Ann Eubank running as a Republican for Alabama State School Board Position – District 3
State School Board District 3 member incumbent Stephanie Bell will not seek another term, setting off a Republican scramble for the post. Conservative activist Ann Eubank is one of four Republican candidates seeking the open seat on the State Board of Education. Eubank said that no issue has been more important to her than excellence in education. Eubank said that her concern over education led to her retiring to become an unpaid full-time citizen lobbyist after witnessing what her grandson was being taught in school. Ann has dedicated the last 15 years to researching and advocating for solutions to the dismal state of affairs in the Alabama Public School System. Eubank said that Alabama public schools’ downward spiral began in 2009 when Common Core was introduced to the State School Board and was adopted the following year despite an outcry from countless parents and voters. “Running for office is the last thing I ever thought I would do, but I decided to run for state school board after Stephanie Bell, representative for School Board District 3, had not yet qualified for re-election,” Eubank said. “It’s imperative that we elect someone who will work to change the trajectory of Alabama education from the bottom of the barrel to the top of the ladder like Florida.” “Parents and students deserve State School Board members who understand this and will listen to their concerns about the serious problems we face in Alabama’s schools,” Eubank continued. “We need a new perspective on the Board. I am the only one running for this position that hasn’t been some part of the education establishment.” Eubank is a member of the Alabama Legislative Watchdogs, a group of citizen lobbyists from all parts of the state of Alabama who give in-depth analysis about legislation being put forth and passed, what it means, and how it impacts citizens. Eubank is also a member of the Jefferson County Mid-Alabama Republican Club (MARC) and has attended countless Republican club meetings all over the state as a speaker and guest. Eubank is a member of Mom’s For Liberty. “At Moms for Liberty, we understand the importance of having liberty-minded school boards throughout the country that are focused on defending parental rights and improving education,” Eubank said. “We hope to activate these types of people to public service. Every child across America deserves access to a quality education. The decisions made by school board members play a crucial role in shaping the quality of that education.” Eubank serves as Co-Chair of the Alabama Conservative Coalition. She has been a Heritage Action Sentinel since 2010. Conservative news/talk radio listeners have heard Ann in occasional radio hosting duties on WYDE and IC Radio in North Alabama. Eubank was a policy advisor for Tim James’ failed 2022 Campaign for Governor of Alabama. Eubank was a Southeastern Cruz Crew team member in Senator Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign in 2016. Eubank was a Cruz delegate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland that year. Eubank is a member of the National and Alabama Women for Trump group. She was a member of Congressman Mo Brooks’s (R-AL05) 2018 and 2022 Senate Campaign Steering Committees. She is a member of the firearms rights group Bama Carry. Eubank is also a member of the Stop Common Core Alabama Task Force. In that role, Eubank did numerous talks on Common Core, aka National Standards, with politicians and the public. She is also a member of the Alabamians United for Excellence in Education Taskforce and one of the coordinators of the Alabama Opt-Out movement. Eubank’s efforts have been noticed. Ballotpedia identified Ann Eubank as a “top influencer by state” in 2015. She was named on Alabama Today’s 20 Alabamians who belong on any “Most Influential” list. Eubank appeared in the documentary movie “Revelation – Dawn of a Global Government” where she warned how Common Core, aka National Standards, indoctrination would turn our children into “Good Little Socialists.” Eubank has been interviewed by numerous local, state, national, and international radio, print, and television outlets. Eubank has authored many political opinion articles in numerous local and national publications. Eubank participated in Frank Luntz’s HBO Special regarding Roy Moore’s Senate Campaign that aired on HBO and Axios. Eubank, in her role as a leader of the Rainy Day Patriots, helped contribute to the 2010 Republican wave election that led to the GOP taking control of both Houses of the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. She grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and now lives in Hoover. She has been married to her husband, Jim, for 55 years. She has two daughters and two grandchildren. Kelly Mooney, former State Representative Charlotte Meadows, and Melissa Snowden have all also qualified to run for the open school board seat. The Republican Primary will be on March 5. No Democrat has qualified, so the eventual Republican nominee will likely be elected. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Donald Trump to appear in court before his speech in Alabama on Friday
Former President Donald Trump will speak to a packed house of over 2,200 Alabama Republicans in Montgomery on Friday. The former President, however, is scheduled to appear in a Washington, D.C. courtroom on Thursday afternoon to answer charges that he used “unlawful means” in an attempt to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election and maintain power. Trump will be arraigned on an indictment charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction; and conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted. He is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse around 3:00 p.m. CDT. The reaction by Alabama leaders to the news was mixed. Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released a statement slamming the latest indictments. “The latest indictment appears to be an even greater stretch of the law in an effort to destroy Donald Trump,” said Rep. Palmer. “Much of this indictment centers on statements made by President Trump on January 6th that create legal problems for the prosecution in regard to free speech. Regardless of any opinions about President Trump or his statements about the outcome of the 2020 election, President Trump’s statements are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech, especially political speech.” “As some legal experts have already pointed out, this is criminalization of disinformation and misinformation which raises serious concerns about the public’s right to speak openly in opposition to policies they oppose,” Palmer continued. “This is especially troublesome in view of the Biden Administration’s aborted attempt to establish a bureau of disinformation that many believe would have been weaponized against the political opponents of President Biden and the Democratic Party. Consequently, this indictment falls short of the criminal legal standard for charging anyone and has the appearance of indicting political speech.” Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) said that on social media that the indictment shows that no one is above the law. “Today’s indictment shows that no one is above the law,” said Rep. Sewell. “We are seeing the political process play out, and though we do not know the outcome, all parties who are involved in one of the darkest days in our nation’s history must be held accountable.” Former Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL05), who led the floor fight in the House of Representatives to overturn the electoral college results, is more critical of the former President. Brooks said on Twitter, “In early 2022, #DonaldTrump demanded I publicly support: 1. Rescinding 2020 election. 2. Physically removing Biden from White House. 3. Putting Trump back into White House. 4. America conducting a special presidential election. ALL violate Constitution &/or federal statutes.” Brooks said, “@Mike_Pence is right. A candidate who puts self above US Constitution should NEVER be GOP nominee. When #DonaldTrump told me to support violating Constitution & federal statutes, I refused. So Trump “unendorsed” me & endorsed #KatieBritt. So be it.” Brooks lost the 2022 Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate to first-time candidate Katie Britt – who is now Alabama’s junior Senator. Brooks shared a link to a story about former Vice President Mike Pence criticizing Trump and his legal team. This is the third round of indictments against Trump, but likely not the last. The legal woes that have already cost his campaign over $40 million have not hurt him with Republican primary voters. He is dominating Pence and his other GOP rivals in early polling. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
The Alabama Republican Party passes resolutions and elects officers
The Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee held its Winter Meeting in Birmingham on Saturday. The ALGOP elected officers and passed resolutions urging legislators to adopt these policy positions. John Wahl was elected to a second term as Chairman. Wahl is a butterfly farmer in Limestone County. “It is an honor for me to represent you, not just you, the Republican executive committee, but you, the Republican primary voters,” Wahl said. “I am incredibly humbled by the support of my fellow committee members and the trust they have put in me. I look forward to working with them, as well as our County Parties and Auxiliary organizations, to promote and defend our Conservative values.” Joan Reynolds of Shelby County was elected Vice Chair. Reynolds is the founder and head of the Mighty Alabama Strike Force, a group that campaigns door-to-door for Republican candidates in swing states. “I would like to thank the members of the ALGOP Executive Committee for the confidence they have shown in me by electing me as Vice Chairman,” Vice Chair Reynolds stated. “I have worked with our chairman for two years as Finance Chair and feel that together we can accomplish great things for the state.” Carol Jahns of Autauga County was elected Secretary. “I am honored and respectively thank the State Executive Committee members providing me the opportunity to continue to serve as your ALGOP Secretary,” Jahns said. “I am confident that supporting each other and staying true to our platform principles are the keys to the Alabama Republican Party’s future victories.” Sallie Bryant of Jefferson County was re-elected as Treasurer. Bill Harris of Autauga County was elected Regional Vice Chairman, Congressional Districts 1 and 2. Renee Gentle Powers of Chilton County was elected Regional Vice Chairman of Congressional Districts 3, 6, and 7. Josh Dodd of Lauderdale County was elected as Regional Vice Chairman, Congressional Districts 4 and 5. State Rep. Matt Simpson of Baldwin County was elected as the Congressional District 1 Chairman. William Rayburn of Crenshaw County was elected as Congressional District 2 Chairman. State Sen. Lance Bell of St. Clair County was elected Congressional District 3 Chairman. Bonnie Sachs of Winston County was elected as Congressional District 4 Chairman. Former Congressman Mo Brooks of Madison County was elected Congressional District 5 Chairman. Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Chris Brown was elected as the Congressional District 6 Chairman. Pierce Boyd of Sumter County was elected as Congressional District 7 Chairman. All those elected on Saturday will serve a two-year term. They will also sit on the 21-member ALGOP Steering Committee that directs Republican business throughout the year. The Alabama Republican State Executive Committee also passed three resolutions: • A measure calling on the Alabama Legislature and Governor Kay Ivey to correct the state’s so-called “Good Time” law by passing legislation sponsored by State Sen. April Weaver and State Rep. Russell Bedsole. • A measure to abolish Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracies and policies in public institutions. • A measure calling for an improved working relationship between the Alabama Legislature and the Alabama Republican Party. The Alabama Republican Party maintained its supermajorities in both Houses of the Alabama Legislature in 2022 and won every statewide elected office: including Governor, U.S. Senator, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Auditor, Public Service Commission, Alabama Supreme Court Justice, and picked up 50 new county and local seats across the state; while contributing to Republicans winning back control of the U.S. House of Representatives. “The Alabama Republican Party has had an amazing two years, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together during my second term,” Wahl said. The 400+ member ALGOP State Executive Committee is the governing body of the Alabama Republican Party. Its members are elected every four years and meet twice a year at the Winter Meeting and the Summer Meeting. The Summer Meeting will be in August at Montgomery’s Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center. The Winter Meeting will return to Birmingham in 2024. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville welcomes Nikki Haley to 2024 presidential race
On Monday, former South Carolina Governor and UN ambassador Nikki Haley announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has already announced his endorsement of former President Donald Trump, welcomed Haley’s entrance into the 2024 presidential race. Tuberville told reporters that she would be a “great candidate.” Tuberville favors a large GOP primary field and said that he has recently spoken with Trump and told the former President that he hopes “they all get in.” “He needs the challenge as well as anybody,” Tuberville said. “They need to work for it. They need to fight for it.” In the 2020 election, President Trump endorsed Tuberville in his Republican primary battle for U.S. Senate with former Trump Attorney General Sen. Jeff Sessions. Tuberville had spent forty years as a teacher and coach – including stints as head football coach at Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech, and Cincinnati – prior to that 2020 first run for public office. At this point, the only announced GOP candidates for the Republican nomination for 2024 are Haley and Trump, but that is expected to change quickly. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are widely believed to be seriously looking at entering the race. According to the Hill, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin are also possible presidential candidates. GOP Senators who oppose a third Trump presidential run fear that a crowded GOP primary field makes it easier for Trump to emerge as the eventual GOP nominee. “Look, we were all concerned with the fact that we had 15 or 16 or 17 individuals vying for attention in the last one,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (South Dakota) told the Hill referring to the 2016 election. “We really don’t want to see that happen again. We just don’t.” U.S. Sen. Katie Britt was endorsed by Trump in her 2022 GOP primary battle with then-Congressman Mo Brooks and war veteran and defense contractor Mike Durant. Britt, however, cannot make an endorsement in the Presidential primary because she is serving on the national Republican steering committee. Trump faced a crowded field in 2016 that included U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum, and Lindsey Graham, as well as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Ohio Governor John Kasich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, former Virginia Gov. Mike Gilmore, former New York Gov. George Pataki, then Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and Dr. Ben Carson. Trump won the 2016 Alabama Republican Primary despite the crowded field. Trump went on to win the Republican nomination and then beat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the general election. Trump was unseated by former Vice President Joe Biden in 2020. Biden appears to be virtually unopposed at this point for the 2024 Democratic nomination for President. The 2024 Alabama Republican Primary is only 55 weeks away on March 5. DeSantis will speak to the Alabama Republican Party in Birmingham on March 9. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Dale Strong, Mo Brooks criticize TVA for winter storm rolling blackouts
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is facing backlash from leaders and citizens across the state after rolling blackouts occurred during the winter storm late last week. In its 90-year history, this is the first time the energy company has instituted rolling blackouts and cut power to customers in several states, including customers in north Alabama. “We at TVA take full responsibility for the impact we had on our customers. We never want to impact anyone’s energy at any time. This is not the way we want to serve our communities and customers,” TVA said in a press release. “We are conducting a thorough review of what occurred and why. We are committed to sharing these lessons learned and – more importantly – the corrective actions we take in the weeks ahead to ensure we are prepared to manage significant events in the future.” Winter storm “Elliott” strained power grids across the nation. The storm had record-breaking cold temperatures and high winds. The event produced the highest winter power peak in TVA history. TVA said it takes full responsibility for the issues experienced and vowed to thoroughly review the incident. “We will learn from this unprecedented event and are committed to providing you with the reliable service you expect and deserve,” the release stated. Some officials in Alabama blame TVA’s pursuit of “green energy” and its failure to complete the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant in Jackson County and closing other power sources in the state. On Twitter, Rep. Mo Brooks stated, “#TVA mandates rolling blackouts in frigid weather. TVA should finish #Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant – worst federal boondoggle in history. BILLIONS $$ misspent. ZERO power production. Citizens need power to heat homes, not lump of coal for Christmas.” Rep. Brooks told 1819 News, “There’s a big picture and a smaller picture. The big picture is that the TVA Board of Directors and officers have shifted away from more reliable energy sources such as nuclear and coal to exotics such as wind and solar. Coal and nuclear are cheaper, thus saving TVA citizens on their utility bills. Notwithstanding that, TVA has shifted in favor of exotics that are both less reliable and more expensive.” Brooks referred to the abandonment of the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility as an example of the “shift.” “Bellefonte Nuclear Facility is one of the, if not the, worst federal boondoggles of all time given the billions of dollars in cost, paid for by TVA ratepayers, without a single watt of electricity having been generated,” Brooks said. In 2020, TVA began offering local power companies a long-term partnership option that includes the flexibility for them to meet a portion of their power needs through their own generating sources. Huntsville Utilities recently announced a new green initiative allowing the company to purchase electricity from a Toyota Tsusho, the first time the company will purchase power from a company other than TVA. At the time, TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash explained that the TVA supported green initiatives. “Over the past few months, we collaborated with our new Valley Partners to develop a set of principles to help them serve some of their own customers’ requests for cleaner energy,” Lyash said. “Among the principles we’ve jointly developed, up to 5% of a partner’s average energy needs can be met by new distributed energy solutions built in their own service territory, ultimately helping TVA’s carbon reduction efforts in the future.” U.S. Rep-elect Dale Strong also criticized the abandonment of the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant. “Over the last several years, the Tennessee Valley Authority has declined to pursue completing the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant and closed two coal-fired plants in North Alabama. When each of these decisions were made, we were assured the TVA had plenty of generating capacity to power the Tennessee Valley,” Strong told 1819 News. “In light of the recent rolling blackouts across north Alabama, I would like to hear from TVA on the status of current capacity,” he added. “It is my goal to ensure we have enough power capacity to meet current and future needs so that North Alabamians do not have to experience rolling blackouts during a winter storm again.” The Tennessee Valley Authority withdrew its construction permit for the project in 2021. The project actually began in the 1970s and was halted in the late 1980s. TVA sold it to a company headed by the Haney family, but recently a federal judge canceled that five-year-old deal. Franklin Haney offered to buy the plant for roughly $111 million — a fraction of the TVA’s estimated $6 billion investment. After accepting the deal, the TVA backed out, claiming Haney failed to get the proper permits. “Had TVA completed Bellefonte themselves or cooperated with Franklin Haney, who is willing to complete it, we would have more electricity being generated in the TVA region and be less likely to have the rolling blackouts we just saw,” Brooks said. “On a side benefit perspective, Jackson County really needed Bellefonte to be completed and operational because it would have been producing a lot of jobs that pay over $100,000 per year.” The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors, serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity.
Jimmy Parnell re-elected to head Alabama Farmers Federation President
Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell was elected to a sixth two-year term heading the largest and most powerful Farm advocacy group in the state on Monday. “I thank you for my reelection,” Parnell said to the delegates who re-elected him. “I love y’all and truly enjoy what we’re doing. There is so much positivity going on inside this whole organization. I am so proud of that.” Parnell was re-elected by the four hundred seventy voting delegates from all 67 Alabama counties unanimously during the Federation’s 101st annual meeting in Montgomery. Parnell thanked fellow farmers from all 67 counties for their support and trust. As Federation president, Parnell also leads its affiliated insurance company, Alfa Insurance. This election to a sixth term caps off an incredibly successful year for Parnell, whose FarmPAC group endorsed candidates prevailed in numerous contests both at the primary and general election levels. Notable victories for the association include Katie Britt winning the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate over Congressman Mo Brooks, who had been an enemy of the group for years. Incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey was another high-profile endorsed candidate of FarmPAC. Ivey bested a dozen rivals to coast to re-election. Ivey addressed the group at their convention. “Tonight’s @AlfaFarmers’ 101st annual meeting marks the start of “A New Century for AL Agriculture; Continuing the Legacy.” I’ll always have the backs of our farmers, over the next 4 years & beyond,” Ivey wrote on Twitter. Parnell was recently chosen by Ivey to be one of the honorary co-chairs of her inauguration committee. Parnell succeeded Jerry Newby, who retired as the group’s President ten years ago. Parnell is a fifth-generation Chilton County farmer. Parnell raises cattle and runs a timber business. He was named the logger of the year by the Alabama Forestry Association in 2006. Parnell has a 1985 BA degree from Auburn University. Other leaders were also elected to roles in the association: Rex Vaughn of Madison County and George Jeffcoat of Houston County were both reelected to their sixth two-year terms as North Area and Southeast Area vice presidents. Both raise row crops and cattle. District 2 delegates elected agribusinessman Jeff Peek of Limestone County. Joe Anders of Tuscaloosa County was re-elected to serve a third term representing District 5. Tommy Martin of Hale County was elected to serve District 8. Mark Kaiser of Baldwin County was re-elected to a second term as District 11 director. Ann Whatley and Jonathan Edgar will each serve one-year, ex-officio terms on the state board. They were elected as chairs of the State Women’s Leadership Committee and State Young Farmers Committee. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Some legislative leaders retire and pass away
Allow me to share the stories of three of my favorite legislative colleagues. Two of these gentlemen are retiring from the Alabama House of Representatives this year, and one passed away in April. Representative Victor Gaston of Mobile and Representative Howard Sanderford of Huntsville are going home. A third legend and true gentleman, Steve McMillan of Baldwin County, passed away during the last session in April. Representative Victor Gaston is Speaker Pro Tem of the House. Victor is retiring after 40 years in the legislature. He decided that at age 79 and having spent half his entire life in the legislature, that the timing was right to end his career and not run for reelection. Gaston, who was an educator by profession and also has family timber interests, lost the love of his life, Jean, only two years ago. They were married for 46 years and were very close. You can tell he misses her immensely. His two sons, Hank and George, have been helpful to him. Victor was first elected to the House in 1982. That year, he was only one of eight Republicans in the 105-member House. His district is an affluent silk-stocking area of Mobile and one of the few areas that voted Republican in local races in that era. He serves as a deacon of the Springhill Baptist Church. Additionally, he is active in Mobile with the Penelope House, Home of Grace for Women, and the Mobile Mental Health Center. Besides serving as Pro Tem in the legislature, he has been active with the American Legislative Exchange Council and is on the State Building Commission. Victor and I came to the House as freshmen together in 1982 and became and remain good friends. I like to give my friends nicknames; I dubbed him, “To the Victor goes the spoils.” He is a formal person and seemed to enjoy the frivolity of the term. Also in our class were Spencer Bachus, Beth Marietta Lyons, and Mo Brooks, to name a few. My friend Howard Sanderford came to the Alabama House of Representatives in January 1989. We became fast friends. He succeeded my friend, Steve Hettinger, who became mayor of Huntsville. Howard has represented the 20th District which is comprised of southeast Huntsville. He was elected to this very Republican district seven times and has served a total of 33 years. He was a true blue business Republican who was perfect for that district. He represented his people well with class and distinction. Howard was an accountant by profession and had a successful career with IBM, retired early, and was able to serve in the legislature with ample time and without the need for remuneration. He is a devoted family man. Howard and his wife, Dot, are very close. She accompanied him to Montgomery most of the time during his 33 years in the legislature. They are active members of the First Baptist Church of Huntsville. At 87, Howard felt like it was time to retire from his second career. Our friend, Representative Steve McMillan of Baldwin County, passed away at 80 in April after a tough bout with cancer. Steve was a great man and a great legislator. He was a quiet yet very friendly gentleman. Steve served with distinction for 43 years in the House of Representatives. He was a very diligent and well-prepared legislator. He was extremely conservative in a dignified way. He was not flamboyant and would seldom go to the well and speak. Yet, when he did, people listened. He was well-respected and knew what he was talking about. He exuded class and epitomized the term gentleman. Steve is survived by his wife, Gayle, two sons, and six grandchildren. The House is losing a lot of experience and leadership with the loss of Steve McMillan, Victor Gaston, and Howard Sanderford. Coupled with the decision by Speaker of the House, Mac McCutcheon, to not seek reelection, this will leave a void in the Speaker and Pro Tem posts in the House. In addition, the House is losing veterans Mike Ball (R-Huntsville), Allen Farley (R-Jefferson), L.L. Brown (R-Jacksonville), and Harry Shiver (R-Baldwin). The state and many of us will miss these folks. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
House votes to block a national rail shutdown
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res 100, legislation to adopt the tentative agreement between railroads and railroad workers reached in September and avert a national rail shutdown that likely would have plunged the economy into recession and worsened inflation and supply chain issues. The bipartisan measure passed the House by a vote of 290 to 137. Rep.Terri Sewell voted for the bill to block the union from striking. She also voted in favor of a separate measure, H. Con. Res. 119, which would add seven days of paid sick leave for railroad workers to the tentative agreement. This measure was a key priority for labor and a value that Sewell shares. Res. 119 passed by a more narrow vote of 221 to 207. “A national rail shutdown would completely devastate our economy, leave shelves empty, and worsen the railroad blockages that we are working hard to fix,” said Rep. Sewell in a press release. “I am thrilled that Congress has acted quickly and decisively to avert this catastrophic outcome, all while securing key advances for rail workers. This agreement will provide peace of mind for families and businesses ahead of the holiday season.” Congressman Jerry Carl voted against H.J. Res. 100, Enforcing the Railway Labor Tentative Agreements. “Today, I voted against enforcing the railway tentative agreement because it is not the job of Congress to bail out President Biden after he failed to negotiate with railroad unions,” Carl said. “The last thing our country needs is Congress getting involved in private businesses by picking winners and losers.” The tentative agreement includes: · A 24 percent pay raise and a $5,000 bonus · No changes in copays, deductibles or coinsurance costs · Time off for routine, preventative and emergency medical care · Requirements protecting the two-man crew Sewell’s office justified the vote to prevent the strike claiming: that as many as 765,000 workers, including many union members, would lose their jobs in just the first two weeks of a strike; millions of families wouldn’t be able to get groceries, medications and other goods; many communities wouldn’t be able to acquire chlorine to keep their water supply clean; businesses wouldn’t be able to get their products to market, and that perishable goods would spoil before reaching consumers. Supporters justified the decision to intervene in the economy by citing the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which they claim gives Congress both the authority and the responsibility to act. The legislation now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to get the 60 votes necessary to pass the Senate. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday, “The President believes that a bill averting a rail strike needs to reach his desk by this weekend. He is very clear about that because we need to protect the American families from potentially devastating effects of a real shutdown. And we have talked about that numerous times, and the President was really clear about that when he — when he put out his statement earlier this week.” “Again, he’s a President for all Americans, and he believes that we need to avert a potential — this potential shutdown that would have a devastating effect on our economy, a devastating effect on jobs, a devastating effect in our communities across the country, and our — and our farms, as well,” Jean-Pierre said. “Look, the President, as you know, has been — has been called by union — unions and labor leaders as a pro-union President,” Jean-Pierre continued. “And he takes that very seriously. He is the most pro-union President in history. And he’s worked tirelessly to secure victories for unions and for workers since he was first elected to Sen- — to the Senate.” Jerry Carl was just re-elected to his second term representing Alabama’s First Congressional District. Terri Sewell was just re-elected to her seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. Six of the seven House incumbents in Alabama were re-elected in November’s midterms. The seventh, Rep. Mo Brooks, opted not to run for re-election but instead lost in the Republican primary for the open U.S. Senate seat. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Dale Strong wins Alabama’s 5th Congressional District seat
Republican Dale Strong has been elected to the north Alabama congressional district being vacated by U.S. Rep Mo Brooks. Strong on Tuesday defeated Democrat Kathy Warner-Stanton and Libertarian P. J. Greer to win Alabama’s 5th Congressional District, the state’s only open congressional seat this year. Brooks did not seek another term, choosing instead to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby. The six-term congressman lost the Republican primary runoff to former business lobby leader Katie Britt, who was elected. Strong is chairman of the Madison County Commission and a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician. He won the GOP nomination after defeating Casey Wardynski, a former Huntsville school superintendent, in a primary runoff. The state’s six other congressional districts also were decided: — In the 1st Congressional District of southwest Alabama, incumbent Republican Rep. Jerry Carl defeated Libertarian Alexander Remrey. ADVERTISEMENT — In the 2nd Congressional District in southeast Alabama, incumbent Republican Rep. Barry Moore was reelected, defeating Democrat Phyllis Harvey-Hall and Libertarian Jonathan Realz. — In east Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District, incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Rogers defeated Democrat Lin Veasey Democrat, Libertarian Thomas Sickofdc Casson and independent Douglas A. Bell. — In the 4th Congressional District of north-central Alabama, incumbent Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt was reelected, defeating Democrat Rick Neighbors and Libertarian Johnny C. Cochran. — In the 6th Congressional District of central Alabama, incumbent Republican Rep. Gary Palmer defeated Libertarian Andria Chieffo. — In west Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, Incumbent Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell was reelected. She defeated Republican Beatrice Nichols and Libertarian Gavin Goodman. Sewell was the only Democrat in Alabama’s congressional delegation. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Katie Britt urges voters to vote for Republicans up and down the ballot
On Monday, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Katie Britt, was joined at a rally in Madison by Republican leaders across the state of Alabama in Huntsville. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) expressed her support for Britt and urged everyone to encourage their friends to go to the polls to vote for Britt and other Republicans on November 8. Britt urged voters to vote “for Republicans up and down the ballot.” Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon said, “We have a lot of great leaders here for our state and nation. Thank you, Sen. Blackburn, for being here. I want to thank everyone for coming here. We have an election coming up. I want to tell you that this is a very important election for this state and also for this nation as well. Go vote and take someone with you as well. Rex Vaughn with the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) said he met with Katie Britt when she began her campaign. “We talked about what it would take to get the ALFA and Farmers Federation endorsement,” Vaughn said. “It was a tall order. She was down 40 points in name identification.” “I thought that Tommy Tuberville could not be surpassed (in working hard on the campaign trail), but she did,” Vaugh said. “We (the Farmers’ Federation) were told by many political experts across this state that we would regret our endorsement of her.” Britt defeated Congressman Mo Brooks and businessman and veteran Mike Durant in the Republican primary. She appears poised to take the Senate seat in one week. “I want you to leave here and contact ten and hopefully twenty people that you know and tell them to come out to vote,” said McCutcheon. McCutcheon urged voters to support the Republican nominees. “All of the (Republican) candidates are in unison to come together and move us forward,” McCutcheon said. “We are here on election eve, and I am so excited by what w are going to see here Tuesday,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt. “I am so happy to be here with people from both the Fourth and Fifth Congressional Districts. It is an honor to be joined here by Sen. Blackburn. I have watched her from a distance, and she is someone who both says she is a conservative and is a conservative. As Marsha and I know, there are some people in Washington who give lip service to being conservative but don’t walk the walk.” “I am so excited to be here,” Sen. Blackburn said. “What a great crowd for Monday morning. Alabama is going to help us to fire Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. Once we do that, you are going to have Chairman Aderholt (House Appropriations). We are looking forward to that. I look forward to Dale Strong coming to Congress. I have gotten to meet him. We are so excited that Katie is running. We are so excited for all the energy and enthusiasm that she brings to this race.” “I fully believe that, and you believe, that America’s best days are ahead of us,” Blackburn said. “We cannot win if we do not get out the vote. We cannot send the message that North Alabama is not purple, but red if we do not get people out to vote.” Blackburn continued, “The message this year: people are all concerned about inflation, are all concerned about the crisis on the border. This year you have got such a great opportunity from the local level to the state level to the federal level to send that message.” Blackburn commented about Britt, “You are going to send an absolute fireball to the U.S. Senate. She is going to do a great job working with Sen. Tuberville. I cannot wait to have her in the U.S. Senate.” “Thank you for your continued service. I cannot wait to serve alongside you,” Britt said of Blackburn. “Look at this crowd. I cannot believe so many people came out on a Monday with Halloween and school and so much going on.” “If we are going to put this nation back on the right track, we are going to have to do it by putting in Republicans from the top to the bottom of the ballot,” Britt continued. “We knew that we believed in the state and the nation. If our generation at age 40 does not stand up, then we will be the first generation who leaves our children a worse nation than the one that we grew up in. We have to stand up and fight for our children and grandchildren, or they might not have much left to fight for.” “Under Joe Biden’s failed leadership, he has left our border open to human traffickers, drug traffickers, and terrorists,” Britt said. “Rest assured that when I am in the Senate, I will stand alongside Senator Tuberville, Senator Cotton, and Senator Blackburn to make sure that we will not let the Chinese government buy up our farmland.” State Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield said that Alabama Republican leadership has been more positive than Democrat leadership. “The state was in terrible shape, our budgets were in terrible shape, our ethics laws were nonexistent,” Scofield argued. “Our schools were in terrible shape. Why would we go back to that? We have two Senators on the ballot in Madison County next week: Sen. Tom Butler and Sen. Sam Givhan. I serve with these two men not just in the State Senate but serving with them on the Madison County Delegation. They are effective for us in Madison County.” House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter urged residents of Madison County to support Republican candidates Dr. David Cole and Phillip Rigsby, who are in hotly contested races with Democrats. “November 8 is a big day for Madison County,” Ledbetter said. “One of two things are going to happen. Madison County is going to set the stake for the state, or it’s going to fail.” Britt urged voters to vote for Republican Greg Cooke for Alabama Supreme Court. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth stated, “We are on fire with this economy. The talk was we were going to lose a congressional seat, then we were going to lose two congressional
Libertarian candidate for Governor, Jimmy Blake, discusses issues
On Wednesday, Libertarian nominee for Governor, Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake, addressed voters online in a forum hosted by the Jefferson County Libertarian Party at the Mountain Brook Library. Blake said he had recently attended the “Break the Chains” rally organized by the families of prisoners of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). Blake said that he was moved “When you heard the stories and saw the videos that the families brought in there.” “The people of Alabama are a very decent bunch of people, and I don’t know whether politicians think they will be seen as soft on crime or they think that people just don’t care,” Blake said, urging the state to care for its prisoners better. According to a report by the Trump Department of Justice, the Alabama prison system is the most dangerous in the country. The state is facing a DOJ lawsuit alleging that incarceration with ADOC is an unconstitutional “cruel and unusual punishment,” banned by the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Blake chastised legislators and the Ivey administration for not focusing on the problem. “I think we are focused on sending money to favored contractors,” Blake said, criticizing the state for “Spending $400 million that was supposed to go to the people for COVID relief” to build new mega prisons. Blake said that he favored housing the prisoners in a more humane environment. “They want people to be rehabilitated and not more dangerous than when they went in there,” Blake explained. Even though Blake is running for governor, he still weighed in on the U.S. Senate race to chastise Republicans. “They had a guy who was a small government conservative in Mo Brooks,” Blake said. “They said so many outrageous things about him that were untrue and then chose a BCA lobbyist (referring to Katie Britt). We have a guy who knows what the government is supposed to be doing in John Sophocleus.” Blake said that the Libertarian Party was created 50 years ago when Republican President Richard Nixon devalued the currency by getting off of the gold standard. “A 1964 dime is 95% silver,” Blake said. “It is worth over two dollars today. A 2022 Biden dime is worth ten cents, and in a year, it will be worth nine cents a year from now due to inflation.” Blake chastised incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey for rejecting structural tax changes and what he called the corrupt duopoly of the two major political parties. Blake argued against laws banning marijuana, saying that Prohibition only creates “black markets,” detailing how Prohibition in the 1920s increased crime and violence while also leading to harder alcohol and alcohol poisoning. “You wouldn’t have fentanyl” if drugs were legal, Blake said. “Your liability would be too high.” Blake is a former U.S. Air Force flight surgeon who flew nuclear strike F4 Phantom fighters in Europe during the Cold War. He graduated from Auburn University and went to medical school at UAB on an Air Force scholarship. Blake served eight years on the Birmingham City Council. He also led the RAPS group that opposed the MAPS effort by then Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington to build a domed stadium and other projects by raising taxes across Jefferson County. Blake is a former chairman of the Libertarian Party of Alabama. He started the first free-standing “urgent care” healthcare clinic in Alabama – American Family Care. After leaving that business, Blake practiced medicine in the Hoover area. More recently, Blake has practiced emergency medicine at rural hospitals. Blake’s wife was killed in a tragic car accident. This is the first time Libertarians have had ballot access in Alabama in twenty years. Blake is challenging incumbent Gov. Ivey. Ivey has led the state since 2017. Yolanda Flowers is the Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Alabama. There are also two write-in candidates campaigning for governor. The general election is on November 8. Voters must have a valid photo ID to participate in any Alabama election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
City of Enterprise issues a proclamation honoring Richard Shelby
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby was in Enterprise last Thursday, where the City awarded him a proclamation honoring him for his 36 years of service to the state in the Senate. “Grateful to the City of Enterprise and Mayor [William] Cooper for the proclamation regarding my career in public service,” Shelby said on Twitter. “I’ve had the pleasure of representing the people of Enterprise in the Senate for the last 36 years. Thank you, Enterprise, for allowing me that high honor.” Shelby is retiring at the end of this year after six terms in the Senate. He is the Ranking Republican on the powerful Senate Appropriations committee, which he chaired until Republicans lost control of the Senate in 2021. Despite his pending retirement, Shelby is still very engaged in national affairs. “Since President [Joe] Biden took office in January 2021, inflation has risen 13.5%,” Shelby said on Twitter. “Democrats are clearly in over their heads and unable to bring down costs. The American people are tired of overpaying for gas, groceries, utility bills, etc. It’s unaffordable and unacceptable.” Shelby defeated incumbent Republican Senator Jeremiah Denton in 1986 to win the office as a Democrat. Shelby never really had a close election after that first election, easily besting five general election opponents in the years since. In 1994 Shelby switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Shelby has been credited with landing federal dollars for projects across the state over the years. “There is not a city or county in Alabama that has not benefitted from Senator Shelby’s seniority and power,” political columnist former State Rep. Steve Flowers wrote recently. “Every major university has received additional federal dollars for development and new buildings. He has literally transformed the University of Alabama. An entire section of the massive campus has a cadre of buildings, mostly science, technology, and engineering that are or should be named for him because he brought the money from Washington to pay for them. Shelby had sixteen years of public service prior to his Senate service. From 1970 to 1978, he represented Tuscaloosa in the Alabama Senate. From 1978 to 1986, he represented Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Shelby has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. Katie Britt is the presumptive heir apparent to Shelby’s seat in the Senate. The Republican nominee served an internship in Shelby’s office, where she eventually worked her way up to chief of staff after obtaining he law degree. Shelby has endorsed Britt, who won the Republican nomination after a hard-fought primary fight against Congressman Mo Brooks and veteran and millionaire defense contractor Mike Durant. Britt still faces voters in the November 8 general election, where she faces Democratic nominee Dr. Will Boyd and Libertarian nominee John Sophocleus. Even though the Senate is divided 50:50 between Republicans and Democrats (including two independents who caucus with the Democrats) the open Senate seat has not become a national battleground. Both of Britt’s opponents have been unable to raise money, either in Alabama or nationally. Virtually all indications are that Shelby’s seat will remain in Republican hands. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
