Scott Stadthagen honored by the American Legislative Exchange
Alabama House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) was honored by the American Legislative Exchange Council on Wednesday night as one of the top “50 Under 50” legislators in the nation who best represent the conservative policy think tank’s principles and values. Stadthagen accepted the award at the ALEC 50th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C. He was recognized for his commitment to empowering parents to make the best decisions in their children’s education and providing tax relief to his constituents, as well as sponsoring and passing several significant pieces of legislation that include prohibiting hostile nations from acquiring property in Alabama and expanding penalties for unlawful entry of critical infrastructure. “Since taking office, I have worked hard to represent and reflect the strong conservative beliefs and core moral values that the constituents in my district and the majority of Alabamians hold close,” Stadthagen said. “While those efforts and the privilege of holding office are already deeply fulfilling, having a respected group like ALEC include me among the nation’s top conservative lawmakers makes the honor of public service even more special.” Lisa B. Nelson is the Chief Executive Officer of ALEC. Nelson praised Stadthagen for his strong commitment to promoting conservative policies at the state level, which earned him the group’s recognition as one of the top young lawmakers in the nation. “Leader Stadthagen has been a steadfast defender of ALEC’s founding principles of limited government, free markets, and federalism,” Nelson said. “Scott is an invaluable member of the 50-under-50 class, and the men and women of Alabama’s ninth House district are lucky to have him as their state representative.” Stadthagen was originally elected to the Alabama House in 2018. Stadthagen was selected as House Majority Leader by his Republican colleagues in 2022 and currently holds seats on the body’s Rules, State Government, and Fiscal Responsibility committees. Stadthagen has owned Hagen Homes Incorporated since 2007 and has served on a number of local boards, including the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce, the Morgan County Builders Association, and the Economic Development Group of Hartselle. Stadthagen and his wife, Amy, have one daughter. The “ALEC 50 Under 50” program recognized Stadthagen coincides with the group’s anniversary, marking a half-century since its founding. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Regions Foundation, YMCA of Greater Birmingham break ground on transformative project
By: Jeremy King It’s not about meeting one need. This isn’t just delivering one service. It’s about serving the whole person … the whole family … the whole community. The Regions Foundation, a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank, recently joined the YMCA of Greater Birmingham to break ground on a development designed to have a major, positive impact on northeast Birmingham. The YMCA is using a major grant from the Regions Foundation, plus funding from additional community partners that joined the initiative, to deliver affordable housing, provide more educational support, and address health care needs – all at the Northeast Y’s campus in Birmingham’s Roebuck community. How it’s happening Not only is the Northeast Y getting renovated to include a new community resource center and increased early-learning opportunities, the Y is also taking an innovative approach toward additional needs. For example: What they’re saying “This is about more than meeting a single need; it’s about creating real solutions, bringing together affordable housing, health care, educational opportunities and more,” said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation. “This type of impact does not happen in a vacuum. This type of transformation can only happen through collaboration and partnership,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “On behalf of this grateful city, I want to thank you all for making this a reality. You’re changing lives … You’re literally improving the quality of life of our citizens … of our residents,” Woodfin said. “It’s exciting to see this come to life. Our community, our partners, and major donors believed in the vision and came together to transform Roebuck for future generations,” said Terri Harvill, chief social impact officer of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham “We have to be the change that we want to see. The days of where we can talk – that’s no longer going to get it. We are going to have to invest. So, I want to thank everyone who has invested in this vision,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales. “We’re not just rebuilding or renovating a building. We’re here to build a brighter future. Today is not just about brick and mortar and this land. Today is about the soul of a community; it’s about the countless lives that will be touched, the dreams that will be nurtured,” said Alicia Lumpkin-Whitfield, board chair for the Northeast YMCA. In summary Development and renovation work will begin immediately. The impact will last for generations. A version of this story originally appeared on the Regions Bank news site, Doing More Today.
Gov. Kay Ivey lacks confidence in library chief Nancy Pack
On Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey sent an open letter to Alabama Public Library Service director Nancy Pack. Ivey had previously sent a letter to Pack expressing her growing concern about the libraries and the state’s affiliation with the ultra-liberal American Library Association. Pack, in her response, defended the Alabama Libraries Association. Ivey made it clear in Wednesday’s letter that she was displeased. “I still lack confidence that our libraries are most effectively fulfilling their mission,” Ivey said. “In my previous letter to you, I described the core problem as the exposure of children and youth to inappropriate materials without adequate means of parental supervision. Unfortunately, your response does not persuade me that Alabama libraries have policies in place to strike the right balance in responding to this problem.” Pack said it is the parent’s responsibility to protect children from harmful material, not the libraries. “Parents should be confident that the materials available in children’s sections are, in fact, suitable for children. And children should have the freedom to wander freely in a children’s section without being exposed to harmful materials,” Ivey wrote. Libraries have become front and center in the ongoing culture wars. As one former librarian explained to Alabama Today, a large part of a librarian’s work is “managing and building their collections.” Children’s books about children and alternative lifestyles, gender transitioning, and the LGBTQ+ experience did not just suddenly appear on the shelves at a neighborhood public library. Libraries have fixed budgets and only so much money to buy new books and shelf space to store books. If those books are on the shelves in the library, in most cases, it was the librarian who made the decision that the library needs LGBTQ+ books geared to kids. As Pack said in a recent appearance on Capital Journal, children living in an LGBTQ+ home where there are two mommies or two daddies want to be able to go to the library and find books with families like theirs. Social conservatives argue that LGBTQ+ books should be in an LGBTQ+ section, if present at all. The librarians say that that is censorship. Conservatives, on the other hand, contend that the local library is an arm of city government and that the city governments should have some say on the content that is on the shelves in the city library and are thus putting pressure on city mayors and councils to get their libraries more appropriate for children. Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl, who also serves on the state’s library board, has suggested that there are ways that the state Legislature could step in to this situation. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Three judge panel will rule on Alabama’s congressional districts soon
On Tuesday, the three-judge panel hearing the Alabama Congressional redistricting case listened to arguments for and against the three maps prepared by the special master, Richard Allen. The court held an 80-minute hearing at the federal courthouse in Birmingham on Tuesday. The three-judge panel includes U.S. Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus, federal District Judge Anna Manasco, and federal District Judge Terry Moorer. Plaintiffs tended to prefer map 1, which divides Houston County and includes the City of Dothan into Congressional District 2. The Alabama Attorney General’s office has objected to this entire process and has vowed to defend the July 2023 redistricting map prepared by the state Legislature. The court previously 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. Incumbents Republican Congressmen Jerry Carl and Barry Moore both now live in the First Congressional District. All three maps divide Mobile County. In June, the three-judge panel ordered the Legislature to pass a new congressional redistricting map to include two majority-minority districts “or something close to it.” The Legislature refused and instead defied the court’s authority by passing their own map that kept White majorities in six of Alabama’s seven congressional districts. In August, the three-judge panel rejected the Legislature’s plan as having violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The court rejected the state’s map and appointed Allen to draw new maps. The federal courts have already ruled that the state’s 2021 congressional rezoning likely violated section two of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Secretary of State Wes Allen has told the courts that the state needs to know which map is chosen due to the quickly approaching 2024 election cycle. Democratic candidate qualifying has already opened, and Republican candidate qualifying opens on October 16. The major party primaries will both be held on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
White House cancels $9 billion in student debt for 125,000 Americans
The White House announced Wednesday another round of student loan debt forgiveness months after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a broader effort by President Joe Biden to cancel some student loan debts. Biden said that an additional 125,000 Americans were approved for $9 billion in debt relief through fixes made to income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and by canceling debt for borrowers with total and permanent disabilities. The administration’s plan provides $5.2 billion in additional debt relief for 53,000 borrowers under Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs, almost $2.8 billion in new debt relief for nearly 51,000 borrowers through fixes to income-driven repayment and $1.2 billion for nearly 22,000 borrowers who have a total or permanent disability who have been identified and approved for discharge through a data match with the Social Security Administration, according to the White House. In July, the Department of Education announced that $39 billion in federal student loan debt for about 800,000 borrowers would be discharged. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Biden’s plan to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in debt through the HEROES Act. That plan would have forgiven $10,000 per qualifying borrower and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. In Biden v. Nebraska, the Supreme Court ruled the administration’s plan to cancel $10,000 in loan debt for people making up to $125,000 or married couples making up to $250,000 exceeded the scope of the 2003 HEROES Act. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority in the 6-3 ruling that the 20-year-old federal law allows “modest adjustments” in loan forgiveness programs but not sweeping changes that “transform them.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan announce bids to replace Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House
By Casey Harper | The Center Square House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La, both announced Wednesday their bid to replace Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as Speaker of the House. A vote for a new Speaker is reportedly not expected until Oct. 11, giving lawmakers about a week to plan their next move. McCarthy, who was pushed out after striking a deal with Democrats to keep the government open, said he does not plan to run again for the position. “I think Matt has planned this all along,” McCarthy told reporters. “It didn’t matter what transpired. He would’ve done it if we were in shutdown or not.” Scalise’s and Jordan’s announcement comes after a handful of House Republicans joined Democrats to oust Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from his role as Speaker of the House, the first time Congress has ever done so. Now, the House has until mid-November to elect a new Speaker and pass some kind of spending measure or face a government shutdown. Scalise sent a letter to House Republicans asking for their support. “Our strength as a Conference comes from our unity, and we have seen when we unite as a Conference, we can deliver wins for the American people,” the letter said. “Now we need to take those unified positions and work to extract conservative wins from the Democrat Senate and White House by leveraging upcoming deadlines. While we need to be realistic about what can be achieved, if we stay united, we can preserve leverage for the House to secure tangible wins in our impending policy fights.” Jordan sent a similar letter to his fellow Republicans asking for their support. “We must address rising crime in major cities and reject soft-on-crime, pro-criminal policies,” the letter said. “We must get our fiscal house in order and reduce spending so that we can leave more to the next generation than a crushing deficit. We must do our constitutional oversight of the federal bureaucracy to ensure they work for the American people not the other way around. And we must continue working to secure the border and protect our national security. “I respectfully ask for your support for Speaker of the House of Representatives,” the letter added. Jordan’s move was welcomed by some Republicans like Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who filed the motion to oust McCarthy. “We should get to electing a new, more conservative and more trustworthy Speaker immediately,” Gaetz wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I’m calling on [Patrick McHenry] who is currently the Speaker Pro Tem, to reconsider the decision that he just made to send everyone in Congress home for a week. This is not the time to go home for a week. We should stay and elect a new Speaker.” Other potential frontrunners to replace McCarthy include Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla, who suggested he might run. Some lawmakers spoke out to make clear they are not running. “While I appreciate the confidence of some colleagues and their request that I step into the Speaker race, my team and I have been doing important work on the Homeland Security Committee – and we still have much more to do to hold President [Joe] Biden and Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas for one of the worst national security failures in the history of the country,” Rep. Mark Green, chair of the Homeland Security Committee, wrote on X. “Therefore, I am not throwing my name into the race,” he added. With the existing divide in the party, it may be impossible for any Speaker to be successful. “The most important issue facing the next House speaker is soaring federal debt pushing the nation to the brink of fiscal disaster,” Chris Edwards, an expert at the Cato Institute, told The Center Square. “Interest rates on 10-year government bonds have shot up far above projections to 4.8 percent and rising, which will raise the burden of accumulated debt to crushing levels. “America needs a new House speaker – and presidential candidates – who put spending restraint and debt reduction as top national priorities,” he added. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
