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Thursday, May 3, 2007
Showing the love for Jim Marshall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Shailendra family is very well known in Democratic fund-raising circles, but the invitation to the luncheon they’re sponsoring for U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall Monday makes it clear no checks will be requested.
Instead, according to an e-mail that went out to potential attendees, this gathering is just a way to meet the Democrat from Macon and “let him know dthat many in this city and state would love to see him set his sights a bit higher.”
In other words, as the note makes clear, the purpose of the luncheon is to encourage Marshall to consider the 2008 U.S. Senate race against Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
Not that anybody’s saying anything disparaging about the only Democrat to make any public expression of interest in the Senate race, DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones. But, as one of the organizers put it to us, “We’re just trying to get enough tree-shakers in the room to say (to Marshall), ‘If you want to run, we’re with you.’”
House to Sonny: Why meet at all?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Politeness was breaking out all over today. Kind of like the flu.
Here’s the official, courtly response from the Republican leadership of the House to Gov. Sonny Perdue’s afternoon solicitation to 180 House members, asking them for the most convenient date to begin a special session.
The reply from the House can be translated thusly: If you’ll tell us what the session is about, we’ll give you a few dates. And really, why don’t we just move the money around and forget about the whole thing?
Below is the reply, officially from House Majority Whip Barry Fleming, but with the names of all House leaders attached:
From: Barry Fleming
To: Ed Holcomb
CC: Cathy Holtzclaw
Sent: Thu May 03 15:54:45 2007
Subject: RE: Input on Special Session
Dear Ed,
Thank you for your email regarding the best date for the special session to begin.
While we would hope we could avoid a costly special session by discussing how any budget problems could be resolved without one, if we are to meet in special session the best starting date would likely depend on what was contained in the call.
If you would share with us the specific subject matters with which we will be dealing, we can provide you the requested input on the best starting date.
If you would like to discuss how we might avoid a special session and attempt to resolve any budget concerns by other means, we would be very willing to speak with you also about that.
Thank you. We look forward to working together to do what is best for the citizens of Georgia.
Glenn Richardson
Mark Burkhalter
Jerry Keen
Barry Fleming
Sonny to House: Pick a date, any date
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue put out an e-mail to 180 House members this afternoon, asking for their choice of dates for the special session. The governor offers three consecutive Mondays — May 7, 14, and 21, but indicates he’s not wedded to any of them.
This is an interesting move. If this weren’t politics, the cigar might only be a cigar, a sincere attempt to exhibit grace in a confrontation that has, up until now, lacked any sense of politeness.
But this is politics, and the cigar is never just that. Here we have an attempt to reach past a particular House speaker, to initiate a conversation with rank-and-file Republican members. Perdue and Glenn Richardson aren’t speaking at the moment.
It’s not bad strategy. First you ask your intended for a date — and who knows whether first base is right around the corner?
Richardson, you’ll remember, sent his own note (three or four posts down) to House members on Wednesday.
Here’s the note from Perdue, shipped by Chief of Staff Ed Holcombe:
From: Holcombe, Ed
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 2:35 PM
Cc: Holtzclaw, Cathy
Subject: Input on Special Session
Good afternoon,
The Governor has asked that I poll your preference for timing of the Special Session. Would you prefer the Session to begin on Monday, May 7th; Monday, May 14th; Monday, May 21st or otherwise? Please send your email response to Cathy Holtzclaw at [e-mail address deleted, to prevent American Idol-style balloting].
Thank you.
Ed Holcombe
Chief of Staff
Eggs over easy with a side of Democrats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A hot new trend in Democratic circles is what is being called “service politics.” If you want to get a feel for it, you can drop by Samaritan House of Atlanta’s Café 458 on Edgewood Avenue for brunch Saturday and Sunday. About 50 volunteers will be doing everything from cooking to bussing tables, and contributing all the proceeds to the local group which works with the homeless.
The volunteers are being coordinated by Democrats Work, co-founded by Jason Carter, Atlanta lawyer and grandson of former President Jimmy Carter. Like OneCorps, former Sen. John Edwards’ group, Democrats Work is based on the idea that public service projects are a good way “to show our neighbors that Democrats get things done,” as well as to stay organized when there are no campaigns to obsess over.
Democrats Work already claims to have removed over 3.5 tons of trash from vacant lots and roadsides in previous weekend projects. If every political organization did the same, it would at least be a neater country, if not better run.
Fulton Republicans want a review of their convention — and say they have the evidence on video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A group of Fulton Republicans asked Wednesday for the state GOP to intervene in the March 24 re-election of county chairman Mike Dvorscak, citing chaos and possible voter fraud in the local convention that resulted in his victory.
We’re hearing that critics of the way the meeting was handled have located a DVD recording of the proceedings that will be submitted as evidence. And that the video appears to back up some of the charges.
Marty Klein, executive director of the state party, said the appeal would have to be vetted by a small panel of GOP officials before it is passed on to the state committee. The process could take two to three months.
Some within the Fulton County GOP contend the fight is over who controls the $2 million endowment the organization received nearly two years ago, making it one of the most wealthy county parties in the nation.
Dear Legislator: About that summer vacation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue wants a special session, but won’t call one until he’s assured that House Speaker Glenn Richardson won’t override his veto of the $700 million budget bill for 2007.
Richardson won’t negotiate on the override until the governor names the date and sets the boundaries for the session to come.
That, friends, is an impasse.
Richardson, of course, has 179 House members who want to know if or when they must show up in Atlanta. Here’s the content of the letter he sent them on Wednesday:
Dear Representative [NAME HERE],
Less than two weeks ago, the 2007 Legislative Session came to a close. I believe we can all be proud of the things that were accomplished, including the unanimous adoption by the House and Senate of a 2007 Amended Budget and a 2008 Budget that passed by an overwhelming majority of both chambers.
As you all know, shortly after we pronounced Sine Die, Governor Perdue announced that he would call a special session. His stated reason was to address the 07 Amended Budget which he reportedly vetoed. In his press release that night, the Governor said that he would announce the dates of that session some time the week of April 23rd. However, despite the passage of almost two weeks, those dates have still not been released. Unfortunately, I do not have any additional information as to when or if we will be asked to reconvene.
As a part-time legislator, I know that you have significant time restraints on your service. You have a family and a business to get back to, and you have put your life on hold while we wait to see when or if the Governor will call us back to Atlanta. While we do not have control over the starting date of the special session, if one is called, we will have control of the schedule. And, in such an event, I will do everything in my power to make sure that if a special session is called, we act quickly, and that the schedule is supportive of you, your family, and your business pursuits.
Thank you for all the hard work you have already done this year, both for your district and for the entire state of Georgia. I will let you know as soon as the Governor decides if he will ask us to come back to Atlanta. In the meantime, I hope that you and your family are well.
Glenn Richardson
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