Morning Reads For Wednesday, February 5th

Good morning.

First, some new business with respect to the Capitol Calendar. Expect a new adjournment resolution today. Some background on the old one is here, and the general position of the legislature is explained as best I can here. Result: Today is legislative day 12. Legislative day 13 will not be until FEBRUARY 18th. The legislature will stand at ease the rest of this week and all of next week while Appropriations committees work on the budget.

Per an email sent out by the Senate Majority Leader’s office, the new Adjournment resolution will have dates that take the legislature up to crossover day. Those wanting to make plans post-Sine Die are going to have to wait a bit longer to see how deep this budget…situation goes.

Now, your Morning Reads:

The State of the Union is strong…er than the paper of Speaker Pelosi’s copy.

The Right To Farm bill is back, because some people are shocked at what chicken manure smells like after they move into a house next to a chicken farm and then expect the farmer to move. The revised bill is silent on telling the new neighbors to make chicken salad.

Pastor Tony Lowden, a former Commissioner on the State Charter Schools Commission (and Jimmy Carter’s minister at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, GA) has been appointed by President Trump as ‘czar’ of prisoner re-entry initiative. Related: President Trump’s Super Bowl Commercial highlighted Criminal Justice Reform. Related-related: The First Step Act that President Trump signed into law was a bill sponsored by Congressman Doug Collins.

AirBNB sued by Tybee Island, Rome, Cartersville, and Hart County for failing to remit taxes on rentals. Meanwhile, the state moves to block additional restrictions put on short term rentals.

Macy’s is closing more stores, but Atlanta is taking IT jobs away from San Francisco in the process.

A Spalding County Commissioner was arrested yesterday after a SWAT standoff.

Another day, another one million square feet of warehouses are proposed in Georgia. Pay no attention to the number of trucks this will add to Georgia’s highways.

Coronavirus continues to spread in Asia. Flights to/from Hong Kong are now being added to cancelled flights to mainland China. Thus far, it is not believed to be spreading in the U.S. (Caveat: It appears the gestation period is up to 14 days and the virus may live on surfaces up to 28 days. Buy some Clorox.) You’re not likely to get sick, but economic impacts are quite possible.

Car News: The Chicago Auto Show starts this weekend, with media previews starting tomorrow. Cadillac revealed their new Escalade yesterday. And Tesla stock is up THIRTY SIX PERCENT IN TWO DAYS.