Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2009 > January > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOf Senate chairmanships, power bills, and guns
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few notes on the upcoming session of the Legislature, which starts Monday:
— The office of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle unleashed its list of Senate chairmanships on Wednesday.
See a complete list of Senate chairmanships on the jump.
Only a few changes are worth remarking on: John Wiles (R-Kennesaw) takes over the special judiciary committee for Democrat Michael Meyer von Bremen of Albany, who did not seek re-election.
Ronnie Chance of Tyrone will head up the Finance Committee.
And Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), once the ranking member of the chamber, will chair the Senate Ethics Committee — which on two levels is not exactly the most delightful assignment.
First, no politician wants to be placed in the position of having to pass judgment on his colleagues.
Secondly, Johnson has begun his 2010 race for lieutenant governor. Many chairmanships provide leverage for campaign contributions, even if the cash is barred from arriving while the Legislature meets.
But the chairmanship of the Senate Ethics Committee is not one of those positions that prompt a deluge of checks.
By contrast, in the same chamber, David Shafer (R-Duluth) is also running for lieutenant governor. He remains chairman of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee — and utilities, though times are tough, are much more likely to have some spare change.
— Speaking of utilities, we’re hearing that Senate Rules Chairman Don Balfour (R-Snellville) next week will drop the bill to permit Georgia Power to charge ratepayers for construction of a new nuclear power plant as the facility is being built. Right now, the utility is allowed to bill only after the fact.
Passage would result in an almost immediate increase in your monthly bill, and would remove much of the risk from Georgia Power’s shoulders.
The measure’s expected to be one of the hottest potatoes of the session.
— State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, a Republican candidate for governor, is making a bit of hay out of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s statement this week that he has “no appetite” for more legislation to expand the rights of those with concealed weapons permits.
Cagle, while he hasn’t formally announced for the 2010 governor’s race, has a fund-raiser this evening.
Said Oxendine:
“Casey Cagle may be content and want a respite in standing up for our Second Amendment rights, but I will never rest until we ensure that we have protected the Second Amendment and made every effort to ensure our constitutional right to keep and bear arms….
“It is of concern that people can legally carry guns in more places in states such as, California and Oregon.”
Senate chairmanships for the 2009 session
Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Chairman John Bulloch
Appropriations, Chairman Jack Hill
Banking and Financial Institutions, Chairman Bill Hamrick
Economic Development, Chairman Chip Pearson
Education and Youth, Chairman Dan Weber
Ethics, Chairman Eric Johnson
Finance, Chairman Ronnie Chance
Government Oversight, Chairman Renee Unterman
Health and Human Services, Chairman Don Thomas
Higher Education, Chairman Seth Harp
Insurance and Labor, Chairman Ralph Hudgens
Interstate Cooperation, Chairman Ed Harbison
Judiciary, Chairman Preston Smith
Natural Resources and the Environment, Chairman Ross Tolleson
Public Safety, Chairman Jack Murphy
Reapportionment and Redistricting, Chairman Judson Hill
Regulated Industries and Utilities, Chairman David Shafer
Retirement, Chairman Bill Heath
Rules, Chairman Don Balfour
Science and Technology, Chairman Cecil Staton
Special Judiciary, Chairman John Wiles
State and Local Government Operations, Chairman Lee Hawkins
State Institutions and Property, Chairman Johnny Grant
Transportation, Chairman Jeff Mullis
Urban Affairs, Chairman David Adelman
Veterans, Military and Homeland Security, Chairman John Douglas
Comments
By GoOX
January 8, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
Ox is my man. Casey wimps out again, cant wait for all of our gun friends to remind him how important this is
By Mountain Dawg
January 8, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this
Cagle understands how important the economy is in Georgia right now. As an avid 2nd amendment person, I know Cagle has always supported us.
Politicians like Oxendine will posture and appease various groups, but Cagle is a leader that will actually deliver. When people are losing jobs and their homes, I’m going to vote for someone that is looking out for me instead of someone with their finger in the wind waiting to be told what they believe,
By RebX
January 8, 2009 1:27 PM | Link to this
The election is far of from now, but in 2010 we need the right man. Georgia needs leadership and that is what Cagle is offering. Oxendine is simply playing the political game and right now Georgians can not take this. Let’s do what’s right for Georgia and stand up for what we need: true leadership.
P.S. GoOX, defiently a little bias
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
January 8, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
I’m not a friend of anyone who is in the insurance company’s pocket (Oxendine) but I’m less a friend to anyone who thinks that Gun rights don’t matter.
By Copyleft
January 8, 2009 2:40 PM | Link to this
Well, this is an easy call. Oxendine is both an insurance stooge AND a gun nut. Clearly, Cagle (or an avocado) is a better choice.
By mike123
January 8, 2009 5:47 PM | Link to this
Cagle has been killing gun bills since he arrived in the Senate. For example, he canceled consideration of HB89 which would have repealed Georgia’s gun free zones because of a shooting in a gun free zone (Va Tech).
Time to call him what he is, a gun banner.
He supports the same 2nd Amendment as President Elect Obama. In fact, I can see no difference in position between the two.
By Shamalama
January 9, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
“People should be content with where we are.” Just like since we allow blacks to ride the bus, they should be content sitting in the back of the bus, right?
Mr. Cagle, and let me be clear, you are not only arrogant, but ignorant, which makes you very dangerous to liberty, so long as you are tolerated. Arrogance is exemplified by your assumption that “you” get to dole out liberty and rights as you see fit in manner and amount. Your ignorance is verified by the displayed belief that rights can be regulated and still be called rights, rather than privileges which the lord of the manor may bestow or rescind at his pleasure.
By curtis41
January 9, 2009 8:48 PM | Link to this
I will vote for Oxendine when he runs. There are too many invertebrates already in political positions of trust and responsibility. I am also tired of politicians willing to disregard the Constitution and Bill of Rights and systematically dismantle long-standing rights, one by one. I do not have a get a permit to exercise free speech, why should any law-abiding citizen have to get a bureaucratic piece of paper to buy a firearm? Carry laws have REDUCED violent crime overall. I wonder how these guys rationalize the reduction in violent crimes, despite the fact that gun ownership is increasing. The Atlanta airport and attorneys are now claiming that the lobby of the airport is not a public transportation. How stupid can they get? Go Oxendine, go. You got my vote.