Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter appoints House Members to serve on a study commission evaluating Alabama’s labor force participation
Alabama has the lowest unemployment rate in state history. There are job openings all over the state that businesses and governments cannot fill, yet the state has one of the country’s worst labor force participation rates. That Alabamians are choosing to stay home rather than join the booming economy has increasingly perplexed state leaders. “Despite having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and a record number of Alabamians working, the percentage of Alabamians participating in the labor force is lower than almost any other state,” Governor Kay Ivey wrote recently. “While we are increasing that by the tens of thousands, we have to change this statistic. Getting folks off the sidelines and into the labor force is my next priority.” On Monday, Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter announced members of the Alabama House of Representatives that will serve on an ad hoc committee studying Alabama’s labor force participation rates and identifying barriers to workforce entry. “Alabama is witnessing record-breaking economic growth and historically low unemployment rates,” Ledbetter said. “Despite these numbers, in Alabama, there are roughly 140,000 job openings and, at the same time, 48,834 unemployed workers across our state. That means we are lacking nearly 100,000 workers over 16 years old, which puts our labor force participation rate at a mere 57 percent—one of the lowest rates in the entire country.” The House members appointed to serve on the study commission will be Rep. Reed Ingram (R–Pike Road), who will serve as the Chairman of the Committee. Rep. Danny Garrett (R–Trussville); Rep. Donna Givens (R–Robersdale); House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D–Huntsville); Rep. James Lomax (R–Huntsville); Rep. Barbara Drummond (D–Mobile); Rep. Mike Kirkland (R–Scottsboro); Rep. Bill Lamb (R–Tuscaloosa); Rep. Kelvin Lawrence (D–Hayneville); Rep. Curtis Travis (D–Tuscaloosa); Rep. Chris Pringle (R–Mobile); Rep. Matt Woods (R–Jasper); Rep. Wes Kitchens (R–Guntersville); Rep. Jim Carns (R–Birmingham); and House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R–Hartselle). “Over the coming months, it will be imperative for this group to build on the progress of, and collaborate with, existing entities such as the Lt. Governor’s Commission on 21st Century Workforce, the Alabama Community College System, Alabama higher-education institutions, and essential stakeholders across the private sector,” Ledbetter said. The study commission is expected to address areas including extending adequate childcare to families, examining the correlation between productivity growth and labor output, ensuring wages and salaries are competitive, addressing workforce housing concerns, and offering improved and more expansive mental health programs and services to citizens. “An insufficiency of resources such as these creates barriers to workforce entry as much as an absence of quality education,” Ledbetter postulated. The study commission is slated to host their first meeting on Thursday, October 5, at 10:00 a.m. in room 617 of the Alabama State House. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Three judge panel to meet today to consider Alabama congressional maps
On Tuesday, a federal three-judge panel will meet to consider three Alabama congressional redistricting maps drawn by the court-appointed special master Richard Allen. The court appointed Allen after rejecting a map drawn by the Alabama Legislature in a July special session, which the judge said violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The court rejected a motion by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall to stay the proceeding while the State appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court has also rejected Marshall’s request for a stay. The three maps dramatically redraw Alabama’s Congressional Districts 1 and 2, putting Republican incumbents Jerry Carl and Barry Moore in the same districts. In the three plans, Congressional District 2 could have between 48.7% Black voters and 50.1%, depending on which plan the court approves. “We have an opportunity to elect a 2nd Democrat to the U.S. House, win state races, and re-elect President [Joe] Biden so that he may complete his historic agenda,” Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Randy Kelley said. “Alabama has benefited greatly from President Biden’s policies, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with over $3.2 billion allocated for roads, bridges, high-speed internet, and other major projects. We will do our part by winning seats for local, state, and national offices.” If one of these three maps is adopted, given the fact that over 80% of White Alabamians vote Republican and over 90% of Black Alabamians vote Democratic, this means that Democrats have a likely chance of winning Congressional District 2 in the 2024 election. The three maps comply with the three-judge panel’s order that the congressional redistricting map includes two majority-minority districts “or something close to it.” In 2021, the Alabama Legislature passed congressional redistricting that closely followed the existing seven congressional districts, which included one majority-minority district – the Seventh Congressional District. In 2022, the three-judge panel declared that the 2021 redistricting likely violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and ordered the Legislature to draw a new map. The state appealed to the Supreme Court, and the court stayed the order of the three-judge panel. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the three-judge panel’s order had likely been right. In a 5 to 4 Supreme Court ruling, the Court remanded the case back to the three-judge panel who ordered the state legislature to prepare a new congressional redistricting map with two majority-minority districts “or something close to that.” In July, the Alabama Legislature met in a special session to consider redistricting. Instead of following the court’s orders, the Legislature merely increased the Black voting age population in CD2 from 30% to 39.9%. The three-judge panel accused the Legislature of defying the court and threw out the 2023 redistricting map. They then appointed a special master and ordered him to prepare new congressional redistricts for the state. He created three maps, all dividing Mobile County between Congressional District 1 and Congressional District 2 – something the Legislature claimed they could not do. Marshall has vowed to continue to appeal. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
USDA to begin distributing oral rabies vaccines Tuesday
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced that starting on Tuesday, October 3, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin distributing oral rabies vaccine (ORV) in several northeast and north-central counties of the state. Rabies is a real concern in Alabama, with identified outbreaks in Clay, Russell, and Houston Counties this year. ADPH said in a statement that the current action is a continuation of a program that includes 16 states nationally. The intent is to reduce raccoon rabies and the associated public health risks from rabies exposures. The effort is scheduled from October 3-10 for the following urban and suburban communities: Albertville, Arab, Birmingham, Bridgeport, Cullman, Flemington Heights, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Leesburg, Pell City, and Scottsboro. From October 10-21, the focus will shift to the rural areas in parts of the following counties: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, and Winston. In urban areas, such as the Birmingham metropolitan area, the vaccine packets will be distributed by hand from trucks alongside the tree lines. Helicopters are often used to drop baits in more heavily wooded areas that are more difficult to access. In rural areas with vast wooded lands, airplanes will be used. Residents are likely to see low-flying aircraft or helicopters in the vaccination area. The vaccine packets consist of a sachet, or plastic pack, containing the rabies vaccine. The outer shell of the packet is coated with fishmeal or dog meal to attract raccoons. Raccoons are vaccinated by opening the packet with their teeth, which exposes their gums to the vaccine. The National Rabies Management Program’s goal is “to prevent the further spread of wildlife rabies and eventually eliminate terrestrial rabies in the United States through an integrated program that involves the use of oral rabies vaccination targeting wild animals.” Animal exposures to the vaccines are common, but the ORV poses no risk of rabies to humans or animals if exposed. Pets exposed to the ORVs may have some mild digestive upset, but reactions are rarely serious. If you should come across a packet: * Handle it with gloves AND *Place it in an area where a raccoon may find it OR *Dispose of it in the trash. Be careful because occasionally, skin reactions will occur in humans. It is best to avoid direct contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes with the vaccine. If exposure occurs accidentally, then it is recommended that the person wash hands with warm water and soap. If there is a more serious reaction, there is a telephone number to call on the vaccine packet to learn more information. Dr. Dee W. Jones is the State Public Health Veterinarian—that phone number on the vaccine packet rings to his office. “I understand the concern from citizens and owners when an ORV packet is found in an unintended place or when there is an unintended exposure, but I am hopeful that people keep the big picture in mind, and that is actually reducing the risk of rabies exposures in Alabama by vaccinating raccoons,” Dr. Jones said. “The vaccine packets have been proven to be very safe by historical data collected from incidental exposures. I believe the ORV program benefits public health, animal welfare, and wildlife.” To learn more about federal ORV usage in Alabama, please contact the USDA at 1-866-4USDA-WS. For more information about rabies exposures and animal or human exposures to the ORV, please call ADPH at (334) 206-5969. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Matt Gaetz threatens motion to vacate Kevin McCarthy, demands answers on alleged Ukraine deal
By Casey Harper | The Center Square U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked with Democrats to fund the government with just hours to spare on Saturday, but that move may cost him his role as speaker. Now, Congress has bought itself about 45 more days to once again fund the government or face a shutdown, but possibly replacing a House speaker in that time would dramatically complicate that effort. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who has been McCarthy’s most outspoken critic, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that he will file a motion to vacate McCarthy this week. Gaetz and some other Republicans have been adamant about no longer passing short-term spending resolutions and returning to the traditional method of passing a budget via 12 separate appropriations bills. “I think we need to rip off the Band-Aid,” Gaetz said. “I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy.” However, Gaetz said before the motion on Monday that he wanted answers from McCarthy concerning an alleged “secret side deal on Ukraine” the Speaker made with President Joe Biden. “I rise to raise a question,” Gaetz said from the House floor Monday. “What was the secret side deal on Ukraine? House Democrats and President Biden have said that as Speaker McCarthy was asking Republicans to vote for a Continuing Resolution to take up the plus-up Ukraine money, that the Speaker of the House was actually cutting a side deal to bring Ukraine legislation to this floor with President Biden and House Democrats.” Gaetz went on to suggest those answers could help rally support for his anti-McCarthy effort. “There may be other votes coming today or later this week that could be implicated by the answers to these questions,” Gaetz continued. “Members of the Republican party might vote differently on a motion to vacate and if they heard what the Speaker had to share with us about his secret side deal with Joe Biden on Ukraine. I’ll be listening. Stay tuned.” McCarthy was narrowly elected as Speaker after more than a dozen votes as several conservative House Republicans held out, demanding concessions from leadership. One of those concessions was that a single disgruntled member could file a motion to remove McCarthy as Speaker. McCarthy has managed to avoid that motion so far, but the near shutdown of the government drew even more scrutiny of the Speaker and at least one Republican threatening to file the motion to remove McCarthy. On Friday, McCarthy put forward a Continuing Resolution that cut spending, bolstered the border, and kept the government open for another 30 days. A cadre of more than 20 Republicans voted against the measure, effectively killing it since no Democrats would support the spending cuts and border policies. The failure of that attempt raised concerns that the government would in fact partially shut down at midnight Sunday morning. But McCarthy called lawmakers back to work Saturday and passed a bipartisan “clean” 45-day extension, meaning current spending levels were extended with some funding for disaster relief. The Senate quickly approved the measure, and Biden signed it just before midnight. Notably, that measure omitted more funding for Ukraine in its war against the Russian invasion, a war that Republicans have become increasingly less willing to fund. After Gaetz’s ongoing opposition to McCarthy, some Republicans have discussed trying to oust him from his position. Gaetz is currently being probed by the ethics committee, and the findings of that inquiry could theoretically drum up the 2/3 support needed to oust a sitting lawmaker. The probe reportedly centers around allegations of public corruption, sexual misconduct, and drug use. Gaetz fired back in a fundraising post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday afternoon. “They want to expel me from Congress for holding [Speaker McCarthy] to his own word,” Gaetz said. “They want me gone so they can spend your money and destroy our country without a battle. Help me fight back. Every little bit counts. Join my team. Fight with me.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Katie Britt and Bill Cassidy introduce legislation to prevent administrative actions to shut down offshore energy development
On Monday, U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) in introducing legislation to prevent the Biden administration from using administrative actions to shut down offshore energy development. Britt and colleagues recently joined Sen. Cassidy and four of her Senate colleagues in introducing the Warding Off Hostile Administrative Lease Efforts (WHALE) Act to prevent the U.S. Departments of Commerce and the Interior from issuing maritime rules related to the Rice’s whale that would impede offshore energy development and military activities. “The Biden Administration is continually putting a leftwing agenda ahead of common sense and the wellbeing of hardworking American families,” Sen. Britt said. “Prioritizing partisan activism over economic opportunity and domestic energy dominance is irresponsible and further fueling persistent inflation. I’ll continue to fight back against President Biden’s reckless regulatory regime.” “At the last minute, the Biden administration imposed additional mitigation measures the Department of the Interior previously said were unnecessary and removed six million acres offshore for Rice’s whales at the request of their environmental donors. Is there really no way for the whale to swim away from and around the area?” Senator Cassidy said. “We can protect wildlife, military activities, and vital energy production in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time.” Joining Senators Britt, Tuberville, and Cassidy in cosponsoring this legislation are Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). The WHALE Act prevents the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior from issuing rules or offshore oil and gas lease requirements or recommendations that establish vessel speed or vessel operational restrictions. The legislation is partially in response to administrative actions to reduce the speed of ships to protect endangered whales from collisions. The WHALE Act would require the Departments to complete a study demonstrating that any mitigation protocols developed to protect Rice’s Whales (RWs) in the Gulf of Mexico will not hurt supply chains, United States offshore energy production and generation, military activities, including readiness, and United States commercial and recreational fishing or maritime commerce. Sen. Tuberville has already spoken out on this issue. “Designating a Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale throughout this expansive area will impose undue burdens and restrictions on all vessel traffic, especially in and out of the Port of Mobile in Mobile, AL,” said Sen. Tuberville. “The Port of Mobile covers over 4,000 acres, generates nearly 313,000 jobs, provides approximately $2 billion in state and local tax impacts, and $85 billion in economic value to Alabama as a whole.” The legislation also requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop mitigation protocols that make use of real-time location monitoring and location information, prohibits mitigation protocols, and forbids evening transit or vessel speed or vessel operational restrictions. Environmentalists have filed a petition with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish year-round vessel speed restriction zones and other mitigation measures for Rice’s whales—a species of whale that was only recognized by NOAA as a distinct species two years ago. NOAA also proposed a rule to establish critical habitat for the species where they acknowledged critical oil and gas and military activity occurs. The Senators are also concerned by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) reaching a sue and settle agreement with environmentalist groups to establish vessel transit restrictions and other obligations for offshore oil and gas leaseholders only, including removing millions of unleased acres from leasing. Although a federal district court recently ruled that BOEM could not do so, it’s expected these stipulations and the effort to withdraw acreage will appear in the next 5-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Nathaniel Ledbetter announces House members who will serve on labor force participation study
With unemployment still sitting at a record low of 2.1%, the state is looking for ways to increase the number of Alabamians in the workforce. Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter announced on Monday key House members that will serve on an ad hoc committee studying Alabama’s labor force participation rates and identifying barriers to workforce entry. In July, Gov. Kay Ivey said labor force participation was a top priority. “Despite having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and a record number of Alabamians working, the percentage of Alabamians participating in the labor force is lower than almost any other state,” Gov. Ivey wrote in an op-ed. “While we are increasing that by the tens of thousands, we have to change this statistic. Getting folks off the sidelines and into the labor force is my next priority.” In September, Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced that Alabama’s Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose only slightly in August to 57.0%. This is up from last August’s rate of 56.9%. “Alabama is witnessing record-breaking economic growth and historically low unemployment rates,” Ledbetter said in a press release. “Despite these numbers, in Alabama, there are roughly 140,000 job openings and, at the same time, 48,834 unemployed workers across our state. That means we are lacking nearly 100,000 workers over 16 years old, which puts our labor force participation rate at a mere 57 percent—one of the lowest rates in the entire country.” “Yet again, we are announcing record-breaking economic statistics this month,” said Secretary Washington. “While our labor force participation rate remained unchanged, we are continuing to work with marginalized groups to get them into our labor force.” The House Members serving on the study commission will be Rep. Reed Ingram (R–Pike Road) – Chairman; Rep. Danny Garrett (R–Trussville); Rep. Donna Givens (R–Robersdale); Rep. Anthony Daniels (D–Huntsville); Rep. James Lomax (R–Huntsville); Rep. Barbara Drummond (D–Mobile); Rep. Mike Kirkland (R–Scottsboro); Rep. Bill Lamb (R–Tuscaloosa); Rep. Kelvin Lawrence (D–Hayneville); Rep. Curtis Travis (D–Tuscaloosa); Rep. Chris Pringle (R–Mobile); Rep. Matt Woods (R–Jasper); Rep. Wes Kitchens (R–Guntersville); Rep. Jim Carns (R–Birmingham); Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R–Hartselle). “Over the coming months, it will be imperative for this group to build on the progress of, and collaborate with, existing entities such as the Lt. Governor’s Commission on 21st Century Workforce, the Alabama Community College System, Alabama higher-education institutions, and essential stakeholders across the private sector,” stated Ledbetter. Some specific areas the study commission will address are extending adequate childcare to families, examining the correlation between productivity growth and labor output, ensuring wages and salaries are competitive, addressing workforce housing concerns, and offering improved and more expansive mental health programs and services. “An insufficiency of resources such as these creates barriers to workforce entry as much as an absence of quality education,” Ledbetter concluded.
Gary Palmer cosponsors resolution to expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman
Rep. Gary Palmer cosponsored a resolution by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis to expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman from Congress. According to the Associated Press, Bowman triggered a fire alarm Saturday in one of the U.S. Capitol office buildings as lawmakers were trying to pass a bill to fund the government before the midnight deadline. Bowman claims it was a mistake. “Congressman Bowman’s actions on Saturday were unacceptable and illegal,” said Rep. Palmer. “Not only is pulling a fire alarm without cause a crime, but doing so in attempt to delay a vote is unbecoming of a Member of Congress. These actions have no place in Congress and neither does Jamaal Bowman. I fully support his immediate expulsion from Congress and have already co-sponsored legislation to do so.” Actions like pulling a fire alarm to delay a vote have no place in Congress, and neither does Jamaal Bowman. I signed onto @RepMalliotakis' legislation to expel him from Congress. Read my full statement below⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SAbIrT4Hdg — Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) October 2, 2023 In a press release, Bowman stated, “I want to personally clear up confusion surrounding today’s events. Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open. I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused. “But I want to be very clear, this was not me, in any way, trying to delay any vote. It was the exact opposite — I was trying urgently to get to a vote, which I ultimately did and joined my colleagues in a bipartisan effort to keep our government open. I also met after the vote with the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police, at their request, and explained what had happened. My hope is that no one will make more of this than it was. I am working hard every day, including today, to do my job, to do it well, and deliver for my constituents.” Rep. Malliotakis wrote on X, “Today I’ll be introducing my resolution to EXPEL @RepBowman for his pathetic antics to delay congressional proceedings 12 HOURS before a shutdown. Of all people, a high school principal knows what a FIRE alarm does. No one is buying the excuses & he must be held accountable!”
Democratic governors to Joe Biden: Migrant crisis is ‘untenable,’ border ‘too open’
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is telling President Joe Biden the number of migrants arriving to Chicago from the southern U.S. border is accelerating. The situation is overwhelming, untenable and uncoordinated, he added. In a letter Pritzker sent the White House Monday, the governor said “the humanitarian crisis is overwhelming our ability to provide aid to the refugee population.” More than 15,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago in the past 13 months. With the letter, Pritzker joined a growing list of Democrats calling on the White House to do more. “Unfortunately, the welcome and aid Illinois has been providing to these asylum seekers has not been matched with support by the federal government,” the letter first reported by Capitol Fax said. “Most critically, the federal government’s lack of intervention and coordination at the border has created an untenable situation for Illinois.” Illinois taxpayers have covered more than $330 million on services for the migrants, a number Pritzker said is growing each day. “That’s a massive amount of money for a state still overcoming the health and economic effects of COVID-19,” Pritzker said. “Add to that the over $100 million the city of Chicago contributed.” Pritzker told Biden the situation is “untenable” and “requires your immediate help beyond the coming work authorizations for some of the asylum seekers.” The Biden administration should have one person provide oversight of the nation’s efforts at the border, Pritzker said, noting there are too many different federal department contacts who are not coordinated with each other. “A single office with an identified leader must be assigned to work for the cities and states across the silos of government to manage the challenges we all face,” Pritzker said. “It is time for the federal government to take a much more active role in managing the transport and destination of the transport of asylum seekers.” Pritzker said it is untenable to allow “just one state to lay the burden upon a certain few states run by Democrats …” While Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has been critical of Biden’s handling of the border by overseeing transportation of migrants crossing the southern U.S. border to Chicago, New York City, Washington D.C., and elsewhere, Democratic Mayor of El Paso Oscar Leeser has also been involved. In Arizona Monday, Gov. Katie Hobbs also expressed frustration with the flood of illegal border crossers and told The Center Square that the busing policy of some migrants from Arizona to other areas of the country is still in effect. “Yeah. As we’re seeing increases in folks coming in the NGO network at their capacity, we’re continuing to provide support, and that includes busing,” she said. In New York, a senior advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged Biden to “close the border.” “The federal government needs to do its job,” Adams’ advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin told PIX 11. “We need the federal government, the Congress members, the Senate, and the president to do its job: Close the borders.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told CBS Sunday that the border “is too open right now.” “People coming from all over the world are finding their way through, simply saying they need asylum, and the majority of them seem to be ending up in the streets of New York, and that is a real problem for New York City,” she said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed border security concerns. “You have a president that has delivered record funding, record funding to make sure that we have additional … border patrol federal employees at the border,” Jean-Pierre said. “We’ve made clear that attempting to cross the border unlawfully will result in prompt removal, a five-year ban on reentry, and potential criminal prosecution.” Among other recommendations Pritzker offered Biden include waiving fees for temporary protected status applications, increasing the logistical coordination and data collection, provide financial support to state, local government and non-government organizations for housing, food and social services, and approve Illinois’ requests for Medicaid waivers, housing vouchers, and federal coordination and support. “Today, Illinois stands mostly unsupported against this enormous strain on our state resources,” Pritzker said. “Mr. President, I urge you … and the rest of your administration to take swift action.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
