Last week's slowdown in the Alabama State Senate by State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) and State Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) is still having a ripple effect throughout Montgomery.
The two senators took to the floor in an apparent effort to prevent the body from considering Senate Bill 5 (SB 5), a bill that would change the selection of the currently unchecked Alabama Department of Archives and History's Board of Trustees.
Throughout the filibuster, Singleton repeatedly attacked the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head, Elon Musk.
Despite pushback from his Republican senate colleagues in the aftermath, Singleton told a group gathered at an event hosted by the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) that he was undeterred by concerns.
"I would just hope my colleagues would understand that this is a deliberative body, and we're going to talk," he said. "I heard on talk radio over the weekend out of south Alabama and talk radio out of north Alabama that we were being disrespectful by saying that Elon Musk was a South African sitting in the Oval Office. And once [it's] the day that that could be disrespectful for Republicans in the state of Alabama, then I know we're in trouble, OK?"
"That is something I want my colleagues to understand — when we are in a filibuster, it's about being deliberative," Singleton continued. "It's about understanding what the process is. If they're tired, just go home because I'm going to continue to filibuster. I'm going to use the tools that is in my box, whether they like it or not. I'm going to call them out. I'm going to let them know where they're falling short to the people of the state of Alabama."
"And if they don't like, they can take their ass home," he added, with laughter from the BCA audience. "I'm fine. Thank you very much."
Jeff Poor is the editor-in-chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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