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Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Cagle on Perdue: ‘He showed a lot of character and a lot of courage’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle this afternoon declared himself squarely behind the decision by Gov. Sonny Perdue to put an end to the ‘07 legislative session, 18 days after lawmakers departed.
Said Cagle: “The governor has done the only thing that I think he could do, and that is take back the veto, and act responsibly for the state. Clearly with the revenue numbers that we’re looking at, and the circumstances around that, not being able to get a deal done with the House, it was very clear that this was the only option the governor had. He showed a lot of character and a lot of courage in what he did, and I’m very supportive of his action.”
Of the House, Cagle said, “You can’t be just an obstructionist. You’ve got to come to the table in good faith and work something out.”
The lieutenant governor acknowledged that he got some of what he had given up to the House in the budget fight — $100 million to be sent into state reserves. “We’ve constantly seen the budget used to fund pork-barrel projects,” Cagle said.
“We’ll come back next year and be talking about how we can pass meaningful tax cuts for the citizens of Georgia. I’ve never seen a tax cut I didn’t like, including this one,” Cagle said. “But under the financial circumstances that exist, it was difficult for the governor to agree to it. Now it’s time to move on, and not start the political posturing.”
Next up: A massacre, a convention — and reactions that roll in
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two quick observations, and then we’ll offer some of the reaction that’s pouring in on this:
— First, the state GOP convention on May 19 in Gwinnett County just got something to talk about. Gov. Sonny Perdue will have to work hard to keep his line-item veto of a $142 million property tax rebate from becoming the topic of a resolution and floor debate.
— Secondly, the next shoe to drop in this drama is likely to be a massacre of House projects in the $20 billion budget for ‘08. GOP soldiers under Speaker Glenn Richardson should forewarn local leaders of the knife that the governor is likely to be swinging in Atlanta.
Now, here’s the pro-Perdue reaction from Eric Johnson, the No. 2 leader in the Senate:
“With a slowing economy, it is fiscally responsible to change directions and allow whatever excess revenues come into the state’s coffers in the next few months to be used to build up our reserves. Governor Perdue has the right and the responsibility to put this matter to rest in a manner that he believes best serves the interest of all of Georgia. The General Assembly is preparing to consider dramatic tax reforms next session and a healthier reserve account will help us be in a position to permanently cut taxes.
Jared Thomas, executive director of the Georgia chapter of Americans for Prosperity, an anti-tax group, was on the other side. Vehemently on the other side. He said:
“It was an extremely disappointing decision. You have every single legislator in each body who had approved this historic rebate to taxpayers, then he vetoes it, does not allow the House or the Senate to have their legal opportunity during the regular session to address it, announces they will have the opportunity during a special session, breaks his word there, and the excuse that he gives is ‘They weren’t going to do what I wanted them to do, so there’s no point in having a special session, anyway.’
“This is obviously not a governor who’s opposed to tax cuts. It just seems that he’s opposed to tax cuts that are not his.”
Wow.
No special session, but a line-item veto for the property tax rebate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Citing the futility of working with Republican House leaders in a special session, Gov. Sonny Perdue on Tuesday withdrew his veto of a $700 million mid-year budget bill, but said he would give a line-item veto to the $142 million property tax rebate it contained. That money, he said, would go into reserves instead.
Perdue blamed the unwillingness of Republican House leaders to drop their desire to override his veto, and engage in discussions of a compromise, if the General Assembly were to gather again. “I began to see the futility of a special session,” the governor said. “Leaders, in my opinion, don’t act in such a way.”
To meet or not to meet
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue has scheduled a press conference for noon. Stay tuned.
Blogwatch: Dear God in heaven, what hath the Internet wrought?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On peachpundit.com today, two bloggers separately announce that they’re considering a run at public office. Must be a virus in the hyperlinks.
Says Erick Erickson, sponsor of Republican-oriented peachpundit:
“After a week of deciding not to run for City Council in Macon, I have decided I will be running for Ward V, Post 3 in Macon. The caveat is that my employer needs to sign off it. If they do, I’m in.”
Then there’s Andre Walker, a Democrat who maintains Georgia Politics Unfiltered:
“Well, I’d be lying to you if I sat here and said that I haven’t given any thought whatsoever to running for a seat on the new South Fulton City Council if the referendum passes next month.”
He’s not technically a blogger, but Creative Loafing says WSB radio consumer guru Clark Howard has confirmed he’s giving serious thought to a run for mayor after Shirley Franklin is through with the job.
Sonny’s advice: “Do as I say….”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We got a press release from the campaign of Joe Trippon, a candidate for city council in the Houston suburb of Hunter’s Creek Village, about how he’d written over 100 politicians around the country asking for their advice.
Why, you ask, would someone who has so many doors to knock spend their time on such a project? We have no idea, and to tell you the truth we were about to hit the “delete” button when we noticed that Gov. Sonny Perdue was one of 35 who responded to Trippon’s inquiry.
Here’s his advice, which we’re told came in a typed note with a photo:
“Always remember that the reason any person is elected to office is not to better themselves, but rather to better their community. Whether running for governor, mayor or a seat on a city council, the primary objective of any candidate should be to serve others through principle-centered and results-driven leadership.
“Regardless of whether you win or lose your upcoming election, it is your desire to serve others that is of paramount importance and it is that desire that will soundly guide you, now or in the future.”
