Pedue Softens Stance on Special Session

Friday, July 10, 2009

Brock Clay Weekly Report

Governor Sonny Perdue Softens Stance on Special Session

Earlier this year, Governor Sonny Perdue was quite clear that he had no desire to call the General Assembly into a special session. However, as Georgia prepared to open a new fiscal year on Wednesday, July 1, Governor Perdue seemed to have decidedly softened his stance on that issue. In a radio interview on WABE 90.1's Tuesday evening broadcast, Perdue intimated his plans to meet personally with Speaker Glenn Richardson and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and, should there be a "consensus," he would call the General Assembly into special session.

Georgia Kicks Off First Stimulus Transportation Project, Awards Additional Stimulus Projects

On Tuesday, June 30, Governor Sonny Perdue, U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary John D. Porcari, and Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Vance Smith Jr. officially launched work on Georgia’s first American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project. The project, which will resurface four miles of U.S. Highway 19/State Route 3 in Fulton and Clayton Counties, is funded with $940,000 of federal stimulus funds. Nationally, $48 billion is being spent on transportation infrastructure improvements. The Georgia Department of Transportation has launched a Web site devoted to stimulus projects in Georgia.

In the meantime, the Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded 22 additional contracts from stimulus money totaling roughly $57 million. The projects should begin next month, and will include repaving 20 miles of interstate in Cobb County, upgrading traffic lights in Fulton County, and upgrading pedestrian walkways in DeKalb County. Georgia is slated to receive a total of $937 million in funding from the ARRA for transportation purposes, with an additional $144 million for mass transit improvements.

On Monday, Governor Perdue submitted the required "1511 Certification" on an additional 11 projects that will be funded through federal stimulus dollars. The complete list of projects can be viewed here.

New Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Opens for Business

Last week, Governor Sonny Perdue commented on the opening of the new Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, heralding it as a milestone that will allow the state to provide better, more focused healthcare results. Perdue said the new reorganization of the state's healthcare agencies will allow Georgia to better focus on preventative healthcare. Governor Perdue's entire statement can be found here.

Hudgens Announces Candidacy for Insurance Commissioner

Last week, current chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee Ralph Hudgens (R-Hull) officially announced his candidacy for Georgia's Insurance Commissioner. Hudgens campaign team will include Georgia Board of Transportation Chairman Bill Kuhlke and Vice Chairman of the Medical Association of Georgia Scott Bohlke. Hudgens has been a member of the General Assembly since 1996 and currently owns a holding company with interests in real estate and outdoor advertising.

Hudgens joins State Senator Seth Harp (R-Midland) and Gerry Purcell in the Republican Primary.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Announces Georgia Stimulus Dollars, Energy Investments

On Monday of this week, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced that Georgia would receive $164,964 for the Georgia Ports Authority and $748,000 for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to assist with clean diesel technology projects. The money will specifically support projects to reduce diesel emissions in Georgia by 13.7 percent over the next 15 months.

On the same day, the United States Department of Energy (USDE) announced that Georgia would receive $32.9 million for renewable energy projects across the state. Upon successful execution of that plan, Georgia could receive up to an additional $41 million from the USDE. Georgia plans to use a portion of the money for the State Utilities Retrofit Program, created by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to retrofit government facilities with an emphasis on green energy and green jobs.

June 30, Mid-Year Campaign Disclosures


Governor (R)

(R) Congressman Nathan Deal: $1,230,290 raised, $1,149,874 C.O.H. (including a $250,000 personal loan)

(R) Sen. Eric Johnson: $962,773 raised, $913,483 C.O.H.

(R) Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine: $416,580 raised, $1,006,869 C.O.H.

(R) Secretary of State Karen Handel: $431,178 raised, $325,013 C.O.H.

(R) Rep. Austin Scott: $180,620 raised, $85,578 C.O.H

(R) Ray McBerry: $18,596 raised, $3,400 C.O.H.

(D) General David Poythress: $155,000 raised, $264,099 C.O.H.

(D) Attorney General Thurbert Baker: $704,000 raised, $591,220 C.O.H.

(D) Rep. Dubose Porter: $231,000 raised, $225,000 C.O.H.

(D) Former Governor Roy Barnes: Nothing raised, $15,000 in accounts payable


Lt. Governor

(R) Lt. Governor Casey Cagle: $560,578 raised, $502,881 C.O.H.


Secretary of State (R)

(R) Brian Kemp: $267,170 raised, $255,660 C.O.H.

(R) Doug McKinnittie: $257,157 raised,$223,674 C.O.H.

(D) Gary Horlacher: $169,625 raised, $167,628 C.O.H.


Attorney General

(R) Sam Olens: $185,000 raised, $175,000 C.O.H.

(D) Rob Teilhet: $203,569 raised, $181,524 C.O.H.

(D) Ken Hodges: $128,280 raised, $120,334 C.O.H.


Insurance Commissioner (R)

(R) Sen. Ralph Hudgens: $80,700 raised, $75,093 C.O.H.

(R) Stephen Northington: $30,744 raised, $7,735 C.O.H.

(R) Sen. Seth Harp: $23,900 raised, $17,629 C.O.H.

(R) John Fuchko: $0 raised, $0, C.O.H.

(D) Mary Squires: $50,386 raised, $32,909 C.O.H.


State School Superintendent (R)

(R) Superintendent Kathy Cox: $21,970 raised, $26,368 C.O.H.

(R) Richard Woods: $3,979 raised, $2,932 C.O.H.

(D) Brian Westlake: $5,613 raised, $5,613 C.O.H.


Commissioner of Agriculture (R)

(R) Gary Black: $153,880 raised, $143,035 C.O.H.

(R) John Wilkinson: $28,657 raised, $9,862 C.O.H.

(D) Commissioner Tommy Irvin: $10,029 raised, $153,065 C.O.H.


Labor Commissioner

(D) Commissioner Michael Thurmon: $21,750 raised, $53,938 C.O.H.

(R) Rep. Melvin Everson: $25,025 raised, $21,280 C.O.H.

Calling All Calendar Items

Brock Clay would like to begin including a calendar of upcoming political events, fundraisers, barbeques, committee meetings, town hall meetings, roundtables, conventions, and the like. Please send those to us as soon as you have them scheduled so they can be included.

Know Your Legislators

Rep. Barry Loudermilk has represented Georgia’s 14th House District since his election in 2004. He currently serves on the House Science and Technology, Health and Human Services Committees, and as the Secretary of both the House Transportation and Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications committees. He has been especially active on legislative issues such as eliminating the fingerprinting requirement for driver’s licenses and limiting the use of redlight cameras in Georgia.

Rep. Loudermilk, and his wife, Desiree, live in Cassville with their three children. After retiring from the United States Air Force in 1992, Rep. Loudermilk returned to Georgia in 1995 were he founded a data networking technology company in Cartersville. Rep. Loudermilk is a licensed private pilot who enjoys flying and almost any other outdoor pursuit such as fishing, golf, hunting, and camping. He and his entire family are very active in the Civil Air Patrol. Rep. Loudermilk loves country music, the Andy Griffith Show, and old war movies.

When asked about his legislative philosophy, Rep. Loudermilk will tell you it comes down to two simple principles. The first is honesty – he asks that his colleagues and lobbyists be as honest with him as he will be with them. Secondly, he believes in negotiating on preferences without compromising his principles. Rep. Loudermilk’s political hero is George Washington, who he views as a classic example of Christian values, humility, and dedication to the people he served.

In Other News

The Georgia Department of Driver Services announced plans to implement a vertical layout in new driver’s licenses issued to those drivers under the age of 21. The new design is part of the overall redesign of all licenses issued by the Department. The new design could be ready to roll out as early as next year.

On June 29, the Supreme Court of the United States reversed the decision previously rendered in Ricci et al v. DeStefano et al. The high court ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were improperly denied promotions because of their race. Ironically, the decision reverses an appellate court decision rendered by none other than Judge Sonia Sotomayor, recently nominated by President Barack Obama to fill the seat to be vacated by retiring Associate Justice David Souter.

Last week, chief Ponzi scam artist Bernie Madoff was sentenced to the maximum of 150 years in prison.

Last week, former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney clashed with Israeli officials yet again as a boat she was aboard attempted to run through an Israeli blockade to deliver supplies to Gaza. McKinney released a statement through freegaza.org blasting the Israeli government for an "outrageous violation of international law."

Last week, television's Neilson rating service reported that CNN had slipped into third place in weeknight prime time ratings. Over the three month reporting period, FOX recieved an average of 2,484,000 veiwers, MSCNBC recieved 946,000, and CNN recieved 939,000.

Today in History

July 10, 988: The city of Dublin, Ireland is founded.

July 10, 1584: William I of Orange is assassinated in his home in Holland.

July 10, 1821: The United States takes possession of Florida, the territory they recently had acquired from Spain.

July 10, 1850: Millard Fillmore is inaugurated as the 13th President of the United States upon the death of President Zachary Taylor.

July 10, 1890: Wyoming is admitted into the Union as the 44th U.S. State.

July 10, 1938: Howard Hughes makes a 91-hour, world record airplane flight around the world.

July 10, 1991: Boris Yeltsin begins his five-year term as the first elected President of Russia.

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.”