Georgia’s is currently committing broadband suppression via a virtual pole tax. Separate bills working their way through the House and Senate are aimed at removing barriers that would reduce the cost to deploy high speed internet services. Supporters of the legislation say it would pave the way to more broadband coverage in rural areas. Opponents
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
Qualifying starts today, so you’ll see a lot of these candidates who think they want to run for office now get to put their money where their mouth is. The retirement of US Representatives Rob Woodall (R-GA-07) and Tom Graves (R-GA-14) from Congress and US Representative Doug Collins (R-GA-09) challenging US Senator Kelly Loeffler (R)
The following is a guest Op-Ed by Representative John Carson of Cobb County: Changing the Culture of Distracted Driving Through House Bill 113 Due to the alarming increase of smartphone use and traffic fatalities, the Georgia General Assembly passed the Hands-Free Georgia Act in 2018, which was signed into law later that year by former
State representative Demetrius Douglas is one persistent legislator. The lawmaker from Stockbridge has once again filed his recess legislation. The measure, HB 83, passed through both chambers in 2019 after three years of trying but was vetoed by Governor Kemp. House Bill 843 is co-sponsored by Minority Leader Bob Trammell, Reps. Spencer Frye, Mike Wilensky,
This week’s Courier Herald column: Much of what is done and not done in government has a common root or theme. It’s difficult to educate the public and keep a couple hundred citizen legislators on message on every technical matter considered for law or policy. Slogans are easier to remember than white papers. One of
This week’s Courier Herald column: There are two components that make up any budget. When most of us think of our budgets, we tend to focus on what we spend, as that’s often considered easier to change than our incomes. When legislators consider a budget, they’re charged with considering not just what is spent from
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger issued a press release a few days ago saying that he backs HB 757. The bill would codify the process of setting special election qualifying dates–a process that has been followed by state officials for about four decades now–into state law. The bill that’s being carried by House Judiciary Chairman
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 morning some of us had to be dressed up and downtown for a program that started at 7:30am. I’m not bitter, just tired. To be honest, not a lot of news and fewer than normal tea leaves were provided with the now traditional Chick Fil A chicken biscuits. Governor Kemp mostly recapped successes of
