7 Things: Another attempt to block private vaccine mandates underway, Marshall suggests companies need to allow exemptions for vaccines, Alabama Dems want gerrymandering and more …

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October 29, 2021

7. Lawbreakers are about to get paid

In a move that will surely only increase the already surging numbers of illegal immigrants entering the country, the Biden administration is preparing to offer a settlement of almost half a million dollars to every child and parent separated at the border in 2018.
A Wall Street Journal report on the matter claims the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services are “considering payments that could amount to close to $1 million a family.” This has rightly created anger with U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), who is highlighting how a deceased soldier, killed in war, only receives $400,000. Others have pointed out that the victims of 9/11 received far less.

6. There’s a labor shortage due to federal assistance and a need for higher wages

While there is only an unemployment rate of about 3% in Alabama, there is still somewhat of a labor shortage, and there’s been a decrease in workforce participation. State Representative Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) has said the legislature is aware of these issues.
Garrett said, “There are probably 50,000-60,000 people in the state who were employed prior to COVID that are now not working and now not looking for work.” He added that some of the problems have been how we’ve “managed to set the new minimum wage that’s about $15 an hour…it takes about $32,000 a year for someone to get back in the workforce and to forego all the federal assistance they’re getting right now.”

5. There’s still a food shortage in schools, and Biden is ignoring the problem

U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Saks) has brought attention back to the issue of food shortages at schools due to supply chain disruptions that many have said are connected to President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate. Rogers has sent a letter to Biden addressing the problems seen across the country and even in his home district.
Rogers mentioned how there is one school district in the area he represents that “has 65% of students enrolled in free and reduced-price meals,” but that “same school system has had to take to social media and private industry to ask for help feeding breakfast to its students due to delayed or missing shipments.” Rogers is calling on Biden to “prioritize fixing the supply chain crisis facing our nation.” When the supply issues were initially reported, at least one school district in the state had told parents that they may be forced to go virtual over a lack of food.

4. “Build Back Better” delayed again

A deal between different factions in the Democratic Party still seems possible, but another delay on the measure casts further doubt on the process as Democrats attempt to get it together before they meet again on Monday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has compared this $1.75 trillion spending bill to the New Deal from former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, saying, “It’s a big vision, bigger vision than we’ve seen in a long time.” President Joe Biden was asked by reporters if U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) would support the package, and Biden responded, “Everybody’s on board. You’re on board, aren’t you?”
The legislation is 1684 pages, and there is still skepticism from Sanders, who has said that there are “major gaps” in the bill, and he wants the U.S. House members to have time to actually read the entirety of the bill. Despite this, Pelosi is pushing for a vote to be held soon to force the spending package through the House. U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) have been under fire in recent weeks for being unwilling to immediately support the bill.

3. Alabama Democrats want gerrymandering and they won’t get it

In the special session for reapportionment that started yesterday, it’s expected that there will be some disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over the proposed plans for where district lines will be redrawn.
There has already been a lawsuit filed by some Democratic state senators claiming that there should be two congressional districts that would support black candidates. While it seems unlikely that this attempt will actually be successful, it could stall getting plans approved.

2. Steve Marshall is warning employers to tread lightly

As federal government contractors attempt to navigate the rules that the Biden administration has set for them, challenges are being created by people claiming religious exemptions. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is now suggesting that those contractors should not be launching investigations into those religious exemptions and should not be working to deny them.
In a letter, AG Marshall notes, “In reviewing an employee’s request for a religious exemption, employers should not inquire into the validity of an employee’s religious beliefs, including the motives or reasons for holding the belief.” The statement was signed on to by the State Personnel Department director Jackie Graham and members of Alabama House and Senate leadership, the latter who could work to address this matter.

1. Another bill that will likely come too late to block vaccine mandates

State Senator Chris Elliot (R-Daphne) will bring up a bill that would protect people’s ability to be exempt from getting the coronavirus vaccine due to medical and religious reasons. Since the vaccine mandate by President Joe Biden has been in place, there have been many reports of religious and medical exemptions being denied.
For the bill to be considered in the current special session, there will have to be a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers, otherwise, they have to stick to the agenda already set by Governor Kay Ivey. There are currently 19 other co-sponsors to the bill.