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DEL.ICIO.USThe governor’s new ride
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Say what you will about Sonny Perdue. He’s got the instincts of a great salesman.
On his first trade mission to Asia, one of the governor’s minions told us that you could tell which automaker Perdue was courting by the car he drove.
As of today, Perdue is driving a new, jet-black 2009 Kia Borrego. For the budget sensitive, spokesman Bert Brantley said the $37,500 sports utility vehicle was donated to the state by the company.
The Department of Public Safety, the official recipient, has approved acceptance of the gift, Brantley said.
Kia, of course, is building a $1 billion plant in west Georgia. And on Tuesday, a small ceremony was held in West Point to celebrate the arrival of equipment from overseas.
No doubt Kia didn’t want the governor to pull up in something from Detroit.
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Comments
By Billy
October 28, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
gotta love the Gov! we love you!
By Helen Crane
October 28, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
This is absolutely disgusting. Perdue has used the office of Governor to add to his own luxury. He has done absolutely nothing as Gov. except trot around the glob under the guise of economic development- now he gets a new car!!!
Only in good ol’ boy South could someone actually get away with that.
He tried to sell of Jekyll Island in trade for political donations from Mercier Reynolds, He has the Georgia Power Lobbyist (Ed Holcomb) as his now Chief of Staff.
He encouraged the Ways and Means Committee Chairman to have a law passed just so he could get a sweet heart deal on his own property.
This is the PIG of pork barrel.
What are the tax breaks for KIA? Georgia’s tax payers will pay over and over for the Guv’s new wheels and foreign trips provided by KIA. Jim Wooten, why are you not reporting on that- our fiscal conservative reporter? Because you cover for these corrupt guys out of some misguided loyalty.
By KEEPING IT REAL!yes and the
October 28, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
Jim Wooten a fiscal conservative reporter? Jim Wooten is nothing but a whiner! He goes quiet whenever his buddies are in the crosshairs, you know like Dick Williams of the Georgia Gang!!!!
What happen to that overgrown Ford SUV that used to be parked by the back door of the Capitol!
What about the $23 millon dollars for the “GO FISH” hometown pork barrel he is going thru with when EVERYTHING ELSE in being CUT! Too bad he doesn’t come up for reelection again! I would love to vote against one more time!
By THADhttp://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr10-17-08.html
October 28, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
AMAZING VIDEO
http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr10-17-08.html
By Helen is a Moron
October 29, 2008 12:04 AM | Link to this
Helen, Basic reading skills come in handy in life. You should try to acquire some. The car was a gift to the STATE not the GOVERNOR. The Governor will ride in it for a few weeks to promote a company that is bringing thousands of jobs to this state in a time they are most needed. Then, it will go to some other use. State governments need cars to function and deliver services. This is one less we car that we, as taxpayers, have to pay for. You should be happy about that. Not to mention that it is probably the least expensive car being driven by any governor of any state in America….Republican or Democrat.
As for the rest of your accusations….they’re simply absurd! That’s why when Bobby Kahn (who I think you actually are) and the rest of the Democrats tried to wrap them around Sonny’s neck in 2006 the voters called “BS” and re-elected him by a record margin. If I remember correct, Mark Taylor didn’t even win his home county!
You people are a total joke. Grow up and go find a business you can actually be successful in…..community organizing or something!
By Helen Crane
October 29, 2008 12:29 AM | Link to this
to the 12:04 writer. No, you sir are the moron. He is going to use the car before the term ends. Public Safety has it because they are the ones that cart him around. Again, you will pay for the car over and over in unpaid taxes that KIA will not pay because of some deal the Gov will make with them. I am a Republican Woman so I hardly think I could be Bobby Kahn. Why, can’t you be a R and critize your own party’s corruption. Maybe if more of us had called Bush on the carpet we wouldn’t be in this mess!
By Stan
October 29, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
Though I’m no fan of a lot of what the Gov has done/not done in office, I must point out that Kia nor any other corporation pays taxes to start with. The stockholders, employees, and consumers pay the taxes.
I do agree that most likely the Gov will ride around in the Kia for a few weeks then it will be “given” to some department head elsewhere in the state government.
By yankee
October 29, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
I guess he could of taken a Ford when it rolled off the assembly line. Oh wait,Ford closed the plant. What’s the real beef here? Could it be that the plant was built in rural Ga. and not the always more deserving metro Atl.?
By JerryT
October 29, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
Since when do corporations not pay taxes?
Doesn’t the Guv already have a car?
Is that KIA plant going to be a union plant? Is it being built by union labor? Has anyone checked the immigration status of the workers?
Certainly the state committed to tax and utility breaks. Did KIA have to commit to anything in return, or is it just a “promise” to provide x amount of jobs?
By Stan
October 29, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Jerry,
Corps. have never paid taxes. They simply pass the taxes along to the: shareholders, in the form of lower returns on the investment. employees, in the form of lower wages/benefits. consumer, in the form of higher prices for their goods.
I would assume the Gov has a car, probably both personal and state provided. So what?
I would certainly hope it is not going to be a union plant. Look how well that is working out for Ford, GM and Chrysler. As to the workers I don’t think they have been hired as yet (though I could be wrong)
To the taxes see above. Kia commmited to building the plant here and providing as many jobs to the state as they deem needed to get the production numbers that they want.
By JerryT
October 29, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
Ah, so corporations do pay taxes. I thought so. I own a small business and I was worried there that I was missing out on something.
Not sure why corporations paying taxes would result in lower wages.
In general, using union labor is a way to ensure that they have been trained well. I’m happy high rise buildings and elevators and jets are built by union labor. If we keep going down the path of absolute lowest cost, with no unions to protect workers or us, we all lose. Workers make less money, so they buy less stuff, causing factories to layoff workers and make cheaper stuff, etc. Not only that, cheap cars can be unsafe.
By Stan
October 29, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
ok Jerry,
If you don’t understand some part of my response I’m not going to explain it to you. I try very hard to not debate over the internet, as it’s just not worth it.
By David
October 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Hang on, he’s driving a Kia, and people are complaining that he’s getting a new car? Hah! He can keep the Kia for all I care… I’ll take a reliable Toyota or Lexus over the Kia any day!