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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cuomo campaign attorney goes after union that criticized him
NEW YORK — Andrew Cuomo's campaign attorney recently threatened a union that endorsed one of his rivals, issuing a cease-and-desist letter over its criticisms of the frontrunning New York City mayoral candidate, according to a copy of the letter obtained by POLITICO. Longtime election lawyer Martin Connor admonished the Manhattan-based Communications Workers of America Local 1180, alleging its campaign literature made 'false and defamatory claims' against the former governor. The union endorsed Cuomo opponent Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker who stands to draw some votes away from the former governor's base of Black Democrats. A super PAC backing Cuomo has handily outspent Adams — and every other candidate — with $8 million so far, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact. Adams is expected to begin airing ads soon, following a $2 million cash infusion from the city's Campaign Finance Board Friday. A filer posted to the union's website — dubbed the 'top 10 reasons' not to support Cuomo — matches the issues outlined in Connor's letter. Among the lawyer's complaints laid out in the May 26 missive: The flier accused the ex-governor of never having been a New York City resident, claimed he settled a Department of Justice probe over sexual harassment allegations, charged his gubernatorial administration with covering up nursing home deaths during Covid and said he allowed a high tax rate on wealthy people to expire. And Connor took issue with the group claiming Cuomo is not a 'friend' of workers. Politically influential unions 32BJ SEIU and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council are among the labor groups backing Cuomo — despite calling for his 2021 resignation. Adams has the backing of the CWA local and District Council 37, the largest public-sector union in the city that boosted her for Council speaker and once employed her chief of staff. Additional assertions in the union's flier — including Cuomo's push for a less generous pension tier, cost-saving labor contracts and the taxpayer money spent to defend him against sexual harassment allegations — were omitted from the letter. Connor threatened to contact elections officials and state Attorney General Letitia James — a Cuomo foe and Adams backer — 'for your deceptive and misleading claims which may interfere with legitimate voters seeking to exercise their franchise free of this sort of misinformation.' Union President Gloria Middleton declined to comment 'under the advice of my attorney.' Adams' campaign also declined to comment. Cuomo's hardball tactics — honed over a half-century of working on campaigns — are well-known and oft-reviled in New York's political world. 'It's no surprise that Adreiene Adams and her supporters are willfully distorting and lying about the governor — they've been doing it the whole campaign,' Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said. 'New Yorkers should not be fed misinformation by people seeking to represent them — they deserve the truth and will be fighting Trumpian misinformation tactics every step of the way using every tool at our disposal.' The letter is an aggressive effort by Cuomo to silence supporters of a rival candidate before the June 24 primary, which polls show he is expected to win. It also underscores how the former governor's campaign is taking a combative posture when countering the scandals that drove him from office four years ago. Cuomo has insisted he did not purposefully hide Covid nursing home fatalities, but his administration was later found to have undercounted the number of people who died in the facilities during the initial months of the pandemic. Cuomo, who has touted his Covid leadership on the campaign trail, is reportedly under a Department of Justice investigation after a Republican-led House panel alleged he lied under oath that he personally edited a state report on the matter. Cuomo has denied lying to Congress, and on Sunday said he and his attorneys have yet to be contacted about the probe. Some of Connor's complaints are valid; others focus on rhetoric that Cuomo's critics frequently hurl at him. Cuomo is a New York City native. He grew up in Queens, though he spent the last two decades living in Westchester County and Albany before moving to Manhattan ahead of his mayoral run. Contrary to the union's flier, the former governor was not party to a DOJ settlement which was reached with his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and he's denied any wrongdoing. The debate over the so-called millionaire's tax is more nuanced. In 2011, Cuomo faced pressure on his left flank to maintain a high tax surcharge set to expire at the end of that year. Cuomo negotiated a compromise that resulted in a lower tax for wealthy people, but at a higher rate if the surcharge had been allowed to expire. Cuomo's critics at the time derided the deal as a giveaway to millionaires. He embraced higher taxes on rich New Yorkers in 2021, citing the financial toll from Covid. Cuomo battled with labor leaders early in his first term as governor. He pressed public-sector unions for cost-saving contracts amid a financial crunch and threatened mass layoffs if the savings weren't achieved. He eventually secured the deals he wanted.
Politico
2 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Cuomo campaign attorney goes after union that criticized him
NEW YORK — Andrew Cuomo's campaign attorney recently threatened a union that endorsed one of his rivals, issuing a cease-and-desist letter over its criticisms of the frontrunning New York City mayoral candidate, according to a copy of the letter obtained by POLITICO. Longtime election lawyer Martin Connor admonished the Manhattan-based Communications Workers of America Local 1180, alleging its campaign literature made 'false and defamatory claims' against the former governor. The union endorsed Cuomo opponent Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker who stands to draw some votes away from the former governor's base of Black Democrats. A super PAC backing Cuomo has handily outspent Adams — and every other candidate — with $8 million so far, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact. Adams is expected to begin airing ads soon, following a $2 million cash infusion from the city's Campaign Finance Board Friday. A filer posted to the union's website — dubbed the 'top 10 reasons' not to support Cuomo — matches the issues outlined in Connor's letter. Among the lawyer's complaints laid out in the May 26 missive: The flier accused the ex-governor of never having been a New York City resident, claimed he settled a Department of Justice probe over sexual harassment allegations, charged his gubernatorial administration with covering up nursing home deaths during Covid and said he allowed a high tax rate on wealthy people to expire. And Connor took issue with the group claiming Cuomo is not a 'friend' of workers. Politically influential unions 32BJ SEIU and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council are among the labor groups backing Cuomo — despite calling for his 2021 resignation. Adams has the backing of the CWA local and District Council 37, the largest public-sector union in the city that boosted her for Council speaker and once employed her chief of staff. Additional assertions in the union's flier — including Cuomo's push for a less generous pension tier, cost-saving labor contracts and the taxpayer money spent to defend him against sexual harassment allegations — were omitted from the letter. Connor threatened to contact elections officials and state Attorney General Letitia James — a Cuomo foe and Adams backer — 'for your deceptive and misleading claims which may interfere with legitimate voters seeking to exercise their franchise free of this sort of misinformation.' Union President Gloria Middleton declined to comment 'under the advice of my attorney.' Adams' campaign also declined to comment. Cuomo's hardball tactics — honed over a half-century of working on campaigns — are well-known and oft-reviled in New York's political world. 'It's no surprise that Adreiene Adams and her supporters are willfully distorting and lying about the governor — they've been doing it the whole campaign,' Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said. 'New Yorkers should not be fed misinformation by people seeking to represent them — they deserve the truth and will be fighting Trumpian misinformation tactics every step of the way using every tool at our disposal.' The letter is an aggressive effort by Cuomo to silence supporters of a rival candidate before the June 24 primary, which polls show he is expected to win. It also underscores how the former governor's campaign is taking a combative posture when countering the scandals that drove him from office four years ago. Cuomo has insisted he did not purposefully hide Covid nursing home fatalities, but his administration was later found to have undercounted the number of people who died in the facilities during the initial months of the pandemic. Cuomo, who has touted his Covid leadership on the campaign trail, is reportedly under a Department of Justice investigation after a Republican-led House panel alleged he lied under oath that he personally edited a state report on the matter. Cuomo has denied lying to Congress, and on Sunday said he and his attorneys have yet to be contacted about the probe. Some of Connor's complaints are valid; others focus on rhetoric that Cuomo's critics frequently hurl at him. Cuomo is a New York City native. He grew up in Queens, though he spent the last two decades living in Westchester County and Albany before moving to Manhattan ahead of his mayoral run. Contrary to the union's flier, the former governor was not party to a DOJ settlement which was reached with his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and he's denied any wrongdoing. The debate over the so-called millionaire's tax is more nuanced. In 2011, Cuomo faced pressure on his left flank to maintain a high tax surcharge set to expire at the end of that year. Cuomo negotiated a compromise that resulted in a lower tax for wealthy people, but at a higher rate if the surcharge had been allowed to expire. Cuomo's critics at the time derided the deal as a giveaway to millionaires. He embraced higher taxes on rich New Yorkers in 2021, citing the financial toll from Covid. Cuomo battled with labor leaders early in his first term as governor. He pressed public-sector unions for cost-saving contracts amid a financial crunch and threatened mass layoffs if the savings weren't achieved. He eventually secured the deals he wanted.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Legislature passes most bills in Gov. Kay Ivey's public safety package
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks at a press conference urging passage of a package of law enforcement bills on Feb. 12, 2025 at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. Behind Ivey is Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham. Most of the bills in the package passed the Legislature this year.(Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) In her State of the State address in February, Gov. Kay Ivey called on the Legislature to pass a large public safety package. 'To back the blue, we will provide law enforcement with enhanced legal protections that allow them to carry out their duties courageously and effectively without fear of Monday morning quarterbacking in the courts,' Ivey said. By the end of the 2025 legislative session last week, nearly all of them had been approved. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ivey on Thursday signed HB 202 a controversial bill sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, that provides law enforcement with enhanced immunity protections. 'I was very proud to have two former law enforcement agents sponsoring this important bill in the House and the Senate,' Ivey said in a news release regarding the legislation. 'Rep. Rex Reynolds, a former police chief in Huntsville, and Sen. Lance Bell, a former deputy sheriff in St. Clair County, both did an excellent job moving the bill through the legislative process.' Despite support from Ivey and leadership in the chambers, the bill faced significant opposition from Democrats and civil rights groups, who expressed fears the bill would allow law enforcement to act with impunity. In the final Senate debate over the measure on Wednesday, several Black Democrats discussed encounters with law enforcement, the dangers Black Americans often encounter in them and the warnings they give to their children during those encounters. 'Somebody will look at my baby, and because he's six-foot, dreads in his hair — they won't see an honor student,' said Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove. 'I can serve here now because my son helps with my father, who is a disabled vet. But there's somebody that will look at my baby and will decide he is a threat. This bill opens the door for more, not only my baby, but other babies to be at risk in the state of Alabama.' The bill was amended through the process and only received final approval in the last hour of the 2025 regular session Wednesday evening. Bills in the package focused on punishment and incarceration, from enhancing Aniah's Law that creates additional obstacles. Reynolds and other supporters of the immunity bill also argued the measures were needed to improve law enforcement recruitment in the state. Many big city departments, like Birmingham and Montgomery, have reported shortages of staff. Other bills included in the package enhanced penalties for people charged with crimes that involve firearms, allow agencies to revoke parole and electronically monitor people released from incarceration, as well as make it more difficult to release juveniles after arrest. Some bills in the package received bipartisan support, including one that criminalized converting semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic weapons. SB 115: This bill would broaden the existing crime of 'impersonating a peace officer' to include individuals who accept employment as a peace officer while knowing they are ineligible to serve or knowing that their Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission certification has been revoked or suspended. SB 119: This bill would expand the current 'certain persons forbidden' law to include individuals with any prior felony conviction unless they have had their gun rights restored by pardon. It expands Aniah's Law and increases the penalty for shooting into an occupied dwelling, vehicle or other designated space from a Class B felony to a Class A felony. It requires the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to revoke parole, or a court to revoke probation, when a parolee or probationer has been convicted of unlawful firearm possession and revokes probation or parole when the parolee or probationer is found in possession of a firearm by his or her parole or probation officer. SB 116: This bill would make it a Class C felony for a person to knowingly possess a 'Glock Switch'— a part or combination of parts designed to convert a pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. HB 199: This bill clarifies that the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, or any other state agency, can provide electronic monitoring services to children released by a juvenile court pending disposition of their case, and repeals the 72-hour limitation on confinement of juvenile status offenders who have violated a valid court order. Democrats fully supported the Glock switch bill, which Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, had brought in prior sessions. 'As we always do, we are going to stand up for what we believe in and work in a bipartisan way, but then, when there are things that we oppose, like the immunity bill, we are going to fight back on those,' Ensler said in an interview on Wednesday. Ensler opted to view the package as separate bills instead of one large package that was a compendium of several pieces of legislation. 'Look, I would say in general though, between the Glock Switch bill, between those other restrictions on who can access firearms, and then the ankle monitors … there were some good things that came out of it,' he said. One bill that did not pass was HB 188, sponsored by Rep. Alan Treadaway, R-Morris, to provide scholarships for law enforcement dependents to attend post-secondary education institutions. The legislation won approval from the House in February and got Senate committee approval just over a week later, but did not come to the floor for a vote. HB 202 enhances the standard by which law enforcement may claim immunity from any wrongdoing from actions while performed on duty. Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, managed to add reporting requirements to the bill, but the core of the legislation remains largely intact. Reynolds said in an interview Friday that the legislation 'clarifies a 30-year piece of legislation and allows for 'pause and review' within 45 days so that a Judge of jurisdiction can review and determine if they in fact have immunity under this law.' Civil rights groups remain skeptical that the legislation will enhance public safety. Jerome Dees, policy director at the Southern Poverty Law Center likened the legislation to the federal crime legislation that former President Bill Clinton sponsored in the 1990s that was supported by Republicans and eventually passed into law. 'I think after 30 years' worth of data and multiple Democratic administrations, those policies, those tactics, are not what actually moves the needle on public safety,' Dees said. 'What does work are things like the accountability courts, occupational licensure, that crime is often driven by economic opportunity for folks. What I would have liked to have seen from the administration and the Legislature is a greater focus on creating pathways and opportunities for individuals that they may see as at risk.' A'Niya Robinson, policy director for ACLU of Alabama, said she had questions about creating additional immunity protections for a class of individuals because of their professions. 'There is also a lot of references in the bill to an officer's 'discretionary authority,' and for us, that is very subjective, and of course it varies from officer to officer because part of it is based on their interpretation of the law, which can differ from person to person,' she said. She added that she was encouraged that the legislation included provisions for reporting, adding that it was an important bill in the package and one that only one that the ACLU of Alabama had been tracking. 'I think part of it is that it touches on so many things that matter to us all, as well as so many topics that have been in the news for the past couple of years,' she said. 'There have been a lot of law enforcement-involved shootings in the past couple of years, not just across the country but right here in Alabama. And that hits home for a lot of folks in this state. I think there are a lot of concerns with how law enforcement interacts with Black folks but other communities in this state, for example LGBTQ+ folks, people who have disabilities, and even folks who are in the media.' During debate over the bill on Wednesday, Democrats in both chambers said they wanted to support police officers who exercise restraint, and said they knew what happened if they did not. 'There's a reason that we are the ones speaking on this side of the aisle about this bill,' said Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery. 'Far too often, we are the victims of it.' Alander Rocha contributed to this report. 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Politico
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The next step for Alabama's congressional maps
TOP LINE When a federal court in Alabama last week ruled that the state's 2023 congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act because it diluted the voices of Black voters, groups that were challenging the map hailed the decision as 'triumph for voting rights.' Where the case goes next could be hugely consequential. While some voting rights advocates fear what the Supreme Court could do if the case is appealed, others see a review by the nation's highest court as a chance to impose federal bounds on Alabama's future maps. In many ways, the three-judge district court panel from Alabama ruled precisely how the groups had hoped. In the 571-page ruling, the panel said it was 'not a close call' that Alabama had drawn a congressional map that is an illegal racial gerrymander, violating section two of the Voting Rights Act. 'It would be remarkable — indeed, unprecedented — for us to hold that a state legislature that purposefully ignored a federal court order acted in good faith,' the judges wrote in their ruling, which was released on Thursday. That map was never actually used in an election, after earlier court decisions blocked it. Instead, a court-drawn map was used last year, and now-Rep. Shomari Figures won in the redrawn 2nd Congressional District, giving Alabama two Black Democrats in its delegation. But there are likely more fights ahead. Legal challenges related to congressional maps have a direct line of appeal to the Supreme Court, and some voting rights advocates worry the court could use the case to further weaken the Voting Rights Act. The Alabama attorney general's office has said that 'all options remain on the table,' and Secretary of State Wes Allen told NPR that he 'can't comment on ongoing litigation in which I'm a named defendant.' Washington University in St. Louis law professor Travis Crum, an expert on voting rights, said an appeal — which he called a matter of 'when, not if' — could provide Alabama 'another bite of the apple' to go after parts of the VRA, specifically issues related to race-based redistricting. The Supreme Court has so far agreed that Alabama's earlier map was racially biased, ruling in 2023 that it had to redraw the 2021 map. The legislature then drew the 2023 map — the one currently being challenged — that still did not include a second majority-Black district. That then prompted a federal court to reject that map and impose the one used last year. But the Supreme Court could rule the same way again, continuing to find the legislature's 2023 map proposal racially discriminatory. After all, Crum noted, the state legislature had refused the court mandate to draw a second majority-Black district: 'Alabama's response was essentially the jurisprudential equivalent of a middle finger.' So even with a Supreme Court that has narrowed the power of the VRA in the past, Crum is optimistic. He thinks that last week's lower-court court ruling has actually opened the door for the justices to do something else instead: use the VRA to require Alabama to have future congressional maps pre-approved by the federal government before they can go into effect. 'This is an ideal case for a bail-in to go to the Supreme Court,' Crum argued in a recent blog post. Happy Monday. Get in touch: @andrewjfhoward or ahoward@ Days until the New Jersey primary: 29 Days until the Virginia primary: 36 Days until the New York City primary: 43 Days until the 2025 election: 176 Days until the midterms: 539 A NEW ERA FOR PLAYBOOK: Big news from POLITICO's flagship morning newsletter in Washington: Today we launch The Playbook Podcast, hosted by Author and Managing Editor Jack Blanchard and newly named Playbook Chief Correspondent Dasha Burns. Jack has already been skillfully decoding politics, policy and power in Washington, and now with Dasha, a proven force on the Trump beat, will deliver across platforms what makes Playbook essential: a clear, aggressively nonpartisan and deeply reported distillation of what matters now and why. Also joining the team: Adam Wren as Contributing Author for Playbook's Friday and Saturday editions, adding insight and sharp political reporting to your weekend reads. Sign up now to get Playbook delivered straight to your inbox. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. CAMPAIGN INTEL AT THE DNC — DNC Chair Ken Martin on Saturday doubled down on his ultimatum for rogue Vice Chair David Hogg: Take a neutrality pledge or step down, my colleague Ben Johansen reports. The statement comes hours after it was reported by POLITICO that Hogg privately pitched a compromise to his party in recent days. OVER THE WEEKEND — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) announced Friday evening that she was ruling out a Senate bid, following the same decision from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. The moves 'were some of the first dominoes to fall ahead of the 2026 midterms — and come the week the starting gun for those races sounded,' my colleague Adam Wren reported in Saturday's Playbook. … 'Trump Is Already Obsessed With the Midterms,' POLITICO's Rachael Bade reported over the weekend. … Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins told CNN's Manu Raju and Sarah Ferris 'it's certainly my inclination to run and I'm preparing to do so,' when asked if she will be on the ballot in 2026. Democrats have yet to recruit a high-profile challenger to run against the incumbent senator. … 'GOP Senate Campaign Drama Heats Up, but Trump Is Staying Out of It,' by the Wall Street Journal's Josh Dawsey and Lindsay Wise. 'As the 2026 races start to shape up, Trump has largely rebuffed efforts from Senate Republicans to endorse favored primary candidates and influence competitive contests, according to lawmakers, strategists and others familiar with the discussions.' SUNDAY RECAP — Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar told 'Meet the Press' that Democrats would have been 'better served by a primary' in 2024. 'You know, everything we look at in a rearview mirror after you lose an election. Yes, we would have been served better by a primary. But we are where we are,' she told NBC's Kristen Welker. BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE — '18 months out, these are the 10 most vulnerable House members of 2026,' by Roll Call's Daniela Altimari and Mary Ellen McIntire. OFF TO THE RACES — State Sen. Jason Pizzo, who recently proclaimed the Florida Democratic Party 'dead' before leaving it, said he will run for governor as an independent in 2026, my colleague Gary Fineout reports. 'Everyone else already in the gubernatorial mix has severe and prohibitive baggage, or vast limitations, in leading this state,' Pizzo told Fineout in a text. … Democratic Michigan state Rep. Joe Tate is jumping into the crowded primary for the state's open Senate seat, per the Associated Press' Isabella Volmert. CASH DASH — 'Trump, Raking In Cash, Expands His Power in the G.O.P. Money World,' by The New York Times' Theodore Schleifer and Shane Goldmacher. Two of the largest Republican super PACs — the Congressional Leadership Fund and the Senate Leadership Fund — 'are working closer than ever with the White House, overhauling their boards of directors and installing veteran Trump strategists in senior positions.' BIDEN WORLD — Following Joe Biden's return to the spotlight last week, some Democrats are hoping the former president doesn't stay in the limelight for long. 'It's time for Joe Biden to go away with all due respect and let the next generation of Democrats take the mantle,' Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha told POLITICO's Brakkton Booker. … ''Pod Save America' host Jon Favreau advised Democrats who aspire to run for president in 2028 to 'rip the f‑‑‑ing Band-Aid off' and say that former President Biden shouldn't have run last year,' the Hill's Filip Timotija reports. TAKING A LOOK — Oklahoma Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters is considering running for governor in 2026, he told a local ABC affiliate. LEGAL CORNER — 'Riggs won NC's Supreme Court battle, but elections will face long-term consequences,' by the News & Observer's Kyle Ingram. FIRST IN SCORE — STAFFING UP: The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced seven additions to its board on Monday. They are California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Colorado Senate President James Coleman, Illinois Speaker Pro Temp Kambium Buckner, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and Wisconsin Assembly Democratic Leader Greta Neubauer. CODA — HEADLINE OF THE DAY: 'Judges say unsolicited pizza deliveries are meant to intimidate them,' by the Washington Post's Derek Hawkins.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama lawmakers send Juneteenth holiday bill to Gov. Kay Ivey
A sculpture of enslaved men, women and children seen in Alabama Bicentennial Park in Montgomery, Alabama on January 24, 2023. Alabama was a slave state from 1819 to 1865, and Montgomery was a major slave trading destination. The Alabama Senate Wednesday gave final approval to a bill making Juneteenth a state holiday. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate Wednesday gave final approval to a bill making Juneteenth a state holiday in Alabama. HB 165, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, closes state government offices on June 19 for the holiday, which celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. The bill passed on a 13-5 vote. Nearly half of the Senate body abstained from voting. Sen. Tim Melson, R-Decatur; Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscambia; Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville; Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer and Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, voted against the bill. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre; Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills; Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville; Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, and Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, voted with Senate Democrats in favor of the bill. The legislation passed after years of efforts by Black Democrats in the Alabama Legislature, who either saw their proposals rejected or were effectively forced by Republicans to pair Juneteenth with Jefferson Davis' Birthday, a state holiday honoring the slaveholder and white supremacist who said that Black Americans were 'fitted expressly for human servitude.' Rep. Juanadalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, sponsored a bill last year that would have required state employees to choose Juneteenth or Jefferson Davis' Birthday as their day off, a choice not required of any other state holiday. House Black Democrats said during the debate on the bill last year that they struggled to vote for the legislation because of the Davis requirement. The House approved the bill, but it did not reach the Senate floor for a vote. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey, who has made Juneteenth a state holiday for the last four years. A message seeking comment was left with Ivey's office on Wednesday. Juneteenth has also been a federally recognized holiday since 2021. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
