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Political News |
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Feb 24, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution Wednesday
Transportation funding bill prompts praise and concerns
Ariel Hart reports that On Wednesday, Gov. Sonny Perdue’s transportation funding proposal -- a bill to put a project list and penny sales tax to voters in a referendum -- is scheduled to get its first official hearing at the Capitol. It’s a historic moment: After years of falling flat as a political football, transportation funding is starting out the session with some major conflicts ironed out and support confirmed at the Gold Dome’s highest levels. But now that legislators, county officials and others have had time to read the bill, some are voicing concerns. Here’s how the bill breaks down.
Feb 24, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Lawmakers urged to cut school days rather than furlough teachers again
Aaron Gould Sheinin reports that, if the state's continuing budget crisis necessitates more teacher furloughs, lawmakers should allow school districts to reduce the number of days kids are in school, a top state education official said Tuesday. Scott Austensen, the deputy state school superintendent for finance, told a joint House-Senate budget hearing that the six days of unpaid leave teachers have taken or will take have come from their required professional development days.
Feb 24, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Controversy builds over health insurance hikes
Craig Schneider reports that The issue of rising health insurance costs has gripped the nation. President Barack Obama this week introduced the issue into the health care reform debate, saying he wants to allow states and the federal government to screen and possibly block rate hikes. Here in Georgia, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has brought the controversy onto the campaign trail, discussing the matter at forums as he runs for governor. He plans to submit legislation soon that would allow the insurance commissioner to reject rate hikes on individual policies, meaning those not insured through an employer.
Feb 24, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Fulton judge orders state to provide counsel to inmates wishing to file appeals
Bill Rankin reports that calling the right to counsel "unqualified and unconditional," a Fulton judge on Tuesday ordered the state to provide attorneys to indigent inmates, some of whom have been waiting years for representation to file their appeals.
Feb 24, 2010 – Georgia Times Union
Georgia missing cash potential of vanity plates
Walter C. Jones reports that motorists who put so-called vanity plates on their cars could help fill a little of the state's budget shortfall if Georgia adopted "a business-oriented approach" to their sale, according to state auditors.
Feb 24, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald, Augusta Chronicle, Georgia Times Union, Savannah Morning News
Campaign goal: Pull over to text
Walter C. Jones reports, if your common sense doesn't tell you to pull off the road to send text messages, a group of businesses, civic groups and state agencies hopes a publicity campaign will. The group launched a statewide campaign Tuesday called Exit 2 Text It and called on local governments to enact rules to prohibit their own employees from texting while driving for work.
Feb 24, 2010 – Savannah Morning News
Savannah businessman running for insurance commissioner
Larry Peterson reports, saying it's a job for an industry professional - not a politician - John Mamalakis is running for state insurance commissioner. The Savannah businessman on Tuesday joined a crowded field of candidates seeking to replace incumbent John Oxendine, who is running for governor. Counting Mamalakis, at least eight Republicans and one Democrat are seeking to replace Oxendine, who has served since 1995.
Feb 24, 2010 – Thomasville Times Enterprise
Gubernatorial hopeful says Georgia better off with less interference
Patti Dozier reports that a Republican Georgia gubernatorial candidate told a Thomasville audience Tuesday the Peach State has too much. “I am a traditional conservative who believes there is too much Washington (D.C.) in Atlanta and too much Atlanta in the rest of the state,” said Ray McBerry, addressing a crowd of about 300 at Thomasville Municipal Auditorium.
Feb 24, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution - COLUMN/BLOG
Political Insider: Barnes: Pay no attention to those poll numbers
The Political Insider, Jim Galloway, writes that he told you how Republican Karen Handel is spinning yesterday’s Rasmussen poll that declared Democrat Roy Barnes vulnerable to any of four GOP candidates. Now, the former governor has created his own spin on the story.
Feb 24, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald - EDITORIAL
Universities are more investment than cost
The editorial board writes, It is of more than passing interest that, the day after Morris News Service reported the interest of some state legislators in "raiding" University System of Georgia funding to deal with likely significant state revenue shortfalls in the coming fiscal year, this newspaper reported the purchase of a University of Georgia-based biotechnology startup business by an Australian company. The two stories served only to bolster a point made by University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll Davis during a Monday visit to the UGA campus.
Feb 24, 2010 – Marietta Daily Journal - EDITORIAL
President's plan repackage of already rejected
The editorial board writes that after being in office for almost exactly 13 months, President Barack Obama on Monday finally unveiled a detailed health care reform bill of his own. The Republicans are urging the White House to tear up the Democrats' bill and start from scratch. Take the best proposals from both ends of the spectrum and in between, and meld them into a new bill. That, indeed, is what needs to happen - not just a repackaging of the proposal already repudiated by the American people.
Feb 24, 2010 – Marietta Daily Journal - COLUMN
McKee: Barnes slips in latest Ramussen poll, Perdue's job approval takes hit
Don McKee writes that four months before Georgia's gubernatorial primaries, the latest Rasmussen poll shows a dip in support for former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes. This month's poll confirms that Barnes faces a tough general election fight to regain the governor's office.
Feb 24, 2010 – Augusta Chronicle - EDITORIAL
In defense of 'no'
The editorial board writes, Past presidents have occasionally been seen as out of touch with Americans. Usually, they would humbly acknowledge it, say something along the lines of "message received," and move toward the people's point of view. Not this president. He figures we're the ones not getting the message. When the people rejected the Democrats' massive health-care proposal, and it became clear the Senate would too, Mr. Obama announced that jobs would heretofore be his No. 1 priority. Message received? Not if you judge his actions, rather than his words.
Feb 24, 2010 – Macon Telegraph - EDITORIAL
Schools remain in the gunsights of legislators
The editorial board writes, just because the General Assembly is not in session doesn’t mean committee work gets pushed to the side during this two week recess to deal with the state’s fiscal crisis. Lawmakers are looking for pennies, nickels and dimes in an attempt to erase the shortfall for the 2011 budget cycle and avoid a $2.6 billion shortfall expected in the 2012 budget cycle. Unfortunately, education is again in the governor’s and lawmakers’ sights.
Feb 24, 2010 – Marietta Daily Journal - COLUMN
Yarbrough: If parents can rate schools, then schools should rate parents
Dick Yarbrough writes that I am up to my gizzard with our governor and Legislature and assorted bureaucrats stomping around in public education with little regard for the consequences of their actions. Maybe I should call the governor and ask if Tasing will be considered when judging a teacher's performance.
Feb 24, 2010 – Brunswick News - EDITORIAL
State can find new ways to trim budget
The editorial board writes that Georgia legislators say they may very well have little choice but to raise taxes and fees to operate the state in the next fiscal year. Blame it on the economy, they say, while warning that "everything" is on the table. Well, "everything" so far has meant furlough days for employees, including teachers, and continued discussion of charging taxpayers more for their government and for the services it provides. That certainly doesn't sound like "everything."
Feb 24, 2010 – Savannah Morning News - EDITORIAL
Franchise fairness: Cry us a river
The editorial board writes, The Georgia Municipal Association's argument against franchise fee parity with Chatham County and other county governments doesn't hold water. The group is opposing House Bill 1203, a good-sense measure offered by State Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah. The bill would require that the approximately 1 percent franchise fee that unincorporated county residents pay to utilities actually go to county governments, instead of Georgia cities.
Feb 24, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution - COLUMN/BLOG
Georgia benefits from stimulus, and GOP knows it
Cynthia Tucker writes, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell isn’t shy about proclaiming the benefits of the stimulus bill passed a year ago. Of course, Rendell is a Democrat, and you would expect him to praise the legislation, which has been roundly denounced by Republicans as a budget-busting, porkbarrel-laden, government-expanding exercise in futility. But California’s GOP governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger has also praised the bill, officially known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Many Republicans have bashed the bill publicly while rushing to get part of the money for their states — or to take credit for the local programs that it helps to fund.
Feb 24, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution - OP-ED
Georgia’s mentally ill need options
Paul Bolster, executive director of the Georgia Supportive Housing Association, writes, The 2010 Georgia General Assembly must support a new strategic direction for the state mental health programs. Last year, legislators created a new Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. In 2008, the state agreed with the U.S. Justice Department to address the dangerous conditions in its psychiatric hospitals and agreed with the Civil Rights Division of the Centers for Medical Services to enable persons with disabilities to leave institutions and live in the community (the Olmstead plan). To fulfill its commitments, the state needs a new mental health strategy.
Feb 24, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution - OP-ED/Q&A
On the record: State Rep. Wendell Willard, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee
The Sandy Springs Republican urges that a ‘reasonable’ gift ban be adopted.
