ICYMI: Doug Jones “Vision for Alabama” Livestream
Monday, July 27 event was livestreamed from Birmingham’s Red Mountain Theater
Alabama Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones delivered a major speech on Monday, July 27, in which he laid out “A Vision for Alabama“. The address was given to an enthusiastic crowd, and was streamed to the ALPolitics.com Facebook page.
The stream may be seen at THIS LINK.
In accordance with Facebook’s policies, the stream will be available for 30 days before being automatically deleted.
In the speech, Jones laid out a governing agenda. Focus Stone lowering cost, expanding opportunity and restoring confidence in State government.
A major focus of Jones’ remarks were data centers, with Jones repeating his call for a one year moratorium on the construction of such centers until the appropriate guard rails can be put in place. He emphasized the need for the State to study their impact on power costs, water use and they’re overall effect on local communities. He directly contrasted his position to that of his opponent, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, saying that Alabama should not become a “data center dumping ground for billionaires.“
Jones said his administration will pursue what he called “three real opportunities“ for Alabamians: better health outcomes, greater public participation in government and stronger economic prosperity.
He advocated for expanding Medicaid, in order to save Alabama’s struggling rural hospitals and lower Alabama‘s infant and maternal mortality rates. Jones also proposed fully eliminating the state grocery tax, raising the minimum wage, ending taxes on overtime pay, and allowing citizen-led ballot initiatives. He also called for allowing the voters of Alabama to vote on a constitutional amendment for a clean lottery, to be used to fund education and possibly health care.
He deliberately omitted his plans for education, saying that he would be addressing that issue soon, and detail.
Jones also appealed to Republicans dissatisfied with the State's direction, saying support for his campaign would not require abandoning conservative principles. "You don't have to change your party. You don't have to change your values. You don't have to agree with me on everything," Jones said. Instead, he urged voters to ask a single question: "Can we do better than this?"
Monday’s speech clearly laid out major portions of Jones’s policy agenda, setting the tone for the next 99 days until the November 3 general election.
