Weighing Marjorie Taylor Greene’s options
It was a busy weekend in Georgia politics. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter has asked for more ICE agents in Atlanta. Recently disclosed emails show how the State Election Board battled over the hire of the former executive director’s wife. And Georgia education leaders called for a cellphone ban in high schools.
But all of it was overshadowed by a big decision from within Georgia’s congressional delegation.
1. What’s next for Marjorie Taylor Greene?
We’re still sorting through the political fallout from U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s surprise decision to resign from Congress in January. Everyone wants to know what the Rome Republican might do next. Greg Bluestein sorts through the options.
- Never say never. Greene already bowed out of the 2026 governor’s race via a lengthy social media post this summer. But the filing period doesn’t close until March. With an AJC poll showing more than half of likely Republican voters undecided, there’s still plenty of room for Greene to shake up the race.
- Media star. Greene’s recent appearances on ABC’s “The View” and HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” got lots of traction online. She could forge a potentially lucrative path in conservative media.
- Walk away? Greene’s allies say she’s unlikely to disappear from politics altogether. Even President Donald Trump, who called her a traitor, told NBC News he would “love to see” Greene return to the public arena.
2. Republicans have a big decision to make.
Democrats may have won two seats on the Public Service Commission this month. But they won’t take office until January. Meanwhile, the Republican-dominated board is scheduled to vote next month on a Georgia Power request that could raise electricity bills by $20 per month.
- The ask. Georgia Power wants permission to generate an extra 10,000 megawatts of power in the next five years. They say they need the electricity to power all of the data centers popping up all over the state.
- The recommendation. Commission staff say the board should only approve about one third of that request. They argue only a fraction of what the company has asked to build is backed up by signed contracts.
- Pushback. Georgia Power says that’s not true. The company filed a document last week saying its portfolio of large customers who have committed to receiving electricity has grown to 11,000 megawatts.
3. Georgia cuts some foster care programs.
Georgia has a $14.6 billion surplus. Yet the Department of Human Services has had permanently eliminate some programs because of a lingering agency deficit. Michelle Baruchman explains what’s happening.
- What got cut? Programs used to understand children’s needs prior to foster care and services that aim to prevent kids from living outside their home, among other things. State officials say foster children can still access basic needs, like clothing allowance and legal representation.
- Why? State officials are blaming the federal government shutdown, which ended earlier this month. They say the loss of federal dollars exacerbated the agency’s existing deficits.
- Rising costs. Georgia’s costs for these foster care services have risen by 48.5% in three years as more children with increasingly complex needs are entering foster care.
Looking ahead
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In tomorrow morning’s newsletter, we’ll take a closer look at U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s pension.
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