Georgia Republicans this year endorsed legalizing medical marijuana, approved new fees and taxes to raise $1 billion a year for transportation and backed a new mandate for healthcare coverage, all while failing to adopt a "religious liberty" bill that many conservatives have rallied behind.
That all helps emphasize why state Sen. Josh McKoon's latest proposal - a constitutional amendment declaring English the official language of state government - is only part of a wave of election-year bills. In the coming weeks, lawmakers from both parties will file dozens of measures looking to sate their supporters with red meat before heading home to campaign.
State lawmakers passed a bill declaring English the state's official language in the 1996 legislative session as the city was preparing for the Olympic Games. The proposal by McKoon, who announced the legislation on Monday, would aim to cement that statute in the Georgia Constitution.
“This idea has been sound public policy in our state for over a decade,” said McKoon, R- Columbus. “All this resolution would do is strengthen what our state’s position currently is and commit that position to our state constitution.”
The legislation, Senate Resolution 675, includes a provision that says it "shall not be construed as infringing upon the rights" of people who don't speak English, and it allows other languages to be used for public health, criminal justice and education, among other purposes. It also requires that state records, services and official notices be maintained in English.
Expect a battle. Here's a taste of the criticism:
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The legal challenge seeking to halt Gov. Nathan Deal's expansion of the Court of Appeals is not going well for the plaintiffs.
A Fulton County judge last week rejected the lawsuit filed by Deal critics that contended the Georgia Constitution requires the three additional spots be filled by election.
Now they've asked the Georgia Supreme Court to halt Deal from swearing in the three new appointees until justices can weigh their appeal.
[Attorney Wayne] Kendall said in his motion that an the emergency stay is necessary because important issues affecting what he claimed is "the fundamental right" of the state's registered voters to elect the Court of Appeals are at stake. Kendall also asked the high court to intervene because the constitutional issues raised by the suit are a matter of first impression for the courts and relate to the scope and breadth of the governor's powers to make judicial appointments.
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The town of Appling, Ga., ranks as the third most-conservative in the country as determined by political donations, according to a new calculation by the tech firm Crowdpac.
The No. 1 most conservative is Hereford, Texas. The most liberal is Vashon Island, Wash. The firm analyzed donations to all candidates and ranked those candidates on an ideological axis.
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House Speaker David Ralston has come out - very strongly - against the notion of merit pay for teachers.
"I want to see the metric," Ralston said. "I know a little about football. Georgia State University is thrilled to death with a coach who finished with a 6 win, 6 loss record. The University of Georgia, my alma mater, just fired a coach who was 9 and 3. Coming up with a plan that accurately measures that, I am not sure we're there."
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Rumblings in Forsyth County indicate that there will be no new city of Sharon Springs created this session. From Forsyth County News:
Reached by email later Monday, District 25 state Rep. Mike Dudgeon declined comment, saying only that the matter would be addressed Tuesday at the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce's annual Pre-Legislative Breakfast.
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Former Georgia Democratic U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn rates as the fifth most bipartisan senator of the past two decades. That's according to a new "bipartisan index" from the Lugar Center, which is helmed by Nunn's cross-aisle collaborator on nuclear nonproliferation, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
Your top five bipartisan senators from 1993-2014: Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.; and Nunn.
The most partisan: Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Mike Lee, R-Utah; Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Ron Johnson, R-Wis.
Here's how they came up with the figures:
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