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DEL.ICIO.USNature, the lieutenant governor and your dog: None of them can stand vacuums
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Savannah — On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was all about filling the void. Both of them.
First, there was the venue.
Cagle’s audience was the Georgia Press Association at its annual gathering. The organization is dominated by small dailies and weeklies in rural Georgia, and its members have felt cold-shouldered by Gov. Sonny Perdue and House Speaker Glenn Richardson.
The lieutenant governor recognizes that the group is an essential ingredient to opinion-making in areas of the state not dominated by the media machines of metro Atlanta.
Check out the group’s web site. Its home page carries a notice that Cagle will be holding monthly conference calls from reporters for Georgia’s weeklies.
Then there was the topic. Cagle touched on health care, economic development, even Sunday sales of alcohol. But the largest part of Cagle’s comments dwelt on a topic that Georgia’s business community thinks the governor has largely ignored: Transportation.
Cagle spoke of the necessity of giving the problem in metro Atlanta its due. Of the need for innovation, and the moribund thinking at the state Department of Transportation. The lieutenant governor committed a small heresy by mentioning the need to consider rail as well as bus lanes.
He even hinted at — if not corruption, then questionable spending strategies. “There was a bridge that was designed by the [DOT] in Augusta to be built, and unfortunately they designed it in such a way that it was a one-of-a-kind bridge and only one bidder could bid on the project,” Cagle said.
Details? Cagle offered none. This was a tease for a pitch that’s still a few months away. We caught him afterwards, but he wouldn’t say much more.
“There will have to be reorganization of the Department of Transportation. That doesn’t necessarily mean the board or the commissioner. But it does mean there’s got to be a change in philosophy in the way that business is being conducted,” he said.
On the topic of a special session, Cagle has clearly put the brakes on the topic — with a caveat that we’ll get to in a bit.
Yes, the lieutenant governor said, the Legislature can call itself into session — but only in an emergency.
“What I’m saying is, I haven’t seen the emergency that has occurred. Now, we’re still trying to go through everything — but that emergency has not been defined.
“The state’s doing fine,” he said. “Are there bruised egos? Sure? But bruised egos don’t justify wasting taxpayers money.”
But notice Cagle’s language. “We’re still trying to go through everything,” he said. A day before, he said, the case for a special session had not been made “yet.”
Possibly it’s just us, or a trick of the ear. But those qualifiers sound like the lieutenant governor might be putting Sonny Perdue on a kind of probation.
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By billy l
June 14, 2007 7:03 PM | Link to this
So, yet another charge from Casey Cagle, the undisputed lightweight of the State Capitol.
Like everything else, he’ll fold. No plan, no vision, just vague wink-wink I’m so much better than those guys statements. Just like he did with the budget. and in the end, he’ll fold.
By Vote for Casey
June 15, 2007 12:11 AM | Link to this
Wow, a GA Republican who isn’t a w******* for road builders, like GDOT’s Harold Linnenkohl, Mike Evans & David Doss! A Republican that realizes rail and transit benefit the whole region, especially workig families. A Republican that realizes trains to Macon, Savannah and Athens benefit the entire state. A Republican who isn’t afraid to make a stand and be his own man.
Casey, you might have just won my vote to be the next Guvna.
By Joeventures
June 15, 2007 7:00 AM | Link to this
Be careful what you say. He hasn’t made any commitments. And he’s not yet properly recognized transit as a solution.
By Doug Monroe
June 15, 2007 8:02 AM | Link to this
Say what you will about Casey Cagle, he is the first major Georgia politician to speak out on this issue in years. Transportation is by far the most pressing crisis in metro Atlanta. As a native Atlantan and lifelong Democrat, I have been bitterly disappointed at the lack of vision and leadership from Georgia Democrats on transportation. They could have filled the void left by Georgia’s brainless governor. I’m living with a friend in Stamford, CT, and took the train into New York yesterday. Nice! The governor of Connecticut is fighting to get the Metro North rail line extended to Penn Station. It stops at Grand Central now. One day, we have will those sorts of arguments in metro Atlanta — fighting to extend rail lines, not stop them. It looks like a long way off, but Cagle could ride the train into the governor’s office.
By Finally
June 15, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
Trains in Georgia? Isn’t that how Terminus/Atlanta was started? Trains make common sense…not sure if we have any state reps or state senators with any common sense. Something this simple is beyond them. Maybe someone like Sam Olens will step up and make it happen. Trains to Athens & Savannah now please!!!
By Taylor
June 15, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
When I can hop on a train at Town Center and arrive safely at my job in Midtown, I will believe it. Until then guess I will just crawl on I-75 with my fellow commuters.
Build it Casey!
By Sonny's Doo List
June 16, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
Who promised a metro-wide traffic light synchronization plan while campaigning for his first term? Sonny did.
Who put on an extravagant gala for state elected officials at the Fox after the election? The road builders did.
Cagle has 3 years in office until he runs for governor. He is in a position to do more than “promise to.”
Until metro-Atlanta finally says enough nothing will change. The Atlanta region needs to wise up. Republican, Democrat whatever. Why do we help elect leaders like Perdue that think helping the Atlanta area is a bad thing? (Sam Olens would make a good governor.)
We’ve heard it before Cagle, what we need now is leadership. NOW
Until then I guess we’ll all have to “just pray” that our big traffic jam just disappears into thin air.
By Casey on the Right Track
June 17, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
Over the past five years little if anything has been done in the area of transportation. Casey Cagle being from the metro Atlanta area can relate to the traffic nightmare that has become the bain of Atlanta’s existence. Think, how many major employers have located here in the past five years? NONE! Traffic congestion is going to economically kill metro Atlanta if someone does not step up and offer real solutions. Rail is part of the solution but remember, extremely expensive! It is only one but very important variable in addressing this problem. If Casey Cagle follws through with this promsing start he will given credit for helping to maintain the economic vitality of the region. Last, don’t bash road builders too hard, where would Atlanta and GA be without them? They have a place in this scenario also. Trains have a limited but important geographic reach.