THE PATH TO 2010

Pig was on the menu, politics was in the air.

The 47th annual Georgia Wild Hog Supper brought thousands to the former railroad depot in downtown Atlanta as the traditional kickoff to a new legislative session. They ate pork and shook the hands and slapped the backs of a passel of folks who already have an eye on the 2010 election. But, mostly, they ate pork, and it was an apt metaphor.

When lawmakers convene today to begin a new General Assembly, they will face unprecedented shortfalls in revenue as the economy sours. More than $2 billion in cuts to the state budget could be required and many lamented the poor prospects for more pork —- the political kind —- this session.

“We have an awesome task,” said state Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), now in his 35th year in the General Assembly. “We have a serious amount of cuts to make.”

And that, said Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, is what will dominate the 2009 session and not, he said, anyone’s future political aspirations.

“The issue at hand is the very profound financial crisis,” Cagle said.

While the budget will surely dominate the session, politics and legislating go together like pig and sauce. Cagle should know. While he has not formally declared himself a candidate for governor in 2010, it’s widely believed he will be on the Republican primary ballot. Cagle aides and friends were passing out tiny plastic pigs on Sunday touting his anti-spending organization CutWaste.org.

In fact, while 1,100 ears of corn were expected to be served Sunday night, there seemed to be as many potential or announced 2010 candidates on hand. OK, that’s a stretch, but the Wild Hog was as much about the politics as it was about the food.

In addition to Cagle, Republican Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and Secretary of State Karen Handel, both of whom have said they are running for governor, were on hand, as was likely Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Rep. DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), the leader of the Democratic caucus in the House.

Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) and Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth), who are expected to compete for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor, also made the rounds of the Wild Hog.

For Porter and Smyre, the 2009 session offers potential unseen since Republicans took over the Capitol in 2004. With the state and national economies in tatters, and with Democrats controlling every aspect of the federal government in Washington, Georgia Democratic lawmakers could have new clout.

Smyre was in Washington last week meeting with President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team to discuss a potential federal bailout for state governments. He said Sunday he has already met with Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) and will meet today with Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Both Porter and Smyre believe there is leverage to be had for Democrats at the Capitol.

“They will have to involve Democrats in the Georgia House to make overtures to the new administration,” Porter said of the Republican leaders in the state. “Calvin is key to that and I’m involved as well.”

For Georgia to benefit from an expected federal package, Porter said, “we have to have a relationship.”

But Johnson, who gave up his plum post as Senate president pro tem when he declared his bid for the lieutenant governor’s job, isn’t as wild about a federal bailout.

“I’m not a big one to get on our hands and knees and beg to Santa Claus,” Johnson said.

He said he believes Georgia will get its “fair share” without going to Washington with hat in hand.

While the Wild Hog is old hat for Capitol veterans, it’s still quite a spectacle to newcomers. Rep. Rahn Mayo (D-Decatur) begins his first term in the House today and Sunday was his first Hog. But even he got a kick out of the irony of a pork roast in a horrible budget year.

“It makes me think about pork —- the political kind,” Mayo said. But, for one night at least, the irony is “all in good fun.”

That changes this morning.

ABOUT THE WILD HOG SUPPER

Now in its 47th year, the Georgia tradition is held the Sunday evening before the beginning of a new legislative session. The first such supper was provided by E.C. “Boo” Addison, and the Addison family of Dodge County still provides the pigs. More than 20 hogs are typically consumed, along with more than 40 gallons of Brunswick stew and 1,100 ears of corn. But no alcohol —- iced tea, water and milk are the beverages on hand. It used to be an event of the Georgia Department of Agriculture but is now overseen by a private agriculture foundation.

SESSION STARTS TODAY

> Will lawmakers try to help the home-building industry by expanding down-payment assistance and tax incentives, and by relaxing home construction regulations?

> Do Democrats find added clout with their party controlling the White House and Congress?

> How will the tenor of the session be affected by the fact that Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Minority Leader DuBose Porter are likely to run for governor in 2010, and Sens. David Shafer and Eric Johnson are likely to run for lieutenant governor?