The public feud between U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) intensified over the past week as the statewide agricultural organization announced that its political arm, FarmPAC, had endorsed his primary opponent in Alabama’s 2022 race for the U.S. Senate, Katie Britt.
In response to the endorsement, during a series of radio interviews, Brooks claimed that ALFA opted to not support his candidacy due to his positions on border security, amnesty for illegal aliens and subsidies.
The North Alabama congressman made an appearance on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program,” where he levied the accusation that ALFA is in support of open borders due to the cheap labor that enters the United States as a result.
“[O]ne of my opponents was endorsed this week by a special interest group that heavily relies on subsidies, tens of billions of dollars, that is heavily supporting these welfare programs to the tune of another tens of billions of dollars, and, of course, is supporting amnesty and citizenship for illegal aliens,” Brooks declared.
In an additional radio interview with FM Talk 106.5, Midday Mobile, “The Sean Sullivan Show,” Brooks took another shot at ALFA regarding the issue of illegal immigration.
“They want cheap foreign labor crossing our borders,” Brooks said of ALFA. “They’ve got a lot of money and they try to elect candidates… they try to ensure that their candidates for open borders get elected.”
Yellowhammer News spoke to Brooks regarding the issue of illegal immigration in relation to ALFA’s involvement in Alabama’s race for the U.S. Senate.
“You have a choice, you can either support struggling American families or you can support the masters of the universe as they seek cheap foreign labor that undercuts the wages of and takes jobs from struggling American families,” Brooks told Yellowhammer News.
Regarding his race for the U.S. Senate, the congressman stated, “I love the way the contrast is shaping up in this campaign.”
When asked to expand on ALFA’s endorsement of his opponent, Brooks alleged that the organizational support Britt has received stems from his staunch opposition to illegal immigration.
“Birds of a feather flock together,” added Brooks. “Every open borders, cheap foreign labor interest group seems to be supporting Katie Britt – that’s one of ALFA’s top two or three issues,” claiming the organization wishes to “import cheap foreign labor that is heavily subsidized by American taxpayers.”
The congressman made mention of his endorsement from former President Donald Trump, pointing to his stance on border security as a core reason he earned Trump’s support.
Brooks noted his opposition to legislation introduced in the lower chamber of Congress earlier this year which he claims was supported by “agriculture political unions.”
“There was legislation that we voted on in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, pushed by America’s agriculture political unions and the chamber of commerce, two different bills, that would have given amnesty and citizenship to more than six million illegal aliens – that’s the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” he said.
The North Alabama congressman went on to point to the grading he received from Numbers USA, an anti-illegal immigration organization, which ranked him as having the strongest record on border security out of all 435 of his colleagues.
“The special interest groups that want open borders, illegal aliens, cheap foreign labor – they know where I stand on border security and I stand with struggling American families that are hurt by it,” stated Brooks.
ALFA responded to the accusations levied against the organization by Brooks by maintaining that it stands in firm opposition to illegal immigration.
The federation stated, “Congressman Brooks’ statements are not only categorically false, but they are also an insult to the hardworking, law-abiding farmers he claims to represent. The Federation’s policy is clear in its support of secure borders and opposition to illegal immigration.”
ALFA pointed to its advocating the federal government to take steps to resolve the crisis engulfing the nation’s southern border with Mexico.
“In fact, on June 3, the Alabama Farmers Federation joined every state farm bureau in the country in sending a letter to the secretaries of Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Interior urging swift action to secure the Southern border,” ALFA added. “Congressman Brooks’ office was notified of this communication, which makes his recent attacks even more egregious.”
ALFA says the congressman “actively sought, and in prior races accepted, the endorsement of FarmPAC” and also accepted an invitation last month to address the political action committee’s advisory trustees.
The federation expanded on its decision to endorse Britt, whom it says demonstrates “respect and appreciation for farmers.”
“[K]atie Britt traveled the state visiting farmers, listening to their concerns, and discussing how to address their needs in Washington,” ALFA noted. “When county Federation leaders gathered in Montgomery last week, they overwhelmingly recommended the endorsement of Katie Britt. Unlike recent statements by Congressman Brooks, Katie Britt has demonstrated respect and appreciation for farmers and rural Alabamians. She earned the confidence of Federation members by being a strong, conservative leader who can get things done in Washington.”
Sean Ross, spokesman for the Katie Britt for U.S. Senate campaign, expressed his belief to Yellowhammer News that Brooks’ comments prove him to be “out of touch.”
“It’s embarrassing to see how out of touch Mo Brooks is, and it’s sad to see that his lifetime in politics has apparently left him unable to tell the truth,” said the spokesman. “While farmers have been hard at work feeding Alabama and our nation, Mo Brooks has spent the past 40 years living off the taxpayer dime.”
He added, “Katie knows that we need more people in this country with the work ethic of our incredible farmers and far less with the self-serving mindset of this do-nothing career politician. This is why Katie continues to gain the support of the hardworking Alabama families that this election is about. This race comes down to a choice between a member of the permanent political class who is only interested in serving himself vs. fresh blood who wants to put Alabama First.”
The slate of congressional candidates FarmPAC endorsed in the 2022 primary election cycle includes U.S. Reps Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), Mike Rogers (R-Saks), Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) and Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham).
Among the list of upper-level statewide candidates ALFA’s political action committee endorsed are Republicans Gov. Kay Ivey, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and Attorney General Steve Marshall.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.