7 Things: New variant but same plan, government contractor empowered to deny exemptions by federal judge, Tuberville not taking sides in U.S. Senate race and more …

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December 3, 2021

7. Merrill met with Trump

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill recently met with former President Donald Trump. The subject of their meeting partially had to do with election integrity as well as a project not detailed yet, according to reports.
Details of this project will likely be announced in January. Merrill didn’t provide many specifics about the meeting but did jokingly say, “When you are talking to President Trump you talk about what he wants to talk about.”

6. Hooray?

Another stopgap spending bill was passed by the U.S. Senate last night to keep the government open. The bill will head to President Joe Biden, and he will sign the bill, pushing the next government shutdown “crisis” to February 18.
The government will remain open for 11 more weeks after some Republicans tried to insert language that would keep the federal government from enforcing the various vaccine mandates the Biden administration has attempted to enact. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) authored the amendment, but it failed 48-50, opening the door for the larger vote.

5. AG implores Alabamians to respect our laws after deputy killed

Longtime reserve deputy for Wilcox County Madison “Skip” Nicholson was shot and killed in the line of duty on Wednesday while responding to a domestic call. Nicholson was 78-years- old and had worked in law enforcement for 40 years.
Attorney General Steve Marshall said, “We mourn the loss of retired Deputy Madison ‘Skip’ Nicholson who lost his life in the line of duty and pray for the consolation of his family and friends. We must not react to this tragedy with indifference. To truly honor Nicholson, as a State, we must recommit ourselves to raising a generation that respects our laws and reveres our law enforcement officers.”

4. Tuberville attended a Katie Britt fundraiser but isn’t taking sides

U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) attended a Washington, D.C. fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt. However, Tuberville said the appearance isn’t an endorsement because he won’t endorse any candidate in the race.
Tuberville said he’ll attend events for candidates, “but I’m staying completely out of it.” In some polls, Britt and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) have been within a few points of each other.

3. Exemptions for ULA workers denied

The workers at United Launch Alliance in Decatur who were seeking a restraining order against the company have been denied by U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon since the harms the employees face “does not outweigh the potential harms that United Launch may face if it is forced to retain unvaccinated employees without valid bases for accommodations.”
The five employees involved in the lawsuit all claimed religious exemption from the coronavirus vaccine. However, ULA still maintained that employees had to be partially vaccinated by October 29 so they wouldn’t face negative consequences for contractors laid out by President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate.

2. Vaccination could be required to travel

While proof of vaccination against the coronavirus isn’t currently required to travel within the United States, the White House has confirmed that it’s still something that’s being considered as the Omicron variant has been found in multiple states.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed proof of vaccination is still being considered but said, “We base our decisions on the advice of the health and medical experts.” She noted the current mask requirement that’s a step in their attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

1. Vaccinate the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race

The United States has gotten too comfortable with coronavirus vaccination rates, apparently, to where now President Joe Biden has said there’s a “moral obligation” to “vaccinate the rest of the world.”
Biden also noted, “We ship for free more vaccines around the world than all other countries of the world combined.” The United States has sent coronavirus vaccines to many countries, including Afghanistan, in an effort to make them more available for everyone.