7 Things: Ivey – No mandatory COVID vax; Biden’s concerns aren’t our concerns; and more …

7. Biden shows up in Pennsylvania, it’s a disaster

• President Joe Biden might have given away the game in Pennsylvania when he was stumping for Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman when he suggested Gisele Fetterman, wife of the candidate, will be a “great lady in the Senate.” He then got lost leaving the stage.
• To make matters worse, Fetterman did not speak at his own rally when his inability to communicate is becoming a major liability in the race. Fetterman was able to wear a suit, so that is nice.

6. Scholarships available for automotive manufacturing scholarships

• Alabama students who may be interested in a career in automobile manufacturing have another option to help pay for their education. The Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association has 70 scholarships worth $4,000 each.
• The money and benefits in automobile manufacturing or pretty good with an average salary of $41,000-plus with better opportunities for those with degrees and advancement opportunities to earn more.

5. Biden’s student loan handout survives court challenge

• Congrats to those who have student loan debt, the election year ploy by President Joe Biden to hand student loan borrowers between $10k and $20k has passed a major hurdle as a federal judge has ruled the program can continue.
• Six GOP states argued that President Biden did not have the authority to move forward with the plan. This claim had also been stated by U.S. Senate candidate (and U.S. Rep.) Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi believed this at one point, but she is fine with it now. Alabama did not sue to block the measure.

4. Is this the most contested race in Alabama?

• There are very few close races in the state of Alabama for the midterm elections, but 256Today.com suggests the State Senate District 2 race between State Sen. Tom Butler (R-Madison) and businesswoman Kim Lewis may be the closest one. The district’s redrawing moves the district in the challenger’s direction but Butler has the power of incumbency and 30-plus years of service in the legislature on his side.
• Hilariously, there is an ad being used in the district that shows Lewis and Biden with the text, “Kim Lewis PROUD Democrat” showing that it is likely the district is still expected to follow the prevailing national trend. Straight-ticket voting will help Butler, as well.

3. Poll finds Biden isn’t paying attention to what matters

• Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe President Joe Biden isn’t paying enough attention to the issues that matter to them. The 63% number is significantly higher than the 49% who thought the same thing about former President Donald Trump in March 2020.  Trump is no longer in the White House.
• The Monmouth University poll found that inflation was the top issue, with 46 percent saying is “extremely important”, a third cite immigration, crime gets 37 percent and elections at 38 percent. Those issues favor Republicans with “elections” being a concern for both parties, for different reasons.

2. Alabama congressmen demand Biden release American energy

• Gas prices have grown significantly under President Joe Biden, and Americans are not thrilled. Alabama U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), and Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and 126 other Republicans signed a letter to Biden telling him to invest more in American energy and “unleash American energy.”
• The letter accurately lays the blame at Biden’s feet, “Unfortunately, since taking office, you have fulfilled your campaign promises to shut down American oil and gas production. As a result, America is no longer energy independent, and our nation is less secure. In order to reduce the dramatically higher energy costs your actions have placed on hard-working families, we strongly request you reverse course and work with us to unleash American energy. Specifically, we ask you to take immediate action by issuing a five-year leasing plan that includes regular annual lease sales in America’s offshore areas.”

1. Ivey echoes Marshall on vaccine mandates: Not welcome in Alabama

• Schoolchildren in Alabama will not need to get the COVID-19 vaccine, even as a Center for Disease Control and Prevention panel (CDC) votes 15-0 to recommend the vaccine be added to the schedule for children over 5. Attorney General Steve Marshall noted yesterday that Alabama law forbids this vaccine from being mandated in the state.
• Gov. Kay Ivey agrees and tweeted, “Here in Alabama, the parents make decisions when it comes to their children’s health care. We do NOT mandate the COVID shot for kids – nor will we ever.”