7. Shelby is introducing a flat tax again
- Once again, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) is reintroducing the flat tax as the Simplified, Manageable, and Responsible Tax Act (SMART), which would create a 17% flat tax for all incomes.
- Shelby has supported a flat tax since he was elected in 1986, and he’s said that if the SMART ACT “was in place instead of current law, taxpayers would file a simple, self-explanatory return that’s the size of a postcard,” boasting the simplicity of the tax code. He also discussed how this tax code would close loopholes, helping individuals and businesses overall.
6. Voting in multiple states is now illegal
- The bill that makes it illegal to vote in Alabama and another state in the same election has been signed by Governor Kay Ivey. Previously, it was only illegal under state law to vote multiple times within Alabama.
- Governor Kay Ivey said she’s “committed to ensuring we have free, fair and safe elections and am proud to sign this important bill into law,” and she thanked State Representative Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City).
5. Continued mask mandates, despite CDC guidance
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance advising that fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear masks in public spaces since there’s data to support the assumption that they don’t spread the coronavirus, but some places are clinging to their masks.
- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot made a statement that she’s still going to “encourage” that fully vaccinated people mask. She added that she’s “going to continue to wear a mask in public. …We’ve got to make sure that people are continuing to follow the public health guidance that has gotten us this far, and masks … are a big and important part of that.” Lightfoot pointed out that there’s not a way to know if someone is vaccinated or not, and she thinks it’s “smart” for people to continue masking.
4. Alabama is banning vaccine passports
- On the last day in the regular session for the Alabama Legislature, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill that would make it illegal for establishments to require people to show proof of coronavirus vaccination.
- The bill went back to the State Senate since it was amended by the House, where it passed and now goes to Governor Kay Ivey to be signed into law, but there is really no penalty for requiring someone to show their paperwork. The law itself will stop companies from trying.
3. Biden has an ominous warning for unvaccinated
- President Joe Biden continues to shed a grim light on the coronavirus pandemic whenever he makes statements; most recently, he started off positive by talking about how coronavirus cases and deaths have fallen in every state, but he made sure to bring the focus back to how things could get worse if people don’t get their vaccine.
- Biden said that if people don’t get the vaccine, there could be a change in the progress every state has made. He added, “Ultimately, those who are not vaccinated will end up paying the price.”
2. Alabama Democrats have some ignorant things to say about Israel
- In an astonishing floor debate on a simple resolution supporting Israel, a democracy surrounded by enemies in the Middle East and a staunch American ally, multiple House Democrats decided to take to the floor to unleash ignorant and embarrassing diatribes against Israel, their colleagues and America in general, with State Representative Thomas “Action” Jackson (D-Thomasville) declaring the only difference between Hamas and black Americans is the possession of rockets.
- After this embarrassing display, House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) attempted to clean up the mess by saying, “And so I just want to make sure that that is clear, regardless of the messages that individuals received. Because I think we all are in support of that resolution. And I thought it was a positive resolution. I don’t want anybody to get the wrong idea about Democrats being anti-Semitic. That’s certainly not the case.” The resolution passed 89-0 with 10 abstentions.
1. Are we sure the Alabama Legislature has a GOP super-majority?
- Governor Kay Ivey announced that she’s signed the legislation to legalize medical marijuana in Alabama. On the floor of the Alabama State House, Alabama Republicans clotured their fellow Republicans to pass a delay in the Literacy Act, a bill that would forbid the social promotion of third-graders who cannot read. They also banned vaccine passports, banned curbside voting, banned voting in multiple states, will force doctors to assist babies born alive during abortions and allowed yoga in schools
- While taking on these legislative priorities, the Republican super-majority legislature chose to not limit the executive power of the Governor or State Health Officer during health emergencies, ban gender transitioning for minors in the state or allow permitless carry.
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