declaration of a State of Emergency by Governor Kay Ivey, Secretary of State John H. Merrill has requested an emergency opinion from the Attorney General’s Office related to the possible postponement of the March 31 Runoff Election. In the nature of keeping Alabamians safe from the potential spread of the virus, Merrill has asked if, under the emergency powers granted to the Governor under Section 31-9-1 et seq. Ala. Code, the Governor has the authority to postpone the election. Currently, neither the Code of Alabama nor the Constitution of the State of Alabama allow for the suspension, delay, or postponement of an election once the date has been set. This is why, in 2019, our office asked the Legislature to give the Governor the explicit power to be able to take prescribed action through means that would be codified. Our attempt was unsuccessful but in the 2020 Legislative Session, we have asked Senator Donnie Chesteen and Representative David Standridge to introduce this legislation once again for consideration by the membership of their respective bodies. The health and well-being of the people of this state are of paramount importance. In order to effectively practice social distancing, as recommended by the President of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Alabama Department of Public Health, etc., the March 31 Runoff Election must be postponed. In postponing the election until the threat of the Coronavirus is eliminated, Alabamians will be able to participate in the electoral process in a safe and healthy environment, as they have done in the past. The Secretary of State’s Office will continue to monitor the situation and will provide additional updates as they become available. Because absentee ballots have not yet gone out, votes in the Runoff Election would not be affected. Secretary Fitzgerald Washington from the Alabama Department of Labor announced today that Alabama workers who are not able to work due to COVID-19 will be eligible to file for unemployment benefits. Based on current guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Alabama Department of Labor is modifying existing unemployment compensation rules to allow workers to file a claim for unemployment compensation benefits who are affected in any of the following way: Those who are quarantined by a medical professional or a government agency, Those who are laid off or sent home without pay for an extended period by their employer due to
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