By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Tuesday, September 9 the Gary Palmer for Congress campaign announced yet another endorsement. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) surprised no one in an announcement that he was backing the Republican candidate in Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District.
Governor Bentley said in his announcement, “Gary is exactly the type of leader taxpayers need in Washington.” “I have known and worked with Gary Palmer for years during my time in the Legislature and as Governor. He is the type of leader we should be excited to send to Washington. Alabamians know our federal government is in desperate need of reform, and I believe Gary will develop policies to do just that,” said Bentley.
Palmer reiterated a focal point of his campaign which has been the energy sector. Palmer said that if the federal government would lift what he calls, ‘unnecessary burdens on developers’ that alone could create tens of thousands of new jobs overnight. Palmer said, “We have enormous energy resources with trillions of barrels of oil, trillions of cubic feet of natural gas and enough coal to last for over 400 years.” “These resources that could drive economic growth here in Alabama. I am proud to have the support of Governor Bentley, he has been focused on creating jobs and cutting government spending.”
Palmer said that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management admits that the United States literally has more oil available than the entire world has used in the last 100 years.
Gov. Bentley said, “I appointed Gary to the Alabama Commission on Improving State Government, which helped me and other state leaders identify over $1 billion dollars in annual savings for taxpayers by reducing the cost of state government and increasing efficiency. This type of leadership is exactly what taxpayers need in Washington, that is why I am pleased to endorse Gary Palmer for Congress.”
Palmer said in his statement that cutting the national debt will require more than just eliminating waste and abuse in government programs. It’s going to require Americans to have an open and frank conversation about the proper role of government. “We can’t expect government to give us everything we want. The truth is, that whatever government gives out, it must first take from someone else. A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have,” Palmer said.
Tuesday’s announcement by the Palmer campaign came on the same day that his Democratic opponent, Mark Lester, was launching a blistering attack on Palmer, his relationships with special interests and even his career at the Alabama Policy Institute which he co-founded 25 years ago.
Much like he did in the primary and in the runoff, Palmer continued to focus on issues and refused to respond to negative attacks with negative attacks.
Gary Palmer grew up the son of a small logger in Hackleburgh where his mom still lives. Palmer attended the University of Alabama where he got a degree in Operations management. Palmer has been an active participant in debates on public policy for decades at Alabama Policy Institute which he co-founded.
Palmer faces Birmingham Southern College history professor, Mark Lester. Lester grew up in Arkansas where he practiced law and was a U.S. District Attorney before moving to Homewood to teach history.
The General Election will be on Tuesday, November 4.
