Email Insight: Kay Ivey announces she will run for reelection in 2022
Gov. Kay Ivey announced today her intentions to run for governor again in 2022. Ivey made the announcement via social media and through a letter to the citizens of Alabama. Here is the letter: Over the last four years, Alabama has been put to the test. We’ve seen a global pandemic wreak havoc on our way of life. We’ve seen natural disasters rip through the heart of our state. And now, we’re seeing a Democrat-run Washington out of step with our way of life that seeks to cancel those they disagree with. But here in Alabama, we don’t back down. Instead, we’ve treated these challenges as opportunities to show the world what Alabama is made of –– opportunities to move us forward, rebuild our state stronger, and solidify the conservative values that make Alabama, Alabama. Together, we’ve taken our economy to new heights, improved the quality of education for our next generation, and worked to connect every corner of the state with new roads and bridges. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together, friend. But I know that our work isn’t done yet. Alabama is working again, and the best is yet to come. That’s why today, I’m officially announcing my campaign for reelection to serve you –– and every Alabamian –– for four more years. Watch my announcement here. CHIP IN: KEEP ALABAMA WORKING >>> There’s not a shred of a doubt in my mind that if we continue working together with Alabama common sense, we can move Alabama even further forward. It won’t be easy — we have tough challenges ahead, but there’s no step too high for a high stepper. I’m going to need your help, friend. I hope you will join me today by chipping in here to support my reelection. https://twitter.com/kayiveyforgov/status/1400097690134929409
Mobile Chamber reorganizes its governmental affairs and communications efforts
Mobile Chamber President and CEO Bill Sisson announced two new positions for the Chamber of Commerce. Nancy Hewston has been named vice president of communications and advocacy, and Maggie Oliver was named senior director of government affairs. The Mobile Chamber is combining the community and governmental affairs and the communications and marketing departments to form the Communications and Advocacy Department. Sisson commented, “Having Nancy in this key leadership position will mean great things for the Mobile Chamber and its members. She is a seasoned communicator with extensive experience in both politics and communications. Nancy’s network of connections both across the state and in Washington D.C. as well as her ability to build coalitions and drive consensus position her to continue to be a valuable asset to Mobile’s business community and the Mobile Chamber.” “Maggie’s range of skills is perfectly suited for this expanded new role,” Sisson added. “She has a proven track record of success in the governmental affairs arena and will continue to be an advocate for Mobile business owners, employees and their families.” Hewston joined the Chamber in January as the vice president of community and governmental affairs. She was senior vice president of communications, strategic information and federal affairs for the Business Council of Alabama. She also spent time on Capitol Hill, working for both chambers of Congress as press secretary to Rep. Jo Bonner and deputy press secretary for Sen. Jeff Sessions. Oliver joined the Chamber in 2018 as director of community and governmental affairs. Oliver holds a master’s degree in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown and a bachelor’s degree in public policy leadership from the University of Mississippi’s Trent Lott Leadership Institute. Following graduation from the University of Mississippi, Oliver moved to Washington D.C. where she worked both on and off Capitol Hill in public policy and political communications.
Steve Flowers: Session ends, gambling left on the table
The 2021 Legislative Session is in the books. I would rate it a success. When you pass budgets that are balanced, any session is a success. In fact, the only constitutional mandate given to the legislature is that they pass the two budgets. The amazing revelation that is almost difficult to comprehend is the fact that both the General Fund and the Educational Fund budgets were not only status quo but were flush with growth coming out of a year of the COVID pandemic. State employees and teachers both received raises in the budgets. Alabama is one of the few states in America that has not been devastated financially by the pandemic. A lot of credit for this good fiscal stability goes to the Chairmen of the Budget Committees in both the House and Senate. They have worked and strived diligently to pass conservative budgets with reserve accounts that have allowed the state to avoid rainy days. The state owes a debt of gratitude and a tip of the hat to House Budget Chairmen Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa) and Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) and Senate Finance Chairmen Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and Greg Albritton (R-Escambia). The Legislature dealt with a lot of high-profile issues. Not the least of which was the perennial issue of allowing doctors to prescribe medicinal marijuana for pain for their patients. This prescription has been allowed for years in many states. Now, Alabama doctors will be able to prescribe this medication to their patients. The gambling issue dominated the entire session. The state Senate passed the gambling proposal to send to the people for a vote. However, it failed in the House of Representatives. It is a Constitutional Amendment and therefore needs 21 votes in the 35-member State Senate and 63 votes in the State House of 105 member representatives. It does not even go to the governor for a signature but goes straight to the ballot. The governor is very much for this initiative. However, it probably needs to be dealt with in a special session for it to pass. Governor Kay Ivey needs to really promote the issue in a special session where it is the only issue dealt with and focused on. She has plenty of time. The Amendment, if approved by legislators, is not set to be voted on until the November 2022 General Election. This proposed constitutional amendment is a very all-encompassing gambling plan. It institutes a lottery, authorizes sports betting, and legalizes casinos around the state. It is a constitutional amendment that will also be exact and detailed and with authoritative gambling policy enforcement procedures. This regulation of gambling has been needed for years because we already have gambling in Alabama. The new state gambling regulatory commission would oversee the lottery, as well as the five existing casinos in Macon, Mobile, Greene, and Jefferson counties, and one yet to be determined in Northeast Alabama. This new location would be in the pristine Northeast Alabama mountains and would be given to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. It would have the potential to be a destination tourist attraction. The Poarch Creek casinos would continue to be regulated by federal statutes, but the state would be enabled to enter into a compact with the tribe for Class III table games. All lottery revenue would be directed to education, including scholarships for higher education and trade schools and a loan forgiveness program for graduates who locate back in Alabama. The annual revenue from casinos and sports betting would be divided for several uses. Almost 50% would be up to the legislature to appropriate toward capital or other non-recurring expenses. Forty percent would be earmarked for “enhanced health care services,” and 10% would be divided among counties and cities for “Capital or other non-recurring expenses.” Under the legislation, for all gambling revenue, up to 5% would be set aside for initiatives to help problem gamblers. This legislation pretty much tracks the recommendations of Governor Kay Ivey’s proposal and actually does not even require her signature. She was very prominently lobbying for its passage and will endorse its ratification by Alabama voters. It will reap a significant amount of revenue for the State of Alabama. You may very well see it come up again this year in a special session. 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.
U.S. formally ends policy for asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico
The Biden administration on Tuesday formally ended a Trump-era immigration policy that forced asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. A seven-page memo by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas marked the end of the “Migrant Protection Protocols,” which returned about 70,000 asylum-seekers to Mexico from January 2019 until it was halted on President Joe Biden’s first day in office two years later. The announcement appeared to be a foregone conclusion after Biden promised as a candidate to end the policy, known informally as “Remain in Mexico,” but he left a window open by ordering a review before shutting it down permanently. Mayorkas said keeping the policy intact or modifying it “would not be consistent with this Administration’s vision and values and would be a poor use of the Department’s resources.” He said the costs would far outweigh any benefits. The policy coincided with a sharp decline of asylum-seekers at the border, but critics noted that people were hampered by violent conditions in Mexico, lack of access to lawyers, and difficulty making it to court. Mayorkas acknowledged those concerns by noting the high rate of denied claims for failing to appear in court and the lack of housing, income, and safety in Mexico. Since Feb. 19, about 11,200 people with active cases have been allowed to return to the United States to wait for a ruling, a process that can take years in the backlogged court system. The administration has yet to say if tens of thousands more whose cases were either dismissed or denied will get another chance. The administration has largely kept in place pandemic-related powers introduced by President Donald Trump in March 2020 to expel people to Mexico without an opportunity to seek asylum, justified on grounds of protecting public health. Mayorkas acknowledged planning for those pandemic-related powers to be lifted but was light on specifics. The secretary pointed to a new docket in immigration court announced Friday that aims to decide asylum cases at the border within 300 days. He promised “additional anticipated regulatory and policy changes” without elaborating. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Business president resigns, could seek U.S. Senate seat
Katie Boyd Britt announced Tuesday that she is stepping down as president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, a decision that comes amid speculation that she will run for U.S. Senate. BCA announced Britt’s decision in a statement and said her resignation is effective Friday. Britt has led the influential business lobby since 2019. She previously served as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who announced in February at the age of 86 that he would not seek a seventh term. While she has not announced a run, it has been speculated that Britt could run for the Senate seat being vacated by Shelby. The BCA statement said Britt is leaving to pursue other opportunities. “One of my greatest prides at BCA has been bringing the previously forgotten back into the fold – our small businesses on Main Street, and the rural businesses and industry that are the heart beats of local communities in every corner of our great state,” Britt said in a statement about her departure from BCA. “We have relentlessly fought for the things that matter most to hardworking Alabamians trying to earn livelihoods, build lives and raise families. Certainly, some of our toughest, yet most rewarding, battles have come the past year during the pandemic. We helped lead the successful charge to Keep Alabama Open, and spearheaded the push to protect businesses from frivolous COVID lawsuits.” Shelby’s departure will leave a power void — and set the stage for a crowded primary for the GOP nomination in the red-leaning state. Two Republicans have already entered the 2022 race. Congressman Mo Brooks, who is armed with an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, and Lynda Blanchard, a businesswoman who was Trump’s ambassador to Slovenia, are running for the seat. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
