It's about to get pricier to use Georgia's statehouse as a backdrop for movies.
Film crews have shot at least a half-dozen movies at the stately Capitol in the last few years, including the transformation of the second-floor Rotunda into a raging night club for the forthcoming instant classic "Ride Along 2."
It used to cost $5,000 to get a license to film movie scenes at the Capitol. The Georgia Building Authority's members voted Tuesday to up that price tag to $25,000.
"It's a historical building and shouldn't be used as a cheap movie set," said Steve Fanczi, the GBA's deputy executive director. "We're a working Capitol and this would limit disruptions
The movie industry has been drawn to Georgia by one of the nation's most generous film tax credits, and since 2008 the building authority has collected $1.6 million in rent and other fees from companies for rolling film at the Gold Dome and other state properties.
Gov. Nathan Deal said he thought the $5,000 charge led to an onslaught of applications to film on location.
"The $25,000, we think, is a reasonable figure," he told our AJC colleague Nicholas Fouriezos. "And it will probably drop the number of requests."
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The 113th Congress wrapped up last night, and proud we are of all of them.
The Senate's curtain call saw it pass a series of targeted tax breaks that apply retroactively to the 2014 tax year, but fail to come to an agreement on the terrorism risk insurance program.
Our WSB-Radio colleague Jamie Dupree notes that Saxby Chambliss got an early jump on retirement:
Chambliss missed the final 40 votes in the Senate on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, as he wrapped up his 20 year career in Congress back in his home state.
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Chambliss' replacement, Republican David Perdue, spoke at an Atlanta meeting of the Federalist Society on Tuesday. The Daily Report's Alyson Palmer was on hand:
In an interview following his remarks—and after some handshaking and photos with well-wishers—Perdue said he hoped to be "very involved" in the judicial appointment process, adding that "you have to be very thorough" in vetting would-be judges.
Perdue said he has yet to meet with Michael Boggs, a Georgia Court of Appeals judge whose nomination to the Northern District of Georgia bench has stalled in the Democratic-controlled Judiciary Committee. ...
During the campaign, Perdue said the nomination "deserves serious consideration." On Tuesday, Perdue said he would like to meet with Boggs—"or anyone else who gets nominated." He added he would like to get Boggs' "perspective" and "decide for myself."
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The search has begun to replace DeKalb Superintendent Michael Thurmond, the long-time Democratic politician drafted to turn around the school district as its accreditation was threatened.
Thurmond's contract ends in June, and the DeKalb Board of Education meets today to begin the replacement hunt. State Rep. Scott Holcomb wants the board to appoint a panel of community leaders involved in the search to show "that high profile education, community and business leaders, as well as representatives of higher education, are involved and invested in the process."
He added this in a letter to constituents:
"Parent Councils United is asking for your help in communicating to the BOE members that you would like an inclusive recruitment process for the superintendent position, as this is likely to result in a better pool of candidates. I support this approach, and would like to encourage all my constituents who reside in DeKalb to make this request of our school board members."
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Incoming U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, announced Tuesday that he will serve on the Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce committees next year.
From a press release:
"We are going to hit the ground running in each of these committees to bring commonsense back to the federal government," said Carter. "With every hearing and vote, I will look to make government more efficient and effective and to position our district and our country to meet the challenges of the future."
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Tonight is the second night of Hanukkah, and at least one Democratic insider from Georgia will be lighting the menorah with President Barack Obama.
Jeremy Berry, Mayor Kasim Reed's attorney, will be headed to the White House to spin the dreidel with the prez. Molotov, Jeremy.
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