Alabama top stories in brief

• On Sept. 18, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen announced Alabama’s new voter registration database, the Alabama Voter Integrity Database. The system will replace the previously used national database, the Electronic Registration Information Center system. Allen ran his campaign on withdrawing from ERIC, citing that Alabama should not rely on a third-party private voting system. ERIC is not a private system and is managed by the participating Secretary’s of State. AVID will be using much of the same sources and methods for updating and ensuring the Alabama voting system is up to date as ERIC does. ERIC currently serves 28 member states and the District of Columbia. Each member state is able to cross reference their individual data and determine when a potential voter should be removed from their voter rolls. AVID has a similar system through a memorandum of understanding with other states. Currently only Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia have signed a memorandum of understanding with AVID. 

• Alabama Sen. Katie Britt is co-sponsoring a new bill designed to end government shutdowns caused by Congress failing to pass appropriation bills. The bill would create an automatic 14 day continuing resolution to keep funding the government at the same level as the previous fiscal year until Congress passes all appropriation bills. The resolution would reset every 14 days until all appropriation bills were passed. Additionally, the bill would require daily floor sessions until the appropriation bills are passed, and prevent members of congress, their staff and officials from the White House Office of Management and Budget from using any official travel funds until the appropriation bills are passed. 

• Amid national strikes across multiple industries, 190 members of the United Auto Workers union began striking against ZF Chassis Systems in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 20. ZF Chassis Systems is a supplier for the Vance Mercedes-Benz International Plant. The strike occurred after a vote struck down a third proposal that did not meet demands for ending tiered wage structures, better healthcare and higher wages. 

• Hazing at the University of Alabama, despite a fraternity’s banning of pledgeship, continues to show its fangs. A lawsuit filed on Sept. 19 alleges that the Mother Mu chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) engaged in significant hazing against a minor, referred to as H.B. in the lawsuit, which resulted in him receiving a traumatic brain injury. This comes 10 years after SAE enacted a national ban against pledging in an effort to eliminate hazing. The lawsuit claims that the national organization ignored the long-standing history of the Mother Mu chapter’s behavior and track record at UA. 

At home care group plans to withdraw from Alabama at the end of September

Help at Home, a home healthcare provider based in Chicago that employs nearly 800 Alabamians, announced earlier this month that it would withdraw from Alabama at the end of September. 

The group cited Alabama’s lack of expansion of Medicaid as the reason for their departure.

“We are disheartened to leave the area we have served for many years, but take our responsibility to provide the safest, in-home personal care services to our clients very seriously,” Kristen Trenaman, spokeswoman for Help at Home, told AL.com. “The current reimbursement and regulatory environment for Medicaid-funded home care has made it difficult to recruit, hire and retain workforce and we have not been able to overcome these challenges in the state of Alabama.”

Ten states, including Alabama, have chosen not to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act. 

According to the Cover Alabama Coalition, “a nonpartisan alliance of over 120 community partners, consumer groups, businesses, health care providers and faith groups,” expanding medicaid in the state would increase enrollment in the program by nearly 300,000. The group cites data from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama and the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Jacksonville State University, which projects expanding Medicaid would generate an annual economic impact of $1.89 billion.  

In order to acquire the federal funding, the state would pay an average of $225 million each year, matching about 10% of the funds put forward by the federal government. 

When expansion was discussed in the past, support for expanding the program versus leaving it as is split predominantly along party lines. Democrats support expanding the program, while Republicans tend to be against it. 

One of the commonly cited reasons by Republicans is the potential cost. 

In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Kay Ivey said “It would be irresponsible to think about expanding Medicaid just for the sake of expanding Medicaid without having a complete and honest discussion about the source of stable funding to pay the match.”

Justin Bogie, the senior director of fiscal policy with the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, said that Medicaid would cut out the incentive for people to work, lowering Alabama’s work force participation. 

“I think some people think it’s a form of welfare, but Medicaid does not pay your rent, it doesn’t buy your groceries, it doesn’t put gas in your car or buy your car,” said Dr. Marsha Raulerson, a pediatrician and speaker at a Cover Alabama advocacy event earlier this year.  

The layoff of all Help at Home employees will be effective Nov. 4. 

Our articles you might have missed

• Last week’s Roundup focused on Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville’s continued hold on military promotions, which has now attracted criticism from top military officials. 

Events this week

• Alabama Invitational: An exhibition featuring work created by current and former Alabama artists in the mediums of sculpture, glass, photography, painting and textiles produced by artists originally from or currently based in Alabama. View more details on our event calendar. 

• If you’re interested in having your event advertised on our calendar, you can submit events here. 

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