Tommy Tuberville dismisses reports Katie Britt influenced drop on military holds, likens U.S. Senate to a ‘cartel’
Appearing on the Dixon and Vining Show on Birmingham’s Talk 99.5 FM this morning with Richard Dixon and guest host Apryl Marie Fogel, Tommy Tuberville talked about a wide range of topics, focusing on what he described as the upcoming change in rules that resulted in his drop on military holds. Tuberville told Dixon and Fogel that while he cannot claim a victory on his eleven-month-long effort to stop the Department of Defense from expanding access to abortions on U.S. military bases, he intends to continue the fight in the future. He explained the timing of his actions this week, which resulted in 425 nominations being confirmed, saying, “They changed the rules on me in the last couple of months.” He claimed to have had the votes with bipartisan support to leave it in the military budget that he anticipates passing next week to change the policy back to where it was before the DOD’s post-Supreme Court updates. Expressing his frustration, he said, “This is not a government. This is a cartel. This is run by the Democrats.” Before going on to say, “I don’t understand some of my Republican colleagues,” describing the process where they agreed with Chuck Schumer to change the 200-year-old rule to lift his hold before the budget came to a vote. As reported by Politico in early November, several Republican members of the Senate took to the floor to force Tuberville’s hand on confirming 60 nominees. That effort was led by Senator Dan Sullivan, who was joined by Joni Ernst of Iowa, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Todd Young of Indiana, and Mitt Romney of Utah. Tuberville stressed, “We fought hard. I’m not done. We’re going to continue to fight; looks like we’re gonna have to get President [Donald] Trump back in office, then we’ll get it changed back.” He is continuing his hold of 4-star generals. The interview continued with Fogel asking about a Punchbowl News story that has gained national attention saying that Alabama’s junior senator Katie Britt acted as an intermediary in the final negotiations that led to his release of the holds. Tuberville demurred, saying they had had a “couple of conversations.” He then pivoted quickly to credit his colleagues Mike Lee, Roger Marshall, and Rick Scott for supporting his efforts over the last eleven months. He said if he got a call from anyone else, it was, “Hey, we need to get this done. You know it could hurt the election next year; could hurt our possibilities of getting a senator or two.” Tuberville emphasized that elections weren’t his priority, saying, “That wasn’t my concern.” Tuberville wrapped up his response to the report that Britt had a pivotal role in negotiations to end his hold. He said, “I don’t know where that other information came from.”
New lawsuit filed against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission
In May of 2021, the Alabama Legislature passed, and Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation making medical marijuana legal in the state. It is now 31 months later, and not one Alabamian has legally made the first dollar selling medical cannabis, but a lot of lawyers have been paid for their services. The newest lawsuit challenging the Alabama Cannabis Commission’s awarding of licenses was filed in federal court on Monday. On Friday, the Commission made license awards for cannabis cultivators, processors, state testing laboratories, and secure transporters. Enchanted Green, which was rejected for a processor license on Friday filed the suit. Four business entities were awarded medical cannabis processor licenses. These were: · Organic Harvest Lab, LLC · Coosa Medical Manufacturing · 1819 Labs, LLC · Jasper Development Group Inc. The original statute limits the Commission to a maximum of four processor licenses that it may award. In June the Commission announced that 1819 Labs, LLC; Enchanted Green, LLC; Jasper Development Group Inc.; and Organic Harvest Lab, LLC would get the four processor awards. Those previous awards were later rescinded by the Commission after failed applicants objected to the process and filed suit in Montgomery Circuit Court. Applicants who were denied licenses in June brought lawsuits complaining about the process. To settle those lawsuits, the Commission agreed to rescind the old awards and issue new awards without considering the scoring by the independent evaluators hired by the University of South Alabama. This time, Enchanted Green and Jasper Development tied in rankings compiled by the Commission for the fourth spot. Coosa Medical Manufacturing leapfrogged both of them to get the award. The Commissioners then broke the tie between Enchanted Green and Jasper Development Group by pulling names out of a bowl. The lawsuit claims that after the drawing, the Commissioners voted to award the license to Jasper Development and did not vote on Enchanted Green. Enchanted Green is claiming that their right to due process rights were violated and they asked the court to issue an emergency injunction to stop the AMCC from issuing the licenses. Enchanted Green has already paid $40,000 to the state for the license that was previously awarded and then rescinded. The previous U.S.A. rankings had Enchanted Green in second place. The new Commission rankings had them tied with Jasper Development for fourth place. They also objected to how the drawing was handled and that they were not allowed to inspect the ballots being drawn. “There was no evidence or indication that both applicants’ names were actually contained on pieces of paper in the bowl, that the pieces of paper were folded so the selecting commissioner could not see which one he was choosing, that the pieces of paper were the same size, weight, shape, character, and indistinguishable from one another other than the differing names on them, or that any other parameter(s) of a fair drawing were followed by the Commission and its commissioners,” the lawsuit said. If an injunction is placed on the licensing then it could be well into next year before Alabamians with a demonstrable medical need will be able to obtain legal medical cannabis. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama bill would allow high school athletes to make money off of their image
Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector An Alabama state representative has filed a bill that would allow high school athletes to make money off of their image. The legislation, HB25, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika, would be a name, image, and likeness (NIL) bill for high school athletes. The bill is limited to the athlete and does not allow the use of “marks, including a school logo, school name, school mascot, or trademarked logo or acronym of an athletic association,” alongside some other restrictions. “Because it’s already happening on a college level and what better way to get kids trained to the mindset of NIL by starting in high school,” Gray said in an interview on Monday. Alabama has had a state name, image, and likeness law since 2021, one that was revised in 2022 after it was deemed stricter than the NCAA’s later regulations. The NCAA allows college athletes to profit from their image, name, and likeness under NCAA NIL, according to NCSA Recruiting, ranging from the use of merchandise to autographs to running camps and clinics. According to The Hill, at least 30 states and Washington, D.C. have legislation that allows high school students to make money off of their image. Gray’s bill says that no student-athlete in the state “shall be prevented from receiving compensation for the use of his or her name, image, or likeness.” Gray, who played football at North Carolina State, said he doesn’t think it’s fair that schools, but not the athletes, are allowed to make money off of athletes. One reason for the bill, he said, is the difficulty in predicting how long an athletic career might last. “We may not make it to the NFL, NBA, WNBA, but a lot of athletes are training their entire lives for a moment where they can get actually compensated for their skills and talents,” he said. Ron Ingram, a spokesman for the Alabama High School Athletic Association, said no one from AHSAA was available to comment this week. Gray also said he wants to put Alabama on a level playing field with other states that have NIL laws for high school students. “Monetization is important to me when it comes to student-athletes, and especially on any level of high school, college, or in the NFL because so many people are making money off the athletes, and they’re not being able to capitalize on those opportunities, their sales, so this bill just really came from the premises of other states are doing it, and we just need to move towards that,” he said. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
Reps. Terri Sewell and Robert Aderholt win friendly football wager with Georgia colleagues
On Saturday, the University of Alabama football team bested the University of Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game 27 to 24. The win means Alabama gets to add their 30th conference championship trophy to their trophy case and gets to play in the college football playoffs. Georgia, who had been the number one ranked team in the country going into the game, fell out of the top four and was eliminated from playoff competition. The win also means that Congress members Terri Sewell (D-AL07) and Robert Aderholt (D-AL04) were victorious in their wager on the game with Georgia Congress members Nikema Williams (D-GA) and Buddy Carter (R-GA). Reps. Williams and Carter made good on their friendly wager with Sewell and Aderholt on Wednesday, treating the Alabama Congressmembers to a Chick-fil-A lunch. The Crimson Tide’s victory ended Georgia’s 29-game winning streak and effectively ended Georgia’s effort to win its third college football national championship. Sewell wrote on Facebook, “Thanks to our Georgia colleagues for making good on our wager after Bama’s SEC win!! Congressman Aderholt and I can confirm—Victory really does taste better with a side of chicken!” Rep. Aderholt said on X, “Roll Tide! Congratulations to the Tide. And @RepBuddyCarter @RepNikema I know that @RepTerriSewell and I are looking forward to that Chick-fil-A!” Roll Tide! Congratulations to the Tide. And @RepBuddyCarter @RepNikema I know that @RepTerriSewell and I are looking forward to that Chick-fil-A! pic.twitter.com/M960t1OQT8 — Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) December 3, 2023 Rep. Sewell may not be done with her sports wagers. “After Saturday’s big win, let’s see if we can find any Michigan colleagues brave enough to bet against the Tide,” added Sewell. Alabama, which is 12 and 1, next plays the University of Michigan in the first round of the College Football Playoffs on January 1. Michigan is 13 and 0, the Big 10 conference champion, and is the new number-one ranked team in the country. Alabama jumped from number 8 in the nation to number 4, while Georgia has fallen from number 1 to number 6 in the rankings. Florida State University won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game Saturday, but the College Football Playoffs Committee dropped the 13 and 0 FSU team from its number 4 spot (and a place in the playoffs) to number 5. FSU will play Georgia in a New Year’s Day bowl game. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama’s GOP presidential debate draws headlines
On Wednesday night, four Republican presidential candidates faced off in Tuscaloosa for the Fourth Republican Presidential Debate. This is the first presidential debate held in Alabama and the first-ever hosted by NewsNation. Frontrunner former President Donald Trump again chose not to participate in the debate. Recent polling has former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley in second place, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy rounded out the stage for what could be the last of the GOP presidential debates in this election. Haley continued her crusade to ban the Chinese government-controlled social media platform TikTok “once and for all.” Haley alleged that the site is fueling antisemitism. Haley also called for an end to anonymous social media identities. “Every person on social media should be verified by their name,” Haley said. “That’s, first of all, it’s a national security threat. When you do that, all of a sudden, people have to stand by what they say.” “That is not freedom; that is fascism, and she should come nowhere near the levers of power, let alone the White House,” Ramaswamy said of Haley and her proposal. Christie predicted that Trump would be convicted of one of the 140 plus charges he faces in four separate felony trials, so he won’t be able to even vote in 2024. “You’ll all be heading to the polls to vote, and that’s something Donald Trump will not be able to do,” Christie said. “Because he will be convicted of felonies before then, and his right to vote will be taken away. If we deny reality as a party, we’re going to have four more years of Joe Biden.” Christie also criticized Trump’s trade policy, which Haley supported. “All he did was impose tariffs, which raised the prices for every American,” said Christie. “Nikki Haley’s campaign launch video sounded like a woke Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light ad talking about how she would kick in heels,” Ramaswamy said. Haley said that Ramaswamy was not even worth responding to. “No, it’s not worth my time to respond to him,” Haley said when asked to respond. Christie opposes the Alabama Vulnerable Child Protection Act, which bans gender transitioning of children. Christie said that parents and not governments should make those decisions. “Republicans believe in less government, not more,” Christie said. “I trust parents.” “This is an angry, bitter man who now wants to be back as president because he wants to exact retribution on anyone who has disagreed with him,” Christie said of Trump. DeSantis said Trump is too old to be President. “Father time is undefeated,” Desantis said. “Right now, the average homeowner in America is 49 years old,” Haley said. “You’ve got young people everywhere. That used to be the American dream, and now it’s out of reach.” DeSantis said inflation and housing market prices are ‘taking the American dream away.’ “We’re gonna get the interest rates down,” DeSantis said. “We’ll reduce spending, and I believe we’re going to have to veto.” DeSantis said that student loans should be backed by colleges and universities instead of the federal government. “Another thing that’s burdening young people are these student loans,” DeSantis said. “These student loans are going to be backed by the universities because they need to have an incentive to produce gainful employment for people.” Haley promised that if elected, she would be “a no-drama president.” That would be a marked change from the Biden and Trump administrations, both of which have been noted for their scandals and investigations. “My approach is different: no drama, no vendettas, no whining.” Trump has called for the RNC to stop holding these debates. A fifth has not been scheduled. The Iowa presidential caucuses are just six weeks away. The Alabama presidential primary will be held on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Congressional candidate Ken McFeeters opposes proposed ADPH COVID rule
On Wednesday, Republican Congressional candidate Ken McFeeters announced his opposition to a proposed Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) new rule requiring all the healthcare providers in the state to report every positive COVID-19 test in their office to ADPH. The proposed new rule would reportedly even require the doctors to report every suspected COVID-19 case that comes into the office to state authorities. McFeeters condemned the proposed change in COVID-19 reporting requirements. McFeeters is running for the GOP nomination for Congressional District 6. The proposed rule changes would require all positive tests for COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 to be reported to the County or State Health Department within 24 hours. ADPH released the proposed changes on November 20, 2023. The new rules would put positive COVID test results in the same category as Rabies, Polio, Tuberculosis, and Legionairre’s disease. “This is just another example of the idiotic policies of ADPH and Dr. Scott Harris, our State Health Officer,” McFeeters said in a statement. “Dr. Harris got everything wrong during the COVID pandemic, and now he wants more power over us? To demand that every positive COVID test be reported to the Health Department within a day is ridiculous.” McFeeters is concerned that the new rule further infringes on Americans’ privacy rights. “The COVID tests are notoriously unreliable,” McFeeters continued. “The number of false positives they give is too high. A positive test in a person with no symptoms doesn’t merit an urgent call to ADPH to give them your age, sex, address, ethnicity, phone number, and birthday.” McFeeters told Alabama Today that the economy never should have shut down in 2020 over COVID. He is also skeptical of the vaccine’s effectiveness and believes that the suspected side effects outweigh the benefits of mass vaccination. “COVID isn’t rabies. It’s not TB. Yes, it’s dangerous for the old and sick, but for most of us, it’s just a cold,” McFeeters continued. “Dr. Harris and ADPH have been either clueless or complicit throughout the COVID pandemic. Scott Harris has been a good little drone, carrying out the orders of Drs. [Anthony] Fauci and [Rochelle] Walensky, pushing lockdowns, mandates, and treatment protocols that left thousands dead. At the same time, he’s touted the Big Pharma party line and worked to marginalize courageous doctors who were treating sick people and saving lives.” McFeeters continued, “We don’t need this hysteric, intrusive level of reporting for COVID tests. What we do need is accountability for Dr. Harris and ADPH for the tens of thousands of Alabamians killed or injured by their COVID mismanagement, their deadly “treatments,” and the toxic jabs they forced on us.” A public hearing on the proposed reporting changes will be held on December 13, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., at the Alabama Department of Public Health, RSA Tower, Training Room 982, 201 Monroe Street in Montgomery. Ken McFeeters co-founded PAC Insurance Agency at age 21, and has worked there for the last 42 years. McFeeters is a father and grandfather. McFeeters said in his statement that he is running for Congress to disrupt Washington’s toxic culture of deceit and corruption and protect everyday Americans. McFeeters will face incumbent Congressman Gary Palmer and businessman Gerrick Wilkins in the Alabama Republican primary on March 5. The eventual Republican nominee will face Democratic nominee Elizabeth Anderson in the November 5 general election. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt demand Biden Administration protect children at border from traffickers
On Monday, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 36 other Republican Senators in a letter calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to overhaul its policies regarding the treatment of unaccompanied alien children in the United States. Tuberville, Britt, and Grassley claim that ORR’s proposed rule – parts of which the agency is already enforcing – allows children to be placed in the custody of unvetted, potentially criminal sponsors and obstructs whistleblowers from reporting to Congress on abuse in the program. Tuberville, Britt, Grassley, and fellow Republicans are demanding that ORR rewrite its policies or face congressional action to overturn the finalized rule. “This Administration continues to turn a blind eye to the tragic human costs of its reckless agenda,” stated Sen. Britt in a statement. “The reality is that President [Joe] Biden’s border policies are anything but compassionate. Every single day, untold numbers of vulnerable children are being trafficked and recycled across our porous southern border. These innocent girls and boys are not living the American Dream – they’re facing an American nightmare. Meanwhile, women and men continue to be viciously trafficked by the cartels, and American families and communities continue to be devastated by the deadly fentanyl flowing into our nation. Enough is enough. It is past time to end this unprecedented humanitarian and national security crisis. Yet again, my Senate Republican colleagues and I are offering commonsense solutions to do just that.” “This Proposed Rule ignores nearly seven years of oversight conducted by Congress and the Office of Inspector General and reveals chronic foot-dragging—if not total reluctance—when it comes to protecting vulnerable children,” the Senators wrote. “It provides ample protections to government bureaucrats at the expense of children. Even more concerning, ‘the requirements being [adopted] in this proposed rule are already enforced by [the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)].’” “…ORR does not even consider a sponsor’s criminal record, current illegal drug use, history of abuse or neglect, or other child welfare concerns ‘necessarily disqualifying to potential sponsorship.’… In effect, ORR accepts a sponsor’s representations almost entirely on face value,” the senators continued. “ORR’s Proposed Rule abdicates the agency’s responsibility for protecting the vulnerable children in its custody from harmful behavior by poorly vetted, potential criminals. For these services, the taxpayer paid ORR $5.5 billion in FY2022. The Proposed Rule is wholly unworkable and ORR should discard it and its current practices. If not, Congress will have no choice but to introduce a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act,” the senators concluded. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Ron DeSantis: Donald Trump is too old to be president
By Casey Harper | The Center Square Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attacked former President Donald Trump’s age and sparred with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie over Trump’s mental fitness to be president during the Republican primary debate at the University of Alabama on Wednesday night. The remarks came after DeSantis was asked about previous comments in which he said Trump has “lost the zip on his fastball” and whether that meant he was questioning Trump’s mental fitness. “Father time is undefeated,” DeSantis said. “The idea that we are going to put somebody up there who is 80 and there is going to be no effects from that, we all know that’s not true. So we have an opportunity to do a next generation of leaders and really move this country forward.” The attack on Trump came in the second hour of the debate after a first hour of constant attacks between the candidates over their records, donors, and past comments. “I think we need to have somebody younger,” DeSantis said when asked directly by the moderator if Trump was mentally fit to be president. “I think when you get up to 80. I don’t think it’s a job for that.” Christie pushed DeSantis to give a yes or no answer to whether Trump is mentally fit or not. DeSantis answered by saying that Trump is not as bad as Biden was but is too old for the job. Trump did not participate in the debate, the fourth of this Republican primary. “We also need a president who can serve two terms,” DeSantis added, pointing out that Trump is only eligible to be a lame-duck president immediately because he has already served one term. “I don’t think Donald Trump will be able to get elected,” DeSantis added. “The Democrats, they are going to turn the screws the minute, if he got the nomination, you’re gonna see it.” Real Clear Politics’ polling averages show Trump with a wide lead over his GOP rivals, including in the early primary states. In Iowa, the first primary state to caucus, Trump leads nearly 30 points, and in New Hampshire Trump leads by about the same amount. Overall, Trump has 61% support, more than all his opponents combined. DeSantis is in second with 13.5% support, according to RCP, and Haley comes in third with 10.3%. Ramaswamy has 4.9% support overall. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Committees threaten Hunter Biden with contempt of Congress charge
Republican leadership on the House Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Hunter Biden Wednesday, threatening him with a contempt of Congress charge if he skips his scheduled Dec. 13 deposition. Those two committees are helping lead the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Members got into a public spat with Hunter Biden after his lawyer requested a public hearing, accusing Republicans of twisting private testimony. House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said Hunter Biden will be deposed but will likely be allowed to testify publicly at a later date. “On November 8, 2023, we issued subpoenas to your client, Robert Hunter Biden, for a deposition on December 13, 2023,” reads the Wednesday letter to Hunter’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell. “We received your letters dated November 28, 2023, and December 6, 2023, concerning the deposition subpoenas. Contrary to the assertions in your letter, there is no ‘choice’ for Mr. Biden to make; the subpoenas compel him to appear for a deposition on December 13. If Mr. Biden does not appear for his deposition on December 13, 2023, the Committees will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings.” The committees issued subpoenas in recent weeks to Hunter Biden and several other Biden family members and associates. The impeachment inquiry has intensified in recent months as the Oversight Committee released a steady stream of evidence to back allegations that the president financially benefited from his son’s overseas business dealings. IRS whistleblower testimony, bank records, and testimony from long-time Hunter Biden associate Devon Archer show the Biden family and associates received more than $20 million from several overseas entities, including in China, Russia, and Ukraine. Archer has said publicly that the president joined several phone calls on speaker phone with his son, Hunter, where Hunter’s business associates were present. Copies of two checks totaling $240,000 show direct payments to the president from his family members with a memo saying “loan repayment.” Comer, though, points out those checks came right after Hunter Biden received $5 million from a China-linked company. Hunter received that money through his joint venture with a Chinese national, the same venture that paid the president nearly $1,400 on a monthly basis, according to recently released bank records. An AP/NORC poll from October found that only 30% of Americans think the president did not do anything illegal or unethical related to his son’s business. Biden responded to a question from a reporter Wednesday asking why the president interacted so much with those associates. “I did not,” Biden said. “It’s just a bunch of lies. They’re lies. I did not. They’re lies.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Florida Senate committee approves three criminal justice bills
By Andrew Powell | The Center Square Contributor The Florida Senate’s Criminal Justice Committee signed off on three bills Tuesday, including one that would expunge certain criminal records and another that would criminalize the harassment of first responders. Senate Bill 54 was presented to the committee by its sponsor state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral. It would revise the eligibility criteria for a person with a criminal history expunged if a court dismissed it. The bill would allow a person to have their criminal history expunged as an adult if they had a previous record as a juvenile. Rodriguez filed an identical bill during the 2023 regular session, SB 504, but Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the bill. Rodriguez stated that there is a need for workers in Florida, and being unable to expunge one’s criminal record puts up barriers for people trying to find gainful employment. “I think at a time where the state and the nation are having a hiring epidemic, and businesses are hurting for workers, this bill would remove the barrier of an arrest which had no conviction from someone’s record, and allow them to become a working, productive, and tax paying citizen,” Rodriguez said. The bill was reported favorably and is now with the Fiscal Policy Committee. SB 188 was introduced by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, and co-sponsored by Sen. Jason Broduer, R-Lake Mary. It would amend specific Florida statutes to make it a third-degree felony offense to trespass on a commercial agricultural property with the intent to commit a crime. Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, raised concerns about people wandering onto commercial property unintentionally and receiving a felony charge for it. Committee Chair Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, explained that the bill is specific for people who intend to commit a crime which is established through evidence gathered by investigators. The bill passed favorably and is now with the Agricultural Committee. SB 184 was presented by Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah Gardens. It would criminalize the act of impeding, threatening, or harassing a first responder if that person has received a warning to not approach and allow the first responder to perform their legal duty. Sen. Avila stated that the bill adds a layer of protection for not only first responders but those they are attempting to help. The bill passed favorably and is now in the Community Affairs Committee. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
