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DEL.ICIO.USJohnson agrees: Cagle’s the boss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson, who for the next two months will remain the No. 2 ranking Republican in the Senate, said today he won’t engage in a power struggle with Casey Cagle, the lieutenant governor-elect.
That corresponds with what Cagle told us yesterday.
Said Johnson in a Thursday morning press conference:
“You’ll see more of a traditional structure in the Senate than you have previous to the last four years. I have always said privately and publicly that there should be a strong presiding officer. And I will support the lieutenant governor 100 percent as president pro tem of the Senate.”
One senses some strong currents moving beneath the surface of this discussion. This is from David Shafer (R-Duluth), one of Cagle’s closest allies:
“It was the Senate Republican caucus that asked Casey to run. We put our necks on the line asking the people of Georgia to nominate and elect him. The traditional authority of the lieutenant governor will be restored to him and restored completely. There should be absolutely no doubt about that.”
In his press conference, Johnson also predicted a light agenda when the Legislature convenes in January. But he did it in a very interesting way:
“This first session will be a little bit more gentle. The lieutenant governor will be learning to preside, the governor will be beginning to deal with what it’s like in a lame-duck status.” Johnson said.
And so, two days after Election Day, Johnson becomes the first publicly apply the Q-word to Gov. Sonny Perdue. Quack, quack.
Here’s the entire audio file.
Comments
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By Broken Record
November 9, 2006 2:10 PM | Link to this
Thankfully, Thurbert Baker was reelected Attorney General, so we have some balance of power left in the State.
By cosmo
November 9, 2006 2:34 PM | Link to this
Broken Record - do you really think anyone who is supported by the NRA is really a Democrat. Dems are soft on crime and Baker is not. He is a Dem in name only!
By teddy in Woodstock
November 10, 2006 7:42 PM | Link to this
Amazing how fast Johnson and Williams have rolled over for Cagle. I guess they will give up the real power in order to keep their titles.
Sad really.