7 Things: Biden looks to mollify his base with student loan giveaway, Tuberville joins chorus of lawmakers demanding Biden get serious on the southern border and more …

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April 28, 2022

7. Mo Brooks responds to sloppy hit-piece by inept political hatchet man

Yesterday, former no-show government employee and the man claiming to be the “Alabama’s premier political journalist and commentator” Steve Flowers published an error-filled hit piece on his steveflowers.us blog on U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville). No matter how small Flowers’ reach is, Brooks responded to the numerous inaccuracies because of Flowers’ status as a former Democrat lawmaker and corrected his record in the Alabama Legislature, on the Madison County Commission and in the U.S. House of Representatives
Brooks hit back at claims that he had no accomplishments by noting his conservative record, which Flowers clumsily agreed to, his success killing amnesty in Congress, and his fight for the integrity of the 2020 election. Flowers responded with more inaccuracies on his Twitter account, without taking responsibility or addressing his lies and declared that it was “free publicity” for Brooks.

6. New York’s high court deals Democrats a big blow

Democrats spent much of the last year doing two things — complaining about “gerrymandering” and gerrymandering their own new districts in an effort to give themselves a leg up heading into what is expected to be a disastrous 2022 midterm election. In New York, a Democrat-led legislature added four Democrat seats to their tally and hoped that the seven Democratic judges on the court of appeals would allow them to get their political gerrymandering through. But he did not, and now a panel will draw the districts.
The partisan gerrymander is illegal by New York law and was ruled unconstitutional. The map blown up in New York included 20 seats with a heavy Democrat lean and four seats heavy Republican lean. It also had only two swing districts, and even those seats had slight Democratic leans. Redistricting maps in Florida, Ohio New Hampshire, Missouri and more are still in play, too, but New York’s will be the most consequential.

5. Coronavirus funds are being sent to emergency service providers

It’s been announced that $10 million of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act will be sent to emergency service providers across the state. Governor Kay Ivey made the announcement on Wednesday, noting appreciation and support of these services.
Ivey said, “Alabama’s emergency service providers greatly supported our communities throughout the pandemic, often times putting their own lives on the line to provide rapid care. Now, we are in a position to return the favor and help them in their recovery efforts. I appreciate the Alabama Legislature for their partnership in making this critical funding available to our emergency service providers, and I encourage them to apply and utilize these funds to further invest in public safety services.”

4. Teachers can’t sue over coronavirus conditions

Judge Annemarie Axon has recently ruled that teachers can’t sue school districts over additional work that was required of educators during the coronavirus pandemic. The ruling was against a group from Tuscaloosa County. The complaint stated that their workload increased, but their pay did not.
Part of the complaint also mentioned how female teachers faced discrimination since there were additional obstacles in caring for their families that male teachers may not experience. The school district’s attorneys have said, “No credible argument can be made that assigning teachers’ duties for instructing students, providing teaching resources, requiring use of specific teaching methods, or determining appropriate compensation…are somehow outside a school superintendent’s official duties.”

3. Biden will be visiting Alabama

Next week, President Joe Biden will visit the Lockheed Martin facility in Troy. The visit has been announced for May 3. The Troy facility produces Javelin missiles that have been supplied to Ukraine.
There are also Lockheed Martin locations across the state in Anniston, Enterprise and Huntsville. The Troy facility made headlines in February when Javelin missiles were sent to Ukraine and were marked with the city’s name.

2. Tuberville: The southern border can’t continue in its current state

Many legislators have recently spoken out about the conditions at the southern border and the high increase in illegal immigration that’s been seen already in President Joe Biden’s term. Now, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) has stated his support of Title 42 and brought attention to the handlings at the border.
Tuberville stated, “Month after month, we experience record numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the border, and the administration is allowing them to stay in our country. Now, even Democrats are saying lifting Title 42 without a plan in place would ‘be a disaster.’ And others have called for President Biden to revisit this decision. Yet, the White House is caving to the loudest, most radical voices in their party rather than doing what is right for the safety and security of our nation.”

1. Student loan debt forgiveness could be coming soon

According to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), there could be an agreement reached soon for President Joe Biden to use an executive order to cancel student loan debt of up to $50,000.
Schumer said, “I think the president is moving in our direction. My talks with him and his staff have been very fruitful over the last little while and I am hopeful that he will do the right thing. We’re getting closer.” Reportedly, 43 million Americans have student loan debt, which totals around $1.75 trillion.