Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for May 5, 2021

Georgia and American History

The Battle of the Wilderness began on May 5, 1864, between the Army of the Potomac, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, and the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee.

On May 5, 1886, Jefferson Davis attended a public reception at Savannah, Georgia’s City Hall.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Cy Young threw a perfect game against the Detroit Tigers on May 5, 1904.

Alan Shepard, Jr. became the first American in space on May 5, 1961, making a 15 minute sub-orbital flight that reached an altitude of 115 miles, during which he experienced about five minutes of ‘weightlessness.’ He was launched in the 2,000-lb. capsule Freedom 7 from Cape Canaveral, Florida… The flight traveled 302 miles at a speed relative to the ground of 4,500 mph. The mission was named Mercury-Redstone 3, or Freedom 7.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Governor Brian Kemp signed a boatload of legislation in the last few days.

On Monday, he signed legislation to improve the adoption process, according to a Press Release:

Governor Kemp signed multiple pieces of legislation to streamline the adoption and foster care process and reduce burdensome regulations on adoptive parents.

“Today, I am proud to sign legislation that will make it easier and more affordable to adopt children in the Peach State, allow grant tuition and fee waivers for eligible foster and adopted students at Georgia’s postsecondary institutions, and remove procedural hurdles for adoptive parents,” said Governor Kemp. “Placing our kids in safe and loving homes is not controversial, and I am thankful to the General Assembly for working closely with our office on these important reforms in a bipartisan fashion.”

Governor Kemp signed SB 20, SB 28, SB 107, HB 154, HB 562, and HB 548.

Watch the Governor’s full remarks here.

On Tuesday, Gov. Kemp signed legislation to boost Georgia’s economy, according to a Press Release:

Governor Kemp signed SB 6 to incentivize job growth and economic development across the Peach State.

“Despite an unprecedented global pandemic, Georgia continues to create jobs, spur investment, and create economic development in every corner of our state,” said Governor Kemp. “Senate Bill 6 is the logical next step in our efforts to support businesses producing life-saving medical devices and supplies here in the Peach State.”

“In addition to SB 6, this legislative session I worked with the General Assembly to pass balanced budgets that fund our priorities of education, healthcare, and public safety. This laser-focus on jobs, economic development, and conservative budgeting has resulted in Georgia’s unemployment rate falling for eleven straight months and remaining below the national average. Together, these bills I am signing today strengthen our commitment to being the best state in the country to live, work, and raise a family. Georgia is open for business!”

Governor Kemp also signed SB 49, HB 451, HB 611, HB 327, and HB 149.

From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Albany Herald:

A bill signing ceremony at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce was highlighted by Kemp putting his name to legislation providing tax breaks to several key industries.

Senate Bill 6 includes tax credits for medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturers, aerospace defense projects performing arts venues, short-line railroads and developers of corporate “mega-sites.”

Kemp also signed bills aimed at streamlining the approval process for building projects, changing the definition of a small business and creating the criminal offense of organized retail theft to aid in prosecutions.

“These bills cut red tape, lower the tax burden on businesses, promote small business development and crack down on crimes that target Georgia businesses,” Kemp said.

The governor told political and business leaders Georgia has helped lead the nation’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic through his “measured reopening” of businesses while other states were shutting down economic activity entirely. He said his decision to protect livelihoods as well as lives sometimes drew criticism from the national media.

“It was not always popular to make these decisions, but it was important,” Kemp said. “Despite the headwinds of the pandemic, we continue to maintain our designation as the No.-1 place to do business.”

Gov. Kemp also signed legislation to ensure a more plentiful supply of teachers, according to a Press Release:

Governor Kemp signed SB 88, the teacher pipeline legislation designed to recruit, retain, and equip educators in the Peach State. SB 88 was sponsored by Senator Russ Goodman (R – Cogdell) and carried in the House by Representative Dominic LaRiccia (R – Douglas).

“As the dad of a future educator, I understand how important it is to empower our teachers so they can invest in the next generation of Georgians, and that’s why I’m proud to sign SB 88 into law,” said Governor Kemp. “In an unprecedented school year, I join all Georgians in thanking educators and school staff for going above and beyond to provide a quality education, nutrition, and learning resources to their students. This legislation enhances our ability to recruit and retain the best educators, encourages qualified veterans to teach, and promotes educating as a career in Georgia’s historically black colleges and universities. By ensuring our leaders in the classroom have the tools, support, and training they need to succeed, Georgia will continue to provide a great education to students across our state.”

The Governor signed the bill at Kennesaw State University along with SB 59, SB 66, SB 153, SB 159, and SB 213.

Watch the Governor’s full remarks here.

From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Albany Herald:

The six-bill package also aims to boost teacher training at historically black colleges and universities, increase the share of state funding for charter schools, bolster mentorships for new teachers and allow schools to use vehicles other than school buses for student transportation.

The measures mark the latest moves by Kemp and backers in the General Assembly to show more support for Georgia teachers following passage of a new income-tax credit program to attract retired educators back to classrooms and a string of teacher pay raises approved in recent years.

“Today sends a message that brighter, more prosperous days start with putting our students and educators first,” Kemp said at a bill-signing ceremony at Kennesaw State University.

The bills signed Tuesday were sponsored by Republican Sens. Russ Goodman of Cogdell, John Albers of Roswell, Jason Anavitarte of Dallas, Greg Dolezal of Cumming, Steve Gooch of Dahlonega and Tyler Harper of Ocilla.

Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 105 by State Sen. Brian Strickland (R-Henry County), which revises probation procedures on early termination, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The bill, signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp and introduced by Sen. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough), makes it so those serving felony probation sentences can end those sentences after three years if they meet certain milestones.

After three years, if all restitution has been paid, no new offenses have been committed aside from minor traffic violations, and no revocation hearings have resulted in a return to jail, a judge may hear and consider terminating a probation sentence.

In Georgia, this affects around 191,000 people currently serving felony probation sentences — the most of any state in the country. And it comes with stark racial inequalities. According to data from the Department of Community Supervision, most of those serving felony probation sentences in Georgia are Black.

In Chatham County, 3,902 Black people are serving probationary sentences, more than double the 1,780 white people on probation.

The new law makes it possible for nearly 25% of those serving felony probation sentences in Georgia to be eligible for an early termination hearing immediately.

Gov. Kemp is expected to sign Senate Bill 236, allowing to-go alcohol orders, today, according to 13WMAZ.

Governor Brian Kemp says he plans to sign Senate Bill 236 into law Wednesday afternoon.

“We heard a lot of times in the increase of curbside pickup that people would love to take a craft cocktail with them, something they don’t have the ingredients or skills to make at home. There’s a lot of restaurants and bars in Macon that specialize in it,” said Josh Rogers, president of NewTown Macon.

With every one entree item, you could order two cocktails to-go.

The bill passed the General Assembly in late March, and since then, Hughes and her team have been planning for the day it becomes law.

There are some requirements. The mixed drinks must be packaged in a specific sealed container that have no openings or straw holes.

The alcohol or spirits cannot exceed three ounces. Hughes says Kinjo plans to offer a full range of cocktails from Moscow Mules to a Rum Punch.

Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (Atlanta) says that finishing the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is a priority, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The project is funded through the end of the federal government fiscal year on Sept. 30. Approximately $100 million more will be needed in upcoming budget cycles, according to a GPA spokesperson.

“As we move forward the passage of a major infrastructure bill in Congress this year, the timely and full completion of the deepening of the Port of Savannah must be at the top of the agenda, and I will ensure that it’s at the top of the agenda,” Ossoff said.

Ossoff’s afternoon appearance at the port was part of a tour across the state, which included stops at the Hanwha Q Cells solar panel manufacturing plant near Dalton, the SK Innovation Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in Commerce, and in Valdosta to brief leaders on efforts to expand transit options and inspect Valdosta’s new microtransit program.

“It’s great to be here today as I embark across the state to discuss the vital investments in infrastructure that we must make now as a nation and a state, and the harbor expansion project here at the Port of Savannah is one of the most vital infrastructure projects in the United States,” Ossoff said.

From WTOC:

While Georgia is chipping in to cover a portion of the more than $900 million bill for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, federal funding has been and will remain crucial in the project’s final phases. Sen. Ossoff said he’s going to make sure SHEP is a funding priority in the upcoming infrastructure bill.

“I have raised the importance of fully funding and expediting completion of this project with senior Biden administration officials and with the president himself,” Sen. Ossoff said.

“Whatever funding or authorities may be necessary to ensure this project is completed timely, I’ll be ready to fight for those funding and authorities in this infrastructure bill,” Sen. Ossoff said.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division says it’s able to process the applications for mining near the Okefenokee after the feds were removed from the process, according to the Statesboro Herald.

Kevin Chambers, spokesman for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, refuted a claim by an environmental lawyer that EPD lacks the expertise to determine whether a mining permit sought by an Alabama-based company would be detrimental to the swamp.

Twin Pines Minerals is applying for a permit to mine heavy mineral sands on a 376-acre section of the nearly 354,000-acre wildlife refuge.

“Georgia EPD has the experience and resources to evaluate proposed permits for numerous industrial activities to ensure they comply with applicable state and federal regulations,” Chambers said. “This includes proposed state permits for surface mining, which would be required regardless of the role of the federal government.”

Chambers said the EPD is in the process of conducting a thorough review of the application, which initially covered 1,200 acres and required the OK of the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers. Approval from the corps is no longer necessary.

Former Army Lt. Colonel Eric Welsh announced he will run as a Republican and challenge U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath in 2022, according to a Press Release.

“I’m running for Congress because we need conservative leadership in Washington to deal with the big issues facing our district and country,” stated Eric Welsh. “Career politicians are failing our country. I’m an outsider who’s tested, trusted, and tough. That’s what we need in the halls of Congress.”

“I gave 27 years to this country in the military where I commanded the finest troops this nation could ever produce. But now, we have weak-kneed politicians who would rather hug, tweet, or produce Tik-Tok videos than fight. We have a single-issue partisan hack as our Congresswoman who sat idly by while Major League Baseball kicked the All-Star game out of our state, and the jobs that went with it disappeared.”

Eric Welsh retired from the United States Army with the rank of Colonel after a successful 27-year career. He last served as a Brigade Commander in Kirkuk, Iraq. He also served as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army at the Pentagon and as Battalion Commander of the 7th Cavalry Regiment in Mosul, Iraq. While in the military, he earned two Bronze Stars, one with Valor, and a Purple Heart.

“I’m running to represent Georgia’s 6th District that has been left behind by our current Representative. I’ve been in pretty tough situations, but Congress shouldn’t be one of them. We need to show leadership by fighting the socialist agenda, end the cancel culture, and defend the values I fought to protect and preserve.”

“I’m a father, and the 8th generation of my family to serve in the military protecting America. There’s no way I’ll sit idly by while Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and AOC destroy our country and tear us apart. I led 7,000 troops in Iraq and while I may have retired from the U.S. Army, I’m not done fighting for the country I love.”

He released a campaign video that I’m sure is nice, but it’s more than two minutes, and I don’t have the attention span for that.

Statesboro City Council member John Riggs will not run for reelection to his District 4 seat, according to the Statesboro Herald.

White County Manager Jason Cobb has resigned, according to AccessWDUN.

The Board agreed with Cobb that he will remain with the county until June 25, 2021. Turner said the timeline will give county officials time to finish next year’s budget and prepare for a transition heading into the new fiscal year. Even so, [Commission Chair Travis] Turner admitted they have quite a task ahead of them working on a game plan for a replacement.

“Because this is so raw right now, I do anticipate the Board will be coming back together in the coming days to come up with a game plan because we truly need guidance through prayer on where to take this very important position for the county,” Turner said.

Columbia County Commissioners are considering a $202 million dollar budget for the next Fiscal Year, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

The original proposed general fund budget showed a deficit of slightly more than $1 million, which was reconciled into a $2 million-plus surplus through work sessions earlier this year, according to County Manager Scott Johnson.

“When we first started working on this budget, we were working off of last year’s numbers,” he said. “0bviously we had a bit of a deficit, but we did not figure this year’s revenues into that when we put our adjusted revenues in there. Then we started working on any adjustments that needed to be made as a result of that as well.”

The biggest boost among the adjusted revenues was a $3.15 million transfer from collected title ad valorem taxes, which Georgians pay when a newly-purchased vehicle is titled.

Budgeters also are trying to find a way to increase the starting pay for Columbia County employees. The trick, Johnson said, will be to avoid wage compression, which can occur when new workers start at a salary higher than workers in the same job who have more experience or seniority.

“This is a tough time to get employees to come to work,” he said. “Right now, $12 an hour is our entry rate. We’re trying to adjust that, but there’s no way to adjust that at the bottom without making some adjustments on up the scale. We’re not making them all the way to the top. We’re trying to figure out where we can cut that off, and then we’re trying to figure out how we can not have compression.”

Hall County school system is revising their mask mandate for outside activities, according to AccessWDUN.