BCA’s ProgressPAC endorses Kay Ivey, Will Ainsworth, and Steve Marshall for reelection
ProgressPAC, the Business Council of Alabama’s political action committee, has announced its endorsements for Governor Kay Ivey, Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, and Attorney General Steve Marshall for reelection. The board of directors for ProgressPAC voted on Monday. BCA is a non-partisan, statewide business association representing the interests and concerns of nearly one million working Alabamians. Funds raised by ProgressPAC go to help elect pro-business candidates. The group’s current funding balance is over $1.3 million. Angus Cooper III, chairman of ProgressPAC, stated, “We are proud to endorse and support these three outstanding pro-jobs leaders for reelection in 2022. Governor Ivey, Lt. Governor Ainsworth, and Attorney General Marshall are prime examples of public servants who go to work every day with the goal of moving Alabama forward. “They are keenly aware of our state’s challenges and opportunities and don’t shy away from the tough issues. From workforce development to high-speed broadband internet service to recruiting new and expanding existing industry, Alabama is forging a strong future for generations to come under their bold leadership,” continued Cooper. “The business community depends on steady, pro-business elected officials with high ethical standards to create and sustain jobs for the future. “Governor Ivey, Lt. Governor Ainsworth and Attorney General Marshall recognize and embrace the role that government plays in sustaining a pro-business climate, and the BCA and its members look forward to working cooperatively with them in the future,” Cooper added. Ainsworth has received endorsements from the Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama and Manufacture Alabama. He’s also received the endorsement of Senator Tommy Tuberville. Ivey’s campaign Twitter page stated, “Governor Ivey is proud to receive the endorsement of the Business Council of Alabama. Under her leadership, Alabama has been recognized as ranking among the top states in the nation for its business climate.” Governor Ivey is proud to receive the endorsement of the Business Council of Alabama. Under her leadership, Alabama has been recognized as ranking among the top states in the nation for its business climate. pic.twitter.com/19k1xcGY4w — Kay Ivey (@kayiveyforgov) June 28, 2021 Ivey stated to Yellowhammer News, “Alabama is experiencing one of the strongest post-pandemic comebacks, and that is possible because of hardworking Alabamians and our strong partners in the business community. We continue proving to the world that Alabama is not only open for business but that this is the best place to do business. As we continue working to recruit business and industry to our state, I am proud to have the endorsement of the Business Council of Alabama. With the BCA as a strong and reliable partner, I am confident that Alabama’s best days are ahead.”
Mo Brooks vows to vote no on H.R. 3005
Tuesday, Congressman Mo Brooks announced Tuesday that he will vote “No” on H.R. 3005. The bill calls to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Thurgood Marshall. It also calls to remove certain statues from areas of the United States Capitol that are accessible to the public and remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol. Chief Justice Taney became best known for writing the final majority opinion in Dred Scott v. Sandford in 1857. The court declared that African Americans were not citizens of the United States and could not sue in Federal courts. This decision further declared that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. H.R. 3005 states, “Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney’s authorship of Dred Scott v. Sandford, the effects of which would only be overturned years later by the ratification of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, renders a bust of his likeness unsuitable for the honor of display to the many visitors to the United States Capitol.” The Bill also states, “While the removal of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney’s bust from the United States Capitol does not relieve the Congress of the historical wrongs it committed to protect the institution of slavery, it expresses Congress’s recognition of one of the most notorious wrongs to have ever taken place in one of its rooms, that of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney’s Dred Scott v. Sandford decision.” Rep. Brooks argues that the bill will allow other states to determine what statues other states can display. Currently, the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Collection has 100 statues, 2 from each state. Alabama’s two statutes are Helen Keller and Joe Wheeler. Wheeler was a Confederate general who later become a United States general. General Wheeler oversaw Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Alabama also has a third statute honoring Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks. Both the General Wheeler and Rosa Parks statutes are in places of prominence in the old House Chamber (now known as Statuary Hall). Helen Keller is prominently honored and displayed in the Capitol Visitor’s Center. The 1864 law establishing the National Statuary Collection provides that each state may “furnish statues…of deceased persons who have been citizens thereof, and illustrious for their historic renown or for distinguished civic or military services such as each State may deem to be worthy of this national commemoration.” Brooks stated, “The 1864 law that establishes the National Statuary Collection defers to states the power to determine who they wish to honor with a Capitol statue. And that makes perfect sense. Just as it would be wrong for Alabama and other states to dictate to New York and California who they must honor, it is similarly wrong and repulsive for New York, California, or other states to dictate to Alabama who we must honor. Yet, H.R. 3005 seeks to do exactly that by empowering other states to dictate to a single state who that state can, or cannot, honor.” Brooks continued, “Cancel culture and historical revisionism are precursors to dictatorial government and the destruction of individual liberty and freedom by elitists who claim they know more than regular citizens and, hence, should be empowered to dictate what regular citizens can and cannot think or do. Ultimately, it’s all about political power in the hands of a dictatorial few coupled with the loss of freedom and liberty by the masses. “I reject cancel culture and historical revisionism. I reject Socialist Democrat intolerance. I support federalism and a state’s right to decide for itself who it should honor. As such, I will proudly vote ‘No’ on H.R. 3005. Alabama, not New Yorkers, Californians, or anyone else, should decide who we wish to honor in Alabama’s contribution to the National Statuary Collection. Socialist Democrat states should butt out,” Brooks concluded. Brooks commented on Twitter, “Cancel culture & historical revisionism are precursors to dictatorial government & the destruction of individual liberty & freedom by elitists who claim they know more than regular citizens & should be able to dictate what regular citizens can think or do.” Cancel culture & historical revisionism are precursors to dictatorial government & the destruction of individual liberty & freedom by elitists who claim they know more than regular citizens & should be able to dictate what regular citizens can think or do. https://t.co/63HV28f1O6 — Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) June 29, 2021 The House Press Gallery posted on Twitter earlier today, “A recorded vote was requested and postponed on H.R. 3005.” A recorded vote was requested and postponed on H.R. 3005. https://t.co/IxmDeJmzlN — House Press Gallery (@HouseDailyPress) June 29, 2021
Kay Ivey, 19 other GOP governors oppose Supreme Court expansion
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and 19 other Republican governors on Tuesday sent a letter opposing any expansion of the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, a longshot idea pushed by some congressional Democrats. The Republican Governors Association said the letter was sent to the Biden administration. “Historically, cases before the Supreme Court have served as the last legal defense of state sovereignty, protecting states and our citizens from federal overreach. As Governors, we have a vested interest in ensuring that our nation’s highest court remains independent and free from political pressure or partisan power grabs,” the letter signed by the 20 governors stated. Biden, facing pressure from activists, this spring created a bipartisan commission that will study the politically incendiary ideas of expanding the court and instituting term limits for justices, among other issues. Conservatives now hold a 6-3 majority on the court. Ivey said in a statement that she urged Joe Biden to “put down any partisan pressures and withdraw consideration from any proposal to pack the court.” Republican-led states expressing opposition to court expansion have sued the Biden administration, and the Obama administration before it, on a variety of issues, including healthcare and environmental matters. While the GOP governors criticized the effort they said would undercut the conservative majority, Alabama’s method of selecting appellate court judges has resulted in all-white and all-Republican courts. Alabama’s appellate judges run in statewide partisan elections, just like the governor, attorney general and other top officials. Alabama, like other southern states, was for a century essentially a one-party state controlled by Democrats, but shifted to Republican control as white voters switched to the GOP. The court is now all-Republican. Only two African-American judges have ever been elected to the Alabama Supreme Court. The NAACP and a group of Black voters sued Alabama over the method of electing judges, but a federal judge last year ruled that it was not racially discriminatory. Some governors have also expanded state courts. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Steve Flowers: Privatization of ABC stores fails again
Alcohol was on the minds of many Alabama lawmakers this year as the legislature considered an abnormally high number of alcohol-related bills. Several of the bills passed. Most notable was legislation that made it possible for Alabama businesses to deliver beer, wine, and liquor to customers’ homes, and separate legislation that allows state residents to order wine directly from wineries, even if those producers are out of state. One piece of legislation that did not pass was Senator Arthur Orr’s perennial bill to privatize ABC liquor stores. There are a number of reasons for Alabamians to be thankful this legislation did not pass. First and foremost, the State’s General Fund Budget will benefit from the failure of this legislation. The proposed legislation would have resulted in higher prices, lost tax dollars, lost jobs, and less enforcement of alcohol laws. For example, last year alone, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board contributed $314 million to the State General Fund and state agencies, according to information provided by the ABC Board. This is from taxes and the markup on liquor. If you privatize liquor sales and close the ABC stores, much of this revenue goes away, even after considering the taxes generated by private stores. An analysis of the ABC Board shows a net loss of $95 million a year. Another reason to be thankful the legislature refused to privatize liquor sales is the fact that hundreds of state jobs were saved by the failure of this legislation. The ABC stores and the state warehouse are run by more than 875 state employees. Most would have lost their jobs, their health insurance, and their retirement had the bill passed. These employees go through hours of training to keep stores safe and prevent the sale of liquor to minors. Dollars and cents aside, if you look at this from a health and safety standpoint, Alabama is better off with state-regulated ABC stores controlling liquor sales than private retailers. Speaking of private liquor stores, you can expect a big jump in their numbers. If you consider all the grocery stores, convenience stores, and other retail chains, such as Walmart and Target, along with the additional package stores that will pop up if liquor sales are privatized, liquor outlets in the state could increase from around 850 currently to more than 2,100. While there would not literally be a liquor store on every corner, it sure might feel like it. Furthermore, studies and common sense indicate that the more stores you have selling liquor, which will come with privatization, the more liquor you are going to sell. More sales mean more consumption, and more consumption means more health and safety problems. Alcohol is not just another commodity, and buying it should not be as easy as buying milk and bread. Data from the CDC says 95,000 people die annually due to excessive drinking. No drug kills as many people each year as alcohol. The good news is that under our current alcohol control system, Alabama fares much better than most states when it comes to alcohol consumption. As a state, we are among the lowest in liquor consumption and among the highest in revenue from liquor taxes. Lastly, even if you look at privatization from a consumer’s standpoint, it does not benefit Alabamians financially to privatize liquor sales. As anyone who has gone into an ABC store and a private package store knows, private store prices are much higher. If you close the ABC stores, Alabamians are only left with the higher prices of private stores. While the legislation to privatize liquor sales was well-intentioned from a philosophical standpoint, we should be thankful our legislature looked at the bigger picture. The state has little to gain but a lot to lose by closing ABC stores. The ABC Board is a valuable state agency, and the ABC stores provide a great benefit to our state in tax revenue, hundreds of state jobs, and lower prices for Alabamians. I have known ABC Board Administrator Mac Gipson a long time. I know he runs a tight ship and it would be a shame to wreck it, so let’s hope privatization of liquor sales is dead for good. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
