Robert Aderholt joins letter demanding answers about new gun restrictions
On Tuesday, Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) joined a letter by Congressman Mark Green, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to the Biden Administration demanding answers on restrictions on civilian firearm exports. Chairman Green’s letter to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), an agency of the Department of Commerce, was signed by 86 other lawmakers. “President Biden has made it clear through his actions that he has no desire to uphold the Second Amendment,” said Rep. Aderholt. “He has previously moved to restrict hunting and archery programs in schools, and now he is he is prohibiting law-abiding businesses from selling their firearms overseas.” “First, President [Joe] Biden tried to strip funding from hunting and archery programs in our schools because of his antipathy for the Second Amendment,” said Rep. Green. “Now, he is prohibiting law-abiding businesses from selling their firearms overseas. This administration must explain itself.” In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “As long as evil persists, there will always be a need for good people to defend themselves and their loved ones. The need for the Second Amendment was not limited to the American Revolution nor the American Republic. Every person has a right to self-defense. Not only does BIS’s pause on firearms export licenses leave people even more vulnerable, but it will also push buyers to look elsewhere to meet their customers’ demands.” “Belligerent actors are becoming more aggressive and emboldened; regimes like Iran and China are posturing toward force and increasing their military capabilities,” the members of Congress continued. “The surprise attacks against Israel should dispel any notion that BIS can justly or accurately assess who needs firearms for defense and who does not.” The lawmakers conclude: “We demand that the Department end this ridiculous hypocrisy and continue the issuance of export licenses for firearms, related components, and ammunition. Continuing this pause will only weaken law-abiding civilians and hand criminal actors a monopoly of force. We also urge that BIS’s final assessment not deprive innocent people of the means for self-defense.” Congressmen Mike Rogers (R-AL03), Barry Moore (R-AL02), and Gary Palmer (R-AL06) were also cosigners. This letter was endorsed by The National Rifle Association (NRA), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Gun Owners of America (GOA), American Suppressors Association (ASA), the Firearms & Ammunition Import/Export Roundtable, and Heritage Action. Robert Aderholt has represented Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District since 1996. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Five Democrats have qualified for Second Congressional District
Five Democrats have qualified to run for Congress in the Second Congressional District. The list of qualified candidates includes James Averhart, State Rep. Napoleon Bracy, State Rep. Jeremy Gray, Phyllis Harvey-Hall, and Willie J. Lenard. James Averhart is a retired U.S. Marine, who ran previously in CD1 against Jerry Carl in 2020. He lives in Mobile. “The American citizenry deserves and expects more of its leadership,” Averhart said. “We should no longer settle for those who continue to promulgate untruths and spew divisive rhetoric. We deserve leadership who will extol the truth and hold in high regard a united nation.” Napoleon Bracy is a long-time State Representative representing Prichard – one of the poorest major cities in Alabama. Bracy works for Austal USA. “We are taking this thing to Congress,” Bracy said. “This district is made up of so many cities, communities, and neighborhoods just like the one I grew up in—places hurting with high poverty and crime rates, unemployment that just doesn’t have a lot of opportunities, some of it is because they’ve been overlooked. This gives us an opportunity to finally have a seat at the table and get the things we deserve.” Jeremy Gray represents Lee and Russell Counties in the Alabama House of Representatives. “It’s time for a new generation of leadership to bend the arc of justice,” Gray said. “Because the American Dream should be a promise, not a privilege.” “For too many in Alabama, working hard simply isn’t enough to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads,” Gray said. “Our community needs leadership so that we have opportunities not just to get by but to thrive. “For too many in Alabama, working hard simply isn’t enough to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. Our community needs leadership so that we have opportunities not just to get by but to thrive. That’s why I’m excited to announce that I’m running for Congress – to give voice to these challenges in Washington and to find solutions that will improve the lives of everyone in our community.” “Growing up in Opelika, I was raised in a small house by a single mother and my grandma,” Gray continued. “We lived paycheck to paycheck. But in my Grandma’s house, we made space for everyone. On the football field, I learned the value of teamwork. In the Alabama State House, I fought for the most vulnerable among us.” Gray is the House Minority Whip. Phyllis Harvey-Hall ran for the Second Congressional District in 2022 and 2020, losing both times to Barry Moore (R). Hall is a career educator with both bachelor’s and advanced degrees, “It’s time that Alabama’s 2nd district has a leader that will represent them and bring communities together,” said Harvey-Hall on Facebook. “It’s time for Alabama to have a leader that will fight for everyone to have a better quality of life.” Willie J. Lenard is much less known at this point. He has qualified but has not yet released a statement or started a campaign website. We will have more details in the coming days. State Sens. Kirk Hatcher and Merika Coleman have talked about running but, to this point, have not qualified with the Alabama Democratic Party. Friday is the last day to qualify with either major party. The primary is on March 5. The eventual winner of the Democratic party nomination will face the Republican nominee a year from now in the November election. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Caroleene Dobson qualifies for Congress in Congressional District 2
On Thursday, Montgomery attorney Caroleene Dobson officially qualified with the Republican Party to run for Alabama’s Second Congressional District. Currently, Dobson is the only qualified candidate for the GOP nomination for the newly redrawn CD2. Dobson grew up on a farm in Beatrice. She has a degree from Harvard and a law degree from Baylor University Law School. She practices real estate law. “As a member of Congress, I will fight for our families, our farms, and our faith and preserve the bedrock values and moral backbone that have made our nation the greatest ever known,” Dobson said. “It is time to give Washington, D.C. a good dose of Alabama common sense and go to battle against those on the far left who want to control how we use our property and what we do, think, and say.” Dobson is a member of the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Southeast Livestock Exposition, and the Birmingham Chapter of the Federalist Society. Dobson has promised to protect property rights and free speech rights if she is elected to Congress. Dobson grew up on a cattle farm and excelled in high school rodeo. She was a National Merit finalist and a U.S. Presidential Scholar. She currently practices with Maynard Nexsen in Birmingham. Dobson and her husband, Bobby, have two daughters. State Representative Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika) and Willie Lenard have both qualified to run as Democrats for the seat. Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery), Rep. Napoleon Bracy (D-Prichard), and Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson have announced that they are running but have not qualified to run yet. Congressman Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) currently represents District 2, but the court-appointed special master drew Moore and his home County (Coffee) out of the Second District and into the First. He is seeking a third term in his new home district against incumbent Congressman Jerry Carl (R-Mobile). The new District 2 spans the state from the Mississippi line to the Georgia line and includes Mobile, Montgomery, Greenville, Troy, Union Springs, Eufaula, and Phenix City, Qualifying for the Republican and Democratic candidates ends on November 10. The major party primaries are on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Barry Moore announces that he is running for a third term
On Monday, Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) qualified to run for his third term in the United States House of Representatives. Due to the recent court-ordered redistricting, Moore will face incumbent Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) in Alabama’s First Congressional District. The redrawn First Congressional District now includes the residences of both Moore and Carl within its boundaries. Moore currently represents the second congressional district, but he and half the Wiregrass were redrawn out of it. Moore told 1819 News that he qualified on Monday because it was the ninth anniversary of his not-guilty verdict in his perjury charge. “I became a conservative who was attacked by the swamp itself, but it was the Montgomery swamp at that time,” Moore told 1819 News. “That was the thing that changed the trajectory of my life that we felt we were called into this fight. That being the nine-year anniversary, we thought that was a great day to announce that we are going to continue to stay in this fight for limiting government to stop the weaponization of government against American citizens. That’s been my fight on Judiciary. That’s been my fight since I’ve been in D.C..” Moore was loosely ensnared in the state prosecutors’ effort to convict then-Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn). While Moore received a not-guilty verdict, Hubbard and three other House members were convicted of crimes. “I am a true conservative, and the system doesn’t like a true conservative,” Moore added. “This being the ninth anniversary, this is just a way to say, ‘Hey, we’re in this fight for the American people.’ Sure, we’re battle-weary some days. I mean, it wears you out, but we’re called in this fight.” Barry Moore has served two terms in the U.S. Congress from 2021 to the present. He previously served two terms in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018. He grew up on a farm in Coffee County and has a degree in agriculture from Auburn University. He and his wife, Heather, started and operate a small waste management service in Enterprise. Jerry Carl is also serving his second term in Congress. He is a successful businessman and former chairman of the Mobile County Commission. The primary is on March 5, 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Napoleon Bracy, Kirk Hatcher enter Democratic race for 2nd congressional district
by Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector Two Democratic state legislators have entered the race for Alabama’s new 2nd Congressional District, and a third said Monday he will decide whether to get in in the next 10 days. Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, said in an interview Monday that he will run for the seat. The district stretches from the Mississippi border to the Georgia line and includes Montgomery and much of the Black Belt. “We have an opportunity in this district, for these counties represented, to impact a whole host of issues,” said Hatcher. Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, said in a statement Monday he would also run for the new seat. “This is our time, our time to have a seat at the table built on the backs of those who, my entire lifetime, had been disregarded by their Congressional representatives due to their voting record or area code,” the statement said. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said in a phone interview Monday he would make a decision about the race before Nov. 9. The new 2nd Congressional District, created by a federal court order at the beginning of October, has a Black Voting Age Population (BVAP) of about 48.7%. With patterns of racial polarization in voting in Alabama, where white Alabamians tend to support Republicans and Black Alabamians tend to support Democrats, the seat is considered a pick-up opportunity for Democrats. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, is currently the only Democrat in Alabama’s seven-member U.S. House delegation. Hatcher, the director of Project Head Start in Montgomery, said he wanted to be an advocate for additional educational resources and for the military bases within the district. Hatcher also said he wants to get more “equity” when it comes to infrastructure issues. “I’m one of those individuals who’s not going in to upset the apple cart,” he said. “I go in to see what works.” Hatcher was elected to the Alabama House in 2018. He won election to the Alabama Senate in 2021 and was re-elected in 2021. Alabama Political Reporter first reported Hatcher’s candidacy. Hatcher said Monday he had the support of Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, who had been seen as a top candidate for the race. Reed told Al.com’s Mike Cason earlier this month that he was considering a run. Adam Muhlendorf, a spokesman for Reed, said Monday the mayor had no comment on his congressional plans. Bracy, a member of the Alabama House since 2010, touted his legislative leadership, including his prior service as chair of the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus in 2013. “At the heart of progress is education, healthcare, economics, and workforce development,” Bracy’s statement said. “And in communities where poverty is still real and economic development is scarce, we have watched the world grow around us while feeling the strain of disinvestment with no one to stand in the gap.” Bracy did not provide further comment beyond the statement. Daniels, who has touted his connections with Bullock County, said he had a track record of delivering programs around the state, including a bill passed in the Republican-controlled Legislature this spring to exempt overtime pay from income tax. He also cited work on behalf of Democratic candidates around the state. “What have you done to make an impact? That’s what voters want to know,” he said. Other figures may jump into the race. Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, said Monday that she was still exploring a candidacy, but she had not decided. She has filed with the FEC due to technicalities around her exploratory committee. Former Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Pike Road, said Monday he is still considering a run in the district. U.S. Rep Barry Moore’s chief of staff confirmed to Al.com’s John Sharp that he would be running in the new 1st Congressional District, setting up a primary battle with current U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile. The new map drew Moore, currently the U.S. representative for the 2nd Congressional District, into the 1st Congressional District. Brewbaker said that Moore’s decision “clears the way for me to run in the 2nd.” “But until I qualify, I don’t want to make an official announcement because you never know what God has for a person,” he said. One other candidate confirmed their candidacy Monday. Phyllis Harvey-Hall said in a phone interview Monday that she is running to be the “people’s candidate” and pointed to her previous runs in the district. Hall’s concerns included women’s healthcare and autonomy, as well as hospitals in rural areas. “So I’m running to be a people’s candidate, the voice and someone that’s going to fight for the things that we need today,” she said. Federal Election Commission filings also show that Harvey-Hall filed on Oct. 18, Terrell Anderson filed in April, and Austin Vigue filed in 2022. The Democratic primary for the seat will take place in March. Editor Brian Lyman contributed to this report. 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.
Katie Britt leads Alabama delegation in letter opposing expanded critical habitat designation for endangered Rice’s whale
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) announced that she led members of the Alabama Congressional delegation in sending a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Richard Spinrad expressing the delegation’s concerns that a recent proposal by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to create a new and expanded critical habitat designation for the Rice’s whale would negatively impact the Port of Mobile. “The lack of justification for this proposal is glaring, and the inevitable, devastating consequences it would have on Alabama’s economy and the Gulf fishing industry are undeniable,” said Sen. Britt. “We implore Administrator Spinrad to reject this harmful petition that relies on unproven research and would significantly hinder operations at the Port of Mobile, which hardworking Americans rely on for goods, supplies, and materials each and every day.” “We also have significant concerns with the seriously damaging ideas in the Rice’s whale petition, which NMFS has noticed,” Britt and the Alabama delegation wrote. “The petitioners seek to stop vessel transits at night, require complete reporting of vessel plans to NMFS, and create onerous requirements for vessels to employ and utilize visual observers on all vessels. Severely curtailing operations at the Port of Mobile and strangling the commercial and recreational fishing operations off the Alabama coast, these illogical burdens would cause irreparable harm to the Alabama economy – all while current science does not demonstrate they will save any Rice’s whales.” In the letter, the Members urged NOAA not to finalize the critical habitat designation because there is a lack of scientifically supported data to adequately justify this action. They also requested that NOAA reject the proposals. “While protecting endangered species is a laudable goal, we are concerned at the lack of adequate scientific justification for NMFS’ proposed designation of additional critical habitat for the Rice’s whale,” Sen Britt and the other members of the Alabama delegation wrote. “NMFS has shown only limited studies offering indefinite scientific support to draw conclusions about the population and range of the Rice’s whale. Until sound, scientifically supported data is available, this designation should not move forward.” “As a coastal state, Alabama relies heavily on commercial activity in and out of the Gulf of Mexico,” Britt and the Congress members wrote. “In 2021 alone, the Port of Mobile generated more than $85 billion in total economic activity and more than $2 billion in tax revenue. The Port handles more than 55 million tons of commercial goods each year, reaching every state in the nation and providing clothing, tools, construction materials, automobiles, and parts that Americans rely on each and every day. In addition, Alabama’s commercial fishing operations provide more than $291 million in economic value, and recreational fishing adds another $452 million in economic value to the region. Combined, these activities directly employ more than 330,000 people in Alabama.” The proposed ten-knot speed limit and the inability to traverse the 28,000-square-mile habitat area at night to avoid hitting any whales would mean greater transit times in and out of the Port of Mobile. Thus, commercial traffic would merely move to another route and avoid Mobile. Sen. Britt was joined in sending the letter by Congressmen Jerry Carl (R-AL01), Barry Moore (R-AL02), Mike Rogers (R-AL03), Robert Aderholt (R-AL04), Dale Strong (R-AL05), and Gary Palmer (R-AL06). Although U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) was not a signatory, he has already publicly expressed his opposition to the critical habitat designation for the Rice’s whale and questioned the validity of the science behind these proposals. “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.” Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Reps. Mike Rogers, Barry Moore, and Gary Palmer praise election of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives finally ended weeks of chaos by electing a new Speaker of the House. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was the fourth choice of the House Republican Conference. Johnson is the 56th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in American history. Congressmen Mike Rogers (R-AL03), Barry Moore (R-AL02), and Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released statements praising the choice. Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Johnson is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “The election of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House sends a strong message to our adversaries,” Rogers said in a statement. “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he has a deep knowledge of the threats facing our nation and has a proven track record in working to counter those threats, particularly from China. Every member of this committee understands how critical the National Defense Authorization Act is for our national security, Mike is no different. The NDAA boosts our national defense, provides for our servicemembers, and deters our adversaries. I look forward to working with Speaker Johnson to advance the National Defense Authorization Act later this year.” Moore served with him on the House Judiciary Committee. “Congratulations to my good friend, Mike Johnson, on becoming the 56th Speaker of the House,” said Moore. “Speaker Johnson is a man of faith and conviction, and it has been a pleasure serving with him on the House Judiciary Committee. I was proud to support him on the House floor. I look forward to working with him as Speaker to secure our border, push back against the Biden administration and the Democrats’ radical agenda, and restore fiscal sanity to Washington.” Rep. Palmer had been a candidate himself but withdrew on Tuesday morning, pledging to support whoever won the Speaker’s gavel. “This is an important day for the country,” said Rep. Palmer. “House Republicans are united behind a principled, unwavering conservative in Speaker Mike Johnson. Mike is a good friend I have worked closely with, and I know he will live out his faith in God by leading the House with honor as we serve the American people. Mike is committed to a plan of action to get our fiscal house in order, address the rampant illegal immigration at our southern border, and fill the void of leadership President Biden has left on the world stage.” Johnson was nominated by the Caucus on Tuesday night after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) withdrew from the race after former President Donald Trump denounced Emmer as a “Globalist Rino” on Truth Social. Emmer had been chosen Tuesday from a field of nine candidates that had included Palmer and Johnson. After Emmer withdrew, the House Republican Conference went back into closed session, determined to find a candidate that all House GOP factions could support. The previous nominees, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), both had previously failed to unite the House members. This crisis began when Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) was ousted. Palmer added, “Speaker Johnson and the House Republicans are ready to work for the American people.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mike Johnson is GOP’s fourth choice to be Speaker of the House
House Republicans have nominated Congressman Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) for Speaker of the House on Tuesday night after Tuesday morning’s nominee crashed and burned. Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) told Alabama Today on Saturday that he really liked Johnson. Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL05) announced his support for Johnson on the social media site X. “Since day 1 I have called for our party to unite around a conservative speaker,” Strong said. “I am proud to announce that the conference has selected Mike Johnson from Louisiana and I look forward to supporting him on the floor.” On Tuesday morning, the GOP started with nine candidates, including Alabama’s own Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06). Palmer dropped out of the race, pledging to support whoever became the Speaker of the House. The House Republican Conference then chose House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) after five rounds of voting. The ousted Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy (R-California), endorsed Emmer. Former President Donald Trump was not an Emmer fan and denounced Emmer as a “Globalist RINO” on Truth Social. More than two dozen Republican House members were refusing to support Emmer. Trump’s rebuke made it apparent that the moderate from a blue state had no chance, so he dropped out. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) explained in a post on X, formerly Twitter, why she didn’t back Emmer: his voting record. “Today I voted against Tom Emmer on all rounds of voting including the spoken roll call vote because he has a voting record I can’t support,” Green said. “He voted for Democrat gay marriage bill, voted with Democrats to overturn President Trump’s transgender military ban, voted for every penny of Ukraine funding, at one time supported the Soros national popular vote scheme, and voted to certify Biden’s 2020 election. We need a Republican Speaker that reflects the values of Republican voters that can lead our conference.” Johnson was chosen by Republicans in a conference vote on Tuesday night. He follows Emmer, Jim Jordan, and Steve Scalise as the party’s nominee. Johnson represents Louisiana’s Fourth District. He represents the nearly 760,000 residents of 16 parishes in the northwest and western regions of the state. He was first elected in 2016. In January 2021, Johnson was elected Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. Johnson also serves as a Deputy Whip for the 118th Congress. Johnson is an attorney with two decades of previous experience in Constitutional law. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee and is the chairman of its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. He also serves on the Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and the House Armed Services Committee. Johnson is a husband and father of four. In his legal career, he was a leading defender of the right to life, religious liberty, free speech, the Second Amendment, and free market principles. He served in the Louisiana Legislature from February 2015 to January 2017, where he was appointed Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Committee on Leadership. He is the eldest son of a Shreveport firefighter who was critically burned and disabled in the line of duty. Johnson has also been a college professor, conservative talk radio host and columnist, a media spokesman for America’s largest religious liberty organizations, a constitutional law seminar instructor, and a board member for national organizations and numerous community groups and ministries. Johnson has a law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. He earned his undergraduate degree from LSU. A vote could occur as soon as Wednesday morning. Johnson needs 217 votes to win. The biggest thing Johnson has going for him is the whole absurdity of this situation. Republican House members realize that this situation does not make them look good, and they have to move on to regular business, including budgets and the President’s request for military aid for Ukraine and Israel. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) said on X, “We have got to find consensus on a Speaker. Time is of the essence. Democrats are the only ones who benefit from this impasse.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Jim Jordan suspends bid to be Speaker; endorses reforms giving powers to interim Speaker Patrick McHenry
On Thursday, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) suspended his bid to be Speaker of the House. He announced that he will now back giving powers to interim Speaker Republican Patrick McHenry.(R-North Carolina). More than 20 House Republicans have stood against Jordan’s bid to be the next Speaker of the House. A third-floor vote on Jordan’s speakership had been scheduled for midday on Thursday, but at a meeting of the House Republican Caucus, it became apparent that the mainstream Republicans opposing Jordan as Speaker were not ready to be swayed. Rep. Jim Banks told reporters that Jordan told the conference that he would not seek a third vote for Speaker knowing the outcome and would instead back a plan to give powers to interim Speaker McHenry to hold the post until January. Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) is the strongest supporter of Jordan. “To me, Jim Jordan being in this race is quite amazing when you figure that he was one of the founders of the House Freedom Caucus just a few short years ago,” Rep. Moore said recently. “I talked with Senator Bud the other night, and he said who would have ever dreamed that Jim Jordan would up for Speaker of the House given his conservative leanings. What I tell everybody is that there is a mass movement across this country right now. You see it with the Bud Light and Oliver Anthony with the Rich Men North of Richmond (a pop song). There is a lot of pressure on the rich men north of Richmond.” Moore expressed frustration with members who oppose Jordan. “How do you defend not voting for Jim Jordan?” Moore said. “There is not a principled stand if you are a Republican and the party of Reagan, and there is not anybody that I know of right now who can get to the 217 without working with the Democrats.” Those comments were made before Jordan suspended his campaign. If those rule changes pass, the House will be able to function so Congress can get back to work. Republicans who control the House 221 to 212. Jordan got 200 votes on Tuesday but just 199 votes on Wednesday. Some GOP Congress members who have opposed Jordan, report receiving death threats. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Reps. Robert Aderholt and Dale Strong endorse Jim Jordan
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) could be the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives as early as Tuesday. A floor event is expected as early as Tuesday afternoon. Jordan is the Republican Party nominee for Speaker of the House, but will 217 Republicans vote for him? All six of Alabama’s Republican Congressmen are supporting Jordan. On Monday, Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL05) announced his support for the sometimes polarizing Jordan. “From day 1, I’ve called for a conservative Speaker who will prioritize fighting Biden’s failed policies,” Strong said on X. “From cutting spending, to securing our border— the American people want Congress to get to work. Jim Jordan is the right man to lead our conference as Speaker of the House.” Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) also publicly announced he is backing Jordan. “I told @Jim_Jordan on Friday that I fully support him to be the 56th Speaker of the House,” Aderholt announced X. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) made national headlines on Friday when he announced his angry opposition to Jordan’s bid for the Speaker’s gavel. Less than 48 hours later, Rogers flipped his vote from never Jordan to being a supporter. On Monday, former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) came out and urged Republicans to get behind Jordan to end this chaos in Congress. “It’s one thing to get elected. It’s another thing to govern,” McCarthy said. “It’s time to get the House out of this tailspin, come together, and get America back on the right track. @Jim_Jordan can do it.” The previous nominee, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), failed to cobble together the 217 votes needed to win the seat and withdrew rather than being rejected in a floor vote. McCarthy lost 15 floor votes before being selected in June. McCarthy was ultimately toppled when eight disgruntled Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) voted with Democrats to oust McCarthy as Speaker. While Jordan appears to have united the Republican Conference, it only takes a handful of GOP holdouts to undo his bid, given the GOP’s narrow majority in the House. If he wins, it could take multiple rounds of voting for Jordan to win the Speakership. Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02), who has been an outspoken supporter of Jordan, is eager for the House to vote. “I look forward to casting my vote for Jim Jordan as the 56th Speaker of the House tomorrow,” Rep. Moore said on X Monday. “Let’s get this done and get back to work for the American people.” Congressmen Gary Palmer (R-AL06) and Jerry Carl (R-AL01) both are also publicly backing Jordan. Whoever is elected as Speaker will be immediately confronted with enormous problems within a very short period. Congress failed to pass a budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which began on October 1. The federal government is operating on a 45-day continuing resolution (C.R.). Congress has until November 14 to send either a budget or another C.R. to President Joe Biden’s desk that he will sign or face a partial government shutdown in an increasingly shaky economy. This side trip into Washington power politics has also left the armed forces in a lurch. Not only is the military operating without a budget, but both Houses have passed competing versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is stuck in a conference committee while the military faces unprecedented threats from China, Russia, and Iran. In his role as House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Jordan has been focused on investigating Biden’s administration and his son Hunter Biden’s questionable financial dealings. Those investigations and a possible impeachment of the President and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have moved to the background while the Congress has been engulfed in its power struggle. If Jordan is selected as Speaker, his role will change from being the House GOP’s chief prosecutor to its chief negotiator with the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Biden. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mike Rogers flips support to Jim Jordan
Fox News is reporting that Congressman Mike Rogers (R-ALL03) has flipped from being the most outspoken “Never Jordan” member of the House of Representatives to being a supporter. Rogers’ flip makes it much more likely that Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) can win over enough moderate Republicans that he can be the next Speaker of the House. After Jordan won the Republican nomination for Speaker of the House, Rogers vowed to reporters that he would “never support” Jordan. There were even reports of Rogers negotiating with Democrats to form some sort of unity government to prevent Jordan from being elected as Speaker. That changed on Monday when Rogers went to the social media site X to announce he would support Jordan’s speakership bid. “@Jim Jordan and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days,” Rogers said on X Monday. “We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA, appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill.” “As a result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor,” Rogers followed up. “Since I was first elected to the House, I have always been a team player and supported what the majority of the Republican Conference agrees to,” Rogers added. “Together, our Republican majority will be stronger to fight Joe Biden’s reckless agenda for America.” Jordan thanked Rogers for his support. Jordan stated, “Your leadership is just what our Conference needs right now. We must all keep coming together and get back to work.” Just last week, Rogers had said that “there was nothing that Jordan could do to get his support as Speaker of the House.” Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Jordan is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. A key point of disagreement between Republicans is whether or not to continue supporting massive amounts of military aid for Ukraine. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) and a group of eight disgruntled Houe members used the Ukraine issue as a pretext for voting with Democrats to oust Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California). Jordan secured the Republican party’s speaker nomination on Friday, defeating Georgia Congressman Austin Scott. Jordan had lost to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) in a prior vote, but Scalise was unable to win over conservatives. Jordan Defeated Scott by a vote of 124 to 81. Jordan has been negotiating with GOP moderates like Jordan over the weekend in order to get to the 217 votes needed to secure the position of Speaker in a floor vote that could come as early as Tuesday. Congressmen Barry Moore, Gary Palmer, and Jerry Carl have all already publicly announced their support for Jordan. If Jordan cannot get the 217 votes necessary to win the Speakership, the Republican conference would likely have to nominate someone else. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Heather Moore addresses Montgomery GOP
Heather Moore – the wife of Congressman Barry Moore (R-ALO4), was the keynote speaker on Thursday at the Montgomery County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln – Reagan dinner. Approximately 150 Republicans, including several dignitaries, were in attendance on the sixth floor of the RSA Plaza Building next to the Alabama State House for the annual event. “I love politics,” Heather said. “When Barry was in the State House, I would drive up for the day to watch the action on the floor and drive home before the kids got home.” Heather reminisced that once the State Legislature voted to extend unemployment benefits in the wake of the Great Recession, and one member of the House voted no on extending those benefits. Heather was sitting in the gallery with her friend, Bill Goolsby – who was also in attendance on Thursday. “Who is the one idiot who voted no?” Heather asked Goolsby. “That would be your husband,” Goolsby replied. Heather texted Barry, “You voted the wrong way,” but Barry could not be swayed from his stance. “That was the day that Barry was the one no vote to extend unemployment benefits.” Barry Moore has been an outspoken supporter of Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as the next House Speaker. “Jim and Polly Jordan have become great friends,” Heather said. Bill Harris, Moore’s district director, said that Congressman Moore wanted to attend but could not because of the open Speaker of the House race and the possibility that there could have been a vote that night. Barry Moore is in his second term representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District. “We are $33 trillion in debt,” Rep. Barry Moore told the Montgomery GOP in a taped statement. “Inflation is up. Gas prices are rising.” Rep. Moore accused the Biden Administration of illegally giving “billions of dollars to Ukraine while 53% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.” Moore said that spending has soared since 1997 because Congress has failed to do its job by passing appropriations through normal order by using 12 spending bills. “The House has already passed several of these appropriations bills, but we are on a short notice to finish the rest and send them to the Senate,” Congressman Moore said. Moore said that Heather is “my favorite teammate of 31 years.” Harris said that Moore said of Heather, “She would have written my speech anyway, so I might as well send her.” Heather Moore grew up in the Sand Mountain area of Dekalb County. “I came from a very political family on my mother’s side,” Heather said, “My granddaddy was a farmer and a cotton broker. He was a Republican and a staunch supporter of Ronald Reagan.” “We are Appalachians, so we all live a quarter mile from each other, so my grandparents had a great role in my upbringing,” Heather said. “My dad’s side of the family were all yellow dog Democrats,” Heather said. “Staunch Republicans and the other side were yellow dog Democrats. I realized that the Republican side was always the happy side while the Democrat side was always mad.” “I was a huge Ronald Reagan fan,” Heather said. “I remember going to Donald Trump’s inauguration.” Heather Moore said that originally, she was not impressed with Barry Moore, but that position changed. “I did say that I would not go out with Barry Moore if he was the last man on Earth. I married him ten months later,” Mrs. Moore recounted. “We started our small business in Enterprise,” Heather said. “Barry never had any intention of getting involved in politics, but I did. I joined the Coffee County Republican Executive Committee.” Heather continued, “In 2006, some of our friends said your husband should run. Barry wouldn’t hear it. In 2008 (Barack) Obama was elected and said we are not a Christian nation, but a nation of citizens.” That is when Barry Moore became interested in running. He ran and was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010. “Barry is a horrible politician,” Heather said. “He is terrible at it. Barry is going to say what he believes. There is one Barry.” “Who thought three years ago that we could fall so far,” Heather said. “In 2020, Barry was running for Congress, and we thought Donald Trump was going to be President, and we were going to get so much done.” While Barry Moore was elected, Donald J. Trump was defeated by Joe Biden, and Republicans lost control of both Houses of Congress. The GOP gained limited control of the House of Representatives in 2022. “Barry is the eternal optimist,” Heather said. “He says that everything is going to be OK. I had to tell him, ‘No, Barry, things are not going to be OK.’” “It has been one crisis after another,” Heather said. “Back in the good ole days, it was Democrat versus Republicans. Now, it is not. It is normal versus crazy. It’s crazy versus normal. That is what we are having to fight as a nation.” Barry Moore’s Second Congressional District was recently redrawn along racial lines by a federal three-judge panel, making it highly likely that a Democrat will win Congressional District 2. The Moores’ Coffee County was drawn into Congressman Jerry Carl’s (R-Mobile) First Congressional District, potentially pitting the two GOP incumbents against each other. “The states have the right to choose their federal representative,” Heather said. “That is what the Constitution says. The Constitution of Alabama says that the Legislature draws those maps. I pray that Steve Marshall fights this all the way to the Supreme Court.” “He has loved every county in this district,” Heather said of Barry. “We represent every county. Barry has loved on every county, and some of those counties are Black.” “When you call our office, we don’t ask what color you are,” Heather said. “We don’t ask if you are a Republican or Democrat. We ask how can we help you.” “I don’t care what skin color my Congressman, or my President, is as long as they represent me with Republican values,” Heather said. “Read the Bible – read the Old Testament. There were evil kings in the Bible,” Heather said. “We are
