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Deal Becomes Third Candidate to Resign for Gubernatorial Run...Sometime in March
On Monday, Congressman Nathan Deal announced that he would be resigning from Congress to focus on his gubernatorial campaign in Georgia. Deal has served in the United States House of Representatives since 1992, previously serving 12 years in the Georgia State Senate. Many have speculated that Deal was resigning in an attempt to breath life back into a campaign that many pundits have considered lacking. The National Review attacked Deal earlier this week for shirking his responsibility, and resigning in an effort to end a current Congressional ethics probe into a contract between a company he owned and the State of Georgia.
On Thursday, Deal reversed his initial decision and announced that he would postpone his resignation, which would have been effective Monday, March 8, until after the vote on President Barack Obama's proposed healthcare package, citing pressure from both Governor Sonny Perdue and U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R - Ohio). This puts more pressure on state officials to declare, plan and execute a special election in the 9th Congressional District. As it stands, the earliest a special election could be called is May. Now, the election could be delayed until the July 20 primary date.
Congressman John Linder Retires After 18 Years, Sets off Political Shuffleboard
In somewhat less controversial fashion, Republican Congressman John Linder of Gwinnett County announced his retirement at the end of last week. Linder has also represented Georgia's 7th Congressional District since 1992. A dentist and businessman, Linder quickly made a name for himself as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and serves as ranking member on the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support as well as on the Subcommittee on Oversight and the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures , which serves as the chief subcommittee on tax policy. A former captain in the United States Air Force, Linder catapulted to national fame as a proponent of the popular Fair Tax, a tax reform proposal for which many have advocated, including Neal Boortz and Herman Cain.
Linder's announcement has set off a firestorm of individuals and politicians making declarations to run for new offices, and the following circumstances have unfolded this week:
Senator Don Balfour (R - Snellville), the chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee, announced that he would run to replace Linder. CBN.com reported earlier this week that former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed was seriously considering a run in the 7th Congressional District race. However, many pundits in Georgia doubt the validity of that claim due to Reed's extremely close relationship with Balfour.
On Wednesday, Rep. Clay Cox announced that he would vacate his seat in the Georgia House to run for the 7th Congressional District. Cox has one failed Congressional bid under his belt, a loss to Congressman David Scott (GA - 13) in 2002.
Senator David Shafer (R - Duluth), Chairman of the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee, is an extremely popular leader within the Republican grassroots ranks, and was rumored to be interested in this seat. However, he released a statement that he would remain in the State Senate.
Rep. David Casas (R - Lilburn) announced that he would be running to replace Balfour in the State Senate. Casas' announcement was accompanied by the endorsement of Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R - Woodstock), Senate President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams (R - Lyons), and House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R - Milton).
Steve Ramey, a political activist in Gwinnett County, announced his candidacy for Casas' House District 103 seat. Ramey has received the endorsement of Rep. Clay Cox (R - Lilburn), Rep. Bobby Reese (R - Sugar Hill) and Rep. Mike Coan (R - Lawrenceville).
Travis Bowden, a Gwinnett County based political consultant, announced that he would seek to fill Clay Cox's seat in House District 102. Linda Carsten, a former president of the Republican Women of Gwinnett, wife of former Sheriff Jim Carsten and a former primary opponent of Cox in 2004, also announced her candidacy for House District 102.
New Polls in the Governor's Race
North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling released a new poll this week for the Republican Gubernatorial Primary. Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine continues to lead with 27%; Former Secretary of State Karen Handel polls higher than in previous polls, coming in at 19%; Congressman Nathan Deal comes in with 13%; and former Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson and Rep. Austin Scott each constitute 3%.
Earlier this week, the same firm released a poll showing Roy Barnes leading Oxendine 40%-39%, leading Handel 41%-36%, and leading Deal 43%-38% in the potential general election. This is counter to last week's Rasmussen poll that showed Barnes trailing the same three candidates, and in a tie with Eric Johnson.
In the potential general election between Attorney General Thurbert Baker and the three leading Republican candidates, each Republican leads Baker by at least 7%.
New Poll shows Isakson at 49%
Last week, Rasmussen released a poll showing U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson receiving 49% of the vote against an unnamed generic Democratic candidate, who received 36% of the vote. 12% of those polled were undecided, and 4% chose another candidate.
Currently, there aren't any declared challengers to Isakson in the primary or general election.
New Poll on Insurance Commissioner and Secretary of State
This week, Insider Advantage and RosettaStone released a poll of 580 voters, conducted on February 10, concerning the Republican primary races for Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner. With a 79% undecided factor, Secretary of State Brian Kemp leads challenger Doug MacGinnite by 15%, polling 18%-3%. In the primary for Insurance Commissioner, Rep. Tom Knox polls at 12%, Senator Seth Harp polls at 10%, Maria Sheffield polls at 7%, and Senator Ralph Hudgens polls at 4%, with a 57% undecided factor.
Transportation Update: Many Moving Parts
This week, the House Special Subcommittee on Transportation Funding met for yet another round of hearings. Tuesday gave the opportunity for a public hearing on Governor Sonny Perdue's HB 1218, and many organizations took the opportunity to comment on the legislation. The Atlanta Regional Commission voiced objections that the state will set the criteria for project selection; and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia voiced strong objections to the state setting regional boundaries outside metro Atlanta, and to the fact that no county would be given the ability to opt-out. Many of the speakers, including the Georgia Municipal Association , voiced objections that the referendum is set for 2012, when 124 local sales taxes will be up for renewal.
Rep. Jim Cole (R - Forsyth), Governor Perdue's floor leader and sponsor of the legislation, continued to be optimistic about where the legislation is headed.
On Thursday, the Special Subcommittee met again, this time to consider a committee substitute for HB 1218, presented by House Transportation Chairman Jay Roberts (R - Ocilla). The major changes contained within the committee subtitute included:
• Changing the period of the tax levy from eight (8) to ten (10) years
• Inserting a provision that if the Regional Roundtable does not approve the project list, then there will be no vote in that region. This essentially removes the ability of the Director of Planning (at the Department of Transportation) to finalize the project list and call an election without regional buy-in.
• Changes the fiscal agent for administration of the funds and control of project delivery from the State Road and Tollway Authority to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
• Finally, the committee sub alters the proposed changes to the funding allocation formula (which would replace congressional balancing). Now, for expenditures on the statewide asset improvement program (capacity building), 40% of the funds would be split equally among regions and 40% would be split among regions based on population. For expenditures on the statewide asset management program (maintenance), 80% of the funds would be split among regions based on total lane mileage. The amount of funds in each category will be set by the General Assembly annually.
Rep. Cole spoke to the changes contained in the committee sub, saying the Governor is open to discussion on most. In his comments, however, he clarified the Governor's stance on a county opt-out, explaining that the language inserted to allow for a regional opt-out if the Regional Roundtable does not approve the project list would result in a veto.
Rep. Kevin Levitas (D - Atlanta) proposed an amendment that would prohibit MARTA from using the flexibility provided by HB 1218 to enhance staff compensation. This amendment passed unanimously.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R - Cassville) proposed a legislative oversight committee for each region. The oversight committee would be a five-member panel, appointed by the Speaker of the House and the Lt. Governor, and one member must be from the minority party. This amendment passed with only three "no" votes.
Rep. Ed Rynders (R - Albany) proposed to add two Representatives appointed by the Chair of the House Transportation Committee and two Senators appointed by the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee to each of the regional councils' executive committees. The amendment passed with only one vote in opposition.
Rep. Tom Rice (R - Norcross) proposed to require two town hall meetings in the region prior to holding the final regional transportation roundtable. The amendment passed unanimously.
The amended committee substitute will be voted on by the Subcommittee early next week.
Senate Majority Leader Warns of Mass Layoffs and University System Releases List of Cuts
Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R - Woodstock) gathered with reporters on Monday to update them on the budget situation. According to Rogers, no "revenue enhancements" are being considered as valid options. Rogers went on to say that budget cuts are the only items being considered by Senate leaders, including one proposal that would offer early retirement incentives to roughly 8,000 state employees currently eligible to retire.
In response to the legislature asking for the University System of Georgia (USG) to prepare a list of $300 million in additional cuts, the USG released their own list of budget cutting measures that offered to layoff up to 4,000 employees, cut dozens of programs and departments, and even limit future admissions to universities and colleges. Roughly 2,500 of those employees would be at Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia . Other cuts proposed include closing roughly half of the county extension offices around the state, and eliminating the state's 4-H program. The USG is facing $265 million in cuts in the FY 2011 Budget put together by Governor Sonny Perdue (the $300 million would be in addition to this amount).
As soon as the list of cuts became public, emails and phone calls in opposition began to flood in to the Capitol. Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R - Powder Springs) and Senator Seth Harp (R - Midland), who chair the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Higher Education, were quoted by multiple sources on Thursday saying that the $300 million was a worst case scenario that the Legislature was preparing for, and that the Legislature was supportive of Higher Education. Insider Advantage quoted Rep. Ehrhart as saying that the cuts wouldn't be as bad as outlined, and that the work between the Legislature and the USG would lead to a historic effort between the two governmental entities. Senator Harp was also quoted as saying that the USG was responsible for stirring the furor around the cuts.
On Thursday, Governor Perdue was quoted by Insider Advantage and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as being critical of the Legislature and said, "...under my administration we will not dismantle a world class university system that we spent over two decades to build up."
Water Legislation Moves Swimmingly
On Tuesday, after hours of hearings and committee discussion, Governor Sonny Perdue's legislation, HB 1094 to conserve water resources in Georgia unanimously passed the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Among other items, the legislation proposes to create incentives for local governments to fix leaky water infrastructure, requires all new constructions to use low-flow hardware beginning in 2012, and requires all apartments to have individual water meters. The legislation is being proposed in response to a federal court decision that will greatly restrict the City of Atlanta's ability to draw water from Lake Lanier, and is intended in large part to give Georgia leverage in negotiations with Alabama and Florida.
Chuck Clay To Speak on Lobbying
On Tuesday, March 23, from 11:30 am to 1 pm, Brock Clay Government and Public Affairs Senior Partner Chuck Clay will speak on "Lobbying When The Cupboard Is Bare" at the Georigan Club. The cost is $14.95 per person and includes lunch. Please RSVP to (770) 952-6000.
Today in History
March 5,1770: The Boston Massacre occurs, an event that would eventually lead to the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
March 5, 1836: Samuel Colt produces the first production-level revolver, a .34 caliber.
March 5, 1868: An impeachment court of the United States Senate is organized against President Andrew Jackson.
March 5, 1958: The Explorer 2 spacecraft launches and fails to reach Earth orbit.
March 5, 1979: Voyager 1 has its closest approach to Jupiter, 172,000 miles.
Have a great weekend!
SM
There are no simple solutions to working with the public or government. At Brock Clay, we integrate our services across lobbying, grassroots and public relations in order to create comprehensive solutions to complex problems. Whether we need to set up a town hall meeting, start a letter-writing campaign, work the halls of the Capitol or create a press release, we will find the right way to meet the challenge. As Harry Truman said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
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