7. Tuberville pushes for crypto investments in 401(k) plans
- U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is pushing forward with his legislation called the “Financial Freedom Act” to allow cryptocurrency to be included in 401(k) investments. Tuberville stated, “Millions of Americans choose to personally control how their 401(k) savings are investing by using a brokerage window.”
- Tuberville clarified that “this isn’t about packaging every 401(k) plan with cryptocurrency. It simply empowers 401(k) savers who choose to self-select their retirement portfolios by preserving the integrity of the brokerage window.” He added, “This amendment doesn’t just impact cryptocurrency. It allows retirement savers to have full control over how hard earned money is invested, just as it would empower investors who want to include crypto in their retirement portfolio.”
6. Whatley continues his ‘fraud’ campaign against Democrats
- State Senator Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) has continued his conversation about the alleged “fraud” that took place in the primary vote for his re-election where he lost by a single vote. Whatley has since called for Alabama primaries to be closed.
- Whatley said, “In reviewing data from previous elections, my team discovered that more than 30 people in Lee County alone voted in the 2020 Democratic Primary Election and then were allowed to vote in the 2020 Republican run-off election. I consider it to be unacceptable for this number to be anything but zero. I have always been a champion of election integrity and it is important that the people voting tomorrow know that their elections are protected.”
5. Alabama lawmakers call for investigations into attacks on pro-life organizations
- It’s been reported that numerous pro-life organizations and facilities have been vandalized and attacked since the leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade was released. Now, U.S. Representatives Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) are requesting that the Department of Justice investigate the attacks.
- The Alabama congressmen joined 122 other Republican House members in their letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland where they said they wanted “to express serious concerns over recent attacks targeting religious organizations and crisis pregnancy centers and request the Department of Justice respond with how its National Security Division plans to investigate these acts of domestic terrorism.”
4. Rogers is concerned about nuclear escalation with Russia
- U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Saks) is questioning what would happen and how the United States would respond in the event of nuclear escalation in Ukraine from Russia. Rogers asked for President Joe Biden’s plan in this scenario.
- Rogers and U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Mike Turner (R-Ohio) wrote a letter to Biden that asks for him “to clarify U.S. policy concerning the use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia in Europe and to clearly communicate such policy to the Russian government.” The letter went on to state, “The U.S. cannot be a passive spectator as Russia uses nuclear intimidation. If Russia uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the U.S. must act. This must be clear to Russia to deter their use of nuclear weapons in this unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.”
3. Biden thinks people are making things up about the impending recession
- After being questioned on the economy, President Joe Biden responded to the idea of an impending recession by telling a reporter, “[D]on’t make things up.” Biden argued that a majority of economists are not forecasting a recession.
- Biden went on to tell the reporter, “Now you sound like a Republican politician, I’m joking, that was a joke, that was a joke. But all kidding aside, no I don’t think it is. I was talking to Larry Summers this morning, there’s nothing inevitable about a recession.” Despite Biden’s statements, gas prices continue to reach record levels, inflation continues to rise, and interest rates are expected to continue to climb throughout the year.
2. Brooks calls for Britt to be disqualified
- U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has repeated the accusation that his opponent in the U.S. Senate race, Katie Britt, supported former U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook) in 2017. Brooks has also called for Britt to be disqualified from the race.
- Brooks said, “[I]f the Republican Party was going to be consistent at the Alabama Republican Party executive committee level or steering committee level, then they would treat Katie Britt as they treated other candidates who have been disqualified by the Alabama Republican Party for doing less than Katie Britt did.” Sean Ross, the spokesman for the Britt campaign, responded to Brooks, saying, “This is a clear sign that Congressman Brooks believes he’ll be rejected at the ballot box by Republican voters on Tuesday, and it’s ultimately a sad way for him to end his 40-year political career.” Ross explicitly stated that Britt has never supported a Democrat.
1. Runoff election today
- The primary runoff election is being held today across Alabama. Included in the runoff is the Republican U.S. Senate election between Katie Britt and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), secretary of state candidates State Representative Wes Allen (R-Troy) and State Auditor Jim Zeigler, and state auditor between State Representative Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals) and Stan Cooke.
- In North Alabama, the fifth congressional district Republican runoff is taking place between former Secretary of the Army Casey Wardynski and Madison County Commission chairman Dale Strong. A text that inaccurately claims Wardynski had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump is making the rounds. Wardynski said his team was not involved in that text message. The only statewide Democrat race in the runoff is for governor between Yolanda Rochelle Flowers and Malika Sanders Fortier.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.