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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 22
Monday, January 22, 2007
Democrat says coastal rules too lax
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Democratic state lawmaker is urging the House of Representatives to go on record against a set of proposed changes to the state’s coastal development rules, calling them a “gross abuse of the trust that the people of this state placed in our state government.”
State Rep. Brian Thomas’ (D-Lilburn) resolution asks the state Board of Natural Resources to reject the rule changes.
One of the changes would prohibit developers from putting parking lots, sidewalks and other development within 25 feet of the tidal marsh. Thomas and other critics said that buffer is too small for the sea grasses, which serve as the nursery ground for crabs, shrimp and other sea creatures. The buffer should be at least 50 feet, Thomas said.
“The Board of Natural Resources has the responsibility to protect Georgia’s natural environment, not make it easier to destroy fragile ecosystems,” said Thomas during a brief speech on the House floor today. “Passing these proposed rules would have an enormous cost to the environmental quality of this vital area of our state.”
The new rules would pertain only to condominiums, hotels, subdivisions and other developers that want to build a community dock, marina, or any other structure that juts out into the tidal marsh. Private homeowners who want to build a personal dock would not be affected by the proposed regulations.
Coastal developers have argued the proposed rules would strengthen and clarify the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act. The ambiguity of the current law invites lawsuits, they said. Trying to comply with the law can cause developers to spend at least 3 1/2 years to get permission to build a community dock or marina.
Thomas is also threatening to introduce legislation to void the rules if the board approves them. The state Board of Natural Resources is scheduled to vote on the rules Tuesday in committee and on Wednesday as a full board.
Lawmakers introduced another resolution today calling on the federal Department of Justice to oppose the proposed hostile takeover of Delta Air Lines by US Airways.
“This is not in the best interest of our state, not in the best interest of the flying customers out there,” state Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter (R-Alpharetta) said while urging other lawmakers to cosponsor the resolution. “It is shown that duplication of routes in this particular proposed merger would do nothing but increase the pressure in upward trends in pricing for the consumer.”
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: politics
Abortion foes rally at Capitol
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The annual anti-abortion rally on the anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision took place today outside of the state Capitol.
Hundreds of people holding signs reading “Abortion kills children” and “Stop Abortion Now” began to gather under overcast skies for the Together For Life march sponsored by Georgia Right to Life. A band played Christian inspirational music.
Georgia Right to Life is hoping the Legislature will support a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would — if approved by voters — ban abortion in Georgia, except to save the life of the mother.
Several speakers, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson, addressed the crowd, which in the past has numbered as many as 5,000. Similar rallies are taking place in Washington and other U.S. cities.
The crowd, which was smaller than in years past, roared when reminded that the offices of Georgia’s governor and lieutenant governor, along with a majority of the seats in the House and Senate, are occupied by elected officials who oppose abortion.
A couple dozen House and Senate members, along with Richardson and Cagle, were introduced at the rally.
Both Richardson and Cagle spoke of the positive impact having children has had on their lives and commended the crowd for continuing the 34-year fight to outlaw abortion.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta also spoke.
But it was a Baptist preacher from a small south Georgia town who truly stirred the crowd.
Mike Stone, pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, gave a fervent speech about abortion — what he termed “America’s holocaust.”
Stone took the elected officials - most of whom had left for a 1 p.m. legislative session inside the Capitol - to task. Stone didn’t mention names, but he warned the crowd of “slick politicians” who campaign on an anti-abortion platform only to abandon it once they get elected.
Stone predicted that some of those elected officials present at the rally would not support the constitutional amendment banning abortion when it comes up for a vote.
“We’re going to be watching how you vote on this personhood amendment,” Stone said to cheers from the crowd.
After Stone spoke, a recording of a fetal hearbeat was played over loudspeakers, a bugler sounded “Taps” and the crowd began a silent march through the streets of downtown Atlanta.
Permalink | | Categories: politics
State lawmakers back Delta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s state lawmakers today jumped on board with Delta Air Lines in a symbolic gesture to oppose the hostile take-over bid by US Airways.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (R-Gainesville), the president of the Senate, and House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) announced they will introduce a joint resolution urging U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to carefully review the proposed merger of US Airways for Delta Air Lines.
“Along with the constituents we represent in Georgia, we also are very concerned about the significant loss of competition and the likely impact on air fares and regional concentration this merger will create,” reads the letter from the Georgia General Assembly to Gonzalez.
State lawmakers at the press conference announcing the resolution said that they believed the merger would hurt Georgia’s economy. They said they were concerned about the loss of as many as 10,000 jobs, a reduction in flights to cities such as Savannah and Macon, increased air fares, and an overall negative impact on economic development around the state.
In November, US Airways announced an $8 billion unsolicited bid for Delta Airlines. Delta, which is in bankruptcy court protection, opposed the merger and wants to exit bankruptcy as an independent company in April.
“We continue to be gratified by the groundswell of support from the government, civic and local business leaders and our customers for our efforts to emerge from bankruptcy as a strong and independent airline,” said Ed Bastian, chief financial officer of Delta Air Lines. “And we sincerely thank the members of the Georgia General Assembly for encouraging a thorough review of the important issues presented by this merger proposal.”
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