Doug Jones

News / National / State

Doug Jones introduces Back Pay Fairness Act to reimburse federal workers with interest

Friday U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, introduced legislation that would require federal workers who were impacted by the shutdown to receive their full back-pay plus any interest accrued. “If the federal government can charge you interest for being late on your taxes, then it should be paying interest on late paychecks,” Jones said. “The more … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 29, 2019

Zeigler releases plan to better fund roads without a fuel tax increase

Monday, Alabama State Auditor and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Zeigler released a plan to fund Alabama’s road and infrastructure needs without raising fuel taxes on Alabama motorists. Zeigler calls his proposal “Plan Z,” which he said stands for “zero tax increases and zero congestion on our roads.” “Plan Z can provide about $900 million in … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 29, 2019

Senate passes measures to reopen government, negotiate border security

Congress passed a bipartisan resolution to end the partial government shutdown after 35 days Friday. At least 800,000 federal workers will be getting their pay. The legislative measures reopen the government through Feb. 15, 2019, and send the Homeland Security appropriations bill to a conference committee. The two measures, H.J. Res. 28 and H.J. Res. … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 28, 2019

Blue Origin breaks ground on rocket engine factory in Madison County

Gov. Kay Ivey attended the formal groundbreaking of the Blue Origin rocket engine production facility in Huntsville. “Blue Origin is a welcome addition to Alabama’s roster of world-class aerospace firms, and its new rocket engine facility in Huntsville will expand the state’s already robust capabilities in space flight,” Ivey said. “Blue Origin is making a … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 28, 2019

Jones votes with Democrats, six Republicans to re-open government

Two bills that would have reopened the government after nearly six weeks failed to pass the Senate Thursday. One, a Republican-backed plan supported by President Donald Trump, included $5.7 billion for a border wall. Another, backed largely by Democrats, was a clean funding measure that included no funding for a wall. Both plans died, but … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 25, 2019

Shelby votes for Trump-backed bill to end government shutdown

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, spoke on the Senate floor prior to a procedural vote on the End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act, which would have provided money for President Donald Trump’s proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Shelby urged the senators “to come together” and “put the bitterness aside.” The bill was … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 25, 2019

Jones re-ups bill to increase focus on financial literacy in school

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama — alongside Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, D-New York, and Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire — have reintroduced The Youth Financial Learning Act of 2019. The bill would implement a grant program within the U.S. Department of Education aimed to help states create and sustain financial literacy programs in schools. It would also … Continued

Jessica Ballard

January 25, 2019

Zeigler kicks off “exploratory campaign” for Jones’ U.S. Senate seat

State Auditor Jim Zeigler, a Republican, delivered the first official campaign speech in his run for U.S. Senate “We need a watchman against waste in Washington,” Zeigler told the South Baldwin Republican Women’s Club in Foley. Zeigler is conducting an “exploratory campaign,” weighing a 2020 run for the U.S. Senate for the seat currently held … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 24, 2019

Zeigler: Federal $12 million red snapper study is money wasted

The federal government is spending $12 million of taxpayer money to estimate how many Red Snapper live in the Gulf of Mexico, and State Auditor Jim Zeigler says that he could have saved that money. “I could have saved the federal government $12 million on this study of red snapper in our Gulf,” Zeigler said. … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 22, 2019

Senate rejects ban on federal funding of abortions

The U.S. Senate rejected a bill that would have permanently banned federal funding for abortions Thursday. Alabama’s Sen. Richard Shelby, a Republican, voted for the measure, while Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, voted against the pro-life bill. The measure required the support of 60 Senators.The bill also would have banned Obamacare subsidies for insurance … Continued

Brandon Moseley

January 18, 2019