7 Things: Zero coronavirus deaths reported, Alabama Republicans continue to distance themselves from Dismukes, Schumer says there is no negotiation on new stimulus funding and more …

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July 29, 2020

7. Space and Rocket Center faces possibly closing

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville has announced that $1.5 million is needed to keep their doors open, otherwise, they’ll have to close permanently. The organization has said they’ve lost two-thirds of their revenue.
The Center is asking for public support through their Save Space Camp campaign for people to donate through. On the page, they specified they’ll have to close in October if they can’t raise more funds. It’s estimated that the Center adds about $120 million to the North Alabama economy.

6. Tuberville gets National Right to Life endorsement

Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville will be up against U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) in November, and Tuberville on Tuesday was endorsed by the largest pro-life group in the nation, National Right to Life.
A distinct reason for their endorsement is Tuberville’s support of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which wouldn’t allow abortions after 20 weeks. Jones has voted against the legislation; the organization also said the senator “supports a policy of abortion on demand.”

5. Attorney General Barr is brought to Capitol Hill so Democrats can get videos for fundraising

A clearly partisan embarrassment was on display Tuesday when Attorney General William Barr sat before the House Judiciary Committee to answer questions. Unfortunately for anyone interested in his answers, Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives used their time to berate him and left little time for him to respond to their inquiries.
Barr’s frustration with the questions and lack of time for answers led to him asking about the current riots in major American cities and Democrat silence on those matters. He stated, “What makes me concerned for the country is that this is the first time in my memory that the leaders of one of our great two political parties, the Democratic Party, are not coming out and condemning mob violence and the attack on federal courts.” Barr added, “Why can’t we just say: ‘Violence against federal courts has to stop?’ Could we hear something like that?”

4. Former state senator arrested in Montgomery

Former State Senator Hank Sanders and several others were arrested in Montgomery in front of the State Capitol as they attempted to spray paint “Good Trouble” and “Expand Medicaid” on the street. This happened just after a group known for advocating for expanding Medicaid, Alabama SaveOurselves Movement for Justice and Democracy, held a news conference.
Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford claimed that “[m]ore than 300,000 Alabamians would benefit in terms of having affordable and accessible health care” if Governor Kay Ivey expanded Medicaid. He added that “the new civil rights struggle is health rights.” This marks the second time that members of this group of activists have been arrested.

3. Schumer won’t negotiate

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the HEALS Act, which only included funding for $200 in additional unemployment benefits, instead of $600 per week, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has said that those unemployment benefits are non-negotiable.
House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) referenced House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), saying, “We don’t have red lines, we have values.” He emphasized that unemployment benefits are negotiable, but Schumer responded to this by saying they “don’t believe that” and that the benefits need to be kept until at least January 31. He credited those benefits for “why the economy is creeping back up.”

2. Dismukes’ actions shouldn’t reflect representatives

State Representative Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) spoke out against State Representative Will Dismukes (R-Prattville) attending the birthday party of Nathan Bedford Forrest on social media. In a radio interview, he explained why he doesn’t want Dismukes’ actions to represent other members of the legislature.
Garrett said that members of the legislature have been having important “conversations about what we can do to move relationships between black and white members and our constituents forward,” and added that Dismukes’ post about the party and things like it “undermine” those efforts.

1. Lower day for coronavirus cases

The Alabama Department of Public Health has reported the most recent coronavirus case numbers at 1,180 in one day across the state, making the total number of cases 80,309, which is a slight decrease in daily totals.
There were no recorded deaths on Tuesday, but there have been 1,446 deaths in the state. There are currently 1,599 people hospitalized. Jefferson County added 143 cases, Madison County had 113, Montgomery County had 70, and Mobile County added 134 cases.