7. Democrats want surveillance on bank accounts

• U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) recently introduced legislation that would have blocked President Joe Biden’s plan to allow the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to review any bank transactions of $600 and more made by Americans. Unfortunately, Democrats have blocked Tuberville’s measure. 
• If Biden’s plan passes, transactions would be reported to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Currently, only transactions $10,000 and more have to be reported through a Currency Transaction Report. 

6. Attorney General can’t have jurisdiction over school boards

• A memo was released by the Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland that indicated the department would be investigating some of the parents who might challenge their local school board at meetings. The department insisted that they would only investigate threats of violence made, but the vague language used in the memo concerned many lawmakers and citizens.
• Now, it’s being confirmed that the Attorney General doesn’t have any jurisdiction over local school board meetings, according to former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy. McCarthy, who worked at the DOJ along with Garland, said that Garland knows this is “dangerous nonsense.” He added there are questions about how these efforts from the justice department could infringe on people’s right to free speech.

5. Debt-limit raised, battle over spending limps on

• The never-ending end-of-the-world brinksmanship of debt-limit increase battles in Washington, D.C. have led to another last-minute deal that would see the United States extend it’s debt limit until mid-December. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) was one of 11 Republican senators to vote to end debate on the measure, and then he voted against extending the limit.
• The deal was brokered by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who was then immediately attacked by Senate Democrats pledging to use his collapse to push for even more spending in the future. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) took a victory lap on Twitter, saying, “With America honoring its full faith and credit: Senate Democrats are continuing our work to Build Back Better, help people and families, fight climate change, create the good-paying jobs of tomorrow, and rekindle that optimism that has long been the core of America’s identity.”

4. Ted Cruz endorses Mo Brooks

• U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has endorsed U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) in the U.S. Senate race in Alabama. Brooks has also received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. 
• Cruz described Brooks as “a proven conservative who will fight to protect Alabama from Joe Biden’s radical agenda,” and he encouraged other conservatives to vote for Brooks. The North Alabama congressman responded to the statement by saying it’s clear he’s the “only proven conservative in the Alabama U.S. Senate race that Alabama voters can rely on to do what he says he will do.” 

3. ALFA responds to Brooks’ allegations

• After the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt through their FarmPAC, U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-AL) alleged that ALFA supports amnesty, open borders and cheap foreign labor. He added, “[T]hey try to ensure that their candidates for open borders get elected.”
• ALFA responded to the allegations, saying that “Brooks’ statements are not only categorically false, but they are also an insult to the hardworking, law-abiding farmers he claims to represent. The Federation’s policy is clear in its support of secure borders and opposition to illegal immigration.” ALFA also added that Brooks has “actively sought, and in prior races accepted, the endorsement of FarmPAC.” Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth (R-AL) weighed in on the issue, saying on Twitter, “Anyone who attacks and criticizes family farmers or minimizes the challenges they face does not speak for me or the majority of Alabamians.”

2. Majority of Alabama parents are hesitant on vaccinating their kids against COVID-19

• In Alabama, 27% of school-age kids have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and 36% of kids have gotten at least one dose. Officials have been encouraging parents to get eligible kids vaccinated, but a majority of parents are hesitant. A U.S. Census Bureau survey shows that 67% of adults are hesitant about children getting the vaccine. According to the survey, 10% aren’t convinced the vaccine is necessary for kids, 26% don’t trust the government, 33% want to wait and ensure the vaccine is safe. Only 2% are strictly against vaccinations. 
• A poll from Quinnipiac displayed similar results but also found that 52% of the general public as a whole supports vaccinating kids. This obviously means that people without kids have very strong opinions about how they feel like kids need to be vaccinated. In related news, Pfizer is working on a vaccine for younger children.

1. Biden doesn’t care that people are losing their jobs over his vaccine mandate

• President Joe Biden recently discussed the success of his vaccine mandate and mentioned how United Airlines now has 99% of their employees vaccinated against the coronavirus, which is up from 59%. However, this only happened because the vaccine was mandated and the company fired anyone who didn’t get the vaccine. This is hardly a massive success because it is a result brought about by coercion that says get the vaccine or lose your career.
• Biden said that he realizes how vaccine mandates could be “unpopular to some, politics for others, but they’re life-saving, they’re game-changing for our country.” He also encouraged all employers to require their employees to get vaccinated and enforce their mandates, since “vaccinations are going to beat this pandemic.” Alabama’s leadership has been largely silent as citizens are beginning to lose their jobs at the same time their President cheers those job losses on.