This week’s Courier Herald column: Congratulations and condolences to Senator Blake Tillery. The Vidalia Republican was tapped last week to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee following the death of Senator Jack Hill of Reidsville. Senator Tillery has big shoes to fill at a time when there will be no honeymoon period to enjoy assuming
There was good news coming out of the state capitol this week as Governor Kemp announced state revenues for March were up 9.8% compared with March of 2019. For the first nine months of the state’s fiscal year which began on July 1st, revenues are up year over year by 2.1%. It’s safe to assume
From a press release: Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp signed House Bill 792 – Georgia’s amended fiscal year 2020 budget – with $100 million in emergency funding to address the spread of novel coronavirus and COVID-19. “Over several months, I have worked closely with lawmakers to develop an amended fiscal year 2020 budget that reflects
This week’s Courier Herald column: It’s been an unusual session of the Georgia General Assembly, even for a gathering where the first rule is to expect the unexpected. It’s been a long time since fissures within the governing majority in Georgia were as public, and with policy proposals and priorities as disparate. Much of the
This week’s Courier Herald column: While it may seem paradoxical, the further we move into a session of the Georgia General Assembly, the less certain the outcome of major initiatives. The beginning of a meeting of the legislature is marked by definitive statements of priorities in media avails with key leaders, speeches at the annual
Wild Hog, Family pictures during gaveling in, and Eggs and Issues are now in the rear view mirror. This morning at 11am, Governor Kemp will deliver the State of the State address. It’s the transition from the pageantry that opens the Georgia General Assembly session to the work that lies ahead. While Governor Kemp will
This week’s Courier Herald column: Legislators from across the state reconvened in Atlanta this week for the 2020 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Tensions remain higher than average among Georgia’s leaders as tight budgets force competition among everyone’s priorities. They’ll have to work harder than normal to present a unified front for the majority’s
This week’s Courier Herald column: The Georgia General Assembly will convene next week for the 2020 regular session in Atlanta. The legislature may meet for up to 40 days, but they get to decide which days count toward their limit. It’s usually safe to assume they’ll finish their business before Easter week and The Masters,
This week’s Courier Herald column: The muted lull between the Georgia General Assembly’s March Sine Die and the January 13th reconvening of legislators has been relatively quiet publicly. Behind the scenes, there has been a philosophical and practical struggle over Georgia’s budget – all within the ranks of the majority Republican party. In late summer,
This week’s Courier Herald column: If you want the right answers, it’s best to make sure you have asked the right questions. Presidential primaries have a tendency to set the tone on policy debates, as much as we have debates on actual policy anymore. It is through this lens we have accepted as a current
