Porter Reacts To Barnes' Fundraising Reports

Slowly circulating around the state's political circles Thursday evening is the report that former Gov. Roy Barnes will post an impressive haul of campaign cash for the second half of 2009.

Aaron Gould Sheinin writes that "Barnes hasn’t lost a step when it comes to raising campaign cash."

Barnes, who broke state fund-raising records with nearly $20 million in his failed 2002 re-election bid, will report that he has raised more than $2.7 million for his bid for another term as governor in 2010.

This is Barnes’ first report since entering the race in July, but his total raised is more than twice as much as the next most prolific candidate, Republican Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine. Oxendine raised $1.4 million between April 2008, when he first announced he was running for governor, and June 30, the last time he reported his campaign finances.

Gould Sheinin, Aaron (2010-1-7). Barnes raises $2.7 million in six months. Gold Dome Live. Retrieved on 2010-1-7.

House Democratic Leader DuBose Porter became the first gubernatorial candidate to react to Barnes' fundraising numbers.

"No one has ever questioned his ability to raise money," Porter said. "While he has been dialing for dollars, I have been out working and listening to the voices of the people. I have been asking Georgians for their concerns while he has been asking for their cash. We have already seen what happened between a big money versus a grassroots campaign and I have choosen to run a grassroots campaign."

Gingrey Encourages Congressional Leaders To Televise Health Care Negotiations

Today, 11th district Congressman Phil Gingrey (R - Marietta) became the latest federal lawmaker to ask that the final health care bill negotiations be televised by C-SPAN.

Gingrey Communications Director Stephanie Valle said the four-term Congressman would certainly encourage both Democratic and Republican leaders fulfill the request from C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb to allow cameras into the talks on the final health care bill.

"There is no reason why the public should be shut out of the debate," Valle said.

National Publication Hails Good Customer Service From Georgia State Government

With all the not-so-good news emanating from state government these days, it is a fresh breath of air when Georgia is applauded for its approach to running the state.

Craig Newmark of The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress, took time out Tuesday to recognize the "good customer service from Georgia state employees".

Looks like the state employees and Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia have made a big difference in customer service. This story isn't getting out, and it should, it's really impressive. I'll try to tell their story.

Several years ago, like in many companies, they found that many employees were cynical, beat down by the system and didn't seem to care (because no one cared about their opinion or what they were doing). I hear now that Georgia state employees are very engaged, and PROUD of what they're accomplishing.

Newmark, Craig (2010-1-5). Good customer service from Georgia state employees. The Hill. Retrieved on 2010-1-7.

It's good to see the dollars of Georgia's taxpayers being put to good use. Good job guys.

Vincent Fort Outraised By Political Newcomer

Meet Graham Balch.

Balch's political experience is limited to membership with the Fulton County Democratic Party. Yet, he has managed to finish 2009 with more money in the bank than the man he hopes to replace in the Georgia State Senate -- Vincent Fort.

Fort, a seven-term Democrat, reported that his re-election campaign raised $75,633.21, spent $66,025.06 and had $9,608.15 left in the bank. Graham Balch reported that, for the year 2009, his campaign raised $72,424.11 (including a contribution from former Atlanta City Council President Lisa Borders), spent $12,466.19 and had $59,957.92 cash on hand.

Balch's campaign touted their fundraising numbers proclaiming a six-to-one cash on hand advantage entering the election year.

"We are humbled by the depth and breadth of support we have received from the community and are energized by all the people who are excited about having strong new leadership in the 39th district." stated Balch. "Our campaign will continue to build momentum and earn the respect and support of voters across the district in the coming months."

Balch will face Fort in the July 20th Democratic primary.

It Is Never OK To Use Gov't Resources For Partisan Purposes

Macon City Council member Elaine Lucas has found herself in hot water after an email announcing a Roy Barnes' fundraiser was sent using a government account at her behest.

Acting for Lucas, Dorothy Tuggle, an assistant clerk for the city council, sent out an announcement Wednesday for a Thursday-night Barnes event in east Macon. The announcement went out from a city email address, containing Tuggle's name and title.

Tuggle said she didn't know whether it was legal to send out the announcement through the council office.

"It's a press release that she sent and asked me to send to the news media," she said.

O'Donnell, Bernard (2010-1-6). Lucas: Using City Email for Announcement Was Mistake. WMAZ-TV. Retrieved on 2010-1-7.

It is never OK to use government resources for any partisan, political purpose. And the excuse provided by Assistant City Council Clerk Dorothy Tuggle should be unacceptable to any Maconite learning about this incident.

As for Elaine Lucas, someone ought to inquire as to whether she violated the city's code of ethics when she requested Tuggle send out the Barnes campaign press release.

Uh Oh! Athens Paper Calls Handel A "Good Ol' Girl"

Wednesday, former Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel was in Albany for a private fundraiser where she railed against the so-called "culture of corruption" in state government, and vowed to remove the "sex, lies, and lobbyists" from under the gold dome [Smith, Romney (2010-1-6). Karen Handel in Albany for a private fundraiser . WFXL-TV. Retrieved on 2010-1-7.].

A scathing editorial appearing in the Athens Banner-Herald, however, suggests that Handel may have her own ethics problems to deal with pointing to several instances where the Fulton County Republican has taken gifts and contributions from the same lobbyists she's criticizing now.

. . . lobbyists' expenditure reports filed with the State Ethics Commission show that the culture [Handel] slammed so vociferously this week is one with which she has more than a nodding acquaintance.

Take, for example, the 2005 report that shows a mortgage company, Ameriquest, gave Handel - who then was chairing the Fulton County Commission - tickets to a Rolling Stones concert valued at $336.

Then, there's a 2006 report showing that Handel received a $1,000 campaign contribution from American International Group for her campaign for Georgia secretary of state.

Handel may not be a "good ol' boy," but the distinction she's trying to make between herself and her opponents in the race turns out to be more about gender than about personal conduct. In short, there's plenty of "good ol' girl" in Karen Handel.

Athens Banner-Herald (2010-1-7). Editorial: Handel can't make her case on ethics issues. Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved on 2010-1-7.

The essence of the Athens Banner-Herald editorial seems to be that a candidate for governor can't be critical of "sex, lies and lobbyists" when that same candidate appears to have benefitted from the same sex and those same lies from many of those same lobbyists.

Still, one might think that Handel could gain some serious traction on the ethics front if she pledged not to accept campaign contributions from corporations and refused gifts from lobbyists. In other words, if Handel practiced what she preached, then maybe others wouldn't scoff at her bid to be Georgia's "most ethical" gubernatorial candidate.

Georgia Republicans Join C-SPAN's Call To Televise Health Care Talks

In a letter released Tuesday, C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb requested that congressional leaders allow cameras to televise the final negotiations on the health care reform bill.

Wednesday, several Georgia Republicans are echoing Lamb's request while also criticizing Democrats for apparently reneging on a campaign promise to have an open, honest and transparent government.

6th district Congressman Tom Price asked, "If the Democrats aren’t engaging in more nefarious backroom deal-making, why do they refuse to pull back the curtains and let the public see what’s going on? What are they doing that they don’t want us to see?"

"President Obama made a campaign promise that these deliberations would occur live on C-SPAN, not hidden away in a backroom. If the Democrats hope to retain even the slightest vestige of credibility, they would be wise to negotiate in the light of day. And when it comes to a health care bill this bad, a little sunlight could go a long way," Price continued.

3rd district Congressman Lynn Westmoreland was more blunt.

"No excuses. Put health talks on tv," read the news release from the Coweta County Republican's office.

Over in the Senate, Isakson deputy chief of staff Joan Kirchner said that Georgia's junior Senator was "very disappointed at the lack of transparency in the Senate as Democratic Leader Harry Reid wrote the health care bill behind closed doors."

"Senator Isakson believes the American people want their legislative process to be more open and transparent," Kirchner said.

In an email response to questions regarding Senator Chambliss' stance on televising the final health care bill negotiations, Chambliss Communications Director Bronwyn Lance-Chester laid the ball squarely in the Democrats' court.

"That’s a decision the Democrats will have to make, as the health care negotiations are theirs alone," Lance-Chester stated. "But frankly, it’s no surprise that a bill that has thus far been written behind the American people’s backs will continue to be written that way."

Emails were sent to the six Democrats representing Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives; however, a response has yet to be received.

Johnson, Scott Hailed As Congressional Environmental Champions

In its annual scorecard, the national advocacy group Environment America ranked Georgia Congressmen Hank Johnson and David Scott as "congressional environmental champions" based on their support for key environmental legislation such as the unprecedented $80 billion in clean energy and green transportation ultimately enacted in the economic recovery act; the passage of a first-ever comprehensive clean energy and global warming bill through the House; and the enactment of a bill to protect more than 2 million acres of public lands and other national treasures.

According to Environment America, Johnson and Scott took the pro-environment position on every relevant vote in 2009.

“These members received 100 percent scores for consistently voting to protect the environment,” said Environment America’s Washington, D.C. director, Anna Aurilio.

“Protection of our imperiled planet is a central challenge of our time,” said Congressman Johnson. “I’m very proud of my record.”

Environment America is a federation of state-based, citizen-funded environmental advocacy organizations. The group has staffers in 27 states including Georgia.

C-SPAN CEO Asks Pelosi & Reid For Transparent Health Care Coverage

C-SPAN, the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is a must for those concerned citizens who want to keep tabs on what their government is doing in Washington. Created by cable in 1979, C-SPAN provides thousands of hours of coverage to congressional hearings, political rallies, conventions, debates and other public affairs events from across the nation in a pure, unfiltered, uncut format.

Throughout 2009, C-SPAN showed both sides of the debate over health care reform. From the tea parties to the health care rallies to final votes in the House and Senate, C-SPAN has been there. As the health care legislation inches towards final passage, it is imperative that C-SPAN continues to shine a bright light on all our government's proceedings. However, C-SPAN may not be able to fulfill its unique role to the American people if congressional leaders decide not to open the doors of government to transparency.

Tuesday morning, C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb emailed a letter to the media (including this blogger) expressing his concern a final health care bill might be written behind closed doors and away from the inquisitive eyes of the public. The letter was addressed to the Democratic and Republican leaders -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Republican Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

Below is the full text of the letter along with some additional commentary:

Dear Speaker Pelosi:
Representative Boehner:
Senator Reid:
Senator McConnell:

As your respective chambers work to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate health care bills, C-SPAN requests that you open all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings, to electronic media coverage.

The C-SPAN networks will commit the necessary resources to covering all of these sessions LIVE and in their entirety. We will also, as we willingly do each day, provide C-SPAN’s multi-camera coverage to any interested member of the Capitol Hill broadcast pool.

Since the initial introduction of the America’s Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 in the House and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the Senate
C-SPAN has televised literally hundreds of hours of committee hearings, mark ups and floor debate on these bills for the public to see. And importantly, we have archived all of this video for future generations to study in the C-SPAN Video Archives.

President Obama, Senate and House leaders, many of your rank-and-file members, and the nation’s editorial pages have all talked about the value of transparent discussions on reforming the nation’s health care system. Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between the Chambers, we respectfully request that you allow the public full access, through television, to legislation that will affect the lives of every single American.

We hope you will give serious consideration to this request. We are most willing to employ the latest digital technology to make the cameras, lights and microphones as unobtrusive as possible.

Please contact me if I can answer any questions.

Sincerely,

Brian Lamb

It is important that C-SPAN sees this process through. It is even more important that the American people continues to see how Congress works, and how bills are passed.

Speaker Pelosi, Leader Reid, open up the doors of government and let the sunshine in.

Democrat Secretary Of State Candidate Says Perdue Put Politics Before People

Below is an editorial penned by Michael Mills. Mills, a Democrat, is campaigning for his Party's nomination for Secretary of State.

Secretary of State Appointment Places Politics Before Georgia Citizens

Poll-after-poll and trend-after-trend shows Georgians are increasingly cynical about politics and resentful of government. The latest partisan power grab that was the appointment of a new Georgia Secretary of State will only reinforce these disturbing trends. Citizens must take the power back and make their voices heard - at the ballot box in 2010 and every day in-between.

While an abdication of her sworn responsibility, Secretary of State Karen Handel's decision to resign to better serve the office being vacated and her campaign for governor seemed innocent enough. At face-value, we could support the decision because it ensured Georgians had someone in the Secretary of State's office fighting for their rights instead of advancing personal and partisan agendas. But scratch the surface, and it smacks of politics.

Handel - a close ally of Governor Sonny Perdue - resigned, leaving him to appoint a successor. This presented the governor an opportunity to do the right thing by selecting someone to do the people's work, and not use the situation as a launching pad for the Republican Party or his selection's own campaign. Governor Perdue selected Jim Cole, his House Floor Leader, to fill the term. Cole immediately announced his intentions to accept the nomination and run in 2010. Oddly, something changed during the weekend and Cole declined the appointment. Governor Perdue scrambled to pick a replacement, settling on Brian Kemp, a Republican already in the race.

Any Georgian actually paying attention to the process would need a tour guide and scoreboard to keep up. This appointment process fails to pass the smell test, coming off as a partisan power grab in an election year - ensuring the Republicans have an incumbent on the ballot. And at best, it looks mishandled. Georgians will be further disenchanted with government and its leaders when this fiasco is combined with the recent scandals that came to light during the replacement search for former House Speaker Glenn Richardson.

I've heard first-hand, as a candidate traveling statewide, how families are suffering in a poor economy where jobs are scarce and their futures are uncertain. I've listened to eligible voters afraid of losing their rights because of partisan attempts to limit ballot access (see federal lawsuit Handel v. Morales). I've talked with small business owners who are outraged that Georgia government is doing little to support their efforts to create jobs at a time they are so sorely-needed. And I've consoled consumers who lost their life savings or were ripped off by fraudulent business practices.

These are the issues covered by the Georgia Secretary of State's five divisions (Archives, Elections, Corporations, Securities and Licensing). And they are the issues Georgians care about. Its time our leaders move beyond rhetoric and partisan power grabs to instead focus on protecting voter rights, making government more effective and supporting job creation, which will lift us out of recession.

Governor Perdue had a chance to place the interests of Georgia citizens - and our futures - first. He rejected that obligation and opportunity. Accordingly, it's time Georgia voters take back the power and elect leaders who rise each day to ensure our individual and collective futures are brighter than our past. Or we can settle on leaders more interested in personal gain and politics than creating forward looking policies that will stave off the efforts of neighboring states like North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina, who are stealing our moniker - "Engine of the New South." Our future is too precarious to remain silent and on the sidelines.

Presenting The Democratic Party Of Atlanta

Monday afternoon, former state Senator Kasim Reed (D - Atlanta) was sworn in as the 59th chief executive of Georgia's capital city. Reed's inauguration capped off an intriguing campaign that featured several, well-qualified candidates for Atlanta's top job. And the election saw the unusual entrance of the state Democratic Party into a nonpartisan race.

Hours before Reed took the oath of office, the AJC offered a post-mortem on how Reed won the December 1st run-off election.

Reed got a lot of help to overcome Norwood's grass-roots campaign. He won the backing of three major constituencies: the Atlanta business community, labor unions and, eventually, the Democratic Party -- the latter two setting up "independent" operations to put Reed in office.

Filings with the State Ethics Commission show that hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into the state party from businesses, unions and individuals nationwide during the campaign.

The party redirected much of that cash to increasing voter turnout in the runoff by paying for advertising and putting people on the street, according to expenditures listed in the party's filings with the State Ethics Commission.

Visser, Steve (2010-1-3). Unions, Democrats helped Reed pull off daring strategy. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved on 2010-1-5.

The following quote from state Democratic Party chairman Jane Kidd epitomizes why the Georgia Democratic Party continues to struggle in statewide elections:"The bottom line is Atlanta is a big Southern Democratic city and it is important that the mayor be a big Southern Democrat," said Jane Kidd, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, which didn't come out in force until the runoff between Norwood and Reed.

There is a growing stigma emerging about the state Democratic Party across the Georgia. The murmurs have even found their way into meetings of the state Democratic committee. Georgia's Democratic Party cares more about placating Atlanta than it does about being a truly statewide political party. There are many who believe that the Democratic Party of Georgia should be re-designated as the Democratic Party of Atlanta. And here's why:

While the "state" Democratic Party was busy investing resources into a nonpartisan municipal election, the Georgia GOP was quietly building up a massive campaign warchest to turn over to the 2010 Republican ticket. The state GOP has more than a $1 million in the bank while the Democrats barely have $300,000. The "state" Democratic Party lost a seat in the Georgia General Assembly lowering the number of Democrats in the state House to seventy-four.

As the map pictured at right demonstrates, Georgia's Democrats have no support outside of the major metropolitan areas in the state:

In fact, if it weren't for the Georgia Republican Party's current crisis in ethics, 2010 might not be the bright spot some Democrats are hoping it to be.

The priorities from the "state" Democratic Party are misplaced. More emphasis should have been placed on the grassroots and building the county Democratic committees instead of on a nonpartisan municipal election.

It really is a shame.

While the so-called state Democratic Party celebrates a "big Democratic mayor" becoming mayor of a "big Democratic city", Democratic activists across the Georgia are pondering what must they do to get the kind of attention Atlanta gets. And they grow increasingly disgruntled at opportunities missed because the Democratic leadership chooses to ignore their local communities.

Libertarian Takes Gubernatorial Campaign To Albany

Two years ago, John Monds made history becoming the first Libertarian to get over a million votes in a statewide election. Now, Monds is trying to make history again as Georgia's first Libertarian governor.

Monds, a 1987 graduate from Morehouse College, started 2010 out on the campaign trail taking his message to the southwest Georgia city of Albany.

Libertarian candidate for Georgia governor, John Monds, spoke to the southwest Georgia chapter Saturday.

Monds spoke about his top issues which include the economy, education and tax reform. He mentioned that, if elected, he hopes to eliminate the state income tax.

“I believe, economically, it makes good sense to let people keep the money that they're already earning. I think they make better decisions than the government does of how they should spend it,” Said Monds Saturday.

Knight, Ashley (2010-1-2). Libertarian governor candidate speaks to southwest Georgia chapter. WFXL-TV. Retrieved on 2010-1-5.

Monds is currently the only person vying for the Libertarian Party of Georgia's gubernatorial nomination. The state Libertarian Party nominates its statewide candidates by the convention method rather than the primary process used by the Democratic and Republican parties.

Jim Cole Decides Against Secretary Of State Appointment

Here's an email that just arrived from Capitol Impact's Tom Crawford:

Rep. Jim Cole changes his mind on SOS appointment.

He was Gov. Sonny Perdue's choice to replace Karen Handel as Secretary of State, but will stay in his current job as assistant athletic director at Mercer University, informed sources say.

Details must be forthcoming on this news.

Oxendine "Stop Obama" Web Page Gets National Attention

There are just under 200 days until the July 20th Republican primary, and State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine is hoping that a campaign against President Barack Obama will help him gain the Georgia GOP gubernatorial nomination.

An article appearing on Politico.com Monday features Oxendine's YouCanStopObama.com web page as an example of Republicans attempting to turn the 2010 elections into a referendum on Obama's first eighteen months in office.

The health care reform bill is proving to be an especially rich vein for mining. In Georgia, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has turned Obama’s push for health care reform into a rallying point for his campaign by launching “YouCanStopObama.com,” a site that allows supporters to sign a petition protesting “a government takeover of our nation’s health care system.”

“With your help we can stand up to President Obama and the power grabbing, free market destroying Congress. From centralized control of banking, automaking, and now health care, Obama’s and Congress’ plan for America is a prescription for disaster,” reads the website, which features a picture of Obama that dominates the screen, accompanied by large, attention-grabbing block letters.

Isenstadt, Alex (2010-1-4). Republicans make President Obama foil in state races. Politico. Retrieved on 2010-1-4.

Whether Oxendine's strategy will work is up for discussion.

The most recent Rasmussen Reports poll on the 2010 race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination says most Georgia Republicans want anyone but Oxendine.

Still, it is hard to deny that Oxendine isn't getting a lot of mileage from running against Obama.

Levitas Legislation Lets Local Communities Decide MARTA

DeKalb County state Representative Kevin Levitas (D - Atlanta) has offered Clayton County a lifeline of sorts to save public transit within its borders.

House Bill 900, which was first publicized by Creative Loafing's Thomas Wheatley, features a provision that allows Clayton County's board of commissioners to place on the ballot a referendum that would bring MARTA to their community [Wheatley, Thomas (2009-12-30). Rep. Levitas wants smaller MARTA board, ponders state takeover. Fresh Loaf. Retrieved on 2010-1-4.].

Here's the meat and potatoes of the bill:

The local governing body bodies of Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett County Counties may, any other provision of this Act to the contrary notwithstanding, negotiate, enter into, and submit to the qualified voters of Cobb County their respective counties the question of approval of a rapid transit contract between Cobb County the county submitting the question and the Authority, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 24 of this Act.

Essentially what the aforementioned section means is that if H.B.900 is passed, then it would no longer take an act of the legislature to submit a MARTA referendum to the voters. The Clayton, Cobb and Gwinnett boards of commissioners could decide to authorize such a vote.

It's a good idea.

This bill allows local governments to have local control over local issues. Let's hope this bill passes.

Presenting The Georgia Blue Dog Coalition

It is almost certain that liberals will quickly criticize the moderates and conservatives that have created the Georgia Blue Dog Coalition on Facebook as Democrats In Name Only or "DINOs". But counted among this group's members are state Representative Alan Powell (D - Hartwell), Albany City Council Member Roger Marietta and Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) President Jeff Hubbard.

Blue Dogs are Democrats that hold to traditional, moderate-to-conservative-views on certain issues based upon deeply held personal, cultural or religious beliefs, and may otherwise be Progressive and Populist, but have been “choked blue” by increasing Party opposition to these views.

In short, Blue Dogs are constantly working to ensure that the modern Democratic Party does not become infested with the ideologues that have driven the Republican Party further and further to the right.

Georgia Democratic Congressmen John Barrow, Sanford Bishop, Jim Marshall and David Scott count themselves as part of the national Blue Dog Coalition.

Fiscal responsibility and a strong national defense are both values that describe Blue Dog Democrats. And on every important issue of the day, including health care reform, Blue Dog proposals have served as middle-ground markers which laid the foundation for the bipartisanship necessary to bring about those fundamental reforms.