On March 5, 1735, James Oglethorpe presented a budget to the trustees of Georgia and proposed seeking an appropriation from Parliament, thus beginning the addiction of the Georgia government to Other People’s Money.
On March 5, 1869, the United States Congress refused to seat Georgia’s elected members of the House and Senate.
On March 5, 1977, President Jimmy Carter held the first “Dial-A-President” radio broadcast in which he fielded questions from radio listeners.
Ron Daniels brings you more on the Presidential Q&A from 1977.
Regardless of Carter’s policy positions and his answers to questions, “Ask President Carter” was a truly historic broadcast. Never before had the President been accessible via telephone on a live radio broadcast. And the questions presented to the President weren’t confined to one or two issues that he had been prepared to handle. One can argue that the American people were also fascinated with the concept of calling and speaking directly to Carter; nine million people called into the broadcast trying to reach him.
The President seemed to enjoy the broadcast as well, remarking: “[t]he questions that come in from people all over the country are the kind that you would never get in a press conference. The news people would never raise them, like the Ottawa Indian question. And I think it’s very good for me to understand directly from the American people what they are concerned about and questions that have never been asked of me and reported through the news media.”
On March 5, 2016, then-State Rep. Joe Wilkinson (R-Sandy Springs) introduced House Bill 561 to name “The Adoptable Dog” as the Official State Dog of Georgia.
State Representative Joe Wilkinson (R-Atlanta), along with officials from the Atlanta Humane Society, FixGeorgiaPets.org, GaPundit.com, and Georgia English Bulldog Rescue, held a press conference on Wednesday, March 4, to discuss legislation that would designate the official state dog of Georgia. Rep. Wilkinson’s legislation, House Bill 561, was officially in the House on Thursday and names “the adoptable dog” as the official state dog of Georgia.
“Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe and became a place where people could go for a second chance at life,” said Rep. Wilkinson. “So, it is fitting that we recognize the importance of giving homeless dogs a second chance at life in this state.”
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
The Georgia General Assembly website appears to be down as of 7 AM this morning. According to the AJC, it crashed yesterday.
The Georgia General Assembly’s website and internet went down Monday, interrupting the livestreaming of afternoon committee hearings.
The Senate Press Office said while they were unable to livestream, they would be archiving the meetings online.
Staffers told our colleague Maya T. Prabhu that not only could they not access the Legislature’s website, they also were unable to use the state’s internet for much of the day. Some staffers said the internet would cut in and out.
The website remained disabled through Monday night.
A spokesman for Gov. Brian Kemp said he had not heard whether the outage was connected to the ongoing Fulton County ransomware attack.
Former President Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally in Rome on Saturday, according to the Rome News Tribune.
A rally scheduled for presidential candidate Donald Trump this weekend in Rome is on at The Forum downtown, despite a last-minute bid to move it to the Floyd County airport.
The plans, which hadn’t been revealed publicly, had been for a Saturday afternoon event at The Forum. However, 14th District U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene put on her social media channels that she was hoping to change those plans to have the rally at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport.
“We need a bigger venue than the one chosen,” she wrote “The Rome 2020 rally was one of the biggest and was lit! NW GA is Trump country!!!!”
That rally prior to the 2020 presidential election drew over 20,000 people to the airport. Capacity at The Forum is a little over 3,000.
The news comes a day after President Joe Biden announced plans to visit the Atlanta area this Saturday as well. Biden, a Democrat, and Trump are almost certain to face off in a presidential rematch in November. Voting in the Presidential Preference Primary is underway.
Candidate qualifying continues across Georgia today. From The Brunswick News:
Qualifying began Monday for candidates running for 19 different offices in the Golden Isles. Those races include county commission, board of education and constitutional officers, among others.
Four Glynn County Commission seats are up for grabs, including At-large Post 2 held by Walter Rafolski, the District 1 seat held by Sammy Tostensen, the District 5 seat held by Allen Booker and the District 2 seat held by Cap Fendig, who is not seeking another term. Qualifying fee is $225.
Four Glynn County School Board races include the At-large Post 2 seat held by Jerry Mancil; District 1 held by Marcus Edgy; District 3 held by John Madala and District 5 held by Audrey Gibbons. Qualifying fee is $108.
Qualifying is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday.
Republican Party candidates can qualify in the Historic Glynn County Courthouse, 701 G St. in Brunswick in the first-floor Probate Court hearing room.
Democratic Party candidates can qualify at the Glynn County Democratic Party office 1919 Glynn Ave., Suite 7 in Brunswick.
Qualifying also has begun for the 1st District U.S. House seat held by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter and the District 3 state Senate post held by Mike Hodges.
Qualifying is its second day for all three state House districts that take in portions of Glynn County. They include the House seats held by Buddy DeLoach, 167; Rick Townsend, 179; and Steven Sainz, 180.
Townsend was the only candidate to announce that he had qualified for re-election to another two-year term of office Monday.
The article doesn’t mention where non-partisan candidates qualify.
Qualifying means candidates sign paperwork saying they intend to run and pay a qualifying fee.
If they meet other requirements – such as age or residency – they earn a place on the upcoming ballots.
In Macon-Bibb, for example, candidates can qualify for mayor, coroner, tax commissioner, superior-court clerk, judges’ posts, all nine county commission posts, all six board of education seats, two water authority seats and more.
In Houston County, posts up for election this year include coroner, tax commissioner, superior-court clerk judges’ posts, three county commissioners, four board of education members and others.
For information on qualifying, contact your local board of elections. In Bibb and Houston, qualifying runs from 9 a.m. Monday, March 4 through noon, Friday, March 8.
Partisan races – like sheriff, district attorney and the congressional and General Assembly seats – will have party primaries on May 21 and final elections in November.
Nonpartisan races — like the Macon-Bibb mayor, county commission and school board – will have May 21 primaries and a June 18 general election.
Not on the ballot this year, however, are Georgia’s two U.S. Senate seats or any statewide positions like governor.
While the presidential contest will top Georgia’s November ballots, all 14 of the state’s congressional seats, plus its 56 state Senate seats and 180 state House seats are also up for grabs. Parties will decide their nominees in primaries on May 21, the same day Georgia will elect judges and other nonpartisan offices. Runoffs will be held on June 18 for any offices in which a candidate doesn’t win a majority on May 21.
Because of court-ordered redistricting, all the members of Congress whose districts touch metro Atlanta have at least some new territory, as do many state Senate districts in metro Atlanta and state House districts in metro Atlanta and middle Georgia. A judge ruled those lines discriminated against Black voters, prompting another round of redistricting that is likely to preserve Republican majorities.
Of the 13 congressional incumbents seeking reelection, 10 quickly qualified on Monday. They included all five Democratic U.S. representatives — the 2nd Congressional District’s Sanford Bishop, the 4th District’s Hank Johnson, the 5th District’s Nikema Williams, the 6th District’s Lucy McBath, and the 13th District’s David Scott. Also qualifying were five of the eight Republican incumbents seeking election: the 1st District’s Buddy Carter, the 5th District’s Andrew Clyde, the 7th District’s Rich McCormick, the 8th District’s Austin Scott, and the 11th District’s Barry Loudermilk.
Georgia’s 2024 presidential election is likely to be close again. But because of how Republicans drew the congressional districts, none are expected to produce competitive races in November.
That means primaries are likely to determine the winners. With Republican U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, who has represented western Georgia’s 3rd District for four terms, not running for reelection, GOP candidates are scrambling to replace him.
Four qualified on Monday, including former state Sens. Mike Crane of Franklin and Mike Dugan of Carrollton, former state Rep. Philip Singleton of Sharpsburg, and former police officer and purchasing manager Jim Bennett of Bowdon. Others are expected to qualify in coming days.
From the Associated Press via AccessWDUN:
Of the 13 congressional incumbents seeking reelection, 12 quickly qualified on Monday. They included all five Democratic U.S. representatives — the 2nd Congressional District’s Sanford Bishop, the 4th District’s Hank Johnson, the 5th District’s Nikema Williams, the 6th District’s Lucy McBath, and the 13th District’s David Scott. Also qualifying were seven of the eight Republican incumbents seeking election: the 1st District’s Buddy Carter, the 5th District’s Andrew Clyde, the 7th District’s Rich McCormick, the 8th District’s Austin Scott, the 11th District’s Barry Loudermilk, the 12th District’s Rick Allen and the 14th District’s Marjorie Taylor Greene.
One of the first to arrive was U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, a Democrat who has twice been drawn out of her suburban Atlanta district. Now she’s competing for a newly drawn majority-Black seat on the western edges of metro Atlanta, where she’s heavily favored over several rivals.
[F]ormer U.S. Rep. John Barrow, a moderate Democrat, announced he would challenge Georgia Supreme Court Justice Andrew Pinson, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022.
Barrow was widely expected to seek a judgeship after his attempt to run for a seat on the state’s top court was scuttled in a legal ruling.
[Floyd County] Sheriff Dave Roberson qualified for re-election early Monday and challenger Robbie Whitfield qualified for the post later that day.
Shawn Harris, a retired brigadier general with the U.S. Army, qualified with the Democratic Party to run for the 14th Congressional District seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who also qualified on Monday on Monday.
Kevin Aronhalt qualified as a Democrat to run for the state House District 13 seat held by Republican Katie Dempsey on Monday. Aronhalt lists his occupation as the chief marketing officer at Courtesy Automotive Group. Dempsey qualified Monday afternoon.
Another Floyd County resident, Logan Johnson, qualified as a Democrat to challenge Republican state Rep. Eddie Lumsden for the House District 12 seat. Johnson listed his profession as a sales operations analyst.
The Catoosa County Republican Party has prevented three incumbent County Commissioners from qualifying as Republicans, according to the Rome News Tribune.
The Catoosa County Republican Party has blocked three sitting commissioners from seeking reelection as Republicans. Incumbents Larry Black, Jeff Long and Vanita Hullander have been refused qualifying as Republicans by the county party. Former commission chairman Steven Henry has also been rejected.
Long and Hullander went to the Republican Party headquarters and were not permitted to qualify.
Candidates wishing for Catoosa County GOP endorsement showed up last week at the Republican headquarters to be interviewed. The purpose of the interview, according to Catoosa GOP President Joanna Hildreth, was to determine how committed candidates were to Republican principles. She said 15 people were interviewed.
Those who disagree say the Catoosa GOP is preventing people it won’t qualify from having a chance to win since it’s hard to win in Catoosa County as anything but a Republican.
The Catoosa GOP says it is not preventing anyone from running — people can run as Democrats or independents. It says that it has no obligation to make it easier for someone to win by allowing them to run as Republicans even if they don’t embrace a Republican philosophy of government.
Those who disagree say that if they identify as Republicans, the Catoosa GOP has no right to block them from running as Republicans — it is up to voters to decide. Further, they are angry that the Catoosa GOP changed its method of operation just 60 days before an election.
Early voting in the March 12, 2024 Presidential Preference Primary continues this week, according to WRDW.
The last day to vote advance will be March 8.
Election Day voting will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 12, and all polling locations in Augusta-Richmond County will be open.
All voters voting in person whether in advance or on Election Day must provide one of the six acceptable forms of photo identification.
Voting by mail is underway, and applications are being accepted until March 1.
Mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. March 12.
Voters who cast an absentee ballot by mail do not have to provide a reason for voting by mail.
United States Representative Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) discussed the Presidential election, according to WSAV.
News 3 asked Rep. Carter how Georgians can feel confident that their vote will be counted accurately and that there won’t be uncertainty about the certification process as there was in 2020.
“I think that the state legislature made a good move when they passed the election integrity law, and I think they made our already good system even better. I’m glad to see that. There’s been some significant changes that have been made that should give people confidence. But we’ve got to get over the past election. The 2020 election is over with, and it is what is now. We can’t change that. But we can certainly make sure that in the future, we have the most secure elections we can possibly have,” he said.
Rep. Carter was also asked whether the former president would accept the results of this year’s general election, no matter what they were.
Right now, that seems to remain an open question.
“I can’t say what Donald Trump would do,” he said.
The three-tier system of alcohol sales regulation continues in Georgia as small breweries’ attempt for more direct-to-consumer sales and other changes were rebuffed by the General Assembly, according to the Macon Telegraph.
[E]fforts led by the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild to pass Senate Bill 163, aimed at providing flexibility from regulations, stalled when the bill failed to advance out of the state Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities committee.
The bill would accomplish four main changes to regulatory policies.
Allow limited self-distributions for small brewers.
Reform beer franchise laws to allow breweries to more easily terminate agreements with wholesalers.
Remove limit of products breweries can sell to customers each day.
Allow direct charitable contributions of beer.
Wholesalers aggressively lobbied against this legislation for two years, Joseph Cortes, executive director of the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, told the Ledger-Enquirer. “We have reached out to try and work with them on some common sense reforms that would help our small businesses,” he said. “They have expressed zero interest in working with us to help enact some small reforms that would be meaningful to craft breweries across the state.”
After the Repeal of Prohibition in 1933 ended the nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol, states created their own laws regulating the beverages.
Georgia adopted a three-tiered distribution system. Tier One represents the brewers and distillers, Tier Two represents distributors or wholesalers and Tier Three represents retailers.
Until 2017 when Senate Bill 85 passed, local craft breweries and distilleries weren’t allowed to sell products directly to their customers. They could only sell, at wholesale prices, to distributors.
This change gave breweries, like Chattabrewchee, the ability to sell a limited amount of beer to customers on-site.
Despite passing S.B. 85, Georgia remains one of the most restrictive states to open and operate a small brewery, argues the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild.
With 171 breweries in the state, Georgia ranks 44th in breweries per capita, according to the Brewers Association. But the state ranks 13th in barrels of craft beer produced and 12th in economic impact.
Georgia is losing a brewery about every two weeks, Neal said.
“The current distribution system really is not economically viable for most small breweries,” Cortes said.
Self-distribution is the primary goal, Cortes said, because the model is necessary in the consumer-driven economy.
“The middleman is the problem,” Neal said.
Distributors take a percentage of the profits, he said, and they’re needed to get products to restaurants, bars and liquor stores. As a brewery in Georgia, Chattabrewchee is required to sign with a distributor, Neal said, while border states like North Carolina and Alabama have gotten rid of those laws.
Chattabrewchee doesn’t have any advertising, and it doesn’t make any money off the sale of its cans, bottles or kegs. The markup from selling in bars and stores is too much for the brewery to earn money, Neal said, but it is a way for them to advertise their product.
“The markup for the middleman and the markup for the retailer are doubling or tripling the price of the beer by the time it gets to the consumer,” Neal said.
Senate Bill 421 to increase criminal penalties for “swatting,” passed the Georgia General Assembly last week, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.
Numerous elected officials — among them District 14 U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — have fallen prey to “swatting” incidents recently, in which 911 calls are made that falsely claim that emergency situations, like a suicide or homicide attempt, are taking place at their respective residences.
Thirty Georgia senators sponsored the bill — 11 Democrats and 19 Republicans, including District 54 Sen. Chuck Payne, R-Dalton.
“A person commits the offense of making an unlawful request for emergency services assistance when he or she knowingly and intentionally transmits in any manner a request for emergency services assistance knowing at the time of the request for emergency services assistance that there is no reasonable ground for believing the truth of information which forms the basis of such request,” the text of the engrossed version of the bill reads.
The bill would make a first conviction for “swatting” a high and aggravated misdemeanor.
“Upon a second conviction, a felony and punished by imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 10 years, by a fine of not less than $5,0000 or both,” the bill text reads. “Upon a third or subsequent conviction, a felony and punishable by imprisonment for not less than 10 nor more than 15 years, by a fine of not less than $25,000 or both.”
An additional subsection of the bill outlines penalties for “swatting” directed toward critical infrastructure — defined in the bill as any building, place of assembly or facility within Georgia “necessary for national or public security, education or public safety.”
The proposed legislation would also make those convicted of “swatting” offenses responsible for restitution to persons, public entities and/or private entities in the case of offense-related damages.
Worth County Tax Commissioner Tabetha DuPriest has been charged with falsifying federal income tax information, according to WALB.
Tabetha DuPriest, 57, is being charged with one count of making and subscribing a false tax return, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
She is set to appear before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on March 13 for a hearing in Albany.
The information in her case was filed in the United States District Court For The Middle District Of Georgia – Albany Division on Feb. 16. The documents allege that she falsified an income amount on a 2020 U.S. Income Tax Return, Form 10-40.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division will hear public comments about the proposed permits for mining near the Okefenokee Swamp, according to WTOC.
A public meeting that could help decide the fate of a proposed strip-mining project next to the Okefenokee Swamp will take place Tuesday night.
The meeting is open to the public and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division will be listening to comments from those in attendance about the draft permits they’ve issued to Twin Pines Minerals, a company that’s looking to strip-mine next to the Okefenokee Swamp.
The project has been extremely controversial, with conservationists saying the project would irreparably harm the swamp.
The EPD will be accepting public comments at tonight’ meetings- and says that it will review all comments made, as well as comments that have been emailed to them, before making a final decision on whether to issue permits for the project.
That meeting will be held virtually on Zoom at 6 p.m.
But the Feds have got something to say about that. From the AJC:
A federal agency is asserting legal rights to waters that feed the Okefenokee Swamp and its vast wildlife refuge, setting up a new battle with a mining company seeking permits to withdraw more than 1.4 million gallons daily for a project that critics say could irreparably harm one of America’s natural treasures.
In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tells Georgia state regulators that federal law prohibits diverting water from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in quantities that would harm its function as a protective habitat for native animal and plant species.
“Disruption to the natural flow of groundwater in this interconnected system could have far-reaching consequences for both the Refuge and surrounding areas,” Mike Oetker, the federal agency’s acting Southeast regional director, wrote in a Jan. 31 letter to Georgia regulators. He added: “Any decision regarding the proposed mining permit must be made with consideration of federal reserved water rights.”
While it’s unclear how much permits might be delayed by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s formal assertion of water rights, legal experts said Georgia regulators are legally obligated to work with the federal agency to ensure the Okefenokee keeps enough water to function as a wildlife refuge.
Legal issues dealing with water consumption are generally left to the states. However, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1908 established that public lands reserved by the federal government for Native American tribes, national parks and other purposes have rights to water that take precedence over other users.
“This doctrine does not just give the Fish and Wildlife Service a seat at the table,” said Megan Huynh, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center. “It legally entitles the Okefenokee to as much water as is necessary to support the primary purpose of the refuge and wilderness area.”
“Georgia EPD is reviewing the letter from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service like all of the other comments being submitted” by the public on Twin Pines’ mining application, John Eunice, the state agency’s deputy director, said in an email Monday. He anticipated a response “once the public comment period has closed.”
The groundwater use permit Twin Pines is seeking would allow an average daily withdrawal of 1.44 million gallons (5.45 million liters) of water from the Floridan Aquifer to process mining debris and waste. The plan calls for removal of additional water that gushes into mining pits during excavation.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture turned 150 years old last week, according to the Albany Herald.
Established on February 28, 1874, the department has played a pivotal role in supporting and safeguarding Georgia’s agriculture industry. Since its inception, the department has evolved to meet the changing needs of Georgia’s No. 1 industry, playing a vital role in supporting and protecting farm families, ensuring the safety of the state’s food supply, and serving farmers, producers, and consumers in every corner of Georgia.
The department is hosting and participating in a series of events throughout 2024 to celebrate 150 years of service to the state.
“For 150 years the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s commitment to serving the people of Georgia and our state’s No. 1 industry has never wavered,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a news release. “While the department’s mission has evolved over the years, our dedicated staff continues to work every single day to accomplish our mission – promoting Georgia’s No. 1 industry, protecting our state’s food supply, and serving farmers, producers, and consumers in every corner of the state.”
“As a seventh-generation south Georgia farmer, it is an incredible honor to follow in the footsteps of the commissioners before me, and I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the success of Georgia agriculture for generations to come.”
Atlanta City Council member Keisha Waites resigned to seek election as Clerk of the Fulton County Superior Courts, according to the AJC.
Atlanta City Council member Keisha Sean Waites announced on Monday that she will resign from her citywide post to launch a bid for Fulton County Superior Court clerk.
Waites was elected in 2021 to serve in one of Atlanta City Council’s at-large seats — which represent all of Atlanta’s neighborhoods — and would have served through January 2026.
On Monday, Waites said Georgia law requires her to step down immediately from her current post.
Prior to her position on council, Waites served three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives representing District 60, which includes southeast Atlanta, Hapeville, Forest Park, East Point and College Park.
Brooklet City Council Member Johnathan Graham resigned, according to the Statesboro Herald.
In the wake of the resignation Friday of Brooklet City Council Member Johnathan Graham in which he outlined several concerns with the actions of the city’s mayor, Nicky Gwinnett, the City Council gave notice Monday of a special called meeting set for 6 p.m. Wednesday in Brooklet City Hall.
A member of the City Council at the time, Gwinnett ran unopposed for mayor last November and has only been in the seat since he was sworn in Jan. 4.
In his resignation letter emailed Friday afternoon, Graham wrote: “After much contemplation and reflection, I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer in good conscience continue to serve under the current leadership of the newly sworn-in mayor.”
The agenda for the special called meeting has two items: Going into executive session for a personnel matter and a “Discussion of clarification and modification of the supervisory role of mayor.”
Columbus attorney Shevon Thomas announced he is running for Muscogee County Solicitor General, according to WTVM.
“Solicitor general is the chief prosecutor for all misdemeanor offenses that occur in the in Muscogee county.” said Columbus attorney Shevon Thomas.
Thomas says he believes voters should choose who gets to serve in this capacity.
“This office is not an entitled office because someone was appointed by the governor. It doesn’t make you deserve it. People need to choose their leaders.”
Case backlogs are just one “problem” he hopes to fix.
“So what I would do, I would implement what I will I’ll call a ‘Zoom day’. I will make that available so that we can actually move some of these cases faster rather than having two to three hundred people in court on one day.”
Another dead endangered Right Whale was located off the Georgia coast, according to the AJC.
An endangered North Atlantic right whale calf that was recently spotted with severe wounds from a vessel strike has been found dead on Georgia’s Cumberland Island, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Monday.
The calf was first seen with significant head injuries in early January off the coast of South Carolina while swimming with its mother, a whale named Juno.
North Atlantic right whales are among the rarest large whale species on the planet. Boat strikes and fishing gear entanglements are among the greatest threats to the animals, but climate change is also thought to be contributing to their shrinking population.
The calf is the second of the endangered whales to die along the Georgia coast in recent weeks.
Last month, a year-old right whale, one of only about 360 believed to be left on Earth, was found dead off Georgia’s Tybee Island. It was likely killed by a boat strike, too, federal officials announced.
NOAA is considering expanding speed limits in the whales’ calving zone to include boats measuring 35 feet and above. The move has been opposed by the maritime industry and some Georgia lawmakers, but conservationists say slowing boats down is key to saving the whales and called on President Joe Biden’s administration to act.
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