http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/ Latest articles for the Georgia-politics-elections section at ajc.com. en-us Copyright 2010 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:16:46 GMT 2010-02-10T03:16:46Z en-us Copyright 2010 http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/georgia-dot-praises-stimulus-295291.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections As the year-old federal transportation stimulus winds down, Georgia Department of Transportation leaders on Tuesday praised its accomplishments and called for more. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:15:53 GMT ahart@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/georgia-dot-praises-stimulus-295291.html Ariel Hart 2010-02-10T00:15:53Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/energy-efficiency-bill-would-294937.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Trade unions like it. Republicans like it. Democrats have signed on. It would put people to work. It would help the environment. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:32:00 GMT jtharpe@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/energy-efficiency-bill-would-294937.html Jim Tharpe 2010-02-09T23:32:00Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/house-votes-to-give-295239.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections The Georgia House voted Tuesday to give financially strapped  school systems more flexibility for the next three years in how they spend their state money. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:44:55 GMT nbadertscher@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/house-votes-to-give-295239.html Nancy Badertscher 2010-02-09T22:44:55Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/lawmakers-eye-potential-300-295246.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Georgia could potentially see a $300 million-a-year boost to state revenues through tighter controls over sales tax collections under legislation being proposed in the House. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:27:15 GMT asheinin@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/lawmakers-eye-potential-300-295246.html Aaron Gould Sheinin 2010-02-09T22:27:15Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/bills-address-teachers-pay-294089.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections House and Senate lawmakers have filed bills in support of two of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s major education initiatives this year. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:55:38 GMT ktorres@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/bills-address-teachers-pay-294089.html Kristina Torres 2010-02-08T21:55:38Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/not-everyone-sold-on-293628.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Cherokee County, home of Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, has no problem with the provision in his expansive property tax bill calling for counties to mail every property owner an assessment notice every year. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:14:43 GMT cquinn@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/not-everyone-sold-on-293628.html Christopher Quinn 2010-02-08T11:14:43Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/property-tax-returns-start-293333.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Thousands of metro Atlanta property owners have challenged their property tax valuations with local officials this year. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:05:52 GMT mpickel@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/property-tax-returns-start-293333.html Mary Lou Pickel 2010-02-07T19:05:52Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/defender-council-moves-to-292214.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Facing a class-action lawsuit, the struggling state public defender system has hired lawyers to represent more than 100 indigent inmates, many of whom have been waiting years to file their appeals. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:36:23 GMT brankin@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/defender-council-moves-to-292214.html Bill Rankin 2010-02-05T23:36:23Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/opposition-forms-to-perdue-292523.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Opponents to Gov. Sonny Perdue's plan to turn four statewide elected offices into gubernatorial appointments have coalesced around the loss of a voice in choosing their leaders. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:50:30 GMT asheinin@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/opposition-forms-to-perdue-292523.html Aaron Gould Sheinin Nancy Badertscher 2010-02-05T22:50:30Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/bill-would-expand-protective-292378.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections A bill up for consideration in the state Legislature this year would add pets to the domestic violence protective orders meant to prevent harm to people. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:45:19 GMT asimmons@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/bill-would-expand-protective-292378.html Andria Simmons 2010-02-05T21:45:19Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/first-quarter-of-state-292264.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections If  law-making were football, the first quarter at the state Capitol was a yawner. The Legislature finished the 13 th day of its 40-day session last week with little to show for lawmakers’ labors. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:16:38 GMT jtharpe@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/first-quarter-of-state-292264.html Jim Tharpe 2010-02-05T19:16:38Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/there-s-a-poet-292163.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections The Georgia House of Representatives seems an unlikely place for poetry to sprout. So does the soul of a funeral home director. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:57:15 GMT jtharpe@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/there-s-a-poet-292163.html Jim Tharpe 2010-02-05T16:57:15Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/perdue-seeks-a-shake-291879.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Gov. Sonny Perdue will announce plans today for a major restructuring of state government that would make four constitutional offices appointed, rather than elected. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:50:27 GMT asheinin@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/perdue-seeks-a-shake-291879.html Aaron Gould Sheinin 2010-02-05T09:50:27Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/senators-slam-dot-board-291581.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Some state Department of Transportation board members were rethinking a controversial vote they took last month as state senators held a meeting Thursday afternoon to rake them over the coals. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:31:11 GMT ahart@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/senators-slam-dot-board-291581.html Ariel Hart 2010-02-04T23:31:11Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/school-board-reform-in-291579.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections House Education Committee members appear poised to revive a bill to reform school boards and give the governor power to remove poorly performing board members. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:24:33 GMT ktorres@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/school-board-reform-in-291579.html Kristina Torres 2010-02-04T23:24:33Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/senate-bans-forced-microchip-291411.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections The Senate voted Thursday to protect Georgians from evildoers, covert corporations and rogue doctors, seen and unseen, with the passage of a bill that would make it illegal to implant a microchip into someone without their permission. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:14:54 GMT esuggs@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/senate-bans-forced-microchip-291411.html Ernie Suggs 2010-02-04T22:14:54Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/georgia-senate-opposes-forcing-291174.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Georgians worried about having miniature computer circuits inserted into their bodies without their consent can rest a little easier now that their state lawmakers have taken action. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:53:23 GMT ttagami@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/georgia-senate-opposes-forcing-291174.html Ty Tagami 2010-02-04T18:53:23Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/more-federal-transit-money-290434.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections As the ground settles from Georgia’s loss of a major grant from Obama’s $8 billion high-speed rail stimulus, a little aftershock arrived this week. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:55:49 GMT ahart@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/more-federal-transit-money-290434.html Ariel Hart 2010-02-03T22:55:49Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/perdue-backs-water-conservation-290093.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections Gov. Sonny Perdue announced he's seeking a water conservation law that, among other things, requires builders to use low-flow fixtures. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:26:22 GMT jredmon@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/perdue-backs-water-conservation-290093.html Jeremy Redmon 2010-02-03T22:26:22Z http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/lawmaker-wants-to-make-290204.html?cxtype=rss_georgia-politics-elections On cold winter days, antifreeze is crucial to keeping your car running, but that innocuous-looking liquid can be deadly. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:50:59 GMT jtharpe@ajc.com http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/lawmaker-wants-to-make-290204.html Jim Tharpe 2010-02-03T20:50:59Z