Rep. Mike Rogers: Joe Biden’s socialist policies are hurting Americans
The harm to our economy caused by Joe Biden’s Socialist wish list is growing worse every day. Self-inflicted crises have dominated the first 15 months of the Biden administration. From inflation skyrocketing to a 40-year high, to violent crime running rampant through major cities, soaring gas prices, to a wide-open lawless border letting millions of illegal immigrants and deadly fentanyl onto our streets, to endless federal mandates threatening our individual liberties, the Biden administration is a disaster. When President Donald Trump was in office, he made America energy independent. He unleashed America’s can-do attitude to build the Keystone XL pipeline. He also opened our vast abundance of natural gas and oil and allowed responsible drilling on federal lands. At the end of President Trump’s term, gas was a little over $2.00 a gallon. Biden’s policies just don’t make sense. One of his first acts as president was to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline and to stop drilling on federal lands. He then removed all of President Trump’s sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream II pipeline. I have repeatedly pushed President Biden to ban Russian energy imports and support American energy production. Yet, according to reports, after banning Russian oil imports, President Biden is now looking at buying oil from anti-American regimes in Venezuela and Iran. It seems like Joe Biden would rather beg Venezuela and Iran for oil than simply buy American. Under Biden, the national average for gas has soared to over $4.00 a gallon, with estimates for it to be even higher by Memorial Day. Think about it, if you usually spent a hundred dollars a month of your family’s budget on gas, now you are spending over $200. That’s a big hit for folks. Every Alabamian is feeling the pain when they go to the gas station. High energy prices caused by Biden’s reckless policies are a tax on every hard-working family in Alabama. The more we must spend on gas, the less we can spend on other necessities. The radical left that runs the Biden administration is determined to push their Socialist agenda on every American family, and America is currently suffering because of it. We will not let that happen. As President Trump famously said, “America will never be a Socialist country.” Rep. Mike Rogers serves in the United States House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2002.
Jim Zeigler and Anne Buckle: Daylight Savings Time starts this Sunday, March 13
Alabama passed a new law in 2021 that makes Daylight Savings Time (DST) a year-round thing. No more changing of the clocks twice a year. But the law has not taken effect. It requires an act of Congress for this state law by Alabama (and by a number of other states) to become effective. Alabama U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has come out strongly in favor of congressional action to allow states to stop the twice-annual time changes. Tuberville says daylight saving time was created as a temporary measure during World War I and was initially called “wartime” to help conserve fuel and resources. Tuberville says it is no longer needed. “Kids get out of school, and the sun is starting to set, families in their kitchens cooking dinner feels more like a bedtime dinner. Weekends have less afternoon sunlight hours, limiting the amount of time folks of all ages can spend enjoying the outdoors. Additionally, reduced levels of afternoon sunlight are known to disrupt the body’s internal clock, which regulates sleep and alertness,” explained Tuberville. Daylight saving time runs from this Sunday, March 13, through November 6, barring congressional action. Pro: Longer Evenings Setting the clocks forward one hour in spring does not create more daylight, but it does change the time on the clock that the sun rises and sets. So, when we spring forward an hour in spring, we add one hour of natural daylight to our afternoon schedule. Proponents of DST argue that longer evenings motivate people to get out of the house. The extra hour of daylight can be used for outdoor recreation like golf, soccer, baseball, and running. That way, DST may counteract the sedentary lifestyle of modern living. The tourism and restaurant industry profit from brighter evenings. Longer evenings give people more time to go shopping, go to restaurants, or to other events, boosting the local economy. Con: Doesn’t Save Energy A century ago, when DST was introduced, more daylight was a good thing because it meant less use of artificial light and more energy savings. Modern society, with its computers, TV screens, and air conditioning units, uses more energy, no matter if the sun is up or not. Today, the amount of energy saved from DST is negligible. Pro: Less Artificial Light One of the aims of DST is to make sure that people’s active hours coincide with daylight hours so that less artificial light is needed. This makes less sense close to the equator, where the amount of daylight does not vary much in a year, or near the poles, where the difference between winter and summer daylight hours is very large. However, between these two extremes, adjusting daily routines to the shifting day length during summer may indeed help to save energy. Con: Can Make People Sick Changing the time, even if it is only by one hour, disrupts our body clocks or circadian rhythm. For most people, the resulting tiredness is simply an inconvenience. For some, however, the time change can have more serious consequences to their health. • Studies link the lack of sleep at the start of DST to car accidents, workplace injuries, suicide, and miscarriages. • The early evening darkness after the end of the DST period is linked to depression. • The risk of suffering a heart attack increases when DST begins. However, the extra hour of sleep we get at the end of DST has, in turn, been linked to fewer heart attacks. Pro: Lighter = Safer Safety is one of the more solid arguments for keeping the lighter evenings of DST. Studies have found that DST contributes to improved road safety by reducing pedestrian fatalities by 13% during dawn and dusk hours. By Jim Zeigler, Alabama State Auditor, and Anne Buckle, weather and environmental journalist
25 Republican governors call on Biden to prioritize U.S. oil and gas production
North Dakota can produce enough crude oil to offset dependence on Russian imports, but the Biden administration is prohibiting it from doing so, the state’s governor and U.S. senators argue. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and 24 Republican governors have called on President Joe Biden to prioritize U.S. oil and gas production and restore American energy independence. They did so as crude oil hit $120 a barrel and is expected to surpass $200 a barrel, causing gas prices, and everything that depends on gasoline for transport, to skyrocket. The market went into a correction on Monday, after the U.S. already entered into a 40-year inflationary high. Both are expected to push the U.S. toward a volatile recession. This was totally avoidable, Burgum said. “From the unsecured southern border to the underutilized oil fields of North Dakota, President Biden’s misguided policies continue to put U.S. citizens at risk and hold America back,” he said. “The Biden administration has again failed to meet its obligation to hold a federal oil lease sale, [which] is further proof that this administration isn’t serious about U.S. energy security. The President needs to reverse his anti-oil policies and unleash American energy production to protect U.S. consumers and return our nation to a position where we can sell energy to our friends and allies instead of importing it from adversaries like Russia.” The Biden administration argues that its restrictions on oil and gas production are necessary to combat climate change and that there are enough untapped permits for drilling on federal land that the industry could increase production if it wanted to. North Dakota produces more than 1.13 million barrels of crude a day and 2,990,340 MCF (thousand cubic feet) of natural gas a day. Crude oil production from North Dakota alone would easily offset the imports from Russia, the governor argues. In Biden’s first year in office, he halted and restricted oil and gas leases on federal lands, stopped construction of the Keystone Pipeline, and redirected U.S. policy to import more oil from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia (OPEC+) instead of bolstering American oil and gas exploration and production. While U.S. production on federal lands was stifled in 2021, the U.S. imported 8.47 million barrels per day of crude oil and refined products, of which 672,000 barrels per day (8%) came from Russia, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. The U.S. also imported 6.10 million barrels per day of crude oil, of which 199,000 barrels per day (3%) came from Russia. The U.S. has been importing about 473,000 barrels per day of refined products from Russia, Andrew Lipow of Houston-based Lipow Oil Associates LLC, told The Center Square in an email. Of this, 354,000 barrels a day are unfished oils, which means they need to be upgraded in refineries in the U.S. – mostly on the Gulf Coast because the Russian refineries aren’t unable to upgrade them. The U.S. also imports 697,000 barrels a day of gasoline blendstocks, of which 50,000 barrels a day (7%) came from Russia, Lipow said. This mainly goes to states on the East Coast. The U.S. also imports 287,000 barrels a day of distillate, of which 23,000 barrels a day (8%) come from Russia. This also mainly goes to states on the East Coast, he said. The 25 governors in their joint statement to Biden called on him “to reverse his policies and restore America’s energy independence for our citizens as well as our allies abroad. “By removing his bans on new oil and gas development on federal lands, building the Keystone XL pipeline, and reinstating regulatory reforms to streamline energy permitting, we can protect our national energy security and sell to our friends rather than buy from our enemies – specifically Russia.” Governors from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming signed the letter. North Dakota’s two Republican U.S. senators, John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, along with seven other cosponsors, also introduced the American Energy Independence from Russia Act in the U.S. Senate. The bill would require the Biden administration to submit an energy independence plan to Congress within 30 days that provides an energy security evaluation and risk assessment and plans to leverage America’s oil and gas resources. It would authorize the construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline, which Biden shut down when he entered office, and remove regulatory hurdles to increase liquefied natural gas exports. It also would prohibit any presidential moratoria on new federal leases and require the U.S. Department of Interior to hold a minimum of four oil and natural gas lease sales in fiscal year 2022 in each state that has federal land available for leasing. It also would prohibit the U.S. Energy Department Secretary from drawing down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of the Interior issues a plan to increase oil and gas production on federal lands and waters. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Richard Shelby votes to pass spending bill, secures $570 million for FBI in Huntsville
Sen. Richard Shelby voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations package, which contains all 12 spending bills and roughly $14 billion in emergency aid to support humanitarian, security, and economic assistance for Ukraine and Central European partners following the Russian invasion. The package was passed in the Senate by a vote of 68-31. The package was passed by the House of Representatives Wednesday and will now be sent to President Joe Biden. Shelby emphasized how this funding will help advance Alabama’s priorities. “This bill importantly invests in a host of domestic priorities, including medical research, agriculture, local infrastructure, and rural communities. These resources will bolster needed advancements, promote economic development, and encourage job creation. I am pleased that we have succeeded in securing this funding for Alabama, and I look forward to the impact it will have on our state and the nation. Alabama has always played a major role on the national stage. This funding will only accelerate the pace of that success,” said Shelby, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Shelby has also led efforts to promote the construction of new FBI buildings in Huntsville and increased the flow of FBI staff to Alabama’s Redstone Arsenal complex. From 2006 to 2018, he successfully funded $625.3 million for the FBI through his work on the Senate Appropriations Committee. The current funding provides $570 million for FBI construction at Redstone Arsenal. “Growing the FBI’s presence in Huntsville has been a priority of mine for quite some time, and I am proud to have helped bring it to fruition,” stated Shelby. “This new construction will further solidify Redstone Arsenal’s position as one of the biggest and most powerful bases throughout the country and will build on the extraordinary workforce and sophisticated mission. Huntsville’s growing defense industry has been extremely beneficial for the nation, and this FBI funding seeks to build upon that momentum.” Shelby’s press release highlighted the domestic funding provisions that impact Alabama: Impacting North Alabama: $25 million for the Fish and Wildlife Service to combat Asian Carp and enhance efforts in sub-basins of the Mississippi River, which includes key areas of Alabama in the Tennessee and Cumberland basins. $500,000 for the Invasive Species Mitigation Plan to begin the planning, design, initial engineering and project management for construction of carp barriers in the Mississippi River Basin and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. $1.15 million to assist the National Park Service in acquiring land for the Little River Canyon National Preserve near Lookout Mountain, Alabama. Impacting Tuscaloosa: $50 million for the University of Alabama for a permanent endowment fund to support the recruitment and retention of exceptional faculty in science and engineering. $37 million to support staffing and operations at the National Water Center, which is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. $20 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Institute that will assist NOAA and the NWC in addressing the nation’s growing water-related challenges. $12 million for the Coastal Inlet Research Program, which supports collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Water Center in Tuscaloosa to address coastal resilience needs, measure coastal forces, and improve terrestrial and coastal modeling. Provides funding to the U.S. Geological Survey to support the new USGS Hydrological Instrumentation facility, which will be located at the University of Alabama: $13.5 million to support integrated water prediction operations; $4 million to assist in future hydrological research and operational efforts; $4.5 million for university partnerships for innovative water resource technologies. Impacting the Birmingham Area: $76 million for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine to build a new biomedical research building. $44.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of $2.25 billion above FY21 funding level. $6.86 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), an increase of $353.7 million from FY21. $45 million to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) for chronic disease centers, which supports research at UAB. $882 million for the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). $606.65 million for Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs), which continues funding for a $50 million CTSA award at UAB. $18 million in grant funding for Regional Pediatric Pandemic Network for Children’s Hospitals, which benefits UAB and Children’s of Alabama. $52 million in targeted funds for Regional Biocontainment Laboratories to test FDA-approved drugs at research institutions across the country, including UAB. $25.8 million in Poison Control Centers, which supports Alabama’s Poison Control Center located in Birmingham and is affiliated with Children’s of Alabama. $30 million in funding for Alabama’s Northern Beltline of the Appalachian Development Highway System. Funding to support the Department of Energy’s National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Alabama. Impacting Auburn: Provides funding to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which supports current research initiatives at Auburn University: $3 million, $1.5 million above the FY21 enacted level, for the Animal Health and Agro Bio Defense Center of Excellence; $6 million, $1 million above the FY21 enacted level, to address cotton blue disease; $3 million for sustainable and advanced technologies for poultry processing; $2 million to reduce mixed infections in warm water aquaculture; $2 million for biomass conversion technologies at the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory located at Auburn University; $4 million for aquaponics system development; $3 million for advanced poultry production technology development; $1.5 million for alternative technologies for poultry waste utilization; $1.2 million to study harmful algal bloom impact on aquaculture; $1 million for dietary manipulation to improve gut health in broiler production; Maintains funding for foodborne pathogens and shrimp production research. $5 million for research on forest carbon sequestration and pine needle blight, which supports work conducted at Auburn University. $5 million to support disease diagnostics efforts at Fish and Wildlife Service’s Warm Springs Fish Health Center, which collaborates with Auburn University’s Southeast Cooperative Fish Parasite & Disease Laboratory. Impacting the Mobile Area: $100 million for improvements to the Mobile Downtown Airport, including funding to purchase land, conduct surveys, and renovate and relocate on-site facilities. $132 million for improvements
House advances bill to ban donations for election functions
The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday advanced legislation that would prohibit officials from accepting private donations, grants, and services to help fund election-related expenses, including voter registration, education, and outreach. Representatives voted 72-28 for the bill, with Republicans in support and Democrats opposed. The bill now moves to the Alabama Senate. “The intent of the bill is to make sure it puts up a firewall where no private funding goes to any public official that is responsible for the conduct of our elections and the administration of our election law,” said Rep. Wes Allen, the Troy Republican sponsoring the bill. Allen is a current candidate for Alabama secretary of state. The bill would make it a misdemeanor for a public official to accept donations, grants, and donated services from an individual or a nongovernmental entity to help fund election-related expenses or voter education, voter outreach, or voter registration programs. While Republicans argued it is needed to protect election integrity, opponents said it would hinder election administration in poor counties and have a chilling effect on efforts to help people register and vote. The League of Women Voters of Alabama, the Americans of Alabama, Black Voters Matter, and other groups spoke out against the bill at a Tuesday news conference. “It is a bill that causes harm while trying to fix a non-issue,” said Kathy Jones, president of the League of Women Voters of Alabama, a nonpartisan organization. Republicans in at least eight GOP-controlled states have passed bans on donations to election offices this year as Republicans try to block outside funding of voting operations. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
House advanced bill named for slain police officer, Nick Risner
The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday voted to restrict the use of good behavior incentives to shorten prison sentences, a bill brought in reaction to the slaying of a north Alabama police officer. Representatives voted 99-1 for the bill seeking to prohibit anyone convicted of manslaughter from qualifying for “good time” incentives. The bill now moves to the Alabama Senate. The bill is called the Sergeant Nick Risner Act. It is named after the 40-year-old Sheffield police officer who was killed while pursuing a suspect last year. Risner’s widow watched from the House gallery as lawmakers voted on the bill. “I’m bringing this bill, so hopefully another family will not have to go through what they did,” said Republican Rep. Phillip Pettus, the sponsor of the bill and a former state trooper. Brian Lansing Martin is charged with killing Risner, the father of one, and William Mealback Jr. of Cypress Inn, Tennessee. Martin had been released from prison in 2016 after serving a little over three years of a 10-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his father. Alabama currently allows some inmates sentenced to 15 or fewer years in prison to qualify for good behavior incentives. Good time is not given for Class A felonies such as murder and rape. The bill also would prohibit inmates convicted of manslaughter from qualifying for good time. “If you kill somebody, you do not get good time,” Pettus said of his bill. Behavior incentives are commonly used to try to combat prison violence by giving inmates a reason to follow rules. Pettus said Martin had his good time taken away, but it was later restored to him by a prison official. “Whoever let him out ought to take his place,” Rep. Lynn Greer, a Republican from Rogersville, said. While the bill had near-unanimous support, a few lawmakers questioned if the problem was with the good time statute or how it was applied in Martin’s case. They asked if it would be short-sighted to make the change. “I’m just concerned that we are going to take away the hope that those people have, and then where is the incentive for them to behave,” Rep. Charlotte Meadows, a Republican from Montgomery, said. Pettus responded that inmates convicted of manslaughter would still be eligible for parole. He said the legislation didn’t change anything else in the good time law, beyond making inmates convicted of manslaughter ineligible. Representatives stood to applaud Risner’s family after the vote. “Mrs. Risner, you have our respect and our prayers,” House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama won’t require background checks for concealed guns
Alabama will become the latest state to allow people to carry concealed handguns without first undergoing a background check and getting a state permit. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the measure into law Thursday shortly after it was approved by state lawmakers. The new law, which takes effect January 1, will end the requirement for a person to get a concealed carry permit to carry a loaded handgun concealed under their clothes, in a car, or in a purse or bag. “Unlike states who are doing everything in their power to make it harder for law-abiding citizens, Alabama is reaffirming our commitment to defending our Second Amendment rights. I have always stood up for the rights of law-abiding gun owners, and I am proud to do that again today,” Ivey said in a statement. The legislation is championed by gun rights advocates who call it “constitutional carry,” in reference to the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Opponents, including state sheriffs and others in law enforcement, said the permits help combat crime and enhance public safety. Paula Wilson, a volunteer with the Alabama chapter of Moms Demand Action, called the legislation “reckless” and said the politicians who supported it “have chosen the gun lobby over law enforcement and public safety.” “They want you to believe that they’re standing up for law-abiding gun owners, but don’t let them fool you. They’ve done the exact opposite — putting our families, communities, and first responders at greater risk,” Wilson said in a statement. There are 21 states that allow concealed weapons in public without a permit. The Alabama House of Representatives voted 70-29 for the bill approved by a conference committee. The Alabama Senate voted 24-6. “I don’t think that just because you own a firearm that you should have to pay a tax, or a fee, to carry it,” GOP Rep. Shane Stringer, the legislation’s sponsor, said. The bill does not do away with concealed carry permits, and Stringer said he thinks many people will still get them voluntarily. “You are making it easier for the lawless,” Rep. Thomas Jackson, a Democrat from Thomasville, told Stringer during the debate. Opponents have pointed to the state’s already high rate of gun violence. Alabama in 2020 had the country’s fifth-highest rate of gun-related deaths – including suicides and murders — with 1,141 deaths, according to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Alabama Sheriffs’ Association opposed the bill. During public hearings, law enforcement officials said the permits are a tool officers use daily to remove weapons from the hands of individuals who should not have them in the first place. A new state database is under development to help officers flag people who are prohibited from possessing a handgun. Stringer, a former captain in the Mobile County sheriff’s department, said he believes that will be a better system to catch people who should not have handguns. The president of the Alabama Sheriffs’ Association has said he does not think the database will effectively replace the safety checks provided by the permits because of inevitable gaps in data collection. Lawmakers made several changes to the bill to try to alleviate some of law enforcement’s concerns. During a traffic stop or other investigation, an officer who has a reasonable suspicion that a person was about to engage in criminal conduct could temporarily take a handgun and run it through databases to see if the gun was stolen. The officer could also check the person’s criminal history. An officer could also temporarily take a weapon if a reasonable person would believe it is necessary for the safety of the officer or others, but it must be returned unless there is an arrest or the person is posing a safety threat. The legislation would steer up to $5 million in state funds to sheriffs’ offices to compensate for the funding loss from permit fees. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Tommy Tuberville & Terri Sewell lead bipartisan effort to support defense textile manufacturers
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL-07) sent a letter to the Department of Defense (DOD) Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Andrew Hunter, asking for action on behalf of America’s defense clothing and textile manufacturers. The letter addressed concerns with operational constraints being placed on companies from COVID and inflation and emphasized their importance to military readiness and national security. “The C&T base enables military readiness, ensuring that America’s warfighters have access to the mission-critical textiles, apparel, and equipage to protect our nation…” Tuberville and Sewell wrote. “Without immediate action, many of these companies will be forced to withdraw from all military-related business or close operations outright. Our nation’s manufacturers, manufacturing workforce, and men and women in uniform need swift, targeted action from the administration,” the Members of Congress continued. A copy of the letter is below. March 8, 2022 The Honorable Andrew HunterUnder Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Department of Defense3010 Defense PentagonWashington DC 20301-3010 Dear Mr. Hunter: We write to request your assistance regarding the U.S. Clothing and Textile (C&T) Manufacturing Defense Industrial Base. The C&T base enables military readiness, ensuring that America’s warfighters have access to the mission-critical textiles, apparel, and equipage to protect our nation. The men and women who wear the cloth of the nation do so proudly. We are proud that 100% of these items are manufactured in the United States. On average, the Department of Defense (DOD) procures nearly $2 billion worth of military textiles, helmets, armor, footwear and clothing annually, through the purchase of over 8,000 items. Dozens of U.S. factories, employing tens of thousands of U.S. workers in the textile, apparel, and footwear industries are proud to support our warfighters. For 80 years, Congress has recognized that an effective national defense requires robust domestic capacity for textiles and clothing. The Berry Amendment ensures that these vital industries are called out for different and enhanced procurement procedures relative to other government procurement. Although the Berry Amendment protects the C&T base from offshore competition, it cannot insulate the base from problematic contracting practices, unpredictable DOD demand, and increases in material and labor costs. Each of these factors have made it unsustainable to continue to produce clothing, ballistic protection, and equipage for the U.S. military. Many companies are now operating on Firm Fixed Price contracts that were awarded before the current COVID economic and health crises were realized. Fixed price contracts make it impossible for companies to react to changing business conditions — such as those that have whipsawed domestic industry over the past two years. Costs for labor, health care, freight, energy, and materials have all suddenly and unexpectedly increased by double digits over the past 18 months and show no sign of abatement. Many manufacturers are unable to offer competitive wages, further exacerbating acute labor shortages. These higher costs coupled with a lack of economic price adjustment mechanisms from DOD mean companies are often forced to perform on contracts at a financial loss simply to retain business and keep workers employed in the hopes that a future contract will make up for current losses. Even if they can eke out a slim profit, these companies rarely have enough to reinvest in their business for training or equipment. Unfortunately, many companies with long track records of supporting the warfighter have already left the industrial base. In just the past few years, longtime industry stalwarts such as Campbellsville Knits (Kentucky), Racoe Manufacturing (Tennessee), and DeRossi & Sons (New Jersey) have all closed. The C&T manufacturers who support our military readiness request your immediate help to make sure the Department of Defense has the authority and funding necessary so that Berry-compliant C&T contracts in distress can be adjusted to give U.S. companies and their workers the wherewithal to survive. Without immediate action, many of these companies will be forced to withdraw from all military-related business or close operations outright. Our nation’s manufacturers, manufacturing workforce, and men and women in uniform need swift, targeted action from the administration. Thank you for your attention to this request — we look forward to working with you to resolve this pressing issue.
ACU Presents Awards to Top-Scoring Alabama Lawmakers at CPAC
Several Alabama state legislators were recognized at Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last week for their conservative voting records based on a just-released analysis from ACUF’s Center for Legislative Accountability. The American Conservative Union Foundation (ACUF) analysis reveals Alabama voting more conservatively during the 2021 session, with Republicans voting with the conservative position an average of 79.94% of the time, compared to just 61.53% the prior session. The following members of the Alabama State Legislature earned an invitation to receive an award at CPAC for voting with the conservative position at least 80% of the time: Senate:Jack Williams (89%)Dan Roberts (87%)Randy Price (86%)Tom Butler (86%)Shay Shelnutt (86%)Tom Whatley (84%)Andrew Jones (83%)Steve Livingston (83%)Greg Reed (83%)Clay Scofield (83%)T J Waggoner (83%)Sam Givhan (82%)Gerald Allen (82%)Will Barfoot (82%)Clyde Chambliss (82%)Donnie Chesteen (82%)Garlan Gudger (82%)Tim Melson (82%)Arthur Orr (82%)David Sessions (82%)Chris Elliott (81%)Jim McClendon (81%)Larry Stutts (81%)Greg Albritton (80%) House:Andrew Sorrell (100%)Jim Carns (90%)Andy Whitt (89%)Chip Brown (86%)David Wheeler (86%)James Hanes (85%)Ben Robbins (85%)Ivan Smith (85%)David Standridge (85%)Bob Fincher (84%)Danny Garrett (84%)Mike Jones (84%)Corey Harbison (83%)Charlotte Meadows (83%)Margie Wilcox (81%)Rex Reynolds (81%)Matt Simpson (81%)Mike Holmes (80%)Gil Isbell (80%)Wes Kitchens (80%)Craig B Lipscomb (80%)Rhett Marques (80%)Connie Rowe (80%)Chris Sells (80%)Shane Stringer (80%)Rodney Sullivan (80%) Among the 44 roll call votes scored by the ACUF are the legislation making elections more secure (HB 167, HB 285), efforts to protect life (HB 237), legislation protecting women’s sports (HB 391), and efforts to restrict the Governor’s excessive COVID-19 emergency powers (SB 97). ACUF’s Ratings of Congress and Ratings of the States are initiatives of the American Conservative Union Foundation (ACUF)’s Center for Legislative Accountability (CLA). These ratings are designed to reflect how more than 8,000 elected officials across the nation view the role of government while illustrating the differences between chambers of the legislature and revealing lawmakers’ positions across 186 policy areas that directly affect citizens.
