Budget cuts. Tax increases. Agency restructurings. We’ve heard and seen it all over the past several months since the Legislature first came to order in early March. Since that time, there has been a regular session and two special sessions. Throughout each, a lot of ideas were bounced off the wall – some stuck, some […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — ObamaCare premiums are set to rise again in Alabama. In 2016 the average premium price will increase by 12.6 percent, even after a 8.4 percent increase in 2015. Plans procured through the health insurance marketplaces set up by ObamaCare are only available to those who do not receive insurance through their employer, Medicaid, or […]

It has been said that one of the hardest jobs around is being a teacher. Even though it may be hard, teaching is one of the most important professions. Teachers have the great responsibility of training the next generation in our society. Recently, I’ve spent time reflecting on some of the important teachers from my […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is riding high after a standout performance in the most recent GOP debate, and his campaign’s latest moves in Alabama — both publicly and behind the scenes — signal plans to parlay his rise into a campaign machine that can win in the Yellowhammer State and all across […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Republican National Committee announced Friday afternoon it was canceling its partnership with NBC for an upcoming GOP Presidential debate after partner network CNBC’s Wednesday debate revealed what many are calling “atrocious” liberal bias. The questions, which ranged from “what’s your greatest weakness,” to “what should we do about fantasy football,” to […]

This week marked a significant turning point in Congress as Paul Ryan was elected to be the new Speaker of the House. Of course, outside of his service in Congress, Paul Ryan is best known as Mitt Romney’s running mate in the 2012 presidential election. He has spent this year as Chairman of the Ways […]

(Video above: Cliff Sims interviews Sen. Richard Shelby on Yellowhammer Radio) In a wide-ranging interview on Yellowhammer Radio Thursday with Cliff Sims, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) unloaded on the process by which Republican leaders negotiated the latest budget deal with President Obama. “I think it’s a bad deal,” Shelby said bluntly. “It was negotiated […]

The 2016 election cycle is in full swing, but outside of a potentially competitive congressional race in Alabama’s 2nd District, there’s not a lot of action in the Yellowhammer State this year. However, if you think it’s too early to start looking toward the impending electoral chaos of 2018… Well, you’re probably right. But make […]

Congressman Brooks (R-AL 5) addressing the House over debt ceiling bill WASHINGTON — Representative Mo Brooks (R-AL5) raised concerns in the U.S. House Wednesday over the last-minute debt ceiling deal he says would fail the American people. The bipartisan budget would suspend the current $18.1 trillion debt limit through March 2017. Brooks addressed the House calling […]

MOBILE, Ala. — Ohio Governor and GOP Presidential Candidate John Kasich will be visiting the Yellowhammer State next week. Kasich is scheduled to visit Wintzell’s Oyster House in downtown Mobile on Tuesday, November 3rd. The announcement came during a city council meeting when Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson commented that the Governor would be visiting The Port […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. –  U.S. District Judge Judge Myron Thompson granted a preliminary injunction to Planned Parenthood this morning to block the state from canceling a contract with the abortion provider. Governor Robert Bentley terminated the state’s contract with the Planned Parenthood Southeast affiliate, which operates in Birmingham and Mobile, after a series videos revealed other clinics […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In the race for political office, endorsements can make or break a campaign. People tend to trust the opinions of those they know, and as the cliche goes, all politics is local. As the race for Alabama’s 2nd congressional district seat heats up between incumbent Martha Roby and Tea Party challenger Becky Gerritson […]

Once again, a massive deal, crafted in secret, unveiled at the 11th hour, is being rushed through Congress under threat of panic. Once again, we have waited until an artificial deadline to force through that which our voters oppose. At its core, this deal with President Obama does two things: First, it lifts federal spending […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) joined his fellow members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today in co-sponsoring a resolution to begin proceedings to impeach Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen. The proceedings for impeachment are a response to what Palmer describes as Koskinen giving “misleading and false testimony to Congress and failing to […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) addressed the U.S. House Tuesday, submitting a letter agreed to by Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-01) which formalizes his pledges regarding comprehensive immigration reform, or amnesty, bills. The letter states that if elected Speaker, Ryan will not bring up immigration reform “so long as Barack Obama is president.” Ryan also promises to […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — As a result of the General Fund budget cuts passed this year by the Alabama Legislature, the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC) announced it would close 15 state-run liquor stores. Of those closing 10 were profitable in 2014, while 24 other ABC store locations remaining open across the state were in the […]

WASHINGTON — John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) final act as Speaker of the House will be to cut a budget deal with President Barack Obama that conservatives loathe–so much so in fact that upon hearing the details, budget hawk Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said it made his “knees quiver.” Boehner has been working quietly to pass an […]

A former Alabama deputy attorney general testified Monday that Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard is the target of a politically-motivated prosecution by a man who was once his colleague. According to a report by The Montgomery Advertiser, former deputy attorney general Sonny Reagan testified under oath that Matt Hart, who is leading the Hubbard prosecution […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL 7) announced Monday that a $20 million Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation has been awarded to Birmingham. Sewell advocated for the City of Birmingham’s application to use the money in order to construct a 15-mile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The project plans to connect 25 West and […]

When Republicans took control of the Senate last year, we looked forward to sending commonsense, conservative bills to the President’s desk. This process would put pressure on the President to decide whether he would sign or veto the bills. In the House, we have held up our end of the deal, sending countless conservative-reform bills […]

As you know, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday appeared before the Select Committee on Benghazi to answer questions about what happened before, during and after the September 11, 2012 attack on a diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya. It was a long hearing with hours of back-and-forth testimony, and I wanted to share a few […]

WASHINGTON — Over two years after the U.S. Treasury inspector general uncovered evidence the Internal Revenue Service was targeting conservatives, the Obama administration’s Department of Justice has officially closed the case without bringing any charges. “Our investigation uncovered substantial evidence of mismanagement, poor judgment and institutional inertia, leading to the belief by many tax-exempt applicants […]

WASHINGTON — Sen. Jeff Sessions on Friday warned likely incoming House Speaker Paul Ryan not to use his new post to pursue “amnesty” or more multi-national trade agreements. Ryan, who is poised to become Speaker of the House next week, has in the past supported so called comprehensive immigration reform. He was also one of […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama joined a lawsuit Friday to challenge President Obama’s Clean Power Plan which opponents say would drive up energy costs while causing the loss of energy jobs across the country. Alabama is one of 24 states listed on the filing. “Today, Alabama joins nearly half of all U.S. states in challenging the […]