Over the last week, the Alabama Legislature has been deliberating the appropriation of the last $1 billion in federal COVID-19 relief from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Our priorities are investing in sewer and water infrastructure, broadband internet expansion, and supporting hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers across the state.  Our state’s […]

Ten years ago, our oldest daughter, Katie, was preparing for her high school graduation, applying to colleges and shopping for her prom dress. The thought of disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders were nowhere on the radar. Like most teenage girls, she was involved in school activities and clubs. She started playing soccer and was […]

The desire for freedom and liberty is universal, but achieving it can take the effort of a lifetime. On March 15, 1848 – 175 years ago – Hungary revolted against the constraints imposed by both its Austrian masters and the authoritarianism of its ruling class. As a former Warsaw Pact country, little is known about […]

Next year is a big year nationally. It is a presidential election year. However, it is a down or off year for Alabama. We, like several other southern states, have our big election year in non-presidential years. We elected our governor and other constitutional offices and our entire Legislature in 2022. However, since we have […]

It was fourth grade and parents’ day was approaching. Parents’ day was the one day of the year that parents come to the school, meet the teacher, and admire the small work of art or craft their child has created. It is also the dreaded day when both my parents would meet each of my […]

Last week, House Republicans took two very important steps to protect your pocketbook and pump the brakes on President Biden’s out-of-control spending habits. The first thing we did was vote to overturn a Biden Department of Labor rule that hurts retirees. On Jan. 1, 2022, the Department of Labor published a final rule allowing retirement […]

I’m sure at one point in your lifetime you have heard a rumor. I remember hearing some second-grade gossip that our teacher lived at the school – and it made sense in my 7-year-old brain. Mrs. Marsh was there when I arrived in the morning and there when I left in the afternoon. I theorized […]

Birmingham-Southern College, founded in 1856, has requested $37.5 million in assistance from the state, the city of Birmingham, and Jefferson County. President Daniel Coleman warns that without assistance the school could close in May. B-SC’s troubles afford state lawmakers an opportunity for bold higher education reform. I will first mention but not evaluate several relevant […]

The gala and festivities of the gubernatorial swearing in are all wrapped up. Gov. Kay Ivey has been sworn in for another four year term. The legislators, all 140, are all sworn in soon after the general election victories in November. Therefore, they all are ready to get down to business. The regular session begins […]

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) authored the following op-ed in the National Review outlining his reintroduction of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to preserve Title IX protections and ensure safe, fair competition for female athletes. The reintroduction of this legislation comes as the U.S. Department of Education is moving forward to implement new rules in May that will allow biological males to compete […]

Travel is my weakness. Truth is, I am an addicted traveler. I don’t travel like a tourist, but more of an explorer. My interests are off the beaten path and places where only the locals can find. My travels have taken me to 49 states and as many countries. Our cultures may change from place […]

The artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT has created a sensation since debuting in late 2022. ChatGPT can produce papers of comparable quality to college students. AI’s progress raises the specter of humans possibly becoming redundant. ChatGPT’s creator, OpenAI, was started in 2015 with a founding board including Elon Musk and Peter Theil. OpenAI was originally a […]

This winter, prices for the main energy sources used to heat homes have continued to skyrocket. Families are forced to pay 45% more for heating oil, 25% more for natural gas, and 11% more for electricity. It is projected that these price increases will only get worse as temperatures drop. This leaves some families with […]

“They aren’t making any more land. What’s there is what we’ve got,” said Autauga County farmer Bill Lipscomb. Lipscomb is a third-generation farmer whose 3L Ranch focuses on quality beef cattle production through genetics, herd management and smart land use. “There are a lot of aspects of cattle that contribute to using our land in […]

Alabama is recognized as a great place to start, grow, and nurture a business, to get an education, to build a career, to put down roots, and to thrive. As many global brands, homegrown startups and Fortune 500 companies have discovered, Alabama is a Sweet Home for families and businesses alike. Alabama has been recognized […]

For the past several decades, Alabama’s power has been centered around the U.S. Senate – primarily because of former Sen. Richard Shelby’s immense power and influence. During Shelby’s 36-year tenure, he chaired the Intelligence, Banking and Rules Committees. However, he became immensely powerful his last six years as chairman of the Appropriations Committee.  Shelby practically […]

I am proud to represent Senate District 12 in the Alabama State Senate, an area in Northeast Alabama rich in patriotism and love of country. Calhoun County is the home of Anniston Army Depot, and the Center for Domestic Preparedness, as well as the destination of choice of many past military retirees from Fort McClellan. […]

From the Business Roundtable to the World Economic Forum to leading business schools, many voices promote replacing corporations governed by stockholders with “stakeholder” capitalism. Laws empowering stakeholders might disrupt the social cooperation of corporations. The cutthroat world of business seems decidedly uncooperative. But businesses enable voluntary cooperation between people trying to improve their lives. Never […]

Despite passing a generous 2023 federal budget of $1.7 trillion, Democrats somehow managed to neglect our national election infrastructure, safety, and security. Now Republicans have the chance to pick up the slack — and support the funds — needed for our upcoming presidential elections. Not only is the $75 million passed less than one-fifth of […]

The world Nicholas Copernicus was born into was wrong. Indeed, 550 years ago, almost everything people thought about the world and their place in it were based on false ideas. Without necessarily meaning to, Copernicus shook his world to the core and ushered in a revolution in science. Everyone in the western world believed that […]

Tonight, President Biden will give his second State of the Union address to Congress, but let me save him the trouble: We’re broke, we’re woke, and internationally we’re a joke. After trillions in COVID spending, the inflation-busting Inflation Reduction Act, and foreign aid with little oversight, we are now $31.4 trillion – with a ‘T” […]

The Biden Administration is exploring imposing rent control nationwide via executive order. This is yet another questionable policy measure by our governments. Despite the joke, “if you line up all economists end to end, they still wouldn’t reach a conclusion,” economists largely agree on the effects of rent control, minimum wages, and student debt cancellation. […]

Everyone should be empowered to craft a life of their choosing. Do the conditions for this differ for men and women? The provocatively titled “Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism” suggests that government must help women. Recent voting patterns suggest that American women increasingly believe this. Professor Kristen Ghodsee of the University of Pennsylvania […]

In December, a winter storm grounded Southwest Airlines for nearly a week, even though major airlines quickly resumed service. In January, all flights were temporarily grounded due to the crash of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) system. The consequences of these debacles illustrate accountability in markets and politics. A winter storm across the northern United […]