Mike Lee Archives

U.S. Senator Katie Britt has been named a Vice Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Britt reports she will be laser focused on solidifying and expanding the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.

“Senate Republicans are ready to get to work! The American people delivered the White House and the Senate majority because we need to secure the border, turn our economy around, and preserve the American Dream for our kids,” Sen. Britt (R-Montgomery) said. “Fighting alongside President Trump, four years of a Republican Senate majority is critical to fulfilling this mandate. I’m excited to work with Senator Tim Scott to protect and build upon the success we had on November 5.”

The announcement came from NRSC Chairman Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), who introduced the full slate of Vice Chairs, including U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Senator-elect Jim Banks (R-IN).

According to the NRSC, now in power alongside a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and control of the White House, the group of five will work with Scott to deliver unity, transparency, and accountability for the committee as the team continues to form.

https://x.com/votetimscott/status/1859622882390786340

“Republicans are united around advancing President Donald J. Trump’s agenda and defending our U.S. Senate majority,” said U.S. Senator and NRSC Chairman Tim Scott. “There is too much at stake to do this alone, so I’m thankful to my colleagues for stepping up to serve as Vice Chairs to the NRSC. Raising the resources, expanding the map, and building the organization to win is going to be an all hands on deck task.”

As previously reported, Sen. Britt was instrumental in securing the new Republican Senate majority. She campaigned and fundraised to flip three U.S. Senate seats red while retaining critical incumbencies, including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).

“America is ready for a change,” Britt said after a full GOP sweep earlier this month. “The want secure borders, they want stable prices, they want a strong defense understanding peace through strength, no new wars like we had under President Trump, and people are ready for common sense policies.”

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270

U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) publicly thanked Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) for voting for Scott in Wednesday’s election for Senate Republican Leader.

“Thank you, @SenKatieBritt! Let’s get President Trump’s agenda done!” Scott posted to social media, confirming Britt’s support for him.

Lee – who is the chair of the conservative Steering Committee and a leading supporter of Scott’s candidacy – also posted, “Thank you, @KatieBrittforAL, for supporting @ScottforFlorida in his run for majority leader.”

Britt on Thursday morning joined “Alabama Morning News with JT” to discuss her support for Scott.

“[M]y biggest thing was I wanted change. I wanted to know how they would be different than the current leadership,” Britt explained of what she was looking for in leadership candidates.

“And for me, ultimately, that came down to Rick Scott,” she continued. “I had a list of questions. I wanted to know how the Senate could operate better, what they were going to do to advance the Trump agenda, how they were going to empower individual Senators – and not be a ‘super Senator’ like we see with Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell … So, I wanted to see who was ready for real change – and not just abstract conversation, but I wanted to hear, ‘What is your plan?’”

Britt outlined that after Lee’s candidate forum on Tuesday evening, she made her decision final to vote for Scott and called him before Wednesday morning’s vote to confirm her support.

“[T]here was no doubt, that when we look at needing change and we look at making sure that America’s voices are heard, that Rick was ready to just turn the applecart upside down and really move things in a different direction,” Britt remarked.

Britt concluded that Republicans are united and ready to advance President Trump’s agenda.

“The energy is just through the roof. People understand what the American people want, and I think everyone is ready to work diligently to get Trump’s agenda moving forward to actually make a difference. And look, we only have two years to do this, and that’s why we’ve got to get started.”

Despite a false list circulating on social media, only 9 Senators (in addition to Scott himself) have publicly stated they voted for Scott, who received 13 votes. Those 9 are: Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Britt, Ted Cruz (R-TX), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Lee, Rand Paul (R-KY), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn).

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270

As people speculate how Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) will vote in Wednesday’s Republican Senate leadership election, Yellowhammer News is examining her voting record in the Senate.

Following research that showed Britt has been the second most frequent opponent of President Biden’s judicial nominees, we took our own deep dive into Britt’s comprehensive voting history since taking office in January 2023, when the 118^th Congress convened.

There have been 607 roll call votes during this time period, which predominantly come down on party lines. Comparing Britt’s votes to other members of the Republican conference, it is clear that Alabama’s junior senator tracks most closely to Senators with strong conservative bona fides.

For example, Britt’s votes corresponded with U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) 94.8% of the time, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) 91.7%, and Vice President-elect JD Vance (R-OH) 88.3%.

Despite being an advisor on the Senate Republican leadership team, Sen. Britt is more likely than not to break with current Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) when it comes to issues that divide the Republican conference. Britt has voted differently than McConnell a total of 92 times in her short time in office.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), who chairs the conservative Steering Committee, on Tuesday evening is hosting a forum for the leadership candidates. Yellowhammer News used the occasion to scrutinize the votes during the 118^th Congress when Lee voted differently than McConnell.

The results showed that Britt voted with Lee rather than McConnell in a majority of these instances. She was recently recognized for her staunch conservative voting record by the likes of CPAC and the Faith & Freedom Coalition.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270

Prominent Republicans and conservatives are showing their gratitude to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville for his fight against the Biden administration’s abortion policy for members of the military.

Tuberville (R-Auburn) had been placing holds on unanimous consent of military promotions over the Department of Defense’s policy of paying for travel expenses for members of the military seeking an abortion.

The senator released most of his holds Tuesday, only keeping in place a blockade against those on the 4-star and 5-star level.

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) thanked Tuberville and said Republicans will continue to push back against the policy.

“Thank you, Senator Tuberville, for your tireless effort to protect innocent lives” Moore said. “The fight he has spearheaded is far from over — House Republicans will have a chance to defund Biden’s illegal abortion travel policy in the NDAA. I urge my colleagues to support this effort.”

Thank you, @SenTuberville, for your tireless effort to protect innocent lives.

The fight he has spearheaded is far from over — House Republicans will have a chance to defund Biden's illegal abortion travel policy in the NDAA. I urge my colleagues to support this effort.

— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) December 6, 2023

The senator also got some more backing in the Yellowhammer State from the conservative Alabama Policy Institute.

“Coach Tuberville brought light to darkness, awareness where there was little, and honor to the process,” they said in a statement. “It is always the right thing to do to stand up for the truth. #warrior.”

Don’t Blame Tuberville For Dropping His Pentagon Abortion Protest, Blame His Feckless GOP Colleagues https://t.co/MyGrEQAZ8P

— Alabama Policy Institute (@alabamapolicy) December 6, 2023

Lawmakers outside of Alabama also praised Tuberville’s actions. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who has been backing Tuberville in the Senate on the holds, said Tuberville is a “hero.”

“Senator Tuberville fought courageously for unborn Americans and the rule of law,” Lee said. “His opponents threatened to forever destroy Senate procedure to get their way, and today he is acting to protect our institution from them. Hero.”

.@SenTuberville fought courageously for unborn Americans and the rule of law. His opponents threatened to forever destroy Senate procedure to get their way, and today he is acting to protect our institution from them. Hero. https://t.co/foMb9zOyIK

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 5, 2023

U.S. Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) also thanked Tuberville for fighting against the “illegal” policy by President Biden.

“Tommy Tuberville stood up for life,” Good said. “Pro-death Democrats in the Senate demonstrated they unequivocally prioritized an illegal policy that uses taxpayer funds to pay for abortion travel ahead of our military.”

Tommy Tuberville stood up for life. Pro-death Democrats in the Senate demonstrated they unequivocally prioritized an illegal policy that uses taxpayer funds to pay for abortion travel ahead of our military. https://t.co/woNO8dxTCe

— Congressman Bob Good (@RepBobGood) December 6, 2023

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

Several Republican senators again implored U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville into the early hours of Thursday morning to lift his blockade on military promotions.

“If you do not believe these holds aren’t having an effect on the military, I don’t question your sincerity. I question your judgment,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on the floor of the Senate Wednesday night. “If this continues, this is one of the worst self-inflicted wounds in 20 years. We’re taking the military and throwing it in the ditch.”

Tuberville (R-Auburn) continues to objected to unanimous consent of military promotions over the Department of Defense’s policy of paying for travel expenses for members of the military seeking an abortion.

“There are people filling jobs today that are waiting to go to their assignment, and they can’t get there because they can’t get promoted,” Graham continued. “They’re paying two house payments, not one. Their children don’t know what school they’re gonna go to. They deserve better than this.”

Tuberville got some backup from U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who also objected to this latest attempt to push the nominee through.

“We’ve been asked the question over and over again, why punish the innocent?” Lee said on the Senate floor. “Indeed, why punish the innocent? You know who’s innocent? Babies. You know who doesn’t have a voice in the Senate? Babies. You know who can’t speak for themselves? Babies. How many future admirals are going to be aborted by this policy by the Pentagon itself?”

The feeling is mutual, @BasedMikeLee. https://t.co/eNC3ANTzgB

— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) November 16, 2023

Some Democrats are already working to get around Tuberville’s blockade by changing the rules of the Senate. The Senate Rules Committee approved a resolution on a partisan vote to temporarily allow the upper chamber to approve some of the military nominations.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will bring the resolution to the full Senate floor if Republicans can’t convince Tuberville to lift his holds. Democrats would need 60 votes to get the measure passed.

“There has been a lot of negativity and dysfunction in the Senate these days,” Schumer said, “But Senator Tuberville has singlehandedly brought the Senate to a new low. He should be ashamed of himself.”

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. Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities could benefit from the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action.

6. The entire Republican Alabama House delegation voted for the latest National Defense Authorization Act passed by the U.S. House, setting up an awkward situation for the media surrounding U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and her support for the military.

5. Former President Donald Trump supports the unlikely proposition that the FBI headquarters be moved to Huntsville … but not really.

4. Former President Donald Trump was the runaway winner in the Turning Point USA straw poll with 85% of those who responded and Perry Johnson (?) came in second, so you know the group had their finger on the pulse of America.

3. Much of the talk over the weekend was about how inflation had slowed to 3%, with some wrongly suggesting this means prices are going down. Prices are up more than 16% since Biden took office.

2. Other Republicans in Washington D.C. have finally come to the defense of U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn). Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) tweeted, “Senate Republicans should support — not criticize — @SenTuberville in his efforts,” and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) explained on Fox News, “the military should not be paying for abortion tourism.”

1. There are way more questions than answers after Carlee Russell returned home after her family reported her missing in Birmingham. With the investigators backing off the victim, it becomes pretty clear there was no abduction or a child used as bait on I-459.

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 noon.

7. Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities could benefit from the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action.

5. Former President Donald Trump supports the unlikely proposition that the FBI headquarters be moved to Huntsville … but not really.

3. Much of the talk over the weekend was about how inflation had slowed to 3%, with some wrongly suggesting this means prices are going down. Prices are up more than 16% since Biden took office.

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 noon.

7. Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities could benefit from the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action.

5. Former President Donald Trump supports the unlikely proposition that the FBI headquarters be moved to Huntsville … but not really.

3. Much of the talk over the weekend was about how inflation had slowed to 3%, with some wrongly suggesting this means prices are going down. Prices are up more than 16% since Biden took office.

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 noon.

7. Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities could benefit from the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action.

5. Former President Donald Trump supports the unlikely proposition that the FBI headquarters be moved to Huntsville … but not really.

3. Much of the talk over the weekend was about how inflation had slowed to 3%, with some wrongly suggesting this means prices are going down. Prices are up more than 16% since Biden took office.

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 noon.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Friday joined Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in introducing the Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere (CHOICE) Act — a bill to allow low-income families with children in grades K-12 to use federal education funds for educational options that best fit their needs.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, was designed to create opportunities for low-income students by providing funding that would increase “quality and equality” in education and is the main source of federal aid for K-12 education.

However, ESEA dollars go through a formulaic maze that siphons off money to bureaucracy and administrative costs, without any consideration for children’s individual needs, parental input and accountability for schools. Decades’ worth of evidence has shown that the ESEA has made little to no progress in improving the academic outcomes or opportunities for the low-income children it is meant to serve. (more…)

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has joined four other colleagues in introducing a bill to address loopholes in America’s immigration system that encourage vulnerable populations to take dangerous, illegal paths of entry into the United States.

Entitled the Stopping Border Surges Act, the bill is sponsored by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and cosponsored by Tuberville and Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX).

Monday’s introduction of the legislation came amid the past few months demonstrating the dangerous costs of immigration surges at the southern border. In just the last month, traffickers have reportedly made as much as $14 million weekly smuggling vulnerable men, women and children across the border. And, of course, once indebted to the cartels and coyotes, the price they pay is far more costly than money. Reports indicate that a third of the people making their way to the border are sexually assaulted, and many are forced into some form of trafficking. (more…)

State Rep. Arnold Mooney’s (R-Indian Springs) campaign for the U.S. Senate has received an endorsement from 10 of his colleagues in the state legislature with less than two weeks to go before the primary election.

The endorsers include many of the most conservative members in the Alabama statehouse, like State Rep. Mike Holmes from the Montgomery area and State Rep. Tommy Hanes from Northeast Alabama.

The state-level endorsements fall in line with the prominent national conservatives who have endorsed Mooney previously. Conservative Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY), along with conservative television host Mark Levin, and Alabama’s own Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05) are among those who have thrown their support behind Mooney.
(more…)

Washington, D.C. based “Senate Conservatives Fund” (SCF) has endorsed State Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs) in Alabama’s upcoming U.S. Senate race.

In a fundraising email sent out Tuesday morning, SCF made the endorsement announcement and asked members of the organization’s national mailing list to contribute to Mooney’s campaign.

In a statement to Yellowhammer News after the email went out, Mooney said, “SCF has a long history of backing conservative outsiders who have taken on the Washington establishment and won. I am proud to have their endorsement.” (more…)

U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) on Wednesday endorsed State Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs) in his bid to defeat Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) in 2020.

Lee’s endorsement came via tweet. (more…)

Judge William H. Pryor (Photo: Screenshot)

NEW YORK — Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump has released a list of the twenty-one individuals he will consider nominating to the United States Supreme Court should he be elected president. Among the names on the list is Judge William “Bill” Pryor, Jr., a native of Mobile.

Pryor is an icon in conservative legal circles and has already enjoyed a distinguished legal career, including stints as Alabama’s deputy attorney general and attorney general (succeeding now-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions) before being nominated to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals by President George W. Bush in 2003.

Senate Democrats initially filibustered Pryor’s nomination and criticized him for being an “extremist” after he referred to the Supreme Court as “nine octogenarian lawyers” and called Roe v. Wade the “worst abomination in the history of constitutional law” and “a constitutional right to murder an unborn child.”

President Bush went on to install Pryor as a federal judge through a recess appointment. He was eventually confirmed by a vote of 53-45.

As a federal judge, Pryor has upheld voter ID laws (Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups) and argued against ObamaCare’s contraceptive mandate.

The Trump campaign said the individuals named on the list were chosen “first and foremost, based on constitutional principles, with infput from respected conservative leaders.”

“We have a very clear choice in this election,” said Mr. Trump. “The freedoms we cherish and the constitutional values and principles our country was founded on are in jeopardy. The responsibility is greater than ever to protect and uphold these freedoms and I will appoint justices, who like Justice Scalia, will protect our liberty with the highest regard for the Constitution. This list is definitive and I will choose only from it in picking future Justices of the United States Supreme Court. I would like to thank the Federalist Society, The Heritage Foundation and the many other individuals who helped in composing this list of twenty-one highly respected people who are the kind of scholars that we need to preserve the very core of our country, and make it greater than ever before.”

Joining Judge prior on the list is Justice Don Willett of the Texas Supreme Court. Justice Willett will be the keynote speaker at the Alabama Policy Institute’s annual dinner in Birmingham Oct. 27th at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

The full list of the twenty-one individuals Mr. Trump will consider for the High Court is below:

1. Keith Blackwell
2. Charles Canady
3. Steven Colloton
4. Allison Eid
5. Neil Gorsuch
6. Raymond Gruender
7. Thomas Hardiman
8. Raymond Kethledge
9. Joan Larsen
10. Mike Lee
11. Thomas Lee
12. Edward Mansfield
13. Federico Moreno
14. William Pryor
15. Margaret A. Ryan
16. Amul Thapar
17. Timothy Tymkovich
18. David Stras
19. Diane Sykes
20. Don Willett
21. Robert Young

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Staunch conservative Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is challenging the Republican establishment in a push to gain a spot in leadership, and Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions is throwing his support behind him.

“I’m a fan of Mike Lee,” said Sen. Sessions (R-Ala.). “What’s wrong with some new blood in the leadership? This team’s been together, they’ve worked hard and harmoniously, but it’s obvious that a lot of people out in the country would like to see some changes in Washington.”

Lee wants to become the next Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair. The Republican Policy Committee is the policy research arm of the Republican Conference. It was established in 1947 along with its Democratic counterpart, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. Its leader, the Policy Committee chairman, is the fourth-ranking Republican in the Senate, behind the Republican Leader, the Republican Whip, and the Republican Conference Chairman.

The floor leaders and whips of each party are elected by a majority vote of all the senators of their party. The practice has been to choose the leader for a two-year term at the beginning of each Congress.

Under these rules, some are contesting Lee’s ability to seek the chairmanship. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told reporters that the internal conference rules support keeping his entire leadership team in place for another two years. But Lee told colleagues behind closed doors that he disagrees. He believes there’s now an open seat at the leadership table for him or another up-and-coming lawmaker.

Lee has told colleagues in phone conversations that Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) must step down from his post at the end of the year because of the term limits, and Lee wants to take his place.

The Utah Republican said that he will not challenge Barrasso if it is decided the term limit doesn’t kick in until the end of 2018, but he’s making a forceful argument that Barrasso has only eight and a half months left under the current rules.

Lee now serves as chairman of the Senate Republican Steering Committee, which in recent years has been tasked with generating conservative policy ideas. The Utah Senator, a close colleague of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), is often viewed as one of the top conservative policymakers in the Senate and has proposed sweeping reforms in criminal justice and the tax code.

Sen. Sessions’s decision to back such an anti-establishment move is not at all surprising. Because of the strict adherence in the Senate to the seniority system, Sessions lost the chairmanship of the budget committee to Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) on a tiebreaker technicality in 2014.

Both Sessions and Enzi were elected in 1996, but Sessions is considered more senior as a result of tie-breakers, like state population. However, when senators are elected in the same year, committee seniority is actually decided by drawing lots. And way back in 1996, the random process placed Sen. Enzi one spot ahead of Sen. Sessions when it comes to committee seniority.

Even though Sessions has been the ranking member of the Budget Committee for years when the Democrats controlled the upper chamber, most members of the Senate saw it as well within Enzi’s right to take the Budget chairmanship.

Sessions’ anti-establishment streak has carried over into the presidential election cycle where he has been one of the strongest advocates for GOP front-runner Donald Trump. In March, Trump named Sessions as the head of his national security team and the Alabama senator has continued to serve a critical role in advising the New York billionaire.

WASHINGTON — Just after news broke that long-time Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia had died at his Texas ranch, Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) hailed the conservative jurist as one of the strongest defenders of the Constitution in American history.

Scalia was appointed to the High Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

“Today I join all Americans in mourning the loss of Justice Antonin Scalia,” Shelby said in a statement. “There has never been such a strong voice for the Constitution on the Supreme Court, and he will be sorely missed. Justice Scalia will be forever remembered for his dynamic intellect, his deep respect for the rule of law, and his unwavering commitment to the principles on which our nation was founded. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

Attention quickly turned to the political and policy ramifications of Scalia’s death. Recent Supreme Court decisions have often been decided by a 5-4 margin, with Justice Anthony Kennedy often acting as the swing vote between the Court’s conservatives and liberals.

President Barack Obama will now have the opportunity to nominate a successor for Scalia, who is often hailed as the intellectual leader of the Court’s conservative wing.

The President’s appointees are subject to confirmation by the United States Senate, which Republicans currently control by a 54-46 margin.

“This great loss brings on a great responsibility for the United States Senate,” said Senator Shelby. “Justice Scalia’s replacement should be considered carefully and thoughtfully because it is vital to our nation’s future that we confirm a justice who will continue his legacy. I will adamantly oppose any attempt by President Obama to fill this vacancy during the remainder of his term.”

Shelby’ sentiments were echoed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice,” he said. “Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President.”

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.), however, urged President Obama to immediately nominate Scalia’s successor.

The President can and should send the Senate a nominee right away. The Senate has a responsibility to fill vacancies as soon as possible.

— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) February 13, 2016

Any nomination will have to begin in the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which Alabama Senate Jeff Sessions sits, along with other stalwart conservatives, like Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah).

Senator Lee’s communications director was blunt about the prospects of an Obama nominee making it through the gauntlet.

What is less than zero? The chances of Obama successfully appointing a Supreme Court Justice to replace Scalia?

— Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) February 13, 2016

If anything this will put a full stop to all Obama judicial nominees going forward.

— Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) February 13, 2016

Multiple Republican presidential candidates also urged the Senate to hold off on confirming a nominee.

Democratic candidates also expressed their condolences, but a comment by Hillary Clinton from last month will probably keep Republican awake at night.

Hillary on possibility of appointing Obama to SCOTUS: "Wow. What a great idea. Wow… He is brilliant… He has all the credentials."

— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) February 13, 2016

WASHINGTON — Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL6) signed on to co-sponsor the The First Amendment Defense Act introduced in both the Senate and House on Wednesday.

The legislation, written by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-ID), would make it unlawful for for the government to penalize an individual, association or business for their belief that marriage is between a man and a woman.

“The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion as our first right. Indeed, the freedom to live according to the dictates of one’s own conscience is the reason the pilgrims came to this country centuries ago. It is a right given to us, not by government, but by God,” Palmer said in a press release Thursday.

The bill was created to help underscore the First Amendment rights of citizens who do not wish to support same-sex marriage. For example, the bill prohibits the IRS from revoking the tax-exempt status of a church that does not wish to preform same-sex marriages. Language in the bill also states that the government may not refuse a grant, contract, license, or certification to those who support traditional marriage.

“I oppose efforts to redefine Marriage. However, should the courts or any state decide differently, the millions of Americans who believe Marriage is between one man and one woman should not be discriminated against or penalized. The definition of marriage preexists government and for millions of Americans it is a religious union.” said Palmer.

In 2013, an Oregon couple was sued for refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, they are now being fined $135,000 in damages.

This bill comes as the country waits a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of state same-sex marriage bans. Pastors and individuals across the nation, including the 50,000 who have signed a Defend Marriage petition are prepared to stand up for their right to perform these services that they feel would violate their religious beliefs.

“Religious freedom is at the heart of what it means to be an American,” Labrador said. “America set the standard for upholding freedom of belief and worship in a diverse society. No American should ever doubt these protections enshrined in the First Amendment. Our bill ensures that the federal government does not penalize Americans for following their religious beliefs or moral convictions on traditional marriage.”

WASHINGTON — Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL2) and President Barack Obama on Thursday summed up the differences in Republican and Democratic efforts to reach working class voters by offering contrasting proposals.

Roby announced plans to re-introduce the Working Families Flexibility Act, a bill that would allow private-sector workers to receive paid time off or “comp time” for overtime hours worked.

For nearly thirty years, public-sector workers have been able to receive comp time for working overtime hours. However, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 prevents private-sector workers from enjoying the same benefit.

Under Roby’s bill, employers and employees could both voluntarily enter into an agreement, which she says would remove a layer of government intrusion into the their lives. It retains all existing employee protections in current law, including the 40 hour work week and how overtime compensation is accrued.

“Talk to just about any working mom and dad and they’ll tell you they need more time,” Roby said. “They need just one more hour in the day to be able to take care of responsibilities and make life work. We can’t legislate another hour in the day, but we can help working Americans better balance their time by removing unnecessary federal restrictions on ‘comp time’ in the private sector.”

Also on Thursday, President Obama took the first of three planned steps to mandate expanded paid leave for American workers.

The President issued an executive memo ordering federal government agencies to give six weeks of paid leave to their employees upon the birth of a child. USA Today reported that he will also “ask Congress to pass a law requiring companies to give paid sick leave to many part-time workers, and will propose $2.2 billion in grants to states and cities to implement their own policies.”

Roby said she disagrees with the President’s approach of “increasing regulations on the workplace.”

“We need to get Washington out of the way of how people use their time,” she said. “Employers are drowning in enough red tape as it is, and workers have seen their hours reduced thanks to this Administration’s attempt to dictate how the workplace operates.

“The Working Families Flexibility Act is a realistic approach to offering employees more choices with their time at work and more balance with the demands of family life. ‘Comp time’ allows employers and employees to work together to see what fits, rather than having the federal government decide for them.”

The House passed the Working Families Flexibility Act in May 2013. A Senate companion bill was introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) but failed to receive consideration from the Democratic Majority.

Roby and Lee are working to re-introduce the proposal as soon as next week, hoping Republican majorities in both the House and Senate will help its prospects.

Like this article? Follow me on Twitter and let me know what you think.

— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) December 3, 2014

WASHINGTON — The newly elected Republican U.S. Senate majority does not take office until January of next year, but Republicans are expressing concerns that President Obama may attempt to take advantage of the upcoming lame duck session of Congress to push through his Attorney General nominee while Democrats are still in control.

Obama recently nominated Loretta Lynch, currently the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, to succeed Eric Holder as the nation’s top lawyer. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said Monday that considering the drubbing Democrats just took at the polls last week, it would be unwise for them to rush the Senate approval of such a high profile and important position.

“After the American people roundly rejected the agendas of Harry Reid and President Obama last week, we should not allow the president’s nominee for Attorney General to be pushed through during the lame-duck session,” Shelby told Yellowhammer. “Instead, the nominee for Attorney General should be considered by the new Republican Majority through regular order next Congress.”

Shelby is not alone in his assessment. A chorus of Republican lawmakers released statements on Monday urging the nomination to be done through “regular order” when the new Congress is seated in January.

“Ms. Lynch will receive fair consideration by the Senate. And her nomination should be considered in the new Congress through regular order,” said Minority Leader — soon-to-be Majority Leader — Mitch McConnell.

Senators from the Tea Party wing of the GOP echoed that sentiment, as well.

“President Obama’s Attorney General nominee deserves fair and full consideration of the United States Senate, which is precisely why she should not be confirmed in the lame duck session of Congress by senators who just lost their seats and are no longer accountable to the voters,” Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee said in a joint statement. “Loretta Lynch deserves the opportunity to demonstrate those qualities, beginning with a statement whether or not she believes the President’s executive amnesty plans are constitutional and legal.”

President Obama has asked for Lynch to be confirmed “without delay,” but White House aides say he will defer to Senate leaders with regard to whether they should wait until January.

According to Politico, “Senior Democratic aides, meanwhile, said no final decision on timing has been made, but they are strongly leaning towards moving in the lame duck.”

Regardless of when the confirmation hearings take place, it will likely be a hard-fought battle.

According to analysis by FiveThirtyEight, attorney general nominees have historically faced the most contentious confirmations of any cabinet position.

“Attorney general nominees are by far the most likely to face serious resistance,” explained FiveThirtyEight’s Harry Enten. “The average number of ‘no’ votes for all Cabinet position is just 4.5. AG nominees average 13 more than that — 17.4 ‘no’ votes — far ahead of labor secretary nominees at No. 2, who have averaged 10.3 votes.”

Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims

Alabama 6th Congressional District candidates (From left) Beason, Mathis, Palmer and Brooke wage war while DeMarco sits out the fight.

Indian Springs doctor Chad Mathis has poked and prodded his opponents in Alabama’s 6th Congressional District race to the point that they are now teaming up to hit him back, or as they refer to it, setting the record straight.

Since the early stages of the campaign, Mathis has waged an all-out assault on the four other Republican candidates who he considers to be threats — Scott Beason, Will Brooke, Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer. Mathis dubbed them “The Gang of Four,” a group that the Mathis campaign has described as career politicians, Washington insiders and a host of other adjectives that make Republican primary voters squirm.

Yesterday, Beason, Brooke and Palmer held a joint press conference, an almost unheard of move for rivals this close to election day, to decry Mathis’ scorched earth campaign tactics.

“We are demanding that people tell the truth in this campaign,” said businessman Will Brooke, who Mathis has referred to as a “Washington insider.” “He’s using misrepresentations, which amount to fabrications and deceptive practices, in order to get his message out”

Former conservative think tank president Gary Palmer said Mathis’ tactics prove he lacks “Alabama values,” which he believes could be the result of Mathis having only moved to the state several years ago.

“It’s almost like he’s just passing through on his way to Washington,” Palmer said. “He doesn’t know us. He doesn’t know the issues. And he certainly doesn’t have Alabama values.”

State Senator Scott Beason, a long-time favorite of local tea party groups, said Mathis has even tried to paint him as a leftwing career politician.

“A half truth in Alabama is still a whole lie,” Beason said. “The message is to try to spin me as some liberal. As you know and the people of Alabama know, no one is ever going to call me a liberal.”

State Rep. Paul DeMarco did not participate in the press conference, but his campaign has openly criticized Mathis for stretching the truth in his ads.

“Chad’s claims against Paul DeMarco are false and not documented,” DeMarco campaign spokesperson Rick Journey said.

Even Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead took a shot at Mathis, calling his campaign tactics “not good for the Party.”

Dr. Chad Mathis, Republican candidate in Alabama's 6th Congressional District — Dr. Chad Mathis, Republican candidate in Alabama’s 6th Congressional District

But Mathis has defended his campaign, saying he’s only trying to put the facts in front of voters and let them decide for themselves.

“Well, I guess I’ve ruffled a few feathers,” Mathis said smiling to a group of reporters Tuesday. “This is what happens when you bring out the records of career politicians and political insiders… They feel that this seat belongs to them and they’ve never really given my candidacy a serious look. I’m someone who’s running on the issues instead of an important feeling about themselves… Everything that we have said is true.”

AL.com’s Madison Underwood asked Mathis what it was like when other candidates confronted him about the contents of his ads. Mathis responded that he couldn’t “recall anyone approaching me personally about it.”

“Gary Palmer or Will Brooke never talked to you about the ads, about the campaign information you were sending out?” Underwood followed up.

“Not that I recall,” Mathis said after a long pause.

According to Will Brooke and Gary Palmer, Mathis is either forgetful or being choosy about what questions he answers truthfully.

The Brooke campaign referred Yellowhammer to a video at a recent candidate forum, during which Brooke, sitting about a foot from Mathis, finally decided to address Mathis’ ads publicly after not getting much response in private.

Mathis has claimed that Brooke does not live in the 6th District, an accusation that Brooke vehemently denies.

“I’ve lived in the 6th District for 54 years of my life,” Brooke said. “My opponent’s lived here five, I believe… I grew up in and went to public school in the 6th District. My children all went to public school in the 6th District… Every car or house I’ve ever bought or owned was in the 6th District. The Alabama State Legislature moved the line in redistricting 100 yards outside my front door. As soon as I made a decision to run for Congress, we bought a new house… To say that I don’t live there is untrue both conceptually and literally.”

But the issue that has Brooke most upset is the Mathis campaign’s suggestion that Brooke may be a supporter of abortion because of a handful of donations he has made to Democrats in year’s past.

“I founded a faith-based firm in 1985 that represented Jim Pinto and other members of the anti-abortion, pro-life movement in cases that went all the way to the Supreme Court,” said Brooke. “I marched against abortion on the south side. I marched against abortion on The Mall of the United States of America in Washington, D.C. I wrote an editorial that appeared in the Birmingham News in 1981 opposing abortion. To align me, or suggest that I had anything to do with (being pro-abortion) is an absolute falsehood and despicable… I’m telling you, folk, don’t send people that will twist the truth to Washington. It will only perpetuate the problems we have in D.C.”

(Below: Will Brooke addresses Chad Mathis’ accusations during a candidate forum. Continue reading after the video.)

Another interesting wrinkle to the Mathis campaign is that many of his ads are now being paid for by third-party groups based in Washington, a fact that his rivals say indicates who among them is really a “Washington insider.” But the groups paying for ads are not typically considered to be part of the Inside-the-Beltway establishment. FreedomWorks and Club for Growth, both staunchly conservative groups that have been major players in Republican primaries in recent years, have pumped money into pro-Mathis ads.

He has also lined up an extensive list of endorsements, including the aforementioned groups, The Madison Project, Citizens United PAC, conservative blog RedState.com, and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee. The Tea Party Patriots, a national tea party organization, has also thrown its support behind Mathis. That decision prompted a coalition of Alabama tea party groups to pen an open letter to the Tea Party Patriots rejecting their endorsement of Mathis and pledging their support to Beason.

Several of the local tea partiers and political observers have openly accused the D.C.-based groups of essentially running “pay for play” operations, suggesting that their support of Mathis is either a direct result of Mathis donating to them previously or his political consultants soliciting favors.

The Mathis campaign obviously dismisses such accusations as sour grapes, and there is no real evidence to suggest such an arrangement was made to secure any of Mathis’ support in Washington.

Mathis has, however, been reluctant to engage in direct confrontation with his detractors.

Birmingham-based conservative talk radio host Matt Murphy has been trying to get Mathis to come on his show for the last week to either debate Will Brooke or simply defend his campaign tactics. Although Mathis appeared on Murphy’s station, WAPI, twice before, Murphy says he will no longer respond to his requests.

–@WBrooke205 is challenging @DrChadMathis to a debate on my show. Awaiting a response from Mathis. #AL06 #alpolitics

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 21, 2014

What is @DrChadMathis HIDING??Why does he refuse to appear before #AL06 on @wapiradio? Why won't he speak to the people?? #alpolitics

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 21, 2014

2 occasions, @DrChadMathis has appeared on @wapiradio. He answered questions. said I was fair each time. Why is he stonewalling?#alpolitics

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 21, 2014

So @DrChadMathis attacks all other candidates…but when they challenge him on it, he says it's a "sideshow". Does that make sense? #AL06

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 21, 2014

What is @DrChadMathis afraid of? He makes wild accusations, @WBrooke205 calls him on it, & Chad runs/hides? #cowardice #alpolitics

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 22, 2014

So @DrChadMathis is running away not only from @WBrooke205's debate challenge, but also from coming on show at all. #coward? #alpolitics

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 22, 2014

I'm guessing @SenMikeLee doesn't know @DrChadMathis from a hole in the ground. hey Mike! This guy is a lying about his opponents. thoughts?

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 22, 2014

Will the self-proclaimed front runner, @DrChadMathis, please call us back to schedule a visit next week on my show. #speaktotheVOTERS #AL06

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 23, 2014

–@DrChadMathis outside of Harbert center today LIED directly to media re: conversations w/ @WBrooke205 & Gary Palmer. I have audio 6am #AL06

— Matt Murphy (@mattmurphyshow) May 27, 2014

In spite of all the fuss about Mathis’ campaign and his ads’ questionable accuracy, negative political advertising is obviously nothing new. One independent study found that over 90 percent of ads during the 2012 presidential campaign were negative. And as much as people claim to hate it and as often as candidates pledge to run positive campaigns, the truth is, negative ads have a tendency to work.

Recent polling in Alabama’s 6th Congressional District shows Paul DeMarco with a fairly comfortable lead, with Beason, Brooke and Mathis battling for the second spot in a likely runoff. However, Mathis’ polling numbers have slowly but steadily risen in recent weeks. If what he is doing was not effective, the other candidates would probably just ignore him, even if a lot of his accusations are half-truths, at best.

Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims

Sen. Mike Lee, R-UT, one of the most prominent tea partiers in the U.S. Senate, jumped into the action in Alabama’s 6th Congressional District race on Wednesday by endorsing Dr. Chad Mathis.

“Winning this election year requires a plan, and I don’t just mean having a campaign plan,” said Lee. “We need a plan for America’s future, to get things back on track, and enact the reforms that will restore the greatness of our country. We need a plan to promote economic freedom, reduce burdens on American taxpayers, and — above all — a plan to repeal ObamaCare. That’s why I am excited to announce my support for Dr. Chad Mathis running for the House of Representatives in the sixth district of Alabama.”

On Wednesday evening, Yellowhammer caught up with Sen. Lee by phone to get more of his thoughts on the AL-06 race and why he thinks Mathis is the man for the job.

“I tend to get involved where I find a candidate who takes the approach that I take to governing, which is one rooted in Constitutional conservatism,” Lee told Yellowhammer. “Chad Mathis, in addition to being a successful surgeon and businessman, is a Constitutional conservative. He shares my view that the best way to get rid of ObamaCare is replace it with better solutions.”

Lee said he liked Mathis’ recently-released 12-point plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare, which he said consists of “patient-centered reforms that put decisions back in the hands of doctors and patients.”

Lee said he first met Mathis last summer at an event where he was the keynote speaker. They have spoken several times since then, both in Washington, D.C. and over the phone.

“We’ve had numerous conversations about his views,” Lee said. “I feel very confident in Dr. Mathis’ candidacy.”

Yellowhammer asked Lee about the rift — whether real or perceived — in the Republican Party between the so-called “establishment” and the Tea Party, and how he thought that was playing out in Alabama’s 6th Congressional District race.

“Look, it’s important to remember that there’s a natural tension that exists within any political party — the tension between the base of the movement and the senior-level management, or elected leadership.” Lee explained. “Right now I think that tension has certainly been noticeable and has created a hole in the party that is exactly the size and shape of a conservative reform agenda that focuses on how best to help enhance upward economic mobility by applying conservative policies. The rift that you’re describing is one that can be treated effectively when we come together as a party behind a conservative reform agenda that focuses on how it can help the poor and middle class. Chad is one of those candidates who understands that connection. He’s conservative not in spite of his compassion, but because of it.”

Lee did not get into specifics about how Mathis compared to other candidates in the race, or about the conservative credentials — or lack thereof — of any of his competitors, choosing instead to focus his comments on Mathis.

“My endorsement is about him,” Lee said of Mathis. “I think he’s the best man for the job. He has been successful in business and the practice of medicine. The kind of common sense conservatism he would bring to Washington, in addition to his reform-minded approach, is exactly what we need.”

Lee grabbed the spotlight this week with an op-ed in National Review, which was later featured in the Wall St. Journal, that laid out his view that Republicans should “take a stand against corporate welfare” and communicate their vision in a way that resonates with working folks.

Lee complimented Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions Wednesday night for the way he has advocated for free-market reforms over tax loopholes, government subsidies and bailouts, and said that approach is one that the party as a whole should gravitate toward to rid itself of the stigma that its in bed with big business.

“That’s exactly the kind of messaging that will help overcome that problem,” Lee said.

As for Mathis’ election chances, Lee was optimistic.

“I hope and expect that he will win his primary,” he said confidently. “I look forward to working with him.”

Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, believes the shutdown strategy employed by Republicans during the latest government funding debate produced a damaging result for conservatives.

Sessions, as a guest on Laura Ingraham’s nationally syndicated radio, acknowledged that the “defund ObamaCare” rallying cry of Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee did a lot to energize the conservative base. However, he said he hopes the Party will in the future unite behind tactics with a better chance of success.

“I think Republicans should value the contribution of Cruz and Lee and others who brought new energy and a willingness to engage the issues directly and point out the great threats this health care proposal and the debt pose to America,” Sessions said. “And at the same time, I think we’ve got to unify behind a strategy for which we can all fight — that has the best chance of being successful and puts us on the side of the American people.”

“The American people are uneasy about shutdowns,” he continued. “They are not comfortable with that. But they want to see us push and fight and make progress toward goals. So setting some goals that we can achieve that advance the philosophical views, I think, of most Americans can be done. I believe we can unite behind it and we ought to incorporate this energy and drive some of our new members have brought to the Senate.”

Although Sessions spoke in support of Cruz’s “filibuster” last month, he noted to Ingraham that he did not sign on to a letter calling for the defunding of ObamaCare in the continuing resolution.

Ingraham said she believed Cruz and Lee are smart guys, but asked Sessions if their lack of experience led them to employ an unwinnable strategy.

“I tend to think so,” Sessions replied. “I didn’t sign the letter because I couldn’t see it ending as they thought it would … There were some great people who shared the goals of Lee and Cruz who felt there is a better way of doing this and [thought] this could end up in a damaging situation — and I think it hasn’t been good right now… We have to see the value of the energy that Cruz and Lee and others have created and harness that in a more positive way.”

“If you are not unified as a movement, the Democrats will take you to town, which is exactly what happened,” Ingraham said. She went on to say she believes the shutdown strategy ultimately produced a negative result for conservatives.

“I agree with you,” Sessions replied. “Fundamentally, at this point this has not been a positive experience… But can we harness this and learn from it? Perhaps.”

(h/t The Daily Caller)

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Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) today joined with Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in sending a letter to their Senate colleagues highlighting ongoing concerns with the Gang of Eight’s Senate immigration reform bill.

The group of staunchly conservative senators criticized the back-door deal that was struck by Gang of Eight members and Democrats on the Judiciary committee prior to the committee’s markup of the bill, which prevented any significant changes to the legislation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee went on to approve the bill before taking a one-week recess last week.

“Americans expect their government to end the lawlessness, not surrender to it. They deserve immigration reform with actual border security, enforcement of the laws on the books, and a legal immigration system that works,” the senators wrote today. “We must welcome and celebrate legal immigrants, but S. 744 fails to deliver anything more than the same empty promises Washington has been making for 30 years.”

The senators also criticized the length of the bill and the process by which it was written.

“The last thing this country needs right now is another 1,000-plus page bill that, like Obamacare, was negotiated behind closed doors with special interests. We want immigration reform to pass, but only if it actually fixes the broken system, rather than allowing the problems to grow and fester.”

In the letter, the senators highlight rejected amendments that they believe would have drastically improved the bill as well as amendments that were accepted that make the bill even worse. They point to several areas of concern in the current bill that must be addressed on the Senate floor in order to pass effective legislation, including:

Provides immediate legalization without securing the border
Rewards criminal aliens, absconders, and deportees and undermines law enforcement
Contains extremely dangerous national security loopholes
Facilitates fraud in our immigration system
Creates no real penalties for illegal immigrants and rewards them with entitlements
Delays for years the implementation of E-Verify
Does not fix our legal immigration system
Advanced through a process predicated on a deal struck before markup
Rewards those who have broken our laws by offering a special path to citizenship

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) said today that the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill will come to the Senate floor for debate next week. The bill’s proponents are hopeful it will pass before they break for their Fourth of July holiday.

Sen. Reid also claimed Tuesday that minority leader Mitch McConnell was threatening to hold up debate on the immigration bill because of a dispute over Obama nominees that require Senate confirmation. A McConnell spokesman later deined that was the case. However, McConnell did express concerns with Senate Democrats changing the body’s rules that allow filibustering of executive nominees.

What’s the latest?
1. Wetumpka Tea Party president gives emotional testimony to Congress
2. Wife of Alabama senator threatens to expose women sending racy photos to her husband
3. McClendon will primary Fielding in Senate District 11
4. Bradley Byrne is running for congress
5. Shelby spokesman downplays potential for LCS cancelation, cites prior efforts

Senator Jeff Sessions joined Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), James Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Pat Roberts (R-KA) in writing a letter seeking to push back against the federal Department of Education’s increasing influence over state-level education policy.

The letter specifically asks the chair and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the U.S. Department of Education’s funding of the Common Core to require that any funds appropriated to the U.S. Department of Education not be used to develop, implement or evaluate state-level education standards, or to award grants or contracts for development, implementation or evaluation of state-level education standards.

The paragraph that sums up the Senators’ concerns with Common Core reads as follows:

“While the Common Core State Standards Initiative was initially billed as a voluntary effort between states, federal incentives have clouded the picture. Current federal law makes clear that the U.S. Department of Education may not be involved in setting specific content standards or determining the content of state assessments. Nevertheless, the selection criteria designed by the U.S. Department of Education for the Race to the Top Program provided that for a state to have any chance to compete for funding, it must commit to adopting a ‘common set of K-12 standards’ matching the description of the Common Core. The U.S. Department of Education also made adoption of ‘college and career-ready standards’ meeting the description of the Common Core a condition to receive a state waiver under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Race to the Top funds were also used to fund two consortiums to develop assessments aligned to the Common Core and the Department is now in the process of evaluating these assessments.”

The full text of the letter can be read below.

Common Core Letter

What else is going on?
1. Alabama Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program Leads Nation in Quality Once Again
2. Inside Baseball: How Roger Bedford almost turned the legislative session on its head
3. Compromise reached on gun bill
4. Sessions: Gang of Eight does not fully understand immigration bill
5. Craig Ford now knows, decisions are made by those who show up