Yesterday, on the first day of the 111th Congress, one hundred forty-three bills were introduced in the United States Senate including one by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl that would move federal election day from the first Tuesday in November to the first weekend in November.
"Holding our Federal elections on a weekend will create more opportunities for voters to cast their ballots and will help end the gridlock at the polling places which threaten to undermine our elections," Kohl said during remarks made on the Senate floor.
During the 2008 presidential election, long lines dominated many Georgia polling places which resulted in elected officials such as 5th district Congressman John Lewis calling on Secretary of State Karen Handel to extend early voting into the weekend before the November election.
Handel refused Lewis' request saying that her office did not have the authority to permit weekend voting.
The Wisconsin Democrat cited the long lines across the nation as the reason why his legislation is needed.
"As we’ve seen in recent elections, long lines in many polling places have kept some voters waiting much longer than one or two hours," Senator Kohl said. "If voters have children, and are dropping them off at day care, or if they have a long work commute, there is just not enough time in a workday to vote."
"With long lines and chaotic polling places becoming the unacceptable norm in many communities, we have an obligation to reform how our Nation votes."
In addition to weekend voting, S. 149 would also provide a uniform period of time for polling places to be open; 10AM Saturday eastern time to 6PM Sunday eastern time.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Georgia State Government Lets The Sunshine In
"Not one person born in Georgia that day would try to close the door on open government in Georgia, but Sonny did."
Those are my words.
I first spoke those words at the 2006 Georgia Democratic State Convention as part of my case for why Gov. Perdue didn't deserve a second term in office.
Well, thanks to legislation signed into law by Perdue, those closed doors are open again and the sunlight of transparency is shining brightly through the halls of government.
...the "Transparency in Government" website allows online access to agency expenditures on professional services, employee salaries and travel. Plus, it includes state financial reports and program reviews from the two previous years.
"The Open Georgia website makes state government more transparent to its customer, the taxpayer," Perdue said in announcing the site. "By being willing to further open the halls of government to the public, we give citizens more confidence that their tax dollars are being spent wisely." [Source: Insider Advantage Georgia, "A Faster Way To Know Who's Getting What From State Government", January 6, 2009]
The web address for the Transparency in Goverment website is www.open.georgia.gov.
Those are my words.
I first spoke those words at the 2006 Georgia Democratic State Convention as part of my case for why Gov. Perdue didn't deserve a second term in office.
Well, thanks to legislation signed into law by Perdue, those closed doors are open again and the sunlight of transparency is shining brightly through the halls of government.
...the "Transparency in Government" website allows online access to agency expenditures on professional services, employee salaries and travel. Plus, it includes state financial reports and program reviews from the two previous years.
"The Open Georgia website makes state government more transparent to its customer, the taxpayer," Perdue said in announcing the site. "By being willing to further open the halls of government to the public, we give citizens more confidence that their tax dollars are being spent wisely." [Source: Insider Advantage Georgia, "A Faster Way To Know Who's Getting What From State Government", January 6, 2009]
The web address for the Transparency in Goverment website is www.open.georgia.gov.
So Help Me God. . .
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
-Article Two, Section 1, Clause 8, United States Constitution
Rumor has it that when George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States, he appended the four words, "So Help Me God", to the constitutionally-mandated oath. While it is disputed whether Washington actually uttered the words "So Help Me God" when taking the oath of office, every president since at least Franklin Delano Roosevelt (including Georgian Jimmy Carter) has added the four-word phrase "So Help Me God" to the presidential oath. And in fourteen days, the President-elect will likely do the same unless atheist Michael Newdow successfully obtains a court order to block the use of the four-word phrase when Barack Obama takes the oath of office.
A California physician and attorney whose legal fight against the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance has drawn national attention now says he will join a lawsuit seeking the removal of all references to God and religion from President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony.
Michael Newdow believes references to God or religion are unconstitutional. He wants to remove the phrase "so help me God" from the oath of office and block the invocation prayer from Pastor Rick Warren. [Source: WXIA-TV (Atlanta), "Atheist Wants Religion Out Of Inauguration", December 30, 2008]
Believe it or not, I carry a copy of the Constitution with me everywhere; so I had to pull out my copy just to see if the supreme law of the land mandated that presidents be sworn in with their left hand on the Bible, their right hand in the air, use the words "so help me God", and have a pastor conduct the invocation as well as the benediction.
It's not there.
In fact, the Constitution doesn't even require a ceremony. It simply says that "Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation. . ."
That's it.
All this extra stuff: the ceremony on the steps on the Capitol, the inaugural parade, the many inaugural balls have become a part of our nation's traditions. Likewise, the four-word phrase "so help me God" has become a part of the traditional swearing in of the president.
Newdow's suit, which was rejected in 2001 and 2005, borders on being frivolous.
Actually, it is frivolous.
-Article Two, Section 1, Clause 8, United States Constitution
Rumor has it that when George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States, he appended the four words, "So Help Me God", to the constitutionally-mandated oath. While it is disputed whether Washington actually uttered the words "So Help Me God" when taking the oath of office, every president since at least Franklin Delano Roosevelt (including Georgian Jimmy Carter) has added the four-word phrase "So Help Me God" to the presidential oath. And in fourteen days, the President-elect will likely do the same unless atheist Michael Newdow successfully obtains a court order to block the use of the four-word phrase when Barack Obama takes the oath of office.
A California physician and attorney whose legal fight against the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance has drawn national attention now says he will join a lawsuit seeking the removal of all references to God and religion from President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony.
Michael Newdow believes references to God or religion are unconstitutional. He wants to remove the phrase "so help me God" from the oath of office and block the invocation prayer from Pastor Rick Warren. [Source: WXIA-TV (Atlanta), "Atheist Wants Religion Out Of Inauguration", December 30, 2008]
Believe it or not, I carry a copy of the Constitution with me everywhere; so I had to pull out my copy just to see if the supreme law of the land mandated that presidents be sworn in with their left hand on the Bible, their right hand in the air, use the words "so help me God", and have a pastor conduct the invocation as well as the benediction.
It's not there.
In fact, the Constitution doesn't even require a ceremony. It simply says that "Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation. . ."
That's it.
All this extra stuff: the ceremony on the steps on the Capitol, the inaugural parade, the many inaugural balls have become a part of our nation's traditions. Likewise, the four-word phrase "so help me God" has become a part of the traditional swearing in of the president.
Newdow's suit, which was rejected in 2001 and 2005, borders on being frivolous.
Actually, it is frivolous.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Poythress Reports Raising $300,000 At The End Of 2008
In message sent to members of his campaign's Facebook group, David Poythress announced that he raised $300,000 for his gubernatorial campaign including more than $70,000 after the December 2nd U.S. Senate run-off election.
"Contributions came from a wide cross-section of Georgia including Republicans, Democrats, Unaffiliated voters, North/South/Central Georgia, National Guard family members, trial lawyers, labor, teachers and small business owners," the message read. "Our average contribution will exceed $800."
Poythress is the only announced Democrat running for Governor in 2010.
"Contributions came from a wide cross-section of Georgia including Republicans, Democrats, Unaffiliated voters, North/South/Central Georgia, National Guard family members, trial lawyers, labor, teachers and small business owners," the message read. "Our average contribution will exceed $800."
Poythress is the only announced Democrat running for Governor in 2010.
A Primer For The 35th State Senate District
State Sen. Kasim Reed is running for Mayor of Atlanta and whether he wins or loses, there is one absolute certainty. . .
. . . Reed will have to give up his seat in the state Senate the day he qualifies as a mayoral candidate later on this year. The state Constitution mandates it.
As a registered voter of the state Senate district Reed represents, I've been paying close attention to the Atlanta Democrat's actions even to the point of speculating when he would give up his seat. Logically, I thought that Sen. Reed would likely step down in 2008 so that he could focus on raising money and running for mayor full time.
Obviously, I was wrong.
The current speculation, from at least one individual who has spoken with Reed, is that he will step down at the conclusion of the 2009 legislative session. If this conjecture is correct, then voters in the 35th state Senate district --which includes south Fulton County and a portion of Douglas County-- will likely head to the polls over the summer to fill the vacant seat.
South Fulton businessman Benny Crane has indicated that he is running for the seat.
Crane, who was a leading advocate for the City of South Fulton, would be making his second run for the state Senate. In 2002, Crane finished third in a field of five for the 35th district seat left open when Donzella James became a candidate for Congress.
Former state Sen. Donzella James has also hinted that she may run in the special election.
James served eight years as the state Senator from the 35th district during which she chaired the Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee. Whether she was running for re-election to the state Senate or seeking a higher office, James has appeared on the ballot consistently since 1994.
The issues in the 35th district will be centered around the economy (the loss of jobs from the Hapeville Ford Motors plant closure & the high foreclosure rates in the area), education (the continuing achievement gap between schools in north and south Fulton counties) and crime
The campaign is going to be very fast and the eventual victor will be the person who has their team ready to hit the ground running the second Sen. Reed vacates the seat.
Any questions?
Full Disclosure: I've been talking to Benny Crane on and off about this race for the last eighteen months including putting him in contact with some direct mail firms and voter file vendors.
. . . Reed will have to give up his seat in the state Senate the day he qualifies as a mayoral candidate later on this year. The state Constitution mandates it.
As a registered voter of the state Senate district Reed represents, I've been paying close attention to the Atlanta Democrat's actions even to the point of speculating when he would give up his seat. Logically, I thought that Sen. Reed would likely step down in 2008 so that he could focus on raising money and running for mayor full time.
Obviously, I was wrong.
The current speculation, from at least one individual who has spoken with Reed, is that he will step down at the conclusion of the 2009 legislative session. If this conjecture is correct, then voters in the 35th state Senate district --which includes south Fulton County and a portion of Douglas County-- will likely head to the polls over the summer to fill the vacant seat.
South Fulton businessman Benny Crane has indicated that he is running for the seat.
Crane, who was a leading advocate for the City of South Fulton, would be making his second run for the state Senate. In 2002, Crane finished third in a field of five for the 35th district seat left open when Donzella James became a candidate for Congress.
Former state Sen. Donzella James has also hinted that she may run in the special election.
James served eight years as the state Senator from the 35th district during which she chaired the Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee. Whether she was running for re-election to the state Senate or seeking a higher office, James has appeared on the ballot consistently since 1994.
The issues in the 35th district will be centered around the economy (the loss of jobs from the Hapeville Ford Motors plant closure & the high foreclosure rates in the area), education (the continuing achievement gap between schools in north and south Fulton counties) and crime
The campaign is going to be very fast and the eventual victor will be the person who has their team ready to hit the ground running the second Sen. Reed vacates the seat.
Any questions?
Full Disclosure: I've been talking to Benny Crane on and off about this race for the last eighteen months including putting him in contact with some direct mail firms and voter file vendors.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Suddenly That Trip To Vegas Makes More Sense
ClayCo Sheriff Victor "Walking Small" Hill is bankrupt; not morally or politically, but financially bankrupt.
Outgoing Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill filed for bankruptcy during his last week in office.
Hill, who ends his single term at midnight Wednesday, filed suit Tuesday in U.S. District Court, claiming he does not have enough money to pay $1.7 million in damages for several lawsuits. This includes a judgment for $475,000 he owes to Mark Tuggle, the brother of Hill’s predecessor as sheriff. Tuggle won a lawsuit against Hill in U.S. District Court in October after a jury found Hill guilty of false arrest [Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution, "Victor Hill files for bankruptcy", December 31, 2008].
As was reported last month, Hill skipped town for a leisurely trip to Sin CIty courtesy of the Clayton County taxpayers (one of which is my mother who just paid $1,362.57 in property taxes for the year ending 2008) [Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution, "Sheriff Hill’s credit card use under investigation", December 11, 2008].
Thus ends the political career of Victor Hill.
Rejected by the voters after one term; sued by former deputies within his department; and now, bankrupt.
I certainly wish Victor Hill all the best in his future endeavors.
Outgoing Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill filed for bankruptcy during his last week in office.
Hill, who ends his single term at midnight Wednesday, filed suit Tuesday in U.S. District Court, claiming he does not have enough money to pay $1.7 million in damages for several lawsuits. This includes a judgment for $475,000 he owes to Mark Tuggle, the brother of Hill’s predecessor as sheriff. Tuggle won a lawsuit against Hill in U.S. District Court in October after a jury found Hill guilty of false arrest [Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution, "Victor Hill files for bankruptcy", December 31, 2008].
As was reported last month, Hill skipped town for a leisurely trip to Sin CIty courtesy of the Clayton County taxpayers (one of which is my mother who just paid $1,362.57 in property taxes for the year ending 2008) [Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution, "Sheriff Hill’s credit card use under investigation", December 11, 2008].
Thus ends the political career of Victor Hill.
Rejected by the voters after one term; sued by former deputies within his department; and now, bankrupt.
I certainly wish Victor Hill all the best in his future endeavors.
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