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Political News |
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Feb 26, 2010 – Gwinnett Daily Post
Attendees give mixed reviews to local issues
Camie Young reports that with some people frustrated by recent decisions over a baseball stadium and taxes, Thursday’s final Engage Gwinnett public hearing got its biggest crowd. About 50 people showed up at a Norcross church Thursday to comment on the preliminary recommendations to trim services due to the economic downturn, bringing to a total of nearly 125 for the four sessions this past week. “Since we got hit with a 20 percent increase in our taxes last year, I figured I should give my input,” Randy Futrell of the Peachtree Corners community said.
Feb 26, 2010 – Augusta Chronicle
Snow costly to area governments: $75,000 spent to clear roads
Susan McCord reports that Augusta's Feb. 12-13 snow event was fun, but it came at a price. Area governments maxed out their annual snow budgets -- of zero, of course -- on the unforeseen expenses of treating roads, plowing snow and removing debris sent tumbling by the record accumulation of 6 to 8-plus inches.
Feb 26, 2010 – Georgia Times Union
Glynn officials give accounting of sales tax receipts
Carole Hawkins reports that Glynn County staff publicly rebuffed complaints Thursday that local sales tax revenue had been lost for years like loose change beneath sofa cushions. During a three-hour work session Thursday, the county's attorney, engineer, fire chief and recreation department director reported the status of every unfinished project on SPLOST IV, a voter-approved list of capital projects funded by sales tax revenue collected from 2002 to 2006.
Feb 26, 2010 – Georgia Times Union
Woodbine restaurant owner pushes for Sunday alcohol sales
Gordon Jackson reports that Stan Mieloch says a City Council vote Monday night might determine whether his restaurant survives. City officials will consider his request to approve a referendum in which voters would approve or reject an ordinance to allow Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants in the city. Woodbine is the only town in Camden County that does not allow Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants.
Feb 26, 2010 – Savannah Morning News
No dogs on Tybee beaches
Eric Curl reports that it doesn't look like man's best friend will be getting Tybee Island sand in his fur any time soon. Five of the six Tybee City Council members voted late Thursday night against having a public hearing concerning whether dogs should be allowed on the beach.
Feb 26, 2010 – Marietta Daily Journal
Tea Party party
Jon Gillooly reports that the national Tea Party movement is celebrating its birthday on Saturday, with a local Cobb County chapter scheduling an event at East Cobb Park off Roswell Road. The celebration kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday at the park, with a reading of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, interspersed with live music.
Feb 26, 2010 – Savannah Morning News
City to River Street: Show us the money for St. Pat's fun
Lesley Conn reports that the big crowds may be showing up the weekend before St. Patrick's Day, but a big party won't be waiting. Because the City Council approved only a two-day festival at midweek, the Savannah Waterfront and City Market associations were prepared to have nothing more than extra portable toilets and added security on the streets March 12 and 13, when the largest crowds are expected.
Feb 26, 2010 – Savannah Morning News
Chatham jail gets proposed $5.4 million medical bill
Eric Curl reports that the infirmary located at 1050 Carl Griffin Drive appears similar to most hospitals. There is one big difference, though. These patients can't leave. The Chatham County Detention Center processes about 21,000 inmates per year. The center's medical facility offers full medical services such as X-rays and dialysis treatment as well as dental exams. Like a public hospital, these services come at a cost. Chatham County currently pays an annual base rate of about $4.6 million, plus a daily rate of $4.73 - increased from $4.58 in January - for each inmate that exceeds the 1,300 population threshold.
Feb 26, 2010 – Macon Telegraph
Trial date set for former Dodge sheriff
Staff reports that jury selection in the trial of former Dodge County Sheriff Lawton Douglas is scheduled to begin March 23 in Dublin, according to federal court records. Last year, Douglas and two co-defendants were charged in connection with a federal vote-buying and conspiracy case.
Feb 26, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Gwinnett issues new proposal in dispute with cities
Patrick Fox reports that Gwinnett County has issued a counter-proposal to its cities in the ongoing service delivery dispute which threatens to cost both sides millions in state grant money. The county notified cities of the proposal Thursday, and representatives from the county's 15 municipalities were scheduled to discuss the documents in a conference call later this evening.
Feb 26, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Fulton Improves on elections
Steve Visser reports that Fulton County says a recent report of its handling of the 2009 county and municipal special election showed it had improved performance in several areas including check-in for residents who voted early and processing of voter registration forms.
Feb 25, 2010 – Chattanooga Times Free Press Thursday
Lawmakers consider fee hikes
Ashley Speagle reports that saying they're sticking to conservative principles and resisting tax increases, legislators asked state agencies Wednesday to consider bumping up fees to limit budget cuts. "We're looking at ways to raise fees across the board," said Sen. Ross Tolleson, R-Perry. The Senate and House appropriations subcommittees reviewed department budgets in preparation for cuts to the fiscal 2011 budget and to stem further cuts in the fiscal 2010 budget.
Feb 25, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Transportation bill makes debut
Ariel Hart reports that the big transportation bill proposed by Gov. Sonny Perdue could end up raising more than $700 million a year for metro Atlanta projects if the Legislature and metro voters approve it. But even if the new sales tax never comes to pass, millions more in transportation dollars could end up staying in the Atlanta area. That possibility -- as well as concerns that it wouldn’t work that way -- were among the issues legislators raised Wednesday at the bill’s first public hearing, in front of a standing-room-only audience at the Capitol.
Feb 25, 2010 – Augusta Chronicle, Georgia Times Union
Budget woes make tuition increase likely for Georgia colleges
Dick Pettys reports that it is a virtual certainty that there will be less money for the university system next year, and it's almost equally certain that there will also be a tuition increase to help make up for the lost state money.
Feb 25, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
College tuition hikes get support from strapped lawmakers
Aaron Gould Sheinin reports that it would take a 77 percent tuition increase at Georgia’s colleges and universities to meet the demand for a $385 million cut in the state’s higher education system budget, Chancellor Erroll Davis said Wednesday. Davis, speaking before a sometimes testy joint House-Senate budget committee, said that would raise tuition at the research universities to more than $10,000 a year, while four-year colleges would raise to more than $6,700 and two-year college tuition would grow to more than $4,000.
Feb 25, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald
Ralston says slavery apology is a 'backward' move
Morris News Service reports that House Speaker David Ralston said Wednesday he opposes a resolution by state Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway, making an official apology for the state's role in slavery. House Speaker David Ralston told Atlanta public radio station WABE-FM (90.1) that Williams is focused on the wrong direction. "I'm about looking to the future. I'm not about looking to the past," Ralston said. "When you turn around and look backward, it invites a whole lot of issues, and I think we've got too much work to do, frankly, now to afford to do that."
Feb 25, 2010 – Marietta Daily Journal
Bill would mandate E-verify participation
Katy Ruth Camp reports that state representatives continue to introduce legislation aimed at decreasing jobs given to those in the country illegally. State Rep. Bobby Reese (R-Sugar Hill) on Tuesday filed the Georgia Employer and Worker Protection of Act of 2010, also known as House Bill 1259. If passed, the bill would require all Georgia businesses to sign an affidavit agreeing to participate in the federal citizenship verification program E-Verify in order to obtain a business license or occupational tax certificate.
Feb 25, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Gingrich says Obama "has dumb ideas"
Ernie Suggs reports, if the whispers are true that Newt Gingrich will run for president in 2012, the campaign against Barack Obama has begun. To a room full of Georgia Republicans, Gingrich, the former U.S. speaker of the House, called Obama a socialist and the “most radical president” the country has seen in decades. Gingrich was the keynote speaker at the Georgia Republican Party’s President’s Day Dinner. In grand party style, Democrats in Washington and locally were roundly blasted.
Feb 25, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Proposal would split public defender system
Bill Rankin reports that calling Georgia's public defender program unsustainable, a legislative oversight panel is recommending that part of the system be transferred back to county control. The proposal comes four years after the state took over the program because many counties were found to be unable to provide an adequate defense of the poor.
Feb 25, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald
Republicans launch anti-Barnes Web site
Staff reports that there may be a five-way primary for the Democratic nomination for governor, but Georgia Republicans have their eye on just one opponent: former Gov. Roy Barnes. The state Republican Party unveiled a new Web site Wednesday that uses an infamous 2002 campaign ad that cast Barnes as a marauding rat.
