7. Possible consequences for Texas Democrats
- Since the Democratic legislators fled Texas to block a voting regulations bill, House Speaker Dade Phelan suggested that the representatives need to forfeit their daily $221 stipend while they remain out of state.
- There have been at least 51 House Democrats that went to Washington, D.C., out of the state’s 67, and there could also be nine state senators that also went. Phelan said, “Those who are intentionally denying quorum should return their per diem to the State Treasury immediately upon receipt.”
6. Rubio: Biden has to take action with Cuba to avoid further issues
- Issues continue in Cuba as citizens are protesting for freedom against the communist regime. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) is advocating for President Joe Biden to step in. Otherwise, he warned, the situation could turn into a “bloodbath” soon.
- Rubio wants Biden to “convene the United Nations, convene the Organization of American States in emergency session, discuss these abuses, pressure or shame the international community into condemning and isolating that regime and pressure them to prepare to take action to prevent a massacre, a bloodbath.”
5. Tennessee fires vaccine official for doing what Alabama does
- The state of Tennessee’s Department of Health has fired a leading vaccine official after outrage over the state’s minors in vaccination campaigns and holding vaccine drives on school campuses.
- Dr. Michelle Fiscus, a pediatrician, was fired Monday and is now doing the media rounds claiming she is being muzzled. She is also acknowledging that legislators were “contacting TDH asking questions about the memo with some interpreting it as an attempt to undermine parental authority.” It did, and it does.
4. Back in the day, everyone was a Democrat
- Former President Donald Trump recently called U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) a “RINO,” and even referred to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as an “Old Crow.”
- Shelby has responded to the statement, saying that he “was a Democrat at one time,” adding, “A long time ago, we all were.” He reaffirmed that he’s Republican now, and he doesn’t “think anybody questions that up here.” Shelby also maintained that U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt is “the best qualified and the best hope we’ve got in the state.”
3. CRT will be addressed by the legislature
- It’s already been said by State Representative Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville) that he intends to bring the legislation up in the next session to deal with Critical Race Theory being taught in Alabama schools, and now State Senator Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) has announced similar intentions.
- Barfoot said that the Alabama Legislature is “100%” likely to consider a bill on the issue, and he repeated the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” He added, “Just because it may not be as widespread in Alabama as it is in other states, rest assured, it’s on its way.”
2. Alabama employer offering a big incentive to get vaccinated
- Employees at Leidos, which owns Alabama-based Dynetics, will now have another reason to get the coronavirus vaccine — $1 million.
- Roger Krone, chairman and CEO of Leidos accurately points out that his company, like our country, “has seen a bit of a slowdown in the number of people actually getting the vaccine” Krone told The Washington Post, “We see a huge need to gently push people who are on the fence, and give them one more reason to do it.”
1. No vaccine incentives for Alabama
- During a visit in Birmingham, Governor Kay Ivey clarified that there will be no state incentives given to encourage people to take the coronavirus vaccine. Ivey said the vaccines are effective and the “data proves they work. Use your head and get a shot.”
- Ivey’s visit to the city was for the Birmingham Rotary Club, where she discussed the improvements the state has made since the beginning of the pandemic. She advised, “We have more job opportunities than we do individuals to fill them.” She also mentioned that the unemployment rate has continued to fall in recent months and is getting closer to the pre-pandemic 2.4%.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.