News and Political Feed

Legislative News Round-Up for March 22nd

Georgia Legislative Watch - Mon, 03/22/2010 - 12:16

The General Assembly is meeting today for Day 28 of the session. They’ll meet tomorrow, take Wednesday off and come back for a marathon Crossover Day on Day 30. We’ll be live-blogging that here throughout the day on Thursday. - Georgia lawmakers try to meet deadline Walter Jones, Morris News Service - In the Georgia Legislature, the [...]

Categories: Politics

Georgia Supreme Court rules limit on malpractice damages is unconstitutional

Creative Loafing - Mon, 03/22/2010 - 12:05

Decision stems from 2007 case of real estate agent who sued Fulton County cosmetic surgery provider

Categories: Atlanta News

Life In The 4th

Drifting Through The Grift - Mon, 03/22/2010 - 11:10

Living in the 4th Congressional District, voting in the Republican primary is about as useful as shoeing a goat. Having voted in the Democratic primary for the past 20 years, I take quite a bit of ribbing from Democrats about my declared independent status. My usual response is since Elaine Boyer is the only Dekalb Republican ever seriously challenged, I'm pretty sure she's got it covered without me.

All changes in July.

For the first time since I've been a resident of Georgia's third largest county, the Republican primary is far more interesting. More importantly, all the Democrats are in relatively safe seats or are heading to a foregone conclusion.

For these reasons, I will pull the Elephant's ticket this summer.

And I've narrowed my choices on candidate for Governor down to two. I'll leave you to speculate which they are.

Categories: Politics

Ninth Congressional District Special Election Update

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/22/2010 - 10:55

I am getting reports that Governor Perdue is setting the special election to replace Congressman Nathan Deal on April 27th. Story developing…

Categories: Politics

Lawmakers: Day 27

Georgia Legislative Watch - Mon, 03/22/2010 - 10:37

On Day 27, Lawmakers covers a ban on texting while driving, the transportation sales tax proposal and more.

Categories: Politics

Georgia Association of College Republicans Convention

Peach Pundit - Mon, 03/22/2010 - 07:52

ATLANTA, GA – The Georgia Association of College Republicans will be holding their annual convention at the State Capitol on April 17, 2010.  Student activists from across the state are expected to attend in order to select new officers for the coming year and have the opportunity to meet prominent Republican officials and representatives. Several state-wide officials and candidates are likely to address the convention and Herman Cain has already been confirmed to deliver the keynote address.

“Herman Cain has a tremendous following in the Conservative community and he has always reached out to young activists. We are honored to have him deliver the keynote address to College Republican leaders from across Georgia” says GACR Chairman Jade Morey.

The Georgia Association of College Republicans annual convention will be held in the House Chamber of the Georgia State Capitol beginning at 1:00pm. Herman Cain is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at 3:00pm. The convention is open to the general public.

Herman Cain is President and CEO of THE New Voice, Inc., a business consulting company. He hosts the radio talk show “The Herman Cain Show” which airs on News Talk 750 WSB – Atlanta from Monday – Friday, 7pm-10pm. He is also a FOX News Business Commentator and Columnist with World Net Daily.

The Georgia Association of College Republicans, an organization representing thousands of college students across Georgia, is the Georgia affiliate of the College Republican National Committee.GACR strives to promote the ideals of the Republican Party and build the student grassroots effort.

Categories: Politics

Deal Resigns

Peach Pundit - Sun, 03/21/2010 - 23:40

Deal just resigned from the House of Representatives. Effective immediately at 11:45pm.

Categories: Politics

Note To Candidates Who are “Outraged”

Peach Pundit - Sun, 03/21/2010 - 22:49

Yeah, we get it.

You’re a Republican running for office (a state office) who is against Health Care Reform.

And thus, you all have a press release.

If you’re not currently elected, and you’re not currently in a place to do anything about it (i.e, being the sitting Attorney General or in a Congressional Office), it’s not news. You’re not getting a front page post.

You want your press release posted, post it below.

Categories: Politics

Live-Blog w/ United Liberty: House votes on ObamaCare

Peach Pundit - Sun, 03/21/2010 - 13:19

Join us for a live blog on ObamaCare with United Liberty starting at 1:30pm today.

House votes on ObamaCare

Categories: Politics

Austin Scott Making A Move?

Peach Pundit - Sun, 03/21/2010 - 12:55

With early polls relatively meaningless, the only real ranking we have for candidates at this stage essentially boils down to conventional wisdom. And conventional wisdom throughout this Governor’s race has been that Austin Scott has a comfortable grip on 5th place. Ahead of Jeff Chapman and Ray McBerry, but not threatening the leaders of Oxendine, Handel, Deal, and Johnson.

In fact, some polls have not included Scott at all, but those that have
generally have him in a battle for Johnson at forth place. With Johnson having a distinct fundraising advantage, most observers seem content with the reality that Johnson will be the one that moves up if and when the others above falter.

With relatively low name ID among metro Atlanta voters, Scott will have to rely on earned media to get his message out, as he is not allowed to raise funds during the general assembly session like 3 of the top 4 candidates may.

Scott was able to generate a significant amount of name ID and good will in rural areas with his “Walk of Georgia”, but this event was largely ignored by Atlanta media, and scoffed at here (myself included).

In order to generate earned media, a candidate must stand out in some way. Ray McBerry generates earned media by being fringe secessionist. John Oxendine does so by constantly topping the lastest and greatest stupid thing he did last week. Austin Scott is now doing so by delivering short, straight answers to debate questions while challenging the status quo.

Earlier this week, the Fayette Daily News editor, Trey Alverson, gave Austin props for his performance in the GA Tech College Republican’s Governor’s forum:

After Deal, Handel, Eric Johnson and Oxendine meandered their way through a question about whether or not Sunday alcohol sales should go on the ballot as a statewide referendum (all four said yes, in some roundabout way), Scott grabbed the microphone.

“I’m going to give a direct answer: yes. I support the referendum,” he said. “This is what you can expect from me as your governor: straightforward, honest answers.”

Scott is a good candidate. He has refused to accept campaign contributions from lobbyists. Instead he raised money for his governor’s bid by literally walking around the state — over 1,000 miles from Chickamauga to Bainbridge to Brunswick to Clayton.

For those that scoff at local newspaper endorsements, I would posit that in Republican vote-rich suburban/exurban areas, they are often the opinion that matters on politics. But for those that would like to see evidence that Scott is moving into the eye of larger media organizations, I point to Kyle Wingfield at the AJC:

“But he’s running for governor. And even if you end up voting for someone else — as I may well do myself — you ought to know about him. At the very least, he brings a different voice to the Republican primary.

In some ways, Scott is a stock character in politics: The candidate who won’t promise too much; who pledges to shoot straight about government’s limitations; who describes a campaign and administration at arm’s length from lobbyists.

And who never breaks 5 percent in the opinion polls or the eventual election.

Yet this might be the year for such a character to seize a leading role.”

Austin Scott still faces an uphill battle for one of the two spots in a runoff. It would be helpful to him if Rasmussen and other credible polling firms would include him in their surveys. Those and fundraising are the only ways we have to “keep score”, and without having the legal ability to raise funds, a lack of polling prohibits any objective measure of score keeping.

But for the tea leaves we do have, it does appear that Austin is getting the attention of the Atlanta media. This is the best path he has available to reach the average voter.

Categories: Politics

Dear Georgia Legislature

Peach Pundit - Sun, 03/21/2010 - 09:26

While you are twiddling thumbs with nothing better to do (kidding), how about passing a resolution like this:

Resolved that the State of Georgia requests two-thirds of her sister states to compel the Congress of the United States to convene a constitutional convention to consider the following amendment: the Congress shall compel no person to enter into a commercial transaction, shall compel no state to compel a person to enter into a commercial transaction through the giving or withholding of federal tax receipts, and the Congress shall have no control, power, or regulatory ability over insurance products. Further, the Congress shall be prohibited from creating a health insurance program in competition with the private sector or the several states.

Categories: Politics

Georgia Gang Live Blog 03/21/2010

Peach Pundit - Sun, 03/21/2010 - 08:24

Live Blog Georgia Gang (03/21/2010)

Categories: Politics

Bank Failure Friday Gets Three More GA Institutions

Peach Pundit - Sat, 03/20/2010 - 15:14

We know the routine all too well. Three more Georgia banks were among the seven closed nationwide yesterday by the FDIC.

Closed were the Appalachian Community Bank in Ellijay, Bank of Hiawassee in Hiawassee, and Century Security Bank in Duluth.

Disposition of the assets of the banks is as follows, according to the AP:

– Community & Southern Bank of Carrollton, Ga., agreed to assume the deposits and assets of Appalachian Community Bank. The bank had $1 billion in assets and about $917.6 million in deposits. The cost to the insurance fund is expected to be $419.3 million.

– Citizens South Bank of Gastonia, N.C., will assume the deposits and assets of Bank of Hiawassee. Bank of Hiawassee had about $377.8 million in assets and $339.6 million in deposits. The failure is expected to cost the insurance fund $137.7 million.

– Bank of Upson, based in Thomaston, Ga., agreed to assume the assets and deposits of Century Security Bank, which had $96.5 million in assets and $94 million in deposits. It is expected to cost the insurance fund $29.9 million.

Categories: Politics

Flip the Birds

Peach Pundit - Sat, 03/20/2010 - 14:57

There are some people in our fair state that believe the Brown Thrasher, our current state bird, doesn’t represent Georgia to the fullest and deserves a change.

Nothing official has been proposed yet, but this is entertaining nonetheless. I believe Georgia’s NHL team might have a problem with changing its name. Consider this your “Spring is Here” OPEN THREAD on this beautiful Saturday.

Categories: Politics

Commentary: Budget Task Force Recommends Slate of State Efficiencies

Georgia Legislative Watch - Fri, 03/19/2010 - 12:22

The following commentary was written by Mike Klein for the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. The GPPF publishes a column weekly, it can be found here. Fewer state government employees, lower salaries, reduced benefit packages and a possible sales tax increase on “selected services” are among about four dozen proposals that a state Senate budget task force [...]

Categories: Politics

Legislative News Round-Up for March 18th

Georgia Legislative Watch - Thu, 03/18/2010 - 17:57

The legislature will meet on Tuesday, March 23rd for Day 28 of the session. Crossover Day is Thursday, March 30th. We’re going to be in for a busy week. – Ga. Jobless Rate A New Record High Edgar Treiguts, Georgia Public Broadcasting - House approves measure to strengthen sales tax collection Nancy Badertscher, Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Ralston [...]

Categories: Politics

Legislative leaders announce plans to form tax reform committee

Georgia Legislative Watch - Thu, 03/18/2010 - 17:47

Legislative leaders, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Speaker David Ralston, House Majority Leader Jerry Keen and Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, announced plans to create the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians (HB 1405), which could lead to a substantial overhaul of the state’s tax system. Part 1: Part 2:

Categories: Politics