Good morning and Happy Friday!

Here’s your Daily News for October 15.

 

1. Special set for Oct. 28

• Gov. Kay Ivey put an end to the speculation Thursday telling state lawmakers she plans to call them into a special session for redistricting on Oct. 28.
• That’s a Thursday, which may seem odd considering lawmakers generally don’t like to be in session on weekends.
• However, this special session could take up 10-12 days given the time it can take to pass redistricting maps.
• The bills are likely to be read at length, which usually involves a computerized voice reading out each and every block of every district in a process that can take more than a day. The computer voice doesn’t mind working weekends.
• Read more about the special session and what to expect from Mary Sell HERE.

 

2. Biden signs debt limit hike

• President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law a bill raising the nation’s debt limit until early December, delaying the prospect of an unprecedented federal default.
• The House passed the $480 billion increase in the country’s borrowing ceiling on Tuesday, after the Senate approved it on a party-line vote last week. The eventual approval came after a protracted standoff with Senate Republicans, who derailed initial Democratic efforts with filibusters, delays that require 60 votes to halt.
• Ultimately, a handful of Senate Republicans agreed to join Democrats and voted to end GOP delays and move to a final vote on the legislation, but Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said Republicans will offer no support for another increase in December.
• Republicans have said Democrats should use a budgetary maneuver to pass an increase in the debt limit without Republican support, like the process Democrats are using for Biden’s massive climate change and social safety net plan. But Democrats have resisted that option.
• Lawmakers from both parties have used the debt ceiling votes as leverage for other priorities. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened to vote against raising the debt ceiling when President Donald Trump was in office, saying she had no intention of supporting lifting the debt ceiling to enable Republicans to give another tax break to the rich. And Republicans in 2011 managed to coerce President Barack Obama into accepting about $2 trillion in deficit cuts as a condition for increasing the debt limit — though lawmakers later rolled back some of those cuts.
• Read more HERE.

 

 

3. Abortion fight looms at Supreme Court

• A federal appeals court rejected the Biden administration’s latest attempt to stop a novel Texas law that has become the nation’s biggest curb to abortion in nearly 50 years.
• The decision Thursday could push the law closer to returning to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has already once allowed the restrictions to take effect without ruling on its constitutionality. The Texas law bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant.
• Abortion already is dominating the Supreme Court’s new term, months before the justices will decide whether to reverse decisions reaching back nearly 50 years. Not only is there the Texas law, but also Mississippi’s call to overrule Roe v. Wade.
• The justices won’t be writing on a blank slate as they consider the future of abortion rights in the U.S. They have had a lot to say about abortion over the years — in opinions, votes, Senate confirmation testimony and elsewhere.
• Read more about what the Supreme Court justices have had to say on the topic of abortion HERE.

 

 

4. Wholesale prices rose record 8.6% over 12 months

• Inflation at the wholesale level rose 8.6% in September compared to a year ago, the largest advance since the 12-month change was first calculated in 2010.
• The 8.6% rise for the 12 months ending in September compared to an 8.3% increase for the 12 months ending in August, which had been the previous record 12-month gain.
• The jump in inflation this year reflects higher prices for food and energy and a number of other items from furniture to autos as the pandemic has snarled supply chains and demand has outstripped supply.
• Almost 80% of the overall increase in wholesale prices last month was attributed to a 1.3% rise in the price of goods, the largest increase since May. In September, 40% of the jump in goods prices reflected rising energy prices. Price increases for services rose a smaller 0.2%.
• Food costs at the wholesale level rose 2% in September while energy prices were up 2.8%, the biggest jump since a 5% surge in March.
• Read more HERE.

 

 

5. Football Saturday

• Both Auburn and Alabama are looking for redemption after suffering losses last weekend.
• Alabama hopes its “wakeup call” at Texas A&M restored the focus and execution the Crimson Tide has lacked at times this season.
• The fifth-ranked Crimson Tide certainly can’t afford another falloff with Mississippi State ready to pounce at home. And remember – it was the Bulldogs who beat Texas A&M at Kyle Field earlier this year.
• Read more about Alabama at Mississippi State HERE.
• Auburn is on the road at Arkansas, which finds itself the rare position of being favored against the Tigers.
• Arkansas (4-2, 1-2 SEC) opened the season with four straight wins and climbed to No. 8 in the Associated Press poll before dropping back-to-back games to Georgia and Ole Miss. Auburn (4-2, 1-1) is coming off a 34-10 loss to Georgia under first-year coach Bryan Harsin.
• Read more about Auburn at Arkansas HERE.
• In other state football action, UAB travels to Southern Miss, Alabama State travels to Jackson State, Tuskegee travels to Central State and Alabama A&M welcomes the Rattlers of Florida A&M. South Alabama and Jacksonville State have bye weeks.

 

 

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