7. Another investigation into Trump?

• Rick Bright, who says he was removed as director of Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority after acting as a source on a story about hydroxychloroquine, has now filed a whistleblower complaint about the matter, and congressional Democrats are now poised to use this as another reason to investigate the President of the United States.
• The ousted vaccine expert alleges officials “refused to listen” to his complaints about the drug and the administration’s push for its use, so he provided a journalist with documents on the matter and was removed from his position because he was rightly perceived to be the source.

6. Rand Paul won’t wear a mask

• While it is still unclear if people who have already had the coronavirus can get it again, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said that he won’t be wearing a mask because he’s “already had the virus,” adding, “I can’t get it again, and I can’t give it to anybody.”
• Paul went on to say he’s “the only safe person in Washington you’ll meet” since he can’t spread the virus to anyone, but as Senators returned to work, many of them have been seen wearing a mask to protect themselves and others. 

5. Gas tax could be going to small business stimulus

• A new bill introduced by State Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) would use the funds from the gas tax, Rebuild Alabama Act, to fund small business stimulus for the next two years. 
• Ward estimates that this would create about $200-270 million. If passed by the legislature, the measure would be included on the July runoff ballot.

4. Bill would protect churches and businesses from lawsuits

• State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) is sponsoring a bill that would “help encourage businesses to remain open and reopen” by protecting establishments from lawsuits where people claim they caught the coronavirus at the establishment. 
• Businesses, churches, government entities, health care providers, schools and cultural institutions would be protected from civil cases under the bill, but there would be an exception for “wanton, reckless, willful, or intentional misconduct” by health care providers.
  

3. The list of counties not enforcing “Safer-At-Home” continues to grow

• Joining Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon and Lamar County Hal Allred, Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack has said that his office won’t be enforcing Governor Kay Ivey’s “Safer-At-Home” order to keep churches and businesses closed.
• Local agencies of law enforcement may still enforce the order, but the sheriff’s department will not. Mack has also sent a letter to Ivey asking her to consider revising the state health order. 

2. McCutcheon will only consider local legislation and budgets this session

• State Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) has expressed his frustration with some in the Senate. He added, “Don’t be concerned about the rumors or the rhetoric you may be hearing from ‘the senate is doing this’ or ‘the senate is doing that.’” McCutcheon, Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) and Governor Kay Ivey agreed on only focusing on local legislation and budgets this session. 
• There’s suspicion that the Alabama Senate could address more than what was previously agreed upon, but he insisted, “We’re going to do our job, and we’re going to do our job based upon the commitments we made and agreed upon.”

1. Senators will urge Ivey to reopen more

• State Senator Tom Butler (R-Madison) has said that he and other state senators are sending a letter to Governor Kay Ivey requesting that she consider reopening businesses like restaurants, barbershops and salons. 
• Butler said that he would like to see the “order amended down from [May 15] to maybe this Friday.” He continued, “I don’t know if that will come about, but I’m going to encourage her to look at that, and if we can make some movement on that towards getting us open quicker.” Butler anticipates that his recommendation will be received well.