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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Call it a focus group on the governor’s plan to reorganize transportation in Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Monday, state Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) and state Rep. Keith Heard (D-Athens) had a 30-minute sit-down with Gov. Sonny Perdue in the state Capitol.
The two lawmakers are chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the Legislative Black Caucus. Both wanted to talk about H.B. 291, which bears the title Georgia’s Antidiscrimination Act of 2009 — but which they fear would do just the opposite.
But Perdue wanted to talk about his legislation to create a new State Transportation Authority. In fact, Jones and Heard may have been the first Democrats to hear the governor’s sales pitch for what may be the most important power-shifting reorganization of state government in more than 45 years.
“I was quite surprised, by the way,” Jones said Tuesday.
In fact, Jones and Heard ended up linking the two issues.
H.B. 291 would prohibit all discrimination on the basis of race and gender, but would also prohibit the use of race- or gender-based recruiting for admission to university or technical schools. The bill also removes most set-asides in the state code for minority-owned businesses — such as for state lottery business.
Under a bill likely to be dropped this week, Perdue’s new State Transportation Authority would be controlled by the governor, the House speaker, and the lieutenant governor. The 13-member, constitutionally mandated board that governs the state Department of Transportation board be downsized. Policy would be made at the STA level.
“[Perdue] said that it would be better if the Legislature had better control of the funding,” Jones said. “He didn’t mind if it were Republican or Democrat.”
Here’s the thing: Because membership is now based on the state’s 13 congressional districts, three African-Americans sit on the DOT board. “Those are three seats that we influence hand provide swing votes with,” the black caucus chairman said.
When the governor asked for their suggestions, Jones said he and Heard recommended an amendment in the legislation, guaranteeing that the seven members of the State Transportation Authority would include members of the Legislative Black Caucus.
H.B. 291 and the reorganization of the state’s transportation agencies should be viewed as a piece, Jones said. “See that train coming? You don’t have to be a scientist to figure out what they’re trying to do.”
“It’s really going to be a hard sell for us,” the Decatur senator said.
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Lobbyist alert: The governor’s revenue reduction letter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue this afternoon reduce ’09 revenue expectations by another $450 million. You can see his specific recommendations for cuts in this letter to the chairmen of the House and Senate appropriations committees.
Among state agencies, the Department of Education absorbs the largest dollar cut, followed by the university system.
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Isakson, stimulus cash, and property tax relief
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday was a day to celebrate peanut butter and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson at the state Capitol.
Legislators and lobbyists handed out free doses of disease-free peanut butter. Isakson, officially there to kick off his re-election campaign, handed out free advice on what to do with the billions in stimulus money.
Even though Gov. Sonny Perdue and state lawmakers had already decided what to do with $428 million of the cash — that it was just the thing to get them out of a nasty political clash.
Isakson first addressed the state Senate:
“Regardless of people’s position on [the stimulus], the reality is the money will be flowing, over time, to the states. And there will be significant money coming to Georgia. My one admonition to all of you is, this is a one-time purpose. Don’t get used to it, and don’t get dependent on it.
“I know you will spend it wisely.”
Isakson elaborated before the state House:
“This is a one-time occurrence. It may allow us kick the can down the road for another year but reform of how we raised money for highways, reform of Medicaid, reform of all types are going to have to take place for us to continue to be a very strong state.”
At the main event, off the Capitol rotunda, Isakson was joined by U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, House Speaker Glenn Richardson, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, and the governor — who lauded Isakson as “bigger than peanuts in Georgia.”
But Perdue had money on his mind, too. He said this about Isakson and Chambliss:
“The only problem is they didn’t bring the check directly. They say it’s coming.”
The governor is about to hold a press conference with the House speaker and the lieutenant governor. He’ll shorten the budget by a significant amount, to account for declining tax revenues.
But Perdue will also sign H.B. 143, acceding to state lawmakers’ wishes and guaranteeing $428 million in home property taxes for one more year — worth $200 to $300 to you and me.
They’ll use money from President Barack Obama’s stimulus package to fund it.
So what did Isakson think of this use of recovery money?
“The stimulus we passed last May in Congress sent $300 per family back to families making $75,000 or less, so I think it would fall in the definition of being a stimulus. A lot more so than paying for a study of [socially transmitted diseases] or global warming or some of the other stuff that’s in there.” Isakson said.
On the other hand, Isakson also said that the tax refunds last spring didn’t work. “Consumers paid debt down and sat on the money. So things got worse,” he said.
Photo credit: Kim Smith/AJC
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When political correctness makes sense: Renters of kilts told to wear undies
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This from the Scotsman newspaper:
It may be a tradition, but Scottish men’s habit of “going commando” in a kilt is increasingly disgusting firms hiring Highland dress.
Several companies are now requesting that customers keep their pants on when they hire a kilt to protect staff and future customers from unhygienic tartan.
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Isakson on stimulus: ‘It was a rush to judgment’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson will declare his bid for re-election today at the state Capitol, but already he’s been all over the radio this morning.
Tim Bryant at WGAU (1340AM) in Athens was kind enough to send us a clip of Isakson talking points.
On his homebuyer credit plan, which was stripped from last week’s $787 billion economic stimulus bill, Isakson said:
“There’s a lot of interest in reviving it. I think a lot of people will understand that it will really be exactly what everybody is looking for, and that is a real stimulus to address the heart and soul of the problem, which is the housing market.
“So I don’t think the idea’s dead at all.”
On the fact that no one has yet figured out what’s in the 1,000-plus page stimulus document:
”Even if you look at this morning’s newspapers, the details are not yet out. The Legislature’s waiting to see what’s going to come from Washington to find out exactly where that money is.
“It was a rush to judgment. And there’s no question we need stimulation for the economy, but it needs to be done in a way that causes people to make the kind of decisions that will help the economy — buy houses, extend credit, make investments, do value-added work.
“Not just to throw money at the problem by giving money to various programs, which about 75 percent of this stimulus really does.”
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Your morning jolt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This morning on ajc.com:
— The feud between the new DeKalb CEO and the county police chief.
— Kennesaw OKs surcharge for unhealthy employees.
— Georgia Young Democrats and Georgia Young Republicans to endorse Sunday sales bill today.
— Isakson announces for re-elect today, but there’s no opponent out there.
— Stimulus means $530M boost for Medicaid in Georgia.
— Obama to sign stimulus bill in Denver today.
And elsewhere:
— Kansas may delay refunds, paychecks.
— GM, Chrysler finalize comeback plans. From WP. And from WSJ.
— Islamic law instituted in Pakistan valley.
— The new journalism. A Dallas Morning News investigative reporter now runs a strip club.
