Georgia Politics Unfiltered

• Guest Blogger: State Sen. Nan Orrock

  Reducing the Nuclear Risk
  
  By Nan Orrock
  
  When President Obama accepts the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, it is an opportunity to articulate a new international direction, away from nuclear proliferation, away from nuclear tests, and away from loose materials and increased risk. Hopefully, [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 10:03am EST
  

• Libertarian Joins Race For U.S. Senate In 2010

  SWGA Politics points to a campaign announcement from Libertarian Senate candidate Chuck Donovan. Donovan cited dissatisfaction with the Democratic and Republican parties as his main reason for mounting a bid next year.
  
  "Our country, particularly our dollar, is in crisis. The poor leadership and misdirection delivered by" [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 7:21am EST
  

• Isakson: "I've signed up for Medicare"

  In a new video posted on his campaign website, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson told viewers that the health care reform bill being pushed by Democrats is "bad for taxes and bad for business."
  
  Isakson also noted that he recently signed up for Medicare. Isakson turns 65 later this month [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 6:37am EST
  

• Bipartisan Opposition Kills Afghanistan War Tax

  Last week, President Obama announced an additional 30,000 troops would be sent to Afghanistan as part of the efforts to combat al-Qaeda, the Taliban and terrorism. Days later, Congressman David R. Obey (D - Wisconsin) proposed the increase in troops be funded with a 1% war tax.
  
  Obey, who [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 5:55am EST
  

• Call It Irony. . .Obama Picks Up Peace Prize After Sending More Troops To War

  President Barack Obama is in Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize bestowed upon him only after a short time in office.
  
  While attending the Peace Prize Signing Ceremony Thursday, Obama commented that he was honored to be awarded the prize and congratulated the Nobel Committee for the work [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 4:30am EST
  

• Athens Rated The Dumbest College Town In America

  The Daily Beast, a news and opinion website that features commentary from the daughter of U.S. Senator John McCain, rolled out its list of the twenty-five smartest (and dumbest) college towns in America. And where does Athens, home of the University of Georgia, rank? At the bottom with the [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 1:21pm EST
  

• Report: Georgia Ranks Dead Last In Preventing Kids From Smoking

  Georgia ranks 50th in the nation in funding programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, according to a national report released today by a coalition of public health organizations.
  
  Georgia currently spends $3.2 million a year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is 2.7 percent [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 12:53pm EST
  

• Newly Elected Warner Robins Mayor Gets Hefty Pay Raise

  File this in the "To the victor goes the spoils" folder.
  
  Chuck Shaheen, the newly elected mayor of Warner Robins, recently got some good news from the middle Georgia city's governing body. He'll be getting a $50,000 raise.
  

  Warner Robins Mayor-elect Chuck Shaheen may not know what the next' [...]

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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 10:43am EST
  

• Veteran Columnist Says Johnson's Gubernatorial Hopes Effectively Over

  Dick Yarbrough, a long-time Georgia political columnist, says the lingering stench from the ethics problems of former House Speaker Glenn Richardson may end up irreparably tarnishing the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Eric Johnson.If, as Yarbrough suggests, it was common knowledge around the Gold Dome that Glenn Richardson was tip-toeing through [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 9:29am EST
  

• Tommie Williams Named Legislator Of The Year By Consumer Rights Group

  Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams (R - Lyons) was named Legislator of the Year by consumer rights organization Georgia Watch for "battling the interests of big business and speaking up for the average Georgian."
  
  "Sen. Williams worked closely with Georgia Watch to assure pro-consumer provisions were implemented" [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 2:33am EST
  

• Hank Johnson: Use TARP Funds To Create Jobs

  Tuesday, Congressman Hank Johnson (D - Georgia) introduced a resolution urging the House to allocate unspent Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to create jobs.
  
  “With unemployment in Atlanta and the nation stubbornly above 10 percent, we must do more to create jobs,” said Johnson. “Tapping unspent TARP funds [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 2:05am EST
  

• Kingston To Introduce Legislation Auditing Use Of Stimulus Dollars

  With media reports indicating major discrepancies and inaccuracies on the government web page tracking the use of stimulus funds, Congressman Jack Kingston (R - Georgia) is calling for an audit and is co-sponsoring legislation to achieve that goal.
  
  Kingston, along with South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson and Indiana Congressman [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 1:34am EST
  

• Don't Expect Dems To Capitalize On The Republicans' Recent Struggles

  Thanks to the questionable ethics of the soon-to-be former Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R - Hiram), the state Democratic Party has been given a chance to make good government a major issue in the 2010 campaign.
  
  However, if recent history is any guide, don't expect Georgia Democrats to' [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 11:37pm EST
  

• Strippers, Nudity, Tips Ok'd In Forest Park

  In the south metro city of Forest Park, the city council narrowly repealed a ban on nudity and tips for strippers within the municipality's borders.

  The Forest Park city council approved an amendment Monday that throws out the rules banning nudity and tipping. By a vote of three to two, [...]

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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 6:26am EST
  

• Kasim Reed: No New Taxes Without Voter Approval

  Fresh off his victory in the Atlanta run-off election, Mayor-elect Kasim Reed promised that he would not raise taxes without voter approval.

  During his first news conference since winning the mayor’s office last week, Reed said providing adequate funding for public safety will be his top priority. But if he can’t [...]

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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 5:38am EST
  

• Secretary of State Candidate Takes Campaign To Albany

  Meet Michael Mills.
  
  According to his campaign profile, Mills served as a legislative aide to former Secretary of State Lewis Massey before working on Mark Taylor's bid for Lt. Governor in 1998.
  
  Michael Mills is seeking to re-claim the Secretary of State's office for the Democratic Party. However, [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 4:57am EST
  

• Congressman Hank Johnson Discloses Illness In Statement

  Monday afternoon, Congressman Hank Johnson (D - Georgia) released the following statement concerning the treatment of the two-term lawmaker for Hepatitis C:

  “Over the past year, I have been on a robust course of treatment for hepatitis C (HCV), a virus that affects more than four million Americans. I am pleased [...]

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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 4:04pm EST
  

• Shirley Franklin Hosting Holiday Reception For Roy Barnes

  For a minimum of $250, a person could join soon-to-be former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin at a holiday reception for Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Roy Barnes.
  
  The fundraiser, scheduled for December 14th at Twelve Atlantic Station, lists a host committee that features former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, DeKalb County Commissioners [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 1:40pm EST
  

• AirTran Employees Reject Union Representation

  Last week, the customer service, ramp and Reservations agents for AirTran Airways rejected representation by the International Association of Machinists (IAM).
  
  The National Mediation Board (NMB) notified AirTran Airways, December 2nd, that they dismissed the IAM's petition for a representation election because the group failed to garner the required [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 6:58am EST
  

• Local Democrat Says GOP Has No Health Care Alternative (And Gets It Wrong)

  "[U.S. Congressman Paul Broun is]just opposed. He's what I call a ‘Republican no.’ He just says ‘no’ and he does not present any real alternative, nor do the Republicans to the bill Democrats have come out with."

  Those are the words of Richmond County Democratic Party Chairman Lowell Greenbaum speaking at [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 5:17am EST
  

• Jane Kidd U.S. Senate Campaign Encouraged By Howard Dean

  In a diary appearing on the liberal-leaning blog Daily Kos, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee had an encouraging word for Georgia Democratic Party chief Jane Kidd.
  
  
  
  The diarist, using the moniker "Draft Jane Kidd", wrote the following describing the encounter between [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 4:53am EST
  

• Ralph Hudgens: I Want To Continue Oxendine's Good Work

  State Senator Ralph Hudgens (R - Hull) says if he becomes Georgia's next Insurance Commissioner, he'll continue the "good work" done by incumbent John Oxendine. Hudgens, who chairs the Senate Insurance & Labor Committee, is one of ten candidates that have filed papers with the State Ethics Commission to begin' [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 4:26am EST
  

• Four Candidates Qualify For Augusta State Senate Seat

  Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel announced the close of candidate qualifying for the Special Elections to fill state Senate District 22 on Friday, December 4, 2009 at noon.
  
  The 22nd district seat formerly held by Ed Tarver became vacant after the U.S. Senate confirmed Tarver as a United [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 1:59pm EST
  

• Westmoreland: Democrats Impose Grim Tax Reaper

  United States Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R - Georgia) opposed the re-implementation of the estate tax (aka “death tax”), which passed the House Thursday.
  
  “There are almost too many problems with this legislation to count,” Westmoreland said. “It’s a double tax on income that’s already been taxed, it’s a potential [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 10:23am EST
  

• Five Georgians Co-Sponsor Federal Balanced Budget Amendment

  A balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution should not be a point of contention for any Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or independent. Unfortunately for this country's fiscal future, it is.
  
  On January 6th, 113 members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced H.J.RES.1 proposing a balanced budget amendment [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Five Georgians Co-Sponsor Federal Balanced Budget Amendment

  A balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution should not be a point of contention for any Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or independent. Unfortunately for this country's fiscal future, it is.
  
  On January 6th, 113 members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced H.J.RES.1 proposing a balanced budget amendment [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Weekend Voting Bill Introduced In U.S. Senate

  Yesterday, on the first day of the 111th Congress, one hundred forty-three bills were introduced in the United States Senate including one by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl that would move federal election day from the first Tuesday in November to the first weekend in November.
  
  "Holding our Federal [...]
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  Posted: January 07, 2009, 2:02pm EST
  

• Weekend Voting Bill Introduced In U.S. Senate

  Yesterday, on the first day of the 111th Congress, one hundred forty-three bills were introduced in the United States Senate including one by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl that would move federal election day from the first Tuesday in November to the first weekend in November.
  
  "Holding our Federal" [...]
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  Posted: January 07, 2009, 2:02pm EST
  

• Georgia State Government Lets The Sunshine In

  "Not one person born in Georgia that day would try to close the door on open government in Georgia, but Sonny did."
  
  Those are my words.
  
  I first spoke those words at the 2006 Georgia Democratic State Convention as part of my case for why Gov. Perdue [...]
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  Posted: January 06, 2009, 10:00am EST
  

• Georgia State Government Lets The Sunshine In

  "Not one person born in Georgia that day would try to close the door on open government in Georgia, but Sonny did."
  
  Those are my words.
  
  I first spoke those words at the 2006 Georgia Democratic State Convention as part of my case for why Gov. Perdue [...]
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  Posted: January 06, 2009, 10:00am EST
  

• So Help Me God. . .

  "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
  
  -Article Two, Section 1, Clause 8, United States Constitution
  
  Rumor has [...]
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  Posted: January 06, 2009, 8:00am EST
  

• So Help Me God. . .

  "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
  
  -Article Two, Section 1, Clause 8, United States Constitution
  
  Rumor has [...]
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  Posted: January 06, 2009, 8:00am EST
  

• Poythress Reports Raising $300,000 At The End Of 2008

  In message sent to members of his campaign's Facebook group, David Poythress announced that he raised $300,000 for his gubernatorial campaign including more than $70,000 after the December 2nd U.S. Senate run-off election.
  
  "Contributions came from a wide cross-section of Georgia including Republicans, Democrats, Unaffiliated voters, North/South/Central Georgia, [...]
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  Posted: January 05, 2009, 2:55pm EST
  

• Poythress Reports Raising $300,000 At The End Of 2008

  In message sent to members of his campaign's Facebook group, David Poythress announced that he raised $300,000 for his gubernatorial campaign including more than $70,000 after the December 2nd U.S. Senate run-off election.
  
  "Contributions came from a wide cross-section of Georgia including Republicans, Democrats, Unaffiliated voters, North/South/Central Georgia," [...]
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  Posted: January 05, 2009, 2:55pm EST
  

• A Primer For The 35th State Senate District

  State Sen. Kasim Reed is running for Mayor of Atlanta and whether he wins or loses, there is one absolute certainty. . .
  
  . . . Reed will have to give up his seat in the state Senate the day he qualifies as a mayoral candidate later on this [...]
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  Posted: January 05, 2009, 12:19pm EST
  

• A Primer For The 35th State Senate District

  State Sen. Kasim Reed is running for Mayor of Atlanta and whether he wins or loses, there is one absolute certainty. . .
  
  . . . Reed will have to give up his seat in the state Senate the day he qualifies as a mayoral candidate later on this [...]
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  Posted: January 05, 2009, 12:19pm EST
  

• Suddenly That Trip To Vegas Makes More Sense

  ClayCo Sheriff Victor "Walking Small" Hill is bankrupt; not morally or politically, but financially bankrupt.
  
  Outgoing Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill filed for bankruptcy during his last week in office.
  
  Hill, who ends his single term at midnight Wednesday, filed suit Tuesday in U.S. District Court, claiming he [...]
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  Posted: January 01, 2009, 10:45am EST
  

• Suddenly That Trip To Vegas Makes More Sense

  ClayCo Sheriff Victor "Walking Small" Hill is bankrupt; not morally or politically, but financially bankrupt.
  
  Outgoing Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill filed for bankruptcy during his last week in office.
  
  Hill, who ends his single term at midnight Wednesday, filed suit Tuesday in U.S. District Court, claiming he [...]
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  Posted: January 01, 2009, 10:45am EST
  

• I'm taking a blogger break for the holidays...

  ...so I hope you all have a very merry Christmas, and I'll be back to posting sometime next week.
  
  But...before I go, I want to leave you with my favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night", by Mariah Carey.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: December 25, 2008, 12:00am EST
  

• I'm taking a blogger break for the holidays...

  ...so I hope you all have a very merry Christmas, and I'll be back to posting sometime next week.
  
  But...before I go, I want to leave you with my favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night", by Mariah Carey.
  
  

  
  

  [...]
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  Posted: December 25, 2008, 12:00am EST
  

• New Report Says Georgia May Gain An Additional Seat In Congress

  This morning, CQ Politics points us to a new report that says if reapportionment were held today, Georgia would gain one additional seat in Congress.
  
  The study, issued by Election Data Services (EDS), predicts that while New Jersey, New York and Michigan would all lose a seat [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 9:15am EST
  

• New Report Says Georgia May Gain An Additional Seat In Congress

  This morning, CQ Politics points us to a new report that says if reapportionment were held today, Georgia would gain one additional seat in Congress.
  
  The study, issued by Election Data Services (EDS), predicts that while New Jersey, New York and Michigan would all lose a seat [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 9:15am EST
  

• Roger Bruce Re-Introduces "Parent Protection Act"

  When the legislature was in session during the first half of 2008, a bipartisan group of legislators including Democrat Roger Bruce and Republican John Lunsford introduced a bill called the "Parent Protection Act."
  
  The bill was described as a supplement to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 7:30am EST
  

• Roger Bruce Re-Introduces "Parent Protection Act"

  When the legislature was in session during the first half of 2008, a bipartisan group of legislators including Democrat Roger Bruce and Republican John Lunsford introduced a bill called the "Parent Protection Act."
  
  The bill was described as a supplement to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 7:30am EST
  

• There's A Recall On Cocoa, Tommy Irvin Says

  Yesterday, it was cold outside, and a nice hot cup of cocoa in front of a roaring fire would have been nice to keep warm.
  
  But if you're a fan of G&J Gourmet Market cocoa products, then your cocoa might be contaminated.
  
  Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 7:00am EST
  

• There's A Recall On Cocoa, Tommy Irvin Says

  Yesterday, it was cold outside, and a nice hot cup of cocoa in front of a roaring fire would have been nice to keep warm.
  
  But if you're a fan of G&J Gourmet Market cocoa products, then your cocoa might be contaminated.
  
  Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is' [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2008, 7:00am EST
  

• Just Days Before Christmas, Santa Has Run-In With The Law

  A cop in New York City might be getting a lump of coal in her stocking this Christmas after writing Santa Claus a ticket for double-parking his SUV next to his sleigh.
  
  Chip Cafiero says he'll fight the $115 ticket he received in Brooklyn on Black Friday when he [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2008, 12:30pm EST
  

• Just Days Before Christmas, Santa Has Run-In With The Law

  A cop in New York City might be getting a lump of coal in her stocking this Christmas after writing Santa Claus a ticket for double-parking his SUV next to his sleigh.
  
  Chip Cafiero says he'll fight the $115 ticket he received in Brooklyn on Black Friday when he' [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2008, 12:30pm EST
  

• Eric Johnson Announces 2010 Campaign For Lt. Governor

  Welcome to the never-ending campaign.
  
  State Senator Eric Johnson (R - Savannah) has formally announced his candidacy for Lt. Governor in 2010.
  
  Vowing to be a bridge between citizens and elected officials, Eric Johnson has formally launched his bid for lieutenant governor in 2010.
  
  "I have the [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2008, 10:05am EST
  

• Eric Johnson Announces 2010 Campaign For Lt. Governor

  Welcome to the never-ending campaign.
  
  State Senator Eric Johnson (R - Savannah) has formally announced his candidacy for Lt. Governor in 2010.
  
  Vowing to be a bridge between citizens and elected officials, Eric Johnson has formally launched his bid for lieutenant governor in 2010.
  
  "I have the" [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2008, 10:05am EST