Georgia Politics, Campaign, and Elections for August 13, 2014

On August 13, 1909, Georgia Governor Joseph Brown signed legislation designating February 12 as Georgia Day to commemorate Oglethorpe’s landing near Savannah in 1733.

One year later, Brown signed the first legislation regulating automobiles in Georgia on August 13, 1910. The act included a minimum driving age of 16, prohibited driving while intoxicated, and required a car tag, headlight, and red taillight.

President Jimmy Carter was nominated for reelection as President by the Democratic National Convention in New York City on August 13, 1980.

President Ronald Reagan signed the Economic Recovery Tax Act on August 13, 1981.

The ERTA included a 25 percent reduction in marginal tax rates for individuals, phased in over three years, and indexed for inflation from that point on. The marginal tax rate, or the tax rate on the last dollar earned, was considered more important to economic activity than the average tax rate (total tax paid as a percentage of income earned), as it affected income earned through “extra” activities such as education, entrepreneurship or investment. Reducing marginal tax rates, the theory went, would help the economy grow faster through such extra efforts by individuals and businesses. The 1981 act, combined with another major tax reform act in 1986, cut marginal tax rates on high-income taxpayers from 70 percent to around 30 percent, and would be the defining economic legacy of Reagan’s presidency.

Reagan’s tax cuts were designed to put maximum emphasis on encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship and creating incentives for the development of venture capital and greater investment in human capital through training and education. The cuts particularly benefited “idea” industries such as software or financial services; fittingly, Reagan’s first term saw the advent of the information revolution, including IBM’s introduction of its first personal computer (PC) and the rise or launch of such tech companies as Intel, Microsoft, Dell, Sun Microsystems, Compaq and Cisco Systems.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High was released on August 13, 1982.

Brian Kemp – There’s an App for that!

Newsbites

The Republican National Committee doesn’t like the Common Core framework for teaching AP US History – Marietta Daily Journal.

The RNC passed a resolution Friday describing how an estimated 500,000 students take the College Board’s Advanced Placement U.S. History course each year, a course it says is traditionally designed to present a balanced view of American history to prepare students for college-level history courses.

Yet the College Board, the RNC resolution states, has released a new framework for the course “that reflects a radically revisionist view of American history that emphasizes negative aspects of our nation’s history while omitting or minimizing the positive aspects.”

“In Cobb, we’ve got this covered because we would not be satisfied with only this broad framework, without identifying the historical components that kids should have exposure to.”

For example, for students enrolled in the AP History course, in addition to taking the AP exam, they also take the state’s End of Course Test.

“That is much more closely focused on more of the facts and historical characters,” [Cobb County Schools’ chief academic officer] Davis said.

Georgia has seen the highest jump in Medicaid enrollment among states that rejected the expansion of eligibility under Obamacare – Athens Banner-Herald.

The Georgia State Ethics Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission has hired Bethany Whetzel and Robert Lane as staff lawyers – Fulton Daily Report.

Jeff Bridges unlikely to run for Senate from Montana – Washington Post. [Language alert on the following clip.]

Michelle Nunn and Sam Nunn visit Second Harvest of South Georgia warehouse in Albany on campaign stop – Albany Herald.

Robin Williams gave money primarily to Democrats while playing Republicans in movies, and was great-great-grandson of former Mississippi governor and senator Anselm J. McLaurin – Washington Post.

Tea Party failed to beat any incumbent Republican Senators, but still made mark, keeping a number under 50 percent in multi-candidate primaries and half of incumbents under 60 percent – normally only 5 percent of incumbents come in under 60 percent – Washington Post.

Georgia’s Republican National Committeewoman Linda Herren says it doesn’t make any sense to not require voter registration by party for primary voting, citing the specter of strategic crossover voting by Democrats – Washington Times.

A poll commissioned by the National Taxpayers Union found 57 percent of Georgia voters opposed to national legislation that would allow states to collect sales taxes for online purchases – Atlanta Business Chronicle.

As efficient as they normally are, the Clayton County Commission has been granted a 30-day extension to adopt a millage rate for Fiscal Year 2015 – Clayton News Daily.

Ringgold City Council will hold hearings on a proposed 3-percent increase in the property tax rate at Ringgold City Hall, 150 Tennessee St., on Monday, Aug. 25, at 11 AM and 6 PM and on Monday, Sept. 8, at 6 PM – NorthwestGeorgiaNews.com.

The Catoosa County Commission will hold hearings on an increase in the county property tax rate on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 9 AM and 6 PM and Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 9 AM the county administrative building meeting room, 800 LaFayette St., Ringgold – NorthwestGeorgiaNews.com.

In Macon-Bibb County, consolidation of city and county government makes property taxes complex, but here’s the bottom line – no net increase in the millage rate for property owners, but those with higher assessments will pay more – 41NBC.com.

Here’s an issue where the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Tea Party activists probably agree – the Chamber is urging the federal government to allow the ban on offshore drilling to expire at the end of 2016 – Atlanta Business Chronicle.

A citizen has filed an ethics complaint against Kennesaw Mayor Mark Matthews over a nastygram sent by the City Attorney – Marietta Daily Journal.

Polk County voters will decide whether to create a fire district for unincorporated parts of the county on the November General Election ballot – NorthwestGeorgiaNews.com.

The City of Emerson will keep the same millage rate – The Daily Tribune News.

The Marietta Board of Education is considering paying $11 million to replace some of its aging bus fleet – Marietta Daily Journal.

University of Georgia researchers are studying the sand on Georgia beaches as part of a project to replenish the beaches at Tybee Island – Savannah Morning News.

Macon-Bibb County will study blighted properties and funding to clean them up – Macon Telegraph.

Singer-songwriter-attorney Allen Levi and retired game warden Randy Hackley qualified for an open seat on Harris County Probate Court and qualifying ends at noon today – Ledger-Enquirer.

A wrongful death lawsuit against General Motors over defective ignition switches that led to 54 recalls of 29 million cars and trucks will go to trial in April 2016 – WJCL.com.

Tomorrow night in Marietta

On Thursday, I’ll be speaking to The Georgia Tea Party during their meeting from 7-9 PM at the Roswell Street Baptist Church office building, east of the church campus, west of the big chicken at 900 Roswell Street, Marietta, Ga.

I’ll be discussing “Five things I learned in the 2014 Primary Elections.”

Is Twitter ruining young press flaks?

An article in Campaigns & Elections suggests that Twitter is spoiling many young campaign press operatives.

Nothing has done more to ruin young press operatives than Twitter. The basic blocking and tackling of press has been lost to the instantaneous food fight of the social media site famous for its 140-character delivery.

Snark, substance-less witticisms, and gotcha moments on social media have replaced the hard spade work of pitching stories, developing relationships with reporters, and the basics of an efficient press operation.

Social media has become the hot commodity for campaigns and like the snake oil salesman of the past, people are saying it will cure every political ill. But in the rush to rightfully develop a strong social media presence, too many young campaign operatives have lost sight of what actually moves persuadable voters.

Here’s some hard, foul tasting medicine: As all encompassing as Twitter seems in the Beltway Bubble, many voters, especially older voters who are your most reliable voting demographic, don’t use it. Some have no idea what Twitter is. And those who do are probably tweeting about the score of the latest baseball game, not the negative attack ad on TV.

Campaign communication plans need to be balanced with both traditional and new media, which means we need operatives who are balanced, and most importantly, know how to filter out the noise. As operatives we have to remember that Twitter is not a representative sample. One or two Twitter loudmouths can make minor issues seem tremendously important when they are, in fact, completely irrelevant.