In a Friday afternoon letter to U.S. Senate leadership, Alabama’s top Republican lawmakers urged the upper chamber to pass a “short-term funding extension” to avert a government shutdown. The deadline for Congress to pass federal funding and avoid a shutdown is Wednesday at midnight. “As members of the Alabama Legislature, we urgently call on the […]

Alabama consumers dodged a major bullet when the so-called Credit Card Competition Act, which targets existing safeguards for consumers when they swipe their credit cards, was nearly tacked on at the last minute to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act. Pitched by big-box retailers like woke Target as being pro-consumer and increasing transaction security, the […]

Calling President Biden’s immigration policies at the southern border a “disaster,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he will be reintroducing two pieces of legislation that are aimed at countering the effects of the massive waves of illegal immigration. “President Biden’s immigration policies have created a disaster at our southern border,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn). “These two pieces […]

A bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) seeks to combat abuse of the nation’s immigration worker system and emphasize the hiring of American workers over foreign H-1B and L-1 visa applicants. According to a release, the “H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act” would prioritize American-educated visa applicants and other advanced degree holders in […]

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), the highest-ranking member of the Senate Democratic leadership besides Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), is now publicly raising money for endangered Senator Doug Jones (D-AL). In a recent tweet, Durbin urged his followers to donate to Jones’ campaign. The tweet links to a fundraising landing page with Durbin’s […]

WASHINGTON — In new legislation proposed by a group of Senate Democrats, the legal smoking age would rise to 21. Such a move would have mixed outcomes for the states, including Alabama, that depend on the tax revenue generated from tobacco sales. The Tobacco to 21 Act was introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and would make it illegal […]

WASHINGTON — Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) announced Tuesday morning with his colleague Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) that the U.S. Department of Labor has launched an investigation into two outsourcing companies accused of helping a utilities company in California fire American employees in favor of foreign workers in the country with controversial H-1B visas. “We’re pleased […]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9PpZ_IvMOc WASHINGTON — Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) shot back at Dick Durbin (D-IL) Thursday for saying Republicans are threatening national security. He’d “been trying to understand what is holding up funding for the Department of Homeland Security,” Durbin said earlier in the day. “Have you ever heard of a filibuster?” Sessions asked Durbin during remarks […]

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid logged over 30 hours speaking at the mic on the Senate floor in 2013. Senators Cruz and Paul gained widespread notoriety for marathon filibusters. But none of them had anything on Alabama’s very own Sen. Jeff Sessions. According to analysis done by the Los Angeles Times, Sessions logged more speaking […]

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, has spent the last several days fighting to undo cuts to veterans benefits that are included in the Ryan-Murray budget deal, which was passed by the House last week. The current legislation cuts veterans benefits by $6 billion over the next decade. The Senate is set to vote on the bill […]

Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, will emphatically vote “no” on the Ryan-Murray budget deal that skated through the U.S. House Thursday by a vote of 332-94. Sessions, the top Republican on the Budget Committee, went a step further and said he and his Senate GOP colleagues will filibuster the deal. Democrats concede […]

Today Attorney General Luther Strange and Alabama Policy Institute (API) President Gary Palmer addressed API’s recent receipt of a letter from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) that inquired about API’s relationship with the American Legislative Exchange Council and asked whether API supports “stand your ground” legislation.  According to a joint statement put out by the […]

On August 6, the Alabama Policy Institute received a letter from Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) inquiring into the Institute’s affiliation with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and specifically ALEC’s support of “stand your ground” laws. Unfortunately, the letter appears aimed more at political intimidation of an organization that directly promotes policies Senator Durbin opposes […]

24 years ago today, then Congressman, now Senator, Dick Durbin gave the most stirring speech in defense of America’s favorite pastime in the history of the United States House of Representatives. “I don’t want to hear about saving trees, any tree in America would gladly give its life for a day of glory at home […]