Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Politics for April 9, 2020

After two days of exchanging letters with his Union counterpart, Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee agreed to meet and make arrangements for the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. At 2 PM on April 9, 1865, Lee and Grant met in a private home owned by Wilmer McLean at Appomattox Court House, Virginia and Lee agreed to the surrender of his army.

Lee was resplendent in his dress uniform and a fine sword at his side. Grant arrived wearing a simple soldier’s coat that was muddy from his long ride. The great generals spoke of their service in the Mexican War, and then set about the business at hand. Grant offered generous terms. Officers could keep their side arms, and all men would be immediately released to return home. Any officers and enlisted men who owned horses could take them home, Grant said, to help put crops in the field and carry their families through the next winter. These terms, said Lee, would have “the best possible effect upon the men,” and “will do much toward conciliating our people.” The papers were signed and Lee prepared to return to his men.

From the account by Gen. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:

“At such a time and under such conditions I thought it eminently fitting to show some token of our feeling, and I therefore instructed my subordinate officers to come to the position of ‘salute’ in the manual of arms as each body of the Confederates passed before us.”

“When General Gordon came opposite me I had the bugle blown and the entire line came to ‘attention,’ preparatory to executing this movement of the manual successively and by regiments as Gordon’s columns should pass before our front, each in turn.”

“The General was riding in advance of his troops, his chin drooped to his breast, downhearted and dejected in appearance almost beyond description. At the sound of that machine like snap of arms, however, General Gordon started, caught in a moment its significance, and instantly assumed the finest attitude of a soldier. He wheeled his horse facing me, touching him gently with the spur, so that the animal slightly reared, and as he wheeled, horse and rider made one motion, the horse’s head swung down with a graceful bow, and General Gordon dropped his swordpoint to his toe in salutation.”

“By word of mouth General Gordon sent back orders to the rear that his own troops take the same position of the manual in the march past as did our line. That was done, and a truly imposing sight was the mutual salutation and farewell.”

On April 9, 1968, Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta held the funeral for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More than 100,000 mourners reportedly showed up for the funeral, which could accomodate only 800; 200,000 mourners followed the mule-drawn hearse to Morehouse College.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Politics

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has postponed the Presidential Preference Primary and General Primary until June 9, 2020. From the SOS website:

Today, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced that, pursuant to the authority vested in him by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50.1, he is postponing the Statewide General Primary/Presidential Preference Primary Election until June 9, 2020.

Yesterday, Governor Brian Kemp extended the current public health state of emergency until May 13, 2020. Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and Speaker of the House David Ralston concurred in the Governor’s extension of the state of emergency.

“Due to the Governor’s extension of the state of emergency through a time period that includes almost every day of in-person voting for an election on May 19, and after careful consideration, I am now comfortable exercising the authority vested in me by Georgia law to postpone the primary election until June 9,” said Secretary Raffensperger. “This decision allows our office and county election officials to continue to put in place contingency plans to ensure that voting can be safe and secure when in-person voting begins and prioritizes the health and safety of voters, county election officials, and poll workers.”

Throughout this crisis, the Secretary of State’s office has been in close contact with county election officials across the state. Over the past week, the reports of mounting difficulties from county election officials, particularly in Southwest Georgia, grew to a point where county election officials could not overcome the challenges brought on by COVID-19 in time for in-person voting to begin on April 27. Additionally, current modeling by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia will peak around April 24, only days before in-person voting was scheduled to begin. While challenges will certainly remain on June 9, these additional three weeks will give the Secretary of State’s office and counties time to shore up contingency plans, find and train additional poll workers, and procure supplies and equipment necessary to clean equipment and protect poll workers.

Emergency authority is something that should be exercised carefully, and moving an election should only take place in the rarest of circumstances. While Secretary Raffensperger previously expressed concern that he did not have the authority to move the primary election again, the Governor’s extension of the state of emergency to a time that includes almost every day of in-person voting for a May 19 election is sufficient to allow the Secretary to exercise the emergency authority given to him by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50.1 and move the primary election to June 9.

“I certainly realize that every difficulty will not be completely solved by the time in-person voting begins for the June 9 election, but elections must happen even in less than ideal circumstances,” said Raffensperger. “Just like our brave healthcare workers and first responders, our county election officials and poll workers are undertaking work critical to our democracy, and they will continue to do this critical work with all the challenges that the current crisis has brought forth. This postponement allows us to provide additional protection and safety resources to county election officials, poll workers, and voters without affecting the November election.”

The voter registration deadline for the June 9, 2020 election will be May 11, 2020. Early voting will begin on May 18, 2020. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 21-2-501, moving the primary election to June 9, 2020 will move the primary runoff to August 11, 2020. Pushing back the primary to June 9 gives Georgia election officials additional time to put in place contingency plans to allow for safe and secure voting, but pushing back the primary election any further could potentially have negative consequences on preparation for the November 3, 2020 General Election. Given existing deadlines to prepare and send ballots for the November election, particularly for military voters, moving forward on June 9 is the best way to ensure a successful election year in Georgia.

Absentee ballot applications for the upcoming primary election will continue to be accepted and processed by counties even if the application said May 19. Once county election officials properly verify the signature on the application, the voter will be sent an absentee ballot for the primary election now to be held on June 9.

Governor Brian Kemp yesterday announced new measures to combat Covid 19.

1.) The State of Emergency is extended through May 13, 2020; and

2.) The Shelter in Place order is extended through April 30, 2020.

“Good afternoon, everyone. Before I get started, I want to take a moment to talk about my friend and former Senate colleague, Jack Hill, who unexpectedly passed away on Monday. Georgia has lost a gentle giant. Jack Hill was a longtime public servant and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was respected and loved by countless people in his community and across our state. Earlier today, I signed an executive order directing flags to fly at half-staff across Georgia this Friday. I ask all Georgians to lift up his loved ones and colleagues in prayer as they grapple with his loss.”

“This afternoon, I’m joined by DPH Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Tom Carden, and GEMA Director Homer Bryson. As always, I want to thank these hardworking Georgians – and their staff – for their tireless efforts. We are fortunate to have the best and brightest leading the charge.”

“Today, we are reporting a total of 9,901 coronavirus cases in Georgia, and I’m saddened to announce that 362 Georgians have passed as a result of COVID-19. I ask all Georgians in every corner of our great state to join me in praying for all of the families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, and those who are battling it right now.”

“During this sacred Holy Week, we must stay united in the fight against coronavirus. I want to thank the millions of Georgians who are following public health guidance and helping us flatten the curve. We are making progress. I want to thank the frontline workers who are sacrificing everyday to keep us all safe: first responders, law enforcement, our doctors, nurses, and medical staff. These men and women are doing heroic work. Keep praying for their safety – and their families, who many of these frontline workers are unable to see as they fight this pandemic.”

“While I am encouraged by some of the recent data, we still have incredible challenges ahead. Yesterday, I had a call with Commissioner Gary Black and other Ag leaders to reaffirm our unwavering support for Georgia’s oldest and largest industry. COVID-19 is hitting our state hard, and it’s impacting our farm families in a number of ways.”

“First, much of the demand for Georgia farm products is from our schools and food service industries. With schools shuttered and many restaurants scaling back, our farmers are seeing prices plummet and demand diminish. Farms that use our country’s seasonal worker programs are seeing good crops this year, but now have limited markets to sell them. However, these same farmers are still on the hook for paying 75 percent of the contract work they signed for before COVID-19 ever hit Georgia. Coming off generational losses from Hurricane Michael, this is another punch in the gut for Georgia farmers. In the coming days, I will make these concerns known to our federal partners and ask them to keep farmers top of mind when crafting a Phase 4 stimulus package.”

“Rest assured, we will continue to fight for Georgia’s agriculture industry and the families who feed and clothe the world from right here in the Peach State. Now, more than ever, I hope you will join me in supporting our farmers and agri-business leaders by purchasing Georgia Grown and Georgia Made products. Every purchase matters. Every dollar spent provides relief.”

“There’s no doubt that COVID-19 is impacting other industries and workers too. Thousands of Georgians are out of work, and we have started to see the effects of that on our state’s safety net, especially when it comes to unemployment benefits. I’d like to thank the great work of our Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. He is doing everything in his power to get out-of-work Georgians the funds that they desperately need. His team has processed a record number of unemployment claims in the last two weeks. They are working around the clock to meet the needs of hardworking Georgians in a timely and efficient manner.”

“Earlier this week, I asked Vice President Pence to check on federal guidance for self-employed workers, gig workers, and 1099 contractors from the U.S Department of Labor so that here in Georgia, Commissioner Butler can be approved to provide those funds. Our Vice President assured me that he would do so, and we look forward to receiving the necessary guidance from Secretary Scalia and the U.S. Department of Labor soon.”

“As you know, I ordered that all of Georgia’s K-12 public schools would remain closed through the end of the year. As a parent of three, please know that this decision wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly important as we work to keep our students, families, and communities safe. Since that announcement, my staff has been in constant communication with education leaders across the state, and we have worked with State School Superintendent Richard Woods to help districts prepare and students adapt.”

“In the coming days, Superintendent Woods will partner with my office and launch working groups to develop guidelines and best practices for our schools involving meals, distance learning, facilities and equipment, mental health, and professional learning. We will do whatever it takes to support our educators, students, and their parents during these challenging times. .”

“This month, we have taken big steps in the fight against COVID-19. General Carden and the Georgia National Guard have deployed to several long-term care facilities to clean and mitigate coronavirus exposure. The Guard now has thirty-six infection control teams and completed missions at sixty-seven facilities in the last six days. These teams have allowed the Guard to assist between seven and ten percent of all our state’s nursing home facilities every day. Once we reach 100 percent, they’ll start over.”

“To provide more assistance to General Carden, his team, and our long-term care homes, I am taking new executive action to protect our state’s most vulnerable citizens. As we have mentioned previously, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that older adults, people of any age who have serious, underlying health conditions, and certain other groups may be at higher risk for complications from coronavirus exposure.”

“The Georgia Department of Public Health has determined that COVID-19 is spreading through nursing homes, inpatient hospice, assisted living communities, personal care homes, intermediate care homes, community living arrangements, and community integration homes. We have dramatically increased access to resources to these facilities to mitigate exposure, but we have to do more to protect these Georgians.”

“Earlier today, I signed an executive order extending Georgia’s public health state of emergency through May 13, 2020. This measure will allow us to deploy more resources to communities in need, lend support to frontline medical providers, and keep preparing as we brace for potential patient surge in our healthcare facilities. I appreciate Lt. Governor Duncan, Speaker Ralston, and the General Assembly for working with us to ensure resources are available to proactively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“This afternoon, I also signed an executive order mandating more aggressive infection control measures at long-term care facilities across Georgia. I’ll outline a few, key requirements. Facilities must adopt infectious disease transfer protocols with nearby hospitals. Visitors and non-essential personnel are strictly prohibited except in compassionate care situations. If feasible, these facilities must provide in-room dining services, and all group activities are canceled. Employees must wash or sanitize their hands after any interaction with a resident. Facilities must implement protocols to screen residents for fever and respiratory symptoms, and employees must be screened before starting a shift.”

“If an employee is exposed, to the extent feasible, he or she must self-quarantine for fourteen days before returning to work. Facilities are required to implement universal and correct use of personal protective equipment, and we stand ready to coordinate delivery of supplies. Facilities must utilize hospital-grade disinfectants for frequent cleaning. If possible, residents with symptoms of respiratory infection need to be placed together, and facilities should have specific employees working only on affected units. To ensure compliance, I am empowering the Department of Public Health, National Guard, and Department of Community Health to issue directives to facilities to prevent, monitor, and treat COVID-19.”

“Today, I am also signing an executive order to activate 1,000 additional National Guard members to assist in COVID-19 emergency response.”

“In accordance with public health recommendations, I am also extending the statewide shelter in place order through April 30, 2020. All of the provisions of the statewide shelter in place order will remain in effect. I want to thank everyone who followed these directives, and I appreciate your patience.”

“I have also heard the concerns of many hardworking Georgians, including local elected officials, who fear that our state will become a vacation destination. As a result, and in accordance with public health guidance, I have signed an order to suspend short-term vacation rentals across Georgia. To stop the spread of COVID-19, no vacation rental shall occur in Georgia starting at midnight through 11:59 PM on Thursday, April 30. The term ‘vacation rental’ means any transaction to lease or license residential property for residential or vacation purposes, facilitated by a third party or broker for thirty days or less between a corporation, partnership, person, or other entity and a private person.”

“There are exceptions. This order does not include hotels, including extended stay hotels, motels, campgrounds, or purely commercial transactions. This order does not include any vacation rental which has been fully paid and executed or agreed to before 12 AM on Thursday, April 9. It also does not apply to leases for property to be used as someone’s primary place of residence. All state, county, and local law enforcement are authorized to enforce this order, but at no time shall law enforcement or any other state or local official be allowed to dispossess or evict occupants of a vacation rental.”

“This action is just one of many steps we are taking to keep our people safe from this dangerous virus. Expanding access to testing remains a top priority for the Coronavirus Task Force. In addition to the USG testing partnership with the state lab, there are several new private sector partnerships throughout Georgia. That includes the new CVS drive-thru facility at Georgia Tech, which is able to test 1,000 individuals per day at full capacity.”

“And we are excited to announce that DPH will begin a partnership with Ipsum Diagnostics, who recently received FDA approval. Ipsum is able to test 2,000 specimens per day and will be able to expand capacity in the near future. Testing will begin tomorrow at specimen collections sites across the state. Ipsum will be able to provide results to those tests within twenty-four hours. Thanks to the University System, CVS, and Ipsum partnerships, the state will dramatically increase daily testing. This expansion does not include testing currently available through private sector labs.”

“In addition to their work on testing, the University System of Georgia has also provided housing to traveling health care workers in the Albany area. While these brave men and women are putting their lives on hold to serve our state, it is the very least we can do to show our gratitude and support.”

“And later today Chancellor Wrigley, General Carden, and I will issue a call to USG staff encouraging those who are medical and public health professionals to sign up through the Medical Reserve Corps. I encourage all Georgians – who qualify and are able – to volunteer.”

“Last week, we announced an investment of $72 million for an additional 296 beds. Capacity is being added at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital’s main campus and Phoebe North, at Eastside Medical Center in Snellville, and with four temporary medical units, which will be strategically placed across the state.”

“We have also charged our state’s hospitals – who are on the frontlines of this fight – to identify additional surge capacity within their systems. I am pleased to announce that Georgia hospitals have identified hundreds of additional ICU and med-surg beds across the state to respond to COVID-19. I look forward to sharing more details on this plan in the coming days.”

“Additionally, the state – working under the leadership of General Tom Carden – is working on plans for additional surge capacity in sites across the state should further capacity be needed. But we can’t take our foot off the gas. We have to keep working. Our Task Force is working around the clock to meet the pressing – and future – needs of those we are honored to serve. We remain hunkered down and prepared for any circumstance that comes our way.”

“In closing, I want to thank all of our partners. It would be impossible to list everyone who’s working with us to keep Georgians safe. Again, many thanks to the Trump Administration, Coronavirus Task Force members, first responders, law enforcement, healthcare workers, hospital administrators, associations, local officials, Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker David Ralston, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, faith leaders, private-sector companies, and all of the hardworking Georgians out there making personal sacrifices for the greater good.”

“To my wife, Marty, and the girls: you are my rock during these uncertain and unprecedented times. As Governor of this great state, I am honored to serve my fellow Georgians. We’ve had obstacles. There will be more, and there will be no shortage of challenges.”

“Sadly, there’s no playbook for this, but we continue to use data, science, and the advice of our healthcare officials to guide our steps toward a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future for all Georgians.”

“In closing, I want every single Georgian – the ones who voted for me and the ones who didn’t – to know I’m working hard not to do what’s popular, not to do what’s best for my politics, and not to do what’s easy. I’m working every single day – as a husband, father, businessman, proud Georgian, and your Governor – to do what’s right.”

“I ask for your patience and your prayers. We are in this fight together, and we’re going to emerge stronger because of it. Thank you, and God bless all of you.”

Click here for Governor Kemp’s executive orders.

From the AJC:

Gov. Brian Kemp extended Georgia’s shelter in place order through the end of April and imposed new restrictions on senior care facilities Wednesday as he faced criticism from local officials who urged him to take more drastic steps to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The governor extended the stay at home orders hours after he renewed a public health emergency declaration that grants him unprecedented authority to curb the pandemic. He said it gives him the “tools we’re going to need” to combat the highly contagious disease.

“While I’m encouraged by some of the recent data, we still have incredible challenges before us,” he said of the growing outbreak, which has sickened nearly 10,000 Georgians and killed more than 300.

At his press briefing on Wednesday, Kemp said he’s willing to take specific steps to shut down beaches or state parks if “something gets out of control.” But he said there’s little evidence of that now.

The governor also expressed cautious optimism that extreme social distancing measures will help contain the spread of the disease, though he said there’s no telling when he might begin to lift those restrictions.

“I don’t want Georgians to take their foot off the gas,” he said. “But there’s no question what we are doing is working.”

From the Gainesville Times:

Kemp also banned vacation short-term rentals through April 30 in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus between states or areas within Georgia.

The order will not apply to rentals with fully paid agreements made before April 9.

While law enforcement will be enforcing the order, they will not be authorized to evict people. The order “shall not be construed in any way to prevent owners from personally occupying their own properties,” and it will not apply to leases for properties used as a person’s primary residence.

Kemp also announced he’s requiring nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to take more rigid steps to screen staff and patients for symptoms and to keep facilities disinfected.

The Christian Index spoke to State Senator Bruce Thompson (R-Cartersville) and State Rep. Matthew Gambill, both of whom were diagnosed with Covid 19.

Thompson, a member of First Baptist Woodstock, had not felt well in leaving the State Capitol in Atlanta the previous Thursday. Making the decision to self-quarantine, he rested Friday and Saturday. When things didn’t improve that Monday his wife, Becky, called their primary care physician who, in turn, urged her to get Thompson to the hospital immediately.

Thompson and Representative Matthew Gambill, a deacon at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, are so far the only Georgia Baptist state legislators who have tested positive for COVID-19. Due to the nature of their position and connection to the public it’s impossible to dismiss they contracted it during their work at the state capitol. However, both attended a celebration March 1 for the retiring music minister at a large Church of God in Cartersville that has since been recognized as a source for the local outbreak.

Both Thompson and Gambill told The Index they are recovering at home and adhering to the recommendations for self-quarantine.

Thompson, 55, cites God’s blessing with his recovery, but also a trip to the doctor more than three years prior.

“When I turned 52 I was advised to lose weight,” he said. “So, I cut out bread and eating past 8 p.m. I started drinking a lot of water and although I hate to run, began running a mile to a mile-and-a-half a day.”

From Oct. 12, 2016 to Feb. 9, 2017 Thompson lost 53 pounds.

Thompson heaps credit on the medical workers at Northside Cherokee and its CEO, Billy Hayes.

“I’m watching the doctors and nurses and the intensity on their faces is clear,” he said. “While thanking them, I also began having conversations with them, asking them what life was like for them at home.”

“They’re dealing with all kinds of things and yet have to have their game on in an environment where information is coming at them all the time. I’m thankful for the kind words people have passed along to me on social media, phone calls, and texts, but I’d ask they turn that attention to these caregivers and medical personnel who, in many cases, are hanging by a thread.”

“We don’t have to be Jesus, but just let Him work through us.”

Senator Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) hopes his Covid diagnosis is not a campaign issue, according to the AJC.

The Alpharetta lawmaker’s admission has become an undercurrent of his re-election campaign, as he faces state Rep. Michael Caldwell in the Republican primary.

Beach has said, in hindsight, he shouldn’t have come to the Capitol on March 16.

“I have apologized,” Beach said. “I’ve owned it. I haven’t tried to make excuses. I would never have gone to the Capitol knowing that I had the coronavirus. I was as shocked as anybody when I got my results.”

And Caldwell said he has stayed away from using Beach’s illness as a campaign tool.

“We decided early on our focus with regard to that issue was to call for prayer for Brandon, to make sure he was healthy and focus on our campaign,” he said.

Beach said he doesn’t believe his error will make him lose votes.

“I don’t think anybody is going to blame me for getting the coronavirus,” he said. “If they don’t want to vote for me because I got sick, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get sick.”

United States Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Atlanta) will stop owning shares in individual companies and focus her personal holdings on mutual funds, according to Politico.

Loeffler (R-Ga.), who was sworn into the Senate in January after her appointment to fill a vacant seat and is on the ballot in a special election this November, has been criticized heavily by Democrats and her Republican opponent in recent weeks for stock trades made in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

She has defended the trades by saying they were executed by third-party advisers, and that she did not direct the transactions or use information from briefings in the Senate to benefit financially. She reiterated that defense on Wednesday in a rollout that included a press statement and a newspaper op-ed, writing that she was making the decision to diffuse political attacks about her financial portfolio.

“I’m not doing this because I have to,” Loeffler wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. “I’ve done everything the right way and in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, Senate ethics rules and U.S. law. I’m doing it because the issue isn’t worth the distraction. My family’s investment accounts are being used as weapons for an assault on my character at a time when we should all be focused on making our country safe and strong.”

She said those advisers would liquidate those holdings, and the proceeds would be “reinvested into ETFs and mutual funds.”

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says the city will match a private donation to pay to shelter homeless people during the Covid 19 outbreak, according to the AJC.

In a press release Thursday, the mayor said the money would match a private philanthropic donation to shelter homeless people who have contracted the virus.

“There is a critical need for the Atlanta community to step up to protect and provide for our most vulnerable populations,” said Bottoms said in a statement.

The United States Department of Education has waived some requirements for Georgia schools, according to GPB News.

The federal government approved a request to waive testing and accountability requirements for the rest of the school year, including Georgia Milestones, GAA 2.0, and GKIDS requirements, according to a news release from the Georgia Department of Education.

“It became clear as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed that there was no realistic path to offering state assessments this year – and, frankly, that testing is not what students, parents, and educators should be focused on at this time,” DOE Superintendent Woods said.

Local districts will make the final decisions on how to calculate students’ grades, DOE said, while the department ensures students are not penalized as a result of the COVID-19 school closures.

The Georgia Department of Labor is working to extend federal unemployment benefits, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, is the program that will provide unemployment benefits to those not ordinarily eligible for them. This includes individuals who are self-employed, gig workers, 1099 independent contractors, and those with limited work history who will not qualify for state unemployment benefits.

The GDOL is modifying its current online unemployment application adding new questions to better identify those individuals who may be eligible for PUA. This modified application is expected to be available on Monday, April 13, on the GDOL website.

“We are on the forefront of this economic effort to provide relief to a brand-new group of Georgians who have never received unemployment benefits before,” Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

“Our team is working to make sure we can offer assistance as soon as possible to those in need while also establishing a system that is in compliance with federal law.”