Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for November 20, 2015

New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights on November 20, 1789.

Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Warm Springs, Georgia for the 22d time on November 20, 1931.

Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee on November 20, 1946.

President John F. Kennedy lifted the naval blockade of Cuba on November 20, 1962, ending the Cuban Missile Crisis.

On November 20, 1975, Ronald Reagan announced he would run for President of the United States against incumbent Republican Gerald Ford. On May 4, 1976, Reagan won Georgia’s Presidential Primary with 68% over Ford.

Newt Gingrich was reelected Speaker of the House on November 20, 1996.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

The calls have begun for Secretary of State Brian Kemp to resign after news broke of a massive data disclosure from the Elections Division, but I’m not really that worried about my identity being stolen. Here’s why:

1. The disclosure was to a small and easily-identified set of organizations – if a rash of Georgia identity thefts is detected, the FBI, GBI, and whatever alphabet agencies are involved will know where to start looking. Not only does it mean any mischief will likely be tracked down, it probably has a chilling effect on anyone in possession of the data being interested in trying to do anything nefarious with it.

2. The SOS moved quickly to recover or account for all the discs, and frankly, most recipients probably didn’t realize what was in it. I wouldn’t have noticed until someone brought it to my attention.

3. Personally, I don’t know how to do anything nefarious with the information, even if I still had it. Of course, I deleted it immediately and returned the disc, but even if I’d retained it, I wouldn’t know how to sell it without ending up in jail. What are you going to do? Post it on Craigslist?

4. A credit freeze is inexpensive and should protect you with a minimum of hassle. Here’s how to do that, courtesy of Attorney General Sam Olens.

Going forward, here’s my thoughts on the issue:

1. If I were Secretary of State, considering the Gordian knot of headaches that his office has with technologies, I’d make whatever the current office in charge of IT a Deputy Secretary position with a salary that might even exceed that of the SOS himself. Banks and internet stores do IT security all day every day, but to get that level of expertise, you need to offer a competitive compensation package. Adding the visibility and prestige of making it a Deputy Secretary position might help if the salary offered is in a competitive range.

2. Contrary to what some folks say, SOS is not a simple job, and it’s not a single function of registering voters and overseeing elections. It also has serious and complex responsibilities with corporate registrations, securities oversight, and professional licensing, all of which are IT-intensive tasks that have not much in common except that they were once done on paper (some functions still are) and heavily reliant on enterprise-class IT. The professional licensing boards division alone has 39 Boards that have to be appointed, staffed, and run efficient licensing and disciplinary procedures for professionals who rely on their licenses to feed their families.

3. I don’t expect or want Brian Kemp to resign. That would be the easy way out. I expect him to put in the work to ensure that all divisions under the Office of Secretary of State are running in a fashion that promotes confidence. It’s not just voter confidence, but that of the businesses that employ millions of Georgians and have a choice to locate and organize under Georgia law. It’s the professionals who practice under supervision of licensing boards and the consumers who rely on the SOS ensuring certain professional standards. It’s a tough job, and the next session of the Georgia General Assembly will include some tough questions for the Secretary. Finish the drill.

Speaking of the next legislative session, the practice of “balance billing” looks to be a sure bet to be a major issue in 2016. From WSB-TV,

“There are not as many protections for consumers as we would hope,” said Beth Stephens, the health access director for Georgia Watch.

That is why Georgia Watch is pushing for legislation that would address some of these issues in the state.

Gwinnett County couple Carol and Nick Wyatt say they received a surprise medical bill. His wife went in for a colonoscopy. The couple thought they were covered by their insurance at the facility.

“Of course, I did my homework. I’ve been in health insurance since 1982,” Carol Wyatt said.

Even though they were at an in-network facility, without the couple knowing, an out-of-network anesthesiologist treated Carol Wyatt. They are now facing a bill for nearly $2,000.

“It is at least (not) moral if not ethically wrong,” Nick Wyatt said.

Consumer Reports has reported that the surprise medical bills are common. In its online survey of 2,200 adult U.S. residents with private health insurance, one-third of respondents reported receiving a surprise bill after their health insurance paid less than they expected or not at all.

“There are quite a few people that ruin their credit ratings and lose their beautiful homes,” said Georgia state Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford.

Unterman, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, held hearings in October discussing surprise billing for medical care.

Unterman says she plans to draft legislation that mimics other states that have passed legislation addressing this issue.

Bob Lundsten, a former aide to imprisoned DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer, will serve one year probation and reimburse the County $310 he wrongfully spent on a P-card after pleading guilty to reduced charges.

Bob Lundsten, who served as chief of staff for former Commissioner Elaine Boyer, was sentenced Tuesday to a year on probation for misspending $310 at Kroger and the UPS Store.

Under an agreement with prosecutors, Lundsten pleaded guilty to three counts of misdemeanor obstruction. He originally had been charged with six counts of theft by taking and three counts of making false statements.

The Blue Ridge City Council has engaged a law firm to investigate allegations against Mayor Donna Whitener, and also to investigate council members themselves, according to Fannin Focus.

Patrick Crain of the Concerned Citizens of Blue Ridge Group, Inc. has presented city officials with a laundry list of alleged violations by Mayor Whitener. Allegations, supported by documented proof, instigated Arp’s motion. The motion was upheld by a 3-2 vote. Arp, Bruce Pack, and Rodney Kendall voted in favor of the investigation, with Harold Herndon and Rhonda Thomas opposing.

After the motion passed, Mayor Whitener questioned the fairness and reputation of Jarrard & Davis, asking, “How do I know they would be impartial?” Arp responded, “City Attorney David Syfan stated the firm has a good reputation.” Arp also mentioned Fannin County post commissioners had recently used Jarrard & Davis in a victorious suit against County Chairman Bill Simonds.

This kind of thing never turns out well for anyone.

The Johns Creek City Council passed a resolution opposing higher sales taxes to fund MARTA, according to Johns Creek Patch.

A united Johns Creek City Council on Monday adopted a resolution announcing its “full and complete” opposition to a proposed plan that would bring the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority deeper into north Fulton County.

The Council’s unanimous vote also expressed rejection of any referendum or vote by the Georgia General Assembly that would allow MARTA to collect an additional half-percent in taxes, which could be used to expand the rail system up the S.R. 400 corridor.

The resolution was proposed and introduced by Councilman Bob Gray, who said he believed his stance reflects the sentiments of Johns Creek citizens.

Gray told his fellow elected officials that he feels MARTA’s current method of operation is ”inherently flawed,” as it cannot efficiently move residents in and out of the city.

He also said he’s concerned that the additional tax would be saddled on residents who “largely don’t get any benefit out of the MARTA system.”

Outgoing Brookhaven Mayor Rebecca Chase Williams has asked for an outside legal opinion on whether any problems are created by the employment of City Council Member Bates Mattison as Executive Director of Brookhaven Innovation Academy, which recently won its state charter.

In a Monday release, Williams says that while no ethical complaint has been filed, “the mayor and several council members would like a legal opinion concerning the ethics of Councilman Bates Mattison accepting a full time job with Brookhaven Innovation Academy given his role in creating the BIA.”

“The Mayor and council would like to clarify and have a better understanding of any legal, ethical or charter problems, violations or conflicts of interest for Mr. Mattison to serve as both a Brookhaven city councilman and director of the BIA,” said Williams. “That is why I am calling for an independent inquiry into the questions.”

Williams is also asking for guidance on any votes Mattison makes that “might prove to be a conflict or ethical problem given his contract to earn a portion of funds he raises for the BIA.”

“I would ask that the same procedure be used that is called for in the city’s ethics ordinance: the city clerk randomly chooses an attorney she has compiled from a list of five attorneys chosen for their independence, integrity and ability to render a fair and impartial decision,” Williams added.