7. Democrats plan a big immigration push
- A suffering economy and global pandemic are not going to slow Democrats in Washington, D.C. as they work for more open borders, let people in without COVID-19 tests, and push to change the country’s immigration laws.
- President Joe Biden’s “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021” will include plans to legalize farm workers and Dreamers right away, includes an earned pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, expands the refugee resettlement program, and includes new technology at the border, but many question that last part.
6. Cuomo is collapsing
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) has avoided apologizing for his improper decision-making in the coronavirus pandemic, especially in relation to nursing homes and delaying reporting data. Instead, Cuomo said they “made a mistake in creating the void” that allowed for “conspiracy theories.”
- Cuomo said that the “mistake” was “creating the void when we didn’t provide information, it allowed press people, cynics, politicians to fill a void.” Cuomo’s top aid has even told legislators that they didn’t provide proper information over concerns that “it was going to be used against us.”
5. No vaccine requirement in Alabama
- Alabama State Rep. Ritchie Whorton (R-Owens Cross Roads) is looking to limit the power of local and state government authorities to mandate vaccinations, a move some feel is necessary as questions remain about the power of these entities in Alabama.
- Citing concerns about the expedited vaccine production with the COVID-19 vaccine, Whorton stated, “[W]hat I’m trying to do is say, ‘Hey, you can’t mandate this vaccine. As a free society, I think it is up to the individual to have the right to choose, and that’s what the bill is.”
4. Shelby is now the longest-serving on banking committee
- Of all the committee appointments that U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) has received, he is now the longest-serving senator in United States history to be on the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Shelby is also still serving as a member of the Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the Committee on Rules and Administration. Shelby said that his “committee assignments for the next Congress will bolster my work on behalf of the state of Alabama and the nation.”
3. Alabama lottery bill considered good but needs minor changes
- State Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) is working to pass a lottery, gambling and sports betting bill in the Alabama Legislature, and Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI) government relations advisor Robbie McGhee has weighed in on the legislation, overall saying that he’s “just happy Senator Marsh was able to do this.”
- McGhee also said that this is a “good attempt” at finding the right “gaming culture that works best for the state,” but he added that “there are some minor changes, things like that probably need to be worked out.”
2. Vaccination sites all over the state will see more closures and delays today
- All over Alabama, county health departments will either be delayed or closed due to winter weather conditions that will impact daily life, power and roadways.
- The closing of these sites on Monday and Tuesday has delayed the rollout of vaccination doses and individuals with scheduled appointments. Some sites will work the missed appointments in over the next two weeks; some will move to Saturday, but it will vary from site to site. Each person should check on their injection site’s plans.
1. Should have investigated the riot prior to the failed impeachment
- There will be an investigation into the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has announced the investigation and said that she has plans for a “9/11-type commission” for the investigation.
- Pelosi added that this will be meant to “investigate and report the facts and causes relating to the January 6, 2021 domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex.”
