WASHINGTON – It hasn’t gotten much of a mention anywhere else, but Sen. Richard Shelby fired back at Associated Press reporter Jay Reeves for stating unnamed “locals” told him Tuscaloosa County was included in the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (GO Zone) because of the senator’s influence.
The GO Zone legislation was intended to help areas affected by Hurricane Katrina by granting tax benefits to investors. However, Tuscaloosa, Shelby’s hometown, is quite a bit inland from the Gulf Coast.
“To make a serious accusation that is attributed to unnamed, anonymous ‘locals’ is poor journalism,” Shelby wrote in a letter to the Associated Press’ New York office dated Sept. 7. “It is exactly this type of reckless disregard for the facts that, in my view, has contributed to the public’s skepticism of the news media.”
The Associated Press has not acted on Shelby’s letter. “No, our office has not received a response from the AP,” Shelby’s press secretary Laura Henderson said to Lagniappe.
Local Democratic Congressional hopeful goes on the offensive
We’re over a year out of the 2008 election, but that’s not stopping potential District 1 Democratic contender Benjamin Lodmell from going on the offensive. Lodmell, who earlier this summer announced his intentions to run against Rep. Jo Bonner, sent a letter to Bonner’s Washington office and the Press-Register claiming an insert called “The Washington Report,” which ran in the Aug.18 issue of the Press-Register was a violation of law because it “did not carry the designation ‘Paid political advertisement.’”
Sources who worked on Bonner’s prior campaigns declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries about Lodmell’s allegations.
Lodmell did include in his letter that he intended to run a “positive campaign” and would “abide by all elections laws.”
Figures U.S. Senate bid in the early stages
Alabama State Sen. Vivian Davis Figures made the official announcement last month she would indeed be vying for Sen. Jeff Sessions seat in 2008. But, she said the campaign was in its infancy.
“Well, there’s nothing really to tell, except that we’re working it and I’m raising money,” Figures said to Lagniappe. “It’s going well so far, a lot of excitement, a lot of support out there. Basically, that’s all there is to tell right now.”
Figures has a tough row to hoe in her race against Sessions. A Sept. 7 SurveyUSA poll showed 59 percent of respondents would support Sessions, while 37 percent would support Figures.
There is also one lesser-known candidate. Johnny Swanson, a retired security professional from Birmingham said he also intends to seek the Democratic nomination. Swanson made an unsuccessful run for Sessions’ seat in 2002.
Northrop Grumman showing signs of life in U.S. Air Force refueling tanker contract bid
Northrop Grumman held a press conference at the National Press Club Sept. 18 with Rep. Jo Bonner and Northrop Grumman Sector Vice President Paul Meyer.
Meyer and Bonner both appeared upbeat about the prospects of the KC-30 project coming to Mobile.
“Northrop Grumman is in L.A. This project is going to be in L.A. – Lower Alabama,” Bonner said.
On the same day, Sen. Jeff Sessions successfully had an amendment adopted by the Senate for the Defense Authorization bill that would “direct the Air Force to hold a ‘full and open competition’” for the U.S. Air Force’s next refueling tanker.
“The KC-X tanker competition is a critically important acquisition program for the Air Force,” Sessions said in a press release. “This amendment sends the message that merit, not politics, should be the basis for the selection. I will continue to closely watch this process as we move forward.”
Sessions approves of Bush AG nominee
Sen. Jeff Sessions, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, appears to be on board with President Bush’s Attorney General nominee, Michael Mukasey.
“Judge Mukasey appears to be a man of character and integrity, two qualities that I believe the next Attorney General must possess,” Sessions said. “The Attorney General must have a backbone strong enough to stand up to the President when he is wrong to avoid errors, and vigorous enough to defend the President’s legitimate actions before tough congressional committees.”
Mukasey will likely be confirmed by the Senate because two Bush administration antagonists – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) – appear also to be on board with the Bush nomination.
Contact Jeff Poor at jeffreypoor@yahoo.com.
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