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Three GOP lawmakers land Georgia Chamber of Commerce awards

Dave Williams — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:08:00 +0000

The General Assembly’s two traffic cops have been chosen “legislators of the year” by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Council. Georgia Rep. John Meadows, R-Calhoun, and state Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, won the awards in recognition of their pro-growth and pro-business policies. As chairmen of the House and Senate rules committees, Meadows and Mullis control which bills reach their legislative chamber’s floor for a vote. The Georgia chamber’s Rookie of the…

Gov. Deal signs Super Bowl tax break

Dave Williams — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 18:36:49 +0000

Georgia is all in with Atlanta’s bid to host the Super Bowl at the new Falcons stadium in 2019 or 2020. Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation Thursday offering a tax exemption on ticket sales as an incentive for the National Football League to bring its annual championship game to Georgia for the first time since the then-St. Louis Rams edged the Tennessee Titans in January 2000. As the bill went through the General Assembly, lawmakers opposed philosophically to tax breaks tried to force through…

Works begins on I-285/Georgia 400 project

Dave Williams — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 14:40:28 +0000

Final design work began Monday on the planned overhaul of what is widely considered the most congested highway interchange in metro Atlanta. The $800 million reconstruction of the Georgia 400-Interstate 285 interchange, a project expected to take four years, is starting with field surveys. The project got the final go-ahead to proceed on Friday with closing of the financing, a deal that involves the developers, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the State Road and Tollway Authority. Last…

Georgia tax revenues up 2.2 percent in March

Dave Williams — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:37:26 +0000

Net tax collections in Georgia rose a modest 2.2 percent last month compared to March of last year, Gov. Nathan Deal announced Friday. However, the $31.4 million increase for March does not include $66.9 million brought in during the month by the new transportation fees and taxes that took effect last July. When revenues from the transportation funding bill the General Assembly passed last year are included in the mix, net tax revenue for March was up 6.8 percent over March 2015. Looking longer…

Feds may supersede new Georgia law on drones

Dave Williams — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:50:55 +0000

New regulations on drones Georgia lawmakers approved last month may not count for much if the federal government has its way.

Hebert to take reins at Georgia Southern

Dave Williams — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 21:31:36 +0000

Georgia Southern University has a new president. The University System of Georgia Board of Trustees named Jaimie Hebert Wednesday to head the university in Statesboro starting July 1. Hebert comes to Georgia from Sam Houston State University in Texas, where he has been serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Dr. Hebert’s experience and leadership qualities make him a natural fit for Georgia Southern University,” board Chairman Kessel Stelling Jr said. “We appreciate…

Isakson blasts new restriction on financial advisers

Dave Williams — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 19:09:06 +0000

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., criticized a new Labor Department rule Wednesday as a harmful regulation that will hurt the very people it’s meant to help. The so-called “fiduciary rule” requires financial advisers to always serve their clients’ “best interest,” a stricter standard than current language requiring they offer “suitable” recommendations. The change is aimed at advisers who earn more from selling certain products that might not be in their clients’ best interest to…

Georgia eases rules for craft brewers, distillers

Dave Williams — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 21:33:55 +0000

Following through on an agreement reached in January, the Georgia Department of Revenue issued proposed regulations Monday aimed at boosting the state’s craft breweries and distilleries. If adopted by the agency’s board, the rules would let brewers offer tours at various prices including the option of taking home “souvenirs” of up to a six pack of beer. In the case of distillers, customers could leave the premises with a 750-milliliter bottle of liquor. The new rules would put in place…

Hartsfield-Jackson keeps status as world's busiest airport

Dave Williams — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 17:30:42 +0000

Atlanta’s airport is still the world’s busiest for both passengers and aircraft operations. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport served 101.5 million passengers last year, becoming the first airport to hit the 100 million mark in passengers, according to figures released Monday by the industry group Airports Council International. The Beijing airport remained in second place, while the airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, finished third. “We are honored to mark this achievement,”…

Blasting to signal start of Bellwood Quarry project

Dave Williams — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 20:04:08 +0000

It’s going to get loud on Atlanta’s west side starting next week. Beginning Wednesday, construction crews will start blasting operations in a $280 million project aimed at increasing Atlanta’s water supply reserves from three days to more than 30 days. Construction of a five-mile, 10-foot diameter tunnel system linking the Chattahoochee River to the city-owned Bellwood Quarry will increase its storage capacity from about 525 million gallons of water to 2.4 billion gallons. “This program…