7 Things: Trump’s State of the Union, Ivey’s State of the State, Jones’ unconvincing charade and more …

7. So, impeachment worked well for Democrats

• On the day of President Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union and the day before the final day of his impeachment trial, Trump’s approval rating is up eight net points to a modest 49% — the highest point of his presidency.
• Trump is seeing a rise in approval from independents, 63% approval on the economy and positive marks on the killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, and now, 52% of Americans are in favor of acquitting Trump on the eve of his impeachment acquittal.

6. Proposal to ban certain political donors seems worthless

• Any candidates seeking the office of governor, lieutenant governor, state representative or state senate may have to abide by a new campaign finance rule if State Senator Jim McClendon’s (R-Springville) new bill passes requiring candidates use lobbyists or PACs, which makes it a silly endeavor.
• The bill would prohibit any candidates from accepting contributions from gambling operations, including anyone connected to gambling operations from making contributions. McClendon has said this is to “get things in Alabama back in balance” somewhat by cutting the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ influence.

5. Del Marsh wants people to know the cost

• After the first day of the legislative session for the State Senate, Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) discussed the possibility of adding new prisons to Alabama and said that legislators are ready to tackle this issue. He mentioned that one thing that should come into focus is making sure prisoners are rehabilitated and educated.
• Marsh also emphasized the “need to see the new numbers” on how much it could cost. If there’s an issue with the final cost, he said they can address that with Governor Kay Ivey. The current estimation is that it could cost the government $78 million per year to go through privately owned prions.

4. Buttigieg and Sanders leading in Iowa

• After a long wait, it’s being reported that with only 71% of precincts reporting, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg are leading in Iowa.
• The data places Buttigieg with 26.8% of the delegates and Sanders with 25.2%, while U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has 18.4% and former Vice President Joe Biden has 15.4%.

3. Jones continues to pretend he is undecided

• Wednesday, U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) is going to announce how he’ll vote in the U.S. Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. He’s said he’s “tentatively” decided on how he’ll vote on the two articles of impeachment.
• So far, Jones has voted completely in line with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) throughout the trial so he’s expected to vote to remove Trump from office, and there is nothing that indicates Jones will deviate from repeating the behavior he displayed during the confirmation process of now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh where he declared he would not vote to confirm him after weeks of disingenuous public vacillation.

2. State of the State

• Governor Kay Ivey gave her 2020 State of the State address in the Old House Chamber of the Alabama State Capitol where she talked about a billion-dollar bond issue for education and another teacher pay increase. She stated that she will create a study group to determine how much revenue any gambling expansion would create, a move that will pretty much kill that debate in any real substantive form.
• Ivey also addressed the issues of building more prisons in the state, criminal justice reform, healthcare and education in the state. The Alabama legislature is now in session and we will see how and if they will address these issues this year.

1. State of the Union

• President Donald Trump delivered a State of the Union that promised to build his reelection on the back of a soaring economy while delivering a speech that was excellently scripted for television with a military family reunion, Rush Limbaugh receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a young African-American girl receiving a scholarship and an introduction of the last surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen.
• The speech opened with President Trump snubbing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on a handshake and ended with her defiantly tearing up the speech after it ended, which even Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) said, “None of that’s good.” Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) called it disgusting.