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DEL.ICIO.USScott on the governor’s race: Too much GOP coziness with the people who write the checks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last month, state Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton, who has spent 14 years in the Legislature but is not yet 40, told his Republican colleagues that he intended to join the 2010 contest for governor.
Scott becomes the fourth Republican elected official to announce. And the fifth GOP candidate, if you count states’ rightist Ray McBerry.
In an interview, Scott described a campaign that would emphasize morality and management style. His description: “Good ethical-based government that we hope will get rid of some of the cynicism that’s out there.”
Scott was the only Republican to join Gov. Roy Barnes’ effort to remove the ’56 state flag and its Confederate battle emblem. He supported Sonny Perdue and his request for a tobacco tax increase during the new governor’s first session.
“People will truly see that I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” he said. “It’s not going to be politics as usual.”
Given Scott’s past record, it’s a safe bet that, while he may remain deficient in fund-raising, he injects a great deal of unpredictability into the race.
Among his basic points:
— Scott intends to fund his campaign with contributions of “$100 from 100 people in the state’s 159 counties.”
— He also intends to come out against monied interests.
“”We will not appoint anybody to the Board of Regents who contributes more than $1,000 to our campaign,” he said. “This perception that these board seats are bought and paid for before a candidate ever takes office is something that we as Republicans can’t afford to have as an issue in the November race.”
Have Republicans cozied up too closely to the people who fund their campaigns? “Yes, I think we have. I think both at the national [and state] level. That would be a fair criticism. I think that would be a fair criticism of both parties,” Scott said.
As chairman of the House governmental affairs committee, Scott is part of the leadership. But he admits he is not a member of House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s “inner circle.”
Said Scott:
“He has not given me a commitment. But I have not asked him for a commitment, either. I like Glenn. He’s a friend of mine. I want, and I need, the House leadership’s and our members’ support. I need Glenn, I need Jerry [Keen], I need Mark [Burkhalter]. And I need the other 104 members in the House.”
On the same day that Scott announced his decision to Republican caucus members, he dropped a bill to put a $10 tag fee on all vehicles, to fund a statewide trauma care network.
The question was obvious. “How is it that a Republican running for governor drops a tax increase?” he asked himself. “I don’t have any shame about my belief that the trauma care system needs to be funded. The $10 car tag [fee] to me makes the most sense. So much of the cost of the trauma network comes from automobile accidents.
“I believe in limited government, not no government. And I do believe there are certain things that people expect out of their government. One of them is access to the health care they need in the event of an accident,” Scott said.
On the other hand, Scott said he’s leaning against a House proposal for a statewide sales tax for transportation needs. He fears it would burden retailers already under siege from untaxed Internet sales.
If the state’s transportation agencies can get their act together, and voters agree, he’d prefer to see an increase in the gasoline tax. “It’s more of a user fee and encourages people to buy more efficient vehicles,” Scott said.
The Tifton legislator also said he intends to emphasize a shift in management style, presumably away from the current governor.
“It’s a big state. I am going to surround myself with people who I have enough respect for to listen to when they tell me I’m wrong. And who have enough respect for me to tell me when I’m wrong,” he said.
“If someone thinks I’m always right, they’re not going to be on our leadership team.”
Photo credit: Ben Gray/AJC
Comments
By GoOX
February 5, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this
Didn’t Dale Cardwell run using a similar fund raising tactic. I think he had to try sitting on a billboard to drum up support.
Scott maybe a good guy, but not seasoned enough to take on the Ox.
My man Ox is against Sunday Liquor sales - good for him.
By The Conservative
February 5, 2009 12:30 PM | Link to this
No sunday liquor is the only thing that separates us from the common commie.
without it, we’re finished..
By nuff said
February 5, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
At least Scott will make it two people the “OX” will beat in vote count,although McBerry may make it close!!!!!!!!