Candidates pledge to support, pardon Donald Trump ahead of his arrest
Nearly all of the Republican primary candidates pledged to support former President Donald Trump during the debate Wednesday, even if he is convicted of any of his myriad legal charges. Trump is expected to be arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, Thursday over charges that he conspired to change the state’s 2020 election results. Those charges are part of the fourth indictment Trump faces, raising real concern that he could be convicted and jailed even as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president. “NOBODY HAS EVER FOUGHT FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY LIKE PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” the former president wrote on social media Wednesday. “FOR DOING SO, I WILL PROUDLY BE ARRESTED TOMORROW AFTERNOON IN GEORGIA. GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!” These are the candidates who qualified for the debate Wednesday night: When asked if they would still support Trump for president if he were convicted in one of the 91 charges he faces, all of them except Hutchinson and Christie raised their hand. Christie seemed to start to raise his hand but then changed his mind. Notably, the candidates had to pledge to support the Republican nominee as a condition of participating in the debate. Christie said he would not support Trump and ended up in a sparring match with Ramaswamy, who said the indictments were politically motivated. Christie was booed for an extended period of time and had to stop speaking. That was one of multiple tense exchanges between Ramaswamy and Christie. “I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT standing up here,” Christie said of Ramaswamy earlier in the debate. Ramaswamy also called out Pence, saying he was the only candidate on stage who would pardon Trump on day one. “If people at home want to see a bunch of people blindly bashing Donald Trump without an iota of vision for this country, they can just change the channel to MSNBC right now,” Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy asked Pence to commit to pardon Trump, but Pence gave a vague answer, saying he would give a pardon “fair consideration.” “I don’t know why you assume Donald Trump will be convicted of these crimes,” Pence said. “That is the difference between you and me. I have given pardons when I was governor of the state of Indiana. It usually follows a finding of guilt and contrition by the individual that’s been convicted.” Haley and Ramaswamy went at it during a debate over the issue of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. “You have no foreign policy experience and, you know what, it shows,” Haley said. “It shows.” Her comments came after Ramaswamy said he wished Haley well in her future career on the boards of defense companies because of her support for defense funding. DeSantis avoided much of the fighting and attacks, which largely went to Ramaswamy and whoever he was sparring with at the time. The cheers and boos bolstered and opposed different candidates throughout the night, depending on the issues and their answers. The candidates came into the debate facing an uphill battle against former President Donald Trump, who leads by a significant margin. The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll, conducted in conjunction with Noble Predictive Insights in July, found that Trump is far out ahead of his Republican competitors. The survey found that 53% of surveyed Republicans support Trump, followed by 18% supporting DeSantis. Former Vice President Mike Pence and entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy came in third and fourth place with 7% and 6% support, respectively. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley tied for fifth place at 4% support. Trump’s legal issues risk putting him behind bars, making second place in the primary more important than ever. While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis currently holds that spot, it remains unclear how the debate may move that needle. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Republican Presidential Debate set for tonight; Donald Trump not participating
The first Republican presidential debate is on Wednesday at 8:00 pm on Fox News Channel. “The Republican Party is officially kicking off the primary process in Wisconsin with the first debate and ending it in Wisconsin with the convention,” Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said on Twitter. “We need every Wisconsin Republican to go to http://BankYourVote.co/gopchair and join the team that will Beat Biden!” Frontrunner former President Donald Trump is not participating. “New CBS POLL, just out, has me leading the field by ‘legendary’ numbers,” Trump said, explaining why he was not participating. “TRUMP 62%, 46 Points above DeSanctimonious (who is crashing like an ailing bird!), Ramaswamy 7%, Pence 5%, Scott 3%, Haley 2%, Sloppy Chris Christie 2%, “Aida” Hutchinson 1%,” Trump wrote. “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!” Coming into the debate, polling shows that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is running in second place, followed by businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. The other candidates on the stage will be U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Vice President Mike Pence. A key issue overshadowing the normal presidential political process is the over 50 indictments against Trump. To this point, the legal controversy has benefited Trump, but will that continue? There are also concerns by some that Trump may not be able to serve if he is found guilty of participating in an insurgency. Trump supporters scoff at assertions that President Trump could be barred constitutionally and dismiss the indictments as Democrats politicizing the legal system. The Madison County Young Republicans are hosting a Republican presidential debate watch party. The debate Starts at 8 pm and ends at 10 pm. The event will be at The Best Pizzeria in Huntsville. The St. Clair County Young Republicans, the Shelby County Young Republicans, and the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans are co-hosting a debate watch party at Hoover Tactical Firearms. The event is from 6:30 – 9:30 pm, and food will be provided. Dues-paying YRs get in for free, $5 tickets for everyone else. The Republican delegates to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will formally select the GOP nominee. Incumbent President Joe Biden appears to be the Democratic nominee, but he is being challenged by former Congressman Robert Kennedy. At present, President Biden has not agreed to any Democratic presidential debates. The Republican primary season will begin in Iowa in January. The Democratic primary season this year will start in South Carolina. The Alabama presidential primary is on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt, Tim Scott, and colleagues lead a bicameral amicus brief challenging the CFPB’s funding structure
U.S. Senator Katie Britt recently joined Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina) of the House Financial Services Committee, Representative Andy Barr (R-Kentucky), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy, Representative Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and a bicameral group of 132 members of Congress in filing an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, et al., v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Limited, et al. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) has also joined the amicus brief. The brief urges the Supreme Court to uphold the Fifth Circuit’s decision that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) funding structure is unconstitutional and to make the Bureau’s funding subject to congressional appropriations like most of the federal government. “The Constitution clearly grants Congress power over the appropriations process. The CFPB should be no exception but has been operating outside of this lawful process with little oversight or taxpayer accountability,” said Senator Britt. “This amicus brief reaffirms the importance of spending public funds as directed by Congress and ‘not according to the individual favor of Government agents.’ The current funding scheme utilized by the CFPB is unsustainable and unconstitutional, and I urge the Court to uphold the Fifth Circuit’s decision.” “Thankfully, our government has a system of checks and balances, one of which includes congressional oversight and the power of the purse—appropriations,” Sen. Scott said. “In these important and trusted roles, we analyze and scrutinize the executive branch’s actions on behalf of the American taxpayer, so that the voices of the country’s citizens are heard and their viewpoints reflected. Unfortunately, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—or the CFPB—is a notable exception. It is not accountable to Congress or the American taxpayer through the appropriations process, and it routinely and brazenly acts outside of the scope of its authority.” The brief states, “The Court need not determine which particular aspect of the CFPB’s funding scheme is the most problematic. This is the easy case. The CFPB ‘is in an entirely different league’ from other entities when it comes to its insulation from Congress… to the point that the CFPB currently operates as ‘a sort of junior-varsity Congress’ setting its own funding levels in perpetuity… Such insulation means that Congress itself is not determining the CFPB’s funding. The Court should affirm the judgment below, which will return the matter of the CFPB’s funding to the normal political and legislative channels, as Article I and the Appropriations Clause require.” Questions about the constitutionality of the CPFB have followed the agency since its founding in the early years of the Obama Presidency. Then U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) said. “For years, I have argued that supporters of Dodd-Frank sacrificed our Constitution in the name of bureaucratic independence,” Shelby stated. “While the court’s ruling today is a victory for accountability, it is meaningless without a President who is willing to rein in the unmatched authority of the CFPB’s Director.” Conservatives are optimistic that the Court will rule to place the troubled agency under congressional oversight through the budgeting process. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Republican Executive Committee will decide presidential delegates, not GOP voters
The Republican National Convention will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next year to select the Republican nominee for President. On Saturday, the Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee passed its Presidential Preference Primary Resolution – which details how Alabama’s presidential delegates will be allocated for the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. Much of that remains the same. The major change is that Alabama’s Republican primary voters will still pick the candidates for President of the United States but will not get to pick the delegates pledged to that candidate. In past presidential elections, there were dozens of names on the ballot for voters to select from pledged to each presidential primary candidate. The winning delegates for the candidates with enough votes to be awarded delegates would then represent Alabama at the Republican National Convention. There won’t be any delegates for voters to vote on in the 2024 Republican primary ballot. Voters can still choose which presidential candidate they prefer: Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott, Asa Hutchison, Chris Christie, etc. The roughly 475-member Republican State Executive will decide who the 50 delegates to the convention are. State Representative Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) introduced the resolution. “Delegates to the convention don’t just nominate the President. They also serve on the rules and platform committees,” Simpson said. “This is party business.” “The best people to make the decisions on how to grow up in the party is to reward the people that have been in the party,” Simpson said. “We know better than anybody who are the workers, who supported the party, who are the Republicans.” “The general public really doesn’t have a clue about the people on the ballot,” Simpson said. State Auditor Andrew Sorrell, who is also the State Executive Committee’s bylaws committee chairman, said that the delegates will still have to pledge to the candidate that they represent before the primary. Alabama will have 50 delegates at the RNC Convention in Wisconsin next year. The Chairman will be one delegate, as will the National Committeeman and the National Committeeman. Those positions are presently held by John Wahl, Paul Reynolds, and Vicki Drummond. The executive committee will then select 26 statewide at-large delegates. Alabama’s seven congressional districts will have three delegates each for a total of twenty-one delegates allocated by congressional district. The 2024 Presidential Preference Primary Resolution keeps the same delegate allotments as previous cycles. Details include the following: A candidate must receive a minimum of 20% of the vote on either the statewide or congressional district level to be awarded any delegates. The 26 statewide at-large Republican delegates will be awarded to the first-place candidate if that candidate receives over 50% of the vote in the state’s Super Tuesday primary. There will be three delegates from each of the state’s seven congressional districts, for a total of 21 delegates. The congressional district delegates will also be awarded to the first-place candidate that receives over 50% of the vote in each of the congressional districts. If no candidate receives over 50% at either the statewide or the congressional district level, the delegates will be awarded proportionally based on primary election results. The state executive committee voted 72% to 28% to approve the bylaw amendment. Since the Republican primary will be on March 5, presumably after the ALGOP’s winter meeting tentatively scheduled for February, there will likely be a special meeting of the State Executive Committee in the Spring to select the delegates. Other items passed at the Saturday meeting include: A ban on campaign donations from the National Education Association (NEA) and its affiliates – including the Alabama Education Association (AEA) – for all Republican school board and superintendent candidates. A resolution condemning President Joe Biden for circumventing the Hyde Amendment and using taxpayer money to fund abortion-related expenses and supporting Senator Tommy Tuberville for standing up to the Biden Administration over its flawed policy. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt votes for legislation to fight fentanyl epidemic
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently joined her Senate colleagues in passing the bipartisan Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act. This legislation seeks to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl into our country by choking off the income source of those who traffic synthetic opioids. Drug overdoses killed 107,000 Americans in 2021, and 65% of those deaths were attributed to fentanyl. “The devastation that this deadly poison has brought to our communities, schools, and families must end now,” said Sen. Britt. “Truly stopping this nationwide crisis means that we have to go after the well-financed, well-organized, and well-connected individuals profiting from fentanyl trafficking. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that the Treasury Department has the tools they need to protect Americans and hold bad actors accountable. I’m proud to have cosponsored this legislation and grateful to my colleagues for supporting it.” This legislation was introduced by Ranking Member Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and cosponsored by Senator Britt, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and 59 other senators. “Mexican traffickers and Chinese drug suppliers are fueling America’s fentanyl crisis. My FEND Off Fentanyl Act targets the financial assets of these criminal groups, cutting off their income right at the source,” said Sen. Scott. “By including this bill in the NDAA, we’re one step closer to ensuring our country can defend our communities from this deadly drug and protecting our national security.” The FEND Off Fentanyl Act is a bill designed to target the flow of the deadly narcotic into the United States by empowering the U.S. Department of the Treasury to target, sanction, and block the financial assets of transnational criminal organizations trafficking fentanyl. In addition, the proceeds from any seized assets would be used to further law enforcement efforts. “Truly stopping the influx of this deadly poison into our communities, schools, and families means that we have to go after the well-financed, well-organized, and well-connected individuals profiting from fentanyl trafficking,” said Senator Britt. “The fact that this legislation passed the committee unanimously shows that the Senate is working on a bipartisan basis to ensure that we empower the Treasury Department with the tools they need to protect Americans and hold bad actors accountable. I urge Senator Schumer to bring this legislation to the Senate floor with the urgency this crisis demands.” The FEND Off Fentanyl Act was passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 45, and more than 150 people die each day from overdoses related to fentanyl. Multiple national organizations have supported the bill, including Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse (MAPDA), the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and FDD Action. Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized over 379 million deadly doses of fentanyl. That is enough to supply a lethal dose to every American. Given the sharp increase in fentanyl-caused deaths, Scott claims that it is clear that a staggering amount of fentanyl is making its way into our country from the chemical suppliers in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and drug cartels in Mexico. Katie Britt is the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Sen. Britt has led hearings on fentanyl and spoken out against the Biden Administration’s proposed budget cuts to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville to introduce President Donald Trump in Montgomery on Friday
Former President Donald Trump will address the Alabama Republican Party on Friday at the ALGOP’s annual Summer Dinner event. Trump stalwart – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville will introduce Trump at the event. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and the entire Alabama Republican Congressional Delegation will be in attendance to welcome the former president to the State of Alabama. “I’m excited for President Trump to return to the most conservative state in the nation. Alabama is Trump Country, and we’re going to do our part to help Make America Great Again,” said Sen. Tuberville. Tuberville was the first U.S. Senator to endorse Trump when he announced his campaign to regain the presidency in 2024. “We are pleased to announce that Senator Tommy Tuberville will introduce the President at Friday night’s ALGOP Summer Dinner,” said Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl. “President Trump and Senator Tuberville are two of the most popular political figures in the State of Alabama. I am looking forward to hearing from these two conservative leaders when they make their remarks.” Tuberville will join President Trump on stage Friday at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. “We are pleased to have the support of our elected officials as we head into the 2024 cycle,” said Chairman Wahl. “I want to see the Alabama Republican Party united against the out-of-control policies coming out of the leftist Democrat Party and the Biden Administration. We are going to support the American dream by pushing for fiscal responsibility, keeping our communities safe, bringing down runaway inflation, and protecting our children from woke policies. This is not going to be an easy election year, and it’s all hands on deck as we get ready to take back the White House and Senate, as well as hold on to the U.S. House.” The president’s advance team landed in Alabama on Friday, and the ALGOP staff is working with them to have a successful event Friday night. The former president will be the keynote speaker at the Summer Dinner event on Friday, August 4. Over 70 media professionals from around the country have applied for credentials to attend this event, which has the attention of the entire political world. Over two thousand people are expected to attend – which would break attendance records for an ALGOP dinner. Contact the ALGOP for the limited number of tickets that are still available. This event is expected to sell out soon. “We are doing our best to accommodate everyone wanting tickets,” Wahl said. “This is an amazing opportunity to host the frontrunner for the GOP nomination and give Alabamians the chance to hear from President Trump directly about his vision for our nation.” Trump is maintaining a significant lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and the other GOP contenders. While Trump has been coasting through the first months of his campaign, he is facing an increasing number of criminal indictments. Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to announce whether or not she will charge Trump and his team in the 2020 election and its aftermath. The Alabama Presidential primary will be on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama Republican Party has sold nearly all tickets to Donald Trump dinner
If you plan to see President Donald Trump when he comes to Montgomery on August 4, you need to buy those tickets today because the Alabama Republican Party reports that their dinner with Trump event is nearly sold out. “With less than ten days to go, only a few tickets remain for the Alabama Republican Party’s Summer Dinner with President Donald J. Trump,” the Alabama Republican Party announced late Tuesday in a press statement. “The response we’ve received since we announced President Trump as our keynote speaker has been overwhelming,” said Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl. “We expect individual tickets to be sold out imminently, and sales for table sponsors will shut down on Friday, if not sooner.” The dinner will take place on Friday, August 4, 2023, at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center. The evening will kick off with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. “We are excited at this opportunity to raise the profile of our state by hosting the GOP frontrunner for president and giving Alabamians the chance to interact with him,” Wahl said. “Alabama is a Super Tuesday state and will play an important role in selecting our Party’s nominee.” To purchase tickets and sponsorships, go to the Alabama Republican Party’s website. Trump previously headlined the ALGOP’s 2021 Cullman fundraiser, where more than 50,000 people braved wet conditions and mud to see the former President. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke to the Alabama Republican Party in March at their Winter Dinner fundraiser. Trump was elected President in 2016, defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump failed to win reelection in 2020, losing the presidency to former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump is seeking a Trump v. Biden rematch, but he faces a crowded Republican primary field that includes: DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Senator Tim Scott, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, and others. Trump remains the early polling frontrunner, despite being age 77 and facing indictments in at least three courts. At this point, Biden’s only serious roadblock to the Democratic nomination is former Congressman Robert Kennedy. The Alabama Presidential Primary will be on Tuesday, March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville urges Supreme Court to rule Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure unconstitutional
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville joined Senator and presidential candidate Tim Scott in filing an amicus curiae brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, et al., v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Limited, et al. The brief urges the Court to uphold the Fifth Circuit’s decision that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) funding structure is unconstitutional and to make the Bureau’s funding subject to congressional appropriations. The brief states, “The Court need not determine which particular aspect of the CFPB’s funding scheme is the most problematic. This is the easy case. The CFPB ‘is in an entirely different league’ from other entities when it comes to its insulation from Congress… to the point that the CFPB currently operates as ‘a sort of junior-varsity Congress’ setting its own funding levels in perpetuity… Such insulation means that Congress itself is not determining the CFPB’s funding. The Court should affirm the judgment below, which will return the matter of the CFPB’s funding to the normal political and legislative channels, as Article I and the Appropriations Clause require.” Sen. Tuberville represents Alabama on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where Sen. Scott is the Ranking Member. Tuberville and Scott were joined in the brief by Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina) of the House Financial Services Committee; Representative Andy Barr (R-Kentucky), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy, and Representative Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in a bicameral group of 132 members of Congress. “Thankfully, our government has a system of checks and balances, one of which includes congressional oversight and the power of the purse—appropriations,” Sen. Scott said. “In these important and trusted roles, we analyze and scrutinize the executive branch’s actions on behalf of the American taxpayer, so that the voices of the country’s citizens are heard and their viewpoints reflected. Unfortunately, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—or the CFPB—is a notable exception. It is not accountable to Congress or the American taxpayer through the appropriations process, and it routinely and brazenly acts outside of the scope of its authority.” Then U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby raised similar constitutional concerns over the independent funding mechanism of the CFPB when he was in office, and the Obama Administration created the CPFB. “For years, I have argued that supporters of Dodd-Frank sacrificed our Constitution in the name of bureaucratic independence,” Shelby stated. “While the court’s ruling today is a victory for accountability, it is meaningless without a President who is willing to rein in the unmatched authority of the CFPB’s Director.” Sen. Shelby concluded, “That is why it is critical for the Bureau to be subject to the congressional appropriations process and governed by a board of directors. Only then will Congress have the ability to conduct meaningful oversight to ensure that the CFPB is truly accountable.” Tommy Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt backs bipartisan legislation to solidify American sanctions on Iran
U.S. Senator Katie Britt recently joined Presidential candidate U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) in cosponsoring the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act (SISA) to make permanent the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. “This legislation sends an important bipartisan message to Iran that the United States will not tolerate continued threats to American national security,” said Sen. Britt. “Peace is achieved through strength. We must stand firm against bad actors and ensure that, first and foremost, our homeland is protected against aggression. I will always fight for America’s safety, and this act is a strong step to safeguard our nation’s future.” “As evidenced by the recent Iranian-backed drone strike in Syria that tragically killed South Carolinian Scott Dubis and the recent seizure of a U.S.-bound oil tanker, it is clear that Iran continues to engage in destabilizing activities that threaten the safety of America, Israel, and our other partners in the region,” Sen. Scott said. “Cementing these sanctions will apply pressure on Iran and help restrain this regime from developing weapons that threaten safety and security around the world.” “We must do everything that we can to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon and stop its support of terrorism,” said Sen. Hassan. Cementing these sanctions would advance national security by restraining Iran from engaging in malign activities that threaten the United States and its allies. SISA would also ensure that America’s sanctions regime continues to apply pressure on Iran amid its continuing dangerous nuclear escalation. In 1996, Congress passed the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), which allowed the president to impose secondary sanctions on Iran’s energy sector. Throughout the years, ISA provisions were expanded to include other Iranian industries. ISA consists of “triggers” that place sanctions on firms or entities that violate U.S. sanctions under this law. As Iran continues its nuclear enrichment towards a weapons-grade level, it is essential that the United States solidifies its pivotal sanctions to apply pressure toward the rogue regime. The Solidify Iran Sanctions Act removes the sunset provision in the ISA and signals that the U.S. remains firmly committed to sanctioning the regime until it changes its malign behavior. A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Michelle Steel (R-California), Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nevada). There were international sanctions on Iran, but those went away in the Iran nuclear deal negotiated during the Obama administration. President Donald Trump reimposed U.S. sanctions, but the rest of the international community did not follow America’s lead. President Joe Biden has made some overtures towards negotiating a new deal with Iran, but Iran has not been receptive. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that there was no nuclear deal with Iran on the table. “There is no agreement in the offing, even as we continue to be willing to explore diplomatic paths,” Blinken said at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. “We’ll see by their actions.” Blinken called on Iran to “not take actions that further escalate the tensions” with the United States and the Middle East. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and colleagues advance bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt joined colleagues on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in unanimously voting to favorably report the FEND Off Fentanyl Act and send the legislation to the full Senate for consideration. The Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act is a bipartisan bill designed to target the flow of the deadly narcotic into the United States by empowering the U.S. Department of the Treasury to target, sanction, and block the financial assets of transnational criminal organizations trafficking fentanyl. In addition, the proceeds from any seized assets would be used to further law enforcement efforts. Senator Britt is a co-sponsor of the bill alongside Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and a bipartisan group of 50 other senators. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is also a co-sponsor. Sen. Brown wrote on Twitter, “Today, with overwhelming and bipartisan support, the @SenateBanking and Housing Committee passed two bills that will make our communities safer and our economy fairer.” Today, with overwhelming and bipartisan support, the @SenateBanking and Housing Committee passed two bills that will make our communities safer and our economy fairer. pic.twitter.com/NGRFcw79gh — Senate Banking and Housing Democrats (@SenateBanking) June 21, 2023 “Truly stopping the influx of this deadly poison into our communities, schools, and families means that we have to go after the well-financed, well-organized, and well-connected individuals profiting from fentanyl trafficking,” said Senator Britt. “The fact that this legislation passed the committee unanimously shows that the Senate is working on a bipartisan basis to ensure that we empower the Treasury Department with the tools they need to protect Americans and hold bad actors accountable. I urge Senator Schumer to bring this legislation to the Senate floor with the urgency this crisis demands.” Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 45, and more than 150 people die each day from overdoses related to fentanyl. In February, Sen. Britt and colleagues introduced the No Coyote Cash Act, a bill aimed at criminalizing payments made with the intent of financing unlawful entry into the U.S. and penalizing convicted foreign aliens who have violated this law by making them deportable and inadmissible for reentrance.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez enters crowded GOP presidential race days after Donald Trump’s indictment
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez filed paperwork Wednesday to launch his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, jumping into the crowded race just a day after GOP front-runner Donald Trump appeared in court on federal charges in Suarez’s city. The 45-year-old mayor, the only Hispanic candidate in the race, declared his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. He had teased an announcement, noting that he would be making a “big speech” Thursday at the Reagan Library in California. Before Trump arrived at the courthouse Tuesday, Suarez toured the media encampment wearing a T-shirt with a police logo, as his city’s police force had jurisdiction over the downtown area. “If I do decide to run,” he told CNN, “it’s starting a new chapter, a new conversation of a new kind of leader who maybe looks a little different, speaks a little different, had a little bit of a different experience, but can inspire people.” Suarez, the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is the son of Miami’s first Cuban-born mayor. He has national attention in recent years for his efforts to lure companies to Miami, with an eye toward turning the city into a crypto hub and the next Silicon Valley. Suarez, who is vying to become the first sitting mayor elected president, joins a GOP primary fight that includes Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Despite having a candidate field in the double digits, the race is largely seen as a two-person contest between Trump and DeSantis. But the other competitors are hoping for an opening, which Trump has provided with his myriad legal vulnerabilities — none more serious than his federal indictment on charges of mishandling sensitive documents and refusing to give them back. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Miami federal court to 37 felony counts. Suarez has said he didn’t support Trump in either the 2016 or 2020 presidential elections, instead writing in the names of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and then-Vice President Pence. In 2018, Suarez publicly condemned Trump after reports came out that he had questioned why the United States would accept more immigrants from Haiti and “shithole countries” in Africa. But times have changed, with Trump advisers now praising Suarez’s work and helping him promote what he calls “the Miami success story.” Trump’s former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway has even floated Suarez’s name as a possible vice presidential pick. Suarez, who is married with two young children, is a corporate and real estate attorney who previously served as a city of Miami commissioner. He has also positioned himself as someone who can help the party further connect with Hispanics. In recent months, he has made visits to early GOP voting states as he weighed a possible 2024 campaign. He is more moderate than DeSantis and Trump but has threaded the needle carefully on cultural issues that have become popular among GOP politicians. Suarez has been critical of DeSantis, dismissing some of the state laws he has signed on immigration as “headline grabbers” lacking in substance. He has said immigration is an issue that “screams for a national solution” at a time when many Republicans back hard-line policies. The two-term mayor previously expressed support for a Florida law championed by DeSantis and dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” that bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, but he has not specified whether he supported the expansion of the policy to all grades. Like other Republicans, Suarez has criticized DeSantis’ feud with Disney over the same law, saying it looks like a “personal vendetta.” Further ingratiating himself with the Trump team, Suarez has echoed Trump’s attacks on DeSantis’ demeanor, saying the governor doesn’t make eye contact and struggles with personal relationships with other politicians. In 2020, the mayor made a play to attract tech companies to Florida after the state relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions. He met with Big Tech players and investors such as PayPal founder Peter Thiel and tech magnate Marcelo Claure, began appearing on national television, and was profiled by magazines. Suarez, who has said he takes his salary in Bitcoin, has also hosted Bitcoin conferences and started heavily promoting a cryptocurrency project named Miami Coin, created by a group called City Coins. But the hype dissipated as virus restrictions eased elsewhere, eliminating Miami’s advantage on the COVID-19 front. Suarez’s vision also hit roadblocks with the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which was set to move its U.S. headquarters to Miami’s financial district before its founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas last December. The only cryptocurrency exchange that traded Miami Coin suspended its trading, citing liquidity problems, and not living up to its promise to generate enough money to eliminate city taxes. Miami also ranks among the worst big U.S. cities for income inequality and has one of the least affordable housing markets. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Doug Burgum focusing on economy, energy, national security in presidential announcement
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum officially announced his bid for the Republican nomination for president on Wednesday, saying he will focus on the economy, energy, and national security. The two-term governor did not mention his competitors but centered his speech in Fargo on President Joe Biden and said, “he has to go.” “The economy needs to be the absolute top priority,” Burgum said. “Every small business owner and every family in our country is feeling the corrosive hidden tax on their lives driven by the Biden-induced inflation.” Burgum said he would focus on “innovation over-regulation.” “Regulation looks backwards. Innovation looks towards the future,” Burgum said. “The Biden administration is obsessed with creating mountains of red tape.” Energy policies in the U.S. need to change, Burgum said. “We need to stop buying energy from our energy and start selling energy to our allies,” he said. “America produces energy cleaner and safer than anywhere else in the world. If you care about the global environment, you should be fighting to have every drop of energy produced in the United States.” Burgum was first elected governor in 2016 and was reelected in 2020. He was a political unknown at the time. Burgum started a software company in the 1980s that he sold to Microsoft in 2001. Five years later, he started a real estate development firm and, later, a venture capital firm. The governor cited his upbringing in the small town of Arthur, where his family operated a grain elevator, as an example of what he hoped the country would be. “Small-town values are at the core of America, and frankly, big cities could use more ideas and more values from small towns right now,” he said. Burgum enters a crowded field for the Republican nomination, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Earlier this week, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Vice-President Mike Pence formally announced their intentions to run for president. Also vying for the job are radio host and commentator Larry Elder, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
