Being In Power Means Everyone Else Gets To Take a Backseat for a While

Georgia Democrats are livid today over news that state Republican Party attorney Ann Lewis and her law firm will assist in the drawing of legislative and congressional districts during this summer's anticipated special session.

Partisan bickering erupted over redistricting on Thursday as Republican leaders created a new legislative office and tapped a prominent GOP lawyer to advise the effort.

Democrats complained they’d been left out of the decision-making and worried Republicans could be politicizing the process, in which new Census data is used to redraw congressional and legislative lines.

"That they did not include Democrats in this decision raises some serious questions about transparency and accountability,” House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams said.

It’s obviously not nonpartisan,” [Senate Democratic Leader Robert]Brown said. “I don’t know what this is. I’ve heard rumor after rumor about redistricting. We’re not a part of this process.”

McCaffrey, Shannon (2011-2-4). New redistricting office created by GOP; Dems upset. The Macon Telegraph. Retrieved on 2011-2-4.

Being in power means everyone else gets to take a backseat for a while. The Democratic Party of Georgia isn't even in the backseat. They're in the trunk with the spare tire. And quite frankly, compare the maps that Democrats drew in 2002 (pictured at left). . .

. . .with the maps the Republicans drew in 2006 (pictured at right); then ask yourself which political party you trust to draw maps that make sense?

David Lucas Proposes Family Income Cap on HOPE Scholarship Program

February 3rd, Macon Democrat David Lucas introduced legislation that would institute a family income cap on those students applying for the HOPE scholarship.

House Bill 159 would set a $66,000 income limit to become eligible for HOPE.

H.B. 159 is just one way state lawmakers are looking to keep the popular scholarship program afloat. A report from Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) last month said the HOPE scholarship program a deficit of more than half a billion dollars over the next two years [Stiers, Melissa (2011-1-25). Lawmakers Consider Fixes to HOPE. Georgia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved on 2011-2-4.].

If passed, the legislation would impose an income eligibility cap on the HOPE scholarship for the first time since 1995.

Lucas' bill sits in the House Higher Education Committee.

[c/p @ Georgia Legislative Watch]

White Liberals Call for Lynching of Black Supreme Court Justice

Twenty years ago this October, Clarence Thomas became a United States Supreme Court Justice.

Now I don't think I have to tell you that Justice Thomas is black like me.

Justice Thomas is only the second African-American to serve on the Supreme Court. That, my friends, is something to be celebrated regardless of your political persuasions. However, there are some on the left who are furious that a conservative black man serves on the nation's highest court.

On January 30th, left-wing groups led by Common Cause and the Progressive Democrats of America held a rally to protest a meeting of conservatives in California [Connell and Hamburger (2011-1-31). Hundreds march outside Koch brothers' retreat. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2011-2-4.]. Some of the demonstrators were asked what should be done with Justice Clarence Thomas; and well, see the video for yourself:



("Progressive" Rallyists Call for Lynching of Clarence Thomas)

During the Tea Party rallies of 2009, white liberals claimed the Tea Party patriots were angry at a black man being President of the United States without providing a shred of evidence to support their wild allegations [Cook, Dave (2011-1-5). Howard Dean: tea party is 'last gasp' of generation that fears diversity. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved on 2011-2-4.].

Today, I'm going to call a spade a spade. White liberals really dislike black people who don't agree with them. And my indisputable and irrefutable proof of that is the video I posted above.

String 'em up?

Put 'em back out in the fields?

That's what white liberals say they want to do to the second black Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Still, if you let those same white liberals tell it, conservatives are the ones who are intolerant, racist and bigots.

By the way, Common Cause released a statement "condemning bigotry and hate speech in every form."

[h/t Booker Rising.net]

Georgia RNC Member Appointed to Party's Budget Committee

It's no secret that the Republican National Committee (RNC) is struggling financially. Despite the Republican Party's massive gains in the 2010 mid-term elections, the RNC is more than $20 million in debt [Elliott, Philip (2011-1-31). RNC Debt At $23 Million As It Gears Up For 2012. The Huffington Post. Retrieved on 2011-2-3.].

Wednesday, newly elected Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus continued working towards getting the national GOP's financial house in order, naming the members of the RNC budget committee.

Georgia RNC member Linda Herren was among those appointed to the committee by Priebus.

"As the RNC looks to build a top-notch operation to beat the Democrats in 2012, I am pleased to announce that former Governor Bob List of Nevada will serve as Chairman of the RNC Budget Committee along with new appointments Rob Gleason of Pennsylvania and Susie Hudson of Vermont," Priebus said. "Governor List and the team understand what it will take to run an efficient and effective RNC to reclaim the White House from President Barack Obama.

"Together we will tighten our belt and make the necessary changes to ensure that we have the resources to build on our successes in 2010 and continue to elect Republicans across the country. I look forward to working with Governor List and the rest of the RNC Budget Committee in this important election cycle for our country and our Party."

Georgia Lawmakers Want To Bring Back Sales Tax Holiday

Wednesday, a group of state representatives led by Valdosta Republican Ellis Black introduced a bill to bring back the sales tax holiday on certain back-to-school supplies.

House Bill 136, if passed, would give Georgians the weekend of July 28th to purchase some items tax free.

Pointing to the sluggish economy as well as Georgia's large budget deficit, state legislators did not renew the sales tax holiday in 2010 [Cash and Ramos (2010-7-12). Back-to-school tax break expelled. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved on 2011-2-3.].

Prior to 2010, Georgians had eight uninterrupted years where they could buy certain back-to-school supplies like clothes, shoes, pencils, paper or computers without paying sales taxes.

H.B. 136 now sits in the House Ways & Means Committee.

[c/p @ Georgia Legislative Watch]

RE: Hey #GAGOP! Do With This As You May.

Wednesday, SWGA Politics blogger Jeff Sexton brought attention to the primary voting records of the three declared Georgia Republican Party chairman candidates.

For those who don’t know, the GAGOP is locked in a fairly heated campaign for its Chairmanship pitting the 2 term incumbent Sue Everhart against the new Governor’s pick Tricia Pridemore against the recent Chairman of the Fulton County GOP Shawn Hanley in a Triple Threat Match to be decided in Macon in May.

For some people, voting records matter. For those people, here are the voting records of the three candidates, as far back in SoS records as I was able to acquire them (1996). Note that I have been told – but have not seen the record – that Sue Everhart voted in the Democratic Primary in 1990.

Sexton, Jeff (2011-2-2). Hey #GAGOP! Do With This As You May.. SWGA Politics. Retrieved on 2011-2-2.

I'll confess that I'm the one who told Jeff that current Georgia GOP chairman Sue Everhart voted in the Democratic primary way back in 1990. Below is Everhart's voter file record, according to Political Data Systems of Georgia:



Quite frankly, how someone voted 21 years ago doesn't matter to me. I honestly don't think it'll matter to the stakeholders who'll be voting at the state Republican convention in Macon this May. But as Jeff Sexton wrote on his site, the GOP can do with it as they wish.

Sunday Alcohol Sales Bill Breezes Through Committee

As the old saying goes, if you had blinked, you would have missed this juicy bit of news.

Wednesday afternoon, a few key lawmakers discussed and debated the merits of a bill that would allow voters to decide whether to authorize the sale of alcohol on Sundays between the hours 12:30 PM and 11:30PM in their local city or county.

The chances of success for legislation letting voters legalize Sunday alcohol sales at stores got a lot better Wednesday when it easily zipped through a Senate committee.

In a dramatic contrast to past years, no one spoke out against the bill when it came before the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee on Wednesday, and it passed on a 6-1 vote about 40 minutes after the meeting began.

Senate Rules Chairman Don Balfour, R-Snellville, a co-sponsor of the measure, said it could be on the Senate floor for a first-ever chamber vote by the middle of next week.

Salzer, James (2011-2-2). Sunday alcohol bill passes big test. Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved on 2011-2-2.

So what's next?

Senate Bill 10 now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. If the bill passes there, then it goes over to the House and the process starts all over again (Oh no. . .Oh yeah!).

On a slightly related note, Fulton County Commissioner Tom Lowe told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month that he wasn't sure Sunday alcohol sales could get the four votes needed to get on the ballot in his county.

We'll see how long that lasts.

If DeKalb County, Cobb County, the city of Atlanta or any other city neighboring Fulton County votes in favor of Sunday alcohol sales, and Fulton residents start pouring over the border to pick up a couple cases of booze, the Fulton County Commission will get those four votes to authorize Sunday alcohol sales real fast.

Unless, of course, Fulton County wants to lose all that sales tax revenue to neighboring cities and counties.

Monolithic Support of Democratic Party Cost Blacks Political Influence

Tuesday, a column appearing in the Southern Political Report showed once more that elections have consequences. And in the case of black folks, very wide-ranging consequences at that.

After the 2010 elections, the absolute number of black state legislators remained about the same in Southern states, but their power was sharply reduced. For the first time in the post-civil rights era, a majority of black legislators in the South will serve as members of the minority party. Since 98 percent of black state legislators are Democrats, when the Republicans took control of some 20 state legislative chambers across the country, the result was a major loss in political power for African-American state lawmakers.

Wyman, Hastings (2011-2-1). Blacks lost clout in 2010 election. Southern Political Report. Retrieved on 2011-2-2.

This piece by Hastings Wyman demonstrates why it is so important for blacks to end their monolithic support for the Democratic Party.

As Wyman correctly notes, with every Democratic defeat, the ability of blacks to influence public policy diminishes.

It took over four decades, but blacks are right back where we started. We're on the outside of the political establishment looking in. But unlike the pre-civil rights era, blacks have a choice this time.

Blacks have a choice not to support any candidate just because of the "D" behind their name. Blacks have a choice to open their hearts and minds to what the Republican Party has to offer.

After all, black issues are Republican issues.

Republicans want to create an ownership society where people are giving the opportunity to start their own businesses and create jobs in their community. Blacks want to own their own businesses and bring jobs to the black community. Republicans want taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets. Blacks don't want all their money going to the government. Republicans want to get government off the people's collective backs. Blacks want the government off their backs.

Being in power means everyone else has to take a backseat for awhile.

The Republicans are in power. Across the south, it appears that the Republicans will be in power for quite a while. And blacks have a critical choice ahead of them.

We can choose to remain in the backseat with the Democratic Party or we climb up into front seat with the Republican Party.

Democrat and Republican Lawmakers Propose Saturday Voting Statewide

Last year, the two Georgia counties of Fulton and Muscogee offered their residents the opportunity to vote on Saturday. Fulton County urged their citizens to make voting a family affair with its first ever Saturday Family Voting Day. Muscogee County asked voters to choose between casting a ballot or watching the college football game.

"You can decide to go to the Auburn football game or vote — that’s a big decision," Muscogee County Board of Elections member U.D. Roberts told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer last September.

Media reports suggested that most people welcomed the chance to vote on the weekend, when work or school wouldn't interfer with getting to the polling place [Baldwin, Sarah (2010-10-16). Fulton County Opens Polls Early For Families. WGCL-TV. Retrieved on 2011-2-2]. A bill sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators would give Georgians the opportunity to do just that.

House Bill 92, a bill sponsored by Cumming Republican Mark Hamilton and DeKalb County Democrat Howard Mosby, would authorize Saturday voting statewide between the hours of 9AM and 4PM.

The trade-off though would be a shorter early voting period. Instead of 45 days of early voting, there would be just 21 days for people to cast their ballots prior to election day.

House Bill 92 was referred to the House Governmental Affairs committee, where it awaits a hearing.

Senate SLOGO Committee To Hold Hearing On Sunday Alcohol Sales

Remember those old Schoolhouse Rock! tapes that outlined how a bill becomes law?

First, a group of citizens goes to their legislator and pitches an idea. If the legislator agrees ("You're right! There ought to be a law!"), the lawmaker then writes the idea up and introduces it as a bill. Once the bill is introduced, it is referred to committee where a few key representatives discuss and debate the merits of the bill.

Early last week, state Sen. John Bulloch (R - Ochlocknee) introduced Senate Bill 10, a bill that would allow voters in a city or a county to decide by referendum whether to allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays between the hours 12:30 PM and 11:30PM.

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, the President of the Georgia Senate, referred S.B. 10 to the State Local and Governmental Operations (SLOGO) committee. The panel is scheduled to meet today, where eight key senators will discuss and debate whether Georgians should be allowed to vote on authorizing the sale of alcohol in their local city or county.

The hearing is set to begin at 1PM in room 450 of the State Capitol.

[c/p @ Georgia Legislative Watch]

"What business does government have saying who should wed who?"

Marietta state Representative Bobby Franklin is often mocked and ridiculed by many in Georgia's political establishment as a radical legislator who holds a warped view of limited government.

Monday, veteran AJC political reporter Jim Galloway summed up how some see Rep. Franklin:

Franklin has a concept of limited government that may sound strange to some. He has already introduced legislation demanding that state transactions be conducted in gold or silver. Franklin regularly attempts to define abortion as murder through legislation filed each year.

His answer to the debate over gay marriage? What business does the government have saying who should wed who? But that hasn’t made it into a bill. Not yet.

Galloway, Jim (2011-1-31). Bobby Franklin: Let’s do away with driver’s licenses. Political Insider. Retrieved on 2011-2-1.

Regardless of how one views the other bills Rep. Franklin has authored, it must be conceded that he has the right idea on ending the debate over gay marriage.

What business does government have saying who should wed who? Gay or straight?

The argument made by many proponents of gay marriage is that same-sex couples do not have the same rights as straight couples when it comes to marriage.

According to a 2004 study by the Congressional Budget Office, there are 1,138 statutory provisions "in which marital status is a factor in determining or receiving 'benefits, rights, and privileges.'" Once a straight couple gets "married," they become eligible for a range of benefits including the ability to file jointly on their income tax returns as well as being able to inherit an unlimited amount from their deceased spouse's estate without being subject to the estate tax.

For many gay and lesbian couples, the right to get married has everything to do with receiving the range of benefits that come with being married; and very little to do with love.

Same-sex couples want the marriage benefits provided by the government, and we can do that while getting government out of the business of saying, as Rep. Franklin stated, "who should wed who."

Since there are at least 1,138 statutory provisions relating to marital status at the federal level alone, how about we repeal every last one of them. What I'm suggesting (and what I believe Bobby Franklin is suggesting) is that we strike the words "marital" and/or "marital status" from all one-thousand one-hundred and thirty-eight federal statutes, rules and regulations. In its place, we add two simple words; "civil union."

If a couple --gay or straight-- wants one or all 1,138 of those benefits from the government, then let them go down to the courthouse and get a civil union.

If that same couple wants marriage, then let them go to church.

Marriage, I believe, is a religious institution. And I think each individual religious denomination should determine whether they'll perform or recognize a marriage ceremony between two men or two women.

Marriage is something that the government should never have gotten itself involved in, and I think it's time for the government to gradually withdraw itself from the institution of marriage.