7 Things: Alabama could follow other states and dump masks, Ivey opposes the stimulus bill as it is, Merrill now opposes no-excuse voting bill and more …

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March 3, 2021

7. Bill that allows the legislature to call their own session advances

The bill sponsored by State Senator Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) that allows the Senate president pro tem and speaker of the House to call a special session for the legislature has been approved by the Alabama Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
The legislation is expected to pass the Senate, and the companion bill in the House of Representatives, sponsored by State Representative Becky Nordgren (R-Gadsden), is scheduled to be considered in the House committee Wednesday.

6. More roads being improved across the state

Through the 2019 Rebuild Alabama Act, Governor Kay Ivey has announced that there will be 21 new road improvement projects worth $4.93 million. Ivey said, “[W]e are showing the people of our state that we are true to our word, and money is being spent wisely.”
Most of these projects are going to be resurfacing roads, added lanes in Semmes and a new bridge in Butler County. Ivey’s office also said that more projects are to be announced throughout the year.

5. A handful of people protested the transgender youth bill

The bill that would ban doctors from prescribing hormone blockers or hormone supplements to minors, as well as prohibit gender reassignment surgery for minors, was protested by the ACLU of Alabama and the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, AIDS Alabama, and more on Tuesday.
Some who were protesting spoke with reporters; Justin Vest of Montevallo said legislation like this is “fear-mongering.” Doctors are split on this type of legislation, with some saying that children struggling with their gender identity usually grow out of it. Others argued that hormone treatments are strictly controlled programs. The bill passed 23-4.

4. Problems at the border grow

The real human cost of illegal immigration is coming to light as the Biden administration attempts to undo President Donald Trump’s enforcement measures at the southern border.
In the last 24 hours, 13 individuals being trafficked across the southern border were killed when the SUV they were riding in was hit by a semi-truck carrying gravel. In Brownsville, Texas, illegal immigrants were stopped at the border and tested positive for the coronavirus before they were released from custody knowing they plan on continuing their journey into the United States.

3. Now Merrill isn’t in favor of no-excuse absentee voting

State Representative Laura Hall (D-Huntsville) presented the legislation that would allow no-excuse absentee voting for future elections in Alabama. Secretary of State John Merrill initially supported the legislation, but after some pushback, he’s retracted his support.
Merrill said, “We’re not for no-excuse absentee voting. And we’re not going to let that be the vehicle that is a part of this because that discussion is not going to be productive.” The secretary of state has said that there were parts of the legislation that he supported because it could help improve the election process in the future.

2. New stimulus bill unfairly hurts states

Twenty-two governors across the country, including Governor Kay Ivey, are speaking out against President Joe Biden’s coronavirus stimulus package that totals $1.9 trillion. The main argument made by the governors is that the bill unfairly harms some states based on how funding is divided. The governors provided estimates on how much some states could lose, and Alabama is likely to lose $887 million under current standards.
Some funding would be based on unemployment instead of population, which clearly puts states that are mostly reopened at a disadvantage. The governors wrote, “A state’s ability to keep businesses open and people employed should not be a penalizing factor when distributing funds.” They also mentioned how some Democrat states are more likely to benefit from this plan.

1. Mask orders falling, Alabama will probably be next

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has announced that he’s removing the mask mandate for the state and all other capacity restrictions, bringing the state to “100%” reopened. Massachusetts, South Carolina and Mississippi have relaxed their restrictions, as well. Abbott said that “now state mandates are no longer needed,” but still stressed people have a “personal responsibility” during the pandemic.
Many states, including Alabama, have had restrictions in place for nearly a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. With Texas removing its mask mandate, more suspicion arises that Governor Kay Ivey could allow the statewide mask mandate to expire without extending it on Friday.