Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for March 22, 2018

Patrick Henry addressed the Virginia Convention in Richmond on March 23, 1775, stating,  “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

On March 23, 1861, the Georgia Secession Convention adopted a new state Constitution to be submitted to a referendum of the voters on the first Tuesday in July and then adjourned.

On March 23, 1972, in the case of Gooding v. Wilson, the United States Supreme Court held that a Georgia statute, OCGA § 26-6303, which provided: “Any person who shall, without provocation, use to or of another, and in his presence . . . opprobrious words or abusive language, tending to cause a breach of the peace . . . shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,” was unconstitutionally vague and violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

On March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan called for the development of an anti-missile system that would come to be known as the Strategic Defense Initiative.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DAY

9:00 AM HOUSE SPECIAL RULES 515 CLOB

10:00 AM SENATE INSURANCE AND LABOR 310 CLOB

10:00 AM HOUSE JUDY (NON-CIVIL) 406 CLOB

10:00 AM HOUSE MOTOR VEHICLES 506 CLOB

11:00 AM HOUSE DEFENSE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS 415 CLOB

1:00 PM SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 450 CAP

1:30 PM HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY 606 CLOB

2:00 PM SENATE JUDICIARY 307 CLOB

2:00 PM SENATE STATE AND LOCAL GOVT OPS – CANCELED 307 CLOB

2:00 PM SENATE REGULATED INDUSTRIES AND UTILITIES 450 CAP

2:00 PM HOUSE EDUCATION 606 CLOB

2:00 PM HOUSE TRANSPORTATION 506 CLOB

3:00 PM SENATE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT 125 CAP

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Governor Nathan Deal is attempting to mediate in the dispute between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and Piedmont Healthcare, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

The insurance company and the healthcare business have not agreed to contract terms as an April 1 deadline approaches, and the insurance company has warned that Piedmont clients could be paying more for their care if Piedmont and Blue Cross Blue Shield can’t agree on terms in a new “in-network care provider” contract.

The governor wrote to the CEOs of both companies warning “we will take whatever steps necessary” to ensure coverage isn’t disrupted for hundreds of thousands of state employees and retirees, Morehead said, reading from Deal’s letter.

Georgia’s statewide unemployment rate is unchanged from January to February, according to AccessWDUN.com.

The rate stayed constant at 4.5 percent. A year ago, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.2 percent. The national rate stayed at 4.1 percent in February.

Monthly unemployment claims were 22,253, a drop of 54 percent from January. Claims are down by 8.5 percent over the year.

“It’s good to see we picked up this year right where we left off,” Butler said. “I expect Georgia will have a very good 2018.  It’s important that we have gotten off to a good start.”

“It’s important that Georgia is adding jobs,” Butler noted, “but it’s more important that people continue to get them.  We continue to see both happening.”

Jekyll Island will receive $1.6 million in state funds to improve public areas, according to The Brunswick News.

Gov. Nathan Deal signed a $26 billion budget March 9 for the 2019 fiscal year, containing $400 million in new state spending. Of that, around $1.6 million is going to Jekyll Island for public area improvements. It was announced at the Jekyll Island Authority Board of Directors meeting Tuesday.

House Bill 419 passed the State Senate yesterday and would give local governments more discretion in regulating hours of fireworks use. From the AJC:

The legislation, House Bill 419, allows cities and counties to pass noise ordinances that apply to fireworks. Fireworks would still be allowed statewide until 11:59 p.m. on July 3, July 4, Memorial Day and Labor Day, and until 1 a.m. after the New Year.

The Senate amended the bill, which means it will return to the State House for further action.

Robert Redfield will serve as the next Director of the Centers for Disease Control, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Redfield is a renowned HIV and AIDS researcher, though this will be his first time running a government public health agency, according to the Washington Post. He spent 20 years at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research on HIV/AIDS research, some of which was controversial.

Redfield succeeds Brenda Fitzgerald, who resigned as CDC director in late January. He is expected to assume the role within a few days.

A study of Savannah’s historic district says development of hotels in the area threatens the historic status.

FEMA will give $1.2 million in grants to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Wildlife Resources Division for road repair on Ossabaw Island.

Stripling’s General Store will open a new location in Perry next month, according to the Macon Telegraph.

The Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority has contracted for 850 new parking meters in downtown Macon, according to the Macon Telegraph.

“The main group that has been calling for the meters are the business owners downtown who feel their customers come downtown and then can’t find parking, so they go on somewhere else,” Morrison said. “But this would be a way to create the necessary turnover of spaces to get people to be able to find spaces near where they would like to go.”

Michael Taylor, owner of Between the Bread Café and Michael’s on Mulberry, agrees. He said it was similar to a restaurant needing a turnover in its tables to serve more customers.

Valdosta State College Republicans and Young Democrats will debate their parties’ national priorities tonight, according to the Valdosta Daily News.

Topics will include gun rights, education, immigration, foreign policy, abortion and health care, he said.

The current version of the Young Democrats group is new on campus, but the College Republicans have hosted similar debates in the past, Tucker said.

The debate starts 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, in Room 1011 of VSU’s Bailey Science Center on the main campus and is open to the public, Tucker said. The debate is sponsored by the College Republicans, the Young Democrats and VSU’s Student Government Association.

Statesboro will hold a Special Election for City Council District 5 at the same time as the May 22d primary elections, according to the Statesboro Herald.

Democrat Vicki Greene withdrew from the election for Glynn County Commission District 4 after a challenge to her qualifications.