State Revenue Numbers for September Down...Again

State Revenue Numbers Down

Yesterday, Governor Sonny Perdue released the revenue report for September of 2009. Revenues are down approximately $260 million, a decrease of 16% over September of 2008. This brings the total year-to-date increase for 2010 to 14.2%.

Governor Perdue Certifies Transportation Stimulus Projects

On Thursday, Governor Sonny Perdue announced a series of additional “1511 Certification” transportation projects that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects include $8.9 million for passing lanes in Butts County, $1 million for a new ferry boat in Savannah, $15 million for median work in Fulton County, $14 million for widening on Roswell Road in Cobb County, and $16 million for work on S.R. 133 in Lowndes County. More information can be found on the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Stimulus Website.

Georgia's Water Woes Continue

Last Tuesday, Governor Sonny Perdue announced the formation of a new task force to work on the water issues being faced by Georgia as it faces off against Alabama and Tennessee to determine a more balanced approached to the use of local water resources. Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. CEO John Brock and Tim Lowe of Lowe Engineers will co-chair a task force to look for alternative strategies to address a July court ruling that limited Atlanta's access to Lake Lanier's water resources. These contingency plans are part of a new four prong strategy being pursued by Perdue. Other parts of the strategy include ongoing negotiations with Florida and Tennessee, an appeal of the court ruling, and potential congressional legislation authorizing metro Atlanta to utilize more of Lanier's resources.

Almost as if on cue, Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Magnusson ruled against Georgia again on Monday of this week, saying that further appeals by Georgia will only "further complicate" the issue. This summer, Magnusson ruled that it is illegal for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw water from Lake Lanier to help meet the needs of Atlanta's 3.5 million residents, and issued a three-year stay in the case to give the three states more time to work out a compromise. The Georgia parties (including the State of Georgia, the Atlanta Regional Commission, and the City of Atlanta) are seeking an appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Magnusson seemed to echo the talking points issued by the governor's offices in both Florida and Alabama, accusing Georgia of "gamesmanship."

Georgia Can't Keep Startups

This week, a good friend who serves as the Vice Chair of the Government Affairs Task Force of the Technology Association of Georgia brought to our attention a disturbing study conducted by a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The study shows that 40 percent of high-tech startups in Atlanta leave within three years of raising their first "institutional money." The study found this to be incredibly ironic given the fact that Atlanta offers a wealth of infrastructure that is needed by these startups, including research universities and educated labor. Dan Breznitz, the study's co-author and an assistant professor at Georgia Tech, concluded that the primary reason these startups leave Atlanta is not because of lack of funding, but because they lack deep rooted local connections. As a result, Atlanta has become a gigantic incubator for businesses that will ultimately end up in California or North Carolina. Although some industry experts don't agree totally with the study's findings, many do agree that the solution to insure these high-tech companies stay in Atlanta and Georgia is to build organizations and networks that enable these companies to share information and build social/business communities.

Strategic Vision Faces Questions Over Methods

Two weeks ago, the American Association for Public Opinion Research publicly censured Georgia pollsters Strategic Visions LLC for refusing to disclose the methodology and crosstabs used in several polls over the last couple of years. The AAPOR is a 60-year-old organization with roughly 2,000 members (of which Strategic Visions is NOT), and counts George Gallup among its former presidents. At any rate, the organization has engaged on a crusade during the last year or so to increase transparency within the public opinion polling industry, arguing that practices of maintaining cross-tabs as "trade secrets" increases the likelihood that the results would be viewed skeptically. As a result, 21 different organizations were asked to provide backup data for their polling, and David Johnson and his firm Strategic Visions refused, citing the fact that his company wasn't even a member of AAPOR. AAPOR has since noted that they aren't censuring Strategic Visions for innacurate polling, simply for their unwillingness to release their methodology. However, prominent statistician Nate Silver later questioned even the accuracy of Strategic Vision's polling. Perhaps as a result, Johnson has since acquiesced to AAPOR's request, stating that Strategic Visions will release all of the data requesting, also promising legal action against those who've accused him of improper business practices.

Georgia GOP Loses Early Pioneer

Last week, Repubulicans across Georgia mourned the passing for former DeKalb Republican and longtime state legislator Joe Burton at the age of 86. Burton was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1972, and quickly made a name for himself as a tireless advocate of children's safety, special needs students, and others who were physically or mentally disabled. Burton was elected to the State Senate in 1982, and continued his tireless advocacy there. During the holidays, one could always find Joe ringing a bell for the Salvation Army. Senator Burton was well liked and respected by Republicans and Democrats all across the state of Georgia, and his presence will be sorely missed. Cards may be sent to Ms. Bessie Burton at 3598 Woodwardia Road NE, Atlanta GA 30345.

Political Notebook: Update on Atlanta Mayor's Race; Eric Johnson Releases Personal Financial Information; Congressman Marshall Draws Challenger

Two weeks ago, Lisa Borders announced that she'd been endorsed by EMILY's List, the single largest supporter of female political candidates in the United States. A short time later, the Atlanta Stonewall Democrats announced that they were supporting former State Senator Kasim Reed in the race. This essentially assured a split in the Atlanta gay and lesbian vote, as Georgia Equality, the other major organization representing the gay and lesbian community in Georgia, announced that it would be supporting Lisa Borders.

Last week, former State Senator Eric Johnson, a Republican from Savannah running for Governor in 2010, created waves in the race when he released his his tax returns from last year and vowed that, if elected, he would place his assets in a blind trust if he was elected Governor. Johnson served in the State Senate for 17 years, finishing his tenure as the Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. In response, most of the other candidates in the race, including John Oxendine, Nathan Deal, Thurbert Baker, David Poythress, DuBose Porter and Roy Barnes , indicated their willingness to also release their personal financial information and place their assets in a blind trust if elected.

Over the weekend, various gubernatorial campaigns titillated in delight as Congressman Nathan Deal was filmed in Cherokee County using the term "ghetto grandmothers" in a speech to the local Republican Party. Deal was discussing the issue of whether or not to require proof of citizenship to recieve federal or state health benefits. In his speech, Deal made the statement that "We got all the complaints of the ghetto grandmothers who didn't have birth certificates and all that..." Two of Deal's opponents had staff present to capture the moment on film. Deal's campaign later released a statement expressing his regret for his choice of words.

This week, we received word that local activist and former Chairman of the Bibb County Republican Party, Paul Rish, would challenge incumbent Congressman Jim Marshall for Georgia's 8th Congressional District. Rish owns a local telecommunications consulting firm.

Two Popular Atlanta Clubs to Merge

Tom Bell, Chairman of the 191 Club, and David Radcliff, Chairman of the Commerce Club, announced this week that the two clubs would be merging their respective Boards of Directors and membership lists and moving to the 191 Club's existing location at 191 Peachtree Street in early 2010. The two clubs have served as a central meeting place for business, civic and political leaders for decades. Interestingly enough, the move will take place during the Commerce Club's 50th anniversary year.

In Other News

Two weeks ago, legendary Braves Manager Bobby Cox announced that 2010 would be his last year as the manager of the Atlanta Braves organization.

Last week, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick appointed former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. to fulfill the unexpired term of the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Kirk will serve until the special election scheduled on January 19, 2010.

Upcoming Events

October 14-15 - October Board Meeting of the Georgia Department of Transportation: DoubleTree Inn and Suites (Columbus, GA)

October 13 - 7:30 AM - Technology Association of Georgia Breakfast Series (iResearch Georgia: Creating Georgia's IP Portfolio): Centergy One Building, Hodges Room (75 5th St, Atlanta, GA 30308)

October 23 - 7:30 AM - Technology Association of Georgia Excalibur Awards: Westin Atlanta Midtown (188 14th Street, Atlanta, GA 30361)

Today in History

October 9, 1003: Leif Erikson lands in Canada, becoming the first known European to land in North America.

October 9, 1632: Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, is banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious dissidence.

October 9, 1701: The Collegiate School of Connecticut is chartered. The school would later be renamed Yale University.

October 9, 1824: Slavery is abolished in Cost Rica.

October 9, 1888: The Washington Monument is opened to the public.

October 9, 1919: The Cincinnati Reds "win" the World Series in the Black Sox Scandal.

October 9, 1986: The musical The Phantom of the Opera opens its first performance at Her Majesty's Theater in London.

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.”