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Georgia’s upcoming transportation debate is a crucial litmus test for state leaders who face an urgent need to act before the General Assembly ends its work this spring, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said Wednesday. With a major funding bill about how to address the state’s $1 billion gap for roads and other infrastructure expected in the next week or so, Cagle sat down with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to talk about why he favors transit as part of that plan, his support for both medical marijuana and autism insurance bills, and needing everybody to calm down over whether he’ll run for governor.
On transportation, transit and growth:
I do believe very strongly that transit’s going to be a very critical piece to what the future of our state will look like, particularly in metro Atlanta. When you look at tourism, it clearly is a major force that makes us competitive in that environment. You could also look at both State Farm and Mercedes-Benz and other (companies relocating to the metro area), you’re seeing more and more intown development that is occurring because of the connectivity to transit. Where you are going to have large numbers of employees, they want that access.
I believe that at some point in time we will need to approach the governance issue and the opportunity to look at a bigger plan for MARTA and how it can become financially sustainable going forward. You do have the opportunity to have true commuter ability within the corridor that currently exists, with some additions. But this will prove to be very, very important in the next 10 years.
The reason transportation has continued to be a major issue is because of the phenomenal growth that this state has enjoyed. We’re not on our own. There are other states that are experiencing these same types of issues. That’s why it’s so incumbent of the leaders of today to bridge to the future that makes it better. The reality is, we’re going to continue to grow. This is not an issue that’s going to go away. There’s no silver bullet because with growth you continue to have to build and plan for what that future looks like.
The beauty is it’s not just metro Atlanta that has that growth. We’re seeing other pockets of the state that continue to show great promise. One of the reasons we have invested strategically in the Port of Savannah is because it is the engine that fuels the economy, not just for South Georgia but for the entire state. It’s giving real economic opportunity to rural parts of the state.
We need the infrastructure to back that up. We need to not only allow the companies to continue to expand in that region but recruit new industry to the region as well. Certainly KIA is a prime example in Troup County and what it meant to that part of the state and what it is going to continue to mean for the next decade.
On the Senate’s controversial attempt last year to tie medical marijuana to an autism insurance bill:
My hope is the two issues can stand on their own. But make no mistake about it, I’m very, very passionate about the passage of the autism bill. This is something you can’t bury your head in the sand about. These kids need our assistance. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that we’re diagnosing early, we’re giving them the treatment that they need to hopefully become self-sufficient.
I want to make sure that we, as policymakers, are doing all that we can to give these kids that chance. It is very, very important to me.
He still supports medical marijuana, though:
Listen, I can’t imagine having a child with a seizure disorder and not really having anywhere else to turn and this being the only solution they have — yet being denied the ability to have this cannabis oil for treatment.
That’s why we’re going to be very, very proactive in decriminalization of the cannabis oil itself here in the state and getting these parents hope for their children. It’s just the right thing to do.
I do think there is an opportunity to have a serious dialogue about what this treatment could be used for. Provided that there are the safeguards in place where you’re getting a prescription and going through the process, then I think that’s very viable to see expansion of other types of potential remedies (using the oil).
On education:
I'm obviously very, very excited about Senate Bill 2. What this allows is a student in the 10th grade could take a college entrance exam and by taking that college entrance exam, they would then be able to enroll — still in high school — in post-secondary education. So the idea is students could literally graduate from high school on Friday and college on Saturday. In doing so, it really does streamline the process so they don't get caught up in all the bureaucracy and a lot of the rules and regs that come with traditional education.
It opens it up and really gives kids the ability to explore, both career pathways and ultimately get them industry-certified in a career field that they really have a passion for. It’s about really closing the skills gap and getting more tools to students who really need those tools to be successful in life.
This is a big step that I think can really transform Georgia in a way that does wonderful things for the student. More importantly, it also does more wonderful things for industry.
About whether he’s running for governor:
I am focused on one thing and I mean that as sincerely as I possibly can: doing the very best job that I can for the citizens of Georgia.
There are a lot of people in this world that want to play politics. Quite honestly, that’s not who I am and it never has been who I am.
I want to make my time matter at whatever office I may be in.
You’re going to have the cynics, you’re going to have the pundits, you’re going to have a lot of chatter. But at the end of the day, it’s really about doing a good job for the people of Georgia.
If you do that, you really don’t have to worry about the future. If they send you home, you can still look at yourself in the mirror and feel good about it.
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