7. The situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate
— Citing tensions in the region, specifically with Iran, the State Department ordered non-emergency US government employees to leave Iraq and warned US citizens not to travel to the country, so cancel your Baghdad vacations. The State Department cited a “high risk for violence and kidnapping,” and warned that the US government’s “ability to provide routine and emergency services to US citizens in Iraq is extremely limited.” Recently, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a visit to the region and he and President Donald Trump have warned Iran against any aggressive actions.
6. Former Vice President Joe Biden is having to defend himself from criticism from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
— Even though Biden is crushing the entire field of 21 other Democrat presidential wannabes, he still is having to make sure he placates the far-left wing of the party which feels he is past his prime. AOC declared that she “will be damned if the same politicians who refused to act then are going to try to come back today and say we need to find a middle-of-the-road approach to save our lives,” after Biden claimed he would take a middle-of-the-road approach on climate change. Realizing that his party is far to his left, Biden tried to assure the freshman socialist, saying, “She’ll find that nobody has been more consistent about taking on the environment and the green revolution than I have.”
5. U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) is leading a national effort to protect the Second Amendment
— On Tuesday, Byrne and 120 of his colleagues filed an amicus brief in defense of Second Amendment rights meant to determine if New York’s ban on transporting firearms to a shooting range or home is constitutional. Byrne has stated, “Our Constitution is clear: the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.” The case before the US Supreme Court is the first significant Second Amendment case in 10 years. Byrne has said that this will give Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh the chance to rule on the Constitutional right to bear arms.
4. At least two Alabama Congressmen stand with the president on his trade war with China, Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) calls them a “disaster“
— Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) told Yellowhammer News, “I continue to applaud President Trump for standing-up against China’s unfair trade practices,” adding later, “If our markets here are open to their goods, then their markets should be open for American agriculture and manufacturing.” Meanwhile, Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) took a shot at Joe Biden and vowed to protect Alabama workers, saying, “Unlike Joe Biden, I believe China is a serious and real threat to the United States. President Trump is absolutely right to stand up to China and their rogue trade practices. As we work through these negotiations, I will continue to work with the White House to ensure Alabama workers are protected.” Doug Jones took to the floor of the Senate yesterday to lament the tariffs as higher taxes. He said, “Tariffs are taxes, and we are all going to pay because of this trade war.” This is the same senator who opposed the Trump tax cuts.
3. An auto parts manufacturing facility to open in Huntsville — notice the silence of the “no businesses will come to Alabama” crowd
— In the past, when Alabama was ready to pass a law liberal America deemed unacceptable, like the recently passed abortion ban, the local media and politicians would declare that the bill would kill our ability to recruit foreign business. That argument has fallen silent. The Japan-based DaikyoNishikawa US will invest $110 million to open a facility that will serve the Mazda Toyota assembly plant. The new facility will create 380 jobs and they will be producing plastic automotive parts. Governor Kay Ivey released a statement announcing the facility and how pleased she is with the development.
2. Alabama’s education system is considered one of the worst in the country, but changes could be coming soon
— The Alabama State Senate Committee on Education Policy voted on a series of bills that would end the election of state school board members. This measure was proposed by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) and even got the support of a prominent Democrat on the committee. State Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) applauded the bill and the sponsor, stating, “I thank you so much for your passion to want to right the wrongs in public education.” If passed, the bills would create the secretary of elementary and secondary education, and the members would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate.
1. The Alabama Senate votes to pass Alabama’s abortion bill without rape and incest exemption
— Much to the chagrin of visiting national media, “Handmaid’s Tale” cosplayers and liberal activists, the Alabama State Senate passed what has been touted as the most restrictive abortion bill in the nation 26-6, the bill sponsored by State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) and State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville). The much-discussed amendment on exemptions for rape and incest went down in the Senate by a 21-11 vote, which tees the bill up for a Supreme Court battle over Roe v. Wade. Governor Kay Ivey has not stated what she will do with this bill, but it seems highly unlikely that she will not sign the bill.
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