Katie Britt joins letter to DOE addressing transformer rule that could result in supply chain issues
Last week, U.S. Senator Katie Britt last week joined U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and a bipartisan group of 45 other colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm expressing their concerns about a proposed rule by the DOE that increases efficiency standards on distribution transformers. The Senators said that the transformers are a critical piece of infrastructure for the nation’s power grid. The new rule, they contend, comes at a time when the availability of essential grid components remains a significant challenge for the electric power industry and while the industry is struggling due to a substantial increase in demand, supply chain issues, and a skilled workforce shortage. “Instead of meeting the challenges of today – grid reliability, national security, and supply chain efficiency – President Biden chooses to regulate to a different reality, one that only serves his reckless Green New Deal priorities,” said Senator Katie Britt. “I urge this Administration to rescind this rule and commit to a solution that supports current steel industry capabilities.” The Sens. wrote, “Currently, the United States only has one domestic producer of amorphous steel. Moving to amorphous steel cores, as proposed by DOE, would require this sole domestic supplier to rapidly scale operations from its current market share of less than five percent to accommodate the entire distribution transformer market. Such a recalibration of the supply chain will further delay manufacturing production timelines – currently estimated to be a minimum of 18 months to two years.” The Senators acknowledged the actions that this and previous administrations have already taken in recognition of the challenges associated with distribution transformer supply chains but warned that this proposed rule would negate these advancements. “By phasing out the primary market for U.S.-produced GOES, the Proposed Rule could jeopardize this progress, putting everyday American families at risk,” the Sens. explained. “Further, we are concerned that requiring the use of amorphous steel for new distribution transformers could put the administration’s electrification goals at risk by exacerbating an existing grid vulnerability. At the same time, we recognize the numerous and often underappreciated benefits of energy efficiency and support the overall goal of reducing wasteful electrical losses in our distribution grid. We believe the most prudent course of action is to let both GOES and amorphous steel cores coexist in the market, as they do today without government mandates, for new installations as we ramp up domestic production and reorient supply chains.” The Sens. urged the DOE to refrain from promulgating the final rule. “We are committed to working with you to identify short and long-term solutions to the supply chain shortage of these critical grid components with a goal of building a robust domestic market and a more efficient and reliable grid for decades to come,” the Senators concluded. The Proposed Rule would require that the power industry stop installing the industry standard grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) for all distribution transformers and shift to new transformers with amorphous steel cores. “The Biden-Harris Administration continues to use every means available to reduce America’s carbon footprint while strengthening our security posture and lowering energy costs,” said Sec. Granholm. “Efficient distribution transformers enhance the resilience of our nation’s energy grid and make it possible to deliver affordable electrical power to consumers in every corner of America. By modernizing their energy-conservation standards, we’re ensuring that this critical component of our electricity system operates as efficiently and inexpensively as possible.” The Biden DOE estimates that the proposed standards would reduce U.S. CO2 emissions by 340 million metric tons over the next 30 years—an amount roughly equal to the annual emissions of 90 coal-fired power plants. DOE also expects the proposed rule to generate over ten quads of energy savings and approximately $15 billion in savings to the nation from 30 years of shipments. There is only one domestic producer of amorphous steel core transformers. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. She is an attorney, a native of Enterprise, a former Chief of Staff for Sen. Richard Shelby, former President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, and a graduate of the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville denies that his hold on military promotions has anything to do with Space Command
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville spoke with reporters about a report on Monday that President Joe Biden may take Space Command from the state of Alabama. “A very disturbing new report came out this week that showed that President Biden is preparing to overrule three separate government reviews and block Space Command from moving to Huntsville, Alabama,” Tuberville said. “According to the report, he wants to do this because Alabama is a pro-life state. The Air Force selected Redstone Arsenal over sixty options. The Air Force chose Redstone Arsenal because of Huntsville’s world-class facilities, educated workforce, and quality of life. Lawmakers from Colorado demanded studies to review the Air Force’s decision. Those three studies all ranked Alabama number one. Colorado did not make the top three. Now President Biden may overrule the Department of Defense and two independent studies all because Alabama believes in the right to life. If the President goes through with this hypocritical and dangerous decision, it will be the worst that Washington can see. This would set a terrible precedent. Is he going to close all the military bases in red states? Lots of states are pro-life. We can’t have military bases now? This is just another example of Joe Biden politicizing the military.” Reporters asked Tuberville if his blocking of military promotions over the Department of Defense’s intrusion into the abortion debate is a problem. “No. No, that had not even been in the conversation,” Tuberville said. “There has been articles written stating that it is not a problem. Obviously, the Biden administration is looking for any possible way to say that we need to move it to a blue state. This is all about politics. This is about the Colorado delegation putting pressure on [Chuck] Schumer and [Nancy] Pelosi and Biden. This is not about doing what is best for the country. This is about doing what is best for the Democrats.” Tuberville dismissed accusations that this was due to his position on military abortions and his linking that to blocking military promotions. “If I thought this had anything to do with it obviously, we wouldn’t be going down this road, but I believe in – I believe in life,” Tuberville said in the conversation with reporters. “This is not about abortion. This is about taxpayers having to fund abortion and the Department of Defense acting outside of authority. They know they are wrong, ok. They did this illegally. They are ignoring the law. They came to me, and I said follow the law or change the law. If we are not going to do that, then we are going to keep the holds on.” Tuberville said that Biden’s unwarranted attack on Alabama is a political decision. “It has nothing to do with Space Command,” Tuberville reiterated. “You can hear behind the scenes that they even talked about doing this in the summer or fall. They are not looking at facts. They are looking at politics, and so hopefully, they will come to their senses because Colorado was barely in the top five. The people who ought to really be mad – other than the people of Alabama and Huntsville – if this goes down like it looks like it might happen, and that is the people in Nebraska were second. San Antonio, who was third. It is just amazing that we are putting politics ahead of national security.” Tuberville urged Alabamians not to give up hope. “Every day since I have been here, we have done something in terms of trying to convince this administration – that is obviously not bipartisan. They are very partisan – to make this happen, but it is not over. We are going to continue to fight for it. I know Mike Rogers, who is head of the Armed Services Committee, is working on it very hard. So, let’s keep politics out of it and do the right thing for the American people, the military, and Space Command.” Following Richard Shelby’s retirement in January, Tuberville is the senior Senator from Alabama. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Alabama has a host of outstanding political leaders under 45
It may appear to you and most casual observers of Alabama politics that our Alabama elected officials are old. That observation is accurate when you observe our current leaders in the highest offices. The governor’s office has been held by mature folks in recent years. Our current Governor, Kay Ivey, is 78 and has been the object of national media humor for appearing to be a pistol-toting great-grandmother. Dr. Robert Bentley, her predecessor, was in his 70’s, but he may have been sprier than he appeared. Bob Riley was no spring chicken while governor at age 65, although he looked younger. Our iconic senator, Richard Shelby, retired in January at 88 after a record-breaking 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Our new Senior Senator, Tommy Tuberville, is 68. This was not always the case in the Heart of Dixie. In the period from 1930 through 1970, we elected the youngest political leaders in the nation, beginning with our legendary tandem of United States Senators Lister Hill and John Sparkman, who served together close to 30 years. Lister Hill was elected to Congress from Montgomery in 1923 at age 29 and was elected to the U.S. Senate at age 44. John Sparkman was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1946 at 46 after serving as the Congressman for the Tennessee Valley. If you think Hill and Sparkman were young when they went to Washington, you have not seen anything like the governors we elected from 1946 -1966. James E. “Big Jim” Folsom was 38 when he was elected in 1946. John Patterson was 37 when he was elected in 1958. Patterson was referred to as the “Boy Governor.” When George Wallace was elected to his first term in 1962, he was only 43. When his wife Lurleen Wallace was elected in 1966, she was 40. She died in office of cancer less than two years later at 41. Lurleen Wallace was succeeded by Lt. Governor Albert Brewer, who had been Speaker of the Alabama House at 34, Lt. Governor at 38, and was 39 when he became governor. Bill Baxley was the youngest Attorney General in America when he was elected Attorney General of Alabama at 29 years old in 1970. He had been a 25-year-old District Attorney in Houston and Henry Counties. Baxley still practices law in Birmingham at 81. Well, folks, a cursory look at our current top elected officials may appear old. However, we have a generation of young political leaders arriving on the scene in Alabama. We already have superstars on the horizon and already on the scene who are under 45. Our new United States Senator, Katie Britt, is only 40 years old. She has the ability and youthfulness to be one of Alabama’s greatest senators. She has gotten to the Senate at a younger age than Hill, Sparkman, or Shelby. Marshall County has become the hotbed and breeding ground for the next generations of Alabama political leaders. This beautiful pristine lake area of North Alabama lays claim to Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, age 41, State Senate Majority leader Clay Scofield, age 42, and State Representative Wes Kitchens, who is 35 and is Vice Chairman of the House Republican Caucus. Andrew Sorrell, the newly elected State Auditor, is only 37. He has a bright future. The brightest star in the Democratic ranks is Huntsville State Representative Anthony Daniels. At age 40, Daniels is a superstar. He is in his third term in the House from Huntsville. He is the Minority Leader in the House. This gentleman is also a successful high-tech businessman in Rocket City. There are several other stars under 45 in the Alabama House of Representatives besides Daniels and Kitchens, including Kyle South of Fayette, Matt Simpson of Daphne, Joe Lovvorn of Auburn, Ben Robbins of Sylacauga, Scott Stadthagen of Madison, Corey Harbison of Cullman, and very young newcomers James Lomax of Huntsville and Brock Colvin of Albertville. Joining the affable and accomplished 42-year-old Senate Majority Leader, Clay Scofield in the powerful State Senate in the under 45 superstar group are Senator Chris Elliott, 42, of Baldwin, Senator Andrew Jones, 38, of Cherokee, and newly elected Senator Josh Carnley from Coffee County who is 44. Alabama has a host of under 45 political leaders. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column is seen in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the legislature. He may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
Katie Britt expresses her concerns about inflation in confirmation hearing
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) spoke about her concerns with inflation on Tuesday at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Britt questioned Dr. Jared Bernstein, President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), on his steadfast support for the Biden Administration’s economic agenda items. Sen. Britt noted previous statements by Dr. Bernstein downplaying inflation by claiming it was merely “transitory.” Responding to Senator Britt’s questioning, Dr. Bernstein asserted that categorizing inflation as “transitory” was “correct” but “too ambiguous.” Bernstein would not say that the term “transitory” should not have been used by the Administration. Britt pressed the case that persistently high inflation has lasted longer than the Administration anticipated when they first used the “transitory.” Senator Britt also made the case that Dr. Bernstein, a current member of the CEA, simply wants to double down on the very policies that have fueled inflation since January 2021. Britt claimed that Dr. Bernstein’s insistence on advising the President to continue pushing an “irresponsible, partisan tax-and-spend agenda” makes him unfit to serve as our nation’s chief economist – a role which traditionally is reserved for a nonpartisan, serious expert. “The last thing the American people need is a continuation of crushing inflation,” said Sen. Britt. “Instead of owning up to this Administration’s failures and committing to a course correction, Dr. Bernstein used his testimony today to deflect blame, shirk responsibility, and even claim that this economy is a success. This is a stark departure from the harsh reality facing hardworking Alabamians around their kitchen table every day. Since President Biden took office, inflation is up 15.4%. As a mom of two school-aged children, I see this firsthand every time I walk the aisles at the grocery store or fill up at the gas pump: grocery prices are up nearly 20%, while energy costs are up 36%. Simply put, the American Dream is slipping further and further out of reach. Dr. Bernstein made it clear today that we can only expect more of the same under his counsel. He should be fired, not promoted.” Real wages, adjusted for inflation, have fallen for 24 consecutive months while rising prices cost the typical household approximately $10,000 in the same period. In 2022 alone, real disposable income fell more than $1 trillion nationwide, the largest drop since 1932. In a recent poll, just 16% of Americans consider economic conditions “excellent” or “good,” while 72% of the population thinks economic conditions are getting worse. White House Press Secretary Karine Jeane-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday, “We have always said it will take some time for inflation to come down. And we may see bumps in the roads, but that’s why lowering costs and fighting inflation remains the President’s top priority.” Katie Britt won a landslide election in November to win her first term as U.S. Senator. She is a former Chief of Staff for Sen. Richard Shelby, an attorney, and formerly the President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Marshall County and Enterprise emerging as Alabama political breeding grounds
Over the years, certain counties in Alabama have bred an inordinate number of governors and state political leaders. The three most prominent enclaves historically have been Tuscaloosa, Barbour, and Cullman. In the earlier years of statehood, Tuscaloosa was the most heralded county. They have continued, intermittently, throughout the years. The most prominent senator in Alabama history, Richard Shelby, who retired after 36 years in the Senate, calls Tuscaloosa home. Indeed, the state capital was in Tuscaloosa one time in the early years. They have had a fairly recent governor in Dr. Robert Bentley. Barbour County is called the “Home of Governors,” and for a good reason. They have had more governors than any county in state history. This sparsely populated Black Belt county has had six governors hail from there. George Wallace is, of course, the most prominent Barbour County Governor, but they also have Chauncy Sparks, John Gill Shorter, William Jelks, Braxton Bragg Comer, and Jere Beasley. Barbour County and Tuscaloosa both claim Lurleen Wallace. She was born and raised in Northport in Tuscaloosa County but married George Wallace and moved to Barbour County. This split county claim of governors also applies to legendary Governor James “Big Jim” Folsom. Big Jim was born and raised in Coffee County near Elba but moved to Cullman as a young man. So, Cullman gets bragging rights since he lived in Cullman when he was first elected in 1946. Cullman has indeed come on strong in the past few decades. They have had two governors in recent years, Jim Folsom Jr. and Guy Hunt. Today, we have two counties emerging as hotbeds for breeding state political leaders. Coffee County is percolating with political success. More particularly the growing City of Enterprise. Our new U.S. Senator, Katie Boyd Britt, was born and raised in Enterprise. She is only 40. The Congressman from the second district, Barry Moore, is from Enterprise although Dothan, Montgomery, and Elmore County have more population in that Congressional District. Moore is only 56. A rising popular star in the State House of Representatives, Rhett Marquis, 48, is from the Boll Weevil City. Enterprise is the home of the new state senator from that southeast Alabama hub. Josh Carnley just took the seat of retiring legend Jimmy Holley, thus keeping that seat in Coffee County. Carnley is a Coffee County farmer and insurance broker. Enterprise has a very good Mayor in William “Bill” Cooper. He has been in city politics for a good while. Coffee County also dominates all the judicial posts in this circuit. All three circuit judges hail from Coffee County in Enterprise. Sonny Reagan, Jeff Kelley, and Shannon Clark are all relatively young. The new District Attorney, James Tarbox, is very young. Jimmy Baker, who is Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, hails from Coffee County and lives in Enterprise. Enterprise has always laid claim to Ft. Rucker, which has been the impetus of their growth, but they are emerging as a political powerhouse. The other county that is set to be called an Alabama political spawning ground powerhouse is Marshall County. They currently have a cadre of the state’s most powerful and promising Alabama leaders. The most prominent is 41-year-old Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, who may be our next governor. State Senator Clay Scofield of Marshall County is only 42 and is Majority Leader of the State Senate. Attorney General Steve Marshall, 57, is in his second term as Attorney General. It is rare that two of the state’s highest-ranking officials, Will Ainsworth and Steve Marshall, are both from the same county. There are two rising stars in the Alabama House of Representatives from Marshall County. Young Wes Kitchens, an emerging leader in the House, is from Marshall. Also, the youngest member of the House of Representatives, Brock Colvin, has just been elected at the ripe old age of 26 and is catching people’s eyes on Goat Hill. Enterprise and Marshall County are emerging as new political breeding grounds for Alabama politicians. 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.
Katie Britt backs balanced budget amendment
U.S. Senator Katie Britt joined U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and 22 additional Senate cosponsors in introducing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution to force the President and Congress to pass annual balanced budgets. The joint resolution, S.J.Res.13, proposes a constitutional amendment to establish requirements for the submission and approval of annual balanced budgets, including guidelines regarding exceeding spending caps and raising taxes. “Our ballooning national debt is already an economic and security crisis,” said Sen. Britt. “Just this week, President [Joe] Biden proposed an unserious budget that would continue to recklessly pile this burden on the backs of our children and our children’s children. Alabama families balance their household budgets every day, and we must expect the federal government to do the same. It is past time to hold Washington accountable for runaway, wasteful spending that is fueling inflation and endangering our nation’s future.” “A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution would compel our nation’s leaders and the American people to make difficult choices to get our fiscal house in order,” said Sen. Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee along with Britt. “Our national response to the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated federal spending at a rate that compounds our already serious debt problems. The new deficit spending is a necessary answer to a national health emergency, but it would be completely irresponsible not to establish a strong framework from which to tackle our nation’s long-term fiscal problems—and ultimately the future of this great country.” The legislation would amend the U.S. Constitution to: • Require the President to submit a balanced budget and Congress to pass a balanced budget • Restrict federal spending to 18% of the Gross Domestic Product • Require a two-thirds majority votes in both the House and Senate to raise taxes • Require a new three-fifths majority vote in both houses of Congress to raise the debt limit On Thursday, President Biden released an outline of his Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal, which would raise taxes by $4.7 trillion and see the gross national debt rise to $50.7 trillion by 2033. Sens. Britt and Hyde-Smith were both critical of that budget, which made no serious effort to cut the deficit. “President Biden’s budget proposal is completely out of touch with the harsh reality hardworking Alabamians are facing every day of his term,” said Senator Britt. “Prices have already skyrocketed 14.4% since he took office, while Americans’ personal savings have fallen to a nearly 15-year low. Today, President Biden confirmed that he wants to raise taxes and spend more. His unserious, yet unsurprising, budget proposal only doubles down on the failed tax-and-spend agenda fueling this kitchen table crisis. The people of Alabama know that the federal government does not have a revenue problem; this Administration has a spending problem.” “The best thing about President Biden’s 2024 budget wish list is that it’s dead on arrival,” said Hyde-Smith. “It is not the serious fiscal blueprint that we need as a nation to deal with the national debt, deficits, national defense, and other critical problems facing the American people. Instead, the President and his administration seem to be divorced from reality by producing a budget plan that doubles down on the runaway spending and taxes that characterized the first half of the Biden presidency.” President Biden defended his budget. “My budget will deliver funding to help us lead the world again,” Biden claimed. “My budget also invests in critical issues that matter to families — increasing the supply of affordable housing, lower rental costs, and making it easier to buy a home — all of which will generate economic growth and prosperity.” “I said to my introducer — he said, “I bought a small home, and I worked on it.” I said, “Guess what? That’s how every middle-class family came to be,” Biden continued. “Why? Because you build equity in that home. And after two years, five years, ten years, you may have $10-, $20-, $30,000 in equity. You can borrow against it to send a kid to school. You can borrow against it to do a lot of things.” “And so, folks, look, MAGA Republicans are calling for defunding the police departments and defunding the FBI now,” Biden said. “That’s a good one. I like that one. Well, guess what? And they refuse to provide funding that is going to keep communities safe and secure. We talk about he- — about crime. Well, it’s outra- — My budget invests in public safety. It includes funding for more training, more support for law enforcement at a time when they’re expected to pay ma- — play many roles.” The White House claims that the President’s budget will cut the deficit by $3 trillion over the next ten years, but at no time in that decade would the budget ever be balanced. The national debt is $32 trillion now and is climbing. Congress has not passed a balanced budget in 23 years. Katie Britt is in her first term representing Alabama in the U.S. Senate. Her predecessor, Richard Shelby, introduced a balanced budget amendment every one of the 36 years he was in the Senate, and it never did pass. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
The State of Alabama honors Richard Shelby
On Thursday, both Houses of the Alabama Legislature joined Alabama Governor Kay Ivey for a joint legislative session to honor former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby and his 52 years of service to the State of Alabama. Shelby represented State Senate District 16 from 1971 to 1979. In 1978, he was elected to Congress, representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. He served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1986 he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He spent the next 36 years serving the people of Alabama in the United States Senate. Shelby is a native of Birmingham and a graduate of the Birmingham School of Law, but it is Tuscaloosa where he launched his career. He was hired as city prosecutor for Tuscaloosa and became a special assistant attorney general before launching his political career as State Senator representing Tuscaloosa in the 1970 election. Every year Shelby was in the Senate, he introduced a flat tax and a balanced budget amendment—neither ever passed the Senate. The Legislature commended Shelby for his “Service to the state of Alabama and its citizens and wished him continued health and happiness in all future endeavors.” Ivey said, “We are here today, honoring a friend to all of Alabama. To Richard Shelby, I say welcome home. We are honored to have you back.” “He is the state’s longest-serving Senator at 36 years,” Ivey said. Ivey said that out of all the great senators the state of Alabama has had, they have been “eclipsed by Senator Shelby.” Ivey praised Shelby for having steered hundreds of millions of dollars in engineering and sciences funding to Alabama colleges and universities, as well as Redstone Arsenal, the Port of Mobile, and other projects across the state. “We wish you the best, and we proudly welcome you back to our sweet home Alabama,” Ivey concluded. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth said Shelby “should be forever known as Alabama’s greatest builder.” “Perhaps the most important and lasting thing that Richard Shelby has built is his legacy,” Ainsworth said. “His legacy will be felt long after Richard Shelby and all who gather in this room have passed by generations of Alabamians not yet born.” Senate Pro Tem. Greg Reed said, “I echo everything that has been said eloquently by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.” Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said, “It is an honor and a privilege to honor a man in Senator Shelby who has dedicated his life to service of the people of Alabama.” Ledbetter thanked Shelby for the contribution that he has made to the development of the state. “Alabama’s economy is stronger than it has ever been,” Ledbetter said. “We have more jobs that we can ever fill. We look forward to building on the foundation that you have built in your 51 years of service.” State Sen. Jabo Waggoner praised Shelby, saying, “It appears that I am the only one in the Alabama Legislature still standing when he came to the Senate in 1971. I was elected in 1966, so I had a four year head start on Richard.” “He grew up on the west side of Birmingham like I did, but I did not know him until then,” Waggoner recalled. Every legislator today has an office in the Alabama Statehouse. In 1971 the Legislature still met in the historic 1859 State Capitol. “There were about five offices behind this (House) chamber,” Waggoner said. “For the rest of us, our office was this seat in this chamber, so we spent a lot of time together under the rotunda.” “When the history is written, what he has done in the House of Representatives and the Senate will put him right at the top,” Waggoner continued. “Everybody in Alabama knows the name Richard Shelby – everybody – and what he has accomplished for this state. When the history book is written, my friend, you will be right at the top.” Shelby said, “Today, I come back around to where I started 52 years ago. It is a great honor.” “I thought I was going to come down here and run things,” Shelby said. “After ten days, I realized I was going to have to work with people.” “We have come a long way,” Shelby said. Shelby said that he learned legislators can accomplish the most “if we work together to advance everybody.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
‘Alabama’s greatest builder’: State officials honor Richard Shelby
Gov. Kay Ivey and other state officials on Thursday paid tribute to former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, saying he transformed the economic and education landscape of the state during his decades of public service. Shelby, 88, retired this year after serving 36 years in the U.S. Senate in a career where he harnessed seniority, political savvy, and relationships to become one of the Senate’s most influential members. The Alabama Legislature met in a Thursday morning session held at the state Capitol to honor Shelby. “When we think of Alabama’s monumental U.S. senators, for many, Lister Hill, Jim Allen, and John Sparkman come to mind. While each was known for expertly navigating Washington politics to benefit our state, I think it’s fair to say their impacts have been rivaled and eclipsed by the work of Senator Shelby,” Ivey said. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said Shelby forever changed Alabama by bringing projects for universities, government installations, infrastructure, and encouraging the development of aerospace and other industries in the state. “He should be forever known as Alabama’s greatest builder,” Ainsworth said, adding that the impact of Shelby’s work will be felt for generations. “Perhaps the most important and lasting thing that Richard Shelby has built is his legacy, a legacy that provides jobs, hope and opportunity to our children, our grandchildren, and their children after that for decades to come.” Shelby told the state leaders that it was “good to be home,” and said he always believed elected leaders should work together for the good of the people they represent. “It’s not about me. It’s about our state, the people, and the future of our state,” he said. The longtime senator announced in 2021 that he would not seek another term. Shelby was replaced in the Senate by his one-time chief of staff, Katie Britt, who was elected in November. Shelby, a lawyer and former member of the Alabama Legislature, was first elected as a conservative Democrat in 1978 to the U.S. House of Representatives during the party’s waning days of control in the Deep South. In the House, he belonged to a caucus of Southern conservatives known as the boll weevils. Shelby was elected to the Senate in 1986 but switched to the GOP in 1994. He became known for his measured demeanor and ability to harness his clout and relationships to direct billions of dollars in projects back to his home state of Alabama. He also had the rare accomplishment of chairing four major Senate committees — Appropriations; Intelligence; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and Rules and Administration. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
The ARPA Special Session begins
The Alabama Legislature met on Wednesday for the first day of the First 2023 Special Session. The session was called by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to appropriate just over one billion dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that the state received and has not yet appropriated. The Alabama House of Representatives met at 1:00 p.m. to conduct business and allow for the introduction of bills in the special session. The pre-filed bills we have been discussing for weeks are for the 2023 Regular Legislative Session and cannot be addressed during the special session. The regular session will resume on Thursday, March 21. House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle introduced, and the House passed, a resolution to formally announce to the Senate that the House is in special session. The House passed a resolution to appoint a committee to announce to the governor that the House is in a special session. The Alabama Senate gaveled in just after the House adjourned. The Senate appointed a committee to announce to the Governor that the Senate is in special session. They also passed a resolution to announce to the House of Representatives that the Senate is in session. Many of these rules and procedures may sound redundant, but in 1901 when the Alabama Constitution was written, no one had cell phones, the internet had not been invented, and most people in the state still did not have telephones or electricity. These rules exist so that a legislative body is not meeting in secret without informing the other legislative body or the governor of its activity. State Sen. Greg Albritton addressed the body about the proposed bill to pay off the money that the state owes the Alabama Trust Fund. “A few years back, the Legislature ran into a problem, and there was a significant shortfall in funds,” for the state general fund (SGF) Albritton explained to the Senators. “We had to go to the people to seek authority to borrow money from the Alabama Trust Fund.” “We borrowed over $400 million to keep the government operational,” Albritton said. “We stated that we had a moral obligation to pay that money back.” “At the time, there was a lot of skepticism that we would never pay that money back,” Albritton said. “We have been paying $13 million a year out of the general fund. When times got better we began making double payments.” “The bill that I am introducing this afternoon, SB1, will pay that completely and totally off,” Albritton continued. “This bill will take $59,987 thousand and some change to pay that ATF off. When this was done that balance was approximately $2 billion and change. Today that amount is over $4 billion.” Senate Bill 1 has been referred to the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee chaired by Albritton. Senate Bill 2 by Sen. Garlan Gudger, dealing with Healthcare, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Healthcare. Both committees will meet on Thursday to consider these two pieces of legislation. Senate Pro Tem Greg Reed announced that the Senate will reconvene for Day 2 of the 2024 First Special Session on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. A joint session of the House and Senate will meet in the historic 1859 Alabama Capitol Building at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday to honor former U.S. Senator Richard Shelby for his decades of service to the state of Alabama. The House will then return to the Statehouse for its own session at 11:30 a.m. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
The 2023 Alabama Legislative Session has begun
Tuesday, the Alabama State Legislature returned to Montgomery for the start of the 2024 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. The Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate gaveled in at noon for the first legislative day and then joined the governor that night for a joint session where she presented her state of the state address. Senate Pro Tem. Greg Reed told members of the Senate, “I appreciate you being willing to serve the people of Alabama.” “The sacrifices made by the family of those who serve is not insignificant,” Reed added, thanking the families of the 35 Senators for their sacrifices. The Senate opened the journal to introduce bills, selected a committee to inform the governor that the Senate was now in session, and passed a resolution in honor of March being Women’s History Month. The resolution “celebrates the contribution that Alabama women have made to American history.” The resolution honors a number of Alabama women, including Rosa Parks, Helen Keller, and Condoleezza Rice, for their contributions to the state as well as the governor. “Current governor Kay Ivey is the longest serving woman governor in history and the second after Lurleen Wallace.” State Sen. Rodger Smitherman said, “This resolution inspired me. That resolution is a cosmic picture of the state of Alabama. It does not matter whether you are Black or White. It was a cosmic picture of all the people of Alabama.” “That’s our state,” Smitherman said. “All of us, we represent the state. Look around this room. This is what our state looks like. I am looking forward to voting for this resolution with a smile on my face.” Senate Joint Resolution 4 passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 5 honoring former U.S. Senator Richard Shelby for his decades of service to the state passed. State Sen. Gerald Allen sponsored this. A second resolution supporting the oil and gas exploration by Allen was held over and referred to the Rules Committee after State Sen. Bobby Singleton asked for more time to study it. Reed announced that the Senate needed to address statutory requirements at the start of the session. The Senate held a Legislative Council election and selected Sens. Clyde Chambliss, Steve Livingston, and Vivian Figures to represent the Senate on the Council. For the Committee on Public Accounts, the Senate elected Sens. Arthur Orr, Clay Scofield, and Jabo Waggoner. On the Sunset Committee, Sens. Garlan Gudger, Keith Kelley, and Figures were elected. Sens. Orr, Scofield, Waggoner, Figures, and Singleton were elected to the Senate Ethics and Conduct Committee. Ivey called a special session beginning on Wednesday for the Legislature to focus on appropriating over one billion dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds that the federal government sent to the state of Alabama. “This evening, I am calling a Special Session of the Alabama Legislature to begin tomorrow so that we can urgently address these endeavors,” Ivey said. “We are, once again, tasked with allocating our taxpayers’ dollars that are part of the second round of the American Rescue Plan Act from Congress.” “This is not free money,” Ivey warned legislators. “And we must invest these one-time funds wisely. Last year, thanks to you, members of the Alabama Legislature, we put these dollars to work, meeting some of Alabama’s biggest challenges. I commit to the people of Alabama we will once again take a smart approach and put it towards major and needed endeavors like expanding broadband access, improving our water and sewer infrastructure, and investing in our health care – including telemedicine.” Tuesday was the first day of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session, but since Ivey has called a special session, the second legislative day of the regular session will not begin until Tuesday, March 21. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 limits the Legislature to just thirty legislative days in a regular session. Members worked on Tuesday, introducing their bills for the regular session. At the close of the day on Monday, 98 bills had been pre-filed ahead of the session. By the end of the day on Tuesday, that had grown to 174 bills. Reed explained to reporters that it takes a minimum of five legislative days for a bill to pass both Houses of the Legislature, so it will take the rest of this legislative week and next week for the ARPA appropriations bill to pass and go to Gov. Ivey for her signature. Once that is done, the special session can end, and the Legislature will be poised to remove the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt heads to southern border in Texas
U.S. Senator Katie Britt went to Texas Thursday, where she joined Sen. John Cornyn and a group of Senate colleagues on a tour of the Rio Grande Valley Sector to survey the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. “There is an unprecedented national security and humanitarian crisis at our southern border,” said Sen. Britt. “Acknowledging there is a problem is the first step to solving it, but unfortunately, President Joe Biden won’t even do that. I am grateful to have this opportunity to see the problem in the Rio Grande Valley firsthand, ask tough questions, listen, and learn – so we can fight for the best possible solutions in the Senate. The number of Americans dying from fentanyl poisoning is equivalent to a commercial airplane going down in our country every single day. Just this week, CBP announced it busted a passenger vehicle that was carrying enough fentanyl to kill every single Alabamian 10 times over. It’s past time for action.” “The scope and scale of this crisis is absolutely unprecedented, and it’s having a major impact on our border security missions,” Sen. Cornyn said. “I’m eager to return this evening to the Texas southern border with another group of colleagues. Senators [John] Thune from South Dakota, Senator [Roger] Wicker from Mississippi, Senators [Deb] Fischer and [Pete] Ricketts from Nebraska, and Senator Britt from Alabama will join me for a series of tours and meetings in the Rio Grande Valley starting this evening.” The senators are participating in both night and daytime tours of the border with law enforcement on land and water. They will also visit the Border Patrol’s Ursula Central Processing Center and meet with local law enforcement and landowners to discuss the impact of the Biden Administration’s border policies on local communities. “We’ll receive a tour of the border from some of the dedicated law enforcement officials who protect it,” Cornyn added. “We’ll get a look at one of the border processing centers and learn about the challenges they’re facing due to the sheer volume of migrants crossing the border every day. We’ll talk to local law enforcement officials as well, the sheriffs, the private landowners on how this flood of humanity is impacting their communities. We’ll receive briefings about efforts to secure the border.” The senators will also receive briefings from the National Border Patrol Council, Customs and Border Protection, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas’ new border czar to discuss federal and state efforts to secure the southern border. “It’s important that as many Senators as possible see and understand the dynamics of what’s happening,” Cornyn concluded. “If we’re going to have a shot at fixing this mess, which can only happen on a bipartisan basis, then everyone needs to know what we’re up against.” Senator Britt is the ranking member of the Homeland Security subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. In her first two months in office, Sen. Britt has visited both the Del Rio Sector of the border in Texas and the San Diego Sector of the border in California. Katie Britt has introduced several pieces of legislation to implement immigration reforms and tighten border security. Britt won a landslide election in November over both a Democratic and Libertarian opponent in her first run for public office. Britt is an attorney and the former President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama. She previously worked as chief of staff for former Sen. Richard Shelby. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville join bipartisan group to support rural hospitals
On Friday, U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville joined a bipartisan group of fourteen Senators urging the extension of a policy that is helping rural hospitals in states like Alabama continue to deliver quality care. The two Alabama Republicans joined in a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure formally requesting a four-year extension of the Low Wage Index Hospital Policy, which allows hospitals in rural areas to compete for and retain high-quality staff by increasing reimbursements to hospitals in rural areas with lower overall wages. Without action, Medicare payments to these hospitals will reduce after September 30, 2023. Sen. Britt is a member of the subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. “Our rural families and communities depend on the medical services and potentially life-saving treatments that local hospitals provide,” said Sen. Britt. “Every Alabamian deserves access to quality care and the opportunity to thrive in safe, strong communities – no matter their zip code.” The four-year AWI adjustment by CMS for bottom quartile hospitals was first passed by the Trump administration in August 2019. Then, Sens. Richard Shelby and Doug Jones represented Alabama in the Senate. “For two decades, Alabama has been fighting the unfair Medicare reimbursements and today receives a rate that is just 67 percent of the national average,” Sen. Jones explained in 2019. “This rule adjustment will bring balance to Medicare reimbursement for Alabama, particularly our rural hospitals and hospitals across the country,” explained then-Sen. Shelby. “For years, I’ve been working with Alabama’s hospitals and the delegation to advocate for increased Medicare reimbursements for Alabama’s hospitals, which are currently reimbursed at the lowest rates in the country,” Congresswoman Terri Sewell stated when the rule was passed. “Today’s announcement is great news for Alabama’s hospitals, especially those in rural areas of the state where every dollar counts. With over 88 percent of rural Alabama hospitals operating in the red, it is critical that we do everything we can to help our hospitals provide the services needed to keep Alabamians healthy. Recalculating the way Medicare reimburses Alabama hospitals is a crucial step in achieving that goal.” “Unfortunately, due to disruptions in the marketplace caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not had the opportunity to see the true impact of the Low Wage Index Hospital Policy envisioned by CMS,” the Senators wrote in their letter. “Extending the Low Wage Index Hospital Policy for four additional years will allow hospitals and the agency to better understand the policy’s true impact in a more normal environment.” Senators Britt and Tuberville were joined by Senators Mark Warner (D-Virginia), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), and Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas). Without a renewal and extension of the rule, CMS will revert back to compensating rural hospitals at 60 to 75% of the rates as hospitals in many major metropolitan areas based on the assumption that the cost of living and, thus, wages are less in the rural areas. The difficulty with that theory is that there is an intense nationwide competition for medical professionals who all go to the same medical and nursing schools. Rural hospitals already struggle to hire competent medical professionals due to the small rural populations. This means fewer patients seeking care, particularly specialized care, than in a major city hospital. If Medicare and Medicaid reimburse those hospitals for significantly less than the major hospitals will, then attracting and retaining staff at the rural hospitals becomes problematic. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
