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Political News |
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Feb 6, 2010 – Atlanta Business Chronicle
Tax credits sought for startups, jobs
Urvaksh Karkaria reports that state lawmakers want to dangle a legislative carrot to lure investment to Georgia technology startups and generate knowledge-based jobs. Proposed legislation would provide tax credits to motivate early-stage investors in Georgia businesses and potentially create up to 700 jobs annually.
Feb 6, 2010 – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cable, EMCs spar over utility pole rates
David Markiewicz reports that the props handed out at a state Senate committee session this week were cute enough: miniature brown plastic utility poles. They were appropriate, too, since the bill senators were considering had to do with the price Georgia’s Electric Membership Cooperatives and its municipally-owned electric utilities charge cable companies to attach wires to their poles.
Feb 6, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Bill would expand protective orders to cover pets
Andria Simmons reports that a bill up for consideration in the state Legislature this year would add pets to the domestic violence protective orders meant to prevent harm to people.
Feb 6, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
There's a poet in the (state) House
Jim Tharpe reports that the Georgia House of Representatives seems an unlikely place for poetry to sprout. So does the soul of a funeral home director. But that’s just what has happened in the form of state Rep. Chuck Sims (R-Ambrose), a South Georgia lawmaker with a penchant for rhyme. During the legislative session, Sims kicks off each day at the Capitol with a bit of topical verse for his fellow House members. “Our budget has kept us all on bended knee,” he concluded one recent morning, echoing the state’s budget woes. “I do wish there was such a thing as a money tree.”
Feb 6, 2010 – Macon Telegraph
Marshall takes issue with Obama's Defense budget
Thomas L. Day reports that Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., has again taken issue with President Obama’s defense-spending agenda from his seat on the House Armed Services committee. In an interview by phone from his Washington office, Marshall predicted that “there are going to be a number of differences between the White House and the Congress on priorities.” The structure of the Defense budget could lead to the latest showdown between Obama and the Congress his party controls, with Marshall in middle of the fight.
Feb 6, 2010 – Macon Telegraph
Marshall supports cuts to pay for deficit
Thomas L. Day reports that on one issue, Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., can agree with his Democratic colleagues. The House of Representatives approved a bill Thursday that would require future spending to be approved on a “pay-as-you-go” basis. Marshall voted with the Democratic caucus on the bill without any Republicans crossing the aisle to support the measure.
Feb 6, 2010 – Albany Herald - EDITORIAL
AG’s involvement needed in fiasco
The editorial board writes that the decision by Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards to ask the Georgia Attorney General’s Office to investigate the Dougherty County School Board’s decision to name a lone candidate for the job of superintendent was a wise move.
Feb 6, 2010 – Macon Telegraph - EDITORIAL
Getting — and keeping — what we’ve paid for
The editorial board writes, one of the most vexing issues to face Macon’s current and past administrations is a pay scale. This has been particularly so in the police and fire departments. Salary compression (where new employees’ pay comes very close to experienced employees) has been a problem city leaders have just not addressed for lack of money. Now, Mayor Robert Reichert plans to fight for a pay scale, something he believes is absolutely necessary for this city to move forward.
Feb 6, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald
County fiscal solutions return as new problems
Merritt Melancon reports that Barrow County commissioners spent most of 2009 trying to overcome a projected $5 million shortfall, but the solutions they crafted to fix last year's cash flow problem are costing them in 2010.
Feb 6, 2010 – Albany Herald
AG: We will take 'appropriate' action in school board probe
J.D. Sumner reports that a spokesman for Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker says that his office is aware of the ongoing controversy with the Dougherty County School Board and that the office will take "appropriate action," moving forward.
Feb 6, 2010 – Albany Herald
Herald Open Records request reveals applicants' gender, race
Ethan Fowler reports that although it's not a complete picture, an Georgia Open Records request by The Albany Herald has lead to the discovery that 23 males and 13 females were applicants for the Dougherty County School System's superintendent post. The Open Records request also revealed that of those 37 applicants, 15 were black, eight were white and 14 were unknown.
Feb 6, 2010 – Georgia Times Union
Ku Klux Klan denied permit to rally at Nahunta City Hall
Terry Dickson reports that Nahunta has denied a Ku Klux Klan group's request to use the City Hall parking lot for a rally to raise public awareness on sex offenders, illegal immigration and prayer in school.
Feb 6, 2010 – Thomasville Times Enterprise
GBI launches probe on possible missing Cairo Utilities funds
Teresa Williams reports that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is currently looking into a case involving the City of Cairo Utilities. Ronnie Thompson, special agent in charge of the GBI Thomasville Office, said the agency opened an investigation Dec. 28, 2009. It is ongoing.
Feb 6, 2010 – Camden County Tribune & Georgian
County may suspend impact fees
Ellen Robinson reports, "Who got to you guys?" was Camden County Commissioner Steve Berry's rhetorical question when the four other board members agreed to move forward with refunding more than $40,000 in development impact fees. During the board of commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Berry said it is the developers, not new homebuyers who stand to benefit from the county retroactively suspending the development impact fee of $2,105.25.
Feb 6, 2010 – Cherokee Tribune
Mayor: Canton finances 'changing for the better'
Ashley Fuller reports that Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood reported the city's finances are improving as part of his "state of the city" address. Hobgood gave a two-year status report for the city during the Canton City Council's work session on Thursday night. He took over the mayor's seat in 2008. Through good, conservative management, Hobgood said the city's finances are "changing for the better."
Feb 6, 2010 – Newton Citizen
Hotel/motel tax increase starts April 1
Crystal Tatum reports that the Covington City Council approved Monday night an ordinance increasing the hotel/motel tax from 5 to 8 percent. The increase will go into effect April 1, and all hotel/motel owners and operators will be notified by the city, City Manager Steve Horton said. The Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution to increase the tax in 2009, but the city has not pursued collections until now.
Feb 6, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Service dispute creates uncommon alliance
Patrick Fox reports that you haven't seen Mike Beaudreau go out of his way lately to support a stand by Charles Bannister, but the two county commissioners are lock-step on the service delivery feud with Gwinnett's 15 cities. "I'm in complete agreement with the chairman," Beaudreau said Friday. "The cities are trying to rush us into an agreement by suing the state and threatening to punish all residents."
Feb 6, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Snellville mayor: Sunday alcohol ‘linchpin' to growth
Shane Blatt reports that, in Snellville, legal battles and political discord are as ubiquitous as subdivisions and strip malls. The man often at the center of the political fray in the Gwinnett County municipality of 20,000 is Jerry Oberholtzer, the city's mayor and spokesman. Oberholtzer, 51, sat down with the AJC to talk about the city's legal and political turbulence, the most recent of which stems from the City Council's Dec. 14 decision to approve Sunday alcohol sales by council vote rather than referendum.
Feb 5, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution Friday
Perdue seeks a shake-up of state government
Aaron Gould Sheinin reports that Gov. Sonny Perdue will announce plans today for a major restructuring of state government that would make four constitutional offices appointed, rather than elected, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned. Perdue’s plan, which would require approval of voters in November, would allow future governors to appoint the state’s insurance, labor and agriculture commissioners, as well as the state school superintendent.
Feb 5, 2010 – Chattanooga Times Free Press
Senators slam road planner's funding
Ashley Speagle reports that members of the Senate Transportation Committee said Thursday that the State Transportation Board made a huge mistake changing its accounting system so it can spend money it doesn't have on highway projects. "I am shocked," said Sen. Cecil Staton, R-Macon. "It appears to me to be a totally self-destructive act, almost an act of sabotage when things are finally coming together in this state to try to move transportation forward."
