Ken McFeeters running for Congressional District 6
On Tuesday, Republican Ken McFeeters qualified to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Congressional District Six. McFeeters is challenging five-term incumbent Gary Palmer in the Republican primary. Ken McFeeters is an independent insurance agent who lives and works in the Hoover-Birmingham area. Alabama Today spoke on the phone with McFeeters on Thursday while he was out campaigning. “I got involved in politics initially because of some issues that came up in the insurance business that I am in,” McFeeters said. Over time, McFeeters said that his concern about the country’s direction increased. “I have had some concerns for a while,” McFeeters told Alabama Today. “The last couple of years has been insane.” “Gary Palmer says all the Republican talking points, but I don’t feel that he is leading,” said McFeeters on why he would run against an entrenched incumbent. “I met with Gary for two hours hoping that he would talk me out of it (running),” McFeeters said. McFeeters said that he was not satisfied with Palmer’s answers on the issues he cares about, including Palmer’s answers on COVID-19 vaccines for infants, the war in Ukraine, and some of the shutdowns. That conversation convinced McFeeters to run. McFeeters believes the federal government needs some fiscal discipline, as evidenced by the $33 trillion national debt. “It is insanity,” McFeeters said. “Gary voted for the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion bill.” McFeeters said on the issue of the COVID lockdowns, “Gary said under the circumstances, it would have been worse not to. How could it have been worse.” McFeeters also questioned the wisdom of the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccination program. “My sister was injured by the vaccine with micro clots,” McFeeters said. “Gary said that he thinks he got myocarditis from the shot. And his letter says that everybody should get shots.” “They are injecting it into infants,” McFeeters said. “They put it on the schedule, so unless you opt-out, it is given to every child.” We asked McFeeters about his view on the GOP house member’s inability to agree on a Speaker of the House. “It is discouraging,” McFeeters said. “I was disappointed. I was hoping that Jim Jordan would get it.” McFeeters said it was a bad look for House Republicans that they could not come together and select a Speaker of the House after the Hamas attacks on Israel. McFeeters speculated that the 20 members who opposed Rep. Jordan are controlled by corporate interests in Washington, D.C., that do not want Jordan to be speaker. “It seems like we are living at an insane time,” McFeeters said. McFeeters expressed fears that corporate elites have gained too much power in federal and state governments and that Congress and the legislatures serve them rather than the people. “Both sides call the other side fascist,” McFeeters said of the left and the right. “But if you look up the history of the term fascism, it was invented by Benito Mussolini in the twenties. He said that it represented the merger of state and corporate power. That seems like what we have been living with.” He discussed the education system. “I want to abolish the U.S. Department of Education and get the federal government out of education,” McFeeters said. “When it was created around 1980, our educational system was number two in the world. Now, after spending hundreds of billions of dollars, depending on what rankings you use, we are somewhere between 25 and 28.” McFeeters expressed concerns that the educational system is not teaching students how to be critical thinkers but instead just making them into good workers for corporate interests. McFeeters referenced the border issue as another area in which corporate interests supply big corporations with willing workers without regard for the people of the United States. “When Republicans were in there, they didn’t do anything either,” McFeeters said of the GOP’s inability to pass an immigration bill even in those times when they controlled both houses of Congress and held the presidency. McFeeters said that he is enjoying being out on the campaign trail. “Everywhere I go, everybody agrees with me,” McFeeters said. McFeeters said the informed voters who go to Republican group meetings, read, and actively study the issues generally agree with him on most issues. His concern is with the voters who aren’t paying attention and will be swayed by the media. McFeeters is not optimistic about his chances of beating a five-term incumbent in Palmer. “I don’t think I will win because not enough people are awake yet,” McFeeters said. The major party primaries are on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Jim Jordan: Speaker vote is back on, no Patrick McHenry deal
By Casey Harper | The Center Square U.S. House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told reporters Thursday afternoon that he would in fact keep running for speaker and hold another floor vote, despite reports that he was considering postponing his effort. The news came after Jordan reportedly said behind closed doors he would back the speaker pro Tempore, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. for a limited temporary speakership role so that lawmakers can hit key funding deadlines coming this year. “I’ll just say this,” Jordan told reporters Thursday. “We made the pitch to members on the resolution as a way to lower the temperature and get back to work. We decided that wasn’t where we were going to go. I’m still running for speaker, and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race.” The House faces a government shutdown deadline in the middle of November and calls to pass funding measures for the respective Ukraine and Israel wars. “But I want to go talk with a few of my colleagues, particularly I want to talk with the 20 individuals who voted against me so that we can move forward and begin to work for the American people,” Jordan added. Some Republicans were immediately critical of the news, which was reported by Punchbowl News, that Jordan would strike a deal with McHenry. “There is no path for a GOP-only empowerment of a Speaker Pro-Tem so it will necessarily require Democrat votes,” U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, as rumors of the deal swirled. “It is, in any event, a fool’s errand – breaking with tradition & setting constitutionally questionable precedent to empower someone who is NOT the duly elected Speaker but will be empowered to negotiate a CR & massive supplemental bills (approx. $100BB) for Israel & Ukraine (& $ to process more illegals). “It will then set the [House GOP] up for a Xmas omni ‘deal,’” he added. “I strongly oppose.” A third vote for Jordan was expected Thursday, but Jordan’s reported temporary endorsement of McHenry delayed it. It remains unclear if lawmakers will vote later Thursday or later this week. Jordan failed to get the needed 217 votes both Tuesday and Wednesday as moderate Republicans held out, voting for a range of other potential candidates. Senate Republicans chimed in as well. “House Uniparty GOP members insisted last week that a ‘Speakerless House’ was a national crisis, but they’re now willing to experiment with unprecedented long-term pro-tem powers when asked to vote for a more conservative Speaker. Stunning hypocrisy,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote on X. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
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.
Republican lawmaker says she received death threats for voting against Jordan
By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, said Wednesday evening she received death threats after voting against Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, for speaker. Miller-Meeks voted for Jordan on Tuesday but voted for Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, on Wednesday after seeing that Jordan did not have the votes to win. “However, since my vote in support of Chairwoman Granger, I have received credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls,” Miller-Meeks said. “The proper authorities have been notified, and my office is cooperating fully.” Voting against Jordan is not popular, she said. “One thing I cannot stomach, or support is a bully,” she said. “I did not stand for bullies before I voted for Chairwoman Granger and when I voted for Speaker designee Jordan, and I will not bend to bullies now.” Miller-Meeks is calling for a consensus candidate to “stop the insane policies of the Biden administration.” Jordan said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, that Americans should not be accosted for their beliefs. “We condemn all threats against our colleagues, and it is imperative that we come together,” Jordan said Wednesday. “Stop. It’s abhorrent.” The House, which has not had a speaker since Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted on Oct. 3, recessed after Jordan lost his second vote on Wednesday. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Jim Jordan fails in first ballot to be Speaker of the House
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to consider Republican Party nominee Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker of the House. Jordan failed to get the 217 votes necessary to be elected. Six Republicans who voted NO on Jordan’s quest for the top spot in the House of Representatives are in swing districts and are considered highly vulnerable in 2024. Jordan, who voted to invalidate the 2020 election results, has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Jordan received only 200 votes on the first ballot. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies (D-New York) received 212. Both were short of the 217 needed to get the position. Jordan seeks to succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California) as Speaker. The first choice of the Conference, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), withdrew late on Thursday night after he could not get enough conservative support to win the nomination. Jordan then defeated Rep. Austin Scott (R-Georgia) for the GOP nomination in a meeting of the GOP conference on Friday. Scalise and McCarthy both got votes on that first ballot, though neither is a candidate. Six Republicans announced on Monday night that they would not support Jordan. Others had kept their decisions private until the vote. Jordan is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee investigating President Joe Biden. and his son Hunter Biden, as well as the President’s alleged dereliction of duty on the U.S. southern border. Jordan was a founding member and the first chairman of the conservative Freedom Caucus. Jordan had the support of Alabama’s six Republican Congressmen. Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) said on X, “I voted for @Jim_Jordan for Speaker. He is the conservative leader we need so we can get to work delivering results for the American people. It’s time to come together as a party, get our country back on track, and hold @JoeBiden accountable.” Jordan can either bring another vote in hopes that recalcitrant Republican lawmakers change their minds, or the GOP Conference can meet again and select another nominee to run for Speaker of the House – one who is seen as less divisive than Jordan. At this point, it seems unlikely that Jordan can reach the 217 needed for victory. 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.
Jim Jordan nabs key nominations for speaker heading into Tuesday vote
By Casey Harper | The Center Square U.S. House Republican Jim Jordan of Ohio has picked up several key endorsements heading into a scheduled Tuesday vote for the next speaker of the House. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., became the center of controversy over the weekend after news broke that he was reportedly considering working with Democrats to elect Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries given the Republican party’s inability to pick a speaker so far. By Monday morning, Rogers publicly endorsed Jordan. “[Jordan] and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days,” Rogers wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “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. “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,” he added. Jordan, who sent out a letter to fellow Republicans Monday calling to bring the party together, responded on X, thanking Rogers for the endorsement. “Thank you, Chairman Rogers,” Jordan wrote. “Your leadership is just what our Conference needs right now. We must all keep coming together and get back to work.” That move significantly dampens what some Democrats had hoped for, namely the chance to lead the House even without a majority of members. They have blasted Jordan in particular for his questioning of the 2020 election results in the immediate aftermath of that election leading into the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol. “Jim Jordan’s lack of legislative history and predisposition to burn everything down (i.e. 2013 shutdown, 2018-19 government shutdown, Boehner speakership) makes for a dangerous leader,” Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, wrote on X. “The only path forward is a bipartisan governing coalition.” Another lawmaker, Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., just last week told reporters that she would “absolutely not” vote for Jordan as Speaker. Wagner, at the time, backed Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who later withdrew after failing to win enough support. On Monday, though, she also released a public endorsement backing Jordan. “Let me be clear, I am not, and will not, work with Democrats as our Republican Conference comes together to elect a conservative Speaker of the House,” Wagner said in a statement Monday, also saying that “we must elect a conservative as the next Speaker” before going on to give Jordan a full endorsement. “Jim Jordan and I spoke at length again this morning, and he has allayed my concerns about keeping the government open with conservative funding, the need for strong border security, our need for consistent international support in times of war and unrest, as well as the need for stronger protections against the scourge of human trafficking and child exploitation,” Wagner said. The closer Jordan gets to the needed 217 votes to become speaker, the harder it will be for holdout Republicans to justify why they are not electing a speaker, especially with another government shutdown coming in mid-November as well as calls for funding for the Ukraine and Israel conflicts. Jordan is reportedly having ongoing meetings with lawmakers who are locking up key endorsements, bringing him closer to the speakership. “Keeping America safe is my top priority in Congress,” Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, wrote on X Monday. “After having a conversation with Jim Jordan about how we must get the House back on a path to achieve our national security and appropriations goals, I will be supporting him for Speaker on the floor. Let’s get to work.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
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
Jim Jordan receives House Republican nomination to be Speaker of the House
On Friday, the House Republican Caucus nominated House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to be the next Speaker of the House. This was only hours after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) told his fellow Republicans that he was withdrawing his nomination after failing to secure the 217 votes needed for election. Jordan received 124 votes on Friday – a marked improvement over the 100 votes he received when he finished second to Scalise earlier this week. Congressman Austin Scott (R-Georgia) was the second-place finisher. This fight has bitterly divided the caucus and even the Alabama congressional delegation. Jim Jordan is supported by both Congressmen Barry Moore (R-AL02) and Gary Palmer (R-AL06). On Friday, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) told reporters that there is nothing that Jordan can say to make him change his mind on opposing Jordan. Rogers Chairs the powerful House Armed Services Committee. This drama became necessary after eight disgruntled GOP Caucus members led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) joined with Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California). To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Gary Palmer and Jerry Carl support Jim Jordan for Speaker
On Friday, Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released a statement announcing that he continues to support Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker of the House. This statement was released after Jordan was elected as the GOP nominee for Speaker by the House Republican Conference. Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) also supports Jordan for Speaker of the House. “Jim Jordan is the strong conservative voice we need to unite the Republican Conference at this time,” said Rep. Palmer. “I supported Jim in the first vote for Speaker earlier this week, again today in Conference, and will vote for him on the House floor. Jim’s record as a conservative is unquestioned, but his ability to work with all members to unite our party and get things done is what sets him apart as especially qualified to be Speaker at this critical time. Jim will continue to work to secure our border, push policies that will help American families, and will hold firm against the reckless agenda of the Biden Administration and the Democrats in Congress. I look forward to working with Speaker Jordan.” “I voted for Jim Jordan for Speaker this past week in our Republican Conference, and I will be supporting him this week when the vote comes to the House Floor,” Rep. Carl said. “We’ve got to unite behind a conservative Speaker who can unite us and move this country forward.” The last GOP nominee for Speaker, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), defeated Jordan in an earlier Conference vote but had no way of actually winning the Speaker’s position because some members on the Republican right still refused to support him in a vote of full House. The vote for Speaker is scheduled for Tuesday. Jordan will have to find some way to sway Republican moderates if he has any hope of achieving the 217 votes needed to be the next Speaker of the House. Mindless squabbling among the Republican Conference meant that the last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy (R-California), took 16 votes of the full House of Representatives before he was elected back in January. McCarthy was ultimately betrayed by members of his own majority who voted with House Democrats to oust him. It will be difficult for Jordan, or anybody else, to unite the whole Conference, and there is a strong possibility that the GOP will nominate someone else before the end of the week. Whoever is ultimately elected as Speaker will still have to work with a tiny GOP majority in the House and then negotiate with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) on any legislation that gets out of Congress to President Joe Biden’s desk. First and foremost, on that agenda is passing the 12 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded to avoid a government shutdown. As neither House of Congress has passed all 12 appropriations bills for the 2024 fiscal year that began on October 1, the nation is currently operating on a 45-day CR for the past 16 days. There are only 29 days left before a potential government shutdown, and nobody knows who the Speaker of the House will be, much less how they will address this fiscal crisis. Any budget Schumer will advance in the Senate and President Biden will sign is unlikely to be popular with conservative Republicans. Palmer is in his fifth term representing Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District. He has already announced that he will be running again in 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Jim Jordan next to try shot for speaker of the House
By Casey Harper | The Center Square House Republicans have nominated Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to be speaker of the House, but it remains unclear if Jordan can get the needed 217 votes from his own fractured party. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., a lesser-known member, threw his name in the hat for the position as well and got significant support in the nomination vote, though possibly only as a vote against Jordan instead of a true vote for Scott. Later, though, Scott threw his support behind Jordan. “I highly respect Jim Jordan. He is an asset to the Republican Party and our nominee for Speaker,” Scott wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Our conference has spoken, and now we must unite behind Jordan so we can get Congress back to work.” Jordan has conservative chops and support from the party base, but many moderates may not be willing to go his way. “For years, I’ve stayed out of House leadership elections, but this time I endorsed [Jordan],” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote on X. “Jim is a good friend and a strong conservative. My philosophy on political endorsements is to support the strongest conservative who can win. That is Jim Jordan.” U.S. House Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., was the leading contender to be the speaker of the House Thursday morning, but he later withdrew his bid before taking it to a public vote after he failed to get enough support. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House face a partial government shutdown in mid-November along with growing pressure to supply funds, ammunition, and weapons to both Ukraine and Israel, which has declared war on the terrorist group Hamas. Until lawmakers land on a speaker, legislation cannot move forward. As The Center Square previously reported, another key issue for lawmakers to handle is whether one lawmaker will still be able to file a motion to vacate the speaker, an unusual allowance given by McCarthy to secure the needed votes after the series of speakership votes earlier this year. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., used that very allowance to file the motion that led to the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. The current Speaker Pro Tempore is Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who will determine the times of any speaker votes until a lawmaker wins the speakership. “The DC Uniparty does not want a Speaker who would threaten their status quo,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X. “We need a strong conservative for Speaker of the House!” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
