In previous columns, I and the people I’ve interviewed have attempted to stress the importance of creating healthy and productive ways to have conversations with those that don’t agree with our points of view. Whether that means trying to find common ground with one another, or even attempting to change a person’s mind and bring […]

As I stroll down the halls of the Alabama Senate during this current regular session of the Alabama Legislature, I will stop and visit in the offices of my favorite legislative buddies. My favorite and first stop is with my longtime friend Jabo Waggoner. Jabo, being the dean of the Legislature, has the first prime […]

As our state works to grow our economy and attract high-quality jobs, it is important to recognize and understand the tools we have at our disposal that can deliver the biggest impact. Alabama has a wealth of such assets that, if leveraged correctly and given the attention and investment they need, can put us on […]

With companies across the globe looking to make big-dollar investments into communities and accompany those investments with high-paying, high-quality jobs, Alabama has an opportunity to take the bull by the horns and become one of the top states companies look toward to invest. But currently, Alabama is falling behind other states such as Tennessee, Georgia […]

In 1775, the Continental Congress created the United States Army to fight the British and gain independence for what would become the United States of America. The U.S. Army was obviously successful, and we are still grateful to them nearly 250 years later. Today, the United States military is the largest employer in the world. […]

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the British Parliament stumbled into what can only be described as a textbook case of how to alienate friends and lose loyal subjects. When the Tea Act was passed in 1773, British conventional wisdom was that decreasing the tax on tea would be well received. And even though the […]

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is imposing fees on mortgage applicants with high credit scores to assist applicants with low credit scores and small down payments. The 2007 housing crisis illustrated the potential costs of “helping” people buy homes they could not afford. The proposal offers insight on the politics of government favors. The […]

It may appear to you and most casual observers of Alabama politics that our Alabama elected officials are old. That observation is accurate when you observe our current leaders in the highest offices. The governor’s office has been held by mature folks in recent years. Our current Governor, Kay Ivey, is 78 and has been […]

With the Alabama Legislature’s 2023 regular session well underway, the expansion of high-speed, rural, internet access remains top of the list of priorities for leaders in both chambers. But while significant progress has already been made since lawmakers passed the first broadband initiative five years ago, much work remains ahead. Uniti (pronounced “unity”) Fiber is […]

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in business and higher education have become controversial. Texas A&M and Texas Tech recently ended DEI statements for faculty hiring and tenure. What is problematic about being welcoming and inclusive? Let’s consider the underrepresentation of women in engineering. According to the National Science Foundation, in 2016 women earned 21 […]

There’s no doubt Washington has a spending problem. President Biden and my colleagues across the aisle are constantly looking for new ways to raise taxes on hardworking Americans, but the truth is Washington has plenty of money, and it’s just not spent well. There is so much waste up here because the federal government loves […]

If you watch the news, you’ll undoubtedly watch in horror at what the rest of us see. Inflation, crime, drugs, war, chaos, and division If you get on social media and you’ll see the same things … only it’s worse. Specifically the division. It would seem as if we all hated each other. You can’t […]

As the first regular session of the quadrennium evolves, there are myriad complex issues arising. I am reminded of three simple truisms regarding the Alabama Legislature and the governing of the state of Alabama. First of all, if anything significant or controversial or any major initiative is to be addressed, then it is dealt with […]

The use of economic development incentives by state and local governments is a common practice intended to attract private investment, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. As academic researchers, our work at the Hoover Institution focuses on studying these incentives, measuring how much local economies benefit after incentives are granted, and evaluating ways to increase […]

Space systems are fundamental to U.S. national and economic security — but we have not been organizing or resourcing ourselves in a way that is consistent with this reality. Despite the fact that an array of critical infrastructure and national critical functions rely on space systems, they are not one of our designated critical infrastructure […]

Tuesday marks 100 days of the new House Republican Majority. I’ve written before about how we have hit the ground running, fulfilling our Commitment to America – this includes building an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future that’s built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable to the American people. I’m proud […]

As mentioned last week, the Presidential race has begun. The first bomb or salvo dropped with the political indictment of Donald Trump by a Democratic New York Manhattan borough prosecutor. It used to be off limits to use the courts to indict a person for political reasons. Make no mistake about it, this trumped up […]

Today marks my 100th day in office as U.S. Senator for the great state of Alabama. To say that this responsibility is an honor of a lifetime would be an understatement. I continue to be humbled by the people of Alabama’s trust, confidence, and prayers, and as your Senator, I am working to make you […]

Over the last eight years, Alabama’s business climate has seen significant improvement due to the creation and implementation of the Alabama Jobs Act and the Growing Alabama Act. As a result of these economic development incentive programs, counties across the state have received substantial capital investment in their economy along with more jobs, directly and […]

Despite rising salaries, a robust economy, and a highly competitive job market that is forcing some employers to entice new workers with signing bonuses, many Alabamians continue to struggle financially and find themselves living from paycheck to paycheck. A national study conducted just last month indicated that 57 percent of those surveyed said they would […]

While I spend much of my time meeting with constituents, working on legislation, and voting for you in Washington, my office and I are also here to serve you by working on your behalf with federal agencies. This is one of the most important parts of my job as your representative, and I have found […]

Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and Stability AI founder Emad Mostque have signed an open letter calling for a pause in cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) research. But can we halt research, whether on AI or the gain of function research that may have produced the SARS-CoV-2 virus? How much control would be necessary, and […]

Trading in commodities, which are ingredients or components of finished goods, is the focus of global commerce. Information about commodities, their availability, and the impact of events that create scarcity, affects both current and future prices. Two hundred years ago, one significant commodity was tallow, a substance rendered from animal fat that was used to […]

The Alabama House and Senate have been in full swing since the 2023 legislative session began in early March, and one of their top priorities has been economic development and job creation. At the top of the Legislature’s list of economic development priorities is the reauthorization and strengthening of two critical economic development programs – […]