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GOP has fair shot at super-majorities

Dave Williams — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:31:29 +0000

This week’s candidate qualifying results show Republicans well within range of capturing super-majorities in both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. Republicans had guaranteed themselves at least 29 of the 56 state Senate seats when qualifying ended at noon Friday because no Democrat had signed up to run in those districts. Democrats had captured only 13 Senate seats with no GOP opposition, leaving 14 up for grabs by either party. Based on those numbers, Republicans must win nine of the...

Atlanta Dems avoid primary showdown

Dave Williams — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:57:33 +0000

Another Atlanta Democrat in the Georgia House of Representatives targeted by Republicans in last year's legislative redistricting is leaving office rather than run against a fellow Democratic incumbent. Rep. Elena Parent threw her support in the House District 81 race Friday to Rep. Scott Holcomb, who signed up to seek another term shortly before the noon deadline on the final day of candidate qualifying at the state Capitol. "This was not a coincidence," Holcomb said during a joint news conference...

Georgia Chamber rates lawmakers

Dave Williams — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:56:30 +0000

Georgia Senate Republicans were much more reliable supporters of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce than their GOP counterparts in the state House of Representatives, according to a legislative scorecard the chamber released Monday. All but two of the Senate’s 36 Republicans received perfect marks from the chamber this year for voting “yes” on nine measures chamber officials identified as pro-business. In the House, however, 41 of 116 Republicans strayed from the chamber’s position on at least...

Obama Georgia campaign picks historic HQ

Dave Williams — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:51:30 +0000

The nation’s first African-American president will run his Georgia re-election campaign out of an Atlanta neighborhood closely linked to the civil rights movement. The Barack Obama campaign has signed a lease for space at Renaissance Walk on historic Auburn Avenue. “With its rich history and bright future, it’s no surprise that the president chose Auburn Avenue as home for his campaign headquarters,” said Gene Kansas, a commercial real estate broker who represented landlord Cohen & Associates...

Georgia Senate 'dean' George Hooks stepping down

Dave Williams — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:41:03 +0000

The “dean” of the Georgia Senate will not run for re-election, a victim of legislative redistricting. A redrawing of the state Senate map last year by majority Republicans shifted the 14th Senate District from South Georgia to the far reaches of metro Atlanta’s northern suburbs. The move essentially left Sen. George Hooks, D-Americus, currently the longest serving senator, without a seat. Had Hooks chosen to seek a 17th term, he would have been forced to run in the 12th District against...

City council goes virtual with hearing

Dave Williams — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:30:16 +0000

The Atlanta City Council went high-tech with its budget-review process this week, combining a virtual town hall meeting with a public hearing. Citizens who wanted to weigh in on Mayor Kasim Reed’s $539.8 million fiscal 2013 budget could either make their comments the traditional way – in person – or submit their questions via e-mail, Twitter or over the phone. After only two members of Thursday night’s audience at City Hall opted for a personal appearance, two members of the city’s...

Deal vetoes 'sunset' committee

Dave Williams — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:38:19 +0000

A new legislative advisory committee to weigh in on which state agencies should be abolished is both unnecessary and expensive, Gov. Nathan Deal wrote in vetoing the bill. The Georgia Government Accountability Act, put forth by the most conservative wing of the state House of Representatives’ Republican majority, called for a “sunset” committee of 14 lawmakers to periodically review all state agencies and other entities and recommend which should be eliminated. Those targeted for extinction...

Metal theft crackdown clears legislature

Dave Williams — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:43:06 +0000

The General Assembly Thursday night approved compromise legislation aimed at cracking down on metal thefts in Georgia. The Georgia Senate unanimously passed an agreement reached by a legislative conference committee with fewer than 90 minutes remaining in this year’s session. The state House of Representatives followed suit 159-8 a few minutes later. The bill’s key provision prohibits metal recyclers from giving cash payments to sellers of scrap metal. The Senate version of the measure also...

Lawmakers cut unemployment benefits to repay feds

Dave Williams — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:21:25 +0000

The General Assembly gave final passage Thursday night to a plan to repay a huge debt the state owes the federal government by reducing benefits to unemployed Georgians. With fewer than 90 minutes left in the 2012 legislative session, the Georgia Senate voted 37-17 to adopt a compromise version of legislation aimed at paying back $760 million the state borrowed from the feds when the state’s unemployment trust fund began running a shortfall. The state House of Representatives then voted 98-60...

Brookhaven cityhood vote clears legislature

Dave Williams — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 02:42:36 +0000

A referendum to create a new city of Brookhaven in northern DeKalb County gained final passage in the General Assembly Thursday night. With fewer than two hours remaining in this year’s legislative session, the Georgia House of Representatives voted 104-57 to schedule a cityhood referendum on July 30. If it passes, Brookhaven would become the latest in a string of new cities that have formed in metro Atlanta’s northern suburbs since 2005. Sandy Springs led the way, followed by Johns Creek,...