Tag Archive for 'Georgia'

The Great Tax Plan Targets Education!

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on January 17, 2008
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If you don’t know about Glenn Richardson’s plan to eliminate ad valorem taxes in Georgia, you must be dead–just like his Great Plan. Speaker Richardson supposedly toured the state telling everyone about his proposal to do away with property taxes, but he only told people bits and pieces and would entertain no public discussion. The city and county governments jumped on him. Casey Cagle and most everyone else in the Georgia Senate expressed grave concern about such a proposal and essentially said it would not pass the Senate. For whatever reason, his plan has now morphed into a plan to eliminate the school tax portion of the property tax.

My question: Why schools? Why education? If it won’t work for city and county governments, what makes it good for schools? In this interview Jeff Hubbard, President of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), explains what this proposal means for education.

There are a lot of problems with this misconceived plan to take away local control of the education budget, but regardless of the shear power grab by the legislature, I don’t understand why we would want the quality of our education to depend on how much money people spend on goods and services, particularly with an economy that may be going downhill. If teachers get paid out of sales tax revenues and the economy goes in the tank, revenues go down and school districts have to scramble from month to month to make ends meet.

If you talk to these guys in charge of our state budget, like the Governor, they just love to tell you that they put more and more money into education every year. That may be true, but as Jeff points out, the fact that we spend more does not mean we are improving the quality of the education our kids receive. Georgia is one of the fastest growing states in the nation and a lot of the increase in education funding is due to this increase in the population of the state. More money does not translate into more money for classroom instruction. There may be more money for more buildings to house more students, but the money to improve the quality of instruction doesn’t increase.

There are about 1.6 million school age kids in Georgia. About half of them qualify for free lunches, which means they are generally from lower income families. About 57% of the state budget goes for education. And yet, we have never fully funded education according to the formulas set up 23 years ago in the Quality Basic Education Act.

Speaker Richardson and anyone who supports his efforts to transfer the cost of funding public education from the property owners (many of them wealthy) to the working families of Georgia (through the sales tax) is not seeking to improve education in this state. They are seeking power. They are manipulating the people of this state by promising the elimination of a significant portion of their property taxes without explaining the dangerous consequences for our struggling, underfunded educational system.

One of these days!

 
 Jeff Hubbard, Georgia Association of Educators [27:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (278)

Politics: Drifting With the Grift!

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on January 16, 2008
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Talk about gambling, predicting the outcome of presidential politics is pure fantasy, but also fun. James Williams always gives me hope that someday I will understand something–anything about politics, that is. Which is a lot more than I can say about those TV pundits who take the insignificant, blow it up, out of proportion and not only predict winners and losers, but cast eternal judgment (condemnation) upon the poor candidate who happens to be in their sights at the moment. And 4 hours later, they completely reverse their predictions and damnations. James, you are a breath of fresh air.

I wish I could do this interview justice, but I am afraid I am still pressed for time, so if you want to hear two guys chew the fat, this is a good listen. The first half focuses on the presidential race, who we like, whose up and whose down and whether that means anything. The last half jumps into Georgia politics and the hot items at this legislative session like property tax reform.

Gotta go!

 
 James Williams, GriftDrift Blogger [29:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (250)

Year End Greetings from the Big Apple: Doug Monroe!

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on January 4, 2008
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My apologies to Doug for not posting this interview last year (last week), but I am afraid my mind took the holiday break more seriously than usual. (When is the next long weekend!) I hope everyone had a safe and great time during the holidays, both Christmas and New Year’s.

Even though Doug has moved to the Big Apple, he is still a fifth generation Atlantan and keeps in touch on Georgia issues. After all, Sonny praying for water made the The Times.

In this end of the year conversation we cover Atlanta, New York, Iowa, the nation and the world. All in less than 30 minutes!

Looking to the issues the Georgia legislature will have to deal with in 2008, Doug bemoans the failure of leadership to deal with some of the serioius problems now facing the state, water and transportation being close to the top of the list. He notes that Roy Barnes and Tom Murphy made an effort (but not enough of one) to address water issues several years ago. And then, there was Zell who put a developer in charge of transportation in the state. Not a good move for the future of public mass transit.

Unfortunately, Doug did not get a dime of the billion dollar bonuses they gave out on Wall Street in December. He is as amazed, as am I, that anyone can “earn” a billion dollar bonus, particularly when their companies, in many cases, lost billions on the subprime mortgage market. This isn’t the American Dream we grew up with.

As might be expected, Doug is still disappointed in Democratic leadership and candidates. He wonders if they aren’t already dead in Georgia elections for 2008.

In the national contest for president, he favors John Edwards, who is the only Democratic candidate even attempting to talk about the issues that concern most Americans: wages in particular, the economy in general and the growing divide between the wealthy and the rest of us. (As you know by now, Edwards came in second. Not bad for a lawyer who is publically financed, not by lobbyists!)

On the Republican side, Doug thinks Rudy is on the slippery downhill slope to irrelevancy. I hope so. He is the one Republican candidate that I simply do not trust. According to Doug, people in New York don’t trust him either. Many think he is rather sleazy, even misrepresenting his role in 9-11. While he is still leading in NY, Doug thinks he is vulnerable.

By the way, Doug’s teacher’s union endorsed Hillary. I wonder if Iowa will change that.

Doug notes, with some seriousness, that a lot of people in New York are convinced that Bush and Cheney were responsible for 9-11. While you may think otherwise, New Yorkers point to the fact that the Twin Towers were heavily insured and apparently sold just before the attack. They wonder if the destroyed video tapes of the interrogation of the terrorists contain any information that would shed light on who was responsible for 9-11. You may not want to hear this, but will someone look at the video of the collapse of Building #7 (not the Towers) and tell me it was not the result of a controlled demolition! (There go my syndication chances.)

As for Saxby Chambliss’ re-election, Doug doesn’t think he has much competition. He wasn’t impressed with any of the candidates based on what he followed in “Drifting Through the Grift” about the recent senatorial debate. Doug sees the Iraq War as a big issue in the 2008 election and doesn’t understand Dale Cardwell’s position on the war. Doug thinks it sounds more like a Republican. (The problem is that it may be the position it takes to get elected in this state.)

And then we get into the news media, its’ faults and shortcomings, its failure to do what it should do: investigate and tell us the truth. On the whole, American has lost faith in the media. Doug relates some of the problem to the consolidation of media under the control of a few corporations. For example, the Cox organization owns the AJC and WSB in Atlanta, in addition to other local radio stations. The AJC lost 9% of its circulation in 6 months to become the fasting shrinking major American newspaper.

Doug points out that small, independent newspapers are doing fine, while the giants are having trouble making a profit. The problem seems to be that more and more people are turning to the internet for their news and no one has discovered a way to make money with news online.

Doug’s disdain for the crap that airs as either news or legitimate commentary is palpable. He doesn’t hold high opinions of Michael Savage or Neal Boortz on WSB. Bigots both!

It is always good to talk with Doug.

 
 Doug Monroe, Writer and Commentator [29:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (311)

Rep. Jeff Lewis (R-15), Chairman House Energy Committee

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on December 20, 2007
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Jeff Lewis is Chairmen of the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee. While the committee has a broad range of jurisdiction, this interview focused on energy. You may have heard of the ethanol plants being built in Georgia. The one in Camilla uses corn and the one in Treutlen County uses wood chips (pine trees). According to Lewis, it takes about 1 to 1.5 gallons of energy to produce one gallon of ethanol using corn. Wood chips take less energy to produce the same gallon of ethanol.

Georgia has more pine trees than any other state in the Union. If wood chips can be utiltized to produce ethanol efficiently, such plants could represent an economic boost to the state in the future.

When it comes to generating electricity, it is anticipated that in the next 10 to 15 years Georgia will need another 22 to 25 thousand additional megawatts of electricty per day. That could mean as many as twenty new power plants. That’s a lot of power plants! You may not realize it, but new power plants are being built all the time. While the Public Service Commission has responsibility to approve the construction of a new plant, the Energy Committee has the responsibility to set the guidelines by which new plants are considered and authorized.

You will not believe the number of power plants in Georgia, and most of them are not owned by Georgia Power. Many companies and cities apparently generate some amount of electricity.

The decision that is on the horizen is whether or not to change that focus from coal or natural gas plants to nuclear plants. A nuclear plant generates 1000 to 1500 megawatts of electricity. It can take 12 to 15 years to plan, permit and build a nuclear plant. The Energy Committee could increase electricity production in Georgia by shortening the time required to permit a new plant.

I get the impression from Jeff that nuclear power is coming, it is just a matter of when. The “Three Mile Island” incident in 1979 resulted in a virtual moratorium in the construction of nuclear generating plants. According to Jeff, nuclear power is the most efficient and cost effective energy source. He believes the issue of disposing of nuclear waste is being dealt with.

While the US obtains almost 20% of its electricity from nuclear power, Europe relies heavily on nuclear energy: France 80%, Italy and Spain 60%, and England 50%. Here’s a list of European countries with nuclear power plants.

Jeff also mentioned a new generating plant to be located in Clay County, which will generate 250 megawatts by burning “biomass,” such as peanut shells and pecan hulls. The Committee approved a sales tax exemption for the plant so that it did not have to pay sales tax on the raw products it buys to generate electricity. This incentive was necessary to convince the plant to locate in Georgia, rather than Florida or Alabama who were also competing to get it.

I also asked Jeff about comments attributed to him when the Committee met in August in which he expressed doubts as to whether or not global warming is real, and if real, to what extent do humans contribute to or cause it. Jeff took a lot of heat for those comments.

Like a lot of people, I believe global warming is real and that human generated greenhouse gases contribute to it, but the truth is, my opinion means absolutely nothing.

The concern is that while other states have passed laws setting goals for energy efficiency and emission standards, Jeff and other Georgia legislators apparently don’t believe that such measures are necessary. Jeff doesn’t want to do anything to handicap the state’s economy, when its competitors around the globe may not be doing likewise. He says that he and other legislators are educating themselves so that if and when they have to make substantive decisions for or against global warming, they can make the best decision for Georgia.

I think that global warming is an issue that is too big for individual states to resolve. This issue requires and demands leadership on a national scale. Without that kind of leadership, there will only be a continued unresolved controversy. It is just like the water problem we are now dealing with in Georgia. State leaders have known this problem was approaching for years and did nothing, primarily because to do something is to limit growth or spend a lot of money. Just like water, states will never effectively deal with the economic aspects of global warming until some crisis in the air or water quality exists. Just like water, that could be too late.

Jeff indicated that the Committee is not presently expected to consider any specific legislation during the ‘08 session.

 
 Rep. Jeff Lewis, (R-15), Chairman, House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee [30:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (287)

A Conversation with Jane Kidd, Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia

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on December 18, 2007
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It was just one of those days. This conversation with Jane Kidd, Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia didn’t start out like I expected. My bad.

I am just tired of hearing day after day example after example of the total breach of the public trust by the Republican Party. Sorry, but these guys just don’t have any philosophy of government other than power make right. When they are in the majority, they just don’t care what anyone thinks, including the American public.

I am dealing with the news this week that the Republican child, Kevin Martin, who is Chairman of the FCC, together with his Republican cohorts, is going to ignore 100% of the imput by the public and approve further consolidation of the media in this country into the control of the very few. (It just passed.)

Everyone ought to be disgusted that they are actually debating in Congress giving corporations, the phone companies, immunity from being sued for breaking the law! The only reason they are considering that is because it was the Bush White House that broke the law with them!

It galls me even more to think there are Republicans out there who think this is just fine. Please, give them your rights, but let me keep mine! Barry Goldwater would throw up and he knew what being a Republican really meant, which isn’t something this new breed of power hungry, corrupt, hypocritical, hoodlums knows anything about. The don’t govern, they don’t attempt to govern, they pillage.

Example: An acquaintance of mine told me yesterday that he received a “Dear John” letter from Governor Purdue because he raised a question about the propriety of scheduling a press conference to announce a decision by the board on which he serves, before the board even met to consider the proposal! This is essentially the same thing our dear Governor and Tommie Williams did earlier this year when they removed Sally Bethea from the DNR Board. These boards aren’t there to rubber stamp what the Governor wants. They are there to exercise a degree of independence about what is good or not good for the people of Georgia. It isn’t just that any particular board may “kiss up” to the Governor, and do his bidding (like the Jekyll Island Authority), it is that they cannot even tolerate being asked a question!

Think that is too strong? Wake up everybody! The legislature convenes in less than 3 weeks. Jane and I discussed the probability that the ‘08 legislature is going to be one of the most contentious, and that may be saying a lot. It is going to be contentious because the Republican leadership’s idea of solving problems is that you agree with them and you vote for their proposition. Anything less than that, and you are simply ignored.

When it comes to the issues of water, property tax reform and many others, are the Republican leaders going to welcome imput from the Democrats (who happen to actually represent some Georgians) or experts who may have a different opinion? Probably not, because they have already decided they want and they believe they are right. So why bother with the opinion of others.

Are they going to protect the people of Georgia in resolving the water issue or are they going to mask their true motives and do what ever it takes make sure development in Atlanta continues? Are they going to try and gut the property tax base at the expense of every city and county in this state, because most of these guys own a lot of real estate? Are they going to ever do anything about the tort reform travesty of ‘05 when they declared that Emergency Room physicians couldn’t be sued if they negligently killed you?

Okay, enough! I will shut up and you can listen to the interview which didn’t dwell on this point nearly as long as I have in this post. I refuse to remember the $100,000 tax break Governor Perdue had snuck (or is it sneaked) into a legislative bill.

Enough!

2008 is the year! Throw the bums out!

And don’t forget that Hillary and Obama and Edwards are expected to be in Atlanta on January 30, 2008 for the Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at the World Congress Center. Get your tickets and see the next President of the United States.

If there is someone out there that would like to respond to any of these remarks, just send me an email and we will arrange an interview and you can make your case.

 
 Jane Kidd, Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia [25:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (452)

The State of the State’s Economy!

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on December 12, 2007
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Robert Sumichrast, Dean of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, gives an overview of the Georgia economy. It sounds like Georgia is in good shape and can expect continued growth in 2008, but as the Dean said, there is a lot of risk out there.

So what can we expect in 2008?

Population: An increase of about 2% in 2008. It is this growth that demands we create new jobs.

New Jobs: In 2007 Georgia created about 55,000 new jobs. In 2008, we can expect about 44,000 new jobs.

Economic growth: 2.4% in 2008, which is about the same as 2007.

Drought recession: Businesses that are water intensive are in a recession. This year the state will lose an estimated $800 million in agribusiness production due to the drought.

Recession generally: about a 40% chance. I don’t like the word recession, but from an economic standpoint, it may not be that bad unless it lasts and lasts and lasts. Technically, a recession is 2 quarters of negative growth in the economy. That doesn’t mean you lost your job, but someone may not have gotten one they needed. Many times we don’t know if we are in a recession until it has already occurred.

Why is Georgia doing well in these times? Climate is a big attraction. One of the concerns about the current drought is that if it continues it may damage the state’s reputation for a favorable climate.

The drought that we are experiencing is the state’s worst ever. Dean Sumichrast points out that economic developers are now asking about the water supply in areas of Georgia. The very fact that the water supply is of concern means that unless an adequate water supply is assured, at some point this will adversely affect growth and the economy.

In fact, when I asked Dean Sumichrast what he would say to the legislature when it convenes in January, at the top of his list was dealing with the drought long term. This is going to require a major investment in infrastructure. Of course, the battle that is developing in 2008 is trying to solve the Metro Atlanta water crisis by depriving other areas of the state of water.

If we do experience a recession in Georgia, the main impact will be the loss of jobs in industries related to building materials, textiles and automobiles.

Other industries such as food and beverage manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals, are likely to do better in the face of a recession.

Subprime lending scandal: Georgia is in better shape than much of the country because our home prices are not inflated. Rather, home prices in Georgia have increased at the same rate as average income has increased. For this reason, Georgia doesn’t have a dangerous price bubble that exists in other areas. He sees the housing market stable this next year with only a 1% to 2% decrease in home prices.

Savings: As elsewhere, savings in Georgia is very low. The problem is that consumers are relying on debt to finance purchases. A blip in the economy that interfers with the income necessary to pay that debt can result in a rise in foreclosures and bankruptcies, less purchases and a slow down in the economy generally. Be careful what you spend for Christmas!

The most surprising comment by Dean Sumichrast is that according to recent studies, Atlanta is the lowest cost city in the country in which to start a business. Atlanta has lower wages, good location and proximity to transportation, including the ports, all of which keeps the cost down. And I thought everything was high in Atlanta.

You can read more about the economic forecast here.

 
 Robert Sumichrast, Dean, Terry College of Business, UGA [28:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (302)

Dale Cardwell, Candidate for U. S. Senate, Georgia

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on December 6, 2007
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Dale Cardwell, was an investigative reporter with WSB-TV for 12 years. He broke the story about the corruption of Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell. Now, he has decided to investigate politics from the inside and is running for the Democratic nomination for US Senator from Georgia.

Although he is running as a Democrat, Dale hopes to appeal to dissatisfied Republicans as well. In fact, he said that he has received as much support from Republicans as he has from Democrats. He thinks people are feed up with politics as usual and sees ‘08 as having the potential of being a vote against incumbents, like Saxby Chambliss, and in favor of change.

And why would people, Democrats and Republicans alike, vote against Chambliss? Several reasons:

(1) Dale points out that Chambliss has been a willing participant in a Republican majority that is responsible for out of control deficit spending. Chambliss has been a key supporter of the biggest spending presidency in recent memory. For me, Chambliss is a poster child for blind loyalty. Bush could not have made the mess he has were it not for Republican Senators like Saxby Chambliss.

(2) How many people really understand Chambliss’ unrestrained support of anything Bush, such as the total waste in Iraq?

(3) Chambliss teamed up with Teddy Kennedy on “immigration reform” which was nothing more than amnesty and a refusal to secure our borders. Chambliss “saw the light” only when presented with an overwhelming public backlash. Now, Chambliss is trying to make everyone believe he was for securing our borders.

(4) Likewise, Chambliss voted against S-CHIP funding for healthcare for kids, but has no qualms about supporting programs that funnel millions to big agribusinesses, some of his biggest supporters. He voted against healthcare for kids because tobacco companies opposed it due to the fact that it was to be financed with higher taxes on cigarettes. According to Dale, Chambliss is one of the biggest recipients of tobacco money.

Of course, it takes money to run for public office, but Dale believes his name recognition as a reporter with WSB will give him an advantage. He points to the fact that Sonny Perdue was able to defeat the incumbent Roy Barnes.

But Dale is determined to run a campaign supported by everyday Georgiana, not lobbyists and PACs. Dale points out that his average contribution is about $200, while Chambliss’ is $1,600.

Dale is also trying to take advantage of the internet in getting his message out. In addition to his campaign website he has launched “DALETHETRUTH.com” where he uses his investigative abilities to publish videos explaining how Chambliss has sold his soul to giant corporations.

Dale doesn’t believe Georgia is a red state, and points to Paul Braun’s victory in the 10th District Congressional election as evidence that voters don’t want political insiders, like Jim Whitehead, in office. And then, Hank Johnson beat Cynthia McKinney in the 4th Congressional District.

Dale recognizes that the coming battle in America is not rich versus poor, but corporations versus the rest of us. All business is not good business, particularly when it does not take into due consideration the good of the customer and the stockholder. While the stock market has soared, the average American family is making $1000 a year less today than 6 years ago.

Politicians don’t tell us the truth because they want to get re-elected. Dale says he wants to change that. He wants to tell us what we need to know. I am all for that Dale, but I am reminded how fickle we are when it comes to politics. We just prefer to vote for people that tell us what we want to hear, even if they lie. Someday, someday, we will change. Maybe ‘08!

Dale says that the ordinary citizen wants three things from government:

(1) We want to be left alone.

(2) We want government to stay out of our pocket books. He considers himself to be a fiscal conservative and points out that Chambliss has been a key supporter of one of the biggest deficit spending administrations in recent memory.

(3) Illegal immigration is a giant problem. People want our borders secured. They want our laws enforced and employers held accountable for hiring illegal aliens.

 
 Dale Cardwell, Candidate, U. S. Senate GA [29:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (226)

Josh Lanier, Candidate for U.S. Senator from Georgia

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on November 30, 2007
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Josh Lanier is a native of Statesboro, GA, but has spent the last few decades in Washington and the world. Born in 1952, he served the Army in Vietnam, and then worked for Herman Talmadge. He also served as a lobbyist for organizations like Cable TV and consulted with small businesses. In 1984 he became a trustee for the Presidential Yacht Trust and helped lead the restoration of the U. S. S. Sequoia. In 1998 he went green and helped start a company that specialized in water and air treatment, through which he gained international experience and business associations. In 2006 he retired and returned home to help take care of his mother. He has been writing a screenplay in his free time, but that may change in January.

Josh recently formed an explorartory committee to help him decide sometime in mid January whether or not he will join the race to become Georgia’s next U. S. Senator. You can watch his video and find out more about what he hopes to offer the people of Georgia.

Josh thinks (and I do too) that the number one problem with politics in America is money. It takes too much to get elected. It is supplied by people who expect something in return and while this influence of money is perfectly legal, it is also perfectly corrupt. Amen brother!

Okay, Josh, so how the hell are you going to get elected? Well, maybe he isn’t, but if he does he has made a committment to do it the right way. The right way is with a “Clean Campaign.”

This is an idea that deserves our closest attention. Most of us gripe about the money in politics. We know it is bad. It corrupts just about everything it touches in Washington. It completely supplants the power of the people who can give $100 to a candidate with the lobbyist who can funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars to a candidate with a few phone calls.

This is how Josh has pledged to run his campaign:

1. Conduct an exploratory period with “seed” donations not to exceed $100.

2. If the high exploratory period objectives are met, the Committee will “qualify” the next step by receiving 500 $5 contributions for individuals in every Congressional District in Georgia, plus 2,000 additional $5 contributions for individuals throughout the state.

3. Once “qualified” the Committee will raise additional funds for the Democratic primary election solely from individuals in amounts not to exceed $100. Under the “Clean Elections Now Act,” these primary funds would be public funds and no additional fundraising would be required.

4. The Committee will abide by strict formulas in the “Fair Elections Now Act” for spending in the primary and general elections.

The “Fair Elections Now Act” isn’t law, not yet anyway. The Act (S. 1285) is a bipartisan effort by Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) to change the way elections are funded. You can find out more about it at the Common Cause website.

So how will the candidates that reject the money compete with the Saxby Chamblisses of this country? They will have a hard time until the Fair Elections Now Act and similar state legislation becomes law. But the truth is, when states require candidates to run clean campaigns, it works. It works in Arizona. And in New Jersey. We need to get it here in Georgia.

My hat is off to Josh that is going to set the example, win, lose or draw!

 
 Josh Lanier, Candidate, U. S. Senate, Georgia [29:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (226)

The Jekyll Island Saga Is Taken Up A Notch!

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Wilson
on November 20, 2007
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If you have been following the interviews concerning the Jekyll Island controversy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), you may be interested in this.  (BTW:  If you read the post in #3, it begins with a comment that the interview should piss you off. That reference was apparently confusing, particularly if you did not read the entire post. I was not referring to the person interviewed, Wade Shealy. Rather, I was referring to the subject of the interview, a corrupted bid selection process in which Shealy and his company did not appear to have been fairly treated.)

There was an article in the AJC last Friday about a lawsuit filed November 15th in Fulton Superior Court seeking judicial review of the process by which a politically connected developer, Linger Longer, was selected as the Revitalization Partner of the Jekyll Island Authority in the proposed development of 45 acres on Jekyll Island.

The Jekyll Island Revitalization Group (JIRG) and its related company, Jekyll Island Company are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The defendants are:

JEKYLL ISLAND – STATE PARK AUTHORITY; BENJAMIN G. PORTER, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jekyll Island – State Park Authority; EDWARD E. BOSHEARS, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Jekyll Island – State Park Authority; HOMER DELOACH; MICHAEL D. HODGES; BECKY KELLEY; SYBIL D. LYNN; ROBERT W. KRUEGER; SAMUEL B. KELLETT; STEPHEN B. CROY, Members of the Board of Directors of the Jekyll Island – State Park Authority.

You can read a copy of the petition for judicial review, but these are the basic allegations:

COUNT I: THE PROPOSAL SELECTED BY JIA WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO RFP 244, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY JIA, AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY JIA.

COUNT II: JIA EXCEEDED ITS AUTHORITY IN CONSIDERING AND SELECTING THE LINGER LONGER COMMUNITIES PROPOSAL.

COUNT III: JIA VIOLATED ITS DUTIES AS A TRUSTEE.

COUNT IV: JIA VIOLATED THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, AND JIA FAILED TO FAIRLY AND EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE ALLEGED CHANGES IN THE REQUIREMENTS OF RFP 244.

COUNT V: JIA VIOLATED JIRG’S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS.

COUNT VI: JIA VIOLATED JIRG’S RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION.

COUNT VII: JIA’S ACTIONS CONSTITUTE A TAKING WITHOUT JUST COMPENSATION.

COUNT VIII: INJUNCTION AGAINST FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN DEFENDANTS AND LINGER LONGER COMMUNITIES.

In seeking an injunction, Count VIII alleges:

107. JIRG lacks an adequate remedy at law. Unless JIA and Linger Longer Communities are restrained and enjoined from conducting planning and contract negotiations concerning RFP 244, JIRG will suffer irreparable harm in it ability to not only seek and obtain effective judicial review of the Final Decisions, but also to obtain an effective and fair remedy if the Final Decision is reversed.
108. The public has a substantial interest in honest and fair bidding on public projects and decisions concerning requests for proposals. The public interest would likewise suffer immediate and irreparable injury should JIA and Linger Longer Communities not be enjoined from planning and contract negotiations.

And what does JIRG want the Superior Court to do?

WHEREFORE, the Plaintiffs pray:
(a) that this Court enjoin the following parties from taking any action in furtherance of negotiating a contract for RFP 244:
(i) Linger Longer Communities, including any person or entity that created or submitted any information on behalf of Linger Longer Communities in response to RFP 244, and the directors officers, members, employees, and agents of those entities; and;
(ii) Defendants, and the officers, employees, agents, and those acting in concert with the Jekyll Island – State Park Authority;
(b) that this Court order JIA to transmit the entire record in this matter before JIA to this Court;
(c) that this Court order, adjudge, declare and decree that the Final Decision is void and unenforceable in its entirety;
(i) that this Court order JIA to strike the proposal submitted by Linger Longer Communities and select the proposal submitted by JIRG;
(ii) in the alternative, that this Court order JIA to re-start the bidding process for RFP 244; and
(d) that this Court grant such other, further, plenary, and different relief as may be deemed just and proper.

Injunctions require hearings and I assume there will be a humdinger sometime in the near future.  If a temporary injunction is granted, the development projected will be on hold indefinitely.Â

Jason Pye on the Speaker’s Tax Proposal: Going Down in Flames!

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on November 18, 2007
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Anyone who keeps up with politics in Georgia, keeps up with JasonPye.com. It’s always a pleasure to talk to Jason and get his take on issues and people.

In this interview, Jason discusses some of the details of Speaker Richardson’s proposal to eliminate the property tax and broaden the sales tax. Jason gives credit to Travis Fain for the details of what goods and services would be taxed under the plan. Jason says there is a need for clarification as to some of the things that will be taxed. For example, the plan would tax temporary lodging over 90 days. Does this refer only to the extended motel or hotel stay, or does it include your apartment rent. For a list of what exemptions will be eliminated, go here.

If the Speaker has his way, we will be paying sales tax on water bills, phone and long distance services, dental services, and haircuts, just to name a few. The state portion of the sales tax we pay is currently 4% and, as I understand it, would remain unchanged.

Of course, one of the most important issues is whether or not enough revenue can be generated from the expansion of the sales tax to make up the revenue lost through the elimination of the property tax. Jason said there was a study by Georgia State University which indicates there would be a significant shortfall. However, the Speaker insists there won’t be a short fall. The question is whether the Speaker’s optimism is merely blind faith or reliable economic analysis.

Jason points out that one of the problems with the Speaker’s plan is the manner in which it is being revealed and promoted. For example, Speaker Richardson has made it apparent that he is not receptive to any criticism of his plan, and generally avoids discussing it in public.

Politically, the unknown consequences of this battle over the Speaker’s tax proposal is the repercussions it will have on Republicans in the ‘08 elections. The elimination of the property tax is a sticky local issue for two reasons: (1) every citizen is likely to jump up and salute the elimination of the property tax, and (2) the local city and county governments oppose its elimination since it is their main source of revenue. There is not, at least as far as Jason and I are aware, any city or county elected officials that support the Speaker’s plan. In fact, Jason said one mayor compared it to the centralized government proposed by Karl Marx. Next year in seeking re-election, Republican representatives are going to have to explain their support for the plan and that could make them vulnerable to significant criticism at home. And if they don’t support the plan, they are subject to criticism as well.

Everyone believes, thinks and assumes that Speaker Richardson controls the House Republicans with an iron rod. Jason thinks he is literally staking his political future on passing this plan. But, when all is said and done, Jason says the plan will go down in flames because it has no chance of passsing the Senate. And maybe that is part of the Speaker’s plan, too! Is this a strategy to build a platform to run for Governor in 2010? Trying to eliminate the property tax may get the vote of a lot of Georgians, regrdless of whether or not it is a bad idea. And what happens if an opponent in the Governor’s race, say one from the Senate or elsewhere, opposed eliminating the property tax?

I was disheatened when our discussion turned to the Atlanta Water Shortage. I thought Jason, smart guy that he is, would jump at my offer to rent my trailer to him when they run out of water in Atlanta. He seems oddly unconcerned, even though I was only charging two grand a week for hot water and 6 baths a day.

Jason says there is no sense of panic, at least not in the county where he lives, Newton. Its reservoir is full. Although no outside water use is allowed, he thinks people, generally, have a degree of blind faith that the problem will get resolved. No one seems to be laying blame for the situation getting this bad–other than whoever caused the drought. On top of that, the Governor is getting favorable approval ratings for the manner in which he is handling the problem.

Jason did say that if the optimism proves unfounded, he is coming to live with me. Fine Jason, but without a paid, advance reservation, the rate goes up!

We ended the interview with a few comments about Ron Paul and the libertarian philosophy. Ron Paul seems to be experiencing a spike in his campaign and support. He is one of those who says what he means and means what he says and to that extent he is refreshing. But then, you ask the next question and find out he thinks the Food and Drug Administration (or a dozen or so other federal agencies) should be eliminated, not reformed, eliminated. Jason seems to think that is a good idea and believes the drug companies and market forces will make sure dangerous drugs don’t stay on the market.

Me? I am not concerned about bad drugs staying on the market. I am concerned about them getting on the market in the first place. Apparently, Jason thinks a few deaths to test a drug out are well worth the costs savings in not having the FDA require proof a drug is safe.

Back to Ron Paul. Jason doesn’t think America is ready to support a strong, independent third party, whether Libertarian or otherwise. Neither do I–right now. But if any man can birth a viable political party, virtually overnight, its George Bush. Rarely, has one man done so much, so wrong, so faithfully.

 
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