7 Things: Biden mandate faces immediate legal setback, infrastructure bill passes, Alabama makes it harder for schools to hold vaccination clinics and more …

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November 8, 2021

7. Mobile mayor wants to allow cruise ships to keep vaccine requirements

The Alabama Legislature had previously banned the ability to require customers to show proof of coronavirus vaccination before receiving goods and services. However, now, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson is asking that the cruise industry still be allowed to keep its requirements.
During an appearance on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” Stimpson explained that Carnival Cruise was interested in returning to Mobile but noted that “cruising is controlled by the federal government — by the CDC, by the Coast Guard, and so forth.” He added, “Well, they require a vaccine passport. They have to know that you have been treated, and you know, Alabama does not allow that. So, we’ve actually asked for a waiver for cruising so that we can resume cruising. It’s scheduled to come back in January. We’re hopeful the legislature will address that issue.”

6. More rental assistance distributed in Alabama

In October, there was more rental assistance sent throughout the state, with about $17.5 million given to 3,097 people. There has been $237 million total distributed in Alabama since April.
Multifamily administrator for the Alabama Housing Finance Authority David Young has said that their “goal is to distribute $20 million per month.” It’s already been expected that evictions could increase if there isn’t assistance provided since the eviction moratorium has ended.

5. Alabama redistricting facing minor legal challenge

Two lawsuits have been filed against the Alabama Legislature’s redistricting plans that were signed by Governor Kay Ivey last week, with one of the lawsuits already announced on the day plans were signed.
One of the lawsuits from a group closely associated with Democrats, the National Redistricting Foundation, has said the new districts go against the Voting Rights Act “because it strategically cracks and packs Alabama’s Black communities, diluting Black voting strength and confining Black voting power to one majority-Black district.” The second lawsuit alleges that there should be two congressional districts that could be won by black candidates.

4. Biden lied about potential payments for illegal immigrants

Despite President Joe Biden claiming that reports of payments up to $450,000 to illegal immigrants are “garbage” and some suspicions that Biden hasn’t been kept up to date, White House senior adviser Cedric Richmond said that Biden has been briefed on all issues and kept up to date.
Richmond didn’t confirm whether payments would be given to illegal immigrants who were separated at the border during President Donald Trump’s term. While Biden has claimed that the payment reports were false, he said that immigrants “deserve some sort of compensation no matter what the circumstances” when they’re separated. Alabama U.S. Senate candidate and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) called the plan “abhorrent and borderline evil.”

3. Alabama law makes Biden’s proposed vaccine clinics in schools more complicated

The Pfizer coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use in children ages five to 11, and now it’s expected President Joe Biden will push for elementary schools to host vaccine clinics so that the vaccine is more accessible for younger children. Schools in Alabama have already held some of these, but last week, Alabama passed a law requiring parental notification before a child is vaccinated, which makes schools doing this harder.
The Education Department is also encouraging schools to hold town halls to inform parents of the vaccine and push for them to get their kids vaccinated. While the argument has been framed that vaccinating kids is the key to ending the pandemic, there has been a failure to show that children contract and spread the coronavirus the same way adults do.

2. Infrastructure bill has passed

In a 228-206 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure package. Only 13 Republicans voted in favor of the legislation that’s been touted as “bipartisan.”
U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), who voted against the legislation, criticized the move, saying, “Our economy is struggling, and our national debt already presents a serious national security threat, but the Democrats have shown they are willing to recklessly push through a bill that costs over a trillion dollars with only about 10 percent going to roads and bridges.” He added that there’s a “there is a silver lining in that the bill includes legislation which I introduced with Rep. David Trone (D-MD) that includes funding for the Birmingham Northern Beltline.”

1. Stay granted in coronavirus vaccine mandate case

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration deadline to be vaccinated against the coronavirus by January 4 that was originally laid out by President Joe Biden has been challenged in a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where an emergency stay has been granted.
This only applies to the requirement for businesses with 100 employees or more. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said, “The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the constitution.” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall also has a lawsuit pending against the mandate.