Politics

Updated calendar released, Crossover Day set for March 25th

Georgia Legislative Watch - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:50

According to the AJC, the calendar has been set through Day 30, known as Crossover Day (in black below). That is the last day for a piece of legislation to clear one body to be considered for this year. January 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 March 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 April 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Categories: Politics

Lawmakers: Day 21

Georgia Legislative Watch - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:41

On Day 21 of the session, Lawmakers covers the release of February revenue numbers, legislators propose fee hike and a tax is extended to keep the Falcons in Atlanta.

Categories: Politics

New Bill Eliminates Nominating Petitions For Third Party, Independent Candidates

Georgia Legislative Watch - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 10:11

Monday, Democrat Alan Powell, Independent Rusty Kidd and Republican Mark Hatfield introduced a ballot access bill that would completely eliminate the need for independent or third party candidates to gather signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The summary of House Bill 1257 reads as follows: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter [...]

Categories: Politics

Rubio-Crist, Georgia Style

Peach Pundit - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 00:08

The Rubio-Crist race for Senate in Florida has captured national attention. Erick has mentioned Rubio time and again. The race is a classic battle of establishment vs. grassroots, status quo vs. the Right direction.

On Saturday Jim Galloway gave an excellent synopsis of the Ninth District Republican race for Congress. Galloway paints a clear picture of the CD-9 race by using Florida as an example.

Backed by tea partyists and GOP hard-cores, the 39-year-old Rubio is mopping the floor with the 53-year-old Crist, who started the race with the backing of the Republican establishment, in both Florida and Washington.

A single embrace by a stimulus-peddling President Barack Obama has crippled the well-tanned governor. The latest primary polls put Rubio 18 points ahead.

That kind of success is bound to encourage imitation. In Georgia, the resignations of U.S. Reps. John Linder and Nathan Deal, within the space of three days, have virtually guaranteed that the dynamics of the Rubio-Crist fight will dominate state GOP politics through the July primary.

Two candidates have dominated the fund-raising — state Rep. Tom Graves of Ranger and state Sen. Lee Hawkins of Gainesville. Graves, a 40-year-old developer and builder, has tied himself closely to the tea party movement. He uses the language of insurgency, referring to his supporters as “freedom fighters.”

“I think people are fed up. They’re saying enough’s enough. They’re an energized group of people,” said Graves campaign manager Tim Baker. In 2008, FreedomWorks, the group led by Dick Armey that helped kick-start the tea party movement, gave awards to two state lawmakers. One was Rubio. The other was Graves.

Hawkins, 59, is more a traditional Republican — a practicing dentist for 30 years, first elected to the Legislature in 2006. His focus in the congressional campaign is small business. He pitches himself as a steady conservative and has had little contact with the tea party movement. “He’s not really associated with it at all,” said his spokesman, Steve Holman.

“He’s not really associated with it at all”, really? I’m from CD-9 and can attest to the growing number within the Tea Party movement. The very last thing I would do as a Congressional candidate in the Ninth District is explain that I’m not associated with the Tea Party.

This statment opens Hawkins to more “good ole boy” criticism. I would argue that Hawkins should not be running as an establishment candidate in our current political environment. Establishment is “out” and limited government is “in”. Graves has continually reached out to the Tea Party and set himself up as a conservative looking to “bring the Party back”. This race seems to mirror the Rubio-Crist race in Florida and is rapidly becoming just as interesting.

Categories: Politics

Hix Leaves Hawkins

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 23:22

State Senator Lee Hawkins‘ campaign manager, Bradley Hix has left the campaign.

Hix was hired on a temporary basis to Hawkins’ Congressional campaign. Hawkins made a conscious decision last August not to hire a full time manager until closer to the election to save money, nearer the end of the legislative session. Hix joined the campaign in mid-December to help out over the holidays and into January and February. Hix moved back home about a month ago.

Categories: Politics

Beyond Texting While Driving: The Next Motoring Menace

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 22:13

At the beginning of this legislative session, banning texting while driving seemed to be one of the agenda items that had strong backing from local media, and was drawing a lot of attention. Two bills, Matt Ramsey’s HB 23 which passed the House last year and was working itself through the Senate by John Douglas. Similarly, Amos Anderson’s HB 994 made some progress in the house, but has since stalled. The members of the general assembly seem to be having difficulty deciding what exactly is “texting”. Does it include emailing? Working a GPS? Even dialing a phone?

If they were already having difficulty defining distracted driving, Megan Mariah Barnes has added one other item that they may want to consider as “distracted driving”:

Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a two-vehicle crash Tuesday at Mile Marker 21 on Cudjoe Key was caused by a 37-year-old woman driver who was shaving her bikini area while her ex-husband took the wheel from the passenger seat.

“She said she was meeting her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit,” Trooper Gary Dunick said. “If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have believed it. About 10 years ago I stopped a guy in the exact same spot … who had three or four syringes sticking out of his arm. It was just surreal and I thought, ‘Nothing will ever beat this.’ Well, this takes it.”

So, what was the point of this post (it was in Florida, after all) than to bring a certain Jerry Springer element to Peach Pundit today? Well, I’m not a huge fan of texting while driving bans, because they are generally unenforceable even if you can decide what is texting, vs IMing, vs. pinging, vs. mind melding. Plus, there are many things that shouldn’t be done while driving, apparently now including Brazilian waxes. But they are usually only an issue after an accident.

But back to enforcement. Many traffic laws go unenforced already. Adding another item to the mix will likely not affect folks like Ms. Barnes.

If that weren’t enough, Megan Mariah Barnes was not supposed to be driving and her 1995 Ford Thunderbird was not supposed to be on the road.

The day before the wreck, Barnes was convicted in an Upper Keys court of DUI with a prior and driving with a suspended license, said Monroe County Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne. Barnes was ordered to impound her car, and her driver’s license was revoked for five years, after which time she must have a Breathalyzer ignition interlock device on any vehicle she drives, Dunne said. Barnes also was sentenced to nine months’ probation.

The reason we’re focused on “texting” instead of distracted driving is because a texting ban is “for the children”. Let’s get serious about being able to enforce laws already on the books, get unsafe drivers off the road, then attack a more broad base of “distracted” drivers if absolutely necessary.

If we choose to narrowly focus on young’ens texting while driving, what will we tell the children when they’re run over by a crystal meth tweaker shaving her hoo-ha? And what does it matter what we tell them if we can only penalize the infraction after someone has already been injured or killed?

Make these bills enforceable and sufficiently broad, or let them die.

H/T to my lovely sister who loves to email me the news of the weird, and to Jason Pye for deets on the bills listed above.

UPDATE: It has been brought to my attention that some may confuse the hypothetical crystal meth tweeker in my next to last paragraph above with Ms. Barnes, and that I may be disparaging her character with such a reference. Please let me be clear: I in no way wished to imply that Ms. Barnes is a crystal meth tweeker. Sure, she may have had a DUI, was willing to drive on a supsended license, declined to surrender her car to impound as required by court order, and didn’t install the breath ignition lock as required on any car she operates in the future. But I didn’t not in any way wish to malign the character of this mobile hoo-ha shaving lady by suggesting that she may be a crystal meth tweeker. If anyone drew that conclusion, I sincerely apologize.

Categories: Politics

Greg Howard To Announce State Senate Run Tommorow

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 21:47

Received via email:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For more information contact:
Kathryn Gartland at 678-495-7218

GREG HOWARD TO RUN FOR STATE SENATE
DISTRICT 9 – GWINNETT COUNTY

Greg Howard, conservative radio talk show host, successful Gwinnett small business owner and the immediate past Chairman of the Gwinnett County Republican Party, will announce his candidacy for the Georgia State Senate on Tuesday, March 9th at 11:30am in the Rotunda at the Georgia State Capitol.

“The people in the 9th State Senate District need a strong leader that will continue to stand up to the tax and spend politicians under the Gold Dome. They want someone that understands the impact on tax increases and regulations on businesses and individuals and vote accordingly,” stated Howard.

Greg’s family roots span over three centuries throughout Georgia . Unfortunately when Greg was six years old, his father passed away, leaving his mother to raise all five children alone. “My Mom is a real hero! Aside from the fact that she has a PH.D in business, she is a retired teacher from UGA, and may be best known for her picture on the UGA Alumni website taken in 1947 when she was a cheerleader, my Mom made sure we were well rounded individuals, educated, active in sports, and played a minimum of two musical instruments. My achievements as a classical pianist, Eagle Scout and AAU trained swimmer were all a testament to her amazing abilities to keep all five of us positive, active and appreciative of our conservative values”, stated Howard

Greg Howard serves on the Board of Directors of many organizations including The Institute for the American Family, Pieces of Change – assisting the unemployed to gain employment, and the Constitution Committee of Georgia – as well as, the Chairman of the Board for Operation Homefront, Georgia – serving our military families. He was recently named the “Jay M. Littlefield Memorial Volunteer of the Year” for the entire nation, by the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action for his countless hours of work and support of the Second Amendment.

When asked about his platform, Greg stated that he will commit his efforts to create jobs, end property taxes and reduce the size of Government. “As Senator, I pledge to the citizens of Georgia that I will uphold the oath of office and oppose all efforts to increase taxes! Today I will sign the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge and personally hand it to Grover Norquist, President of ATR. I humbly ask for your vote, support and prayers, thank you.”

Greg Howard resides in Lawrenceville , Georgia and is a member of Grace Baptist Church in Dacula.
-###-

Howard joins Rep. David Casas in the race to replace Sen. Don Balfour.

UPDATE: I’ve just learned that former Gwinnett GOP and 7th CD GOP Chairman Mike Royal has decided not to run. That leaves Casas and Howard as the only candidates in the race. At this time I’ve heard of no other rumored candidates.

Categories: Politics

February revenue numbers released

Georgia Legislative Watch - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 21:11

Revenue figures for February were released today: Gov. Sonny Perdue moments ago released details on tax collections in Georgia from February and the news is not likely to give anyone comfort. The numbers show that the state took in nearly 10 percent less in February than it did in the same month in 2009. Lawmakers had [...]

Categories: Politics

Mouth to Mouth

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 15:08

Despite broad cuts across the board, the Georgia Senate wants to have kids learn first aid in their health classes. Some are saying it is an unfunded mandate. Personally, I’m wondering why the hell we’re making kids take a “health” class and not teaching them first aid. One catch: who is going to buy all the Resusci Annie’s for the kids to practice on?

Do these Senators really want them practicing mouth to mouth in school? If you’re going to teach first aid, you need to learn CPR.

Categories: Politics

“Youth Vote” Forum This Saturday

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 14:41

MARCH 5, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATLANTA – On Saturday, March 13, the Georgia Tech Chapter of the College Republicans will hold an exciting and interactive forum in Atlanta that allows Georgia students and residents the chance to get up close and personal with the 2010 Republican candidates for governor. The debate will host six of the seven GOP candidates and allow attendees the chance to meet with the candidates themselves before the debate begins. Congressman Nathan Deal, former Secretary of State Karen Handel, former state Senator Eric Johnson, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, state Representative Austin Scott, and state Senator Jeff Chapman will all be in attendance. This groundbreaking, student-led event will be hosted at the spacious Academy of Medicine in downtown Atlanta at a cost of only $5 a ticket and is open to the general public.

Questions for the forum will be submitted by students and young professionals from across the state with the intention that candidates’ answers will show Georgia’s youth where they stand on key issues to young people such as tuition hikes, job creation, transportation and other pressing state and local matters. The debate will be accompanied by a straw poll – the first of its kind this election cycle – to gauge young Georgians’ opinions on a wide range of political hot topics, including who is the “youth vote” favorite for the 2010 GOP nomination for governor.

“The conservative youth movement is on the rise in the state of Georgia. This event will express the voice of students and young professionals, the upcoming leaders of the Republican Party. The straw poll results will be very indicative of our generation’s views on conservatism and our party leaders,” said GT College Republicans Chairman Kristen Greig. “We are proud to join with youth from across this state to host this truly forum that we hope signals the beginning of a new age of politics in Georgia.”

Tickets for the forum can be purchased online at http://www.gtrepublicans.com/forum.html and at the door. All Georgia residents are welcome to attend; however, straw poll participants will be restricted to Georgia residents under 30 years of age to ensure that the balloting is an accurate representation of state youth opinion. Seating is limited, so be sure to arrive promptly at 1:30pm for a half-hour of meet and greet mingling with the candidates to be immediately followed by the forum at 2:00pm. Straw poll results will be announced at the conclusion of the candidates’ debate.

When: Saturday, March 13, 2010 @ 1:30PM

Where: Georgia Tech Academy of Medicine, 875 W Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30303

Contact: Chandler Epp, GTCR Executive Director at (678) 234-4948 or via email at chandler.epp@gatech.edu

The purpose of the Georgia Tech Chapter of the College Republicans is to educate the students of Georgia Tech about the ideals and vision of the Republican Party, to promote those ideals, and to help elect candidates who hold them.

Categories: Politics

Chambliss and Perdue to host Crist

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 14:37

Jim Gallloway brings us the latest:

Saxby Chambliss’s office just confirmed that the U.S. senator and Gov. Sonny Perdue will host a March 15 fund-raiser at the Georgian Club for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.

Crist is locked in a bitter Republican primary with former Florida house speaker Marco Rubio for a U.S. Senate nomination.

Our very own Erick Erickson has been pushing hard for Rubio over at Redstate. Rubio is the conservative in this race and needs to be the next Senator of Florida. A lame duck Governor doesn’t have too much to fear by backing who he wants, but will receive criticism none the less. Disappointment with Saxby caused him to have a runoff back in 2008. Chances are he will take some heat for helping Perdue throw this fundraiser for Crist.

Categories: Politics

Gwinnett Sheriff Conway Endorses Cox

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 14:33

Received via email:

Lawrenceville: Representative Clay Cox, candidate to replace John Linder in the 7th Congressional District received a key endorsement today as Sheriff Butch Conway endorsed his candidacy.

“Clay Cox has proven to be invaluable to Gwinnett’s law enforcement community with his service in the State House. He has been a fighter for public safety and a good friend. I know he will be a strong conservative voice in Congress”, said Sheriff Conway.

“Obviously, I am thrilled that Sheriff Conway is on board my campaign. I look forward to continuing to fight, shoulder to shoulder with him for improved public safety in Gwinnett and to stop the spending madness in Washington”, said Cox.

Categories: Politics

At least she resigned

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 10:51

News for your morning.

A judge accused of allowing underage drinking at her home has resigned her post, Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin told the AJC.

Cobb County Sheriff’s Department Diane Busch, a magistrate judge in Marietta and Woodstock, faces 10 counts of furnishing alcohol to those under 21.

Diane Busch, an attorney who served as a magistrate judge in Marietta and Woodstock, faces 10 counts of furnishing alcohol to those under 21, Officer Joe Hernandez with Cobb County police told the AJC. Busch faces additional charges for contributing to the delinquency of minors and obstruction, Hernandez said.

And before we get into discussions of lowering the drinking age to 18, the minors in question were under 18. Bush, by the way, works in Senator Wiles’ law office and it seems she is the person who supplied the alcohol that got the Senator’s son in trouble.

Categories: Politics

I don’t have a problem with this

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 09:20

From the AJC

“The Department of Transportation says it costs $400 to do each of the safety inspections the fee [$10] — unchanged since 1978 — is supposed to fund.”

This is a good chance for the General Assembly to do two things – one determine if we should even be licensing this at all, and if not cut spending by eliminating the staff who do the licensing, or two – set the fees to match the cost so the rest of us aren’t subsidizing it.

I’d even suggest a third option which is to create enabling legislation to allow the department heads to set the fees as they see fit (with review from the General Assembly) and then cut out all financial support for the activity from the general appropriations bills.

There is no reason my tax dollars need to go subsidize the gun nuts who want to get a dealers license, but don’t want to pay the costs themselves.

Fees that have no relationship to the costs of providing the service is the same as “From each according to their ability to pay, to each according to their political connections”.

Categories: Politics

Will the taxpayers’ protectors keep their pledge?

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 09:00

As the Georgia General Assembly comes back into session today at the state capitol, there will be a lot of talk about tax increases to help ease budget cuts that legislators are forced to make after years of over-spending. Fortunately for us, there are many legislators that have signed a pledge to “vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”

You can read their names below the fold.

Senate Members

• Ronnie Chance (SD-16)
• Jeff Chapman (SD-3)
• John Douglas (SD-17)
• Greg Goggans (SD-7)
• Johnny Grant (SD-25)
• Lee Hawkins (SD-49)
• Bill Heath (SD-31)
• Judson Hill (SD-32)
• Ralph T. Hudgens (SD-47)
• Bill Jackson (SD-24)
• Jack Murphy (SD-27)
• Chip Rogers (SD-21), caucus chair
• Mitch Seabaugh (SD-28)
• Preston W. Smith (SD-52)
• Cecil Staton (SD-18)
• Renee S. Unterman (SD-45)
• John J. Wiles (SD-37)
• Tommie Williams (SD-19)

House Members

• Amos Amerson (HD-9)
• Timothy Bearden (HD-68)
• J. Mark Burkhalter (HD-50)
• John Mark Butler (HD-18)
• Charlice Byrd (HD-20)
• Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (HD-159)
• David Casas (HD-103)
• Jill Chambers (HD-81)
• Mike Coan (HD-101)
• Brooks Coleman (HD-97)
• Sharon Cooper (HD-41)
• Clay Cox (HD-102)
• Steve Davis (HD-109)
• Katie Dempsey (HD-13)
• Matt Dollar (HD-45)
• Melvin Everson (HD-106)
• Bobby Franklin (HD-43)
• Mark Hamilton (HD-23)
• Ben Harbin (HD-118)
• Michael Harden (HD-28)
• John Mark Hatfield (HD-177)
• Bill Hembree (HD-67)
• Calvin Hill (HD-21)
• Billy Horne (HD-71)
• Penny Houston (HD-170)
• Sheila Jones (HD-44)
• Sean Jerguson (HD-22)
• Jerry Keen (HD-179)
• Barry Loudermilk (HD-14)
• John Lunsford (HD-110)
• Eugene T. Maddox (HD-172)
• Judith Manning (HD-32)
• Jeff May (HD-111)
• Fran Millar (HD-79)
• James Mills (HD-25)
• Billy Mitchell (HD-88)
• Larry O’Neal (HD-146)
• Allan Peake (HD-137)
• Alan Powell (HD-29)
• David Ralston (HD-7)
• Bobby Reese (HD-98)
• Tom Rice (HD-51)
• Carl Rogers (HD-26)
• Ed Rynders (HD-152)
• Martin Scott (HD-2), caucus chair
• Donna Sheldon (HD-105)
• Barbara Sims (HD-119)
• Bob Smith (HD-113)
• Len Walker (HD-107)
• Mark Williams (HD-178)
• John P. Yates (HD-73)

Categories: Politics

General Assembly back in session tomorrow

Georgia Legislative Watch - Sun, 03/07/2010 - 21:33

The next 20 days are not going to be pretty: Lawmakers took a two-week recess after the 20th day of the 40-day session to allow key committees to work without distractions. “It was what the Navy calls a stand-down,” said Rep. Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs, chairman of the House Ethics Committee. “Sometimes it’s necessary so you can [...]

Categories: Politics

Ox Back At The Oscars?

Peach Pundit - Sun, 03/07/2010 - 17:14

Well, tonight marks yet another round of Oscar awards for the lib’ral Hollywood elite to pat themselves on the back for solving global warming, eliminating poverty in the third world, and adopting a child from every continent. And, when you think of the Oscars, what icon of Georgia politics do we all think of? That’s right, my main man John Oxendine.

We all know Ox has a history with the Oscars, but I was worried that Ox might not get to go this year because of his souring relationship with Dr. Jeffery Gallups. You don’t remember Dr. G? He’s the dude that bundled over $100K in family contributions to Oxendine’s campaign, and took him to the Oscars not once, but twice. He also took Ox hunting and lived to tell about it. Must be a brave man.

But, the worry for Ox at this year’s Oscars appears to be over. According to the following memo that may OR MAY NOT be from the Ox’s campaign, it looks like plans to attend this year’s Oscars are in full force:

To: Illustrious cultists staffers of the John Oxendine for King Of The World Governor

From: Your Godlike Tweeter In Chief

Subject: While I’m hangin’ with Elton

I’ll be too busy partying it up with my Hollywood peeps to take care of many things this weekend, so here’s a few instructions for Oscar weekend:

1) James Cameron is likely to win big, so please make sure we get a good tweet off. Something like “Congrats to Cameron for a worthy Best Picture Nomination. We’re pulling for Titanic all the way”

2) Remember if anyone asks, we refunded the cost of our travel to our stooge major contributor. We have already lost the documentation for this, right? Hahahaha.

3) If anyone back home asks why I’m hanging at a party with a major advocate for gay rights, please be sure to tell them how much I’m against gay rights. Unless they’re for them. Remember, just like you guys answer the Sunday Sales issue, please make sure all staffers who get questions on my position tell whomever is asking that I agree with their position, and they should ask me personally about it. Just make sure I know which answer they want to hear before they ask me. This telling different people different things can get confusing.

4) Hey, how about another tweet? Don’t we have a best actress nomination for a Southerner who filmed a large part of her movie in Georgia this year? Tweet “Best of Luck to Sally Field for her role in Smokey and The Bandit” at some point.

5) It’s Sunday, so if any of you didn’t plan ahead, just get an insurance exec to take you to an early dinner. Make sure you take a bottle of wine or two home with you. To make sure you look like a real connoisseur, don’t order anything under $600 a bottle. Don’t worry, it will taste just like the stuff we get at Trader Joe’s.

O.K., that’s all for now. If Westmoreland calls, be sure to tell him I’m at the Oscars and he’s not. If he wants to be here next year, tell him to play ball next time.

XOXO,

OX

Categories: Politics

Gonzo Lawmakers - Day 20

Drifting Through The Grift - Sun, 03/07/2010 - 13:20

A daily recap of the Georgia Public Broadcasting show "Lawmakers". The show airs weekdays at 7:00pm with a replay at 5:30am the following weekday.

* Let's do the time warp again! This episode was broadcast on Feb. 18th. Tomorrow the legislatures returns, Lawmakers returns and Gonzo returns on a regular basis. I promise. Now on with the show.

* It's the weekly recap show and that means Project Tom Crawford!

* Valerie on the set again. No mention of Nwandi this time. That can't be good. And Valerie missed a camera transition. There's some bad juju in the air.

* Sen. Jack Hill talks about looking under the mattress for money. Told you they're desperate.

* Oh boy. They're going to tackle the Board of Regents. That's going to be one hella nasty fight.

* Snappy yellow suit on Valerie. Matches the 70s themed set. Cut me some slack. It's the weekend recap. It's all about the fashion. One day your in and the next, you're out.

* Scowling house clerks! The streak continues!

* It's all about the adjournment. Which already happened. Democrats didn't want to take the break. That's something I didn't know.

* Love the necklace Susan. More fashion. I'm also getting caught up on Project Runway.

* We have to talk about fashion cause lord knows, the last day before the ADJOURNMENT not a lot got done.

* Tape monster is back!

* Rep. Steve Davis (R-Land Of Endless Pavement) wants to restructure the Atlanta Regional Commission. His amendment was ruled not germane. I wish I could rule the nightmare that is the Hudson Bridge Rd. exit not germane.

* The Senate debated a bill about mobile homes. For an hour. Good lord. And it was sponsored by Sen. John Bulloch who's from down my way. The jokes just write themselves.

* The Non-Civil Committee. Awesome name. And we get Lara Fawaz at Hogwarts for a report. Fixing the law to cut off the loophole that allows student-teacher relations (in the Biblican sense). Barry Loudermilk wants to ban abortion based on race. Democrat Stacy Abrams points out just how insane this thing is. If a woman mentions race and the doctor performs the abortion, the doctor is a criminal. Seriously. Have they lost their minds?

* Good job Lara. Where's Keocia? Has Channel 46 already hired her?

* Project Tom Crawford! Oh Tom! A checked shirt with a striped tie? And it appears Tom is determined to bring the 70s back. I swear the tie is gold with black stripes. Can someone from The Men's Warehouse save this man? I feel all wobbly just looking at that thing.

* There are far too many mentions of "gaping holes". Sounds dirty.

* Tom points out the only big pool of money left is the University system. You think politics is nasty these days? Just wait until that fight starts.

* We're going to raid the sewer funding. We're literally up sh*t creek.

* Working Family Caucus or something. And there's Nan Orrock. I could have put money on her being there. Democrats for tax reform? Closing tax loopholes? How about that! Too bad they didn't act this way when they were in power. Oh and of course they want to raise taxes. Duh.

* Lawmaker flashback! 1985. Angulique Proctor was an anchor! I believe she went on to report for one of the big boy TeeVee stations. They're debating gasoline sales which is about as boring as it gets. This was back in the day when they were called filling stations. Young Steve Thompson! Well, not exactly. That sucker hasn't changed a bit. And I won't even get into the deal with his hair.

* Protest of the day and that means Alan Freedman. The advocates for vouchers braved the chilly weather. They even have a rabbi! How refreshing. In a weird sort of way. Now in the committee meeting and there's former WSB reporter Bill Nigut! He's a big old liberal, so he doesn't like vouchers. I once danced the Hora with him. How many south Georgia rednecks can say that!

* Ricky Bevington and her BOOK OF DOOM! Georgia is getting no transportation stimlus funds and the chyron reads "No Stimulus For You". One of the interns has a sense of humor. Rejection, rejection, rejection. Tiger Woods? What the hell does this have to do with Georgia? Oh, The Masters of course. A rockslide closed a highway in north Georgia. We're back to Revelations style news updates.

* And we're off for the ADJOURNMENT, but with the magic of the internet, I've brought you up to current. So we start all over again tomorrow. But for now, that's a wrap!

Categories: Politics

Georgia Gang 3/07/10

Peach Pundit - Sun, 03/07/2010 - 09:14

Comment using the console below or via Twitter using the hashtag #gagang.

Georgia Gang 3/07/10

Categories: Politics

Gonzo Lawmakers - Day 19

Drifting Through The Grift - Sat, 03/06/2010 - 13:24

A daily recap of the Georgia Public Broadcasting show "Lawmakers". The show airs weekdays at 7:00pm with a replay at 5:30am the following weekday

* Still in the time warp. This is from 2-17-10

* Nwandi still missing in action! Valerie back on the set.

* The Senate passes legistlation to prevent fraudulent insurance discounts. We didn't already have this?! Seth Harp says a grand a day is "chicken feed". He actually used the term "one blamed thang". He's pretty fired up. He's not running for Insurance Commissioner or anything is he? Naw. That couldn't have anything to do with it.

* Private ownership of public water? This sounds fraught with danger.

* Laura Fawaz at Hogwarts!

* This little nightmare bill is in committee. Chip Pearson wants to apply DOT language to the water controls. Of course the hippie river keepers are agin it. I have to say throwing building resevoirs into the private sector does give me a small case of the willies.

* Forest land protection act. My ears just perked up! This is about covenants of connservation. I let mine lapse a few years ago because of the potential fines and penalties if I ever sold. They are trying to shift that burden to the purchaser. Would have been nice if this thing had passed when I needed it.

* Scowling house clerks! The streak continues!

* Pilot program to allow the Secretary of State to transmit electronic ballots for our service men and women overseas. Interesting idea. It's not budgeted so we'd have to find grant money (meaning the Feds).

* Fulton County Taxpayers Association at some committee meeting. They're always riled up. That was the briefest clip ever. Valerie says we'll hear more in the future.

* Budget discussion with the Georgia Public Policy Foundation and and the Georgia Budget Policy Institute. The wonkiness is overwhelming. Bottom line. We ain't got no money.

* Harry Geisinger wants horse racing! I want casinos! More sin equals more money! Let the good times roll. We're getting a lesson in how pari-muteuel gambling works. I surprised the rafters of Hogwarts aren't crumbling

* Apparently Susan called Farriers - Ferrets. Good thing there isn't one nearby or she might have got a horseshoe upside the head.

* Rep. Matt Ramsey wants to increase penalties for harming court officers. He used a sports metaphor about penalties being harsher for striking the official. And this has Rep. Bobby Franklin (R - Crazyland) all riled up. He says it sends the wrong message that regular people of Georgia are less important than state employees. He just called judges state employees costumed in a robe. My god, can he get any more bat guano insane?

* Hospital tax is in sub-committee and it appears everyone in the state other than Governor Perdue hates this thing.

* Sen. Buddy Carter introduced his first piece of legislation and that means hazing! And it's about new drugs. Oh this is going to be good. They're making him pronounce the chemical names of the drugs. Oh, are they such cards! It actually is pretty funny and Valerie just flat out lost it. She can't stop laughing.

* Lawmakers flashback! Increase the Governor's pension. Ol' Gov Busbee claimed that term limits qualified as "involuntary separation" and thus a higher pension. Now that's some fine grifting. And there's a young Paul Coverdell. God rest his kind soul. They used old Lester Maddox to draw sympathy for the measure. Only in Georgia.

* Valerie is still giggling.

* Larry Platt! Pants On The Ground! HE'S IN THE SPEAKERS SPOT OF THE HOUSE! SINGING HIS SONG! The Republicans look horrified! Valerie is losing it again!

* Ricky Bevington and her BOOK OF DOOM! Morris News is in bankruptcy. No streetcars for Atlanta. And we lost one of Georgia's brave sons in the conflict overseas. Gay parade in Augusta gets the go ahead from a judge.

* Valerie's still giggling.

* Susan has to talk over the closing music. They are really running tight these days.Tomorrow we get to play Project Tom Crawford, but for now, that's a wrap!

Categories: Politics