Author: Charlie

GA House Announces Committee Leadership Appointments

From a press release: ATLANTA – Today, the House Committee on Assignments, chaired by Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington), announced committee leadership appointments for the 2023-2024 legislative session. “Our House has a strong bench of leaders ready to roll up their sleeves and go to work for the people of Georgia, and our committee leadership roster

Georgia’s Capitol Isn’t Washington’s

This Week’s Courier Herald column: I made the move to writing columns for print newspapers and online publications 12 years ago this month.  The goal, then and now, was to try to bring a view of state government’s operations and workings to Georgia’s voters, citizens, and taxpayers.  Inherent in that goal but spoken less frequently

America Is Right To Continue Aid To Ukraine

This week’s Courier Herald column: The Christmas story, as told in the Gospel of Luke, contains the following phrase as part of one verse: “And on earth peace, good will toward men.” Ten months ago tanks rolled across the Russian border with Ukraine and quickly captured much of Ukraine’s eastern territories.  Suddenly, the almost unthinkable

Happy Holidays.  All Of Them.

This week’s Courier Herald column: Welcome to the midpoint of our holiday season.  We’ve got Thanksgiving in the bank, Hanukkah underway as of December 18th, Christmas on the 25th, and then of course New Year’s just around the corner.   In Georgia, it’s not only permissible but now encouraged to consider the holiday season ending

Mullis, Ralston Departures Shift Power From Georgia Mountains

This week’s Courier Herald column. Senator Jeff Mullis is winding down a 22-year career in the Georgia General Assembly.  A commanding presence at Georgia’s Capitol, he has served as the Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee for the past eight years.  He’s probably the most powerful legislator most of you have never heard of. To

A Belated Thank You Note To Speaker David Ralston

This week’s Courier Herald column: David Ralston became Speaker of Georgia’s House in 2010.  While most outsiders were secure in knowing that Georgia had spent the past 8 years flipping to a solidly Republican state, there were serious problems below the surface.  The GOP front runner to succeed Governor Sonny Perdue was mired in scandal,