Alabama Education Association Archives

As the 2026 Legislative Session evolves, do not expect much in the form of substantive legislation. It is an election year and historically, legislators do not address any controversial legislation. The election primaries are right around the corner on May 19, and voters have short memories, but they can remember what just happened yesterday.

Although, my observation is that legislative seats have become analogous to U.S. Congressional Seats in that incumbents are very seldom challenged. In most of our 105 State Legislative and 35 State Senate Seats, the majority are held by incumbent Republicans and Democrats and less than 20 percent are being challenged.

However, the irrelevancy of this election year 2026 Session does not matter to two major groups who have had spectacular success in 2024 and 2025. The Association of County Commissions and the Alabama Education Association have had major legislative accomplishments this quadrennium.

The Alabama Association of County Commissions has been led by Executive Director Sonny Brasfield for the past 16 years. He has done a tremendous job. Prior to that, Sonny was the Chief Lieutenant for legendary Executive Director Buddy Sharpless, who was the director of the powerful organization for 35 years from 1974 to 2009.

To say that Sonny Brasfield has done a sterling job is an understatement. The presidency of the organization is elected each year by the membership of all county commissioners from throughout all 67 counties in the state. They have had several especially outstanding commissioners, who have been instrumental in securing passage of significant and important legislative accomplishments.

In 2023-2024, Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight was President. Knight set the stage for success and was successful. He spearheaded and was enabled by Sonny Brasfield in passage of major legislative initiatives for the county commissions.

In 2025 alone, county government priorities took aim at a broad range of issues from strengthening county involvement in mental health delivery services to improving professionalism and representation in the local voter registration process. In addition, the county leaders were involved with the statewide prohibition of Glock switches.

A bill passed by Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and Representative Alan Baker (R-Escambia) streamlines the sales tax exemption process. This act establishes a process by which county commissions may opt in to applying state sales and use tax exemptions to county sales and use taxes.

Speaking of sales tax, Alabama’s Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT) has been a salvation for the State General Fund, as well as for county governments. The SSUT Act allows Alabama to collect online sales tax. It is a nationally recognized model for online use tax collection that has provided the state and local governments nearly $4.5 billion in total revenue, including almost $1 billion in fiscal year 2025, alone. The Association of County Commissions has been steadfast in defending the SSUT.

The Alabama Education Association has been very successful over this quadrennium under the leadership of Amy Marlowe. The AEA has quietly achieved historic accomplishments that would parallel the years of “King” Dr. Paul Hubbert’s reign as the ruler of Goat Hill. There have been unparalleled pay increases for teachers.

However, if nothing else was accomplished, the passage of the historic K-14 Worker’s Compensation Bill was monumental. This accomplishment achieves what the legendary Dr. Hubbert only dreamed of decades ago.

Beginning no later than October 1, 2026, the new worker’s compensation law replaces the Board of Adjustment’s outdated system with a compensation program offering direct payment of medical bills through the Public Education Employees Health Insurance Program (PEEHIP).

This long overdue law covers full-time public education employees, including teachers, bus drivers, and lunchroom workers. Before its passage, public educators injured on the job had no access to worker’s compensation.

This worker’s compensation accomplishment was spearheaded and championed by Senator Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville). When Senator Givhan became aware that Alabama teachers had no relief for on-the-job injuries, Givhan made it his mission to remedy this wrong. It became a priority and was Senate Bill number one in 2025. He was assisted in the House of Representatives by Tuscaloosa Representative Cynthia Almond, who was appointed by Governor Ivey in 2025 to President of the Alabama Public Service Commission.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.

Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said he “100%” agrees with the characterization that the Alabama Education Association (AEA) would metaphorically “slit the throat” of Republican officeholders if it helped Democrats politically.

Wahl made the remarks during an appearance on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show.”

Jackson posed the provocative metaphor about party politics within the Alabama Legislature’s composition and Wahl embraced it: “Oh, 100% look, let’s be honest about where we’re at this,” Wahl said.

“This is not my defense of NEA or AEA because I’m the guy who literally went through the party and passed a rule for the state party saying AEA and NEA could not donate to state school board candidates or County School Board candidates because [it’s] a conflict of interest, and I wanted them out of influence with our school,” Wahl said.

“Has that been enforced? It has been enforced. And I was the guy who passed that rule… This is not a love affair with the AEA, okay?”

Wahl defended his recent dialogue with AEA after news media sounded the alarm on new regulations that might target homeschool families. He said the point was to lock in a no-regulation pledge without giving anything in return.

“This is about honest conversation. I didn’t go in you, know, and have a grand meeting with them. I went, I called them, [and] said, ‘Look, you say you believe in parental rights – prove it. Like, let’s talk about this issue.’ This is something that’s concerning homeschool families. Good leadership goes out and fights for things before they become issues and get in front of it. And I got a commitment they wouldn’t do it. That’s a great deal.”

Wahl said if AEA backtracks, he will make it a point to tell lawmakers the group “lied to me,” and reminded listeners that AEA is boxed in by Republican supermajorities in both chambers.

“I think this puts them in an extremely bad position if they don’t do it. I will go down to the halls of Montgomery and I will talk to legislators about how they lied to me. So I do. I think they keep this not necessarily because they want to – but because they have to put the parties in a position where we have a super majority in both the House and the Senate of Alabama,” Wahl said.

“They have to work within that political structure, whether they like it or not, because that’s the current reality in Alabama. And I think when you look at it through that context, it puts them in a very hard position to try to now come back and lie once they’ve made that commitment.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

A new report from the Alabama Policy Institute (API) alleges the once-dominant Alabama Education Association (AEA) remains closely tied to national teachers union National Education Association (NEA) “both organizationally and financially” despite AEA’s “recent claims” to the contrary,” API’s CEO Stephanie Smith writes.

AEA has recently tried to distance itself from national politics.

When the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) moved in 2023 to ban candidates in many school races from taking AEA/NEA money, AEA executive director Amy Marlowe blasted the party’s rhetoric as “false accusations.” She said AEA’s focus was on education “with no partisan perspective or fringe ideologies.”

“The AEA is not an independent entity,” API’s report opens. “It is the official state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). This structure means that the AEA is formally and organizationally tied to the NEA and its priorities.”

“Between 2015 and 2024, AEA received a total of $29.76 million from the NEA,” API asserts. “These NEA transfers represented an average of 17.45 percent of AEA’s total annual revenue. In 2024 alone, NEA support accounted for 15.17 percent of AEA revenue.”

Over the weekend, ALGOP Chairman John Wahl and AEA representatives met to address concerns that a forthcoming push would tighten homeschool oversight.

Wahl called the meeting “cordial and productive” and said he was “pleased to hear directly from the AEA that they have no plans to pursue additional reporting or enrollment requirements for homeschool families.”

That sit-down marks the largest indication of direct exchange between ALGOP and the state’s #1 teacher’s union since in 2023, when the state party’s executive committee voted to ban AEA/NEA contributions in most GOP school-board and superintendent contests, at that time, largely over concerns with NEA’s national agenda and AEA’s resistance of school choice expansion.

“NEA’s assistance is not philanthropic, it is strategic,” API’s report highlights today.

It details NEA programming and priorities that API argues clash with Alabama law and values.

Summarizing NEA’s School Me podcast and related content, API writes: “Multiple episodes highlight the ‘BLM at School’ initiative… Teachers are encouraged to introduce the ‘13 principles of Black Lives Matter’ into classroom instruction during the first week of February,” including “Queer Affirming, Trans Affirming, and Unapologetically Black.”

“LGBTQ advocacy also features heavily,” the report continues. “NEA [highlights] its partnership with GLSEN… [and] encourages teachers to integrate LGBTQ perspectives into classrooms, stressing that representation and inclusion are necessary parts of public education.”

“Together, these examples illustrate that NEA uses its podcast not only to support teachers with professional tools but also to intentionally embed ideological concepts into K–12 education… [that] align education with specific social and political agendas.”

The report then connects NEA content to Alabama’s 2024 law, SB 129, which “prohibits public schools and agencies from teaching or promoting ‘divisive concepts,’” including that individuals are inherently oppressive by virtue of race or sex or that meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist.

“For AEA, the risk under SB 129 is significant,” API concludes. “AEA’s role as the state affiliate of NEA ties it to the dissemination of materials and training that promote concepts expressly prohibited by law.”

The report concludes:

Ultimately, Alabama stands at a crossroads.

The state can continue funding and legitimizing a system that imports divisive ideology into its classrooms, or it can act decisively to restore focus on academic excellence and community values.

Doing so will require leadership, from lawmakers who uphold the law, from educators who reject blatant politicization of education, and from parents who demand academic results and accountability.

The future of Alabama’s education system depends on ensuring that the classroom remains a place of learning, not indoctrination. Our students deserve better.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

7. President Donald Trump ended speculation about running as a vice-presidential candidate in 2028, leaving the door open with a noncommittal response that has fueled political speculation. Vance/Rubio

6. ALGOP Chairman John Wahl highlighted a positive conversation with the Alabama Education Association, claiming assurance that the teachers’ union will not push for regulations on homeschool families.

5. Governor Kathy Hochul’s speech at a rally for Zohran Mamdani’s campaign in New York City was “interrupted” with a “tax the rich” chant, a mantra Democrats in the city and elsewhere are fully in support of, despite rational fears by rational Democrats about how that plays with regular Americans.

4. The International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers union filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the removal of NASA employees’ collective bargaining rights, alleging unfair labor practices that could set a precedent for federal workers, AND foolishly arguing their mission is “not national security,” but rather scientific exploration for the “benefit of all humanity.”

3. The U.S. and China are heading towards trade talks to ease tensions, but the “framework” for a deal on tariffs appears to be agreed to, with both sides signaling a cautious willingness to cooperate.

2. The USDA announced no federal SNAP benefits for the 1-in-8 Americans who receive those benefits because of the government shutdown, while Democrats continue focusing on the Obamacare subsidies as the government shutdown enters its fourth week.

1. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) says the 27-day government shutdown is a Democratic strategy to earn political points with their far-left base, while U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) stated the GOP is ready to negotiate healthcare reforms after the government reopens, showing a strong bargaining position

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Education Committee advanced Alabama’s landmark school choice legislation, the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students Education (CHOOSE) Act with a favorable report — sending it to a full vote of the House as soon as next week.

The proposal would create education savings accounts (ESAs). Governor Kay Ivey worked with State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) in crafting the bill which, by its third year, would give every parent in Alabama the option to send their child to a private or religious school.

“The purpose of this legislation is to provide opportunities that are not currently available to parents to use a portion of their tax dollars to choose a school that best meets the needs of their child,” Chairman Garrett said during a public hearing on the bill on Wednesday.

“Everything we do is constantly evolving – the way we shop, the way we communicate with others, the way business is conducted, the way we worship, the way we shop, the way we watch television, the way we listen to music. Today’s world is all about customization, flexibility, and choices in all aspects of our lives — yet there are those who want to maintain the education model we have had for over a 100 years as is the case in other areas of our lives one size does not fit all.”

Garrett introduced a substitute version of the bill this week that addressed many of the concerns of the education special interest community.

The substitute still allocates $100 million to the ESAs — but also requires that participating private and Christian schools must be accredited, have testing aligned with the state and share their test scores with parents, and further, that no discrimination may be made by race or national origin.

“This bill does not gut or adversely impact the education budget,” Garrett said.

“The expected growth in revenue coupled with the spending limitations already in effect will fund any future growth of the program. The program will only increase from the initial $100 million amount if the market demand and the pickup rate justify an increase; and only if the Legislature appropriates more money. There are numerous guardrails in the bill to protect the education trust fund as well as increase accountability and transparency.”

“I want to make it clear that the State Legislature and this committee will continue to support and invest in our public schools; and will continue to focus on areas of the greatest need,” Garrett said.

“This year we will pass another record education budget of almost nine and a half billion and we will allocate $6.4 billion to K-12 schools, which is an increase of $370 million from last year.”

The substitute addressed enough of the concerns that the education special interests moved their position from opposition to the bill to a position of neutrality. Some in the home school community were not pleased with the changes.

On Wednesday, a short public hearing followed Chairman Garrett’s opening comments.

“We are very concerned about protecting the education trust fund long term,” said Allison King of the Alabama Education Association. “Our team is still reviewing the sub.”

“Between 80 to 90% of the students taking advantage of vouchers were always in private school,” said King. King expressed concern that in the future that this program could grow to $400 to $500 million and could decrease the $7,000 per pupil support that the state provides legacy public schools.

“This program has the ability to change children’s lives,” said Adam Thompson – the director of the Alabama chapter of Americans for Prosperity. “This is an opportunity for parents to make the best decisions for their children.”

Dr. Roy Matson is an instructor in an online education program.

“School choice is the future for this country. That is what parents deserve,” Matson said. “Education is changing. People are getting their degrees online.”

“We need to do school choice and we need to do it right,” Dr. Matson said. “They shouldn’t get less money because they are not going to a brick-and-mortar school here.”

Dr. Debbie Brooks is the Principal of St. Michael’s Catholic School in Auburn.

“We all want what is best for the children of Alabama,” Dr. Brooks said. “This bill would provide an opportunity to decide what that looks like for their families – what education setting is best for their children.”

Chad Barwick is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Mobile.

“Parents seek Catholic education; because they understand the values we represent,” Barwick said. “I want to say thank you as we continue to serve whoever wants Catholic education. We are excited for the future of school choice in Alabama.”

Jennifer Wolverton is a homeschool mother of four and founder of the Log Cabin Schoolhouse.

“I love this bill – the bill before the substitute,” said Wolverton. “There are about 125,000 micro schools in America – agile, innovative. I can find five in Alabama. We are missing this entire market.”

“Microschools are typically registered as homeschoolers,” Wolverton said. “As written the Choose Act does not support micro schools that require facilities.”

After a favorable vote from the committee on Thursday, Governor Ivey shared her enthusiasm and appreciation for the plan to continue moving forward in the legislature.

The CHOOSE Act — our education savings account plan — has passed the House Committee and now goes to the floor. Thank you to @DannyGarrett44 for his leadership. We are one step closer to providing our families with more education freedom. #alpolitics

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) February 22, 2024

As the House version of Alabama’s landmark school choice legislation advances to a full vote of the lower chamber, the Senate version awaits a vote in its committee, and is expected to move full steam ahead to final passage from both chambers and receive a signature from Governor Ivey in the coming weeks.

Thursday was day 9 of the 2024 state legislative session.

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com

As Republican leaders across Alabama continue to promote School Choice Week, there is still some debate on what an actual bill on the subject will look like in the upcoming session.

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is one of the biggest supporters of expanding options for parents in Alabama through Education Savings Accounts (ESA). He also believes the Legislature will pass a strong bill in 2024, but admitted the program might take a few years to fully implement.

Ainsworth discussed the issue recently on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”

“I’m going to try and fight to get the strongest bill we can,” Ainsworth said. “And to me the strongest bill we can is where every parent can decide where they want to send their children. So that’s what I’m going to push for, an ESA where they can take that money and decide where they want to go.”

One of the main issues that always complicates the debate around school choice is funding, which Ainsworth believes will create some challenges.

“I think we’re going to have to phase it in just from a budget standpoint,” he explained, “because I don’t think we can do it all year one. That’s not a concession, that’s just the reality of where we are at the budget process.”

Ainsworth discussed some of the ways they could possible phase in the program.

“The way it looks to me is you start at a grade,” he said. “Different states have done this. Every state that’s done it, they’ve phased it in just so you don’t have all the people that are in private schools right now, if you do an ESA, that’s going to be a big fiscal note to the ETF. Where if you phase it in you say this year we’re going to do Kindergarteners and first graders. And then the next year we’re going to do Kindergarten, first, and second and third…Then eventually you get to where every kid in the state is now covered K-12.”

He emphasized that he would rather not phase it in based on income brackets because he wants to expand options to as many parents as possible.

“This is just one idea I’ve got on how you can do it based on how other states have done it,” he said. “You just phase it in based on age. There are some people that want to phase it in based on income. I don’t really want to have an income component. I want to have it where anybody in the state can have school choice. And I think if you do it based on grade I think that’s a better way.”

Ainsworth said this is the time to pass school choice in Alabama because the idea has gained popularity across the country.

“The conversation’s changed,” he argued. “I think for so long the teachers’ union dominated the conversation and really changed the narrative and made it out to be that school choice is a bad thing. I think that now the narrative across this country is that not only is it working, but the right choice for students is for parents to be able to decide what’s best for their child. And when you phrase it that way, who’s not going to be for that?”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity) is more optimistic than ever about the prospect of passing a good school choice bill in the upcoming session because it’s now getting the support of Gov. Kay Ivey.

The governor spoke at a rally in Montgomery to promote Alabama School Choice Week. During her speech she said any school choice legislation that comes up in the state should include education savings accounts (ESA).

“In this upcoming legislative session, my top priority is ensuring [an] education savings account bill crosses the finish line,” she said. “This is key legislation that will empower Alabama students and parents. And I look forward to signing this landmark bill into law, granting parents more rights in the education of their children.”

Yarbrough reacted to Ivey’s statement during a recent appearance on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”

“After all that happened with the last session and kind of helping to champion and lead that cause in the House, it was very encouraging to hear the vindication of that concept,” Yarbrough said. “Because at the end of the day it’s a vindication of our parents and that if we’re going to gamble, let’s gamble on our parents. Let’s give our parents the power to really take of their children’s education, and that’s the heart behind ESAs. So it was very encouraging.”

Yarbrough has not yet put a detailed proposal forward, but he did explain some of what he wants the bill to include.

“If we’re going to lead the nation like the governor has said, and be the most pro-school choice friendly state in the nation, I would prefer we make it available to everybody and set a responsible cap that we can move up,” he said. “So $400 million or whatever the case may be, our parents are more than worth that. But even if we have the worst case and phase it in let’s say over three years, what needs to drive that cap of money if maximum participation, and what needs to drive the moving up of that cap is not the growth of the ETF budget, the growth of government, but rather the growth of the demand and participation.”

The state lawmaker said he fully expects to receive some pushback from the Alabama Education Association (AEA).

“The money is there to serve the purpose of the education of our children,” he argued. “The money is not there to prop the teachers’ union. It’s not there to empower people in the state who are not the people primarily responsible for the education of our children. The government is not the primary party responsible, nor are they the primary party that funds it. It comes from us. We are the primary party responsible for the education of our children. The idea that the government is, it’s just straight Marxism.”

Yarbrough believes they will be able to pass the right legislation to expand educational opportunities in Alabama.

“I trust that through this whole process we will have a good bill that will actually be pro-school choice and pro-parents first and foremost, and not pro-government growth and not pro-increase of government taxation,” he concluded.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

The NEA/AEA will attempt to scuttle school choice forever.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, on Talk 99.5 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from noon to 1 p.m.

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Radio talk show hosts Dale Jackson and Yaffee, filling in for 256 Today CEO Mecca Musick take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories.

Mecca Musick is the CEO of 256 Today. Sign up for the 256 Today newsletter here.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

7. There is allegedly a plan to avoid another government shutdown that was unveiled by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a closed-door meeting. However, a shutdown is looking more likely every day, and to no surprise, the media is declaring Republicans the villains, but they may be right this time.

6. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt was one of three senators to not sign a letter asking Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to put the dress code in the U.S. Senate back in place. Britt, and the guy the dress code was changed for, reportedly have a good personal relationship.

5. Alabama’s newest prison that will be placed in Elmore is 90% designed and will now cost more than $1 billion, so far. So far.

4. Attorney General Merrick Garland was grilled by Republican members of Congress who questioned him on the Biden administration’s weaponization of the Department of Justice. Garland was asked about how he was unaware of various Biden-linked shell companies, and how the Hunter Biden special counsel was appointed. AG Garland even hilariously claimed that the DOJ applies the “the same laws to everyone. There is not one set of laws for the powerful and another for the powerless … One for Democrats, and another for Republicans.”

3. Minor High School’s band director Johnny Mims, who got himself tased and arrested, the Alabama Education Association, and some parents who are claiming their kids fainted because of the band director’s actions are attempting to claim that Mims is a victim and the police have traumatized the students who witnessed his bad behavior. No one really believes this.

2. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) has forced the absolute capitulation of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and now some of the nominees that Tuberville has been blocking will get voted on in the U.S. Senate. Many members of the media and their Democrats will claim that Schumer is engaging in some brilliant strategy, they are lying … poorly.

1. The United States has actively worked to open the border and agents of the government went as far as cutting razor wire and letting illegal immigrants in. To that end, more than 4,000 illegals have entered the country during a recent 24-hour period. And while Venezuelans are over-represented, President Joe Biden declares that they can stay in the country and even get work permits – a decision that will act as a magnet for more people to break into the United States.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Alabama Republican Party voted to ban GOP school board and superintendent candidates from accepting campaign donations from the Alabama Education Association. The vote was one of several actions the ALGOP took at its summer meeting Saturday.

The meeting capped a weekend that started with a visit Friday night from former President Donald Trump that raked in $1.2 million in contributions for the party.

Among other resolutions passed were a condemnation of President Biden’s taxpayer-funded abortion policy for the military, and a process governing Alabama’s 2024 GOP presidential primary delegates.

Between enthusiasm for school choice and negativity about the influence being wielded by the teachers’ lobby, the AEA was in the crosshairs of executive committee members. The organization donated $1.5 million to state legislative candidates in 2022.

A clear majority of committee members approved strengthening a rule on the books after a back and forth over the contribution ban being extended to state legislative candidates, ultimately passing 68% to 32%.

“One of my goals with this Standing Rule Amendment is making sure our school board and superintendent candidates are not dependent on any special interest group,” ALGOP Chairman John Wahl said. “With that in mind, I have already committed that the Party will step in and replace any funding lost should it become necessary.”

The buzz surrounding Friday night’s fundraising total was a milestone in the state party’s ability to scale up operations and support candidates. Wahl emphasized to committee members during debate the party is in an “extremely strong” financial position and that candidates need not look to the AEA for financial backing.

Moving forward, any Republican candidate seeking office who accepts contributions would face a denial of ballot access and any unsolicited contributions would need to be returned within seven days.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s unrelenting focus on President Biden’s military abortion policy was also center stage. Committee members passed a resolution condemning Biden’s policy and commending Tuberville. An earlier form of the resolution more prominently highlighted praise for the senator.

“The Hyde Amendment was enacted as part of the federal budget in 2022 and bars the use of federal funds to support abortions at any level, and … The Biden administration has gone against the principles of the Hyde Amendment by ordering the use of federal funds to pay for time off from work and travel costs to obtain abortions for both service members and their dependents,” the resolution said.

“The Alabama Republican Party calls on the Biden Administration to reverse the policy of using taxpayer money to fund abortion related expenses against the will of the people, and thanks Senator Tommy Tuberville for his stand against this flawed policy.”

This resolution was passed 99% to 1%.

ALGOP also passed its presidential preference primary process, which details how Alabama’s presidential delegates will be allocated for the 2024 GOP primary.

Alabama will have 50 delegates to the Republican National Convention: ALGOP’s three members of the Republican National Committee; 26 statewide at-large delegates; and 21 delegates allocated by congressional district.

Notably, the 26 statewide at-large Republican delegates will be awarded to the first place candidate if that candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the state’s Super Tuesday primary.

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, one of the biggest proponents in the Alabama Legislature for expanding school choice, is praising the governor’s recent comments on the issue.

Last week, Gov. Kay Ivey told Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” a school choice bill is already in the works.

“My goal is for Alabama to be the most school choice friendly state in the nation. I want us to have lots of school choices for our parents to choose from,” Ivey said. “And we’re going to be working, now already, on a bill, an ESA bill – an education savings account bill, – to present to the Legislature next session, and I’m very optimistic that will pass.”

Yarbrough (R-Trinity) reacted to Ivey’s statement during an appearance on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”

“I was super excited to see those comments by the governor,” Yarbrough said. “I’ve got kids 14 down to 3, so that definitely was good news to my eyes and ears.”

Yarbrough sponsored a school choice expansion bill in the House that did not make it through the 2023 regular session.

“Anybody who looks at the political winds and certainly the educational winds in the context of Alabama with the AEA and the legitimate frustrations with the AEA…the reality is that for too long our parents have not been the customer,” he said. “The government has been the customer when it comes to the education of our kids.

“So it’s high time that we put the parents hands on the educational steering wheel so that we can get the results, the quality, and the morals and the values that we need.”

Yarbrough blames the power of special interest groups for the state not passing real school choice reform up to this point.

“The reality is I think a large part of it is people had a large financial incentive not to,” he said.

He also admitted to be concerned that any bill on the issue might be watered down to something he could not support.

“That is a legitimate concern,” he said. “Obviously I intend to be involved in that conversation for sure … because it’s passing down a way of life. It certainly isn’t learning a woke agenda items, woke facts. I intend to be involved because it’s really important.”

Yarbrough said he wants Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) to be a main part of the solution.

“You can craft an ESA solution that’s hands off, government off, freedom, people’s choices, people’s money back to them for them to control it, or you can craft a government solution, government control, government run, top down, lobby and interest things that ends up causing more damage than it does good,” he said. “So it’s imperative for us as legislators to be heavily involved in that process so we craft a solution … where the government is not here to save you, the government is not your friend.

“The government is here to get out of the way and give the money and the options and the choice, trulyboth for the curriculum and the testing and all that, back to the people and not have a top down system that’s going to create more of the same kind of problems.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

7. A black former President of the United States and a black U.S. senator are engaged in a public spat over whether America is inherently racist or the land of opportunity.

6. Some good news for former President Donald Trump on the legal front: a two-year-long investigation into the tax valuation of a Westchester County golf club has been closed. This is part of the American Left and their lawfare against Donald Trump. Trump is almost out of the clear with only 30-plus felony charges pending.

5. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), once again, says that he will not drop his hold on DoD promotions until the Pentagon either follows the law or changes the law on taxpayer-funded abortions. His fellow Republican senators are not thrilled but some support him and others are following his lead. Either way, promotions can still be voted on individually.

4. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) has been named to be an advisor to the Senate Republicans’ agenda-setting team. Britt says her goal has always been to, “ensure Alabama has the best possible seat at the table in the Senate, so our state’s people, values, and interests can be represented effectively and strongly.”

3. Criticism of programming of the state-funded Alabama Department of Archives and History is being likened to “fascism” by Maigen Sullivan, who hosted the “Invisible No More: Alabama’s LGBTQ+ History.” The reality is that citizens are tired of funding liberal social engineering with their tax dollars, government employees refuse to see this.

2. The AEA says it won the legislative session, they are right. In their latest newsletter, the teachers union takes credit for killing REAL school choice, weakening charter school expansions, and making you pay more for groceries. Teachers did get big raises though, even as fewer kids are reading at grade level than last year. Take a bow, guys.

1. President Joe Biden is the “Big Guy” he knows it, you know it, the FBI knows it, and now the American media is finally starting to take notice of it. When Biden was asked, “Why did the Ukraine FBI informant file refer to you as the ‘Big Guy,’ President Biden? Why is that term continuously applied?” by New York Post reporter Steven Nelson, he tersely responded, “Why do you ask such a dumb question?” If a certain previous president did this, the media would be calling it an attack on the First Amendment and call to violence.

Listen:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN.

7. The Inflation Reduction Act was a lie, that becomes more apparent every day. It did not reduce inflation and the green subsidies could now cost $1.2 trillion or 3 times what Democrats claimed.

6. Alabama U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is reintroducing his ban on men competing in women’s sports. In good news on this front, the official body overseeing track and field competitions banned men from women’s sports and taxpayer-funded liberal activist group, National Public Radio, has been forced to retract an errant story claiming there is “limited scientific evidence of physical advantage” for biological males over females.

5. As predicted here, Alabama was bounced out of the NCAA Tournament during the Sweet 16 after losing to No. 5 seed San Diego State 71-64. Star Brandon Miller is expected to go pro but believes Alabama is the best team in the nation and knives are out for Nate Oats.

4. At the end of last week, it was reported that Space Command may not come to Alabama after all because of pure politics. Alabama’s delegation and north Alabama leadership have punched back and let it be known that the fight is on.

3. Former President Donald Trump held his first big event of the 2024 election season over the weekend in Waco, Texas, and the media predictably is unhappy about it for many reasons. Meanwhile, new polling shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the up and tied in two key early states.

2. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has overturned the murder conviction of Huntsville Police Office William Darby on a technicality after he shot a suicidal man in the face . Former U.S. Attorney Jay Town responded by saying, “(f)olks should take caution to declare ‘victory and vindication’ here. Another trial jury looms.”

1. When Republicans took over the Legislature, they stripped the Alabama Education Association of its ability to deduct dues directly from teachers’ paychecks, this weakened the AEA significantly. Now, while the battle of school choice and many education issues loom, State Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) has introduced a bill to give the AEA the power to raise money with paycheck deductions again.

LISTEN HERE:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

7. NRA has endorsed Kay Ivey while Biden bans so-called ghost guns

Governor Kay Ivey on Monday received the hefty endorsement of the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) in her reelection campaign. Ivey was called the “strongest candidate” in the race by chairman Jason Ouimet. In the announcement, Ouimet said, “Kay Ivey has long demonstrated an unwavering support for our Second Amendment freedoms. She is the strongest candidate in this race and has a proven record of defending our constitutional right to self-defense. We count on Kay Ivey to protect the rights of Alabama’s law-abiding gun owners.”
President Joe Biden held a ceremony where he announced he had his attorney general draw up a regulation to declare all gun kits in an over-broad ruling that Biden called for because he was having “trouble” getting a law passed. The NRA slammed this move as pointless, especially as criminals in American cities are regularly released back onto the street and the crimes committed with these guns are statistically insignificant because a vast majority of gun crime is committed with stolen guns. This rule will be challenged and likely struck down. Biden’s move is more political than practical.

6. Steve Marshall says he’s a bad politician

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall released his first television ad for his reelection campaign on Monday. In the ad, he touts being a “good golfer but a bad politician,” and adds, “That’s why I’m not afraid of the woke mob, cancel culture or liberal radicals trying to cancel our constitution.”
The ad also mentions how Marshall will support law enforcement, “secure our elections, protect our borders,” and Marshall ends the ad saying, “The left, the media and the establishment won’t like it, but I’m more concerned with defending Alabama than I am being liked. I’m a better golfer than politician.”

5. Parker Griffith gets called out for PTSD comments

Many have criticized former U.S. Representative Parker Griffith’s (D) decision to say that U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant “is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder…I mean he was shot down, lost his friends, and nobody goes through that without being disturbed a little bit.”
U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-Tenn.) said, “Politicizing veterans’ mental health is way over the line; it’s completely reprehensible.” U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has said, “Our veterans are heroes and should never be politicized by any candidate. I stand with our veterans against this abhorrent rhetoric from former Rep. Parker Griffith.” Instead of apologizing, Griffith stated, “Trump who dodges the draft labeled Senator John McCain a loser and said he was no hero. Durant wants Trumps endorsement. How disrespectful to our military and their families. Those who complained about my comments were silent when Trump implied McCain was a Loser.”

4. Philadelphia the first major city calling for masks — more will follow

Even though there are very few deaths in Philadelphia related to the coronavirus and no evidence that the masks actually stop the spread of the virus, Philadelphia will implement a mask mandate in the city that won’t kick in for one full week.
The city is now averaging 142 cases a day, a 50% jump in 10 days and very low hospitalizations. The city is claiming it is following CDC guidance, for what that it is worth, but even that guidance says that cities in Philadelphia’s position should urge that people get vaccinated and get tested if they have symptoms. It is not suggested that people wear masks.

3. Russia has a new offensive ready to begin in eastern Ukraine

After removing troops from Ukrainian cities in the western part of the country, including the capital of Kyiv, it is expected that Russia is ready to begin attacking cities in the east as they resupply and reinforce their troops in the country. Currently, bombing is being done, but the new offensive has not kicked off yet. This is all happening as a “purge” is taking place within the Federal Security Bureau (FSB) (the intelligence agency successor to the KGB) with people responsible for Ukraine going to prison.
The Head of Interagency Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response, Lieutenant General Mikhail Mizintsev from Russia’s Ministry of Defense, has accused NATO members France and the United States of psychological influence operations in Ukraine. Mizintsev has claimed that most of the operations are related to spreading misinformation to demean Russian forces. However, former DIA intelligence officer Rebekah Koffler advised, “This statement is almost certainly Russia’s own disinformation campaign intended to hide Russia’s hand in the atrocities that have been, are being and will be conducted in the coming weeks by the Russian forces in Ukraine. The goal is to blame Ukraine in order to confuse Western audience about who exactly commits brutality in Ukraine.”

2. The AEA has declared victory again — they aren’t wrong

For the second year in a row, the Alabama Education Association has declared that they have won the battle against Republican legislators during the legislative session. In fact, Alabama Education Association executive director Amy Marlowe proclaimed, “I think it is one of the best sessions we’ve had since 1983.”
The biggest victories may be the ones the AEA is not openly bragging about, such as the defeat of a real attempt at school choice, trapping non-affluent students in failing Alabama schools they are zoned for their entire educational careers, and their support of a delay of the Alabama Literacy Act’s retention mechanism that will send illiterate kids into higher grades, which they really wanted.

1. Lawsuits brought against new Alabama laws

Governor Kay Ivey recently signed legislation that bans certain medical treatments and procedures for transgender minors, as well as requiring students in public school to only use the bathrooms that correspond with their birth gender. Now, two families with transgender minors have joined with two physicians to sue the State of Alabama.
One of the plaintiffs, Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, claimed, “Governor Ivey has told kind, loving, and loyal Alabama families that they cannot stay here without denying their children the basic medical care they need.” The plaintiffs in the case are represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Human Rights Campaign.

The ALGOP booted multiple candidates off the primary ballot over the last weekend for various offenses to, as ALGOP chairman John Wahl put it, keep Republican primary ballots “pure.”

If this is true, the ALGOP might want to look at the influence the Alabama Education Association has over its members while its voters want school choice and an end to mask mandates.

Watch:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

7. AHSAA refuses to accommodate Christian high school

Oakwood Adventist Academy High School Varsity Boys Basketball Team had to forfeit a playoff game because the body overseeing the game refused to move the game three hours to accommodate their religious beliefs. The Alabama High School Athletic Association issued one statement on the matter, which read, “All games at each regional are expected to be played as scheduled. This is the AHSAA’s only statement.” The statement made it clear they had no interest in a reasonable accommodation for the students even though their website states, “All game days and times are subject to change.”
U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth both weighed in on this issue and stated that the accommodations should have been made. Brooks called it “disgraceful” and added, “Punishing kids because of their religious beliefs goes against everything we stand for in Alabama.”

6. Truck convoy protests would be illegal in Alabama if anti-riot legislation passes

State Representative Allen Treadaway (R-Morris) has claimed that if the anti-rioting legislation being considered by the Alabama Legislature were to become law, then the truckers’ protest in Canada would be illegal if the same thing happened in the state.
Treadaway said, “If you’re shutting down an interstate under this law, or a main throughway – a state highway, it will be illegal. I don’t care what the cause is. It would be illegal. Do not shut them down.” The bill has already been heavily criticized with accusations that it’s unconstitutional.

5. Smitherman: Not delaying the Literacy Act is ‘cruel and unusual’

The Alabama Literacy Act could potentially get delayed, as it would require third graders to read at grade level before advancing to the fourth grade. State Senator Roger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) is advocating for a delay, claiming it’s necessary due to the impact the pandemic has had on education.
Smitherman said, “[I]t would be cruel and unusual to flunk them when we haven’t prepared them not to be flunked,” adding that it’s not the fault of the students. He argued, “They didn’t create the pandemic. They don’t decide how much tutoring they get. They can’t decide whether a teacher is going to be there. They can’t decide whether a school is going to be open.”

4. Russia is prepping to invade Ukraine, Biden may meet Putin

While U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the United States will not place sanctions on Russia until they actually take action in Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jen Stoltenberg has indicated that an invasion could be coming soon. The Biden administration is suggesting President Joe Biden would meet with Vladimir Putin if he does not invade Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said, “Russia is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine.” Despite their promise to “step back,” she stated, “Russia is stepping up with more troops and higher and even closer to the Ukrainian border.” Stoltenberg added that this is the beginning of “a new normal in European security.”

3. Senate candidates speak at winter meeting

The Alabama Republican Party had their winter meeting in Birmingham, where each U.S. Senate candidate was able to speak for a few minutes each, including U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), Katie Britt and Mike Durant.
Britt confirmed that she met with former President Donald Trump recently, saying, “[W]e got to have a great conversation.” She added they were able to “update him on the race.” During her speaking time, she commended Trump highly for his strengthening of the United States on the global stage. Brooks commented that he wants voters to not just trust statements from candidates but “look at my voting record in particular.” Durant spoke some about his background and aligned himself with Trump and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) as “outsiders.” He added, “[W]e know what’s right for America based on our experiences. We care about this country, we want to make a difference.”

2. Lawsuit against Brooks will be dropped

The January 6-related lawsuit brought by U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) against U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) is to be dismissed by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta once the motion is filed, writing that the statements made by Brooks are “protected by the First Amendment for which he cannot be subject to liability.”
In the decision, Brooks, Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump, Jr. were all dismissed from the lawsuit that claimed their statements played a part in the U.S. Capitol riot. However, the lawsuit against President Donald Trump will continue.

1. School choice proposition could be changed

The Parents’ Choice Act by State Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) would allow parents to send their children to private schools or homeschool them and receive some funds from the state to assist that change, but the legislation is now being sent to a study group for potential changes after receiving opposition.
The Alabama Education Association has said the legislation “is nothing but a shell game of a voucher program to divert funding from our community schools. Alabama’s students and educators cannot afford to take almost a half a billion dollar hit from public education.” There’s skepticism that the bill will be considered, but Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) has said “negotiations are moving forward.”

Alabama State Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) has a bill that would drastically increase the number of options for Alabama’s parents, but its chances for passage seem slim.

Advocates for school choice should remember the same was said about constitutional carry and vaccine mandate bans, but momentum eventually carried those bills closer to the finish line.

Although school choice has an uphill battle for passage, it will eventually become law in Alabama — maybe not this year but soon.

Watch:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

Former Alabama Democratic Party chairwoman and Secretary of State Nancy Worley died Wednesday morning at age 70.

According to reports, Worley for weeks had been receiving medical treatment, including life support, at Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery.

Worley, a retired educator, served nearly three decades in the Decatur City Schools system and was a two-term president of the Alabama Education Association (AEA). She would go on to serve as Alabama’s 50th secretary of state from 2003 to 2007.

Worley in 2013 was elected as chairwoman of the Alabama Democratic Party, a position in which she served until 2019.

Current Alabama Democratic Party chairman State Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa) took to social media Wednesday afternoon to react to Worley’s passing.

pic.twitter.com/BwEPi38V00

— Chris England (@RepEngland70) December 29, 2021

“We are saddened to learn of Ms. Worley’s passing. In addition to being a lifetime advocate for public education, educators, and a former President of the Alabama Education Association, Worley was elected and served as Alabama’s Secretary of State,” stated England. “Ms. Worley was a great and loyal Alabama Democrat who cared deeply about the Alabama Democratic Party and the people of this state. She served the Alabama Democratic Party for decades in various roles, including as a state committee representative, vice-chair, and as a DNC member.”

England concluded, “Nancy Worley was a true public servant and a great Democrat with a heart for the people. She will be sorely missed, and we offer our condolences to her friends and family.”

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

Governor Kay Ivey announced that she supported a delay in the Alabama Literacy Act’s third grade reading requirement earlier this week, and it looks like she is going to get her way.

During a Friday appearance on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show,” State Representative Terri Collins (R-Decatur) announced that she fully supported Governor Ivey’s proposed delay.

This is pretty notable given that Collins was not only the sponsor of the bill but was also its most ardent defender.

The Alabama Literacy Act is designed to improve the reading skills of Alabama students early enough to set them on the right path for the future.

She argued that the data gap caused by pandemic learning makes the delay important and inevitable.

Proponents of the act have argued that whether the implementation takes place this year or the next, the same problems are going to exist and we need to rip the bandaid off.

But, in the end, the delay is coming, and those who support that delay say it will only be for one year, not the multiple-year delay the Alabama Education Association sought.

Later in the same program Collins appeared on, State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) surmised that the support of Ivey, Collins, the education establishment and the previous legislative support for a delay pretty much seal the deal.

This means that Alabama’s third graders who can’t read will move on to the fourth grade for one more year and then the retention piece of the Alabama Literacy Act will kick in for good.

Listen:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

The Alabama Education Association always gets what it wants.

Even when it looks like it has lost, the AEA will eventually win.

During the last regular legislative session, the AEA declared victory with the delay of the third grade retention requirement of the Alabama Literacy Act.

AEA is still at work fighting and winning for Alabama students and schools tonight! The 3rd grade retention requirement of the Literacy Act has been delayed by the legislature until the 2023-2024 school year! The bill now moves to the governor's desk for signature. #myAEA pic.twitter.com/nbaCYoU9TA
— Alabama Education Association (@myAEA) May 18, 2021

Governor Kay Ivey struck the AEA down with a thunderous veto and said, “[E]arly literacy is a gateway to all learning.”

But the AEA shall rise again, as Ivey has changed her mind.

After the #ALBOE meeting, @GovernorKayIvey said she supports the one-year delay in the promotion/retention provision of the Alabama Literacy Act because we need another year of test data.
— Trisha Powell Crain (@Trish_Crain) November 10, 2021

Test data?

Let me help — the kids can’t read.

To put this simply, Alabama’s students who can’t read at a third grade level will be promoted to the fourth grade, where they will continue to fail and fall further behind.

Will the legislature go along with this?

They have in the past.

Have we not been watching parents who are angry about their children’s education? Does Virginia ring a bell? Does that not apply here?

Will candidates against these legislators make the fact that the governor and some in the legislature are OK with third graders not being able to read for another year?

Might their opponents argue they will keep kicking the can down the road?

This will be framed as a pandemic issue, which is silly.

The issue is that Alabama’s third graders can’t read. This is not new.

Did the pandemic make it worse? Undoubtedly.

But the argument for the Literacy Act in the first place was pretty simple, and it remains the same today as it was years ago.

They should let the Literacy Act go into effect as scheduled.

Simply put, sending kids who can’t read on their way is a bad idea. It sets them up for failure and leads to bad outcomes.

Now that the governor has signalled her willingness to delay the Alabama Literacy Act, legislators will probably pass another delay early next year and everyone will claim victory.

The legislature, the governor and the AEA will declare joint victory.

The kids who can’t read?

Meh, we will get to them in a year.

They can’t vote anyway.

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

7. January 6 committee moving forward

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has called the concerns and complaints from Republicans, such as ones voiced by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), “antics,” and she’s planning to move forward despite these concerns.
McCarthy slammed the committee after two of his selections were blocked by Pelosi, and he insisted that Republicans would be forming their own committee to investigate the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

6. Race relations are worse than they have been in 20 years (more…)

Local board of education employee Mary Crosby earlier this week received a cease and desist letter from the Alabama Education Association (AEA) after she took to social media to express her dissent with the National Education Association (NEA) and the union’s official position regarding Critical Race Theory (CRT).

Crosby, on Facebook, shared an article published by Fox News which reported that the NEA’s official position regarding Critical Race Theory is that the controversial academic concept is “reasonable and appropriate” to incorporate in social studies curriculum. In her post, the North Alabama educator acknowledged that the AEA and NEA aren’t entirely the same entities, but noted that dues payments may be shared between the local, state and national organizations.

Nearly two weeks later, Crosby received a letter from the AEA general counsel threatening to take legal action against her if she failed to retract her comments.

“I received the cease and desist letter from AEA in my office mailbox,” said Crosby. “I learned later that our UniServe Director had been in contact with my superintendent advising him to ‘inform me to stop campaigning and publishing false information’ and my superintendent had also received a copy of this letter.” (more…)