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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
In Washington: Paul Broun up close and personal with Nancy Pelosi
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Washington — Just got out of the mock swearing-in that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held with newly minted U.S. Rep. Paul Broun of Athens on Wednesday, Immediately after the real ceremony on the floor of the U.S. House
Pelosi told Broun that — 20 years earlier — she, too had come to Congress by winning a special election. “You just jump into things,” she said.
To Broun’s wife, Niki, Pelosi said: “My husband will look forward to meeting you at the spouse’s meeting.”
Mrs. Broun responded with a generous bear hug. We don’t know why. But then, we’ve never met Pelosi’s husband.
Broun, by the way, passed on his first opportunity to vote, seconds after his induction into the club. He said he didn’t know enough about what was going on — an example which may bear duplicating by others.
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Lawmakers to state department heads: Fiddle with the budget, and pay for it in January
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re told a letter from the Legislature’s top budget writers has hit the in-boxes of the state’s agency heads today, warning them that they accept Gov. Sonny Perdue’s shifting of some spending in the current state budget at their peril.
Says the letter: “You should be aware that any expenditure conflicting with the intent of the appropriation jeopardizes our confidence in your ability to act as a proper steward of public funds. In writing the 2008 Amended Budget, we reserve the option of reducing or eliminating funding for your agency by that amount.”
In other words, cross us and you’ll pay for it in January.
The memo comes from House Speaker pro tem Mark Burkhalter; House Majority Leader Jerry Keen; House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin; Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson; Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams and Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Hill.
Perdue’s redirection of funds is one of the Republican-on-Republican issues that had legislators furious in May and ready to call a special session.
For instance, the budget approved by the Legislature included $1.59 million for a decade-old foreign language program for 29 elementary schools across the state.
When Perdue signed the budget, he directed the Department of Education to instead send each elementary school in the state $1,200 for foreign language materials, a move foreign language advocates say won’t do much good.
“Obviously the House, the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate all feel that ours is an important voice in the legislative budget process,” said Clelia Davis, spokeswoman for House Speaker Glenn Richardson.
Read the entire letter on the jump.
July 19, 2007
MEMORANDUM
TO: All Agency Heads
FROM: Rep. Mark Burkhalter, House Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Jerry Keen, House Majority Leader Rep. Ben Harbin, Chairman, House Appropriations Committee Sen. Eric Johnson, Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Tommie Williams, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Jack Hill, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
SUBJECT: HB 95 (SFY 2008 Budget) and Legislative Intent
This memo serves as our respectful notice that we expect you to adhere to the legislative intent of HB 95 (SFY 2008 Budget) passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor. The Governor has the authority to use a line item veto and he has exercised that power. And, as you know, the Appropriations Bill is a legislative document by which “the General Assembly shall annually appropriate those state and federal funds necessary to operate all the various departments and agencies.” (Constitution of Georgia, Article III, Section IX, Paragraph II).
Legislative intent contained in the language of HB 95 should be adhered to as you spend the appropriations contained in the bill. The conferees urge you to confer with the House and Senate leadership on any issues in question as to the intent of the Legislative Branch in HB 95. This is especially important where there is confusion brought about by the Governor’s “Redirect” message.
You should be aware that any expenditure conflicting with the intent of the appropriation jeopardizes our confidence in your ability to act as a proper steward of public funds. In writing the 2008 Amended Budget, we reserve the option of reducing or eliminating funding for your agency by that amount.
Please do not hesitate to contact the House or Senate Appropriations Offices or the leadership individually if you have any questions. The Senate Budget and Evaluation Office and the House Budget Office stand ready to assist as well.
Finally, Dan McLagan allowed to speak his mind
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The shackles of a state paycheck have been removed from the governor’s mouthpiece.
In today’s Associated Press story about how a fight between Democrats Vernon Jones and Dale Cardwell could make Republican Saxby Chambliss a happy man, it was time for the real Dan McLagan to stand up.
“What’s left of the Georgia Democratic Party is lurching around the state like actors in a bad zombie movie,” the Sonny Perdue’s former spokesman said.
Hmmm. He doesn’t sound very different, does he?
