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DEL.ICIO.USCagle isn’t pleased by Olen’s assertion that ‘top leaders’ blocked transportation bill
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle is taking heated exception to comments on the Legislature’s handling of a transportation bill this year made by Sam Olens, the chairman of both the Cobb County Commission and the Atlanta Regional Commission.
The Insider’s got a string of documents for your inspection here.
At issue is a column that Olens wrote for a newsletter published by the ARC, the planning arm of metro Atlanta governments.
Olens credits House Speaker Glenn Richardson and a number of other state legislators for their work this spring on the failed vote. Cagle, whose Senate defeated the measure by three votes, thinks himself mentioned only by omission.
“Our top leaders either stonewalled or actively opposed legislation to provide new funding for greater mobility in our state, and without their support, many legislators didn’t see it as a priority,” Olens wrote.
The column was a rewrite of an op-ed piece Olens had composed several weeks earlier for the AJC. But the ARC newsletter went directly to the 39 board members of the ARC, plus approximately 6,700 civic leaders throughout metro Atlanta.
Cagle met with Olens and several other leaders of the ARC on May 28. One supposes that it was a kind of peace-making confab. Coincidently, Olens’ column in the ARC newsletter was published the same day, but the lieutenant governor found out about it only afterwards.
When he did, Cagle was not pleased. And it probably doesn’t help that both Olens and the lieutenant governor are kicking the tires on a 2010 bid for governor. Last week, Cagle sent a letter to every member of the ARC.
Wrote the lieutenant governor:
“As you know, Chairman Sam Olens used the Atlanta Regional Commission’s taxpayer-funded newsletter as a venue for attacking the leadership of the Georgia State Senate.
“Unfortunately, Sam’s column - in addition to running contrary to the mission of the ARC to bring the region together - contains several erroneous statements. It is disappointing he has chosen to complain about the past instead of looking ahead to the future……
“I would encourage Chairman Olens and the ARC to be a part of this solution instead of wasting valuable time - and limited taxpayer resources - assigning blame and otherwise playing politics. We can reduce gridlock and get metro Atlanta moving, but we aren’t going to get there by attacking our allies….”
Word is that Cagle has been offered equal space in the next edition of the ARC newsletter.
Cagle mailed his letter of protest only a couple days before Gov. Sonny Perdue jumped on the transportation bandwagon. While the business community is applauding the governor, it’s worth noting that Perdue’s new acceptance of transportation as a matter of urgency has put some lawmakers in a curious position.
As recently as March 27, during the House debate on the transportation bill, representatives of the governor listed the reasons for Perdue’s opposition, which included: “Because its finances and business records are in shambles, the Georgia Department of Transportation doesn’t yet know what our state’s actual transportation funding needs are.”
Ten weeks later, the shambles have disappeared, the governor’s confidence in GDOT is high, and several lawmakers - perhaps even a lieutenant governor - may think themselves out on a limb.
Comments
By Mike K.
June 16, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
“Because its finances and business records are in shambles, the Georgia Department of Transportation doesn’t yet know what our state’s actual transportation funding needs are.”
I usually bash Sonny, but if this was the reason to hold off on the regional sales tax then I must admit it is a good one. The DOT needs to have its ducks in a row before we throw more money to them.
I just hope that the DOT really has figured things out and Sonny isn’t caving into political pressure to just get rid of the traffic.
By Righty
June 16, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
Cagle if you can’t take the heat then do what’s right. You stonewalled just about every important issue for taxpayers and Georgia residents this session. I sure the State Senator that support to become Lt. Governor are wishing that hadn’t.
By R U Kidding
June 16, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
For Casey, guess the truth hurts. Word on the street is that you killed the transportaion bill in the senate. Hasn’t he been in office for two years and had an opprotunity to show some leadreship and offer some type of plan? As usual with Casey, one has to ask, where’s the beef?
By RJ
June 16, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
The policies embraced and the ways our state government performs are largely dependent upon whom we elect to lead and manage.
Although inexperienced elected officials can grow in an office, electing individuals who already possess a good portion of the desired traits and are enthusiastic about serving the public is clearly preferable. The challenge before voters is to know what the desired traits should be. They certainly include more than the constitutionally defined eligibility requirements.
For the sake of future generations we have go to do a better job in judging talent for elective office.
By Churchill
June 16, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
RJ is spot on. This rule should apply to all levels of government. That is why Obama is clearly not ready to be president. McCain is far better qualified. Peace.
By =:>()
June 16, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Obama 08: Somebody call FEMA, It’s going to be a landslide.
McCain 08: We’re going to need a bigger swiftboat.
By =:>()
June 16, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
McCain 08: he would swiftboat Obama, but he set the whole darn thing on fire somehow, but it weren’t his fault, pa.
By Trent
June 16, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
In this day an age of spell and grammar checking, one would think that the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Georgia could discern “their” from “there.”
By Churchill
June 16, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
Swiftboating= Telling the truth about Democrat candidates. You can tell it is the truth becasue, a la John Kerry, they dare not attempt to defend themselves. I love how the vernacular changes. Peace.
VIVA MCCAIN
By JB
June 16, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Lt. Governor Cagle has made his career of attempting to play the middle and to not make any enemies (with the noted exception of Speaker Richardson) while keeping his eye on the only prize that matters to him- Sonny’s seat at the Capitol.
By Abomi Nation
June 16, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
Lets not forget the Cagle version of the regional transportation tax that would take 20% off the top and send it to south and rural Georgia.
Just more of the liberal entitlement policy you would expect from state leaders.
By Brad F
June 16, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Churchill
How can you say “Peace” and “Viva McCain” in the same post?
That’s so contradictory. Bob Barr is the only candidate that will be on the ballot advocating to a peaceful end to the Iraq situation. Definitely not Obama, and not McCain.
By Russel C
June 16, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
If you read the Olens column, you can see that Cagle is just in attack mode. Cagle was on the wrong side of the issue, and now gas prices are up and people want a traffic solution, Cagle is doing a flip-flop and trying to sound all tough. Olens didn’t even “attack” anybody that I could see.
By 007Bond
June 16, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
How can it be true if it doesn’t flatter Cagle?
By betty boop
June 16, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
Ol Chicken hips got his feathers plucked and now he’s all atwitter. Look folks the only thing the Republican Ga Legislature passed last session was a bill giving your crazy next door neighbor the right to bring his handgun to church. Public transportation was not even on Casey’s radar — heck, all his Republican buddies are driving their SUV’s to the office. Of course Sonny and Casey are responsible. Their power over a Republican majority in both houses of the Ga Legislature is absolute and has been during Sonny’s entire tenure. Public transportation has not and will not have a chance until we get a change from the top. Suck it up boys — you are going to be paying 5-6 bucks a gallon for gas and Sonny is gonna be concerned and ol chicken hips is going to be denying responsibility and the rest of us are just gonna be poorer by about $50 a week. Betty Boop says, NO MORE EXCUSES, DELAYS, FAST TALK, CHICKEN CACKLE, WE NEED ACTION. Betty Boop
By Churchill
June 16, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
Barr has less of a chance of being President than Ru Paul did. A vote for Barr is a vote for Obama, Brad F.
I throw the “peace” in there to mess with the libs.
Peace.
VIVA MCCAIN
By Republutard
June 16, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
GW had qualifications out his bow-legged a* and look what that got us…Give a brother a chance look at golf it is obvious the Negro clan kicks white honkey a*. So go back to fiddlin’ with your cousin stupid whitey your time is up you are obsolete-no one will miss your love of jesus in the name of hate
By Churchill
June 16, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
Another peace-filled, loving, tolerant, and diversity-embracing post from a lib. I love it when true liberalism and all of its wretched crap flows from the mouth of those who “know better’ than everyone else. You need a “change,” Republutard? Strart wil changing your soiled, uppity, racist pants. Peace.
VIVA MCCAIN
By betty boop
June 16, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
Viva, Churchill — whazzgoinon? Find a topic, any topic. Betty Boop
By Churchill is a Liar
June 16, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this
“Strart”, sure swill your ivy league. Your little pathetic black heart beats so fast to spew your rancid prose, you sir are a chickenhawk blogger willing to send soldiers to die, so you can chase your precious capitalist dollar, what a despicable human you are, Peace.