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Political News |
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Feb 8, 2010 – Augusta Chronicle, Athens Banner-Herald
House aims for vote on 'little budget' Thursday
Walter C. Jones reports that House budget writers hope to finish their midyear budget adjustments this week while Senate leaders aim to begin implementing some ideas they've received on spending reform. The House is close to completion of its consideration of the "little budget," the amendments to the spending plan for the few months remaining before the fiscal year ends June 30.
Feb 8, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Not everyone sold on property tax plan
Christopher Quinn reports that Cherokee County, home of Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, has no problem with the provision in his expansive property tax bill calling for counties to mail every property owner an assessment notice every year. Cherokee is one of the few counties already doing that. Most counties mail property owners an assessment notice, which tells the owner what the county thinks his or her property is worth, every third year. “I knew it would work because we are already doing it in Cherokee County, and we are holding them up as an example,” Rogers said.
Feb 8, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Tax reform might spark a flood of property appeals
Mary Lou Pickel report that most politicians applaud a bill in the state Legislature that would simplify the property tax appeals process, but some metro county officials are concerned that the measure could work too well. The Senate bill, introduced last week, would require counties to send valuation notices to property owners every year, accompanied by information on how to file an appeal and the phone number of the appraiser’s office. Currently appraisers only send a notice when a property has been reappraised, usually every few years.
Feb 8, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Property tax returns start to add up and it's still early
Mary Lou Pickel reports that a record number of people are filing a little-known document called a tax return with their property appraiser's office, asking for a lower value on their appraisal, and thereby, a break on their property taxes. As the recession drives housing prices down, more and more residents believe their property values are out of whack and should be lower.
Feb 8, 2010 – Augusta Chronicle, Savannah Morning News
Legislative coalitions make push from right
Walter C. Jones reports that, just because Gov. Sonny Perdue proposed increases in taxes and fees, adding funds to mental health treatment and shielding education from cuts hitting most agencies doesn't mean conservative government has ended at the Capitol.
Feb 8, 2010 – Georgia Times Union
Georgia's school recipe relies on tracking students and evaluating teachers
Walter C. Jones reports that the chance to win a prize of $462 million prompted Georgia's education leaders to draft a complex, ambitious plan for how to improve students' performance. After the state missed out on the bulk of federal funds given for high-speed rail development last month, hopes for winning the education contest became politically as well as academically motivated.
Feb 8, 2010 – Savannah Morning News
Reaction mixed on raising dropout age to 17
Jenel Few reports that State Sen. Lester Jackson has sponsored a bill to keep students in school until they are 17. Currently, students can drop out at age 16. As a result, Georgia has one of the highest dropout rates in the nation, said Jackson, a Savannah Democrat. The 38,000 Georgians who dropped out in 2007 eventually will cost the state nearly $5 billion in Medicaid, incarceration and other social service costs.
Feb 8, 2010 – Brunswick News
Perdue's water bill will be scrutinized
Hank Rowland reports that environmentalists on the coast laud Gov. Sonny Perdue for making an effort to manage the state's fresh water supplies but say the legislation he is proposing could be better. Perdue is preparing to get his leaders in the state House and Senate to introduce the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010.
Feb 8, 2010 – Chattanooga Times Free Press
Perdue influence shows in GOP governors' strategy
Matt Wilson reports that the national Republican Governors Association is taking a Georgia-style approach to this year's gubernatorial elections, largely because of the influence of Gov. Sonny Perdue. Gov. Perdue served a year as chairman of the association starting in late 2006. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is the chairman now, but RGA executive director Nick Ayers, a former Perdue campaign manager, and political director Paul Bennecke, a former Georgia Republican Party chairman, are deeply involved in strategy.
Feb 8, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald
Kemp backs bills to make voting easier
Blake Aued reports that Secretary of State Brian Kemp is backing two bills recently introduced in the state legislature that would make it easier for soldiers serving overseas and other Americans living abroad to vote.
Feb 8, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
GOP seems miffed by its front-runner
Aaron Gould Sheinin and James Salzer report that Georgia’s Republican establishment is showing signs of discomfort with the prospect that John Oxendine will be the party’s nominee for governor, despite his popularity with many voters and status as early front-runner.
Feb 8, 2010 – Savannah Morning News - EDITORIAL
Smart money
The editorial board writes, When it comes to raising Georgia's drop-out age, the question is not how much it will cost us. Instead, it's how much it will cost us if we don't act. For a better prepared workforce and a reduced demand for prison space, it makes sense to increase the legal drop-out age, as proposed by State Sen. Lester Jackson, D-Savannah.
Feb 8, 2010 – Atlanta Journal Constitution - COLUMN/BLOG
DNA database bill should be deep-sixed
Bob Barr writes, A few years back, I hosted a nationally-syndicated radio program, modestly called “Bob Barr’s Laws of the Universe.” One of the laws most frequently cited during the three years I hosted the weekly show, was Law Number Three: “No matter how much information government has, it always wants more.” This came to mind recently as I read of a piece of legislation introduced in the Georgia General Assembly by Rep. Rob Teilhet, a Democrat from Smyrna and a candidate for state Attorney General.
Feb 8, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald - COLUMN
Pitts: Obama recognizes 'country matters more'
Leonard Pitts writes, A few words about that important speech President Obama gave recently. No, not "that" important speech, the other one. Granted, Obama's State of the Union address was the one parsed, sifted and winnowed by pundits for clues as to where he wishes to take the country in the days ahead. But one could argue that in its way, a less-noticed speech two days later in Baltimore tells us as much if not more about the intentions and ambitions of this president. Not so much about specific policy and legislative initiatives.
Feb 8, 2010 – Augusta Chronicle - EDITORIAL
Not without a fight!
The editorial board writes, The Obama folks appear to think that businesses have too much power, and that workers in America are oppressed. They ought to ask business owners -- who can hardly keep up with the government's suffocating regulations, paperwork and litigation fodder. The Obama folks seem to believe a resurgence of Big Labor would be good for the country. They ought to let workers decide that, don't you think? Instead, the Obama administration wants to end the secret ballot in workplace elections over whether to unionize.
Feb 8, 2010 – Chattanooga Times Free Press
State Patrol furloughs ricochet at local level
Joy Lukachick reports that as Walker County's population grows, Sheriff Steve Wilson says, he's worried about shrinking job rolls and mandatory furloughs in the Georgia State Patrol. "Anytime you have cuts at the state level, it rolls down the hills to the county level," he said. "People still expect those services to be fulfilled."
Feb 8, 2010 – Brunswick News - EDITORIAL
Help our community by running for office
The editorial board writes that this is the time for all men and women who are concerned about the future of their community to give serious thought and consideration to the possibility of running for public office. The short of it is, your community needs you.
Feb 8, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald
Overview Commission: Jobs a big concern
Blake Aued reports that a citizen committee launched a once-a-decade investigation into the Athens-Clarke government last month. The Overview Commission, a group of 21 Athens residents appointed by a Clarke County grand jury in January, is required by the 1990 city-county unification charter to examine the local government's structure and operations every 10 years, and it's asking for the public's help.
Feb 8, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald
Democrats to roast labor commissioner
Staff reports that the Clarke County Democratic Committee will honor state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond with a roast Feb. 18 at the Classic Center. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $50.
Feb 8, 2010 – Macon Telegraph
MWA ‘grossly underestimating’ rain-related sewage spills
S. Heather Duncan reports that when Bob Hargrove calculated how long it took to fill a 5-gallon bucket with the sewage gushing onto his property, he used it to challenge the Macon Water Authority estimate of the spill’s size. Turns out, he was right. But that’s not all. Tony Rojas, the authority’s director, said that the authority has been “grossly underestimating” all spills caused when heavy rains overwhelm sewer pipes.
