7. “Legislator #1” is State Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) and he doesn’t seem too concerned that he is on the radar of the federal government for his role in a investigation involving former State Rep. Fred L. Plump Jr., who just plead guilty to wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Even after acknowledging his faults and issues, Rogers tells al.com‘s Kyle Whitmire, “They aren’t going to put me in jail,” in a fawning piece.
6. Bud Light is still reeling and now industry experts are warning there could be beer shortages of other brands because of it. Target is trying to blame “threats” for its decision to scale back its transgender items targeting children, and The North Face has a mustachioed drag queen telling consumers to “come out” in a cringe-worthy and hated spot. Meanwhile, “Am I gay?” searches are up 1,300% on Google.
5. Republicans look like they are ready to hold firm on their terms on the debt-ceiling increase. Despite the legal and economic ignorance on display from Democrats, President Joe Biden is about to tell the Ds that he is going to take an L.
4. Alabama’s governor and lieutenant governor are not seeing eye-to-eye on a potential expansion of lanes across every mile of I-65 in the state. Gov. Kay Ivey says Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is interested in “making headlines” while she operates within the bounds of reality and praising herself for the Rebuild Alabama gas tax increase.
3. Gov. Kay Ivey praised members of the Alabama State House for increasing the amount of a potential tax rebate from $105 to $210. The rebates would now cost $550 million, and be paid for out of the $2.8 billion Education Trust Fund surplus. It must still pass the House and go back to the Senate for approval.
2. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth warned that the AEA was attempting to scuttle the attempt to cut taxes on food in the state but it still moved forward and passed out of the House Ways and Means Education committee. The immediate cut will be 1% with another 1% in 2025 if revenues allow.
1. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ launch of his campaign did not go as smoothly as he wished with Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s platform suffering from glitches due to too many people “melting the servers.” DeSantis gave direct answers to questions about COVID responses, wokeness, holding federal agencies accountable for malfeasance, and electability but steered clear of targeting his chief rival and former President Donald Trump. DeSantis rightly attacked the media, as well.
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Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.