In 2003, as a state senator, Kasim Reed played a pivotal role in raising the current Georgia flag and blocking newly elected Gov. Sonny Perdue's effort to put the state's 1956 flag, with its Confederate battle emblem, up for a statewide vote.
On Tuesday, in a video session with Bloomberg, the Atlanta mayor predicted that Gov. Nikki Haley could have some difficulty in bringing down the Rebel battle emblem in her state:
Said Reed:
"It's time to put the Confederate flag to bed in South Carolina, but it's going to be very difficult, tough and I anticipate some very, very emotional debates – unless things have changed more than I think they have."
The Atlanta mayor also noted the squirming of GOP presidential candidates:
"And some of them will come out decisively -- I think Senator [Lindsey] Graham was by Governor Haley's side – and do the right thing long term. It's very important, in my opinion, that the Republican party be absolute and totally committed in this effort."
***
The mayor of Atlanta was also on the radio Tuesday. Before Gov. Nathan Deal's topsy-turvy arrival at a decision to redesign Georgia's specialty Confederate license plate, he was under mounting pressure to make the change. Not only had counterparts in three other Southern states said they would, but Kasim Reed, his Democratic BFF, also offered some advice.
, which was
.
On a listing of Tennessee historic sites, an icon located just below Chattanooga describes the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park's headquarters as "Fort Oglethorpe, Tenn."
Fort Oglethorpe is in Georgia.
We'll let you know if we hear that the National Guard has been summoned.
***
The price tag for Georgia's ongoing court battle with Florida over water rights keeps growing. Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order this month to transfer another $2.7 million from his emergency fund to pay for the water wars legal fees.
That's on top of the $4 million-plus he shifted over in February to float the costs of the ongoing litigation. Don't expect that to be the end of it. Deal's staff has warned the costs will only grow.
***
Georgia Republican U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue both backed a key Senate trade vote Tuesday, but they're on the fence about the next step.
Warning: Procedural wackiness ahead.
After it cleared a 60-vote hurdle, Trade Promotion Authority (a.k.a. "fast track") will pass the Senate today and head to President Barack Obama's desk. Then it's immediately onto a bill that merges Trade Adjustment Assistance for displaced workers with the popular African Growth and Opportunity Act, which they anticipate will lure over enough Republicans who are not usually keen on spending money on TAA.
If the Senate sends TAA and AGOA back to the House, it would jam Democrats who had previously blocked TAA in the hopes of sinking TPA. Obama has said he wants to sign both bills, but has not expressly said he won't sign TPA by itself.
For the Georgians, the merged TAA-AGOA vote is a tough one. The Africa deal is big for Georgia exports, particularly after South Africa dropped its tariff on U.S. poultry. But they don't like new spending.
Said Isakson: "I’m going to take it one step at a time, but I’m very supportive of AGOA." Then he went on to praise the process laid out by the majority leader:
"We've got an awfully good leader in Mitch McConnell, who figured out how to thread a needle in a way nobody thought of before. He did a great job and deserves credit for it."
Perdue was less of a fan of how the votes are set up:
"We're building in all this additional cost. The heartbreak I have is I support AGOA. It's not unlike a lot of things that happen here. I'm delighted we're getting on this vote. I don't like it's taken so long to get here, but that's where we are."
***
U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta, moved a bill through the House on Tuesday night dealing with cotton policy. The amendment to the U.S. Cotton Futures Act passed by unanimous voice vote. Here's how Scott explained it in a prepared floor speech:
"Without this legislative fix, a new contract will likely be listed at other exchanges in Europe or Singapore. It is essential that we keep our U.S. businesses, markets, and market participants competitive on the world stage."
***
In National Journal magazine, Alex Roarty has a tough look at U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., as he enters his first re-election.
Johnson, a former corporate CEO, had a story not unlike U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., winning his first bid for elected office with a debt-focused message. The story, then, can be read as kind of a cautionary tale for Perdue, who sought Johnson's advice during his campaign. From Roarty's piece:
Those who have watched Johnson closely draw a straight line from his early struggles as a senator to his time in the business world. In his previous job, Johnson gave orders and watched as employees carried them out quickly and efficiently.
But that's rarely how business works in the Senate, or in politics more generally. And the new senator's frustration was plain.
About the Author
