Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for February 19, 2020

On February 19, 1807, Aaron Burr was arrested in the Mississippi Territory, in what is now Alabama. Burr had served as Vice President during the first term of President Thomas Jefferson, leaving the administration after the 1804 election; later Jefferson issued a warrant accusing Burr of treason.

On Febrary 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, authorizing the military to remove from military areas any people whose exclusion was “necessary or desirable.” By June 1942, more than 110,000 Japanese Americans had been interned in concentration camps in the western United States. On the same day, the United States War Department announced that a new bomber plant would be built in Marietta, Georgia.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Under the Gold Dome  – Legislative Day 14

8:00 AM HOUSE INSURANCE 606 CLOB

9:00 AM HOUSE RULES 341 CAP

10:00 AM HOUSE FLOOR SESSION (LD 14) House Chamber

TBD SENATE RULES UPON ADJOURNMENT 450 CAP

1:00 PM HOUSE Lumsden Subcommittee of Public Safety and Homeland Security 406 CLOB

1:00 PM SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY MEZZ 1

2:00 PM SENATE EDUCATION & YOUTH 307 CLOB

2:00 PM HOUSE Tax Expenditure Subcommittee of Ways and Means 133 CAP

2:00 PM HOUSE Reeves Subcommittee of Judiciary Non-Civil 403 CAP

2:15 PM HOUSE Public Finance and Policy Subcommittee of Ways and Means 133 CAP

3:00 PM SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM- CANCELED 125 CAP

3:00 PM SENATE HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 450 CAP

3:00 PM HOUSE State and Local Subcommittee of Governmental Affairs 515 CLOB

4:00 PM HOUSE Elections Subcommittee of Governmental Affairs 515 CLOB

4:00 PM SENATE RETIREMENT MEZZ 1

4:00 PM SENATE JUDICIARY 307 CLOB

Governor Brian Kemp announced that Georgia set records for exports and international trade in 2018.

In 2019, the State of Georgia tallied $41.2 billion in exports and $143.3 billion in overall international trade.

Georgia again surpassed the previous record-setting year in 2018, with a 2.87% increase in total trade and 1.5% increase in exports, even as overall U.S. exports contracted slightly. Georgia’s total trade value has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, making the state the epicenter of global trade in the Southeast.

“This exciting news for Georgia exports affirms what we know to be true: you can truly make anything and send it anywhere in the world from right here in Georgia,” said Governor Kemp. “Our state’s top-notch logistics network and services are customized across all industry sectors and regions, and hardworking Georgians continue to create products in demand across the globe.”

Georgia businesses exported goods to 214 unique countries and territories in 2019, and the state ranks 12th among exporting states. The top five customers for Georgia products remained Canada, Mexico, Germany, China, and Singapore.

Ten percent of Georgia’s exports – more than $4.2 billion – came from Georgia’s agriculture industry. Poultry, cotton, and peanuts remain top sellers.

With more than 6,600 manufacturing firms in Georgia employing more than 400,000 Georgians, manufactured goods make up 90% of Georgia goods exports.

Georgia also saw an increase of 20% in exports to Germany, where Governor Kemp recently returned from an economic development mission. In January, the State of Georgia opened an expanded European office focused on growing investment and trade opportunities with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).

Exports to Germany were bolstered by growth in medical-related products and civilian aircraft. Aerospace exports from Georgia generated a record-breaking $10.8 billion, which is an 18% increase over 2018. More than 800 aerospace companies call Georgia home.

Also of note, exports from the life sciences sector saw an increase of 8%, and Georgia’s automotive industry generated $3.2 billion. Georgia is home to nearly 2,000 life sciences sector industries and more than 300 automotive facilities statewide.

“In any given year, the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s International Trade Division works with more than 2,000 companies across the state to ensure their products reach the right markets for success,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Our network of 12 international offices are boots on the ground to help connect our small and large businesses with international customers, and I’m extremely proud that the hard work of our dedicated employees continues to make a difference for our state.”

Georgia maintains representation in 12 strategic markets, including Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Peru, and the United Kingdom. These representatives play a critical role in facilitating international connections that generate economic success. Approximately two-thirds of Georgia trade involves markets where the state has representation.

“The majority of the Georgia companies our International Trade Division works with each day are small businesses, and our services are geared to assist them in entering new international markets,” said GDEcD Deputy Commissioner for International Trade Mary Waters. “This report is a great snapshot of thousands of success stories and demonstrates how our services can help more companies achieve their goals.”

To read the full 2019 international trade summary, click HERE.

Governor Kemp set a deadline of Thursday for applications for appointment as District Attorney for the Western Judicial Circuit, comprising Clarke and Oconee Counties, according to Flagpole.

Brian Patterson, currently chief assistant district attorney, has said he will apply for the appointment.

Deborah Gonzalez, former House District 117 representative, has said she will not submit her application.

Prior to the announcement two weeks ago by incumbent District Attorney Ken Mauldin that he will resign effective Feb. 29, Patterson and Gonzalez were competing for the Democratic Party nomination for district attorney in the March 19 primary. Mauldin is a Democrat.

That primary will not be held because Mauldin is not filling out his term.

If Kemp, a Republican, makes his appointment by May 3, Patterson and Gonzalez–and any other candidates–could meet in a special election on Nov. 3.

If Kemp makes the appointment after May 3, the person selected will be able to hold that office until 2022 without an election.

State House Appropriators restored some cuts to the state budget proposed by Gov. Kemp, according to CBS 46.

Three subcommittees of the House Appropriations Committee made recommendations Thursday for amendments to the the current budget, which runs through June 30.

House subcommittees recommended cuts, but some were not as deep as Kemp had proposed, putting back more than $2.8 million that the governor wanted to cut. The entirety of the House’s budget math will become clear Tuesday, with the remaining subcommittees and then the full Appropriations Committee scheduled to vote on amendments to the current spending plan. Those decisions will include services that lawmakers have publicly worried over, including agricultural research, public defenders, the state crime lab, mental health assistance and substance abuse programs.

House members reduced cuts to the state Department of Agriculture from $1.81 million to $1.04 million, adding back money for five food safety inspectors and two animal industry inspectors after Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black had warned that reductions could mean unacceptably long gaps between inspections at grocery stores and other venues.

The House actions also give clues to the spending plan for the 2021 budget year beginning July 1. For example, Thursday, House members added $200,000 for the state’s hemp growing program. Black had said he needs $800,000 a year guaranteed for two years before the U.S. Department of Agriculture will approve Georgia’s hemp regulations. Since about a quarter of the current year will remain after the amended budget is passed, that could signal the full $800,000 is coming next year.

House committees also added back nearly $1.5 million for the state schools for the deaf and blind, with subcommittee Chairman Robert Dickey saying it was unfair for those schools to be cut when regular K-12 funding wasn’t touched.

Subcommittees also restored more than $300,000 to the Public Service Commission, enough to prevent employees from being furloughed without pay for five days through June. They also put money back for the state Commission on the Holocaust and gave the Forestry Commission more money than Kemp wanted for maintenance and emergency fire equipment.

From the AJC:

In general, the House pushed back on many of the proposed cuts that would impact small-town Georgia, a key constituency in a chamber largely run by lawmakers from outside metro Atlanta.

The House Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday to make major changes to Kemp’s proposal to cut $200 million in this year’s budget. The full chamber will vote Wednesday, and then it will be the Senate’s turn to tweak the spending plan.

Next up for both will be Kemp’s $28.1 billion budget for fiscal 2021, which begins July 1. That proposal includes $300 million in spending cuts — but also pay raises for teachers and state employees earning less than $40,000 a year — and could produce a more contentious fight over state spending.

From 11Alive:

The GBI crime lab has become one of the touchstones in the dispute.

Kemp proposed cutting $1.6 million – reducing positions for scientists and lab techs this year, while the crime lab struggled to eliminate a sizable case backlog that included 786 untested rape kits.

Many lawmakers said it was unacceptable. The House Appropriations Committee mostly agreed, passing a revised budget onto the full House Monday.

“It shouldn’t be a backlog anymore,” said state Rep.James Beverly (D-Macon). “You cut this (crime lab) budget, I think you start running afoul of the truth when you start saying we’ll be able to do it with these budget cuts.”

The GBI director, Vic Reynolds, had told committee members the GBI could outsource DNA testing for cases excluding murder and rape, saving operating revenue.

The House committee also restored many cuts proposed in substance abuse treatment programs, mental health programs and accountability courts – which are designed to reduce the state’s cost of incarcerating criminals.

“If they went on to prison or went on through the criminal justice system, you’re looking at spending a dollar (on accountability courts), or spending seven dollars (on incarceration). That’s a pretty easy decision,” said state Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn), the appropriations committee chairman.

From the Valdosta Daily Times:

Chairs of the House Appropriations subcommittees outlined amendments made to Gov. Brian Kemp’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal — adding back dollars for state programs including mental health services, agricultural experiment stations, rural doctor training and court programs.

“Those are and have been priorities of the General Assembly in the House and the Senate,” Appropriations Chair Terry England said. “And we feel very strongly about making sure those efforts continue.”

The amended 2020 budget, he said, deals with cuts as a result of reductions in revenue. During a presentation, England highlighted ongoing impact of losses after Hurricane Michael.

The FY2021 budget is expected to accommodate Kemp’s favored budget add-ins — a $2,000 teacher pay raise and a boost for some state employees earning less than $40,000 a year. The FY2021 budget will be reviewed later in the session.

The House budget will go to a full floor vote Wednesday and is then expected to be tinkered with in the Senate.

House Bill 847 to regulate hemp farming, would allow criminal charges for possession of hemp without proper documentation,  according to the AJC.

The bill would make it a crime to transport hemp plants without paperwork showing it was produced under a farming or processing license. Violators would face up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine for possession of less than an ounce — the same penalty as misdemeanor marijuana.

The House Agriculture Committee approved the legislation on a voice vote, with two representatives opposing it. The measure, House Bill 847, could soon receive a vote in the full House and then be considered by the state Senate.

The proposal comes after the General Assembly approved hemp farming last year, allowing people to grow and manufacture the plant used to make CBD oil, a popular health product that’s currently imported to Georgia from other states. Hemp contains less than 0.3% THC, the compound that gives marijuana users a high.

Prosecutors and police said they need a way to enforce marijuana offenses after several metro Atlanta cities and counties stopped making arrests for low-level marijuana offenses. Hemp and marijuana look similar, and officers would need a test to determine whether the substance is illegal.

“If you treat any leafy substance as hemp, you’re decriminalizing marijuana in this state,” said Pete Skandalakis, the executive director for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. “I don’t think that’s what the Legislature wants.”

A hemp crop could take off in Georgia as soon as this year if lawmakers approve the bill, hemp businesses told the committee. McCall said the bill could be amended in the Senate.

Republican Ethan Underwood announced he will run for the 9th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville), according to the Gainesville Times.

Underwood previously served as chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party and second vice chair of the 9th Congressional District Republican Party. He is currently a member of the GOP State Committee.

“I am running for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 9th District because we need a battle-ready Republican leader who can make decisions and take action day-one on the issues that are in the best interest of our district and our state,” Underwood said in a statement. “While Washington, DC is embroiled in a hostile, philosophical fight, Northeast Georgia communities care about problems and solutions in real life. I will work relentlessly to clear the path for our citizens to make a living and pursue happiness.”

Michael Boggus of Commerce also announced he will run for the 9th District seat, according to the Gainesville Times.

Georgia had one of the highest rates of solar adoption, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Jobs related to solar power increased in Georgia from 3,696 in 2018 to 4,798 last year, according to the 10th annual National Solar Jobs Census released by the Solar Foundation today.

That nearly 30% increase in jobs placed Georgia first in the rate of growth and second only to Florida in the number of jobs added last year. Nationwide nearly 250,000 are employed in the solar energy field.

Both manufacturing and installation contributed to the new jobs in Georgia. Hundreds of new workers were hired to staff the new Q CELLS manufacturing facility in Dalton, the largest solar factory in the western hemisphere. Of the 1,102 additional solar workers in Georgia last year, 641 were in the manufacturing sector.

Much of the installation work in Georgia was related to utility scale installations as the state grew its utility-scale solar footprint more than one hundred-fold from 11 megawatts to approximately 1200 megawatts from 2018 to 2019. A 55-megawatt solar installation in Hazlehurst, developed, owned and operated by Silicon Ranch Corp., required nearly 300 local workers.

Along with Florida, California and Texas, Georgia is one of four states that installed more than 1000 MW of new capacity in 2019.

Gwinnett County Commissioners will hold a public meeting to discuss ethics charges against Commissioner Marlene Fosque, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Gwinnett County commissioners will give the public a chance next week to weigh in on whether Commissioner Marlene Fosque should be punished for criticizing Dustin Inman society founder D.A. King’s participation in a 287(g) forum held in Lawrenceville last summer.

The Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to set a public hearing on an ethics committee’s recommendation in the Fosque case. The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Complex, which is located at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.

The ethics committee that heard King’s complaint voted last month to recommend the Board of Commissioners issue a warning to Fosque.

Columbus voters will elect members of city council this year, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

Two sitting Columbus Council members have declared their intention to run for another term this year, while two newcomers have also entered their names in the mix.

John House, District 10 at-large councilor, has announced his intention to run for a second term, as has Walker Garrett, District 8 councilor.

Laketha Ashe filed campaign documents to run against House, but said Monday she is still considering whether to continue to pursue the seat due to the recent death of a family member.

Elaine Gillispie has filed to run for the District 4 post, a seat long held by Evelyn Turner Pugh, who retired in October after nearly 31 years on council.