ALABAMA – With projected Republican losses in Georgia, Democrats now effectively gain a majority in the U.S. Senate. And that could mean a big loss for Alabama, according to conservative columnist Quin Hillyer.
“It hurts Alabama badly,” said Hillyer.
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, who was first elected to the Senate in 1986, is currently the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the committee that decides how to dole out federal funds.
“Which is basically the single most powerful committee position on Capitol Hill,” said Hillyer.
Hillyer notes Shelby has been particularly adept at steering dollars back to his home state.
“Shelby was really good at that. He worked really hard for instance, to get money for the deepening of our port and the expansion of our port,” said Hillyer. “That was something that he was able to get because he was chairman of the appropriations committee. Probably would not have happened otherwise.”
“If you walk on any, practically any public university campus in the state, there’s a Shelby building. He’s been very effective in bringing funds back for higher education,” said Sam Fisher, USA political science professor emeritus.
With Democrats in control, that means Shelby, a Republican, loses his control of the committee and instead becomes the ranking minority member, which means his power will be greatly diminished. Hillyer says that is not good news for Alabama.
“We might not be in as good of shape for Austal ship building down the line. I’m not saying it’ll dry up but we might not be in as good of shape,” said Hillyer. “If there is any sort of discretion or play in the joints, it will not play in our favor anymore the way it would have before.”
Hillyer also says losing this key position may be incentive for Shelby not to seek re-election in 2022, which some have doubted the 86-year-old will do anyway.
