A federal judge in Texas late last night stepped in to block President Barack Obama's recent executive actions on immigration, ruling in favor of 26 states who sued the government -- including Georgia. From the New York Times:
The ruling comes as Congress is 10 days away from a deadline on Department of Homeland Security funding, which Republicans have sought to tie to a repeal of the immigration actions. It's making Republicans uneasy.
Witness freshman Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, on Monday -- before the ruling came down -- speaking to WSAV-TV:
Carter says at this time the House cannot act and has received little conversation from the Senate on the issue that [needs] a 60-vote majority. Even though the Ports Authority could come out unscathed if no funds are approved by the deadline, Carter says some facilities in the 1st District may close because of the funding freeze.
"The biggest impact it's gonna have on us here in the First District is down at the federal law enforcement training center down in [Glynn County] at FLETC, it will have an impact on them. Obviously I am very concerned, obviously I don't want to see any kind of stoppage but at the same time we can only do what we can do," Carter says.
The Texas judge's decision could give GOP leaders reason to argue to the rank-and-file that the courts will handle this, and there's no need for a DHS funding stoppage. Or it could make a couple of Senate Democrats reverse their stance on a filibuster, if they figure the courts will strike down Obama's actions anyway.
Or both sides could just further dig in their heels. Congress returns Monday evening from a week-long break.
***
Creative Loafing's Max Blau has a lengthy piece on House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams' voter registration group that's worth your time.
The story on New Georgia Project quotes state Sen. Vincent Fort, state Sen. David Lucas and other Democrats questioning the group's transparency.
Here's a key passage from the story on the project's legacy:
Abrams missed her initial six-figure registrant goal even under the best of circumstances. NGP's well-funded, high-profile initiative may not have performed better than past grassroots efforts to register minority voters. According to Democratic database VoteBuilder, 2014 showed little to no progress among potential minority voter registration compared to average annual gains in recent nonpresidential elections.
One Democratic strategist and former Abrams staffer says, "[New Georgia Project] underperformed what was done in 2010. Absolutely nothing was done in 2010. It's hard to grasp how unsuccessful her effort was, given the amount of money raised."
***
Former state schools superintendent John Barge is raising questions about Gov. Nathan Deal's "school rescue" plan.
Barge, who challenged Deal in the GOP primary last year, said he's concerned the state won't have the bandwidth to oversee dozens of schools in Deal's Opportunity School District. And he worries there's no firm exit strategy for those that graduate out of the program after at least five years.
"I'm not in favor of this proposal. I don't think the governor's office has a solution once you're ready to turn the schools over. And I don't think the state has the capacity to deal with all these schools. Those are two real concerns, and I'm not sure the state is prepared to answer for them."
Barge, who is looking for a new job, has been watching how his successor will react to the proposal. Schools superintendent Richard Woods has so far declined comment, but he's planning to travel to Louisiana next week on a fact-finding mission led by Deal.
***
GOP consultant Todd Rehm of GAPundit.com has some thoughts on that Georgia Chamber poll showing support for a gas tax increase. A key question from Rehm's morning newsletter:
"If I were a politicians basing my decisions on a poll, I'd want to know if "Republicans" means all who call themselves a Republican in response to a survey question, or if you know how actual GOP Primary voters break out. Given that the vast majority of state legislators are elected with effective competition only in their party primary, this is what they really want to know. And those of us involved in day-to-day politics know that GOP Primary voters are different from people who simply call themselves Republicans."
***
Earlier this month, we told you about S.B. 72, a bill proposed by state Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, that would have made the killing of a police dog in the line of duty the equivalent of second-degree murder.
Some animal rights supporters applauded, but much of the Internet erupted – and the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee has now recast his legislation. It now covers not just dogs, but horses as well.
“I never meant to give a dog the same value as a human being,” Mullis told us before the changes were approved last week in committee. The measure, he said, was to make it clear that the animals have great value.
Mullis introduced legislation at the request of law enforcement officials in his district, after a Walker County police dog was shot and killed last June.
Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment not to exceed months, a fine not to exceed $5,000.00, or both.
***
Jason Carter's former spokesman landed himself a nice new job.
Atlanta-based VALEO Delivers announced Tuesday that Bryan Thomas was coming on board. He'll work on strategic planning and "stakeholder engagement services," which we can only imagine is heady stuff.
***
State Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, has copied us on a letter he sent to a constituent, explaining H.B. 224, his bill to bring Uber and other Internet-based, car-for-hire networks under the same rules as taxis and limousines:
I think the public has a reasonable right to expect that someone that they pay and give their credit card information to drive them is not a sex or violent offender, habitual violator or other type that may pose a threat to their safety.
This is the reason limo drivers have always been required to have a GCIC background check, since it shows any arrest and disposition, which an Internet or third-party background check does not have access to.
Currently Limo and taxis are regulated, which include background checks, proof of actual liability insurance and that they pay their sales taxes. Due to the app-based business model, neither Uber or Lyft submit to a verified background checks, do not pay any taxes and the ongoing debate is whether they have valid liability insurance.
That said, in the spirit of free enterprise and competition, HB 224 deregulates all 'for hire' transportation services and only requires a verified background check and attempts to create a method so they will pay their sales taxes.
I understand the popularity of innovation and applaud a new or better mousetrap but the public's safety should come first without burdensome government regulation.
About the Author
